Club Shay Shay - Club Shay Shay - Bow Wow Part 1

Episode Date: April 30, 2025

In this episode of Club Shay Shay, Shannon Sharpe sits down with hip-hop’s original child prodigy—Bow Wow. A Guinness World Record holder, multiplatinum artist, Hollywood star, and one of the most recognizable voices in rap, Bow Wow takes us through his incredible journey from Columbus, Ohio, to global superstardom. With a career spanning over 25 years, sold-out Madison Square Garden shows before the age of 16, and 10 million albums sold, he’s cemented his place as a defining figure in early 2000s culture and beyond.Bow Wow shares stories from his childhood in Columbus, hoop dreams, and how attending at a Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre concert  led to him touring with them at just six years old. He talks about being given the name “Lil Bow Wow” by Snoop, hanging around the studio during the making of Doggystyle, sneaking in Tupac's studio sessions , and eventually moving to Atlanta to join So So Def Records under the mentorship of Jermaine Dupri.We dive into what it was like hearing Usher’s Confessions album before release, performing with Madonna, and some unforgettable, wacky fan moments. Bow reflects on meeting Barack Obama, Michael Jordan, Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child, Jay-Z, Solange, and more. He breaks down his acting success in Like Mike, Roll Bounce, Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift, Johnson Family Vacation, Carmen, and working alongside with Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps, Ice Cube, Tyler Perry, and Teyana Taylor.A huge basketball fanatic — he shares his thoughts on a Like Mike remake, being a lifelong LeBron James fan, beating Lonzo Ball in a 1-on-1, and hilariously recounts losing to Kobe Bryant 1:1. Bow Wow shares his first big purchases, his car obsession, and buying his first Ferrari at 17—followed by a Maserati, Yellow 360, Bentley, Range Rover, Hummer, Maybach, and Lamborghini.#volumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's nostalgia overload as Wilmer Valderrama and Freddy Rodriguez welcome another amigo to their podcast Dos Amigos. Wilmer's friend and former That 70s Show castmate Topher Grace stops by the Speakeasy for a two-part interview to discuss his career and reminisce about old times. We were still in that place of like what will this experience become and you go you're having the best time but it was like such a perfect golden time. Listen to Dos Amigos on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And the dream season is now complete. The Golden State

Warriors are the 2015 NBA champions. On the new limited podcast series Dub Dynasty, it's been 10 years since their shocking run to a championship. We examine the controversial move that made it possible. It's never a great conversation as a player when you hear that you're being benched. For the entire behind the scenes story of Golden State's incredible 10 year run, listen to Dub Dynasty on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on Good Company, the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of 2B. We dive into the competitive world of streaming. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There are so many stories out there and if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen.

Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm trying to keep it low key. I'm trying to. All my life, been grinding all my life Sacrifice, hustle paid the price, want a slice Got the roller dice, that's why All my life, I been grinding all my life All my life, been grinding all my life Sacrifice, hustle paid the price, want a slice Got the roller dice, that's why All my life, I been grinding all my life Hello, welcome to another episode of Club Cheche. I am your host, Shannon Sharp. I'm also the proprietor of Club Cheche.

Stopping by for conversation and a drink today is one of the originators of Aura, one of the most influential people in hip hop, one of hip hop's biggest names and most recognizable voices. He's earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Record as the youngest solo rapper to have a number one hit on the US R&B and rap chart. He's sold out Madison Square Garden three times before the age of 16. He has a career spanning over 25 years. He's sold 10 million albums and he's only 38 years of age. A certified child prodigy, a former teenage sensation, an era-defining artist, a gifted performer and well-rounded

entertainer. He has multi-platinum selling songs and chart-topping tours, a Hollywood blockbuster actor and a global star, a TV personality and a host, a one-of-a-kind creative and an outsized personality, a business-savvy entrepreneur, a significant figure in the early 2000s. He's an influence on the culture and he's undeniable. Here he is, ladies and gentlemen, Bow Wow. What's up, bro. How was that intro bro? I love that intro. I was caught up and that was dope. You like that? I did all that? I did all that? That was fire. So when you know what I don't know if you drink anything bro but I got you got just you got to just sip. I was always told like if I'm walking somebody's house and I don't give you a drink, you gotta have it. So, you gotta drink it. 25 years?

25. Woo! Woo! Woo! It's that brown too. Yeah. God damn, bro. It's smooth though.

Yeah! I was about to sip on it. Yeah, we was gonna sip! It was like a shot! It was like a shot, alright. I thought it was a shot. Thanks for coming. Thanks for stopping by.

I really appreciate it. I know you're busy and you took time out of your busy schedule. I appreciate it. I thought it was a shot. Thanks for coming. Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate it. I know you're busy, and you took time out of your busy schedule to give us a few moments of your time.

So I greatly, greatly appreciate that. Likewise. Let's go back to where it all started, Columbus, Ohio. What's your best memories of growing up in Columbus, Ohio? Best memories growing up in Columbus, Ohio, just memories growing up in Columbus, Ohio? Just being a kid. You know what I mean? Just being a kid and doing what young boys like to do. Playing football, of course, that went kinda fast

once I got hit for the first time. I remember telling my stepdad at the time, like yo, I'm going to defense. I think I'm about to move to DB. I think that I wanna do the hitting. I don't wanna get hit no more. So just things like that. Just, you know, places that I want to do the hit now. I want to get hit no more So just things like that just you know places that I used to hang out You know United East skating rink was it was like the the thing growing up me and my boys to go to the skating rink

Get dropped off all the time and you know, that's why the little girls would be at it We'll think we do on something up there But just it's just a peaceful place for me when I think about Columbus and growing up there being raised there for the time That I was there before I came to Atlanta right but Columbus is my heart my soul is my everything you get back much well go back yeah do you get back yeah like we just I just left was just in Cleveland which was crazy right how every day is a line because it was my birthday Wow so it's kind of emotional return of home sold out crowd birthday brought out some legends, I brought out Bone Thugs,

and of course they're from Cleveland. Had a chance to bring them out, and Jermaine came out. Jermaine DePrime, JD came out, surprised me, did a little speech live on stage, I got kinda teary-eyeded and started crying. So the people of Ohio, they know how much Ohio means to me, not just Columbus in particular, but just the whole entire state period.

But when you were growing up in Columbus, Ohio, what did you want to be? A football player? An athlete? I wanted to go to Duke. So you want to be a Hooper? I wanted the hoop. Like, I didn't know that like basketball players was as tall as they are like now because I've been around them, I shot the movie and all that.

But growing up, like I didn't have no access to players So on TV everybody to me like normal height right right and then One day somebody was too short to play. I'm like what you mean, and I finally like I'm like oh damn Yeah, it is ain't gonna work everybody six feet up like it ain't gonna work But that was my first thing was to go to Duke and then I said if that wasn't gonna work out Jerry Maguire is like one of my favorite movies. I said if I can't play the game, then I'd rather have some type of arm in it,

which would be a sports agent. So once I saw Jerry Maguire, I was like, wow, this is a thing that I could do. I could still be around sports, but I don't necessarily have to get hit. I don't have to worry about breaking the limb or nothing like that, but I could still be in the game. Be close to it.

Then that would be it. Right. So what was the dynamic of your family? So you have siblings, you mentioned your stepdad, your mom. So was your real dad, did you know who he was? Was he around? Yeah, pops definitely know my pops. Me and my father, we had kind of like a, I wouldn't even say a weird relationship. My father, you know, indulged in alcohol, like you know what I mean? Was an alcohol, like I said. I'm proud to say was too because he changed his life over. Like completely a whole different person.

Where now we're able to catch up, you know, go have lunch. He's able to reach out to me now. So I always knew him. I always wanted the best for my father. And I think growing up without him, you always want that father figure, that person to be there. I mean, I've had him, but it's nothing like your own blood. And I wanted that one.

But yeah, growing up, really, it was just me and moms. You know, my moms didn't get married at one point. That was cool. But even before that, it's always been me and moms. And now it's me and moms. So it's me and mom, and the wheels fall off. Right. You know what?

Let's talk about this. And I always want to move past this. You're from Columbus, Ohio. There's another famous person from Columbus, Ohio who's an all-pro football player, played with the Pittsburgh Steelers, went to the Jets. I think he finished his career with Kansas City. Yep. And I don't know, I don't really know how it started by. Well, maybe you can add some context to this. I think you said like, okay, I'm the most famous person or I'm the... I said I'm the'm the biggest you the biggest from Columbus like okay Thanks, okay, I feel I mean I'm supposed to feel like that anybody with some type of success Especially coming from a small city like that. I mean we got a lot of legends James Buster Douglas got rest his soul

He's from Columbus myself It's a list of others even lotto right a lot of people don't know lotto. Yeah, Atlanta But he a lot of from Columbus. Okay, like that's what she was born right that um Don't know a lot of Atlanta both here a lot of them Columbus. Okay, like that's what she was born right that um But yeah, man, I mean, it's just did you expect to get any kind of backlash? Yeah, I knew it. I know you knew he was Gonna say something I didn't know that Levy I was gonna say something I knew somebody was gonna say something just because of the energy look It all stemmed from the national championship game. Okay, I look guys in Atlanta Right, it's rare that I get Columbus in Atlanta. Correct together

Okay, and is in Atlanta. We go to the dome. I go to the suite My boys all my boys from Columbus. They think we all got a boy. They got the box and so I'm looking They like you gotta have a drink. I'm like, I got none over there. I drink and we got tequila I'm like brah, I don't drink Patron. That's my song, right? Happen to take a couple shots. We won, and I got on live, and I just thought I won. Yeah. And I was trying to make it.

People don't notice. I was trying to get to the field. My security said, Bow, you just kept trying to get to the field. And I did get to the field. They were celebrating. I'm like, yo, you gotta let me out there. Right. They're like, Bow, man, we will, but we can't let.

I'm like, you gotta let me out there. Like, I'm the biggest thing from the. And riding off of emotions, I went on my live, and I said what I said. But I didn't know that he was going to come back. We can't let I'm like you let me out there like I'm the biggest thing from the and Riding off of emotions right I went on my live and I said what I said But I didn't know that he was gonna come back and I will say this I Reached out to him. I'm a source on a video. I'm not like most cash in I'm not like the back and forth on it Try to keep it going you try to settle you I'm gonna call you so I had him want to DM like yo Call me. I don't do the internet yelling over the phone thing. We spoke like men, passed it up.

I told him where I was coming from with it. He apologized like, man, you know, I jumped out there not knowing, blah, blah, blah. And the people spoke for me. I didn't really have to say much. But I got love for Le'Veon, it's all good. Okay, I appreciate it. Did you know he was from Columbus?

Yeah, I knew. I knew he was from Columbus. Okay, yeah, nice to look at. So let me ask you this. So before you, because okay know he was from Columbus? Yeah, I know. Okay. Okay. Yeah, nice little thing So let me ask you this so before you because okay, you're in Columbus, Ohio You say I want to go to Duke, but you really come to the realization It ain't gonna happen. Yeah, and so now you shift your focus now you realize they're come to the realization Basketball ain't happening. Now. What is the focus? The focus was just being a kid

okay and letting it just happen. Okay so I remember um at the time I want to say I was on a football field okay and my mother walked up to the fence and she was like come here and I was like all right what's up so we're going to Atlanta tomorrow I'm like for what? And she's like I know you said you just want to live a normal life You want to be a kid you don't want to do the things after the whole death row thing for that I was over the music business. I'm like, I'm done with it. So but this is God by the name of Jermaine Dupree I want you to meet I'm like who he found Chris cross and growing up. I was so envious of Chris cross Yeah, cuz when Snoop had me I feel like that was my time even though it wasn't

And I was I don't want to meet him. I don't want to go nowhere. I in full pads and gear. I don't want to go. Yeah, I want to be right here I'm about to get this big mama take it to the house. I want to be a kid I don't want to do that man my mama. I don't want nothing you got to say you we going It's sure enough. I never looked back right yep, so what? I Have you playing sports and being a kid so obviously your mom realized that you have a talent. So you're doing talent shows. Yeah.

So are you in a group? No group. No group, is you solo? It's me solo. Rapping, doing R&B, so what is your spiel? What are you doing? Believe it or not, it was comedy. Right?

My mom bought me that red, white, and yellow, blue Fisher Price microphone set. Yeah. Yes. I used to always mimic people. I used to always mimic stuff. So it went from that to my mom playing rap music around us. Okay. We got a young mom.

So from that, then it went to, okay, he want to be an entertainer. Okay. There's something in him. We just don't know what it is. Is it the comedian stuff? Is it the music? But the way I would hold a comb or a remote control resembling a microphone in my movements,

I just knew how to imitate what I saw. Right. And then, you know, that one special night when Snoop and Draynham came to Columbus, I had a night, I had a chance, that was my chance, and that was my night to really flex what I've been not really working on, but that I just possessed.

Like, it just, it was just second nature to entertain and just have fun with it right and then I think when mom saw that and saw me up on that stage from all them people and then Snoop and Dre wanted to meet me right that's when they clicked for mama like okay this is what this boy about to be a rapper right I don't want you folks on nothing else rap rap rap when you get out there they gonna take care of the school and all that right this is who you are right and I never look back but you had originally before you became by while you was kid gangster when you get out there, they gonna take care of the school and all that. Right. This is who you are. Right. And I never look back. But you had, originally before you became Bowie, you was Kid Gangsta.

Oh damn. How did you get, did you give yourself that name or somebody gave you that name? Somebody gave me that name. Cause I love gangsta rap. Right. You know what I mean? Um, my mom, like I said. Even with that heavy cursing, your mom would let you?

Man, let me hear all that. Let me hear all that. Like, that was me, that's me on Doggie, so I don't snooze out. Yes. All the kids curs me hear all that Let me hear all that like that was me. That's me on dog. He's all on snow I'm a kid's cursing and all that so I it just fit me and then I remember getting with Snoop and he was like What's your name? I was like kid gangster. He was like this That ain't gonna work then he looking like But he'd he little me though right he lost Snoop right and then he say little Snoop

I'm the big dog the big bad while you little Snoop right and then he said little Snoop I'm the big dog the big Bow Wow you you little Bow Wow right so Snoop gave you that name Snoop gave me the name and it stuck stuck you you liked it though it was weird at first cuz I was so used to kick gangsta and I'm like that like little Bow Wow I'm like it didn't really ring and I remember him telling me I want you to repeat it like I want you to get comfortable saying that name that's who you are that's your name your name is little Bow wow, and I was like That's dope. And he basically it's like no matter where you go in life

No matter who you sign with no matter what you do You can always have a piece of Snoop with you because you are the little me and I gave you that name So, you know that name mean everything to me. So in other words, you were the first little there are a lot of little There are a lot of LILs, but you were the first Lil. There are a lot of Lil, there are a lot of L-I-Ls, but you were the first. I was one of the first. Kim was out before I was. Lil Kim, right. Kim was out before I was.

Okay. Am I one of the biggest Littles? Absolutely. So in the talent, when you did talent shows in Columbus, you were rapping. Correct. You win them, you win all your shows? Killing them.

You're killing them. Jack the Rapper, that's one of like the biggest hip hop. Yeah, Jack the Rapper was here in Atlanta. Yup, yup. So you came to Jack the Rapper? Did Jack the Rapper, did all one of the biggest hip hop conventions. Yeah, Jack the Rapper was here in Atlanta. Yup, yup. So you came to Jack the Rapper? Yeah, Jack the Rapper did all that. I was at everything. Like, opened up for Tupac and Yo-Yo back in the day.

Yeah. Man, I want to find that picture so bad. That picture's so tough. Yeah, opening up for people, I mean, I was doing everything. I mean, you name it, man. I was, I don't remember doing value-seeking commercials. So you were the traveling. Oh, yeah It was up it wasn't just no okay in Columbus and then I go to Cleveland and I go to Canton and I go to these

Ohio you would go in state to state and I really have to move much because Columbus, you know That's the capital and then for me being at Columbus isn't like a big city like in Atlanta or New York If you ringing bells and anything, right sports Music like you can seriously own the town If you ringing bells in anything, sports, music, like you can seriously own the town. Like they will get behind you and rally to let you know that you're here. So it was almost like I really didn't have to go nowhere.

Like a lot of the competitions that we were doing in Columbus, I was winning them, performing at East High School. Man, I did it. Like I've done it. And everybody in Columbus that they know like this boy it didn't happen overnight I remember about coming to here sneaking in here, you know his mom and then what I mean we I did it all I did it all

How did you learn that stage present? Were you ever nervous because it strikes me like you're just a natural performer and nerves was never an issue with you Or did you have to develop that? I love that stage. I love the stage. Cause your mom probably had you performing in front of family and friends at a very young age. So they come over, hey baby, do that.

My mom would be like, don't hold, stop covering the damn mic. You can't cover the mic, you muffled. All y'all rappers wanna cover the mic. You gotta hold the mic right there underneath. I'm like,all rappers want to cover the mic. You got to hold the mic right there underneath. I'm like, man, it's just it's feel what I'm hosting. Right. When I'm rapping, I gotta I gotta get in my bag. Right. Um,

LL Cool J. Yes. LL did it for me. Um, watching him perform. So many similarities that I see when I look at L pertaining to myself heavy female records. Mm-hmm the the women fan base But when you watch him perform to me, that's my idol. That's my go-to. That's my goat That's the film that I watch, you know, we watch film and we study I watch old L cool J performances and you will see the moves that I've stole from this man I'm happy to say this, he knows this. OG, that's my, he knows, he's my GOAT. And when I watched him, I was just like,

yo, this dude rocks, like he rocks a crowd. That's what I wanna do. I gotta, it's cool to have a hit, it's cool to sound good on a record, it's cool to, but when people come see you live in concert that pay they money and and the music matches, but what they see live, live is different. You got it.

So for me, I take the stage very seriously. And I come from that cloth, I come from that era where performing is everything, right? Rocking the crowd, rocking the house. So LL is the only person that I watch for that. And you'll see it, like little subtle things, the leg thing I do is all L. And when I'm rapping Fresh Like M miss, I feel like I'm performing

bad. I'm bad every night. And when I do fresh, I really feel like I'm doing it bad. So he means so much to me, just performance wise and everything that he's done. Do you ever get nervous and forget a lyric or forget a step or something while you're on stage? I did one time. One time, I was in Chicago. This is when I first came out. Jermaine was on stage first.

He brought me out to do Bounce with Me. I come out there, I kid you not, I rap the second verse on the first verse and it completely threw off everything. I'm hearing my ad-libs saying different things and I'm look out. I promise you I remember like it was yesterday the face that Jermaine had All right, it was that it was Like that's what it was right and I'm looking at him like he can see it in my eyes, but I'm just gonna keep rapping I see I'm gonna just keep it going right but I know the crowd know oh, they must definitely know

Okay, they but the thing is keep Oh, they most definitely knew. Okay. But the thing is, keep going. But I've had my mishaps. I done fell through holes on stage. Damn! Yeah, like, we know this, right? We, I have these things on stage sometimes

where I get launched out of. Right, yes, yes. And you gotta be careful because if somebody else is coming up, if I have a surprise guest, it'll be down. Right. So, you know, this wasn't this tour. This was our first run with the Millennium. Well, my second.

My first run with the Millennium. And I had Soulja Boy in the hole. And I forgot that the night before we did MSG, I didn't have him because we couldn't bring our stage. Right. So it's down. Soulja's in it waiting. And I kid you not, and I was a little hungover. I was my birthday the night before I literally

Well, we miss him BAM fell on top of so he in the hole like what the hell is going on? I don't fell on him and I said bro. Oh my god, and he looks at me he goes I said bro, I fell through the hole I said we gonna stand up straight, and we gonna come up together. And when we came up together, we came up laughing, and it was a moment. But my manager was like, yo,

so I got off the stage and said, man, you gotta post this before anybody else posts it. But yes, things happen, things happen. So as a kid, were your mom allowing you to go to concerts as a kid and see some of this gangsta rap and see some of these rappers? Do you remember the first concert you went to? First concert I went to was the Chronic Tour.

Wow. Snoop, Dre, Boss, and Onyx. Right. Yup. I was there. Six years old. Yup. I was there.

I was there. And from that point on, you was hooked. Gone. So they brought, so did you know they were going to bring you out? Not at all so AJ Johnson got rest his soul who plays on EZL on Friday. Yeah He was the MC was the host of the tour and during the intermission so, you know, anybody want come over and dig they got with the tape that it uh, and

Wow, he picked me out the crowd. I'm gonna bring a little man up. Oh I'm talking about fun like 16,000. I just started rapping, rapping, you know, a little rap somebody might have wrote for me, right? Going crazy. They throw money on the stage, you know, me I stopped rapping, I'm grabbing the money. Man, this right here. I'm like, forget this. I'm like, man, you know what I mean? And then crowd was going crazy. And Daz, actually, Daz was like, he was the one who saw me. And he said, I'm about to take you to the back and let you meet Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. I'm about to bring you back here.

Little homie, Cole. Right. Brought me back there, met him, and that's when I met Dre and Snoop for the first time. We got this epic photo. Right. At six years old in the middle of Dre and Snoop. And then that's when they was like, you know what? We're going to do this every night.

We're going to bring him on the road, put him in the crowd, and we're going to yell like, who want to come up? what we're gonna do this every night We're gonna bring him on the road put him in the crowd and we gonna yell like who want to come on We're gonna pick him every night, and we're gonna let a little man get off. Oh, so that's how that work. Yeah, okay So now I'll be knowing cuz they be like oh And they'd be bringing this person up and that person already be planning to my might already been planning it But that's that's what they still be like you're gonna bring a little man with us, and I never look back So when they told you so okay? We're gonna do this so when you go out there They say oh dad takes you back you meet Snoop you meet Drake and they say they're gonna Bring you out. Do you remember the song that you performed out there with I definitely don't I

Definitely don't and it was towards like the end and stretch of the tour right? So what I do remember was as soon as the tour was over They went in production for Snoop album. Okay, so I was around when he made thoughgy Style. I was in studio sessions while they were making it and creating it. Like I'm watching Unk in the booth. Like I'm sitting out here just watching him work on this album and that's how I got on the album. You know what I mean? From being there and then I did a couple records that leaked. They on YouTube. They out. It's bad. The language that I was using is crazy. They had me on something

Yeah, if CPS would have found out about that it came and got you I mean it was crazy when I was on they were really molding me to be Little Snoop right for real. I had corrupt writing my rhymes and you know at that time It was just stuff that you know I said me six years old shouldn't really be rapping about and snoop knew that and then you know That's how that whole thing kind of played out. Did you feel like everything because it happened so quick you're six years old you're on stage you had a concert you see them you go back you start doing

this did you feel like everything was coming easy? Not that it was coming easy I feel like it wasn't coming fast enough okay actually you know because once I got to LA a lot of artists, well I don't know about now, but I know back then a lot of artists had to sit on the label. We call that basically when they sign you, but you won't wait your turn. Right. Artist development, we gotta get you right.

And all of this type of stuff. So I just felt like I was ready. You felt you was already right. It wasn't no sense in waiting you. Man, I was ready. I wanted, you know what I mean? But obviously it wasn't my time. Right.

Crisscrosses on fire ABC was out I Probably would have drowned like they had a market sold up I mean, so it was perfect timing for Snoop to be like you know what I know the person I'm gonna put him with Right I know exactly Where he need to go because this death row thing is just not it for him right it's not safe And I don't want him growing up being influenced by the gang culture now He banging and he doing this. I know exactly what to do with him. I'm gonna place him right with Jermaine Dupree And I know he gonna take him exactly where I know he need to go. Yep, but before that happened You signed a death row and you moved to Cali and your mom didn't go with you

No, mom's ain't my mom's end up coming out there later, right? but off the rip I was staying with a Nancy Fletcher, that's that's one of snooze background singers at the top How old you remember how would you work probably like six one on seven and your mom is a go ahead? Yeah, that's a lot of trust a lot of trust but trusted Nancy with everything she was such a sweet person sweetheart took care of me took me in a little her and trusted Nancy with everything. She was such a sweet person, sweetheart, took care of me, took me in, I lived with her. And I really wasn't around the guys much.

Like it was a home environment even in LA. Then my mom ended up coming out there later and we ended up getting an apartment, I believe out in Sherman Oak somewhere I think it was. And then from there, my mom went back and then I went back to Columbus. And that's when I wanted to play football and just be a kid right then we got that call, right? Time to cry today Wow. I mean things are happening so fast. So, okay now you

Rapping on a dog style album you like but Snoop Snoop not only he did you a favor twice He brought you out there because he saw the talent in you but he also saw that you know What what I'm rapping about and what this culture is about? doesn't need to be a part of this right and he moves you alone well because did you know that's what he was doing it for or you thought like maybe I'm not good enough and they don't believe in me it never was a moment where I feel like I wasn't good enough I understood because it was so hard explain that to you no he never did okay but it was so self-explanatory

It didn't happen. It didn't happen. The right was on the wall. I seen it. Okay Just being around right witnessing the things that was going on and seeing what my seeing what snoot was going through, right? I knew he didn't have time to focus on the artist He had to focus solely on himself and he felt like that was so selfish. It would be selfish of him to Worry about him, but still having me near I'm getting older, I'm getting older, and it's like, man, this dude, I know this kid can go. I just gotta put him with somebody. I don't wanna be the reason he doesn't make it.

He has to make it. And we done moved him out here. The next thing for him is boom, JD. And it was almost like dropping off your kid and coming back to get him. It was like, here you go JD, but look, nephew, I'ma swerve around the block, little later on we gon' meet, all right?

And once I got hot, it was up. And first album, second single, Snoop, Me and Dog, number one. So it was like, he was right, I'ma place you there, and I'ma come back around and come get you. I'ma come get you, and he got me. When it was on Dogfather, you had gin and juice. Did you know what gin and juice was?

Nope. I just remember seeing this green bottle all the time at Laramie Studios with the little red circle on it. I'm like, man, why y'all be having that around? And there was always some orange juice around. I'm like, what is that? That's Tango around my own end. Eric, that was a thing back there.

You don't hear nobody talking about that. Nobody talking about, hey, bring thing back there. Yes. You don't hear like you were nobody talking about Hey, bring me 20 bottles of gin, right? You don't hear that. Like that's not the thing. But yeah, I had no clue I just knew this is green bottle with this red sticker on it Yeah, and it's always in the studio or is around and it's always next to some damn orange juice I don't I don't get it. But around that time to pop was around Yeah, and I read that you tried to sneak in the studio Oh, absolutely. with Pop was in. Absolutely.

I just, one thing about me, I always remained like being a kid. Right. No matter how big I got, no matter what I was doing, being a child meant everything to me. Right. You know? And yeah, that's true.

Pop was working and I'm like, I gotta see this I'm gonna see it. Right. I want to see it Right. I don't even know if he even remembers me because I open up for him years years back But I don't even think you know, it's the same kid, right? I mean, so definitely try to sneak in most definitely I want to see that opposed But I'm glad I got a chance to watch Snoop though, right because to be there to witness watching him create one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time and to say he was in the same room and watched it how it was and back then how the tracks

were you know they used to have to get the razors and cut the cut the tape like it was amazing watching how it all came together yep I was there for it like I hear these I play dog east out now it's like it's weird for me because every song I just remember where I was like I love I'm glad that I was able to have that moment Do what was she around that during that time? Oh most definitely she was around right 100% most definitely So you left so Snoop drops you off at Jermaine Dupree. Yeah, what was your first interaction? What was your first conversation with JD like? Why you late

Why you late? Damn. Why you late? That was it. And he couldn't believe it. Because you got to think, I despise, like, I didn't really rock with JD at first. Because of the crisscross stuff. So I'm like, man, I'm about to go work with the person who put them in motion. And I don't know, man, what if he tried to sabotage?

I don't know, man. I don't know. I want to be with my uncle. Man, I don't know. I wanna be with my, man I want a dog, man I wanna be with Snoop. And I remember he picked me up in Buckhead, me and my mom from the Hyatt Hotel. And all JD Crum, if I'm wrong, I don't know if it was the black one or the white one.

He had two billies, big boy billies. And he picked me up in one, never seen a billy in my life. So I'm walking to the hotel, I'm like man you late. It's nostalgia overload as Wilmer Valderrama and Freddie Rodriguez welcome another amigo to their podcast, Dose Amigos. Wilmer's friend and former That 70s Show castmate Topher Grace stops by the Speakeasy for a two-part interview to discuss his career and reminisce about old times. "...we were still in that place of like, what will this experience become?

And you go, you're having the best time." But it was like such having the best time. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But it was like such a perfect golden time. Listen to Dos Amigos on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And the dream season is now complete. The Golden State Warriors are the 2015 NBA champions. On the new limited podcast series, Dub Dynasty,

it's been 10 years since their shocking run to a championship. We examine the controversial move that made it possible. It's never a great conversation as a player when you hear that you're being benched. For the entire behind the scenes story of Golden State's incredible 10 year run, listen to Dub Dynasty on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on Good Company, the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of Tubi, for a conversation that's anything but ordinary. We dive into the competitive world of streaming, how she's turning so-called niche into mainstream gold, connecting audiences with stories that truly make them feel seen. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core.

It's this idea that there are so many stories out there, and if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Get a front row seat to where media, marketing, technology, entertainment, and sports collide. And hear how leaders like Anjali are carving out space and shaking things up a bit in the most crowded of markets. Listen to Good Company on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Man, he had me and my mama sitting at the hotel all day. He like, damn, that's crazy. This kid is

a star. This is the first thing he's telling me. I'm like, yeah, man, because he look like a kid to me too. Jermaine was fun and short. I'm taller than him now, but I just. But y'all was close to the hype back then. We was close to the hype back then. And I'm just like, that was it. I was like, you late.

And then the first question I asked him, I said, yo, why this car ain't got no logo on it? It's just a B on here. I never seen it. Coming from Columbus, I never seen no car's just a B on here. Like, I never seen it. Coming from Columbus, I never seen no car with just a B on it. There's a Bentley. I'm like, I don't know what that is.

But all I know, Shannon, he had the thick rabbit fur. Somebody was coming up with a Bentley coming in. I was like, nah, this different. This, this, this. Okay, I like this. It's something. This is something. We ain't got these.

And then from there, he knew exactly what to do. He said, I went to the crib, went to his house, flexed it on me. 11 cars in the driveway, never seen nothing like it. We had two Benle's, Porsches, Rovers. The 745s on there was out back then. I mean, Ferraris, man, JD was wilding. And when I saw that, I was like, mama, I'm kinda glad

Unc passed me over here to JD. I ain't see this, this different. I'm like, hey listen, I'm like, man, JD, I will say this, the first man that I seen, I'm say this, the first man that I seen, I'm on two eyes, that I seen myself and I said, dang, I want him to be, like, he's what I, I look up to him as a father figure.

Jermaine filled that void that my father left. You know what I'm saying? Like when I saw him, I knew, man, I wanna make him happy, I wanna make him the most money so we can keep buying cars I want he he showed me the blueprint I want everything he got plus more right and you know That's like being a kid on the block and you see the dude come around the s-5 50 like that's gonna be me Well, right. I just got know how to get to it and when I saw that I'm like, all right

This is how were you at that time? I'm probably like 11 now. Okay, probably 11. J. D. Had me like 11, right? so when I saw it, I'm like, all right. How old were you at that time? I'm probably like 11 now. OK. Probably like 11. JD had me like 11. Right. So when I saw it, Shane, I was like, when we get in that studio, that's what I want to know. And he made me sit for a minute. We did a song on the Wawa West soundtrack for Will Smith. It ain't do nothing.

And the song ain't do nothing. But it made it to the soundtrack. Right. It ain't do nothing. He was just making sure I was ready. But I was so happy to do that record. And I remember playing that song all the time, like, all right, we got some chemistry.

We gonna make some magic here. This is up, this is me and you for life, for sure. You understood, you said he had Chris Cross, Brad, Usher. So you knew he had made big stars. And you're like, well hell, he did it for them. He can do it for me. Yeah. Without your thought process?

You think that, and there's some times where it could be a top producer and it don't happen for you like that. I've seen cats come to So So Def and it might not work out for them. Right. But then I see them leave So So Def and they blossom. So every situation ain't different. It's totally different. You know what I mean? Yeah

but Jermaine just he it I Told him I said listen if I'm not the biggest artist you have out on your label Then I feel like I want to be the biggest artist you ever had stand next to you That's what I want to be Why do you think you and JD had the chemistry that you guys possessed? You felt it right off the bat. Why do you think there was such great chemistry

between you two? I think because Jermaine is the only child, and I am too. Oh, OK. And also, being that Jermaine was still in his 20s. You're the same age. That's how I feel. That too. And I just think that he might have always wanted a little brother.

And I always wanted a big brother or father. And I never had it. And he never had it until we met each other. So at first it started out like, that's big bro, that's big bro. That's a little bro. Then it's like, nah, that's really like your son, bro. Like that man, me, look up to you. Y'all talk alike.

Y'all walk alike. Everything. And it was true. And I think that's what look up to you. Y'all talk alike. Y'all walk a lot everything and it was true Right, and I think that's what made it so perfect I was looking for something and he was probably looking for something and then boom like to this day He like I ain't got that no son. I got he is my son bow is my son. That's my son I know say it say it proudly, too Working with us you did you feel like he was gonna be to do that? Because you say a lot of times you see guys that be with these great producers and they don't find success over there.

They go somewhere that the producer that's not as known. But he had Usher and Usher was just... Fire. Exploded. I was there for that. I was there. Look man, I had the confession album before anybody had it on a burnt disc like coming like from the studio though. Jermaine used to ride around to it before it even came out.

We was, I knew what that was gonna be. And just, yeah, and not only that, just my projects that Jermaine has worked on, but being there for the Confessions album and watching him and Brian Michael Cox, how they did it. And you know, it only inspired me more and I remember Jermaine Like he sent me to usher concert one time. I need you to go get inspired I think you just getting a little bit too relaxed. So he sent me off to usher's concert and I Believe is a confession story. I went And I was just mom blown. I was like man. I got a I got a feeling again. I got to get I got to turn it

Back up. So Jermaine is just a wizard of he just knows Right. He just knows how to put you in certain situations He knows that each artist is different, but he knows how to tap into each one of his artists But I definitely told him if I sign with you if I'm a roll with you I want to be the biggest artist you ever had It did that did that when you started to blow up bounce Bounce With Me, you had That's My Name, Puppy Love, Ghetto Girls, how did that change your life? Now you're in a different stratosphere.

Did you act differently or were you just still the same? I was bad as hell. I was bad as hell. I was bad as hell. I would go, listen, okay, so around this time, this is Triple Platinum Bible. This is the first album. Right. Man, I'm pulling up to the social dev offices,

going out, hitting the power surges, boom, boom, boom. Lights go off in the office, everybody computers, meetings going on. They're like, what the hell? Jermaine banded me from the studio, Jermaine banded me from the office. Damn, you cutting up like that? I was a bad kid.

Like I knew, that's, and that's why I believe when people ask me like, how do you think you still have your head on your shoulders? I'm like because I have my I have my childhood. Okay, you know nobody took that away from me I play like I said play football, but even when I was famous I remained a kid I was pulling pranks on people. Like I said turn off the power at the office. I just had no care and No, not only Being a superstar a young superstar, but I'm still a kid. So I got that

Being a superstar a young superstar, but I'm still a kid so I got that Ha ha is really you can say right now right cuz I'm paying your bills I'm paying your bills your bills. I'm keeping the lights on so I can turn these lights off whenever I feel like so and I'm a kid Right, so it's only so much gonna do but call my mom right? That's all you can do or tell Jermaine and Jermaine I'm like stop and I Ain't stop so Yeah, I've remained a kid, bro. And if Jermaine was here, he'll tell you that's one thing that boy did. He we could be anywhere.

He just always at that time, he was a kid and he remained it. What was your favorite? What's your favorite memory from that time? Favorite memory from that time. It'd be selling out Mass Squad Garden. Wow. Yeah, MSG for sure. The Garden. And it's so many moments. Like I'm just sitting there thinking. It's so many, me and Madonna it's so many, so many memories but that one right there was different for me. Right.

Cause I'm like, all the history that happens, and there's been 13, a little boy from Ohio, really, 16,000 kids in here, this is crazy. And then to do it again, and then to come back and do it again, and then to be 38 and we still doing it, it's a blessing. I never imagined. Did you think, I mean, I don't know,

I'm trying to think if they're a child star That's as big as you were at that now It's big as you were back then because you had to I mean yeah teenage girls follow you the small girls follow you Faint and just like wanted to take a picture wanted to get a glimpse of you wanted to see just wanted to see Bow Wow I mean one person from the mind. Oh the closest thing to Lil Bow Wow would probably be Bieber. Okay. I'll give it to JB, that's my man. Only because he started young, I was 13 though.

So I was the youngest, I'm not sure, I think Bieber might be 13, 14, whatever, but the closest that I've seen, because Chris started at 15, 16. He was already getting to it, where me and B was probably like 13 years old. Because when Michael blew up, he was in the group. He wasn't solo like you and B, like you were,

like B where he was with the Jackson 5, and then once he went on his own, phew. Good night. Good night. Good time. Good night. So what was the craziest fan interaction? Now, this is good.

I'm in Chicago. I had three sold out shows in one day. That's how they used to do them. Theater shows. Right. We'll do like the 1 o'clock, then the mad night, and then we'll do the 7 PM one. Three sold out shows in one day.

It's crazy. I want to say after during, I once after the second show, yep, after the second show, I go out to my tour bus and it's a loading dock. And you just look up and you see all the fans waving their posters and screaming. And I just see legs, feet, bottom of tennis shoes in there. Girl jumped off the loading dock off the bridge like the tunnel and lands on the top of my tour bus and

She was I've never seen her like that. I was like what they he was he wasn't hurt No, and she's I'm not getting down to you sign this please you got a sign this we had to call The fire department had to come out put the ladder up to the bus get her down safely I signed it for and the rest was history. The funny thing is, I've met her and I know she's watching this, I've met her again since and she always reminds me, you know who I am? I'm like, did you hear that jump off your bus? I'll be like, oh my gosh, and she's grown now and every time I see her it's funny, she's always bringing it up all the time But yeah, that was wild but during that time also there was another little came out little Romeo

Mm-hmm without a healthy competition between you two guys. I really didn't feel no competition honestly because I never really looked at Him or nobody else in your space. Yeah, and it's like from like an arrogant or thing It's more of I was just focused on doing me. I didn't really have time to you know, I mean I I feel big I mean three million records and touring arenas like it's really no right. I'm not trying to compete nobody I'm just doing my thing and I'm winning. I think during that time with him and me When he came out it was a lot of it it was easy to compare. Right, cause you're both young. Both young. You little Romeo, you little Bow Wow.

I got the Mickey Mouse, he got the Bugs Bunny. We both have two iconic hip hop gurus behind us. I got JD, he got P. It was just so easy to pin us together. And me and Rome never wanted the fans to pick and choose and do all that. Right, cause there's enough space for both of us. There's enough space to eat.

And we always had a cool relationship you know I mean and I remember as we got older he told me like bro you know why I did all that bro I did that because I looked up to you bro right like you know I mean like I was no different than every other little boy with braids bro it was you why you think I'm Harlem shaking in my videos I know that's yours why you think I'm doing the the sea walk with it I know that but I looked up to you brow and I never told you that and I want to say Thank any game on roses when we when me and soldier boy did versus he came on the stage and gave another speech like value The Jordan I'm the Kobe and you know soldiers the brown however you put it But um, yeah, I never in life had a problem Romeo never in life

I think it was more of and if he was here say the same thing It was more of the people the fans trying to yeah stir up something to give the media and everybody something to talk about but we ain't let it happen No, have you ever been starstruck? Hell, yeah On two occasions, okay One of them I was bow like I'm like me I'm here now, right? Barack Obama got me really man to the day day I still feel like it was fake. I feel like it was a cutout. Like, was it really him? Right. But I went to the White House. Like, that's a big flex for me because I remember, I remember like, we used to have

to save up our money and ask our mamas for field trips. You know, you take the bus up to D.C. Yeah. Just so you can go 13 hour trip or 8 hour drive on the yellow bus to go stand outside the gate. Yeah, to see the White House. To see it. Not going inside. Not going inside it. I mean nothing.

I'm like, man, this the, boy, this the flex, bro. I'm in here. Right. Like, I'm looking, man, what? I'm walking around and immediately they called our group. Bam. Time to go downstairs and take pictures. I'm like, all right. I ain't know what to expect. I'm like, man, I'm damn, it's crazy.

That man, you see that my fam, I'm like, man, this is wild. Like I never thought, man, I hit that corner. Miss Michelle was right there. Obama right there. First thing he said, roll bounce. It's like roll bounce. You already know. Let go. I'm like, this is all that dope, you saw it, that's hard, I appreciate that, that's hard. And then we took the photo, bro, if we post a picture of myself, bro, I had the biggest smile, that's probably the biggest smile you'll ever see on my face, because I just couldn't believe it. I sent the picture right to my mom. And that was a moment right there. That definitely was a moment.

And then the first time I met MJ, I called him Mr. Jordan, but Michael, but Mr. Jordan. I called him Mr. Jordan. It's like he levitating in there. He don't seem real, does he? I've been trying to tell my boys that. It's different. Y'all here?

It's different. It's different. I know who your goat is. We're going to get to that later. But it's different. Y'all here? It's different. It's different. I know who your goat is. We're going to get to that later. But it's different. He don't seem real. I'm trying to tell people it's different. Dude, levitate, man.

It's different. It's different. And how we met for the first time was crazy because Marcus is one of my close friends. We pretty much grew up together. Every Scream tour, I stayed at the house. The house that they just sold sold I will always stay there and how we met was We didn't even meet during like Mike right so just imagine so I'm over at Marcus in the house

I told you I'm a big Duke fan, right? That's a North Carolina Tar Heel. Yeah, you don't play that. I wore Reeboks to the house I wore some opposites that was my guy right after after Marcus dad retired. Ayah was my man. It's had the break I just saw me so I'm in the house the offices. I wake up me and Marcus in his room We wake up in the morning. I just hit that door crack open like a father like a real dad. Hey Who bullshits these? And Marcus look like I don't know even you already know don't even look at me. It's jump man forever, right? I'm on the floor asleep. I'm like, I don't even, you already know, don't even look at me. It's Jumpman forever. I'm on the floor asleep.

I'm like, huh? He like, DJ was bowed? I'm like, yeah. Shit's going in the trash. John Michael, man. Get a little man some kicks. I never saw my offices ever again. Marcus on the story.

The man threw your shoes in the trash. Threw my offices away. Gone. Gone. That told the story. The man threw your shoes in the trash. Threw my officers away. Gone. Gone. That was my introduction. And ever since then, any time he see me, it's, short shit. When you going to grow some mention, short shit.

You still short as shit. Look at you. Ain't going to grow. He ain't going to grow inch. Always going to pop it. Yes. He going to pop it. Yes.

And you know, that was probably the only two times I was like, oh, wow, OK, OK. These photos. Oh, that's crazy. I mean, people don't know this, but you do realize, like, LeBron is only two years older than you. I know. Do you see how, like, tall he is?

Yeah. Yeah. Yo, I got one of the coldest pictures. That's crazy. Beyonce's five years older than you That's it. So how do you think you are in this picture? I'm probably like 13 And I feel like 14. No 13 probably 13 going on 14 or I might be for it. That's it I think no look at this that picture is incredible

How is this when you're like you're like six? How do you hear that's hold like I'm like 13 right there Hold on. That's why all in the same time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because was my album out then? I want to say no. I don't think, beware of dark. We were probably working on my album at the time because I got the iced out Mickey Mouse chain.

So I got the chain already, but I don't think Bounce when he came out, it was about to come out. Right. Yep. This around money in a thing era because I came out and performed with Jay Z and JD in Atlanta here at the Atrium.

So yeah, that's around that time. When you see those pictures, what goes through your mind? Is that kid 78 years old now? Or yet? Legacy, legacy. Do you remember, how old are you in this picture? 13? 16.

16 in that picture. Yep, Braun was about to go to, Braun at 18. I was 16. You remember how old are you in this picture 13 16 16 in that picture? Yep Brown was about to go to leave Brown at 18. Mm-hmm 16 and I was at a TRI when we did that I got a cold picture of Lebron After that we got to the league that I've never shared with nobody right and I told myself my boy notice I was some of the day he retired. I'm gonna post it. I got a fire picture in Atlanta, too Wow, we're brown fire. Can't wait. I can't waita post it. I got a fire picture in Atlanta, too. Wow. With Brown, fire. Can't wait to post it. You did the remix, Jumpin' Destiny's Childs remix.

What was your interaction with them? I mean, because to meet Beyonce, because at the time they're Destiny's Childs. Beyonce hadn't gone on for her own yet, but they're still the hottest women's group out. Absolutely, absolutely. And so you meet them, so what's going through your mind? I go to Houston for the first time

with JD and Brian Michael Cox. We go down there, they work on the record. I'm in the studio with them. Beyonce was younger back then, was a thrill to work with. And the thing is, we were label mates. So Destiny Child was on Columbia, I was on Columbia. So we always intertwined. Always was moving through each other.

If I'm at the awards, they're there. If I'm in the office, having a meeting, I'm in New York, the girls are there too. So I will always see them. And that's how me and Solange was able to have our own friendship and our own thing. And you even see her play a little part of my career. And we did a movie together, Jonathan's Family Vacation.

And then she was in one of my videos. And that's how that whole thing kind of stemmed and then Yvette who works very close to Beyonce was also overseeing some of my projects too. So we were label mates So it was just so easy to have that blend But yeah, man, it was it was a pleasure working with them and even to this day when I see V She's always the same Kelly as well. They're all Michelle. They're always the same. I can I can say that like all, Michelle, they're always the same. I can say that like, never changed, never switched up and I was happy that I got a chance to work with Destiny Childhood Group. Like that's something I hold dearly.

Your song bounced with me. It was in the soundtrack Big Mama House. How did that, how did that, how does, if you get a song on a soundtrack and it's obviously the movie, how does that help a song? Does it help or does it really take it to the next level? If it's a hit. Yeah. If it's a hit, yeah. But also, I mean, like. Soundtracks were so big back then, they were talking about men in black soundtrack, soundtracks doing double, triple platinum.

Right. And yes, there were the first single off of a soundtrack, usually nine times out of 10 was a smash record. Right. And I guess that's what happened with Big Momma's House with Bounce Me because it became a number one record. Right. And it definitely jumpstarted everything, having placement in the movie, hearing it,

and then bringing it to life with the video and how Jermaine presented me to come. Because the first single off of that Big Momma South soundtrack was him and Monica. Right. And Nas, and he ushered me in at the end of that video. It was like, he's the future, who is this? And I come bust through the door, it's the beat to the,

oh, they like, whoa, like who is this little kid? And it was the perfect setup. And Jermaine teased him, and I remember the screen blowing up, off of it. And then that's how we segue into Bounce to bounce him he let me do a little bit of bounce at the end of the video right and we went and shot the real thing. Now okay you're blowing up you're doing your rap thing you're singing how does this transition takes the little right and now you're doing movies. Did you always

want to do that did Did you see that naturally? I had no idea. I had no idea. I wasn't even in the plan. By me playing so much basketball and incorporating sports into my videos, once Beware of Dawg came out and we went triple platinum, it's like all eyes is on this kid. He's the biggest thing in music right now And then 20th Century Fox is working on his movie about a kid. Mm-hmm could play basketball pretty good We got a little bow wow, there's only one kid and it was because of how hot I was over here

Brought the attention and they came and got me so John Shultz the director like Mike he came to Columbus, Ohio Right. Now I'm 14. I did Like Mike at 14. I'm 14 now. Yeah. We're in the gym, then after trial for the movie, casting me. I was cast before they came down. Right. We're just in the gym shooting, talking. That's how we are. Right.

And you know you got the part or something cooking when they like, okay, cool. So, you know, we got to get the schedule right and get you out here to, you know, LA and da-da-da. So I think, think about this. I'm not taking none of this stuff. He's saying serious like nothing he's telling me cuz I'm so ghetto in my mind that when you say movie I'm thinking baller block and I'm thinking we better go shoot a DVD like Straight to DVD like when you say movie to me like at the age I'm at that's how far off from Hollywood I was I'm thinking like the movies that I like to watch right because movies I like to watch They don't look like you know how to make them type of movies.

So it's just dope. So we get to LA. I still don't know how big this thing is. I reported to set, and I was like, what is going on? I am lost. Like, I knew nothing. I never had an acting coach. I Thought I had to memorize my whole script Shannon

Like I didn't know we break it up in days and we shoot three scenes. No. No, I thought we were gonna shoot the whole movie and One day and I thought I had to memorize this whole script, right? I was thrown off But I've always been the type person throw me the water let me let me figure it out I'll learn how to swim right man you look at all these movies all about the Benjamins like Mike Johnson's family vacation road bounce the fast and the furious Tokyo Drift lottery ticket medias big family a big happy family scary movie 5f9 you've been in TV shows with Steve Harvey Medici entourage Entourage, CSI, Cyber. Now you're having like, okay, I got this music career and I got this acting career. Did you ever torn like, I feel like I'm cheating on one or the other.

Earlier I was. Earlier my career was because, you know, the sustain that hotness of music, you got to stay with it. But then as I got older and I started figuring the music business out and the ups, the downs, the stress, I was like, this Hollywood thing is Hawaii. Yeah. This is a mess.

Once I got to that point, I could let go of that feeling. Because then acting and being on this set brought me so much happiness because of the stability. Right. Rapping, I'm moving, I'm on the road, I'm touring in a different city every night. The sleep patterns off, I'm in the... It's nostalgia overload as Wilmer Valderrama

and Freddy Rodriguez welcome another amigo to their podcast, Dos Amigos. Wilmer's friend and former That 70 Show castmate, Topher Grace stops by the Speakeasy for a two-part interview to discuss his career and reminisce about old times. We were still in that place of like what will this experience become and you go you're having the best time ever. But it was

like such a perfect golden time listen to dose amigos on the I heart radio app Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. And the dream season is now complete the Golden State Warriors of the 2015 NBA champions. On the new limited podcast series, Dub Dynasty, it's been 10 years since their shocking run to a championship. We examine the controversial move that made it possible. It's never a great conversation as a player when you hear that you're being benched. For the entire behind the scenes story of Golden State's incredible 10 year run, listen

to Dub Dynasty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on Good Company, the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of Tubi, for a conversation that's anything but ordinary. We dive into the competitive world of streaming, how she's turning so-called niche into mainstream gold,

connecting audiences with stories that truly make them feel seen. Would others dismiss as niche we embrace as core? It's this idea that there's so many stories out there and if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Get a front row seat to where media, marketing, technology, entertainment, and sports collide. And hear how leaders like Anjali are carving out space and shaking things up a bit in the most crowded of markets.

Listen to Good Company on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Club, I got a host, I got to do this. It's just sometimes it's like woo woo woo woo woo woo. It just becomes a lot. With the acting side of things, you know what you're shooting. Monday through Friday schedule. You know what time to wake up.

It's the same thing. It's like a nine to five that just pay like a un-nine to five. You know what I'm saying? That's all it is. Right. And that's what made me love acting more than the music at that particular time. I can't say I can't. It's not the same. Not the same. No. The first movie you were if I'm not mistaken was all about the Benjamins with Mike Epps and Q. Correct. And if that's not correct, then it's Carmen with Beyonce

and most deaf. OK, I did Carmen Robert Townsend Directed that movie. So you do the mic ups and and and cube how did that come about? being bow out being the hottest kid in the world and cube one of the badass boy to play that part and Similar like Mike go get little bad. Well Wow. And I remember being in Miami, that was the first time I went, it was hot as hell. And I was sitting all day, then we played this interview back, people were like, hey, several labels,

sat on this, yeah, definitely was. But it was cool, it was fun. It was fun, I remember like it was yesterday, working with Mike Epps and working with Cube and then to fast forward time and now look it's like damn I you mentioned lottery ticket and now they in my movie Cube and Mike Epps like full circle. I went from having three lines with Mike to Him starring in my movie with me. So wow God is good

And then you do like Mike and you have NBA players you have AI, Vince Carter, Tracey Mcgurk, T-Mac, Steve Francis, Dirk, Gary Payton. Gary Payton what's your favorite what's your favorite moment about being on the set and now all of a sudden these these NBA players because at once point of time you wanted to be a basketball player and so now you're on you got your own movie and you're on the set and you got NBA players. These some of the best NBA players. I was doing to them what cats do to me. If I go to a URL battle or if I go somewhere, yo battle me, let me get that.

What? Man, I was challenging left and right. I need that one on one. I gotta say that for real. Cap, Jason Kidd played me, Gary Payton play me one-on-one I beat Lonzo even though he wasn't just talking about NBA players in general beat him That's recorded as documon. Lonzo ball. You beat Lonzo ball? Did I? With no shoes on. You cooked him? With no shoes You got the footage? It's everywhere

You cooked him? Wow, you cooked them? They was talking about this on ESPN. I ain't know about that. Oh, man. What? Lakers came down here to Atlanta when he was playing with Lakers. All of them. Brandon Ingram, everybody was at the studio.

We got to, you know, Jermaine got to, we got to, we got to gym inside. Full court basketball court. Playing around. OK. I need that. I need that I need that Wow, no shoes on Wow Wow beat him in first round

Second round he came back. He's saying hey, you might totally see yeah He did the real serious he wasn't playing cuz we was filming so I knew he was like this They about to put that out of course of course Being at your height in the movie you dunked. Yeah. What's that feeling like? Because you have to like, be like, I want to know what it feels like to dunk. I was nervous.

Really? I was nervous because we had to test it. Like I was on this harness, on this rig. Right. So as I'm running, I remember they pulled it too hard. Right. And it's like, whoa, and I got to the rim too fast.'m like Joe, you know, we got to slow it down a little bit But once we got it, I really had to run and then they would do it and then I would go up

Right. It was I love that was fun. You do it all kind of crazy don't oh my god. I Was ready for the league then I was ready What about you know LeBron did did a remake of space jam? Would you like LeBron to do a remake? Is there somebody out there that could do a remake of Like Mike? Would you like to see a remake of Like Mike? Or is it too soon? I don't think it's too soon.

I think it should have happened already. Right. And they tried to do a part two. They tried to take it to the street ball aspect. That's when N1 came into the mix. It didn't do good. To this day, I don't't and the fans don't consider that a part two to nothing I don't even like talk about it Yes, you know saying but I definitely feel that there is something

There's been ideas that we've been playing around with right just talking nothing locked in Even if it's you know, my daughter or you know, does Calvin have a son now? Right. Okay, I like that. Am I now is Morris Chestnut now the head coach or he's the owner? Am I still playing? Or you're the coach? Yeah, like what's the dynamic? And we definitely can do it now. I feel because even women's basketball is dominating too. Yeah. But I just see it. I see the Steph Curry. I see Braun, I see KD, D-Book. I just see that cover of with the new guys. And I think that'd be dope to do it if done right.

And I think that is highly possible. What if Nike released a light mic shoe? Me and Nike spoke about this and then we did it. I'm gonna be happy as hell, I'm gonna be happy then we did it on behalf is a or share What the come up cuz a lot of you don't know to light my shoe was the Converse the doctors in Converse Yes, you have no idea like they had we have the blazer which is the shoe I actually wore the movie. Yeah, and then we had to converse right Tar Heel with the star with the Dr. J joint. Yes, and It was a it was it was it was, it was, we was touring with 22.

Right. Twin Nis's rock, they could not pick. Fox could not pick. They were like, yo, I'm like, you gotta go with the Nike. Like, what are we talking about here? So and they dropped the blazer. People still rock the blazer. They come in different flavors.

But I definitely felt like being that, that movie was so iconic and so monumental, right? The blazers should have came out even me. Can you imagine how much money Nike would have made if they would have sold it like Mike Schuh? Yeah. Like right in time of the movie release and put that shoot out. Right. That would have been crazy. Another guy that you played one-on-one with Kobe, rest his soul. I knew he was going to bring this one up. You got it. Hell no. See, Kobe don't take cover. If you play one-on-one with Kobe rest your soul. I knew he was gonna bring this one up. You got it hell no

See Kobe don't take cover. He don't take it easy. He going for the gun. Yo, let me tell you man. Yo, I Thought I was gonna have a cool moment for the internet. Like I'm not gonna play cold I'm not to you know, do my little thing make a little couple buckets and you know, it's gonna be what it's gonna be. Right. I went the only reason why we played was because Jermaine's assistant at the time played Kobe. Okay. And got smoked. Yeah. I mean bad. So I'm like, man, hold up, hold up, hold up, hold up, hold up. I ain't no, no, no, hold up. And at the end at that time, I'm big on Brian, like, I think Brian is like, right. And I will my Cleveland Indian had to the to the to the to Kobe camp all that money, I'm big on Bron. Like, I think Bron is like, and I wore my Cleveland Indian hat to Kobe camp all that. I'm like, man, you ain't about to do him like that.

I'm like, it's Team Heat. I'm like, you like what, you want him? I'm like, man, yeah, if you still playing, I wanna play. So Jermaine like, all right, hold up, hold up, hold up. And I'm gonna tell you something. All that, he bow wow, and he, nah, he took it for real. I left, yo, I left that gym and I said I will never play in the NBA nor do I want to. I was so sore.

Then I went to Orlando. That's right. I went to Orlando to go hang out with Chris. We go to a Magic's game. Big baby lands on me. Now this the next day after I play Kobe, I'm sore as hell. His big ass lands on me. Like I'm like this, I just couldn't do it.

How many points you get on Kobe? None. He scuffed you? None. He smothered me. He patted his thumb in my waist. He was doing like... He was playing you like you a real who he was hand-checking and yeah

So now if Kobe I promise God rest his soul He was alive right now if he was allowed to play defense like he played defense on me in the league Or the league could play defense like that nowadays. It'll be a problem Like he literally had his thumb like in my side. He was telling me you gonna go where I'll tell you to go You don't go where I'm doing this. doing this is that yes slap me push me push me I like that shit push me and then we were so dope about the one-on-one is People got a chance to see Kobe in a light that they never got a chance to see Kobe Yeah, you hear about the mum of mentality, but it's hard to hear when you're watching TV, right?

But when we did the YouTube we play one-on-one you hear you hear him my condolences man man we can't play like that on who said you can make rules can make no rules and he's talking to me talking me crazy talking me like I'm not bad yeah and the bet was a thousand dollars or if I made one shot he was gonna pay for two floor seats for the entire year for me he was gonna eat that Damn, you know them Lego tickets cost to it. That's why he ain't that's why he went so hard You know you be course item game them. We know how much we they up there Yeah, so to pay for two for the whole year what I was trying my best to you try to get one basket

Look, it's a call you had to get was one basket Listen man, there was a clip if we watch it we play it back where he misses the ball the ball go over here I go get the ball. I swear to God I grabbed the ball. You won't hear Jermaine saying let's go back Shoot it shoot it. I Wanted to but by the time I raised up It was no time like even though it was probably space, the way he closed out, that 6'6", that man, it turned into, like, 7'1".

I'm like, oh, hell, no. I said, I ain't shooting it. Then he just slapped the ball in my hand. He pushed me around. He throwing me. I'm like, man, I can't do it. Then he dunked on me. Damn!

But all you had to do was get one basket, and you get floor seats to the Lakers game for the whole year. I tried my hardest. He wouldn't let me do it. He wouldn't let me dribble. He wouldn't let me dribble. I'm having a ball, man. He's reaching over me, grabbing me like, mm-mm. God rest his soul. And yeah, man that that meant something to me. That's something I can go back at my life. That right there is like a bucket list.

Like every kid would love to play Kobe Bryant one on one. Play Kobe and then for that to tragedy happen. Yeah, that's something I'm always holding dearly to my heart. For sure. You do Johnson family vacation. Steve said salon You had you knew so long before you did jump. Yep. Yep. So that's what it made it easy So what was it like on the set because you got two great comedian said and Steve they probably kept it like the entire time They did they did they was always joking around and especially when you work with comedians. The best part is they go off script

That's when they had their best. They don't pay attention You'll be watching them and miss your turn like oh damn. It's me. It's my line my fault I they went off script and that's when that's when comedians at their best No, no story really sticks out really crazy Cuz Steve came and shot all of his parts in one day if I'm not mistaken really. Yep. He was in out Yes, he was in and out, but I spent a lot of time with said Learning from him talking to him, and Sed knows how to turn it on and off.

Like Sed is a real cool St. Louis cat. Like he's just laid back, super cool, and he'll say things and it'd be funny, like man, you know that dude over there, she, la la la, he'll say like something, but he was always super cool, and I remember just being in school all the time. That's all I was doing.

Working on movies and it was school. I spent more time in the classroom than I did on set. That's how I go. Right. Roll Bounce, you got Nick Cannon, Megan Good, Mike Epps, Charlie Murphy. What was it about that? How was that set?

Roll Bounce set was, I'm trying to find the words to describe it, to me it was work. It was work. I was in a different place in my life. I was 16, going to 17, living in Chicago on my own, becoming a young man now, smelling myself a little too big. I was in a weird space in life. That's why I was able to do that role and do it

because I wasn't acting. You know what I mean? I was just getting paid to show my real raw emotions. And that's how I was feeling. The scene with the car, me breaking and crying. It was intense. That movie turned me into an actor. Working with Sean McBride.

I remember before we, the day before we shot that scene the garage scene the car he told me look tomorrow I'm not gonna talk to you I was like what he's like not gonna not gonna say a word tomorrow I need you locked in I'm gonna need you I need you tomorrow I don't understand what that meant mm-hmm came to set, next morning, went in the trailer. Good morning everybody, what's up? What's up, Shy? They don't know good morning back? Okay, cool. It was in character. So I'm going off your energy then. I'm on what you want.

So I did the same thing too. I locked in. I ain't want to talk. And when we got to that set, he drove his self down. He drove his car. And sat in the car and said, don't call self down, he drove his car and sat in the car and said, don't call me out here until y'all call Roller. And he told me right before they called action, I'm about to bring it out your ass today. I'm bringing it out to you today. I know what he meant. It's like, you about to see a different you today.

Action, bam, right into it. Da da da, looking at him, my mom, da da da, I just started crying, I just, I don't know, it was just he, and he just gave me the biggest hug, I thought he was done doing it, and said I'm so proud of you. Then he, there was just real tears then. He really cried with me like, I'm so proud, you are an actor, boy.

And that day was the day I said, oh yeah. And I never had an acting coach, nothing. But that was the day. That was the day that you said, okay I'm an actor. I can finally say I'm an actor. I'm not a rapper who acts I'm an actor Yeah, yeah, I'm not getting these roles because of the rap stuff no more I'm getting them because I can do it and I'm going on tape and I'm killing it and I took it very serious from very serious You did fast in the furious. Mm-hmm, but like Van Diesel Luda

Those guys I work with them you know last one. Yeah, I finally got a chance to work Oh, yeah, yeah, I was I was waiting on that Like I was like, okay We got to meet up at some point because the movies that Luda wasn't in were the ones that I was in I felt Like the Luda of those movies pretty much. I was the you know, I was the rapper right, you know, I'm saying and For me to get that opportunity to be in the scene with Reese and Luda, I always visioned that to happen.

Twinkie has to meet Luda's character. This is only right that they meet. And that was the dynamic of that scene was us, this was the first time we've ever seen each other in life. But we've heard of each other, but we never met. So that was dope. And then to work with Vin Diesel, he sold, I worked with Vin Diesel twice.

Such a good dude, stand up dude, easy to work with. The whole family easy to work with. Like, Fast and Furious sets is, it don't feel like work, because everyone's been together for 10 plus years. So it's just, we get it. You don't have to worry about nailing that the way. You don't have to worry about coming to set,

that scene, I carry my line. Man, it's normal. It's just so normal, it's so easy going. And working with Justin Lin, who I feel is the greatest Fast and Furious director ever. I feel that deeply in my heart, and I had the chance to work with him on his first one, which was Tokyo Drift.

Right. Now, there's the last one coming up. They bringing the rock back. You gonna be in that one? If they call, we there. We there, Andy. If they call, we there. We there. Right. You worked at Madea's, what, Big Happy Family? Happy Family. With Tyler Perry. What's Tyler? Because, you know, I've heard only great things about Tyler, about, you know, his set and how professional he is, how he pays, how he takes care of his, woo! Put it this way, you know how you might play for a team?

Yeah. And let's say you get traded, you about to go to this team. Yeah. And you get like a, let's see, a Bill Belichick. You don't went from having a cool, fun coach to you doing it your way and then you get traded. Now, Bill Belichick, your don't went from having a cool, fun coach to you doing it your way and then you get traded. Now Bill Belichick, your coach, you like, ah damn.

Yeah. Okay. I got to be on my. Best behavior, yes. I got to be on my. Yeah. TP like that. Really?

Mr. Perry, oh yeah, most definitely because his style is, he comes from plays. So he's used to things moving very, very quickly. Right. Quick. So when I got to set, I'm always prepared, so I'm never worried. Right. I'm ready for whatever. First scene was the hardest scene of the day. He gave us the...

I'll never forget. First scene was the back yard scene with the fellas. It was a long scene. I said, damn, he giving us the scene first? This the first scene we should have? First. First. Out the gate. Out the gate. Like, he don't want us to crawl into? This the first scene we should date? First. Like, out the gate. Like, he don't want us to crawl into it, no.

And he want you to move fast. You got to know it. Oh, next, close, next. So it was like, you got to get it. And he's so hands on. And he's a genius. He is the person that came in with the Byron. That was TP.

He did that. Because I remember Tiana going off for me in the scene and all you hear is mr. Perry up behind the thing going Pat Pat your weeb you gotta pat it a little harder pat like it pat it like this Tiana like get in and get now I mean I was a bar in the crew laughing I'm trying not to laugh but he he saw he's watching the monitor and he's like something's missing in The middle of scene he'll just throw stuff at you like and you got to be able to get with it and go and Tiana grassman, she got it. She's like get ghetto even more ghetto with it. Bye. I want you to annoy people Wow, and boy did she she she did not disappoint. She did not disappoint. So that was a title thing

He's like I said, he knows how to He mixes that play right stuff with the movie and and I love it I love working with Tyler because I love to work fast I love to move on and Tyler's the only person I know in the film business who can shoot a movie a big production movie In seven days and it's gonna come to the theater and you think it took three months And Tyler's the only person I know in the film business who can shoot a movie a big production movie in Seven days and it's gonna come to the theater than you think it took three months. He knows he changed the game Man, I'm telling you that man changed the game. I've seen it. It's I'm like I'll be on sets I'm like, oh my god, which is was a Tyler Perry studio production They move fast. So yeah, how would it working with TT, Tayyama Taylor?

Oh, fun. Been on TT for ever. Like super cool person, talented. Now she's directing, which is dope. And I want to say that was her first movie. Yeah, that was her first movie. She did really, really, really, really good. And I expect to see her on more stuff.

I think she should have did more right after that. But like I said, she's very talented and I wish nothing but the best for T, that's my dog. Bob, do you remember the first time you opened up your bank account and you saw a thousand, a hundred thousand, a million dollars in your account? Nope, but I remember turning 18 18 I had to go back to Columbus and I had to sit in front of that judge he's like okay I'm about to turn over

your finances I was like okay because you know when you it was like the Jack in the beginning you sort of trust yep can't touch it okay it's got like a Jackie Coogan account or something like that did I say that right? I think that's what they call it correct me if I'm wrong but yeah, you can't touch it like your parents can't nobody the judge oversees it and then when you turn 18 He turns his okay. He turns it over to you. Here you go And I I was so happy because he did the judge never understood why I needed a Ferrari at 17. I Had to go to him for every major purchase. Wow, he had to approve it. I'm like, I am a rap star. Yeah.

And it's my money. Yeah, I need a Ferrari. It's not safe. He can do something like a three series BMW would be perfect. It's like, bro, like you are. Bro, do you know who I am? You talking about a three series? A three series Beamer.

So I mean, that's what I can get or get, you know. I am? I mean, bro. And you talking about the three series? The three series, Beamer. Told me that's what I can get or get, you know. I'm like, you don't understand the culture, dog. I can't wait till I turn 18 to get it, but yeah, of course, man, you always remember seeing that. And even to this day, I still get excited. Right. Like, my manager will go over numbers and

you know what I'm saying, we'll handle business and he always shows me stuff and I'm like, damn, God is good. Yeah. That's all I can say. God is good. When they turned their account over to you, what was your first major purchase? I went car crazy. Because remember, Jermaine, I had to catch his ass.

So I went, my first purchase was, I started out small, but I really wanted this car The Nissan 350 Z when they first came okay, I want them it was cool Everybody that's your favorite past and furious or something like that was not it with that new fact. I did fast after fact Yep, I wanted that car. Just thought it was cool. Yeah Got that you know how it is. You start getting more money. See different day. I'm going from now. I got a car. I want a Maserati. Maserati second car. And I kept calling it Maserati Ferrari because you know, they sell Maserati at the Ferrari dealership. So I used to tell my boy, I got a Ferrari Maserati. They like, what? I got a Ferrari

Maserati. Black on black. They like, you got a Maserati. Right. No, no, no. It's a Ferrari Maserati. They ain't, it don't exist. I Maserati they go in and don't exist I didn't like them telling me that don't exist so you had to go get took it back got it got the yellow 360 got a Ferrari so at the time when I had the yellow 360 I had that I had the Billy Rover Hummer Maybach took the yellow for a back got a drop red f430 Spider, had that for a minute, got rid of that and got an orange Lambo, Mercy Lago, bought that. I went car crazy.

That's all I loved was cars. I already had the house. I wanted whips. Yeah, because I, well, that, your reality show, you and your mom and you went and got the Maybach. Yup. That was my second Maybach I bought. My mom bought me my very first one, my 21st birthday. Right. And then I didn't really see a point of having one then. Right.

It was a waste of money. Right. But when I went and bought my Maybach on the show, I bought that one. But I really now I could enjoy it because the lifestyle is different. I don't want to get caught having a DU job when I'm going out hosting and I'm working or if it's a late night at the studio and I'm trying to make it all the way back to the other side of town, which is Atlanta, traffic, crazy, 55 minutes, I'm far. So it's like I never want to be putting in situations

or I've got to make back just for comfort reasons and it just made sense for me. I live far, filming every day, traveling, just moving and grooving. And besides far filming every day Travis moving and moving I and besides like even after this I used to love just getting in my car taking my shoes Oh, you kick back and kick back. You ain't got worried about you ain't got worried about nothing. Right nothing So yeah This concludes the first half of my conversation part two is also posted and you can access it to whichever

Podcast platform you just listened to part one on just simply simply go back to Club Shae Shae Profile and I'll see you there. It's nostalgia overload as Wilmer Valderrama and Freddy Rodriguez welcome another amigo to their podcast Dos Amigos. Wilmer's friend and former That 70's Show castmate Topher Grace stops by The Speakeasy for a two-part interview to discuss his career

and reminisce about old times. We were still in that place of like, what will this experience become and you go you're having the best time and yeah, but it was like such a perfect golden time listen to dose amigos on the I heart radio app Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. And the dream season is now complete the Golden State

Warriors of the 2015 NBA champion on the new limited podcast series dub dynasty it's been 10 years since their shocking run to a championship. We examine the controversial move that made it possible. It's never a great conversation as a player when you hear that you're being benched. For the entire behind the scenes story of Golden State's incredible 10 year run, listen to Dub Dynasty on the iHeartRadio app app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures

and your guide on Good Company. The podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of 2B. We dive into the competitive world of streaming. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There are so many stories out there. And if you can find a way to curate

and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.