Drink Champs - Episode 203 w/ Jaz-O

Episode Date: March 20, 2020

N.O.R.E. & DJ EFN are the Drink Champs. On today’s episode The Champs chop it up with Jaz-O. The first rapper ever signed to EMI, Jaz released his debut album Word to the Jaz in 1989. The album featured a young JAY Z on the classic titled “Hawaiian Sophie”.In this episode Jaz-O shares stories of mentoring JAY Z at the beginning of his career. Jaz shares how the two would go from battling rappers all around NYC to recording Jaz‘ debut album in London.Jaz shares lots of classic stories like once forming a super group with JAY Z, being accused of giving Nas information in the legendary feud with Hov and much much more!Follow:Drink Champshttp://www.drinkchamps.comhttp://www.instagram.com/drinkchampshttp://www.twitter.com/drinkchampshttp://www.facebook.com/drinkchampsDJ EFNhttp://www.crazyhood.comhttp://www.instagram.com/whoscrazyhttp://www.twitter.com/djefnhttp://www.facebook.com/crazyhoodproductionsN.O.R.E.http://www.instagram.com/therealnoreagahttp://www.twitter.com/noreagaLendingClub: Go to LendingClub.com/DRINKCHAMPS to check your rate in minutes and borrow up to $40,000.Boost: Visit BoostMobile.com or your nearest retailer for offer details.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/drinkchamps/support Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an iHeart Podcast. Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Why is a soap opera western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to the American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Clayton English.

I'm Greg Lott. And this is Season 2 of the War on Drugs podcast. Yes, sir. Last year, a lot of the problems of the drug war. This year, a lot of the biggest names in music and sports. This kind of starts that a little bit, man. We met them at their homes. We met them at their recording studios. Stories matter, and it brings a face to them.

It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two 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. 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. And it's Drink Chats motherfucking podcast.

Make some noise. He's a legendary Queens rapper. Hey, hey, it's your boy N.O.R.E. He's a Miami hip-hop pioneer. One of his DJ EFN. Together, they drink it up with some of the biggest players. You know what I mean? In the most professional, unprofessional podcast

And your number one source for drunk facts It's Drink Champs motherfucking podcast Where every day is New Year's Eve Listen, it's time for Drink Champs Drink up, motherfucking What it good be, homies? What it shit be? This is your boy, N-O-R-E. What up, it's DJ E-F-N.

And it's military crazy raw radio. Big chaps, yappy yowers. Motherfuckers, let's do what we gotta do. Make some noise! Right now, when you talk about one of the originators, one of the people that has been there, still stood this test of time, still out here monkeyfoot foot in the game.

Got an ill distribution deal right now, and we're going to get into all of that. We're going to get into how they got there. But the man has been doing it. He's brung... You've seen him. The first time I seen New York niggas in London is with him. First time I seen New York City niggas go somewhere other than... Even from... Shit, even I seen them in Virginia. That was like, Jesus. That was like, you know,

Virginia was like fucking Jamaica. Like, I thought you needed a passport to go to Virginia at that time. Like, the man has been true to hip hop, has been one of the most lyrical guys here. I seen him on Kicker Rob the other day and he still got it. But the beautiful thing about it is the relationship that, you know,

from the beginning and, you know, even the turmoil to now where they're at. I, what is that? I applaud that. I commend that. I salute that. You know what I'm saying? To see where they're at. And the fact that people from Tidal were going hard for this,

I really think that's commendable, man. You know what I'm saying? After all these years. But in case you don't know, we're talking about motherfucking Jazz O'Makes. So one thing that I Googled you, right? You have a neighbor, Eric Oliver? Yeah. Eric Oliver?

Eric Oliver. That was the first person to tell you you should write a rhyme? I did. I did your research, man. No, because you know why that name just fucked me up. That was the first person to tell you you should write a rhyme? I did. I did your research, man. No, because you know why that name just fucked me up, right? He got the first and last name. Listen, you know what I said? I said, that's a director's name in my mind.

Yeah, it does. Like, that's just sounding like somebody who's going to direct Bad Boys 5 and shit. But go ahead. So how does a person come up to you and says, yo, I think you should write a rhyme? Well, you know, basically. And how old were you when he said this to you? Oh, shit. Well, he was about nine. to ride well you know basically um and how old were you when when he said this oh shit well he was about he was about nine wow so i was so i was like 13 wow yeah and um it was around a time where

you know they was um you know taking the electricity from the light pole having oh shit you know so you know he got the music out uh just kat lenney Morgan from the building. Every time they had the music out, like, I think it was just crazy. He was the good crazy. You know what I'm saying? He just run through the lane. So I'm like, yo, they got the music out. They got the music out. Like the Park Jam days?

That type of vibe? Yeah, that's exactly what he got me talking about. So Eric Oliver actually lived on the fifth floor. I lived on the sixth floor in 644 Park Ave. And his mother and my mother were very, very good friends. So one day he was like, man, yo, you see how they be rhyming on the mic? Yo, you should rhyme on the mic just like that. I was like, man, get out of my face.

Right, right. You know, he's like, I'm telling you, I'm telling you, you should rhyme on the mic. He said, I bet you can't. So he did reverse psychology know, he's like, I'm telling you, I'm telling you, you should rhyme on the mic. He said, I bet you can't. So he did the reverse psychology shit on me. He said, I bet you can't rhyme. Oh, okay. Yeah, so. Can you remember the guys that were rhyming on the mic that he was telling you should be like them?

Or you could do better than them? Way back then. Yeah. If you were a DJ, you more than likely, you were an MC too. That's right. You got somebody to MC. You might have been cooler than the rapper back then. Back then, the DJs back then were cooler than...

All right, relax. Y'all wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the DJs. No, I remember the MC, like, actually being, like, the second... Like, that's why Eric B. and Rakim. Yeah. Right, but continue, continue. Yeah, so he did the reverse psychology shit on me. So, you know, my ego got the best of me.

So I wrote an eight ball run. Right, right, right. And he was like, yo, you should say that. You should do this, this, that, and the other. So, you know, I kept it quiet, you know, but secret, you know, secretly, I was writing more. I started scribing more shit. So then it happened that We went Red Hook Projects

And One of my boys Ronald Henley We used to call him Ron Do We used to always go And cause his uncle Mango Everybody gotta have

A nigga named Ron Do Like if you from the project And you don't have A nigga named Ron Do I'm questioning you Yeah exactly Exactly You like a nigga You like a nigga named Ron do. Like, if you from the projects and you don't have a nigga named Ron do, I'm questioning you. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. You like a nigga that don't fold your pieces.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. You got to fold your pieces. Like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Ron do. I like this. We'll be going. Let's go to that. So Uncle Mango, you know,

he used to do house parties, everything else. So one night, we went out to Red Hook and he was doing a house party. So my man Ron put me on the spot he was like yo don't you be rhyming this shit i was like nah i don't really be rhyming this shit right but i was he was like go ahead man because you know how the house party was set up the the dj

set up was in the bedroom and everybody was in the living room you know and they had the extension cord all that shit so anyway so, so I started rhyming. Then we started hearing the reacts, and they were like, whoo. So my head said, whoo. You know what I mean? So I was like, shit, I got two or three more stacks. So I just went at it, and that's what really started it. So was that prior to you going to Virginia, going to college, or that was after?

That was before. Okay. Oh, okay. So you was in college already, and you must have been like, man, ah, ah, ah. But at that time, I'm going to be honest,

and I'm sorry for Virginia people, but at that time, if you was from New York, you was like from Brazil. Like, we was excited to make it to Virginia and Baltimore because we had the slang. So it must have been good for you out there in Virginia.

Most definitely. Most definitely. I went to Old Dominion University for two years. And I really went to college for my mom and for my grandmother because I damn sure wasn't going for myself. I didn't want to go. You know what I'm saying?

I was in the street. I didn't want to go. You know what I'm saying? I was, I was, I was in the street, you know, I wanted to rhyme. I wanted to do everything except, you know, what they said was the right thing to do. Is that how you, like, somewhat, cause like, I went through your, the good thing is I was sick yesterday, so I had a great long time to just stay in the bed and just go through your shit. Is that where you get your vocal, vocabulary from? Is that something that helped it, was going to college or something like that? Or, or you had that prior yeah it was my mom oh okay to be honest yeah it was my mother cuz like um i told this story before but like she used to always um just introduce new words to me like um like one day i was either five or six and I was being silly and she was like oh Johnny you

being so facetious I was like you know I was like what the fuck so you know and I and she already knew I was very inquisitive so I always asked her like what does that mean how do you use with you know everything so it just went on like that so I always always, and she knew I was going to dive in because I was always asking her questions, anything. Like, I used to ask her shit like, what does nothing look like? You know what I'm saying? That's deep. And I was five. Yeah.

That shit blowing me away right now. What does nothing look like? Wow. That's, ew. You think that's what makes an artist, because so many people, right, I don't remember who exactly it was,

but it was like high school dropout, right? And then everyone kind of like, at that moment, like especially in the 80s, 90s, early 90s, everyone was claiming

that there was high school dropouts. But now, if you pay attention to that, this generation, those high school dropouts of our generation, that generation,

has made the dumbest children ever for this generation. I'm just being honest. What the fuck? These drink champs, I'm sorry. But you understand, do you feel like we failed them? Like, are we a direct descendant? Because when you hear these niggas right nowadays, you're like, damn, they definitely didn't go to Miss Ebank's class.

They definitely skipped social studies. I think, yeah, for sure, for sure. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, I think that we are definitely a part of the failure, but we were sort of like an unknown part of the failure. I think that the failure,

or if you want to call it that, it was a gradual thing over at over really like decades You know decades of us, um, you know becoming You know coming to the cities, you know coming from self-destruction to Drink some break an omics and everything that came around Be yeah, that's a pain like Like for me Destruction to yeah, what's know what I'm saying? Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, from self-destruction to that.

Yeah, because I mean, you know, when I came out, you know, I was talking about Islam and, you know what I'm saying,

black unity and all that. Proposal nation. Exactly. And it's just crazy. Like, somebody said it. Like,

I saw it on Facebook, actually, where they said, you know, in the late 80s and they said um you know in the in the late 80s and 90s you know you had the um you had the the the rappers who really talked about being drug dealers right now you got the drug users i'm proud of it though flip like like all right cool not to compare them to crackheads, but in our day, you're not to compare them.

And neither is good, FYI. You just compared them. Neither is good. I'm sorry. I don't have anything else to compare them to, right? So what I'm saying is, in our day,

crack was the shit. Hold on, let me finish this out. Let me finish this out. What I mean is, it was the shit. And only assholes was actually smoking it. Like, at first,

when it first came out, motherfuckers smoked it, motherfuckers did that. It wasn't cool to be a user. Because, you know, cocaine was cool at first came out, motherfuckers smoked it, motherfuckers... It wasn't cool to be a user. Because, you know, cocaine was cool at first, and then motherfuckers smoked crack.

Then when people feel like you a victim, you a fucking... You're an addict. Right. They would hash songs. We had murals in the hood, crack kills, all this.

That is the exact opposite. They have murals in the hood with people with double cups. And they have murals in the hood with people with... With Percocet. And, like, it's perpetual

and I had never listen I have a lot of nerve because I'm sitting here with all this alcohol with blood in my hand and I'm about to open some Ace of Spades

but but what I'm saying I had I never think hip hop will be this dumb like and I don't want to say

they're dumb because these kids and not everybody there's a lot of dope artists. But these kids are making great money, and I got to salute that. But I'm saying when I say dumb, dumb, the content being so dumbed down that, you know what I mean? Do you think that we would be at this level of hip-hop? Nah.

Nah. This shit is crazy. It's 180 what it was. Yeah. And I got to say this, and I say it often, like, you know, as far as the skill set and, you know, the basic, like, the level as far as setting the bar, as far as, like, songs and stuff. Right. I mean, we had niggas that was trash back when. Of course. You know what I'm saying? Of course. So a lot of people, you know, they want to rally the troops and say, like, you know, this was the golden age.

Right. And everything that came out was crazy hot. Right. And now everything is trash. Right. And that's not the case. I mean, you got that shit regardless. Yeah, I agree.

But there's a difference, like the differences that you're talking about. And it's the amount of artists, too, now, because everybody can be an artist. They can record in their crib, and it's just like you have millions of artists. Before, there was a funnel. You had to get in the studio. You had someone to put your mans on to the label, and then they put you out. So it's limited, where now everybody's an artist.

Right. Now, I'm just bouncing around, because that's what we do in Drink Champs. Now, one of the things I want to ask is, like, when Jay and Nas was going through going through that right there was a certain time and i believe he said uh from hawaiian sophie fame or something like that how did that make you feel because i don't know how just yeah generic how did it make you feel it was awkward right it was awkward because um i was accused of you know giving nas information it's like oh yeah yeah and me and nas we didn't talk like that you know we had great rapport but we didn't you know we

didn't talk um so i was accused of that because people were saying, like people in the circle, they were saying like, well, how did he know this? How did he know that? I was like, he saw it. You know what I'm saying? You know, when I was assigned to EMI, we did a college tour.

But by the way, the first hip-hop artist signed to EMI. Let's be clear. Let's be clear. We ain't going to just say that and just skip over. We don't get into that. That's huge. The first hip-hop artist.

Nigga, you was the one with the red-eyed chili peppers and niggas like that, right? Skip over it. They were different niggas. Go ahead. $250,000 deal and all that. Come on, man. We'll get into that, but let's go into that. Wow.

Okay. Yeah, so, you know, it was a situation where, you know, they said, well, how did he know all that? And I was like, well, you you know We were on a college tour Like he didn't stay on the tour But you know He came out For main source

He came out You know For Lars Professor When they did Live at the BBQ right Exactly So we were at Norfolk State That's where I met Nas

You know what I'm saying And he got on stage And they did the song And you know Me and Jay Was standing there. And he was like, yeah, this dude, he going to be something. You know what I'm saying?

That's hard. We were analysts. That's how we did everything. We watched everything. But so I lost my thought. Yeah, he was the accuser of giving information. Of giving information. Yeah, so that shit was pretty good. He was accused of giving not information. Of giving information during the battle, yeah.

Yeah, so that shit is pretty good. Yeah, so I was accused of that, and I didn't give him any information. Were you approached by them? No. No. Because, I mean, everybody who really knew me, they knew I ain't that type of person. Right, right. You know what I'm saying? And if I got something to tell you that you may not like, I feel that in the greater or in the big picture, if it's something that I feel is beneficial to your well-being, I'm going to tell you anyway.

You ain't got to like me. I don't need you to like me. I don't give a fuck. If I love you, if I care about you, then I care about your well-being. You can hate my guts. You know what I'm saying? I don't care. fuck. If I love you, if I care about you, then I care about your well-being. You can hate my guts. You know what I'm saying? I don't care. I live with that. Because I don't breathe and eat and pay my bills off of whether you love me or not. So I don't need it.

What I do need is to be myself and my self-determined is that I love everybody. So just to go back to that, like, yeah, I was accused of that shit. And I think in a way that caused a little friction between, you know, I was sort of like the beginning of things. OK, so we're going to get back to that. Let's just bounce around, because how did it feel to be the first person on first hip hop on EMI? Because now the group now, if you say EMI people you think of uh you know I think Raekwon had a deal over there now you think of that but yeah obviously if you're the first hip and was it first from your neighborhood no and this is first hip-hop no I'm saying also getting a deal from the neighborhood oh yeah I was the first yeah yeah

same thing yeah so it was it was weird and um you, I felt like what I was was a fucking guinea pig. Oh, wow. For the label? Yeah, because they didn't. See, the thing is this. They didn't really know what to do. Right. They just knew, like, they saw cold chilling at the time.

They started. They wanted to be involved. There's something happening here. Yeah. A quiet, you know, cold chilling and all that other stuff. So they're like, yo, that's popping for them. Let's do the same thing. So like mid-80s?

Mid to late 80s? Yeah, 88. Wow. Mm-hmm. God damn it. You've been getting money since 88. For real. For real.

Great year in hip-hop too. Yeah. Hip-hop. So you felt that they didn't understand? No, they didn't understand at all. And the thing is, I was being promoted and marketed through the urban music department, which actually they called it the black music promotions department. Wow.

Yeah. So, yeah, they weren't even politically correct back then. It's niggas music. Push that. Go. One, two, yeah, they weren't even politically correct back then. It's niggas music. Push that. Go. One, two, three, go. You know what I'm saying? That's crazy.

Yeah, so, yeah, it was crazy. After a couple of years, my man who, you know, he's with me in spirit always and with all of us in spirit my man harry fobs um he was a close friend uh jc who used to run with kane right um jc yeah yeah so he so he and i became real cool and um you know he was like yo why they ain't pushing your music through i was like they don't know what they doing. He's like, yo, you should add some money. And I was like, damn, that shit is real crazy. But that shit makes a lot of sense.

So I, you know, I inquired. And they were like, you know, have him come up. So he came up. They interviewed him. You know, none of that corporate paperwork shit. He's like, you on. He became an A&R. Unfortunately, a few months after that,

he passed. Oh, God bless. Yeah. Shout to Harry Fobbs. I know you hear me, bro. God bless. God bless. The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network, hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores, and brought to you by Velvet Buck. This podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode, I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian, Dr. Randall Williams and bestselling author and meat eater founder, Stephen Ranella. I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say, when cave people were here. And I'll say, it seems like the Ice Age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves.

So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I know a lot of cops, and they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no.

Across the country, cops called this taser the revolution. But not everyone was convinced it was that simple. Cops believed everything that taser told them. From Lava for Good and the team that brought you Bone Valley comes a story about what happened when a multi-billion dollar company dedicated itself to one visionary mission. This is Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. It's really, really, really bad. Listen to new episodes of Absolute Season 1,

Taser Incorporated, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge episodes 1, 2, and 3 on May 21st and episodes 4, 5, and 6 on June 4th. Add free at Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. And it's going to take us to heal us. It's Mental Health Awareness Month. And on a recent episode of Just Heal with Dr. J, the incomparable Taraji P. Henson stopped by to discuss how she's discovered peace on her journey. So what I'm hearing you saying is healing is a part of us also reconnecting to our childhood in some sort. You said I look how youthful I look because I never let that little girl inside of me die. I go outside and run outside with the dogs.

I still play like a kid. I laugh. You know, I love jokes. I love funny. I love laughing. I laugh at myself. I don't take myself too seriously. That's the stuff that keeps you young and stops you from being so hard. To hear this and more things on the journey of healing, you can listen to Just Heal with Dr. J from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

AT&T, connecting changes everything. Your gut microbiome and those healthy bacteria can actually have positive effects throughout your body, not just your gut, but your mental health, your metabolism, your immunity, your risk of cancer, heart disease, almost any disease under the sun. Yep, you heard right. Probiotics might actually impact everything from your brain to your heart. So what's science and what's just really good marketing? On this episode of Dope Labs, me and Zakiya cut through the hype and get into the real deal behind probiotics

with help from gastroenterologist Dr. Roshi Raj. So yes, bacteria is definitely having a moment and I'm very excited about that. From probiotic drinks and gummies to face creams and pillows. Yep, we said pillows. The probiotic boom is everywhere. But how much of it actually works? And what does it all mean for your gut, your skin, and even your mood? Join us on Dope Labs where we break it all down in the lab like only we can.

Listen to Dope Labs on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So, and then Hawaii and Sophie, let's get to actually making that record. Did y'all go to Hawaii for the video? Hell no. Oh, man! You messing up my childhood right now. Oh, man. It was like the Hawaii 505, right?

I thought y'all was definitely in Hawaii, but go ahead. But, you know, I guess they were in the process, you know, cleaning that money and shit. So, you know how they do. You know, they're like, we're taking this nigga to Hawaii. We can go right to the warehouse over here.

Put some sand on the joint. Exactly. And that's exactly what they did. But, I mean, I think it turned out great. They showed a lot of support in what they did and what they were aware of. I appreciate that. Was that officially the first record Jay-Z was ever on?

Video? Yeah. We have video music box for everything. It's first visual. Goddamn, make some noise for Jazz. Goddamn. When he can technically say, I discovered Jay-Z, he can technically say, I discovered Jay-Z, he can do it. He can do it.

There's not a lot of people who can say that. Yeah. There's not a lot of people who can say that. Now, Kane had something to do early on with you guys too, right? Because was it you who linked up with Kane and then you brought him around? Oh, this is what happened. So we're going to throw queens in the mix. Okay, let's get it.

You know what I'm saying? So, Shirt Kings. Oh, that's goddammit. That's goddammit. You know, Nike. I couldn't afford Shirt Kings back then, Okay let's get it You know what I'm saying So Shirt Kings Oh that's god damn it That's god damn it You know I couldn't afford Shirt Kings back then But let's go Let's go

I was a young bottom Nigga back then Keep it real But Nike from the Shirt Kings Nike actually lived Around the same way That Jay did

So What happened was I was coming home From college After those two years. You know, I basically dropped out of that shit. So, when Nike found out, you know, that I was back, you know, in Brooklyn,

you know, so, I guess he had a heated discussion with somebody else because they were talking about this young cat that's supposed to be nicer than everybody. And then, you know, Nike was like, that nigga ain't nicer than Jazz. Jazz is the nicest nigga, period, point blank You know what I'm saying

So they were going back and forth It was like, well, let's find out So he set up He set up the meeting And that's when me and Jay first met So I say that, you know, we had Like a, you know, I rhymed first Jay was like

Then he rhymed And I was like, you know what Imed first jay was like then he rhymed and i was like you know what i'm saying and and he was the first he was the first person that i ever heard rhyme like reminding you yeah exactly so i was like yeah you know i gotta i gotta keep eye on him you know what i mean so so to fast forward, that Nike was like the... Third Kicks. Yeah, he was like the broker for all of this, you know, putting people together type of shit. So, you know, I guess Kane was getting some shit. You know, Kane and a lot of other rap artists of that time.

That was like Dapper Dan before Dapper Dan. Or was it before? Maybe the same time. It was around the same time. It was just a different, you know, different vibe. Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay. So, so we had a situation like,

same shit came up with Kane and me. Right. It's like, no, Kane, this, this, that, and all that. Nigga ain't better than jazz. Right.

You know, he was always screaming that. Right. Nigga ain't better than jazz. So, so he set it up. I don't know if you. So he set it up. I don't know if you guys remember Fresh Gordon.

Fresh Gordon, he was a producer. He produced some stuff for the Fat Boys. He had a deal with Tommy Boy. I'm going to tell you another side story about what he should be more known and recognized for. But anyway, so Nike basically set up the meeting. So it was supposed to be a battle again. But, you know.

And this Kane, this is eight and a half stepping Kane? Yeah, this is Big Daddy Kane. Oh, this is when he Kane, Kane. He fucking Madonna already and shit? Yeah, yeah.

Okay, let's go. Alright, let's go. Nah, nah, nah. Not fucking Madonna yet. You know. But he was on his way. You know. But, um, so he was on his way. All right, cool. You know.

But so he set, so Nike set that up. And we all met at Fresh Gordon's crib. And we did this, we did this little, I guess back then you call it a mixtape. You know what I'm saying? So we recorded that. And from then on, like, we all just became cool. Right. You know, because it was supposed to be a battle, but Jay was there.

And, you know, Jay didn't know, like, should he be rhyming or this, that. And I was like, come on, man. Like, if this means you, let's go. So we just did it. You know, Gordon, he 10 10 minutes, whipped up a beat. Wow, and he made a record. Yeah, it wasn't a record, but it's... Like rhymed on a beat.

Yeah, we rhymed on a beat. Like a mixtape joint. Yeah, yeah, so. And that's what started it. And we established a relationship from there. You know, me and Jay used to go out to Queens, check on Kane, and he started coming to Brooklyn. And he was in Brooklyn and Queens around that time. And you're all from Marcy? You're from Marcy too or no?

Yeah, born and raised. And I'm Sauce Money too, correct? Sauce Money, yeah. Because that's the funniest thing, right? When I was Googling you yesterday, I was pulling up the thing. It was like, it was almost like the roles is almost thing, right? When I was Googling yesterday, I was pulling up the thing. It was like, it was like almost like the roles is almost reversed, right? Yeah. It was like, at one point, you know, you was voicing your opinion, right?

Mm-hmm. And, you know, it got worked out or whatever. And I seen it. So I seen it. So a Source Money interview popped up. Yeah. So in the Source Money interview, he's saying, he's saying, yo, Jazzo, and he's talking about you

because at the time, and then now it's like the roles are reversed. Now it's like, you know, you got business with Jay and you like, you know,

whatever, and now it's Source Money like sitting back and he's saying like, well, Jay didn't do right. I can't really understand what was going on.

So I'm just being honest from the outside I'm looking in that tried to do my research but I could tell there's nothing I could ever get unless I got

you brothers standing in front of me. What are you in your opinion how can you break that situation down? It's very simple. Okay.

You know one of the greatest axioms I've ever heard is shit happens. Okay but would you say axioms? Yeah, they need to take that one What the fuck does that mean that? the parable Please I need that for later text me

I need to use that that was hard We're rapping songs right now. We're rhyming and talking at the same time. That's hard shit. That is hard shit. That is hard. Make some noise for that. Okay, shit happens. So, actually, I'm... Okay. But the flip side of shit happens is that people react a certain way. Right.

Okay. So, the thing... And that's the key to it. Everybody focuses on the shit happens part, but nobody focuses on how do you respond to certain things. So, like you said, similar circumstances, roles reversed, different responses. I'm going to keep it right there. I think all of y'all get it. We need sauce money here too at the table. Yeah, you know, I'm going to be honest. I don't know where this rumor started.

Yeah, we wouldn't dare. Like he's being blackballed for drink chances. Absolutely not true at all. I mean, no one, to tell you the truth, no one in this deal, and we've just, we've only been in this deal like not even a year. With title. With title and everybody. To tell you the truth, the first people title has ever called for is you.

Yeah. They've never asked us for somebody to be on or for someone not to be on. Not ever called for is you. Yeah. They've never asked us for somebody to be on or for someone not to be on. Not to be on. Never. They have never. This is the first time.

This is the first time. This is Rob Nation. That's why I was impressed. I was like, this is dope. I was like, you know, me knowing the history because that's something I would like to do for trash

or somebody like, you know, trash actually put me on. You know what I'm saying? We had our discrepancies and we still have our discrepancies. I still see his shit and be like, this nigga's out of his mind. but he's my man and I would

that's that's real shit because it's one thing that y'all doing business and it's a whole nother thing just to reach out and make shit happen and that to me I have to applaud that let's applaud that you know what I'm saying let's applaud that but now now, now, because, now where does Original Flavor come in? They come in with Dame Dash. Oh, that's right. They did Harlem niggas, right? Right. Okay.

Yeah, I didn't know that. Actually, yeah, but actually Ski is from North Carolina. Wow. But he was living in Harlem. So hold on, hold on. Wait, but Hawaii Harlem so that's that's that's not totally different completely different yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah see that's where Dame Dash comes in that's because prior to that there was no Dame Dash there was no Biggs right when you and okay I... This is good shit.

This is good shit for hip-hop niggas. Go ahead. Yeah, so... So, actually, one of your previous guests, Clark Kent, introduced Dame Dash to Jay and then me and the rest of us

and give you a little something y'all might not have known that the whole setup originally was for Jay, myself, and Sauce. We were a group. What's the name of that group? What's the name of the group? Yeah. Pause. Hard Pack.

The Hard Pack? I can't. There's a gang in Miami called Hard Packs. Shout out to Heckler and the crew. Okay. So that was... I was about to ask you, was you and Jay ever a group too?

Was it the originators or no? No. Or that was just a record? Yeah, yeah. Okay, but the Hard Pack. Let's take it from the Hard Pack. I like this. Yeah, so we did about...

This is getting interesting. So we did about... I know I'm going to get Calls behind I don't give a fuck A little rattle A little rattle So we did about We did about six or seven songs

Together And you know Clark produced some Ski produced a couple I produced a couple And Just to be clear again So everybody knows

It's Jay Sauce Money And you Yeah That's hard pack Yeah Just want to make sure. Wow.

Jay-Z. Yo, got to relax, man. Just black his face out for the rest of the episode. It's not going to be that hard. Stop asking me to pass shit over. I'm not doing it for you. Uh-huh. So there were slight discrepancies as far as, like, you know, the decision was sort of made that, you know, Dane would manage us. So he wanted everybody to sign. To Rockefeller? That was already existing yet?

No, to Dane's management, like, to sign to him as management. And everybody didn't want to do it. I didn't feel like I should do it. It had nothing to do with my rapport with Dane. You know what I'm saying? It was just something that I felt that I shouldn't do. And I think at that time, Sauce felt the same way. So that's what happened with that.

But yeah, that was the beginning of that. Clark introduced all of us. You guys had records, though? You said six, right? I wouldn't say records. I'd say recordings, where they are. I don't know. Wherever they are, please surface.

Yeah, I got, yeah. You know. If you have some, just drink chance. Don't tell me you're like know you know wherever they are please surface yeah I got yeah you know you could if you have some dream chance don't tell me tell me you like Busta Rhymes Busta Rhymes got that's from 1988 you ever hang out with Busta Rhymes your listen he is crazy and he happened to he be having the old-school that I've been wanting to say yo how the fuck do you even remember where these shit is at like I'm the one yo you never seen he has the rails he has everything but yeah I'm sorry to cut you off oh no no that's cool it's cool so you don't know what these records exists

at all no yeah no some engineers somewhere like this We're going to live forever. Spotify. We're going to live forever, Jack. Over here, take Jack. We're going to live forever, God damn it. So, what does DM make for a good joke? Right, right. That's the hard pack. Definitely, definitely, that's hard, man. That's hard. That's hard, hard. But, so, now this London trip, right, it's so iconic because we get to hear Jay even talk about like him going to London or whatever.

But ironically, this London trip, he actually went with you. Yeah. He was like, so you can't, can you describe that for the people? Because the people,

I mean, that's dope. Like when they see Jay and the Beamer and it's like his history, but it's, it's, it's, it's dope. And it's humbling to know that,

that when I found out, I was like, it was actually a trip that jazz. Oh, Jay. Yeah. So, so you could describe when I found out, I was like, it was actually a trip that Jazz O brung Jay. Yeah. So you could describe that? Yeah. So it was the, you know, it was, I don't know. Well, I know why.

I just don't want to go, you know, do that to people. But we went to London to record my album. So it was myself, Jay, and Irv Gotti. Still on EMI. This is on EMI, right? Yeah. This was my., Jay, and Irv Gotti. Still on EMI. This is on EMI, right? Yeah, this was my... I think it was Irv Gotti. Irv Gotti told us that it was you.

Okay. Mm-hmm. So, yeah, so we were there for like two months. Irv got homesick. He broke out. Wow. And we stayed. But it was a very good experience

besides the food you didn't know how to eat roti back there? I couldn't find no roti they wouldn't take us to what is it? Brixton they wouldn't take us to Brixton our photographer's from London

yeah my first time that's the first thing they said they said go see the Rasta them I said no problem and I went straight to the Rasta them. I said, no problem. And I went straight to the Rasta on them. Nah, they told us. They told us, go to the studio.

Because they ain't know. You know what I'm saying? Go to the studio. We went to the Y, you know, some time, you know, play some ball. And back, you know, I did have a flat in this affluent area somewhere. I don't know where the hell we were, but we were living good. Right. That's hard.

So that was a very great experience. I couldn't Grasp what was going on Until I had an actual Release Celebration You know really for the completion Of the album in London And we were In a Cadillac

Stretch which was almost Like having a Bentley stretch At that time here It's a ghost. God damn it. You got to have a Bentley. You know what I'm saying? So basically, then it hit me.

I was like, oh, I'm doing it. You know, because the whole time, it's just like regular shit. You know, me, Irvin J., we clowning around and shit. We go to this restaurant every Wednesday, and we run into all type of people that's coming through like i met anita baker out there oh keep sweat came out there george duke may live forever um so yeah so it was it was a great experience but that's when i realized i was like oh oh this shit is real hip-hop go it could really go exact now you fought to have Jay-z on your cover

This is your album. Mm-hmm. What made you what made you say that like yo, that's that's who the fuck I say Yeah, like I wasn't the label this is what I heard yeah, right the label was like what this is your album you should be on here solo and What I heard you said fuck that this is what album you should be on here solo and from what I heard you said fuck that this is what I want to do but I just want to hear it

from your mouth like and why did you want to do that yeah because I was my bro right you know and I felt like

hold on hold on let's make some noise for it man that's real shit though that's real shit and let me stop you because people wasn't doing that at the time

I you seen it with Ray and Ghost right right yeah That's real shit, though. That's real shit. Let me stop you, because people wasn't doing it at the time. I, you've seen it with Ray and Ghost. Right. Right. Yeah. You didn't know that came from here. That was the first time I had seen someone put,

like, every now and then, you probably see somebody with their homeboy or their dancers, or their dancers or somebody like that. You never see somebody put another. Or the DJ and the artist. Or the DJ, but that was in a group together.

Right, right. First time I ever seen the artist have put another artist on their cover... Yeah, that's crazy. ...was this. This is the first time. I don't know if I'm, you know... I don't remember it.

I didn't remember you. I remember you being the first one. Yeah, that's all I remember. Goddamn, I remember that. Goddamn. Okay, so again, let's reiterate what I was just asking. Like, what made you want to do that? Like, you i mean that's just who i am man right i can't help it

like you know i'm not it you know it's intellect behind it it's like he deserved it and i felt like damn all this bullshit i gotta go through or that I went through to get to that point right you know he shouldn't have to go through that you know what I'm saying so if I could make it easy show his face and everybody like well what does he do and this I was like shit he rhyme you know and so I basically that that was just how I was. You know, I didn't have a I didn't have like a steady DJ. So I was like, you know, and I could be on here by myself, but that's not that's just not how I feel about myself. And I feel like, you know, our greatest value is our value to our people. Like pulling somebody else up. Right.

Yeah. You know, whoever, whoever you express yourself to. And, you know, to me, that's your value. And that's what I was just compelled to do. And I fought for it. I was like, yo, that's my man. And it's like, you know, y'all going to have problems if he ain't on the album, at least on the back. They didn't put him on the front, but on the back. It's like, y'all going to have problems if he ain't on the album, at least on the back. They didn't put him on the front, but on the back,

it's like y'all going to have problems. I'm not going to cooperate. Y'all already gave me money. All right. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. All right. Now, let's salute to that, man.

Come on. Let's salute to that. Let's salute to that, man. I respect that. Mitchell Lada. I ain't going to lie. Let me tell you something, man. Thank you. I know I said it to that, man. I respect that. Michelada. I ain't going to lie. Let me tell you something, man. Thank you.

I know I said it off camera, but I had a Michelada in San Diego. I still haven't stopped shitting from that. From nine years ago, my bro. Bigger than my boy cows. But I ain't going to front. That's a quiet taste, right? I think a rapper makes his brand, as a matter of fact.

Yeah? A rapper from the West. I think it's shot time. I got a shot in me. A michelada? You want a shot of a michelada? That's not gonna happen, sir. That is not gonna happen, sir. We're gonna do a shot. Come on, let's do a shot of something. A tiger. I gotta take my sweater off now. You wear a sweater, man? Oh, shout out to Capone, man. Shout out to Capone, you know a classy clothing Jesus got to support your homie yeah so um cool gonna start sweat we gotta start these gonna learn how to make sweaters without the shit they expect to your shit oh my god this shit is ticket I just put this shit on one time. Come on.

Remember, it's limited now. There's no more... There's no more tightness? Yeah, especially with the coronavirus. Oh, shit. Oh. Y'all got the stretcher, right? Yo, so listen, let me just tell you something.

I don't know if you know, but our show is about bigging our legends up. You know, every other... every other culture, when you have 10 years or more, they call you seasoned. This people right now getting 70 years old, having contracts and touring the motherfucking world or more, they call you seasoned. There's people right now getting 70 years old,

having contracts and touring the motherfucking world. Rolling Stones and all you guys. And continue, and they call them seasoned. Our culture, no other culture that is a word called washed up.

Only our culture. Facts. And I fucking hate that. Me personally, I want to say that we are legends and we are superheroes and we're going to continue

to motherfucking keep our legends and our are superheroes and we're going to continue to motherfucking keep our legends and our superheroes alive and keep them motherfucking relevant. That's what this show is about. So we celebrate your life, we celebrate your legacy, and we celebrate your career. And that's what the fuck we do here, guys. What you say? Salud.

Oh, Sonny D, you here? You got a shot? Why you got the slowest shot there today? I hope y'all got a stretcher over there for me. We just drank coronavirus. Yo, why you gave me the broken one, bro? Broke one. Yeah, let's stop with the coronavirus. That shit too close to my hood.

Oh, thanks. Yo, that shit was a late response. What is this? I already drank it. That's called Tiger Bone. It's actually... Oh, the Tiger Bone. Yo, that shit was a late response. What is this? I already drank it. That's called Tiger Bone. It's actually... Oh, the Tiger Bone. Yeah, that's Tiger Bone, yeah. It's actually a herb.

It's actually not supposed to be bad. No, it's many herbs. It's not just one herb. Yeah, yeah. But you see, one shot, that's what we're supposed to do it. Yeah. So, now, all right,

now the rumor is, you know, you and Jay, y'all good. Originated, it's dropped. One of the illest records. First of all, describe that. Because this is the first time you see your man. He's shining, and then he comes, and he puts you on Originators.

Is that how it is? Or I'm missing a couple of things. Oh, no. No, it was during that time and he was bubbling and I guess the idea came up and I think that they felt it inappropriate to do a song like that and it would just be bigger to have me on a song. Oh, wow. You know what I'm saying? So, love is love. And, you know, he called me. I'm actually I'm actually writing a book that that gives the account, you know, the backstory to all the events leading up with the script.

I got a script to that book. Well, actually, it's going to be it's a volume of what I foresee as numerous volumes. And it's basically going to be like an analyzation of some of my landmark verses and gives lessons in poetic license, like onomatopoeia, simile, metaphor. What's the right time to do shit like that? That's hell. I'm going to tell you, it's the right time to do shit like that, because content, if you produce that shit, you produce it and just, you know.

Well, he's saying the book right now. The book writes a series of books. I'm talking about the book and the motherfucking visual because I'm not that smart to read books and shit like that. Like me personally, I'm not a read booker, bro.

You know what I'm saying? It's kind of obvious. You said a read booker. I'll watch the shit out of something though. You watch, I'll watch the shit. You know what I'm saying? I watch my next movie way more than I read the book. There's audio books. But I love out of something, though. I'll watch the shit, you know what I'm saying? I'll watch my next movie way more than I've read the book. There's audio books.

But I love the book, too, man. Listen, I'm not into audio books yet. Okay? I'm not into it yet. I feel like I'm going to get into it eventually. But I feel like I got to go back to reading some more. I'm going to read a message to the millennials. Where's the Islam?

Where's the Islam came? And he gave me a book. I read the front page today. I felt good. Yeah, but then I realized. That's the cover? Yeah, I read the one page, and then I read the back,

and I said, it's a start, it's a start, it's a start, it's a start. Hey, man, you do it on a day, you'll be good in two months. There you go, there you go. You know what I mean? You're making covers.

Yeah, yeah. Okay, so what, what, what, what, all right. You're going to be good in two months. You know what I mean? Keep your covers. Yeah, yeah. So, okay. So, what, what, what, um, all right. The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network, hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores, and brought to you by Velvet Buck. This podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode, I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian, Dr. Randall Williams, and bestselling author and meat eater founder,

Stephen Ranella. I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here, and I'll say, it seems like the ice age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I know a lot of cops, and they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes, but there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. Across the country,

cops called this taser the revolution. But not everyone was convinced it was that simple. Cops believed everything that taser told them. From Lava for Good and the team that brought you Bone Valley comes a story about what happened when a multi-billion dollar company dedicated itself to one visionary mission. This is Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. It's really, really, really bad. Listen to new episodes of Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And it's going to take us to heal us. It's Mental Health Awareness Month. And on a recent episode of Just Heal with Dr. J, the incomparable Taraji P. Henson stopped by to discuss how she's discovered peace on her journey.

So what I'm hearing you saying is healing is a part of us also reconnecting to our childhood in some sort. You said I look how youthful I look because I never let that little girl inside of me die. I go outside and run outside with the dogs. I still play like a kid. I laugh. You know, I love jokes. I love funny. I love laughing. I laugh at myself.

I don't take myself too seriously. That's the stuff that keeps you young and stops you from being so hard. To hear this and more things on the journey of healing, you can listen to Just Heal with Dr. J from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. AT&T, connecting changes everything. Your gut microbiome and those healthy bacteria can actually have positive effects throughout your body. Not just your gut, but your mental health, your metabolism, your immunity, your risk of cancer, heart disease, almost any disease under the sun. Yep, you heard right.

Probiotics might actually impact everything from your brain to your heart. So what's science and what's just really good marketing? On this episode of Dope Labs, me and Zakiya cut through the hype and get into the real deal behind probiotics with help from gastroenterologist Dr. Roshi Raj. So yes, bacteria is definitely having a moment and I'm very excited about that. From probiotic drinks and gummies to face creams and pillows. Yep, we said pillows. The probiotic boom is everywhere. But how much of it actually works? And what does it all mean for your gut, your skin, and even your mood? Join us on Dope Labs where we break it all down in the lab like only we can. Listen to Dope Labs on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What is your favorite thing in hip hop? is it making the record or performing the record and that's that's a tough one it's always been tough for me but i will i will say performing the record and the reason why i say that is because as you well know like shooting the gun yeah yeah like you got the gun. How do you know it work? Exactly. Let me shoot that motherfucker. You going to stand in the way? Exactly. But, you know, as we all know, everybody doesn't really perform to the same extent as they're recording.

So to me, it's sort of like a crown achievement when you can get on stage and you could give it up the same way that shit sound on a record you know i'm saying it's special and it's special and it's unique because everybody can't do it you know everybody can't do it so like i've always prided myself on that on breath control like you know all the technical shit that you know nobody gives a fuck about when they listen to a record it's like oh that shit banging when he's in the club or just out in the other or just riding music that's all they're thinking about that's all they're supposed to think about your job is to do all of the other things the intangibles that make the record what it is that makes them not think about any of that shit. You know, that's ill because that's, you know, again, you know, I critique this young

generation because I have to, right? And that's the difference between their music and our music is you can tell we didn't punch in. You can tell we didn't have the technology to go, you know, stop this. And that's why you see these guys, they go, all their flows is going like this. And it's not their fault. It's their punching in they're going

over tracks punch me punch me punch me punch me punch me punch me which is impossible

to do live they have to rhyme over their vocal tracks exactly because it's impossible and that was my next question has there ever been somebody you were scared

to say I don't want to perform after him? Oh, hell no. Never? Never. Never? Never ever.

God damn, make some noise for that. Not me on stage. On stage. Stage, studio. Studio. Okay.

Club. I don't give a fuck. You that confident? I'm jazz-o. Right. Right. Right. I asked you to weigh in this, I gotta ask you that. Right. Right. Right.

Actually, the way this, I got to ask you that. Right now, you're getting a record with Hov right now. You're taking Hov head off? I ain't trying to take his head off. I'm going to say that.

All right. You ain't trying. Let me fuck you up my money. You're going to take his head off? You're going to leave your verse? No, just go ahead. No, he's going to put his best foot forward.

I'm going to put my best foot forward. I got great confidence in myself and I got great confidence in him. And, you know, I've told people, like, it's like, y'all niggas sleeping. Like, you know, like, it's so crazy. Like, for what we hear, like, he's still that far beyond the 95 percentile. You know what I'm saying? And you got to respect it. And that's one thing I did foresee.

I was like, as long as he maintains his normal health and everything like that, he going to be able to go. He going to always be able to go. He going to always be able to go. And, you know, niggas young, middle-aged, old, whatever, like, they still, like, I hear stuff. I don't, and I'm going to tell you right now, I don't really listen to too much shit. I barely listen to my own shit. And, like, I don't really see nobody, you know, fucking with them like that. And if they do, they need to turn off all of the auto-tune and the super punch-ins and all that other shit. We ain't have no punch-in.

So if our timing was off, it was like, nah, I got to do that shit again. Muppets had the cut tape to do edits. Oh. Yeah, they were around with little dwarves. Yeah, they had the cut tape. Little dwarves caught rails. You don't remember that shit? Yeah.

The real jokes. 18 pounds bro and and what's crazy i used to be in dnd where they had like um you know they had sessions where they had like you know house music and shit like that so you know them little parts where niggas was going it's a nigga with a motherfucking razor blade. Yep. Yep. Like, I saw this one cat. I can't remember his name.

He had, like, if somebody slammed the door, like, he probably would have killed him. But, because he had, like, yo, I'm telling you. Because he's trying to be precise. He had, like, 30 little slivers that he had lined up that he had to tape, you know, on as an edit, you know, to do some ill-ass edits. That's crazy. You know how hard of a job that shit is. You know, that's what I'm saying.

When these kids be like, I did the record and such and such, and I'm like, it sounds like you did. Yo. They be like, I did my shit in five minutes. I know. You put no effort at all, and your engineer didn't care. Right. These engineers, they just as high.

They just as high, the engineers. You said D&D. Shout out to Premier. You work with Premier, right? Oh, most definitely. Yeah, no, I'm just saying it for the... Didn't Premier produce one of the Jay-Z diss records, which is awkward. Let's just be clear.

I mean, we got to talk about it. Did he? Yeah, I believe so. For him? Which one? For Jay to him? I is awkward. Let's just be clear. I mean, we got to talk about it. Did he? Yeah, I believe so. For him? Which one? For Jay to him? I believe so. That's popped up.

I don't know, because like I said. You had so many beats, you was just going crazy. Yeah, and then I don't really care, man. Right. Like, I was more listening to that stuff. Like, I would listen less to anybody else. If I was tracking shit, I would be tracking who was listening to my shit. Right. You know, however that

sound, it is what it is. What was the actual discrepancy? Because everyone, when you Googled it, like I said, I had to do my research and it was great that I was kind of like out of it yesterday, so I had all the time to keep going. And one of the stories, it says that it was over a contract.

Nah. Okay. The truth of the stories says that it was over a contract. Nah. Okay. The truth of the matter is, and I hate to burst a lot of people's bubble, but it really wasn't anything. It was between the media and certain crab-ass, bullshit, weak motherfuckers in the circle. That was basically it. You know, saying certain things like, all right, I'll give you an example. Like, and I'm not boosting myself. I'm not saying this egotistically, but I'm sincere to a fault sometimes because I give people too much credit.

So like, if somebody says something, or they'll say it to me, and they're disgruntled about something, then it's like, alright, that's confidential. I respect it. You know what I'm saying? So, then, if somebody, if you turn around and the same person that said that to me

goes to the person and they say something about me and then say and try to fix what they said and then the person that they're talking to comes back to me then I gotta let it go because the same thing you asking me to do you ain't do it you just you you know I'm saying you just let that shit loose so it's like nah i'm not gonna do it to the point where i'm gonna take a blow for you and make myself look a certain way so it's like i'm gonna give it up you know i'm saying this is what happened this is what happened you

could put the nigga on the phone right now i'm gonna say the same shit that i'm saying in your face right now so i'm sincere to a fault and i think a lot of niggas around that time in that circle they ain't like that right they ain't like that and then you know a lot of niggas around that time in that circle they ain't like that right they ain't like that and then you know some of them niggas they was just bitch-ass niggas they just wanted to be closer to this dude and they knew that there was nobody closer to him than me because we was bros yeah you know what I'm saying and that you know that's just that was that's it that was just it I don't want to name names because i don't want nobody coming at me then i gotta hurt somebody or i have somebody hurt me i'm not impervious to pain

to to um injury but i am almost yeah i got that make some noise for that nah but you know it's it's beautiful it's beautiful to see men be men you know what i'm saying because the thing about it is they say How you come in is how you go out right if you come in you come in butt naked and? How you go out you go out what thing and the thing is if you could you know? Make amends with the people you started with and y'all can get some money together and do some business together That's a beautiful thing so I like how did that like how did that come across seen the first picture I believe was with no ID yeah so um and I don't know I forget where that was that I figured that first pretty night a sinner in

Chicago okay okay okay and I D he's from no ideas from Chicago from the shop so how did that happen like because well there was a I'll tell you something that not the only the industry was shocked but they were happy this is like the first time they was like, oh, yes. Like finally, like, you know, all other Jay discrepancies, we can see without. But this was something that I think everyone was just like, that's dope. Like this is like sincerely a dope thing. Now the business part is later, but let's describe that first picture when we seen it was you, Jay, and no idea.

This is for years of turmoil going on and now boom this is it yeah so for um firstly there was somebody i was doing some business with in chicago who's from chicago um they're actually from detroit but they live in chicago and um you know one of their main things was to put us together. And I was like, that's cool. That's great. But, you know, let me press the button on that. So they just jumped the gun.

And, you know, it was like, you know, it's the perfect opportunity, this, this, that, and the other. So I'm like, I'm a path of least resistance guy. You know what I'm saying? So I was like, all right, let's see what happens. You know what I'm saying? I'm not worried. So, um, so he said he, you know, he, he talked, actually talked to, uh, uh, Emery Jones. So the homie. Yeah. So we, so we basically, he, so Emery set it up and, so we got you know we went to will call and we met in the green room and it was just regular shit like i ain't seen him since last month or something like that he's like jazz it's like jay was good you know handshake hug i can literally see this going on

by the way like I can literally and it and it was it was uh it was beautiful it was beautiful um and I always like my chances with shit so I didn't expect any I didn't expect anything negative you know cuz I mean everything was you know I wouldn't got that far if it was what you know something was you know a ride but um the beautiful part about it was um he just stood in front of me. And, you know, I didn't say much and he didn't say much, but he just went like this. And I was like, that said everything.

And I was like, that takes me off the hook because now I ain't got to be awkward and say anything and shit. And he ain't got to say nothing. So we just started talking about, yeah, so what you been up to? You know, little shit, you know, nudges and shit like that. So it was beautiful. I ain't going to lie, y'all act the same. Just being honest with you.

It's the smoothness that's with you. It's the same smoothness. You can tell. I knew you wasn't going to yell this whole interview. I knew you. I knew it. You know what I'm saying? That's the good thing. Like I said, I was just so exhausted that,

I don't want to describe myself as being sick yesterday, but I was exhausted. But the good thing was I could still move my motherfucking fingers. So I just kept watching everything. I watched everything about you. This is the thing. I get into it. When I'm about to interview you, I'm you.

I'm you. That's how much I want to be incognito you know I mean like that and I just knew I did and the crazy thing is is that a Marcy thing like well y'all y'all don't blow y'all cool nice it's not that cuz I mean I know a lot of niggas like, I got to keep them. Like, yo, man, chill out. They just said, what's up, man? But, no, I think sometimes, I mean, it's an expression of our own egos when you come into contact with someone and you tend to, you know, you have kindred spirits. So you like, oh, I like that dude. He's cool. You know what I'm saying?

It's because you see the things that you like about yourself in somebody else. So I think that has a lot to do with it. And then around that time up until like for so many years, like we were around each other all the time. So there would be times where somebody would say something and we would respond with the same phrase at the same exact time. I can see that.

I can see that. That type of shit. So yeah, maybe it resonates to this day in some form or fashion. So then after you guys see each other, how does this business deal happen? How does this happen? Because you guys see each other, how does this business deal happen?

How does this happen? Because, you know, you guys see each other. That's great. Just making amends. That's good enough. Like for me, like, you know, if I have beef with one of my homies. That was a while ago, too, when that happened, right? It was like two or three years ago, I think, something like that.

But then now this deal is announced. Your imprint. This is your shit. Right? Correct? Correct me if I'm wrong. And it's a distribution deal? is announced. Your imprint, this is your shit, correct? Correct me if I'm wrong. And it's a distribution deal? Yeah, it's a distribution deal. So how does this happen?

Well, I mean, it really wasn't that complicated. This happened months later. This was on the On The Run 2 tour, and he was in Detroit. so I told him, I said, I was, you know, I was doing some business in Detroit around the time, because one of my people told me, he's like, yo, you know, same time you in Detroit, you know, your man's gonna be out there, I was like, where,

I was like, so let me see what's going on, and then I'm like, yeah, man, it'd be great to see you. And he was like, yeah, that's perfect. So, you know, same shit, we'll call. And we were chopping it up. And, you know, he was just doing his thing, relaxing. But he kept asking me, like, so, dad, what's up? What you doing? What's going on?

You know, and I was, you know, I'm usually very transparent, but I wasn't, you know. And, you know, I say, you know, I'm just, but I did tell the truth, you know what I'm saying? You know, I'm still, you know, doing music. You know, I'm waiting for the right opportunity, you know, to make certain things happen, press some buttons. And he was like, all right. So he let it go. He saw that I was sort of being a little bit evasive. But long story short, you know, he was saying he was about to, you know,

prepare for, you know, the stage and everything, you know. So I basically pulled him to the side, like, let me chop it up with you for a second. And I asked him, I was like, you know you got this girl and this, that, and the other, and that's what I need. Can you help me with that? He was like, say no more. I'll connect you with my people, and that was it. Wow. God damn, makes him look like a chef.

Did you feel that at that moment you had to humble yourself to do that or not? No. Some people feel like egot moment you had to humble yourself to do that or not? No. Some people feel like egotistically they can't do it. They can't. The ego is a big thing. They can't go in there. Some people can't remember their little homie turning into the big homie. Yeah, yeah.

And you can't see opportunity. Even though you see opportunity, you won't go for the opportunity because your ego is in the way of it. You're like, I can't do that because of this pride I have. Yeah, nah, but I mean, I looked at the big picture, like, you know, opportunity knocks, you know, and also... And deserving as well, because you could even be deserving and not take the shot because of the pride, you know?

Right, right. And I felt like, and I still feel that way, you know, people say, like, oh, it's great. You know, these things that are happening, you deserve it. And I stopped them and I tell them, like, I don't deserve the shit unless I take it. Right. You know, it could be I could have all these accolades and all that shit. Yeah, you have to go after that. But if I don't go get it, I don't deserve it.

Absolutely. You know what I'm saying? So that's when I just asked him, and it wasn't a big thing for him to do, and it wasn't a big thing for me to ask. Absolutely. You know what I'm saying? That's a beautiful thing, though.

Let me just say that. Yes, indeed. It's an outsider looking in. You know what I'm saying? You know what I mean? Because to me, that's exactly what it is, man. I know you brothers are

brothers. You know what I'm saying? The history y'all got is so rich that it's like that's rich. That's rich in itself. That's the definition of rich to me is when you have the rich history, when you have that type of shit like that and to see it come back together in 360. Like you and Kapow.

Yeah, yeah. Hell yeah. Hell yeah. That's motherfucking dope shit. So I just want to commend that. I want to salute that. I want to salute you. I want to thank you for being a part. But we ain't going. We ain't in there. Hold on. I'm going to take some more. No more shots, right? Oh, y'all want another shot. One more of Tiger Bone, I think. One more?

But you know three is my lucky number. We can do one more. I heard two Tiger Bone shots of you running up and down the beach. No, no, no. We can't take three because it's scarce right now. Okay. All right. All right.

All right. So now when you see. Yeah, you're trying to kill me, Mr. Lee. You come from the era. I know this is a little crazy. Well, you come from the era and then I come from the era right after you, where we avoided cameras at all costs. Exactly.

Like, it was just totally different. Like, now you walk around, these people are just filming you. How do you adapt to that? It's self-surveillance now. Yes. Like, everyone's the old Papa Rossi. Jesus, Jesus. You don't like me or something? All right. You gave me the diesel. It's okay. I'll take it down. I don't like me I gave me this much diesel it's okay I'll take

it down but how do you adapt to that like that I mean with me you come on a super drug dealer. He's like, yes, the super drug dealer. You know what I mean? And no one wanted cameras. I remember people would be heated. You take a picture of them. Yeah. So two stories. One, as a child, like, it was, like, I never, like, and I had, like, one of those fathers

that, like, try to, you know, just con you or bribe you into it. Like, come on, let's take this picture. And I'm like, I don't want to take a picture. And he's like, I'll give you a quarter. You know, back then, quarter was like $10. The ice cream man came quarter, got you a lot. Exactly. So, you know.

Remember back then, a dime bag was a dime. Oh, wow. Good. Willie Nelson said that. Good. So, um, so I never really wanted to take... You didn't sip your Tiger Bone. No, no, he was sipping his wine.

Oh, alright, cool. I thought you cheated and sipped some Tiger Bone. My bad. Oh, no, no, no. I ain't gonna do that to you. Tiger Wine. I ain't gonna do that to you. You know, um, yeah, so as I got older, like, yeah, you know, with the things going on, like, nobody wanted to be in pictures. And what was so funny, I just recently shot the video for the first single, M-A-R-C-Y.

And, of course, I shot it in Marcy. And, you know, some of the OGs came out. And I was like, yo, y'all want to get in this shot? And they was like, nah, y'all want to get in this shot? And then he's like, nah, nah, you got it. I'm like,

come on, man, we a hundred years old. You been out for a minute, like, you still, you still doing shit? Yeah,

it ain't even that, it's that code they follow. Exactly. It's the code they follow. Exactly. I'm going to follow a code. My code is keep saluting little my brothers my people in it Now

We'll be little on the plane Marcy projects Got you you got Jay you Jay, you got Sauce, you got Fleet. What's the new generation coming from Marcy Projects? Because I understand your deal is a label deal. Yeah. Well, you can sign other people, correct? You can have other people do your deal, because it's a distribution deal. Yeah, excuse me.

Okay, no problem. Let's talk about it. I apologize. You might take some red wine. That's the only thing that makes it work less is drink some more liquor. I'm sorry, to be honest. I mean, I'm gay. Yeah, okay, let's do it. So you can actually sign other people.

What would you look for in a new artist? Would you go back to Marcy, or what would you do? I got to. Okay. I have to because so many people fail where they come from. And for us, that's a big part. It's an integral part of what we back to where you came from find what you are or what you were and and nurture that it's like helping yourself like you know like you went back in time and if you could have that you're trying to do that for somebody else right it's the key to being a master

and a servant right like people look at a master and not realize that a true master is a servant of others. You know what I'm saying? So it just keeps going in a cycle for the most part. God damn it. That was hard. A true master is a servant. You can't really be that guy unless you serve someone else. That's hard.

So what's the next step? So now we got the deal. You said you got to take it. Mm-hmm. So what's the next step from here? Just push the hell out of this single. Yeah, the project. You got to tell us about the project.

Yeah, let's talk about the project. The project is called The Warm Up, which is more controversy. If anybody familiar with another project. Which is out now. By the time this comes out, it's out now. People need to go pick it up now. Yes. All major platforms.

There's 10 joints. I recently had a listening party in Chicago. It turned out really well. And the consensus of what I'm getting is everybody saying, yo, it sounds like a motion picture. And you, remember your thought, but you real hip-hop. You not, you don't got T-Pain on your shit. Oh, but it doesn't mean T-Pain's not hip-hop. You know what I mean? Not T-Pain's not real hip-hop. I'm saying T-Pain's not hip-hop. You know what I mean? Not T-Pain's not real hip-hop.

I'm saying T-Pain's not a rapper, but I know what you're saying. You know what I'm saying. I know what you're saying. You ain't got auto-tune, you know what I mean? You ain't got future talking about, you know what I mean? It's a bit lame, got the queen. Not one. And that's no disrespect to anybody.

No, that's my nigga's. But no disrespect to myself. You got to keep it true. It's authentic to you. So how difficult is that? Because making music in this time, do you try to cater to these new guys? Or do you say, fuck

these motherfuckers. Let me stay in my lane. What do we say? The saying I always say to myself is stick to my guns. When people ask advice. Did you call that earlier? Correlatively, shit happens.

What was it called? That word? Axiom. What? Axiom. Axiom. What's the axiom for that one? Stick to your guns.

Stick to your motherfucking guns. Axiom, God damn it. So you kept it all hip hop? Yeah, I kept what I feel is hip-hop. You know, I had to give them that triplet shit and the double-up shit. Which is ahead of its time when you did it. Yeah.

Like, if you were ahead of your time then, doesn't mean you can't be ahead of your time now. Let's be clear. Let's just be clear. If you listen to Originated, and you hear how y'all motherfuckers was hitting the cadences, a lot of people will call that, like, a down-south style.

They will say that, you know, or that flow. It was a certain rhyme style. A certain rhyme flow. And that's the reason why I kind of feel like that song was even called The Originators. That's why. And that's not to down south people, because down south people actually rhyme different.

But when a person's trying to do a down south actual flow, I feel like they go and they listen to originators. Am I out of line for saying that? No. To me, that's the foundation. Because there wasn't nobody doing it. I think people say down south

flow because of Outkast. Who made that style, I think, down south more popular. But down south flow was really an accent of down south. When I say that, I don't mean down south people doing it. When people emulate a down south flow. Right, okay, I see what you're saying. When they say, this is my down south flow,

and they're doing double time drugs. Right, right, okay. I kind of feel like, but the original one was the originators. Am I bugging or like? No, it's true. Okay. It's true, that was the original one was The Originators. Am I bugging or like? No, it's true. Okay. It's true. That was the original one.

And it was actually the original Originators, which was on my second album in 1990. I had that flow back then. Yeah. And actually, what that flow was, it was a triplet. It was a triplet as opposed to like how they double time. Right. Nowadays, it was a triplet style. Yeah, nobody was doing that.

What are you doing? I'm not going to lie. I just felt good about this. Hold on. I just didn't want to stop. Like, I just was like, yeah. Listen, we are. I'm surprised you didn't put it over your arm no no no hold on hold on this is Ace of Spades we don't put that in the trash put it back down

put it back down we're feeling good we have motherfucking Jazzo in the building man the originator the originator thank you oh one of the super legends that's what this show is about man the show is about when we what this show is about, man. This show is about, when we started this show, we wanted to salute legends like you. Wanted to salute, you know, the illest thing about, I always say the illest thing about motherfucking Batman is Clark Kent, right? That's Batman or no, that's Superman. That's Bruce Wayne.

Batman is Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne. And I sort of agree with y'all. Are you saying Superman? Huh? No, he said Batman. I'm saying both.

I'm saying that hip-hop to me is both. Hip-hop to me is the illest thing about us is our superhero capability, but then our normal capability. Right. And that's what I love about our generation is that we just have to continue. And the thing is, the thing that me and my partner, we sat here and we thought about, we said, yo, listen, man, these people don't salute

the people that been here too long. They want to kick these people out. And I got to change that. We want to change that. And I believe we are changing that. So I just want to salute you, Jazz. I want to say how much you appreciate it. I want to say how much that I,

you know, I'm a hip hop fan, you know what I mean? So I've seen you, like when I say how much you appreciate it I want to say how much their eyes you know I'm a hip-hop fan you know to me so I've seen you like when I see you know the history Google everything I was just like this is so dope this is and you know for you and homie you know to start out together you know go through your check go through y'all coming back together that is a beautiful thing I think this is to be a magnified that's what they're called right right like yeah makes the should be a magnified, that's what they're called, right? It makes the, well, that is bigger. Magnified.

I feel like it should be magnified. I feel like it should be saluted. I feel like it should be praised. You know what I'm saying? And if anybody else ain't going to do it, guess what? I'll be very happy

to be the first one to do it. I mean, you are more than welcome, you know, on Dream Champs anytime. You know what I'm saying? You want to promote some other shit,

you want to go on here, you want to do your motherfucking, you know, you know, this is Champs anytime. You know what I'm saying? You want to promote some other shit, you want to go on here, you want to do your motherfucking, you know, this is hip-hop. This is what we made this for. We made this for legends. And I'll be gosh damn if every legend in the fucking world don't feel welcome. And you motherfucking, if you don't feel it, you have the motherfucking pass. God damn it.

Yes. Let's do a picture and take some drops. And I'm going to finish. Thanks for joining us for another episode of Drink Champs, hosted by yours truly, DJ EFN and NORE. Please make sure to follow us on all our socials. That's at Drink Champs across all platforms, at TheRealNoriega on IG,

at Noriega on Twitter. Mine is at Who's Crazy on IG, at DJEFN on Twitter. And most importantly, stay up to date with the latest releases, news, and merch by going to drinkchamps.com. Why is a soap opera western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today.

Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I know a lot of cops. They get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. This is Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Glott. And this is season two of the War on Drugs podcast.

Last year, a lot of the problems of the drug war. This year, a lot of the biggest names in music and sports. This kind of starts that a little bit, man. We met them at their homes. We met them at the recording studios. Stories matter and it brings a face to it. It makes it real. It really does.

It makes it real. Listen to does. It makes it real. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Michael Kasson, 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. 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. This is an iHeart Podcast.