Drink Champs - Episode 245 w/ Ace Hood

Episode Date: January 22, 2021

N.O.R.E. & DJ EFN are the Drink Champs. In this episode, we chop it up with Broward County’s finest: the one and only Ace Hood!Ace shares stories of events throughout his career. From signing with DJ Khaled’s “We The Best Music Group” to touring the world and making some of Hip-Hop’s most memorable hits with “Bugatti”, “Hustle Hard” and more. Ace talks about inspiring a generation of rappers, the benefits of being an independent artist and much much more!Make some noise for Ace Hood!!!Listen and subscribe at http://www.drinkchamps.com Follow Drink Champs:http://www.instagram.com/drinkchampshttp://www.twitter.com/drinkchampshttp://www.facebook.com/drinkchamps DJ EFNhttp://www.crazyhood.comhttp://www.instagram.com/whoscrazyhttp://www.twitter.com/djefnhttp://www.facebook.com/crazyhoodproductions N.O.R.E.http://www.instagram.com/therealnoreagahttp://www.twitter.com/noreaga Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an iHeart Podcast. 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. I never let that little girl inside of me die. 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. 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

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on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Drink Champs, a production of the Black Effect and iHeartRadio. We'll be right back. 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 It's time for Drink Champs Drink up motherfuckers What a good beat, hopefully this is what it should be This is your boy N-A-O-L-A-A

What up, it's DJ E-F-N And this is Drink Champs motherf. This is your boy, NAOLAA. What up? It's DJ EFN. And this is Drink Chance motherfucker, Yappy Awa. Make some noise! And right now, when you're talking about Broward County legend, you know what I mean? Deerfield legend. Florida legend. The man has worked with everybody from Ply's

to Rick Ross to Wale to T-Pain to Birdman to Trick to Waka to Lil Wayne to Meek Mill to Fabulous to 2 Chainz to Freshman. I don't know a person he ain't worked with. He worked with Mayday too. He worked with Mayday too. Jasper Sullivan and all type of people.

And NRE. And I got to keep 100 on this intro and throughout this interview when you think of We The Best, there's two people that you think of who built that company that was on the forefront on that camera, and this is one of them. He stood next to Khaled. They did, made history together, and he went on to do his own independence. He's holding it down. He ain't complaining about leaving the team. He's staying here, and he's doing what the hell he on to do his own independence. He's holding it down. He ain't complaining about leaving the team. He's staying here, and he's doing what the hell he got to do.

He's out here monkey-fucking the game, still being relevant, still doing what he got to do. In case you don't know what the hell we're talking about, we're talking about motherfucking Ace motherfucking Hood! Now... Intro legendary. In the beginning... In the beginning...

In the beginning, in the beginning, in the beginning, you, you, you rapped, because you, like, you're like a rapper, rapper, like, like, you are a lyricist. Like, I can tell you ain't going to write no rhyme down and just, and half-ass it. You're one of those dudes So how did you even develop that in the beginning And especially I guess it's a double Question because A lot of people Don't look at all South artists as lyricists You know what I'm saying So how did you develop that Being lyrical and then

Let's take being lyrical first So being lyrical thing Bro I came up on For sure So Yeah, so being lyrical thing, bro, I came up on, are you trying to put it? For sure, for sure, for sure. So. My shirt. My white, my white.

Is it a wild cap? Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, no, we was ready, we was ready. I love it, bro. Absolutely. So, you know, I don't know, man. You know what's so crazy is that the fact that South artists weren't really known for lyricism or putting together rhymes like that.

So it's like I wanted to be a South artist that was able to do so. So I listened to a lot of, like, you know, up north influence. You know what I'm saying? So it was like Cannabis, Big L. You know what I mean? I listened to a lot of people that was really rapping, people who was really doing their thing. So for me, it was like cannabis, Big L. I listened to a lot of people that was really rapping, people who was really doing their thing. So for me, it was always about that.

These were people who were saying words, using terminology, and just language that was just very different. So to me, I wanted to have a little bit of both because, yeah, we got the balance, but I want to be able to say something in my music. And then obviously being with Khaled and that whole situation was like the expectation. You know, once the bar get raised,

it's like that's where we at with it. Right. And it's not that it wasn't out here, it just wasn't known. It wasn't seen. It wasn't seen a lot. No, I mean, real stuff like in terms of the South, that's what people consider.

People didn't consider us as being lyricists. Right, like going to, going to, to pick up you and your crew, like your analogies, the Mother Superiors and all that. We didn't think that existed. That's why when you bring that up and you speak about... We thought bass music was it. We didn't like looking from here. And to tell you the truth, us as consumers at that time, I think that's all we wanted from the South. Your bo-bo-bo-bo ass and shit like that. I'm sorry, I don't know. I was thinking of your mother again. I was like, it was in my head.

I didn't say that. Y'all looking at me crazy. Did you ever receive slack by being so lyrical? Like, did anybody ever say, yo, you too lyrical? Yep. Get out of here. Yeah, bro. So, oh, this is interesting.

Because in the beginning, I came in so lyrical and I wanted to rap. You know what I mean? I wanted to be on some lyrical, tyrannical, you know what I mean? I heard you say cannabis. That was cannabis right there. I wanted to be on that type of shit.

I wanted to really rap. But coming into the game and in the industry, I was taught that you had to dumb it down. You dig? I was taught that at that particular time that the consumer, that wasn't what the consumer was looking for when they wanted to have a good time. And who's telling you that?

Just the people that I'm around, you know. Like your crew, industry folks? It's my crew. It's the industry folk. It's the people that believe that. It was, you know, partly like Caledon. Because, and not in a way of saying that you can't be lyrical, but just it's different when you're trying to create a radio record or a record. You know what I'm saying?

I know that in retrospect, they were probably wrong. But I could see why they were right in that moment. And they said Jay-Z did the same thing. Well, I mean, it's... But that's what I was told. It's widely known that Tupac supposedly did the same thing. Right. Really?

It's widely known. Yeah. That's the first time I've ever heard of this. Get out of here. We leave it to death, bro. I mean, I don't know at what point, but it's, I mean, I don't know if this is a rumor, but it's widely known that he said

that he had to bring it to a level where he wanted to bring people in so that everybody could understand, and then he was going to raise the bar once he had them. That's what I... Well, that's ill, because I looked at Tupac's whole career.

I've never seen him dumb it down. Not at one point. Have you ever felt like Tupac dumbed it down? I think he had more in him. In some cases. I think Tupac could have went deeper with some other. Okay.

You know what I'm saying? But not really. And you yourself, you ever dumbed it down? Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah, yeah. Absolutely, bro. It looks like he's ready

to get in that conversation. Because, you know, when you're trying to learn, you know, you're trying to build a fan base, you know, you're listening to the people that have done it before.

You know what I'm saying? So, it's like, you know,'re trying to build a fan base you know it's it's young you know you're listening to the people that done it before you know what i'm saying so it's like um you know you got to experiment man you know what i'm saying so that's really what it was like for me it was like all right cool so i know i have to dumb it down in order to create in order to create certain records but i also know that um you know i got so much more in me you know what i mean i can tell real stories and stuff like that you listen to naz Nas, you listen to people like yourself, like you hear stories. I like that. Take me on a journey throughout this. You know what I'm saying?

So that's more so where I'm at now in my mind, too. Now, Deerfield Beach, right? Yes, Phil. Now, growing up there, who was your influences? Because I'm sure it's very cliche to say Trick Daddy. Is there some Deerfield Beach legends that we don't know? Yeah, I want to know too. Oh, all right.

Did I ask a good one? Okay, so look. Pick up my flag. Right, right. I'm gonna give you that one. I'm gonna give you that one. I'm gonna give you that one. Okay.

All right, so coming up, the Deerfield legends were, they weren't in music though. You know what I mean? They weren't musicians. These guys were ball players. I grew up playing football. That was my thing. That's a Florida thing. That's a Florida thing, bro. Y'all love football. You see what I mean? They weren't musicians. These guys were ballplayers. I grew up playing football. That was my thing. That's a Florida thing.

Y'all love football. You see what I'm saying? So, like, all of the legends, you know, a lot of people that you see in the NFL or whatever, like, these are the people that we just came up looking up to us. You know what I mean? Like, Tyrone Moss are these guys. You had, like, I grew up playing with Patrick Peterson. You know what I'm saying?

And so many other guys. JPP. Wow. Just those type of people. You know, we was really, I grew up looking up to like Deion Sanders. I wanted to be like Deion growing up. You feel me?

Like primetime. So it was more so of that. And on the music side, I looked up to more so, you know, you got the Wayans, you had the Soulja Slim. Like I was big on that South type stuff. So that was really where my influence came from when I was young. You know, we all wanted to have 24s on our four wheelers.

Yup, I played football. Yeah. Now the funny thing is when I didn't live out here, I always looked at it all as being Miami. Meaning, Deerfield Beach, I thought that was Miami. Hollywood, I thought that was Miami. Fort Laudfield Beach, I thought that was Miami. Let's talk about that. Hollywood, I thought that was Miami. Fort Lauderdale, I thought it was Miami. Where's my man with Kodak Black come from?

Pomano. All these places are very different. You got to live out here to know that. Because once you land and you see the palm trees and you see the same dredge and the same that. It wasn't until I got here, like, you know, you know, the Brooklyn and Queens rivalry, the Queens within Queens rivalry that I started, like, you know, the

Broward County. Dave, was you on that side of the fence where, like, you know, it was hard for you? So, for us, bro, growing up, where we from, it was Haitian-American issues where we from. Oh, Haitians against Americans. It was Haitians-Americans. Wow. So, literally, bro, growing up where we from, it was Haitian-American issues where we from. Oh, Haitians against Americans. It was Haitians-Americans.

Wow. So literally like in high school, you know, people— I see that on Gangland. I see that episode of Gangland. That's it. It's very real, bro. Wow, wow, wow. You know, so in high school and elementary, like, so that was the main thing.

And where I stayed at, which is interesting, is that I grew up in an all-Haitian neighborhood, which is why I came into the gang with in an all-Haitian neighborhood, which is why I came into the game with so many Zoes and all my homies. Like, Zo, that's my brotherhood. It's like my family, you know? And the Americans grew up on, like, the west side. So that was always an issue because I'm an American. And then, like, you know what I'm saying?

Or just, like, right, like American, right. But that was the rival issue going on. So you had a lot of people selling drugs on this side and doing their thing and hustling and doing their business or whatever. But them guys from this side can't come to this side, you know. And if you from that side, you can't come to that side. And I'm from this side, but I got homies from that west side. So that was always Deerfield. I said New York is looking at all of y'all the same.

We're looking at all of y'all's guys. Everybody like the same, bro. And this is happening in Deerfield. This is like three minutes down the street. Like, if I'm staying on 60th Street, whatever, you got the other homies there on the west side, and it's always back and forth beef. Now, you got homies pulling up on their block doing what they do.

You got homies pulling up on our block doing what they do. And it's like if you ain't sell nothing in this area, if you ain't do nothing to contribute to this area, you can't really come to this area, per se. People don't know how real Florida is. They think Florida, Miami, everything is South Beach. They have no idea. On some G shit, and I'm not just saying this,

but if you're talking about the trenches of Broward County, you're talking about Deerfield, Pompano. Period. That's what I believe. Pompano, period. If you talking about, that's what I believe. Pompano is the same. Yeah, and what's so crazy about that is literally like, Deerfield and Pompano was one and the same. Because eventually, like, our area code, it got switched from Deerfield to actually Pompano,

where I stayed, same place. I didn't understand who Kodak Black was and how he was doing in his tactics until I started hanging out with people that's like him. And I'm like, oh,, this is going to work. They all go crazy. Got mad sense. Got mad sense.

Got mad sense, for sure. So, now tell us the difference. Had you been from Miami, would it have been a difference in anything you have done? Yeah. That would have been a different swagger? That would have been a different swagger for sure. I think there would have been definitely different swag, different ideas about myself.

Miami was much more different. Miami used to consider themselves as a little bit more forward than Broward County was. So when, say, they was on, let's say fitted jeans Or fitted shirts Broward County We was still You know 2X

3X shirts You know what I'm saying Reeboks You pull up We still They still playing the Boosie And all the old vibes Like an old cash money video

You know what I'm saying So I think it just would've been different And I think that's such A prominent point for me In my career Because I received It was so much like

Hatred because of that Because of the moves in the beginning because like when people come say hatred not from did not from your I mean just cuz like you know so the biggest thing was that I was, I'm from Left Frack. My first video was in Queensbridge. They did not let me, they did not let me go down. I had no power. I had no power.

Right, okay. But, to the people in Left Frack, they're like, Queensbridge, you a Queensbridge dude. I'm like,

no, I'm from Left Frack. So if you go listen to my album, I had to say Left Frack 3, 3, 3, 3,

3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,

3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,

3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,

3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,

3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,

3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,

3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,600 times just to make sure. I did not claim Queensbridge. I had no power at the time. But go ahead. And that's the issue that I was dealing with because I felt like I needed to go back and say, Dear Phil, and be in the city constantly. So now I'm popping up in the city. Now we shoot videos in the city. But, you know, eventually over time I started to learn that it wasn't really about that.

You know what I'm saying? Because constantly people was trying to attach me to Miami. And every time somebody would, I'm like, bro, I'm not from Miami. I ain't grow up in them streets. That ain't my hood. You understand? Like, I take that to heart because I don't know them parts. And if, like, you know, like, we grew up if you don't know them parts, we can't really speak on that. You know what I'm saying? It's just simple and plain.

So for me, I understood the idea of them, like, cool. But everything, I would say, yo, Broward, 954, it's on my skin, it's in my life. Like, I took it around the world. I moved it, you know what I'm saying? So, you know, That was the biggest issue because Miami do things in a very different way than I feel like a brow would do it.

You'd have been sniffing a lot of cocaine if you lived in Miami. Who knows, bro? You know what I mean? I'm going to take a shot. I'm going to take a shot. Man, I'm here, bro. Let me get a cup. Oh, yes, too. I want to take a shot shot. Man, I'm here, bro. Let me get a cup. Let me take a shot shot. Let me get one of those cups.

Oh, yes. Yes, sir. What you got? Come on. We heard you're a rum guy, so we got you. I'm a rum guy. Yes, sir. We heard you. What's your sister?

Bambu. Yeah, we got you that. I like that. We got you that, too. I'm going to do the regular Ciroc. You want some Mamawana? No, I'm sorry. Yeah, man, I'm going to be honest.

We're going to have a conversation about how much you like the Mama Wama. But I'm putting it here now, behind the bottle. Behind the bottle? Okay, all right. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. No, I'm gonna do regular surround. Ace. Ace, you want some bamboo? I'm gonna do some bamboo. Let's do some bamboo, goddamn it. Let's do some. Let's do it. Let's make some noise for Ace Good, man.

Let's do some bamboo, man. And we don't know if you know, but our show is about celebrating people. You know, so many people want to get rid of people. And, you know, if you look at your career, you have a lot of trials and tribulations, a lot of ups and downs, but you stayed solid. You stayed, you know, down. You stayed loyal.

And we're going to get into all that, but we're going to salute you as we get into all that. Salute, man. Okay. So, I want a shot before I go home. Yes, sir. Before I go home. Come on, guys. Leave.

You ain't got a knife? Come on, man. Come on, you're Latino, baby. Come on, what's going on? Every Latino in the room is disappointed right now you ain't brought on a Switchblade. Come on. Come on, baby. But, hey, I'll get it to him.

So, Trials and Tribulations. I know I'm going over a place. Um, what made you name your album that at that time? Uh, shit. Oh, man, I was going through a lot of trials at that particular time. Um, what was I actually dealing with, uh, at that time with Trials and Tribulations? That was Bugatti on there. That was Hustle Hard.

Trials and Tribulations was like the answer to what I had been through, you know, in order to like, to solidify myself as an artist. You know, I felt like I had great records in the beginning, but I felt like it wasn't up until Hustle Hard was like my self-proclaimed record. That was like the record people known me for

and I felt like in any artist's career, I think it's important for you to have a self-establishing record for yourself and to me, Hustle Hard was one of those ones.

No, we ain't talking about Hustle Hard, we talking about trials and tribulations. I got a whole shit about Hustle Hard. I know, I know. I got a whole paragraph.

I say that to God. I know, I know. But I say that to pan in of just trials and tribulations. I feel like I was just dealing with, I was just, I good. I know, I know. I'm going to be good. But I say that to pan in of just trials and tribulations. I feel like I was just dealing with, I was dealing with so much, man. I think in terms of just taking care of my family, you know what I mean? And trying to take care of my family and everybody in my family and take care of myself. And also still trying to be present and create records and, you know what I'm saying?

And have these ideas and make sure that these are my ideas and not someone else's ideas. Make sure, like, I'm fully involved in the process of doing that. Make sure I'm seeing my children at the same token since I say I'm doing all of this for the people that I love. You know what I'm saying? I want to make sure I'm spending time with these people. So I was just going through, like, I was just trying to find my balance. You know what I'm saying? So trials and tribulations for me at that point was just, you know, I just needed to overcome something, man.

And really just like get my feet planted for real, for real. Because I felt like I was, I guess, being overcome in some way, man. Or just figuring it out. That too. That too. That too. At what point you did Cashflow? I did Cashflow.

That was like one of the first records I did. The first record. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that was after I'm So Hood, but I'm So Hood didn't come out. No, no, no. That was before. That was before. That was before. I mean, before I was So Hood. That was like one of the first records I did. The first record. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that was after I'm So Hood, but I'm So Hood didn't come out. No, no, no. That was before. That was before. That was before.

I mean, before I'm So Hood. That was before. So that was like 2008. You know what I'm saying? That was like one of the first few records. So once we decided, once I got signed to the whole We The Best situation, we went in and we started to create records right away. So that was one of the records that came out of the batch.

Kool and Dre was a part of that record. Shout out Kool and Dre. You know what I'm saying? Shout out Kool and Dre, them. Khaled, them, came in. And we just wanted to create something special, man. You know what I'm saying? And then, like, just the idea of having T-Pain and Ross, them on that shit

was nasty, bro. It's not any T-Pain. It's the T-Pain. He was on fire. Me, T-Pain. Yeah, yeah. And Ross, too. And Ross, too. So, alright. Take this shot, Paco. Okay, I'm ready, baby. Salud. Salud, yeah. Come on. And Ross, too. And Ross, too. And Ross, yeah. Yeah. So all right. Take the shot, Paco. Oh, yeah, I'm ready, baby.

Salud. Salud, baby. Salud. Salud. Salud, my brother. So Carlos has his radio station. Ah. 99 gems?

99, yup. And one of your boys got the plug to tell you that he's dead? Or you just figured, I'm going to just pull up? My boy heard him on the radio. My manager at that time, he heard him on the radio. And it was like some type of contest or some shit that he had going on. So when he hit me about it, he came to the crib,

and I was like, he was like, yo, Caled up at 99 Jams. I'm like, so what that mean? Like, you know, what we doing? He's like, yo, we finna go up to the radio station and, like, try to rap for bro. And you already had records at the time, or you was just going in to rap? Oh, you know, what we doing? He's like, yo, we finna go up to the radio station and, like, try to rap for bruh. And you already had records at the time or you was just going in to rap? Oh, no, I had records. I had records.

How y'all getting in? Because you know they got that shit. They got the gate. Pull up, right? We pull up. We pull up. First of all, we in the Merc. We in the Mercury.

The Mercury leaning on over y'all. You know, the Impalas, the old schools back then. You know what I'm saying? I ain't gonna lie. I'm gonna let y'all have this one. I don't know what the fuck you talking about We call it a Mercury It's a Mercury

But that's the car you know they fix Them up like the bubble Chevy's back then and all that good stuff The Impala's so we in that You know I think it's important to say that because of Just what that represented you feel me Like the windows barely work The sound system barely work.

You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, you know, we trying to get it. It's rattling. It's rattling. Right.

You know what I'm saying? So, we pull up at the radio station. The gate is open. Thank God. Normally the gate's closed. Normally the gate is closed. God is with you.

God is with you. So, we pull up. The gate is open. I knew it was God. I knew he was all orchestrated. We pull up. As soon as we get in there,

Khaled pull up five minutes later. I'll never forget it because I seen the way that Baby Blue Phantom pulled up in the vibe. It was nasty, right? He pull up, he hop out. Now, keep in mind now, I think this is important too for like, you know, in general, where the game is different, but back then,

like as an artist, you had to be prepared. So I had a bio, I had a picture, I had a CD with my songs on it, in an envelope I ain't playing so like look at my Instagram right just yeah right you go to my Instagram like like you're gonna do it outside of like you know I'm saying me and then I'm like yo boom whatever but um so we done Khaled there man we hanging out and the calis like uh you walk up on him he's not hesitant yeah people pull up on him right because he called for two weeks later right or something he called so he hit he hit back that night i'm skipping yeah you gave him

the cd we gave him the cd right because i wanted to wrap for him yeah i wanted to wrap for him i couldn't wrap for him he had this radio station he had He had to be there 6.15, 6.30, right? He got to be doing his thing. So I didn't hear back or hear anything until, like, the following day. You know, like, he hit my manager back that same night. Oh, wow. I was having a conversation with him and was like, yo, boom, boom, boom. I like what I heard.

I hear the hunger. Like, I want to work with this guy. Right. And from there, two weeks later is when we had the prior meeting to actually signing and figuring out what we want to do. Right. And then when he sent you, I'm so hooked. Was T-Pain on there? Was anybody on there or he just sent you the beat? T-Pain was on there. T-Pain. Yeah. He sent me the, so he sent me the, you know, bro, that's, it's crazy when I think about it because

just in my mind of hearing that song, right? Being in Club Boca with the homies, not even knowing Khaled and not even knowing nothing. Right. You, being in Club Boca with the homies, not even knowing Caledon, not even knowing nothing. Right, you know about that Club Boca. So, like, we in there vibing with the homies. You serious? You must be in Club Boca right now. Club Boca right now. I think I have this one in there.

It's definitely true. Let's go. That shit crazy. So, in my mind, we catching the vibe. And so, for him to send me a record that got T-Pain hook, but a free verse and then his hook come back, I felt like I was like, man, that's like, this is not a normal opportunity.

T-Pain on a hook, and it ain't like I orchestrated to put this together, I took a little piece and ripped it. Like, man. When I said that, I just felt like I gotta, I gotta, you know, I gotta come with it. I wrote like five, six verses, bro. I went to the studio that same time.

Bro, bro, bro. And so, and from there, man, once I knocked them verses out, and I recorded the verses that slip and slide. I think that's important. Holy moly guacamole. Shout out Ted Lucas and all that.

And then what happened? So you laid five verses or you wrote five verses? I laid five verses and I wrote five verses. And I just took the best two and I sent them that. Okay. You know what I'm saying? So he can. What was that moment like?

And sending that, man, he called me right back and was just like, bro, I love it. Wow. I love it. He said, man, I hear that dog. I hear that hunger in you. Like, let's do something. We're going to have a meeting. Boom, boom, boom.

He had the office across the street from the radio station. We linked up at that spot the next time. And we were sitting down talking about having a deal, man, and him wanting to sign me. Like, my guy at that particular time wanted it to be about dollars and deals. We wanted to get, like, he wanted to get a label situation. But at that time, he was only interested in signing me. So, yeah, man. So, from there, it was history, bro.

All right. Goddamn. That's crazy, man. That's crazy. Straight up. I got notes, goddammit. You know how many of this? How many of those?

Yeah. Yeah. Now, okay. Okay, okay. Let me tell them. Okay. We got a lighter on. Okay.

Hell yeah. Good boy. Boris, look him over the lighter. Oh, shit. I don't want you to... Wrong notes. Thank you, brother. Okay. So, boom.

You get with Khaled. Mm-hmm. Hustle Hall doesn't come out yet, right? No, Cash Row comes out first, right? Cash Row comes out, yep. It's... First time flying to New York. I flew to New York. Once we ended up figuring out

a deal, it was my first time ever going to New York. We flew to New York to go see L.A. Reid with Def Jam. And he was with Def Jam at that time. So at this time I had cash flow. I had the stressing record that I recorded with Plies. Did he have chapstick L.A. Reid? I felt like he was putting on chapstick.

Who that? L.A. Reid? Was he putting on chapstick? I was making it. Who that, L.A. Reid? L.A. Reid. What's he putting on chapstick? I just feel like it happened that time. He realized. Nah, he wasn't putting on no chapstick. That's my man, man. Every time I see him, he's putting on chapstick. I'm like, what are you doing, man?

Stop it. And he got the other shit, the lip balm. He be like, come on, L.A. Reid. You got to stop it, the pinky, man. You got to relax. But he's a genius. He's a genius. If he sign you, that mean you ill.

So, you fly to New York. Are you nervous? Because, you know, there's a possibility he can fly, he can introduce you. You know, because right now, they can look at you, look at you on Instagram and say, oh, I like the way you look. But this is, if you're going to New York, this is to look at how you look in your face, to see how you perform, to see. So, are you nervous?

Or do you do you even know this process is happening? We said pep talk before you get there. I'm beyond nervous. First of all, cuz I'm first of all, I'm flying It's my first time ever flying. It's my first It was an all it was the first time of everything first time flying first time being in New York first time gotta be there You know, we had mr. Childs at that time. First time having Mr. Childs in the office. Bro, I'm so nervous, bro. But the pep talk, right?

This was like, this is the illest shit about Khaled, right? Is that his level of like the way he's able to motivate you. Yo, this L.A. Reid. Yo, yo, yo, we got to. Yo, this L.A. Reid. Yo, you got to. You got to sell this. Like, make him feel that.

Yo, yo, yo. No, no. No, no. Yo, yo, yo. Yo, yo, yo. Yo, yo, this how they read. Yo, you got to sell this. Like, make him feel that. Yo, yo, yo, no, no. His impression is great. Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo. You can't play. You can't play with this. Like, it's a chance. It's not a game.

Like, we got to do it. I can see college. Like, you feel what I'm saying? Like, it's like, like, we the best. Like, you feel what I'm saying? Like, that's the energy. So, for me, that's all I need to hear. I'm Amp.

You with me. You affirm me. We in this together. Let's do this. Like, you know what I'm saying? So, for me, as soon as I get in there with L.A. Reid, like, you know where I come from. Like, I come from the hood. I come from Deerfield.

Like, down the street, the projects. We got the homies. So, I need this. I ain't finna play with this. It's an opportunity for me. So, I spill it all. I give it all. I'm in there, nigga, emotional, everything.

Nigga, giving them that stressing verse with pliers on it. I'm in there and they get emotional everything and giving them that stress In verse with pliers on it. I mean nothing going hard with that cash flow You gonna feel me you feel me like and he felt that and we before you know for 14 man We were signing a deal. I stepped out the room. We was inking the deal big mr. That's what I'm asking. Mm-hmm What's that moment like when you step out the room? Because I get it. There's got to be a moment when they're talking to, when you're not there. Yeah. What's going through your mind at this time?

The moment after I left the room, I felt fulfilled. I felt like I did that. I left it there. Like you got it. Yeah, yeah. Or even if I didn't, like I left it there. You know what I'm saying? Like I did my part.

You know what I'm saying? That's how I feel about it. It's like as long as I show up and I do what I'm supposed to do, however you choose to, whatever decision you make, I'm alright with it. Salute, goddammit. You dig what I'm saying? Salute, my brother. Salute, my brother. Salute, goddammit. Thanks a lot!

What was the moment in the music industry when you realized this ain't all the crap? What was that moment like for you? When it hit the realization that when it hit that realization bro it was it was scary you know

because I think once I got to that realization that you know I came into the game as a young you know young buck

I was 18 19 years old knowing that I didn't acquire much about the business. Knowing that I didn't ask to really see certain things. Knowing that I was, I didn't have any insight about what budgeting was for me. Knowing that I didn't have, you know, I was just a workhorse.

I didn't, you know what I'm saying? I think that was the thing because I didn't, once I started to put it together, I started to understand of like, man, I could be be I could be tangled into something that I have no idea how to get myself out of you know what I'm saying like because as you start to get older right you start to mature and when you're young you want the money you know what I'm saying for me it's like cool I want to be able to uh supply you know you know like provide for my mother because my mother was struggling you know what I'm saying like nobody around her couldn't really do anything.

So it was like, for me, I felt like I needed to be the man to step up. So in my mind, this money is going to help, you know, when you're young, this money is going to help provide for my family. So you ain't thinking about what that contract or what business will look like later on until you get older.

And then you start asking questions. Right. So I think that's when I started to see that, you know, and then even with politics, I never really liked the politics shit in music. You know what I'm saying? In the beginning, but once I learned it, I understood it and I respected it.

But, you know, when people, when we say we brothers and we do certain things, I took that to heart. It's just a talk. It's just a talk. But then I started to learn, like, oh, shit. When it comes from certain, when it comes from certain industries.

When it comes from certain, right. Everyone is not bullshit. When it comes from certain industries. When it comes to certain, right. Everyone is not bullshit. Right. But everyone ain't real. Everybody ain't real. And that's what's fucked up about it. And that was the toughest part, because I'm like, damn. But I thought this person, not speaking to the people that I was close with, but just the rhyme.

You fell for the brother shit you just said? I fell for it. Don't fall for that brother shit. I fell for it. Don't fall for that. You my brother shit. You feel me? Like, oh, no, you my brother.

We going to da-da-da-da-da. But when I said, you want to try me? I'm like, damn. But I thought for it. I fell for that you're my brother. You feel me? Like, hold on, you're my brother, and we going da-da-da-da-da. But when I said, you want to try me, I'm like, damn, but I thought we were. Okay, I get it. But, and I know at that point, but, you know, if I would have knew in advance, like, I could have, I would have knew what to expect. I could have managed my expectations.

Yeah. But that ain't happened. So it's just seeing little shit like that, I'm just like, and just ideas that people will have. You know what I mean? It just kind of just turned me weird. I'm just like And just ideas That people will have You know what I mean It can just kind of Just turn me weird I'm just like

This ain't real logical This ain't even like I'm like what niggas Doing in this shit Like y'all ain't trying to Become better people Why we gotta Like am I just trapped

In being this one person And I gotta be this person My entire career They want you to evolve and shit That's what I'm saying I'm like I can't evolve And grow up and be No no

That's why when artists A lot of times I mean you gotta Tell you, that's why when artists, a lot of times, I mean, you got to tell you the truth, you got it better than a lot of people who caught a raw deal or anything or who, you know, had to leave a very established label because they wanted to go on their own. A lot of people, what they would do is they'll become this artist and they'll be an artist. If you complain about your rights and you're an artist, if you complain about your rights and you're an artist, you're problematic.

Right. That's fucked up. That's fucked up, man. That's fucked up. You know what? I'm glad you put me on. I'm glad that you put me in the place. I'm glad that this label helped me out.

But look, this part ain't right. Can we just correct that? Right. Most people will say, no. Are you a millionaire? Can you pull up in a Range Rover? Can you pull up in a May millionaire? Can you pull up in a Range Rover? Can you pull up in a Maybach?

Can you pull up in such and such? Why do you need to correct something that you're already good at? And it's like because I don't want to be perfect, but I want my shit to be right. But if you do that, then you're known as a problematic artist. Like as you were leaving the We The Best, was you receiving those type of things? Like was people spreading rumors like J-1's or something? Telling people don't fuck with Ace Hood?

How was it leaving though? I'm sorry, J-1. I didn't mean to say that. I'm sorry. That was the beginning. He was around. Def Jam happened in the beginning. At some point, we moved from Def Jam.

Def Jam was only my first two projects. And then we ended up moving. So you fulfilled those projects. I fulfilled those projects, got finished with them. Because at one point, I'm stopping you, and we're going right back to this. Yep. Remember that question. Remember what the question was.

What was it? Don't worry, we're good. But remember, please, because I felt like you were the face of the We The Best Def Jam thing. Did you feel like you were the face of that time? Yes. Okay. Yes. All right, cool.

I did feel like that. Okay. Always felt like that. Right. Yeah. Okay. All right, we're going to get back to that now. What was the other question you got there?

What was I saying? No, what you were saying. Yeah. No, he was saying he fulfilled the Def Jam project. Yeah. And when was it that the breakup happens? At what point in the business dealings? Do you have another? Is it Cash Money at that point?

We were under Cash Money. So you're breaking contracts with two people? With two entities? So this is how it happened. Originally, I started with Def Jam. And then after Def Jam, with the first two albums, I ended up moving. We ended up going to Universal, which was Cash Money, right?

Cash Money, Bugatti, and all that other stuff, right? Then issues started to stir up with Cash Money, Universal. You remember that, when they had the issues and just things were just happening. When you called it a melee. Right, I'm called it a melee. We all, you know, even with the label. So it's like, you know, people trying to just keep what they know, keep what they can keep type of thing. So, you know, bro wanted to make his own decision to kind of do his own thing.

Like, you know, he wanted to be his own independent field. So he wanted to kind of separate from the vibe. You're saying what you're talking about, Khaled? Yeah, yeah. Khaled wanted to separate from the universal music and kind of do something different. Right. You know what I'm saying? He wanted to be more independent. All done? No.

Okay, all right, cool. So is that leaving you guys or the label label all the artists left behind by doing that? Well, he wanted to branch off. So yes, it would be like You know handling this business in this way and then taking that you know Your imprint and making it independent and then we were under red Sony red Sony road distribution, right? Sony red is when the issue starts is talk started to stir up. Because I think, like you said, there was a certain level. I was invested in the We The Best, right? I felt like me and Bruh created that together.

If I'm being honest. You wore the brand on your sleeve. I wore the brand on my sleeve. If you thought about We The Best, you thought about Ace. I agree with you. You thought about Khaled. Facts. It wasn't one without the other.

It's just what it was. You feel me? So I felt like. It wasn't one without the other. It's just what it was. You feel me? So I felt like... It was like Dame and Jay at one point. That's how I felt. And I thought, you know, that we were just there. You know what I'm saying? So, for me, I didn't like...

Right. I didn't like the fact that the decision was made without me. I didn't like that the fact that the decision was made to part ways from our distribution and me not know about it and you decide solely to say, we're going to take this one imprint and go over here and I'm going to do this. Granted, rightfully so.

What distribution was you mad that you was leaving? Universal? Just because we were at Universal going from Universal to something that's more independent, which was the Sony Red situation. It was just, the principle for me was the fact that I felt like we created

this thing together that, not we should make all the decisions, but this was a decision that I felt like, I thought, we were brothers enough that you would come to me about this decision type of thing, in some way. You know what I mean? And maybe he feel wrong that or don't feel the same way that I could even be in a position to say that

But I felt like we built this I contribute You know what I mean? I rep that shit It's on my skin You know what I mean? I was out here People knew that

So for me The decision to take it from one thing to another Was an issue for me You know Because then I started to understand That it's not about my decision You know? And you had

I'm sorry to cut you off. You had no, like he didn't even call you and say you're listening. No, no, no. So once he made the decision, it was like final with Sony Red and it was happening. That's when the conversation actually happened with us.

And I felt blown away because I felt like I was unprepared for it. There's ideas and there's things that I wanted to do that I felt like I needed a major backing to do so. You know, and I just think, like, the decision, even though for him, yes, it's your brand at the end of the day. That's what I'm saying. You can take it like. Like, maybe he felt like, well, it's my brand.

I don't have to consult. Right. But I feel on your end, it's like it's impacting your career regardless. Only because, only because, only because the moment this imprint started, which means that the moment you knew about it, Ace Hood was signed to it. Right. And it existed at that point, I think. So you felt like it was created around you?

Not around me. Oh, okay. No, I don't feel like it was created. I feel like I was the first representation of that brand, of what it would be. Right, right, I got it. And I'll tell you the misunderstanding right there, right? Like when you sign an artist, it's like signing a baby, right?

And it's your baby. That's why they say that's my baby like sometimes, right? But as the artist grows, sometimes you still give the artist the information.

You still give them the purge. But you're not realizing that artist got teeth now. Right. And the artist actually doesn't want purge no more, doesn't want baby food. Doesn't want to be school fed.

And it deserves to say, you know what? You got, we eating chicken now. All right, that's cool. But why are we eating chicken? Okay. And why do you want to eat vegetables? Why are you changing my diet? Why?

And that's just what it is. I understand his position because it's his company. And I understand that you wasn't eating porridge no more. Right. It was your turn to at least know. You know what I'm saying?

So I get where you're coming from too. Like, I'm an artist and a CEO. But there's a term that really goes with what you're saying. You were the flagship artist. There you go. Right, right. Of We The Best.

And I'm not saying that I wanted to know all the ins and outs of his business or anything. At least yours. At we the best. Uh-huh. And I'm not saying that I wanted to know all the ins and outs of his business or anything. I just think that anything that affects me, I should be in part, I should be, you know, within that conversation. You know what I'm saying? I just think that's right. And I think that's fair. Not even about being right.

I just think that's fair. You know what I'm saying? If you're going to decide to take that, hey, yo, so I'm just deciding to take. I know we were with Blah, but we're going to move over. And you know what I'm saying? That way we're in it together, right? And that way it doesn't feel like I'm excluded in that you solely can make these decisions. Now, who am I? What does that say about me if you can just decide any time you want to take this thing and do what you want with it?

That means that I'm supposed to follow behind and do what you want with it too? Right? But one million percent, when you're on Miami Heat, you can get traded to the Knicks tomorrow. Right. And you won't have no motherfucking decision

on that neither. That's real. You know what I'm saying? That is real. He just wanted the courtesy is what he wanted. Yeah. The courtesy.

But this is what I'm trying to say. Sometimes you don't get that courtesy. Sometimes you wake up in Toronto and Drake is your roommate. You know what's so crazy? You're like, what the hell? Hey, hey, G-Shit. Now, if it's like this,

you play for the Raptors now. You're like, holy moly guacamole. Your check is still there. But that's what he's probably looking at. I'm just being devil's advocate. He's probably looking like, yo, hey, your check is still going to be there. Everything's still.

We're just going to do it on a different level. And either way, how I am and how I'm built, I respect the decision. The decision either way. Wow. Either way, I respected it. Because at the end of the day, I understand that it's your thing. It's what you want to do with it.

I just wanted that. It ain't like I'm going to hate you. I just wanted to have that input of just, but since I didn't get it, it's still cool. It's nothing, whatever. But it just raised a question in my mind of like, well, maybe you should kind of like start focusing on the things that you would really want. Like in the things that you really want to create and really want to bring forth. Right. Because if someone else is doing it like, you know, we all want to do it. We all want to create and bring a certain level of energy and inspiration and motivation into the world, into the minds and the hearts of people.

You know what I'm saying? Like, of course. So it raised that opportunity in my mind of like, okay. Like, you know, and I respect that because, you know, I'm always, if I lay my bed, I'm going to lay in it peacefully. You know, if I made that bed, I ain't tripping. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's just being a real one, you know? I know a lot of cops, and they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun?

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I love this show, bro. Yeah, but how much bitches you was fucking on cash money? Because, like, y'all was, like, the number one. Like, you had the time. Just being real. Like, I'm sure the hit back to recessions was crazy. I'm sure you was at least finger popping everything in the building. Like, hey, come here, man.

Come on. How crazy was it? You know what? Your groupie days. My groupie days, it was exciting. It was exciting. It was very. Glad for you to say it was exciting.

You know what I'm saying? It was exciting. A lot of us, now that we're not groupies no more because we're groupie too right we're not only massive groupies it was a lot of us act like oh you know i was young like no that was exciting it was amazing it was amazing. It was amazing, bro. I loved every minute of it because, you know, there's lessons in all of that. You dig what I'm saying? So, you know, I had to soak them both.

I can just picture you running through the studio with your shirt off. You know what I'm saying? No kids, you straight. Yeah, yeah. We're going to have them all in the studio. We're going to pack them in. We're going to vibe. You know what I'm saying?

Like, the thing about me, I've always been a man of respect. I've always treated women with the utmost respect. That's how I move. And the people, you know what I'm saying? Like, it's just period. You know what I'm saying like the thing about me I've always been a man of respect I've always treated women with the utmost respect that's how I move and the people you know what I'm saying like it's just period you know what I'm saying so even before this like you know I was never on those wild wild wildness but I was the type of person that I like what I like which means that if I have like some women that I'm involved with or whatever it's like a few pieces that's outstanding and we take trips and we do fly shit and then like you know I'm saying and I Rock with that. I'm the tie can rock with that for a year two years like you know saying and that's just my little thing You know me on my little shorty whatever and then I got my other little shorty like type of thing

So that was like my field. I got beautiful pieces. That's how I am detail beautiful pieces and we Molly involved, you know, I ain't done my done Molly. You all right? I ain't never do Molly, man. You're missing some shit. I heard. I heard, bro. I heard about the Molly conversations and all that. I'm terrible. I'm terrible.

I ain't done Molly in a long time. In a long time. It sounds like you just did it right now. I'm trying to, bro. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to.

I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to.

I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to.

I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to.

I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to.

I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm trying to. I'm married like a motherfucker. Me too, bro. Okay, yeah, I know. We're going to get to that later. We're going to get to that later. But you've never experienced nothing but this weed?

You did something else. Some pills. What pills? Percocet? Did some Percocet before. Did some Adderall. This Adderall, that's what the white kids used to study, right? Right, right, right.

Yeah, what the fuck Adderall do for black people? You know, just super focus shit. Super focus shit. You know what I'm saying? And it's just like, so say, you know, you done had a long day or something like that. You know what I'm saying? And like, you might want to go catch a vibe somewhere. You might want to do something.

Or you might want to be involved in something. You know what I mean? I feel like you have, you go half of a 30 and you know, you smoke you once, sip you a little, pop you a little shot. Like, it's active. You like, man, what's happening? What's up? What we doing? What we at? Like, what we doing? It's like a limit dispel? Like, you can see, pop you a little shot. Like, it's active. You're like, man, what's happening? What's up? What we doing?

What we at? It's like a limit dispel? Like, you can see shit? Yeah, kind of. Yeah? Kind of. You're going to make me want to do Adderall, man. Yeah, come on, man.

I ain't going to pull no shit out of this, man. I ain't doing nothing. Ain't kidding. Send out the drugs. Go camera. Kid, send out the drugs. Send out the drugs. Right.

Unless it's with me. You know what I'm saying? But, really, I've never had that. And I would just say about the drug thing, just don't abuse it. The moment you abuse it, it abuses you. Period. That's what I believe in. Like, you know what I'm saying?

Don't do nothing, just don't abuse it. Right. Period. That's it, dog. Because you like a holistic nigga right now. Like, you be meditating and all that type of shit. Like, Buddhist type shit. Real shit.

Yeah, that's hard, man. That's basically it. I feel like you've always been into that. I feel like you've always been like a spiritual person. Like, I feel like this've always been into that I feel like you've always been like a spiritual person I feel like this is nothing new I feel like you had sage when you were 17 but I grew up in a church

my mama brought me up in a church Christianity and all of that I'm always a man of faith so I've always leaned on my faith and anytime things get uncertain for me that has always brought me clarity so I've always leaned on my faith. And any time things get uncertain for me, that has always brought me clarity. So I trust in that. And from that, in terms of from that Christianity, that spiraled into, like, my spirituality. And, you know, that ties in also with my wife and my lifestyle and stuff.

And just, like, my fitness, my health shit, too. Just exploring all of that is what really took me there. There's never been a time where your faith wasn't there. I'm not talking about in life, I'm talking about in the music business because a lot of people don't understand how hard it is in this music business. This is hard. You ever was like, man, this is it for me. Yeah. Yeah, bro. Yeah. I think, like, I felt like that after my second album. Wow. Like, shit got real for me at that time.

Wow. You know what I'm saying? I felt like, man, like, I don't know. Because I was still new to the game. Before your Clapham single. Before all of that. You know what I'm saying? Wow.

That was really me just, like, I'm really trying to figure it out and taking care of my family. Right. Living in a condo space, man, trying to pay my bills and shit. And I, you know, and at that point, like Khaled on the road and they doing their thing and it's kind of like, you got to make a hit. You got to do something to, you know, impress me. You know what I'm saying? It was that type of energy. So I just didn't know whether or not I could do it.

You're saying, I think you described Hustle Hard. Now, I think this is where we're going. Right, right. So you're saying that at that time, that's what fully inspired that record was, because that was a low point in your life, right into that? Yeah. Oh, wow. And you felt you were getting left behind in a sense?

And it wasn't just that, I feel like it wasn't just that time either too. It was also even I feel like, the time of separating, too. You know what I'm saying? Of trying to think to myself of, like, you know, what would it look like being independent, you know? And if I could really rise to the occasion of being an independent artist. You know what I'm saying? So it was definitely times that would pop in of moments that I would be like, damn, bro. Like, I don't, you know, because it's difficult.

You know what I'm saying? So, but yes, to go, to jump back to jump back like yeah that was the hustle hard time let me just say something I looked at YouTube comments hustle hard video they blamed at least 300 artists I'm still in your flow mmm like I'm talking about, there's even UK dudes on there saying, man, everyone in America sound like Ace Hood. I'm like, how the fuck do they know? You could write that. That's a terrible accent.

Tim Westwood and everybody. Every move about him from London. Shout out to our UK people. I'm sorry, that was terrible. But like, I really looked at that and it brought me to a Tim Westwood interview with you. I'm not from London. Shut up, George. Respect. I'm sorry. That was terrible. But I really looked at that, and it brought me to a Tim Westwood interview with you, and it just kept going.

People saying, hustle hard. For lack of a better phrase right now, lack of a better term, is like the Migos flow, like how everyone sounds like the Migos, and everyone... I didn't realize that that's what everyone was saying about you with Hustle All. I didn't realize that. I'm sure you noticed it.

Because I see the interview, he's like, yep, they're all about my shit. Oh, real shit. That's the honest truth, bro, from being honest. You know, it's flattering to be honest. You know what I'm saying? But I think I was so in my zone at that time that I didn't always fully realize. But people from the outside would always come up to me. Yo, bro, this person sound like you.

Yo, why they doing that? That jump flow and that. Like, that's your flow. But if we're being honest, bro, first of all, nothing new around the sun, bro. Nothing new on this earth. You know what I'm saying? So it's like we all inspired by somebody. Right.

You know, so I never took ownership of a flow. Right. It just didn't make sense to me. But you had to pay attention when they heard the fans. But did I hear, did I inspire a generation? For sure. Yeah. For sure.

You know what I'm saying? Like with that flow and then with that cadence on hustle hard i knew i did because i knew before and this is this is no lie when i was before i even wrote the record bro i told myself when i heard just the instrumental i said if i can if i can create a flow that's different on here it's gonna change the game i swear to god and i went in the studio and i had that. So you went in the booth with that intention? Like, yeah. I went in the booth with that intention.

To change the game, not meaning the game is going to change copying you. You didn't know that part. I knew that the flow was new to what was out. Because I was always that type of artist. I always wanted to recreate myself, which is why every time you would hear a new Ace Hood record, you would always be like, this nigga getting better. How'd that verse go? How'd that go? That's that. Go on, go on. It's a different verse. Same old shit. Which is why every time you were here a new a to a record you would always be like this nigga get better

It's different version same oh shit just a different day. Oh, I hit trying to get it So all of this is real That's years ago You know what I'm saying Yo you can't You can't get your Hits man Come on man Oh man That flow though

Come on we'll pull it up Pull it up ass Come on I'm surprised we ain't Pulled it up already Come on I ain't gonna lie It's not his fault

We did You know you're on rock You got Jesus Pistol off of my pocket Get this I ain't got time To be shopping Like the same You know what I'm saying We did Pistol off of my pocket Got time to be shopping like the same you saying Okay Ha ha ha! Right. Woo! That's the original. Okay, cool. Okay.

Right. Up, up, up, up, up, up, up. Oh, sheesh. Woo! Just a different day. Woo! I've been trying to teach. Woo!

Each and every way. Mommy need a house. Baby needs a shoe. Time to keep it hard. guess what I'ma do Hustle, hustle, hustle, hard Hustle, hustle, hustle, hard Hustle, hustle, hustle, hard Now I'm from your bed on the toilet

I'm on the street, I'm in my party Got love in my pocket, she's the night Give me that, that, that, that, that, that my pocket Hold love in my pocket See the shit that I got Give me that death stare and that drop it Hold up on my mojo Keep the whip in that low-dome Pull the clothes and they low-co I bet you fuckin' I know so

Nigga ain't no doubt about it Ridin' around with that rocket, yo Loaded up in my pocket Stand by the door, I'm gonna knock it Yeah, don't need to waste any money Hold love in your pocket Hold the pain in my pocket All, don't play in my pockets All my homies up in their poppins, bitch, she in my house

Bitches, I got four, bitch, I'm in that Tahoe All about it, that life, don't stop the party We be in the party, don't keep us out of the room She feel like I'm on that touch, it's a sight in my eyes She said, you said every day, bitch, I ain't tryna dig You're teaching me to put your foot on me I'm a team, you should do I can see everybody bitchin' shit, I respect that

Everybody Yo, that is, that is You know, listening to it now And I listened to it on the way here It still sounds great, by the way It still sounds great, by the way. It still sounds great, by the way. That's one minute. But it sounds,

it almost makes you seem like the normal guy. Like it almost makes you seem like you blended in. Like if I didn't look at the comments and go do the research and all that, like that's probably something that would try to erase you in history. Right. This is actually... The first of. Right. This is actually.

The first of. Yes. This is crazy. Yeah. This is crazy. Yeah. Some would even argue that the whole like, I mean, you know, that's tease. Nah, man.

I know you humble, man. But let's take you another shot. Let's get on this. Let's get on this. Let's get on this. Claim your shit. Claim your shit. Claim your shit, bro.

We're going to take another shot just in case. We're blaming it on the alcohol, man. Don't worry about it, man. T-Pain ain't got a record about it. We're going to get him. We're going to get him out of it, man. We got drunk facts here. Don't worry about it. Drunk facts.

Yeah, don't worry about it, man. Drunk facts. Nah, nah. I'm here for the Tiger Bones. Oh, shit. We over here. This is COVID. My brother.

Yeah, my brother's here. We were just playing some marijuana. We were on some marijuana. Yeah, just marijuana. I don't suggest it, though. Let me see what that's about. Let me see what that's about. Let me see what that's about. Yeah, see what that's about. It is trash. I'm going to try to do this with the tiger bones.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. COVID, you know, comes from China. COVID fucked that up. It comes from China. I'm going to bomb it up. Let's get it to me straight. OK, all right. Hold on.

Let's take a shot. Hold on. Let's take a shot. Yes, sir. Come on, come on, god damn it. Yes, sir. We're going to make you claim your flow today. Cheers.

Cheers. Cheers. Cheers. Cheers. Y'all dropping shit over there? Ooh. It's not like somebody fell pretty hard. And I apologize. We got no insurance. Great.

Looks great. But, uh. My bad. But yeah, so I know you say you flattered. But we were, and you don't have to name the artist. Mm. You know, I came up with the... That was my flow. I think that y'all was taking the...

Y'all. Right, right. The y'all. The y'all. The y'all. They were y'all. They were taking our aura. When was the first time?

You don't have to name the artist if you don't want to. If you want to, too, we'll take a shot to his name, too. Whatever. But when was the first time you was like, yo, wow. Like I'm making an impact off of that flow all along. Like you're hearing somebody that you like. And how quickly after? You know what?

I'm a real nigga So I think it's only To keep it honest Because it was only us Really us two at that time Like Really the me and Meek situation

Meek That's what everyone says In the conference Just to be honest Just to address it And face that Like It was a lot of people

Were saying that In comparison Because of The flow that Meek Went off and used You know what I'm saying Like So that's what people Was always trying to rattle it to but meet my man i got

nothing but love for me you did like right and i was flattered and not only that like you know that's that's i don't know i just like the idea of just uh contributing right you know what i'm saying it's hip-hop bro i done seen a lot of amazing shit bro yeah you know what i mean like to be a part of it to be in bro, and just to contribute something, that shit matter. It matters, bro. That's beautiful, man. I'm glad you said that, because that was the one name that kept coming up in the comments. It's like, yo, me, me, me. And I never addressed that in the past. You know what I mean? I think I tiptoed around

that, you know what I mean? For whatever reasons. But I guess because I had love for bro and I, you know what I mean? I just didn't ever want to take it outside. I feel like you don't got love for him now. Exactly. And still got so much love for bro. And, yeah, it's just, I just ain't never want nothing like that.

Ain't nothing like that won't ever come between us and no shit. You know what I mean? I see how people play games like that and try to adopt shit and create false issues and shit. If you would have said that, he could have took it personal and he could have created an issue. Exactly, exactly. I'm going to tell you what just...

But Meek always, you know, that's what I love about Meek is Meek in the beginning was always a fan and Meek would always big me up. You know what I'm saying? And that's the thing that I always appreciate about Brad. You always show love. I'm going to tell you a problem

that you suffered from. I'm not a tell you a problem that you suffer from. I'm not a psychiatrist, but my man Pharrell sat in the same chair as you a couple weeks ago. Last week. Last week. Sat in the same chair as you and y'all suffer from too much humbleness.

I believe that in some cases. It's too much humility. Buster Rhymes told me this a long time ago. Busta Rhymes was like, what the fuck are you so humble for? I'm like, that's who I am. And he's like, yeah, but at times, when it's not time to be humble, you're still there. And I never knew what he talked about. And I feel like that's, I feel like, Pharrell, if someone's following me, Pharrell couldn't even answer Quick Time or Sly.

And this is a segment where we just give you two answers. He just kept saying both. Both. Because he's trying to be too politically correct. Sometimes you can't be

too politically correct. Because if you're being too politically correct, you say that all lives matter. And we know that all lives matter. But for right now, black lives

motherfucking matter. So this is the reason why you know what I'm saying? You can't be too politically correct. That's a good example, man. you know what I'm saying? You can't be too political. That's a good example, man. You know what I'm saying? You just can't be. So, I mean,

that's real shit too, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, thank you for that. I would like you to know that because, like, when I look, like, they're like, you're one of the most

underrated, underappreciated dope MCs. Like, that's what I'm looking at. This is my job. You know what I'm saying? And there's people that love you. Like, that's what I'm looking at. This is my job. You know what I'm saying? And there's people that love you. Like, there's lyricist people,

and you got to claim them back, bro. You got to let them all focus. No, I'm out here, man. You know what I'm saying? I'm out here. That's real. I'm out here. Yeah.

I'm out here. Because there's not, like, I went and watched your interviews, and there's not one person that can say, Ace Hood is not a dope MC. I searched for it. I looked for them. Yeah.

You know what I mean? So you think that you was ever a success from your own success? What I mean is like you're almost battling yourself. You got a single that went flat. Right. Like there's nothing... You can go back on a major right now.

There's nothing... The impact that Bugatti had, and at the time that was... We were talking about T-Pain earlier, and God bless, because I don't want T-Pain to take this in any way, shape, form, or fashion, but Future, when Future got lit, he could have said, I mean, holy moly guacamole. Like, what was that feeling like? Man. That shit was like, uh... It was like surreal, bro. First of all, Fuchsia did that shit in like 15 minutes.

Y'all were in the studio together? Yeah. And, you know, Khaled, master motivator. You know what I mean? Like, he in there. That speech? He gave the speech. Speech!

He give you the speech, it's over. It don't matter who you are. He give you the speech, like, you finna get in that bag. And I love that because, like, that made me stick to always a standard. Right. Of just, got to be. If not, you're rewriting. You know what I'm saying?

You know what this moment means? I know what that moment means. You heard the beat? You had your rhymes already? No, no, no. I didn't have my rhymes already. So I walk in. You've never heard the beat before?

Who produced that beat? Who produced it? Mike Will. Mike Will made it. So you walk into hearing the beat for the first time you walk into here and the beat for the first time? I walk into here and the beat for the first time. Take it from there, let's go. Wow.

I'm at the studio, pull up. Yo. And I know them calls. Yo. I'm at the studio. Where you at? Like, you know what I mean? Just know.

Movie. I'll be there in a minute. He doesn't say Future's there. Yeah. He does say Future. I got soup in the... Yo, I got... Okay.

I'll be there. Okay. You do know Future's there. I did super in it yo i got okay i beat it okay you don't you do right i didn't know he was i didn't know he was there you met future before or no yeah i met future before yeah you wanted those things so me and future so uh boom walk in the studio fusion album we chop it up boom boom me and caledon we chop it up so he in there he only played the music yet and he gave me the speech of all speeches like yo this gonna be the biggest record ever this gonna be number one yeah this gonna be it don't got no lyrics on it no lyrics i i think that is powerful in terms of manifestation that's why i like you feel me because that's real bro that can give you goosebumps. Hey, DJ, the beats are the foundation. You feel me? And to know it.

I know it. Nothing's happened yet. I know it. You feel me? So in my mind, I'm just like, all right, play the beat.

That shit come on. I'm just like, oh, this shit. It's that. I already knew what I was going to do. I know I'm going to come on there and I'm going to deliver.

He give me the talk like, yo, this got to be, you got to write that. You got to talk that. And your future, I need that what I was going to do I know I'm going to come on there And I'm going to deliver He give me the talk Like yo this got to be You got to write that You got to talk that And your future I need that I need nothing but that legendary I need that anthem I need that big

I need that movie I need that number one I need that This is what we going You feel me The only people who know this Is hip hop dudes And baseball players

When we do that That's out the park That's out the park baby That's to the audience That's to the audience You know what I mean You fuck around You know what I mean? You fuck around. Yeah.

You know what I mean? Exactly. Exactly. Go ahead, man. So we, boom. So after that, like, he played a beat, run it back,

play it again, boom, play it again. He said, all right, ready. Bro walk in the booth and he just tampering with the shit, bro. Eight seconds of that bitch. Come on.

I come looking for you. Hey, I come looking. Hold on. Hold on. Let me back. And then he did it again. He was like, and then I was like, yo, stop this. I, yo, that's it.

That's it. Yo, keep that right there. Don't stop. Like, you know, so we move forward. Boom. Okay, cool. So future in there, he doing a shit. All right, I got you. He did that shit, bro. So we move forward. Boom. Okay, cool. So Future in there, he doing his shit. All right, I got you. He did

that shit, bro. And it was like perfect. It was perfect, bro. He did it. And that shit, bro. it was after that, it was just like, say less. You don't even need to say nothing. And bro just came out literally in about 15 minutes and just like,, yeah, that be hard.

Yeah, that shit, that gon' go. Now I'ma keep it real. I went to Scott's store, Charles. I seen the Bugatti. Birdman lived in my building. I never knew where the fuck a Bugatti was

until your record came out. Right. I just thought that was a coupe. I thought it was an Audi souped up. Bro, we ain't think it all the way through, bro. I didn't think it all the way through. I didn't think it all the way through. Bro, they kept telling me it's this $2 million.

I'm like, oh, they got an L Audi. The world knew about Bugatti when the Bugatti record hit. Wow. I went to everywhere. I traveled around the world. Nobody knew. Wow. That's what I'm trying to say. Nobody knew what the fucking Bugatti record hit. Wow. I went to everywhere. I traveled around the world. Nobody knew. Wow. That's what I'm trying to say.

Nobody knew what the fucking Bugatti was. And I'm around money. I live in the same building, and I didn't really technically know that that was a $2 million car. In my mind, I'm like, if I would've knew, we would've reached out to Bugatti or something. On some real shit, bro. People bought more Bugatti because of the fucking- Hold on.

What are you trying to say? You're trying to say you would have reached out to Bugatti prior to you dropping the record? Prior or as you dropped it? Like, thinking about today and age, like, yeah, bro, or something, because, like, so, bro, people went out and bought more Bugattis. Once people started to get familiar with the thing, you go out and buy more of them.

And people started, you started seeing them, right? Oh, this person, that person, like, everybody started, why, you think it's just happening? It became a thing. And, like, you know what I'm saying? Oh, this person, that person, like everybody started... Why you think it just happened? It became a thing. And like, you know what I'm saying? That's another thing of like... I'm just happy to be a part of the conversation, man. Wow.

You know what I'm saying? So what did you think, like, cause like, when he started with that... I woke up with that new Bugatti. I lost my mind when he did that shit. Because he... I didn't expect it. No. Because it was totally left from what the song was. He come in, I come looking for you, hey.

How you come in, come on, play it. I see smoke getting on your shirt. You know what I'm saying, like, that shit crazy. And you, you know what? You can pour it on the shot, go ahead, let's go. Give it a shot. And a drink. I'm with you, baby, I'm drinking in the shot.

I came looking for you, hey. I'm drinking in the shot. I Bitch, you need to borrow one of our lists All that ego and that corny jeans Killing the speed, bringing the corner in Where she go, follow the tune Peter Ringo, I won't call her Regine Wolf of Vernon, didn't found me Crippled, speaking of college You're running along the house Working some shit with the mileage You're on the copy of fortune

You're on the cover of the Porsche You work at the 100 or 40 42 running my mortgage When the niggas start coping So fuck your leaders, you know it I'm 42 running, my momma get you Playin' on niggas like open So why you need it, you know it I'm running, I'm running, I'm breathing, I'm playin' Grabbin' my CD, I'm riding my state Give me your pistol, then I'm with the gang

This is the weekend, I'm fixin' to play I come lookin' for new nations I take smoke and I'm into the making I'm for ancient from different songs I was next door in a winter dragon. I fought ancient for new phrases. You be mine in next number days. I woke up in a new mougan. I woke up in a new... Listen, I've never seen, like...

I went to a club, So We Live, one time. One time? It's this one time I'm talking about. That's my favorite club. So We Live, yeah time. One time? It's this one time. One of the times. That's my favorite club. That might tell you what type of character I am. That's my favorite club. Everybody's in there.

I was like, ah, you're going to have a Sobe Live, baby. It might tell you, let you know what type of nigga I am. But one day, one day I go to Sobe Live. One of my homies, you know, he ain't really got it. He asked me for like 500 bucks. I said, no problem. I had 500. Gave it to him.

Then Jay-Z saw him come on. He be like, what's 50 grand to a nigga like me? Keep sleeping by me. Is he in this room? You got to relax. What you see is like people like that with the Bugatti. Like, I got a Bugatti. Like, comingatti? Like, I got a Bugatti. Like, coming up to you, I got a Bugatti.

Oh, yeah. Really? But some of these guys really did have them. Of course. Oh, yeah. Oh, some of them did have them. Yeah, they did have them. Holy moly.

Like, a lot of them obviously didn't. But, like, you know, man, I had Sheiks coming up to me. I had Bugatti. I got, like, I'd footage a song. I got Bugatti. Yeah, yeah, yeah. A bunch of Bugatti's. You know what I'm saying? Or just people who just, you know what I mean? Like, I got like I'd footage a song, I got a bunch of Bugatti's. You know what I'm saying?

So or just people who just, you know what I mean? Like, I love that record. It makes me feel so empowered. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like in the idea. So and I love that record, man, because like I felt like my homies, I felt like the Zoes, my homies, niggas going to be proud of that shit too. I'm looking for you.

I'm like, it's hot, cause it's really like, you know, it's really real like that. So, I don't know, I just love that. Forget what I was gonna say, goddamn. And that shit just hit crazy in the club. Yeah. Crazy. Yeah.

But yeah, the idea behind the Bugatti, of waking up in the Bugatti, you know what I'm saying? Like, because I didn't own it. It's two million dollars, you might as well live with it. That's a two million dollar, right. But it's like, you know what I'm saying? Because I didn't own it. It's $2 million. That's a $2 million, right. But it's like, you know, it was just whatever was that thing that you felt like you worked hard for. And to me, the Bugatti represented that at that particular time. It's just that thing that I hope to have, that hit.

You know, it's like that gift, you know what I'm saying? So that was like that staff in the ground for me, you know what I'm saying? And, like, it could be anything. It could be that new whip Or that new crib Or that new job That you got like So that's how That was my perspective

And the idea behind Waking up in the Bugatti It's like Shit if I wake up In that new house That I love That I bought Like I'ma feel that same way

You got legendary mixes You got legendary albums But those two songs Those legendary I don't think those Never gonna die No Like there's gonna be A barbecue in 2029 albums, but those legendary records, I don't think those are never going to die. No. It's going to be a barbecue in 2029.

Grandmother's going to be like, I woke up in that little bull's eye. You know what I'm saying? She's my daughter. Hustle, hustle, hustle. I don't think those records are going to ever, ever, ever, ever die. Never, bro. Never. How does it feel to have, most people can't ever have one.

Most people can't ever have one. Most people can't ever have none. Yeah. You know, they're considered legends. Right. But you go in the club, their music will never play. Yeah. Like, how does it feel to have one?

Shit, it feel good, bro. That shit, it's a blessing, man. It's a blessing, bro. Like, I'm so grateful to be able to have a voice of platforms like to speak to people down. So I just That shit is just beautiful and we got more and ain't just those you know, we got top ten top five records You know, I mean we got Chris Brown Like yeah, you know we got we out here with me and Wayne you know saying like so it's uh, We just got a lot of great records and I'm just that's what I'm saying? So it's, we just got a lot of great records. That's why I'm trying to say you're almost a failure to your own success because

the reason why other people won't compare those records is because those two were so impactful. Mm-hmm. It's just like never- And where do you go from there? It's like, I got Superdome. What, what, what, what? And I got Homeboy. I can't, no matter what, I can do whatever. I'm not going to top those. Right, yeah.

I don't give a fuck. I can make a record right now. 50 times better than that. There's fucking 20 fans from 20 years ago that said, it ain't better than nothing. It ain't better than, you know what I'm saying? Like, I'm sure you got to deal with that. Especially with your independent. Well, no. Yes and no.

Okay. So the thing about that, which is very interesting, is that I got records now as an independent artist that people react to bigger than Bugatti on my sets. You know what I'm saying? And we talking about huge crowds, you know? So I don't really believe in that notion you know i think i think uh because people like to think just because it may not be on uh or they may not hear it on the radio or anything like that that it might not be having steam or it might not be doing this thing i've been in my section in the world and in my world like creating real magic you know what i'm saying how are you

gauging it through the streams uh i'm gauging it through this through the streams through the reactions through the bookings you know what i'm saying? Through just the interest in terms of things that I'm involved in. Like, you know, it's because of these records that's really moving to people and stuff like that, you know? So for me, it's like, yeah, on one end of the spectrum, it's like people can want, people do want like those older people. Like, cause me, I've understood that I'm no longer who I used to be. And I'm fine with that. I've made peace with that. You know, I'm becoming, I'm a man now.

I'm not just, you know what I mean? Like, I'm much more a man. I'm a father. I'm a husband. Boom, boom, boom. You dig what I'm saying? So, I understand that there's going to be people that appreciate that person. You feel me?

Like, and they're going to be, and that's cool. Yeah. But also, like, there's going to also be people that appreciate that new being and that new person. So, that? Like, and they're going to be, and that's cool. Yeah. But also, like, there's going to also be people that appreciate that new being and that new person, so that's what's happening now. Like, you got them people

that might want to hear those records and think, like, oh, but then there's records that I could perform, like a wee ball that I got or something like that. Like, these are power,

like, records that I just put real shit on, you know, and I perform and them shits do well. Let me ask you, who's the artist that wanted to work with you in your highlight? You never thought in life.

When it was the highlight you said, I can't get you. You know. Who was somebody that you was like, wow. That I was surprised that I worked with? Yeah. Or that wanted to work with you. Or that maybe you didn't work with them. The highlight that you to work with you. Or, oh yeah. Maybe he didn't work with them. That's a good question.

I mean, for me, if I'm being honest honest working with Wayne was crazy like you feel me tell me tell me what kind of weed this is this is got me high as hell I don't know what it is gas truck blowing it up we might move out in the back of Wayne, let's go to the Wayne. Wayne, just the illest nigga, man. Yeah, he is. He just grew up inspired by Wayne, bro. Motivated.

You got a couple of records with him, it's not like one. Yeah, yeah. We got the We Outcha joint, we got the Hustle Hard joint, and we did another record too. He was a remix, obviously. But working with him, man, it was just like, to me that had to have been

like the biggest dream come true. Obviously growing up on him and you know where we from, Carter One was everything. You know what I'm saying? Carter One was like the narrative to my whole high school, my whole young teenage days.

You dig? So to be in there working with him, man, just this nigga skating. He's skating and writing in his mind. You feel me? He skated in my session, too. Right, he did that same shit, right? That ramp in Hit Factory.

So we in Hit Factory, and he's skating back and forth, and we just had a little small conversation telling the idea of the record and what we wanted to do. But just watching him create, man, I just was excited to be in his presence at that moment, at that time, you know what I'm saying?

And to see that I did that on my own, you know what I'm saying? I was in there dolo, chilling all day with him, just watching bro do his shit, waiting on the record. All right, cool. Boom, he ain't finish it tonight, so I'm knocking out tomorrow, cool. So I pull back up the next day and I'm right there getting vibed. He real about it, he gonna't finish it tonight, so I'm knocking out tomorrow. Cool.

So, you know, I pull back up the next day and I'm right there again vibing. He real about it. He gon' do it. You feel what I'm saying? He really did it and he was like on some big bro shit, for real. So that's dope. Let's make some noise now, all right? That's an artist who fuck with you and you're high like.

Mm-hmm. Like, I got to have these. Leave in cash, man. Leave in weed and fellas. Heard you say this in an interview. And we used to do this. We used to do this. We used to do this. We used to do this. We used to do this. We used to gotta have these. Leave in cash money.

Leave in weed and fellas. Heard you say this in an interview and we used to establish that the brother talk. Right. These people saying they're your brother.

Industry shit. Now you on your own. Now the favor is not for weed and fellas. Now the favor is not for cash money. Right. It was for solely

ace. Come on, come on. Who's somebody? How you think that made me feel bro when you think about that because on some real bro hold on before we get into that okay okay who's the artist i want you to keep it real take this shot take this shot yeah yeah yeah yeah i want you to keep it real i actually don't know the name yeah who's the artist you called? And you was like, man, what's up, bro?

I need to visit the nurse. And they're like, I've been in Australia for two months. Like, nigga, there's a computer over there. Who's the artist? Let's get it real. And she was like, you're disappointed. Maybe it ain't in front of you. I got an artist like that, though?

I'm disappointed? Yeah. Nah, I'm just saying. You know what? Let me say, man, I move so different, you know what I'm saying? That's the only thing about this whole- Yeah, but that's what I'm saying. Moving different, because it's one thing when you with Cash Money, you with LA Reid, you

with Def Jam, and then when you on your own, it's really like a favorite. Maybe what you mean is someone treated you differently. Yeah. Yeah, somebody treated you differently. Yeah, somebody treated you differently. Somebody who treated me- Oh, yeah Did somebody treat you differently? Yeah. Yeah, somebody treated you differently. Somebody who treated me, oh, yeah, for sure. That disappointed you?

Yeah, bro. Yeah. Not to the level of disappointed because I felt like it was expected. But for sure, I think it's relationships with people that I had, they weren't the same. You know what I'm saying? Like, a lot of the relationships were recommendations to me. You know what I mean? So I had to get rid of lawyers

and all type of shit because it was recommended. It was in-house type shit. You know what I'm saying? So it was like, you know, I had an identity. So it was like, I had to create a whole nother identity

outside of that. That was the different thing about me is that coming outside of We The Best was like, okay, y'all know me for that. But I'm a new being outside of this thing. I got to create a new me. Here's a better question. I want you to keep it real. I see you being political.

Whose artist did you work with when you were with them that you wanted to work with now and you can't get a hold of them? There's somebody out there. Chris. Brown? Chris, yeah. Come on somebody out there. Chris. Brown?

Chris, yeah. Nah, nah, come on. He dancing too much. How you gonna ask him and then say nah? Oh, but this was not like, it's not the most, but it ain't the most like recent thing,

but it was like a record. Chris Brown. You know, right. It was a record that, actually a smash record and I still have it and I hadn't released it, but it was like,

probably about three, four years ago I was trying to put out, but I just, for some reason, couldn't get in contact with him. But through the grapevine, I just heard that there might be a little bit of discomfort from that end

regarding a situation that I wasn't fully aware of. As in people were picking sides? Not so much of that as it was an incident that happened years ago of him wanting me to be a part of a record, just by hearsay, that he wanted me to be a part of a record. And thought you did that to him? And thought that I didn't, and I never came through to do the record. I wasn't interested in doing the record.

That's never true. You know what I mean? That's why I said Chris dancing around everywhere. I thought you meant he was on tour or something like that. Oh, you're saying. For some reason, energetically, it just felt like I couldn't reach him in some way. You know what I mean? I'm hitting him on the DM't reach him in some way. You know what I mean? I'm, like, hitting him on the DM type shit, like, no response type, you know what I mean?

Like, that type of feel. So, rightfully so, I could have went deeper, you know what I mean, and hollered at, you know, I feel like I hollered at the people around him and all. And they, you know what I mean? Like, you know, people give you the little run around type shit. Yeah, hit him through the, you know, and make sure you, you know, tap him through the type shit. So, it was like one of those as opposed to just you as mans you can just tell him you feel me so it was the little little things like that that i started noticing or whatever um but that's

probably like the most recent you know the only thing that's happened not the most recent but the only thing that's with me oh yeah a lot of artists running on me throw it out there and i work with a lot of people too so coming coming out of it i wouldn't really try i wouldn't really take your ass for the shot man i mean i just want you to tell your story man i really do yeah i feel you Come on, man. If you want 300 episodes, I probably said it all already. So, like, you know what I mean? I mean, I just want you to tell your story, man. I really do. Yeah, I feel you.

I feel you. But it wasn't, all right, okay, okay. All right, boom. Boom. If we keeping it G and we keeping it honest, you know what I mean? Let me go ahead and hit him with a little love. You know what I'm saying? I know what he's saying.

I just got there and we out here. I'm in for that, baby. God damn it. Come on, let's go. So, if we being honest, bro, if we keeping it G, you know, there was, you know, bro, like, there was, like, weird energy coming from the other side. You know, like, there was real people trying to stop me from prospering on the side of, like, my old label on some G shit. I ain't going to say names or whatever, but me trying to like, you know, I'm paying for radio, me trying to put my record through on radio,

getting it serviced on radio. Like niggas trying to undercut me. Are you feeling a bit blackballed? Yeah, I felt like, not even felt. Bitch, that's what happened. That shit, that's what was popping. Niggas was trying to like finish me for real. That's how I felt.

That's how I took it personally. And that was my energy. you know what I'm saying? Like I was on that type of shit of just like, cause that's what it is, that's what niggas do. Like you know, and it's like anything. And it's like when you trying to create some shit for yourself, like why that got to be a problem, you know what I'm saying? Like and for me, I had an issue with that bro.

Like don't stop me, if you going to stop me from trying to feed my family, I got an issue. That means you can't really exist the way you want to exist. Right. If I can't feed my family, that's going to be a problem for people. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? So, for me, once that started happening,

like, I got into that mode, and that's when shit started moving, and people started kind of to fall back, and, you know, shit started to move a little bit faster with some certain shit. So, but, I ain't, I wasn't with that shit, bro.

I wasn't with that. You feel me? Salula. I'm going to tell you one time, an artist in particular was running on me. Salula hit me just now.

He hit you right now, the artist? I like it that way. But one time you know i'm cold but you know i'm in re so i want to do a record with big sean this is when you're living in kendall already i'm already left kindle oh okay you were you were living with eddie now and Kendall already? No, I'm already left Kendall. Oh, okay. You live with Eddie. You live with Eddie now.

I don't know. By the way, Eddie lives with me. Him and Stiff TV, they both watch my draws. And they're just, just throw that out there. But let me just, let me just, he tried to get me.

I'm back, I'm back. I'm good, I'm good. But, and, maybe I, maybe I went through the wrong people to go through Big Sean, because when I seen him later on in life, he acted like he really didn't understand. But I'm cold as shit.

But I'm still Norrie. I feel like, yo, who I am, so I can't reach him direct. I see him in the Sean Chris concert. Is it Sean Chris concert? I forget who else. Big Sean is on there. I think Wale is on there.

So it's in New Jersey. New Jersey for me, that's Broward County for a Miami nigga. Or it's Dave for a Broward nigga, right? Got it. It's next joint over. So I pull up. for Miami, nigga. It's Dave for Broward, nigga. Got it. Next joint over. So I pull up. I see him myself. I give Big Sean the CD.

But I get it. You coming off stage. You know. Laze blah, whoop dee whoop. But what happened was I hit a guy named Mike Brinkley. I remember it. Because I remember everybody in front of me. I can't do that.

Mike Brinkley. He works at Roc Nation right now. He knows he cannot destroy this story. I'm following up with Mike Ringler. I follow up with Mike. Mike Ringler used to cut hair. He was a barber. He used to be Nas barber. And then I think at one point he was my barber.

So I'm like, damn, you go from the barber to Big Shaw's manager. You're not even answering my calls. Like, this is real. So bottom line, never got the record done with Big Sean. Never got a response, never got an answer back, never got nothing, all right? To me, that's disrespect.

Yeah. It's big time disrespect, right? Yeah, it's disrespect. There's no response, right? You don't know the shot for disrespect. So. You don't know the shot for disrespect disrespect? So. Another shot for disrespect. Say, I need to take a shot for disrespect.

And I'm, come on, bro. Like, I've laid down the law. I've laid down the law. I don't got no problem with Big Sean, but I'm going to tell you what happened one day. Mike Booth knows exactly what happened. We outside as we usually be. Right.

I love it. as we usually be. Big Sean sees us in town, walks up to me, says, yo, I'm a big fan. I says, no, you're not. Am I lying, Michael? Even my wife would be like like what are you doing? Like I was like no you're not like this is now drink chances work This is a different thing other say he wanted to get on three chances nothing, but bro

I came to you. I brought to your peoples now. I'm gonna blame his people's more than I'm a blame him Because I can tell from his reaction He was not prepared. He did not know about all these calls. I'm an artist too. But he remembered that CD hand off. There's no way you don't remember me handing you that CD. Yeah, that's crazy.

That's the reason why I didn't connect with the Five. Hmm. Never connected. You never connected. Yeah, that's crazy. That's the reason why I didn't connect with the Five. Never connected. You never connected. Oh. I'm sorry. I don't know if this was a private incident. No, no, no. That's some real shit, bro.

Like, I wasn't blowing up. Big Sean, I apologize. I'm a fan of the nigga. I don't want to do a song to him unless I'm a fan of you. So obviously, I'm a fan. Nothing's going to take away from me being a fan of you. Yeah. As an artist, but I thought,

has his reaction, I wasn't a fan of him as a person. You understand? Yeah. Let's take a shot. Yeah, yeah. Let's take a shot. But I don't know if that loosens you up because, I mean,

That's a terrible way of putting it. Names and answers and everything. I don't know if that loosens you up because, I mean, that's a terrible way of putting it. Names and answers and everything, you know, that loosens you up. And God bless, God bless, Salud. And I want to, you know, here's a disclaimer. Here's a disclaimer, right, that comes with that. Salud. All right, boy, I'm out.

Maybe that incident, not him, because, you know, he's great. He doesn't give a fuck. One way or the other. I care one way or another. And, you know, it doesn't really stop me. I'm sure he does care, to be honest with you. I don't think so.

I don't think so. I mean, I would hope. For who he is now. Who he is. God bless him, man. You know, I really am a fan. Because sometimes the team

does get in the way. I feel like it was the team because of his reaction. And the person, you know. And I should have, I should have, you know. But you did hand, I should have, you know. But you did hand him the CD.

No, I did hand him the CD. Which is crazy. At this, at this. Which is, that's crazy. That's big up to Ali. But then he called him and reached out, right? No, I called his team. Okay. But that's how I do it.

Right, that's what I'm saying. Like, you reached out to him. I called his team, his direct team. That's the reason why. That's the reason why he knew I wasn't lying when I said. Because I don't remember what's going to happen tomorrow. Like, I'm just, you know, when I said Mike Brinkley, and he looked, he put his head down like, whoa.

It's either he remembered that time that he was dealing with Mike Brinkley or he remembered that Mike Brinkley reached out. So it's either or. I can't. Right, right. Yeah. But bottom line was I got fronted either or. I can't... Right, right. Yeah. But bottom line was I got fronted on

and I couldn't wait. But wait, wait. Would that incident stop you from fronting on the next person? Nah, I'll judge every character by the... I don't think...

Let me just be clear because we made this about him. I don't think he's a bad person. I think it was a bad decision made about both of us, and it had to be, but would that make me fun on somebody else? Let me clarify this question, sir. No, I'm wondering, like, have you ever felt

that you might have done that to somebody else? Yeah. Yeah. So you were mixed up. By mistake, though. It's been clearly by me personally. Once a person names him, I'd be like, yo, did my bad. Especially if I'm a fan of the person. Because that's what he came up to me and said.

He would have said, yo, what's up, my dude? Good to meet you. I would have gave him a five. And I'd say, I don't think it's good to meet me because you met me before. You know what I'm saying? And I would have remembered, you know what I mean? But he didn't say that. He said, yo, what's up, bro? I'm a big fan and I was like no you are

not but they just say like whatever some of the people we could do and his security look like what did, it was weird. They didn't know what was gonna happen. Because it's 26 of us. Clearly, the security is him and two security. No, no, no, no.

With respect, I'm not... And it wasn't no beef shit at all. It wasn't no beef. It was just like, yo, bro. So I'm just saying, Ace, you had to go through something.

I had to, I had to, a little bit of weed about it. Like, you wanted to make a new Bugatti? Not with no artist, bro. Not with no artist, wow. Because I had to recreate myself.

I needed people to see me in a different light. On your own. On my own. You know what I mean? And get used to what that looked like. You know what I'm saying? Like, and I think that's- So it's just me. It was just me.

That's what I'm saying, I'm like, bro, I done did it. I done did it, like, nah, G shit, like. That's what I'm saying, I'm like, bro, I done did it. I done did it like, nah, gee shit. That's what I'm saying, that's not right. But it was like, I done had the opportunity in the platform to do so many features. And I'm so grateful that, like, because the talk back then was just like, oh, you can't do, you can't make a hit without the feature.

That's the stigma and the energy. What was your first hit without a feature? How so long they had to buy the URL? Of course. Oh, they looked over that. Of course, they trying to, but I don't play, you know, I know I do me and I know I'm going to get on

when it's time to get on or whatever. So, so for me, like, that's what it was. I'm just like, man,

I need to like, people to see me in a different light because I'm a different being, I'm a different person, I'm more elevated, I'm more leveled up. So I'm like,

people need to understand who this person is now. That way they can learn to understand the individual and then we're going to pare back the features like we're doing present moment. You feel what I'm saying?

Let me ask you guys. Does it feel like your early career was built off of you with somebody else because you got Khaled creating these records and creating these moments. He said that. No, I know, I know, but I just want to go back to it and just like, because this is a big gem for artists. Right.

Like for you to recreate yourself on your own without any features. Like how difficult did you feel that was? I feel like. Because that's humbling because your ego would tell you the feature didn't matter. No, that's what I asked him in a different way. He said no artist in front of the room. That's what I was saying. I'm going to say like. Yeah.

Just because after that point point I didn't reach out To no big artist I just reached out To the people that I had relationships with Right Or that you know what I'm saying Like that was only it

So I kind of stayed In a certain lane I didn't really try to go Above that type of thing You know so it's like And I went into it I went into it with expectation If I did go

I would know in my mind Alright what they may charge me Or what they may Right So you know because I had to put on a business hat again. I'm rebuilding. So at this point, I'm learning business.

You know, I'm learning finances. I'm learning, you know, just about myself. Who am I outside of music? Who outside of Ace Hood? Like, I'm learning how to be a man for real all over again. I feel like I was coming from a world that allowed me to be a child. That allowed me to, you know, not take responsibility of some of my choices and decisions and just, like, allow shit to fall through the crack. You know what I mean?

Like, allow me to oil a little bit with IRS. You know what I'm saying? Just that little shit right there. And it's like I had to switch all that over and find healthy pieces, healthy pieces around me that's going to help me flourish. And it's like now that I've built that infrastructure, it's like that's what's helped me sustain, you know, during my independent journey. And that was a part of my recreation. It was everything outside of the music.

My accounting, you know what I'm saying? Finding a new PR, you know what I'm saying? Which is still music, but finding a good manager, you know what I'm saying? Finding a good business manager, you know what I'm saying? Like, you got to handle your business. I had to put on that hat, which was scary as fuck because it's like, nigga, I came from where I had a bunch of people around doing everything.

I didn't have to do nothing. My homie, he going to handle that. He going to do that. I got a problem. My dog, I knew what it called. Like, it leaves me and my hands are free. Like, now it changes to where all of this work on my table. Like, you feel me?

So I ain't reach out to no other artists, because I'm like, I ain't finna pay you niggas that. First of all, because I'm independent and shit different, you know what I'm saying? But I ain't have nobody to defend on me like that, I'ma smoke that shit, bro. This is your drink. I'ma take a sip.

Take a sip. Take a sip. Wait, hold on, hold on, you gotta stay here for this one. Come on. Nah, you have to, you have to. You have to, I'm sorry. This is, you know, hold on. You got to stay here for this one. Come on. No, you have to. You have to. You have to. I'm sorry. You know this is yours. This is a big one because.

So what do you like more? Oh, Jesus. Major or independent? You want our opinions first before you answer this? Yes, I do. No, I just say that being independent, you control, you own. There's a better legacy there. I do. No, I just say that being independent, you control, you own. There's a better legacy there, I feel. And then...

Major. No explanations. Real nigga shit. I would like your explanation. What would you like more? Independence. Or it's never true, independence. I prefer a team, you know, connection with distro.

You dig what I'm saying? But in terms of everything, I like independence. Why? Because I like ownership. I like owning my masters. I like owning my shit. I like owning my publishing. I like owning my shit. I like owning my publishing. I like owning all my rights and shit.

I like getting the largest, the larger percentage on my business splits. For my royalties when it's over and around. Yeah, my family. We finna crack one. You feel me? But, man, God is good, man. But I prefer independence because I'm the happiest I've ever been. Why?

Because I'm free. Nobody own me. Nobody, none. I got money because I'm the happiest I've ever been. Why? Because I'm free. Nobody own me. Nobody, none. I got money. I'm straight. I don't got to do. I don't want. I'm good, bro.

You can do whatever the fuck you want. And I can, you know what I mean? I can structure my shit. I got to defend the majors a little bit. You can be on a major and they don't own you, bro. I mean, that's very rare and it depends on how you come into the major. You have to come in at a high level. I came in at a low level and I had what was called a grandfather deal at the end. And have to come in at a high level. No, you know what? I came in at a low level

and I had what was called a grandfather deal at the end. And that was beautiful for me. Like, they could not do certain things to me. A grandfather deal is... So, I just want to explain... But remember,

the error matters too. That's a different error. I don't... Okay, okay. Maybe you have a point there. Let me not argue with that there. But let me just tell you something. There is a way to be on a majors and still...

There's nothing wrong with being on a majors. I'm not saying that. Have all your integrity. I'm not saying it takes away your integrity either. I mean, it does. No, man. I'm just saying if you like to be independent, like you said, own everything.

Make your own decisions. Steer your own ship. But when you're on a major, you got execs you got to talk to. You got to, they're going to handle how you market yourself, how you promote it, when it comes out, how it comes out. And then you're going to own them like a bank. Like you got to owe them money. That's all a loan. That's true.

And that's the difference of the era. Because in that era, there was so much money in the industry that they would wash those loans. All right, cool. Don't worry. You don't owe us anymore. We'll bring you in at the time, though wash those loans. All right, cool. Don't worry. You don't owe us any more. We'll bring you in at the time, though. All right? All right, cool.

All right, cool. You got to relax a little bit. Let's add this right here. All right, cool. No, no, no. Stay right here. No, no, no, no, no, no. Stay right here.

Stay right here. Stay right here. No, no, no, no, no, no. Stay right here. No, no, no, no, no, no. Stay right here. Stay right here. No, this is the difference, right?

All right, after you learn the business, you're satisfied with the record label, you do it. It's like, here's the part where I wish you would have said either leaving Def Jam or leaving Universal.

When your contract is void, you could have said, I want to stay with Universal Direct. Or I want to stay with Def Jam Direct. As long as Def Jam is with that, you... That wouldn't have happened, though.

Why it wouldn't happen? I would imagine everything you're saying about the blackballing, it wouldn't have happened. That's what I'm imagining. Right. Because to me, it's like... But it can.

I've done that. No, no, it can happen. It can happen. But I'm just saying, in his specific situation, there's too many people in the building. Too many people in the building. Yes, yes, exactly.

Yeah. And it just went... But I'm... I'm telling you that it did happen because I did that with my situation. Right. You understand what I'm happen because I did that with my situation. Right. You understand what I'm saying? I did that in my situation where it was like, all right, cool.

You're unique, bro. You were signed to Rockefeller without being signed to Rockefeller. Come on, get the fuck out of here, man. That's basically what it's for me. That's basically what it's for me. But I'm not the only guy that was on a major that was happy. I can't be. No, I'm not saying that.

It's not just me. You're taking what I'm saying and going in a different direction. They have the independent approach, too. Look, man, I think that I'm not opposed to rocking with a major label. I think it all depends on

what we can agree to. What you're willing to give, what you're willing to be Right. You know what I mean? Like, what you willing to give, what you willing to be flexible with. It's all about a deal. To me, it's all within the guidelines of the contract. It could be major, it could be anything. Like, if it's the right team,

it's the right situation, like, I feel like, yeah, I'm going to go with it. But, you know, it's a lot of determining that type of thing when I'm really in it. I'll give you a perfect example. Go ahead. Right now, everybody's like, Lil Wayne just sold his masters

for 100 mil. No, it's publishing, wasn't it? No, it's masters of his young money. Didn't he sell publishing too? No, it's not even him. He's selling, like, I think, his Nicki Minaj. Yeah, the other artist.

It's not even him. And you know, these are the brokest people in the world saying, this guy signed for 100 mil. I mean, nobody should comment on shit they don't really know about the details. You know what it's like?

It's like, I would never do that. Because if I'm in that situation. But you've never been in that situation. You can't really say that. You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. It's like Pharrell says, zoom the fuck out. That's it.

Oh, man. That's not fair at all. I'm going to take an independent test. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We need some bathroom. We need some bathroom. We'm going to take an independent piss. Yeah, yeah. I'm going to use the bathroom. Do you want to use the bathroom? Here, use the bathroom. Bathroom break.

Without doing break, man. It's definitely not like that. You're not going to sleep there, bitch. You're not going to sleep there. You know we did that. Oh, shit. Come on, man. It's just in case.

Just in case. Come on. You got to be honest, boy. You got to relax. You got to be honest. Hold on, my brother. You got to relax. Yeah, we got to relax.

We have to move on, baby. I got you, kid. I got you. You got to be honest, boy. You got to relax. You gotta relax. You gotta relax. Yeah, we gotta relax. I got you, kid. I got you. I got you, kid. I got you. Hey, I respect that, baby. You need to be so careful. Film this. Film this. Do not cut. Do not cut.

Give him some Barbecue. This is Barbecue. This is, I forget, this is Sarat Brandy? You want Mama Wanda? Or you want Bar-Boo? Mama Wanda! You want Mama Wanda? That's the closest thing.

You want us together? That, listen, that's... God damn! You want me, you want us to Jeffrey. Alright, you want a Jeffrey? No, no, no. Look, this is what I suggest. It's the closest thing to, um, Tiger Ball.

The closest thing to Tiger Ball. But this, from Dominican Republic. And Pitbull is Pitbull Company. Closest thing to Tiger Ball. Dominican Republic. Give me your cup. Give me your cup. Your hair. I got your Company. Coach Steven Tiger Ball. Give me your cup. Yeah, yeah. I got your cup for you.

Yeah, keep filming. Keep filming. This is Mamawana. Mamawana. Mamawana. Mamawana. Come on. Hold on. Ooh. That's sweet.

That boy drinking. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's sweet. You don't need it. Bamboo is sweet, too. Bamboo is sweet, too. Yeah. Take got to eat it. I'm going to stick with that. I'm going to sweet, too. I'm going to sweet, too. Give him, give him. Take it to the family, everybody.

So what the shit have you been talking about? I need that yike yike. Yike yike. All one. I respect this. I respect this. All that. No, no.

No, take it back. Take it back there. Yeah, back, take it back then. Yeah, yeah, take it back then. You good. Yeah, y'all make the party. You good, good. Take it back then. I'm gonna do it.

I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna do it. Everybody wants some of these. If you want some of these. Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna take it. I'm gonna take it. Yeah, yeah, man.

Yeah, yeah, man. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What's his name? What's his name?

Slim. Slim? Slim. Slim D. Slim D. Slim D. I feel like I've known you my whole life, man. I'm telling you, man. Yeah. There we go. You won.

You won. He got you, you won. He got you. You won. So let me ask you, is that what it's for for you? Because I watched a couple interviews where you like, man, this is the most comfortable you've been. You say, yo, I wear chains or I wear jewelry if I have to be, if I have to. But do you feel like that was your image as a rapper

at one point? Like just you had to always have an actual gotti or actually have these certain things to show. Was that something? Oh yeah, for sure. Yeah, you felt it. I felt like there was times, bro, where I put my identity of who I was was in the

things that I had. You know what I'm saying? Like, you know, I feel like all the relationships that I had as well, you know what I'm saying? It's all ego shit for me, so. You wanted to wear Balenciaga socks. Yeah, like, I wanted to do right. And it's like, not even knowing why you really want to rock that shit or wear it is just because that's what niggas, what we doing.

That's what everybody else is doing. That's what everybody else is doing. So, for me, It was just like Man I need to You know I need to find myself Who am I outside of that That simple question bro

Like who are you Outside of that You know And that was the search And the quest that I was on Which is why I did The independence When I got independent

I started my first project Was Trust the Process Because I didn't even want To know what the fuck Was going to happen during Or just what was Going to happen during or just what was going to happen in general. People from Philly

start saying, you got that from Philly, right? And you didn't even know that. Uh-uh, I didn't even know it. Nah, I watch basketball

a little bit, but I'm a football head. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's my field. But I did become familiar with it and I think like,

great, we all inspired. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, so, and I like what they got going on in Philly too. Shit, with that Trust the Process, it know what I'm saying? So, and I like what they got going on in Philly too.

Shit, with that trusted process, it's the same shit. It's true, it's true. Oh yeah, yeah. I thought it was different. I thought that Daz was building the process and yours was trusted process. Or trusted process has been the slogan for a while now. I don't know, but yeah, exactly.

Yeah, you know, I like them slogans. Even with like Hustle Hard, I like that. Same old shit, just a different day. You know, that slogan been around forever, but I like phrases like. You and Mano have had problems with a hustle bar? Because he had a hustle bar company. And I was...

You know what? I think at one point during when that song kind of came out, it wasn't like smoke, but I think there was like a conversation. Wow. You know what I'm saying? But I fuck with Mano. Mano my dog.

I fuck with Mano. He good people. Like, you know... But yeah, like nah, it wasn't really like no smoke smoke over that or no real issue or anything. But I fuck with Mano. Mano my dog. I fuck with Mano. He good people. Like, you know. But yeah, like nah, it wasn't really like no smoke smoke over that or no real issue or anything. But she was always love.

Yeah, bro. Make some noise for that. Yeah. Shit. Check out secretly hiding over there some chicken. Yeah, I saw some. What is that, bro?

Oh, those are my tests. Oh, yeah. Those are my COVID tests. Oh, yeah, those are my COVID tests. Oh, Jesus. You ordered COVID tests? I'm in. Yeah, I got 10 rapid tests over there.

I'm in. You gotta shout with that public chicken, huh? Let's box it up with that public chicken. Are you taking a shot of the chill shit that was over there?

I respect that. I respect that. I watch you. Okay, let's go. 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 best-selling 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 One, 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. Ad-free at Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. I'm Clayton English.

I'm Greg Lott. And this is season two of the War on Drugs podcast. We are back. In a big way. In a very big way. Real people, real perspectives. This is kind of star-studded a little bit, sir. We are back. In a big way. In a very big way. Real people, real perspectives. This is kind of star-studded a little bit, man. We got Ricky Williams, NFL player, Heisman Trophy winner.

It's just a compassionate choice to allow players all reasonable means to care for themselves. Music stars Marcus King, John Osborne from Brothers Osborne. We have this misunderstanding of what this quote-unquote drug thing is. Benny the Butcher. Brent Smith from Shinedown. We got B-Real from Cypress Hill. NHL enforcer Riley Cote. Marine Corvette.

MMA fighter Liz Karamush. What we're doing now isn't working, and we need to change things. Stories matter, and it brings a face to them. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two Stories matter and it brings a face to them. 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. And to hear episodes one week early and ad-free with exclusive content, subscribe to Lava for Good Plus on Apple 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 iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Mama Juana. Oh, yeah. Now we're going to do a quick time of slime.

Are you ready? You got to pick one out of the two. You ready? I'm ready, brother. Ooh, this is a deadly one. Ooh. Ross or Trick? Ross.

Trino or Nikki? Nikki. Trina. Jesus. Trina. I'm sorry, Trina. Okay. I like how you cleaned that up.

I'm going to clean it up. Yeah. You can't go to the car. Did you do that? You can't go this way like and buy that. You can't go to the car and buy that. I like the cleaner. Future T-Pain. You know what, bro.

God damn. T-Pain. Browder Day. Browder. Drake or Wayne. Wait, let's go back to Broward and Day, man. I don't want to play that. Okay.

Yeah. They got to keep it real. I said it. Which one we on? We on Drake and Wayne. Wayne. Oh, all right. Cool.

Nas or Jay? Oh, all right, cool. Nas or Jay? Ooh, Nas. Booby Trap or G5? G5. Damn, man. I heard about Booby, though. I heard about Booby, but... We Booby Trap affiliates over here.

Yeah, yeah. We cool. All the homies is Booby Trap legends. They love it. But they go at nighttime. We daytime dudes. We go to early. We're notates over here. Yeah, yeah. Like, we cool. We daytime dudes. All of them is just booby-trapped legends. They love it. But they go at nighttime. We daytime dudes. We go to the early, where the mid-jays work in. Where the mid-jays?

Where the mid-jays? We go on different hours. We go on different hours, you know what I'm saying? All right, yeah, okay. Daytime, here it is. We the best or cash money? We the best or cash money? We the best Okay

Rolex or KOD? Strip club KOD Those are different time frames man Alright The Rolex had us run early Well Rolex or Audemars Still KOD

KOD was you know Nah but Rolex comes pre-KOD Yeah it was Well Rolex or Audemars? Still KOD. KOD was, you know. Nah, but Rolex comes pre-KOD. Yeah, it was. Well, Rolex or Audemars? Take one and all that. Yeah, take one. So, my watch. Yep.

Rolex. Okay. Kodak Black or Denzel Curry? Oh, yeah. That's a rough one. Wow. Kodak. Kodak Black.

Kodak Black. Kodak Black. Kodak Black. Kodak Black. Kodak Black. Kodak Black. Kodak Black. Kodak Black. Kodak Black. Kodak Black. That's a rough one. Wow. Kodak. Loyalty or respect?

Respect. I respect that. Holy moly, guacamole. We are on the road. We are on the road. This feels good, doesn't it? I'm always happy when we stop Florida's in the building. He's definitely like, if there was like a pro city, a word for like progenus, like a pro-cid-us,

city-genus, your pro-cid-us, your pro-state-us-us. Are you for the whole Florida or just like... Nah, I'm going to rep all of Florida, but I'm going to be specifically South Florida. But if you're from Florida, then you already, that's fam. Yeah, you got an orange right there. You turned Biz Markita from Florida. Is that Biz Markita?

Yeah, man, it's Killer Mike. Oh, shit. That's hard. That's hard. I apologize. Biz Markita. I apologize hard Shout out to Bismarck Facts So is that advantage

Being from the south Or is it disadvantage Advantage bro Advantage bro That energy That swag Like that Like

It ain't nowhere else In the world Everybody trying to recreate it Everybody If we being honest You know It ain't nowhere else in the world. Everybody's trying to recreate it. Everybody. If we being honest. Everybody want that Southern touch. Kylie Jenner, everybody want it.

They want to catch the vibes. Speaker 1.: Or being from the South? Speaker 2.: The South, man. That shit. The slang, the food, the energy. Speaker 1.: Are you a vegan? Speaker 2.: No. I exercise though

so you still eat southern food? not really no what's your favorite food right now? like right now I'm getting you high

I want you to finish this smoke jam I'm gonna finish this we like you we like you that's only the finest herbs on earth you know

what is this? what did we smoke on? This gas truck. That's the, uh... That's not Super Thug OG? Uh-uh. No, this is... Shadow...

No, this is your shit. Whatever your shit is. Oh, this is yours? That's the, um... The fucking... Yeah, that's the gas truck. Yeah, that's the gas truck. That's the gas truck.

Yeah, shout out to my boo. That's the gas truck. That's the... Soon to be distributed by Cherry... It's so good, he didn't even know. See what I'm saying? Soon to be distributed by Cherry. It's so good, he didn't even know. That's what I said. Soon to be distributed by Cherry OG with the SuperDoug OG.

I don't say that. Excuse me. Cherry Colorado. That's my boo. Shut up, my boo, bro. Because you don't smoke lines, right? You don't smoke lines. You don't do that.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, bro. But you a Swisher. You a backwoods Swisher nigga. I'm a backwoods nigga. Yeah, all right, all right. No, no, man. Yeah. Bro, them Sw a Swisher. You a backwood Swisher nigga. I'm a backwood nigga. Yeah, all right, all right. Oh, man. Yeah.

Bro, them Swishers crazy. I don't, like, I think y'all niggas like superheroes who can smoke the Swishers. That's what I think. Niggas who got the Swishers like superheroes. I love this shot. I love this shot. Yeah, it's okay. It's okay, bro. Yeah, it's okay.

It's okay. I love it. I can take it. Man, I started off smoking the Swishers, you know, because that's what they was on. The Purple Swishers was the vibe until them shits was destroying my throat. I'm like, that was just my whole vibe. That was harsh. That shit was crazy.

I'm like, nah, I can never. It was like a little dry. That's why I'm doing this. I fucked up your shit. Nah, nah. I'm fucking with you. I'm fucking with you. I'm fucking with you.

Yeah, man. Nah, man. Nah, nah. But what's the happiest moment of your whole... I mean, besides your kids and your marriage, because we're going to go there, too. You know what I mean? But I mean, the music business. The career.

The career. What was that one time where you was like, man, this is me? Like, you know... Let me shut up. That one time where it's like, this is me? Let me shut up. That one time where it's like, this is me? Oh, this is, not this is me, but Like I've arrived.

I arrived and I belong. Ooh. That's a good question, man. I feel like I felt like that when the Hustle Hard record dropped. It's like I belong. I felt like that when the Hustle Hard record dropped. It's like I belong. I felt like that was a solidifying record. But I think to find my footing in the independence world, to keep it honest, bro,

because I feel like I recently had that feeling of where it's like, you know, this is where I belong. This is what I need to be doing. This is what I need to be saying right now. You know what I'm saying? I feel like I'm in the right place. When just, you know, when you feel like the universe is aligning things in your life and it's like, holy shit. Like, it's like, that's where I'm at. Like, you know what I'm saying? So it's like, just my independence represents that, man, of just like,

this is what I need to be doing. Cause I can do it. I can do it from the independence perspective. I thought that I put all my faith and all my energy and all my identity into that whole idea of being a part of a major label and a part of that. I thought, like, you know, I couldn't do it. Like, who am I without that shit? And to be who I am in an independent world, like, still thriving and still relevant in this world, I'm like, it's where I need to be. I knew I was built for this shit, bro.

And I agree with you, right? But you got to give me a moment where you were like, with that platinum record. And you had to feel like you belong there. You telling me, you telling me, with these big records and these platinum records, you in these parties and you feeling like you didn't belong. You felt like, what does that itself mean because i'm saying like like like there's certain times in my career where i'll go to a party and that's my party i don't give a fuck who's it is it's my shit yeah you ain't never feel like that

i feel like that okay i feel okay so for That means belong. That's what I'm trying to establish. Like, I'm going anywhere for this. BET Awards, bro. Okay, here we go. BET Awards is where I felt like that. Let's take it near. You feel what I'm saying? Okay, let's go.

Let's go. Because just to know, right, so Hustle Hard was a mixtape record. Yep. Right? It wasn't even an album record yet. It was just a record like I created at the crib, put that bitch on the mixtape, and then once the city got a hold to it like they went to call and phone back to back like yo so they call Cali like yo E class hit

him like yo you know I'm trying to make a beat to this by the way I'm that guy every sound I make beats with it Pharrell made a beat already I love it I don't know why I play this voice like Michael Jackson I hope you make the beat already I love Ph. I don't know why I put this voice like Michael Jackson. I'm sorry. I love him.

We're great friends. Finish your tour. Finish your tour. So. So. Damn, where was I? Where was I? Where was I?

It was B. Talk to me. So we came out. B.T. Awards. B.T. Awards. B.T. Awards. Thank you, my brother. That's what I'm talking about.

B.T. Awards, right? So. I'm like, nah, booze. So boom. my B.E.T. Awards. B.E.T. Awards. B.E.T. Awards. Thank you, my brother. That's what I'm talking about. B.E.T. Awards, right? That's what I'm saying. So, I'm like, nah, boo-lay. So, boom. So, boom. B.E.T. Awards, bro. It's the moment where I felt like, because Hustle Hard was a mixtape record or whatever, this is a record that, you know, it wasn't no label.

These were my ideas. This is my voice. This is my writing. Like, this is my penmanship. You know what I mean? And we want to perform this shit at the B.E.T. Awards BET Awards, bro. That's massive where I come from, you dig? And I'm the first artist from my city. You know, full disclosure, I'm the first artist from

Brauer County, Florida. From the county, you claim the whole county. Brauer County, Florida. I am the original, I am the first. I am the original. I am the first. I am the pioneer. That's a fact. That's a fact. We're being honest.

That's a fact. I'm going to be honest. There is no pioneer. Just to be honest with you. Not to say that there wasn't. I can speak for me. I can't speak for the others. I'm speaking about my pioneer.

What I did. What I contributed to. What I... Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, saying there was cats that was from Broward coming to my house. No, not records like that. Not breaking records like you was doing. I'm just saying there was just artists that were,

that we all are on people's backs. We are all doing something on someone else's back. And we got to understand that and respect that. And I'm talking about Broward County. Well, who back would I have done it on at that particular time? I'm just saying just artists that have been doing it like since maybe even the 80s, even people I don't even know about. I'm from early 90s era that I'm talking, that I'm thinking about. Okay. Okay. I'm saying Charlie's for security legends for me. Yeah. Yeah.

I respect that. I respect that. Yeah. No, because I'm just saying there was people there doing it, repping the county when it wasn't cool at all. Absolutely. You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. But so let me say

that I'm one of the pioneers of the city. You know what I'm saying? Like, for sure, for sure. Like, in terms of taking it worldwide and doing all of that. Well, you could take it

worldwide. There you go. Right. Worldwide. Take it worldwide. Absolutely. Absolutely. That's what I'm saying.

That's all I mean. And they feel, you know, and a lot comes with Absolutely. Absolutely. There you go. There you go. That's what I'm saying. That's all I mean. And it feel, you know, and a lot comes with that. And it's a beautiful feeling because being the first from your city ain't always the greatest. You know, who you think will get the most energy and the most like towards because it's like, wait a minute, what the, you know?

But it was just a beautiful feeling, man, to be on stage, you know, at the BET Awards, have Ross there, you know what I'm saying, performing live. He huge. He got all these great records and stuff and, you know, Tune at that time. He already huge. And then Khaled, I just felt like just us doing that together and for this to be a record that I orchestrated made me feel affirmed, you know what I'm saying, as a man, bro.

And I think shit like that is important, so I feel like I was solidified and locked in at that moment. I felt like the city was proud. The homies was proud, you know what I'm saying, as a man, bro. And I think, like, shit like that is important. So I feel like I was solidified and locked in at that moment. I felt like the city was proud. The homies was proud. You know what I'm saying? Like, hustle hard, man. Performance. You feel me?

Like, I felt like at that particular time, I'm like, yeah, this is it right here. And from there, we just went on to create more. But that was definitely an amazing moment for me, though. Crazy moment. Now, you ever thought, crazy moment at some time but not take off your shirts, guy abs, and... Right, right. You know what I'm saying? Like, just think about it. Like, you can see how people compare. You know what I'm saying? Yes, yes. From the South, dog skin. Okay. You understand? Yeah. You know what I mean?

They definitely would do some comparison, for sure. Because in New York, they compare us to anybody. Like, who had a... How about your brown skin? Come here, though! Like, you know what I'm saying? And that's why I never, like, tattooed my entire body, to keep it G. Really? It's facts, bro. why I never, like, tattooed my entire body to keep it G. Really?

It's facts, bro. Because I knew, like, I knew it was always, I knew it was already a close comparison between me and bro. Right. So I was like, I can't do all of that. And plus, I'm trying to get into acting and all that other stuff. Like, and this is when I was young. I made this decision. So I got my arms because I was going crazy at that time. So that's why I ain't do that.

Because I'm like, I ain't trying to be another replica. Like, you know, I am myself and I'm glad I did it. You would have had face tats. I would have had all, probably not face tat. I probably would have had it up to the neck, the whole like, the whole look for sure. You ever fucked with Lean in that moment? Yeah. For y'all niggas in the South.

For sure. I don't think Lean was that big out here though. It wasn't in your community. I'm talking about out here in Florida. Yes, it was. Nah, not that big, bro. Just being honest. Depending upon what you're comparing it to.

If you're comparing it to what, Cali? Yeah, compare it to Texas. I'm sorry, Texas. In New Orleans, yeah. Yeah, playing Cali. Comparing it to, yeah, it was nothing out here. If you're comparing it to Texas, yeah, nothing out here. I know it was out here. Everything is fucking comparing it to Texas, it was nothing out here. I know it was out here.

Everything is fucking in Miami and Broadway, Southwest, everything. But it wasn't that big out here. I was showing up in my crib with apes. I was like, what the hell is going on? Leave. Boris had leave? Get the fuck out of here, man.

This motherfucker did not have leave. You didn't even know he was taking ecstasy. I didn't even know he was smoking weed. You gotta relax. You didn't know know he was taking X-ray. I didn't even know he was smoking weed. You gotta relax. You didn't know he was smoking weed. But if that shit popular in one part of the world, it's active in every other place. It's always like that, you know?

That shit be active. So if it's like the weed popping in Cali, then you know every place else is going to be active with the weed. You know what I'm saying? So like, we was active down here with it, but not like, you know, Houston. But being that that shit was so heavily influenced and shit, and you were talking about it so much, like, you know, it was accessible.

So I had me a few bottles and shit, did my thing with that. What made you say that's not you? Sleeping and shit? The tiredness and shit, bro. The after effect. Like, how long you would sleep, how tired you would be. Like, you'd feel like you were a genius on it. You know what I'm saying? and this and shit, bro. The after effect, like how long you would sleep, how tired you would be, like you'd be,

feel like you were genius on it. You know what I'm saying? When you want, when you taking the vibe and you, you know. Describe us that feeling so the first like hour is like,

how is it? Hey, so look. So like, you know, you get your mix, drop a little, you know, Jolly Ranch is in there.

You're dropping Jolly Ranch is in there. I'm dropping Jolly Ranch is in there. I'm dropping Jolly Ranch is in there. I'm dropping, you know what I'm saying? I got the Sprite vibe. You know what I mean? I'm already. And Jolly Ranch?

Sprite, Jolly Ranch. It's a little sweet. Definitely a little sweet. And then the Adelac. And then the Adelac. And then the Acalata. And then the Adelac. And then the Adelac.

And then the Adelac. Right. That shit thick as hell. Yeah. Yeah. So you, you know, you drop some as hell. Yeah. So you, you know, you drop some of that in there. I wasn't a heavy duster. You know, I don't experiment like that.

I ain't just a wild nigga. I never been that, which I'm glad. So, you know, experiment with a proper amount and then you catch the vibe. And then as time go on, you kind of build on that energy. You know, so as I would build on that energy, like you would start to feel like a little slow but awake in some way, because you know, you smoking too. And then it creates the balance for you. And when it creates the balance for you,

like before you know it, you in the studio, man, I'm knocking out eight, nine records. You know what I'm saying? Like, and I'm just not sleepy. I'm going though, because it's not an oval, you know what I mean? It's not a heavy dose. It's not to where I'm just sluggish.

Because you're controlling the dose. Right, right, right. I'm just trying to get a balance. Of just like, boom, I got this vibe and then I'm pairing it with the smoke so it's going to give me an even balance. That's how my mind works, should be weird. But, I'm telling you, but this shit create a fire balance

so I be in that shit like, with the sauce. You remember Bugatti? You was on that sauce? It was around Bugatti time. Yeah, it was around Bugatti time. It was around Bugatti time. No wonder you woke up, or he woke up in the Bugatti. He was on the leash! He fell asleep in the motherfucker. Oh, that's crazy. He fell asleep in the motherfucker.

Oh, that's crazy. Yeah. And what's your favorite part of the game? Making the record or performing the record? Performing that motherfucker, bro. Tell me performing. You know, performing for sure. But if I gotta be honest though,

I think like making the record, making the record gotta be, you know, because it's like, you know, it's always like the predetermination of what's gonna happen when the record drop. You feel me? It's always like, ooh nigga, this gonna fuck them up.

They gonna chant this. I know it. Like, I know for a fact, like, when I say same old shit, just a different day, I know everybody can relate to that. You gonna say this over and over, I know they gonna repeat that. And then to create the record, and then to go out and perform it and hit them to say,

pull the beat back in, same old oh shit. Just a different thing. The magic of manifestation. I'm trying to get it. You like my little crowd voice, you know? Like, it's active, man. It's active. So I like the creation part of it for sure. Because I like to see what's going to become of that. I like that. You ever been wrong about a record where you like, this record never worked?

And that shit just, like, oh, fuck. And it worked? Or vice versa. Or vice versa. Hmm. Nah, bro. If I'm being honest, I knew what would work and what wouldn't work. If I'm being completely honest, bro If I'm being honest I knew what would work And what wouldn't work

If I'm being completely honest, bro Like, I knew records that I would create And I knew they would be like Okay, this record works for this particular Like, you know These particular people That might listen to it

You know what I'm saying? It might be a record That might be talking about The worldly events And the government And what's happening Like, it's gonna do Fucking well, it's gonna do this thing in this you know me so I measure my expectations

So it's like if I'm creating a radio hit that's different You know I'm saying like it's for sure records that I thought was gonna do better than you know to me like didn't do that Great that I thought was like fuck I got a record that's entitled I Know How It Feels with a tight dollar sign. It's a smash radio record, but it didn't do what I thought it would. I'm like, damn, this record didn't work. Was it the fault of the record, or because it didn't have the radio push?

Because it didn't have the radio push. So it's not necessarily that you were wrong, it's just you didn't have maybe the tools that were needed to... Right, exactly. Which was part of my situation and reason to like departure and move on

because that was, you know. So right now, who's a new artist that you like, that you would like to work with? New artist. You got records for City Girls? Baby. Little baby.

I like that little nigga, man. I'm sorry, I always gotta think twice because it's too big. Yeah, like that little nigga, man. I'm sorry. I always got to think twice. Yeah, because it's two. Right. But it's three babies. That's if you count Stunner. Mm-hmm.

Yeah. Yeah, that's real. That's real. You said Baby. Yeah, yeah. You didn't say Lil Baby. Lil Baby. Baby is the one from South Carolina.

No, no, no. He went from Atlanta. Lil Baby. Lil Baby. That's Lil and Dub Baby. Yeah, yeah. But I like the Baby shit, too, though. I went from Atlanta No, baby, that's little baby. Yeah, but I like the baby shit too though I like I fought with the baby, but but I will the energy I'm on I like little baby. I thought just the baby Was from South Carolina with used to wear the pamphlet. No, fuck. No, come on They still wear the pamphlet the baby is for no color. Right? I see you said and then you said a little bit

Little baby from Atlanta. I said the baby is the baby's in what North Carolina North Carolina, right? I said, you said, and then you said, little baby. Little baby from Atlanta. I said, the baby is... The baby's, what, North Carolina? North Carolina. Little baby's Atlanta. He was here. Right.

He killed that. He wore it. He ain't play around with that, like. And to be who he is, he's that little baby. My neighbor would address. They just had a party.

They gave him a Bugatti. The fuck they gave him? They gave him all type of QC. Yeah, yeah, yeah. QC and them. They gave him his birthday party. I said, damn, I got to get my life together. His birthday party was crazy.

That's what I'm talking about, right? Yeah, his shit was crazy, yeah. So it's DaBaby and then that's Lil Baby. That's Lil Baby, right. That's Lil Baby, right. Just, yeah. was crazy, yeah. So, it's DaBaby and then that's Lil Baby. That's Lil Baby, right. That's Lil Baby, right? Just, yeah. I like Lil Baby. I seen him in the Waldorf Astoria.

Where? By himself walking around with $200,000 worth of jewelry on, plastic bag. His security was outside and all, but he walking around by himself. I liked that. What did you say, he had cash in the bag? No, his jewelry.

Oh. Like, that is in a plastic bag. I'm walking around, one of my kids, getting breakfast at the Waldorf store. So I'm going from the regular people entrance to my actual room. He's coming from the actual room. So I see each other. Boom. Quick flick. So, I seen each other on Quick Flick.

I like the dude. I can tell he's street with it. He had security, but they was outside. I like that energy. Like a nigga who can move on their own. Handle your own problems on your own. You know what I mean? That's the type of guy I am.

Today, you rolled up by yourself. I rolled up dolo. That's the second time, I think. Today you rolled up by yourself. I rolled up Dolo. That's the second time, I think, right? No, third time. They wouldn't expect you to do that. That's the third time it's happened on Drink Champs. Third time people rolled up on Drink Champs, Dolo? By themselves. Who? Okay, who? I mean, that I remember. So Pitbull recently.

Pitbull walked weird, though. What do you mean he walked weird? Pitbull, Pitbull, I like. He's, I like. Pitbull is different. He's the old one. I don't know what he was old for. Yeah, hey, hey, that's my dog. And then, and 50 in Little Haiti.

He originally came by himself. I know people followed. That's not true. No, he was by himself. He, in Little where? In Little Haiti. We used to do. We used to do drink champs in Little Haiti.

Yeah, 50. We used to do drink champs in Little Haiti. And he pulled up. He had a driver. I think... Did he have a driver? He was a driver. Well, he walked

into the spot by himself. Listen, absolutely. He had a driver. I think he even had security. He told security, relax. Yeah. And the driver relaxed

and he walked in by himself. And I was so honored. I was so... I mean, I'm sure you was honored too. No, I was one of the best I mean you. But I was so honored. I was so, I mean I'm sure you was honored too. No, I was one of the best episode. I'm saying I mean you. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But I was so honored that a star like hip hop trusts us because we ain't letting nothing happen. It don't matter who the fuck. No, it's a safe environment. Anybody is around this motherfucker. We're reset up. Nah, energy is real bro. These are pure Miami boys. I've been living out here for 14 years so I somewhat think Miami claimed me and I claim Miami. Goddammit Florida goddammit let's make some noise for y'all goddammit.

Make some noise for us goddammit. But I'm not going to lie. Wait make some noise for us goddammit. Living in Florida crazy. That's crazy. That's crazy out here. Yeah it is. You still live in Florida?

Yeah. You ain't moved to Atlanta I thought you were going to live in Florida, crazy. That's real. That's crazy. That's real. That's crazy out there. Yeah, it is, bro. You still live in Florida? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, okay. You ain't moved to Atlanta? I thought you was moving to Atlanta.

Nah, I still live in Broward. Broward. Just the really, really, you know, beautiful place. Okay, okay. And that's my city. And I love it here, man. I lived in California for a little bit. Wow. You know what I'm saying? I was going back and forth. Six months I heard. here, man. I lived in Cali for a little bit. Wow.

You know what I'm saying? I was going back and forth. Six months, I heard. Something like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What part of Cali? What the fuck was I at? I had a spot. Was it L.A., though?

It was L.A. It wasn't L.A. Yes, it was L.A. What's the beach out in Cali? Malibu? Or Santa Monica? Santa Monica Beach. Yeah, that's a good spot.

I live by Santa Monica Beach. That's where I was. Santa Monica Beach. Yeah. Malibu. Yeah. I'm on Malibu. Yeah.

Okay, okay, okay. I live by that area, though. But it was like a very nice area, man. Like, good vibes out there. Stayed out there and recorded some projects. I mean, I was kind of coming back to see my family, see my kids and stuff. So, yeah, man, but I love living out here in Florida. I do think at some point, though, I'd get another space somewhere else.

But I always have, like, my main crib in Florida. It's just nothing like the crib, bro. Yeah. Make some noise for y'all. crib in Florida. It's just, it's nothing like the crib, bro. Now, you married. You married married like me. There's another version of married? Yeah.

There's a hip-hop version of married. Right. You married married. Married married. How long you been married? I've been married now for about... For about eight months. Eight months.

Oh, okay. You're newlywed. Yeah, I'm newlywed. Yeah, yeah. I got married in February, right before the pandemic. Congratulations, man. Yeah, yeah. Thank you, brother. How long you been with your lady? I've been with my wife about five years, five and a half years. Oh, man. Yeah, yeah. Thank you, brother. How long you been with your lady?

I've been with my wife about five years, five and a half years. Five years? Uh-huh. Beautiful. Yeah. Six years, yeah. Yeah, man. That's my, uh...

Man, that's my love, man. That's my motherfucking dog, bro. Yeah. Beautiful. Like, that's the realest shit ever, my nigga. That's beautiful. Yeah, man. For real.

That's beautiful. Yeah. That's how I want it, too. Yeah, bro. For real. My wife, too. my nigga yeah man for real yeah yeah bro for real and i love you know what's so what's so crazy bro is that you know i'll be hearing how people be speaking sometime about marriage and shit and talking about like how it's hard and all of that it's crazy i'll be seeing episodes Of just seeing shit And just like Some people be Underplaying marriage bro I agree with you

Like You know If you If both the parties In the marriage Decide to like Grow And work through shit

And have conversations About it You could have A beautiful marriage If you And that other Person is on the same page It can be so beautiful bro

It can be like beautiful, bro. It can be like, that shit's like magic, my nigga. That's how I feel. I feel that way, too. You feel me? That's how I feel, my dog. What you doing out here? You putting on glasses?

Okay. That's rich people shit right there. I respect that. Respect that. Respect that. Respect that. I'm a little dude. I respect that. I respect that. That's love, you know? That's love, you know? I don't do that. That's respect.

Nah, all love. I think another shot is accountable. Absolutely. I think another shot is accountable. I'm going to challenge you. Yo, yeah. I'm not going to lie. Don't lie.

Listen, when you get the check from Pitbull. No, no. You know what, man? I met with the guys. I met with the guys. They're not ready for us, bro. All right, listen. I already met.

It's not happening. We're not getting the check right now. Shout out to Condé Love. We're not getting the check. No, all right. Listen, I didn't say we. I said when you get the check. No, no, no.

We. I know. Because you got it on your back. Pitbull brought this to us. It's not happening yet. Holy moly, Guacamole. I love hip-hop, man. Do you love hip-hop? I love hip-hop, my brother.

Hold on. Let me put a little bit of ice in my cup. Yes, sir. Oh, let me get a little heavier here, too. Yeah, but I don't want to touch it. Okay. So hold on. Hold on. Yeah, yeah. Okay. Okay. You going to float on that?

Look at that. I killed that. I killed that. Yeah. By lifting it up at that. I killed that. I killed that. By lifting it up? Yeah, I killed that. I transferred the energy, too. That was great energy. That was great energy I transferred. Motherfucker, A-Dyne!

One thing you regret, that you could do all over. Phew. You could do it all over and say, you know what, let me do that different, let me do it this way. What would it be? I think the way that...

The way that I handled, not to say that it was terrible, or not to say that it was disrespectful, but I think that if I could, with our situation, with the me and Khaled situation, if I could have just handled it in a very different way. Not in a bad way, but if I could have just made minor changes in terms of how I exited out. You know what I'm saying? Like, I think I would have done that in a different way.

You feel what I'm saying? Like, it's not, I don't regret anything, I don't, but if I just, I would have exited differently. It could have been done differently. It could have been done differently. And what part do you think that you would do better? A conversation. Okay.

A conversation beforehand as opposed to... Did you call the lawyers first? I didn't call the lawyers first. What I did was... Interviews? You know, I started to express... Exactly. I started to express myself in the music.

Or open letter? Not even... To Whom We Make Concern came after when I got my independence. But in that time, it was more so just... I started to express myself in my music. As opposed to having a direct conversation with him about it. No, no, no. It was like

that's when I went to Cali too and it was Starvation 4 that I created and I started speaking in my music about how I felt like the label wasn't really in support of my ideas and the things that I wanted to do. You know what I'm saying? As opposed to having a, you know,

a behind-doors conversation with him just about my uneasiness and what I'm feeling. You feel me? Like, this is what I feel, bro. You know, I wish you would have came to me about this. I wish we could have just hashed that out as men, but I wasn't a man back, you know what I mean, at that particular time to realize,

not to say that I made any mistakes because I love where I am and I'm so grateful for where I am, you know what I'm saying? But it's just that, because I still would have made my exit. I still wanted my freedom. Don't get it twisted. I still wanted to go off and go do my own thing, right, you know? But who knows? Who knows how, who knows? That's all I'm going to leave. I'm going to just say who knows who knows how who knows

that's all I'm gonna leave I'm gonna just say who knows like one of the greatest things is like you know when Snoop exited from Dr. Dre and went to Master P

and Dr. Dre kept working with him that was some crazy shit to me like I know that shit gets overlooked a lot but like that was like

almost like yo bro your decision was right Like did you wish Like you could've done that Like you know When you exited We the best

Just kept that relationship So tight Like colleagues To still I think that's exactly Kind of what he's saying Facts bro Facts

And I'm not gonna say that But I'm I am gonna say that I do believe that the universe will align itself. I believe you're going to fix it. That's what I'm going to say.

That's what I'm going to say. You know what I'm saying? That's what I'm going to say. 100% believe that. Let's make some noise for you. I don't think there is smoke. No, there it isn't. It isn't. He talked highly of him with us.

It isn't because, you know, I never forget. You know what I mean? That's the thing about when people talk about loyalty and all of that, dog. It's like, you know, just because we might have had a fallout or a disagreement, does that negate all of the greatness and the history that we created? And the opportunities that were given? Right, and if I become present and I drop myself in those moments, like, this shit was beautiful.

Nigga, this shit was amazing. This shit changed my life, nigga. You know what I'm saying? My kids, my family, bro, like, my being, life nigga this shit you know what i'm saying like this my kids my family bro like my being everything bro you know what i'm saying it changed everything and you can't forget that the way that that you've evolved right you're maturing he is as well exactly everybody's growing everybody's growing bro everybody's making the same mistakes and and that's the at the end of the day, that's the reality of things, bro. Right. That's the reality.

So for me, it's like, it's never to take that energy because we had a bad moment or we had a disagreement to be like, yo, I'll rock with him on this or that and, you know,

taint his name out in public or whatever. That ain't my character, bro. Because I believe what's for me is for me and I'm destined for greatness because I am already. Right.

Nigga, I am. Nigga, like, it ain't, you know what I mean? Like, and once I learned that, it's like, we here. We here. Like, he great, so am I. You feel me? Like, I need my own relationships.

You feel me? I got to make my own moves and do my own thing. I ain't, like, bump my own head and live in my own glory. You feel me? Like, and I love that. And me, I ain't got no hatred in my heart

and I think, like like what we had was Great, but you know That's your drink, I'm sorry you got to end it out good yes We want you to know what what's happening, about what you're doing in the world. You have a platform like Dream Champs that fuck with you. That's your bat. I understand your plight. We respect that.

Always. Let's make some noise. Let's go. Take a picture. Taking a picture. Taking a picture. Take a picture. Hey, hey, who took my bottle? 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. It'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 iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. 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. I never let that little girl inside of me die. 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. 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. 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 MeatEater 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 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 star-studded 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. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart Podcast.