Drink Champs - Episode 372 w/ AKON

Episode Date: July 14, 2023

N.O.R.E. & DJ EFN are the Drink Champs. In this episode the Champs chop it up with AKON!Drink Champs Alumni and a legend in this game, AKON talks about everything! AKON shares stories of his career, his hairline, creating hit records, earning a Guinness Book of World Record and much much more! Lots of great stories that you don’t want to miss!!Make some noise for AKON!! 💐💐💐🏆🏆🏆 *Subscribe to Patreon NOW for exclusive content, discount codes, M&G’s + more:  🏆* https://www.patreon.com/drinkchamps *Listen and subscribe at https://www.drinkchamps.com  Follow Drink Champs: https://www.instagram.com/drinkchamps https://www.twitter.com/drinkchamps https://www.facebook.com/drinkchamps https://www.youtube.com/drinkchamps  DJ EFN https://www.crazyhood.com https://www.instagram.com/whoscrazy https://www.twitter.com/djefn https://www.facebook.com/crazyhoodproductions  N.O.R.E. https://www.instagram.com/therealnoreaga https://www.twitter.com/noreagaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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. And it's Drake Chess motherfucking podcast. Make some noise! He's a legendary Queens rapper. Hey, hey, it's your boy N.O.R.E.

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Listen, it's time for Drink Champs. Drink up, motherfucker. What it good be? Hope you're listening to this. Your boy N-O-R-E. What's good is D-J-E-F-N. This is Drink Champs. Yappy hour.

Make some noise! And whenever, listen, this guest that we about to introduce, the last time he came on our show, he said, Brothers, we got to go back to Africa. And it seems like since then, people are going back to Africa. Facts. They going back to Nigeria Ghana there's so many different places that we gotta go I know you've been to South Africa this man we just went through his discography and when I tell you he got hits upon hits I like he almost remind me of the Seal of this generation. You know how Seal,

no one gave a fuck what what Ray Seal was. He just made the best music and everybody said, fuck it. You roll with Seal, god damn it. He's the Seal of this generation. He got the illest haircut in the world right now. Hit after hit.

When I first time going to Africa, I'm going with him. I see he just went with Earn Your Leisure. Did y'all go to Africa? Actual Africa? Oh, wow.

We're going to get into that. We're going to get into everything. But Casey, I don't know who we talking about. We talking about the one, the only, motherfucking A-Kar!

Now, A-Kar, it's, you know, it was very interesting going through your discography, and I'm listening to Locked Up, right? Because when I Googled you, one of the things that popped up was they said you was a professional.

McCarthy! And you kind of said it on Locked Up just now. You said, you said, my car is stolen. I ain't got no registration. I said,

he's older. He's giving you, that's the past. We know you're rich as hell now. Why are you bringing up old shit? No, but because when you Google you,

that's actually something that comes up that says, yeah, I believe you said it on a different platform. So you used to, this is in New Jersey, I imagine. That says, yeah, I believe you said it on a different platform. So you used to, this is in New Jersey, I imagine. New Jersey drive shit, huh?

New Jersey drive. Yeah, this is a while ago. So what happened? Someone come up to you and said, let's just. Because you're a sophisticated car stealer. You wasn't like popping shit. You was changing the serial numbers and shit like that. Is that true?

It was. How you started this shit with that? You got to break the ice. Break the ice. It's no... It's no reason. Just expect that every time. But how did that happen? Well, getting back

to the past, it was like, I was never the kind of person when it came to... You know, it's interesting like, I think I say the word, it was like, I was never the kind of person when it came to, you know, it's interesting, like, I think I say the word that I was, I kind of use the excuse

that I was surviving because it made me feel better about it. Right. But there was nothing for me to about, it was nothing really for me to survive

because my parents was actually really wealthy. You know, we lived like, I was living in Jersey. We lived in a three-story house, just me and my older brother. Wow. You know what I'm saying? So, we had like, I was living in Jersey. We lived in a three-story house, just me and my older brother. Wow.

You know what I'm saying? So we had the whole house to ourselves. Now when I think about it, we were just bored as hell looking for something. You were just being a teenager. You know what I'm saying? But what was interesting was, as I started watching a lot of my homies, you know, they were selling drugs. And I didn't understand Like why Such Hard labor For no money

Right These niggas would be like On a corner Rain Sleep Hell Snow Because you was born in Senegal

I was born in Senegal No no In St. Louis Oh St. Louis That's right In St. Louis But then I was raised in Senegal Raised in Senegal

Yeah I was raised in Senegal So what age were you there In Senegal Well I was in Senegal From birth When we was born in Senegal I mean St. Louis Sh shipped to Senegal.

Then when I was about seven or eight, that's when my mom and pop brought us back to the States to go to school. And every summer, we would go back to Senegal. Wow. So he wanted to, pretty much my dad just wanted to make sure we was all born in the U.S. You know, he's always forward thinking since then. Right. He wanted you to have a U.S. passport. Yeah, he wanted us to be U.S. citizens so we would never have immigration issues.

So he was always thinking about the future. Damn. Smart. You know what I mean? So when I came. So he was always thinking about the future. Damn. Smart. You know what I mean? So when I came here, it was just a matter of adopting. And I think a lot of my choices came from just wanting to be accepted amongst the crowd. So that's how I got caught into all the things that I got caught into, including cars.

Because cars made me feel special. I was young. I can drive into the most elite vehicles. And then I ran with the scenario that I was an African prince. You know, I was young. I can drive into the most elite vehicles. And then I ran with the, you know, the scenario that I was an African prince. You know what I'm saying? You was using that back then? Yeah. Yeah, I was like, what? After coming

to America, I was like, shit. I was going to say that. You know what I'm saying? That's your motivator, yeah. Because I was working at this barbershop, man, and I met this Jamaican dude that was like, yo, you know, he was in the cars. And I was like, man, every time I see you in a different car.

And one day he was like, rude boy, let me show you something. He took me to this spot. I was like, wow. I was mesmerized. I was like, how much are these? He was like, $2,500 a piece. I said, what? How is that?

And he showed me the whole layout. And before you know it, I just copied and pasted. You know what I'm saying? So now, literally every other month now, I would come to school in a different car and they was like, yo, where is, you know? I was like, yeah,

I'm an African prince. And they believed it because of the whip that I was driving in. So then I said, this could be something that I can actually make a career out of. Now, that's how I'm thinking back then. So I was just trying to figure out the best way to do it. Then that's when Atlanta hit me because I was getting out of high school, graduating. My mom's in Atlanta because my dad was a professor doing cultural exchange at Clark Atlanta University.

And that's when they just had the Olympics going over there with Freak Nick and everything. I was about to say Freak Nick know i'm saying so when i went out there i saw all these just young black just really successful black people i ain't seen that many black people successful in one city since new york you know i'm saying like it was not even in africa you ain't seen well no because i wasn't there long enough to understand what that was at that time you know so but so that was just that time, you know? So, that was just different, but I saw a lot of new athletes coming out, a lot of artists out there, and

then everybody was driving. So, I was like, this could be the spot, you know? So, that's where I just set up shop. New Jersey. No, in Atlanta. In Atlanta. Everybody's driving, so there's a market for what you was doing. There was a big market for it. I'm like, y'all paying three, well, at that time, $150,000 was probably the most for it. I'm like, y'all paying three, well at that time,

150,000 was probably the most you'll pay for a car but those were even the super high line because at that time, even $90,000 was a lot for a Porsche. You know what I'm saying? So if I can get it to you

for like 10 grand, you know. So you was legit into that. Oh no, I was, that wasn't like a past time for a teenager to do something. It was,

no, it became a real, it became a real occupation for me because I started finding ins and outs. Like, most people would go out and jack people for cars. And then, of course, me, it was always the biggest profit for the less jail time.

So I started studying a lot. And I realized, man, joyriding charge is a misdemeanor. You get out the same day. Wow. But the only way you can get hit for a joyriding charge, you actually have to have the key. So if you actually have the key in the car, it's considered a joyride. So I was like, if I can just get the keys.

How do you get the keys in a car? Exactly. You can't let the train secrets out. There's other people. There's still people out there outside. I mean, now, the stuff back then, you can't even do it today.

Now you got the navigation, you got OnStar, you got cars. I mean, on your phone, you can track your vehicle. So it's like, you know, so the crazy part, so what I ended up doing was I started going to the dealership and start peeling keys. Wow.

And pretty much what that means, like, you know, you just go in, if you see a key on the table, you just grab that bad boy, go to the bathroom, hit the click, see which one opens up. And if the car light up, jump in and pull out. Right. At the dealer. At the dealership. Wow. Because you got to understand, car dealerships is mad busy all the time. Yeah, they can't keep

track of everything. You know what I'm saying? They're not even thinking about it. They see you in a car pulling out, they think you're test driving or something. Right, right.

Or you might have just purchased a car. Yeah, you might be a customer that, yeah. You know what I'm saying? So after a while, they start seeing my face come through all the time.

They're like, this is a great customer. And cause, listen, they said, well, hold on. So every time my face got burnt out, then I had to get another car dealership to go to. But then after a while,

it was only with so many car dealerships and I had to find a whole new method. Right. Then I started hitting the valet parking. That's what a business was because- You was putting a valet jacket on. No. Oh, okay.

He probably, that's a great idea. That's a great idea, right? No, it actually ain't. Yeah, it really ain't. It really ain't because what happens is clearly, like, first of all, it's not easy

to get a valet jacket that matches the cover that you're doing. That's number one. And they know each other. And they all know each other. So they'd be like, yo, who are you?

What you doing over here? They would know immediately what you're doing. You too close to the cabinet right now, you know what I mean? With your jacket on. Right, so I took the diplomatic approach.

I said, yo, let me just negotiate with these things. Yo, how much do you actually make? How much are they paying you? They was making like, you know, $50 a week plus tips. Wow. And I'm like, well, even with tips, how much do you actually make? They said, well, pulling off maybe $200 a week. I said, all right, cool.

If I can give you $1,000 a week, $1,000 a week, guaranteed, you just give me the spare key of any car that got a spare in it. Wow. So you don't take it there. You take it when they go away. Boom. Wow. If you can do that for me, every time you get one, just give me a call. Right. And all I need is the key and a piece of mail out there with an address.

Wow. That's all I needed. So boom, they will get that to me. I just wait maybe a week, two weeks later. Pull up late night. Carby Park right there in the front. Jump in. Wow. That's all I needed. So, boom, they would get that to me. I'd just wait maybe a week, two weeks later. Pull up late night, Carby Park right there in the front, jump in, out. Whew. And that was it. Like, it was a real business. Wow. But then, don't forget, you still have to get the paperwork

done for it. You got to get VIN numbers and all that. So, the beginning, you're just selling hot cars. You get caught, bros, drive at your own risk. Right. The car's only $500, though. These are squatters, right?

But then once you build up enough money, create the pawn shop. I mean, the, what you call it? Chop shop. The chop shop. So then I had a chop shop

where I had some Mexicans over there that were super dope with cars. Big up to the Mexicans. Big up to the Mexicans. Big up to the Mexicans. They would chop it up for me, change the serial number.

Then I had to get it Registered This is where the finesse Has to come Registered at the DMV? Yes It has to come back Okay So I would go to DMV

And I would just look For the most vulnerable Insecure Overweight chick Holy shit I wasn't ready I wasn't ready I wasn't ready I'm about to I wasn't ready I wasn't ready

I'm about to go to hell I should have Telled the story So you know But you know You just Vanessa you know Take her out to eat

You know Sell the dream You know You just dangle the carrot Though you never beat You never hit it You just always make her believe That one day

It's going to go down And she'll just do anything for you So I was like Look baby You know right now I'm going through some things. I got a few vehicles that I got, but they ain't paid me for it.

It just came off the truck. She was completely green, didn't have no clue. I just need you to get these registered for you, man. Every time I sell one, I just give you some money out of it. And that's all it took. And before you know it,

every car we got, chopped it, got it registered. Then now we in business. By the time we start selling Atlanta, it wasn't not, nobody that was coming through Atlanta wasn't getting cars from us. But let me ask you,

how, if you ever got caught, how would you get caught? How would the police? Well, that's the thing. Like I, Okay. And that was a mistake that I made. Okay.

But normally I wouldn't, I never really get caught because I always went through middlemen. So I was just a supplier, and I would give it to the person that would go out and sell it out. My only rule was don't sell squatters to dope boys because that's how you get fucked up. Whatever you do, don't sell it to no drug dealers because the problem with them is they drive in any conditions. They move dry and dirty. They give you all the reasons for them to start investigating.

So after so many dope boys get caught, then now they're like, okay, well, all these cars are kind of coming from the same person. They can start following

situations before you know it. It leads all back down to them and then they're going to rat you out and in time, that's exactly what ended up happening. Oh,

shit. Yeah. So a dope boy got caught in the car and said, I got it from the Princess Zamunda. Well, see, what saved me was the fact that I never really met the customer.

So when we went to trial, because I ended up getting to trial and nobody recognized me. So my attorney was just super amazing. He was like, look, man, you know, he's a customer like they are. Honestly, I didn't know. My car was even stolen. I was just driving driving I thought it was legit well now they know

thankfully statuette I was about to say statuette way over it'll never happen again that was a once in a lifetime opportunity

alright alright do you see like let's get straight to it man you always get straight to something let's get straight to it man You always get straight to something I heard so much beautiful music That you made I'm trying to think who the hell could battle you

At Versus And has Swizz been calling you You know what Actually Swizz talked to my little brother about it He talked to Boo about it And Boo kind of hinted it to me. But I was just never, I don't know. I think I love you contribute to a culture this big, your music should never be compared. It should be more celebrated than, you know, competed to an extent. I know maybe in the beginning it probably wasn't meant to be competition.

Right. But it's now turned into a battle. Yeah. And I don't want to put myself in a position where I'm kind of relinquishing someone else's legacy. Because I really don't believe there's too many people that can go against me. So basically, you're going against yourself. That was the most humblest, cockiest shit I've ever heard.

It was humble and cocky at the same time. No, but it's real. No, but off top, which would be dope, a lot of people always compare Lil Wayne to Drake. And they said if they would do it together... But it wouldn't work because...

Were you in T-Pain? Lil Rain found Drake. That's like me finding T-Pain. Yeah, yeah. I gave him all my secrets. I gave him all my resources. I created the monster that's going to come against me.

Like, if anything, I'm going to stick T-Pain on everybody else. You get past him, then you come against me. Like, if anything, I'm going to stick T-Pain on everybody else. You can pass him, then you get to me. Wow, you and T-Pain, double teams. I like that.

Now, that'll work. Me and T-Pain together against somebody else all day because T-Pain love that kind of smoke. T-Pain, call that. I got goosebumps. You know what I'm saying? First double team.

I guess they don't want to play. I don't know about that, man. Because that's two dog skin Against light skin No no no You ain't his dog skin Okay hold on Let's dig up that No no listen

Shouldn't be R&B singers I mean It can't be Chris Brown and Usher That's the thing Chris Brown and Usher That's That honestly would be I would love to watch that myself

That's what I'm saying I would love to watch that myself. That's what I'm saying. I love to be entertained by it. But it's also that fear. Because of what Usher built. Like sometimes, the scariest part, and I think most artists probably can agree.

He might come out with roller skates. No, but all that's cool. He can fuse all of us. But see, this is the thing, right? This generation don't appreciate music the way our generation did. So the way we value what Usher brought to the table, this generation may not see that.

It may lean more towards Chris. And vice versa. The elders might not appreciate what Chris brought to this industry. You know what I'm saying? Because even now when I look at Chris Brown, I always believe that he could have been the only person that can come behind Michael Jackson. Chris is that talented. Like, he is fucking genius. I mean, from an artist standpoint, from a performance standpoint, imaging, like, he's a global superstar.

You know what I'm saying? But I think sometimes it's a matter of how we harness and how we, you know, package our talent that we can claim and take it to that next level. It's almost like, okay, let's say if we introduce the versus concept to the pop community. I want to see that. They're going to turn it down.

I want to see Chris Taylor, Aguilera against Britney Spears. But they're not going to do it. Yeah, they won't do it. You see the Aguilera against Britney Spears? I'm in. I mean, that's a different

kind of versus though. Let me explain. NSYNC against Backstreet Boys I'm in no we would all be in yeah I'm in but that day will never come you know why

because they see things differently they preserve culture they preserve legacy we compete against it like blacks and whites are two different mentalities we're combative

like we're always South African whites or regular whites no whites period bro let me explain something let's get back whites are two different mentalities. We're combative. South African whites or regular whites? No, whites, period, bro. Let me explain something. We're in South Africa, bro. Let's get back to South Africa. The intro was just so amazing

so I couldn't cut you off. I couldn't cut you off. Yeah, well, I've never been to South Africa. But let's be very, very, very, very, very, very clear. South Africa is the real Africa. See, this is what happens, right? Any amazing part of Africa that's beautiful, that attracts tourism, they'll say, well, that ain't really the real Africa. See, this is what happens, right? Any amazing part of Africa that's beautiful, that attracts tourism, they'll say, well, that ain't really the real Africa. Right.

But if it's poor, impoverished, and full of diseases or plagues, oh, yeah, now, be careful. We don't want to be in that part of Africa. So they'll claim the poor part for Africa to say, okay, that's Africa. But then if there's anything that's enticing or inviting about Africa, they'll say, well, that's not really the real Africa. And that's where we got to break. Because, you know, to South Africa's credit, they had help by the British

to actually help to develop. That was the apartheid, right? Right. Which was the smallest population, mind you. No, period. But those are real Africans. Like, them white boys over there,

some of them are more African than the actual Africans. That's why they're called Afrikaans You know what I'm saying Like them niggas is ghetto as shit They got their own language And what's crazy Certain parts of Africa

Of South Africa The white folks are the ones In the ghettos If you go to South Africa The richest people in South Africa Are the black ones The white people It's almost like a flick

I didn't know that It's in the worst position now In Cape Town In in the flats. Bro, Johannesburg, like everywhere you go, there's areas where there's poor people. But the poorest areas are the poor parts where the white folks are. Yeah. Wow, I didn't know that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, as a matter of fact, it's a Netflix special on that. It's a Netflix special on that. I got to remember the name, though. Okay. But if you Google, I mean, if you search South Africa on there, it'll pop up on the feed. Or watch my documentary, Coming Home South Africa. And I'm telling you, they have an amazing hip-hop scene. And I went into Johannesburg, and they got a spot called the, what is it called?

Oh, cool. Oh, man, Slaughterhouse. And it's in their language, and it's like a crazy MC battle place. It's dope. Dope scene out there, man. Right. I'm not sure, man. What you not sure?

I don't know. I just want to go to Ghana if I go first. But what are you judging by the part time? Not trivia. I want to buy a fake credit card or something.

You know what I'm saying? See, you put that stereotype on it. I want to get scammed, man. You know what I'm saying? Come on, man. You can scam right here. Yeah, yeah.

I'm fucking with you. I'm fucking with you. I want to get scared. But when is, if a person never been to Africa and they want to go for party purposes, party purposes, party purposes, like what would you compare it to? What place? All right, so I would say Nigeria is compared to New York City, if I had to compare some places.

That's definitely scammers. There's scammers everywhere. I mean, New York got scammers, too. Come on, I'm just being honest. You didn't get them emails? That Nigerian prince is probably in New York. I ain't the only one that got them emails, goddammit. That's the only one that got them emails. I'm That Nigerian prince is probably in New York. I ain't the only one that got them emails, God damn it.

That's why y'all got them emails. I'm a Nigerian prince. You're going to do a Mississippi 1500. I got you. We playing something, yo. We playing something. That was Mr. Lee in his room.

He's got the emailing. That was the Dominican story. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. This could be debatable, but the Nigerians are the most smartest people

on the planet. Right. Yeah, I believe it. I promise you. I'm sorry. There's nobody more smarter but the Nigerians are the most smartest people on the planet. Yeah, I believe it. I promise you. There's nobody more smarter than the Nigerians. Now, of course, there's a few bad apples that came out. They smart too, though. No, they extremely smart. They just put their intelligence all in the wrong place.

If they would have geared that towards something more positive, productive, because the ones that did, there's more billionaires being made in Nigeria than anywhere in the world on an annual basis. A lot of my white friends took that email.

They make all the pens as holiday. They thought they was giving back. But listen, to the credit of them though, you only get caught if you get greedy. Right.

They don't ask you to do anything. They just present it to you and then your greed get caught in that wind. You be like, I'm going to give him $1,500, he's going to give me $50,000. Greedy and dumbass.

They're not putting a gun to your head. They're just giving you a proposition. And then you're going to ask what your greedy ass took you. And then what's crazier is that after you get got, there's nobody else to blame but yourself

because you know better. I'm going to be get got, there's nobody else to blame but yourself. Because you know better. I'm going to be honest. Anything that's too good to be true is always too good to be true. What's the nigga that they was hunting him down and they made you buy the shirts? Hush Puppy? Kony, right? Kony.

Kony. Kony. I donated. But that wasn't Africans that was doing that. I don't know who it was but thank you thank you I still don't got my shirt I still don't got my

Kony shirt I was like wait is he comparing that to Africans that wasn't Africans that did that no no no it was Kony

he was doing some bad shit yeah and it wasn't them that did that he was like yo donate to him and we gonna get I was like word

it's like I got caught and all I wanted was a t-shirt it was like a white dude in's like, I got caught. And all I wanted was a t-shirt. It was like a white dude in San Francisco doing that. All I wanted was my t-shirt. They didn't give me my t-shirt. And that's when I started complaining. I said, something ain't right about this.

You was waiting for the t-shirt? That is too funny, boy. So you say Nigeria is the first. Well, I mean, it depends on what you're going there for. Like, every place has its destination and has its specialty for what you want to do. It's a huge continent. Huge. It's North Africa.

Listen, let me explain how big Africa is, right? You see how big United States is, right? You could take five United States and fit it inside of five of U.S.'s. That's fire. I mean, all 52, three, four states, whatever. That's wild. You could take them all, put them inside Africa five times. That's how big the continent is. Wow. That's how big it is. So it's a matter of, like, any and, whatever. You can take them all, put them inside Africa five times. That's how big the continent is.

Wow. That's how big it is. So it's a matter of like, and it's any and everything you want to do. Like you got East Africa, you got South Africa, you got West Africa, North Africa.

Everywhere you go, there's destinations for whatever it is you want. So it depends on what you're going there for. Right. You know? Now, I said, yo, anybody got questions for Akon? The Chinese person as well?

Like, no, it was like, yo, man, ain't the US mad at him for messing with China? Man, listen. It was like, yo, man, ain't the U.S. mad at him for messing with China? Man, listen, honestly, to be honest, bro, me, I would want the U.S. to take more initiative in Africa. They have done it this year, though.

Really? Really. Yeah, they flew in a lot of African presidents, created this huge initiative in D.C., you know, but it was a great conversation. It was a great start.

But I just think they're a little bit 10, 12 steps behind. The Chinese, the area where the Chinese got smart was they realized, okay, they already done created enough manufacturing plants to supply the whole world. Right? America's their biggest suppliers. America, then Europe. This is why the US is in debt to the Chinese already. They supply the US with so much.

But after a while, you can only supply but so much because there's only a certain amount of population there. The reason why China's so powerful because they got over a billion people over there. Right. Within China in itself. But for the most part, they saw the value in Africa though. They said, okay, cool.

Africa got close to 2 billion people. It's underdeveloped. So human resources to them is more important than actual resources itself because they've seen what it done for themselves. So now imagine if you combine 2 billion people of China in partnership with 2 billion people in Africa.

And then you have all the resources and all the factories for distribution to the globe. Is that why the currency is China? The BRICS? You're talking about BRICS, which is China, Russia, Brazil. They're trying to create a currency. Oh, well, I mean...

It's the BRICS nation. They call it the BRICS nation. You got the old school ringer. I ain't even heard that ringer since 88. You didn't hear that currency? Yeah, yeah. It's the BRICS. They haven't done it yet.

They're trying to. No, they're trying to do it. It's a conversation that's being had. Of course, it's going to... And Saudi Arabia is kind of like in the mix of that. It's going to topple the U.S. dollar if that happens. So I don't think it's going to be something that's going to be easy to accomplish because it's just too many interests at play. But if it does happen, it's going to be something that's going to be easy to accomplish because it's just too many interests at play.

But if it does happen, it's going to be a, the U.S. is going to have a huge problem. And China's been involved in Latin America too. They're doing the same thing. No, they're involved everywhere. You're not understanding. They have been quiet. You can go to any hood, anywhere in the world, and you're going to find

them. That's what they're doing. And then you can go to any place in the world and there will be a Chinatown. Always. This is going back. They've always been non-controversial. Yeah. Right? You've been to China?

I love China. You love China? Really? I love it out there. I just can't stay there too long, though. Why? I need the food. The food is just, it's not my type.

Right, right. The food is, yeah. Too small? It's just, I'm just kidding. No, right. The food is, yeah, the food. It's too small? It's too small. No, the portions are pretty small, but it's just too healthy. Really? It's too healthy.

You need some gluten. I need, yeah. I need fat. I need cholesterol. I need all that. Like, I can't. That's that American shit. Yeah.

It's too healthy. Okay. Yeah, it's too healthy. One of the things that Michael Blacksman, who's too healthy. Okay. It's too healthy. One of the things that Michael Blacksmith, who's my friend, but he turns me off every time I see him eating. Why? The way he eats food is horrible. Have you ever seen him eat food?

He go, did he put on a face? He's like this. I'm like, how can you tell me this is good? You go like this. I'm the only one who follow Michael Blacksmith. I'm the only one. Listen. I mean, I swear to God.

And he'd be like. After he pulls his hand away from his mouth, he acts like he's enjoying it. But as he's chewing it, he puts on a pit bull face. Like a pit bull is attacking a chihuahua. And I'm like, so are you a fan of fufu? Me, I'm not really a fan of fufu specifically.

I don't, yeah, I don't like fufu as much, but I like everything else. Fufu is the only thing that I don't like as much. Fufu is like mofongo, right? It's the plantain. Yeah, it's the thing

you dip it in bread. Well, the fufu itself I like, but it's the okra sauce that comes with it. Oh, okay. And I don't like the texture of okra. Right. You know what I'm saying? Because it got that sliminess to it. I can dip the fufu in some other, but it's the okra sauce that comes with it. Oh, okay. And I don't like the texture of okra. Right.

You know what I'm saying? Because it got that sliminess to it. I can dip the fufu in some other sauce, like the peanut butter sauce. It comes with different sauces, but the reason why they call it fufu is because of the okra. Oh, I thought it was because of the bread. Well, I mean, it's, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's a combination.

It's a combination. But it's a team effort. Like, one don't work without the other. You know what I'm saying? Right, right. So what's your favorite African dish? It's jollof rice, for sure. What?

Jollof rice. Jollof? Jollof, yeah. Sounds, I don't know how it sounds. Sounds delicious. What is it? Tell us about that. Yeah, and where's it native to?

So jollof rice is originally from Senegal, West Africa. That's where I'm from. Ghana has adapted it very well. Nigeria is always in competition with Ghana on who makes the best jell-o rice. Okay. And then you have Liberia also that makes it really, really good. Wow. Right?

But it's an old traditional recipe that's made with rice and tomato paste. Right. So the tomato paste is what makes it red. Right. But in Senegal, you have two types of jell-o. You have the red jell-o and then you have the white jell-o. The white jell-o is made with like onions and, you know, more broth. Right.

You know what I'm saying? But the taste of it is just, it's like an African version of fried rice to an extent. That's probably the best way to kind of explain it. Because after the rice is done, they let the bottom of the rice to an extent. That's probably the best way to kind of explain it. Because after the rice is done, they let the bottom of the rice burn. So it's like you get that burn smoky and then that smoke goes through the rice and you can taste that smokiness in it.

It's delicious. And Cubans do too. The burn part is the part that everyone does. This is why I be in the DR a lot. Whenever I eat that boy, it reminds me of Jell-O. You know what I'm saying? So we all know that music, we all know the original man comes from Africa, right?

Right. I remember, you know, reggae music coming, making its mark. You know, then, you know, Spanish music, all that, so on and so forth. For it to kind of like seem like it's 360. And now it's like Afro beats is like so fucking popular right now. Right, it's huge.

I never saw this coming. Like I never saw it. Obviously, we know that music originates in Africa. So for it to come back, it's something that's very, very beautiful.

But I personally didn't see this. Is this something that you've been sawing? You knew that? Bro, since 2007, I was in labels trying to get this going. Like, man, you'd be surprised how good it makes somebody feel

when you've been saying, you want to say, like, I told you so, so loud. You know what I'm saying? But it's, I kind of, I think Latin music kind of came through the same tunnel. Because with reggaeton,

it was the same thing. Nobody expected it to be this big and dominate. You can say that. My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild-haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a hell-bent effort to sabotage a war. J. Edgar Hoover was furious somebody violated the FBI and he wanted to bring the Catholic left to its knees. The FBI went around to all their neighbors

and said to them, do you think these people are good Americans? It's got heists, tragedy, a trial of the century, and the goddamnedest love story you've ever heard. I picked up the phone and my thought was, this is the most important phone call I'll ever make in my life. I couldn't believe it. I mean, Brendan, it was divine intervention. You can now binge all 10 episodes of Divine Intervention on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I know a lot of cops, and they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. Across the country, cops called this taser the revolution. But not everyone was convinced it was that simple. Cops believed everything that taser told them. From Lava for Good and the team that brought you Bone Valley comes a story about what happened when a multi-billion dollar company

dedicated itself to one visionary mission. This is Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. It's really, really, really bad. Listen to new episodes of Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge episodes one, two, and three on May 21st and episodes four, five, and six on June 4th. Ad-free at Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network, hosted by me,

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Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know what I'm saying? You can say that. On everything. They didn't. They didn't believe. God didn't. They didn't believe.

God didn't. Y'all playing with this shit? Right. I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like,

I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like,

I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like,

I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like,

I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like,

I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like,

I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like, I'm just like,

I'm just like, I'm just like, see melodies change into something that sounds familiar to you that back then was foreign you know what i'm saying so when you listen to a lot of the afrobeat music today you'd be like wow you actually make sense because when you go from reggae music to reggaeton and now afrobeat within all in the span of 10-15 years in america's like it's all the same you know what i'm saying it was a matter of who was the gatekeepers that would allow that music to come in and that was the challenging part trying to get them to understand that, this is bigger than you think it is. Right.

Yeah, you know, like internationally, this is huge already. Right. If it breaks in America, this could be the biggest turnover for y'all from a financial standpoint that you've ever seen. But it's just a matter of just now digital actually allowed that because of YouTube. You think they were trying to keep people from working internationally that closely because it might change the way that business is done domestically? Actually, I wouldn't go that far, but I would say that they didn't understand the music

well enough to know how to move it around. And I think a lot of the times when you look at executives, they kind of move on either excitement because they know what they got or on fear because they don't know what to do with it. You know what I mean?

Instead of just putting it out and let it find its own audience, they want to be the A&R to decide what goes out and what's going to be a hit and what's not. And I think that's

where the mistake is. Because they only, you know, they make the decision according to what they see. And most of them never even left America so they wouldn't even

know where to start. Right. I remember, like I was saying this to DeVito, a friend of mine who's from Senegal. Right. He lives in Paris.

And he kept telling me about Afrobeast, but he didn't have, it wasn't a word at the time. Right, right. He kept saying, listen, man, we have African reggaeton. And I was like, because I'm assuming reggaeton can only be Spanish. I'm not smart enough to understand that this is a global thing. Right, right. And he was playing me this, and I was just like, wow. And then when Afrobeast blew up, like I said, my boy Etienne, he's from Senegal, he just lives in Paris.

He called me every day. I told you, motherfucker. I was like, damn. He was right. Right. And he was right. But listen, Ak akon our show was about giving people their flowers while they're alive we want to give you a flower face to face

you're a pioneer you single-handedly change the face of how music is played right you you you did it are you like the first af artist or first African? No. African because you wasn't born. You said you was born in St. Louis. obviously you're still considered Well, I mean, this is the thing. I don't think where you're born decides who you are, right? Because in our case,

my mom and father was born raised full-blooded Senegalese. But pops decided to make sure we was born, raised, full-blooded Senegalese. But pops decided to make sure we was born here just to ship us back. It was a transactional reason. That's why when I identify with Africa, it's just a little bit different because

that's where my childhood began. When I came to the States, I was here just more to go to school because every summer we would go back home. Until I graduated high school, I decided to stay. Let me ask you, there's a whole thing with New York Puerto Ricans, right?

Right. And then Puerto Ricans from the island. Right. And for years, Puerto Ricans from the island just thought they was better than us.

I'm sorry, that's how we felt about y'all. I'm sorry. We felt like they were like the real Puerto Ricans. I mean, actually, at certain times, they would actually say that. Technically, they are. I was about to say, technically, they are the real Puerto Ricans. I mean, actually, at certain times, they would actually say that.

Technically, they are. I was about to say, technically, they are the real Puerto Ricans because y'all are more Americanized. Yeah, but they rewatch us on TV. Yeah, but it's just a little bit different. We didn't grow up with chickens in our backyard. Why are you going at your own people, bro?

See, look at you. I like it. You just blew that point. They like you to eat New York. They just, the Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico are a little bit closer to the culture. Yeah. And I think that's what they're trying to say. They're not saying that you ain't Puerto Rican.

They're just saying, well, we're actually here. You know, it's a place in Puerto Rico called Loiza. You know, that's where the in Puerto Rico called Loiza. You know, that's where the slaves got dropped off. Right. You are light-skinned out there compared to them.

No, no, I know. Yo, listen. But all of those niggas came from Senegal. I'm not even joking. No, seriously. No, for real. That's what they said.

That last spot, they dropped off in Puerto Rico, they dropped off in Haiti, and Haiti became Dominican Republic because of the Spaniards came and mixed up with the Haitians. Wow. Yeah, they're all Portuguese. You hear that, Mr. Lee? Yeah, so Portuguese,

y'all niggas is more African than we are. Why you think y'all move the way y'all move? Goddamn it. Goddamn it, nigga. No, seriously. Think about it. Think about how we communicate with Puerto Ricans. Puerto Rico, we call each other's niggas. Y'all niggas ain't... Y'all far from niggas.

But Puerto Ricans can say this shit and we like, fuck you then, nigga. Puerto Rico, we call each other's niggas. Y'all niggas ain't, y'all far from niggas. But Puerto Ricans can say this shit and we like, fuck you then, nigga. Fuck you, nigga. But just think about it. Like, this is how, like we look at each other

as one. You follow what I'm saying? Like, so, it's like our history is intertwined. It's not even a, it's not even a question. Yeah.

That's a beautiful thing. You know, also with something beautiful I've seen on the internet the other day, they said something that could, and you said this on our show years ago, they said something that was going to help boost Africa's economy is if African-Americans actually go back.

Exactly. Start going back. And I see somebody, like, I think this was like a preacher or something. Like, he was just, and I was like, damn, Akon said that shit like seven years ago on our show. You think that's still true to this day it's 100 i think africa will start to become it's to its fullest potential when y'all all go back home right like and even y'all what's interesting is that everything that y'all fighting for over here you actually you get in a on a silver platter over there like it's like you guys want to suffer like

y'all motherfuckers just want to be fucked up cause you don't have to be it's like believe me they wouldn't want nothing better than to ship all y'all niggas back to Africa but they not even knowing this is for y'all best interest y'all would actually be better off

you know what I'm saying? No more crying, no more marching, no more getting killed by cops, no more crying racism because y'all are the majority over there. You know what I'm saying? Wasn't Liberia supposed to be that originally? Wasn't it a return?

A lot of the free slaves helped create Liberia? I can't give you too much story about Liberia. Because even the flag is similar. Liberia is just a little bit, well that's just all the flags. If you notice, every flag got a meaning, right? But it's always got the meaning that's attached to whoever colonized them.

But history nowadays, I don't know what to believe anymore. It's all convoluted, right. It's all convoluted. Everybody has a different story of what took place around that time, so the accuracy is very slim. But when you stop and you think about just basic common sense, some of the things that happen can easily be returned and redone. But it's all in the mind state. Once you got your mind set on something, that's what it is.

It's like Nori. He just want to go to Africa to get fucking, like he got to get scammed, otherwise he won't be comfortable. Yeah, I got to lose my credit card. That he won't be comfortable. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I got to lose my credit card. That's the real experience of Africa. That's the experience. He got to go through that first and then say, all right, cool. Now, who do I have to talk about to give me the history on how I can get it back?

So I got to scam him to educate me. You don't want to go see a five-star resort. Oh, this is Africa, too. Yeah, I want to do that. I agree. That shit too nice. It's too clean. Take me over there. I want the hut. The, this is Africa, too. Yeah, I want to do that. I'm playing. That shit too nice. It's too clean. Take me over there.

I want the hut. The straw, you know, roof, you know what I'm saying? Nah, but that's real, man, because, like, a lot of us, I remember me being scared to, I send in my 20, what is that, 23? What is that, for the shots and all that? Yeah, where you get your thing. 23andMe. Yeah. Oh, you mean for the DNA? Yeah, for the shots and all that where you get your thing 23andMe yeah

oh you mean for the DNA yeah for the DNA and I remember my wife doing it and I'm being like ah I was like you don't want to know

where you really from but I was like not really you didn't do it I actually I actually think I swabbed or whatever it was

I just never gave it to her I was like I don't know man I was just like man I don't know what I did with it but I'm just never gave it to her. I was like, I don't know, man. I was just like, man, I don't know what I did with it, but I'm going to do it this time because I actually want to know where I'm at. Because, obviously, when you're Puerto Rican, which I'm half Puerto Rican,

half black, part of you goes to Spain. But that's not where it ends. That's where, like... That's just one little small piece of the puzzle. That's one part of it. It's Puerto Rico

because we don't come from Puerto Rico. We don't come from Cuba. Yeah, yeah. Most Caribbean is not going to be right. Y'all DNA going to trace back to Portuguese. I think Cuban. Stop calling them Puerto Rican.

Yeah, most of y'all are going to trace back. We're the same birds with different feathers. Nah, I'm just playing for my people. Or whatever they say. You know what I mean? I'm running for the Cubans.

You're the Cubans, yeah. You're the Cubans. Oh, yeah. You're going to come back to Africa. And I got Chinese. the Cubans. The Cubans, yeah. They black as hell, too. Your shit going to come back to Africa. And I got Chinese. It was crazy. Cubans are the most African when it comes to the Latin side of the world.

It comes up in my 23. They lose so deep in Africa. They the niggas of the Latin country. Without a doubt. That's fucked. Without a doubt. Jesus Christ, bro. They the Haitians of the Latin.

You're showing some of my Haitian brothers. Why you saying it that way? You're disrespecting everybody. I'm better at racism. You're showing some of my enemies. You're getting some of my enemies. I'm better at racism. There's a lot of Haitians out there.

It's a joke. There's my friend Haitian right there. The Zopal, baby. He's not happy with you. He's not happy with you. That's my friend right there. The Zopal don gonna like that But he's Nah that was hilarious

Alright you wanna do Yeah let's do a quick That one's up you got it Yep Oh man But he not drinking So Sonny drinking for him Sonny you drinking for him

Sonny you wanna You gotta take a shot for me My Haitian brother That's what I'm talking about You drinking Oh no I'ma chill We go light today.

We're going light, man. We're healthy. We're healthy hoods right now. Water champs. Water champs. Water champs today. Water champs today. You know what?

I love that. Did we play this last time? No, no. We didn't do this last time with you, right? All right, so we're going to give you two choices. You pick one. We good if you say both or neither. We drinking.

Got it. All right, so the first one is Chris Brown or Usher? Let me get my drink ready. Wow. Both. Okay. See, he going to say this freely now. No, no.

That one, listen, they both to me are equal when it comes to generations. Because you never drink, right? You never drink, right? No, I never drink. Never drink at all. Good for you.

But I did have, I did sip it by accident one time and thought it was water. Bro, my chest got so hot. Wait, wait. Tell my friend. I was like, what? Bro, that shit was a nasty, it was vodka. Bro, my chest got so hot. Wait, wait. Tell my friends. I was like, what? Bro, that shit was a nasty.

It was vodka. Yeah, it was a big. It was a nasty shit. I ever tasted. No, the taste was. It lingered in my mouth for a week. What? I was like, how did y'all drink the.

Where was you at? Even if I thought about drinking after that, I would never drink. Ever. That shit. That was the best thing for you. It was Russian vodka. No, I was in Dubai. Oh, in Dubai. That's why I thought it was water

They don't really drink Unfortunately the person I was with No no but I'm saying as a country They don't drink I don't know what Dubai you've been to The resorts You could drink in the hotel Oh yeah yeah I don't leave the resorts

See this guy don't want to leave resorts He don't want to see the real people. But trust me. Trust me. They drink. No, no, no. I'm good. No, no.

They make money off of the drinkers. And they do anything else, too. Trust me. They got underground shit. You just got to be underground. Son, you drank? What'd you drink? I drank nothing.

Bigger than my boy Geico, who just came home. He had a life sentence in Dubai for cocaine and marijuana and they gave him life sentence. He did four years

and he got his ass up out of there. You got to be careful when you go to the other country. They don't play with that. Learn the culture, bro. They do not play. Trey Songz or Jeremiah?

Whoo. That's a good one, too. But I'll probably go with Jeremiah. Jeremiah, okay. Tupac or DMX? Wow, another good one. I'll probably go with Pac. You ever met Pac or no?

Yeah. Huh? You ever met Pac? I met him one time. Met Pac, damn. Just one time. Damn, I never met Pac. How was that?

One time. What was that meeting like? It was like, oh, yo, this is my man Pac. Yo, Pac. That quick? Haiku. Yo, we got to get in. Haiku.

And that was it. Never seen him again. The new series on FX, The Dear Mama. I saw the first episode. I haven't seen it yet. It's crazy. It's good? Yeah, it's real good.

Real good. Wow. It's on FX. FX. FX? Yeah, it's real good. Real good. Wow. It's on FX. FX. FX. I know you worked with one of them. I don't know if you worked with both. But Michael Jackson or Prince?

Oh, that's easy Michael Jackson. And you worked with MJ? Yeah. Mm-hmm. I didn't get a chance to work with Prince, though. But it was on the schedule to work with him before he passed. It was on the schedule? Yeah, I was going to get in with him before.

You were in the same room with Prince? Yeah. So you met? Actually, Jimmy Iovine was the one that introduced me to him. Were? Wow. Did he have his ass out? No.

Only Noy would keep asking. I'm just saying, you know there's different versions of Prince. He really wants to know because he asked everybody that. No, no, no. I'm dead serious. There's different versions of Prince because I wanted to know myself. I thought you were going to say you wanted those pants. No, no. He was an interesting character, no. I'm dead serious. Different versions of Fred because I wanted to know myself. I thought you were going to say you wanted those pants. No, no.

No, but he was an interesting character though. He's smart, man. Even when I met him through Jimmy, I would ask him a question and then the assistant or the one that was

standing next to him would be the one to tell him. Oh, shit. So it was one of those. And then he would whisper in her ear and then she would tell me what he said.

Yeah, it was one of those. That's awkward. That is interesting. It was interesting. That's awkward. That is interesting. It was interesting. That's interesting. That's interesting. I like this one. You got it?

Eminem or Busta Rhymes? Ooh. In what way, though? It's up to you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, hold on. It's a difference. Yeah.

Because if it's... In verses. In verses. Oh, in verses. Yeah, how about that? I just made that up. He just busted out. In verses. Oh, in versus? I just made that up. In versus? Yeah, in versus.

That depends too, though. Just make Sonny take a shot. Yeah, it depends. It depends. The both? No, because these are two different lanes. You worked with both? Yeah, but it's not even...

It's like you can't even compare those two. I got to go with both. Okay. Because you can't really compare those two. No, that's fair. Taking a shot. You took a shot, Sonny? No, you can't just drink out of your two. I got to go with both. Okay. Because you can't really compare those two. No, that's fair. Taking a shot. You took a shot, Sonny? No, you can't just drink out of your cup.

You got to take a shot. Word. No, because of what? I drink for real. Okay, I like this one. No, no, you go to the next one. It made no sense. I'll do the next one after that.

Mine? This one? Yeah. Justin Timberlake? No, you skipped one. Oh, yeah. Snoop or Jay-Z? Snoop or Jay-Z.berlake? No, you skipped one. Oh, yeah. Snoop or Jay-Z? Snoop or Jay-Z.

In the versus? No, any way. Any way you want. Whatever the criteria in your mind is. In criteria in mind, I would probably say... That's also two different types. You know what I'm saying? Two icons. That's the point.

Thanks, Lee. This might be debatable, but I'll probably go with Snoop. Okay. And y'all worked early on in your career too, with Snoop, right? Yeah. And then as I travel, I see the personality and effect that Snoop has on people globally and through his music.

Snoop is hands down the most famous rapper. That's what we're saying. You know what I'm saying? There's not one person on earth that I don't think don't know who Snoop is. As recognized, right. Absolutely. I kid you not. Justin Timberlake

or Justin Bieber? I'd probably go with Bieber. Okay. How about in verses? Still go with Bieber. Still going with Bieber? Okay. Okay, what's up, Bieber?

Bieber got records, bro. Yeah. Bieber records are on a different level. And he smoke weed, too. Now. In my mind. I don't know this for a fact.

Allegedly. What else does he do? He does everything. Styles P or Ross? I got to go with both on that one. Okay. Sonny. Yeah, because they both represent two different things, too.

Right. But Styles is like my brother. I couldn't go against him if I wanted to. Okay. I'm going to let EFN take this one. These last two. I mean the next two. French or 50? French or 50? That would be a good one. I wouldn't know what to do.

But yeah, 50 will get it. And you're saying versus? Yeah, in my mind I'm saying versus. Okay. ATL or Miami? ATL or Miami? Definitely ATL. You still live at ATL? Huh? You still live at ATL or Miami? ATL or Miami? Definitely ATL Still live at ATL? Huh?

Still live at ATL? I still got a Still got a gas station? Same house, yo You're the only nigga I know who got a gas station That's different That's how you floss

I got a gas station Whatever Yeah, yeah, yeah I got a Patek I have a gas station. Whatever. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I got a Patek. I have a gas station. Shut everyone down. Everyone shut up.

Like, word. He just said he got a gas station. You got it? Okay, my bad. Naughty by Nature or Lords of the Underground? Woo! That's a good one, too. That was a good one, too.

Both legends. But yeah, they are. But I think Naughty went a little bit further. I'll go with Naughty. Okay. Jada Kiss or Nas? Ooh. Ooh.

That one is interesting. That's a tough one, too. Why I say that is because Jada's probably the most Underrated I don't think he ever got the credit That he needed To get He getting it now I believe

You think he getting it now? I think he's getting it now Cause Nas It took time for people to give him that Right Nas as well Yeah it took some time for him It did

And I think Jada He never got it Right You think he got it after Versus? Yeah I think he's getting it I think heada, he never got it. Right. You think he got it after Versus? Yeah. I think he's getting it. I think he's still in the process of getting it. That's what I think.

I think he's in the process. Yeah. I will say Jada just to help him get that process. Because I think Nas has already given. Okay. That's fair enough. Coming to America or Harlem Nights? It's the King of Zamundo here, man here Even though I love both of them I would definitely go with

Coming to America Lady Gaga or Katy Perry Definitely Lady Gaga I don't know if it's Lady Gaga Or Gwen Stefani But alright These are the guys who make it up The Colombians and the Dominicans right there.

Red Man or Method Man? Both. Yeah, those are twins right there. You can't separate them two. Yeah, you can't separate them two. Big Pun or Big L? I'll go with Pun. Amy Winehouse or Whitney Houston?

Oh. Rest in peace to both. Yeah. Shee. That's a tough one too. But I'll go with Whitney. You got to see her movie on Netflix? No, I haven't seen it yet.

I haven't seen it yet neither. I heard it's good though. Yeah, I'm going to take a look at it now. T-Pain or Flo Rida? T-Pain. Wayne or Drake? My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild-haired priests

trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a hell-bent effort to sabotage a war. J. Edgar Hoover was furious. Somebody violated the FBI and he wanted to bring the Catholic left to its knees. The FBI went around to all their neighbors and said to them, do you think these people are good Americans? It's got heists, tragedy, a trial of the century, and the goddamnedest love story you've ever heard. I picked up the phone, and my thought was, this is the most important phone call I'll ever make in my life. I couldn't believe it. I mean, Brendan, it was divine intervention. You can now binge all 10 episodes of Divine Intervention 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,

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Ad-free at Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the MeatEater 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 would want to say Wayne because he discovered him and recognized the talent that Drake got. Right. But in this case, I would choose Drake

because Drake, to me, is more versatile. And I think he maximized the opportunity better than anybody in the business. Okay. That's fair. USA or Africa? Africa. He didn't hesitate for that.

Yeah, not even questioning. Your old hairline or your new hairline? Definitely the new hairline. All right. Yo, I ain't lying. You still look good in person. Yo, they was firing you online, so I'm looking at that. No, but in person, it look good.

Let me get a story. Let me just say something. Somebody took a fucked up picture of you, but because in person, this shit look good. You look Dominican. You look like... You said, que lo que? Yeah, it look good in person.

They fucked you up online. Did you see? No, no, actually, I started that campaign. You started it? I did that on purpose. Because you said you went to Turkey, and niggas say, well, niggas don't No, no. No, actually, I started that campaign. You started it. I did that on purpose. Because you said you went to Turkey and niggas say, well, niggas don't go to Turkey.

Right. So then I got the little app where I can kind of play with it. I said, I was just interested because, bro, I ain't laugh that much. It's so long, bro.

This shit was so funny. I didn't want it to end. I was literally on the plane just creating, I was like Oh this is going to look real fucked up What you think babe So then we just push it out

Then boy yo The memes that came back Yo when I tell you That was the funniest shit I ever heard Man I love that shit I ain't going to lie to you Did you start it on Twitter

I started on Twitter Yeah Twitter I started on Twitter Most negative place on the planet That's the first If you ever want to be My favorite place If you ever want to just be favorite place. If you ever want to

just be negative, you go on Twitter and be like, peace, good morning, everybody. Somebody's going to say, shut the fuck up. What did I do, homie? You can post a baby picture.

They're like, that baby ugly. I be like, what? You can do anything. Twitter is the horrible place, bro. But it also takes some foul shit. Okay, where we at?

Davido or Burner Boy? Ooh, that's good. Ooh, I'll probably go with Davido. Davido. Yeah. We just had him on. Big up to Davido. Oh, Davido?

Yeah, that kid right there is a beast. Yeah. He's the beast. He's another one I think that deserves more flowers than he's received. We gave him his flowers. I appreciate that. NWA or Wu-Tang Clan? Which I don't think

is a good matchup, man. I do. It's just a generational matchup. It's definitely a generational match. But I want to say both, and let me tell you why. First of all,

NWA created gangster rap. Regardless of what anybody tell you. Schoolie D did, N.W.A. created gangster rap. Regardless of what anybody tell you. Schoolie D did, but N.W.A. Regardless of what anybody tell you. Hold on. There's a difference. Schoolie was just a gangster.

Period. Yeah, but he made gangster music though. He did have... And Ice-T was around around the same time N.W.A. and maybe before to be honest with you. Yeah.

So, you're right. It could be debatable. Yeah. But N.W.A. made it... Made it popular. The most popular game. So that's who you got to give credit you. Yeah. So, you're right. It could be debatable. Yeah. But N.W.A. made it... Made it popular. The most popular game. So that's who you got to give credit to.

Absolutely. Because I think sometimes we kind of make the mistake of the person that invented it versus the person that actually made it famous. Right. You understand what I'm saying?

So there's two parts. The person that invented it, yeah, we have to give him the flowers because he actually created the... This is what got us inspired to do it. But the person that made it famous is really the person you give the credit to.

And that could be debatable as well. But I also believe that the person that made it famous should also always go back and take care of the person that invented it. That's what makes it even. But when you ignore the person that made it even or you look at them in a certain way

and kind of decrease its value, then I think that's fucked up. There's one more debatable thing. Who called it gangster rap? Because a lot of people debate that that was

the media called it that. It was gangster music, but the vocal. You saw it. Like N.W.A.? Them niggas start, they show off with Eazy-E goddamn with a.22 popping it inside the arena.W.A. Them niggas start they show off with Eazy-E goddamn

with a.22 popping it in the side of the arena. I was scared to death. I was only 10 years old when I saw it. Everybody was terrified listening to N.W.A.

You never wanted to go to Compton. Right. And then now let's talk about Wu-Tang Clan. Wu-Tang Clan they took New York culture

and made it global. That's facts. Even more Staten Island. to the point where you go to Japan, Wu-Tang is like a religion. It's a fact. You understand what I'm saying?

Now, N.W.A. ain't go that far. They were more domestic. That's why I said you got to give them both. You got to choose both on that one. I love how you broke that down. Mad hip-hop. That was a mad hip-hop that one I love how you broke that down Mad hip hop That was a mad hip hop Breakdown Oh I love that

I love that And look at those recent shows Wu-Tang's been posting In Argentina In Colombia Like 20,000 30,000 people It's crazy

I'm gonna see Wu-Tang In the house in Paris Right now Oh dope dope Wu-Tang made New York famous Damn That's debatable too That's debatable too

Jackson 5 Or New Edition Oh Jackson 5 That's good Mike's voice That's debatable too. Jackson 5 or New Edition? Oh, Jackson 5. Mike's voice, boy. Ain't nobody can touch that. At that age? What?

And it's before too. It's like New Edition would say Jackson 5. They would even say Jackson 5. If they don't, then I'm... I don't know who you're going to say on this one. DJ Khaled or DJ Drama? Oh, that's a good one too. Big light skin beef right there. Gangsta Grinch.

We the best. I don't know if my black ass should get in the mix of that light skinness right there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They both will ban me. Yes, yeah. I think I'm going to choose both

just for the politics. Okay, yeah. Okay, we take a chance. Fab. They both my niggas. Or Pusha T. That's a good one too. That's a good one.

That's a real good one. That's a good one, too. That's a good one. That's a real good one. That's a good one. Hmm. I think I'm, hmm. It's a hard lean, but I think I'm going to go with Fab on this one. Okay. Wow. Okay.

Yeah. Juice or New Jersey Drive? Juice or New Jersey Drive. Both good ones, too. Mm-hmm. Yeah, but Juice is just different. Yeah, Juice. Yeah, you got to go with Juice on that one.

Okay. And this is something I want to see in verses. Christina Aguilera versus Britney Spears. Who you got? Oh. I want to see it. I got Britney. I think Britney going to take it.

You think Britney got it? I promise you, I think Britney going to take. You think Britney gonna take it? I promise you, I think Britney gonna take it. Because Britney got the attitude for the audience that verse is actually

attractive. You know why this is great and it's debatable? I think Britney has probably just a little bit more records, but I think Christina Aguilera can hit live.

Christina's a bigger vocalist. She's a better vocalist. Live with Christina Aguilera. I think so. Yeah, Christina Aguilera. So that's why this is a good thing. Let's be very clear. Okay, yes, yeslero. So that's why this is a good thing. You see about the school? Let's be very clear.

Okay, yes, yes, please. The Versus audience is niggas. No chicks? Let's not fool ourselves. No, but we're going to do this in Malibu. So trust me. Can you see that at Glero? Bro, you can do this in the White House.

The people that will be streaming is in the hood. Don't forget, Versus is a streaming platform. It's ain't great. They can do it right here and here. Bruh. Yeah, the people who tuned in. Between Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears,

you got to ask yourself, who going to lean more to the black audience? Damn, I don't know. It's Britney. Britney, bitch? I'm telling you, it's Britney. Oh, man, Christina's Latina, bro. Yeah, but Christina don't act Latina. She don't know. It's Britney. Britney, bitch? I'm telling you, it's Britney. Oh, man, Christina's Latina, bro.

Yeah, but Christina don't act Latina. She don't even claim it. No, you're right. Yeah, I'm confused with this one. I'm telling you. Holy shit. Britney, and you, Britney's Instagram,

my girl just put me on. She's like, she's wilding out. Yeah, I'm telling you. I've been down with Britney since she shaved her head. Britney will fuck around and take off on Christina.

We need to do the weigh-in right here on Drink Chance. Christina Claire. Britney, look. We got a weigh-in right here. The weigh-in. Holy shit. Okay, this is a good one.

Fartmaster Flex or DJ Clue? In what way? Whatever way you want. That's you. Because there's an animation that comes with Flex. Yeah, nobody... That you just can't deny you. Because there's an animation that comes with Flex. Yeah, nobody... That you just can't deny.

Yeah, no one's out-animated Flex. Like, nobody has out-animated him. Unless you bust a rhyme. And the only way to be an exceptional DJ is to capture the attention of the audience. And I don't think nobody does that better than Flex. Yeah, Flex definitely. So, in that note, I got to go with Flex.

Yeah, I ain't going to lie to you. Like, I used to have to catch myself because I would listen to Flex and Flex would be like, pull over. And I pulled over. Like, what the fuck

am I pulled over for? He's like, New York City, pull over. I'm like, word up. Yo. You took that shit way too long. No, no, no.

Listen, listen. If you ever, if you ever in New York City where Flex play a record that you like and an artist that you love and he's dropping them bombs? Oh, my goodness. Listen to me.

It ain't nothing like that. It was a game changer. You start sweating from here. Yes, Flex, he comes with an experience, bro. Like, some records, I ain't going to lie to you. Some things I might have thought was trash before Flex actually Presented it on the show

That's a fact After he presented it I was like Yo that shit was kinda dope So it was all In the presentation Yep You know what I'm saying

I tell you that's what I like about Flex If he's late on the record He'll come back on the station And be like Yo I'm sorry New York City I was late on this record Like I like that

That's big I like that Like I. I was late on this record. Like, I like that. That's big. I like that. Like, I remember, I said this on the, on the, on the, before. Well, when Meek and, and Drake was going at it,

Flex hyped it up so bad. He was like, I got the response from Drake and I got Meek Mill's response. I called my wife. Not coming home, babe. Not tonight. I have to stay in Not coming home, babe. Not tonight. I have to stay in New York City

to hear Flex talk this shit about Drake and Meek's record. I couldn't have been nowhere else. I didn't want to be on a plane. I didn't want to listen to it on the headphones. I wanted to sit in the car and just let Flex just play

Drake's and Meek's record. And he didn't have neither one that day. Raked in a whole flight, boy Bad at me, boy That's how But that's how That's some showmanship Yeah, that's how impactful he is So the next day I called him

This is why I love Flex The next day I called him I'm like, yo, man I want to give you a record Because you know everyone's tuned in He was like Yo, Nori That was want to give you a record because, you know, everyone's tuned in. He was like, yo, Nori, that was a rough night for me yesterday, right? Because I'm trying to

avoid that, yo, you know, like, he looked crazy. He had neither record at this time. So he's promoting all this shit and so I'm trying to avoid it. He's like, but he wants, because he knows I'm going to keep it real. So he's like, yo, it was a rough night for me last night, right? I said, Flex, I can't lie.

You was baking like a biscuit. He goes, this is how I know Nori. I had to stay home the next day. He said, it was one person that came to my house. And he said, he opened the door, and it was the FedEx man. The FedEx man looked at him like. And he took his loss the The same way he took his Like he took his W

Right And Flex taught me something that day It was like Alright cool You lose for momentarily Right Come your ass out the next day And get back to the win

Yeah But he took it That was remarkable to me He could do the last two Sorry Nipsey or Eazy-E Ooh that's a good one too Rest in peace to both

Yeah but Nipsey just I don't know I would go with Nipsey Right Eazy-E? Ooh, that's a good one too. Rest in peace to both. Yeah, but Nipsey just, I don't know. I would go with Nipsey. Right. On this one, yeah. And the last one, loyalty or respect? Loyalty all day. You can't respect somebody that you're not loyal to. Okay.

Thanks for that. Thanks for that. Now, you spoke earlier about Jimmy Iovine. Everyone knows that Jimmy Iovine is like one of the illest artists, producer artists. Like he's an artist-based artist. I call Jimmy Iovine the kingmaker. Damn. The kingmaker.

That's what he does. If he comes into your life, he's going to change it. Now, he came into your life after Loud, right? No, he came into my life during my peak, at the point when I thought I couldn't get bigger. Wow. He made me bigger. That shows you, and what I love about Jimmy is that he allows you to be yourself. He doesn't dictate what you need to be doing. Right. Or tell you what he thinks you should do. He'll hear you out and then give you the tools to make it work. Let me,

because I want to get back to that. But in the beginning, wasn't you on Loud? No, I was on SRC. Oh, SRC, Loud, the same shit to me, my bad. Steve Rifkin's company. Steve Rifkin.

No, but Steve want to make sure that you understand the difference. That is the difference. Good looking. Steve will text me, yeah. Loud was partnership. Loud was partnership with Rich Iserson Corporation. That's all him. Right, right, yeah. Loud was partnership. Loud was partnership with Rich Iserson Corporation.

That's all him. Right, right, Ike? He had David Banner on SRC. Right, right. No, no, no. Loud was partnership with Steve. Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

Steve Rifkin was by himself, but Loud was his partner with Rich Iserson, right? Oh, so he's part of SRC as well. Oh, okay. I didn't know that. Okay, all right. So, at what point did you and Steve Rifkin part ways?

We never part ways. Oh, so y'all still do? To this day, we contact each other. Oh, wow. Yeah, we never literally, like we never parted ways. Wow. All my records was always ran through Steve Rifkin until my contract was ran out. And that's when you went to Interscope?

No, when I went to Interscope, I wasn't signed there. My label deal was at Interscope. I was still at SRC. You see what I'm saying? You're getting both checks. God damn it, home shit. I didn't even realize that was the label.

And that's where T-Pain was at? No, T-Pain was my, well, he was at my other label deal over at Sony. So I had a label deal at Sony, a joint venture label deal at Universal with SRC, and then I had a label that was Sony, a joint venture label that was Universal with SRC

and then I had my Con Live over at Interscope. So Convict Music was at Sony. Yeah. It was Jai first

before Sony acquired them. Kind of like Twitch and Cycle. Yeah. He got three different. Holy shit. Yeah. But Jimmy was and you said Now when does Jimmy come into the picture? He got three different Holy shit Yeah But Jimmy was

And you said Now when does Jimmy Come into the picture Yeah Jimmy came into the picture When I was shopping My label deal Right

Cause I went to Universal first Cause I was already there And I presented to him I said listen I want to start a label This is what I'm gonna do And I brought in T-Pain Ike was there

They laughed me out the building You remember that shit Ike Man they was And you know how they Joan over there T-Pain. Ike was there. They laughed me out of the building. Remember that shit, Ike? Man, they was and you know how they joan over SRC, especially oh, man, Gabby? Gabby? Gabby, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, my goodness. You said it at the same time? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

And it's Big Gabby, too, at the time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Big Gabby's mad funny. He's mad funny. He got slim and stopped being funny. He is a monster. And he would say it all is a monster Yo the records And he would say it all clear Yo the records are amazing But bro his face

Oh shit He would say stuff like that You know what I'm saying Like So they Leaders say They pass So I went to the top

And tried to go through The big building And then They pass So that's when I went to Jive And Jive took T-Pain But then with the success Of T-Pain that's when I went to Jive, and Jive took T-Pain. But then with the success of T-Pain, that's when I came back to do another label deal.

What was that Jive at the time? Dave Lighty? Uh-uh, where? At Jive. At Jive, it was... Was it Ron Stewart? Ah! It'll come to me in a minute. It's, damn!

Not Faith Newman. Um, no. Barry Weiss. Barry Weiss. Okay, okay. It was Barry Weiss. I'm trying I'm not Faith Newman. Um, no. Barry Weiss. Barry Weiss. Okay, okay. It was Barry Weiss. I'm trying to figure out what time. Yep, it was Barry Weiss.

Another brilliant, brilliant, brilliant motherfucker, right? So it was Barry Weiss at the time. So then with the success of T-Pain, that's when I doubled back to try to do a direct label deal with Universal again. And then that's when Mel LaWinter told me that what I'm asking for, nobody would give it to me. Which is like an 80-20? No, it was. Holy shit. again. And then that's when Mel LaWinter told me that what I'm asking for nobody would give it to me. Like an 80-20?

Well, it was a label distribution deal but then it was the amount of money that I wanted up front. And he was like, you know, unfortunately we're not going to be able to get that kind of money and if you go anywhere they won't, I don't think they'll do it anyway. But if you can find somebody that'll do it, then feel free to just take the deal. I said, okay, no problem.

And that's when I called Tubby, and Tubby brought me and Divine over to Interscope. Okay. And that's when I met with Jimmy. Okay. And Jimmy already had my full portfolio already out. He already knew what it was. He said, listen, this is what it's worth. This is what we want to give you.

Wow. We want to do the deal here. And it was what you expected? It was double what I wanted. Damn. It was double what you just asked for? Double what I just asked for. Wow just asked for wow that's dope and that's when it all worked out yeah wow and then where does lady gaga come in so lady gaga was already at interscope when i got there oh she was already a writer she was no she was an artist yeah she was actually an artist there but at the time i don't

know what interscope was going to do with her because she was there for a minute, right? She was under Troy and Vince, under management there. So we was writing for the Pussycat Dolls at the time. And then that's when I got, I was just excited about this deal. I was happy. I caught a complete block. I needed some inspiration. So I was like, Red One, which was an artist, I mean, a producer that I had just signed from Morocco, me and him was working. I was like, you know anybody I can just come back and forth with he's like well I was in the studio with you know this chick that Efe brought in you know like she's pretty dope I mean if anything you can get some inspiration trust me when you see her and she walks in with these all gold leotards and stuff and looking like she's from the 80s and I was like damn you know what I'm

saying like but she looked like a real artist was that a good damn or a bad damn? No, it was like a... Or a different damn. I didn't know what that damn meant yet. She was already different. She was already different. But then after speaking with her, talking to her, I'm like, this bitch is mad talented. So we write the record.

She goes in to demo the song out. So as she's going in to demo the song for the girls to hear it, I'm looking like, man, yo, this bitch is a star. I said, yo, Ray, did she sign? He's like, I don't know. Ask her when she song out. Okay. So as she's going in to demo the song for the girls to hear it, I'm looking like, man, yo, this bitch is a star. Right. I said, yo, Ray, did she sign? Right. He's like, I don't know.

Ask her when she get out. So she comes out. I was like, yo, what's the situation? She's like, well, you know, I'm at an endoscope. I said, really? I said, so what's the situation?

She said, well, you know, I'm not quite sure. I said, okay, give me a second. So I called Jimmy. I said, yo, Jimmy, what's up with this lady Gaga chick? And he's like, why?

I said, I think I want to sign her. He said, take her. I said, I to sign her. He said, take her. I said, I can have her? He said, yeah, she's all yours. That's crazy. Like, he threw me that bone. Like, literally, like, take her. Like, almost as if he didn't know what to do with her?

I wouldn't say that. Because it's Jimmy Iovine. Or maybe you had better luck than anybody. You can't never count Jimmy out. He'd hold it there until he knew what to do with it. But I guess. Just like he had Eminem. Right.

And he gave it to Dr. Dre. But go ahead, continue. Exactly. Jimmy was great for pairing producers with writers or producers and artists. So the artist is a kingmaker. You understand what I mean? He's moving the chess pieces. He knew, right.

So when he saw that I had interest in it, he was like, that can work. So he's like, yeah, take it. So then, mind you, we got a smash hit record. I said, yo, Jimmy, we got the record. I'm going back in. He's thinking we're playing the record for the Pussycat Dolls. But at that point, when he told me I could have Gaga, I'm like, we're working on her album. I forgot about the Pussycat Dolls.

I forgot all about the Pussycat Dolls, right? So now we're playing it. We go in there and we're playing this record. Just damn. But are we okay? Oh, he going crazy. Oh, my God, this is it. We got fucking one. We this record. Just damn, whatever, he okay. Oh, he going crazy. Oh my God, this is it. We got fucking one, we got it, we got it.

So now, the whole time he's thinking this record is the perfect record for the Pussycat Dolls. So the music stops. So Jim, what we doing? He said, man, thank you, man. The Pussycat Dolls are going to love this record. He's dating one of them at the time, isn't he?

No comment. No comment. No comment. I don't know. I don't have the information. I have no idea what was going on. All I can tell you is Jimmy was a very handsome guy, and all the girls wanted him. That's all I can tell you.

So then he's like, you know, so what are we doing? I said, well, can we put you know, put this record out? He's like, yeah, but at the time, he wanted to put it on Pussycat Dolls. And me and Martin was like, he's looking at me like, Con, don't say nothing, because you know me, I'm so outspoken. I said, yo, Jimmy, this record is for Gaga.

He's like, no. Jimmy was like. But you did say it. Yeah, I said, Jimmy, this record is for Gaga. He said, what? I said, yes, it's for Gaga. He said, okay, make me understand this.

I said, Jimmy, listen. The Pussycat Dolls are already a global smash art. Like, they're a piece of art. All they need is one record. I make a million of them, as you can see. I just did this last night.

I'll make another one for them. He said, that's not good enough. I said, okay, listen to this record again one more time. We played the record. I said, this record will make you another pussycat doll, or possibly even bigger. This is a record that break a new artist, not keep a new artist popping.

And he thought about it. He said, would you put your label on that? I said, yeah. I said, if this record don't work, you can drop me. And he let me go with it. He said would you put your label on that I? Say yeah, I Said this record don't work. You could drop me And you let me go with it And that probably been the best decision collectively we made together together But wait wait would you were you not worried that the machine would have not got behind the record? Listen, stuff like that.

The sabotage? You know why? Because one thing I do know, and I believe this in my soul, a hit record is always going to find its audience. Okay. Always. Even if it ain't got push, it may take time. And prime example, Bonanza, Belly Dancer. Belly Dancer.

A lot of people don't know that was my first single before Locked Up. Right. Right or wrong? I didn't know that. That was my first single. The first thing I ever heard was Locked Up. Universal dropped that first.

Oh. When that didn't work, that's when Locked, because while they was moving and working Belly Dancer, me, Gabi, Cleve, and Ike, we was on the road pushing Locked Up.

Wow. So Locked Up gained some momentum on the streets, became on everybody's mixtape. Then we did that little penitentiary tour starting off in Rikers Island, did that little,

you know, what's the name? People, I mean... Styles P came home. Yeah, Styles P came home. Once Styles P came home, it actually changed everything because his verse made it actually

an urban record. Because Ike, so was it Locked Up without Styles P at one point? Yeah. It was? It was. See, that's crazy. The first time I heard Locked Up, I believe it was with without Styles P at one point? Yeah. It was? It was. See, that's crazy.

The first time I heard Locked Up, I believe it was with Styles P. It was a complete record. Before Styles P got on, we was working that record about seven, maybe eight months. When Styles got on that record, it took off. Why? Styles was beating. It took off, yep. Oh, and then we did another remix with Beanie Siegel on there.

I never heard that. That came out? Yeah. Where? It came, it was on the B-side. Oh, shit. But what happened was the Styles P version

just trumped it. Right. But Beanie Siegel's version was stupid. Wow. It was stupid. Oh, damn. I ain't know that.

Yeah, man. Damn, I ain't know that. Hold on. Let me light another black. So do you think you get credit for enough credit for Lady Gaga's career?

Oh, yeah. For your part in it? I got plenty of credit. I got enough credit for Lady Gaga's career? Oh, yeah. For your part in it? I got plenty of credit. I got enough credit that I can maximize to build my city. That's all the credit I need. Maximize to build your city. Did you say that? Yes.

Build your city. Build our city. Okay. No, no, no. Okay. I take that. Oh, yeah. I'm coming home.

Okay, yeah. I take that. I promise you. Yeah, I'm coming home. I'm coming back. Yeah, yeah. Come on. Build our city, God damn it. Oh, y'all coming home. Okay, yeah. I take that. I promise you. Yeah, I'm coming home. I'm coming back. Yeah, yeah, come on. Bill, our city, God damn it. Hell yeah.

Oh, y'all coming back. What's the name of it? Akon City? Yeah, as of right now, it's Akon City. Akon City. As of right now. Because I remember, all right, so what does the city consist of? Oh, I mean, just think of what Dubai is today.

Yes. And what it used to be 15 years ago. Oh, I remember. That's what we want to become. The 15 years ago phase? It's going to start small. It's going to start small, 2,000 acres. It's in Senegal?

Yes, in Senegal. Right off the water. It's all on the beachfront. So you're going to have resorts. You're going to have entertainment complexes, hotels, boat and docks, amphitheaters for concerts, film studios, music studios, restaurants. It's going to be a monster. How far do you think this is away? Well, the first stage is three and a half years.

We just literally started building last week. So you guys broke ground and everything. Actually, when we talked about the first time, we had just started doing environmental studies, soil studies, all that stuff, doing all the paper, all the studies, and then COVID hit for a minute, slowed us up, but then we got back into it, but now everything is official.

Construction actually literally started last week. Right. Wow. Congrats, man. Man, yeah. Hell yeah. That's beautiful, man. That's beautiful, man.

And is that where we were talking about the Chinese helping out with the electricity part? No, that has nothing to do with the Chinese. That has nothing to do with the Chinese at all. The Chinese side was econ lighting. And that's when we was providing solar lights to, you know, it started with villages. Then we expanded and got into government contracts to do utility work, scale work. So we would kind of just take a specific side of the city and electrify that whole area and then connect to the city above or whatever the case, so we got the whole country. But then, I mean, when we got the support from the Chinese with that billion-dollar credit line, we was able to expand it to 16 different countries in Africa.

Because there's still places in Africa without electricity? Yeah. Really? Oh, yeah. Like villages? Yeah. Really? Oh, yeah. Like villages? Yeah. Really? Africa's huge.

Right. It's going to take another 40, 50 years to light the whole continent up. Really? It's going to take time, yeah. Wow. Yeah. Because we see places like indigenous, as they call it. There's still some very indigenous areas in Africa. And I heard there's even places, I know Africa's huge,

but I heard there's one place in Africa where there's like no outside people is allowed. Like it's like I mean shit there's places like that

in California and in New York. That's true. No you're right. There's certain places you can't even walk in there. Even the cops can't come in there. That's right.

Holy shit. No no no. No this is Africa. Me personally I haven't ever experienced no areas like that but I'm sure there's areas out there that they've never seen white people. Yeah.

Or they've never seen foreigners come in dressed a certain kind of way. Right, yeah. Because if you go deep in Africa where there's no airports. Like in the countryside, there's tribal areas. There's rural areas. There's areas where there's not even no cars maybe. You know what I'm saying? That's how big this place is.

Is he riding horses, you think? Yeah. He's still riding horses. I'm asking. I mean, beautiful place is Wow Riding horses you think Or Yeah We still riding horses I'm asking I mean beautiful horses too Yeah yeah Beautiful horses Wow

Holy shit You don't fuck with lions And shit like that Like you don't fuck with lions That's a different kind of question Nah because you know You know We see rich people

Have lions In their house Don't forget You must have forgot I had two tigers In my house in Atlanta See what I'm saying You wild

See what I'm saying Like those are my real pets Like those are pets Those are have forgot I had two tigers in my house in Atlanta. See what I'm saying? You're wild. See what I'm saying? Like, those are my real pets. Like, those are pets. Those are my, if I had to choose, cats all day. Black panthers, tigers. Over dogs. Oh, 100%. 1,000%.

Okay. Bro, put your dog up against my lion and see what happens. Hold on. I mean. Just imagine. So you ever walked your dog around a neighborhood in Atlanta? I don't like dogs. I mean, you're lying.

You ever walked into a tiger? No, no, no. Because remember, Mike Tyson said he slept with his, what did he say? Yeah. He slept with his. He had a lion. Yeah. Yeah.

He was like, how does that work? He said, it doesn't work. It doesn't work. It don't. But the key is you got to raise them from cubs, though. Right, right. Yeah, once you get them from babies. They have to claw them.

You got to declaw them. Yeah, you might want to You declaw them And defang them I think Or the Whatever the canine I mean the defanging Ain't gonna really do much

Cause they still got a hard bite Like bro That defanging means nothing Really Really don't Yeah cause the pouches That they come down on you If they come at you

It's done Cause these teeth Are still existing It's just the fangs That you're taking out And you can't take those teeth No cause they gotta eat Yeah that's right Yeah defanging means nothing Listen you mistreat it It's just the fangs that you're taking out. And you can't take those teeth out. No, because they got to eat. Yeah, that's right.

That's right. Yeah, defecating means nothing. When they, listen, you mistreat it, it's going to come for you. What? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I don't want

no pet like that, though. I mean, that's any pet, though. That's kind of true. That's kind of true. Yeah, that's any pet. You mistreat it, it's going to come for you. I seen a story the other day

that I think, what's his name? Joe Rogan. He said this is how ill a pit bull is That He came home His pit bull was cut all up Wow Like cut all up

All over his face His pit bull was cut up So he And his back and everything So he took the dog And he brung the dog to the hospital Hospital stitched him up But then when he brung him back

He wanted to understand. No one knows the story. He wanted to see what exactly happened, so he followed the trail of his dog, and he saw 10 coyotes. Wow.

10 dead coyotes. Nine dead coyotes. Oh, so his dog. The coyotes was coming in trying to kill him, and the dog held it down against nine. He killed nine coyotes, bro. Wow.

That's kind of hard. That's hard. That's hard. That's a lawyer ass. That's bad. That's bad. That shit made me want to, every time I see it, boom. Now I'll be like this.

Like, this is to make sure me and you are on a good level, man. All right, so we're going to go into some of these hits,. So we're going to go into some of these hits, man. We're going to go into some of these hits, man. Oof. My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover. In a hell bent effort to sabotage a war. J. Edgar Hoover was furious. Somebody violated the FBI and he wanted to

bring the Catholic left to its knees. The FBI went around to all their neighbors and said to them, do you think these people are good Americans? It's got heists, tragedy, a trial of the century, and the goddamnedest love story you've ever heard. I picked up the phone, and my thought was, this is the most important phone call I'll ever make in my life. I couldn't believe it. I mean, Brendan, it was divine intervention. You can now binge all 10 episodes of Divine Intervention on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts and brought to you by Velvet Buck.

This podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode, I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian Dr. Randall Williams and bestselling author and meat eater founder Stephen Rinella. 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-illion-dollar company dedicated itself to one visionary mission. This is Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. It's really, really, really bad. Listen to new episodes of Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated, on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge episodes 1, 2, and 3 on May 21st and episodes 4, 5, and 6 on June 4th. Ad-free at Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. Where do we start? Let's start with the two Like I said earlier If you're in a club and you don't hear these two records

That means you're in the worst club there ever is If they don't play I want to bug you Feast you in Snoop Dogg And if they don't play, I want to fuck you, featuring Snoop Dogg. And if they don't play Smackdown, I suggest you leave. Immediately. Immediately.

Let's start with one. I want to fuck you, obviously. What makes you make that? Because girls say that too. It's not like only guys in the club is going, I want a... You're like, oh, okay. Yeah.

You know what I mean? Okay. You know what I'm trying to say. I mean it literally, but it's a unisex anthem. It's a unisex anthem for sure. Did you think that was going to be a unisex? And what was your mind for it?

Let's just take that. Yeah, at the time, I was in Magic City when I wrote that record. God damn it. Limp Peppar Wings? Actually, you know what's interesting? Limp Peppar wasn't popular then. That's a travesty. Yeah, it wasn't popular in 2008.

Was y'all chopping on wings in 2008? In Miami. It was in Miami? Yeah. Either that or I wasn't up on it. Look, let me show you. Go back to I Want to Fuck You and Magic City. You keep saying that stuff, crazy. I'm going to get back to it when I want to fuck you.

Hold on, hold on, hold on. In your humble opinion, the first time you had lemon pepper, where was it at? Because this is a big Miami, Atlanta debate. No, but what's interesting is the first time I ever had it was here in Miami. Where was it at? Because this is a big Miami, Miami, Atlanta debate. No, but what's interesting is the first time I ever had it was here in Miami. Woo, okay. I ain't been out here, man.

Yeah, I ain't known about it until I came to Miami. Okay. Because I told you, but at that time, I didn't know what, that's why I was like, lemon pepper wings didn't exist.

Right. Okay. At least for me. Okay. But I know when I came here, that's when I put up on it. Then when I got home. Where'd you have your first

Lemon Pepper at? Where'd you get the virgin eyes? It was at Tootsie's. Tootsie's, all right. God damn it. To me, that's what I heard. Lemon Pepper is invented. That's what I heard.

I don't know about that part. I can't tell that to a Atlanta nigga. He, what? So I realized. I think I go more Miami than Tootsie's. I realized I got to leave that shit up to y'all.

That's between Miami and ATL. Tootsie's got a broader selection. Yeah. Because I had it first in Tootsie's, but then I had it very close in Onyx as well. And that take one? Hey, man. Very soon. Very soon.

Okay, so you were in Magic City, and you just said, man, I want to fuck this bitch? Yeah. Pretty much. Pretty much. He said, yeah. City and you just said man I'm gonna fuck this bitch yeah pretty much pretty much so now I'm like so what the rhythm comes to you just looking at it she's dancing no it was a thought oh okay like whatever song was playing I was in the mood of that song but it was really about her and what she was doing on that okay then. Then when I got the, I mean, it just, I mean, literally left the studio. I mean, left, Magic City went straight to the studio. Yeah.

He was writing it in your mind? Huh? Was you already writing it in your mind or did you jot it down somewhere? Well, I kind of knew what I wanted to say, but I didn't know how I was going to say it. Right. Until after I made the beat,

then it just hit me. I knew exactly where I was going to go with it. You know what I'm saying? You made the beat? What, you didn't know I was a producer? No, no, no. I didn't know you produced that, John. No, but everything

that you heard me on the chorus, 95% of the stuff you heard me on the chorus is beats that I make. Woo! That's dope. Yeah. That's how I used to deliver my songs

with the chorus already on it. That's how you used to make placements. Yeah. Yep. That's heavy. Yeah. Your publishing game is crazy That's hard And smart too

It was easy to sell Yes The song was already done I just dropped the verses And if you get a block I just write the verses for you too So don't tell me It was literally that simple

Don't tell me that's how Soul Survivor happened Already chorus on it Beat ready to go It was actually going No I'm not going to tell that story But yeah that's how it happened Don't tell me it was going to be beat, ready to go. It was actually going, no, I'm not going to tell that story, but yeah,

that's how it happened. Don't tell me it was going to be for somebody else. No, no, no, no, it was going to be,

if it would have been for anybody, it would have been for me. But, what's crazy was, you ever had a song, and you probably experienced this, where, before you,

he's a feature, to share somebody on it, you was like, man, I think I'm going to keep this one for myself. Like, as a producer, songwriter, right? It's some songs you just want to hold on to. That's the feeling I had after I did Soul Survivor.

But then when I met with Jeezy and I heard his mixtape. Bruh. You need this. I just jumped out the window. I was like, it's no way. This nigga on this record is not going to be a bigger record. It was impossible. It was just

impossible. So when I sent it to him, I wasn't sure if he liked it or how he felt about it because it took about almost to the end of the day before I got it back. But the fact that I got it back the same day was kind of common because a lot of people at that time was always excited to get a convict track. So they would do it real quick and send it back. But Jesus took a little bit longer than normal.

And I was like, damn, this shit ain't back yet. But when it came back, though, I was like, oh, my God. I sent that shit over to Meech He was like Nigga Alright So This shit We own

Like Cause you gotta stand around That time BMF had the biggest brand But no real No songs out there They just Them niggas would be on

They'd be at the Source magazine Getting awards And all that With no audience I said nigga You the best that ever did it Y'all niggas getting awards and all that. That nigga, you the best that ever did it, man. Y'all niggas getting awards and everything with no acts out there. No records.

Huh? No, but they was the culture, man. It was something. But Jeezy, I just knew he was destined for it. You know? Let me ask you, have you ever gave up a record and you was mad as shit for giving up a record? No, no, no. I, have you ever gave up a record and you was mad as shit for giving up a record?

No, no, no, I was never mad at giving up a record. But there are records that I gave up that I thought

would be huge and it didn't. It didn't work out like you thought. Right, like I thought. And, you know,

those records, it's kind of hard to kind of take them back and give them to somebody else. So, you just got to eat that, you know? Yeah,

you ever heard that track, Jigga, Jigga, Jigga, Jigga. Yeah, I remember that. it's kind of hard to kind of take them back and give them somebody else. So you just got to eat that, you know? Yeah. You ever heard that track, Jigga, Jigga, Jigga, Jigga. Yeah, I remember that. I gave that up. That shit was Nori, Nori, that fucking Nori.

When I heard they gave it to Jay-Z, I was, eat it. I was like, what? They said, Nori, we gave it to you. And I was like, but you could have told me.

Do we have a record? I had no excuse. Who produced that? I'm a track master. Yeah. Word, word. Yeah, that record was huge. I was heated. I was heated.

Yeah, but you know, some of you are going to miss some. Yeah, you're going to miss some. And some aren't meant for you. Yeah, it just wasn't meant for him. He probably would have got too famous. And at that time,

it probably wasn't a good thing for him. Probably, yep. He was wild as hell. Yes. I know he was wild as shit. So we finished, I want to fuck you, then how did you ask Snoop Dogg?

Because I'm trying. Every time you say it, it sounds crazy, right? I'm trying to avoid that. But what made you want to ask Snoop Dogg? Oh, man. That was just, I think that was all perfect timing.

Because at that time, Snoop was always, he was hitting me up for songs And I always wanted to work with him But I just didn't have the right record That I felt I could put him on And then The record got leaked

And when it got leaked in Miami Ply's was on the record So Ply's had the record first Because what's interesting enough was When I originally did the record I did it for Trick Daddy. Oh, shit. Right.

Originally. I was like, because I didn't see myself doing that kind of record. Even though I was inspired by the whole thing, all my songs were inspired by something, but I would always handpick which acts would I think would be able to take the record off. So, at that time, I'm thinking it was going to be Trick Daddy. Wow. When I sent the record to Slip and Slide, till this day, till this day, I'm guessing. I never knew how Ply's actually got the record. All I know is that one week, Steve got a call that, nigga, we got a fucking smash in Miami that's all over satellite radio and every fucking strip club, every club. The record is so big. We got to do something about it. And I was like, well, let me hear the record. Nigga, when I heard that shit, i was like well let me hear the record nigga when i heard that shit i was like god damn who is this little nigga right

right so it was one of them things and then oh he wasn't out yet no i don't he was a new artist oh okay okay like he was big i'm thinking he's already out he was doing it but everybody agreed that this was a smash hit record but universal was going crazy because first of all the record's out i'm not cleared the shit is like it's already a potential hit what. But Universal was going crazy. Because first of all, the record's out. I'm not cleared. The shit is like, it's already a potential hit. What do we do? We got to recover this record.

So we're like, okay, well, we need to just snatch him off of him and put somebody on the record. And that's when I was like, well, shit, let's put Snoop on the record.

He's been calling me for records and he'd be the perfect nigga on here. So I sent him to Snoop. Literally the same day he came back with the record, bodied it. And these niggas had the record mastered, mixed, and put out the same week. Oh, shit. Like, literally the same day he came back with the record, bodied it. And these niggas had the record mastered, mixed and put out the same week.

Like literally that same, cause we had to catch it. The record was moving too fast. That Ply's version was gone. But then I felt bad. I was like damn. You know he's a new artist. This would have been his big break. Like I felt fucked up cause I knew how hard it was to get a record and go cause I know what I went

through with Locked Up. But do you think he leaked it? Without a doubt. That's a deep-bowed-the-fuck-out-there record. But I admire the force. That's what you're supposed to do. You're not supposed to do that, but honestly, believe it or not, had he reached out before he did it,

believe me, I know for sure. You don't know how he got it, though. No, because guess what? Had he not leaked it, we wouldn't have known the record was that big. Wow. We probably would have worked it out.

It was a blessing. Right. It could have been a record for him anyway. Had we known before, the shit took off. But it just, I mean, God has his own way of how things happen, right? So at that point, I felt bad, man. So we got on the phone, and I was like, look, man, it's business. Some of it is beyond what I can do.

But don't worry. I'm going to make it up to you. You know what I'm saying? You're saying it applies. I'm going to say it applies. Go ahead. Because I just felt bad because that was a smash, right? So I was like, all right, let me figure this out.

So that's when I went into the studio and then I made Hypnotize. And I gave him Hypnotize. Yeah. That's dope. You know? Take a shot for that. That's hard. Oh.

Yeah, you was there, Ike. All right, Ike, you got to relax. Ike was getting hooked up. Ike got his own drinks chance back there with the beer. Oh, shit. Yo, that's crazy. Got all that in my notes. Okay.

Now, don't Matter. Was that a sample? Uh-uh. That was not a sample? No. It was all played. All original. Really?

Yeah, but that was a melody part that I did take from Bob Marley. Okay. And we got to fight for our rights. Okay, all right. I took a piece of that and added it to the chorus. Okay, that's the only part of the sample, not the beat. Yeah, that was the rendition part.

Okay. Okay. So Survivor, you just answered that question. So how about Lonely? Let's get into that. Yeah, Lonely, I wrote that when I was locked up.

Yeah, that record was, I wrote that when I was locked up and then I recorded it when I got out. Oh, really? Yeah. The whole thing. The whole record in jail. Yeah, the record was, I wrote that when I was locked up, and then I recorded it when I got out. Oh, really? Yeah. The whole thing? The whole record in jail. Yeah, the song was written, but then the beat at the time wasn't created until I got out.

And that's when I was going through my crates and heard the Bobby Vinton sample. And I sped that up and redid the beat around the voice. Man, hell of a producer. Yeah. Motherfucker is just hitting us with genius shit. Genius shit. That's right. Hold up. I'm not even ready for some of a producer. Motherfuckers just hitting us with genius shit. Genius shit. That's right. Hold up.

I'm not even ready for some of this shit. Hold on, man. You know what? Let's skip around a little bit. We spoke about Jimmy Iovine, so let's talk about working with Dr. Dre. Oh, man. Working with Dre was like... Well, let me give you a two-part question.

Yeah. Because is that Nate Dogg on that record? On which one? On the record with you guys and with Dre. Oh, you're talking about that hold up? Yeah, is that... You know, I never asked Dre who that was. Oh, really?

I never asked Dre who that was. You never looked at the credits? I never looked at the credits. Damn, you that rich? Nah. You're working on a city CD Looking on motherfucking credits It's just you know like Like when you work with certain people like that

You kind of already know what the splits is going to be Before you get in Regardless of who you add to it Right Dre already know what he going to get I already know what I'm going to get Stu already know what he going to get And whoever else is involved

Y'all split that amongst y'all Type of thing You know what I'm saying so But overall Was y'all in the studio together making that record? We was in the studio together making records. But that one specifically, I was traveling. Okay.

That's when I did everything for it. And then I sent it to them. And then when Dre sent it back to me, he had the Snoop on there, his verse on there, and the hold up voices. So I wasn't sure if that was actual Nate or someone else that sounded like him or maybe some sample from an older song added. You know what I'm saying? Dre, you don't really, you just let him do what he do. You ain't ask no questions.

I'm not going to ask no questions. You know what I'm saying? He came back and fucking smashed. That's all I know. Yeah, hell yeah. Let's talk about Beautiful. Beautiful was amazing. How did you make that? That one?

I think that was around the time when I'm... Hold on, before you get to Beautiful, my bad. Did you say where you was at when you recorded the Dre vocals? Did you say where you was at? Where were you traveling? Oh, the Dre? I was on tour, actually. On tour.

I was on tour with Gwen Stefani. So I had a tour. Gwen Stefani? You was on tour with Gwen Stefani? Right. Normal, I was on tour with Gwen Stefani. That's it. Normal, that's it.

Ain't normal. Go ahead. That's the reason I wasn't in the studio, though. But I had a studio in my bus. So that's how I was able to get the records out at the same time. And that's how, actually, I was able to get sorry, blame me response so quick. Because when that whole controversy hit,

I was actually on the road with Gwen Stefani. When you made the record Sorry? Sorry, Blame Me. I made that on the bus. Why did you make that? No, it was, you know, because at the time it was a huge controversy about the club appearance that I made in Trinidad.

An underage girl snuck in and was part of this dance whining contest. And unfortunately, she snuck out the house. Her dad was a preacher. And he woke up and saw that she won on the front page. Like, it was a big thing. Right. You know what I mean?

Really religious out there. Yeah, he flipped out. Like, you know, da-da-da. So at that point, her age was revealed. Because her daddy was like, she's underage. How do you guys allow her to go into the club of the da-da-da? And everybody was shocked. Because they were like, wait a minute.. How do you guys allow her to go into the club and da-da-da-da? And everybody was shocked because they was like,

wait a minute, this is a 21 and older club. Like, how is she 15 in there? You know what I'm saying? But the pop was just so hype about it. And of course, me being a celebrity,

being attached, it just made a huge thing. And then Verizon pulled my sponsorships and all of this. But yo, Gwen Stefani, though, rode with me because that Verizon sponsorship

sponsored the whole tour and I was on it. So they came to home and was like, though, rode with me because that Verizon sponsorship sponsored the whole tour. And I was on it. So they came to home and was like, listen, Con, if you want us to continue sponsoring this tour, you need to pull him off your tour. And she was like, I'm not doing that. Gwen Stefani a gangster? Nigga, she rocked with me, though. I was like, hell no. Gwen Stefani a gangster?

I thought you know that's a gangster. Gangster. No doubt. Nope, though. Oh. You know that's a gangster. Gangster. She a real one. Now. Nope. Yeah. Yeah, let's talk about that. The Swedish Skate.

Might as well while we on it, right? Yeah, yeah. Swedish Skate. Yeah, so Swedish Skate was crazy. So Jimmy Iovine called me and was like, listen, I want you to go in with Gwen. I was like,

absolutely. I love Gwen. This is before the tour, obviously. This is before the tour. Right. This is before the tour. She had just finished her album, but they needed that one record. They needed one record.

And I was like, well, let me hear the album and see what she got, and then I'll see what I can put for her. When I heard the album, it was a little different from what I would have wanted for her on the album, being who she was and the timeline in which she was recording those records. I felt there was a certain direction that I felt like she needed to go. So I just did that direction for the single that they wanted for. And while we was in the studio, that's when we wrote Sweet Escape. So when we sent that over to Jimmy, he was like, man, this record is fucking amazing.

But there wasn't enough time to do more records because she was literally dropping that wheat. So we said, let's maximize this actual song because this could be the first record out. So they ended up taking the song. It became the first single. Then the song became the name of the album, Sweet Escape. Then they set up a whole tour around that song called Sweet Escape Tour. So that song became her whole marketing, imaging, the whole movement for that whole album.

Wow. You orchestrated that for us. I made the record. Jimmy orchestrated it. But everything you're saying goes in line with you saying that Jimmy is the king maker because here you are blessing all these artists and helping and making their careers as well. Right.

Which is crazy. Because I think sometimes it helps to have just new blood around that see things differently from how your chorus see it. Because oftentimes, like prime example, let's say a building like Universal, for instance. They got a set group of producers that they go to every time they sign acts. You know what I'm talking about, right? Right, of course. Set group of writers that they go to every time they sign an act. Right. They all start to sound alike. They all start

to feel alike. There's nothing different because they're using the same producers that's been proven to have hit records. It becomes like a cookie cutter thing. Exactly. And I think that's what Jimmy was trying to cut away from. So that's why he started bringing in people that looked at the projects differently because even when you started when you heard the first album versus the

album that I was working on, there wasn't that much of a growth change. But when you hear that record on that album, you can hear the difference from that record versus everything else that was on there.

You know what I'm saying? And that means he's willing to take chances too. Yeah, I mean, I want to give you what you ain't got. I want to give you something that the audience

can listen to and say, oh, they stepping it up or they grown from where they used to be. You know what I mean? But at the same time, keeping integrity of what it is you bring to the table,

but you also taking it to a level to where you look like you're becoming bigger than what you was before they, you know, experienced you. You know what I'm saying? That's crazy. God damn it, man. This is crazy. What are some of the producers that you haven't worked with that you would like to work with? Interestingly enough, I haven't worked with... Man.

The only producers that I actually ever work with on collaboration... Because remember, he's producing... Yeah, it's Polo. Polo the Don. I worked with him on some collaboration stuff. Who? Nah, me and Kanye hasn't we never worked on anything collaborative um

that could be crazy now that I think about it he's the only no um Metro Boomin me and Metro Boomin worked on some stuff together and London on the track me and him worked on some but that's all after my time but during my time I actually wasn't working with any producers I was doing all the work London on the track, me and worked on some, but that's all after my time. But during my time,

I actually wasn't working with any producers. I was doing all the work myself. Absolutely. Hell yeah. Who were some of the people you were working with? Timbaland. I would love to work with Tim.

I see you and Timbaland together. I think me and Tim together would come up with some shit. Ain't you and, we taking over, right? With College? Yep. Isn't that Danger?

I did some stuff with Runners as well, too. Oh, Runners. Let me hear that. And Danger was on, yep, Danger was co-production on Take No.

I mean, when we did the first interview with him, it was at Khaled's studio. I think they were working on something. Yeah, that's right. It was at Khaled's studio. Yeah, it was.

Yeah, yeah. That was my home. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was my home, bro. Like, even to this day, when I record in Miami, I go right back there. Khaled never there.

He playing golf. No, the shit got. Shut up. He playing golf. He cover a golf digest, god damn it. I don't know what kind of cheat code you got, Khaled, but it is working. Keep going, my brother. Working like a mug.

Yeah, that's like my studio now. I'd be like, yo, Khaled, I'm in Miami. He'd say, well, you know what to do. I ain't there. He done gave me somebody to talk to to open up, close up, everything. It felt like my studio now. I'd be like, yo, Cat, I'm in Miami. He'd say, well, you know what to do. I ain't there. He done gave me somebody to talk to, to open up, close up, everything. It felt like that that day. Yeah, that's exactly what it was. That's exactly what it was.

That's like my home in Miami. You play golf? Actually, I just started playing golf a year ago. Okay. I started my first golf tournament with Steve Harvey in Dubai. Oh, shit. And what's crazy was, right, I caught some lessons before I started.

Top golf? No, actual golf. I was playing top golf before I got there, so I got the basic. My drive was already crazy because of top golf. That's my friend telling me. Don't embarrass myself. Don't get on the field first. Top golf.

I'm telling you. Go to the mini golf. Yeah, for the embarrass myself. Don't get on the field first. Go to the top golf. I'm telling you. Go to the bowling alley of golf. Go to the mini golf. Yeah, for the putts. Yeah, yeah, for the putts. I was horrible on the putts, though. Okay. But what saved me was we was playing by teams.

So I do the drives. Boom. 195, 200, 225 on my first drives, bro. Like, killing it. But then when it's time to putt, you know, somebody on the team that was good at putting gets. So the first golf tournament, we actually came number one. We were in

first place. But then the second year when we came, then they started bringing professionals out. So then we was last place. Oh, shit. Who were you playing the first time? Oh, no. We was playing some real top people. The second time, you know, they upped Annie.

You play golf? No. No, but it's fun, though. It's addictive, bro. Once you start, it's addictive. It seems like it's addictive. It's addictive. Is it expensive?

No, not at all. Yeah? Not at all. Yeah? Not at all. Not at all. On an average day you go to play golf, you're going to be spending probably a little bit under $500.

Really? Yep. And they smoke cigars and shit. I see a lot of motherfuckers getting drunk out there. A lot of big deals. People make deals on the golf course. I mean, that's what used to happen. Is that how you take advantage?

They just tell secrets. Oh, shit. Is that how you take advantage? Let them get drunk and then you act like you got a pina colada and boom. Yeah, yeah. You got that drink right there. Let's go colada, and boom. Yeah, yeah. You got that. $10,000. Let's go.

Take a sip first. Let's go. Yo, so what is, this is something we didn't ask you in Quick Time with Slime, very famous on this show. Major or independent? What do you prefer?

All right, so when I was major, I was screaming independent. Right. When you got independent. You're going to love this now. No, no. It's interesting. It's interesting.

When I was major, I was screaming independent all day. I was convincing everybody to go independent, independent, independent. But that's because that was before I realized who I was. Because I never felt famous. Like, I always felt like, you know how we do. See me now, like by myself. I never felt famous. Like I always felt like you know how we do. See me now like by myself.

I always feel normal. But then when I got off the major and went independent I said independent ain't really for me. Because I'm too big to be independent.

I need to be structured and managed by a major label because of who I am already. Now, if you're an artist that are beginning or you got a nice little bubble within your area or territory, independent is for you because you can grow independent and build your structure to become what manages your career moving forward. You can self-master yourself.

Right. Self-master. You know what I'm saying? And grow to that level. But it's in steps. It's all in stages. But an artist that just comes from a major label

and just goes deep dive and independent is a bad idea. That's what happened to you. And that's why you always say major. That's why. Because I'm always advocating

for independence. He's always advocating for major. But this is the thing. When you're in a major situation and in the era that he was in too. Independence makes sense because you're looking at the numbers

that you're making these niggas. And you're like, man, if I can make that for me, but we don't also realize all the resources that it takes for us to make those numbers, the machine that's supporting us. You know what I'm saying?

You got to realize you have to really grind. And by the way, depending on your label, you got to grind when you're on a major. Oh, yeah. Major, you got to grind even harder. a major oh yeah major you got to grind even harder

with no disrespect to a lot of majors it's not the major labels are sometimes incompetent it's sometimes their workers are just people

that's lucky to be there and it's also a lot of hookups it's a lot of it's all of who you know like this guy doesn't deserve that job that he has

his uncle hooked him up so he's fucking up. So you got to grind hard enough on a major. But if a major spends $3 to $10 million on you, they can't take that back.

So you need to get that back and you need to be as much independent within that major as possible. You know what I mean? For you to make it work. That's what I'm talking about. You owe it. Let's be clear. You owe it and contractually you got to get that money back That's what I'm talking about. Well, you owe it. You owe it. Let's be clear. You owe it and contractually you got to get that money back and then you got to go through. Well, actually,

it's not even about contracts and monies and recoups at that stage. It's about visibility. Right. Because guess what? When you're out there and you're visible,

the money going to come. Oh, yeah, you can work it. Especially when you're bringing out great product, right? But if you don't have the push and you're not visible, I don't care how dope your shit is.

If nobody hears it, nobody can react to it. So it's the money that they're putting in you that gives you the exposure that you need to make money. So yeah, they recouping, but you also have an avenue to make more money. Music should also be stepping stone. Because your brand is larger. Right. When your brand is larger, opportunities come. There's revenue and opportunities from a substantial of making money that comes to you that the label don't share in.

So that's really the balance. But this is the thing. This is what I'm always telling them. The percentage of the people that are successful in that system are smaller. So what I always advocate is be independent to go to a major and take advantage of a deal that you could do with a major because you're already independent. Versus you go in fresh, you're going to be taken advantage of. Going in fresh, you're going to be on the shelf.

And that percentage of being successful is small. Absolutely. I'll give you a great example. The other day, because like I said, I was going to Paris for my wife's birthday, and I remember me going to Europe and me being able to do a Capone and Noriega show, a Norie hosting, and then a Norie Latin show. Like all in one day.

Because I was three different artists to these guys and they didn't see me. But I wouldn't have been able to pull that off as an independent artist. But you were in the heyday of the labels, of the heyday of the industry, and you were... No, no, no. This was reggaeton, I'm talking about. No, I know, but that was the reggaeton what that came through... That was the reggaeton heyday, but it wasn't hip-hop's heyday of the industry and you were you were a reggaeton i'm so mad no i know but you but that was the reggaeton what that came through the reggaeton heyday but it wasn't hip-hop's heyday no but you still had what you were doing already from the past yes you had past hit singles on a

major label what you're trying to say no i'm just saying that it's what i'm trying to say is you are that percentage that top percentage that did get through and could take advantage of that major deal no i think i took risk to be a part of that percentage because you got to remember, like, even, like, when I did reggaeton, everyone laughed at me, including him. You know what I mean? Everyone laughed at me. You looked like you laughed at me. As a Latino hip-hop head,

we was all trying to fight for our own. Listen, my two closest friends in hip-hop is him and Fadjo, and they both was like, don't do that shit. I'm like, yo, what? But then, at least years later, they was like,'t do that shit I'm like yo what But then at least Years later They was like we were wrong Yeah no

I admit it They admitted it I admit it But you know We got to realize I had to go against the machine That was actually Going against the machine

When I brung the record To Def Jam I kid you not This is a real story I brung the record To Def Jam I was like yo I want to put this out

And then they looked They laughed at me too They was like You want a what I was like I want to put this out. And then they looked at me. They laughed at me, too. They was like, you want a what? I was like, I want a Boricua, Morena, the Minigato, Colombia. And they looking at me like, you're a hip-hop artist. They didn't know what reggaeton was. I was like, yo, this is music in Puerto Rico.

I love this shit. Yeah, they weren't getting it. I love this shit. And they were looking at me like This is your Remember how Gangstar Gangstar did

The jazz album Right And I remember Guru Guru My bad Guru did the jazz album And I could imagine

You know Right You know It's these Beyonce later on Did a Spanish album So many I mean now it's different

Yeah But I was the first right in the English market yeah and they like cause you know I got the war report

I made the war report and they looking at me like this is the exact opposite but I'm like I'm like but I'm Puerto Rican right like why should I be held to it

so I did it like I said I went against the masses and it went from this is a real story. Kevin Liles is my boy. Kevin Liles said, I said, I'm going to take this record

and I'm going to give it to, I'm going to give it to just the Spanish DJs. So I didn't even give it to no black DJs, no white DJs. I gave it to DJ Enough, DJ Camillo,

Felly Fell. The ones that you knew and understand what it is. What's my other man? Julio G. If he was just laughing, I just gave it to you. I gave it to him.

He ain't play that shit. I have video of him. He literally, he sang the song for me and I thought he was joking and I was laughing at him. There's an eight card. He shitted on me in my face, though.

At least he ain't two-way me, though. He said it in my face. No, no, I laughed right at you. Bad Joe laughed in my face. So the record, I make it just for a Puerto Rico Day Parade. Right. So this is three weeks before the Puerto Rico Day Parade. It get 500 spins.

Then it get 1,500 spins. Then it get 3,500 spins. Then it get... Wow. This is on its own. That's a lot at that time, too. No, huge. It was just huge.

That's huge. I ain't gonna lie One thing you gotta depend On Latinos Is they proud of themselves And that's what If you listen to that record You listen to that record That's all I was doing

I was catering to the Latin audience I was like You motherfuckers Better support me They kicking me out of hip hop Right now They kicking me out of hip hop For fucking with y'all

For fucking with y'all And the record became Number one I had 140 million audience. I remember, I remember L.A. Reid coming to me and was like, you beat Mariah Carey this month.

And I didn't know what that meant, but I know what it meant. It meant, yes. That was huge. I said, holy moly. Mariah Carey was damn the biggest female artist on the planet at that time.

And I'm going to tell you something. It's the first time I knew that New York had seven radio stations. I'm going to tell you something. It's the first time I knew that New York had seven radio stations. I had only knew about Hot 97. I had only knew about Power 105. I had nothing to know

about KTU. I never knew about La Mega Sabega. I never knew about I never knew about I'm doing radio now different. Right.

Different. I'm on pop. Yeah. Like I'm on pop. Yeah. Like, I'm on pop. The record was so big, I remember me, the record was so big one time, I remember me being in the club and a dude just bumping into me

and going, buddy, and just looking, he's ice grilling me, singing me. I just said, you a legend. Leave it alone.

Right, but that... So, I say that to say... I said to say... Now, look at the trifecta of that. Dago Calderon was originally on that record. Wow, I didn't know that. Dago Calderon and Daddy Yankee took two different approaches.

Right. When Dago was on the record, the record spiked in just Latino community. Daddy Yankee made a deal with Interscope. Right. Interscope said it's in their best interest to help Deb Cam blow him up on Oye Mi Cando. It's a win-win. And then we helped them on Gasolina Remix.

Wow. And look how- Look at that. Because of two major- Wow. I'm not trying to get you to cross over to the major side. But I'm just like- No, I'm just giving you an example. No. I'm sorry because I keep looking at you. I don two major... I'm not trying to get you to cross over to the major side. But I'm just... No, I'm just giving you an example.

No. I'm sorry, because I keep looking at you. I don't want you to think like... But what I'm saying is, look at that. Had those... Because if you look at the two... It's five of the major records that hit reggaeton, right? I believe it's reggaeton Latino.

Yeah. I believe it's Gasolina. Yeah. And Oye Mi Cando. Oye Mi Cando. But you know you'reolina. Yeah. And oye mi canto. Oye mi canto. But you know you're actually making my point. No, no, no. What I'm saying is if you do something independently and prove it, then it gives you more leverage

in the machine. I got you. But what I'm saying for this, for this being like so new for it to be commercialized, for it to get on MTV, you couldn't have been independent. For it to get on- Exactly. But you started the buzz independently. Nobody believed in it, right? Oh, absolutely. Exactly. But you started the buzz independently.

Nobody believed in it, right? Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. That was my point. Yeah, that's what I'm trying to say. But y'all do know y'all both were right. Yes, yes, yes. No, no, no. But at the time,

we've been having this conversation forever. At the time and when you was active, independent was unheard of. Right. Your model wouldn't have worked. Yes. Trust me, it wouldn't have worked. It was trash.

But today, independent are actually more effective than the majors. Right. Your model wouldn't have worked. Yes. Trust me, it wouldn't have worked. It was trash. But today, independent are actually more effective than the majors. Right. Because of the new technologies and all the other, you know, yeah, and because of streaming. But all the resources

that's been created for the user. Well, the thing is, independent works depending on what you want out of being independent. Right. If someone's trying to be big and they want to make a certain kind of bread,

maybe it wouldn't work. But maybe someone wants more creative luxuries to be able to do whatever the fuck they want. But I mean, you can do that with a major as well.

The only difference is the audience knows the difference between a major push and an independent push. And it's just unfortunate that today's audience, they'd rather support

the underdog. Right. Well, they don't even know anymore because the majors, no, the majors, that's a good job of hiding, pretending that something is independent. How I knew they knew is when SoundCloud became what it was. Because that was the home of the underdogs.

SoundCloud became where all the majors started picking from. Like, all of them. You know what I'm saying? And that's when I knew. They stopped doing artist development. Now it's TikTok. I can't artist development. Now it's TikTok. I can't stand TikTok. Now it's TikTok.

Yeah, yeah, me either. Oh my gosh. I can't either. I can't stand it. I'm with you on that. I can't stand it. Yo, but let's talk about ringtones. Right.

Was that something that, because- That's crazy that that's like non-existent really anymore. Non-existent, but- How big it was. How big it was. But that was the first time, I don't know if you've seen Snoop recently. Snoop wasent. How big it was. But that was the first time. I don't know if you've seen Snoop recently.

Snoop was like, man, he was talking to Larry Jackson. He's like, Larry Jackson, you're talking all this crazy shit. But I'm paraphrasing, obviously. And he's like, but us as artists, we don't even know how much we get a stream.

We don't really technically know. Yo, I saw that. That shit was dope. We don't technically know. But shit, how do you... Ringtones. Ringtones. So ringtones was the first time I can play. But, shit, how do you? Ringtones. Ringtones.

So, ringtones was the first time I complained. Right. Because I was just like, what the fuck is this shit? Like, why is my shit platinum? And I'm not receiving nothing for it. What I understood was it was going under electronical rights. Yeah. So, you signed over your digital rights.

Digital rights. I didn't know about that. That's where you came from. Well, I don't think I signed over my digital rights. No, we keep talking. He signed everything in perpetuity. No, no, no, no. The universe in perpetuity. But it wasn't there.

The word digital wasn't there. At the time, when you signed your original contract, that language wasn't there. Right. But at the second time, when they renegotiated, they gave you just a little bit more money. You didn't even care what that was. You just wanted that money. You signed over. He didn't look at paragraph three.

No, no, I got to disagree. It clearly said digital rights. No, I got to disagree. I don't think it was there. I don't think it was there. Bro, I promise you. What year was that? This was, well, well.

Any year after 2006. Yeah, no, no, no, no. Wait. Because they changed the language in 2004. Okay. Okay. But most people didn't start catching it until 2006. That's probably when I caught it.

Yeah. You caught yours on the renegotiation. That's where a lot of people got hit. Okay. That's where a lot of people got hit. See, what made me a little bit different was I was a businessman first, right? Right. little bit different was I was a businessman first right and then when we and it started because SRC was a little bit slow on certain situations too because they had a boutique label they were

just distributed by a major so it gave me more time to understand what was going on understand the business a little bit more because Steve Rifkin was wide open he was very transparent right right oh god so I'm looking at how much singles we're selling, but then the ringtones, everywhere I go, I would hear songs on people's phones. And I say, yo, how much is that that you're paying for? They said $4.99. My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention.

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The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network, hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores, and brought to you by Velvet Buck. This podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode, I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian, Dr. Randall Williams, and bestselling author and meat eater founder, Stephen Ranella. I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here. And I'll say, it seems like the Ice Age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th, where we'll delve into stories of the West

and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I said, Dan, that's for like a couple seconds? Yeah. $4.99? Yes. And we selling singles for $1.99 for four minutes?

Right, right. I said, wait, hold up. This is different. Let me find out how much I'm getting. So I called my attorney. I said, yo, how much do I make from those ringtones if somebody used my phone? He said, well, let me check your contract. He said, oh, well, I don't know. It's not in your contract. I said, what do you mean it's not in my contract? He said, it's not in here. It says nothing about ringtone sales, anything digital. So that stuck

with me. So then I started making music specifically for the phone because it's $4.99 for a few seconds. Any basic businessman will tell you that's where the money is. So every song that we was releasing was very ringtone friendly. Especially Mr. Lonely. Right? So then we put that thing out. That's the original TikTok. Boom.

It is definitely. The way you just described it. Yes. That's what they're doing right now That's what they're doing right now You know what I'm saying So then we put the records out But we would always make Ringtone versions

Chop them up Different parts of the song We'd chop That was like my main focus I didn't care about the singles And we just focused on it Every record I produced I made sure it was

Ringtone friendly And before you know it bro We was making so much On ringtones But it was money Sitting in a pipeline. You had to go claim it. Yes.

And they think I ain't know, but I knew. Because they didn't know that I knew. So I'm just letting it pile up, letting it pile up. Renegotiation came. Nigga. He says, I got to put a down payment on Acorn City. Look at his face. Look at his face. Hey, listen.

Look at his face. Boy, they tried to slip that digital language in. I said, uh-uh. That's a separate deal all together. Bro, my advance

for the digital side, because, bro, at that time, I was in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most ringtones sold ever. Wow.

I mean, above Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, any catalog, Beatles, it didn't matter. We trumped everybody. So we just waited. And you made a separate deal for Digital? Oh, yeah, Digital was a whole other deal. They had nothing to do with it. Animal, record sales and tapes and CDs.

This is Digital. This is something, we don't even know what this is yet. Right. You know what I'm saying? And that's where Ringtoes first fell under. Digital could have been anything.

Digital's too broad. Let's break that down. What you mean? That's real. Yeah, it's too broad. And these contracts will do that to you because they can actually win because it actually literally is digital. And they're counting on you not really reading the contract or your lawyer. No, they're counting on you not understanding reading the contract or your lawyer not. They're counting on you not understanding

it. Right. But what's interesting is even the attorneys at that time didn't really understand it. Right. Because those guys are just guys that sit in the office. But I was always a tech. I was just always tech. I was always a head of tech. This is something about tech that I just always loved. You know what I'm saying?

So the word digital, I knew exactly what that meant, but I also knew where the world was going. And I just didn't You know what I'm saying So the word digital I knew exactly what that meant But I also knew Where the world was going And I just didn't want Nothing to come And I wanted to be A part of everything So I said no

Let's define what this is Specifically So if a new technology comes We can define that As it comes You know what I'm saying So was iTunes Lit back then

No iTunes iTunes wasn't even invented At that time They was fighting against Napster Releasing shit for free I they was fighting against Napster, releasing shit for free. Ooh, I remember Napster. Napster's what started that whole internet movement.

Yeah, Napster's the beginning of streaming, honestly. Yeah. Yep, they the godfathers of streaming. I remember Napster. I put that shit on. And they said that music

was going to be free for all. They could not understand it. All right. Look at today. You know what I'm saying? I remember when I went on Napster, I cried. They had all my shit on there. I was like, oh. It's like, oh my God know what I'm saying? I remember when I went on Napster, I cried. They had all my shit on there.

I was like, oh. I was like, oh my God, what do you do? What are you complaining to? Right. Like, because I don't be wanting people to listen to my shit for free. Fuck that. Fuck them. Motherfuckers are fighting the bootleggers.

You're beating up the poor bootleggers. Remember we used to beat up the bootleggers? Burn. We used to beat up the... Hey, come on. What are you doing here, sir? Burn. Okay, so in the vein Come on, what are you doing here, sir? Burn! Okay, so in the vein

of seeing the future and the technology, what are you thinking now about AI? What's that? Where's that going for you? AI is dangerous.

Yes. I don't like that. It's dangerous. I could do a whole album with you. You ain't even got to be there. Well, I mean,

that's not the part that scares me. Yeah, that's not the part that scares me because like I told you, when I look at digital, I've been thinking about 25 years from now.

AI has created, it's almost like, you know how they got this saying that everything you see in the movies eventually happens? It's actually very true. Well, iRobot? Everything. Matrix, Terminator. Let me explain how iRobot and this actually relates. Okay, we're talking about AI. This is machine learning.

Yep. The problem with us as humans, we are just very arrogant. And we're super greedy. It's never enough for us. It always got to be more. We always want more, right? As if right now, world ain't amazing that we just ain't satisfied. We just got to build better.

Why? Let me explain with machines or computers, for instance. When you build a computer that can teach itself to teach itself, computers are already smarter than we are.

Because of the computing power, how fast they can compute things. Right. Computers are already smarter than us. This is the process, right? So now imagine when the computer itself can teach itself. Right. What happens is, it'll start teaching itself things

that we can't uncode. Mm-hmm. It'll code itself. Thank you. It'll code itself, and you can't control what it codes, because depending on the original programmer, whether he's thinking positive or negative,

whether he's someone that want to change the world or destroy the world, that's where it becomes complicated because if you find somebody that's creating situations that's in his best interest and he may just be smart enough to quote something that's going to continue to teach yourself to a certain

level, then computers become a threat. Let's say hypothetically computers in the security sector. Everything is a threat to the computer. It doesn't know that you're approaching me with good intentions. Right. It just knows that you're walking up on me with a gun on your waist. Right.

And it can react. Right. And your blood pressure is spiked up. Right. Maybe just because you just take blood pressure medicine. Right. All excited to see you. Right. Right. The first thing that's going to. Right, all excited to see you. Right?

The first thing that's going to happen is, and that's what's happening, they're using machines for weapon. But in order to make a weapon, you also got to make something that's going to protect, right? So what's going to happen is, everybody that's actually against AI becomes a threat now.

Right. So guess what? They have to create machines to protect us from those who are against it. Right. Imagine that, right? Let's just say we don't want, man, we're not for that. Okay, we're already on record. They know where we live. They know where we at all times.

They have all our information, all our data, metadata, everything about us. They know, bro. All it's trying to figure out if you're getting tapped. Yes, nigga, you are. Bottom line, they know everything. That's how AI is even existing today with all this information. So now they know that we're against AI. So-called against AI. We're already a threat to the system. So now those machines are watching us.

Checking for us. The moment we make a move that feels like it's a threat to the whole situation, we are terminated. And it can calculate your moves because it'll do a probability and say, okay, this is probably what this person is going to do. So now, let's take it further. Right? They done already dealt with the ones that's against it.

Right. Now the ones that's against it got families. They go on against them too. Now they're against it. It's just a matter of time before those machines turn from protecting us to going after us. Right. I mean, it may not happen like this, but it's just a matter of time

because the more the machines get smarter, they become what takes control of everything. Guess how many jobs are going to get lost? Yep. Millions of jobs. I already seen the garbage truck with no garbage men. Now we take it even a step further. The people that lost millions of jobs, right,

ain't got no way to feed their family. What they going to do? They going to turn to the street or turn to something against their own nature to feed their families. So now they become the outlaw. And guess what they got to get protected from? The machines now have to protect those outlaws that lost all their jobs because of the machines to feed their families. And they become a threat.

And before you know it, something tragic is going to happen. It's just a matter of time before we kill ourselves. Yeah, I mean, it's not really far-fetched to think what it could do. I mean, it could be as simple as AI is created to protect the environment. Who's the worst person against the environment? It's those things.

And then the AI says, the human's the problem. Because we are. Ain't the humans controlling the AI, though? No, we unleash it. We unleash it. All we do is... This is why it's dangerous, right?

This is why it's dangerous. The Wizard of Oz's no one. This is why it's dangerous, right? There's no one like. This is why it's dangerous. The Wizard of Oz been behind. No. This is why it's dangerous. There's nobody who can control it. This is why it's dangerous. We set it loose. We created it.

Okay. To teach and control itself. No. It's intelligence. Yes, it's intelligence. Artificial intelligence. It teaches itself. There's no,

there's no senses of it. It doesn't have feeling. Yeah. It doesn't have emotion. So there's no big, like place somewhere where we It doesn't have feeling. Yeah. It doesn't have emotion. So there's no big place somewhere where AI is there? No. There's a database.

And there's multiple companies and governments. Like he said, there's multiple entities doing it in their own way, however they want. Right. There was an AI

that taught itself a language that was never programmed to even learn a language. Right. It taught itself Bangladeshi or whatever the name of the language is. Are you sure there's no such thing? No, no, no.

Bangladeshi. I don't know. Bangladesh. Anglo. Bangladesh. Whatever, but it taught itself a language, bro. That's wild. That a computer taught itself a language

without being programmed to do that. Right. The problem is we can't control it once it gets to the point of teaching itself. Right. Because when it starts to teach itself, it acts on what it teaches itself. So, yeah, you can turn it off.

All right, cool, but there's a million other ones that's open right now that's still plugged in. Then when they all, but you still have a big database in every part of the world because they always got separate database in case one go wrong

or one get bombed or whatever. But we just talking just basic analogies, just hypotheticals. But now we're talking about war because really AI is really to gain knowledge and be able to gain positioning when it comes to war, threat from other countries and other foreign nations and whatever the case may be. But the problem is the world is living on fear. And as long as we live in our fear, everything is a threat. So as long as everything's a threat, nobody's safe. That's the problem. There's an arms race to create AI. Every government is doing it.

Everybody's doing it. But they're doing it to use it as a weapon though. That's what's dangerous. That's the scarier part. I thought they was doing it just to use Biggie and Prodigy versus. Nah. You ain't hear Ice Cube?

Ice Cube said, he said AI is demonic. He said, you use my voice, I'm suing you on any platform that posts it. And I agree. That's what I thought. No, music is actually the biggest threat. I'm like,

they got prodigy on Biggie, boy. I mean, if you're talking about music, that is demented. That's crazy. You're thinking for a musical, you're right. It's endless things.

I heard Biggie spit in New York State of Mind. I said, wait a minute, that's Nas. But what you got to worry about is when Nori is calling the police and say, I admit to this crime. That's what you got to worry about. That's what the everyday person's voice being used.

Right, and that could be done by your baby mama that don't like you. I'm glad I ain't got one of those. Make some noise for me. Make some noise for me. Because you got like nine wives, right? No comment. You said it last time on the show.

No comment. Rewind that back. All right, cool. All right, my bad. I learned my lesson. Man, after that, it's like it went to eight, motherfucker. I lost one Oh man That's fine

That's fine What you like more Making the record Or performing it That's Yeah me I like both man Yeah

I like both Cause it's nothing like Making the record And creating something And you're like Damn this is crazy But then When you see how other people are reacting to it.

That feedback. That energy. That's the only high I experience, really. Yeah. So both. Yeah, definitely. So we have to take a shot. Where's your favorite place to perform?

Africa. Africa. Yeah. Or Africa? It don't matter. It don't matter. Africa's always crazy. Wow.

Always crazy. India, always crazy. India. India's always crazy. Mumbai? Mumbai crazy. India, always crazy. India. India's always crazy. Mumbai? Mumbai. Mumbai. Mumbai.

You don't have to use your eyebrows to say it. You know what I'm saying? Mumbai? Mumbai? Mumbai? I didn't realize that. You don't have your eyebrows going up when you say it. Man, Puerto Rican, man.

Puerto Rican. Puerto Rican. Say it again. Say it again. Mumbai? Yo, his eyebrows are loud, B. You're going viral in Mumbai now. So, uh, uh, uh, uh. What up, God?

What up, God? What up, God? What up, God? Yo. That's a nucleus, boy. Without that man, there'd be no Akon, B. What? So let me ask you real quick.

He's a slap Steve, B. Like, yo, treat him good. That's my African. That don't even sound right. So let me ask you, right? Are you into cars? I used to be. Because I used to be.

He literally told us he was into cars. Did you have like 20 cars at one time? 35 cars. 35 cars. That's the legit side, though. It's the ones that you bought. Yeah, the ones that I bought. I'm talking about legal A cars.

Yeah, I was into that. 35. And they all was white. White interior. Every last one. You was a Santero? Huh? Santero.

You was a Santero? I mean, it does come from the motherland bro santeria it does come voodoo santeria you wasn't into that

so the oil was white yeah white interior white interior white exterior so you never smoked no they played my shit they try and get me

up out of here that's wrap it up there you go measure of independent puppy you know you want to come over here party you know you want That's Wrap it up There you go They're like Major Independent puppies You know you wanna Come over here and party You know you wanna

Be over here and party You know what I mean We just talking about This record But uh So So damn And what are you

Into muscle cars No at the time I was into more Sport cars Super cars Lamborghini Yeah Ferrari

Bugattis All that stuff Yeah Pungattis It's not It's not called Bugattis Bugatti's all that stuff. Yeah Poon Ghani's it's not it's not called boo God. Oh God II the seller used to pronounce it with a word you got a Bugatti and then you have a No Bugatti and it was a What was it again to my money it's a Bugatti and a Pugani. Okay. I don't know what a Pugani is Pugani on Yeah, so Pugani Pugani Pugani at that time was more expensive than the Bugatti. It's called a Pugani is Pugani Yeah So Pugani

At that time Was more expensive Than a Pugani It's called a Pugani Zonda And where that shit come from That come from Italy It's an Italian car

It's like it came from Mumbai They turned it up Now it comes out Yeah they fucking Pugani Pugani Pugani Pugani

Do sound Indian I just think about it It's called a Pugani Zonda. Look it up. It's crazy. It look like Bollywood. At the time, that was more expensive.

Yeah, that car was more expensive than a Bugatti at that time. But you couldn't even get that in the United States because the specs didn't match the US standards.

So I bought it, flew it to Canada and then drove it into the States. That's how I got it in. Yeah. And the troopers from Canada let you in? They said, there's an A car. To them, they don't care.

You got your papers to get in. They're like, wow, that's a nice car. To a lot of criminals, Canada is like so far away. You can't never get in. Drake got the pull. Because even now today, when I go into Canada, I have to fill out the whole I got to leave a bond, all that craziness.

Wait, a bond? A $50,000 bond to make sure I don't start no trouble. And if I come in with no problems, then they give me the money back. And it's all from my 20, 24, 25-year-old record. From a record? Yeah, from 20 years ago, bro. No, but not a music record. No, like your record. Oh, your 20 years ago, bro. No, but not a music record. No, like... Like your record.

Oh, your record. Okay, okay. Yeah, they go back into your priors. Just your arrest record. And they're using that against you now? Oh, yeah. Yeah, but you get in all the time, so it's... Yeah, but you got to go through the whole process

of getting a lawyer, doing the paperwork. Really? That's fucked up. No, yeah. Canada don't play. That's fucked up. And they make you leave A $50,000 deposit You gotta leave

A $50,000 dollar bar You don't smoke Or get drunk You forget your $50,000 I just make the promoter Pay for it Promoter pay for it Genius

Genius That's it Holy shit And you never I'm sorry Finish Oh yeah You never

Your boys was never around I was like hey Akon Here's some blood Nah of course Everybody I hung around Would smoke weed Everybody

And you never smoked I used to love the smell of it I just couldn't smoke it You never smoked It was for religious purposes though Okay Yeah that's why I never smoked Drinking

Religious purpose as well But even if I had the chance To drink after that Accidental shot I would never do it again Never Ever Holy moly guacamole

Absolutely So if you had one thing You would say That you regret doing Never do it again. Never. Ever. Holy moly guacamole. Absolutely. So if you had one thing you would say that you regret doing that you would have done differently in the industry, what would it be? Oh, nothing, actually. Nothing at all? I feel like everything that you go through is for a purpose of, like, I don't believe in mistakes. All right, okay, so let me rephrase it so someone can learn from it. What did you do that seemed like a mistake but that you learned the biggest lesson from?

Let me think. That seemed like a mistake but I learned the biggest lesson from? Getting arrested. Thank you, Mr.. D 100,000% Absolutely Because you know What's interesting was That was my turning point

That was honestly The turning point for my life Because Just sitting in the box That long I was able to see my future I was able to say Okay

Damn Is this what I want for myself For the rest of my life This cannot be This can't be my life Like it just can't. Right. And that's when I created

my 10-year plan on what I was going to do when I get out to make sure I never come back in here. Mm. Yep, so Convy Music was started while I was in jail.

Mm. You know, I had an older OG named Booney. He was actually older. He was on his way to Death Row. Yeah. Yeah, he had killed his wife.

I thought you meant the record label. My bad. Yeah. right record label my bad yeah no no my bad yeah no he was on it yeah the real the real the real he was just connecting through like passing through you know and he was like man with all his talent like just imagine if you harnessed all that energy towards something positive right just think about it because half of the people in here they were successful at doing dumb shit. Like, really.

But then once you get popped, all of it is over. All that time, all that thought, all that process, all that energy put into something that you're growing in,

you can't even keep it, you got to watch your back. Like, why? Right. But imagine not finding something that you're good at and just putting all that energy into that.

Everything goes good for you after that. When I thought about that, I said, man. Everything goes good for you after that. When I thought about that, I said, man, you know what? You're right. I said, the only thing I can do now is music. That's why you don't believe in no mistakes. I don't believe in no mistakes. I believe that everything happens for a purpose.

Everything happens for you to learn from it. Or it's a process or an obstacle you have to pass through to get to what your final destination is or to get to your purpose. But I feel like everything is set up for you to deal with that. And if you ain't at your purpose, and the obstacles you're dealing with is to prepare you for that moment. So I don't believe there's no mistakes that exist. Do you feel the Akon City is your ultimate purpose?

I think developing Africa is my ultimate purpose. But I think Akon City is the beginning of it. All of Africa. All of Africa, but I think Akon City is the beginning of it. Yeah. All of Africa. All of Africa. As much as I possibly can. Right. That's just you putting the example for the rest of the movement. Absolutely.

Yep. I'm going to bounce around a little bit because the one thing I was loving going through your discography is just the global music. When you go in the studio, is you trying to please everybody? Because you have those records that actually please every race, every color, creed, whatever. You have universal music. Is that something you do on purpose, or it depends on how you make the beat? Yeah, it depends on how I feel that day.

I make music according to how I feel, but I don't stagnate my music relating or box it up within genres. I just know, if it feels good to me, I know it's going to feel good to millions of other people. So I never put myself in a position where, okay, if I feel good, I got to make a feel-good hip-hop record or a feel-good country record or a feel-good R&B record. I just make what feels good to me at that moment. And I just allow it to be what it is. I don't try to manage or change it to be what I think it should be. I just allow it to be what it is. Like, I don't try to manage or change it to be what I think it should be. I just allow it to be. And then, like I said, Hit Records is always going to find its own audience.

Just put it out, and the audience will find it. Let me ask you, because I remember being in the studio with Pharrell for so long, and me, like, working on my records, and other artists coming to see him. Right. And other artists would be like, yo, man, I want a beat like this. Right, right. And I want a song like this. Right.

And I remember he would hate it. I don't blame him. I'm just like him. I just say okay. Oh, wait, wait. I just say okay. But by the time the song is done, it don't sound nothing.

But they still loving those. Because one thing I realize about artists, as long as they are part of the process making, they're going to love it. Because it's really them just expressing. So when they come and say, well, I want the record, like R. Kelly record. I'm like, but yeah, but you're not R. Kelly. Number one, that R. Kelly record came because R. Kelly wrote that record according to his experience. What is your experience that can make r kelly say i want

a nori type of record that's what we want to find today man you know what you're right bro all right well let's get to it nigga what it is what we're doing what's the topic girls love hatred what let's figure it out then from there it's a conversation right you know i'm saying the conversation will always dictate the title of the song once you got the title everything else is easy so let me ask you if you're writing a record for somebody, is it a process that you happen to hang with them? Can you write a record for somebody that you don't know? Yeah. You can? I do it all the time, but I'm just

shooting in the dark. Okay. Is it better when you do know them? It's a lot better when you know them, or y'all had communication, because then I can better understand them. I like to make reality records, records that fit the person that's singing it, or records that they can relate to themselves, because it makes them want... Makes them more comfortable

for them or natural. Exactly. And they'll love the record and they'll perform it better. They'll push it better. Like, you know, when you got something that you love,

you actually engage, right? So the idea is give them something that they, I think that they would, that fits something within their life that they can attach themselves to.

So the conversation always works. But if not, it'd be like, okay, cool. What kind of feel are you looking for? Just get basic information. Once I got it, then I know, because most people, you got to worry about what they're not telling you. Like one thing about the music business is that everybody's going through something. The problem is nobody will tell you

what they're going through because they have this image that they have to always portray to be bigger than the average, right? They pretend they have no problems. Everything is all good. But those are the ones I know going through some shit. But if they come and they spill it out, oh, man, she's fucked up. That's an easy one because I know I just got to, I know what that is. I just got to give them something to lift them up. Play to that emotion, right. Right.

But the ones that come, man, everything all good, a million chains, big Bentley outside. Man, life is good. Right. I give them a struggle record, them niggas be in there like crying. I know. I know all these bells and whistles is to distract me from what you're really dealing with.

You know what I'm saying? That's what it is. Bro. You know how many niggas that you see that just look rich as fuck? Still going through. Man, I want to, you got to tell me how you doing this, man. Like, give me some advice, man, on some success.

They'll give you all the advice. And you'll listen and be like, man, that's what's up. Week later, they calling you for a loan. Right, yep. But it's going to be behind an excuse. Right. Well, you know, man, my fucking business, man, you fucked up my taxes and shit, man. I got to, bro, don't worry about it. It's all good.

Here you go. You understand what I'm saying? They still, even at the point of their bottom low, they still want to make it seem like they're still big, and it was a big obstacle that made them have to come to you. No one can just open their mind and be honest and transparent and say, yo, bro, this is wrong, this is wrong. Man, from your experience, how can I fix this?

That's how you do it, because guess what? Now I might give you some information that never puts you there again. Yep. But you got to be real with yourself. Real talk. But it's hard for us, you know what I'm saying? How about writing for a female? Females are very easy. Females to me are easier to write for than men

because females are transparent. Okay. They're are transparent. Okay. They're super transparent. They wear their emotions on their sleeve. Oh, man, they don't even think about it when they sleep, especially when they're feeling some kind of way. And when you write records for them that they're feeling, oh, yeah, you're going to sell it.

Like our emotional record. Right. Emotional records always go good with females. Okay. Always. And if it's going to be an upbeat record, it's got to be an upbeat record that another female will be like, where they'll be like, oh, wait till she hear this. Right. That record has to make an upbeat record. It got to be an upbeat record that another female will be like, where they'll be like, oh, wait,

did she hear this? Right. That record has to make another woman jealous. You know what I'm saying? But the records that tap into their feelings and emotions,

yeah, those always go. That's why ballads really work really well with women a lot. But if you're going to do up-tempo records, it should be something that has a ballady topic,

but yet an up-tempo record that they can find themselves in a more happier space. Could you write for Rihanna? All day. 1,000%. How about Beyonce? Super easy. He said super easy.

Yeah, super easy. Because Beyonce got the, like, right now with B, when you look at the music that she's getting, like, even with her, like, when I listen to her music, I still feel like there a lot more that of her that we ain't tapping as a writer as a producer myself and how i read people i believe that there's so much that she wants to talk about in her records that she doesn't do it because of who she is and what she think people may think about her that's just me personally speaking right i think the records that she's making today are records that she just feel the younger generation will gravitate to. But I don't think it's the essence of what that is. And you're saying that lyrically and vocally, but what about production-wise?

Production is following the lyrics. It's just following the person that's hot at the moment or a person that submits a great song. But it's so, like, I see her bigger. Honestly, I see her as almost like a musical or artistry. Because, you know, profits come in different forms. Yes. Like, for feminine and other, she's their profit to me, to them. Right.

Because she speaks into their minds, into their hearts. Like, you can't say anything wrong about Beyonce to a Beyonce fan. No. Right. That gives you a responsibility. You understand what I'm saying? Right. There's certain ambiances of records that changes people's

outlook in life. Right. And she has the potential to do that if she goes there. If she decides to go there. I personally believe that she will eventually go there. Right now, she's bigger than life. She can't get no bigger. Right. There's nowhere else left to go. She's the top of the top. Yeah, I believe so. You know what I'm saying? Right. And rightly so because she's a hard worker yeah from what i know

and what i've seen from this you can see yeah you understand what i'm saying like nobody she's the best that ever did it right but me personally as a fan i would want to see her get deeper like challenge herself more from a musical standpoint like go in places where even she ain't there to go just do it because i believe she ain't dare to go. Just do it, because I believe she has the capabilities to do that. Who else, somebody,

do you think that has the capabilities to do that? And hasn't reached it. That hasn't reached it? Yeah. I think Chris Brown has that. Oh, wow. I think Chris Brown has that all day.

But you think that he's not tapping into his deep emotions? No, he's tapping into his emotions. I just think he's tapped into the wrong frequency. Okay. You know? I think the frequency that he's tapped into won't allow him to grow beyond who he is.

Right. Because he's surrounded by so many distractions. You know what I mean? But I think for what he does and what he represents to this culture from a performer, from an artist, from a vocalist, he got what it takes. He just got to be,

he's fearless already. We've seen him on Lovers and Friends this was like two weeks ago. This Melon nigga's a monster. I had a show and he had a show. I saw,

I got to see him on stage. Boy, he tore that motherfucker down. He's a problem. He leaves it on stage. He leaves it on stage, yeah. Yo, he goes in.

Like, I knew he went in, but actually, that was my first time kind of like, like, get to see it. Right. He's a problem.

But the good thing about Chris is that he got plenty of time because he's young. So this is also gathering all those voices, all those, you know, souls that he needs to be able to, you know,

influence in a certain kind of way. I just feel like when God gives you that much power to influence or be influenced by so many different people, that is always like a responsibility to find somewhere to define all the challenges that's in society. You understand what I'm saying? Like, I just don't believe that we who we are for just

the sake of just being who we are. I believe that we're chosen to be who we are. Right. Until we understand what our purpose is, that's when we become impactful. You know what I mean? Right. So let's talk about I Still Kill with 50 real quick. Right. How did that come about? Oh, man, 50 had called me with that one.

They called? 50 called me with that one. He said, yo, Khan. So he produced that one? No, no. It was another producer under his camp that actually did that one. Okay. And he was like, yo, Khan, listen. I got a, it was another producer under his camp that actually did that one. And he was like, yo, Con, listen, I got this record, bro.

You know what? Just call me back after you hear it. All right. He sent me. I heard the verses. I heard the beat. I was like, ooh, this is crazy. And I'm listening to the lyrics.

I'm already knowing what he's saying without saying it. Right, right, right. Because at this point, the niggas, he just sold vitamin water. Right. This nigga a $250 million nigga. Right, right, right. You're like, nigga, don't get it fucked. Right, right.

Right, right. You know what I'm saying? Right. It's like that. It's like, how do we say that when niggas know I'm not playing with them? I got to see him perform too,

but go ahead, get to it. Right, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. So I sent it back with the chorus on it, and he was like, nigga, this is it.

Oh, this is it. Right. But at the time, I was kind of worried about where we would go. Because even me, my, I was so pop at that time. The question was like, okay, would it still be believable, though? Right. No, that's one thing I do question myself a lot. What, like, when to go back to the street.

Or if ever do I even need to go back to the street. Right? Never. No, no, no, hold on. Here, but not there. No, no, listen. I'm not talking about physically. I'm talking about music.

Ain't no reason for me to be in the hood. Right. All my hood niggas know they got to come see me. I'm not going there, bro. I'm not doing that. They know this already. But from a musical standpoint, the question is, because I always believed that my role

plays a responsibility to them. That was why I was raised in that environment, to make a difference, right? So the only way to actually make an impact is to find a way to still tap in. You can't just go and forget about it, like as if you don't give a fuck. You understand what I'm saying? Like there has to be a sense of knowing, okay, there's a role that is still there for me to play that they won't take for granted. Now, if they take it for granted, then you can't really control what other people's decisions decide to make. But for the most part, you know you did your part. Right.

Right? So when I say go back to the streets, I'm always talking musically. I know what you mean. I know what you mean. You follow what I'm saying? Yes, yes. Musically, you can, but I think my topic matter ain't going to be what they want to hear. Right.

So you got to wait for the right time ain't going to be what they want to hear so you got to wait for the right time to give it to them because I feel like the music in urban rap is lacking the message because everybody's scared like to me

when I listen to music it sounds like everybody's scared to death because it's like this cancer culture no cancer culture comes from

just being indecisive and not making up your own mind you're letting somebody else tell you what you think should be relevant and what's not. That just tells me that the world is being controlled by others. But that's not what you're talking about in this specific thing. You're talking about emotionally.

This specific thing, when I listen to music, it sounds like everybody's scared to death. Because what I know from the street is that when somebody's afraid, they're going to do something to distract you from you thinking that they're afraid. Right. Right? And when somebody feel like that you may be a threat, it's like a possum when you pull up on it. A porcupine when you pull up on it. And all this, what's the name? Yeah. Tentacles pop up.

It's all bravado. You don't want to tap into it because you might get stung. So guess what? When these niggas, first thing they do when they get scared. Right. Oh, nigga, I got that for real. Right, right. But you're not realizing that his chest is beating way harder than yours.

Right. You understand what I'm saying? So when I listen to the music, that's what it's getting from me. Right. You got a whole bunch of young guys, super well potential, like the future in front of them, all of them. But they all scared to death because, unfortunately, it's our fault because we introduced that kind of music and made it cool. So now when they see themselves

in real life, they have to live up to that. Because if they don't, the fear gets worse. So what happens is now they're active in a life that they don't really understand outside of the music side of that world. And this is why you got so many young rappers dying. Because they're making so many mistakes out of fear.

Right. What tour you said you was on, Gwen? And they said that... The Sweet Escape, Sweet Escape tour. With Gwen Stefani? Yeah, and you said, who tried to... Verizon. Verizon.

Yeah. Do you feel like that was the first kind of step of people getting to this cancel culture thing, do you think? Not really, because there's been many instances where companies always pull out their sponsorship. They're always scared of any kind of controversy. You know, you make an action. But what they don't realize is if it doesn't have anything to do with what they're sponsoring you for, they should just leave it alone. Because what human do you know ain't going to make a mistake?

Especially that has nothing to do with their occupation. Like, this is their job. This is what they do great. They done did something in their personal life that has nothing to do with this, but yet you want to cancel them because you were afraid of what other people

are saying of his personal action. And I think that's unfair. Even Adidas taking Kanye back. They have no choice. Do you make some noise for that? That's unfair. Or even Adidas taking Kanye back. They have no choice. Did you make some noise for that? So you spoke about Beautiful earlier and how it cut you off. Right.

So where was you at? What was the process of making this record? Yeah, Beautiful was a process. Honestly, that was with my wife. You know, she always, you know, that was around the time when I was peaking, you know? And everywhere I go, you know, she always, you know, that was around the time when I was peaking, you know,

and everywhere I go, you know, In your career? Yeah, my career. Video shoots, it's always beautiful women. Every event,

it's always beautiful women. So there's always that insecurity that comes within women when you, when they see that and everybody see you the way she sees you,

you know what I'm saying? So that song was inspired by just, you know, my conversations to her, like, you me, like, you. You know what I'm saying? So, that song was inspired by just, you know, my conversations to her. Like, you me. Like,

you mine. Number one, without a doubt, don't ever in your life think that anything is better than you. Like, fuck all that. That's the most beautiful thing

in the world. One, two, three. Aww. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, period. So, that record was for her. She needs to know that.

Holy moly, guacamole. Let's take it to Who That Girl. So that record was for her. She needs to know that. Holy moly. Let's take it to who that girl. My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a hell-bent effort to sabotage a war. J. Edgar Hoover was furious. Somebody violated the FBI and he wanted to bring the Catholic left to its knees. The FBI went around to all their neighbors and said to them, do you think these people are good Americans? It's got heists, tragedy, a trial of the century, and the goddamnedest love story you've ever heard.

I picked up the phone, and my thought was, this is the most important phone call I'll ever make in my life. I couldn't believe it. I mean, Brendan, it was divine intervention. You can now binge all ten episodes of Divine Intervention 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 One, Taser Incorporated, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge episodes 1, 2, and 3 on May 21st and episodes 4, 5, and 6 on June 4th. Add free at Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. 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 got a few titles with who that girl, which one was it with?

Whichever one you want. No, no. That one's on your mind. I got about three of them. Was that the one with Flo Rida? That's right. That's the one with Flo Rida. That's right.

Yeah, that was the biggest one. Yeah. So that one, me and Flo were just waiting for the right time. You're like two pop icons. For sure. And Flo is like my brother from another mother. We're super, super, super tight. And we had never worked together because of our schedules.

But we was always bumping into each other, and then one day, he was like, man, look, fuck everything you're doing. Cancel what you got going. We saw each other in Miami. I mean, in L.A., and I was like, let's just go do it. Because if we don't make the time, it's not going to happen. And sure enough, we cut the record in Miami

and shot the video in L.A. God damn it. How was the video? Oh, the video was amazing. Yeah, it was vibes. Vibes. Big, big record. Big, big record.

You know, I smoke a Uka. Where we get this at? Where we get this at? Getuka.com. Getuka? Uka. O-O-K-A. Interesting.

Getuka.com. Getuka. Very smart, actually. You smoke shisha? No, no, no. You don't smoke shit? No cigars? My voice is my investment.

Oh, that's right. That's right. Goddamn. Yeah, right. You don't destroy your investment all the time? You drink a lot of tea. You gotta drink a lot of tea. Yeah. What's on your rider? Oh, my rider's very simple. I got black towels. Excuse me, black towels. Yeah, black towels. I thought you said tiles. I said, damn. No, no, towels. They gotta do

construction? Yeah, black towels. I thought you said black towels. You got to reconstruct your whole shit and make all this black towels. My shit is very simple. You got to have black towels. That's what I thought you said. Black towels.

Okay, my bad. Black towels. And the reason it is because normal time when you get off the stage, you're always super sweaty. And they used to have these white towels and I'd be white

and they'd be leaving white. I learned that from girls. Girls, when they go to, like my wife and them, when they go to, like my wife and them, when they go to a restaurant, they ask for the black, yeah. Okay, what else is on your rider? Juicer.

A juicer? A juicer with a whole bunch of different fruits because I like to make juices and all that. Damn, my wife owns a juice bar. I could have brought juices, yeah. Check it out. I ain't going to lie. The next one, I need that.

When they said that you wanted a candle, I said, this nigga different. Wait, wait, wait. Who told you I wanted a candle? Hey, man, just ride with it. Just ride with it. Just ride with it. Just ride with it.

Just ride with it. We ain't never had nothing like that. Yo, no, no. That was so fly. I said, make sure y'all going to get that. Make sure y'all going to get that. A stick candle, that's some fly shit. What else is on your mind?

It's to burn off the spirits. Okay. No, for the most part. So you got the juicer. You got the white towel. I love candy. Candy? I got, part. So you got the juicer, you got the white towel. I love candy. Candy? Wait, all right.

So hold on. You're a balance. Hold on. He juicer and then candy. He just said a juicer. Give me the healthy shit and then give me the sugar. What is the vegetables you put in the juicer? The sugar is actually good for me.

That's why I still look this up. What do you put in the juicer? What kind of fruit? Fruits or... It depends. It depends on what fruits. Every territory has a fruit, right? This motherfucker

Going to territory fruit Yeah you know You traveling the world Sometimes What's in season here guys Exactly Whatever's in season That's kind of smart

That's kind of smart Yeah yeah yeah Whatever the season You know what I'm saying Mango season If it's orange season Okay You know

Different things like that So that's like The best way to go Okay And then last but not least Candy Candy What kind of candy though

Oh just different Assorted candies Like Skittles Gummy bears Twix You don't make them different Assorted candies Like Skittles Gummy bears Twixes You don't make them Pull out just the red Skittles? Nah nah nah

I've heard stories like that They be like I want all red M&M's And shit Yo Who was that that said that? I heard that I've been hearing a lot

About stuff like that But those kind of artists Do exist though No no no Listen That's the new part of the show We gonna ask people who they're a writer.

Right. Like they're a writer because... And you're going to actually have her. Yo, listen, listen, listen by the way. No, we're not asking you for the show.

No, no, no, no, no, no. Not for the show. For your regular. Because I always love like when we interview, we've been doing this seven years. Seven plus.

So I always love, my favorite part is me asking them what they're going to drink. Right. Because like I straight up judge you for what you're going to drink. You already know what kind of. If a person order Old English, I know what kind of show this is going to be.

If they order, it depends on if they order. It backfires on us when we ask someone and they give us a whole rider of liquor. Oh, yeah, yeah. Who did that? It's been a couple people. They order like the $4,000 bottle of this. Right, right. We're like, sorry, we only got Ciro a couple people. They ordered like the $4,000 bottle of this. Right, right. We like, sorry, we only got Ciroc and Ace of Spades.

Ciroc, Ace of Spades. Yes, yes, yes. Yeah, that's how you do it. No, but even though like if a person order a tequila or whatever, we don't tell them we ain't giving them that. We just let them get here and we give them Deleon. Yeah. Same price, but I always, it always like,

and Riders is the same exact thing because I remember me being in, I remember me being in Japan and I came after LL. So LL must have been, he must have been, the word is he had them looking for green apples. And I guess in that part of Japan

That shit ain't exist But they didn't want to tell LL No They paint the joints? I don't know I don't know But I remember the promoter Japanese would get created

They'll paint it with edible paint And shit On my rider was fucking What the fuck was on my rider? You're riding ridiculous Hennessy No my shit was whack back then I booked you through Violator The first time Yeah that was Violator We were putting the fuck was on my rider? Your rider was ridiculous. Hennessy. No, my shit was whack back then. I booked you through Violator the first time.

Yeah, that was Violator. We were putting all that shit on my rider. You can't pack some Gatorade. I'm like, what the fuck are you talking about? No, no, no. I still got Gatorade on my rider. I got three Gatorades. Yeah, this fucked up.

I got three bottles of Gatorade. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Three bottles. Yeah, now some of them you got to consolidate them. Yeah, yeah. You got to consolidate them. So what else is on your rider? Yeah.

What's your wildest thing on your rider? Like KFC. KFC? That's not wild. I thought you was going to have a leopard or something. Oh, no, no, no. I don't have nothing. My, my, my.

Outside of KFC, you got to soft drink some waters. That's it. That's it. Because I don't be in there long enough. He said juicer and KFC and candy. You got to. You're all over the place. I got to get with your homies.

I got to get with your homies. Because see, Fat Joe don't drink none of that, right? So let me tell you something. If you ever were on a Fat Joe show and you drink alcohol, just go in his room and take it all. He ain't going to drink none of it. When he drinks, he orders

it all. I'm like, we was in Vegas with him the other day. I was like, my brother. You ever go to a club? This is my first time in like 15 years I went to a club and I didn't spend a dollar. Like not even a dollar. I had to tip the waitress. It was all there already.

We just grabbed us and it was like, is it okay if we go to our room? He's like, go ahead. We literally took his whole bar. His whole bar. And guess what, Akon? We drank it all. Drank it all. Got to make some noise, man.

Nothing's wild on your ride. No, nothing's wild. Nothing like, okay, cool. What's on your ride? I ain't got a fucking rider. You ain't got a fucking rider? I got a thing. No, yeah, fireball.

Fireball? For our Vegas show, I did. Fireball? I did that for our Vegas show. I did... Fireball? For Fireball. You're like large pro in this shit. I said Bacardi. I said Bacardi, Fireball.

And what do we eat then? It's vegan something. No, you got to have your... I'm pescatarian. Yeah. And him too. He pescatarian. Pescatarian, I can do that all day.

Yeah, he's pescatarian too. Why you got to do that? That's Sonny's joke. That's Sonny's joke. He's a pescatarian? That's Sonny's joke. You're being an ass. That's Sonny's joke. He's a Presbyterian. That's Sonny's joke. Popote, baby.

Popote. Popote, that's his name. And you said your favorite part is Africa to perform. Yeah. What is your favorite state in America to perform? I'll probably say... Or city. Favorite city?

Probably Jersey. I was hoping you said Jersey. Yeah. I was hoping you Probably Jersey. I was hoping you said Jersey. Yeah. I was hoping you said Jersey. That's it. I was hoping you said Jersey. Now, Akon, we got to address this. French Montana has not let this go.

You're right. We see you walk in with the, that's the Panther Cartier. Yeah. Them bracelets. Trust me, guys. Them stitches out of this roof. And you can't even get these. You got it on.

You got the Patek. Are you ever going to give French a watch so he can stop telling this story? So you can even it out. Listen. Me and French got got that day. I'm the one that lost money. I bought two of them watches. One for me

and one for him. Does he tell you about his story? Oh, I didn't know you got got two. Nigga, I got got two. Because he came and said,

man, that's a nice watch. I said, nigga, I got one for you too. Right, right. Because at the time... Oh, you had it on? No, mine was beautiful. You had yours.

See, that's the thing. Okay. I didn't know what a Hublot was. Right. I just knew that I liked it. See, that's the thing. Okay. I didn't know what a Hublot was. Right. I just knew that I liked that. That was just a nice watch. Right.

So the dude was, you know, selling watches. And I said, yo, how much is that watch? And he's like, you know, normally like $15,000, $20,000. Right. He said, but I got a guy that can get a Swiss for five. I was like, okay, cool. Give me three of them. So he met me at the W Hotel with two of the watches.

The exact- Times Square W Hotel? Times Square W Hotel with the same exact type watches. Now, mind you, I'm not knowing the details. I just know that watch looked like the one that I liked in the jewelry store. Right. That's all I know. I'm not into watches at the time.

I wasn't- Okay, so you in the jewelry store, you see the watches. This guy says to you, hey, I could give you that. Yeah, don't spend that money. I got you. This is not Canal Street. It was Canal Street. H.R.

No, no, no, no. No, but listen, listen. Listen, bro. Listen. Listen. I was on your side. No. No, hold on.

Hold on. Hold on. He got scared by a Nigerian scammer. No, no. That's the thing. That's the thing. The watch wasn't brought to Canal Street. Oh, okay.

I spotted the one that I liked on Canal Street. Oh, yeah. And it was on the Chinese side with the good shit. No, the good shit. You know, Canal got two sides. Okay, yeah, okay. And then you got the ones that go through the back room and do all that, right? Okay.

This is the good side, right? So, then he said, no, I'm going to meet you at the hotel. So, he got me to the hotel, and he showed me. I'm like, oh, this is beautiful. Now, mind you, I don't have no knowledge Of time pieces at the time I'm just an African nigga That just know what I like

And I buy what I like And for those that don't know Hublot was very difficult To tell though But at that time I didn't even know What Hublot was He just liked the shape

I just know I liked the shape Of the wash It looked expensive It looked good It looked nice And he goes Shaving $10,000 off. Why not?

Think about it, right? So, mind you, he didn't even say Hublot on it. Now that I think about it. That's just an acorn on it. That's just an acorn sitting before acorns sitting. Now that I think about it, I don't even think it said Hublot on that moment, right? That's funny. So, now, I'm thinking I'm doing a good deed. Like, it's San Hugo on that moment, right? That's funny, isn't it? Now, I'm thinking

I'm doing a good deed. Like, it's my nigga. You know what I'm saying? I'm showing that. I'll fuck with you, bro. Like, nigga, I'm a nigga. I look behind

and get for another nigga, right? This show, I really fuck with you, right? So I got one. I said, I'm going to get my man one. So he comes to the hotel. Man, that watch is dope, man. I said, man, nigga, look,

I got one for you, too. Oh, he's happy. we both walking out like we, nigga we chilling, whole day nigga, we like this. We looking for a reason, hey, we looking for a reason to show the watch, we fixing the hoodie. We fixing the way. You know what I'm saying, we doing everything,

you niggas can see what we got. So we go off, everything is good, nigga call me a week later. Yo, bro. I said, what's up? Yo, the watch, B. I said, what? He said, man, that shit ain't real. I said, yes, it is.

He said, I said, what's wrong? Did the, what? Did it stop working? Like, did the hand stop ticking or something? He said, nah, the shit ticking. It's working. I said, said no the shit ticking is working i said nigga this shit's real he said no he said nigga i thought this was a hue blow i said what's that he said nigga you ain't know this is a fake hue blow i said what is a hue blow so then i said let me start looking around then i saw it i was like oh shit this is the watch that i saw at the store

this shit cost this much? Then I was like, damn, bro. I said, shut up. My bad, man. Look. Look. Just keep it as a token of my appreciation, bro. It hasn't been subliminal. I mean, wasn't it at least worth the 5K?

Shit, I kept wearing mine. Thank you. He said, I don't care. It's the same. I can't wear my shit. I kept wearing my shit. I got so many compliments. I got so many compliments on that thing. Oh, man.

No, but me and French laugh about that shit every day. So now he's like, yo, I'm saying, you going to give me a new watch? I said, nigga, what I gave you, you need to be buying me a watch. Shit. He said he kept, what I gave you, you need to be buying me a watch, nigga. Shit. He said he kept wearing it. No, that's about it. Oh, shit. So was he actually

signed to you? Yeah. So French was signed to me. And my thing was I wanted to go international with him, right? So at that time, French was just...

You didn't make him Afrobeats back then? Not Afrobeats, but just more commercial to cross over. Okay. And eventually take him to Africa. Because my whole thing to French was just You didn't make him Afrobeats back then? Not Afrobeats But just more Commercial to cross over Okay And eventually take him To Africa

Okay Because my whole thing To French was like Bro you African Like nigga you from Morocco Yeah Like do you know North Africa

Yeah so when you leave America Everybody black The best hash in the world Sorry Without a doubt Best hash in the world I don't know about that part I apologize

I do You know what I'm saying I said nigga this is it So as we start going on He's still making records But more catered for New York. So then he came to me and said, yo, man, I think I want to just do, I really want to base and make sure my shit in New York is really cemented properly. So I think we should find a partner that could work with us for New York. I said, well, shit, think about somebody, let me know.

And he's like, and what do you think about Diddy? I said, shit, that's the king of New York, of course. Why not? You know what I'm saying? So he was flying to Vegas to go meet with Diddy. And then when he got there, he put Diddy on the phone. Diddy was like, nigga, Brown Sugar, what we doing, Brown Sugar? And he be calling me Brown Sugar.

Nigga, what we doing, nigga, what we doing? I said, man, listen, this kid right here to me is the biggest thing for me in New York. And I can't take him where he biggest thing for me in New York and I can't take him where he's trying to go in New York only thing I can see is a partnership with you to put it off

and pull that off and he was like man listen with your blessing if you let me take this on I got it I said man well go ahead

take it and that's how we ended up moving so how you started doing stuff with Diddy because I was always the kind of artist

like even though when I signed acts I'm not the kind of artist that I want to find the best way for you to go because me my goal is to make you bigger than me if I can do that was that something you learned off of Jimmy Iovine saying this was before Jimmy oh this is before this was just me seeing how like executives look when one of theirs is huge right it makes you look like a genius.

Sometimes the artist can be humongous without even all your involvement, but you're still going to get the credit because of the fact that you put the person out into the marketplace. You know what I'm saying? Right. So I always looked at it from a leveraging standpoint because I always saw music as a stepping stone or a bridge to get to the real business. Right. So people that surround me have to be attached. They have to be successful for me to have these pitches taken seriously.

Because now they're looking at my track record in the sector that which I'm actually active in. Okay, is he successful there? Okay, cool. So clearly he knows what he's doing. Okay, now how can we use that to break this brand or partner with this brand or take this piece of label to the next level?

You know what I'm saying? Right. Right now, right? I know you told me the places to go in Africa, but if I wanted to invest in Africa, what are some of the things that I should look to? The first thing you should invest in, and I think that should be everybody's focus, is

real estate. Real estate. How easy is it to invest from here? Super easy. Super, super easy. But you don't want to invest from here. You want to go there. So you physically go there. You physically go there. Like, that's like, if you're going to just do it by sitting here, you might just go to Vegas and just toss your money in a casino. Gotcha. Because the thing is with investment, you got to know what you're investing in. You got to be able to see the land, see the potential, see the areas that's growing, that's moving in that direction. Real estate is very, it's mathematical, but you also

have to have information through certain people to know which direction the development is headed. And that's the area where you want to be, you know, you don't want to go right where the investment is actually building now, but the development is going in that direction in the next two, three years. That's where you want to buy. Get it at that level. So by the time you get there, they have to come see you. You know what I'm saying? You can either be a partner in the development or you can sell it out for five, six times multiple on what you purchased it for.

You know what I mean? But land right now is the best place to start in Africa because everybody in the globe is investing in Africa and it's all coming into development. So if you can acquire that land before they get to it, man, you're golden for the rest of your life. Does that help Africans for people from outside

to invest in buying land? Absolutely, because it creates an economy. It creates jobs. It creates more opportunities for even them to be able to do things. Because you got to think Africa, in a big way, is lacking resources. So if people don't come creating

or bringing resources there, it's going to be on standstill. Right. So it benefits, yeah. It's Africa's, yes. It benefits them when people come and invest and create opportunity. Now, how about me? I'm a condo guy.

I don't really like houses. Right. Which is even better, actually. Condos go even quicker. Oh, wow. Man, listen. In Senegal, right now, you can't find just the land to build a condo in the city for $750,000 an acre. Wow.

That's an acre. Wow. $750,000 per acre. And that's just the land by itself before the condo's up. Once the condo's up, they starting at a million dollars each. Wow. And that's the person that was buying land at the time when we was buying land. Now look where they're at with it.

Everyone's moving to Puerto Rico now because of the tax break. Is there a place in Africa where there's a tax break? People have that in Dubai, I believe, too, as well. Listen, everywhere in Africa is a tax break.

Ain't no tax. We're going. You've got to keep your money there because if you bring it over here, then you're going to have to pay tax. Yeah, but that's, I mean, that's just, you know, whoever is your CFO, they'll tell you exactly how to move your money around. But I think the continent right now, in the near future, is the most safest way to park your money.

And it's going to be, I mean, that's where everybody's going. Everywhere else, everybody's afraid, trying to pull their money out so they can be able to freely spend it. Right. You know? Man, this is crazy, man. Yeah, so get to it. Yeah, I'm getting to it. So let's name the hottest spots again.

Ghana, Nigeria. Right now, Ghana. Senegal. Nigeria, Senegal, Rwanda, Kenya. Kenya. Kenya is very hot right now. Cape Verde, beautiful islands. It's almost like the West, you know. Like Rhode Island, Cape Verde, beautiful islands. It's almost like the West.

Like Rhode Island, Cape Verde. Yep, yep. So all the Cape Verdeans, Rhode Island and Africa. Like Tanzania. Tanzania. Tanzania, super opportunities over there, without a doubt. When it comes to real estate, housing, affordable living, and amazing,

South Africa. Beautiful. Told you, dog. Beautiful, bro. Beautiful houses, beautiful beaches, and it's cheap. It's not even expensive. Cape Town looks incredible. Cape Town is amazing. I mean, the price point, bro, man, whatever you're spending in Miami, if you see the house that you can buy with that

in South Africa, bro, on the water, with the splashes of that water every morning. And Johannesburg, to me, it reminded me of New York in the 80s. The way that the metropolitan view of it is dope. It's beautiful. No, no, no. I'm just saying. No, no. You're right.

You're right. I'm just saying the way that the city looks. A lot of crack. With the graffiti and the art and the culture. I would give it more of a, like Johannesburg is more like what you're describing. Cape Town is more like Venice. Right. You know what I'm saying?

It's more upstate. Venice, Italy? Venice, Italy or Venice in LA? No, Venice in, yeah, probably Venice in LA. Okay. Venice in LA, yeah. But they got their political needs they got to deal with out there. Oh, yeah, but I think that's everywhere.

But I think once you become a notable entrepreneur over those areas, you get influence. So politics don't really affect you. Right. Because you get in bed with those guys to do business, to help move policy forward for your agenda, their agendas. It's all about business, politics. And the people are amazing out there. I've only been to South Africa, but the people are amazing. Imagine opening a Drake Champs bar in Africa.

That would be crazy. Only in South Africa, though. Because a lot of countries in Africa are Muslim. 95% of those populations don't drink or smoke. They'll do it in quiet or after-hours spots like that. Any areas like Uganda would be good for that. Anywhere in South Africa

would be good for that. Nigeria, they drink out there, right? Nigeria would be good for that. And Ghana. Because Nigeria split half and half. What's the place that they stay open

almost 24 hours and just keep partying? I know Nigeria parties, man. Nigerian parties. That's Nigeria? Ghana does it when it's time, like during festive moments and months. Oh, okay. You know, when it's time like during festive moments and months.

Oh, okay. You know, when people come from all over the world they just be partying all night. All right. Yeah.

Oh, man. I'm convinced. Hey, man, you can watch my documentary Coming Home South Africa. I'm just saying. I remember. I got to watch that

by the way. It's on Revolt app right now. I got to watch that. I think I said this to you on the last episode but I remember me all the time

getting shows in Africa and like You turn them down? No, them saying you need this is way before to you on the last episode, but I remember me all the time getting shows in Africa. Right. And you turn them down? No, them saying, you need, you need, this is way before the fact.

You don't need it for a lot of the places. Yeah, that's how they always used to say that. I think it's a choice now. I'm going to say something without sounding racist,

but blacks and Latinos don't need shots for Africa. All right. Really? Yes, they already in your DNA. White people is a little bit different because they more,

the temperature and the kind of things that their skin and body can withstand, a lot of it won't survive in Africa. So they need shots to kind of boost their immunes and stuff. But y'all straight. I mean, I definitely didn't take a shot when I went to South Africa. Yeah, you won't need it. Yeah, we was good. We ate good.

We drank good. Yeah, it's true. We had a hell of a time. It's like when I go to the North Pole, like when I go to the North Pole, I got to take shots. I can't be around places too cold. I get sick.

Hold on, you've been to the North Pole? Once. With Santa there? And I took shots. He took shots. I took shots. With Santa there? Huh?

With Santa there? Hell no. Wait, what the fuck is the North Pole like? I need to know this shit. It was a private wedding by a private It was a private wedding By a wealthy Russian family Had to be Bro I froze my balls off

I said I'm never Going back there Ever But I remember I remember having to Take shots before I went And what was your shots like I don't even know

What it was I don't even know What it was It was like the opposite of All I know that it was They said you might Want to take the shot Before you go Alright I said no i'm good he said no trust me

you're black you gotta take a shot oh shit that's when i realized oh shit certain people just survive better in certain parts of the world because of our dna yeah that's ill that's ill that's ill i i gotta make some noise with that I never knew no shit like that Yep Besides Africa Where's the illest part In the world That you like Performed And we was like

Freaked out Ooh the illest part You know what I think probably The one place that I did Perform And I didn't expect it to be I didn't expect it to be

As crazy as it was Was Lebanon Lebanon Yo Lebanon bro They call it the Vegas Of the Middle East Something like that Or the Paris of the Middle East I didn't expect it to be as crazy as it was, was Lebanon. Lebanon. Lebanon's dope. They call it the Vegas of the Middle East, something like that. Or the Paris of the Middle East.

No, no, I swear to God. Lebanon, I don't realize how crazy. Yo, those probably got to be the craziest, wildest fans I ever was in front of. Lebanon? Oh my goodness. They just had some crazy civil wars. Lebanon and Pakistan. Pakistan was crazy too. Really? Pakistan. Pakistan was crazy too.

Really? Pakistan? Pakistan was crazy. As religious as they are? Yeah. It was packed. That audience, when I tell you, if y'all don't perform like that with y'all type of music,

oh my goodness. Super type? What? The worry part. What? What? The worry part. What? What? Did you see when Khaled and Rick Ross went to Saudi? Yeah.

Where'd they go? They went to Saudi. Yeah, they went to Saudi. Oh, Saudi Arabia? Oh, yeah, yeah. Then they did the thing. The cover. It was a festival.

It was a festival. It was like their second or third year doing it. But this was the first time in years that they could actually listen to music. So you could actually hear their response being late. You know when you go like this and you let the crowd speak? Because they're so not used to hearing music

that they were just a little late. I was listening to this shit. I was like, oh, they knew the words, but they were just a little late. It was against the religion. It's ill to see the world get modernized. Yeah, it is. Again, like I said, so many times they would describe Africa and they would describe the jungles.

You're a lamb with a spear. You know what I mean? You're like, worthy? We're like stereotypical shit. Right. And I believe Talib Kweli was the first person that said,. He was like, man, they got W's in Africa, motherfucker. You know,

Mos Def's still out there. He lives in South Africa. Been there for almost... Well, we saw him out here. He's been out here a lot doing it, but I think he still... His name is Yassin.

Yeah. I still call him Mos. You call him Mos. I love Mos. Well, it's not disrespect calling him Mos. No, it's not. That's my nigga.

I love him to death, but he know. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He can call me Ali. I'm cool. That's your Muslim name? Well, that's my first name. It's your first, but he know. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He can call me Ali. I'm cool. That's your Muslim name? Well, that's my first name. It's your first name?

Yeah. Okay, God damn it. That's why everybody in Jersey call me. What's your whole name? Don't you got an L long name? Yeah, you got to look that one up. It's so long, he don't want to say it right now. It feel like I'm writing a paragraph.

Was that something that kids joked on you in school? Nah, they never knew. Okay. They never knew. You gave them the short version. Teacher would just be like, Ali, charm. I was like, she didn't want to embarrass me. Because back in the days, we used to have the Haitians, right?

And they used to wear the Jamaican belts. They used to want to be the Jamaican. They didn't want to be the Jamaican. I've seen it. I've seen it. I've seen it with I've seen it. I've seen it with my own eyes. Hey, this is what happened.

The Haitians was just being Haitians. And everybody thought they was Jamaicans. Because they wore the same colors. Right, right. Did you ever wear the Jamaican belt? Oh, yeah. Absolutely. I wore the Jamaican belt.

I wore the holy, what? the tank top with the hoses. Oh! The tank top with the hoses. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Yo, those in the summertime? Yes, yes. What?

There you go. That's what they call? Holy shit. You ain't got to jump out there. Jamaican nigga jump out real quick. Jamaican pride. The one though? Yeah. Them ballys, bro. The who? The b real thick. You're making pride. The one though, them ballys, bro.

The who? The ballys. The ballys. What you know about the ballys, though? I was going to say the clocks. I was going to say the clocks. No, well, my generation wore ballys. Okay. Clocks was a little bit before me.

Yeah. How about BBDs? You used to fuck BBDs? You don't know about those? No. The silk shirt? I never wore BBDs. I couldn't do the silk.

Okay, yeah. You was a silky boy? The silk was more Latin. That was more Latin. All right, my bad. He went that up. Yeah. Hit the Puerto Rican thing.

Yeah, that's the Puerto Rican thing. Yeah, yeah, my bad. The silk, them niggas land up Puerto Rican. I didn't even realize that. I didn't even realize that. You wore them Z Cavaricis? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Cavaricis. You wore Paco jeans? Paco, yeah. I used to wear Paco. Paco, Paco. Diodoras? Y'all rock Diodoras. Oh, Diodoras?

Hell yeah. You know where's the shit? Lott yeah. I used to wear Paco. Deodorant? Yeah, I rocked Deodorant. Oh, Deodorant? Hell yeah. You know what was the shit? Lottos. You could take the patch off. You know what I'm talking about? You could take the patch off, put it back on. How about Paco jeans?

Nah, I don't think. You had to be a little hickish. You had to be a little hickish. I like Paco, though. Edwin jeans were the jeans out here. Edwins. No, we don't. That's what we had in Miami.

We never walked those. That's what we had. Really? What about them cross colors, though? Cross colors, yes. Cross colors. Cross colors. And that's where Carl Canine came out.

Yeah, Carl was just too high. He was so expensive. Who damaged? You said damage. Used, used. Gas is still lit out here. Jabot. Jabot.

Jabot's over. Yo, but you know who made an amazing comeback, though? Who? MCM, yo. MCM? MCM? MCM. People used to die know who made an amazing comeback, though? Who? MCM, yo. MCM? MCM? People used to die over MCM out here. MCM technically didn't go away.

It really did go away. It really lightened our community. But it didn't go away, period. It stayed in the malls, though. It stayed in the malls. Like, Benetton is over. You don't see Benetton no more. You sure it stayed in the malls?

Yeah, it did. MCM stayed in the malls. Our culture wasn't fucking with it. Because you know why our culture fucked with it? You don't see Benetton no more. You sure it stayed in the malls? Yeah, it did. MCM stayed in the malls. It just didn't. Our culture wasn't fucking with it. Because you know why our culture fucked with it? When Dapper Dan took it and chopped that shit up. And then when MCM didn't accept it. MCM and Gucci was looking at him. You got to remember.

That's what happened. Gucci. Because Timbaland, that's the same thing that happened to Tim. Yeah, Tim said, fuck us at first. And then we said, fuck you back. And Tim said, let's make it right. Right. Tim said, let's make it right. And we made it right. Cristal back and Tim said let's make it right. Right. Tim said

let's make it right and we made it right. Chris Dow did not say let's make it right. That's the reason why Ace of Spades is here. You know, one of the most

dope champagne in the world. But, I like talking about this. Who else? Who else? Franz Bechtel? Remember Elise? Yeah,

absolutely. Elise. Fila? Oh, Deodorus? Deodorus. No, we just said Deodorus. I said that already. I said that already. Oh, Elise is crazy. Deodorus. No, we just said Deodorus, man. I said that already. I said that already.

Oh, okay, my bad. You know, I ain't drinking. Oh, that makes it better. Yeah, you know, she'd commute wrong. I would have been on point if I was drinking. Oh, man. Oh, damn, what else, man? But, man, yo, Akon, man, we really appreciate you stopping by, man.

Absolutely, bro. Oh, man, you was funny as hell, beautiful, man. Did everything right, man. Drink tank, so love you, man. Give, bro. Aw, man, you was funny as hell. Beautiful, man. Did everything right, man. Drink tank, so love you, man. Give y'all flowers, man. You know that, man. Yeah, I love your flowers. I love you.

That's some fly shit, man. He said, give me a scented candle, man. That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to start doing that in my riders. A scented candle. It helps. You think sage works? No.

Oh, here we go. What's the other shit? Palo Santo. Palo Santo. I think that one go. What's the other shit? Palo Santo. Palo Santo. I think that one works. I guess it depends on who's lighting it. Because a mind is a powerful thing. If you believe it, it works.

Well, that's the thing with all that stuff. Yeah, if you believe it, it works. But why you don't think sage works? It's just smoke. It's just smoke. That's it. And then the shit fell, and then... See?

Sage got mad. Sage got mad Sage got mad Oh that was confirmation Oh it was confirmation Depending on who's taking the information You gotta say you right And what's the other name What's the other name of it Palo Santo

I like that better Because the smoke doesn't come out dark It's like It smells So Okay So Sage is supposed to Delete all the evil spirits from the room?

Drive them away. Drive them away? Yeah, at least. Which one do you think is more powerful, the sage or the prayer? Prayer. So, why waste your money? I'll do sage and prayer. All right, A.C.O.

Number one. And Palo Santo. Yes. Because, yo, and you Muslim, right, there you go. Number love. And Palo Santo. Yes. Because yo, and you Muslim, right? Mm-hmm. Every year

during Ramadan, it felt, it feels pure. Yeah. This is the only year during Ramadan I just felt nothing but evil.

Really? Like, I mean, and then I asked one of my, huh? No, I said,

wow. I asked one of my Muslim friends, Sig, and I said, yo, this is the first Ramadan. Like, every time Ramadan comes around, like, me as a non-Muslim, I participate. Right. But I feel just pure, positive energy. It's the first time in the years I've been practicing. And then my friend Sig says to me, he said, because during the month of Ramadan is when people reveal theyself.

That's true. And I was just like, oh, shit. He wasn't saying, it wasn't like the people were being evil. They was just kind of just revealing theyself. Did you feel that this Ramadan? Well, I spent this whole Ramadan in Africa.

I was in Africa the whole month of Ramadan. Wow, where in Africa? In Senegal. In Senegal. I was there the whole month. So I didn't feel anything. You didn't feel anything? But boy, I could tell you the cause month of Ramadan. Wow. Where in Africa? In Senegal. In Senegal. Yep. I was there the whole month. So I didn't feel anything. You didn't feel anything? But boy, I could tell you the calls I would get after I broke fast.

Right. Nothing but drama on this side. Wow. And what you mean? Broke fast at night or broke fast period? Yeah, broke fast in the evening. Okay. Because you know, after you break fast, you go back to your normal activities.

Right. Because I normally don't use the phone when I'm fasting because it'll distract me, right? Right. But for the most part, you know, when you call back home or you call back to some of your homies or people that you mess with on the side, yeah, it was like. And you're actually more awoke during the month, you know, the month around the month because you actually notice things that you're not really noticing because you're more spiritually awoke. You know what I'm saying? So you clearly can see the difference in people's attitudes, people's actions, emotions, and then it kind of makes you ask yourself why to a lot of things.

Okay. You know what I mean? So then after a month, it's about figuring it out at that point. Yes, yes. So you're finished? Yeah. Okay. So, um...

As many of y'all know, Drink Chance wants to give flowers while people are here to receive them. Giving flowers and celebrating our legends while they can still smell them. We have partnered with What The Flower to create this movement where everyone can give flowers to the legends in their lives. You can now order a custom flower box for the someone you want to show appreciation to by visiting www.wtflower.com and place your orders now. That's love and a baby right there, man. Itflower.com and place your orders now. That's love and a baby right there, man.

I appreciate it. You know, this means more than any award that you can get on some real shit because it means that you're appreciated by your peers, you're appreciated by the people that you do it for, and I accept my flowers with love. God damn! Because you, homeboy, who made the record, Joanna? That was Afro B. Afro B.

Afro B, yeah. You jacked his whole shit with Wakanda. Actually, it was a re-indition. I was like, this? It was a re-indition, yeah. I love the song so much, I had to redo it. So I made a response to it. Okay. Because, you know, sometimes when,

because you're a big artist. Right. Does that newer artist get mad at you? No, no, no, because I actually called him. Oh, okay. I called him first. Oh, yeah, you do. I said, nigga, I see your Afrobeatist record.

This is my favorite record, man. Oh, that's dope. I said, do you mind if I do a re-edition? He said, hell no, man, that'd be my pleasure. That's my pleasure. So I did it, sent it to him, he flipped. He actually was going to get on it with me. But then I said, man, if you do that, it won't be like the re-edition

that I want. You know what I'm saying? I said, let's me and you do a fresh record together so it's just like fresh. And then ever since then, I've been just advising him on his international stuff. So it went from me loving the record getting the permission to me working with him as an advisor to do his international stuff And was that a really would you do as a freestyle at first or you did it like to remake the record? No, I did it just for fun. It was like it was a parody for me Okay, have you seen the video with me and Michael Blackson? No. Oh, you gotta see the video

Hilarious it's almost like I just had sex type of video. It's a monster. Right, right. Yeah. So you got to see it. It's up there. Okay, so for the record, he did not get mad.

Nah, nah, nah. He supported me. Artists, artists. I hope y'all heard what he just said. You want to remake someone's record, call them up. I mean, he might have

been flattered by it. No, it was like, prime example, there was times we were in the same city. I would perform my version, then as mine is about to end, he come out with the actual version. It's crazy.

You know what I'm saying? So we teamed up on that like that. Or the other way around. I'll pop up from the back. You know what I'm saying? He go from Joanna to Wakanda. You know what I'm saying? Because Nori's worried about people doing his records over.

No, let them do it. Let them do it. Let them do it. I like the cold. Nori, let them do it. Yeah them do it. Let them do it. I like the cold. Nori, let them do it. Yeah, he got a thing. He's weird about it, man. No, Nori, that preserves you.

Yeah. You know how many times my record's been re-sampled, re-done? I haven't dropped a record since 2008. All right. Nigga, that's 15 years. Yeah. Yeah. You would have thought it was just yesterday because these little niggas are keeping me

preserved until I'm ready to drop another record, which we'll be dropping by the end of the year. All right. All right. But didn't you drop? You like that plug, right? Yeah. Didn't you drop like an Afrobeat type of album? Yeah, but that was just for Africa territory.

That was just for Africa? That was just for Africa. And what's the name of that? That was, what was the title I named that one? That was A. was... Akonda. Akonda. Yeah, Akonda. So you're saying you're making a global album.

Oh, no. Like the basic, the original, traditional Akonda records. Akonda, right. Yeah. By the end of this year? I was doing a lot of experimenting, just having fun with it. Right. I did an Afrobeat album.

I did a Latin album. Right. Like, I did a... That shit was dope. I did an Indian, like, Hindi album. You did That shit was dope I did an Indian Like Hindi album You did You did Bollywood music Yeah

Bro I got Bollywood songs All through these movies Oh you killing it out there Man I'm having fun I done did some K-pop records Like I was everywhere Holy shit

You going international for real Absolutely Even if you go to Dubai You hear me speaking I'm in records doing Arabic music Like I'm And it's you doing it

No it's me In their language It's me Not AI Not you doing it No it's me In their language It's me Not AI Not AI doing it Not AI You could be AI right now I could

What language does your daughter speak? Who me? Yeah No comment That's a dangerous man right there No only because I be in rooms Where I need to know

What they're saying They don't even know What language does I speak I promise you I hear it all It'd be hilarious, though. It'd be so funny. And that's the right no comment, then.

Yeah, that's the right no comment. Keep it that way. You got to do it. Anything else you want to talk about? Yeah, but so I am excited about this new record I'm about to drop. It's done already? Yeah, the album's finished.

Oh, wow. We're dropping it to the top of the year. Traditional Akon sound. So, Universal's dropping the best of Akon around we're thinking like around November, October, November time. And then shortly after that, I'll be introducing

the brand new album. December, January? The timeline is October, November. If everything works as planned... You said? The timeline is October, November. Okay. If everything works as planned. So you said the best of is October, November. Yeah, the best of.

And then the album is dropping right after. So fourth quarter. Okay. So be prepared for the new holidays to be hearing some new music. Now, back then, we used to drop singles. Nowadays, there's no singles. It's just drop the album. Right. Like, nowadays, they like, there's no singles. It's just drop the album. Right.

Everyone is biting off of Beyonce, because Beyonce invented that, like, just drop the album. Right. Now, you're going to just drop the album, or you're going to build it up? No, it's going to be a lead up. It's going to be a lead up. And that's why we're doing the Best of Akon releases first. You know, Team Up with Universal, Activate My Old Fans, and people. Right.

Just kind of remind them. That's smart. Remind them. You know, remind them, get them back into the Akon's, you know, energy, and then. Just kind of remind them. That's smart. Remind them. Remind them. Get them back into the Akon's energy and then just come with a new album.

Right. So we're going to lead it up. You're going to lead it up? Yeah. Two singles probably? Oh no. Everything is a single. There ain't no such thing

as a... Okay. No. The whole album is a single. Man listen. The whole album dropping same day. Right.

Video for everything. Man video for every single song. That's right. That. Video for everything. Man, video for every single song. That's right. That makes sense to me. That makes sense to me. Absolutely. And again, your dream artist to work with? The dream artist to work with is Sade.

That's a lot. That's a great. She's the only artist left in my list of artists that I wanted to work with that I haven't worked with yet. She seems untouchable. You can't get to her.

I don't have a connection to her. She's invisible. She's like a what you said? She's invisible. She's like a wizard. As many people as I know, I still haven't found one person that can get me to her.

How about Drake? I love Drake. He's my favorite artist today. You guys would make incredible music together. I think we definitely would. Yeah, no, for sure.

I think we definitely would. Call it a sore pebble. Yeah, the only thing I think that stuck, it was, I just wasn't in the music space at the time. Right. But I think when I get back in,

I think there's some great opportunities for me and Drake to do something crazy together. That'd be phenomenal. Yeah, it would be. I fuck with Drake. Yeah. Who else before we get up out of here?

Damn, you worked with everybody, bro. I have. There's only one rapper that I haven't worked with yet, and I still to this day can't figure out why, is Jay-Z. He's the only one I haven't worked with yet. And I always thought that maybe it's because of the timing of our careers going this way. Probably was at the time.

Oh, I mean, because bro, I'm a huge fan. I don't know how you feel about me, but I always felt like that could be something that would be crazy. I think that would complete me from an urban music standpoint, making that happen. Yeah, I think that would just be stupid. I'm just picturing how that shit sound. Yeah, I think that would be crazy. Well, who would you prefer? You on his album or him on yours

or both? I think it wouldn't make as long as it's done. Yeah, I don't think it'll make a difference. Get it done. Yeah.

Honestly, I prefer it on his album because I know it'll guarantee he'd be pushed. Right. You know what I'm saying? How about,

how about, it's guaranteed to go number one. Right. How about Nas? Oh, yo, you know how long

me and Nas been trying to connect? Jesus. It's just been fate. I promise you. Believe me, that was supposed to have been happening. Me and Nas always trying to get together. But it's just, he's so international. I'm so international.

It's just like, it's just being in the same place at the same time. And artists like me and him, we just don't see us working over the internet. We just got to be in a room together. Absolutely. And I think that's why... Don't do it on the internet, please.

Yeah, that's the only reason why it didn't happen earlier because I think it'd just be bigger if me and him was in the same room. That's what me and EFN say all the time.

Sometimes we do this analog or digital. Right. And we always kind of pick analog and the reason why is because I feel like the music

that was made in the 90s, early 2000s was better because we had a rail. You had to actually come to my studio. The culture of analog. The energy,

you can't match it. You had to get on. You had to be in the same room. Right. So do you think that's true? I think it depends on the artist, right?

I think some chemistries are better when they're separated. That's true. Some people just make great music separated, but then when they get in the same room, the energy may be different because one may be shy. Shy, tensed up. You just never really know. So in this generation, that works out better because a lot of these artists are very antisocial. They low-key super weird.

You get close to them, they just start. You know what I'm talking about. They quiet. They just mute. They low-key super weird. Like, you get close to them, they just start, you know what I'm talking about. They quiet, they just mute. They don't say nothing. I'm like, man, I've been here 30 minutes? You don't want to ask me nothing? You know what I'm saying?

But come on. Artists was weird back then too. But not like this though. Yeah, damn, you're kind of right. Damn, you're right. Yeah, but back then they were forced to be together so you could only be weird so long

before you're like, damn, I'm acting weird. But then the crazy part about it is when you DM them, they can't shut up. Nigga, they hit you with 18 paragraphs. Like, bro, I just asked a simple yes or no question, you know what I'm saying? Right. But that's all, you know. Right, that's generational for sure. It's generational for sure. Yeah. The other day, right, I seen a kid.

I don't want to say his name. But we were sitting there, and he knew who Dominique Wilkins was. He knew who Chris Webber was. He knew all these people who don't play him as a kid. Right. But then someone asked him, and he's a rapper. Someone asked him who KRS-One was. He had no clue. Right. But then someone asked him, and he's a rapper, someone asked him who KRS-One was,

he had no clue. Wow. Someone asked him who Rakim was, he had no clue. Someone asked him who Biggie Smalls was, he had a clue,

but he wasn't. Do you think that's something that in hip-hop and in our genre, that we, it's something that we should actually learn, like,

learn about our culture. Like, why would you learn about, the same way you learn about basketball and you learn about these Apache Ewing sneakers, shouldn't you learn

about Big Pun and shouldn't you learn about Melly Mel? Well, I agree. We should learn, but we just, we don't learn

because, like, learning has to be motivated. Right. The reason why you know about a lot of these, you know, basketball players and some football players for that matter, they have these hall of fames that recognize them and their abilities. And also, you know, give them the just of their creation and present it to the people that might have not known what they're responsible for.

Hip hop is the only music that we don't celebrate the founding fathers. Right. We don't have a foundation to help them because most of them are in bad situations. They paved the way for us. This is stuff that we, as a culture, just naturally just do. Right. Yeah. They do it as a natural culture.

They hold museums, teach each other history to the point where their history is being taught to us because we don't even have or preserve our own history. You can't blame them. That's the only history that exists because they preserved it. When did we ever preserve African history or black history outside of the parts that just hurt us so bad that every time we do something and we fail, we use it as an excuse. You follow what I'm saying? So as a culture, we got to be better. We have to, and it got to be with people that understand that that, you know, actually exists. And the people that actually has the power and the resources to actually make it happen.

Like, that's something that would help us, believe it or not, because it keeps us empowered longer. Because this culture is not something, it's really up for grabs. I don't care where you go in the world. Everywhere you go in the world, hip-hop exists. But it exists in their language. And they're talking about their culture to the point where New York

can't even claim it no more. That's right. I've been saying that, yeah. You follow what I'm saying? Yeah, that's true. But had New York created the museum. Which right now they are. Right now they have.

Right now the Universal Hip-Hop Museum. Use all the hip hop artists as a way of pushing people to it, though. It's okay to have it, but who's there? No, no, they just, they're creating it now. Right, so let's create.

Like, we need to support it, though. They got a lot of support, though. The Nas behind it, a lot of the founding fathers. There's a lot of people behind it, yeah. You know what I'm saying? And Chuck D. It's important.

And Curtis Bloke and Karis One got all the union thing cause that history man we cannot allow but we're late that's the thing we're all late to it

it's all late it's even why we created the show because there wasn't there wasn't a platform that was given a voice to artists that necessarily weren't on a press run anymore

right right right and that's why we did it cause nobody was giving us a voice a DJ and an MC that they felt was washed up and old like nah okay we gonna create our own platform there you go why we did it, because nobody was giving us a voice. Right. A DJ and an MC that they felt was washed up and old. Right, right. Like, no, okay, we're going to create our own platform.

There you go. And we did, motherfucker. Man, congratulations. Come on. Yeah, man. Good job, man. I want to big you up, your staff, man, you know, for coming through, man. No, thank you, man.

Exactly who you are, man. Continue your success. We want to support you. I don't know if you want to promote to support you. We don't care what fuck if you want to promote pink toenails. We don't care. You can come on here

anytime you want. Man, appreciate that, brother. So last time I got drunk, but this time I stayed sober because I wanted to give you respect. That's an honor, bro. I wanted to give you respect. That's big for him to do that.

That's big. I know how big that is. Let me chill. Let me chill. Let me stay sharp. You know what I'm saying? He dissed me last time I said I wanted to be sober.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, no. That's because... No, no, no, no. That's because the person that never been on the show before. He been on the show.

We got drunk with him. Come on. You can't let a person who's never been on the show... Oh, my God. We need the real EFA. Come on, man. The real EFA is sober or drunk.

It don't matter. No, no, no. Like, we need you to DJ. We need you to DJ. Come out and DJ, man. Let's take a picture. Yeah, come man. It's like a sober art drug. It don't matter. No, no, no. We need you to DJ. We need you to DJ. Come out and DJ, man. Let's take a picture. Yeah, come on. Let's take a picture and get some drops. Thanks so much for looking at A-Call, yo! Drink Champs is a

Drink Champs LLC production in association with Interval Presents. Hosts and executive producers, N-O-R-E and DJ EFN. From Interval Presents. Hosts and executive producers NORE and DJEFN. From Interval Presents, executive producers Alan Coy and Jake Kleinberg. Listen to Drink Champs on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for joining us for another episode of Drink Champs, hosted by yours truly, DJ EFN and NORE. Please make sure to follow us on all our socials.

That's at Drink Champs across all platforms. At TheRealNoriega on IG. At Noriega on Twitter. Mine is at Who's Crazy on IG. At DJ EFN on Twitter. And most importantly, stay up to date with the latest releases, news, and merch by going to drinkchamps.com. 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 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart Podcast.