Drink Champs - Episode 392 w/ AZ

Episode Date: December 15, 2023

N.O.R.E. & DJ EFN are the Drink Champs. In this episode the Champs chop it up with the legend himself, AZ!AZ joins us and shares his journey in hip-hop. AZ shares stories of his debut album “Doe or Die” the legendary record “Sugar Hill” and much more!AZ shares stories of working with NAS, the origins of The Firm and much much more! Special guest DJ Doo Wop also joins the conversation!Lots of great stories that you don’t want to miss!Listen as we continue to celebrate 50 Years of Hip-Hop!!Make some noise for AZ!!! 💐💐💐🏆🏆🏆 *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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This year, a lot of the biggest names in music and sports. This kind of starts that a little bit, man. We met them at their homes. We met them at their recording studios. Stories matter, and it brings a face to them. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real.

Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And it's Drink Chats motherfucking podcast. We'll be right back. biggest players in the most professional unprofessional podcast and your number one source for drunk back every day is New Year's Eve drink up for the fuck what a good be hoping when it should be this your boy N-O-R-E. What up, it's DJ E-F-N. And this drink champ's motherfucking yappy hour, Mane Sumner! Now, when we talk about, you know,

interviewing legends and interviewing icons and interviewing people who changed the game, this man has been a part of, you know, an album that changed my life. This man has been classic after classic. You know what I mean? Lyric who after, I'm listening to his discography.

You can't find a whack bar nowhere. Like when you talk about lyricism, you talk about a man who stood the test of time. Did it. Was a part of the most legendary group ever. And we're going to talk about that.

He is here. Yeah. new album on the way oh I probably out by the time we drop this in case you don't know we took about the one the only salsa now we've been trying to get you for eight years man you are one of the most requested guests. They mad at us. Yeah, they mad at us. We've been stopping it. No, it's my fault. Yeah, yeah. I don't do interviews.

I just say that. I don't do them. Because every time we get a guest, they'll say, well, you ain't get AZ yet. So, tell us what's been going on in your life, eh? Oh, man, just trying to figure it out. You know what I mean? Took a step back for a few years, you know, and watched the game transition to this technology thing, you know, the social media. And I've been putting a few songs out, waiting to get into the right mind frame to put albums out.

So 2021, I dropped Door.2, that was a great thing for me. And now I'm on the next album. Yeah. And this is independent? All independent Facts Yeah What's the difference from you?

Because You know First time we ever heard you We heard you on Life's a Bitch On Nas Ill Matters Which was a major label Then I believe If I'm incorrect

I believe you signed to EMI after that? Facts So tell us What was that transition like? Well me I wasn't signed to EMI after that. Facts. So tell us, what was that transition like? Well, me, I wasn't trying to get on. I just met Nas through a phone call. You know what I mean? That's crazy.

Hold on, hold on. I don't know if it was somebody. I don't know if it was Yambo. I don't know if you know Yambo. Yambo, rest in peace. My man, his man. You're my man in Brooklyn. Better than your man in Queens type of thing, right?

So we was on the phone. I think Aq was on the phone with a lot of rappers. And me and Nas kind of more or less clicked because we was talking that shit. You know what, right? So we was on the phone. I think Ack was on the phone with a lot of rappers. And me and Nas kind of more or less clicked because we was talking that shit, you know what I mean? And we stayed on the phone. I necessarily wasn't looking for a deal. I was like, if it happened, it happened. You know what I mean?

And it took about a year before I saw Nas and went to the studio. And he was halfway through Illmatic. And I was just there supporting, you know what I mean? Coming through, showing love. And probably the last song was Life's a Bitch. And L.E.S. was just dead supporting, you know what I mean? Coming through, showing love. And probably the last song was Life's a Bitch. And L.E.S. was in there.

He put it on. And I'm in there vibing. I'm like, I'm rapping like, yo, let me hear that. And I did it. And I'm like, get the fuck out of here, man.

You popping. You love, right? Already, because I think Halftime was out. You know what I mean? Me, I'm not that confident at the end of the day. So when I did it,

you know, the crew was in there. They went crazy. I figured it's just, you know, they're showing love, I'm not that confident at the end of the day. So when I did it, you know, the crew was in there. They went crazy. I figured it's just, you know, they're showing love because I'm there, whatever. A week later, he came back and said, yo, I turned the album in. I was like, word? He's like, and I kept Life's a Bitch on it. I was like, oh, shit.

Okay. But I still felt the waves. I'm like, you know, I didn't really like my voice at the time or whatever, right? When you hear yourself For the first time But when it came out Motherfuckers went crazy That shit hit

Yeah it went crazy And then wait wait But then from there Every label came at me Yeah yeah You know what You was a bit of a Yeah every label

But so I was trying to figure it out EMI didn't have a lot of Artists there They had Gangstar at the time You know what I mean And Gangstar You know they They put their work

in, but I know it wasn't cluttered, so I wanted to come over there and be like the nucleus of what was going on. I signed with them, and there you have it. Okay, so you're saying that this started from a phone call, like just playing around, like

yo, my man from Brooklyn, nice to meet you, man. You hadn't laid verses prior to that? I never was in an official studio. Like, I bullshitted here and there, you know what I mean? Get the fuck out of here. So you consider yourself an MC? Like, you were just bullshitting?

We all love rap, you know what I mean? I'm sure everybody in here think they can rap, you know what I mean? So I thought I could rap. I wasn't. I mean, you was different, man. You were a little different than you just think you could rap. Now in hindsight, but then, nah. I was like, nah. You got I mean, you was different, man. You were a little different than you just did. Now in hindsight, but then, nah. I was like, nah.

You got to understand, halftime is out. He's already, the street's talking. Right. I'm just a motherfucker from Brooklyn, you know what I mean? Trying to figure it out. So it was good when I did get the love. Right. Because I knew I had what it took, you know what I mean?

Right. At the end of the day. Okay. So you hadn't really officially been in the studios. Right, right. He said, he invites you to the studio. Y'all hadn't met each other prior to that. Nah, nah.

Actually. This is your first time? No, no. Check it out. So I've been like, yeah. You know, Nas like, yo, man, you know, this is hyper-dead. My brother got shot. I'm like, damn, my man just got shot.

Your mother-in-law got locked up. Your mother-in-law got killed. So we had the same, similar stories just got shot. Your mother man got locked up. Your mother man got killed. So we had the same, similar stories, you know what I mean? So, I wasn't beat to go to the studio. I don't,

I just didn't give a fuck, you know what I mean? So I guess like, it had to be about a year, about, he's like, yo man, we at Chung King,

when I was down on Canal Street. Oh yeah, Canal Street, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,

yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,

yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I was like, fuck it, I ain't doing nothing, I'm going to come through,

and I went through, you know, we had a thousand niggas was like, fuck it, I ain't doing nothing. I'm going to come through. And I went through. You know, we had a thousand niggas in there, but it was all good. And it was a good vibe because when I saw them, I was like... This is your first time meeting.

This is my first time meeting. My height. Wow. My stature. Fly nigger. Fly nigger. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Bunch of wolves around us.

It's like, you know what I mean? It was like, oh, okay. That's like my brother, you know what I mean? And it was a good vibe. Right. You got the Dre set up? Yeah. And me and my, this is my man Dre, we battle on who

can quote the best vocalist. So I'm, he AZ and I'm AZ. You're going to tell us who is the better AZ right now. Come on. Come on. Come on, come on, come on, come on. Let's do it. Let's do it. Come on, come on, come on, come on. Get over here. I can't hold my breath as long as I'm here.

I can't hold my breath. That's what's going to mess you up. That's what's going to mess you up. I can't hold my breath. I'm sorry. So, we're gonna beat some stuff up in the city next week And we're gonna carry on the dishes We're gonna go to the restaurant We're gonna go to the bar We're gonna go to the bar We're gonna go inside the guys

We're gonna go We don't think about it We all gotta go We ain't gonna leave it We're gonna leave it Once we got the dough So, we're gonna be excited We're gonna turn the papers

Be in my papers Put me some wheels Back in many places Even in Rio Back in New York Get high Your life's a bitch and then you die I knew I won that round

I knew I won that round I knew I won that round At the fact Because I didn't I always knew how ill that verse was Right But

I'm literally in DFY how ill that verse was Right But I'm literally in DFY When this album comes out Right And This album Made me want to write rhymes But

I'm sitting there And I did not know who AZ was Right And I'm like Who is this guy And You're not from the bridge No I'm from left right Yeah yeah yeah So I'm thinking like I'm like who is this guy and you're not from the bridge no I'm from left right

so I'm thinking like I'm thinking who the hell is and then it was some Brooklyn kids from me Jamel Simon and Jamal I forgot Jamal's last name and they were both from East New York and boy were they so happy they were like that's East New York

and this is do you know that's probably one of the most prolific features in hip hop. That's real. That's real. Do you know that? Uh, yeah, now. I do now, baby.

Fuck that, that's right. That's real, though. That's real. Yeah, man, I ain't going to lie to you, bro. Like, that was a mark. So let's talk about, because after that, everyone, that's all the rumors was, you got to get AZ, AZ is the next guy. Now, is that pressure on you, or you expected that?

Because I know you said you wasn't really rapping, but do you expect all these people to come at you after this drops? That must have been everybody coming at you quick after that. It was a little pressure to an extent, because you want to make all the right moves, right? You hear the stories of, you know, even Nas telling me situations where he was signed. You know what I mean? Right. Already.

And then you do, being in, you know, life, you hear artists and they come and go. You want to kind of make the right decisions. But the pressure probably came where I have to do an album now, right? I only got a few verses. I got to write 12 songs, three verses per song. A little pressure right there for me, right? And being brand new in the game,

so just had to do it. Pick the right producers, right? Because here I am trying to follow up with whatever already came out the gate, which was Illmatic I am trying to follow up with whatever already came out the gate, which was Illmatic. I got to follow up with that. Then you're hearing all the other artists for my era coming out.

So, you know what I mean? A little pressure. Right. A little pressure. But I'm away from where I was, right? Right. I'm somewhere else now. I'm good.

Right. Cool, I'll take that pressure. Right. Now, was it, because you remember, I felt like everything was going through take that pressure. Right. Now, was it, because you remember, I felt like everything was going through like Sony at that time.

Like, style was pushing, like, everyone kind of like, I believe the firm, but then the firm winds up at Interscope. So, was it like, was it different? Well, you're saying,

you're saying my album, because that firm came two years after. Two years after, yes, yes. Right, so it went from my album, it went from, you know, being on Illmatic to my album It went from You know being on Illmatic to my album

To Nas It was written To the firm Right So that was the whole Stout came in Stout wasn't

Stout came in It was written Stout came in After the fact Yeah Okay Came in after the fact Yeah

So Let's talk about the firm How did What was this idea Was That was on my album, More Money, More Motor, the firm value one.

Midnight was talking about it. You know, we seeing everybody, you know, we seeing, you know, what the Wu doing. We hearing what,

you know, the commission, you know, we hearing things. So we want to put our shit together. You know what I mean? I knew Fox. One of the homies

introduced me to Fox. But I've been to her brother's I lived around the corner Before I moved to the east I lived around the corner from Fox I knew Gavin So Met Fox Through the homies

Introduced her to Nas And I was like alright let's do this She was heating up I mean? And it was like, all right, let's do this. You know what I mean? She was heating up on her own, so everything was like divine intervention, to be honest. And this is at the time

where Big had Lil' Kim already or not yet? All this is, yo, this shit just, this shit is all trans, this shit is like this. This is like, ain't no time to think,

you know what I mean? Nah, nah, my whole shit, me, Fox, yo, you working out, my cool, yo, bring me to the studio, she doing her shit, she's not deaf,

she cool, let's start, it's just a movement like that. She had to join with Jay. Yeah. She's burning candles from all ends. Is it true you, Jay, and Biggie went to school together? No. Me and Jay went to school together first with EMI.

They closed that down because that was like the lean on me. It was off the hook. Put it like that. And I think he went to Western House of Med Big. But you and Jay was in school together. Yeah, facts.

So Jay-Z. It's these Brooklyn schools, man. And AZ. Right. Was in what kind of school? Was this high school? It was high school. He was there definitely

before me because one of the homies introduced me to him. He was like, yo, this cat get busy What up You know what I mean I was like oh okay

And then you know See Jay here and there When he come to school We be in the lunchroom Fucking around You know what I mean Alright Yeah

And did y'all have a battle I wouldn't call it a battle We rap Ain't no battle Jay probably was The same as he is now He was then You know what I mean

Sound like you really Get the better one on that Hey Listen I'm a new Jack I'm a new Jack You know what I mean At that time you you really get the better one on that. I'm a new jack. I'm a new jack. You know what I mean? You got to understand, he was fucking with jazz.

They was nice. Speed rapping. They was speed rapping. They was traveling. They was touring. Well, I guess probably right at that time. Because I'm ninth grade, you know. But he was more in the mix than me. Put it like that.

So he's going to have to better up. You know what I mean? Yeah. How about Busta Rhymes? You in the school of Busta Rhymes? Nah, I didn't. That's big and Busta and all them at,

what's that? Yeah, I don't know what school that went to. Hip Hop High School. Big Busta and Biggie. I'm like, and Jay. One of them, Western House,

one of them, I don't know. It was the smart schools too. You said a smart school? Yeah, it was a smart school. I was going to 600 school. I wasn't allowed. Yeah. So what you like better, writing the music or performing the music?

I like writing first, performing I love now, you know what I mean? But writing, you know, it's therapeutic. Maybe put your thoughts on paper. It's a beautiful thing. So let's take it back to The first album Right You gotta pick this first single Right

You and L.E.S. is in the studio How does this record come about? And then why do y'all World's best record in the world I don't wanna put that record out Not that record Everybody's pushing You're getting hit?

Yeah I don't wanna put that record out Get the fuck out of here I had to twist my arm for that Let's speed my drink up I'm ready to get my drink You good? You want some Chef Parganet? Let's good? You want some Chef Parganet? Give him some Chef Parganet, man.

Give him some Chef Parganet, man. Your own bottle. Your own bottle. You know what I'm saying? I sip it. I sip it a little bit. Yeah, you sip it. Because we're celebrating you today, baby.

You know what I mean? What was the question I was saying before that? The single. The single. Hopefully we'll get back to that. But our show is about giving people their flowers, man. You know what I'm saying? Before that? The single. The single. He said he didn't have a single. But our show is about giving people their flowers, man. You know what I mean? So we want to give you your flowers off top, man.

My brother, face to face, man to man. Tell you how great you are. You know what I'm saying? Snoop said it's like a Grammy. You know what I'm saying? Yes, yes. Yeah. Yes.

Holy moly guacamole. Bill, give you some champagne. I wanted to bring you some flowers too, but they said somebody did that You got to get your flowers No, no, no It's about you, my brother It's all good

So, I, because Damn, I would have never thought that To me As an outsider looking in As probably an insider that is looking out When I'm looking at what y'all doing From Illmatic to your album This looks like it's perfect to me. Sugar Hill perfect?

Yeah. No, it didn't because we street motherfuckers and we thinking about rapping. I'm not thinking about the business of it. Yo, man, you got to sell records. You got to recoup this money. Like Grady and shit like that, right. You put the B side for the street niggas and then put the single for the world. Because what was the B side?

More money, more problem? No, it was rather unique. Okay, cut ahead. Yeah, so put that out. So it was rather unique. So me, I'm happy with that. I'm happy with just, I want to develop my style. I want to speak to my people's management.

Like, yo, come on, bro. We got to make some hits, man. You know what I mean? You see what's going on out there. You know, Big had the Juicy and things of that nature. It's a differentiation of, you know, you speak to the cash, you speak to the women, the women buy records. So it's a whole new knowledge coming in now.

Like, okay, it ain't just battling and rapping and trying to show them the live-ins. The women want to get down? Okay, yeah, let's play. You know what I mean? So Sugar Hill, you didn't like this? I didn't like it, no Why?

Just told you, it was a dance record You thought it was a commercial record But what was told to me, which made it fly Like, spit some real shit on it It's R&B-ish, the ladies can dance You spit the real shit, the niggas gonna like it You good So that concept got me like You you know, it mind fucked me.

But it worked. Right, right. It mind fucked me. Yeah, man, I would have never, I would have never touched you. You ain't like that record. Come on, man. Everybody was coming through, busting their guns, or arming for T-shirts.

You know what I mean? Yeah. I don't want to get all suited and booted. At that time, I didn't. But it was being ahead of the game, right? In reality, because it was like, all right, I got a big budget. Right. Got a lot of money.

Make some noise for that big budget. Yeah, big budget. A big budget. Your face looking different once you said that big budget. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Big budget. So we got to recoup, right? Because that's the business.

So, I mean, they got me good in that zone. Really righted how I wrote it. Right. And delivered it. and it worked. Right. Now, you learned in the business. Right. Was that a shock to you?

Because, you know, most of the time, most of us would probably do this because we rhyme good for fun, but then you got to realize, you got to feed your family. When was the time that you realized that this was a business? When I got that check, first check, I said,

oh shit, it's real. The first check made it real. The first check? Yeah. And what happened? What was the first check from, though? From EMI. I remember prior to me signing, I went on the tour with Nas for the, for the Illmatic tour and shit.

I was happy just going for the education, right, learning. I ain't in the hood. Fuck it. I'm fucking, I'm in Queens now. I'm fucking with that zone. Right. So when we finished the tour, you know, I was, with everybody coming to the table, I decided to go to EMI. They gave me my check.

But then, you know, Nas called, like, yo, man, yo, they's coming on tour. I'm like, all right, cool. I decided to go to IMI. They gave me my check. But then, you know, now it's called. Like, yo, man, yo, they's coming on tour. I'm like, all right, cool. So I got a little money for it. I'm like, all right, cool, whatever. He didn't know I signed it. I was going to tell him, but he beat me to the punch. I was like, all right, so I got a little $4,500 for you, $4,500.

I was like, oh, okay, cool. That's cool. Man, better than that. I don't care. So he started laughing. Like, yo, you crazy. I got about $10,000, $15,000 for you. You know what I'm saying?

But it was cool. And like I said, the whole thing was like a blessing and a lesson at the same time. started laughing like yo you crazy me i got about 10 15 000 for you you know what i'm saying but it was cool and like i said the whole thing was like a blessing and a lesson at the same time you know what i mean right okay i've been wanting to ask you this question forever right okay you said on phone tap because i felt like this was racist towards latinos and then i realized you're dominican so it can't be racist. Because you're going to start right from your Dominican side, too. We're going to get you on the reggae throne right here. By the night.

You're going to be on Omega and somebody. By the night. But, you know, I always thought this lie because you said, I caught him sleeping in Spanish Harlem. Puerto Rican. I put this live because you said, a quarter of them sleeping in Spanish Harlem. Puerto Ricans. A quarter of them sleeping in Puerto Rican's Spanish Harlem. Yeah, right off the Deacon.

Off the Deegan. Right. Spanish Harlem and the Deegan not that close, AZ. Who's doing all of that? Who was? Who was? People do that with my niggas, don't start doing that.

What the fuck you talking about? Get fuck You talking about It's not that serious It ain't that serious But You can get this Pass home Do the thing That's a fact That's a fact

Let's talk to that God damn Let's talk to that God damn Solo Now that's a classic record Yeah Phone tap

Y'all in the studio Right Your phone was tapped You was like Fuck it Let's just make a noise about it Nah I'm fucking with you

Nah we always We always just be in that zone Like I guess Through our lyrics Well my lyrics I can say I just try to Throw a jewel in there too

For I know the hood listening So Like we always on our phones, so just be mindful, right, because we all take shit for granted, and,

every time I write, even since Life's a Bitch, I always try to throw, I speak that street shit, but I throw a jewel in, so, phone tap, it was just that zone,

when Dre throw that beat on it, it just came to life, and, you know, Nas came up with the hook, the concept was more or less, Nas, right,

like, yo, change that shit to a phone sound, like, we're talking on the phone, you know what I mean, but we always, You know Nas came up with the hook The concept was more or less Nas right Like yo Change that shit to a phone sound Like we're talking on the phone You know what I mean But we always Throw ideas back and forth In the studio

You know what I mean So It came out good Everything come out good Me and Touch Shit It come out good all the time All the time When you look at the firm album

When you look at You know This was A collective force right of individuals that came together right do you did you understand what y'all was doing back then no i was trying we was bringing the coast together we was really involved that was that was a that was a power move right there right because we it was just an idea of trying to make it happen so um with dre being involved and

you know Trackmasters was hot as hell yep uh and and and we had Norby on the album too it was crazy but so the thought was okay cool me Nas Fox cool right I I run in a half I'm bringing half to the table Right Cause he was just Lyrically immaculate Right So Nas like Okay well I'm being mega

Mega just came home Right At the time I'm trusting You know Nas judgment Which is cool You know what I mean So we

That's the force To me it's It actually really Cause I think I think half came after the fact so me nas mega and then somewhere along the line you know the lines got blurred it becomes i think it's business right it's not a it's not a um a talent thing it becomes a business thing right this person's on and it's management this this regulation, these people are in control of certain things,

and that's why there's no firm tool. Right. I mean, you seem like you're cooler than the whistle, man. Right. Like, you seem like you're cooler than the other side of the pillow. Right. But we all know this famous thing that happened, right? I was actually in the studio when, I don't know what happened with the mega sign,

but I was there when Nature actually did the freestyle. And no one asked him to do that. But you, how did you feel? Because at one hand, you guys were working for Mega, and then it was like they switched it, and now you got to work with Nature. Did you have a relationship with Nature, or how did that even feel? Well, I met Mega first, you know what I mean? Me and Mega born official, you know what I mean? I met nature after the fact, but I knew it was a business move, right?

But it was out of my control to an extent. I really couldn't, right? It was like I didn't have the power to really. I gave my say so to an extent, like, what's going on? Right. You know, now I know that,

you know, he signed over here, he signed over here, he don't want to sign this, he don't want to do that, so it was that type of shit, right, that I think always take place

when a lot of people are involved. You know, I'm neutral with everything, right? Right. That's just me, right? Right.

And that was that. What the fuck I'm going to do? And that Right. That's just me, right? Right. And that was that. What else? What the fuck I'm going to do? And that's some Queen shit. That's some Queen shit. That's some Queen shit. Like, I can't. What I'm going to do, right?

They'll fuck around, fight, get back together. I'll jump. I'll be involved. They'll fuck around, get that biggie. What I'm going to do? That's some real shit. That's some real shit. So, um...

You guys finally formed this group right Right You go to LA Right Dr. Dre is involved Was it signed to Dr. Dre Or It was a collective

I think it was signed to Dr. Dre Yeah Aftermath So you get in the studio with Dr. Dre Right What is that like That's a beautiful thing That's right right

But It's on the heels of Him leaving Death Row So it that like? That's a beautiful thing. That's right, right? But it's on the heels of him leaving Death Row, so it's still like, it's a little crazy. There's a lot of shit going on at the time. You was there,

it's just a lot of, you know, energy, right? Energy was everything. Right now the energy is subtle, but back then the energy was very serious. But it was good

to fuck with Dre from his discography and the shit he put in and then him and Nas making that acquaintance. Let's get busy. Right? That's my mindset.

Let's just get busy. Like, I can't think too much about a lot of shit going on. I'm trying to hit the target all the time. That's it. If you was to do a firm part two right now,

who would you pick? What the fuck that mean? Pick who? What do you mean? Like, ask the four members or five or six members. Oh, you're trying to say

pick anybody? Yeah, like, let's suppose, let's suppose everyone came and said, yo, hey,

we want to do the firm. You're the closest to the streets. You have the mind. We want you to lead this forehead. Who's the people you would pick

if it's your choice? Same crew. Which one? Two different firms now but you yo everybody yo listen man listen man pick a size right i'm the type that i let it pick itself. I'm that type of person. I'm going to bring everybody to the table. Listen, we got some people on the table. What's going on?

What we doing? Whoever eagle get in the way or whoever can't do nothing, that's them that'll X they self out. But I'll bring everybody to the table. Why can't everybody be involved in it? I said they can. He said that you can do it. Like nature and mega. I said he could pick any group, sir.

You make it seem like you want to displace it. Uh-uh, uh-uh. I said any could pick any group, sir. You make it seem like you want to displace him. I said any group. I would say that's the best term. Sometimes problems solve themselves, right? I know the surface of it. I don't know the in-depth. There could be more shit. I don't know.

I'm keep going. I don't know. Everybody good now? I'm pretty sure there's no problem. I didn't know the in-depth. I'm sure it probably was deeper than, yo, I'm signing over here. I don't know I know like Everybody good now? Yeah I'm pretty sure There's no problem That's what I'm sayin' But I don't know I didn't know the in-depth I'm sure it probably Was deeper than yo I'm signin' over here

I wanna sign these papers But then it probably Got messed up somewhere That I don't know Cause I wasn't I was in the bridge I wasn't They was seein' each other

On their own time You know what I mean? So I don't know really But as men You know they They straighten it out Like you said Like we all grown now

You know what I mean? Like I'm sure A lot of people got iller stories that story was light work right yeah everybody got some paper

got some shine they couldn't figure it out they went their way everybody did their thing you know sink it deep and other other crews

a lot of deep you know what I'm saying so I'm cool with it now we seen a picture of you right posted of a Foxy Brown daughter oh my bad You know what I'm saying So I'm cool with it Now we seen a picture of you Right Posted

Of a Foxy Brown daughter On my back Yeah Oh yes yes yes I went to check up on Fox I try to dialogue Well right I'm keeping 100

I don't speak to nature Right At all No contact I see him here and there I dialogue right But I speak to Mega Periodically

I speak to Fox periodically I speak to Nas periodically Right so You know this is 50 years of hip hop I'm to Fox periodically. I speak to Nas periodically. This is 50 years of hip-hop. I want Fox to get a shine. You know what I'm saying? I applaud Nas for bringing me out at the Garden.

That was a great thing. She being a part of the culture and the era, let me check up on her. I want to check up on her. She wasn't there But you know Baby C was there Right

And this is like I saw I went to visit Fox When she First had her in the hospital But this is the second time I saw her She's six now

I was like oh shit And she looks just like him You know what I mean Exactly Yeah I was like wow I think they call her Red Fox That's crazy

You said that's what they do I think they call her Red Fox Wow that's fly Baby You said that's what they do? I think they call her Red Fox. Wow, that's fly. Baby Seabird, Red Fox. Yeah, that's fly. Red Fox. Yes, yes, yes, yes. That's crazy, yeah.

Because you didn't get to see Fox. I didn't get to see her. What do you... I spoke to her after the fact, right? I don't know if she's running around or whatever. Tell her, like, come on, man. Come get this money. Get your shine back.

You know what I mean? I got some cigars for you, brother. Yeah, get your shine back. And I appreciate it. You know what I mean? Oh, shit, I got blunts in here and everything. Hold on, hold on. This is, this is, this is...

Okay. Just in case. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, just in case. Whichever you want, you know what I'm saying? You know what I mean? It's in my personal stash man I want you to feel good

Because you know why You a legend man You deserve your flowers You deserve your respect You deserve your love You a pillar of this hip hop shit And your fans is relentless I don't know

That's crazy yeah I had to come here They were relentless They were relentless There was people telling me I told you motherfucker I was like damn Like There was people telling me, I told you, motherfucker. I was like, damn, like, chill.

Like, chill. It was like, I told you, motherfucker. And then they be blaming us for having other people when it's not you. I'm like, damn. Y'all gatekeepers.

That's crazy. Is that something that, because, you know, we all into the game. I believe I entered the game when I was like 18, 19 Right And I have some fans

Who actually grew up with me Who's actually old motherfuckers Right And they like They went with me Through all my little shit Is there fans that Went with you

Through this whole journey Yeah, yeah, yeah Hell yeah Yeah, yeah It's fans that dug it out man Even when I Like fell back for a minute Trying to figure it out

Because you know The game was just changing so fast. Sonically and from CDs to digital. There was just so much shit going on. I'm trying to stay on it without playing myself or getting caught up in no sucker shit because it can happen.

You know what I mean? You can try to do something but you can lose points trying to get points. I've got to sit in the cut like this until I can strike. So fans, they rock because they still showing love, right? Like, look how many years later,

I'm still, I'm putting albums out and getting love. This is incredible, man. Incredible. Now, one of the very first questions people saying is, when the fuck is AZ and Nas going to do a double, a joint album I want everybody to know

You know that man Got all the power In the world man Why don't you ask that man He got all the power I'm right here I'm a soldier at war At all times

He got all the power In the world That's my brother though You know what I mean Whenever it is Listen he opened the door For me so I could never

Go left right And you know Like you right We in the games, everybody got lanes to take, you know what I mean? So everybody take they lanes and he got things he need to accomplish. He has visions that he needs to accomplish

and that's what he do. And me, I get my shit, you know what I mean? No point, so. Alright. Yeah. But y'all kinda got an album together. If you put all the features y'all got. Oh yeah, yeah, do that, yeah. I mean, if you was to put that together and make a compilation, what would you call that?

Compilation? I couldn't even. I got to sit back on that one. That's some deadly shit. You can't just, yo, what you call that? That's some deadly shit right there. Take a sip. Come on, come on, eh. Come on, that's your prognate, brother. You ain't going to get drunk.

You can still be on point. No, but we can do something new, brother. You ain't going to get drunk. You can still be on point. No, but we need something new from them. It couldn't be a compilation of old. It got to be something brand new. Yeah, of course, but I'm just saying, for people that don't know, they got those many records together that can be called an album.

What? Huh? 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 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 call this taser the revolution.

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Listen to new episodes of Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge episodes 1, 2, and 3 on May 21st and episodes 4, 5, and 6 on June 4th. Add free at Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Lott. And this is season two of the War on Drugs podcast. We are back.

In a big way. In a very big way. Real people, real perspectives. This is kind of star-studded a little bit, man. We got Ricky Williams, NFL player, Heisman Trophy winner. It's just a compassionate choice to allow players all reasonable means to care for themselves.

Music stars Marcus King, John Osborne from Brothers Osborne. We have this misunderstanding of what this quote-unquote drug ban. Benny the Butcher. Brent Smith from Shinedown. We got B-Real from Cypress Hill. NHL enforcer Riley Cote.

Marine Corvette. MMA fighter Liz Caramouch. What we're doing now isn't working, and we need to change things. Stories matter, and it brings a face to them. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real.

Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And to hear episodes one week early and ad-free with exclusive content, subscribe to Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. But if y'all was to be able to get in and record an album, who would be producers you would pick? Wow, that's fly. That's fly. That's a good one. That's a good one.

I try to bring the heavy hitters in. I'll bring Primo, Dr. Dre. I can hear you guys on Justice League Productions. Justice League, man. I still get stuff from Kanye Yeah I get busy with the music Leave the door open for whoever else Yeah that'd be crazy yeah

Yeah that'd be crazy L.E.S.? L.L. definitely you know L been damn L L been around from day one L brought a lot of Classics to the table man Shout out to LES man Word up Right

Yeah God damn it Yeah What other producers do you think? You said Primo right? We said Primo Pete Rock Yeah

D.R. period Pete D.R. Buck Buck always Oh yeah Tip tip tip Yeah tip tip Definitely tip Yeah

Who's your favorite Go to producer For you For yourself Thank you Try to fuck I try to fuck With those I like

I mean everybody I deal with I like That been on my albums That I still fuck with Right now This album The Truth Be Told album

Buck did the whole album Buck Wilde Buck Wilde B-I-T the Truth Be Told album, Buck did the whole album, Buck Wilde. Buck Wilde, D-I-T-T. Yeah, he's amazing. Wow. Did the whole album,

but like you said, always got Pete there, always got, you know, Primo, D-R, period. They always there,

you know what I mean? What is this trend with people doing the whole albums? Is that something that, is it more comfortable working with? I've noticed that,

that it is, right? But it's been going on for time like track masters did my um piece of you know album yeah that's why i'm um el's whole album yeah um um primo did all google i'm like it's been going on dr j did all that for like it's been going on but it's more comfortable you gotta go shop for beats and all that you know what i mean like and then you can just get a whole bunch and figure it out and it's a cohesive sound at the day. It's easier to make a cohesive album. Yeah, yeah. So how do y'all do this? Y'all go away or y'all just lock in together?

We went away for the Firm album. Oh, with me and Buck? Nah, I'm in the zone now. I'm in the zone. I'm good. So he's just sending you the records you're not going to? Sending me the records, yeah. I'm good.

I'm good money. Yeah. Okay. All right, cool. I'm good. Y'all ready for yeah. Alright, cool. Y'all ready for Quick Time with Slam? Yeah. Oh, y'all ready yet? Come on, you got to hurry the fuck up, motherfucker. Jesus, man, Jesus.

I'm going to bring in Wap soon. Oh, yeah, we're bringing him in for Quick Time with Slam too, yeah. Alright, so let's talk about, yeah, we talked about Sugar Hill already. Let's talk about More Money, More Murder. Ah, more money, more money more that's a classic too yeah that record was it was that's that's the Isley Brothers um sample I think really

yeah yeah that was the mafia sample I didn't know it was honestly but that's just like like John Gotti gave y'all permission he was in his he was in his own with that he was fresh right there we was and was Nas still in the bridge? I don't know. We was fresh at that time. That's one of the classics off my album, I love that record. How did that record come about? D.R. brought the beat to the table, and I think Nas had the hook of it.

Oh, he said the hook, and I reminded him about the hook. And we just went crazy on that one. I thought Spirits was in the room with us. Right. It was nice. Nice. Nice song. Okay,

I'm going to bounce around a little bit, right? Have fun. Okay. We look at this Jay-Z Dead President's video. Right. We see you.

Right. We see Big. Right. We see Emery. We see Biggs. We see Dame Dash. Right. It's real money being, it looks. It's real money being played.

It looks like it's real money being played. No, it is. You guys are shaking. I remember you had a toothpick in your hand. Right, right, right, right, right, right. You're shaking. A lot of people say, and I know you can answer this whichever way. A lot of people say that's where the turmoil started with Jay and Nas.

In that video? Because Nas was supposed to attend that very scene. I would not know that, right? All I know is I knew Jay had my number. He called me and I came too, right? So I don't know how the business was with Nas being on the hook. I don't know their relationship at the time, which I don't think how the business was with Nas being on the hook at that. I don't know their relationship at the time, which I don't think was a relationship.

He just, I guess he heard he liked it. I don't know. I can't speak for him, but he just got a call. I don't think, maybe it did. Maybe, I don't know. Honestly. Keep it 100.

I don't fucking know. Shit, if you find out, let me know. Let me know. Because I don't be knowing a lot of shit. You know, I ain't going to lie. I don't really invest my mind in a lot of this shit, right? This is a business. We both be getting some paper, but I guess we was all young.

A lot of ego, a lot of personal shit, a lot of, you know what I mean? Niggas have a dick measuring content. I don't know, but it was about paper for me for day one. When I got that check, I was like, we ain't got to be in the streets. Man, what the fuck? Let's go, right? And it's like jumping out the frying pan into the fucking fire

because it was, it get a little worse, right? Because the same shit kind of exists, but it's a lot more talking and it's like, what? Like, our face, it's just crazy to me. I just couldn't understand it. But then I understand the competitiveness

of hip hop which always been and we got it from you know Kumo D Busy B we got it from you know

L and Ice T we got it from you know what I'm saying as time go on with all the beats with you know Shan and KRS so it's the nature of it

you know what I'm saying but then they were rapping for real. But then when we brought the street element to it, the shit just went cuckoo, man. It just went cuckoo. Man, we fucked it up.

Man, we fucked this shit up, man. We fucked it up. Right. But me looking at that video, it seemed... This is going to sound crazy. What video? You're talking about the dead president video?

Dead president video. Shoot, shoot. I'm going to say something that's going to sound crazy, but it's not really that crazy. Shoot, don't worry about it. Shoot it. I don't think Nas would even fit in that scene

if that was the case. Because there were all Brooklyn people there? I felt like y'all Brooklyn niggas was just, yeah, y'all should have been by yourself. Yes, I'm sorry You see the mindset though You see the mindset, right? It probably would have been live if not

Because you'd be on the Queens nigga there You get it? Because that's how I felt Going to Queens, bitch I'm the only Brooklyn nigga there I felt fucking crazy every time I was there I never looked at it like that But, you know

Like I said, but it would have been fly It would have been fly Because it would have been fly, right? Because every time you hear about the top ten, them three names come up. That's monumental, right? Right. Right. Hey, hey.

Your name come up during the top five too, motherfucker. We ain't going to let you be humble like that. We ain't going to let you do that. We ain't going to let you say that. I mean, to be honest with you, I really, really I want you to be honest with you, I really, really, I want you to understand your fan base. You know what I'm saying?

That's what we do when we set our name in a week of, and then I can understand. Wayne has the nicest fans in the world. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You say something about Wayne, his fans be like, can you let us drop it on Friday? You're like, holy shit. They're very respectful. Your fans are nuts. Where the can you let us drop it on Friday? You're like, holy shit. They're mad respectful. Your fans are nuts. Where the fuck you going to have AZ on?

Jesus. Nah, yeah, they rap. They rap. Yeah, that's real. So, and you drop. Huh? Quick time is ready? Okay, cool.

You want to explain to him the rules? Yeah, we bring him Doo-Wop. And we're going to bring Doo-Wop. The legendary Doo-Wop in here. We taking shots. We taking shots. So, yeah. You got him set up?

Leave. I feel like this is very racist. You bring the Puerto Rican in to drink the shots. No, you Puerto Rican. Are you Puerto Rican, Duvall? Yes. He's Cuban, too.

And he's from L.A. We got that same vibe. I'm from L.A., Cuban. I'm from L.A., Cuban. And I moved to Miami. And L.A. We got that same vibe. Cupid, Puerto Rico, and Cupid. And Miami. And L.A. Both mixtape DJs. That's crazy.

Wow. Bro, that's crazy. Yo. From the BX. Yo, Duwop, you smoke? No. You don't smoke weed? Damn it.

All right, we had that gumbo for y'all. I guess I got to smoke myself, my dude. Beautiful thing, man. Yes, yes. Oh, wait a minute. Hold up a second. No, no, no, no, no. Sit down, Duwop. Sit down, Duwop. Sit down, Duwop. Yes, sir. Oh, wait a minute. Wait, wait. Hold up a second. No, no, no, no. Sit down.

Sit down, Duvop. Sit down, Duvop. Because we got your flower, too. You a motherfucker. You want to take my shit. You want to take my shit. We got your flower, too, Duvop. That's Mr. Lee right there?

Yeah, that's Mr. Lee, man. He used to sell a lot of cocaine uptown. Walk the mic. Yeah. Classic. He said he's mad at AZ for not repping Dominicans. We all leaving now. used to sell a lot of cocaine uptown. Walk the mic. Yeah. Classic. He said he's mad at AZ. We're not repping Dominicans. We all leaving now.

Sonny got me. Sonny got me. Yeah. Sonny got me. Okay. So what am I doing right now? All right. So this is Quick Time or Slime?

Two sacks since I started. Okay. Yeah. So this is Quick Time or Slime. We're going to give you two asses. Right. Right? Two choices.

Two choices. You pick one. We don't drink. You pick both. We all drink. time of slime we're gonna give you two answers right right two choices two choices you pick you pick one we don't drink you pick both we all drink you pick both you're politically correct then we still take a shot we drink with you so you don't have to take shots because we don't we don't seem like you're you're a shot guy but you take sips of champagne but we're gonna have do what be a designated drink right yeah and if you don't pick any we is the same thing we take a shot okay so do opposite designated drinker. And if you don't pick any, it's the same thing. We take a shot. So Do-Wop is a designated drinker.

You know what I mean? When in doubt, we going with it. And look, we repping Dominicans. We got Mama Juana right here if you want some. I don't want that. That's why I had me laid off.

Now we give you your flowers. Give me your praises. Okay. First, by the way, I don't write these questions. This is the Colombian and Dominican over there that write these questions. They analyze you and they...

They analyze you. Yes. It's a fact. Okay. You ready for the first? Shoot. Jamie, you got the shots ready, though? Because I feel like he's going to answer this predominantly fast.

You drink, too. Everybody's drinking. Yeah, yeah. Everybody got a glass of drink. Can I predict the first one? Yes. Nas or Jay-Z. Yes.

That's it. Nas or Jay-Z. How y'all doing? That's exactly what he said. So pick one, please. I'm picking one for what? What I'm picking? Whatever you want.

Your criteria. And you can explain something. To say who's... It's whatever the criteria in your mind. Best MC, best friend, best dress, whatever the fuck it is in your mind. It could be both. It could be neither. It could be one of them. And you can tell us the story

to go with it, too. I fuck with both, right? I'm going to tell you why. Thank you. Okay. You know, I love Nas, my brother, and I love Jay because that's my brother, too, of what he did for the game. He took it to heights that we all dream, you know what I mean? So,

I'm rocking with both. That's a shot. That's a shot? That's a shot. Or neither. I feel like it's going to be a lot of both. He is too smooth. I think he could be a politician in the future. Yeah, he's definitely going to be a lot of both. Yeah, he is too smooth. I think he's going to be a politician in the future. Yeah, he's definitely going to be city council.

Are you ready? Let's go. Tupac or DMX? I'm going to go with Pac because Pac put a lot of work in. You got any stories with Pac? I met Pac one time. The crazy thing is I met Pac at, I think it was a Jay

release party. That's some crazy shit. He had an album release party. It was one of the clubs. Palladium. It wasn't Palladium. That's those. Damn, I'm mad because, but there, no, it was the Rockefeller. As album release, I came there.

And then Pac came walking through the door. Just by his motherfucking self. And like, what's up, what's up, what's up? So, yeah. But I fuck with Pac because he's got so much work to do. I fuck with X, too, though. He hit me with hard shit. So you're saying both?

No, he said Pac. He said Pac. He said one. I knew these evil motherfuckers Was going to do this motherfucker This is not me Mega or nature? I'm going with mega

Okay Mega Dawn Mega Dawn Alright, Biggie or Big L? B.I.G. I love L I love L too But B.I.G. put that L2, but B.I.G. put that work in.

You know what I mean? Go ahead. Half a mil or big pun? Y'all dirty, man. Y'all dirty. Y'all dirty. Y'all dirty, man. I'm going with both.

Okay, all right. I'm going with both, man. Cheers, cheers, cheers. Drink up, drink up, drink up. There's another dirty one. Go ahead. ODB or biz? Wow, y'all dirty again, man.

I'm going with both. Fuck, I can't even black. I'm going with both. I got to go with both at least. You got to take a modest sip. I've been taking a sip. That's how I did it. God damn.

Early. They know what they're doing. You're going to it. God damn. Early. They know what they're doing. You're going to be drunk. Wow. We all going to be drunk. This is my favorite question, by the way. One of my favorites. N.W.A. or Wu-Tang?

Wow. Y'all are dirty. How you doing? Y'all want to get drunk, huh? I mean, not really. What kind of? No, Ray is my nigga. It's not about, see, what it is, is you talking about just picking sides.

You're talking about what the culture, right? I'm thinking worldwide. Both of them did the culture. Both of them. And he got the shirt on. He's telling you to say both. No, he can't tell me nothing. I don't know what's going on.

But I fuck with both. I got to fuck with both because woo, nah, just sell. They both changed the game. That's what I'm saying. Fuck that both. All right, solid, solid. Fuck that. You ain't wrong for that.

I always think that is the question you should say, Bo. I always think that. That's me. Red Man or Styles P? Wow, that's a nice one. Fuck. That's a nice one. Damn, man.

I got some motherfuckers, man. Just think about it. Think about it a little bit. It's getting hot. That's all I want to get. Fuck both. Okay, let's go. Yeah, fuck. Fuck it both Okay let's go Y'all fuck I keep

Let's go Love my comrades Man fuck it I think AZ Is a group Switzerland He has taken over He is politically correct Alright

What they said on your Twitter They was like Yo Don't let him smooth talk you Somebody said that On your Twitter And guess what? It's happening.

All right, DJ Kluwer doo-wop. You can say that one, you can say that one. Oh, okay, no, I fuck a wop, I fuck a wop, I fuck a wop, that's my nigga, we fuck a wop. Take a drink and a wop, fuck him. Ray or Ghost? Take a drink in the wild. Fuck off. Take a drink in the wild. Fuck off. Take a drink in the wild. Fuck off. Take a drink in the wild.

Fuck off. Take a drink in the wild. Fuck off. Take a drink in the wild. Fuck off. Rare ghost. What are y'all doing, man? This is the craziest shit ever.

We drinking. We celebrating you. She already know. Look. Even though my throat's already on fire. Around. Both. Both.

Brothers, man. We're brothers, man. I got something on my finger. Lee, you want to take over? You in the hot seat. You got to do it. Man the brothers You you you Give me some water though Jamie you can so We do the baby one But this shit's a little hit These babies are still gonna hit You get your DJ drunk How you doing before? You're dirty, man Good thing you had a performance Nah, I walked on all the down Nah, how many more? Two more?

Oh, no There's a couple more Oh, come on We ought to fuck this guy up You got to start Picking people, man I get it All right

KRS-One or Rakim? Yo They know what they're doing, man I'm not from the Bronx I love the Bronx man I'm not from the Bronx I love the Bronx But I'm not from the Bronx I love how Woff is leading you I'm going with Woff

Okay I'm going with Woff I'm going with Woff That's respectable Alright this one is dope Oh yeah Yeah you want to ask Illmatic or ready to die

Oh dirty Motherfucker This should be easy This should have been easy for you No it ain't. You could have been like, I'm on himatic, so I'm going to just say himatic.

I know. That's what y'all want me to say. I can't make you say that. I know. Listen, it's something born in Brooklyn, people that don't allow them to go against Brooklyn. I'm proud of you. We've been studying this.

You know what we should have done? We should have done it all Brooklyn. I mean, who we had? Who we had? Who we had? I already took mine. My bad. Special ed. Special ed.

And we noticed Big Daddy came. Big Daddy came. They never went against Brooklyn. They cannot. It's something in their system. It's the same in Miami. The hospital in Indiana

when y'all was born with Brooklyn, they'll kill each other. But they won't go against each other against any other barrel. All right, relax. Calm down, me ass.

I'm fucking with you. All right, go ahead. Gucci wrap or Scarface? Wow, that's nice. I'm going with G-wrap, though. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, this is a good one.

M.O.P. or Mobb Deep? It's a good one. That's a good one. It's a good one. That's a good one. That's a good one. I got M.O.P. I'm going M.O.P.

I'm going M.O.P. I'm going M.O. I'm going M.O.P. Brand Nubian or Poor Righteous Teachers? Brand Nubians. One for all. Brand Nubian. poor righteous teachers? Brand Nubians. One for all. Brand Nubian. And all for one.

Brand Nubian. I said the beat is here and over. Like, my name is David Ruffin. Like, we can talk about NC just like an English muffin. Let me tell y'all. Chill out. Let me tell y'all. Man, hip hop is beautiful, man.

Hip hop. You know what I mean? Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop.

Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop.

Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop.

Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop.

Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop.

Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop.

Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop.

Hip hop. Hip hop. Hip hop. She just jumped out at me, you know what I mean? Pause. I don't know. I think I should just say pause. Here's more Brooklyn. Okay. Smooth or Hustler or Sauce Money? I'm going with Smooth. I know Smooth. I fuck with Smooth. Sauce I fuck with too, but I'm going to go with Smooth. Okay.

Gumbo or Branson? What the fuck is Gumbo? You're going to find out today. I'm fucking Gumbo right now. I'm fucking Gumbo. That's my dude. Branson or Fish is'm fucking gumbo right now I'm fucking gumbo That's my dude Rats and the fish Is my fucking gumbo

Fucking gumbo You smoke? Why? He said you don't smoke Damn that's why You got to know He'll smoke today He'll smoke today?

Would you be an honorary smoker today? He would He's here Would you like a gumbo blunt? Maybe in the fourth hour The fourth hour? Fourth hour Alright You know the show A lot of things Maybe in the fourth hour. The fourth hour? Fourth hour. All right.

All right. You know the show. A lot of things happen in the fourth hour. I respect that. Okay. Push a T or kiss? Kiss. Smooth or hustler or sauce money?

We already did that. We already did that. We did that? You already drank? Yeah, I'm drunk. I'm sorry. My bad. My bad.

I'm sorry. Let me read about it. Yes. My bad. He picked smooth or hustler. Okay. Go ahead. Queen Latifah or MC Lyte?

Wow. Fucking wow. Both. Damn you. I know, but, yo, I know them both. I don't fuck with them both. And remember, any stories, please, we say these names to bring light to all these people. Before Lyte got on, one of my peoples knew her.

Oh, I think she had one song out. She's from Brooklyn. of my peoples knew her. Oh, I think she had one song out. She's from Brooklyn. And my peoples introduced. Actually, she wasn't even on. She didn't even have a record on Buggy. She was Buggy. MC Light. I knew her.

My homie was, I guess, he was, was she going to sign him? I don't know what it was. She was going to sign him or there was, I don't know what the fuck was going on. But he rapped, she rapped. I met her. I brought her to the East. My man had, they had some DJ shit. Give me a DJ outside.

She rapped. It's like, yo, we're going to go to Politique A and light peoples, man. And then Queen La, she always, first album she'd come to the studio and just chill. You know what I mean? She knew my manager. She always showed love when she see me.

Nah, they ultra lit. Yeah, they show love. They from that era, you know what I mean She knew my manager She always show love When she see me like Nah they ultra late Yeah they show love They from that era You know what I mean Podcast or radio I don't know about this podcast I'm trying to figure it out I'm trying to figure it out

I'm trying to figure it out He's after these shots I'm like Yeah Nah I'm not I'm going with the radio right now I don't know too much about the podcast That's fair No problem We don't know too much about the podcast. No, no, that's fair.

That's fair. No problem. We don't mind. Mets or the Yankees? Yankees. Except that's too aggressive. Yeah. Ice Cube or Ice T?

Which ice will it be? Man, I fuck with Ice-T. That's my dude. You know he's my dude. Ice Cube, he kicks the doors down, though. I went to see Ice Cube at the Apollo 93.

You was at that show? I was there. I was there. Changed my life. He was there with tennis balls. Changed my life. They were throwing money off the balcony.

Changed my life. Ice Cube do money off the balcony? No. People in the audience was throwing money off the balcony. Oh, the drug dealers? Yes. And I was there front and center. I didn't see you do money off the balcony. No. The people in the audience was doing money off the balcony. Oh, the drug dealers. Yes.

And I was there front and center. I was probably like in row seven. I remember that shit. That's when he had just left NWA. Oh, my God. He tore that motherfucker down like no other. Shit. Both.

I'm like, you're going to have a heart attack. We got EMTs. Sonny's a certified EMT. Come on. All right, how many more? No, we got. But we drinking with them. It's the same shit.

Y'all built for this shit. So is what? New Jack City or King of New York? Easy. They're never fucking easy. What? Easy. Nigga, what?

What you want? I want to hear what you want to say. King of New York. That's my shit, but New Jack City was crazy like a motherfucker. Biggie, like... Bye-bye, baby.

She blew her nigga head off. Yeah, rock and bye, baby. Yeah. I'm going King of New York. Okay. I'm going to save you. Thank you. Pete Rock or RZA?

Wow. I don't want to do this no more. You're not even drinking. We kind of almost done. I'm fucking up on Pete. We kind of almost done. You kind of almost good. Not almost done.

Kind of almost done. I'm going to go with Pete. I'm going to go with Pete. I'm going to go with Pete. LL or Big Daddy Kane? Now, this is clearly light skin against dark skin. Let's see where you... Let's see, because you clearly brown skin in the middle.

I'm going to fuck with Kane because that's one of my idols. I'm going to fuck with Kane. You had three cuts of your eye, bro? I didn't have it, but I would get it. Kane is a goat. Premier or Buckwild? Dirty, man. You know I just did the album with Buckwild.

I know, we drink it. That's my boy. Drink up. You made classics with Premier. I even drink to that. Both. Gangstar or EPMD? I'm going with EPM.

I love Gangstar, though. Primo, you know I love y'all. Rest in peace, guru. EPMD? Yeah. EPMD. Fisherman hats. Just because they put that work in, and they turned up.

When I was, you know what I mean, trying to figure it out, they was turning up. All right. You know what I mean? That's real out They was turning up You know what I mean That's real Yo MTV No Yeah yeah Yo MTV raps

Or video music box Video music box Ralph Ralph all day That's right Kick a pre Or red alert Damn

That's crazy too I'm going with that Because he just He changed the game That's right Kick a pre did too, but, you know. You skipped one. Okay.

I think I'll get that one. He's more backpacked than me. Analog or digital? Analog. I like that. Analog. All right, Naguib. Most deaf or common?

Most deaf. It's the last one. Yes, he may deaf It's the last one It's the last one Loyalty or respect? Both I believe you This is the time where we say you're supposed to pick both God damn it Alright the next game is called quicker time with Slop

Nah that's it We can talk with you So do I What's up? All right, the next game is called Quicker Time with Sloth. Nah, that's it. We'll just work with you. I'm not drinking. So do I. What's up? The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network, hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores,

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

and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I know a lot of cops, and they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. Across the country, cops called this taser the revolution. But not everyone was convinced it was that simple. Cops believed everything that taser told them.

From Lava for Good and the team that brought you Bone Valley comes a story about what happened when a multi-billion dollar company dedicated itself to one visionary mission? This is Absolute Season 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.

I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Lott. And this is Season 2 of the War on Drugs podcast. We are back. In a big way. In a very big way. I'm Greg Glott. And this is season two of the War on Drugs podcast. We are back. In a big way. In a very big way. Real people, real perspectives. This is kind of star-studded a little bit, man.

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

Marine Corvette. MMA fighter Liz Karamush. What we're doing now isn't working and we need to change things. Stories matter and it brings a face to them. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real.

Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And to hear episodes one week early and ad free with exclusive content, subscribe to Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. You know, we was both born on the West Coast, but raised in the East, like Bronx, New York, looking at that shit like right out my window. You know what I mean? And my parents, like, even though they wasn't like super strict, they kept me on the long leash. So, like, I could go to the jams and all that, but, yo, come in by a certain time. You know what I mean?

Like shit like that. Puerto Rican, Cuban, you said, correct? Half Cuban, half Puerto Rican. Okay. So I was able to, like. Oh, like shit like that. Puerto Rican, Cuban, you said, correct? Half Cuban, half Puerto Rican. Okay. So I was able to like... Oh, like fight Joe? Right. So Grandmaster Kaz, I mean, later on in life, I understood it.

I mean, I realized it later on in life. Like Grandmaster Kaz lived right up the block. Dada Rock, Whip-A-Whip from Fantastic Five lived that way up the block. You know what I mean? He had hip- of royalty around you. Right around. I won 81st between Valentine and Raya. That's where they filmed.

Wild Style. You know what I mean? All that shit. So I seen that shit right outside my window, bro. So everybody on my block trying to be a detail. At nine years old, I think it was my 10th birthday or my ninth birthday, my parents gave me a whole system, like a whole two turntables. I know you would know, SLB1s, a Gemini mixer, Pioneer receiver, some GemSound speakers. Like, I had the whole shit. You know, so I was able to

venture out and do what I do, you know, do what I had to do at the same time. Like, you know what I mean? So. Did you have the spikes? I had no spikes. He wasn't that far back, man. No spikes. No, I was that far back, man. No, but you was a kid. I didn't fuck with all that. Only the adults were rocking the spikes.

I didn't fuck with all that. I think I see some spikes. Because I brought them in from your closet. None of that. None of that. No spikes? No spikes. Don't break dancing.

You didn't break dance? Hell no. Come on, everybody. We all pop-lock a little bit, like tried, but you know what I mean? So where did you get the inspiration to do mixtapes? I mean, obviously the Starchild, Brucie B, Kid Capri, Hollywood. Kid Capri was a big inspiration to me. Late 80s, going into the 90s And you know

And I went to school with Capri So I seen it you know First hand So I So So you know That's how I went down Yeah yeah

You know the beef we was talking about So we had that And um Yeah so I mean but you know what But like capri like he showed us like we can we you could be a dj without having a rapper like you know i mean like right now i dj for my nigga a but you know i do my thing on my own too like like when we was coming up, that was it right there. Being yourself, doing

it yourself, talking on the mic. You didn't need an MC with you. You did it all on your own and shit. That's how it went down. Right now, they call for AZ to do a versus. Yeah. Who do you think AZ

versus against who? It's the perfect match. Yeah Who do you think AZ Versus Against who That's rough It's the perfect match And a DJ That you want to destroy Nah nah I ain't on that

I ain't on that battle shit I ain't on that battle shit I ain't on that battle shit I ain't on that battle shit Alright But But I had enough

I had enough of those Bro Yeah I had Kid Capri Me and K Slay went at it Oh god Me and Clue went at it God damn it You know what I mean But, but. I had enough. I had enough of those, bro. Yeah, yeah. I had Kid Capri. Me and K-Slay went at it. Oh, God. Me and Clue went at it.

God damn it. K-Slay. You know what I mean? So. You're a veteran at this point. We done did that. Yes. We done did that. Yes.

Survivors or mores. But. But. But. Swiss calls you and says, do what? We want the perfect match Swiss said it on live He said he wanted me and Capri

To do it again But I'm not No tomorrow for AZ And like a rap And you the DJ And you the DJ Cause you want to pick a rapper Yes

And a DJ I don't know I think this nigga the GOAT My nigga So I ain't even really... You think AZ is the GOAT? Absolutely. You got to say that louder.

Absolutely. AZ is the motherfucking GOAT. Even though he wanted to fight me in the last tour we was on. Oh, my God. Let's talk about it, Duvall. You broke it. Let's talk about it. What happened?

Was he making the before records that he did? Hold on. I feel like I know. No, no, no. But you know what, y'all? You know what, y'all? No, no. You know what?

You know what, y'all? We've been rocking like, I know you since 95. We've been rocking on tour since 2011. Right. We had two fights. Not even fights. Arguments. Okay.

That shows you his character, bro. Because you know rappers. So what is it? Because you're making him perform B-side records? That can't be it. Was you late to the show? Was you drunk at the show? It's just being on tour too long.

You know what I mean? And getting into that bullshit, man. And you say you've known him since 95. Did he do 95 live? Yeah. He was in and out though. He was in and out. When I did 95 live,

I had Raekwon, KRS, Lost Boys, all them niggas like Keith Murray, Redman. Yo, this dude,

whoever convinced him to come to do 95 live, they had to do some... He came in with a mink coat. No, he came in and was out. 12 bars. Not even 16, 12.

12 bars, in and out. How fast? I was in there. How long was that? In and out, but you did your motherfucking thing. Was it at D&D? Nah, around the corner from D&D.

It's called Noise and Adam. What you need to do is imagine that there's people listening that don't even know what we're talking about. Don't know what we're talking about. A mixtape, not what 95 Live is.

Everybody did freestyle for you. 95 We talking about a mixtape Not what 95 live is Everybody did Freestyle for you 95 live is the first Mixtape ever That had known rappers on it Like known Popular Popping rappers on it

Right At the time So for instance Before 95 There was There was mixtapes It was just DJs doing Cuts and blends

And all that shit Right 95 I put out a mixtape That had KRS AZ, Lost Boys Raekwon

Nori ain't coming to 97 I'm going to tell you when Nori came in But So boom So we had all these rappers on it And that was the first joint that ever had, you know what I mean, like, known rappers.

And it was a game changer in the mixtape game. And in hip-hop, period. Right, but if I say it, it sounds crazy, but somebody else got to explain it. Yeah, that shit got pressed. I got the vinyl. I think the Tape Masters did the vinyl. Right, but going back to Norrie,

in 97, I woke up around 11, 12 o'clock to a fucking voicemail. Not even a voicemail. My answer machine was 97. This nigga said, I didn't give him my number. So I don't even know I have my number. That's right. Yo, what? It was in March 97.

Tell them about it. He was like, yo, do what? They just raided Left Rat That's right They took everybody They took like 50 of my niggas Yo let me come to your house And do my verse right now I didn't know what he was talking about

So I checked So I checked the time Do you remember this No So I checked the time He left that message Like 5.15 in the morning That's what he

No that's He's been awake for already two hours He was awake Cause they raided the project he was awake that's a one-time it's so fucked up because he's right i want to argue with him i'm used to arguing with him but so that's how that went down I'm an early in the morning Nor is my nigga though Yo but

But this union right here Y'all two together It's dope by the way It's super dope Two super legends So what happened A How did you Get in

And I needed I needed a DJ at the time The one I was dealing with You know whatever Whatever So D.O. My manager at the time He wasn one I was dealing with, you know, whatever, whatever. So, D.O., my manager at the time, he wasn't my manager then,

but he was like, yo, fuck with Doo-Wop. I'm like, Doo-Wop? Doo-Wop mixtape? Fuck too much. But then he was like, nah, Doo-Wop, just do this, that, and the third. And I was like, alright, fuck it. Let me do one or two shows with him, and that's it. And then I figured out. But after that show, it was on after that. Where was the show at?

Oh, shit. We went overseas. Not the first time. First time? First time we went overseas. Went overseas. Alright, Doo-Wop, you remember. Where was that? It was 2013. I tell you right now. I tell you right now. We went to Poland. Can I tell you about the...

Can I tell you about the Poland? No. Poland? The Poland shit. You said Poland them about the Poland? No. Poland? I don't know what that was. Warsaw? The Poland shit. You said Poland? The castle, the hotel.

Wait, did you say Poland? So we went to Poland. We went to a bunch of shit. Warsaw? Warsaw? I don't know. Germany, Poland, Switzerland, London, all that shit. But when we got the Poland shit, we pulled up at the fucking hotel, right?

Obviously, supposed to be a room for me, a room for him. They was like, yo, Wap, we don't have a room for you right now. They all booked out.

We're going to put A in here and we're going to take you down the block to another joint. No problem. It was like a castle, though, with a gate. They put me in a whole castle, man.

They put him in a castle. A haunted castle by myself. That's what it did. So long story short I would think it was haunted Long story short I said haunted Because I'm the only motherfucker in there

Ain't no There's no maid There's no security I thought you said there was no more rooms in there All the lights is out Yo They said there was no rooms They said there was no rooms

But there was nobody at the desk working Like nobody It was just dark I've been through this, yeah But we didn't I didn't know that I went to my shit We did the show

After the show Back then I don't know what year it was But we I got an email From A After the show He was like

Yo Fuck that I got an X wound On my joint Yo this shit crazy Couldn't be in the Haunted house with me Nah shit

I would've been I would've did the same shit He was like Yo So as I'm reading been, I would've did the same shit. He was like, yo, so as I'm reading the email, I get a knock on the fucking door. And it's fucking,

hey, he was like, yo, come with me to my shit. My shit crazy right now. We get over there, it's a whole nother room. Every room is unoccupied.

It was just some weird shit. A castle. Weird shit. Y'all didn't ask the promoter what the fuck was going on? Nah, we couldn't. We couldn't speak that language. It was just some weird shit. A castle. Weird as shit. Y'all didn't ask the promoter what the fuck was going on? Nah, we was out the next day to find some more. Yeah. It was something.

I don't know what it was. So anyway, that's how far back. It was like 2013? 2012? You got the answer. 2012. That's when we started rocking.

AZ, who got the best waves in the game? Mine's just going now. I don't know. Who? I don't know who. I don't know. Who? I don't know who. I don't shit. You think you was cheating because you was Dominican?

Not at all. You got to train them shits. No matter what you're doing, you got to train them. That's very good. You got to train them. Right. Because when we first seen you, I ain't going to lie, everybody was seasick over your shit. When we first seen you.

Ever? Yeah. Coming through, that was the ever, man. That was the ever. I'll take them? Yeah. That was the ever, man. Let me take it this way. Let me take it back this way. That's how you keep your shit together? You brush? They say a hundred times a day. I didn't count.

I didn't fucking count. Y'all was talking about more money, more murder, though. You was talking about some shit you told me about. Y'all was like, you saw spirits and shit you told me about me I was like you saw spirit I saw the ghost you saw ghost in the room. That's your fault. I saw ghost in the room.

You got wild. We doing more questions for wild. Yes so say what you said Wild. He said when they made more money more murder murder He told me, he was like, yo It was like, we was on another vibe Like we seen ghosts and spirits and shit I said, probably for me When I do write, I go into my zone And I, you know, for my homies that pass

That's what come to my mind When I do jot anything down That's my energy, my vibe My vibe ain't That's why I get my vibe from then to now Anything I do, it's for them You know, I rep for the homies that's why I get my vibe from then to now many things I do it's from you know I rep for the homies

that's not here you know what I mean and they my motivation honestly cause you know be clear I know we jumping around but

East New York at one point was the murder capital of the world you know what I mean so I imagine you grew up with a lot of people

that you not did so is is that something that like, because that's crazy. And it's crazy. It leave you shell shocked, right? Because it happens at 15, you know, when the homie down, live right next door, get his face blown. We young, we little boy, we still in junior high school, right? Right. You figure, oh, damn tragedy.

Somebody, I didn't. A week later, the next home, and a week later, the one down the block, and it's just, you know what I mean? That's how Life's a Bitch came about anyway,

you know what I mean, from that. Right. Because life's a bitch. And then you die. You die. All right. Well, let's get to it

before we go home. That was the mindset, right? Right. Let's get to it. Let's live for the people that's not here. Right. People that never made it,

let's enjoy it. You enjoying it, you know? Gotta enjoy it. We live for the people that's not here people that never made it let's enjoy it you enjoying it you know gotta enjoy we gotta we got to fuck I mean

I got a rhyme where I say the teacher said I wasn't good off words well bitch I got rich off words

we saw special education I got love for you. We saw special education. I got love for you. You know what I mean? But, hey, man, I'm going to be honest with you, man. You're one of those guys. Appreciate it. No, no, no, seriously. You're one of those guys.

When people speak about hip-hop, your name is there. You're one of the heavy hitters. You're one of the people that... people speak about hip-hop, your name is there. You're one of the heavy hitters. You're one of the people that... One of the lyrical greats. Yeah, lyrical greats. And here's the thing, right? Mm-hmm. I've been through a lot of labels, but I never was dropped.

That's a big thing, right? For some reason, through the most high, they probably realized they wasn't doing the right thing. And when I asked for my walking papers, I got it. I kept it moving. That's a big deal. And, you know, I don't blame no circumstances, right, on nothing, because I'm still grinding, I'm still here, right? And it's a beautiful thing. And that's

my drive, to stay focused, stay grinding, you know what I mean? Any blame, I blame myself for anything. Right. But the journey's a beautiful one when traded for nothing in the world. So, there's a rumor. Right. Foxy Brown coming out with Lola Brooke. Is this some Brooklyn shit

you coming out to? I don't know what's going on. It might happen. I know about it. It might happen. That'd be a beautiful thing. We haven't seen Fox. Yo, man. You said you went to the crib and you still ain't seen Fox. Step on that stage.

That got weirder when he said he went. You want that? Step on that stage and you're going to stop the press. You know what I mean? Yeah. I've been waiting to see

Fox come out. And we want her on Dream Channel. That would be great. You know what? I'm so much not selfish when it comes to Fox that I just want to have her the best look possible.

Right. She got to go on Gayle King because I know I just said that about Gayle King. Do an Oprah special. Do that shit. But we want the best look for Fox.

That's real, man. I know you got love for Fox, too. Yeah, man. She's, she's, she's. She got to come back. She got to come on. I tell her, come on, man. Let's go, Fox.

Yeah. Yeah. But this new album, let's talk about this new album once again, man. Yeah, Buff Wilde, he produced the whole joint. I'm excited because, you's talk about this new album once again, man. Yeah, Buck Wilde, he produced the whole joint. I'm excited because,

you know, me putting Door Down 2 out, it got a lot of love. You know what I mean? So my goal is just always try to top the last album I did. And I think I did it. You know?

Different vibes, different flows, different, you know, what we do is hip hop. Who's the features on here? Oh, I got, um, I got Falmarch on one. I got Fat Joe on a joint.

Let's pull up that drop. And I got... I got Moo Moo Fresh on it. She's female. Moo Moo Fresh. She get busy. Okay, you got the iPads. Are we a little unprofessional, eh?

Don't mind us. You made us drink, you know what I mean? Doo-wop everybody. We always are. But hold on, let's start a fat joke. Because we start to a couple of people to make sure you get some love. Oh yes.

Because you ain't come here in eight years, so we want to make sure. This is well worth it. You been doing this for eight years? It's about eight years. Seven years. We can't believe it's been eight years. You originated this shit. Nah, nah, not quite.

You said it, not me. Nah, not quite, not quite. We can't take that on. I ain't, you can't. Nah, nah, Juan F and them and Combat Jack and Ice-T. He was doing internet radio that was like the precursor to the podcast. Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure. First of all,

A.C. had a great God and his seed. One of the greatest doings, one of the blueprints to all of us rappers. Work he done did in his life. You know, he's a part of that legendary

that you know that's my favorite album that he made and everything else he did himself. AZ, you deserve all your flowers, my brother. Thank you. Let David Banner play.

Let David Banner play. Yeah. David Banner, congratulations for being on the training champs. Nori, you and Ben, family, I love y'all. God bless you. David Banner. God bless you. God. Good.

What up, y'all? Much love and light. Appreciate you for still blessing us with the hits. AZ for real. It's so lovely. Good dance. I'm just like it. Right, right.

What up, y'all? Yeah, yeah. All right, we got more, we got more, we got more. We're going to... There you go. Okay, come on, let's do Conway. Let's do Conway. Yes. Yes Yeah Call away

Salute, salute, salute Right We'll play it right in the episode Yeah Yeah, it'll get the full audio treatment. Yeah, because Rob's computer don't work like that. Yeah, you play it. That's real That's real

Some news Some news We got a couple more right Yeah Come on My list is getting long Because man That's real

It really That's real you know I really like You know we waited this long And At the end of the day I know, you know. I really like, you know, we waited this long and at the end of the day, I know that, you know, you busy, we busy. But the thing about it, I wanted you to know how much appreciated you are in this world, in this life, in this thing that we do. Because in case you didn't know, I wanted to make sure you iterated that. Because, you know what I mean? Like, this is just legendary, man.

Like, what you did, what you've been a part of, and what you represent is absolutely love. I appreciate you, man. Thank you, man. You want a cup of water? Thank you, man. There you go. Who that?

Kapone? Kapone. The God. Yes. Yes. Lou King Yes sir True indeed Yeah

Yeah Yeah Motherfucker man I got so much to say about AZ Motherfucking man up My brother Definitely inspiration, you know the first time I heard my voice Rapping I felt like I said my voice sounded like a disease. That's crazy You know, every bit of it is flowers, man. Every bit of it.

That's real. Who that? Doggy Diamonds. It's not. Okay. I didn't even play it. That, Ross, your volume is not looking good at all. You can't hear that.

We're going to make it. Oh, okay. Who that? We're going to make it. Oh, okay. Who that? MC Search. Search! Search what is zombie, too. Almost like this. We have to finish the song.

Finish the song. Don't know it. You just said that. Finish it. I'm going to be I guess so now. Except for this one, too. And I was just saying. And, uh,

it's the first song that's the finish. And, uh, it depends on Saturday. The talent is one of the audience that I would have destined to make a dream come true. And I just, you know, there's that moment where you know

Nas is special because he's heard it more live than people heard it more back to the grave. That's... AZR is not familiar with it at all. Thank you. was not familiar with at all. So when I heard his voice, I mean, I was blown away because at the time, I always thought that I knew

all that she's about to come out. I thought I knew everyone. I had never heard of Dave. But the second I heard him run, I just knew that besides what we were asleep for the whole life, I wanted to work with him. Not only did Joe Maddon last success in the country, so did your village. So I was very happy that you're having this conversation very happy that you know it's a great friend and sit down

and get on a drink and tell people about who you are because I don't think you really have a lot of opportunity to do that so we see you soon thank you free Free Free Yes sir

Free what it do I'm going to get up I'm going to get up Indeed. Yes sir, free what to do, you heard? That's real, y'all. I went on out for you, I'ma get out, I'ma get out. I'ma get out. Yeah. I really wanted, cause you know, we've been trying to do this for so long, and I really wanted, I just want no miscommunication.

I wanted to go all out. I wanted people to know that it's not us. Never. It's not just us. It's the world who got love. That's real. Thank you. And I wanted to motherfucking capture that, man.

That's real, right? Thank you, man. So by the time the episode come out, I got a couple more. Okay. Two and D, though. Two by the time the episode comes out, I got a couple more. Okay. Two in a day, though. Two in a day, thank you, man. I want to, you know what I mean, go all out.

Straight up. You know what, man? Appreciate you, man. You really deserve, you know, all the flowers. You really deserve the love. You really deserve all this. And I know you're a smooth guy.

Right. And you probably don't accept the love that you deserve and you get. But I don't want to be humble for you. I want to be cocky for you. You know what I'm saying?

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. That was classic. That was classic, my brother. Holy moly, guacamole. That was classic. Yeah, I appreciate it. That was classic, my brother. Yeah, it's fat. Holy moly guacamole. That's fat. Diamonds are here?

All right, now this is when... Where? These got diamonds? These. All right, hold on. Commentate. I want diamonds and snowballs. Oh, you got?

Hold on. Y'all took it? Y'all took it? All right. Let's put it together then. Let's put it together then. Give me the diamonds and the snowballs. Yeah.

All right, you ready for a quick time of slime, guys? Wobble be laid out on the floor. All right, let's talk about Gimme Yours. What? I heard Gimme Yours. It was like I'm hearing Nas mimic almost Teddy Pettigraft.

And I wanted, because I heard Give Me Yours, I bit your style, boy. So I asked Nas to sing on it. Music make these thugs calm down. Because I heard him on that. So what was this session like when y'all did Give Me Yours?

Me and P Rock already did Rather Unique. So then we was, he said he had more. So, you know, Nas used to come to the studio with me. The fact that, you know, Illmatic did what it did. He was on tour. I was working on my shit. So he always came for support. And then Pete put that on.

And I guess Nas had, I guess, one of them likes to bitch moments. He like, he just started singing that shit. And I was like, yo, what of them likes the bitch moment he like he just started singing that shit and I was like yo what the fuck is that I was like and he did that and it felt like

likes the bitch cause I kinda had that same flow on there and he did the hook this time and I went in and did the one so it was

that's a classic too off Door Die yeah nah nigga we gonna stop labeling just summer classic yeah most of your shit is classic or die. Yeah. Nah, nigga. We're going to stop labeling just some a classic. Yeah.

Most of your shit is classic. That's real. That's real. Who were your inspirations growing up? How did you formulate your style? You know how everybody has different MCs.

Yeah, facts. Of course, Rakim was everybody's. Well, I guess those that came out of my era, we all idolized Rakim because he came through and he switched the style up and he wore something smooth.

But it was Rakim, G-Rap, you know, Slick Rick, KRS, you know what I mean? To me, them are the greats. That's my soundtrack. I think G-Rap was your favorite though, right? All three. Out the top three, G-Rap was your favorite think G-Rap was your favorite, though, right? All three. Out of the top three, G-Rap was your favorite?

G-Rap was. Nah, but to me, they all brought something different to the table. You know what I mean? Vi had the knowledge of self. You know, G had the wordplay. Kane had that fly shit to me. You know what I'm saying? And Slick Rick had the storytelling.

And the Caravans brought, you know what I mean, that other vibe, you know? And he about throw Elle and Chuck D up in there, too. You know what I mean? So, yeah. Oh, L? L. That's smooth shit. L is smooth.

Brenda got a big old butt. That's a classic. That album was crazy. That's a classic. Black Panther was a crazy album, yeah. And Public Enemy. Yeah. Incredible.

So, let's talk about, I got some problems. Ah, yeah, yeah. I had some problems then. Who's that? Chico DeBarge you was on? That was Chico DeBarge. But I think I got off the last label that I was on at that time. Because I was on a couple of labels.

I was on EMI, then to Virgin. Then I fucked with Yab. Virgin, that's with Janet Jackson. You was on Janet Jackson. She was on there, right? Because that was like the parent company to EMI. when they folded then you know I mean then I went to Yab Yum believe it or not that was with Electra for a minute it was a quick minute so nobody never knew because it was like what's the name of the label Yab Yum that was um um Tracy Edmonds baby

baby face wife baby face yeah went over there for a minute that folded so then then I was like all right what the fuck man I gotta do something so I put that that's so sorry I was like, all right, what the fuck? I got to do something. So I put that, that's Soulside. I was on that Soulside joint. But then when I put it out, put that CD out, Motown heard it. Motown, you went to Motown. Yeah, I fuck with Motown for a minute. And was you like the only rapper on Motown at that time? Shit.

That's where I fuck up sometimes. I think, but then I don't. My thing is like a gamble. I want to be the nucleus. If you're on a label, I'm the only artist. You're going to show all that love. And then from there, I can open up doors for other artists to come. That's my mindset with EMI.

All the labels that I fuck with, it's kind of weird. You think about it. EMI, Merge, Motown. Because I know if it worked there, that could open the floodgates for other artists. And then they can know that the hip-hop worked there. But that's when Neo Soul hit at that time. Same time I was with Motown, they put out Erykah Badu and other... I forgot her name. But anyway- Rob Markman I know what you're talking about. Indie I.V. I.V.

Rob Markman Indie I.V. I.V. And I was there. And they was like, all right, let's give it another shot. And I did the other album, the Asiatic album. And then that didn't work. So that's when I was like, all right, keep it moving. Yeah, kept it moving.

So to say more or less, I was more or less like, it's like a nigga in the streets really ain't got no family, right? He's moving around trying to figure it out. Opposed to somebody got a mother and father.

Because a lot of the artists sign one label, they rock through the contract, the contract is up. If you think about it. me, right? He's moving around, trying to figure out a pose if somebody got a mother and father. Because a lot of the artists sign one label, they rock through the contract, it's up. If you think about it, or to their transition to something else, but it evades them. You know what I mean? Right. So, keep it moving. To keep it moving and keep it going was

a great thing for me, right? Because the average man ain't got time for this shit, fuck it. You know, do whatever. But yeah, I kept it going, though. But he kept the newest car every time he pulled up to the crib. Didn't matter. Didn't matter. And the fact you can walk away from your deals.

He ain't going to tell you that. Scott Clean, too. Independent or major, he pulled up in the newest car from the next year. Now, you got a joint with Rick Ross on his joint. Vacheron. Right, right, right. It's live. That's just dope. That was nice. It's a beautiful thing.

Ross get busy. It was good, man. So how did this happen? I'm trying to think. I don't even know. 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 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 call this taser the revolution. But not everyone was convinced it was that simple. Cops believed everything that taser told them. From Lava for Good But not everyone was convinced it was that simple. From Lava for Good and the team that brought you Bone Valley comes a story about what happened when a multi-billion dollar company

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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. real perspectives. This is kind of star-studded a little bit, man. We got Ricky Williams, NFL player, Heisman Trophy winner. It's just a compassionate choice to allow players all reasonable means to care for themselves. Music stars Marcus King,

John Osborne from Brothers Osborne. We have this misunderstanding of what this quote-unquote drug ban is. Benny the Butcher. Brent Smith from Shinedown. We got B-Real from Cypress Hill. NHL enforcer Riley Cote. Marine Corvette.

MMA fighter Liz Caramouch. What we're doing now isn't working, and we need to change things. Stories matter, and it brings a face to them. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two

on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And to hear episodes one week early and ad-free with exclusive content, subscribe to Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. Oh, well, I asked him to get on one of my joints, but the door died too. Never enough. And then he's like, you know, and then for that, hop on his joint. So, yeah. In fact, Joe also told me he just did a record with you as well. Beautiful.

Yeah. Tell me about that. It's beautiful. I mean, with Joe, I mean, Joe's a class act himself. And he was doing A sneaker thing And I saw him He gave me one of the

Sneakers they put out And ironically A couple days after that We was at the party You know what I mean He said right there We vibing I was vibing the album up

I'm like Keep running it Joe We got fucking classics And hits Hold up Let's do something You know what I mean? And that's the next thing.

We're going to put that out now. And this is on this new album? On the new album. Yeah, it's crazy. So name the album again. Tell them. Truth Be Told. Truth Be Told.

Why'd you name it Truth Be Told? It's my truth, right? I'm just speaking my truth on these songs. It's a truth in there. You know what I mean? And one of the songs that really I took the title from was called I'm One of the Greats. And when you hear that song, you'll see why I say truth. Well, tell us, man.

Tell us why you're one of the greats. Not to speak of. We know why you're one of the greats. I never spoke about me transitioning into the hip-hop and what I've been through and where I'm at now. So that particular song will tell you how I got in the game, why I got in the game.

Before hip-hop. Not before. Well, it kind of sums it up. It's a three-minute song. You know what I mean? So it sums it up for me, how I got on, what my mindset was,

what I've seen, and why I'm here now. So it's a fly song. You ever think hip-hop will get this far? Never. Ever. Ever.

I was mad as hell when you see this fucking, when it was fucking up. I was like, oh man, it's going to fuck this. It's going to go mine up, but you know,

it's what happens. And when you took that break, did you ever, in that point of that break say i don't want to go back to this go back to what back back to the music no back to the music uh no no never i mean was it literally that you wanted to sit back and watch and then pick the right time to come back you can't pick the time this is switching like the sound the sound exchange like i don't want to come back now but if South got it They got it

Atlanta got it If Midwest got it You got to wait Well the difference is Now radio don't control it So sonically That's why I can jump back in Before

I got to be like this I got to wait to bust my gun Right That's a lot of us doing it Like Alright we got to wait This ain't the season Alright you know what I mean

So yeah Now you monetize your fan base You don't have to worry about The radio doing that for you You can control that With technology You know Social media And? So, yeah. Now you monetize your fan base. You don't have to worry about the radio doing that for you. You can control that. With technology and all the social media. And what y'all doing is a beautiful thing. Right.

Who's somebody you want to work with that you didn't work with yet? I didn't think about that yet. I work with a lot of cats, but I'm trying to think who. Well. Put it like this Who From the older generation That you have in work That you want to

And someone from the new From now Like right now that's popping That's good Well of course I never did nothing With one of my idols Well I did with G-Rap But of course

More of the idols I would love to Anyone Anyone You can pick Do a name and a hat Now You know I like I like You know J. Now, you know, I like J. Cole,

Little Baby. You and J. Cole be crazy. You know what I mean? Yeah, that's it. I mean, I'm sure it's more, but on the spot. Of course, yeah, yeah, yeah. But J. Cole.

I'm trying to get my shit right. You know, I really, I'm trying to get the wind back under my feet. Now, one thing about you and Nas particularly, is you're both from the ghetto, you're both from the hood, but y'all know big words. Jesus Christ, man.

You do too, nigga. You do too. Nah, you gotta stop. I'm from the resource room. You gotta stop that, man. I'm like, this is Los Angeles, I'm late for that show. I said, man I'm like Bitches lost in the realism Like that's right I said what the fuck This nigga went to school

90s hip hop Caught a lot of people man Yo hip hop school Like that's the teacher right there Hip hop school That's all man Yeah Listening to

Teach you everything in hip hop All you gotta do You want to know something Just listen to a hip hop record They tell you everything Right Everything Cause what I told people

Even some of the MC's That didn't know What they were saying, they were going to encyclopedias and say words that rhymed. Right, right, right. The fan was like, I got to look that word up.

So it taught, like we were all teaching each other in that way. It's a fact. But you was just a big word. I'm not letting you get away with that. You got something in mind. Pause.

And Nas, I was like Damn These niggas went to school Like at likes a bitch I was like Wait a minute Yeah the big words When y'all was battling You and your man

Both of y'all skipped All the big words Here's the big words For him It was like Keeping it real Pack it still Didn't they

No he didn't They can stump for the big words Not it Not it Not it Not it Yo cool keeping it real, packing steel, doing that. Nor he did, don't for the big words. Dot it, dot it, dot it, dot it. Yo, take another,

oh, yo, you ain't touched the second drink. What we been doing? No, they keep filling it up for him.

No, he been drinking. No, that's the second one. No, he been drinking. He been drinking. Well,

I just want to praise you, A, because you deserve it, man. Cheers, fellas. Do you know how important you are to hip hop?

I know I said something like that. Not at all, man, not at all. Because I'm right here, right? Everybody can reach out. We all say that. I appreciate it, though, when I'm here and people do that. But, you know, people need to reach out more often. That's why I go to the Fox.

That's why I reach out. You know what I mean? Because we're here now. You don't want to hear that when it's after the fact, right? So I appreciate What you showed me The shout out Beautiful Oh it keeps going

That's beautiful right there Let's keep going That's just the videos That's beautiful That's here now But I wanted to show you Tell you And relate to you

How special you are There's nobody that You know Everybody that I hit They just send the video immediately. But the reason why, though, let's just say that, right? Because I stay out the way. You know?

Let everybody have their own characteristics through them. You know what I mean? Nobody is holier than thou, right? I just stay out the way. And my goal is just to get to it. And not capitalize on getting to it. I wouldn't say the wrong way But just

You know I still live by Certain modes And principles And modes So I'm out the way So Anybody that hate on me

Or say anything Fucked up Nobody hate on AZ I know I'm not saying that I'm just saying He said why You know what I mean It's love

And I respect everybody That shouted I fuck with them just as much. Yeah. And you know, the older you get, the more Dominican you look. Are you full Dominican? Nah, my mom's just black. Because Sonny D, he said that the Z in AZ is Zo.

No. He claimed you as a Haitian. He said you're he was Dominican. You hate Zopal. Why? That's what I'm asking. 1973. Love talk, love talk, love talk.

Come on, love talk, love talk. I used to be, instead of of Sonny, Sonny Z. There's Jay Z. That's Sonny Z. That's Z. That's Z. Oh, they're all sold? Yeah, you saying they all sold?

Sonny, Sonny, Sonny. Oh, they all sold, they all sold, they all sold. That was a good one, man. That was a goodny, Sonny. They all know. They all know. They all know. That was a good one. That was a good one. Fuck that. All right, all right.

But let's keep going with Dominican, right? Because. So you're Dominican. I'm Dominican. I'm Dominican. It's a two-part question, right? Because we found out she's Dominican. We love that.

Then. We always knew he was Dominican. Yes. But then we also. Your government name is Anthony Cruz. Yeah, that's crazy, right? A, Anthony. Z, Cruz.

That's crazy. Is that how you came up with A-Z? No, that's not how, but it makes sense. Damn! That's some crazy shit, though. You put the last Z on Cruz as his A-Z? It makes sense. The beginning and the end.

That's true. The beginning and the end. Okay. Yeah. So that's not how you came up with the name? Nah, nah. One of the young guys in Brownsville, he was born to the nation. And I guess he was going from hoods to hoods.

You know, everybody in Brooklyn know him, probably outside of Brooklyn now. We're talking about when he was young. And he was speaking in that language. You know what I mean? And it kind of attracted me, right? Somebody talking big words like you said, and he was my age, probably a year or so older, and he was like, yo, man, world, you know you God, right?

What are you talking about? This ain't no Mr. V. God. You the original man, Asiatic, man. That's what you, the Asiatic. Actually, AZ, no beginning, no end. I was like, yo, that shit crazy. I'm God. AZ, no beginning, no end.

I'm God. I'm Paul Maxwell. I'm God. And I just ran with it. But then, that shit crazy. I'm gone. AZ, you don't begin to know that. I'm gone. I'm Paul Maxwell. I'm gone. And then I just ran with it. But then that makes sense. That AZ makes sense as well. There wasn't another AZ? A street AZ?

Yes. Oh, okay. A mob style. Yes, it was. Yes, it was. I've had an AZ a couple of times. But as the game go on, I understand what was going on. You know, he was in the game.

It was my upstart. I didn't know his name was AZ. I've been in AZ from day one. So I guess he saw a lane of capital lives, which was cool, right? In hindsight, I speak to him, a gangster little bit cool. But I'm sure I told him, if I want to be somebody. I wouldn't have been you. No disrespect, because it was three of y'all. You know, I like getting fly and fucking bitches and things of that nature.

I'd have been Rich or Paul. I wouldn't have necessarily been him. But I understand what was going on. You know, no disrespect to him, but I understood what was going on at the time. You know what I mean? I'm green. I'm in the game. I don't know what's going on.

You know, when you come in any game, you got the Lions there and they're going to bite, right? It is what it is. It's good money, man. We good now. We good. Everybody good. We all good. Everybody good now. God damn it.

So sorry, Sonny. He's not Zoe. I'm sorry. He's Zoe Jason, Dominican Republic right there. Let's talk about that affirmative action session. That was crazy. You talked about the four devils. It was on your 5% shit, for real. I think I was the go-to guy for the intros.

That's what I think at the end of the day, right? Because I was always talking on the intro. I figured it out. I figured that out. It was like, get A in here. Yeah. Because in my mind, think about it now. I'm like, I'm talking to all these albums.

First off, who did that beat? Because I forgot. Trackmasters did that. Trackmasters did that beat. Yeah. Was it the dude Gowdy? Oh, you, yo, no. Gowdy.

You remember Gowdy? I remember Gowdy, right? Everybody was Gowdy. I don't know. You know, Trackmasters a consistent Of a slew Yeah a team of people Yeah but Yeah they did that

And I guess It ain't on the intro That probably wasn't Now I'm laughing Thinking about it But it was cool Turned out good So how did this

Where y'all at We were We recorded that In the hit factory Or Was it in You know we did the Firm album in Miami

Yes And in LA too The latter In the Hit Factory or... You know we did the Firm album in Miami. Yes. And in LA too. The latter. A little bit in LA, not a lot. But the Firm did action. That was on Nas' album, second album. Right, right, right.

So it was in the Hit Factory. And we always had rooms. We had... Nas was always working in one room. I'm working in one room. Firm, a trackmaster, they're working in one room. And we was just bouncing. You know that. No bugger. Fuck that. You was just bouncing in one room. I'm working in one room. From a track master and me working in one room and we was just bouncing. You know that. No fucking fuck.

You can hear bouncing in the floor. But the world don't know that. The people don't know that. I know, but anyway. So we bouncing through. The world don't know. But yeah, bouncing. And then I guess

Nas and Lay is where it was me. And then it was, it's God, man. It's God. It's God. It's God. Let's take one. Anyway.

Don't mind me. I think I did lay the verse first. I laid Maz the verse and then Mega did his and then, oh my God, Foxen went crazy.

And we talking affirmative action, right? Foxen went crazy. I'm not going to lie to you. Foxen went crazy. And when people say she don't write her own shit, she wrote that shit. Nah, she's ill, man.

She wrote all of that. Nah, Foxy don't write that. This is when I knew I wasn't built for mathematics. She went in. She went in. Two quarters of a key. Swimming away. I'm sitting there trying to, oh, no.

You were like, what school did she go to? Yeah, yeah, yeah. She went in. You think everybody went to a different school. And she did that live in front of y'all? Yeah, yeah.

You know, back then, you can't send no fucking verses. Yes, analog. You gotta be in the studio. Wow. Back then, all the verses, everybody was in the studio. Wow.

Changed the motherfucking game. And you said she wrote it completely herself. Completely. Facts. So, do you know Ludo Kim? Of course Where was you at When you kind of like

Seen they turmoil with The two Brooklyn girls Going against each other It's sad You can like that eh Come on like that It's sad because If they'd have got together

It would have been a problem That would have been the crazy shit I would have coupled together And they could have done that And it could have been a problem. That would have been the craziest shit. I would have coupled it together. And they could have done that and it could have been a powerhouse. It would have been a problem, but shit happens. Shit happens. Shit happens. Shit happens.

Yeah, fuck it. You would like that, eh? Like something, man. Man, listen, this fucking gumbo is serious, man. Yeah, yeah, that's right. It's serious. It's serious Yeah yeah yeah Damn man Hey man You're really one of those guys man

I really wanted to We all wanted to give you Everybody from Drink Champs You know what I mean Want to give you your flowers man Because From day one From day one man Understand that Like it's underestimated that How much we were trying to get you From flowers man Because From day one From day one man

Understand that Like it's underestimated that How much we were trying to get you From the first year we started Drink Chance That's real We got rumors that you said No I really don't want to do

Drink Chance I didn't want to do no podcast Because it was like I said It'd just be too much Talking guys Like yo You know

You got some people That like to be in the front And They love the fame right I really ain't Beating for the And They love the fame right I really ain't Beating for the fame I want the money right I do right

And my thing is And the way he bargained With you too Yeah He's like Y'all ain't giving me No money right now My thing is

My thing is Just like someone can get A lot of notoriety By being out there I've learned from the old school Like riding them They was more laid back and it brought more mystique.

Yeah. So I kind of... Oh, that mystique is over, though. It is over. No, no, no. It's not completely over. I can't jump out the window. I don't know what he's talking about.

I can't jump out the window, but it's over. He's right. It's like a lot of shit is over in the streets. It's just over. But you don't have to be all the way out there.

It doesn't have to be completely over. Oh, no, I'm never not going to do that. I didn't worry about that. No, but what I'm saying is in this new generation, like, you are absolutely right. Like, when I heard of NWA, I didn't know what Compton was.

I didn't... Even kind of when I heard of Shaolin, like, I didn't know Shaolin was that. Now, it took me a time to correlate it. Yeah, but that's because

information didn't travel that fast back then. Exactly. No internet, no none of this. But I would say that don't get it twisted. I think that, especially for the older generation that's still being creative, you can't try to compete with the young guys that are on social media 24-7 because that's not your lane.

And your fans now, you're understanding, your fans are still there. Right, right, right. They still there. They just didn't, you wasn't, your fans are still there. Right, right, right, right. They still there. They just didn't, you wasn't putting something out or they didn't know where to find you. Right. Now you're finding your fans again and they want you to be you. They don't want you to be this young guy. Right, right, right.

They want you to be you. I agree. And they respect you for being you. And if you jump out the window and do some other shit, you might lose even that. Yeah, fuck yourself up, right? Right. You might lose even that I mean Fuck yourself up Right yeah But I mean to me Again being the outside Looking in I never felt like

You stepped outside Of your zone No no I didn't That's what he said Yeah Has there been An opportunity

Where people Approach you To step outside your zone I don't know what that means But Like do reality shows Or some shit Yeah yeah

Facts Yeah Love of hip hop I could not see you On reality shows Love of hip hop I can't Yeah they did Yeah It's not I'm like You're. Facts. Man, love of hip hop. I could not see you on reality show, man. Love of hip hop? I can't. Yeah, they did.

Yeah, it's not. I'm like. You're not going to finger pop nothing on love of hip hop? Yeah, I can't. You're definitely not doing that. I can't do it, so that's what I'm saying.

So that's why I fall back more because I've seen a lot. Like when I sit back watching, it's like watching a circus. I see the beats, the riffs. I'm like, what the fuck is going on? You know we couldn't play that

back in the days. Right. It just couldn't happen. Yeah. I'm like, what the fuck is going on? You know we couldn't play that back in the days. It just couldn't happen. And how far away from the music is that? It's over here. It ain't about music no more. This is the culture and the music, and this is what's going on over here. Right.

So now that's why I was like, okay. Like he said, that shit is over to an extent, so I'm here. I got to make my presence felt to an extent. I'm not never jumping out the window. That's never happening. Right, right. And we respect that.

Let's make some noise for OG. D-O-D. Man, hey, man. You're a class act, brother. Thank you, man. Once again, I know, man, I appreciate you having me on this platform because you know, like you said, the world don't know. You always open the door for me, and I was like, not now.

Not now. So you could always be like me And I was like Not now Not now So you could always be like You know what Not now Keep the motherfucking clothes now You did No no no You can do

No He can He's a good man now But You know It's from left back And we know I appreciate the transition

He changed man He definitely changed man now Let me just tell you the truth man A You are a pillar In this community You are a pillar in this community. You are a legend. You are an icon.

You are one of the people, the reason why all of us is here. Everyone is excited here. People who don't come to drink champs, when I said we had AZ, everyone is saying, yo, man, let's go give him his flowers the correct way, the proper way, the right way. Because you deserve it, sir. way, because you deserve it. Thank you. You deserve it. Thank you.

Thank y'all. Thank y'all. And when your fans would get mad at us and they would be like, yo, why is he? We would say, nah, it's an open door for him whenever AZ is ready. We got to respect whenever he's ready to come on. I'm here, man. I'm glad I made it, man. Yes, yes.

Beautiful thing. So, let's talk about... Hold on. How you living? Oh, L.A.S. Classic. I still perform that to this day. It's crazy. Secret weapon.

When we put that on, it's crazy. But, yeah, that was the L.A.S. Classic. That was on a piece of a Man album. That was us just on our shit. We was in our bag at that time. We could only play that in certain cities and shit. Like when we performed. Every city.

No, right? Like certain joints. Right. We could play that. You my lighter, eh? I'm not gay. You my lighter. You ain't like shit.

You a foul. East New York nigga. Come on. You my lighter, eh? I'm not gay. You my lighter. You ain't like shit. You a foul. East New York nigga. Come on. You ain't going to like nothing? Play something, girl. Listen, man. Enjoy.

Everybody enjoy themselves. Okay. Go ahead. My bad. Do up there. Nah, it's just certain, certain, certain cities. Like when we was in Richmond, Virginia. You know what I mean? Like certain cities that follow the mixtapes.

That was a mixtape joint. You feel that the states are more receptive or overseas to those joints? Nah, both. Ah, both. When it comes to that, both. But certain songs, though, like How You Livin'? We know when to pull that out. Like we know when to pull that joint out, you know, on the set, put it on the set.

How do you know? By the aesthetic of the crowd or what's being yeah as soon as i walk in and i know like because i come out before him so i already know by looking at the crowd for him no i mean i play a little set before right before right. Absolutely. So what do you do? You like... I do a little quick mix, like just set the tone. Oh, this is the bounce master right here. Like to fill out what you think was going to work. I actually play T-O-N-Y. God damn it, you should.

A little two, three bars, going to I-4-9, Broken Language, Luchini. You telling them that? What are you doing, man? Y'all get in the car, we're telling them everything.

Yeah, come to the show, man. You get in the car, we're telling them everything. Yeah, yo to the show, man. You can't even stick a word in. Yeah, yo. Get over it. He's dirty. Can we do a show? I'm going to do a little broken leg. He's telling him everything.

Yeah, why would he come? So we do that. Yo, he's dirty, though. He's going to my nigga, right? He come out and just keep on throwing. So, A, if there's anything you would do over, what would you do over? Nothing.

Nothing? Nothing. Every lesson's a blessing. I appreciate it, man. I'm in a good space, man. Right. And it's really a mental space and just I'm in a good space, man. I understand it all. I see it for what it's worth, the good, bad, and the ugly.

Like, I get it. Right. I get it. You know what I mean? And I know how to move, and it's just a great thing. I just wonder how can I bottle it and sell it? Because you got to have a maneuver. You got to maneuver a certain way, man.

And you got to know when to hold them, when to fold them, when to walk away. Got to know it. You got to feel it. Not just a thought. It feels like a vibe. You get it, you know what I mean? Like, that vibe Saved my life a lot of times

In so many ways Like even a vibe on me When they gave me my first contract I'm like yo Heavy Up is trying to give me this money I'm like wait It says 100% publishing No no no

I'm not doing that It's a vibe I don't know what the fuck publishing Well I was just being an asshole Right You're just in like 100% of anything I don't know what I'm publishing Because it's a vibe

Right So it's What's a vibe Reading the Drink Champs Contract earlier Yeah It took like 5-10 minutes For that shit

I'm like I'm your brother You good He missed it He said 100% publishing On that shit I got you We got you

Nah Nah Nah boy It do say 100% motherfuckers. This is for perpetuity that you owe nothing for all this shit

that's on top. Perpetuity. That means lifetime. Lifetime. They say the universe. We can sell this anywhere. Just get out of here. You can sell that shit to Mars

and still make money off the motherfucker. That's a lot of the questions we ask the OGs. Right. Are the masters back? still make money off the motherfucker. That's a lot of the questions we ask the OGs. Are the masters back? Nine percent of my masters. I'm in the boxing ring for the last two.

I get them. Love is in the air. And then people be like, what you want your masters for, right? It just makes sense when you're licensing, when you're doing it. You know what I mean? Ownership is everything. you know? It's everything. With technology and things changing, you want to own it.

So, yeah, I'm on the last two. That's two more to go. Two more to go. You got everything. Got everything. Leave it to the kids. Leave it to the kids. They're going to fuck it up anyway,

but leave it to the kids. You love it? Damn, man. Oh, fuck, yeah. Leave it to the kids. They're going to fuck it up. That's the point. That's the point.

They're going to fuck it up. Let them fuck it up. That's a luxury you need to have. Yeah, right, yeah. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Man, this has been so fucking, fucking fantastic, man.

Do what, man? How did, did we speak about how did y'all? Yeah, yeah, we did. You did? You just called me one day, like 2012. Do Up, man. Did we speak about how the junk? Yeah, we did. You just called me one day. Like 2012, you just called me. He was like, are you ready? Because I know him since 95.

95 a lot. Since 95, I know him. Do Up drunk dialed him. Yeah, yeah. No, no, he called me. He called me. He called me. D.O. was a connection.

D.O., Damien. He was a connection. But yeah, he called me. He wasO. was a connection. D.O., Damien. He was a connection. But yeah, he called me. He was like, let's go. Let's not underestimate how legendary Doo-Wop is. Oh, yeah, yeah. The era of mixtape DJs that Doo-Wop comes from and his caliber of mixtape DJ and just DJ in general, that era, the mixtape DJ was controlling everything because commercial

radio, at least across the nation Wasn't doing it All the labels had to adhere To the mixtape DJs And they were giving him And me, I was in Miami doing it But he was the one I was looking up to They were giving us unprecedented access

To artists, to music Because they needed us He was the first bootleggers. Nah, man. I don't think that's fair. I don't think that's fair. You're right. But you know what?

I don't think that's fair to call us bootleggers, though. But you know what, though? I'm going to give you an example. The label here, yeah, the album two months earlier. Ty'Each Harris used to work for Sony, right? Right. Or Columbia, whatever it was. No name.

No name. No, hold on, hold on. She would call me. She called me one day and was like, I'm going to give you Street Dreams, Nas. Right. Or Columbia, whatever it was. No name, Wap. No name. No, hold on, hold on. She would call me. She called me one day and was like, I'm going to give you Street Dreams, Nas. Right. I'm going to give Flex Rule the World because that's a commercial. Yeah, that's what they were doing. They were doing politics shit.

That's like, we didn't steal the shit. Right. Some niggas stole it. Some DJs stole it. They're the ones doing the bootlegging. I didn't rely on that exclusive. No, I'm going to tell you this is why I have offense to the bootlegging

thing because mixtapes is a huge part of the culture. Absolutely. And this is the part where we're getting fucked, all of us by the industry, the mainstream industry doesn't give a fuck about hip-hop. Those A&Rs and those marketing executives were like, we need these mixtape guys.

We're going to give them These exclusives These leaks We gonna leak them And then they would Leak the records to us And then we would get Cease and desist And we would get sued

By their lawyers Trying to fuck us up Same motherfucking label Nah man Fuck out of here With that shit You know what I'm talking about You got those

Cease and desist too Absolutely I know you did But that's why I kind of didn't rely on exclusives I did the freestyle That's when you did the freestyle I had rappers coming to the studio

To do like exclusives for me And we emulated that So in other words All the men's TV's emulated that Yeah they didn't own that Well the only thing is We was doing it over Other people's beats

So that But that was later on That came into play later on. Let me ask you, K, is this rumor true that AZ from Payton Fall ever sued you

or tried to sue you? He probably did. I don't know. It wasn't me, but probably record label. I don't know. I'm sure if he did, he didn't get much.

I don't know. You know, I'm going to be honest. He said that already. He tried. He tried, yeah. They don't have no relationship? A relationship?

I mean, he spoke about Yeah, I mean, I've seen him When we dialogue I mean, he didn't sue me He sued EMI He tried to sue EMI I'm sure whatever he got Good, man, for him

I mean, you know That's a system You know what I mean? If he found a loophole in it Enjoy, but As I said before I would never And you said And you said

And you said earlier Like you said That name wasn't Come on I'm a Brooklyn guy It don't even make sense But it was just a loophole You see a loophole

I could fall in here Like oh shit I'm suing y'all I got a loophole I ain't hurt myself It's a loophole But it was cool I mean

It's oh shit You know what I mean It's like suing The insurance company Suing me You ain't gonna Spook nothing cool. I mean, it's old shit. You know what I mean? It's like suing the insurance company. Suing me? You ain't going to smoke nothing. Salute.

All right, salute. Hey, hey, salute. I don't even drink like that, but Champagne, I drink. Champagne. You got to drink some Champagne. AZ, you're a class act, man. Thank you, man. Thank you for having me, man. I appreciate it.

Nah, man. You deserve everything, man. Yes. We still got two hours. I'm going to eat. I don't know what you're going to do. I'll be watching this shit on YouTube.

It should be like three hours and 34 minutes. How's my fucking just entertaining? We got four and a half by five hours. We are not entertaining. He's like, fuck that.

Two and a half hours is good. I want you too, nigga. Let's go. Nah, man. Two and a half is good. Don't worry about it. I don't listen to him

in those hours. We did a good run. Listen, we just want to give you a flower, man. I appreciate it, man. Thank you, bro. Album out.

Album is out, right? You said what? Album is out. Album out now. Yeah, it, man. Thank you, bro. Album out. Album's out, right? You said what? Album's out. Album's out now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. December 1st, but either way, album out. Truth be told. Buck Wilde, shout out.

Hip-hop at its finest. I feel great, man. I'm in the, yo, when you hear the album, I'm in my best shape ever. Oh, man, so good, man. So then what's next after this? You going to tour the album? Hopefully I tour. If not, I'll work on another album, movie.

I'm just trying to do everything, man. Y'all should go visit that Haunted Mansion y'all was at. Yeah, right. Yeah, check it out, right? Yeah. And do a reality show. Did we talk about the Flyers yet? Flyers, Gangsta, we didn't talk about that.

That was Nas' album, yeah. Let's talk about that. That was on Still Matter, correct? That's when Esco was going through what he was going through. But it was a good look. Because we always make classics. I perform that at the shows. That's a good song.

And that's all the shows. That's a big joint. Yeah. That's one of them classics right there, man. Flyers, Gangsta. How did that happen? Where was y'all at? Studio.

We was in, of course, in... What's that hit? I don't know if that was a hit factory or... It had to be the hit again or... Sony had a studio. Sony. Same block as a hit factory. Yeah, Sony Studio.

54th Street. Yeah, that's where it was. Sony. And once again, that's L.E.S. again. L.E.S. had classics. Yeah. We was there in the studio at that time. You know, that's the way it was. Sony. And once again, that's LES again. LES had classics. Yeah. We were there in the studio at that time. You know, that's the time, like you said, analog.

Right. Yeah. Okay, so this is the last question. Shoot. God comes down. Right. Heaven. Right.

He says, A, you got one chance to save your life. Right. To make one record. Right. Who's the producer you're picking

to make that one record? Mm. Save you, your life, everyone. Mm. The one producer. You.

Saving your life. To save the life of humanity. Yeah. Starbinger. You want to take a shot? You wanted to take a shot. I feel like you should take a shot.

You take a little sip. I got a shot. Let's take a shot. Who would I do that? One record to save humanity. The producer? Yes. And you?

Barry Gordy, man. Barry Gordy? Good answer. Barry Gordy. Barry Gordy. Good answer. How about Quincy Jones, though? Quincy Jones would have been.

Quincy or Bad. Either one of them. Quincy or Bad. Salute. Cheers. Yes. Cheers to hip-hop. Salute.

Salute. Salute. AZ, thank you so much. My brother, man. I use the bathroom, too. Hold on. Let me finish this, and then we're going to use the bathroom.

Then we're going to part ways. Yes. Doo-wop, AZ, thank you, brothers, both coming here. Being exactly who you guys are. You guys are legends. Absolutely.

Icons. We want to salute that, man. Thank you. Thank y'all so much, man. Thank you, man. That's awesome. Show that to Tori. When you come back, we'll take up pictures and stuff. Yeah, we'll Show that for Tori. When you come back, we're taking pictures and stuff. Yeah, we're taking pictures.

And drops. Drink Champs is a Drink Champs LLC production in association with Interval Presents. Hosts and executive producers, NORE and DJ EFN. From Interval Presents, executive producers, Alan Coy and Jake Kleinberg. Listen to Drink Champs on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, 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 at the real noriega on ig at noriega on twitter mine is at who's crazy on ig at djefn on twitter and most importantly stay up to date with the latest releases news and merch by going to drinkchamps.com I know a lot of cops. They get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no.

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

Listen to the American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Glott. And this is season two of the War on Drugs podcast. Last year, a lot of the problems of the drug war. This year, a lot of the biggest names in music and sports. This kind of starts that a little bit, man. We met them at their homes. We met them at the recording studios. Stories matter, and it brings a face to them. It makes it real. It really does.

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