Drink Champs - Episode 458 w/ LL Cool J and the Rock The Bells family!

Episode Date: June 20, 2025

N.O.R.E. & DJ EFN are the Drink Champs. In this episode we chop it up with the legend himself, LL Cool J and Rock The Bells family!Get ready for a special Drink Champs: Rock The Bells Edition, featuring LL Cool J and the whole Rock The Bells crew. N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN take a virtual trip into New York City, where the iconic LL returns as festival host, celebrating the legacy of hip‑hop with an unforgettable panel of guests. Expect legendary stories and fresh takes from Roxanne Shante, Too Short, Scarface, Redman, Freeway and more!LL breaks down the Rock The Bells movement, showin’ love to the pioneers and new wave alike. It’s about legacy, longevity, and liftin’ the culture up. And you know the champs ain’t holdin’ back—this one got real laughs, real tears, and real talk.So pour up, light somethin’, and tap in. This ain’t just a podcast—it’s a celebration of hip hop, hosted by the ones who lived it.Make some noise for LL Cool J and Rock The Bells! 💐💐💐🏆🏆🏆 *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/noreaga  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an iHeart Podcast. Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies. I'm Danielle Robay and this is Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. The new podcast from Hello Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts, where we dive into the stories that shape us on the page and off. Each week, I'm joined by authors, celebs,

book talk stars, and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TBR pile. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I know a lot of cops, and that 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 One, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season One, 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 iHeart radio app,

Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. historically men talk too much. And women have quietly listened. And all that stops here. If you like witty women, then this is your tribe. Listen to the Good Moms Bad Choices podcast every Wednesday. On the Black Effect Podcast Network, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you go to find your podcast. You know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, They drink it up with some of the biggest players in the most professional unprofessional podcast

What it could be hopefully sweetest you'll be this boy NRE. What up is DJ EFN. And this is a special Drink Champs. Hella special. Rockabell slash hella legends special. Make some noise out there, guys. It's a Rockabell takeover right now. Yes, indeed. I can't lie. I'm seeing all these legends,

it's like I'm going back into childhood mode. But let me ask Freeway, let me start with you, right? Is this your first Rock the Bells experience? Most definitely, man. You know, I've been seeing Rock the Bells going for a minute and it's an honor to be a part of it this year. You know, so many legends, man. Even just being on this call with all these legends is a blessing, man.

I'm happy to be here. So, so has, has a beat has been, um, ever did the rock the bells or you don't know. No, we didn't do it. None of us did it. Damn. We excited Philly Philly excited Philly going to show up. I'm telling y'all. You know how we going to carry it.

It's, it's, it's right there in Jersey. So yeah, definitely Philly is going to show up. Yeah, we right down the street. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Okay.

So LL, let me go with you. You there, right? Yeah. I mean, what up, baby? So what made you say the... Because this is a festival type of thing. What made you start Rock the Bells? I know we have the radio station, which Roxanne is there right now.

It's SiriusXM, right. Yeah. But what made you start the festival, take it to the road? I wanted to see, as all of these incredible acts with all of these, their lyrics, their talent, their ability to perform, I wanted to see them treated the way that they deserve to be treated. I felt like certain aspects of the culture were being marginalized a be treated. I felt like certain aspects of the culture were being marginalized a little bit. I felt like, you know, the people that I love, the people that I celebrated,

the people that I've been watching and enjoying weren't being put at the right level and given the right type of platform for them to be seen and enjoyed by the fans. And so I said, you know what? It's time for somebody to step up and enjoyed by the fans. And so I said, you know what? It's time for somebody to step up and let these artists shine. They're like incredible, amazing artists

that deserve to be heard and seen. And it was really that simple, you know what I'm saying? It wasn't rocket science. I just really love the art that can be explained many as us. They have been able to see everybody shine. You know what I mean?

Right. I believe that, I believe that. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. You get it, I'm, that's the truth, Norrie. I mean, like, it's, you know what I mean? It really is that simple. you know what I'm saying? A lot of people, you know, a lot of people are chasing

whatever the moment, the trend of the moment is, but in reality, there's a lot of time with the sound level here, and this is about the past, present, and forever. You know what I'm saying? This is the past, present, and the future. You know what I'm saying? And if the Rolling Stones and all of these acts can keep going and keep and you too can keep going

And rockin and having beautiful careers and why can't big daddy Kane and Roxanne Shantay and freeway? And you know what I'm saying like all the groups on his scarface face mob like what you know it's about them This is a damn moment. This is their platform rockin knows for them is what? You know the I mean? You know the funny thing about that guy's face? How's everybody? What's up? Hey, man. What's up, man, brother?

The funny thing about that, man, is I don't know L is sincere about it. You know what I'm saying? As a little kid in New York, I came to the new music seminar. And I was on a payphone with my mama. And L didn't know me from nobody. And I said, I say, LL, he's walking by, I say, L, I'm on the phone with my mama, say hi to my mama. The man got on, I ain't lying, am I lying, L?

No, you're not lying, am I lying, L? No, you're not lying at all. That's fact. That's fact. You remember this? That we talked about it a few times, for sure. For sure. Hey, man.

Uncle Face, what's happening? So I'm just saying, man, L has always been a part of my life, like, in big, big, big instances, man. And he's always been that kind of cat, man, around me that I saw that always wanted us to be, you know, big in that light of hip-hop, man. He always wanted to showcase us, man. Even when Rock the Bells was small,

he still let us get down. He let me get down, you know? And now Rock the Bells is big, and he keep letting me get down, man. I appreciate that. You know what I mean? Unc, we appreciate that, bruh. He let me get down, you know, and now rock the bells is big and he keep letting me get down man. I appreciate that. You know what I mean? Unc, we appreciate that bruh. No, I appreciate y'all.

How many rock the bells have you done in face? Face? I've done a lot of them. I'm gonna do them all. I did a big one. It's like a high school reunion, man, with my peers, man. I love it. And then Roxanne and the mother here pop, in my opinion,

and can't nobody tell me no different. Always been like a big sister to me. And all we can do when we see each other is just laugh. Because shit is so funny. What's up, twin? What's going on, twin? Please believe it, baby. You know, let me tell you, when I was listening to how he was describing Rock the Bells, if no one can testify or if no one can be the face of what Rock the Bells does for the classic hip hop artist, it's definitely Roxanne Shantay. That's right.

You know what I mean? When I tell you. Wow. Sex. It started from just an interview. Like he was doing an interview. He was interviewing me about my movie and he said, you know what, the world needs to hear your voice and they need to hear it every day.

And I'm going to make that happen B. Just watch me B. I'm going to make that happen for you. I got to be in it. And I'm going to myself, like, he's never been a person to sell dreams. That's the reason why he doesn't have nightmares. You see what I'm saying?

That's why he looks so good, because he is good. You know what I'm saying? And so one of those things that made me sit back and smile is that someone said to me, when they think about rock the bells, they look at my life life just in the time that I've been on Rock the Bells and have seen the difference because that is what he wanted people to see. He wanted to make sure that we weren't shelved and forgotten. He wanted

to put us in that forefront and let people see like, look, we can do this like rock and roll artists. We can do this like country artists. You know, see and respect hip hop the same way you do those other genres of music and the only way to do that is to respect the artists that do it and Those that created it and those that were there that fought for it You know, so I don't know if the real deal y'all. Yeah, and he's providing the Ground for And He's providing the ground for us. And you know, I know I am. And I can speak for everybody.

We grateful to be a part of this, man. This guy has went on with his life. Okay. You know why his phone is breaking up right now? Because his house is so far up in the hills. And he was, like he way out the way. You feel me? Hell out the way, man.

He up there. Coolest part about it, man. Yeah, he up there, man, but you know what he do though? That boy reach back out, man, and grab us, man. Yeah. All right. How you doing? Good, I'm me too.

You want to come in? I do. OK, can you go? Excuse me, guys. Don't pay me no mind. I can't, yeah, I can't. Back to work. This is so hip hop.

It's so hip hop. Like, you gotta let it go. You gotta let it go. You can't even stop it. OK, cool. Can't make this shit up. All right, man. I don't know how to put this on pause, y'all. Thank you.

So Cheeks, Cheeks, you all right? Yeah, what up? Yo, Cheeks, is this your first Rock the Bells? No, my second. Blessed to be my second, no doubt. What was your first one? Queens, baby. No doubt, last year.

That's right, that's right, that's right. That's right, I was dead too. I was dead too. That's my second one too. Y'all stay Queens. We're out in New Orleans. Yeah, yeah. I noticed though,

they only invite certain people on the cruise. They don't trust everybody on the cruise. Hey, don't trust Todd on the cruise. Whatever you do, don't put Todd on the cruise. Whatever you do, don't put Todd on the cruise. What's up, short? What's up, man? What's up, man? What's up, short dog?

Yeah, I'm trouble. Hey, he's terrible. Hey, you know what? Oh, that's right, short and Todd got the same name. So I just called short and held in look So so growing up in hip-hop. Here's another good fun fact for y'all to know like LL was like is the mentor right? But short raised me though, you know what I'm saying? Like short was always there for me. He he come to the crib You know what I'm saying? Like short was always there for me. He he come to the crib

That's really a big brother in hip-hop to me in real life y'all fun fact Fun fact what? Yeah So sure it goes contra what up Is y'all first time doing rock the bells, right? How do y'all feel about this? Man honor is it's really a blessing to me. I'm privileged man. We want to thank Thank everybody that allowed us to be a part of this LL. I mean all y'all man Just this moment right now. We just we could be so today. Yeah. Yeah, we fresh me in the back

just this moment for now, we just, we could be sober today. Yeah, we freshmen in the back just while we're serving. Yeah, for real. But y'all been carrying the torch and making it look good, man. So salute to you guys, man. Absolutely. So much. Appreciate it.

So it's Contra, love. Peace. Peace. Big dog. Yeah. Free wave, free wave. So it's Contra. Yo, that never freestyle was so crazy.

I loved that so much, man. That was like, it represents so much of like, not only the roots of hip hop and the DNA of the lyricism and the storytelling and all the fly lyrical content, but also then seeing y'all perform live. I just love the idea of, you know, embracing, you know, younger and new generations, you know what I'm saying? But the ones that really love the culture and embracing younger and new generations, you know what I'm saying?

But the ones that really love the culture and really love hip hop, obviously you guys are from that lineage, you know what I'm saying? And that was very impressive to me. That's why it was really important to me that we have you here as a part of this. Because I never want the other generations

to think that we're not thinking about the whole culture. this isn't only about like guys that started when I started, you know, I'm saying don't started before me. This is about Everybody so, you know, I'm just really Excited to have y'all be a part of this, you know me To your credit is like everything we doing and y'all know y'all students of the game as well. We just we standing on your shoulders, you know what I'm saying, legitimately watch Redman and Method Man and that helped improve our showmanship so much. Oh. Trust me, we gonna be out there taking notes and just studying the game as always.

Love that. Oh, that's them little dudes that was at that date. Yeah, they kills it. Y'all were driving, I could, God. Yeah, they, the boys, the boys tore that joint up, right? That joint was crazy. Hey, man. Good shit.

For real, thank you. No. Right? It was crazy. Thank you. I'm honored, man. I'm so happy to be. I'm so happy that it lives. You know what I mean? Because it's being attacked right now, man. Hip-hop is being attacked right now, man. Everybody hop is being attacked right now, man. Everybody ain't dope.

I'm going to say it. Everybody ain't dope. Keep it 700. But if you keep throwing some shit down, down our throats, we're going to start believing that. And the powers that be don't want to see that. They don't, they don't't wanna see that real, real, real grungy hip hop comeback where it had a story,

where it had a meaning. It was the what's going on of the 80s and the 90s and the 2000s and the nows. You know what I mean? It was the what's going on of it. You know, the, I am everyday people of it. It's not that no more. And I, I'm so happy to see the youngsters

picking it up and killing it, man, and taking it to another level. What up, Free? Bass, what up? Taking it to another level, man. George Dog. It's all good, man. It's all good.

What up, what up, what up? Listen, listen, Face, this, this something, this stuff always happened to me listen I just was on a call with somebody before I got on this call and I was telling them the story about when I came To do the record with you for my album And you took me to your hood and then we went to like a lounge and you went on stage and you played every instrument From it was like a band from it was like a

Just was saying that yo, I didn't even know you was gonna be on this car, you know, that's crazy Stuff like that always happened to me. Yo, it always happened. Yeah It's all love free is good to see brother Good to see you, too Uncle L one of my biggest accomplishments was being on your album and going back and forth with you in the studio. Man, listen, a kid from Philadelphia, this was my dream of being a rap star.

To be able to be in the studio with you and go back and forth with you on a song for your album is one of my major accomplishments in my career and I appreciate that. Beautiful man. You know the thing that's most exciting to me about you know this whole thing is that you know like a lot of times you know in hip hop you know when we start businesses and when we do companies we always make it about ourselves or at least that's a lot of the times the tendency.

It becomes about the person. Like, Rock the Bells ain't about LL Cool J. Rock the Bells is, that's the reason why I'm not actually on the bill this year. I'm really doing, I want this to be about us. And I know that's not the norm. I know we're not used to that. I know we're used to kind of the figurehead being the center of the world and everything revolving around them, but that's really not my mission. You know what I'm saying? My mission is more about seeing all of us shine in a major way. You know what I'm saying?

Seeing Kane shine, seeing Too Short shine. You know, even this whole Uptown celebration, everything that Eddie and them did all those years, Heavy D. Heavy D, you know, a lot of people don't talk about him. They don't talk about Andre. you know what I'm saying? A lot of people talk about Jeff Red, talk about, you know, Al B, talk about all the things that they brought to our culture, you know, some of it was singing in R&B, but they brought things to our culture and contributed. So I really want this to be about all of us, you know what I'm saying? And I want to be clear about that, you know, because I'm famous enough for 50 people who believe me.

It's, it's, it's, this is about us now. This is about rock the bells, you know what I'm saying? And you are, everybody on this Zoom is rock the bells. You know what I'm saying? So that's what it's about. You know what I mean? No, it's definitely. Yes, sir.

We got to give you your flowers though. Straight up. Cause you providing the ground for us to stand. You know what I mean? No, definitely. Yes, sir. We gotta give you your flowers, though. Straight up. Because you providing the ground for us to stand. You know what I mean? Thank you, bro." Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget.

I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies. I'm Danielle Robay, and this is Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from Hello Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts. Every week I sit down with your favorite book lovers, authors, celebrities, book talkers, and more to explore the stories that shape us, on the page and off. I've been reading every Reese's Book Club pick, deep diving book talk theories, and obsessing over book to screen casts for years. And now I get to talk to the people making the magic.

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your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. Across the country, cops called this Taser the revolution. But not everyone was convinced it was that simple. Cops believed everything that Taser told them. From Lava for Good and the team that brought you Bone Valley comes a story about what happened

when a multi-billion dollar company dedicated itself to one visionary mission. This is Absolute Season One, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. It's really, really, really bad. Listen to new episodes of Absolute Season One, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio bad. In our new podcast, Everybody's Business, we talk about the business news that concerns everybody. From Bloomberg Business Week, I'm Stacey Vanek Smith.

And I'm Max Chafkin. Each week we unpack what is happening on Main Street and Wall Street, all the streets. WrestleMania has taken over the US economy. Poetry that executives write on LinkedIn. A little actual magic in our underrated story of the week. The single greatest marketing campaign the music business has ever seen. I decided to ask people how they felt about the penny going away. Listen to Everybody's Business wherever you get your podcasts. Is there a plan forever like putting together

a full-fledged Rock the Bells tour? Like you know what I mean? Like a, you know, the whole United States and then go to Europe and all that. Like, I mean, you know. Yeah, so 100%, like, you know, we do the festival. You know, we do, you know, Rock the Bells cruise as well. A lot of people, we have played on the cruise and we'll be playing on the cruise coming up. Yeah, there'll be a moment when we'll take it on the road.

But I want to, you know, make sure that everybody here knows there are opportunities to do television. There are opportunities for them to do content. There are opportunities for them to, you know, have merch. And whether it's Coach Contra, and they want to do something for, you know, the 20-year-olds and the future, or, you know, me and, you know, and Eddie, we're going to do something for the 20 year olds and the future or me and Eddie,

we're going to do something somewhere else. You know what I'm saying? Like it's really a lot of opportunities there. There is a learning curve that comes with it, but there's a lot of opportunities. And yes, so taking this on the road, giving people their own situations, giving people their own situations, giving people their own opportunities to curate things.

I want to do everything I can to just elevate our culture. You feel me? I just want to elevate us, that's all. You know what I'm saying? I think one of the most important things you've done with Rock the Bells is be consistent. Cause that's the thing that if there's no consistency, if people can't rely on the brand,

on the quality of what you're doing, it makes everybody look bad and everything look bad. And you've been so consistent with this that I salute you for that, man. Yeah. Yeah. That's super important. I don't want people, like I don't want them performing in front of a black backdrop with a rum and Coke in a stool.

Yeah. I'm like, you know what I mean? Yeah. I don't want them performing in front of a black backdrop with a rum and Coke and a stool. A-L. You know what I mean? Like looking like we'll rap for food. Like we're not doing anything. Ain't nobody here rapping for food. We're bringing entertainment to the masses. We're bringing a vibe and the energy in our culture to the world, you know what I'm saying?

Like this ain't the Chitlin Circuit nostalgia train. It's like this is the past, the present, and the future. This is about artists that just want to do great stuff for the fans, you know what I'm saying? I want to make the fans' lives great, you know, just like the channel, you know what I'm saying? Yep. So, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, this is Jeff Redd. How y'all doing out there? What's going on, Jeff Redd? What's going on, Jeff Redd? What's going on, Jeff Redd? I don't want to hear it, baby. Oh, no.

Yeah, what's happening, y'all? And thanks again, man, El for putting us on. I got to give a shout out to Eddie F as well, man, to make this happen. And like I said, coming from Mount Vernon, New York, we going to bring it. We going to bring it. Money earned. Yeah, that uptown song, that's what I'm talking about. Money earned.

Money earned. Money earned. Money earned. Money earned. Money earned. Money earned. Money earned. Money earned. Money earned. I gotta give a shout out to Eddie F as well, man, to make this happen. And like I said, you know, coming from Mount Vernon, New York, we gon' bring it, we gon' bring it. Money earned. Yeah, that uptown celebration, I'm excited about that. Yeah, we got Al B, I'll be on the floor, I am too.

Yeah, I'm excited about that uptown celebration. Lord, my man, Mr. Cheeks! Yes. I'll be still here too, right? Yo, Al, I got a question. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yo, Al, I got a question. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yo, El, I got a question. What up?

Yo, this Red. What up, Red? Yo, what's up, bro? What's up, Red? I've been tuned in. Yo, El, are you a reggae? Yo, I did the first Rock the Bells with Chain out there in LA. Was you connected with that Rock the Bells?

No. No, so no, no. So no, no. What it is is that I turned around and looked at this brand and the brand went away and I decided, you know what? I got to take this intellectual property back. I have to do what it needs to be done so that it continues. Once it wasn't looking like it was going right, I can't because rock the bells is my IP. It has to go right. And I got to see the artists get treated right. And, you know, I want to see

people get what they're supposed to get. And so now I took it back straight up. I took it back. And we move forward. Now, that doesn't mean that I wouldn't be willing to talk with people if they got ideas if they want to, you know, I'm always open to like hearing people out. But I took it back and I made it ours. And now Kane owns a piece and Shante owns a piece and Run DMC owns a piece and Fab 5 Freddie and you know, different people, Salt and Pepper, you know what I mean?

And just like, I just wanted to make this our thing, Grandmaster Cass, you know what I'm saying? I'm in early with Tiny Pea because I want this to make this our thing. Grandmaster Kaz, you know what I'm saying? Right. Came in early with Tiny P. Because I want this thing to be about us. Okay. And so, yeah, that's what it is, right? Yeah, I did the first Rock the Bells like 20, like when they started 17 years ago, bro. Yeah, yeah.

Remember those. Yeah. Yeah, and I was doing them back to back. Yeah, yeah, bro. So I've been a part of Rock the Bells for the longest. Salute to all my comrades on the phone. Coast Country, you already know the business. Y'all one of my favorites. Hey, uh.

Thanks for the shout. But yo, L, you already know, bro, like anything you need, I'm here. Young bro is always here. Thank you for allowing me to be part of Rock the Bells, having my own radio show and everything, bro. So I've been with the brand for a long time, bro. Like long time, bro. No doubt. Yes, sir. And that's the beauty of it. You know what I'm saying?

Yes, sir. Hey, L, it's Don-El Jones, man. What up? You know what's up? What up? Hey, I didn't say that's Don-El Jones, man. Damn. Hey, bro, I love you, man.

I love you, man. Look, I remember like, it was like 1987. You came to Chicago and you walked out that damn, that big ass radio. You know what I'm saying? That shit was so dope, man. Like, man, I respect you, I love you, man. Thank you for bringing me, man. I, man, much respect, man.

I love you, man. I think the Uptown Celebration gonna be crazy, you know what I'm saying? Yes, sir. You know, I just wanna cut in for a second because y'all know I'm still at work. You're the piece of the company, Roxanne. We appreciate you. You are you working.

First lady of Rock the Bells. Is that called... You said you won't break. In between sets. That's not called theft of time, is it? How excited, how excited I was to hear about the Uptown Tribute. Because why only are we doing this for hip hop, but we're doing this for a time that we want to remember.

And there's no way that we can miss out on the best years of our lives was during the Uptown Sound, during the Uptown Records. Like you have to include that, whether it's the fashion, the artists, the songs, like a lot of us, let's just be honest, a lot of us made babies during that uptown time, baby. Yeah, that's right. We sure did.

We were trying. We tried hard. Yes, yes. Okay, absolutely. You know? And so for me to be able to be the dean of ceremonies for that is just incredible. So I try to tell everybody like, listen,

this is not just a reunion. This is a reminder. It's a reminder of the great music, the great artists, the great people and the great performances. Because even with Coast Country, when you're looking at everybody that's gonna be hitting that stage, these are all motherfuckers that perform and do a show.

These are all the songs you should be able to learn to. These are all the fashions that you looked at. These are all the people that you imitated. So what I'm looking forward to more than anything else is I love the fact that Rock the Bells has generational fans. You know what I'm saying? I'm as old as the grandma and as good as the daughter, and then the granddaughter to watch the movie and now the kids

Radio in the car, you know what I mean? So now it gives everybody a chance to come together So I'm telling everybody like when they come out to you know, this is not like oh, yeah I want to do this for my parents like no We have something for everybody that wants to party So just come out and have a good time and listen listen, y'all, I got to go again because I'm doing these breaks. But I'm going to be in front of you and y'all all look so good.

Damn, look at you. Listen, I'll be sure motherfucking night and day. Ha ha ha. Let me ask everybody to order R&B cats on here, right? And I want you all individually, you know, I'll start with Al, Al, right? Is it more uncomfortable when it's a whole bunch

of hip hop acts or is it pretty much the same for you guys? I'm just asking. First of all, blessing to see everybody here, blessing to be alive. Yeah, that's true. Good to see you, come on. Oh my God, good to see you, you already know how we do, let's go. Come on, you know what it you, Noah. Come on. Listen. Good to see you already know how we do this.

Come on, you know what it is. Listen. Yeah, wait, time me up. First and foremost, being from Money Heard in Mount Vernon. And remember, we just a mile away from where hip hop started. Across the street. Everything we did, I was just knocking at the door, trying to get in the basement.

His mother was so nice, come on in Albert, and go downstairs, there's some ice tea or lemonade or Kool-Aid, whatever you have down there. And Eddie had the speakers the size of, you know, something that we ain't ever seen before. And just every day, just making it from one part of Mount Vernon to the basement to go see Eddie and us cutting these demos for this guy named Dwight,

who played on the football team with me. And, you know, it's just such a culture. But I remember, I'm gonna tell you this, before Uptown started, Eddie and I in the basement, we working on some demos. We had a flood that day. And I remember, so now mind you, what y'all don't know is that

I was actually the roadie for Eddie. Eddie's the best DJ in Westchester. And I made sure I carried equipment, get him to the parties. We do it, he's like on a duo, but he was, he's that guy. And we had a flood in the basement one day. So it was my job to run and clean up,

to make sure the wires, anybody who DJ, you know, that we get them wires out the water. One day we just picked up the phone on the wall and I looked in the yellow pages and I was looking on where Eddie was spinning and it said, Death Chain. I was like, okay.

So I looked in the yellow pages and I picked up the phone and I started calling Def Jam. And I kept asking for this guy named Russell Simmons. Kept getting hung up on him. Can I speak to Russell Simmons please? We got this spoof, Heavy D and the Boys. He was like, what? Finally somebody stopped.

He said, what, the Fat Boys? I was like, no, sir, Heavy D and the Boys. He said, where are you from? What's your name? I said, my name is Al B. Shaw, sir. He said, that hell is an Al B. Schur. I said, I'm from, I'm gonna tell her, watch this. I said, I'm from Money Heard in Mount Vernon.

He said, you mean all your bushy niggas who think you're from the Bronx? Right? Right. So, boom. Next sentence, sir, who am I speaking to? My name's Dr. Jekyll. I was like, well, I don't want to talk to you,

I want to talk to Russell Simmons. So that's the first phone call me and Eddie made before there was an uptown, was me and Eddie in the basement doing production. That's how the whole thing started. Eddie F. and I'll be showing Eddie F.'s basement with his mother sitting fooled down and cutting demos. So Eddie, if y'all even understood what Eddie did

just in terms of just gathering the culture, giving us, and I wanna give a shout out because Eddie knows how much our mothers mean to us. God rest. Eddie's mother gave us a safe haven to create in a hood. So we were different. Like Eddie, I don't wanna embarrass you. Eddie was the cat in eighth grade that was doing Das.

Like he was the smartest kid in Mount Vernon. And he was the best DJ. So I just wanted to be like Eddie. Rewind between Mount Vernon and having hard times. So I moved, my mother moved me to Queens. I was living on 102nd and Northern Boulevard. Riding my bike around the way, looking for fucking LL Poojay.

I just wanted to see him. I swear on my grandson. I'm riding my bike around just hoping I see this cat. Cause he, you know, that's the man right there. So, between that and then the whole association with Def Jam, knowing that he's the first artist, you know, it was just fascinating. Fast forward circle, I'm just appreciative of being here.

I'm appreciative. These are my brothers uptown. We tried to make a difference. I remember when we first brought Pepe D and the boys to Russell, he was like, what's this? What's this singing and rapping? Imagine, he got LL, Run DMC,

he got DC boys, he got, he's like, what's this singing and rapping? He told Andre, go do what you got to do. The rest is history. We feel truly blessed that you brought it full circle. Sir, brought us back through and allowed the family to come through. And again, just maybe you even understood,

there's no separation in this. Come on, star, right? Listen, my man, 800 grand right here. We up at 50, 15 every so often when I come outside, you don't come out much. But as long as I see your face, I feel at home you bless me in Houston You allow me to roam your city. No, man, you welcome man. This is one big melting pot to you now My man freeway right here

Everybody everybody here. I got some association pain The best artists on Warner Brothers records, like just major label. Hey, hey Al, every time I see Kane, I gotta thank you, man. Right, Kane? I gotta appreciate that, Kane? Kane, cool.

Baby, it's always a love. Thanks, Kane. Before I jump off, I just wanna- You always show me amazing love. Wanna pay homage. Before I jump, I want to pay homage to my brother Freeway that's here. As you know or may not know,

so with this miracle of surviving a medical crisis, we just say that, and taking it to Congress, writing legislation for transplant for four or five states. But Freeway comes up to New York as a meeting and joins us in our fight in Congress to create legislation for healthcare, for the communities we come from.

So when you take, listen, anytime you get lemons, get all that lemonade, make Arnold pump. And that's your man, 215 down there. That's your man, 215 came hard with it and shared the story with all the New York City. You know, we did Reverend Sharpton's Nain Convention. He came in, just absolutely blew it up, touched the people and it's so nice to see people.

And you know, it was like this, it was like generations. Every way he came in and absolutely blew up. Just thought, share this story about having a transplant, things of that nature, where most people, either mental health is a stigma, having a transplant. Listen, we all go through stuff. We live rough on our bodies, it is what it is. So the simple fact that you celebrate your situation,

your seed situation, we got nothing but love for you. And respect everybody. Show it on too, bro. Keep that maze on record. Show it up in that Bay area, man. Let me chime in for a minute. I started radio on Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose. 98.1 Kiss FM, the best variety of today's old school and R&B.

Dean Rennell on Kiss FM. Come on. Let me, can I chime in for a second? Yes, let's go, Jay. Please. I just want to build on something that Al said. He said, word to your grandson. Yes, sir.

Yeah, his grandson um i don't know who noticed dj hollywood just turned 70 so hip-hop not only have parents it has grandparents and it has great grandparents yes sir that's how long this been around. And one thing I noticed is like in music, when I was listening to the Sugarhill Gang, I was also listening to Teddy Penegrin as Evelyn Champagne King. Familiar with the OJs, Osney brothers.

Right. What my parents played. Right. I was parents played. Right. I was familiar with little Anthony and Imperials. Grandparents. My grandparents. So, I mean, different genres, different eras. And like, I just think that, you know, knowing that, and then you got, you got cats like Coast

Contra, these new cats, you know, and it's being a part of this with us. I think that music is music and we must continue to respect it that way. You know, not as old school, new school, but as music. LL said something to me that was amazing. He branded us as timeless. Say it again, brazen what? Timeless. Okay, timeless.

Yeah, timeless hip hop. And I think that's such an amazing title. Long live the king. And I know, I mean, you know, because, yeah, that's exactly what it is, you know. Timeless farm. And we respect each other that way. And King, I gotta say thank you too.

When we was youngsters, when we first said Warner Brothers, 1988, right? I was on Uptown, he was on Cold Chillin'. You invited me and my wife, Kimberly, to be in your video. Yes, Move Operator. Yes, Move Operator, remember that? That was crazy. It sounds so smooth.

That was crazy, so it's just like, that's like what Elle's doing right now. Reaching out, blessing. You know what it is, everybody has their platform and you reach out to another artist that you respect. The fact that he's using his platform to bless everybody here. That's the blessing in itself.

Now, who, you talk about the marathon man. How do you do this for this man? I know I'm old, I just turned 57. I just, but L, I'm sure you still get Cardiff King, I don't even think you drink. You know what I mean? You know what I mean? But man, but listen, just here to say thank you, brother.

Just thank you for setting the pace. I remember sitting in a little apartment on a hundred second in Northern Boulevard and listening to your music on the box and just on a VL in Northern Boulevard and listen to your music on the box and just want to be LL Cool J. So that was like, you know, that was a thing in school. And you know, you definitely opened the doors and allowed us to feed our family.

Cause there was a genre that we can gravitate to and do what we do and create the expression in the streets. Cause all my music is, is what Eddie F was playing in hip hop and I just do some melodies on. Eddie F wanted to tell me to sing. I was trying to rap. He was like, can you sing on this thing? I said, I'm not really a singer like that.

He says, well, practice. So then I started practicing, practicing, practicing. And then I want somebody to love me for me. Not because I'm MC heavy D. I'm looking for love that's as solid as a motherfucking rock. Hey, Al, you know I love you, big bro. I love you, man. I'll say this, man.

I'm a young kid from Chicago. I watched all you guys, man. Like, the video shows that I've seen was like, man, it was like, not MTV, MTV but BET whatever the case was. Ralph McDaniels. I watched y'all man and I was like it was so dope to me man you know what I'm saying and I can't believe that I'm a part of the culture now. Oh you definitely are.

Absolutely. You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. You know I think about it I look at it like, yo, you got, like, I just, you know, you got to fast forward many, many years from now, Coast Country will have, be sitting here, like, doing something, talking about their experience at Rock the Bells. And like, I just think about how beautiful it is. You know what I'm saying?

Like, that we could, you know, like, I got a vision for all of y'all. You know what I'm saying? Like, like that we could, you know, like, like I got a vision for all of y'all, you know what I'm saying? Like I see all of y'all at the, at the like top of the food chain. You know what I'm saying? That's the vision. Like me and Short, we was just rocking out in LA. We had a crazy time out there. We were in the Bay Area.

We had a crazy time on stage. You know what I'm saying? Like it's like, I just see us, I just see, I got a vision. Like I see, I see all of y'all doing huge things. I see the whole culture really being successful. And I see us embracing each other more. You know what I'm saying? And look, Norrie, like the reality is,

you have been on that page. Because that like, that ain't lost on me. Drink Champs, you've been on that page of that like that ain't lost on me drink champs. You've been on that page of like making sure that you're giving Absolutely forms an opportunity and you've been doing it and look how beautiful your life has become Because you decided to give well, guess what? You're not the only one who wants to see some see people win. You know what I mean? You know what I mean? Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. Yes.

No. Yep. Yeah. And words in my homework. Can I say one more thing? We on till we gone. That's why I was saying what I was saying. Because with Norrie here, with Elle here,

that understanding, that title, that brand, timeless, we all need to share that. Yep. You know, we all need to share that. We all need to share that and get that whole old school perspective out of our activity. That's right. That's right. Yeah, exactly.

I totally agree with that, man. I'm cool with that. Well, you gotta stay curious. If you wanna be into the future, you gotta be curious. And you gotta care. And you gotta care about, and you to be willing to take some creative risks. Right. You know, creative risk is really important when you talk about the future, when you talk

about you got to think about innovation and you got to be willing. If you're not willing to look a little stupid, if you're not, if you're totally unwilling to risk looking stupid on some level, you'll never be able to take a creative risk. Correct. That's real. You know what I'm saying? Because you're too worried looking stupid on some level, you'll never be able to take a creative risk. Correct. That's real. You know what I'm saying? Because you're too worried about preserving what was before.

Correct. Willing to do things that you laugh at in the moment so that they understand later. You know? Yo, I wore a bullfighter's shirt in Don't Curse. 100% no doubt. No but Kane my eyebrows are thick to this day because of you. Yup, yup, yup. My shit is my eyebrows, every time I look at my eyebrows I I think of you. I be like, this nigga Big Daddy Kane, man.

You playing for him for your thick eyebrows? Get out of here, man. Hey, man, just let me roll with it. I know what you mean. Respect. Respect. He's partin' them joints, right? Like zzz.

There's a lot of parts in the eyebrows, right? Burn out. I had a couple of parts in my eyebrows. Ha ha, I took the parts in the eyebrows. Hey, I had this shit. I had this shit. I had this shit. I had this shit.

I had this shit. I had this shit. I had this shit. I had this shit. I had this shit. I had this eyebrows, right? Burn out. I had a couple of parts of my eyebrows. Ha ha, I took a part of the eyebrows. Hey, I had the cameo fade, and if you scale up a cameo, I'ma still half-strand. Yeah.

I remember when Red, yo Red, when Red first started, I remember, you know, I was on tour somewhere, and I don't know if Eric was on tour with me, but we was in Jersey actually. And Eric brought Red to the hotel, you know, to rap before he even had a deal like, or right when they was getting together. Red Man sat there freestyle for like two hours. Yo Red, you remember that?

I remember always battling on the road. Yeah, I remember that. That was like me and Craig Mack was on the road all the time with EPMD and Premiers said we used to battle every every night in the lobby Aaron shit out in the lobby every fucking night, bro. Yo, you remember that time? I came to your house with EPMD. Oh, your father was there Yeah, I cut vaguely, you know, my pops was crazy.

Yo, your pops was fucking wild, bro. Yeah, he was wild out. Yeah, my pops was wild out. My pops was a complete wild out. Yeah, he was, bro. Yeah, my pops was, yo, my pops was, may he rest in peace, man. He was something else, man.

He was the man, though. He was funny. Yeah, he was. Yes, he was, bro. A man. He was the man though. He was funny He's a wild boy He was a wild I was a wild boy Changes man as he changed his last name the Nunea, just so he could tell niggas. When they asked him his name, he said, Nunea, you motherfucking business. He legally changed his last name, just so he could say that to people. Like he was-

Wait, he legally changed it for real? He legally changed his last name to Nunea, just so he could tell- That's commitment. ... your motherfucking business. Yo, he was a different dude, man. It was a rest in peace. I got two little brothers, you know what I'm saying? Just like great shoes, great books take you places.

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Listen to Everybody's Business wherever you get your podcasts. So let me ask you, is there anybody that you tried to get on Rock the Bells, the festival or cruise that you never got? Well, there's always people, but a lot of times it's scheduling or, you know, different things that come up, normal business stuff. But everybody, we'll work with everybody ultimately. You know what I'm saying? Like, everybody, you know,

if life lives, as long as life lives and we all here, like, we'll work with all the artists. And, you know, I'm going to include more classic artists. You know, I'm going to include more young artists, more Coast Conscious Generation and even younger. I'm gonna include them all. Like, they all gonna be welcome to be a part of what we do. You know what I'm saying? And the main thing for me is just,

I just want people to know that, like, I know, like, I have to keep saying this, though, but this ain't a LL party. You know what I'm saying? It's about rock and roll. And it's like, I want to make sure that I keep inviting more and more people to be a part of what we doing. You know what I'm saying? So about I want to make sure that I keep inviting more and more people to be a part of what we doing you know I'm saying so that I just want everybody eat everybody be successful everybody shine

Any plans on making this a multi-day festival? I've had thoughts about it. This year, I wanted to go to Prudential Center in New Jersey, just one, because people were baking outside in Queens, but then there was some noise ordinance and some different things that I wanted to make sure that everybody could have the experience they wanted to have. So this year, it's a one day, but eventually, I'll definitely be considering about thinking about multiple days and multiple multiple stages for sure. Yeah.

And what's your dream place to do or rock the bells that I ain't gonna say that but you know, I'm, I'm always pregnant already know what you want to do. Yeah, yeah, I gonna tell the world that because then when when the arena, when you know, I mean, you know, they'll be talking about we're gonna do some things cause then you know. Wembley Arena. Wembley Arena. You know what I mean? They'll be talking, but we gonna do some things. Wembley Arena. And I'm gonna have all of these artists and more,

you know, all of us artists and more, being a part of this, you know what I'm saying? And you know, Nor, you gonna tear it up this year, you know, like, this is busy too, like, we got a podcast mode, but you got the other side. And shout out to Ponez. You and Capone's gonna bening up in this shit too. Damn.

We put CNN in the middle. We did a show together in five years, having done a show together. It was no beef or nothing like that. I'm doing podcasting, he's busy, but we actually going to rehearsal and everything. Like we doing it all. Like, you know what I'm saying?

Like first time. War report, baby. Yeah, the war report. Oh, crazy, that's crazy. I gotta take off my podcast shirt. You know what I mean? Yeah. That's gonna be crazy, war report.

You gotta throw on the fatigues. Yeah, I gotta follow the soul. Yo, but Freeway. From my way to Kuwait, what what? That's the stage. Let me ask you, what do you like performing more, by yourself or with your crew? I like both, but you know,

definitely with my brothers by me, man, you know, it's always an amazing experience because we got so many records together and we interact so well. So, you know, it's always better with the cat. Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da- da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da short. What's up, man? I see you, man. I got something to say too, man. I'm really happy to be a part of this episode of Sober Champs. I'm not sober. I've seen a whole lot of personal friends pop up on the screen. Real friends.

I don't know if you niggas know, I'm 59 years old, just turned 59. And I've been in the industry since 1980, since I was 14 years old. And I go out every weekend and knock down about 50,000, 70,000, 500,000 a weekend. I love hip hop. Come on, come on, shorty. Yes, just- I love hip hop. Best thing I've ever seen. Come on, come on, shorty. Yes, baby. You are hip hop.

You are hip hop. You're a shorty. Fall in love with hip hop and start rapping, man. It's the best thing I ever did, man. And I'm just, I'm proud to be a part of what I consider to be a fraternity of brothers and sisters who have made timeless hip hop. You can make hip hop all you want.

You can have a good year, you can do whatever. You can get all the money in the world, but you ain't making that timeless. It's magic in there. None of us don't even have the ingredients to it. We just did it. That's right. I love LL Cool J for giving timeless hip hop a platform.

Yes. It ain't got no age limit. It ain't got no reason limits. It's like, if you in the club, you in the club. And we gonna rock the bills, you know what I'm saying? We're gonna rock the bills, man. That's a big, that's a big accomplishment just to be a part of LL's family right now, you know?

LL, right. Any part of it, man, if you're getting down at the radio station like I am, if you're doing the shows with him, we need to be lined up in line with LL Cool J on this preservation of- What's up, y'all? Absolutely.

Straight up. Absolutely. Hell yeah. I totally agree. Hell yeah. You want me to rap it? Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

So, L, is there anything, any surprises that, something that you can hint to that might happen at this festival this year? Well, you never know what- It's LL Cool J, it's Nuri. You know what I'm saying? June 12th, man. It's gonna be, you know, trust your man.

It's gonna be exciting. It's gonna be some little kids from my neighborhood, y'all. Artists that aren't on the ad mat that you might, you know, that might throw up. It's gonna be some neighborhood freaks. Tell myself what up. You know what I mean? And it's gonna be really exciting. You know, I mean? And it's going to be really exciting.

Shout out to Brass Cas while we at it. Yeah, man. That's family over there, right? Coach Contra? Yeah, shout out to Brass Cas. He raised them right, didn't he? I love him. Hey, L. L. L. You the goat, man.

I appreciate you. You the goat, man. I seen you do some shit on Sway. It was like a freestyle or something like that. It was crazy, man. Like, like, like, bro, you the man, for real. Carl Thomas. Carl Thomas?

Yo, LL. Yo, L. It was a dream. I'd like to just say thanks for giving Uptown the opportunity to just get on and shine with y'all, man. Because y'all, all of y'all, I done rocked with and y'all are the best to me man. And I still look up to you, all of y'all,

each and every one of y'all. Yeah, I appreciate it. And Short, me and Short just had a show in Sacramento a couple of weeks ago with D-Nice. And I'm just watching Short cause Short, like when I went on tour back in the day with him and we used to just bug out and then I moved to Atlanta And then we bugged out so just to see all of y'all. I love all y'all man

Now I look forward to getting down and doing this and making this thing happen LL love from I remember being in the bed trying to see if I'm going to school to listen to I'm bad Like it was crazy. Yes Yes Just read love hot. I love directed Listen, I'm bad. Like it was crazy. This is nice. Yes. Just read love, I love the record. I see no problem. I'm putting the name of the record in my record. One of my records. And it's crazy.

Oh, my God. I'm like, oh, shit. It was crazy. And then the scene, the scene, I'm in, oh shit, what is this? Norrie was crazy. And then the St. Norrie, the St. Norrie, I'm in the airport, y'all. I'm just coming from Indian, Indianapolis. I'm doing a new good man. You're getting that money.

We understand you're getting that money. Go ahead, go ahead. Yeah, yeah. Yo, when I saw, yo, when I seen this guy, then I seen him in the movies, the movies, when I see Norrie in the movie with Damon in them, and he was the Dominican dude. Pollo Loco, Pollo Loco.

Pollo Loco, Pollo Loco. Made it full, it made it full. Yeah, yeah, yeah. In the LL, when I see LL and God, I'm God. Yes, sir. Deep cover. I was like, deep cover, I was like this, okay, it's over, it's over. Music is L.

I remember, I remember. Dory. Pool table. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. It's over. Music is L. I remember, I remember, um, Norrie- On the pool table? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That was crazy. Yeah, yeah, it was, uh- That was crazy. Yeah, he was behind the eight ball. Yeah, he was behind the eight ball, for sure.

Ayo, L, L. Yeah. Ayo, L. You ain't no cop, Reed. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Reed. I remember Norrie brought Pharrell up to the studio and introduced me to Pharrell. Like, I would have never did like, Love You Better and all them songs.

Norrie brought Pharrell up to the studio. Pharrell wasn't known. Pharrell was like a little kid running around like bouncing off the walls. Norrie was like, yo, this little dude, he got the beat. I was like, why? He brought him up, he started talking. He was all passionate and excited.

You remember that? Like, he was crazy. He was animated. No doubt, no doubt. As a matter of fact, you know, Norrie, wasn't you, when Biggie was writing, because I was in the studio when Biggie did our shot, and when he wrote our shot, you was there that day too, right?

If it was daddy's house, then yeah. Yeah, you was. Yes, you were there, because you came through. You came through for a while when Biggie was writing our shot, I was sitting there, and you came through and we was kicking it and all, for a while, and all that, while Biggie was doing his thing. Yeah, I remember that. That's crazy though, like,

just looking at y'all, like, you know, so much, like, I'm telling you, like, Mr. Cheeks, like that Lex Coop's being the best, rest in peace, freaky child, man. Like, you know, that was, yo, those records, yo, yo, them lost boys, Renee, lost boy. Oh, my God. Yeah. Come on, like, even your lights, camera action.

Yo, crazy, baby, like, people got to understand the music that's on this joint. Like, like, yo, the songs that's on it right now. Yeah. You know, the sheets wrote me, I was in Japan, and they had the soundtrack. And that's the first time I met Chicks was at, I believe, the Hit Factory. And he wrote Tempah Da for me. It's me alerted.

And we laughed all night. Hey, freaky time. God bless. Oh, we had a blast, man. I can't wait to see my brothers, man. Yo, Chicks, I keep looking at your background. I keep looking at your background thinking Freddy Kugel going to come out. Where you at Cheeks? I'm just in the woods smoking weed.

Get in touch with nature. I thought that was a filter. You really in the woods. You legitimately in the woods. Wow. I thought that was a filter. Like, you're really in the woods, bro. You're legitimately in the woods. Yo, that's wild. Yo, I love that. I kept looking like, is somebody going to pop out? Can we talk about that?

I waited on my son to come through and all of that. That's fire. That's fire. That's fire. No doubt, baby. No doubt. That's fire. And know everything's good, man.

I can't wait to see y'all on the 28th, though. You already know that. Yeah, I'm excited too enjoying what y'all talking about and all the stories that's what made us where we are now. Like you said, like too short set, I'm proud to be a part of this shit, man. I'm honored and all of that. You know what I mean? So can't wait to get down and see y'all on the 28th of June. We're going to be acting the fool. You already know. Yeah. Yeah, that's going to be hot. I'm excited. I'm excited. I'm excited.

I'm excited. I'm excited. I'm excited. I'm excited. I'm excited. I'm excited. and all of that, you know what I mean? So can't wait to get down and see y'all on the 28th of June. We gonna be acting the fool, you already know. Yeah. Yeah, that's gonna be hard. I'm excited. Excited. Hey, Nory, bring me an Eddie F on our drink camp, man.

Oh, no problem, no problem. Let's do it. We gotta talk about it. That's too easy, that's too easy. We gotta talk about it. And I heard you getting drunk right now, so it's gonna be good. I'm good, I'm good, I And I heard you getting drunk right now, so it's going to be good. I'm good. I'm good. I'm good.

He got the... He set the mood for himself in the room. Look at him. I'm nice. I'm nice. I'm nice. Red light in the red light district and all that. Yeah. I'm nice. I'm nice. I don't know what's going to happen if he pans out.

I don't know. No. No. Yo. I don't know. Has there ever been a Juice Crew reunion? Has there ever been a Juice Crew reunion at Rock the Bells? Not at Rock the Bells. We haven't done a Juice Crew through, no, but I mean, you know, all these things are possible, baby. Because every year, every year it's like that's like one of the themes is like having a reunion

part of the show. But you know what? It just, it just varies, man. It's really about just the creative and just bringing people to participate and just doing dope shit. You know what I'm saying? I just want it to be hot and want it to be crazy. Like I just want to see Capone in Noriega.

I want to see Big Daddy Kane. I want to see Tooone and Noriega. I want to see Big Daddy Kane. I want to see Too Short. I want to, I want Coach Contra to rock. You know what I'm saying? I want to see Freeway. I want to see, you know, Beanie Siegel. Like, you know, I want to see the Uptown Reag- You know, I just want to divide with the whole thing.

You're going to have Fabulous out there. You know what I'm saying? You're going to have Lil Mo out there. You know, KRS-One going to be in the building doing his thing. You know what I'm saying? I mean, it's just going to be, it's going to be a doing his thing. You know what I'm saying? I mean, it's just gonna be a complete wall out. You know what I'm saying?

And you know, tearing up the stage. You know what I'm saying? Like it's just the whole, this is about our culture. This is about hip hop. It's about hip hop. It's about the people who are part of hip hop culture. So whether they are beast singers, whether they dancers, whether they performance, all of that is part of what we do.

You know what I'm saying? So that's the thinking, you know what I mean? You said, you said, K-Rest coming, you said K-Rest coming? Absolutely. Let me text FC Shan right now. Yeah. Wait, let me ask you,

would you ever recreate those old battles on stage? 100%, 100%, all you gotta do is say the word. Cause that would be ill, especially for the younger generation to see two icons that back in the day's battle that they heard about on tape, see that live. Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely.

It could be new ones. It could be whatever y'all want. Right, right. The new version of that is Versus, right? Will Versus ever be like a part of it? I mean, you know, I'm not against the idea of working with anybody as long as the goal is to lift up the artist and lift up the culture and make sure that everybody is being elevated.

I'm gang, you know what I'm saying? Like I don't, you know, I'm not playing this close to the vest, you know what I'm saying? Like I'm actually, you know, open source, like, you know, like the way you make, like certain companies, like tech companies, I'm open with it, you know what I'm saying? It's all about the artist.

You know, it's all about the culture. I think that, I just know that when y'all get out there and perform, y'all want to feel a certain way. Y'all want a certain vibe. Y'all want a certain, you want the sound system a certain way. You want to feel certain energy. That's my job, you know what I'm saying?

My job is to make sure that it's dope for us and it's a great experience for us. And I do the best I can to do it. I ain't gonna be able to give you a bubble bath limo and shit. You might have to take care of that on your own. But my job is to make sure it's a good experience for everybody. And for the fans. Because at the end of the day, we're talking about each other and we love

each other and we're fans of each other. But there's millions and millions of people out there that are super excited about the idea of coming to Prudential Center and seeing all of you and all of us do this thing and bring this thing to life. And it's sometimes the industry is so transparent with this internet thing that we forget. You forget sometimes how impactful you are to the world. Millions of people, every one of y'all got millions of people that love you, love you,

and can't wait to see you, you know what I'm saying? And that's a beautiful thing, you know what I mean? I just want to keep it on the Rock the Belles Festival for one second. I remember going to a Dave Chappelle show, and I obviously went in with Dave, but everyone else who walked in with Dave, they put their phones in the green thing. And so when you sat down and you watched Dave Chappelle perform, you couldn't record. You know what I mean? Like there was a certain few that came in

with him and obviously we had our phones. But I thought it made so much sense because it forced the fans to just look forward. Like, you know what I mean? Like I forget what show I went to the other day and I couldn't see nobody having fun because I just seen everybody, everybody's a star now. Everybody's recording.

You know what I mean? Is that something that you're looking into or something that you think is a possibility? No, you know, it's funny, Norah. I've thought about it for my listening sessions, and I've done it before. And then you get people calling you up because they feel like they're supposed to be important

and all that, and everybody feels important. But that being said, it's something to think about. You know what I'm saying? I didn't consider it for this because, people with them phones, they freak out and all that, but it's definitely something to think about. It's just something to consider. I just don't wanna, at this point,

I don't wanna do anything that's gonna jeopardize the fan experience, but I don't know if that necessarily does or doesn't the question is You know, do you want me to do that? Would you be happy if I told everybody no phones and made everybody put their phones up like that? Like would that be that how do we think that would play out? I think I think the good thing about it is we can we can actually watch from this show moving on We can actually see there and we can actually

dictate the algorithms. But I remember seeing Buster Rhymes and you know Buster is from, he's from a different school and Buster was so mad that people had their phones up. He was like, turn your phones off. Sit down and just kill this guy. When he cussed out the people at the show. Well, you know Buster gonna say what he feel, B.

And if you're not from our generation, you probably thinking that he's being, he's being an asshole, but he's trying to give the people the best experience they is, and you may not get the best experience with your record button on, you know what I mean? So that's-

Yeah, I mean, listen, man, like, you know, people be filming their food, I be eating, you know what I'm saying? Like, I be eating, you know what I'm saying? Like, I can't, you know, I'm hungry, B, I got time to like do a photo shoot. Like, I need to eat this. No, but you know, that's me. You know what I mean? Everybody different.

I ain't judging. I want to go around for everybody who's left on here in no particular order. I want, obviously, if you guys know who's on the list, I want each person to say, you know, who's the person that they're looking forward to seeing on that stage that night? This is Jeff Redd, man.

I'm looking forward to seeing everybody, especially my brother, Kane. Yes. Because me and him, you know, we used to sport the high top fakes, you know, I'm looking forward to seeing everybody, especially my brother, Kane. Yeah. You know, cause me and him, you know, we used to support the high top Faze, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. And Faze, you know, everybody, man, because like Elle said, man, you know, we are here now with everybody that millions of people love. So I'm just excited to be a part of it. I really appreciate it, man. And again, LL, thank you again, Eddie, thank you so much for everything, man.

I really appreciate it. This is hot. I'm working, but this is gonna be good for the resume. You know what I'm saying? I haven't performed in New York in like 25 years, man. God damn. I haven't performed in New York in like 25 years, man. God damn. L bringing me the EDF to ride the bells and I'm looking forward to it.

I've been kicking off the dust on the shoes, get ready to go do what we do. You know, everybody, I got a little big, everybody say you still dancing. I said, move that to the side. But we gonna share, me and my team, we ready. And one thing I love is that I still have my team that I started out with.

All of them still work for me and we still go out there and we get it, man. And it's an honor for y'all to just keeping us alive and keeping us doing what we do. So credit goes to all of y'all. And I love all y'all to just keeping us alive and keeping us doing what we do. Absolutely. Credit goes to all y'all and I love all y'all and I can't wait to see all y'all man. Absolutely. And that's just fact. I can't even say who I want to see because I want to see all y'all.

I may be a groupie. Say whatever. I'm going to see everybody. I'm going to be seeing y'all records and then y'all going to see me come out with my little thing and I just hope I give y'all what y'all want. I ain't, you know, today's gonna do what it's gonna do. Hell yeah. It's gonna do what it's gonna do, baby.

You know what, I see Monifah's phone and I know she ain't got a camera on, you know, she probably won't feel like she glam ready, but I see your phone, you're not hiding. So I just want to say. Wait, wait, I don't have my camera on? Okay, hold on. You got your camera on you're not hiding. So I just want to say that. Wait, wait, I don't have my camera on? Okay, hold on. You got your camera on.

I'm good. Oh, Monique. I'm good. I'm good. Whoa. It's good to see you. I look forward to that. I look forward to seeing you.

Buddy. Do your thing. Yo, what's up? What's going on with you, brother? Man, it's all good, man. It's definitely a pleasure and an honor for just to be a part of this. Shout out to DJ Ed Eddie F for reaching back

and grabbing intro. Say come on out. Come out and do your thing, man. This is crazy. LL is bringing back the family reunion. We got the R&B and the hip hop. Shout out to my dude. Mr. Cheeks up there.

My dude Big Daddy Kane. It's like, John L. Jones, Father MC. Oh my God. Hey, I'm on Poojay. Hey. Let's go John L. Jones, Father MC. Oh my God. Let me be. Hey, I'm on the cool K. Hey, let's go, man. You know, my dude Jeff. I'm on the cool K. From Hollis.

Yeah, man, we did. Respect, respect. This is a real quick history right here, right? So my dude Reggie took me by Eddie F's house in Mount Vernon before intro, I was in the Army. Then my cousin started playing the drums for Albie Shaw, my cousin Dave Brown. So I got a chance to meet Albie Shaw.

He was on tour with New Edition Bobby Brown. Ended up doing a couple of records with Mr. Cheeks. My dude Jeff, Big Daddy Kane's like family. Jeff took me over to my Big Daddy Kane's house. Jeff introduced me to LL Cool J and Hollis. My brother, Donnell Jones. I'm just going down the line. That's like my brother.

We just pop up on the phones and calls and we text the other day, Father MC, Close To You, album cover. Second album. Very first time. My daughter just, my first daughter just had her baby two days ago. Her name's Donnell.

I'm in DC, I just landed in DC to see my little princess. And then I got to fly all the way back to the East Coast to come back and do this again in a couple of weeks And this is crazy. This is crazy crazy. Yeah, and first time in the studio Jeff right you call it So we make I love everybody on here. I'm a fan of everybody. Yes. Yes No, this is part of this movement. We mad excited shout out to my bandmates Taylor soprano Jeff Sanders when you come through and rock them else. Yeah. Congratulations on the new member. I like that. Word up. Yeah, yeah. He's dope.

Congratulations. He's dope. He's dope. Yeah. Yeah. Right now, ready to roll. It just feels good to have all of y'all who we were youngsters, youngsters growing up, running around, trying to get what we had to get to do what we had to do to see us now. We grandfathers and fathers. That's nuts. Yeah, that's crazy. That's the beauty of the thing, though. Well, that's the beauty of the culture, right?

The beauty of the culture is that you could continue doing something for a lifetime. If you treat your career, if you respect your career, if you respect your body, if you respect your mind, if you respect your spirit, you know what I'm saying? You could keep doing it. You could start at 15, 16 professionally. You know, when we started Def Jam, we started Def Jam, I was 16 professionally. I started, I was rapping since I was eight. But at 16, we started Def Jam.

And you look at the world that we're in now, you can do a whole life with it. You just gotta love it and care about it and Gotta be something you're chasing I'm not saying we all want to get to the money and all that but there's gotta be bigger reason for why you do the things That you do, you know Other reasons other than the chase of the money, you know I'm saying like gotta nurture it idea like It's y'all like I enjoy that you get and

enjoy that the fans get like that that's to me is that's the thing that that inspires me you know I'm saying so yes hey so hey look this me right here this Don L I don't get the dude hip-hop and R&B until I meet Eddie F. Like that guy right there is the real guy. You know what I'm saying? He goes unknown, very quiet, you know what I'm saying? But he is the real GOAT. You know what I'm saying? And so I'm looking forward to seeing K.A.N.G.

Like K.A.N.G. That's my nigga right there. Appreciate you. K.A.N.G, every studio I was in. Man, man, man, come on man. Every studio I was in, I'd see 10 pitches. And every studio when I was making my record, my first album, I was like, man, like Tane, here I am, R-A-W. I was like, woo!

Yeah. I used to wake Cain up. I used to go outside his house and honk my horn loud as hell. Class the music at like one, 2 in the morning, wake Kane up, and then go in there, he's like, you know, Kane, he be in there cooking fish and all that, and I used to eat his father's food out of the refrigerator. I just want to go outside my head and all that.

I be eating all the food. Like, yo, we had some, yo, we had some balls. You had a good time. Amazing times and better amazing times. Arnell Jones had some joints, too, but Kane with that smooth operator, that just changed the whole game to me in hip hop. ball you had a good time. I know Jones had some joints too but Kane with that smooth operator that just changed the whole game to me in hip hop.

That woke me up. I was dealing with a young lady and she had me hating Kane but I loved his music. You know how you're young and you think you're loved and then next thing you know Kane come out with that because I'm a smooth operator and I'm a smooth operator. And I'm like,

this is crazy, dad. I love all y'all. I remember you telling me that story. Yeah, I remember. And Kane, oh my God. I used to get so much wisdom. Thank you, Kane. When we used to do the shows,

I don't know, when you used to just put me on, when we had spot dates, and you used to always tell me, like, you know, in your cool way too, the way you used to always tell me like you know in your cool way too the way you used to do it used to be so cool like you should be saying to myself look at this man this is the way you even talk and you've given it to it like fly he's like yo Paul you gotta you know you gotta do this and watch this and I took everything you said to me and I always

listened to you man because you did it you done it you got to where I wanted to be and I said I'm taking everything I must run around all y'all Yeah, so you gonna have you gonna have Eric being rock came out there KS one, you know I'm saying the whole you know state property the whole It's gonna be component. When Donald come on and start singing that slow joint, he had, oh my God, I remember that. Man, I was going nuts. We gonna turn up, baby, we gonna turn up.

All right, no. We gonna turn up. We gonna turn it off. Gotta hit set it off. We gonna turn up, man. Yo, I appreciate y'all. I appreciate y'all very much, man. We gonna rock the spells.

Once again, it's June 28th at the Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey. You know what I'm saying? My man Short Dog gonna be out there. Philly Freeway, the whole crew. Big Daddy Kane, King Asiatic. Coach Contra gonna be out there. Monifa, Monifa gonna be out there.

Rapper for the culture, my man Eddie F. Ultimate uptown record celebration, Donnell Jones, Albie Shaw, Jeff Redd, Christopher Williams. He gonna be out there, you know what I'm saying? Yo, Nino, we love you, Jack City, but we love him. You know what I'm saying? And then it's gonna be all smooth and crazy. It's gonna be crazy.

See how smooth? See how smooth gonna be out. It's gonna be crazy. See how smooth gonna be out there? With the poetry, that buttery voice, you know all that? You know what I'm saying? It's gonna be crazy. It's gonna be crazy. It's gonna be great. It's gonna be a great, great time.

Great time. Yeah, and again, I think I could speak for everybody. Thank you, brother LL for everything, man. This is amazing. Everybody's excited and we can't wait to get there, man. I can't wait, definitely. For my brother. Yes, sir.

Oh, yeah. All right, y'all. All right. Hold on, hold on. One thing before we get up out of here. Yeah. Kane, you bringing Scoob and Scrap out? Yeah, they coming to dance for you.

They coming to dance for you. Okay, all right. Thank you. They coming to dance for you. OK. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.

Sorry, everybody. Great no dinner, though. Great no dinner. All right, y'all. You and 28 through that to center. You and 28. You and 28, y'all. Everybody here needs to be on Drink Chans in Miami soon,

so we need to see y'all down here. You know what I mean? Rock and Roll's Drink Chans. Rock and Roll. Let's go Miami soon. So we need to see y'all down here. Rock and Roll's Drink Champs. Let's go. Peace y'all. Love, love, love, love. Drink Champs is a Drink Champs LLC production, host and executive producers, NORE and DJEFN.

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 The Real Noriega on IG, at Noriega on Twitter, mine is at Who's Crazy on IG, at DJ EFN on Twitter, and most importantly, stay up to Just like great shoes, great books take you places.

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