Drink Champs - #Throwback Episode - w/ Talib Kweli| (Ep. 12)

Episode Date: May 21, 2025

N.O.R.E. & DJ EFN are the Drink Champs and we're taking it back to some of the most legendary moments in Drink Champs history Classic interviews, unforgettable stories, and iconic guests who shaped the culture. In this classic throwback episode of Drink Champs, N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN are joined by the legend himself, Talib Kweli! This unfiltered, wide-ranging conversation is filled with classic hip-hop stories, political insight, and personal memories. Talib opens up about his early days in Brooklyn, linking with Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) to form the iconic duo Black Star, and navigating the underground scene that gave rise to his conscious lyricism. The conversation also dives into his experiences with icons like Jay-Z, and Lauryn Hill, including behind-the-scenes moments and studio stories, and a surreal encounter with Prince. From discussing immigration and Black identity to revisiting moments with Common and The Notorious B.I.G.,Talib showcases the depth of his journey as both an artist and an activist. This episode is a deep dive into hip-hop culture, community consciousness, and the legacy of one of rap’s most respected voices. It’s raw, real, and full of gems. Make some noise for Talib Kweli!! 💐💐💐🏆🏆🏆 -Originally published on June 3rd, 2016:See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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What it could be, hopefully what it should be. Before we even continue, I want to say that right now we in 89 clothing store, and I'm dripped to death with 89 from the head to the bottom of my feet. And right now, this is your boy N-R-E-E, Hang Hang Sangria. Hope you're savvy. What? What up? It's DJ E-F-N.

It is the Drink Chance Podcast. Make some noise. And right now, right now we have a legendary Brooklyn MC. He was a part of a legendary group that we only got one album from. We was disappointed we're going to get into that. He's hip hop's first activist that gangsters in hip hop claim and the backpackers in hip hop claim. He stepped up for us in Ferguson with nobody else was. He told that guy that was in CNN. We're going to get to that later that you're reporting on black culture in a disrespectful way.

And he told it to him intelligently and live and live to this day people still don't respect this guy's Don Lemon's news reporting skills since that day I had this guy number the first thing I want to do is text him and say thank you but he's a hip-hop activist he's one of the realest people he's a hip hip hop pure lyricist. Pure lyricist. He's worked with the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z, Freeway, you name him. He's been in the studio or had something to do with them

being great. Right now, we have Talib Kweli in the building. Make some fucking noise! Oh, man. Oh, man. The legend. Oh, man. The legend Oh man The legend Tyler and Pauly

Y'all gonna make a black man blush Nah man Listen by the way Let me just say something I seen you in LA And I got a chance to tell you Yeah How much I appreciated

The statements The acts And the courageousness That you portrayed During the Ferguson, and you going out there, first off, just representing for us, and then second off, when people were reporting false stories, you immediately corrected this guy, and you did it in an intelligent way.

You could have been like, fuck you, nigga, you sellout motherfucker. You know what I'm saying? That's how I feel about Don Lemon. But you didn't You didn't and respectful How did that transpire Yeah can we get the full story Yeah and we don't need

The political No doubt Political correct answer There's nobody listening to this show We only got three followers Yeah let's go ahead Go ahead tell us Well first of all

Before I get into that You know what I'm saying First of all Shout out to the family Of Michael Brown And Michael Brown's mom And Michael Brown's senior and Michael Brown senior. And you know what I'm saying?

Like, because, you know, one of the things that was lost in the conversation with me and Don Lemon was the fact that I was out there to represent for Michael Brown. Exactly. And one thing that I, you know, I try to not, I have no regrets in life, but that moment I had to ask you to pour a drink. Okay. Well, you know, it's a drink chance. It's true. You sound a little too sober.

Come on, open up. That is your bottle. That is your bottle. You know, Hennessy has sponsored some of the worst moments of my life. Yeah, he's sponsored some of the worst moments of my life as well, Tyler. Yeah, so go ahead. You in Ferguson. Yeah, so I went down there.

You know, I be on Twitter a lot. Let's be clear. You did not get paid to be in Ferguson. Oh, no, no. Don Lemon got paid to be in Ferguson. That's right. Go ahead. Continue.

I was on Twitter. I be on Twitter a Ferguson. Oh, no, no. Don Lemon got paid to be in Ferguson. That's right. Go ahead. Continue. I was on Twitter. I be on Twitter a lot. Mm-hmm. And- You be arguing with fools. I've been seeing you. I do. I do.

Yeah, that's why I say that. You know, Jay-Z said if you argue with fools from a distance, they can't tell who's who. Yeah, who's the wise man? But I tell him, come a little closer, and it's very apparent who's the wise man. Let's make some noise for him. Tell him to come closer. You respond to every single person. Come a little closer.

God damn it. Just if you come a little closer You can see You know what I'm saying What I'm doing But you know what I'm saying Like I was talking on Twitter To people who was retweeting

And people A lot of times People on social network Think that they activists Because they retweet something Or because they post something Nice and positive on Facebook And that's all good

But unless you have bodies on the ground, unless the flesh is involved, there's nothing really, really happening. So I found myself being hypocritical because I'm talking about this on Twitter. Right. My man, J. Cole, went down there. I see that.

You know what I'm saying? Like, these are artists that, I think maybe Jeezy, Young Jeezy went down there before me. So I seen other artists go down there. Let's pick them up. That's right. You know what I'm saying? So I was like, okay, I can go down there before me. So I seen other artists go down there. Let's pick them up. That's right. You know what I'm saying?

So I was like, okay, I can go down there. I'm here on Twitter talking about it. Let me go down there. I'm an artist. I'm my own boss. I don't have a schedule I have to adhere to.

I could go down there. So I went down there and I was happy to see my man Phillip Agnew, aka Umi Salat, who's here in Miami, you know what I'm saying? From Dream Defenders.

He was down there. I seen Patrice from Black Lives Matter down there. I seen people that I already fuck with down there. So I felt like I was in the right place. I met my man Tef Poe, an artist from St. Louis, very talented MC. He's on my last album, 9th Wonder, which I are you on, he's on the song.

My man Tef Poe and my man Tori Russell, they was down there, they was on the front lines. And my poe and my man tory russell um they was down there they was on the front lines and my first night down there to be honest with you i kind of went down there on some like i'm just gonna show my face okay i'm gonna pour you a drink i'll see you no i got the drink you got a drink already all right continue continue i'm sorry i was gonna show my face why to be real with you you know i'm saying like i wasn't planning on getting in no type of action or no tele involved you just wanted to be on no i just want to show solidarity You know what I'm saying? Like, I wasn't planning on getting in no type of action or no type of... Like hella involved. You just wanted to be on the ground. No, I just wanted to show solidarity. You know what I'm saying? But you got maced or something like that. Yeah.

No, I didn't get maced, but they sprayed tear gas in the air. It infected me a little bit. I had the cops and, you know, agitated the people. You know what I'm saying? And they chased us down. I was down there with Rosa Clemente, who's a friend of mine, Jessica Caremore, who's a poet. Cops and some young people, they chased us down. Is she related there with Rosa Clemente, who's a friend of mine, Jessica Caramore, who's a poet.

Cops and some young people, they chased us down. Is she related to Roberto Clemente? Because that's my cousin. She's not, but she is Puerto Rican. Is that really your cousin? She is. She is Puerto Rican. My Puerto Rican.

Dale, dale. Wepa. How many days into the protest is this when you get there? This is as soon as I got there. But I'm saying, how many days had the protest already been going on? Oh, okay, it had been going on about a week. Okay. Maybe two weeks before I got down there. And, you know, the people on the front line, I seen that they needed a voice,

and I seen that they needed representation. Shout out to my man Benzino. I seen him down there. Oh, wow. You know what I'm saying? There's a couple other artists I can't think of right now, but Tef Poe, I was rolling with Tef Poe and them. And I was down there for about a week.

I got asked to do a lot of press. I turned a lot of it down. I did Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman. I did a Joanne Reid show. But I was turning a lot of the press down because I wasn't down there as a rapper. You know what I'm saying? You were down there as an activist.

Yeah, with the people. Yes. I got asked to do CNN. I had never met Don Lemon. I went down there to do the thing with him. And this is the night before he said, I smell weed? Or this is the same night? This was about a few months before that.

Oh, when he said he smelled weed when he was out there? Yeah, this was a few months before he smelled the weed. Okay. Yeah. You know, Don Lemon is somebody that I, you know, even to this day, I clown. I make fun of him. I had a little altercation with him on the air. But I have respect for him as a human being, you know? A gay man, black man on CNN. He's gay? Yeah, he's gay. You know what I'm saying? make fun of him. I had a little altercation with him on the air, but I have respect for him as a human being.

A gay man, black man on CNN. He's gay? Yeah, he's gay. Oh, we didn't know that. He came out. And Anderson as well. Yeah, Anderson, gay. You know what I'm saying?

They did their thing. I went down there. I was very excited to do the interview with Don Lemon. Why? And I was surprised at the way that he conducted the interview. And I think my shock and my surprise, me being used to doing interviews in a certain way as an artist, was different from me doing interviews as, I don't think Don Lemon understood who I was and what I was doing down there. I was just somebody who was there.

He had no frame of reference. He didn't know you beforehand? Nah. We never met. To him, he might have been from St. Louis. Yeah, I could have been just a rapper from St. Louis. No disrespect to rappers from St. Louis because, you know, those are the voices. Like my man, Tef Poe. You know what I'm saying? Like people who's rappers from there, they know what was up for real. Like really, they should have interviewed Tef Poe. Really. You know what I'm saying? But you were walking by? That's how this happened? No, they called me. CNN called me a lot. Give them the back. They called me a lot. The real story is they called me a lot. They called me like 10 times. And I said, no, no, no, no, no.

And they said Anderson Cooper was going to do the story. And you know, I have a lot of respect for Anderson Cooper. Me too. You know what I'm saying? So I was like, okay, I'm going to do it. All right. When I got down there, they had Don Lemon. I didn't, you know, I was like, okay, Don Lemon, cool.

Was you a well of Don Lemon prior to that? Yeah, I didn't have no opinion of him. Yeah, I did. I didn't, you know, I was like, okay, Don Lemon, cool. Was you a well of Don Lemon prior to that? Yeah, I didn't have no opinion of him. Yeah, I did. I was aware of him. I knew he was on CNN. You know what I'm saying? I wasn't a fan.

I wasn't not a fan. I didn't know who he was. I just knew he was famous, you know, black dude on CNN. So I did the interview with him and, you know, I just didn't like the way that, you know,

I felt like Don Lemon is on CNN on TV a lot. I feel like if you call me to interview me, you want to hear what I got to say. As soon as I started speaking, he started speaking. And my gut instinct kicked in. Like I said at the start

of this, I wish I would have talked more about Michael Brown instead of getting into it with Don Lemon. no but you know what I want to tell you that it was it was it was necessary for the time because um you being on the grounds you probably didn't see all of the news footage me being on the road at the time I did see all the news footage and he just wasn't it was it was you know um well all due respect to him because I've never met Don let right I'm saying so for me me judging him is respect to him because I've never met Don Lemon. You know what I'm saying? So me judging him is absolutely prejudiced

because I've never met the guy, right? Never been in front of him. But from what I see, he's what represents an Uncle Tom. He's what represents like the people who don't understand the struggle. The people who don't understand that Mike Brown was innocently killed.

The people don't understand the Trayvon Martin. He was the epitome of the black guy who doesn't understand our struggle. So although your plot with him and your confrontation with him might have took away from what Mike Brown, it also shed light on the situation that, listen, brother, if you're one of us, you gotta be one of us. And if you're not, then you're just not. I think he does because I think as a black gay dude he understands oppression. See, I didn't know he was gay. I think he understands it and I think he goes through it.

You know what I'm saying? As somebody who works in the mainstream media. I think he understands it but, you know, people work for a living. But we all have jobs and a lot of us compromise our gut feelings and our morals and compromise who we are as people for that check. Don Lemon is there to represent CNN.

CNN is a corporate interest. He's not there in the interest of the people. I do like that he represents CNN. Let's make some noise for Don Lemon representing CNN. He represents CNN. Even though it's the wrong CNN. Go ahead. Not CNN like, you know, the official CNN. But you know, Ted Turner CNN.

You know, Ted Turner CNN. That's not the hood CNN. Thank you, Tyler. That was a great talk. Ted Turner was kind of hood too. Ted Turner, you know, gangsta shit. That other bag of ice, we can't put that there? Come on.

The other bag of ice. Come on. But I think that he represent, he was doing his job. The moment I spoke out against mainstream media, I didn't even say CNN. He took offense to me saying mainstream media is a problem. He looked at CNN as being a part of mainstream media. He took offense to me dissing his team. That's what it was.

And the conversation got missing because he was like, wait a second. CNN is fair. I feel like I'm fair. I feel like I work for CNN. I'm fair. You know what I'm saying? And it's like, you know, he represents the mainstream media. The mainstream media job

is to enable the status quo and to convince us that the status quo is okay. CNN, the only reason CNN was down there was in the hopes that there would be a riot. The only reason that MSNBC...

Breaking news. I'm seeing it. Even the left wing, I'm not talking about Fox News and all the bullshit, but even the left wing supposedly on our side, media is down there because they hope that some violence will happen. If there wasn't a threat of violence, they wouldn't be down there. So then they tell you we shouldn't write. They tell you we shouldn't burn down the CBS. And I agree with that. You know what I'm saying? I don't think violence solves anything.

CBS or CBS? CBS. We can burn down CBS if we want to. I understand. Y'all got a relationship. Shout out to CBS. Will we burn you down, motherfucker? I'm just playing.

Just playing. Just playing. I think that, you know, they, Don Lemon was doing his job very well. I like you for being political. I'm not being political. We're not. No, that's not even politics We're not. That's not even politics, my nigga. That's just real shit.

He was doing his job. Now, you and me as artists, the reason you could call yourself Norie, the reason you could do a podcast with EFN, say whatever the fuck you want, is because you are artists. You have no boss. Talk about it. You have no boss. I'm getting high, Charlie. Keep going. Keep going.

You see when Lauryn Hill don't show up to a show everybody get mad. Guess what? You could be mad but guess what? So the fuck what? She don't work for you. Let's make some noise for Lauryn Hill not working for nobody. She don't work for nobody. God damn it.

She could show up when she feel like showing up and guess what if she don't feel like it? She don't have to show up up If something personal happened in her life She can be like I'm chilling today She has an arrangement with the venue owner The promoter And you don't know it You're not privy to that

So the only person she might owe something to Is somebody that you're not even privy to As artists we have no boss And a lot of people don't understand that You know what I'm saying Because a lot of people caught up in the debt system In the slavery system and they think they have bosses. They have people

they have to report to. That's not something that I'm judging. You can't be judgmental of what people got to do to survive. You know what I'm saying? You can't judge that. But you got to understand the difference between somebody, you know, and it's the same thing as a gangster. Like a gangster has no boss. Like Mos Def, he's N-O-R-E for real.

He's a nigga on the run right now. Is that correct? Let's make some noise. Yossi Bay has no boss. Like Mos Def, he's N-O-R-E for real. He's a nigga on the run right now. Is that correct? Let's make some noise for Mos Def. Yassin Bey has no boss. Hold on. What happened? He just said fuck America and he just left. You know what?

I think Yassin Bey, you know. Yassin Bey, I'm sorry. I went to visit him. I went to visit him. In Africa. In South Africa. Let's just make some noise for the nigga going back home. Let's just make some noise. I ain to visit him. In Africa. In South Africa. Let's just make some noise for the nigga going back home. Let's just make some noise.

I ain't got the heart. They ain't got a W in Africa, right? I can't go to Africa unless they got a W. I'm sorry. They got a home away at Airbnb. I'm not a fan of Airbnb yet. No, I'm not either. I don't fuck with Airbnb. But listen, Yassin Bey, he decided

a long time ago, if you pay attention to his moves, that he wasn't fucking with America a long time ago. That's hard. You know what I'm saying? He traveled the world,

you know, he's an internationally known artist. He has settled in South Africa. He do got some legal issues. And he had an international passport.

A world passport. A world passport. What the fuck does that mean, Talib? A world passport is, so, you know, he has a website where my man, Ferrari Shepard, shout out to my man, Ferrari Shepard. I got a website. I don't got a worldwide passport. They got a website called A Country Called Earth.

And the whole concept behind it is, you know, I'm a citizen of the world. Like these borders, this is a room full of immigrants. Like, these borders, this is a room full of immigrants. We done good for some immigrants. That's right. These borders are set up by colonists. These borders are set up by warring European factions that

are interested in enabling white supremacy and keeping it going. You know what I'm saying? People was murdered Or raped and tortured For them to create These lines And these divisions Between people

You know what I'm saying No human being Is illegal You know what I'm saying If you get drunk And you drive And you Kill a motherfucker

Are you an illegal driver No You're not So no human being Is illegal That's a misnomer No human being Is an alien

No human being Is illegal Let's make some noise For the people Trying to cross the borders We got Talib Kweli human being is illegal. That's a misnomer. No human being is an alien. No human being is illegal. Let's make some noise for the people trying to cross the borders. We got Talib Kweli. Let's go on. We are not illegal. We are not aliens. God damn it.

And so Yassin Bey and Ferrari Shepard, they have this concept of just global citizenry and no human being is illegal and country called Earth, we are all citizens of the world. So can he still go to countries that's cool with United States? Yeah, the world passport is recognized in certain countries. But we still don't know, how did he get that?

Did he bone somebody to get that? Let's keep it real. Who did he fuck? Did he bone fingerprints? Every country has a fingerprint? From what I understand, the world passport, you could get it if you do the research. Anybody could get it. But it's not recognized everywhere.

It's not recognized in every situation. Like Chechnya? They might recognize it. I think the situation with South Africa is they recognize it sometimes, and they pick and choose. So I think the situation was he was trying to travel and this particular time they didn't recognize the world passport. So he has a little legal issue he got solved.

But you know, he's been in South Africa and Tunisia and Morocco and he's just been a citizen of the world. And then how did your guys initially meet? Because the Black Star thing

was so big and we only got one album, correct? Yeah, shout out to my man Rubix. Okay. When I was a young wee lad back in the salad days of my career. Okay, hold on. Wee lad and salad.

Wee, you've never heard these terminologies? Wee, that's just Irish. That's Irish. I'm a wee lad. Ah, wee lad. All right, I'm going to take that. My salad days, I'm a fan of the Coen Brothers films. If you watch Raisin Arizona, Nicolas Cage, he talks about him and Holly Hunter, I think

his name is the actress, and he's talking about the early days of their relationships. And he said, that's the salad days. The days before the appetizer and the meal and the entree. The salad days. Now that makes a lot of sense. You know what I'm saying? So in my salad days, you know what I'm saying? I used to hang out at Washington Square Park.

I used to hang out with incredible MCs like Supernatural. Is this where Half Baked came from? Dave Chappelle was in the park. Okay. Dave Chappelle was in the park around this time. Watched the Square Park. Adolph the Assassin was in the park. Look at Tylee getting the head pop.

Let's go. Keep it going. Gene Gray was in the park. Mos Def was in the park, but Mos Def was also a TV star. He had a show with Nell Carter. I forget the name of the show, but Nell Carter, him, had a show with Nell Carter. I forget the name of the show, but it was, he was, Nell Carter, him, had a show, right? Then he had a show with Malcolm Jamal Warner, had a TV show

when he left the Cosby show. Right, his own show. He was a teacher in Harlem. He had a class of seventh graders. Mos Def was one of the seventh graders. Get the fuck out of here. Yeah. Then the Cosby Mysteries. Like the first Drake. And this is in Brooklyn? This is in Brooklyn. Cosby Mysteries. I thought y'all was raw in Brooklyn. Y'all niggas got mad shit in Brooklyn. Let's make some noise for Brooklyn? This is in Brooklyn. I thought y'all was braw in Brooklyn.

Y'all niggas got mad shit in Brooklyn. Let's make some noise for Brooklyn being rich. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. But no, no, don't get it twisted. Don't get it twisted. Busta Rhymes, Big, and Jay-Z all went to a school together. Brooklyn got the best MCs. Guys, hold on.

Hold on, hold on now. All right, all right. Let me qualify that. Let me qualify that. The 718 got the best MCs. 718. Yeah. 718. 718. Yeah. 718.

718. He said 718. That was too smart for me. I had to think. It's the same thing. It's the 718. 718. Y'all got a couple.

Y'all got Andre 3000s and Scarfaces. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Bumby, come on. Bumbees and you know that. Well, we got Jay-Z's and Nas and Biggs. It's different lingo, man. It depends where you coming from. This is that 718. 718 Unity is like black and Nas and Biggs. Different lingo, man. It depends where you coming from. This is that 718.

718 Unity is like black and brown Unity right here. Right here, right here, right here. But yeah, Mos Def was doing his thing on the acting. He had the Deion Sanders American Express commercial. I knew he definitely was a thing on the commercial. So he was broke. He was on American Express commercial? Yeah, we was broke.

We'd be in the park. We would hop the train. I used to live in Flatbush. Hop the train and go to Washington Square Park to freestyle. Mos Def was the only nigga with money. He would take everybody to McDonald's on West 4th. I got arrested at that McDonald's. Yeah, I'm sure you did.

Continue. I had a question from the basketball. Yeah, me and Tragedy Gaddafi. Why you gotta get arrested? It's a weird story. It's a weird story. When I was 15 years old, I, I mean,

this is a real story. Right now, at my, at the house I rented, I'm shooting a video. My man Nico is in there shooting a video. Let's make some noise

for Talib Flawson on us. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Listen, most people who rent a hotel, he's experienced. We got an apartment that we rented. Yeah, he rents houses.

The house is cheaper than the hotel, you know what I'm saying? I'm frugal. We don an apartment that we rented Yeah he rents houses The house is cheaper than the hotel You know what I'm saying I'm frugal We don't know that word Can you explain Frugal It's cheap

It's a fancy word for cheap It's not in the pockets I am now using that word Frugal Okay continue Pasta Noose is at this house right now Big up Pasta Noose Right now

It's still potholes in my lawn Right Let's make some noise for Donald Saul Who's Donald Saul? I forgot. My tongue is hurting. All my New York niggas are going to remember this. I used to shop at Renaissance.

I don't know what it's called now, but it used to be on Houston and Broadway. And they used to have the Doc Martin boots and the Jabot jeans. I used to go there for Jabot jeans. I ran into Pasta Noose. This is when De La Soul was the hottest. I'm going to pass you a blunt. I don't know if you're going to say yeah. This is a joint. Oh, this is a blunt. Okay. It's a is when De La Soul Was the hottest I'm gonna pass you a blunt I don't know if you're gonna say yeah This is a joint Oh this is a blunt

It's a blunt De La Soul was the hottest shit Hold on let me make sure Let's look I bought the smoker I smoked a blunt With Too Short I got KRS Drunk

And now I got Talib Kweli Smoking let's make some noise Although that is not news That is not news I know but you know why, Talib? Let me just This is one of the main reasons Why I wanted you on the podcast

Is because You do so much great in the community That sometimes Like, you know, our preachers Our bartenders When I say my bartenders I mean like, you know The pull-up guys in the hood

In New York Sometimes they seem holier than thou. And sometimes, when you just need to show them that they're human, and when you show them that they're human, it's more people that can say,

you know what, I'm going to follow his lead. They can relate to him. I'm going to follow his lead because he's also human. Like, bartenders. It's crazy because, you know,

I've been in this business for a long time. I'm known for a certain type of record. But, you know, ever since I've been in this business, I fuck with EF and I fuck with Nugget.

Right. You know what I'm saying? Do you remember the time he was in Lario's? Yes. And then somebody came I've been in this business, I fuck with EFN. I fuck with them. You remember the time we was in Larry O's? Yes. Somebody came up to you and asked you for your... We was in Larry O's, like Gloria Esteban, and I'd be drinking together. I'm like, wow, the world need to know

Talib can have fun. You know what I'm saying? Because he makes so serious records. You know, he's a political guy. It's great. That part is awesome. That's what I represent. K-Rez was my favorite rapper. So you understand that I respect all this. But I'm seeing him have a great time.

So a person comes up to him and says, yo, Taleb, I want to do a joint with you. So I'm like, he's like, yeah. And he's like, yo, Nori, I want to do a joint. I said, yo, Taleb is my new manager. Taleb looked at me and was like, you fucked up, nigga. But he went along with it.

And I'm like, you went right along with it. Let's make some noise for Talib going along with it. With my foulness. I was just foul. I'm managing Nori now. Yeah, I definitely didn't want to do a song with the dudes. So I sent them right to Talib. But people need to, I think that's one of the greatest things is that when, you know, like when people say, I know this is fucked up, but when people say, Martin was fucking bitches on the side, everybody's like, damn, that's fucked up. But it's like, nah, he's a human.

He was fighting every day for human rights. If he wanted to get a butt, a nut on the side, let the nigga live, man. Make some noise for Martin. Hey, man. Make some noise for Martin fucking on the side. Good day, man. I'm talking about Martin Luther. By the way, I'm talking about Martin Luther.

I told you I'm talking about Martin Lawrence. I'm talking about Martin Lawrence. Don't talk about Martin Luther. An unnamed rapper told me this, and I'm not going to blow up his spot. An unnamed rapper told me this on his first tour. He said, hey, man, all the prophets had hoes. Because you know why? It shows that you're human.

The thing about preachers, the thing about the church, it doesn't work no more. It's because you see these people and they got the gated shoes on and they look so good. And they're charlatans, though. And they're professionals.

They show you no mistakes. So they show you no mistakes. Why would somebody follow you? Because it's like, damn, I ain't never going to be like you. I have flaws. You understand what I'm saying? So that's why the church is not working. When you learn the story about his flaws, when you learn about Malcolm's flaws, when you learn about Jesus' flaws, you know what I'm saying?

When you read the books that are outside of the Bible, outside of the King James version of the Bible, when you see where Jesus went and traveled. And you know what I'm saying? Supposedly he went to India and all that. Yeah, you know what I'm saying?

He gained knowledge from all over the world, supposedly, you know what I'm saying? And had flaws and was a man. But that's what makes people able to relate. You know what I'm saying? But Black Star is such a legendary...

Oh, but before you go into Black Star, because I started talking about Pasta News. Pasta News, I went into the Renaissance. I said, Pasta News, you're my favorite thing. I sold my favorite shit. Right. I rap. What do I do?

He said, go to Rush Artist Management around the corner on Elizabeth Street. Oh, shit. Right? So I went around the corner. I go in the lobby. Tragedy's there. Yes, he was.

But first search. All right. First search. Right. He knows. Search walked in. I'm at search. I'm 15 years old. I'm at search. This is when Gas Face was out. And it was hot? I was like, yes.

Tragedy walks in. I got a picture in my house right now. Tragedy had the wild dreads on the top with the fade on the side. He had the little Malcolm X spectacles and he had like a raincoat on. And this nigga Tragedy had the wild dreads on the top with the fade on the side. He had the little Malcolm X spectacles and he had like a raincoat on. And this nigga Tragedy sat there and

talked to me for two hours. You know what I'm saying? Like he was the first. This is a real story that you hear on Drink Champs. That's a fact. Tragedy was the first rapper that showed me love. Tragedy was the first rapper. Let's make some noise for Tragedy. The first famous nigga. Show him love. He was the first rapper that showed me love. Tragedy was the first rapper. Let's make some noise for Tragedy. The first famous nigga. Show me love.

He was the first rapper to show me love. He was the first rapper that showed me love. That's right. High five. He didn't know me from, he just started giving me advice. Nah, but you know what it is. Breaking down the industry for me and all that. We sat on Elizabeth and Houston for two hours

watching the people walk by. I don't even know why he had the time. Nah, sometimes you know who the next person is. Sometimes it's just energy. You know what I'm saying? It's just aura. Oh, look at that. Look at that. So you were high tech.

Yeah, yeah. No, no, let's get back. First before we get Blackstar. Because you know why? You know, Blackstar is such a legendary thing that you guys did like um this is the first time in history we were presented a group first and then you guys did solo and y'all just never got back yeah is that accurate yes it's yeah it is you know black star me and most def was solo artists and um we we had styles that complemented each other. We were fans of each other.

We talked casually about doing a group. Right. We both signed to Raucous. Shout out to Jared. Yeah, Jared and Brian, you know. They saw the vision, and they was like, okay, let's do a Blackstar album. At the same time,

Mos Def was like, let's do this Blackstar situation. Raucous saw it at the same time. Right. So it converged. And he was working on a TV show. He was working on a movie. I forget which movie. This nigga been doing movies forever. He was working on a movie at the same time. Right. So it converged. And he was working on a TV show. He was working on a movie. I forget which movie.

This nigga been doing movies forever. He was working on a movie at the time. He was staying at the... But Denzel, wasn't he in a movie with Denzel?

I seen that nigga. Like some bank robbery movie? This is when I knew I can't act for shit. Listen, let me just tell you something. This is when I knew I can't act for shit.

I seen that nigga play a doctor and I believed him. And HBO something Lord made. Listen, I'm going to tell you when I knew Mos Def was dope. When I seen him, when I watched And I believed him And the HBO Simon Lloyd made I said Listen I'm gonna tell you When I knew

Most Def was dope When I seen him When I watched Monsters Ball My nigga Monsters Ball And this is my nigga That I'm spending

Every day with And I watched it For 30 minutes And I said Wait a second You didn't know Who he was That's Most Def

Right Yeah That's how I knew I can't act When he did The TV play Chuck Berry in the Cadillac Records movie.

You know what I'm saying? With Beyonce and all that. Yeah. He was wearing his hair and talking and acting like, and dressing like Chuck Berry around us. But he didn't tell us

that he was doing a movie. So I thought he was just losing his mind. You know what I'm saying? Like, he was in character. He was straight in his hair. He had the outfits. He was talking as hair. He had the outfits.

He was talking. And when I saw the movie, I said, okay. Did he go to acting school? Nah, he's just a dude from Bed-Stuy who got talent. Wow. You know, shout out to Umi and Abhi. They saw enough to make sure that he had the opportunities and present him with the opportunities. So when you guys did the Black Star album, did you understand how big the culture

was going to gravitate towards that? Nah, I think we just, at the moment, it had a lot to do with vinyl. Ruckus was putting out vinyl, and the DJs were craving vinyl. Hold on, hold on. Let me just tell the people. Okay, people, vinyl is the record.

It's a record. You put it on, it circles around. It's a record You put it on It circles around It's not a stream You know Real DJs used to Cut it back Bring it back Your mom's got it

In your house Your mom's got it In your house Somewhere Your mother has a vinyl in there I'm sorry Cause you know Alright alright

Continue So yeah Rorkus was putting out vinyl For people For hip hop fans That was starved for vinyl And that's part of Rorkus' putting out vinyl for people, for hip-hop fans that were starved for vinyl. And that's part of Rorkus' business plan. That's how they blew up.

Because a lot of the DJs were pushing back against the move away from vinyl. You had big companies like Bad Boy that was putting out great quality pop, mainstream hip-hop. But they wasn't serving the DJs with the vinyl. They was trying to move away from it. You go to Tower Records or whatever, back in the days you couldn't buy vinyl. Rawkiss would put out Shabam, Sadiq, Sir Menelik, Company Flow, Most Def, Tyler Crowley, all vinyl. You know what I'm saying? The DJs would appreciate that.

Rawkiss was focused on the DJ. And they focused on underground hip-hop and focused on certain sounds. So when they put out the Black Star, I remember the Stress Magazine. My man Alan Kett. Shout out to Stress. Shout out to Kett and Clive Valentin. I got to cover that. You know what I'm saying Black Star, I remember the Stress magazine. My man Alan Kett. Shout out to Stress. Shout out to Kett and Clive Valentin. I got the cover of that.

You know what I'm saying? Yeah, you got the cover of Stress. But it was graffiti writers that had that magazine. And Rawkiss did a collaboration with Stress where they did the vinyl on the cover.

The vinyl for Definition was on the cover of Stress attached to the magazine. They sent a copy to Funkmaster Flex. He loved it as a DJ. You know what I'm saying? Like, I started my career

working for Jessica Rosenberg. Oh, wow. Jessica Rosenberg. Yeah, Funkmaster. I used to live in Flatbush down the street from DJ Nuff. I got kicked out of all her clubs. Oh, I was there.

Let's just make Nuff for me getting kicked out of Jessica's club. I'm a layman. I know who you guys are. I was there. That's who ran speed. When CNN first dropped,

when Capone and Niega first dropped, I was working for Jessica Rosenbaum. John Forte. John Forte was my best friend at the time. Jessica was managing John Forte. I was 14, 15. Jessica Rosenbaum is a party promoter in New York. She used to manage Funkmaster Flex.

But let me break it down. She managed Funkmaster Flex before there was a Hot 97. No, there was a Hot 97, but before Hot 97 was a hip-hop station. It was a freestyle station. They used to play Stevie B records like, You gotta believe there's something inside of me. And he used to do that in the club. What was that club?

Let's keep it going. Home base. Home base. I went to that one time when I went to New York. The boom spot, the tunnel. This is pre-tunnel. Yeah. Pre-tunnel.

When Jessica got the tunnel, that was a coup. Peter Gation. Peter Gation. Yes. She started working with Peter Gation. We were doing Limelight Tunnel. Limelight. The Flyers.

All right, you got to tell him. We got to tell him where Limelight is because this is Gation in New York. Limelight's a church. It was a church. It was a church. No, it was literally. It was a church. A church.

Oh, yeah. And it closed down. They have a documentary on them dudes? I don't know if they have a documentary. There's a movie called Party Monster starring Macaulay Coughlin that's about this whole situation. Oh wow. It's fire.

I definitely went to Homebase. I did go there. Yeah, Homebase was Jessica's hip hop shit. I saw House of Pain there and the Ghetto Girls. Alright, so I used to... When you went to that club, if you went to like say... It was a warehouse like say Domino's. It was a warehouse district. Domino's.

I would have a record, Ghetto Jam out. Yeah. I would post up the posters for Domino's coming to town. You know what I'm saying? I worked for Jessica like enough. It was Flip Squad. It was Funkmaster Flex, Enough, Mad Wayne, Big Cap. Rest in Peace, Big Cap.

Rest in Peace, Big Cap. You know what I'm saying? DJ Budokan did the reggae. You know what I'm saying? DJ Budokan did the reggae. You know what I'm saying? And Biz Markie was down for a second when he first started his DJ shit. He was down with Flip Squad. I used to hand out the flyers.

She managed John Forte. Funkmaster Flex's first record was with 9-Double-M, his man from the Bronx. Yeah, 9. On Nervous. The B-side was a record called The Boom Spot.

But not enough time. Six Million Ways to Die Yeah The B-side Nervous The B-side is John Forte Yo hold on For all these new guys listening

We are getting real hip hop Continue This is real hip hop So if you listen to that Forte record What was that record label he just said? Nervous Nervous Alright

That was Black Moon. I'm about to say Duck Down. I'm about to say Duck Down. Shout out to Drew. Oh, man. This is real hip hop right now. Get your Googles. Get your Googles on.

Continue, Tyler. Please, please. Yeah, so that's my start in the business was with John Forte. Wow. And Funkmaster Flex and Jessica Rosenbaum. Wow. And she was working with Puff at the time. He was her partner at the time.

Wow. You know, when Flex used to have the parties At the Palladium Right People used to perform Friday nights at the Palladium At the Palladium Matter of fact I seen Ice Cube Perform at the Palladium With Funk

Performing as a Flex And King Sun came out Ice Cube performed Oh and he dissed him Wicked And King Sun came out And said yo Q That's my song that you stole

Yeah Yeah Like I was there For all that shit What happened I seen Tretch Challenge De La Soul on stage because he was mad because they had the record

when they said, so stick to your nutty body natures and your pain when they was both on Tommy Boy. Right. You know what I'm saying? Classic moment. Yeah, I was at the Palladium for all those Funkmaster Flex parties.

Wow. Working for Flex. I was at the Palladium for some of them parties. I was usually kicked out. Yeah, I know what you was doing. Yeah, I know what you was doing. That's no good. So how about you in high tech, right? Right, so this is...

I'm in high school in 92, 93. This is when Jessica doing this party. So I went to NYU. That's my wife, everybody. She coming in here to make sure everybody's acting correct. It's a sausage party

Alright No one's got to worry Yeah okay I went to NYU And then I got And then I left And then I started working At Akiru Books

I was doing these Book show shows These bookstore shows With like Dead Prez And Lord Jamar And them You know what I'm saying Like

And around 95 I went to LA In 95 I was friends with Micah Nod From Freestyle Fellowship He had moved to New York He was signed to

Kedar Entertainment Okay He moved to New York Kedar was working on D'Angelo and Erykah Badu And Micah at the time Hanging out with them And then I went to LA

To fuck with him I caught a I hitchhiked to the bay Hold on Tell me about it You're the first black man I ever heard Use the word hitchhike Oh I hitchhiked Let's bay. Hold on, tell me about it. You're the first black man I ever heard use the word hitchhike.

Oh, I hitchhiked. Let's just make noise for that. 1995. But look, I was back. I took a Greyhound bus from New York to L.A. But you got that from white people. I did.

That's funny how I tell him it's the hippie. Yeah, yeah. He's the hippie. I am. Yeah, I'm the hippie. He wasn't in Brooklyn and flatbushed a nigga

and said, yo, you should hitchhike, nigga. You got that from your white friend. Let's just keep it real. I did. I hitchhiked from Los Angeles to the Bay.

All right, cool. Mystic Journeyman. Shout out to Mystic Journeyman from Bay Area. I met them at a club at the Good Life Cafe in Los Angeles. And they told me,

come to the Bay Area. You good. Did they pop a collar when they said that? No, this was way before that. Oh, they did? All right. But in my mind,

when you said it, I just popped a collar. I'm sorry. Okay, continue. It's residuals after too short. Podcast. Okay, okay, okay. That was hella hyphy. Hella hyphy.

Okay, okay. I might have to ask you to get some more drinks. You got to loosen up. Come on, man. Let's do it. Come on. And you was shooting a video today. Let's make up your video you was doing.

Oh, yeah. That's secretive. Shout out to Nico Ayers and Chaz Van Queen. Shout out video for a song called Good Girls today. Good Girls. Okay. Good Girls. I meet good girls in the right places.

You know what I'm saying? My new album is called Tour de Force. It used to be called Radio Silence. Sounds very smart. Tour de Force? Tour de Force. I got Jay Electronico on it. Oh.

I got Waka Flocka on it. Oh. I got Nori on it. Oh. Almost. He's putting pressure on me. Let's make some noise for Tyler and Bully and me. Let's do it. I got Waka Flocka on it I got Nori on it Almost He's putting pressure on me Let's make some noise for Ty Liv Bullion He just punked at it

He just drink champs me on the drink champ That's what we do Ty Liv is my boy One of the things I know I said it earlier But I want to just reiterate it I just want to show the people how cool you are. You know what I'm saying?

A lot of people think you're so serious. Why? No, because you know why? You do speak up for us. And, you know, I remember me asking Russell Simmons one night. I said, yo, Russell, I want you to run for president. And he said, I smoked dope before. And I said, Russell, everybody smoked weed before.

He said, no, Nori, I smoked heroin. That's why. He did Angel Dust. He did Angel Dust. I see the show. You know what I'm saying? I know how Russell gets it. But I want you to run for New York City mayor.

Are you mad at me for throwing that out there? No, I'm not mad at you. You know what? Local politics is better than presidential politics. You know what I'm saying? So you're going to do the New York City mayor? No, I'm not. Because you can do more.

We started the rumor right here on Drink Chats So you're going to do the New York City mayor? No, I'm not. Because you could do more. We starting the rumor right here on Drink Chats Radio. Thailand is running for New York. The promotion for this is going to be like no, no, no. Brooklyn City Councilman?

No, no, no. The city councilman, the assemblyman, the school board, public service announcement, you got to vote for these people. If you have kids

and they go to school in your neighborhoods. That's the part that people miss. That's the part that people miss That's the part that people miss You know what I'm saying Like I'm not I'm slacking on it

Because I don't even be in New York Enough to do it You know what I'm saying But I'm This is a public service announcement But Manny Pacquiao For me too Just won Senate

In his country He's hardly there And he's hardly there I think that I think that You know honestly I know I'm playing around A little bit

But I think like people Like Jay-Z Russell Simmons Atalib Kw Kweli, people who know politics. Like me, I learned my politics on Bill Maher. You know what I'm saying? If it's on Bill Maher, I know what's going on. Then you're good. Yeah, but that's about it.

What do you think Donald Trump learned in his politics? I don't know. It's like this. I used to be the type of nigga. But you know politics. This footage of me talking about why you shouldn't vote. You know what I'm saying? I'm not somebody

who believes that you should just vote for the sake of voting. People be like, people die for the sake of voting. Voting in America is a broken system. But I read

a Man in Marable book about Malcolm X. And Malcolm X, his shit was the ballad of... Whose book about Malcolm X? Man in Marable. He's a scholar. He wrote a book called The Rein a book called Life and Reinvention.

It's a book about Malcolm X that come after Malcolm X's autobiography. Oh, wow. I never heard of this. It's a good book. I sell it on my website, qualityclub.com. Let's make some noise for the sameness club. Yes. Qualityclub.com.

We don't sell any books in our club. Yeah, we don't sell no books. I sell hoodies. I sell hoodies and t-shirts and fucking hats. You got the audio book? I'll fuck with that. No, I'm working on that. It's coming.

Come on. I got the audio. You got the video game? That's seven great educations. Coming, coming, coming. All right, go ahead. I got, so he changed my mind when I read this book because Man in Marable wrote about how Malcolm X got with Adam Clayton Powell in the 60s.

Adam Clayton Powell is a famous senator from Harlem. They formed Vote in Black. I bought weed on Adam Clayton Black. Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. Yeah, in Harlem. So is a famous senator from Harlem. They formed Vote in Black. I bought weed on Adam Clayton Black. Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. Yeah, in Harlem. So you know what I'm talking about. I bought weed there, yeah. Exactly.

That's what I'm talking about. You know what I'm saying? It got awkward. I'm sorry. No, but that's real shit. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah.

So Adam Clayton got with Malcolm X, and they formed Vote in Black. So you see how the Irish people in New York and the Jewish people, they vote as a community. They get their shit. If they want some trash cleaned up. The Cubans in Miami. They want the trash cleaned up. They want a fucking stop sign. Whatever they want, they get. Because they vote as voting blocks. As African

American people, we don't do that. Adam Klanpower and Malcolm X figured out how to do that. That's what convinced me that the vote is worth something. Your vote don't mean nothing individually, because the electoral college ensured that all the white people and all the rich landowners, all the people on land and rich people, the electoral

college makes sure that they vote count more than the vote in California count more than the vote in New York because California is a bigger place and more rich people own land there. But if we get together and vote as a bloc, like the Cuban people in Miami or the Jewish people do in New York,

then we can affect change. And that's what I'm down with. So Talib, I'm going to let you know right now. Yes. The hip-hop community. Yes. We'll get together and vote for you. Nah.

You're going to take the job. Come on, son. We got people. We got Raz Baraka. He was on a Lauryn Hill album. That's Amir Baraka's son. I went to Cuba with Raz Baraka and I met Asada Shakur with Raz Baraka. And on the Lauryn Hill album That's Amir Baraka's son I went to Cuba With Ras Baraka And I met Asada Shakur

With Ras Baraka And they still talking About that in Cuba He's the mayor He's the mayor Of Newark, New Jersey Right now Was Tupac there

When you went to Cuba He was not there Tupac was alive When I went I mean right now His aunt is there No Asada

Is it Asada Asada's there And shout out to Nahanda Abiodun She's there We went to Cuba You know what I'm saying But that's what I'm saying

You've been going to Cuba For a long time Black October I went once You don't get to just go to Cuba That helped usher in Hip hop into Cuba Listen yeah

Yeah yeah Look at that You helped the Cubans Go back to Cuba Come on make some noise No doubt Make some noise for you We're going to make it work for me

We're going to force you To work for me I'm going to start What work for me. We're going to force you to work for me. I'm going to start a, what is it, a petition? A petition. We're going to hit everybody on Twitter every day.

We need a hip-hop mayor that's hip-hop. But we got them. Homie from Jersey. But we got them. Homie from Jersey is good. You're talking about Cory Booker. He's hip-hop.

Cory Booker. See, Ras Baraka, the dude I'm talking about, he ran against Cory Booker back in the day. He lost. Cory Booker more mainstream.

Cory Booker is good. He's like top 40. Cory Booker's good. He's a He ran against Cory Booker back in the day. He lost. Cory Booker more mainstream. Cory Booker just is, Cory Booker's good. He like top 40. I mean, he's a politician. He's a good politician. Cory Booker top 40 and homeboy is underground. That's exactly right.

What's his name again? Rasparaka. Rasparaka underground. But Cory Booker, Cory Booker's a senator. He does. He don't sound like he's going to make it too far.

Rasparaka's a mayor of Newark. Right, right. In fact, I'm going to, Rasparaka having a meeting in two weeks with Black Lives Matter and all that. Me, Rhapsody, and Busta Rhymes right. In fact, I'm going to Rasparaka having a meeting in two weeks with Black Lives Matter and all that. Me, Rhapsody,

and Busta Rhymes going. You know what I'm saying? Shout out to Rasparaka. Rasparaka. Let's make some noise for Rasparaka. On the Lauryn Hill album. Lauryn Hill album.

New album. No, the Miss Education Lauryn Hill. When she has the interludes, when they got the principal talking to the kids, that's Rasparaka. He run a school.

He is a principal. He has a school. He official a principal. He has a school. He a fisherman, like a referee with a whistle. A lot of times the big economic forces we hear about on the news show up in our lives in small ways. Three or four days a week, I would buy two cups of banana pudding.

But the price has gone up, so now I only buy one. The demand curve in action. And that's just one of the things we'll be covering on Everybody's Business from Bloomberg Businessweek. I'm Max Chavkin. And I'm Stacey Vanek-Smith. Every Friday, we will be diving into the biggest stories in business, taking a look at what's going on, why it matters, and how it shows up in our everyday lives.

But guests like Businessweek editor Brad Stone, sports reporter Randall Williams, and consumer spending expert Amanda Mull will take you inside the boardrooms, the backrooms, even the signal chats that make our economy tick. Hey, I want to learn about VeChain. I want to buy some blockchain or whatever it is that they're doing. So listen to Everybody's Business on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves. This medal is for the man who went down that day. showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves. This medal is for the men who went down that day. It's for the families of those who didn't make it.

I'm J.R. Martinez. I'm a U.S. Army veteran myself. And I'm honored to tell you the stories of these heroes on the new season of Medal of Honor, Stories of Courage from Pushkin Industries and iHeart Podcast. From Robert Blake, the first black sailor to be awarded the medal, to Daniel Daly, one of only 19 people to have received the Medal of Honor twice. These are stories about people who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor, going above and beyond the call of duty. You'll hear about what they did, what it meant, and what their stories tell us about the nature of courage and sacrifice.

Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network, hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores 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. Add free at Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. Now, what is the name Talib Kweli?

Shout out to my parents. That's your real name. That's as easy as it gets. Talib Kweli Green is my born name. So how bad is it you going through customs after 9-11? It was pretty bad. And my DJ's name is Hussein Abu Becker. My best friend's name was Musa Abdallah.

No, but y'all niggas. Who's that? Mussolini. Oh, Muss. No, but some of y'all niggas chose some of the Muslim names. No, no. He was born. No, I know Mussa was.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Mussolini was. No, Mussolini was born Muslim. But it born Muslim. But I mean, he's Muslim. Listen, so I used to travel with a person named Musa, Abdullah, and Ali Sami. It wasn't great for me going through customs. I had to learn to leave them. I had to be like, yo, you know how you wait for your man?

And he'd be like, nah, that's not working. I'm saying, what you mean? But after 9-11, I got stopped everywhere, fucking. No, but you look Arab. I'm not going to lie to you. Arab was the new nigga after 9-11. I'm like, I'm saying but after 9-11 that's a 9-11 I got stopped everywhere fucking they thought but you look a rap I'm not a new nigga I'm sorry you like niggas niggas started rapping American flags around they had like this is crazy so you did you have problems going through customs or no it was yeah I mean you know I got yeah you know I got the random search, you know what I'm saying? But I had been used to it by that time. I had traveled the world a bunch of times.

You know what I'm saying? It's different every country. We got harassed in Russia. I got stopped by the CIA. Everybody gets harassed in Russia. God damn it. High five. I got stopped by the CIA.

You got stopped by the CIA. It was FBI. It was FBI. Whoa, whoa, hold on. Let's get into this story. No, it was FBI. Go ahead. Break that down.

These niggas, look, I pulled up to the airport They was like They pulled me to the side Pulled me in the back room They said, on this night Where was you? I was in cutting room studios Working on my album Quality

I was listening to Stokely Carmichael's speech Stokely Carmichael That speech Stokely Carmichael That's the Black Panther brother Right Yeah yeah yeah Correct Black Power He was the one who

Ushered in the era of Black Power Wait they knew this They started talking to me about this God damn The reason they knew this Is because when I booked my flight I booked my flight with JetBlue While I was listening to this speech

That's where you fucked up already JetBlue Are we supposed to make Are we supposed to make noise With JetBlue No no I don't fuck with them That's where you fucked up He fucked up with JetBlue make noise with JetBlue? No, no, no. I don't fuck with them.

That's where you fucked up. He fucked up with JetBlue already. Let me know, let me know. JetBlue gives up all your information. All right, continue. They showed me a list of names, and all the names was blacked out, except for my wife, DJ Q, and my manager at the time, Corey Smith. Corey Smith. He managed Vincent Staples now.

That's right. I'm on point. Continue. You're on point. They said, do you know these people? I had my manager and my wife's name. That's it. Everybody else was blacked out. I said, I know them. I said, that's my manager. That's right. I'm on point. Continue. You're on point. They said, do you know these people? I had my manager and my wife's name. That's it. Everybody else in blacked out.

I said, I know them. I said, that's my manager. That's my wife. I said, why you got the people? They said, those are the people you travel with the most. You know what I'm saying? I said, why do you stop me? They asked me all these questions.

They said, you was listening to a speech that seemed violent and anti-government. God damn. Wait, wait, wait. But where you was listening to the speech at again? In the studio. In the cutting room studio. Oh, wait, wait. But where you listen to this speech at again? In the studio, in Cutting Room Studio. Oh, shit. 678th Road.

I was in the United States of America. Just Blaze is a working Cutting Room Studio. When he was Justin, before Just Blaze. When he was Justin. When he was Justin.

That's my man. He's a grab Phillies for me, but that's my man. Go ahead. When he was an intern, Just Blaze used to be up at night, late at night in the studio. Word is bond.

I love his grind. That's where I was at. And when I got to the airport, this was when JetBlue was first cracking. Remember when JetBlue was first cracking? Oh, no. They was done in the beginning. I'm sorry, Taleb. I don't fuck with JetBlue.

I had the TV. I'm sorry. Whether you fuck with JetBlue or not. I'm a United nigga. Let's make some noise for United. I'm trying to get Spartans. Make some noise for American Airlines. I got it.

This is not an endorsement. No, I'm sorry. But back in the days when they still had the TWA terminal back in the day. TWA, god damn it. Damn, let's go to Pan Am. Pan Am, Pan Am. Pan Am on some bad ass. That's before Miles.

Nobody had Miles back then. But you could drink on the second floor. This is like, um. Yeah, this is paper. My man, he just came home. He just came home. We digress. He smokes clear paper. Yeah, this is that official, like, this is vegan, like, this is paper. My man, he just came home. We digress. He smokes clear paper.

Yeah, this is that official, like, this is vegan. Like, it's vegan smoke. Is that like vegan smoke? Let me find out if we have vegan smoke here. Let's make some noise for vegan smoke. We don't know what it is. I got a vegan joke. I got a vegan joke.

All right, go ahead. How do you know somebody is vegan? Don't worry, they'll fucking tell you. Vegans get the joke. Yeah Vigas get the joke Yeah We did get the joke Well that's what makes it look like Believe it Alright Talib

I hate to switch the subject I hate to ask you this But you know what happened What We had the God body KRS On this show That's my mentor That's my musical mentor

That's my mentor That's my mentor Yeah I am I am Because you know why He didn't have a chance To defend himself Oh I know exactly

Let me Let me what happened I got an opinion on this I got I got my take on this Let me hear you take Talk it out This is the thing right

KRS is my mentor That's right All of our mentors He's my god And for a nigga from Queens That's an extra That means a lot That means extra more And I said it to him on the podcast He's always god. For a nigga from Queens, that means a lot. That means extra more.

And I said it to him on the podcast. He's always said that. I know. So what happened was, I asked him about this question, and KRS is long-winded. What I mean by long-winded is he can't give... He'll give you... He'll give you a three-minute answer,

right? So what I wanted from KRS was, yo, when I asked this question, and so when he didn't answer it like that, I know the internet. Like, you know, you know the internet. I do. So this is the reason why. I've learned it to heart. Because they're going to shorten it.

No matter how which way I ask you this, they're going to shorten it. Clickbait, clickbait. You know what I'm saying? It's clickbait. That's what it is, 100%. So when I realized that Chris was going a little too far, I kind of let him answer, but I changed the subject. And the internet is like, I cut him off.

That's 100%. That is not KRS-4. I'm sure he was going to get to the point to say that this part and this part is wrong. But when he kept prolonging, I understand the intellect. It's about like that. You already see how we cut each other off. Yeah. You know what prolonging, you know, I understand the intellect. It's about like that. Like you already see how we cut each other off. Yeah. You know what I'm saying?

Because we already know we cut it up for one minute to 30 minutes to 15 second clips. We got it already designed in our head. Right. All right. So I asked Karis this question. I said, what should we do with African Bambala and the situation? Right. And Chris, you know, I don't want to say

he defended them. He defended their relationship. Yeah. Which is totally fine. Nothing wrong with that. But the internet wanted him to say, boom, this is wrong. He's still my man. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. So I have to ask you pretty much the same

question. Well, here's the thing. Okay. The language of political correctness evolves over time. And if you're not really engaged and paying attention, like, every second to the Internet and to social media and what people are saying and academic language, how people are dealing with everything from racism to sexism to child abuse to everything you may just talk and speak your mind right but because people receive a lot more information they may not understand where you're coming from like you and me speak a certain language because we're from new york right you and me speak a certain language because we hip-hop or because we minority or because you know i'm saying care rest is an older gentleman and he's a teacher he's

a teacher but he comes from a different generation he comes from an older generation with a language and a paradigm and everything that they informed by is different than now so the way that the language that he's speaking on current topics is different right it's why you hear older people speaking and you may not relate to them you'd'd be like, oh, shit's changed since then. So, not only are you dealing with somebody who's older

and somebody who's not engaged with the current language, but you're dealing with... I don't think he understood the facts neither.

Yeah, but you also... None of us knew the facts. None of us don't know the facts. You also deal with... Listen, listen. But now we know

the accusation. KRS is from a generation that's from before the internet. He had a beeper still. He's from before the internet. He does not beeper still. He's from before the internet. He does not have a beeper still. He said he had a beeper, man.

He did not say that. Oh, his phone. I ain't going to lie. I was embarrassed. I told him I was going to buy him a phone. You've been embarrassed on everybody's phone. I ain't going to lie. I've been disappointed.

My phone is embarrassing. I'm not even showing you my shit. Yeah, you don't put it at your phone, man. My shit got cracks in it. Like my kids. No, no. Cracks is cool as long as you're up to date. KRS still had a two-way.

A two-way ball. You're full of it, man. That's my man. I'm just playing KRS. He knows I can joke on him. But go ahead. But you know what it is? Here's the thing.

Mm-hmm. KRS, it's clear to me. I'm going to be 100% honest. It's clear to me. Please, the fans want it. Yeah. As a fan of KRS, as someone who knows him personally, that he doesn't condone

any of the accusations. Of course. Of course he doesn't. Nobody does. None of us do. Even with KRS making a record like 13 and good, because a lot of people have given him flack. A lot of flack has come back and haunted him for this record that he did years ago.

He wrote a whole op-ed because of his and haunted him for this record that he did years ago that I wrote I read his he read a he wrote a whole op-ed because of his drink champs thing yeah I read I know I read it you know what I'm saying and he said he said a record that I did as a joke we used to joke about rape and child abuse back in the day yeah that was we used to use the word faggot with no remorse. And no, we come from, if you older, we come from a generation where that wasn't taboo. We wasn't enlightened. We wasn't evolved

enough to understand what was wrong with those things. And we engaged in those things. When I was growing up, I used the word faggot. I called niggas punks. Right now, even the term man up. You know what I'm saying? I grew up saying man up.

I've told my son man up. But as a 40-year-old man, I made the decision to stop using that term because I realize it's sexist. I realize that it negates and erases women when I say man up. But I'm still evolving as a man. I think we all need to evolve here. I'm still evolving as a man. And as we grow and we evolve, we do things as we're younger. You know what I'm saying?

In the 70s, I watched TV shows and clips from the 70s and the 80s, the early 80s, where people was getting away with shit. That if you put it on the internet now. Now, you know what I watched the other day that was fucking me up? Now, this is real shit. Archie Bunker, yes. No, no. Archie Bunker's my shit. Revenge of the Nerds.

Revenge of the Nerds. Do you ever remember Revenge of the Nerds? I've seen all three. All four, no. Revenge of the nerds. Revenge of the nerds. You ever... Remember Revenge of the nerds? I've seen all three. All four, actually. He had beef with the other dude. So he went in there and he dressed as the other dude and he basically raped the chick.

Right. And that shit was funny. Right, but if it came out now... Yeah, if it came out now, that shit was like... If you look at the old Frank Sinatra, the Rat Pack, they was...

Oh, they was snacking. They was drunk, cockingatra, the Rat Pack, they was- They was snacking. And that's like the good times. But fellas, we gotta make a point because it's gonna look crazy. Let's get to the point we're trying to make because- We're cosigning some bullshit. Come on, let's go.

Let's make the point. The Zulu Nation and KRS-One and all these people who come from a different era. The way that they... I had to. Come on, we're going to make a point. That duck was dying. Because listen. Because listen.

We went to like a dumb area, right? He's the smartest nigga here. We got to make him make sense of this. Come on, Tom. I bet you that nigga with the camera right there, I bet you he's the smartest nigga. Why is Drain got to be the smartest? Drain is Jamaican. Come on, Tyler. I bet you that nigga with the camera right there, I bet you he's as smart as you. Why is Drain gotta be the smart one? Drain is Jamaican.

They got 17 jobs, and they speak two different languages. Of course Drain is the smart one. He's pretty smart. He's smart. And he's from London. And he's from London. That's my dog. So he speaks great too.

He's from London. Jamaican from London. He's pretty smart. He speaks British too. Come on, let's make the point. Let's make the point. We gotta make the point. Because listen, they're gonna fry you on the internet. You gotta tell. Come on, let's make the point. Let's make the point. We got to make the point.

Because listen, they're going to fry you on the internet. You got to tell them. Yeah, let's be clear about what you're saying. I'm used to that. It's not our fault. I'm used to that. Drink chips. I'm used to that. Listen, the response has to be responsible.

Now, the Puerto Rican sister I referred to, Rosa Clemente, or DJ Cotton Candy, and a bunch of people that they rock with, they fashion a response to the Zulu Nation accusations because, let's be clear, they're still accusations. But even though they're accusations, you have to take them seriously. You have to use the word victim.

You have to say that these people are victims until proven otherwise. You know what I'm saying? Like, you have to take it seriously. African-British should step down. The Zulu Nation should step up in a way that they have not stepped up before. Rosa Clemente and Cotton Candy, they are female members of the Zulu Nation.

They wrote a response that I retweeted on my account. If you Google Cotton Candy, Rosa Clemente, Zulu Nation, you'll see they wrote the hip-hop response that I co-signed. A response from hip-hop to the Alex. This is what hip-hop needs to hear. This is what hip-hop needs to hear. You know what I'm saying? They spoke about the silencing of victims. They spoke about how hard it is for victims of sexual abuse to speak up.

And how it's taboo and how you ostracize if you're a victim of sexual abuse. And they spoke about all that. But they also spoke about how Bambaataa, how important he is to the culture. Of course he is. You know what I'm saying? He's a pillar of the culture. It's crazy. We can't deny with Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu nation. And we can separate if Afrika Bambaataa has done

these things, and the evidence is pretty fucking strong. It is. It's pretty fucking strong. But if he's done these things, we can separate that from the Zulu nation. Right. It doesn't make Zulu nation bad at all. People are trying to marriage it with the culture.

Yeah. African Bambada, this is somebody who, as somebody who loves hip hop, I've revered. I've looked up to. There's a cultural worship, celebrity worship around him and people who worship him. And people who, because their introduction to hip hop and their their relationship with hip-hop is through African and Bada. You know what I'm saying? We have to stay away from celebrity worship. He's just a man.

Right. You know what I'm saying? Right. We have to acknowledge what he gave to the culture. But if these accusations and allegations are true and the evidence presents itself that it's true, we've got to deal with it. And we have to take it seriously. And we have to be responsible Because we We come from a community

Of poor people Right This abuse And this type of stuff Whether he did it or not It happens to poor people Yes And it doesn't get reported

Right You know what I'm saying So it's like We have to make sure That we step up And we're responsible for You know even Fuck the court

The court of law Right How we deal with it As a culture As a culture As a community We have to protect the youth More than anything Right that's right You know, even, fuck the court of law. Right. How we deal with it. As a culture. As a culture, as a community. We have to protect the youth more than anything. Right, that's right. You know what I want you to elaborate on is when you said you think he needs to step down.

Because a lot of people in the community. I think he did step down. He did, he did, he did. The brother Muhammad, which was like his lifelong security guard, had just said the same thing. So I just wanted you to elaborate on, for the people who don't know, you know what I'm saying? Like, what do you mean by that? Because Well, because there's so much speculation and so much unanswered questions

that you're tainting the legacy of Zulu Nation by not either speaking up about it or stepping down. Like, I feel like, and I can't speak on that man because I'm not that man. Right, of course. But I feel like if it was me, even the possibility of the accusation, whether I did it or not, I would want to disassociate myself from hip-hop, from Zulu Nation, and deal with it on my own.

And step down and let somebody else. You know the effect that it's having on the positive. And that's just me. I can't speak for that man at all. You know what I'm saying? It got heavy, right? Do I need't speak for that man at all. Right. You know what I'm saying? Woo. It got heavy, right? Do I need another drink?

Yeah, you need another drink. You need another drink. I need a drink from the first time. I was about to say make some noise for that, but I don't know if people will kill me for making noise for that. That shit hurt me from the first time. But listen, thank you, Talib, because you know why Chris, again, who's my mentor, I knew he kind of didn't understand the internet.

We got away from that. Yeah, Chris is somebody, I mentor. I knew he kind of didn't understand the internet. We got away from that. Yeah, Chris is somebody. I love him too much. I paid attention to what he said on your show. I think it was clear what he said. And I paid attention to his op-ed. And I got to say this. Just listen.

Chris is a friend of mine. We have records together. This is my mentor. This is my favorite MC. This is somebody who I've learned my craft from. I was talking to him. I hit you because I heard y'all was together. I was talking to him.

The night before. Yeah, that's right. I was stalking him. The night before. Yeah, that's right. I did a show with him the night before. That's a fact. And honestly, I got to say this. I wish he wouldn't have wrote that op-ed. I wish he would have wrote it in a different fashion because I don't feel like he cleared anything up with the op-ed.

Right. Exactly. I don't feel like the op-ed helped him. Right. You know what I'm saying? Exactly. I don't feel like the op-ed helped him. Right, exactly. I don't feel like he clarified his position. Right.

You know, I think as somebody who loves hip-hop, as somebody who understands the impact of what Afrika Bhabata has done for hip-hop, I think that his vision was a little clouded when he wrote the op-ed. Right, right. You know what I'm saying? And I think that he was coming from a place of nostalgia and a place of maybe possibly emotion. Right. of nostalgia and a place of maybe possibly emotion. And because

I think that the whole conspiracy theory thing, the whole thing, we shouldn't even be speaking on that. No, I'm not with the conspiracy side of it. We shouldn't even be speaking on that. Cut to the chase, man. It's this or that. And I think that as people

who love music, everything has context. KRS is somebody who hip-hop saved his life. It's this or that And I think that as people who love music And people who want Everything has context KRS is somebody who Hip hop saved his life This is somebody who was homeless And rose to be one of the greatest poets And musicians of all time

Fuck a genre, fuck a music KRS is one of the greatest of all time And I think That You're not going to understand his position on it unless you understand him. But we have to defend Karras. When he wrote that op-ed,

he had just come off that long-ass cruise from here to Spain. So he wasn't getting information. Yeah, he don't fly. We explained that on the show. It was crazy because... I like Karras. I like Harris one. Nah, man.

That's my hero. Like, let me just tell you, that's my hero. This nigga, this nigga, this nigga. Besides that one small piece. It was that small piece. That whole show was amazing. The interview was excellent. But, you know, there's certain people that want to focus on that.

And you know what? They have the right to because we're all public figures. People can, just like this interview, we got some dope shit and we're going to go into some doper shit. But people can take and pick what they want to do. I can't wait to see what's going to happen. I might have said something out of pocket that's wrong. No, it's fantastic. Don't worry about it.

It's going to be great. I love it. I can't wait. Because you know what? I'm ironclad. I'm able to defend my positions on every fucking day. I love that. Did you say ironclad?

Ironclad. What does that mean? Hardcore. Ain't nothing going to get through you. Can I take ironclad? You and me going to do a whole hour. I thought that was? Hardcore. Ain't nothing going to get through. Can I take Ironclad? I thought that was harder. You and me going to do a whole hour. And I'm going to say what that means.

A new vocab. Right. I'm going to say what that means. So now listen. You said it earlier in Washington Square Park. You said it very nonchalantly. That's where you met Dave Chappelle at? No.

I met Dave Chappelle. I was working at Akiru Books. Yeah, you had a lot of jobs. Yeah, I was a Jamaican. Yeah, okay. Let's make some noise for Todd Libb having a lot of jobs. Make some noise!

And, um, I was dating a girl who shall remain nameless. And she had just broken up with Dave Chappelle. Wait, hold on, hold on. That's hard. That's hard. And she had just broken up with Dave Chappelle. Wait, hold on, hold on. That's hard. That's hard.

And she used to talk about him. And I used to be like, fuck that nigga. Did she say he was funny? She was a hater. I was a hater. Let's make some noise for Tyler.

That's really fucking awesome. The only shit that Dave Chappelle did at this time was Nutty Professor. He was Reggie. Oh Oh he was the dude with the The piano The Braves

Right And I used to be like The nigga Reggie And the nigga in the piano nigga Right He was funny as shit Him The nigga in the piano

The piano nigga Him He was hating on the piano nigga Fuck the piano nigga The nigga in the piano Not Buddy Love Right Not Buddy Love

The piano nigga The piano nigga He got one scene She said yes I said Look She broke up with me And went I think she went back with the nigga after that Now, buddy, look. The piano nigga. The piano nigga. He got one scene. She said yes. I said, look, she broke up with me and went, I think she went back with the nigga after that. Just keep it going. Keep it going. A couple years later.

Blow her up. What's her name again? You said her name earlier. She shall remain nameless. You foul. Yeah, I'm foul. Definitely. He knows who I am.

A couple years later, Corey Smith used to manage De La Soul. Dave Chappelle lived in Yellow Springs. He grew up in Yellow Springs, Ohio. De La Soul had a show near there. I was fucking with Hot Tech in Cincinnati. Big up Hot Tech. I rode up to the show. Dave Chappelle was at the De La Soul show. And I

saw him. I said, you and me used to deal with the same chick. By this time, he had did half baked, though. He had did half. He had did half. Was it out? It was out. It was out.

It was out, and it was a cult classic. So this time, I'm like, Dave Chappelle, I fuck with you. Right. You and me fuck with the same chick. Right. But I fucks with you. Right. And he said, really?

And I told him the story. Right. I used to see him in the hallway and all that. Right. But he didn't know who I was. Right. He was like, okay. And then we was cool.

Then a couple years later, I was in Electric Lady working on the album of High Tech. Electric Lady on A Street. Of course I know Electric Lady. You know, this is crazy because I've just seen

AZ do a documentary and he's speaking about Electric Lady. Right. Because you guys was trying to be Jimi Hendrix. Jimi Hendrix.

Keep it real. Keep it real. But when I was working on Electric Lady, I was on the top floor. Common was on the second floor working on Like Water for Chocolate withi Hendrix. Yeah, keep it real. But when I was working in Electric Lady, I was on the top floor. Common was on the second floor working on Like Water for Chocolate with J.D.

Yeah, well, you remember that white cat? I used to want to shoot that white cat. They had a white cat in Electric Lady. I remember the white chicks married.

No, a real cat or a person? No, a cat. They had a cat. You know, come on, Tyler. You know what the fuck I'm talking about. They had a white cat.

The cat used to just look at me like, yo, I'm a straight. I used to have a gun on me. I'm still, I'm talking about. They had a white cat. The cat used to just look at me. I used to be like, yo, I'm a straight. I used to have a gun on me. I'm still. You're a kitten killer. I was going to kill that cat. That's right.

It's a white cat. And they used to always say that's Jimi Hendrix. Jimi. That's the cat's name. Yeah, the cat's name is Jimi. Jimi. Listen. First of all, hold on.

You guys are crazy. Listen. First of all, this is Jimi Hendrix Studio. The spirit of Jimi Hendrix was in the cat. Jimmy You guys are crazy listen This is Jimmy Hendrix studio Jimmy Hendrix was in the cat so they said the spirit of Jimmy's right was in this cat me up With you by the killer. I just go to the bathroom, and you know you can't ask the ice go a mad homie So you can't ask your homies walk me to the bathroom Like the cat's like I'm like nigga what the fuck that cat I'm gonna shoot this cat

that cat was in the was in the studio when I worked on Reflection Eternal Train of Thought he's in every studio Common was like like whatever chocolate

D'Angelo was downstairs in the basement we were gonna voodoo I kid you not we were all at the same time and this is they say that's Jimi Hendrix

they say cause you know that's Jimi Hendrix. They say, because you know that Jimi Hendrix had owned the studio. Had owned, I swear to God, I've never told this story before in my life.

I haven't thought about that cat in 20 years. And you know, this is why I know the cat is special. I'm allergic to cats. I never broke out when I went to the studio.

I did Bad From TV there. Bad From TV was recorded in Electric Lady. So I forgot what point you was making but you was in Electric Lady. No, I was to the studio. I did Bad From TV there. Bad From TV was recorded in Electric Lady. So I forgot what point you was making, but you was in Electric Lady. No, I was in Electric Lady. So if you listen to Reflection Eternal album, you hear drops, right? There was this girl that I knew that was dating Lennox Lewis at the time. We still on the Chappelle, right?

She brought Lennox Lewis to the studio. So if you listen to Reflection Eternal. Wait, so you was dating Lennox Lewis girl again? Yo, what kind of nigga are you, Tyler? I didn't know he was there. That's not what I said. I thought that reflection, you try. Wait, so you was dating Lennox Lewis' girl again? Yo, what kind of nigga are you, Tyler? I didn't know you was his dad. Is that what I said? I thought that's

what you said. She brought Lennox Lewis to the studio. That's your homegirl. My homegirl. Not your girl. No, not my girl.

Oh, he said it like that's my girl, but like his own girl. I don't know. I don't know. I think he said it the right way

the first time. He wasn't cocky, man. He wasn't cocky. That's right. Wait, I don't know. I don't know. He got his The first time He wasn't cocky He wasn't cocky That's right Get his straight I don't know I don't know

He got his glasses on I can't tell You got the sideways smile When we said he's cocky He's very professional He's very professional If you listen to Reflection Eternal album

It's Lennox Lewis Alright He does one, two, three, four Reflection Eternal Gil Scott Heron Is on a Reflection Eternal album He came to the studio He had a Eternal album. He came to the studio. He had a problem with that.

He came to the studio. Dave Chappelle. I'm walking down the street on 8th Street going to go like Grace Papaya. Grace Papaya. That's the hot dog spot for those that don't know. I see Dave Chappelle. I said, remember me from the Daylight Show? He said, yeah.

I said, I'm working on an album. He came to the studio. Dave Chappelle came every day after that day. So when you hear Rick James and Nelson Mandela opening the reflection, that's Dave Chappelle doing all that. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, that's Dave Chappelle. I did not know this.

Yeah, he came through every day. When we hot-checked that album, Dave Chappelle was in the studio every day. Holy shit. For that album. But this was right when Half-Baked. That's after Half-Baked. That's after Half-Baked. So you know he's funny. It's just cracking. We don't know he's that. For that album. But this was right when Half Baked. That's after Half Baked. That's after Half Baked. So you know he's funny.

It's just cracking. We don't know he's that. Right, but this was before. This was no Chappelle show, none of that. Right, right, right. So then how did that happen? Autumn years later, he starts this Chappelle show. Because you guys were performing for him, like, even before his show blew up.

Yeah, y'all seemed like a family. Nah, he was in the studio for all that. He was an electric lady around all that time. And so he got the show and shout out to Corey Smith once again. Him and Corey had a good relationship.

He got a deal with Comedy Central. He said, I want to do this Chappelle show. But one of his visions was I want to have the musicians

that I fuck with. And didn't you perform in the kitchens one time? That was Common and Kanye. Oh, okay. With the food. With the food. Yeah, okay.

So he had, I did Get By. You know what I'm saying? Like he food. Yeah, okay. So he had, I did Get By. You know what I'm saying? Like, he had Big Boy. He had CeeLo. He had DMX. Right. Whatever he liked.

You did Two Words, too. Yeah. Y'all performed that there. Yeah, with most in freeway. Freeway, yeah. Whatever Dave listened to at the time, that's what he had on his show. That's hot. You know what I'm saying?

Like, he was into hip hop. And then when he did Block Party, like, Block Party, it was the best star. That was Lauryn Hill. That was the Fugees. In Brooklyn. Yeah, and Dave paid for that. He paid for that. We filmed it, and then he sold it to the movie company.

So he didn't know if he was going to sell it. No, we just did it. He just did it. And I made royalties off of that for years. I can't remember my last royalty check, but for years, i made money off of that yeah it was a block party so it was revolutionary yeah so it's like okay as a black man i'm gonna do my own i'm gonna own it i'm gonna put it out so the girl you was kept

it real with you high five high five come on make some noise i'm a defense about making some noise It worked out for him That is awful god damn it That's awful I'm regretting that I came out So now let me ask you this You meet Dave He's a regular guy

You're a regular guy You guys both become stars He makes you a part of the show Then all of a sudden he quits Did you ever call him about that? I was hanging out with Dave around a lot at that time. At the time he quit?

Yeah. He was in a situation where he felt compromised. He felt like the money that he took and the money that he accepted made him... They was taking advantage of him. In like a cornery way?

Yeah. This is what we heard. You know, like a lot of the skits that Dave did. The content. A lot of skits, everybody loved Dave Chappelle.

Right. But not everybody understood Dave Chappelle. Like, and I'm hearing, this is a rumor that I heard, I'm hearing that it was from black folks,

like Oprah and people who were calling him. I can't speak on what that man was talking about., like Oprah and people who were calling him. I can't speak on what that man was talking about. Okay, yeah, yeah. But from what I observed. Observed, yeah. You know, I think that his comedy, Dave Chappelle comedy, like the best comedy.

Right. Was very intellectual. Right. Like people didn't understand the nuance of it. Dave Chappelle come from educated people. Right. You know, he come from black academia. You know what I'm saying?

Like he come from heady ideas Intellectualism But it's broken down in a comedy way And a lot of people got the funniness of it But didn't get the point And I think that started to fuck with him I heard Prince is really nice and ball Yeah Prince is I heard you got a Prince story

I got several Prince stories Come on man Hold on let me get the horn story I got several we gotta set we gotta set this up all right so hold on time out top hit quality from just switch it up yeah I'm not cutting off I'm actually I haven't cut him off yet No you just No but I see Story I swear

Because you know You from Brooklyn Yes You had Flat push all day You had 1500 jobs Before you were 16 1500 jobs

Choose one You become an MC Prince I don't give a fuck If you a killer I don't give a fuck If you a backpack I don't give a fuck

If you who who he is. Prince is God to all of us. As far as making music and art. Music and creativity. Yes, that's right. Culture. Fighters, broads. Yep.

And your first time meeting Prince. We need to describe this. Shout out to DJ Q, my wife, DJ Q. I like how you big up your wife. God damn it. High five. That's real. High five.

Real shit. Let's make some noise for that. I met her in LA, right? Yes, you did. And they did a stretch Armstrong. Yeah, she was there. Alright, yep, cut, continue. She's a world class famous DJ,

and Prince got to liking her DJ skills. She became a DJ. You let your wife work with Prince? This is not starting out good. This is not starting out good This is not starting out good Oh man I'm not gonna lie I'm a jealous guy

Prince Listen Prince You gotta get the fuck away My wife is not doing your makeup I'm sorry She's not doing your makeup Hold up Prince Hey I'm sorry

I'm sorry She was DJing at his parties You know what I'm saying And by this time When I met Prince The first time I met Prince Was at maybe House of Blues LA

She was DJing Did he float? No he didn't levitate To float He didn't levitate He had a segway He had a segway back then No no no

Prince knew his hip hop When I first met him You know what I'm saying But he knew Certain type of hip hop He knew like common He liked like common And what I am

You know what I'm saying He liked certain types He was into something He liked hip hop But he liked hip hop That was a little bit more like Organic You know what I'm saying Like he liked hip-hop that was a little bit more organic. You know what I'm saying?

He liked Lauryn Hill and Common. He really liked Common a lot. He's a Common fan. You know what I'm saying? And Common is one of my favorite MCs. Did Common work with him at all? I don't know if Common... Common might have worked with Prince.

He liked Erykah Badu a lot. You know what I'm saying? Prince, I met him... Like eccentric shit Yeah I guess yeah So when I met him He said I like that

He said I like that one song You got Hot Thing You know what I'm saying I had a song with Will.i.am Hot Thing Will.i.am was on the hook Of course And he liked

Will.i.am and Black Eyed Peas And all that type of shit I started just hanging out Doing parties You know my wife Would do parties Prince would show up At the parties

He would just show up Hold on How does this happen Does Prince Does smoke come in When he walks in It's a basketball would do parties, Prince would show up at the parties. He would just show up. Hold on. How does this happen? Does Prince, does smoke come in when he walks in? It's like basketball. Like, yeah, I mean, no, no, no, I'm serious. Prince would walk in the party.

I'm thinking of the Dave Chappelle shit. He'd walk in the party, you know. I went to a party once in L.A. What's that club that's across the street from the Beverly Center? The club that's across the street from the Beverly Center? That's the name of it. Yeah. Prince walked in. The club ended, and Prince keptreet from the Belvedere Center. That's the name of it. Prince walked in.

The club ended, and Prince kept a bunch of us in the club. At gunpoint. No, not at gunpoint. But he's Prince. He just gave the look. Almost gunpoint. And everybody stayed. Eye point.

He pulled out a little Bible. Wait, who? Prince brought a Bible to the club? He's hella religious. He's a Jehovah's Witness. Yeah, yeah. Hella religious. Wait, and Jehovah's Witness, they get down like that? They bring Bibles to the club? He's hella religious. He's a Jehovah's Witness. Yeah, yeah, hella religious. Wait, and Jehovah's Witness, they get down like that? They bring Bibles to the club?

And he started having Bible study at the club. He don't drink? At three in the morning. Was niggas drinking? There was no niggas there. All right. It was only women. And me, because my wife is a DJ, so I was the only nigga.

And there was one other dude who was a boyfriend of one of the other girls. So it was Prince and me and this other dude. All right, don't pass it. This is other niggas. Pass it back to me when you finish. All right, go ahead. I got you. And this other dude, Prince was caught in the Bible.

He was caught in the Bible. And this other dude tried to say something smart. And now this other dude, he's not with Prince. No. Okay, yeah. He just happened to be there. He tried to say something. And Prince,

I'll never forget this. Prince said, listen, I know you think that you're saying something to add on to the conversation, but you really, you know what I'm saying?

From what you're saying, I can tell you don't know what you're talking about. So how about you just not participate in the conversation? Was Prince about the whippin' nigga ass? You know what I'm saying?

I'm asking you. He politely told him, you don't know the you talking about did prince have on hills no he did not he's a gangster he did not i've been several i've been in several clubs for prince had chuck tennyson yeah keep this going let's keep going with the sprint stories i don't know remember do you remember the zini in l.a i know i know l.a they used to have the party called zini they used to to have it. I had Big Zini before. Big Zini, man. Big Zini.

My bad. At 2 o'clock in the morning, the clubs in L.A. closed. All right. Yes, that's a fact. And then this dude used to have this party called Zini.

We rented a warehouse. He used to rent the Muppet Studios, Jim Henson. Right? I need to know these type of people, Talib. Come on, party with me.

I'm bad. I know. He hanging out with Big Bird. Big Bird. I was with Ernie and Bert and shit party with me. I'm back. I know, yeah. You're hanging out with Big Bird. Big Bird, I was with Ernie and Bert and shit. You know what I'm saying? But he used to have

these parties, but they used to bring the alcohol. And they used to set up stages and have go-go dances. And all the celebrities used to go

and all the basketball players and you know what I'm saying? Like that type of party. It's like Illuminati shit. It was Illuminati. He's definitely Illuminati. I was with Tyler in LA Prince called my wife

And he said Where the party at And we said We at Zini He said I'm coming And this nigga just rolled up I had the privilege

To tell him to promote I said listen I'm bringing Prince I got a Justin Bieber story When you finish I'm bringing Prince How the hell is Justin Bieber and Prince

Going together Because Justin Bieber said That what Prince. How the hell is Justin Bieber and Prince going together? Because Justin Bieber said that, what? Prince ain't the only nigga around. Remember this? No, I didn't.

I don't remember this. We're going to get into that. We're going to get into that later. Let's finish this. This great Prince story. My fans hate

when they cut us off. They'll be like, let's finish this story. So Prince came into the club, right? And the girl was dancing and he said,

this party's great, but why is she up there dancing with no clothes on? She had clothes on. She had things covered. But he said, why is she? He said, it don't need to be that. You know, because this is Jehovah's Witness Prince. Right, right. This is not the last dragon, Prince.

This is not like. Purple Rain Prince. Definitely not the Purple Rain Prince. What was the chick from the last dragon? Lake Manitoba Prince. Prince used to be Buck Wilde back in the days. In the 80s, he was out of control. So I said, listen, he asked me to introduce him to the party promoter.

I introduced him. And he said, he explained to me. He said, listen, these girls, they bring business. People buy drinks. Prince said, let me talk to her. What? He tried to convert her. Let me talk to her.

I need to hear this. You know what I'm saying? The girl, he talked to the girl. The girl didn't know who Prince was. She's a young chick. Young chick dancing in a club. She might have heard the name Prince, but she didn't know. She's going to die tonight.

This is a long time ago. I'm telling an old story. This is an old story. He bites her, she turns, and that's what happens. He said, how much are they paying you to dance with your clothes off? She said the number. He said, I'll pay you double to get down off that stage. Go home.

Let's make some noise to Prince being a trick. That's what's up. That's it. Yo, wait. Is that reverse pimping? That's reverse pimping right there. He said, go home. Put your clothes on.

Prince invented reverse pimping. She said, I'll take your money tonight, but what am I going to do tomorrow night? That's what this girl said to Prince. I want to hear his response. What was his response? He said, I don't have no control over that. That's real pimping. That's pimping right there.

That is pimping right there. Bitch, we're feeling it. I got you tonight. Tomorrow you're on your own, motherfucker. I'm not going to quote him verbatim. You know what I'm saying? Besides that one line. Besides that one line.

He didn't say that verbatim. But beyond that, he basically explained to her. He was like, listen, I'm giving you an opportunity to make a different decision in your life. You know what I'm saying? And I watched him explain to this girl and talk to this girl. And I knew from the way that she was talking to him That she didn't understand the legacy She didn't understand Prince had an album

Come up with like three bitches Butt naked on top of him And everybody thought he was gay I wasn't ready for your answer The prince is God He stuck to his guns. Right. And he understood every artist.

And me and Nori, the fact that we even here doing drink champs. Right. Smoking weed. Talking about Prince. Me and Nori. Bigger than Prince. You know what I'm saying? Mm-hmm.

We understand that every artist got contradictions. Yeah, nah. That's the nature of being an artist. Yeah, it's true. Jairus won. It's true. The person that we revere. Right.

Is the most contradictory artist ever. But that's part of being human, like you said, being human. Because all human beings got contradictions. Our contradictions is amplified. Because people pay more attention. But everybody got contradictions. Artists, we create out of our contradiction. But Prince was like Jesus, man.

Listen, let me tell you something. I've never, like Billy Dee Williams transcended for me. Like, what I mean by that is like Billy Dee Williams,

Eddie Murphy, Prince, and Michael Jackson was people who were like, you know, I grew up in a different,

you know, a different time. I like that he threw Billy Dee Williams in. That's a like that he threw Billy Dee Williamson That's a hood nigga That threw Billy Dee Williamson With Michael Jackson And Prince

And then they said Billy Dee Those were certain people No those were certain people To me Cold 45 Yeah Cold 45 I still drink Cold 45

That's child's a cheeseburger baby That's child's a cheeseburger baby I know it's the reference Cheeseburger baby I still go there Landon Calrissian is secondary. I mean, that's first in my book. That's a smooth, dynamite taste.

Nah, but you know, for those four individuals right there, those are the people who transcended life for me. Those are the people that... No, no, no, no, let's keep it over here. That's right, I'm sorry. Yeah, let's keep it over here. So, those are the people that transcended their life for me. What I mean by that is like, you know, as a black person Growing up young in my life I can't describe anybody else here

Or anybody In my life It was like those are the people that said You can't do this, you can't do that And they did it And I was just like I always looked at them as like I ain't gotta be like them

But I respect that You know what I'm saying? And that's why When I met with people like Pharrell It was easy for me to say, I don't understand you. And I don't really get where you're going at, but your music is fucking banging. How did you meet Pharrell? That's how I met Pharrell.

Oh, he's the best. Well, how I met Pharrell, we was in Sound on Sound Studios. Sound on Sound, yeah. Everybody used to think Biggie used to be called At Daddy's house Something happened At Daddy's house I don't remember

But Big But Big used to come To Sound on Sound Studios And he used to have upstairs Or I used to have downstairs And I used to see Biggie After the war report I used to see Biggie

Like almost every day I'm working on NRE And a friend of mine He was my was my manager at the time, I believe, Martin Moore. I was about to say. Martin Moore from NYU? NYU, yeah. I got a Martin Moore story. Because that's part of my career.

We're going to get to that. I used to go up to do an NYU show when I was 14. People don't realize the skits on the Wu-Tang. I used to be up there with NYU when they used to have the stickers and all that shit. So he discovered me. He's the guy that got me signed. But Martin Moore said to me,

he said, yo, these dudes, they up here, they trying to work with Puff. And so I was like, all right, cool. Like, I had the N-O-R-E. I had the N-O-R-E, Noreen,

Samson, I had the whole album was done. So he comes to sound. It's like a kind of trilogy. Yeah, yeah. So he comes to Sound on Sound, and he goes, and I just remember, I met some dude in Canada just now, reminded me of Pharrell. He was trying to be Pharrell, but he reminded me of Pharrell

because his inner attitude. Not the attitude that he was trying to show me, but his inner attitude. But Pharrell actually came up to me and said, yo, nobody never listens to me. And I was like, that was awkward. That was his first sentence. Like, nobody never listens to me.

The person that does is going to go through the roof. And I'm walking, I'm hot. But I'm like, something in my body said, shut up. Right. And listen to this guy. So I listen. And he goes, the first person that listens to me, I've worked with other people.

And then he starts quoting bloody money to me. Oh, no, no. You know what I'm saying? And I was like, damn. I was like, all right, cool. You know, I'm looking at him. He don't look like a bloody money type of guy. He's not supposed to be knowing that song off the album.

Man, I used to love that album. The War Report one? Ah, ah, ah. That, I used to love that album. The War Report. That basement I was just telling you about? That's what I used to listen to. Capone and Noriega, The War Report. Your toddler, how old are you? You're like 900 years old. We the same age. I'm 40 this year.

Let's make some noise for y'all 40-year-olds. Let's make some noise for y'all 40-year-olds. I'm enjoying the fuck out of 40. Listen, 40? I can't wait to see what 41 feel like. This my life. I'm enjoying the fuck out of 40. Listen, 40? I can't wait to see what 41 feel like. This is incredible. I'm about to be 41. Look, EFN, he gave you a five, but he wasn't really with you like that.

He started thinking about you. No, no. I'm good with my age, though. Right, no. No, the one with my age. I keep my grades. You look like money with a B. Or my whites, or whatever it is.

No, yeah. So, EFN, let me just ask you. Are you going to get men's club? Yo, let me tell you some weird shit that happened. I'm fucking with you. No, my whites. Or whatever it is. Nah, yeah. So, EFN, let me just ask you. Are you going to get men's club? Yo, let me tell you some weird shit that happened. I'm fucking with you. Nah, real talk. I would like to hear it. I was with my girl.

We went to the casino. Let's pick up your girl. We took her. Let's make some noise for EFN girl. We took her grandma to the casino for Mother's Day. Took your grandma? Her grandma. Okay, God bless.

Because, you know, she wanted to go play the joints. So, I go into the bathroom. And some dude, I think he's Jamaican. Where's Drain at? I think he's Jamaican. Did you? I don't know. He had an accent. I couldn't place the accent.

It was some island. It could have been Canada? I don't know. I'm there. I'm washing my hands, and the dude walks in, and he just looks at me, and he said, You're not going to dye your beard? That's his first. That's what he said wait were y'all at the urinal no no i'm washing my hands at this point okay no i would have been mad awkward at the urinal and i said uh no no i don't like it i don't like to die i don't like

none of that shit right he's like really really? But man, like, pensive. Like, he's thinking about this shit. Because he was thinking about dying his shit. And he's older than me. I could tell he's older than me. Right. So I'm like, all right, cool. Is that it?

Because I'm out of here, bro. Right. And then he's like, looks good, man. I'm like, all right, man, I'm out of here. You saved his life that night, man. Yeah. You gave him confidence to go home. I don't know what happened.

And let his die just fade out. Gave him confidence. He looked at me crazy, man. That's my story. So when's the last time you spoke to Yassine Bey? I know that's your brother. About a month ago, I went out to South Africa. Wait, hold on.

Time out. Let's make some noise for him flossing us one more time. I went out to see Yassin. I went out to hang out with him, Mr. Ferrari Shepherd. Yassin Bey, he's a beautiful dude. This dude is like, he's Muslim.

Right. And a lot of his music and his dance has to do with incorporating Islam, trying to figure out that living as a Muslim, but living in today's society. So he can't come back to America? I can't speak on his situation at this particular time. Right. But I know that he hasn't wanted to be in America for a long time.

All right. He doesn't want to come out here. Yeah. Regardless of his particular political situation in South Africa, as you notice, he ain't been here in a minute. He can still travel to London and do shows. Okay. Paul.

I'm appalled. Be quiet. He is somebody who exists completely and totally outside of the music business. He exists as an artist. outside of the music business. Right. He exists as an artist.

Mm. Like, fuck the business. Mm. He exists as an artist, as a creative spirit. Like the epitome of an artist. Like, this is real. Like, this is real.

Like, I'm not Muslim. Mm. What are you? I don't, you know, I respect Islam. I respect Islam. I respect people, anybody who search for truth. So what would you claim if somebody were to ask you?

I'm just me. I recognize the God in all of us. I like that. If you recognize the God in yourself, I recognize the God in you. You see? So you're everything. Yeah. I'm every religion.

Yeah. And I'm every gang, too. Yeah. Jesus Christ, that's a lot of beef. No, but that's how you got to be. Whoever I'm hanging with, I'm a vice lord. I'm a voice lord, this is a lot of beef. Yeah. But that's how you got beef. Whoever I'm hanging with, I'm a vice lord. I'm a vice lord.

If you understand the one, he understand the Unkar, the Unkar plot, the theory of the one. He's every gang, everything, you know what I'm saying? I'm everything,

and I'm nothing. But this is how, this is how, Yassin Bey, like I went out there and he's, I'm talking to him and he's quoting verses

from the Quran. Not in South Africa. Did y'all stay in huts? No South Africa's mad developed South Africa's the most developed country There's a W out there? No, there's no W Invite me when a W

There's some nice hotels and some nice spots They got a Western? They got a whole different system Can you name me one hotel? Otherwise, South Africa I love y'all South Africa's dope You know what? Weston? No. They got a whole different system. All right. Can you name me one hotel that I might recognize? Otherwise, South Africa. I love y'all. There's no chains. South Africa's dope.

I'm staying in my ass. There's chains. There's chain hotels. You could go to a Sheraton. Sheraton? Sheraton? Let's make some noise. Sheraton.

I could fuck with a Sheraton. I'm an SPG. SPG? Yeah, I'm an SPG. Star Wars. Yeah, yeah, that's right. I could fuck with a Sheraton. You could get a Star Wars.

But it better not be four points, Sheridan. That's a difference. That's a difference. I don't want to fuck with four points. Four points, they'll still let the police run in your room. I'm going to put you on to the boutique hotels and to the official spots. Yes, you have to. Outside of the SPG.

You have to. You're very rich. I can tell by the way you just put that together. He's well versed. Can somebody get me a cigar? I'm not rich. I'm not by the way you just put that together. Can somebody grab me a cigar? I'm not rich. I'm not rich.

No, no, no. I'm a working class MC who figured out I've cracked the code. I've seen J. Rood the Damager. You know what's funny about you saying that? What? When I say I'm a working class MC, the image that I picture in my mind is J. Rood the Damager. You know what I'm saying? Listen, let me tell you something.

I've seen J. Rood the Damager. I knew he was going to get drunk. He's my man. Right? He gets bent. You knowager. I knew he was going to get drunk. He's my man. Right? He gets bent. You know that. I know. Me and J. Rude came from the same block.

I said, yo, J. Rude, where you been at? That nigga said, man, I just stay in Europe. I get this money. The nigga said, where you been at? He pulled out a passport. That shit look like a phone book, my nigga. Let me explain. Let me blow this nigga's spot.

This nigga J. Rude the did damage and live in Berlin. Listen, I went to Berlin. Big up Berlin. My grimy people. Respect. Respect. You see posters for this nigga everywhere. Who gave that nigga that horn?

That horn is terrible. Hold on. Did you hear that horn? I did. One, two, three. One, two, three. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. J. Rude is the gentleman

that lived in Berlin. I'm sorry. We needed a proper horn for you, Tyler. J. Rude was going to let you get that Berlin one. He wasn't going to let them give you a fake horn.

I'm sorry. J. Rude was getting that fucking tear down the wall money. Yeah, man. That nigga's passport was like this. No. The first time I went to South Africa, I went with J. Rude and Damager. J. Rude was there?

I went with J. Rude and Damager. You know what I'm saying? I'll be in certain countries. I'll be in like Croatia or some shit. I'll be in a club. J. Rude will just pull up to me and tap me on the shoulder. I think J. Rude a friend of a boy. J-Ro lives in Malmo.

He lives in Malmo, Sweden. Malmo is a half hour from Copenhagen, Denmark. If you go to Malmo in Sweden, you hang out with J-Ro from Alcoholics. But this is a fraternity of working class MCs that are all over the world. I know where all they at. I know where they at. I travel the world. I know where all they at. I know where they at. I travel the world. I see them.

J-Roll. What's your man? Elder Sensei from Artifacts. That's another one. That's another one. Master Ace is in Italy right now. He kills it. Master Ace and Marco Polo in Italy right now.

He kills it. right now. A lot of times the big economic forces we hear about on the news show up in our lives in small ways. Three or four days a week, I would buy two cups of banana pudding, but the price has gone up. So now I only buy one. The demand curve in action. And that's just one of the things we'll be covering on Everybody's Business from Bloomberg Businessweek. I'm Max Chavkin. And I'm Stacey Vanek-Smith. Every Friday, we will be diving into the biggest stories in business, taking a look at inside the boardrooms, the backrooms, even the signal chats that make our economy tick. Hey, I want to learn about VeChain. I want to buy some blockchain or whatever it is that they're doing. So listen to Everybody's Business on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Everybody's business on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves. This medal is for the men who went down that day. It's for the families of those who did make it. I'm J.R. Martinez. I'm a U.S. Army veteran myself. And I'm honored to tell you the stories of these heroes on the new season of Medal of Honor, Stories of Courage from Pushkin Industries and iHeart Podcast.

From Robert Blake, the first black sailor to be awarded the medal, to Daniel Daly, one of only 19 people to have received the Medal of Honor twice. These are stories about people who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor, going above and beyond the call of duty. You'll hear about what they did, what it meant, and what their stories tell us about the nature of courage and sacrifice. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network, hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores, and brought to you by Velvet Buck.

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

Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I 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. Why do, like, y'all revolution—because revolution Cause look I would consider you A revolutionary activist

Hip hop type of guy Right But like Y'all biggest crowds Is white people Yeah How does that happen Because white people have money

And they can afford To come to the concert And they can afford To not give a fuck Niggas in the hood Niggas in the hood Don't have money They can't go to concerts

They just be in the hood White people be like They look in the village voice And they look in the In the time out New York and they be like, I want to go to a concert. I have some extra money to spend. I'm going to go to a concert.

I like Talak Kuali. He's a good show. But, you know, that's a good thing. Close the door. Who has the crazy fucking... Please. That's a good thing. Why?

Because hip-hop music is folk music It don't matter if you white, black Jupiterian You know what I'm saying? I've never heard that word That would be Jupiter That's Jupiter I'm speaking Jupiterian

I'm with you my nigga Let me get a high five Let me get a high five You have to be a part of the federation to understand That sounds right up Noriega language I'm using it Jupiterian Go ahead, continue

Hip hop speak in the language that people speak rightiega language. I'm using it. Jupiterian. Go ahead. Continue. Hip-hop speak in the language that people speak right now. You know what I'm saying? So hip-hop, the reason, hip-hop has united more cultures than any music, than any,

fuck music. Hip-hop has united more cultures than any force, anything in the history of the planet. More white people, black people,

brown people, yellow people, red people, get together over hip hop music Than anything You know what I'm saying Right Cause hip hop speak in a language

That we all speak in It speak in a language That's going on right now So when Nori came out Like what what what What what what That's what niggas was on the street Saying at the time

Right I was a foul nigga That's true Yeah that's what niggas was saying Tell them And whatever niggas is saying right now Whether whether it be Panda or whatever, whatever is going on, that's what's happening right now. And it make it to a record. Country music is like that.

Definitely like that. Folk music was like that, but folk music is not a popular art form like it was in the 70s. Right. But country music is like that. Besides country music, and I 70s. But country music is like, besides country music, and I don't fuck with country music. I'm not a country music fan. But I recognize, real recognize, real.

The country music is about struggle. It's about white people struggle, American... And they're big storytellers in the music. People love that. It's beautiful. And it's similar to hip-hop in that regard. But hip-hop is our shit. You know what I'm saying? That's right. Hip-hop is our regard. But hip-hop is our shit. You know what I'm saying?

That's right. Hip-hop is our shit. Golf Brooks and them niggas. Yeah. They got to struggle. Yeah. Country music, that's golf works. That's country music, right? Did their horse run away?

Yeah. I'm playing, I'm playing. It's definitely their version of reality. You know what I'm saying? Nah, country music. It's music. I'm going to tell you what it is. I'm going to keep it all the way.

You want to keep it all the way real Since we on drink shows? Okay It's music made by uneducated people There you go Right there, brother And I'm not saying uneducated As a judgment

He was about to take some Of that Dame Dash whiskey By the way You people You people out there Let people know We got Dame Dash whiskey On the table

Yes And we representing for you Dame Dash Shout out to Dame Dash. That's my nigga, man. Now, I heard a rumor that even before... No, but let me, before you get into that, let me just qualify my statement

before I'm going to end it looking crazy. When I say uneducated, I'm not meaning a diss. I mean people that don't receive the standard westernized traditional education. You know what I'm saying? Like, niggas might have dropped out of high school but could still run the world. Bill Gates didn't graduate

from college, but still made a lot of money. You know what I'm saying? When I say uneducated, it's not a judgment, but there's white people in the South that didn't have the traditional education. You know what I'm saying? Like, even the term nigga. Like, even the word nigga. It's too political for us to... I'm about to go.

Real quick Real quick Real quick Real quick Even the term nigga Was white people Not understanding How to pronounce The Spanish word

Negro Negro Say nigga It was nigra Negro Because a lot of the south Was owned by Spain For the longest

Right So it became nigger Over time That's where the word Nigga come from It come from Not having a Western standardized education. You know what I'm saying?

So when I say uneducated, it's not the dis-nobody. So, okay. All right, so now, we heard a rumor that Kanye, I think Kanye's first feature was like with you. Is that correct? Yeah, I used to fuck with Kanye back in the days, way before. Does that mean you don't fuck with him now? No, yeah, no.

Kanye's my nigga. Oh, okay. I'm a Kanye West fan. So what was the first time you met Kanye? The first time I met Kanye, I was working on my Quality album, the album that Get By is on. I was in Platinum Island Studios. He came through no idea or no? Platinum Island Studios, Wyclef used to own that.

It's like on 40th, right down the block from DVD Palace. That's Platinum Studios or no? Platinum Island Studios, Wyclef used to own that. It's like on 40th, right down the block from DVD Palace. That's Platinum Studios. That's Platinum. Okay, so what studios did you say? Platinum Island, which was Ken Duro Eiffel. Duro?

Duro. He's from The Clue. DJ Clue's people. Right. Duro used to be the head engineer at Platinum Island. Platinum Island was in the same building or across the street,

the same next door to the street The same Next door to Cotton Room Was next door to Raucous Okay Oh I Way downtown Right

Right right Thank you I'm working at Platinum Island Studios Uh huh And Kanye West Come through the door Now I'm doing a session

For my quality album And I'm waiting on Most Def to show up Because Most Def We have a song on my Quality album called Joy I'm rapping about my kids And my kids because Mos Def, we have a song on my quality album called Joy. I'm rapping about my kids and my kid's birth

and Mos Def is on it. It took him a long time to record this verse. By this time, he was doing movies, he was blowing up. So I'm trying to get in touch with him.

It was hard to get in touch with him. Kanye came through the door. I never seen this nigga, never heard this nigga. He said, I'm here to meet Mos Def. I said,

well, guess what? He might not show up. But who are you? He said, Mos Def told me to meet him here. I said, well, guess what? He might not show up. But who are you? He said, Most Def told me to meet him here. I got some beats. I said, play me the beats. I'm working on an album. Kanye played me the beats. Every beat that Kanye played me, he played me four beats that night. All them beats made it

to my album. Let's make some noise for Kanye being a savage. I said, yo. I said, who. I said, yo. I said, who? I said, now, them beats. Kanye. You're the nigga. That's why he got an ego.

Because the nigga came in. He pissed you four. You bought four. You bought four. It's all Talib's fault. From now on, every time Kanye do anything fucked up, we blame it on Talib. Make some noise for Talib being the reason. I couldn't believe how good these beats was because I had never heard of him.

So I'm like, how have I never heard of you and your beats and this quality? He told me, he said, I did beats on D-Dot, Angeletti album. The Mad Rapper. Mad Rapper, yeah. I did beats on Jermaine Dupri album, 1472. I didn't even know that. I did beats on Beanie Segal. He told me he did The Truth and then The Reason. The Truth, yeah. I did beats on Jermaine Dupri album, 1472. I didn't even know that. I did beats on Beanie Seagull. He told me he did The Truth and then The Reason.

The Truth, yep. All that Beanie Seagull shit. When he said that, that's when I was like, play me some shit. So he did the Gorilla Marsu rap, The Good To You, The Goodbye, all that shit on the Quality album. And I just was, and then when I went on tour, Common was on tour doing Electric Circus. I was the opening act. Kanye was like, I'm trying to get my music

out there. Niggas ain't fucking with me. I said, come on tour with me. He came on tour with me. He came out every time I... Wait, wait. You brought Kanye on tour? I brought Kanye on my tour. Let's make some noise for Taleb bringing Kanye on tour. Kanye, how dare you do a tour

without inviting my nigga Taleb. He's too humble to say that. I'm going to say it for him. Hey, have you listened to Last Call? Have you ever heard

of Tiger Bone? Yes, I have. I know about Tiger Bone from New York City. You're not going to take a shot. I'm from New York City. You're from New York City.

I'll take a shot. Hold on, we're going to let you finish the story first. We need this more important. Last Call, Last're going to let you finish the story first. It's more important. Last call. Last call on Kanye Allen. He break it down.

Oh, we're going to do a last call here, too. Last call, right. And he break it down. He say, he say, Talon Kweli brought me on tour. Oh, we fucking up the scenery? And he told me how to perform on the tour and shit. Like, he say that. He say that on the last, on the song.

On Kanye's dropout. He explained the whole story. Right. How I brought him on tour. Did you know he was crazy from the beginning? Oh, listen. I was, when Kanye West, when I first met him, I said, this nigga played me Jesus Walks when I first met him.

Wait, the first day you met him? Not the first day, maybe the first month or so. Beat or lyrics and beat? Song done. This is four or five years before this shit came out. This nigga played me Dear Mama. Not Dear Mama, the Hey Mama. Uh-huh.

La, la, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la. I said, I've never heard nothing so beautiful in my life. Right. He played me that. He played me Jesus Walks. I said, nigga. And it was the version that came out?

Or was it a different version? This was before he had a deal. Mm. Before College Dropout. Mm. He played me Jesus Walks. Mm. He played me a bunch of those songs. A bunch of those songs. But I remember Jesus Walks. He played me a bunch of those songs.

A bunch of those songs. But I remember Jesus Walks and the Hey Mama. I said, you need to put these shits out now. He said,

no, no, no. That's what nigga said. He said, my first album, this was before he had a deal. No deal. He knew what he wanted to do. He said,

my first album was called College Dropout. I do these songs. My next album is called Late Registration. That Jesus Walks and the Hey Mama, that's going album's called Late Registration That the That Jesus Walks And I mean Hey Mama

That's gonna be On Late Registration Wow Jesus Walks He had his plan Jesus Walks is gonna be My single You can tell

Jesus Walks is gonna be My single He was calculated From College Dropout But when he put it out Jesus Walks was a single He says it on the song This is my single

Dog Radio needs this He says it on the song Wow You know what dog Radio needs this He says it on the song Wow You know what I'm saying He's a Gemini And you knew And you knew like Did you know he was a genius

Or you just knew He was crazy I couldn't To be real with you Niggas used to diss him Niggas used to diss him Tell them who you dissed him Let's get into it

Everybody Kanye had the hot beats But niggas beat He was trying to sell himself As an artist And niggas was like We want your beats But And I used to be like He used to sell himself as an artist. And niggas was like, we want your beats. And I used to be like,

he used to be on a tour bus with us. He used to be rhyming and he used to rhyme all the time. Right. And if you come in the room, somebody new come in the room,

he kick the rhyme. Like, say I kick a rhyme for you, somebody new come in the room, he kick the rhyme again for the new nigga. Right. Which would get annoying

sometimes. It's annoying. It's thirsty. It's thirsty. Right. Call that thirsty. Right. But he was, he knew. He had no boundaries. But he knew. He knew. He was going It's annoying. It's thirsty. It's thirsty. Right. Call that thirsty. Right. But he was.

He had no boundaries. But he knew. He knew. He was going. He knew. He was going. Sometimes being thirsty. He knew. Like listen.

Like listen. When we did. We was. You know. My team. My team. We did the street team for Def Jam and Rockefeller. Stop that.

Stop that. Stop that. And so. I'm going to stop passing you weed. You keep giving it away. What was. I'm in an interview mood. Come on.

Me and. What was the single That he had The joints when he had When he got in the car The wire Through the wire That was it

What was homegirl on it The old school G Chaka Khan Chaka Khan Wait wait Hold on hold on Nobody asks for shots To take a bone

Hold on Time out Time out Talib said it Come on let's go Did you say Alright let's go I gotta make an appearance at a club.

We had. All right, yeah. I'm shooting a video right now. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll do it. All right, hold on. I'm standing up.

I'm standing up. I'm standing up. I'm doing tight moves. Hold on. I got to give my Kanye story. Go ahead. Give me a Kanye story. This is my one and a half Kanye story.

Because this is going to fuck everybody's life up after we drink this. Y'all don't drink water? Water? No, we don't like water. Talib, you have to drink champagne. We we don't like water because i do drink water what this is disrespectful can i get some water we got water here water extra hp baby yeah that's that's that's accolade this is real real drink champ shit right here real drink champ shit because this is how you really do a drink champs right here. Real drink champ shit. Because this is how you really do it, drink champs. You drink water so you can keep drinking. 100%.

Let's make some noise for Talib trying to be smart. That's all. There's nothing smart about this shot we about to take. I'm going to just throw it out there. That's why you got the water. All right, you got to tell your story. The story's whack now, by the way. But.

Why? We was doing, we did the promo shot. Danny Giggs was not here. We did Def Jam, Rockefeller. Water gone. Water gone. Water gone. Don't take that shot yet.

Don't take that shot yet. I got you. I got you. All right. Yeah, but you should take the water out the drink champ cup. No, that's how you do it. Listen, I drink water. That's real drink champ drink water, bro.

Out the gauntlet? All right, cool. It's OG. I'm going to let y'all get away with this right now. Nah, man. I want you to drink water because I care about you, bro. You know what the fucked up shit is? I can't.

I can't. The whole tour, there was like three people who just said, that nigga ain't drink water the whole time. I just landed and was like, ah, let's just. All right, my just Alright My story Go ahead Get to it The story's white now

But No you just forgot your story No no no I didn't forget my story You been getting high I was doing this I was the street team manager For Miami

For Def Jam And Rockefeller And nobody believed in Kanye at Rockefeller Right So he They did not He leaked that record

Through the wire Through the wire I remember that And then he He leaked that record Through the wire Through the wire I remember that And then he He paid for the video He paid for the video He paid for the radio promotion And he hit us

Look at that Niggas changing the rules for you They got water and shit Thank you I'm gonna need the water Thank you Marcia For ruining my story No I'm sorry

I'm sorry I'm gonna need the water After this shot of the Tiger Bowl Go ahead So What the fuck man What the fuck I'm trying to tell my god

He leaked the record What the fuck man He the fuck I'm trying to tell my god He leaked the record What the fuck man He leaked the record And He went to the He went to the Mix Show Power Summit In Puerto Rico

I was there I was there too I was there And we performed And Common was there And Moses was there And at the Wyndham Resort in Puerto Rico

Rio Del Mar He's still ruining my story Yeah go ahead We forgot your story I'm there with you I was there So homie He organized Rico, Rio Del Mar. You're still ruining my story. Yeah, go ahead. We forgot your story. I'm there with you. I'm with you. So, homie, he organized out of pocket.

He told all the reps. Wait, wait, hold on. Hold on. I'm sorry. Jesus Christ. I'm throwing my microphone. In a song with Jay-Z and Kanye in a song where they say DJ in Puerto Rico for three days. That's what you're talking about. Yes. days. That's what you're talking about. Yes.

Get to your story. Keep going. I'm trying to be relevant right now. Continue. So, he organized a conference call and he gets on the call.

And it's Kanye The way we know Kanye He said My shit is hot I need you guys to take it to the radio I'm coming to every market Be ready And he came to every market

And this is early It came on my tour Nobody knows With me coming Oh Look how he I like the way he threw that in Like a segway right

He threw that in there He came on my tour. Let's make some noise for Talib. I have mad respect for Talib. We all got mad respect for Kanye. Yeah, but I'm a Gemini, so I have way more respect for him. I don't know why the table just moved. It felt like a shark.

I moved it. I moved it. Oh, that was you? That was me. You got superhero strength. All right, so we drinking this? This crazy shit? All right, listen.

All right, listen. I'm going to be honest, Talib. Be honest. I don't think you right, listen. All right, listen. I'm going to be honest, Taleb. I'm going to throw a word. Be honest. I don't think you was lying before. No, but no, I'm going to be honest. I took a shot with this, with KRS-One after the show.

That's impressive. After the show. He was my man. I did an investigation on him. Like you, I hit you straight up. You said you like Hennessy. You like the dark, so I went out there.

I said like dark. I said whatever. Dark, right? You said whatever. But I did, you know, KR out there. I said like dark. I said whatever. Dark, right? You said whatever. But I did, you know, KRS, I did a real investigation. He said, beef, what a relief. When will this poisonous product cease? Definitely took it to a different angle, but I'm with that as well.

I am with that as well. But I studied KRS, and I knew he liked their Mai Tais, right? So we had the people at the bar. So we had the people at the bar. Back to back Mai Tais. It just was my

fucking pleasure. A person I grew up listening to, even though I'm from Queens, I told him Criminal Murder Album is the only two songs I couldn't listen to

because of my, you know, Your loyalty. My loyalty. But now, so I do the investigation. I find out he likes Mai T my ties we get the guys to make the best my ties in the world we give them enough we do it so i had already won in my mind

i think we had a drunk kind uh caris one we had a drunk caris one but i had one like in my mind it was like this is dope because it was dope interview we had a little uh sidestep with the you know the way he answered it's okay i've defended him This is my brother, you know, I love him It's like my lyrical father, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, me too But I did take the shot with KRS After the podcast Now, with that being said

This is my During the podcast No, it was after Now we're doing a shot of Tiger Bone during the podcast. Now, so I must warn you. Wait, did we get sushi with this? When I took the shot with KRS, he's my idol. His neck started sweating.

I knew he was drunk. There's no way your neck sweat unless you're drunk. That's OG shit when your neck sweat. That's OG shit when you're next wet. That's OG shit when you're next wet. So, if our next sweat, we're going to end this interview early. Alright. But, we got to, yo, he hates

this shit. Hey man, you know, life is short. Alright, listen, we got to show you how we do this. It's all there. Live on the drink track. I ain't going to front. This chair has killed my ass. Listen, I've been trying to drink less I feel like I was sitting on the iron And I should not have done this podcast

Let me tell you something This podcast is ruining my career My life, my health And your liver Everything, everything, everything You know what somebody tweeted me the other day Said, thank you, Nori For sacrificing your liver

I think we're ruining people's lives I sold my liver, man I sold my liver Alright, listen So this is how we do it, Tommy We stand up Alright, I think that was your drink's lives. I sold my liver, man. I sold my liver. All right, listen. So this is how we do it, Tyler. We stand up. All right, I think that was your drink. I don't know which one's that.

Who's drink is that? You got two? Oh, you got two? No, I'm kidding. Tyler, Tyler. I'm a real drinker, so I bring the mic up. All right, you got to take the glasses off just for this. Eye to eye.

Yeah, yeah, we got to see your eyes go sideways. This is Tiger Bone, man. You from New York City. Yes, Brooklyn, New York. All right, respect. Eye to eye. Eye to sideways. This is Tiger Bone now. You're from New York City. Yes. Brooklyn, New York. All right. Respect. 718.

718. 718. Boom. 718. Oh, shit. Tiger Bone. Tyler, you going to take two? I used to drink ginseng up.

This is ginseng times 3,000. That's all it is. All right. I'm done. All right. I'm done. Salud. Salud. Everybody.

Come on, Hass. You in? Oh, Hass, too? All right. You in? All right. Yo, where you at, Sonny? Oh, he. You in? Oh, Hass, too? All right, you in? All right, yo, where you at, sonny? Oh, he good. Look at your shot right here.

This is your second shot. Okay, I'll take it right now. Got it. That was not fair. Oh, my shit's rolling. Where my water at now? Holy Toledo skins. I need water.

This is disgusting, man. Yo, but why do we keep drinking This ancient Chinese secret bro That is a rhyme That's a rhyme Yo somebody gave me a water They just Oh here go

I'm sorry Yo well you gotta take my shit I'm sorry Yeah man Damn man Tyler don't take another one Tyler You can't You can't

Look that's your That's the other one For the culture I'm gonna put that in my pocket And take it with me For the culture For the culture Don't take another one, Tyler. You can't. You can't. That's the other one. For the culture. We just want to make sure. I'm going to put that in my pocket and take it with me. For the culture. For the culture. Don't take another one, Tyler.

Oh. So now. Now. Can I put my glasses on? I just want to stay standing now. No. Yeah. I want to stay standing too.

All right. We can stand up now? Yeah. Yeah. You can stand up. I'm Walter Cronkite right now. I'm going to be honest. How you doing?

What happened was. I'm going to be honest. I'm going to sit down. So. I'm going to be honest. This is stand up. It's okay right now. All right. I'm going to stand honest I'm going to sit down So I'm going to be honest Mr. Stand up is okay right now Alright I'm going to stand up

And stand up to this shit Mr. Stand up guy I told y'all I'm standing up to you right now I told y'all Tiger Bone changed your fucking life man Yo Tiger Bone He changed your life

Yo And everybody has a Tiger Bone story about me You notice that? Like when two change I don't See you made a decision To become the Tiger Bone guy about 10 years ago. I don't know how that happened.

Everybody has a Tiger Bone story. You made a decision. I did? You did. I remember. I crossed over to the dark side a long time ago. He was like, I'm going to talk about Tiger Bone in every interview. Because it's different. You know what it is? It's illegal. No, that's what it was.

It's not illegal, that's what it was It's not illegal man But it was But it was Back then It was The original It was part of the Nori mystique Yeah it was illegal

Should I be a part of this mystique It's like smoking Yeah you were a part of this It's like smoking Super illegal It's like smoking Beaties now Back then

Like you try to buy A pack of Khalil's beaties Wait hold on Did you say beanies Beaties Them little Them little nasty shit. You can't buy them shit.

After 9-11. You can't buy those little jerseys? After 9-11, they banned Khalil's beaties. Oh, I used to get them. Remember you used to buy Khalil's beaties? I used to pretend to be high off those shit. I don't know what time. After 9-11.

I hated those beaties. They had an association with some sort of organization. Yeah. So they banned them shit. Remember we used to buy them shit in the hood? Mm-hmm. And then one day you couldn't? 9-11.

Wow. That's your fault, Lori. What? And then one day you couldn't? 9-11. Wow. It's your fault, Lori. Do your Googles. I don't know, man. It's Tiger Bone. Let's take one more shot at Tiger Bone. No, no, no. Who are we cocking?

The table? No, let's just end it. Listen, I'll take another shot at Tiger Bone after I work tonight. Because I still got to work. No, no, this is work right now. That was like a Prince answer. You've been hanging with Prince way too much. That was a Prince answer. You got one shot right there. I'm going to join you No, no, this is work right now. That was like a Prince answer. You've been hanging with Prince way too much. That was a Prince answer.

You got one shot right there. I'm going to join you. That is not my shot. I don't claim responsibility. You did. You did. You picked up two. That shot has your name on it.

That was a joke. When you pick up two shots, Talib, you committed. That was a visual joke. Two shots. You can't put the fried chicken back. Like, when you were in the barbecue, and you picked up two pieces of chicken at the black barbecue. That's a false equivalency.

No, it's the same like two empanadas. He got way too... I don't even know what the word with that previously. Like, I don't know what word...

Come on, Talib. You're going to do one more shot. Give me a false equivalency because the chicken you touch, the drink, is a plastic cup.

No. He tried to get too smart on us. We can't let you get away with that, Talib. You want me to put this in a not so plastic cup? We can't let you get away with that You want me to put this in a not so plastic cup? We can't let you get away with that If I dip my finger in it Or I drink it

Then you win It's pretty much the same when you grab it Watch I'm going to join you I'm going to join you And I've been fucked up all day I'm fucked up right now But yo listen Let me just say something

Thank you for joining us at the Drink Champ We had KRS drink three shots We just want you to have two I'm clapping by myself on the drink channel. Oh, no, my bad, my bad. No, because your clap was not aggressive at all. When you want people to clap, Talib, you got to say, Everybody make some noise!

Listen, listen. Let's make some noise for Talib trying to get a soft clap out of this drink, Chaps. We don't do that over here, Talib. I'm going to take one more shot with you. I tried to do the slow clap. I think that's my glass, actually. That's great.

A little something, a little something. You need to put that moonshine away, man. All right, cool. You want me to help you out? Oh, fuck my life. See? That's the effects of moonshine. Yeah, this is Chinese moonshine.

Listen, I'm telling the world. So listen, how many listeners y'all got at this point? A lot, right? We're approaching 3 million. We're approaching 3 million. In April, we had 2.2 million. Let's make some noise for April. Let's make some noise for April.

We ain't talking about a girl. We're talking about the money. We're averaging half a million a week You know what I mean? So three million people listen to this bullshit That's right, it's bullshit Thank you so much Yo, Talib, high five

You're absolutely right I can't believe it The listeners don't get it It's bullshit It is bullshit Listen, every time we speak We make a podcast Every time we speak

It's caca out of our mouth And yo, let me tell you something. Nas told me 10 years ago. I don't know why. We was around. To me, Nas told me the internet was going to happen. He invented it. He's Al Gore. Nas is Al Gore with a black mask on from Queensbridge.

I don't know if that was equivalent to what I was thinking of. But he's doing it right now. Nas, we sat in and I actually filmed it. I actually thinking of. But he's doing it right now. Nas, we sat in there. And I actually filmed it. Nas has a portfolio. I actually filmed it. It was for a What What documentary.

And I sat there and I filmed him. And we just talked about, like, you know, no, no, no, no. Come on, get out of here. No, no, no, no. Get out of here. And he told me, he said, someday these people are going to pay us

for our conversation. I thought he meant the internet. When the internet got involved in Twitter, I thought he meant that. But then years later now, I realize that he was telling me I was going to have this podcast. That's right. Number one. And have millions of people listen to our bullshit together as a one. Because you know what?

Hip-hop classic stories are what the people love. That's right. And I'm going to take this last shot of Tiger Bone with you. No, no, no. Pick up that Tiger Bone. If you can drink that Tiger Bone and drink that Hennessy, I ain't going to lie,

you're the hardest nigga in Brooklyn and Nebraska. You know that's some Brooklyn shit too. That Tiger Bone is some Brooklyn shit too. Is there more Hennessy in there? Oh no, that's water.

Alright, if you can finish, listen, I'm going to keep it real. Let me drink one more. Tyler, fuck everything else. If you can drink this, this shot of Tiger Bone and then finish your Hennessy. Hold on. You the hardest nigga in Nebraska.

There's no Hennessy anywhere. No, no, no. Don't finish that first. That's our idea. Oh, that's water. I didn't cleanse my palate. All right. All right.

All right. He's getting ready. All right. Cool. Cool. All right. You the hardest nigga in Omaha? Nebraska and Omaha.

And the Dakotas. And Brooklyn and Dade County. Right. All right, so look. And the fucking... All right, so remember, ah-da-ah. Ah-da-ah. Take your glasses off.

Yeah. Jesus Christmas. I love it. I love it. I love it. Ah-da-ah. Yes. Ah-da-ah.

Boom. Get your ear fin. Ear fin. You got to take your fucking shot. No, it's right there, motherfucker. Let's go. Let's go. Ah-da-ah.

Ah-da-ah. Tell him to stuck me out. You gotta take your fucking shot. No, it's right there, motherfucker. Let's go, let's go. Tyler just thugged me out. Oh, fuck. Watch out. Yo, did I get a fortune cookie or something? Where's my fortune cookie? We just drank cat urine. Shit.

I should know jiu-jitsu after I drink that shit, man. Now, Tyler, are you sure you still in for this? I got to work tonight. You can quit. You can quit. Or you can finish your Hennessy. I want to see if you're a real Brooklyn nigga right now. Am I allowed to take another sip of water? Yes, yes. You're allowed to sip

plenty of water. I'm on the water side of things. Yeah, you're allowed to sip plenty of water. But I'm going to keep it real Hennessy and Tiger Bone I don't remember them being friends Ever Does this podcast usually last this long? Yes, it does

It's a real hip hop story I don't listen to podcasts We want you to listen to our podcast We love Tyler He came in here He said You know, like, I don't listen to podcasts at all. Oh, we got Talib Nick. No, we want you to listen to our podcast eventually. We love Talib. He came in here. He came in here with some gangsta shit. He said, I ain't listen to anything. He said, I don't listen to you guys all the way.

All the way. I listen to so many of y'all. He said, I sampled you guys. And I said, thank you. Because maybe he win the game. Because right now, we got him lit. He got to work tonight. Big up your video.

You just shot a video We want to big that up man Yeah big up my video Good Girls Shout out to Nico too Good Girls once again Shout out to Nico Is Yep

I was doing the video I had a conference call Shout out to Alicia Keys Oh shit And Rhapsody and Busta Rhymes We was on a conference call You know what I'm saying I went to the

I went to the White House Wait yeah yeah Let's talk about that Yeah I heard about it Because you never go In the right house after you leave this interview, nigga. Let's hurry up. They ain't following you no more. Challenge dropped major keys at the White House.

I heard Rick Ross' alarm went off. Literally the major keys or he dropped some gems? That story got out? Yeah, yeah. The Rick Ross' alarm went off. Yeah, let's make some noise for that. God damn it. He had the house arrested.

Let's make some noise for that. At the White House. That was the most. So let's make some noise for that. At the White House. That was the most... I heard one story. Let me just... I heard one story about the White House. Please, everybody be quiet. I heard one story about the White House.

I heard that when Barack Obama got y'all all in the room, he said, some of y'all niggas' tax issues ain't right. And y'all might be... I don't believe that. What? And y'all might be arrested when you leave this property. Is that true? That's some thug shit if't believe that. And y'all might be arrested when you leave this property. Is that true? That's some thug shit if you said that.

Part one is true. Part two is not. He didn't say you would be arrested. No, he didn't say that. I'm surprised that you heard that story. He said, I'm going to hook you up with my accounting guys. This guy's a hood CIA right here, man. I know my shit. Niggas call me.

He said... Niggas call me. Yeah, Obama said... He's got drones. We was talking about criminal justice reform. By the way, Barack Obama has released

like hundreds of people. Let's make some noise for Barack Obama releasing a bunch of people. He has drones on the motherfuckers, though. He has also... The drone shit is crazy

He has also Used drones as a preemptive measure So don't make no noise for that He's the president The job of the president Is to maintain the status quo But let's stop being serious for a second Let's get back to work

People want to laugh Let's go We got's get back to it. People want to laugh. Let's go. We got to get people so serious. But Rick Ross' bracelet went off. That was great. That was great.

And Obama said, and Rick Ross, like a true Miami dude. And he is a true Miami dude. Rick Ross represented Miami. Wait, wait, wait. What did he do? No, this is all.

Let Talib live. The beeping went off. Uh-huh. And Obama said, what is that? That was there. This is real. Obama acted like

he don't know. He said, what is that? No one knew. I heard it. No one knew what that was. And Rick Ross said, that's that criminal justice. Let's make some noise for Rick Ross

being hooded in the White House. God damn it. Shout out to Carroll City. Shout out to Carroll City, Liberty City. Because Obama brought us there to talk about criminal justice reform. That's the epitome of it right there. Rick Ross was like, I heard he walked in the room and he said

a curse. That made everybody relax. He said something like. No, he was, he was, he was, he was, he was, he, you know what he said? You know, I'm going to tell you what he said. He said, he said, Tyler Qualley, I love, I listen to your music. I love listening to your music. I listen to the White House. And he looked at A$AP Rocky, right?

He said, I love your music too, but I can't listen to it in the White House. Right. I put my headphones on. You know what I'm saying? You don't want another shot of Tiger Bone, right? We done with that? No, he could do it. He wants it. No.

He hesitated. Listen, I want to drink some of this Dame Dash. Not my bottle. Good leeway. This is my bottle right here. Dusko. Dusko. Drink Champs. Talib Kweli. Dusko. I can't thank Dusko. Drink Champs.

Talib Kweli. Dusko. I can't thank you enough. Dusko. I can't thank you enough, man. I think we covered all grounds. Is there anything that you want to say, Talib? Is there anything you want to say to the people?

We got about four people listening to us right now. Four people. Four and a half people. Yeah. Don't drink. What's it, Drink Champs? Don't drink at N. Four and a half people. Don't drink. What's his drink, champs? Don't drink N-O-R-E. It's his song.

You better put him in there. Don't eat the yellow snow. Right, right, right. And the gum under the table is not candy. The gum under the table is not candy. Yo, Tyler and Carly, you've been a great sport, man. We really appreciate you because you know why?

You're so much positive. You're so much a hip-hop activist. You're our version of Al Sharpton without the corny shit. God damn it. No, without the corny. That's not me, Al Sharpton. That's my nigga. What?

Al Sharpton is a good dude. Is he? Is he really? However, I am not Al Sharpton. No, no, I mean, like, what I mean by that is. No, what I mean by that, I am not. No, no. I mean, like you what I mean by that is no. What I mean, what I mean by that. I'm sorry. But it's not when you say that. No, but what I mean, I get it. Is you a guy like we knew in our life? Yeah.

You were you knew in Stokely Carmichael, Malcolm X. Oh, what's what's my other people with all due respect to Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson? That's who you are for all due respect to Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. That's who you are for us. All due respect to them. Yeah, and I feel like I'm hearing a CBS ad coming in. What the fuck? It's a train. It's a train.

Oh, all right. I was like, CBS? Yeah, I think it's a train. CBS just sent a train through. Listen, but I feel like you're the guy. I think that's Rap Raider. Yeah, Rap Raider. Y'all sabotaged us last week.

We understand y'all motherfucking Elliot Wilson. Shout out to Elliot Wilson. Yeah. Yo, let me just say this real quick. Yeah, rap radio. Y'all sabotaged us last week. We understand y'all motherfucking Elliot Wilson. Shout out to Elliot Wilson. Yeah. Yo, let me just say this real quick. Yeah, please. Elliot Wilson, you have a bunch of niggas that do not deserve interviews before Tyler Qualley. Wait, hold on.

I don't know where this is going, but I'm with you wherever you want to take it. I'm with you wherever you want to take it. Elliot's my nigga. I love Elliot. I love Elliot. Elliot did not put you on rap radio. take it. I'm with you wherever you want to take it. Elliot's my nigga. I love Elliot. I love Elliot. Elliot did not put you on Rap Radar. Hold on. I did not know this.

Rap Radar gave me a lot of love. No, but on Rap Radar podcast. No, Rap Radar. Shout out to Rap Radar. They gave me a lot of love. But all the little talks he be having. But I'm only saying this because I have a new album coming out. Right.

But he never put you on Rap Radar podcast? The little talks he be having? Yeah. Them little shits, because he ain't hearing millions. High five. But let's be clear. We didn't have you because you had a new album. We had you because you are friends. No, let me shout out Kay Valentine

from Chicago. We dropping her album with Javodian Media. Nico is from Orlando, Florida. He was very excited. He was very excited. He said, what? You're doing drink champs? Oh, my God. Nico hits me up.

Nico was very excited. Now, I was already excited to do drink champs, but Nico made me more excited. You know, Elliot Wilson, this is my nigga. You know what I'm saying? Listen. What, but he didn't want to accept you? No. Let's keep it real.

Let's just keep it real. You're saying he didn't want to accept you? No, this is what I'm saying. I'm never an advocate. You fucking up again, Elliot. I'm never an advocate. We are capitalizing on your fuck up, Elliot Wilson. Everybody make some noise. Thank you, Tom Lips. Anytime, Elliot. And be that they don't answer you, you know my phone number is still the same.

Because we rappers. Yeah, yeah, we rappers. We rappers. We inside the NBA. We inside. The niggas is just commentators. DJs is the backbone. No, no, no.

I never seen Elliot Winston DJ nothing. No, no, no, I'm saying, y'all say the rappers. No, we. Rappers and DJs the same thing. Let's make some noise for the DJs. No, no, no. I'm saying. Y'all say the rappers. No, we. Rappers and DJs. We make that noise. We make that noise for the DJs. No, no, no. I got to stand up.

We are the assistant motherfuckers here, Rock and Roll. I'm the rapper. I mean, you're the rapper. I'm the DJ. Jesse Jeff, Will Smith. Here we go. Shout out to BDOT and Elliot Wilson. They are important participants and contributors to the culture.

Why are we shouting them out? Because Drink Champs is number one. That's right. Let's make some noise. But in all good fun, they are label mates. There's all people. We love them. We always fuck with them, though.

I'm just saying that because I have a new album coming out. And if I do an interview on them, I get to saying that Because I have a new album Coming out And if I do Interview on them I get to promote my album 100% So whatever You know what I'm saying But

They didn't ask you To come on first Is this true Because he wants to interview People who have trends But he don't understand That I'm way bigger than trends Tell that nigga

I'm way bigger than trends Tell that nigga You've been You've been transcending shit Forever nigga You Hip hop had a trend We had a culture You had an apartment in South Africa, nigga. Like, come on, my nigga.

Like, this is the thing is, like, I interview legends. I interview people who I know, they use that word relevant. We don't need, we don't use that word relevant over here. We make it relevant when we do it. we use that word legend. Yeah, yeah When you are not dependent on the relevancy

That dumb shit, yeah, I saw that with Prince. Prince, I can see you. No, Prince. I fuck up Prince. I fuck up Prince. But yo, Talib. He was just whipping the nana. Yeah, I was trying to whip the nana. Whipping nana. But Talib, listen, let me thank you, man, for coming through me and the EFN. You know we retarded people.

We're both in here together. And we really want to thank you for coming here, being a great sport. Listen, I always. And you are drunk. I am drunk. And I came here in a tank top. This is the first time anybody coming here, being a great sport. Listen, I always... And you are drunk. I am drunk. And I came here in a tank top. This is the first time anybody's seen me in a tank top. My hotel room got locked up.

And you like M.A. Thrassey. You got mad tattoos. You like M.A. Thrassey. You down with the Spanish games. He's banging on wax right now. He's banging on wax. He's down with 18th Street gang, I said. What the fuck?

I got locked out of my hotel. What the fuck? I got locked out of my hotel. What the fuck? I got a text while I was on your show. Stop renting them Airbnbs. Come back to Starwood. That's what happened. Come back to Starwood. I got locked out,

but now I got my clothes back. Let's make some noise for him getting his clothes back. I'm going to stop smoking this too I'm tired of this Whose shit is this? The plastic weed? I'm done

I'm done Yo, you don't remember Why I handed it to K.R.S.? K.R.S. said Stop, Lord K.R.S. said You don't want nothing to do with you no more No, no, no

K.R.S. would have smoked the No, he wanted a joint Remember K.R.S. wanted a joint Tyler and Carly Thank you for hanging out with us, man. We really appreciate that. That bottle of Hennessy could go with you.

That's yours. I'm taking it. You're taking it. Thank you so much, Tyler. Let's make some noise for Tyler Carly. Let's make some noise for Tyler Carly. Oh my God. You got to take some pics and then be done. That was absolutely ridiculous. Drink Champs is a Drink Champs LLC production, hosts 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 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 IG. At Noriega on Twitter. Mine is at Who's Crazy on IG. At DJ EFga on Twitter. Mine is at Who's Crazy on IG at DJEFN on Twitter.

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