New Rory & MAL - Best of Rory & Mal: Week of 8/25

Episode Date: August 31, 2025

This week on New Rory & Mal, Mal explains why he has never asked Drake to come on the pod, why we assume Rihanna is done dropping music forever, we debate who is more recognizable in public - Taylor Swift or Beyonce, and we kick it with The Kid Mero about the podcasting industry and tell a few Bronx tales #volumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The volume. I can be objective and understand why Drake would want to avoid hip-hop media or avoid any real conversation until the time is right of when that album comes out and he does want to address everything. But, you know, perception is still a thing, which I think Drake still cares. about. Yeah, I don't want to hear it. I mean, I liked him and Bobby on the first interview, but for what? Who would you like to hear him with? Us. And they're just going to flip this to be like

I'm salty. If Drake went to drink champs tomorrow, I'd be ecstatic. I wouldn't. If Drake went to Hot 97 tomorrow, I'd be a static. If Drake went to Charlamagne tomorrow, I'd be ecstatic. If Drake sat with Rob Markman, I'd be ecstatic. But Bobby also if you're not ecstatic. I'm going to watch it. No, he doesn't want to Drake Rob Mark. No, I'm just trying to let you guys know. It's not a salty thing where I'm like mad that Drake is. I'm not the person that's like, if Drake won't sit with me, you know, like, then fuck him.

The way they tried to paint Elliot when Elliott had pointed out like, you're not sitting with anyone from the culture and they took that as you're salty that he won't sit with you when Elliot just said somebody of the culture. I'm just saying I want the Drake interview that answers the questions that I have as a fan at the moment. I'm sure this Bobby shit will be funny. Their first interview was fucking hilarious. I've watched it more than once.

It's very funny. I just don't know. I really care at this point. Yeah, I just don't. I mean, no matter who you want Drake to sit with, once he sits with them, people are going to say, oh, they didn't ask him this. He didn't talk about that.

He didn't enjoy. And even if he does, even if they ask all the questions that we all want to hear answers to, however Drake answers it, people are going to fill away about that. It's going to be think pieces about his answers. It's going to be clips about his answers. about his answers and his streams about how come he didn't answer this. It's like everybody just shut the fuck up.

Somebody perfect right now. Angie Martinez. Angie creates a very warm environment. Does not avoid questions because Angie will ask you that shit. But she will do it in such an amazing way. That's why she's so good. That's why she's a legend. It'll almost feel like it's a soft question.

But she's really asking that shit. She would be a perfect person. Yeah, but then if he goes to sit with Angie, you know what they'll say? Oh, why he didn't sit with Black Boy Max? Why he didn't go sit with this person? Why he didn't go to Charlemagne? Why he didn't go to this person? I think, no, I think fans...

It doesn't matter. It does not matter. I think fans now just want him to sit with somebody that is going to ask... I'm not saying, like, straight hardball fucking knock it out the park. Yo, tell me how you found out if you think Whitney was abused. I'm just saying Bobby and it'll be like a curb episode. Which is fine. But I think fans want to hear from Drake.

now now i think the goalpost moves a lot oh with him it moves every every hour now i very much enjoyed the conversation with ciza and kendrick but i i holds kendrick to the same thing i want kendrick to sit with somebody not that he has to but yeah that cissor conversation was great and i get that was gq right bizarre bizarre harper harper is it harper harper something like that i thought it was a really cool conversation um between two incredible minds, but I also would love a Kendrick. Like, I loved Nadezka sat with him. Who do you want to see Kendrick talk to?

Rob Markman. Kendrick, you need to get up out. You need to get up. I'll just see like Kendrick sit right there. Let me talk to Kendrick. I think that would love that. I think that would be incredible. Let me talk to Kendrick.

I got, I got some questions for Kendry. I think that would be great. Yeah. I'm going to ask shit Rob ain't going to ask. Because me and Kendrick, you know what I'm saying? Like, it's just different coming from my face than Rob's face. First of all, I have told you before... Me and Kendrick are probably the same complexion.

This is a little different if I ask him. Which I want the world to know and appreciate you for this. I have told you off camera, if you, if Drake wants to do an interview with you, that's like, I won't feel a way. I don't need to go. I don't need to be there. I don't need to produce anything. Like, go do that. And you have said, which I love you.

Me by myself? Yeah. Yeah. And you said, no, I would want, which is cool. I'm saying I was leaving us out of it. I want Drake to sit with you. I would want Kendrick. sit with you. I don't want to...

I also think people would be surprised. I think you would ask Drake real questions. I don't think it would be what the internet has painted you as, where it would just be getting off Drake, quote unquote, talking points. I think you'd ask him real shit. And I think it'd be a comfortable environment. And if he wouldn't want me there, I wouldn't feel no fucking way. Well, I don't think...

Just bring me back some Tim Hortons and, you know, I don't know. No, I don't think it's a thing of not wanting you there. I just, you know, I just laugh at certain shit that I read online sometimes. Because I've never, being honest, you're worried, I've never thought about sitting and talking to Drake on camera. It's never once crossed my mind. Why is that? Because, I mean, our conversation and our exchanges are like that of me and any of my other homeboys where it's like, I never thought about having my homeboy in front of a camera asking him the shit that we talk about. So I get Drake is who he is, but I don't look at it through that lens or look at it with that mindset.

It's like we speak, we laugh about shit, we talk about shit. He's, you know, trusting me with some of his music and some of, you know, personal shit he's going through. But I think it's that because he knows that I'm not thinking, I'm not thinking interview. I don't, if Drake never sits down on the camera, I wouldn't give a fuck. Oh, no, but I know that part. Right, but people don't know that. So I'm saying it for people that don't know that. that. So I've never thought about, oh, damn, I hope he comes sitting. That's never once crossed

my mind. So when you say, you have a real relationship with him. That's why. They think you're doing it to leverage an interview, which I know is. Which is fucking crazy. But that's cool. They can think that. But what I'm saying is I don't, if you, me and you didn't have a podcast together and you putting out dope albums and this 1030, you had gone through some shit, you my God, I wouldn't be thinking like, damn, I hope Rory one day wants to come and sit on camera and we could have this. That shit doesn't even cross my mind. With a real. friendship. There's artists that I'm like associated and cool with and I want to get off and I want to get it off with you. Post. Set up the cameras pause. Yeah. All right, cool. But I'm not

in my mind. That doesn't even, you know, so when I see people say, oh, he didn't, he got to get them all in. Why? Why? Like, I don't. Because, because truthfully, truthfully, the things that we talk about, I wouldn't even talk about on camera. I would never ask him that on camera. You get what I'm saying because I just don't think that people are even worth to answer. Okay. You get what I mean? Because it's like, okay, even if he says it, even if we get

Drake, we get the, we get the, let's paint the scenario for him. We get the Drake interview. We ask every question that's online. Can we stay in Toronto for the week? I don't, wherever. Drake said, bring the fucking camera to, whatever. I wouldn't give a fuck where we go. No, let's do it in Toronto.

Even if he's in New York, let's fly it's wrong. There's things that we've spoken about that I would never. Oh, no. Ask on camera. Of course, but I still think there's like basic shit that Bobby's not going to ask or it'll be pitched as like a sarcasm. She'll be like, she's like, who's this Kendrick guy? Okay, but she'll like ask that stuff.

Even if she does that, right? Even if she asks the hard-hitting questions. Even if she gets to like. Bobby asking them. I'm just saying. We'd be a pivot. She'd go from that sarcasm and try of humor shit to fucking Barbara Walters. We don't know.

We don't know. We don't know. She got a little work done. We don't know. I don't know if she got work done. So you put that. I don't know about that. What I'm saying is, it's certain shit that I would never ask.

I just would not ask. Like, it's just not, I'm not, it's, it doesn't, okay, I see that. It's not that, I guess, my point is the stuff that would be fine to ask, I think you would ask, and that's the stuff that people want to hear. The stuff that you know and you know only, just y'all conversations, I don't even think that's the stuff people would even want to hear. Even in that, you know why it doesn't matter? Because even if he answers the question, you can ask whatever question, though.

It's never going to be satisfied anyway. It's not going to satisfy any fucking body. No matter what he says, no matter what he does, no matter what album he puts out, people already having in mind that don't like Drake and that don't like. Cool. It doesn't matter what he says. So when people get all worked up about him announcing who he's sitting down talking to, I'm just laughing because I'm like, no matter who he talks to, people are still going to feel away about it. So that's why I'm just like, yo, I don't even think like that. Like my thing is that I want great music and I want people to be happy in their lives and raise their families.

That's, I don't care if he sits down or she sits down with who, what. I don't care, bro. I really, that shit does not cross my mind at all. I don't care about shit like that. What if Drake asked you to do Bobby's second episode? In the event that he is invested into this new venture. Like me and Bobby sit down 101? You'd be the next guest.

Like how she went to like Drake and then Mark Cuban, it would be like Drake and then Mall. Oh, I would kick it with Bobby. Yeah. Why not? I probably would. I wouldn't. I mean.

Yeah, she seemed like, it seems like a cool, like a cool conversation. Like, you know what's the pushback there? Like I don't really care that much. Yeah, like, I'm like, okay, cool. Call me a culture of culture. I did. I've definitely went on rants about Bobby. I just don't really care that much.

You were not a rant about her? In the beginning, it was a little, it was just a little weird. I thought, what was weird? Oh, like she was a plant? Like, where did she come from? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was more so that and like,

where her, like, the specific type of acts in the beginning that her team was focused on. And then she branched out and then had to come back to hip hop because that, the real reaction with that dry humor stuff came because she was coming from outside of the culture. Right. When she would do it with, you know whether it be Bobby Lee or Mark Cuban or other people she couldn't lean on that because

you weren't getting the same reaction either the comedian was carrying it or Mark Cuban was just answering like he wouldn't any interview which just wasn't interesting the way it was when Drake is playing a Rack City bitch and she's like I don't know who this is or she's doing an awful bit um I forgot Shorty's name of I'm a musician I'm a magician which I don't even understand why y'all found that Like that was such a bad stage bit. So, yeah, I've definitely had some pushback. But what I do with Bobby Denver? Yeah, I don't like, I don't care that much.

I just don't know when people get so worked up about these things. I just don't know who they be wanting people. Like, who do you? Like, you can't sit and talk with everybody. Like, no artists can sit and talk with everybody. So when people get upset, oh, he's not talking about him. He's not talking. He sat and talked with one of his close friends Yadi.

They had a conversation and they kicked it about. That was pretty. beef though. Yeah, okay. So now post beef, who do they want? No, I think that's everyone's point that Drake was very much

talking to everybody in the culture, pre-beef, and now that that happened, it's only been streamers that are not of, not even just hip-hop, just not music, period. So it appears like you're avoiding

any type of question that would be asked, which, by the way, I'm fine with at the moment. because I think there's a time in place when you can address those things and I think it should come with the album. If he wants to just fucking kick it with

streamers now and just make little pot-shot jokes every now and then, cool. But at some point I think he needs to sit down with somebody. I think he does and I think he will. And I'm fine now. I also don't feel, I also don't understand how people... At some point. I also...

I'm with you on that as well. But I just don't understand how people don't see the side of it where somebody like Drake and what he is currently dealing with and going through what he went through and what he had to sit back and watch people support and amplify

and I don't understand how people don't see how he's turned off and like I'm never fucking with them again I'll never kick it with them again I'll never go to that radio station again I'll never sit down there how do people not see that oh I see that the thing is people are taking it

oh it's just hip hop it's just rap is just entertainment cool but you're not the person standing there that has to watch people support a message about you that again is the most egregious most disgusting thing they could ever put on a man especially a father how do people not factor that in like maybe he's never going to hot 97 again

maybe he's never 15 years ago I was just I was just bringing in other But I'm saying why do people not, why do people feel like he should just get over it? Oh, I don't know. And just move on and just sit down with everybody and talk that. I don't think that. I just said just one interview. No, no, I'm just, I'm just posing the question.

Like, why do people, people don't factor that? Because when you get somebody that is of that level of fame. Why do you want to hear from him? So he can answer a question. People are like, nah, he's lying. He ain't, no, that's not how you feel. Yo, he's lying. Nah, he don't.

Why are you suing the, nah, you suing the labels. You are, you a rat. You are snicks. What the fuck are we talking? about it. And obviously I'm not saying Kendrick hasn't done little Easter egg stuff like the Super Bowl promo or anything, but for the most part, he stays quiet and off social media, whereas Drake with the Iceman episodes, there's a bunch of things still regarding the beef, Instagram, he's talking about it a lot, he says stuff on stage certain times, he's wearing

certain outfits that address it. That's where I think people want more from it. It's like, all right, if you're going to keep constantly reminding us every day about this, plus all the lawsuit stuff that goes out every day. People want to hear from Drake. I don't think it's crazy for fans to want to hear from him when he also constantly in his own way brings it up as well. Whereas Kendrick, not to say he's quiet all the time, he finds different ways to go about it, less energy over there because he's kind of to himself. Whereas Drake is forward facing with it, even when he's talking to these streamers about gambling, he'll throw in low shots. No, the difference is Drake is the biggest artist in the world. And constantly addressing it.

Well, should he not? No, I think he should. I'm just, I'm answering why people would want to hear from Drake. They're going to always want to hear from the biggest artist in the world. Sure, but specifically, that's why the rap radar interview was so hailed. Outside of Bda and Elliott doing a great job in that interview and asking every question we wanted to hear, there was a lot going on in Drake's life at that time, whether it be his kid, whether it be the meek-mill shit, whether it be the push-a-tee shit. Like, a lot was going on where we want to hear from the biggest artist's,

in the world, and this is the first biggest artist in the world that we've had access to. You can't name another artist at Drake's level that we've ever had access to the way we have access to him. No other A-lister of that magnitude has been on social media the same way. Same way he'd be outside. Like, that's where things are a bit different. Like even shit, with Madonna, who was kind of outside like that, she was still like, you still question, you still didn't know what was going on.

Like, you didn't know she was dating Hayst and Jack. if she had Instagram, maybe you would be like, you have questions. Yeah. Why are you walking out with Haitian Jack? Why are you on live with Haitian Jack right now? Things would be different. But yeah, he's forward-facing. He's the most forward-facing star we've ever had in music. I asked the question to you.

So people, once they get a taste of that, now you've got to live in this world. No, you don't. I'm saying from a fan perspective. Yeah, but fans got to understand that the artist is not, doesn't have to move when you say move and do what you say do and stick with who you say sit with. Of course. That's all?

Yeah, no, of course. Calan ain't doing no pod. What? I think this will be the first run because things are a bit different for Callie that he would have to go on a proper press run. Why are things different? Because I think him as the promotional machine

isn't what it was before because he's pulled back a bit. Like during the Vine days and was it Vine that he got super popular on? It was before TikTok. Snapchat. Like he could go on Allen, he could do, which he probably still can. But he was like he was himself the entity.

He didn't need to like, the press run was happy to have him not the other way around he's pulled back from a lot of that stuff so I think he now needs to go back to the press I mean which is fine I mean I think Calid is in a very

obviously you know we we fuck with Cala but I think this may be like to what you're saying I think he's in a very different space now though yeah I mean I felt since father of Assad which I thought was a really really good album that it's kind of been

wishy-washy, like there's joints, but they're not as good as the previous Cald projects. And he's been fine. Maybe he doesn't hit number one because of a Tyler album, but he still has, like, joints. I've seen Caled fail with two albums by Caled standards, not by, I could dream to do the numbers that Caled does. And he's fine. Like, he still comes back. People are still going to listen to a Calid album. He's still going to get all the A-List artists.

Is it? I think so. I think he still has. Well, yeah. I mean, he kind of went out want to live there. But if you look, even then, has Drake given anyone more music besides maybe Ross?

And a lot of those records are Raqalib records? Yeah, but I mean, when I say he's in a difference, like he doesn't have the two Drake records that he probably was banking on. I mean, he got one of the most iconic Jay-Z verses of the last 15 years. I don't think Jay-Z will give him another verse. I think,

that was J's. I think God's did was J's. Like, you got to think about it. Jay performed that record at the Grammys outside of like the whole verse. Like crypto arena. Like, you know what I mean? Like he really gave Caled like a whole thing. I didn't like that they put Friday at the kids table with John Legend. Yeah. But I mean, to the point of not having Drake records that you obviously were banking on, I don't think he'll have another JZ verse. Here's the thing, though. I didn't think on God did he would get a JZ verse and he got a four minute JZ verse. I'll admit when I'm wrong And I probably said it on the podcast I ain't a way he'd get another Jay Z

I just didn't feel like the timing was there or Calid was even focusing on music like that at that point And then he got one of the greatest Hove guest features ever Which is why I think he won't get another one I think that was Jay's like But Jay will do things Jay will give verses to his investments

And that's why you get two Beyonce and Jay Z records on two different Calip projects, one with future Like, he's invested in Calid. He manages Calid. So. Yeah, but I still don't, again, with an artist like Jay, who's obviously a legacy artist at this point, like, I just don't know what he does after a record or verse like God did.

Like, now what? We're going to give us another. I got the keys. Like, you don't really, to me, God, it just feels like this is my, I'm bowing out. Like, I'm done. You know what else? What else, what other type of song could Callet and or Jay make for Cali? You know what I just don't understand

where you go from there. I don't think he should pivot to the younger, younger audience, I think throwing them in the mix a little bit as whatever, but Callie's real connections of where he can have moments

is when he gets legacy acts, i.e. getting a Jay-Z verse to be the intro on his album last time. That was the moment. I mean, Rihanna, technically, I guess, was legacy when Wild Thoughts came out, but having moments like that,

having Alicia Keys on your project, having like all these crazy, A-list names that don't usually do shit, but we'll be like, all right, I'll give my verse for the year or my record for the year to Caled. I don't know if the younger generation gives a fuck about that, but I also don't know if legacy acts are running to do that anymore either. Rihanna, it took a Smurfs movie that she was fucking heavily involved in

to get a record out of that. I don't know if she's doing a Calid album. I mean, do you think she would get on there? I don't think Rihanna is making music because Rihanna realizes or feels like it's just not worth her time. The music industry is, it's a dying thing. Like, what is the music industry?

You see all these artists from years ago, where we've seen everybody selling their catalog. Yeah. And we didn't know why. Why are people selling their entire catalogs? Because it's like, if I can get this much money for this music now, with the way streaming is affecting, you know, things

and how art is paid, AI, I think artists just realized, like, this thing that we came in on with this thing called, you know, the music industry is changing. I don't think that somebody like Rihanna, obviously she doesn't need the money. So it's like it comes to the thing.

Is she inspired? Yeah, that's what I think it comes down to. But why is she not inspired? Because of all the bullshit that surrounds it, the way people move on for music so fast now. It's like you can put out a classic album right now and people will be done with it in a month. Yeah. So it's like when the artist that, you know, legacy artists, Rihanna, JZ, whoever else the legacy artists are, you can see why they would not be inspired to put out new things if they're making so much money in other areas.

Rihanna is, you know, on top of the beauty world right now, a billion dollar industry. Like she doesn't music to her, it has to either inspire, she has to be inspired or just at a point where she's just like totally in love with the sound that she found in the studio. and, you know, like the things that have come together as far as the songs. But to just be like, Rihanna, give us an album, she's not doing that. Like an artist like that is not doing it because they feel like, yo, it's not what y'all think

it is as consumers, us on the outside. Well, we know a little bit more about the industry. But the average consumer doesn't realize the business, the music business is not what it once was. But that was the beauty of the Caled album or the Caled single, i.e. a hove, like I have no interest in putting out an album this year, but there's plenty of things I do want to say that I don't address unless I'm putting music out.

Me personally, I don't want Jay to put out of album. No, I know, but I'm saying in Rihanna's dance. But only because people are going to be inspired by one record or you could have one record on your hard drive that you love and it's like, I have to wait to put this out because it needs to be surrounded by something. But that was the genius of the Calip Project. Like even the Jayze and Beyonce shining record, which I think is incredible. It's one of my favorite Jayzie and Beyonce collapse.

I don't think they would have ever put that out had it not been around something specific. Right. It has to make sense. We got Beyonce rapping with Future and Hove on Topoff. Like, that's not coming out unless Beyonce is doing something or Jay-Z is doing something. Calid gives those opportunities. I just don't know if anyone's like running to care for that in the current climate, which is not a knock to Calid.

It's a knock to the climate. But I mean, Rihanna putting out that smurf thing, I don't think she's inspired or I think she would have put music out. Because again, she doesn't need the money. She doesn't have to march to anyone's drum. She can do her the fuck she wants. She's inspired. She does whatever she wants to put out fucking Celtic reggae. She could do it because it's Rihanna.

Yeah. I feel like she would do that with a call it album if that was a thing that, if those moments mattered anymore. I just don't know if moments are a thing in the music industry anymore. What are the moments? Everything outside of the music is the moment. Is it just us seeing like artists name? James featured together on the song that we never thought, like, okay, we never thought we would see these two work together. Like, that's a moment.

Okay, we got to hear what that's about, what they did. But again, even with that, once you hear the record, it's like, we just move on. The consumers, the average, we just move on from things so fast now. Things don't sit with us. Like, that's why, back to what I was saying, I don't really care if Jay puts out another album because I know what's going to happen. The people that grew up with Jay and that love Jay and hold them to high regard, we're going to love it. But there's a whole new generation now and people that have platforms and spaces and they don't care about Jay like that. Like they don't hold them to that regard like we do.

Like Cardi just did the sample, the record, imaginary players, that song started charted again. That's the first time some people ever even heard that Jay record. Yeah, but again, with someone like a Rihanna or a Jay, why would their mind move to, the younger generation, why would they even care about that? I mean, not that they don't care, but to an extent, you have to care about the younger generation because it's a large part of the consumers. It's a large part of the people that are, you know, influencing the sound and the new trends and things that are going on, even the slang, the way people talk, the way people dress. It's always going to lean a little younger. That's just how it's always been. So you have to kind of be in

tune with what the new generation is kind of doing and what they're into now. Not that you have to care. I don't like Jay and Rion, these people are, you know, life is set forever for these people. But I'm just saying, if you're going to put your art into this space, into the consumer space, you have to look at who's consuming it. And a large part of the consumer base is the younger audience. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger.

So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because. of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your I'm John Green. You may know me as the author of The Fault in Our Stars, and now I guess also as the co-host of The Away End, a brand new world soccer podcast. I'm Daniel Alarcon, a writer and journalist, and John and I have known each other since we were kids. My first World Cup was Mexico 86. I was nine years old. I watched every game and I fell in love. On our new podcast, The Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. For us, soccer, football, is a story. We've shared for over 30 years since Daniel was the star player on our high school soccer team. Very debatable.

And I was their most loyal and sometimes only fan. I love this game. I love its history, its hope, it's heartbreak, and above all, it's beauty. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important. Listen to the away end with Daniel Auerkone and John Green on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming.

Ramos sending on to Ernie Stewart the chip. I'm Tab Ramos. I'm Tom Boe. On our podcast, inside American soccer, you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about Policic. I'm not worried about Balagan. I'm not worried about McKinney.

My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions. If you're going to look at stats and numbers, he has no shot at making this World Cup team. And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here.

Experience it all with us. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tab Ramos on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. If you are a founder or a freelancer or the friend who always says, hey, you know what, what if I started that? This is for you. I'm telling you I had nothing to my name. I didn't know a single person in New York.

And somehow I'm dressed by Oscar de Laurenta walking down that red carpet. This month, we sit down with entrepreneurs and creators who actually did it, who turned this scary leap into a business, a paycheck, and a life they are proud of. Direct center of our happiness or our regrets is whether or not we're taking action on the things that matter to us. They're not selfish. They're so important. They actually lead to our greatest contributions because when we're living, fulfilled, we actually show up better everywhere. We lead better. We're better friends. We're better

relationships and collaborators and all those things because we have passion about the things we're doing. If you're trying to build something of your own this year, join us in these conversations that will make you braver and smarter with your money. Listen to Dos Amigos as part of the Michael Tutta podcast network available on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. But I would say Taylor Swift writes better melodies than Mariah the scientist. You would like bump Taylor's before Mariah's? What do you mean about bump? Like bump, like play.

Like in a car. Oh, okay. Because Mariah first on a lot of those. If I get Rory's car and he got Taylor Swift playing, we're going to have to have a conversation. What's up, fan? I probably knocked bad blood in the whip before. Okay.

Now we don't like bad blood. No, no. You know, I like Taylor Swift. I'm just saying if I get in my own car. That's a in the fucking act legend. You could throw on bad blood for sure. Nobody has never played. With the 12-inch selves in the back.

Nobody has ever played Taylor Swift in the Accura legend. That has never happened. That has never happened. So my same playlist with Koo-G-Rap, Survive of the Fist. Yo, play a Taylor right after Koo-G rap. It's crazy. Like, yo, what's up, man? We all, like, what's the vibe?

Like, what's you going through in your car if you go from Koo-G-Rap to Taylor Swift? I actually feel like I should get more into Taylor Swift. I don't, like, boycott. I'm not an anti-Taylor person. I just haven't taken the time to, like, get into her catalog. I'm sure I would probably like it because I love pop music. I like Taylor Swift, but I mean, I got to be, I can't be at that. I got to be doing something.

Like, I got to be in Target or something like that. You have to be waiting in line at Starbucks where they sell a CD. Yeah, toilet trees. I got to, because she helps you. I feel like Taylor helps you remember that you need paper towels. Like, when you go to Target and you're pushing the car and you're walking around and you're like Taylor's, she's going to say something. She's going to say something. Yeah.

You got to go get the paper towel. Yeah. You got to go get the paper towel in her crew. Yeah. That's why I like Taylor. She helps you get your crib together, get your home together. Speaking of getting their home together, congratulations to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey announcing their engagement.

I think that that was big, great, happy news over the week. No, you didn't think. I was happy for them, man. They look like they're happy, like they enjoy each other. They look like they're having a great time and doing life together. We have to stop this. Congrats to them. No, they look like they're having a really good time together and really enjoying each other.

We all just need. We need to stop lying myself included on this podcast as far as. you were not happy for them. I was. I was happy for Travis. You were like, during this week when he was just quiet by yourself, he was like,

you felt a sense of joy that they were. I was beautiful news. I was so happy. You scrolled past it, went, mm, and then just kept going. No, I was so happy for Travis. I was so happy for them.

I was like, you know what? Good for them, man. Like, make it official, get married, have beautiful children, and enjoy life. I truly don't think I've ever been happy for a couple that I didn't know.

Really? By the, like, the actual, like, I felt a sense of joy when two people found love, unless I knew them. Okay. Like, this is good. I mean, good for them. Yeah. But that's what I said. I say, it's great for them.

Like, I think, I think Travis's mom is happy. I wouldn't, I wouldn't say I'm happy. Yes. You know that they're getting married? I don't care. Okay. Yeah, exactly. But, yeah.

But you, don't do that. Don't do that. Because if Mariah and Thug get married tomorrow, you're going to come here crying. So don't do that. Because you did cry when she left the stage when Doug got out. And she was like, yo, I got to leave the bar stage right now. I cried because she cried. She was crying and I was crying.

It was an emotional stadium. Yeah. It was emotional stadium. Her boyfriend had been locked up. She found out right then at that moment that day that he was getting out. Like she was crying. It was emotional. I was very happy for her.

Yes. At that moment, I was saying, I got an emotion of things that I don't. You're not going to be happy for her if she announces that she got married? Aw. I hope you. Like, I don't. I don't, okay, so when I say like genuinely happy, like if I scroll past some shit, like, I'm thinking like when I put my phone down, I'm still in a good mood.

When I, like, oh my God, I'm really happy for them. Like, that changed the trajectory of my day. I don't give a fuck about nobody else getting married. I ain't no ring on my finger. And with that attitude, it won't be. Because I'm not happy for strangers. Exactly. See?

Oh. You receive what you give reciprocity into the universe, right? Exactly. See? You got to be happy for others so that others can be happy. So you shouldn't, you know, work on yourself, set your boundaries and find your soulmate. You should just like clap for celebrities when they get engaged. So then that way your soulmate will then find you.

Well, it's kind of like, because we saw the start of this. We followed it. We kind of like, okay, cool. We thought it was a joke. Yeah, we thought it was a PR stunt and all of these things, which it might still be. But, you know, it's okay. I will say, okay, it did validate podcasting. Why?

So I'm happy about that. Because he joking wasn't this whole thing started when he was. talking with his brother like about Taylor like nah she she cute didn't that start the whole thing he was on a podcast it wasn't because he had four touchdowns that week he talked about it on a podcast that had nothing to do with that that legitimately started the rumor conversation and then they ended up meeting because it became a running joke on the internet yeah and then love was found so we we put them together yeah I think anything podcast related we are attached to as a genre and a culture and as a family it's a culture family see family is getting and

They got engaged in marriage. Now, if Travis stops podcasting after he gets married, then he's a culture vulture. Yeah, then he's out of here. Then we kick him out. Yeah, I can't like. You used us to go find love with like, I guess some people like her. Yeah, some people. And then you just, you left us all hanging.

If the entire podcast community is not invited to the wedding, then I do feel some type of way. I feel like that's, we're owed that at least. Like, you think Travis and them got the same CPM if we didn't put the legwork in first? Like, do they even, does Taylor even hear their podcast without us? That's where I'm at with this whole shit. Oh, man. Either way. Where do you, how do you plan a Taylor Swift wedding?

That's a big wedding. I was talking to the last time how they even do Thanksgiving. I would be so scared if I was Travis right now. How do you do a Taylor Swift wedding? I'm sure it's so much less work than you think it would be. Like, I'm sure it's a lot. Like, Bono has to marry us. Like, I don't even know how you do this.

No. Like, they're regular people. They like regular stuff. Let me just be regular. Taylor Swift is not a regular person. She's a human. I agree that she is a human. So outside of the security measures,

I'm sure she just wants like normal girl stuff. They're going to go somewhere to another country with people that don't even know who they are. There's no country they will go to where people don't know who Taylor Swift is, but I hear what you're saying. No, you go to some countries and they might not know. Remember when Beyonce and Jay was walking to the Louvre? He's like, who are you?

And Jay was like, who are you? Homi didn't know who Jay and Beyonce was. Yeah, but Jay and Beyonce aren't Taylor Swift. And that's no disrespect to Jay and Beyonce. That's no disrespect to Jay and Beyonce. That's crazy. That's a crazy statement right there. I think there would be countries where people wouldn't know Jay Z.

I don't know. Taylor Swift's a little different. I feel like you go to Antarctica and the fucking Penguins going to know who Taylor is. You don't think, if you don't think if Jay and Beyonce go to Antarctica, somebody's going to know who. Jay was on the entry. train going to the Barclays and this one the woman was like yo you famous and he's like sort of i just think that i think that as as big of a star as taylor swift is if she goes to other countries

she she just has this very like kind of like prototypical aesthetic where it's just like she could be working in a library a bookshop she could be a barista at a coffee shop like she has this look about it that just fits in like you know what i mean like it's like you'll she could be sarah jessica Barker's daughter, more or less, every white woman type thing. But I mean, she's still Taylor. There's going to be like Navy seals around her. So everyone's like, who the fuck is that? I think it's easier for Taylor Swift to walk around in Manhattan, kind of like dressed down, just chilling like hoodie, then it will be for Beyonce. No. I think Taylor Swift, I think Taylor Swift could fit in in Manhattan way before Beyonce. Oh, well, okay. So yes, in disguise, right? I think in disguise,

I'm just, no, just dressed down. Like no glam, just like straight up, like sweats, you know, jacket, whatever, going to, like the store, get something, like some groceries. So, Ma. Taylor Swift is being seen before Beyonce. I don't think so, man. So this is the thing. I think Taylor fits in Manhattan way more than Beyonce. So this is a thing.

We have this thing, right? And this is a, it's not a racist thing, but there's this thing where you know how white people think all black people look like. black people kind of think all white people look alike a little bit and it's like to white people they will notice Tatar's Roary and Peage look just alike that is actually very true Me and you don't look alike White people say that me and you are twins all the time

They say I look like mall with hair all the time All the time that you don't I swear to that happens a lot though If first day of the pod walked in And if I told y'all this is my older brother Peach Nobody would question it Nobody. Same parents.

Yeah, this is his old brother. But never question this. I'd be like, of course that's your brother. If y'all told me that, I would go, and this isn't a racist thing. They must have different fathers or different mothers. Yeah. Because you guys don't look alike. That's what I'm saying.

We're both black. So it's actually, it's not racist. Yeah. But I'm telling you that white people recognize the faces of other white people. Listen, man. Dude, Taylor Swift is also 510. We have to add that factor in. A 510 white woman walking down the street, you're going to sort of look.

That's regular Manhattan. You know how many models live here? I know and you look at the 5-10 model no matter what. And then you go, oh shit, that's Taylor Swift. I walk right past them at Puerto Vita every week. I'm going to get my fucking avocado toast and smoothie. I don't pay them no mind. Tell us what might have been sitting in there.

Well, that's because you're racist and hate white women. I know, I love white women. I'm just saying, Taylor might have been sitting in there and I didn't even know that was her. If Beyonce's sitting in Puerto Vita. We're also not the gauge of this. I'm like, yo, Beyonce is in Puerto Vita getting avocado toast right now. Because she's more relevant to your life. Yeah.

A 13-year-old. A 13-year-old girl. But she's going to catch my eye, though, is what I'm saying? I'm going to look. If Taylor Swift is sitting down, I'm not, I'll look and just keep like. Do you know why you're going to look because Beyonce is your type and Taylor Swift is not? That's not true. That's not because it's a type thing.

She's just going to catch my eye. Like, I'm just going to like glance and look. Like I'm not going to. It's like a kind of like a, if you have blinders on, like you see it, but you don't really. Like Taylor, she fits into the aesthetic a little more like where it's like you're not going to really like, where it's Beyonce. I'm gonna be like, oh shit, like Beyonce was just standing right there. That's Beyonce right there. With Taylor, she could walk right past you and you wouldn't even really, in New York, I'm talking

about New York shit. But in a non-creepy way, everyone in this room when they see an attractive black woman looks at them. So yes, I would. Yeah, but if I would look at, I'd be like, oh, God, that's Beyonce. But Taylor's an attractive white woman. And I would look at her. So I said, we shouldn't be the gauge of this.

Even though I think if I saw Taylor Swift walk down the street, I go, holy shit, this Taylor Swift. And I think everyone around me would do the same thing. It's a tourist city, too. People got their kids. The kids would immediately be like this, Taylor Swift. A teenager would immediately recognize Taylor Swift before. She couldn't take one step out the M&M store.

Whereas I do feel like Beyonce could maybe get to the steps at Times Square before. Who's the most who's the person you saw in public for the first time and was like, oh shit. And they were like just like kind of like blending in. Like not like an event that they were doing. Not like a show. Chris Rock when we did our trailer for our Atlanta show. That was hilarious. But I've seen Chris Rock on Bleaker like just walking like.

just walk. I'm like, that fucking Chris Rock. Like he does that in Soho and does blend in, but everyone is like, oh shit, if you double take, that's Chris Rock. He's probably the one I think the most in the city that I've seen. Other than that, like, I don't know if I've seen

celebrities like that. Yeah, I haven't really seen celebrities. Like the people that that tell us. Unless we were at an event, not like just outside. If we were at an event, we see them all the time, but just outside, I really haven't seen them. I've seen famous like TikTokers and content creators. But not really. When Beyonce was at Griffin though, that was like the wildest shit.

Because I didn't like immediately recognize it was dark. And the two twins, you know, they used to dance wear her, were going nuts in the middle. And I was like, oh shit, that's the Beyonce twins, which is fucked up because they just don't know their names. And then Beyonce was sitting up on the couch the whole time. And Austin sat me like, you just see Beyonce in the back? I was like, oh shit.

Yeah. That was kind of the most blending shit that. I've ever seen. Yeah. But that, it was dark. Seeing Leonardo was like the one for me. I was like, can't believe you. You can't call me.

I was like, that's, this is Leo, dog. Like, and he was just baseball hat on, walking to the club. Like, I'm like, bro, this is one of the most famous people ever. Like, he just walked in like, you know, so how you're doing, man? I was like, you can't just walk past niggas like that, Leo. Like, come on, this is DiCaprio, bro. This is Decaprio. Are you kidding me?

Like, that was the crazy shit to me. Like, seeing Leo, like, walking in the club, baseball hat on just chilling, to me, that was, like, the flyer shit. Like, okay, like, he just be, he don't need no cameras. He just walk right in, like, go sit down. Next to the 22-year-olds. I mean, you know, just living like, 21-plus clubs, you know what I mean.

Good flowers around you. That's all you need good. Call him flowers. You need some flowers. It's like unicorn blood. It keeps you out. Yeah, just put some flowers in the garden. That's all.

Just make me look good. You know what I'm saying? Who do we think takes whose last name? the one thing I can promise you is Taylor Swift is not losing that last name. All right, but what about like legally? Not brand wise. She'll always be Taylor Swift on Spotify. Swift Kelsey?

Oh, yeah. She got to be Swift Kelsey then. I don't like Steve Kelsey. Kelsey Swift? Yeah. Taylor Kelsey Swift. It's long, it's wordy. Oh, my God.

I might buy it. Listen, man. Travis was one of the only white players. to take a knee during the national anthem. He's progressive. I could see him putting Kelsey Swift on the back of his jersey. He better not. Not that their family would need any money, but...

His father's from a different time in America. That will not be happening. And from Ohio. I can promise you. Paw, pa. He will not... Pawpaw and going for it. I can promise you all that right now.

He don't care. Swift, whatever she'd do for a living, the Kelsey name stays. I can promise you that. Yeah. Yeah, the name got my father's blood on it. They got my dad's blood on it. Yeah, he ain't losing that name.

You crazy? Nah, his family ain't going for that. But, all right, of course, we're very happy in hopes that they have a long-lasting relationship, never divorced, anything like that. All that bullshit. They don't need money. But I would explain if my grandfather was still alive, he would be living at me if I would do something like that. But I'd be like, yo, our family name just off those jersey. sales like your great great great great great great great great grandkids will never need for anything if i put out the swift feral jersey like it's over we we know

have to think about money for the rest of our lives yeah that license in agreement like we yeah we good just like i know taylor sells out stadiums but that jersey imagine that jersey in every seat of the stadium yeah yeah no i get it i'm not putting on our license it doesn't have to go on our gravestone right our kids could just still have the Farrell as, but for this. But for this license in agreement, yeah. You want to put an asterisk next to it? We can do that. Yeah.

Swift, Farrell, asterisk on the back of the jersey. Like, I'm with you. We got to make it. We got to come to an agreement, though. Yeah. I get it. I understand. We had a cameo for a little bit and it started to feel nasty.

It was like, dog, I'd be in my DMs. And if somebody wants a happy birthday, I'll usually just do the video for free. This feels gross. Now, if shit hits the fan and my two-year-old needs to eat. Oh, we do camios. com. Backslash. You're kidding?

You're kidding. Yeah. Happy 86 birthday Hey, 86 don't mean you ain't got it You know what I'm saying? 86 you still take the day Cameo I understand Because we did it like for me

Maybe a week And I was like bro this is crazy I was doing that already Like four people for free You know it's really just a drop The famous Smokey Robinson The cameo Where he the two kids had

Smokey was their mother's favorite Artist And she grew up across the street from him Okay And she I guess he didn't know that So they had Smokey do a cameo but Shorty was Jewish and it was for Hanukkah. So he's like, I want to wish,

Ms. Sheila, a happy Chinooka. Is it right? Yep. That's it right there. That's the one. Put the volume on us. Happy Chinooker. Surprise.

Surprise. Surprise. I know you didn't expect to hear from me. But I was contacted by your sons, Jeff and Cher. And they wanted me, they told me that you used to live in Detroit across street. me and gosh that's that's beautiful how are you doing again how you doing that's talking to you again i guess but anyway you're living in vancouver now and they want me to wish you happy chanuka

i have no idea what chanuka is but happy chanuka is i don't even know what chanuka is so they said something anyway god bless you babe and enjoy chanuka enjoy enjoy chenuka And join Chinooka. Wait. All right. Ask somebody that is a devout Irish Catholic that was in the No Child Left Behind program. Can you pull up how Hanukkah is really spelled? Because I might have said the same fucking thing.

No, no, no. No, it is C. Right? Bro, it's spelled like eight different ways. Yeah. Oh, okay. Like, I might have done the exact same fucking thing. Like, that should be fucking me up.

Wait, now I'm having a. How is Hanukkah spelled? This is like the K and Chick-fil-A. Because I, okay, now that's how I'm used to see. in it. Right. But I do feel like, I do feel like, under it. Is it spelled Chinooka or Hanukkah? Yeah. And look, a Jewish

lady. I'm like, I'm clocking it. Now look, now look, I've seen the CH as well before. I've seen that spelling before. Yeah. But I've definitely seen the H-A spelling as well. So now which one which one is correct? Because Smokey might not be wrong. If they sent it

because you know, like with cameos, they'll put like certain things. Like there's a list. Yeah, yeah. So if they spelled it that way, yeah, I'm I'm sounding it out. Like, I was in space camp. This is one of the greatest songwriters of all time. He can spell, he can pronounce. Like, he can read.

Like, Smokey isn't wrong here. Like, maybe he never wrote down his wrong. Maybe he was on a Fantasia vibe. If he was C-H, then Smokey isn't wrong. That's why he said, I don't even know what Chinooka is. Now, if you were to put A-Sahey, he would have said Hanukkah. He knows what Hanukkah is. I'm more than positive Smokey Robinson has Jewish friends.

Yeah. Like, he knows what Hanukes. But if Smokey gets C-H-A, he's going to say Chinooka. So Smokey's not wrong. We got to get the legend Smokey Robbins in a path. Chinooka sounds like a town in Long Island. I'm like to say. I just got off that.

I like to belong to Chinook. You know, I've never seen that video before. Doug, it is wild. The first time I've seen that, I was like, all right. Book me. I was like, every time I'm depressed, we're going here. Chinook. I love that.

I don't even know what Chinooka is. He said, enjoy it. Hey, whatever, nigga. Like, the anything. Gia and that shit was just like, hey, think I got to listen, 13 of these motherfuckers. I'm on number 12. I'm about to be out of here. I never saw that before.

That's this shit, but to your point, like, I'll rather if somebody's in this, like, I just did this shit like walking here. Some dude was just like, yo. And I'm just like, bro, what's your name? You know what I'm saying? He's just like, yo, my name is Quazza. I was like, why, that's a wild name. Cuisar. Yeah, but I'm just like, yo, and I'm like, yo, bro,

I'm doing mixtape drops for niggas with no mixtapes. Like, I'm just like, bro, because like, at the end of the day, People come up to you and be like, yo, I don't want to bother this. That's the third. I see you out. I'm like, fam, I'm off of a 500 milligram edible shopping for jeans and even. You're not bothering me at all. Like, this is actually great.

I was like, this is great. Because now the salesperson is like, all right, they stop following me around the store now. Exactly. You know what I'm saying? Like, they're like, oh, he must be somebody. Yeah, he's cool. People know who this guy. But now I'm thinking this is a great way to steal now.

Yeah. I'll pretend like I've never met you. Yo, no, picture. And I'm behind. There more can go around and start from jeans. Damn the jeans. Hey, man, I got these flea stock days that way. Come on, I live with two Casablanca sets.

We should do a whole Chinooka series, like the three of us. Chanooga. Let's do it. The original Jews definitely celebrated Chinooka for sure. We can do it on, we can do it on 25th with the Israelites. With the black, the black Israelites, bro. That's it. The original man.

Yeah, the original. The original Asiatic. Hilarious, bro, because Eric Adams put like, like, yo, I got the support of the Jewish community. And he, yo, bro, he put, he's like, yo, I got all these rabbis on deck. Like, he put like a list of rabbis and fuck with him. And one of them was like a black Israelite dude.

And he just threw that motherfucker in there. Like, I know. One of them was a child molest. I'm like, yo, this nigga just throwing hell marries, bro. He's just trying to stay in there. He doesn't read it before. He just says the next thing. He's like, fuck it.

Chinook. Chinook. Chinooka and hooka might be the new round. Chinooka hookah. You might need to open a Chinooka Flahua. We might need to open a Chinooka Lama. Kosha hookah. Yeah, kosha, hookah.

Bless my rabbi, Black Israelite. We're getting ashamed. Out of Palestinian. Come on, baby. We make it happen. That's it. You ever been to episode of Curb with the chicken? What?

You're making that shit happen. Oh, man. This is an ideation station right now. Absolutely. These are all copywritten, by the way. Everything we say is copywritten because it's been recorded. You told the story a very long time ago, but there's always new fans. And I do want you to tell Merrill the time you almost got jumped by 75 bloods.

Oh, my God. Oh, the same exact shit happened to me, but it was like graffiti related, right? So it was just like Bronx versus Brooklyn on the graffiti shit. Like, and I'm with my man Taze, who was like the U.N. of graffiti. That nigga knows everybody. So we walk and. Ted, why I feel like I've seen that tag before? Because that shit is everywhere.

Yeah. So he's like, yo, he's one of these niggas. Like, yo, what's up? Where's, you know what? Yeah, yeah, yeah. What's good? Y'all shoddy over there. Yeah, yeah.

Yo, what's good, baby? You know what I'm saying? like yo super smooth like Mitch type of dude bro we walking down this is back in the oj days when you know what you know mean you call people's choice whatever your mama dude yeah come through an excursor bro we stop in that we stop in that post and then we go everywhere now we go down to dutlo whatever we go turn the tables upside down the pianos whatever yeah yeah bro we get in the fucking we get in the fucking car we smoking on the way there boom we get out the car my man nace he's like seven the idiot dude

and the crew that just does shit just to do it. He jumps out the car. There's two dudes holding hands walking down the street for no reason. Not homophobia, nothing. It could have been a dude and it could have been an elephant walking down the street. Stig just jumped down to the car and they face, bro. Like right here. I was like, this is how we saw tonight, bro?

Like I think there was a blunt of dustbeat passing around an excursion, bro. Like some shit was going down. So now we walk in towards like 14, like unit square, whatever, coffee shop over there. I was a bartender day at the time. Legendary spot. Legendary spot. So I'm going over there.

I'm like, yo, I'm going to get us all free drinks. I got us. We start walking, and there's another group of motherfuckers with the steep tacks and the whole shit. Yeah. And the grills and the chick.

I was like, Brooklyn. I was like, oh, man. I was like, Brooklyn, niggas. Yeah. I was like, they're graffiti nigs because they got the North fish

but they're not on Bronx things. Yeah. And I recognize him. I was like, oh, that's this one, that's that one. And one of them dudes, I ain't going to say his name.

he used to come to the Bronx just to write fuck the Bronx like and go over people and be like fuck the Bronx I pussy this that's crazy how that's that was a real that's a real level of disrespect like that like war started by yeah like fuck your whole borough yeah so I was just like oh man like I was like I'm counting in my head I'm like I was like eight of us it's like 14

of them I'm like oh man I'm gonna start throwing garbage cans I'm already thinking like yo I'm gonna start like streets of race you gotta go crazy yeah I'm gonna throw a barrel thing I'm gonna throw the knife I'm gonna catch and throw it back I'm gonna bust this shit and the pipe don't come out I'm And it's not going to go like that. Like everything in your mind, you think I was going to come here. Not everything is my side story.

I'm going to do my jacket over my head, a nigga in a puddle. And by the way, I've thrown a trash camera for it. It does not do the damage. It does no damage. That works in the movies. All the Ninja turtles games, street rage, they lie to us. That means nothing. It's life of generation.

You can't just throw project out. All that double dragon shit, that shit doesn't do anything. And also eating an apple that you find on the street is not going to regenerate in hell. Never. It actually might give you hepatitis. You're a whole rotiss of chicken that you found on a good. garbage on a platter that shit ain't gonna work

so we walk in and shit and Taze of course you know smooth man he's just like yo Les what up my nigga and I was just like oh shit thank fucking God because the other dude was like

yo Taze yeah boom then same shit yo yo yo it's like a end of a little league game yo yo yo yo yo yo what up yeah that's my man that's my man

yo we yo we beat C we take cake with da da da da it was treacherous back then bruh like I drive over there now And I just shake my head. I'm like, yo, if y'all only knew what this looked like maybe 25 years ago.

I'm like, fam, it was, and it was, people talk about New York is a melting pot. Back then, down there was really a melting pot, bro, because I end up in spots like Manitoba. That's like a straight hardcore metalhead club. And I'm in there with gold bottoms and straight backs and a red steep tech like tagging up the walls of shit. But it was because it was graffiti dudes in there. So it was just like, bro, you walked out of Ludlow, it was pianos. It was like Donnie Brooke and shit. Community 54.

All these different sports. And, bro, there was like real, like shit going on. Like, it was like a real energy going on at that time down there. I feel like now it's just like, all right, bro. The energy is totally, because you got a crumble cookie here now. Exactly. Like you said the coffee shop when I heard that, they was getting rid of the coffee shop. Oh, listen, though.

To me, that was like the most depressing. New York, we're losing recipes. Yeah, like the coffee shop? How do you keep rid of the code? That's legendary spots. But it's interesting. You talk about graffiti when they just gave five points away. Oh, yeah.

Fuck that. Also, we're going to buck the shit and make you drive past this white building. Did you ever tag in that in five points? You tagging the five points? Yeah, bro. It's like a right of passage, bro. Like, not nothing crazy. Like, I didn't go up there and do like some crazy vertical piece.

I would have to do my little tags and whatever. Because, you know, it's like a ranking file. You know what I mean? Like, if you like a young dude, because it's eighth grade, 13, like that's when I was going over there, like 12 years old, 13. And like everybody else is like 20 years old. Smoke Angel dust and shit. Like, I'm like, dangis used to paint trains.

like, I was like, yo, I'm gonna do my little thing here in the corner. Like, I ain't gonna go over nobody. Yeah. But yeah, nah, that shit, man. Like, all these spots is disappearing, man. Yeah, and even that, what was the movie they did

with, like, a whole bunch of A-list actors? And they shot it at five points. The city got their money. It was like a fucking $100 million contract so they could shoot a scene there. And they were like, all right, we'll make it condos now. Peace.

Yeah, yeah. One of the most iconic graffiti places on fucking earth. Period. It's crazy because I feel like things like that. It's fine. There you go. People from Minnesota need homes.

From Minnesota. They need homes. Okay. The city doesn't need culture. No, we don't need that. Yeah, let's build overpriced condos with no closet space. Yeah. I'm Daniel Alarcon, and this is my friend.

This is much more famous than I am. I wouldn't go that far. But I'm John Green, co-hosted the podcast The Away End with my old friend Daniel. On our podcast, The Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important. Listen to the away end with Daniel Auerkone and John Green on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021.

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