New Rory & MAL - Checking In With Hitmaka

Episode Date: October 16, 2025

Rory and Mal check in with Hitmaka and get the story behind his appearance on Cam Newton's pod, how he and HitBoy squashed their beef, and play "This or That" with his biggest hits #volume All lines provided by hardrock.betSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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No, no, no. You can. No, we do it wrong with start, though. Yeah, this is the intro. We started. We started. All right, listen, man, hit me. Hey, man.

Yes, sir. How you feeling, bro? I feel great, man. You, listen, man, you came here, you walked in, man, and we got right to the shit. Mm-hmm. You and Cam New it, man. What I did, man? And I fought with Cam New.

I love Cam New. And I thought the conversation was great, but I was like, soon was up with my phone and I saw Cam Newton and, bro, I said, this, I didn't even hear what y'all was talking about. Okay. I said, this is about to be crazy. It was a setup, bro. So I went, no, I'm bushing.

But I went, and they just had very good producers, I guess. And, like, towards the end of the shit, he just did his own little game show, like who you fuck the volume one first of all that's a sick game and I was kind of taking back he was naming on drink champs ago Tupac or Biggie take a shot on Cam show it's a little different

This nigga naming shit that ain't even famous I'm like whoa How did you do that? Me and Rory was talking about that and I was like You know that's because you know Cam was just talking about him wanting to know who his lady like

if she has anybody that he may know of any of his peers if she dated any of his peers. I like that. I didn't think it was anything wrong with that. I said, I can understand that. Like, can be an ex-NFL player, you know, into sports. If there's anybody you may have dated, let me know because we're going to be in the same rules.

I don't want it to be uncomfortable. You know how that goes. So I thought it was on brand for him to have a conversation like, okay, name the women that you slept with. So Rory was like, no, that conversation was absolutely crazy. I think you handled it well. I could see you were a little uncomfortable, though. Yeah. Because that's kind of nuts for just look at somebody like, yo, you beat.

Like, whoa. I don't even know you, my name. I didn't miss you for the first time an hour ago. Like, what we're talking about, bro? And they went crazy. And I definitely got some calls. People weren't excited about it. But I tried to do the best, you know?

Because am I technically lying on my dick if I say I didn't beat? I mean, but I think I lie on my dick a lot in that and the opposite way, though. Yeah. Like, no, I didn't fuck. Yeah, I'd be like, I'd never dated her or not. It's documented. The only reason they know is because it's on the internet. Yeah, yeah.

In that case, if it's already public, not. then I don't think that. It was on VH1. Yeah. Yeah. That conversation, I was just like, yo, hitmaker going to find a way, boy, to just end up in the headlines, bro, on some bullshit. Yo, look at the jobs in America now.

Somebody the night before that episode sat down at their laptop and researched the people that hitmaker has fucked. You know, come through. You never mind all the health insurance for that. Never mind all the hit records. Like, he ain't asking, yo, what's your favorite top 10 that you? you got. Nick and sold 350 million records, 18 number one.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. 27 billion streams. And you want to talk to me about. Is the head that super is what I'd like to know. No, your podcasting is crazy, man. While that was happening in your head, was there a name that you were hoping he didn't say?

And then he was like, fuck. Multiple. Everyone. I didn't even want that. I didn't know that that was a segment in the show. I thought he had a great podcast and then it ended with that. I feel like you have been doing a great job of not being, and not being messy.

Yeah. Because at one point, you kind of had that stigma like, oh shit, he's about to go on camera and talk some shit. It's about to be crazy. But I feel like in the recent, last couple years, anytime I've seen you,

it's really been music focus. It's been like what you've been doing, the great shit you've been doing. So to see that cam back and forth, I was like, oh, he still got that dog in him. Yeah, but I'm kind of like, at this point, like, am I just a character on the internet?

Because like, on some real shit, I'm not like that in person. But like, bro, I see. I said I didn't eat a hamburger, a hot dog, or a sandwich. They sent me death threats. Like, nigga, like, they're in my DM. Like, you bitch-ass, nigga, you never had a sandwich. That's why I'm like, whoa.

You should see their views on mall and Pepsi because it's fucking crazy. Anything I say, they're going to twist it and turn it. But you understand. You actually grew up in front of the camera. Exactly. You were one of the first people before viral was a word. Exactly. You were one of the first people to go viral.

But now, being in the industry, as many years as you have, having the legacy that you have what do you think about the current space as far as media and podcasts and do you like this era, this generation of how or the things that artists have to do to kind of promote and roll out? Do you like

that or do you kind of feel like we need to kind of tape off of this a little bit and go back to some older formats of doing things? I just think it's all shocked by you at this point and everybody just saying shit to get into the algorithm like when Dame Dash is on the shit and he's saying to us hey, I'm doing all this crazy shit to stay in the algorithm.

And he's damed as. And what the fuck do we expect a 19, 20 year old kid to be doing? And I just think that people gravitate more than negativity than positivity. Like, yo, if we come up here and we have a great conversation and we don't talk about how I back Melissa Ford and we don't do this, all this other stuff or whatever, then we don't go viral. Right. And it's like the interview never happened. Now, if I come up here and I say some dumb shit or whatever, then it's like, that Cam Newton interview was fucking eight months. ago. Really? Yes,

bro, I didn't just do that. Oh, so it's just... I thought that she was last week. No, nigga, it was eight months ago. Now, that's what? Okay, now, they just released it or no, it was released eight months ago? It's been out, bro, and then you just re-shuffled the cliff. That is crazy. Yeah, bro.

But hi, so, I hold, that's a whole other kind. How does that sense that interview? In the eight months. I've been telling you. But how does that make you feel, like, when it's something like, that that you did eight months ago starts to go viral today and like you may be in a relationship you may have found a lady that you really love and you like how does that make like it's like I got to deal with this shit like that's so old bro we're in the circus bro like it just is what it is

at this point I'm telling you like if you don't go viral then people feel like it never happened bro so it's almost like check it out right if I just lay back and I'm just in the studio I don't post no videos and me creating in the studio with these different an artist. Niggas gonna say I fell off. I purposely have taken my tag off of all the records that are on the radio right now just to confuse motherfuckers to where it's like

what's going on. It's where they go check the credits and they see what's really happening. But it's like, this shit just different now, bro. Like, it's just all based on bullshit. Why would you do that, though? Why would you take your tag off? I mean, I'm tired of hearing my own tag.

They got on ran this shit. I had a number one every year for 10 years straight. Yeah, but I mean, shit. I thought about changing my producer name and just ghost producing over. a whole different name. You, suffering from success is hilarious. Like, I'm so sick of this shit, though.

I'm fucking, I'm tired of him, my tag, man. Like, number four is my favorite number anyways. Like, I don't even know why I try to do this type of shit. Do you think your, I guess, rebrand and comeback? Do you think the messiness helped with it? Yeah. Outside of, like, the actual stats of what we know. Because that was even a slow burn of like, oh, wait, hitmakers Berg.

And, you know, I'd like to think us as podcasters are specifically played a hand in your rebrand. Y'all did. But do you think the messiness is really what helped push that forward? Well, the rebrand kind of started on love and hip hop. So when I did that, and like the crazy part is that I didn't know that like love and hip hop was like guilty pleasures for like a Nikki Minaj and shit like I knew. At that time, her and Mona Scott had been. Remember, they had the mix moscata and shit.

I knew she was aware of what was going on. And then once I was working with Nikki and she was just like, yo, like, you're her. hilarious on this shit. You could say my name, say you working with me, say you doing this, that and the third. So at that point, I was in a thick of some bullshit when I was rebranding. Like, I literally came back to L.A. So this is what really happened. I was living in Atlanta and I was miserable because Atlanta was real clicky at the time. Like, it would be polo in them over there and it be such and such and them over there, T-pain and them over there. And I wasn't like, nigga, I thought I had Ebola at the time because niggas just wasn't fucking with Youngberg.

Like, it was like, no, I don't let him in. Don't do this. Don't do that. So was it the stigma that you had what you like? I don't know. It just felt like you was messy. No, it wasn't about being messy. I was the first person that went through trials and tribulations on World Star and shit like that or whatever. So it just wasn't a good look to be around me.

It was just like, I wasn't cool. So at that point, I'm like, damn, I wrote this record at a studio and I fucking sent it to Vincent Herbert's cousin. And he ended up getting a record to Vincent Herbert and Tamar Braxton, which Tamar and Vince had that TV show at the time and they had all that shit going on. They flew me to L.A. and I did the record for him and that's what prompted me to move back

to L.A. and like be on loving hip hop. That's when a girl, Hazel E and Ray J and all them reached out to me like, yo, you could do this, da-da-da, it would be great. TV, it would be good for us. And that's how it just started. And then at that point, once it said action on that shit, it was all bullshit from now.

It was all the world. You never can make this shit up. I started the show, and this was so fucked up, and maybe I am being messy right now. I won't name those names or whatever. But the show started so, like it was a mixer meeting and like moaning them all there and they they they show you all the girls on the show and they're like who you slept with on this cast and they'd be like her her her her

blah blah blah so they like brewing up the fucking gumbo before you even get into the shit yeah yeah so when i got there another woman who's also very popular now and very famous or whatever who i won't say a name out of respect to whatever situation is she was my girlfriend on the show so we dated and she was my girlfriend we filmed for down there three months I went to to Miami to work with Puff when he was doing like money making Mitch that album, whatever. And when I went to Miami, me and a girl that fell out. And then fucking, when I got

back, they fired her off the show. And then they just dropped me at Hayesley House. Like, yo, like, hey, you know, really when I got back. Doing arranged marriages is fucking hilarious. Bro, when I got back from Miami, he dropped you at the house. When I got back from Miami, this is what they said.

They sent me a text. They like, you'll wear some gym shorts, tank top, t-shirt. I'm thinking I'm going to play basketball, but so much of these niggas. And they dropped me in a head to a red house. So at that point, I'm like, yo, I quit the show. I'm not going to do this shit.

You know what I'm saying? They tricked you a sweepover? Bro, nigger. Mona Scott appeared like Cruelette DeVille out of the in there, like, Berk, you're like Stevie Jav, loving hip hop Hollywood. We fired such and such, just go in there and be yourself.

So when I'm in the episode and I'm like, yo, you're not my girl. You've never been my girl. it's reality I was just dating I don't even know you Now granted I'd already known Hazel and she brought me to the show

and all the other stuff And we got much love and respect for her But it was insane that they fired this beautiful girl Off this show who I was actually Yeah Yeah and they just dropped me in that And then that's how that happened And then at a certain point I was just like

Fuck it Like this is what it is And this what it is And I think in her mind She was like fuck it too. And it just was a fucking snowball effect from there. You know what I'm saying? And shit, it got wicked.

I mean. That's the only way to be successful on love and hip hop is to say fuck it. Because why even do it like if you're just going to kind of just play the middle? Yeah. You can't do love and hip hop and try to have this moral ground. Yeah. It just I don't be like the quiet one in the corner. It's not going to work.

What's the point of doing? Especially when the finances come into play because it's not like we're getting paid like for shooting. We'll shoot for fucking nine months and you don't get paid. I'm talking about nigger had to toe in Zara. I'm spending every dollar in Zara to have a decent outfit or whatever time because niggas was fucked up. Ain't nobody really had no money at that time. And then shit, you don't get paid into the episode airs.

So if you're not in the episode, you shot for nine months, you could have been doing that. They clipped you from it. You don't get paid. You know, $3,200. Yeah. No, come here, Hazel. Come here, Boo.

Come here. Go, yeah. Hey, Hazel Lee, I'm looking at the camera. I love you. I respect you. You are a great woman. That was 2014, 11 years ago going on 12. It's no smoke.

And I'm glad to see everybody's moved on and being successful. I respect that. But that's just wow knowing that that's how that started. Like, they literally dropped you off there. Now, if I go back and look, I could be like, I can see why Bird came across as an asshole on this shit. Bro. It's like, I don't even know what y'all got me in here doing. Y'all dropped me off at some girls and I don't really.

You're leaving out of a big part of his story, though, that we didn't address. leaving the money making Mitch sessions to then be dropped off at Hazel. Remember I went viral from the puff shit when I was talking to Ray J and you was like, what did you say that? When I was doing them sessions,

the money making Mitch shit, that's when he said that wild shit to me. Oh, okay. See, when he puts it like that, okay, so now we can piece it together like, oh, yeah. All right, so hit making is crazy as y'all tried to make him seen.

No, and I don't think it's crazy that did he try to hit on him. That checks out, I feel like. Yo. I just, it checks out. You know, did you not read the paperwork? That guy is nuts. Yo.

Did you see what he did to that other producer? He could, he ain't had to throw me nothing. I would have, he just couldn't been in the room. I would have took care of Cassie for him. You know what I'm saying? Free of charge. Yeah, well, you got to pay me for that. Fuck you mean.

Off the strength. On the house. This is what I do. That would be your verse swap. You can have this beat for free. No, for sure. No, for easily. I'll pay every co-producer.

Don't worry about it. You know, I'll clear to say it on myself. We ain't supposed to be making a joke. type of shit, man. Everybody chill out. No, free him. You know what I'm saying? He's just a nasty nigga. He'll be home soon. You know, and it is what it is. Soon than later. He needs to sit down for a little bit. I hope he disappears in thin air and just like it doesn't ruin his legacy anymore.

So me and Rory was talking about that. Like, what do you feel like will be the route he takes when he is released from prison? Does he jump right back into the industry, to the mix? Or does he go to Bali and live on the beach for 10 years? I would hope that he go like T.D. Jake's, you know what I'm saying, and just like clean up his image, go lean into religion. But there's a strong chance. He might come out gangster gay.

Gangsta gay is crazy. Yeah, I ain't know. He's going to walk out like Omar? Gangsta gay. I'm talking about the wire, nigga, got flying on your ass. But yo, but do you feel like people, he kind of has been a gangster gay for his whole career? Yeah.

But that's what I'm saying? Do you feel like people is not for playboy? No. But do you think people even care? What now? I think when he get out, he'll be 60 years old. I just think that he needs to finish the race. rest his life off peacefully, to be honest.

That's what I wish for him. I mean, I got mad respect for his kids. I actually fuck with Christian and all them. I've done all Christian records, a lot of different shit. So when I say this shit, I feel bad when they go viral after the fact because it's like they don't deserve, you know what I'm saying? To get the ricochet or whatever it is. But I just don't know how to lie, bro. Like, if y'all asks me a question, I'm going to say the truth.

Right. If he gets out and hits you to work, would you work with him? Absolutely not. All money ain't good money. That's a fact. Yeah. But if he was rehabilitated by the state of New York, you don't think. You don't believe in our judicial system?

No, I don't. He should be fine when he gets out. That's our mayor recently again. Come on, man. Yeah, he's still the mayor. Yeah, it's fucking crazy. What else you've been working on? I mean, I didn't know you took your tag off anything.

Now I've got to go look at the credits to see what the fucking... Yeah, like, why would you... Now, I don't know the shit you're doing, man. I mean, I think I can kind of still hear your sound, though. Like, I think your sound is your sound. Like, you could take the tag off. But I could still hear your sound What if I'm everything? I don't know

I'm looking at my gram I don't even know bro I'm in the Matrix right now for real for real So to be honest shit All projects on probably got I got like four on tie dollar sign That come out Friday Probably did like

Eight on Chris Brown new album It's about to come out Shit I'm on Wye fan Lucci new album I'm on everybody I'm Joey badass I'm everything G Herbo anything that's dropping that's coming out I'm on it Yeah I mean it ain't a year

that I don't have a hundred placements. Like, it's been that way for like three years for you. Whatever happened to that record when we used in the studio you played with, man, that shit was crazy. I think it was

T.I. Cardi. Yeah. That was supposed to be for my producer album. That song was great. Oh, yeah. That shit is. Two Chains was on it.

I did it with Take Heath and a few other co-producers, but it's just so hard to do a producer album, bro. Like, I know Rory Kim. You know what I'm saying? Like, when you're not the artist

in the lead of doing an album, it's so many. different moving parts and shipping. You'll get frustrated with it. And it kind of like, I serve as such a large crowd of artists that is kind of like to stop that, to do a DJ kind of album, you literally have to stop working with people and just work on that. And it's just like not beneficial. Like if I'm getting like 30, 40 grand a record, like am I going to stop getting 30, 40 grand a record when I'm doing a hundred of them a year just to work on my project? Right. Yeah.

Nah. Don't make sense. Because I thought you were going to lean into that route. forgive me, what's the name of the record? Lottos on it. A thought box. Yeah. I was on that. No, that record is fire.

Yeah, it's platinum. I love that. But I mean, that's when I kind of like parted ways with Atlantic Records. So at that time, like, just being transparent, L.A. Reader offered me a label deal while I was working for Atlantic records. And they never offered me a label deal. So I did all these big records for all the artists that were on Atlantic, but they never approached me with a label situation. So when I went to Craig, I'm like, yo, this niggas off me two million. dollars to my pocket like you know like I need to get this two million like I don't care what

and he was like you know what your family we're gonna give you the deal just give us some time and then they end up giving me a deal they end up giving me more money than what LA was gonna do or whatever but I just think it was because it was more chasing the ambulance instead of just being like proactive like oh this nick is killing it let's give him his own joint venture let's do it was because somebody else offered it to me and it just wasn't like the best situation for me so empire made more sense moving forward Well, I mean, to be honest, and I don't, all right, let me be super executive with this answer. Gazi had worked with Atlantic Records.

Like, you know, they upstream from Empire at a certain point. So like Gazi did Bodak Yellow. He did broccoli. He did all these different records, whatever. And I don't think he felt like they handled him the best in that situation. So I randomly just went to meet with Gazi about something totally different. And we got to have a dialogue. And that's what, at that point, it was so turmoil.

at Atlantic, I wanted to give them the money back that they gave me. And then like a mentor of mine, like, nigga, this the music business. You don't get nobody no motherfucking money back? Right. Right. But I was that mad at the situation. Just fake recoup until they drop you.

Exactly. And yeah, shit. Gazi came through like a G. And bought me out my deal. Oh, that was real. And that's how I went to Empire. How do I ask this without being super messy? But this is a conversation I've been wanting to have with you.

So let's have it on Mike. Okay. You had a very talented writer, artist. She did some reference joints for you. And then one day, a mall comes up to me and says her name, which we won't say, and says, you know she just got arrested

for drug trafficking? You know she's out? I just seen it recently, too. I saw the IG activated. I shot her a DM. Yeah. Welcome, welcome. What kind of DM? Yeah, like, yo, let me see. Like, what you said? I said, welcome home 10 toes.

Big Jersey. Yeah, welcome home 10 toes. For you to his backwards. Dement home. Ball and I would only want to keep her name alive. Rory, this for my niggas up North can pull off that jack, Matt. You ain't even said that kite, though.

No, I didn't. I definitely didn't. She still beautiful. Yeah. She still has talent. Very talented. I don't know how close I can play her because of the situation, but. That was wild. That was the last person.

And maybe it was stereotyping because she just had the most innocent face ever to know that she was moving bricks across the country in a U-Haul. I never knew that. I just thought that she had a rich, like, boyfriend because she was always, like, even when I got her a deal with Atlantic like she, nigga, like she was pulling up SL Benz's and shit like that or whatever but I'm thinking it's a dude that she

sleeping with that was financed in the situation. She missed 17-5. Jesus. Yeah. That was the wildest shit. Crazy. But you've been known to have like a lot of talented artists and I'd be like, damn, what happened

with Shorty that was, with Berg? Like she never really popped. I never really heard much from her. And then I look up and it's like, yeah, not working together. no more. Like, you had some really, really talented artists early in their careers. Who was the one artist that you like, damn, I'm mad that never transpired to what we thought it would have been?

Shit. Because I ain't going to lie. Just throwing, I don't know which our relationship is now today, and I hope I'm not. No, you good. But Malibu, Mitch? Yeah. She's incredible. She is incredible.

I remember when you was at Jungle City, I think. I was playing in a bunch of shit. And we walked in and I'm like, yo, who the fuck is that? And she stood up from behind the bull. I think she was writing back there, listen to the beat. And she was like, that's me.

And I was like, there's no way this small girl sounds like that. Like her voice is very aligned with Fox a little bit. Yeah, for sure. But to see her and then to hear her and know that she's writing that shit, I thought she was incredible then.

She's still doing dope. She's making dope records. She put out a joint with, I think Jeremiah. I did that one too. Fire. Like, what's the relationship like with you in Malibu? It's great.

I mean, it's not a, Bad thing. So she was my first signing at Atlantic Records. Okay. And I was very happy to be a part of it. But in reality, she's just like, I think she just got out that deal now. And this is almost a decade later, but she was just in a very bad production deal.

Like a nasty, nasty. She fell out with the person who I did to deal with at Atlantic. So then they fell out. And then they kind of like they went on some other shit. You know what I'm saying? Like they wanted large amounts of money. They wanted this. It was just a nasty relationship that I had wasn't privy to.

Because when I signed her, I thought that everything was smooth sailing, but you know how that shit goes, bro. And it's just like, unfortunately, it ruined that moment. But I think timing is everything, bro. Oh, absolutely. I think she got an opportunity to pop back out. But, I mean, well, now she's out that deal. So I think it'll be way better. Is there any artists that you haven't worked with, particularly on the female side that you're like, down, I got to get in the studio where we got to get some joints together?

I want to do some shit with Mariah, the scientists. I like her music. Okay. shit whoever got a budget you got a deal nigga let's go who ever got a budget whoever paying whoever cut in the check yeah I don't got no picks like this shit is strictly business for me so it's like it ain't like I'm running around here like

nah we don't you don't you don't match my aesthetic like yeah like fuck that whoever got the budget whoever's talented let's run it now you and Rory had a little tift yes Roy broke my heart bro yeah like what was that about because we had spoken I was like yo, what the fuck happened? And then me and you spoke and he was like, yo, I didn't even know that it was nothing that like... Me and Rory did escape the room together.

We got... I gave so unbelievable snippets to you guys. You guys were my A&Rs before I was at A&R. And then now my dog lined me up. Yo, why you lined up, Berg, man? What's up, man? Do we talk about it, BT? Fuck, we can talk about it on this episode.

We did? We talked about BT? Briefly, yeah. Yeah. I was with Hit Boy in L.A. at Chalice and he was just playing me shit and he was putting out the record

with Alchemist the first one and played me his producer control if you will where he was naming names and I hit Berg after I heard it and I was like

I don't think there's no disrespect like I was gonna post this clip but I called him first thinking I was being a good friend and going and hit boy was in you know like a good week's like it's no static

like whatever but then when I posted it but Berg called me Curse me the fuck out when I was at LAX. I was so mad. Curse me the fuck out while I was at LAX. I ain't know what was going to be that. I ain't know the clip was that.

You know, which I still gave him credit of one of the better digs that somebody has said to me where I'm getting yelled at and I wanted to laugh because I thought it was a great joke. He was like, you could use the relevance. I was like, that one's stung. You could use the relevance. I was like, holy shit. You can use the relevance. But then once we did talk, I did get his perspective because there was a line in there that I kind of ignored that was like personal to to Berg. So I understood I got it at that point.

But I made a mistake. I apologize for the entire thing. I mean, well, y'all, y'all good now. I just wanted to kind of just bring that. How did it go from there, though? I think I went to Hot 97 and I said some shit like hit boy is a legend. But this radio shit, this is my shit. This is what I do.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, he good at way to, and then it was all downhill from that. But y'all still cool, though, right? We just actually spoke for the first time in Vegas. And I was really just casually walking up to get a new key for my hotel room by myself at the palms. To always goes to Vegas. And then I'm standing in line and the motherfucker like tap me and I turn around as him, his security and a couple of other girls. And he's like, bro, like, you know that shit ain't really about nothing.

You know what I'm saying? I'm like, bro, it was never about nothing. Like, for real, for real. And he was like, man, you know, let's exchange. us less really, you know what I'm saying, tap in this and the third. And then I think like a day or two later, he's like, I did Rory Amour and I spoke about you or whatever. And I'm going to, I'm going to all love.

I'm going to do Rory Amor too and speak highly out you. Because I think that that's dope that it ain't got to be no bullshit. You know what I'm saying? It's all really just music. Me and him, he ain't no street nigger. I ain't no street nigger. He's one of the coolest guys. You're one of the coolest.

So when I saw that, I was like, I hope that don't tell you. Why you think he was so perturbed about me, though, saying that? Is because our names are similar? Is it because, uh, I think a lot of that shit is, a lot of it is just, you know, when I'm, I may be looking at my phone and hear somebody say something about me, who I'm with, what they got to say about it. A lot of that adds to it. Yeah, why are he talking crazy like that? And it's like, then you start to take on some of that energy like, yeah, he's talking slick.

Like, what's something? And it's like, but it don't, when you really get to it, like you said, you've seen them in the hotels, like, bro, that shit ain't about nothing, bro. And it makes more sense for y'all to be cool and actually work together because y'all are both two super talented dudes that have owned the charts and the airwaves for however many years. Why not like talk about it like,

you know, that's nothing. Let's get to this bag. Let's make some money together. Let's make history together. To me, that makes more sense because both of y'all are two the coolest niggas ever. The only thing that heard he said I did Coke

and I'm just like, damn, man. When did I start doing Coke? Like, yo, a nigga put Coke on you. That's crazy. Salt my drums, but cocaine. Then he said something. He's like, that nigga's not a producer. He's an A&R.

I'm like, so I'm not, I'm not A&R enough for the A&R. It's not a producer. Where the fuck am I? I'm just in a great area. What am I doing? What do I do here? Like, am I just a nigga that just hit a lick out of nowhere? Like, what are we talking about?

Yo, it's so funny here dudes like talk about shit like this. Like, when they be in a perspective, places like, what? What is this shit about? But, I mean, you start to notice that with producers, like, when you get in the studio with them. They're just as loud and active as the rappers and the podcasters when it comes to this competition shit. They'll just do it in more of a music nerdier way of like how someone EQs their drums will be like a slight. It's how they talk shit. So I think hit boy, you saying like, yo, you'll work with somebody with a budget and someone that you fuck with. You're super active.

Hit boy, I think, is the exact same way. You are two of the A-list producers that do that. Most producers don't do that shit at all. So I think because you guys are so active, they're put some type of competition or sometimes it's like when he heard, like, yo, I do the radio shit, he can do the other shit. But y'all are both putting out shit every day. True. So maybe that's where he started to feel like. I talk a lot of shit, though. Like, I'm not, I'm not mad at him.

You know what I'm saying? I talk a lot of shit. But I, like, I kind of like. But you're not a bad person, though. No, fuck. You're not a bad person. And not only that, I like talking shit and delivering. Yeah. Like, that's what I, you know what I'm saying? Kind of like, that's my thing.

Yeah. Let's be competitive. Let's talk shit. And I still think I'm. And I still think I'm, you know what I'm saying? You should feel that way. Yeah. Like, am I supposed to say, no, hit boys better than me? Like, I wouldn't expect him to say that if they asked him about Kanye.

And this is a nigga that he did niggas in Paris with his biggest record. But I think that moving forward, any nigga that's hating on me, my career, what I've been through to be where I'm at right now, you just not happy with yourself. And like, yeah. Like, this ain't like my shit. I'm like Rudy damn there for the fucking. Like, yo, this bounce back story. Yo, this bounce back story is hip-hop Rudy is fucking. Berg is definitely hip-hop Rudy.

Yo, like, I made it. Like, what are you mad at me for? Like, shit. Like, I came from the dirt with this shit and had to change and revamp a whole name. Your rebrand and your story is definitely, like, so, like, for the people that don't, I don't know how you don't know Berg's story by now. But, like, it's definitely one of the ones where you're like, damn, like, he really been at this shit for years. Like, literally grew up in the industry.

Mm-hmm. Maul, I know you are thinking about upgrading to the all-new iPhone-17 Pro. You constantly are talking about it because it's designed to be the most powerful iPhone ever, which is, again, something you always tell us. But are you also thinking about the traffic on your way to the store or transferring all the money bag data that you have in that phone? Well, good news for you, Maul. When you order a new phone online with Boost Mobile,

they'll send an expert to your home or work to deliver your brand-new iPhone 17-Pro and get you set up on Boost Mobile within minutes. No hassle? No hassle. Visit boostmobile.com to get started. Delivery available for select devices purchased at boostmobile.com. Terms apply. Today's show is brought to you by our new presenting sponsor, Hard Rock Bet.

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Cliver Taylor the 4th. 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 what you need to be.

Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 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 a little kill? 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 it 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 for 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 podcasts. I'm John Green. You may know me as the author of The Fault and Our Stars. And now, I guess also is the co-host of the Away End, a Brea. and 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 there most... loyal and sometimes only fan. I love this game. I love its history, it's hope, its 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 Alarcon and John Green on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jared Ardano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out,

help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Play! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian, and recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives,

helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're all, On your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary.

Cream a chicken suit. Hey, cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the MyCultura podcast network available on the IHartRadio 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 for Chip. I'm Tad 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 balligan. 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 Tabramos on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. How do you feel about the current scene with the female emcees? I think right now with the ladies, I mean, shit, they running shit.

Yesterday we was having a real conversation. Who are the top five male rappers in the game right now, excluding all legends, any nigga that's over 30? 35. Oh, I don't know. Young boy. Top five male rappers. I feel like Young Boy is Ambiland Shays and too because now everybody just hip to this shit. He's been doing this shit for years. You know what I'm saying?

They see the show now. Now it's a lot of ambulance chasing and dick pulling. I mean, even with Young Boy, though, like his numbers, I'm admitted, like I don't listen to Young Boy like that. But I've always known his numbers were fucking insane. Like astronomical. I love Young Boy. I can't fuck a bitch that listen to him and be a young boy, though. Oh, you're taking a lot of it. That's a lot of. women out of the pot now. I'm good. I'm cool.

Okay, but what specifically happened that made you change your mind on that? It's just a thing. Like, you know, like, it's too young for me. Like, I feel like I'm old now. You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, like, this ain't, that ain't in my lane. But I would say, like, how we were saying, young boy, gunner.

Yeah. Kodak. I'm trying to think I'm not at 35. One of my favorites. One of my favorites, too. But I'm just talking about right now, like, that's going crazy. Yeet fam

That's the white boy You're trying to throw some I'm just I don't listen You're trying to throw some white love I don't listen to I'm just trying to think of I don't listen to Yeet either

No disrespect But he does Crazy numbers If we're doing Top 5 based off that Culturally Oh culturally Yeah

Yeah Damn see when you But when you When you frame it like that I really I really can't Because once you say Under 35

I'm like I'm stuck I'm like Oh shit Yeah Who Travis But I...

He's a legend. He's teetering the legend status. And I don't look at him as a rapper. Neither do I. I think he's an artist. He's just an all-around cold. Yeah. I mean, yeah, I'm stuck.

But I'm 35, so... So who's the next... So who's the next superstar in rap? Nobody. I don't know. Male? I don't know right now. That's scary.

So what brought that question up when talking about the female rights? Because you could name... Yeah. You could name 10. What's the top five female rappers right now? Go. Nicky, well, no, no legends.

Is Cardi considered a legend? You could leave them in there. Go ahead. Who's number one? Nikki, to me. I agree. Nikki Cardi. Lotto.

Meg. I'm going Glorilla. Oh, shit. Yeah, of course. Lola for sure. I actually think that Hot Take, I think Glorilla's album is better than Cardi B's new album. I didn't hear that's hot.

I mean, the previous one that just came out. You don't think of Tartek. I don't like Tartick to say she's the best current. female rapper. A couple joints. There's a couple joints in there. The pleasure principal joint, the Janice joint, I felt like that was a record you could have did.

I like that one. I think I like the other one with the random. I don't know what the girl's name is singing the hook on it, but it's a random girl. Like, damn. I forget her name. But I like, I like, I like, the one that Lotto just remix to, ooh, this shit.

It's kind of hard. But I mean, I don't know. As a man, like, who's the last female rapper that you can just, like, really digest the project from? That's who I'm interested in working with. I don't know, like, too many women rappers that I feel comfortable playing. Oh, that's, I feel like she alleged to, though, to me. I would say incredible.

To that point, because I'm the same way. Like, as much as I like Cardi, I know Cardi doesn't make music for me. Like, I would say Dochi and Lil Sims would be the closest that I felt like as a Doche. And I love Top Dogg. I love Dochee, but that content, my G, I'm not playing that. Oh, I like the project. She's talking about her niggas is gay and, this, and the third or whatever, it's very,

it's very not in my Ferrari. It's not, right, get out. Get out. Get out. Get the fuck out. Don't ever tell me it's not in my Ferrari. It's not in my spectrum. It's not in my McLaren. It ain't even in my side of the truck. You don't have anxiety in your Ferrari? No.

No, not at all. If you hit a pothole, you have some, some anxiety. Oh, this thing is burning itself. And in my Ferrari, me ain't, we got to get no play in Arari. But they shouldn't, though. I'm a man. Yeah. I think it's kind of like questionable if I do pull up playing it. But then again, when there been female rappers like?

Because when close to age, I'm telling you, that's what it is, bro. Because I say the same shit, I'm like, bro, I'm not playing none of that. Not because it's not good music. I'm not saying that. Not because they're not talented. It's just not for me. I can't pull up playing that. And I don't think that they're making that music expecting somebody like me.

It's for women. 44 years old to be pulling up playing that. But even like we listen to Kim Quiet Stormverse, but like we weren't banging notorious K I. But the music, though. Foxy Brown had an album. that you could play from top to bottom. What's the one with China white and all that shit on that? She was in a, the cover is white.

She's in like a purple outfit or whatever. Yeah. She's the last girl that you could really play like a whole journey and not feel uncomfortable. Yeah. Like it ain't going to be too much shake, shake, shake, and it's like. But it was, that was before it was all ass and pussy. Yeah. I was just all ass and teeth.

Yeah. You know the whole game. Most of these bitches is ass and teeth. A lot of the XL teeth, too. They got the big teeth. Oh, my God. They're going to kill us. I feel like for the past five, six, seven years, yes, the women have been running everything.

I think that's starting to plateau, though. I think we're leaving that era. It's all starting to fizz out where we know it's going to be Meg, Lotto, Glorilla, Cardi, Nikki, sexy. Like, there's not an influx the way it was before. I think that era's done. I miss Meg a little bit. I love her delivery. I think her delivery is super special and solid, like a lot of girls.

We was at Broccoli Fest last year, and I was telling her. Roy, when she did the plan B record, when Meg did that shit, I'm looking around. That's me too. No tag. You did that? I actually did not know that.

What did we talk about you? I did that. I did not know you did that. That doesn't even like, I guess, sound like your traditional sound. Shout out to my brother Rob Holliday, who's also a sign to me as well. That's crazy.

I didn't know you did that record. But when she did that record in that stadium, I told Roy, I was like, bro, that I was not expecting them to respond to that record like that. They went crazy. Like the girls that they went crazy at Brockley. I gotta put y'all down.

This a girl, okay, her name is New York, L.A. She's, um, Gilly's daughter or whatever. Yeah, she's on, she got a record with, um, that I like with a, uh, I don't know if it's Bryson. No, she's on Brent, she's on Brent time. Yeah, she's super talented. Her solo stuff is crazy too. She's crazy.

I'm executive producing her album. We just closed a major label deal. Shout out to Gilly. Shout out to her. They can announce where we close the deal that I ain't going to let the cut out the bag, but her album's done. Everybody's on her album. I'm talking about everybody.

No, she's like legitimately. Legitimately. Anytime I've heard, I'm like, okay, I like her. She's the one. Gilly first posted her long, long time ago, even before the Brent shit. I thought he was just posting some dope artists. I didn't even know it's his daughter. I was like, oh, she's ill.

Yilly signed somebody? She's really good people, man. Gilly and his wife, too, his daughter, they did a good job with her. She's amazing. And I think she will be one of the biggest stars next year, like hands down. Even like her alternative shit is crazy too. She does everything. She can do pretty much everything.

Yeah. I met her at Super Bowl. Gilly introduced super cool chick. Yeah, she's going to be a superstar. Yeah, anytime I've heard it, I was like, I like her. Her sound is dope. What do you think about this J. Don kid? Is he the next one?

I love Jadon. You know he was signed a Nick Cannon before L.A. Reed. This nigga Nick Cannon has everybody, like how he had Kalani and all that shit. But that's when I first initially met Jadon. And then, I mean, I just got strong belief in whatever L.A. Reid do. You know, one thing L. he really do, he will drop the bag.

Oh yeah, yeah. He's going, once he believes in you, he's going to make sure that shit goes. Yeah. I think that it took a little bit of time because maybe aesthetically how tall he is and how much dancing he does for people to get like custom to that and lock in with that. But I think he found his lane. I like with that record that he got out.

Yeah, I like him, but everybody's like, yo, he's the next Chris and I'm just like, you know, when you hear that and then you start looking, you're like, I see the talent. I see the talent. But when you, when you introduce this to me and say, this is the next Chris Brown, I'm like, all right, wait, hold on. Yeah, that's kind of a wild. Like, that's a big, to me, that's unfair to Jay Don.

It's like what Hove did with Bleak, the new unapproved Jason. Yes, it's, it's, that's, we can't do that. Those shoes are, leave those over there. Don't even try to step in those shoes. But then, and looking at them and looking at a couple of videos, like you said, I'm like, okay, tall, dances. It's a little like, you're a little too tall to be dancing like this, bro. Like, but you, I see the talent.

No, the niggas literally like, taller than Steph Curry. Like, the nigg is literally a fucking NBA point guard. Like he's like at least six three, six. But he's dancing like Chris. Like he's moving and I'm just like, a little awkward at first on the eye. But in listening to it, I'm like, he's definitely talented. Like there's no doubt about it. The kid got talent.

I got belief in Usher, Larry Jackson and L.A. You know, Usher signed him too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They're going to figure that shit out for sure. Yeah, definitely going to figure it out. Yeah, they did okay with Bieber. Yeah, they got that one right. Yeah, Oshare.

He says track records. I don't know when it comes to that. What do you think of Timerlin and his new fucking AI artist video that he just did. He dancing next to a fake person. I got so much respect for Tim. Me too. Next question.

I don't even want to share with my, just out of how much I respect him. His real answer went like this. I got a lot of respect for Tim. Yeah, I just got so much respect for Tim and his, and his own wife and everybody and their family. I can't say nothing. But I mean, all right, even I saw him and guru

going back and forth on Instagram in a respectful way. Like, Tim can handle, I think, the critiques. But guru answering that question and me answering question is two different people. For sure. For sure. But I mean, his peers and people that he loves and respects have been critical of him in this entire thing. Like, he's wrong. No, he is.

Like, I think this is, obviously you can never fuck up a legacy like his because he's one of the greatest that's ever existed. But this is some of the goofier latter career shit I've seen in quite some time. And I get with adapting with the times. I'm not completely anti-AI, but. Are you up on a soon? no shit or whatever. Yeah. Bro, that shit fucked me up.

We just did a writing camp in Vegas for fucking Warner Chapel and ranc from 1,500 and nothing was showing me the shit. And he like, yo, name a song, a sample. I'm like, yo, Ron Ozzy between the sheets. He like, I bet.

He like, what you want the song to sound like? I'm like, Tyler, Afro beat, this and the third. He like, sing a melody into the phone. Nica sang a man. Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da. He's like, all right, bet. Nick, one minute later, he played me

in an entire song, lyrics, beat with the flip of the sample, nigger, a whole everything, nigga, and two minutes later, fuck me up. And the shit wasn't trash. That's scary. No, I mean, that's my real issue with AI. Something that should be dope.

That's the problem. The fact that it's good, it's like, whoa, all right, we got to chill with this. It was decent. That's scary, man. Wet no booish. Yeah, I don't, the shit like that to me is like, now we just all the way saying,

fuck the art of it all. Like, I'm never on the side of it. Fuck the art. I mean, but for me too, like with Tim's AI artist, like she, they, whatever, what's the right word to call an AI person?

A robot. Is there a robot? Is there a robot? What you're like, all right, that bitch that AI bitch that he has. She has sucked in all of catalog, like an entire music catalog, all his shit,

like she now knows that he should be paid for that. That's fucked up. That Tim is even like partaking in something where his peers are affected. Hey, fam, listen. I know you don't want to get that shit guy, but I'm just saying like, it has to be the money. That's tech.

It gave them. Like, yeah. If you are kind of like trying to push that software to the forefront and that type of vibe, do you need a spokesperson for it? And who else better than one of the biggest producers of all time? Yeah. And I mean, we speculated why everyone was selling their catalogs for years and years. And I think we were right with our theories.

But let's not act like it wasn't for this AI back catalog shit, too. Yeah. Oh shit. Because it was a bunch of fucking tech companies buying up everybody's cats. You think somebody just randomly has a $4 million for the dream like on a Tuesday? Right. And he's on the board of hypnosis too. That's why he was talking so crazy to Sean Garrett because remember Sean Garrett in the verses he like he sold his catalog. Yeah.

He's like, nigga I own your catalog. Because he's on a board of hypnosis. When he did his buyout for his deal, they put him on a board. That's crazy. That's like game going up and saying I'm the CEO of Revolt. But it's truly being real. Yo, bro. I ain't going to lie, though.

Dream good. Yo, it is nasty out here, man. Has anyone approached you on the publishing? The catalogs? Yeah, catalog. What do you think I got Spectrus and all the other shit, boy? I live in a $5 million house in Miami. No mortgage, no nothing.

It's over. I can really retire right now. I don't have to do it with a song. Oh, that's why you took your tags up. Nigger, you were like, I'm home. This is the home stretch. I'm good. I'm in Florida.

I'm going to pay taxes. I'm cool, man. I'm all the way home. I'm trying to figure out my out. Like as in 40, you know what I'm saying? Like, I ain't gonna lie. Me and Roy was talking about this before this shit. It's like the toll that it takes on your body to be in a studio to drink six nights a week,

to smoke six nights a week to them long hours. It's catching up to me, bro. I've been doing this shit for 20 years. So I'm going to go back inside the building. One, because I think that there is not one A&R with the exception, a couple I know that you can specifically give any music to as a producer and a writer myself. I don't know one nigga to send a song to that can get it to our artist. that I want to, any A&R.

So to me, it's like, it's not cool no more. It's too much ambulance chasing. It's too much job security worrying about. Like, I'm going to go back in the building and really, like, change people lives. Like, when I first got in a building, it was really for me to, like, shit on niggas. Like, I'm me. I was letting people know I'm hit. Now the next chapter of my career is just to be a blessing to other people and really

change people lives, which I've done already, but just really lock into it or whatever. And still go to the studio and work on a project that I'm executive. producer for, but not just to go 100 placements a year. You know what I'm saying? Like that type of shit. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you were bringing up L.A. Reed and I was going to ask like if he was the last like music man exec in the business.

And I actually love to hear that you want to go back into a building because that's what I feel. Or I'm about to go. They ain't no want. I'm about to go. Anytime. Yeah, the want. Some people don't even want to go near a fucking building anymore because it's a mess in there. But when people typically ask what's wrong with majors, I always say they have no music people in there. Like A&Rs are

legitimately good at data now. which is like, all right, cool, I guess that's a part of it and you have to adapt, but there's no music people in there. Like, L.A. Reed was a music person. Like, that is why he was so good at his job, not because he fucking knows P&L like that. He's a fucking music guy. To me, it's like artists want to be criticized by people that are actually doing

what they're doing in real time, opposed to somebody getting data and saying why something they were because of data. It's a different conversation talking to some guy in front of a computer or talking to the guy in a studio that you actually respect his work, You respect the songs that he did. The artists will be able to be able to be artists developed better because it's the person that's developing them. It's the one that's seen a game that's lived through this shit. And you could pinpoint different records and different moments like, oh, okay, like he's doing.

He understands me. It's not like a disconnect. You know what I'm saying? So when I go back in, it's going back in very soon. I'm now saying like in a couple weeks. But when I do it, it's just going to be just because ain't nobody doing it. This shit is trash. Yeah.

Like they didn't groom. Like how we were talking about the next class of rappers, they didn't really groom or allow the next class of A&Rs and shit like that. Because I remember when we was at Atlantic, we had the all-star team with me, Orlando, Warrenberg, Sean Barron, Dallas Martin. It was a fucking, it was a bunch of motherfuckers. But, you know, like, I guess the, you know, how the revolving door once was when you see the Kaiser regime with Devcham and then it transfers to Warner.

And, you know what I'm saying? Like, it ain't happening like that for A&R. they're fired everybody. Yeah, which is kind of weird too. Like even when Kaiser Julian on them went to Atlantic to start the new regime, like their A&R's at Def Jam were people like Irv Gotti, like producers. For sure. It's weird that they didn't want to keep up with that.

Even in this time, I understand I know it's fucking data, but even now, like, why would that not be a focus? Hit boy, go inside the building. You pick a building. I'm a pick a building. All the different people that's A-lister's that really respect that want to be involved into that shit, I think that we all score in the building. Yeah, that would be dope. hired a hit boy after I left or whatever.

I think they did a partnership as well too. I don't know if it's still. And even when they would do the legal payola with DJs, like DJs are music people. Yes, they should be hired in your building to tell you what the fuck is going to work and what's not going to work. Absolutely.

That shit is done. Now it's play listing. For sure, bro. That got to come back A-Saint. Before we let you go, I want to ask, do you have any information on the RICO case that Ray J is putting together with the federal government for the Kardashian cartel?

that they're trying to take down. That's my nigg. I love that. Can you put some contact with Ray J? We want Ray J on the show so badly. That nigga don't give him. I fucking love Ray J. Yo, Ray don't give a flying

fuck about anything, anybody. He's going to do what he wants, say what he want. See, Ray is a real smart, nigga. See, a lot of people think he was glitching, like this whole time

all this year, but he was really trying to get into that space with them people and now. You see Kassanah and all them niggas fucking with him. He made his way into that space. Bro, it's like, like, but Ray has been, he's, again, before this all viral theme became a thing, he was that. Yeah.

Like, he was doing all of that type of shit. That's what I understand when Soldier Boy would be saying that a lot. I know what he means. What he mean? Yeah. He'd be like, when I did that, like, he was the first to do a lot of this shit. True. He just has new names now.

Like, y'all for sure. Something different now. Yeah. Soldier Boy was the first viral song. Absolutely. For sure. Ringtone. Yeah.

Hitting all of that. Like, he was the first behind a lot of that shit. And I mean, shit, Ray J. everything in our culture I'm like literally he did everything first I'm trying to think I'm thinking of every category

I'm pretty sure Raymond Jay did it first if you really go through it yo bro that nigga's a legend you know how long I'm known a nigga so like bro we have done what's so crazy our record I got three records that's about to be diamond and that's one of them

like just a full RayJ project no sexy Kenan is about to be diamond damn it's on with me and RayJ which is a classic record fucking stuff. Everyone that's listening now, stop what you're doing, pause this podcast,

and go back to the Chris Brown and Ray J. Blood mixtape. Oh, man. It's one of the greatest mixtapes of all. Like, why all of us just like stop talking about Chris Brown

and Ray J doing a blood mix tape together? It was like 16 records, though. Like, how did they get you, bro? He locked in with CB for a fucking blood anthem. Every record is fired.

You, bro. Ray J is fucking crazy. Crazy. We did this little diss at that segment. We did it with JD. We done it with JD. We did with Hit Boy. I felt like there was one more. Either way. Do we do offset? Maybe with offset. But yeah, we grabbed some of your records where you have to pick which one you would pick out of the two. We'll start with bounce back or dangerous. I'll say bounce back because it's about to be downing. That's my second. That would be fair. That would be fair. That would be fair to pick that one. But I think that Dangerous did something incredible for me. This one he first got out of jail.

And it was like the radio smash that kicked off everything for him again. Yeah. Now, Dangerous was a joint. Yeah. I think I got a lot of dangerous women after me. But I was back. Because of him. I was back on that one just because how organically it happened.

John or rule the world? Wow. I probably say. say John because it's the bigger, bigger record. And nobody knew. I don't have a tag on that record, too. Shout out to A.L. the producer. And that was a crazy story.

So John was a song. I went to work with Polo to Don. And this back when Roscoe Dash was signed a Polo to Don. So me and Roscoe dash did a song over the John beat that night at Interscope Studios in L.A. And then somehow, some way, shit, I guess Polo just took him off the song and sent the beat the Wayne. And then that's how it turned up being John. Yeah, I didn't even know you did John.

So years and years later. Do you still have the U.N. Roscoe Dash version? I wish I did. That's got to be somewhere on YouTube. Somebody took that hard drive. Somebody leaked that shit for real. The first time you heard it was when, like, on the album?

Yeah, I didn't know. I wasn't lit like that. My tag ain't even know that. I had to do the follow-up after the fact, you know, get my lawyers on it. I need my credit. Fucking time about it. But then didn't another version of that end up on Teflon and Don? Somebody did a similar beat.

Yeah. But it wasn't that. It sounded like the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, Diet Coke of John. Yeah. What was the name of that was? It was like the second record, I think, on Teflano. It was the second record.

Damn. It was hard, but the John B. Yeah, it was, you could tell the difference when you played them back to back on it. The one or favorite? Hmm. The one was that record that I was telling you that Vincent Herbert flew in it, flew me back to L.A. And kind of like started my whole L.A. room. But I would have to go favorite just because, man, like, y'all don't understand.

Them Nikki Menaz sessions was amazing. And to me, just the work that I put into that record, like a lot of people don't know that I forget her name, Candice, her last name. She used to be signed a Neo. That's her doing the sample shit. But you know that you need a ride up, right up, right up, right up. It's Aaron Ray doing the fucking backgrounds

and all that other shit on the record. You know what I'm saying? So that was a crazy time, like for real. I mean, just judging off Nikki's Twitter as of recent, I could only imagine what a private studio, session with her would be like. I mean, obviously there's NDAs on NDAs and that. But what is a typical

Nicki Minaj session like? Well, at that time, she worked at a studio called Glenwood that was in Burbank. So I would just go to the studio and she was like the first person I seen with like the booth like just whatever her mood was. Like I remember walking a booth. It was like

a beach. Like a nigga had sand in the booth. Like fucking beach balls toys. Like they were on some crazy shit. She's the first person I've seen with the gigantic sign with their name on it inside the studio. And fucking, for me, like, she would just be there sober doing whatever she's doing. I would be getting overly drunk and fucking white smoking weed. And then she just let me, gave me free reign at one point.

She was just like, yo, this is juice. This is my studio. Just go crazy. Do whatever you want to do. So with favorite in general, Jeremiah came to the studio. I was in another room. She was in her room. She booked me another room.

And I was with her engineer while she was doing whatever she was doing. And Jeremiah was like, hey, oh, Burke, I got like seven minutes before I need to go to LAX. I'm like, nigga, what the fuck you even come to the studio before in the first place? Like, you got seven minutes to do him on God in my life, nigga. He went in there. He did one take down. And somehow, some way, he said, I just want to be your favorite. I'm like, that's it.

Stopped him. Got it. Chopped it up. Copy paste. Put it like four times and told him to dance around. And he literally left in those seven minutes. And that's how to hook her. That's fucking cool.

That's wild. That's super wild What's her process like, Nikki, as far as she like approaches songs? To me it's just like, I think it's great beats and then for me, her collaborating and she would just have great beats

and be like, yo, make some hooks for me. Do some shit that I like. Like even it's a song on her I'm called Shanghai. I'm on the song. It's me saying, roll up on you and all this other shit on the actual record.

So she was just like, go hook crazy for me. And then I just went hook crazy and it turned out to be in it is. Incredible. Sexy lady or sexy can I? Oh my God. I'm not to go sexy

Kenna. Just because I knew sexy lady was a hit and y'all got to like go back into them LA days like nigga like I would literally like wearing a chinchilla my manager at the time was the club promoter at the hottest club or whatever thing was called like fuck Mondays or something like that shout out to TK and all them

or whatever and I used to go in a club they used to sneak the bottles in we would go to Rouse and buy a bunch of bottles before we went to the club and my manager at the time was the promoter so he would set me up at the table next to DJ Echo and they would bring the bottles out and I would wear like a full-limb chinchilla in the middle of like summer or whatever

in LA just whiling out performing my song sexy lady and then from there it just blew to this phenomenon sexy can I actually hated sexy can I Stiles P was supposed to be on sexy can I before me remember Ray J was signed a Koch and Epic record said yeah yeah yeah yeah D and Shadow was doing all the radio shit

for Epic or whatever at the time So Stiles P was supposed to be on that And I'm glad that Stiles Pete Wasn't on sexy Kenna. That seems like a weird choice, much less than a ghost. Hold on, not worse. Style rapping sexy Ken out to the hate. I'm like, yo, so when they presented

me the record Charlie Walk at the time who like fucking is my god, this thing is like 5'2 looks like Zoolander. He was the fucking president of fucking epic records at the time. I know exactly what you talking about. And he was like, yo, you need to do this record for Ray J. And I'm like, I was just coming off a sexy lady and I wanted to go to my song, The Business with the girl Cash, just singing the hook. And I'm like, no, I want to go to this song. He's like, no, you're going

to do this is going to be your biggest record. He's like, what is it going to take for you to do this record? I'm like, you got to buy me a chain. He like, for real? I'm like, yeah. I called Jason and Beverly Hills and I put him on the phone with Charlie Walker. I'm like, I want an epic record chain. Like you got to make it. He made the chain. It probably came out my budget. You know what I'm saying? He got me to chain. And I never forget it. Me, Billy J. Cap one, we walked from the Lowe's Hotel to Wet Willys in Miami, and we just threw bars around. While we were doing, just talking shit with my brothers and through bars around, I wrote all my parts with them. Probably on that walk, I laid my part at Circle House where I still work at today.

That's how crazy this shit coming full circle. And then from there, it leads us to the epic studio session with me, Ray J, the girl Cash, and Tierra Marie. I didn't know it was Tia Marie at the time. So like Ray J comes in the studio I think we're at fucking We're at a studio We're at Chalice in L.A. And this one, he just did

his vivid deal for the Kim Kardashian tape And he was on this porn star shit So the nigga came in He's like, hey, yo, Burke I don't want to disrespect your lady But you mind if I put these on the TV? I'm like these. The nigga put out all vivid DVDs

Of porn and shit like that So now We're in a session He got a gun Allegedly he had a gun a strap on the table. It's nothing but white women porno playing on this big screen inside the studio. And we're finishing the song, sexy, can I?

So we end there. And like, there's a girl that's like talking so bad about Ray J. Like, you trash, nigga. You get your weak ass out of here. And I'm like, who is this girl? Disrespecting Ray Jai like this? I ain't know it was Sierra Maria at the time. Like, it ain't clicked to me. I'm like, yo, the nigga goes in the booth. He's like, I got to hit this last line. He's like, Kim Dungeons hands on fun.

And he's like, no, this is my Stevie. She like, get your wicked. That's my Stevie. It's my Stevie. From there, we delivered a record. And shit, that shit, shot up to like, fucking, I think it peaked at number two on the Hot 100 or whatever. And it was like, why does Ray J and Youngberg have this record that all these white people like? I mean, yeah, that fucking melody is annoyingly good.

Yo, I went to jail on the video set of the video. For what? The first shot of the day we in Miami, I'm smoking a blunt. It's down to like a roach. I throw the blunt out of the fucking shit. And the police that was on set to protect us came, picked up the roach and took me to jail. That's crazy.

All right, man. Shaquille O'Neill bailed me out of jail. What? Yeah, bro. I can't make this shit up, bro. Yeah, bro. I should have known the record was going down and when Shaq came and picked me up.

You know, that is your greatest record. Are you kidding me? It don't get no great in that. So, bro. So, hold on. Let's slow down for a second. So you had Jack's number memorized. No.

Ray J. and Shaq had a business deal, and I think he was the investor on Ray J's project at the time. Okay. That's true. And he was a police officer in Miami at the time. Bro, digger came and bailed me out of jail. Come on, little man. And I went back on set 12 hours later and it's like I never went to jail. Yeah, sexy Ken.

That's fucking hilarious. Oh, my God. So I guess Kim has a type then. Because I had heard at every. Every Kanye session, all he would have was just porno on the whole time. Like, it would be, it would be like. It's not that horny. Assistance in PR coming back to the Def Jam office like shell shock.

Like, yeah, we went to the studio and it was just hardcore porn playing the entire time. It's like. Jesus. The thing is different, bro. Oh, man. That's a different type of horny. All right, Burr, well, listen, man, we appreciate you. Next time of you, New York, you got to stop buying.

Come about it. Always a pleasure to talk to you, man. We got to kick it off camera, though. No, for sure. We got a lot of shit. We got to catch up on to talk about. man anything you got coming anything you got dropping you want everybody's album i'm on everybody's album for the rest of the year 50 more i said 50 songs will drop i did it like a week ago or whatever so probably like 43 more songs will drop on friday i got 7 more coming out

and then well actually no i have 21 songs coming out on friday so salute to rani um my artist let me explain this new album comes out friday salute to ty dallas sign his new album come out's friday shout out to toy ann chrisan nigel my engine everybody my heart my heart whole team, man. We really, like, we're in a groove right now and salute, man, New York, L.A. Just wait for that next year. And also shout out to my artist Tink, man. We got a new album that's about the drop as well. Fire. I'm coming down to Miami to kick it with you. No, we got to, bro. I'll be there. And end of the month, I'll be in Miami. Here, two weeks. Black women everywhere for you, right? There you go. All right, I'm that nigga. He's just ginger. That's hit maker. A win is a win. A win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep. That's me. Clifford Taylor the fourth. You might have seen

the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. 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. On the Lookback at a podcast. That was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s.

84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Daniel Alarco. And this is my friend. This is much more famous than I am.

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