New Rory & MAL - Checking In With Joey Bad@$$

Episode Date: September 5, 2025

The guys check in with Joey Bad@$$ to talk his new mixtape "Lonely At The Top", how he was able to take on the whole west coast, and how his acting career has taken off #volume All lines provided by hardrock.betSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. 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-host of 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.

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This is my best friend, Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey.

all the snacks and drinks. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Oh, they hit a bogo. Well, then you got them. Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Volume. All right, Rory, we are back. Today, we are joined by somebody who we've had some conversations about throughout the year.

Throughout the years. Yeah, one of the biggest troublemakers in hip-hop at the current moment. That's what it is now. No, no, no, this is. He's pretending to sit this way so he doesn't look like he doesn't look like a troublemaker. But no, this is a very talented guy that we've been wanting to have a conversation with. So he stopped by today to give us some of his time. And we are thankful for that.

We are joined by singer, songwriter, rapper, actor, stand-up guy, one of the younger guys that I really like in the industry and I fuck with. So I'm happy he's here today. Joey Badass! Put New York on his fucking bat. Huh? It's the first time anybody ever led with singer. I like that. Yeah.

American badass, you were singing a lot on that. I was singing on this shit too. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We were just about to get to three feet shit that you're saying. No, you got. You're singing.

You ain't singing, but you're singing. You know what I'm saying. Singing. Sing. Yeah. Yeah. How you feeling, man? Yeah.

That would be good. I feel good, man. I feel great. Your so. How's life, man? How's life? Life is beautiful, man. Like, you know, not to say,

little cliche and shit, but I feel good. I really feel good about things, you know. I'm grateful to get the project out and, you know what I'm saying? Get that off and just, you know, keep it pushing. Like, you know, I feel like this year has been great for me. So, yeah, man. This year has been very busy for you. Busy for sure.

You've been, you've been the topic of discussion, it seemed like since the year started. You've had a lot of, we've spoken about you a lot. I feel like we got entered into the beef because we were driving. Y'all entered the chat. Oh, listen. I know, I don't expect anyone to watch our pod, but the way we rode for you during this entire beef, we allegedly, by proxy, got into some fake beef because of this shit.

Did we? There was people saying they knew our location, they could have read. I'm like, they, I fuck with Joey like that, but I'm like, I ain't about to die for Joey. You ain't going to die for Joey? I'll die for New York, but I don't know if I'm dying for Joey. But you've had, you've had, you've had, You voiced obviously your opinion on a lot of the things, being one of the guys that is from

Brooklyn, from the city for real. You've seen the change in the sound and the landscape of rap, hip hop. How do you feel about the current, though, the current state of New York particular, New York rap, hip hop culture? Like, when you sit back and just look at it, how do you feel? Because it's changed a lot since you were young and really outside in the streets like that. I mean, I think New York is an interesting place, you know what I'm saying?

We're the mecca of hip-hop. For sure. You know, so we always going to have that thing. It's a high expectation, you know, coming from this city. And I think that's a good thing. You know what I mean? I think that's a good thing more than it is, like, you know, a negative thing. But, you know, as far as the current state of what's going on right now,

I think there's interesting things happening. You know what I'm saying? I think you got, like, you know, you look at the slizzies, that Cash Co. them, you know, holding it down for like what they kind of coined as their own thing with sexy drill. And then, you know what I'm saying? You got like chef and sleepy and shit like that. Still got a boogey. Hey, buggy.

Yeah, you know what I'm saying? Shout to buggy. That's my man. Yeah, you know, shit, you got me doing what I do. So, I mean, I think New York is an interesting place right now. And, you know, I think that the culture does this interesting thing where the hot zones change. every couple years as far as like what region is like the one that's like on fire or like dominating or you know what I'm saying however you want to put it right now so I think it's

going to continue to get interested in New York and yeah I mean how tired are we of even that combo and we've been one of participants in that shit post post dip set I feel like we've been having that combo with literally everybody but I dread it honestly I do too, but I think that's just how close we hold our city's music and legacy to our hearts, that even though I'm sick of this conversation, it's always something I want to bring up about with everybody. It's like the New York Knicks, man. It's like, you know, so many years of heartbreak. But every time we get this, it's like, yeah, you know what I'm saying?

We've amped about it. We're passionate about it. So, yeah, you know, we're a very passionate city. Is it anything you would want to see? change though about the current energy in like New York the New York rap scene is anything you want to see change though? No. Like we need to get rid of that.

Like we shouldn't be. Oh, no, no, no. You said you called me a troublemaker. You trying to stop more trouble. No, because you really, you. Because now you're still very young, but just you're, you're considered one of the elder statesmen though from the city. And a lot of people, a lot of the guys that are outside now making noise and doing their

thing. They saw and watched you. Like you inspired a lot of them. So you have a different scope on it. You've pivoted. You're now in film and things like that. But you still are tapped in and you know what's going on. Right.

So I'm sure you sit back and be like, I don't know if, you know, the city need to be doing this. I don't know. Well, the thing is, the thing is, right, like, I don't think there's nothing missing from the city. Because if you really, like, really look at it, you know, you got artists like Mike. Loving it down in his own arena. You know what I'm saying? Rap albums of the year. And his own pocket, you know what I'm saying?

So I think it's just more about, because, you know, when it comes to, like, radio still plays a big part in this city, specifically, I feel like. And, you know, so when it comes to those type of aspects, you may feel like, oh, you know, New York got a certain type of sound if it's being led and, like, kind of dictated by, like, that, that stuff, like the programming, directors and shit like that. But when you really look at New York City as a whole, everything is going on at once. You know what I'm saying? It's just not everybody's kind of in their own lane. So if there was something that I'd like to see, like, as a change, maybe it'll be just more of an embracing of all aspects of the city. Okay. You know what I'm saying?

From like, you know, more regional support of the city, if that makes sense. Okay. You know what I mean? Like, I know there's a lot going on in the radio right now. Like, you know. enough enough being let go flex whatever drama shit but you know even with them like them recognizing and you know maybe trying to push the new york culture forward by paying more attention to like you know what's just going on largely and not just on a level of um height or internet or cloud or whatever

you know what i'm saying so i mean outside of even just new york politics in general i mean you came out 2012 was 1999, which was coming towards the end of the blog era, sort of. How have things changed from the blog era to now? Streaming, bro. Streaming, I think, is the biggest change from the blog ever to now. You know what I'm saying? Like, when I came out, motherfucker was like on that Piff, live mixtapes and shitless.

That made me sound like old. talking about the shit. You were 15 on World Star. Yeah, like two dope boys and shit like that. You know what I mean? Like looking at the blog. Like that's why I was the blog era because, you know, you went to the sites to see what was new, what was developing. Now it's like, I don't even know.

Like, shit just become the trend now. And then, you know, that's how people kind of find out about it. But like back then I think it was more of a discovery-friendly environment. Yeah. If it makes sense. in the landscape of the game. How did you navigate that, though? Because coming off the blog era

where you were young and kind of a trailblazer in that regard and understood that world and things shifting, whether it be with Shipes, you were independent as well. How did you manage to go with that shift from blog era to streaming? Or blog era to we're doing iTunes 999 and now all of a sudden it's $999 for the months

and now streaming's here. How did you navigate that change? No, you know, what's funny is, you know, I just really roll with the punches, but the funny thing about it is I had the opportunity to really get in front of it. But I think my mindset

was just a little bit close to it because I'm just like, like, what the fuck is this? Like, I don't know how I'm understanding. Like when Spotify first came around, like, I didn't really fucking understand like... How was that presented to you? Like, I mean, it was presented like,

yo, this is the future, boom, boom, but I couldn't really understand like how it was the future because I'm like, okay, but, you know, people could just download the music on like iTunes or some shit like that. I'm like, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, and then, you know, I've, I was selling tickets, you know what I'm saying?

So it was like, I didn't really feel the need to be like, kind of take heed to what was going on there. But I remember when there was, like, there was like a Spotify story back in, I want to say like 2015, 2014. and it was on, I think, was it like Fox News? It was one of these news stations. And they had used my first album as like one of the first examples of where streaming was going. Yeah. Like they was using like my metrics, my data and shit.

Like that was like they was using me. They was using like Drake. They was using like a few other people. And I was like, I remember seeing that and being like, but I don't get it though. Like, you know what I mean? I just don't think that like I really tap. then and like I had a chance to really capitalize and I missed that opportunity you know what I'm saying so after that it just became about like rolling with the punches like oh okay like now playing

catch up about like 2016 I'm like okay I get it yeah yeah you know what I'm saying what are some of things that because obviously you got you know life has handed you a lot of different opportunities now what what keeps you inspired though like creatively like what what keeps you wanting to try different things and continue to elevate your art. My favorite thing, you know, I've been saying it recently, one of my favorite things when it comes to music

is to play a song for somebody and somebody be like, yo, that's you? That's one of my favorite reactions because it's like, oh yeah, like you didn't know I could do that. Like, you don't know that I have that range. You didn't think I was like capable or some shit.

Like, oh, you just wasn't exposed to that you know, to my ability and to do that, you know what I'm saying? So that, and I'll also say, competition. You know what I mean? Like, and that's what this year really put in the perspective for me,

because you got to remember, like, when I came out, I was in a huge collective. Yeah. And we was always constantly challenging each other. You know what I'm saying? Like, anybody always wanted to come the next day with the best verse and shit like that. So this year definitely brought that feeling back for me.

It's like, you know, I'm really inspired when I'm feeling the heat of like somebody else's pen. Okay. I mean, I know you to be strategic even with how long you were independent from an early, early age. So I know you're very strategic. Did you think what happened after the rulers back when you dropped it? Because I was, what, January 1st? January 1st.

Did you think things were going to go the way they were going to go after you? Absolutely. You didn't think one JZ reference. was going to make the whole West Coast sensitive. I swear I didn't. You know what I mean? Fuck out. Now, I'm not going to let Joe get that over.

You knew exactly what the fuck you was doing. No, bro. I promise you. I promised you I didn't. You know what I'm saying? Like, so I made rulers back, right? I probably made rulers back. I want to say like two days before I put it out.

Okay. I made it. We shot the video. And we just put it out. And, you know, shout to my man Sam, because he was the only person that was like, yo, I don't know. that line and I was like

so he felt it he felt it he felt it he was like you're like like like that line it's gonna probably cause some reaction listen I was even wrong we came in the day that that came out well not the day but a few days after we recorded I said man it's just just a whole reference like I honest this is not gonna turn out to be anything boy was I fucking wrong I really did not think that was gonna make

everybody as sensitive as it did same bro same like you know what I mean I can't say that my man ain't like put the bug in my ear that he felt that it could. But my, my, like, sentiment on it was like, nah, I don't think it's going to really, like,

you know what I'm saying? I don't, I don't think it's going to be that big of a deal. It's the whole line. It ain't like I said, yo, he fucked the West Coast. You know what I'm like, yo, I'm clearly recycling a whole line with remarkable time. And that part I understood. But I'm like... So you knew that, you understood

the time. But that was the... Of course. But that was why... the reference was so good because of what was happening at the time. And that's what I thought. And that's what I thought. It was an old to a time where that was happening as well. Especially with me understanding my relationships with the West Coast. Yeah. Like, you know what I'm saying? I remember when this shit happened. One of the first people who called me was Ab. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? We spoke about it. You know what I'm saying? We spoke about it for like 10, 15 minutes. And like, we're laughing about it. He's super cool, super like, he gets it. Right. You know what I'm saying? So, but to me, like, that's how I'm thinking about it.

I'm like, yeah, like, I'm like, yo, you thought I'm like, like, for real, like, like, like, like, you, you took that by any, you took any disrespect from that. He's like, nah, like, niggas, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Niggas is rap.

Yeah. Yeah. He's favorite thing. You know what I'm saying? Like, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. So I was like, oh, I bet. Yeah.

But then, you know, shit started jumping online and, you know, the internet nowadays, nowadays fuel shit. Oh, absolutely. Like the staying culture and all of that shit. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. you know, this narrative start developing. And when the narrative started developing, I was like, okay,

somebody's going to take this bait. Of course. Somebody's going to take this bait. And then it's just, you know, one and two, and three. You seem to be very prepared. I will say that. Yeah, no, I wasn't. I honestly wasn't prepared.

I wasn't, you know. I wrote with the punches. What are we doing? Let me ask this quick. Before we get to the rest of the battle, if the internet did not have the narrative that started after rulers back, would sorry not sorry have came out the way it did, even down to what I would say isn't a shot, but it's a little jab at Cole. Like, there were shots where I felt like you saw the

energy of, hey, people took this as a dis. So if you did, all right, who want to wrap? Sorry not sorry. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Y'all say, there's a line in there, too. I'm like, you know, bunch of niggas with attitudes. Like, you know what I'm saying? That was, that was clearly addressing the people on the West Coast. Who was feeling away. No sensitive about a regular board. I'm just, you know, my response to it was like, yo, I'm just bigger than my city.

You know what I'm saying? Like at that point, I'm like, you know what? I ain't, because for me, what was, what was like important to me in the beginning and it's like, I don't know. I don't know if it was a good thing in hindsight or a bad thing. But I'm like, one thing I'm not going to do is get on Twitter and like be walking it back.

Or something like that. Like, yo, I ain't mean it like that. Like, I felt secure. and what I meant, and then I'm already speaking to my people on that side, and they're telling me how they feel, and they're not taking no offense. I'm like, yo, fuck the internet. You know what I'm saying? Complete opposite with Jay Cole did, but yeah.

Yeah, you know what I'm saying? I mean, he takes a shot at, and sorry, not sorry. But even that, even that, though, it's like, you know, I don't delete that later, Joey won't. I won't. You know what I'm saying? Like, it was, it's commentary, you know what I'm saying? Like, it's not like, even that, I'm like, okay, you know, I did think about that one, though, because I'm like, all right, now is a little bit more.

attention, you know what I'm like, okay, you know what I'm saying? Like, motherfuckers. It's not disrespectful, though. It was the, it was the epitome of what this whole thing is, of what hip hop is. Right. To me, what you were doing. So that's why, you know, it was good to see the guys get out and, you know, get the pins moving, everybody rapping, lay in your, I love that.

You know what I'm a little older. So I know what that part of the culture is. It's like, this is rat. Never thought it was going to get serious or it was going to go left. Right. But I didn't understand how some people were really like, offended though and really felt the way like nah fuck that i'm like but this is what they're supposed to be doing this rapping

yeah and i mean i don't know i feel like the internet was offended i don't think like daylight was afielding it for the night night night wasn't offended yeah i think anyone like that participated i mean they like they're having conversation since the beginning since the rulers you did you did mention in the last record yeah but i don't know if they had heard your bars before so before the red bullshit because um Shit, what's the daylight shit? He had the skate park. Apologies, like, I forgot the record.

It was one of my favorite joints. It came out before. Like backpack or some shit like that. Yeah, and he kind of predicted what Joey's first diss would have been. And then Joey had mentioned on the last record, like, you heard all my bars in the Red Bull shit months ago. Like, don't act like you some prophecy shit. Like, you knew what was going to happen. So that did happen.

Ab played that for him, or how did that even go about? So, you know, when we did the Red Bull joint, We did that shit in like March. It ain't end up coming to like what, like May or some shit like that. Yeah, around after. So, you know, I don't know if Ave specifically played it, but what I do believe happened is we recorded DeCypha at Big Sean's house, like a track.

Okay. Because the guys was, you know, everybody just kind of wanted to make sure that we had a backup plan in case lyrics couldn't be remembered, memorized in time. Facts, yeah. So it was like the idea of having this backing track. Okay. But I knew in that very moment that motherfuckers was going to hear my shit. Yeah.

You know what I'm saying? Because everybody's connected. You know what I'm saying? So like it don't got to be AB direct. It could have been his manager. Yeah. Boom, boom. Yeah, but he's going to hear it.

But then, you know, Ab is also a TDE artist. So top and, you know, the label is very involved on the rolling out of the Red Bull Cipher. You know what I'm saying? Everybody understands what it is. You know what I'm saying? So at some point, they heard it. You know what I'm saying? So I knew that that was going to happen.

I didn't know that it was going to take Red Bulls so long to put it out. So by the time that happened, I'm like, okay, if I'm my enemies, I have a plan of action to respond to this, you know, when this shit dropped. You know, it dropped. It went crazy. And just like I predicted, motherfuckers had a move. the day after, which made it look like to the public, like, oh, like he, yeah, like he went in the studio last night, like, nah, nah, niggas is prepared. Yeah.

And again, I'm not here to have you start trouble with past. It was an amazing moment, I think, for hip-hop, because everyone just rapped and everyone became cool and friends and everything's fine now. I will go back to some of the stuff we talked about because we was on your side the entire time. but before daylight got involved we sat here nervous for you just because of who Light is

and what his past career he's a battle rapper yeah and Light I think actually is one of a few battle rappers that does make music that's good as well which is tough so we was a little nervous

and boy was we proven fucking wrong yeah I don't think I don't think of where you were you a little like that I don't even know were you a little

surprised that daylight didn't come the way we thought Paul is the way we usually see in a battle with him? Some of those, by his standard, because I think

daylight is an alien. I wouldn't say that he didn't, you know, Paul's come the way that, like, you know, he usually comes. But I think one thing that I understood about it is that he was in a different arena. This is a different stage for daylight. How does battles? Yeah, but we're not on

the stage. Yeah. Okay, so it's not the performative aspect of battle. He's delivered on beats his whole. You know, I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's the first of his kind of a battle that daylight has had. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, as far as that's for sure.

Yeah. In the public guy or trading tracks. You know what I'm saying? Usually he's on the stage. Yeah. And I think, you know, this whole thing would have went down different if it was like on the stage or shit like that. So I'm like, you know, that was one thing that I knew like, okay, cool.

That's, that's definitely one thing to my advantage, right? And I even say it, I'm like, yo, no matter what stage they put you on, you still ass down. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? That's my thinking. Entendre when he took his ass out and shit on the thing. You know what I'm thinking with that whole thing.

But then two, I feel like one thing that gave me a confident edge over the whole situation was when he did the backpack thing. Because I'm like, you shouldn't have to do that. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? So that made me feel like, okay, this is like I could do this shit. You know what I'm saying? this is beatable, you know what I'm saying?

Because now you're leaning into optics and shit like that, which I'm like, you're the great, you know what I'm saying? You don't need to do this. You don't need to do that. You're leaning on, oh, I knew this before shit. Right, you know what I'm saying? So that kind of gave me a little bit of, I feel like power and energy in the situation where it's just like I was able to approach it like a little bit differently.

But yeah, now shout out the day though, man. I really do love day. That's my man. And like, you know what I'm saying? That's my God. Daylight is one of the greatest. I just want to know where he had. I haven't heard anything from him.

As he posts on social media, like we haven't seen daylight at all. I heard he dropping a joint song. The album? Yeah. Album or, yeah. Listen, again, it's surf and light that I think are the two battle rappers that like make good, they know how to make good music.

So that's where I was a little nervous. But what was that called to Lux like? Oh. Like how did that whole thing come together with loaded Lux? Let me take a little sip Yeah And I know Lux was laughing Like I know when he got the call he started laughing

Like what's what you doing? If I remember correctly on YouTube It didn't say featuring loaded luck No I did No because I remember being in my I posted the most Statue of Liberty emojis I've ever posted in my fucking like

Once I heard Lux come on that second verse Yeah Yeah man You know so me and Lex go way back You know what I'm saying Like I connected with Lux like probably 10 years ago, eight years ago.

Like I did the feature film, like, back in the day. You know, so we always just had that rapport. Yeah. Or whatever. And, you know, I actually had a conversation with him early on in the year. Like, you know, when the shit first started kicking off and shit like that. You know, we was, you know, laughing, joking.

And, you know, talking about the idea of possibly, like, if I was going to engage, like, you know. But it was really just kind of like, poking fun out of the whole situation. Like, it wasn't nothing serious. I ain't, like, really be like, yo, boom, boom. But then when the, uh, when the, when the, when the red bull shit happened, I'm like, okay, cool. So I'm my opponents, right?

I heard this shit for two months. Mm-hmm. I got my move ready. Yeah. And, you know, right the next day, you know, Ray Vaughn drop. Mm-hmm. And then I'm like, okay, cool. I went to the studio that night.

Mm-hmm. And I made the finals. You know what I'm saying? Boom. But then after that, I'm like, okay, what is this nigga light going to do? You know what I'm saying? I'm like, I have no idea what this motherfucker is going to do. So I'm waiting, you know what I'm saying?

Like, you know, I'm keeping the pin hot. Yeah. Just in case, because I don't know when this thing is going dropped and he starts tweeting shit and all that. I'm like, all right. They say my now is Monday. You know what I'm saying? So you dropped the joint and I'm like, oh, I bet.

You know what I'm saying? You know what I felt? like, I felt like, okay, cool. It was almost like when you get in the ring with your opponent and you feel that first punch, you're like, oh. That's it? Yeah, you know what I'm saying? Like, oh, okay.

So then, yeah, I went to studio, call Lux. I said, yo, yeah, it's time. It's time. Let's go ahead and finish him. It's time. It's like, yo, I'm about to see you this, he sent it back lightning quick. I ain't going on. Yeah, shout out to Lux.

No, Lux is, he's, he's, he's a, I want some of Lux. I watch some of Lug's freestyle still to this day. Of course, it's tough to be objective, but where do you rank my town in, if complex were to put out every list that they used to put out of the top 50 disc records of all time, of where my town lands? I don't know where I'd put it. To me, I think it's a little higher. Of course, the dust has to settle and it just happened. But I think when time passes, I think that my town record might be up there. in one of the greatest battle records, in my opinion.

Yeah. If you look at everything that was happening with that entire week and how crazy that shit was, that was kind of the stamp that, and of course I have a New York bias. But after that, I was like, this is over, man. Like, I don't really, I don't care too much after this. This is done now.

We spoke about it here. This is done. I'm obviously familiar with your pen and your work, but you definitely outperformed my expectations. Where to. Like, I knew what you were capable of, But I was just thinking like, this nigga Joey getting TV money. You know, what's going to start going that route?

It's like, do he really even still love that shit? You know what? I'll tell you something, right? Like, initially, that was my approach. Like when Day and Ray first started, like, jabbing and shit like that, you know, when I was doing sorry, not sorry, the pardon of me, and shit like that. I'm like, in my head, I'm like, I mean, I'm not about to engage for real. You know what I'm saying?

Because I'm like, it don't, it don't, I didn't see the win for me. But then I started getting hip, to the fact that people like, you know, what I learned over time is like every five years is a bunch of new hip hop fans. Oh yeah.

That coming to the picture, get on that Twitter, get on the internet, have a bunch of opinions, think pieces, podcasts, all of that shit. So in that moment,

you said what? I said, what they, why are we catching a stray? No, no, no, not y'all. Y'all ain't catching a stray.

I actually did that as a compliment. Yeah, finally people were actually talking about rap music. for a fucking change. You know what I'm saying? But so pretty much what I realized, I'm like, oh, you know what? There's a lot of people who are in discovery mode about me. Yeah. Oh, absolutely.

You know what I'm saying? Even though I have my accomplishments and my success. Absolutely. There's still a lot of people who are not familiar with 1999, Joey, before the money, on American. So at that point, when we clicked up for the Red Bull Joint and, you know, because I because, you know, Ab, like, gave me, like, a sample of his verse. And then when I peeped that he was doing the, he mentioned the daylight and race.

I was like, you know what? This is a good opportunity. Now I saw it as, like, I saw a win in it for me. I'm like, this is a good moment to remind me to engage because I can remind people, not even remind, I could fucking hit people to what this pen do. You know what I'm saying? So that's when I, that's when I jumped in. Also, like, you know, the one for me, too, you know, I'm definitely was cognizant of it was

it being like Joey versus the field. You know what I'm saying? Like that, that was a better battle for me. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Rather than me versus this person alone or me versus that person alone, it was, it was more worth it for me to be like going up against a bunch of people. You know what I'm saying?

So at that point, I'm like, yeah, you know what? It was healthy. Yeah, it's game time. Like, like, let's get it. Like I see, I see the win, I see the opportunity, and I'm taking it. In the midst of that, you don't have to answer. Just blink twice if Top Dog paid you to do all that. Top Dog is not paying.

I'm just saying, that was the talk. We did have, like, fairly, we did have, like, TD East. Yeah, we did have some dialogue. Like, you know what I'm saying? Just, like, you know, joking and, you know, a lot of joking and laughing and shit. shit I ain't going on a top he had he he

bought me some some seats some tickets one night to the nick game while that shit was going on he was like yo you gotta be out there man like you know what I'm saying you know so that was love but we definitely did have a few conversations you know talk about the whole TD East thing and like you know how he thought that shit was clever

he's like yo nigga I've been laughing about that shit since last night and shit like that I'm like yo she kind of got a ring to us you know we should talk we should have a conversation you know what I mean So we definitely spoke about that and the possibility of sitting down. But he didn't have this whole elaborate scheme set up to get his artist's eyes. Absolutely not.

Nah, you know what I mean? This whole thing, like nobody knew I was going to come with the rulers back. What you said? She ain't say nothing. She didn't work anyway. Listen, nobody knew that I was going to come with the rulers back. And after the rulers back, I didn't know what was going to transpire. Like when I tell you, this shit was rolling with the punches,

it was rolling with the fucking punches. The only moments of like preparation I had was once I did that Red Bull freestyle and knew that it was sitting with that side for two months. At that point I'm like, okay, cool, I smell something. Now I could see what's coming.

But before that, I couldn't see nothing. You know what I'm saying? Like, it was just surprise every day, you know what I'm saying? So, yeah. We are extremely excited to announce our new presenting sponsor. Hard Rock Bet.

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Listen to Dos Amigos as part of the Michael Tutta podcast network available on the I-HeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or where wherever you get your podcast. Well, then let me ask you this. Having that side of the brain of the competitive side of what was going on and having to be reactive in a timely manner,

at what point did you go, all right, now I got to focus on my album and how do I capitalize off everything that just happened to get too lonely at the top? So when I made rulers back, right? Like that last week of 2024, so, you know, I've been working on this album, not the one that I just put out.

I've been working on a album for the last three years. You know what I'm saying? It's a conceptual album. And it required me to go in a specific direction with my subject matter. So the last week of 2024, I got really activated on some, you know, I just kind of on the rap right now. Yeah. So I kind of like got inspired to make this other project that wasn't conceptual,

that gave me the outlet to kind of like put out. a bunch of other music that I wanted to put out before putting out this conceptual album. You know what I'm saying? So that's kind of what Rulers Back was in the spirit of, it was in the spirit of me making this new project. At the time, I didn't know what it was. I didn't have a name for it, but I'm just like, it's more kind of just diverse, you know what I'm saying?

It's not confined to a subject or anything. It just kind of allows me to get some shit off that I want to get off. and, you know, ruler's back, what came from that was a bunch of back and forth. Then in the midst of that, sorry now sorry was created, right? You know what I'm saying? Because it was kind of my way of like acknowledging what was going on, but still not really responding directly to it. And then, you know, then I put out the three song EP.

And I'm like, shit. Did that scratch the edge? I'm like, ah, I still kind of want to put out some new shit. And then the fucking the battle battle started. You know what I'm saying? And that happened. We put out, you know, three. records did. And I'm like, okay, now I feel like I have to feed this new listener, this new

I. And you know what I'm saying? I want to now use this opportunity to get out some new music. You know what I'm saying? And that's what lonely at the top became was, you know, this opportunity for me to kind of put together this compilation of records that I just felt like, you know, because I've never. this is the quickest project I've ever made. And I say that in a very positive way for me. That feels really good because when I look at the course of my career, I took five years between the second album and the third album.

And in between Lonely at the top and 2000 was another three years. That's eight years of like inactivity. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? That's eight years. Musically. Right, right, right. But to me, I'm like, that's eight years where, you know, I think for a long

time I've been fearful of being able to drop a project like lonely at the top. Yeah. Because I feel like, you know, because I understand that the expectations for me is super high. You know what I'm saying? Motherfuckers wanting me to put together a body of work. And I want that too. But sometimes, not sometimes like for a long time, I create a lot of music that is

outside of the realm of like something that is like so deeply conceptual. And I fall in love with that music too. but I feel like I never find the outlets to put it out, to get it out. You know what I'm saying? So that's what lonely at the top was. Like, you know, it was for me almost like this fearless move artistically where it's just like, yo, this is what I want to do. You know what I'm saying?

Like, fuck what people may think I should do right now. May one for me, this is what I want to do. This is what I want to put out. You know what I'm saying? This is my expression at the time because usually by the time I put out a project, these songs are two, three years old. Yeah. Three years, four years old.

Like, you know what I'm saying? Something that dates it a little bit on the- Yeah, you know, so sometimes I got to go back in, change the line or some shit. Or even want to be represented on how you felt three years ago. Right, you know what I'm saying? It's like it no longer resonating with me. I don't think that way anymore. You know what I'm saying?

So, you know, I feel like this really allowed me, like, I've always been a quality of a quantity artist. And, you know, not to say that I feel that I, uh, compromised the quality on this project at all, but this to me was more about like, yo, I want to get this music out. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? So I'm going to do that. You know what I mean?

Like, I love these songs and no, like, it's not deep. You know what I'm saying? It's like it's intentionally not deep. Yeah. Like I didn't put together this crazy concept. No, this is just songs that I really fuck with right now. And I want to put out because it's in the key of my life at the moment. You know what I'm saying?

Yeah, I think even, you know, we've had debates about the Tyler project that just came out. But he was also on that side, too, of like I've constantly felt like I have to sit and come up with a whole new image. Every single album has to be this whole moment in time. Not like all these records. I have the ability at this point in where my business is at and where I'm at, Chris, like, here you go. You can just have it. And I think we in that era anyways, because down to what you were saying with the battle, like, there's fans. that were not around in 2012.

There's younger kids that became fans at you because of the output that was going on of that battle. Now with our attention span, you need to just keep putting shit out. Keep putting shit out, yeah, facts. And it's like, you know, I really want to be more aligned with that idea.

Yeah. You know what I'm saying? I really, like, musically, you know, I think about it. Like, I'm 30 now. I'm like, all, shit. Like, these next 10 years, I want to put out the most music

I've ever put out. You know what I'm saying? like, like, I want to put out way more music than I did in my 20s. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? I only gave three projects in my 20s. Like, you know, I'm going to give like at least five. Yeah.

This go around, you know what I'm saying? So, like, yeah, that's why in my mind I'm like, you know what? Like, fuck it. Like, it don't got a concept, but this is what you want to do. Like, I always look at music like painting. You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm painting. This is the pitch of that.

This is my interpretation or this is my artistic expression. at the moment and usually I don't get to share that so closely to when I'm feeling it. Yeah. So, you know, lonely at the top was, was, was a bit of, I feel like it gave me some type of like artistic empowerment and like integrity. You know what I'm saying? It's like, yo, yeah, it's the fuck I want to do. Does having a family, two kids, like, does that change that perspective of like, hey, no, I'm not doing three albums in my 30s, we're pumping. shit out. Oh, I mean, I would say shift and pivot of a lifestyle change, I guess, a bit. No, I don't think that if anything, what that has to do with, like, it has to do with getting

in the way. Yeah, okay, fair. You know what I'm saying? Like, like me being able to not move as fast as I want to. Yeah. You know what I mean? Less output because I want to be around. Right. You know what? Maybe more material because you're around them. Right. And you know what? You know, to be frank, too, is like the only reason why I feel like I didn't put out more like music in my 20s is because you know, I came into this game really young. Yeah. So I was like, yo,

I spent the last 15 years finding myself. You know what I'm saying? Trying shit fucking don't away pieces that I don't like, you know what I'm saying? Just picking up new things and all that. So I think that a lot of it was me really trying to understand like who I was, who I wanted to be, how I wanted to show up and shit like that. And me constantly shifting from, like in six months, right?

In six months I'll be a whole different person. Like, ah, that music I just made six months ago, I could throw it all the way. You know what I'm saying? I haven't wanted no more. Like six months ago, I would have loved to put that shit out. But now six months later, I'm like, now I want to work on a whole new thing. But I mean, what even kept you grounded in that regard? because we've most people that find money and even a tiny bit of fame at 15, 16, 17,

typically turn out to be fucking insane human beings. What kept you rounded through that entire thing? I'm like, damn, am I insane? No, you're not. Which, no, I think it's like, it's like, it's one of the same ones. I don't know if it's just, again, back to the bias of the New Yorker shit, but it's, it's very odd that your story shouldn't be the way it is if it's somebody else. you would usually turn out to be a fucking very strange.

Like McCauley Cawkeness, but that's the thing though. I wasn't like a child star, though. Of course, not in that regard, but let's not act like you weren't rich and somewhat famous at 18. Oh yeah, yeah, no, no, no, no, no, no, that's valid. Because, you know, I was thinking about that day,

I was talking to somebody, I'm like, yo, my whole adult life, I've been in some type of public eye. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? That's not normal. At all. That's not normal. You know what I'm saying?

Like, I don't have no recollection of adult life without existing in the public guy type of shit. So, I mean, I would say that a lot of it got to do with family. You know what I'm saying? I've never moved out of New York. I spent 30 summers here. And, you know, I'm starting to regret it a little bit. Like, yo, I need something new, man.

Like, I want to kind of be afraid. You know what I'm saying? Like, I want to be like feeling something that. Yeah. Yeah, you know, so that is a big part of it, like grounded by my foundation, by my roots. And then, you know, also I think just the type of man that I am, the type of human that I am, it's like, you know, I'm always seeking knowledge.

I'm always seeking feedback. I'm always trying to take accountability, trying to be a better person. That's like extremely important to me. You know what I'm saying? So Lonely at the top is out now go stream that. One of the features that I was really happy to see because this is somebody that I think is super ill. But sonically, y'all remind me of each other so much. It was Rome Streets.

Oh, yeah. Like, that was like, when I saw you in Rome had a record together, I was just, the hip-hop nerd in me was like, that makes all the sense. And where how did that come about and do you and Rome have like a relationship before this or is just the start of it? So, you know, no, no, no, no. You know, so I did a joint with Rome, I want to say like, what, like two years ago now.

You know what I mean? And that's the first time we connected. But me putting him on this project was very intentional because I feel like when it comes to this side. out of hip hop. When I say this out, I mean like the lyrical niggas and shit like that. I feel like it's not enough of us like lifting each other up. You know what I'm saying? So I really wanted to kind of like lead by example in a way. I think it's easy for us to like, you know, I mean, I mean not always easy, right, but I think it's easier for us to be able to

like jump on somebody's record. But it's like to put somebody who's going to come up on your shit, I think that's like the ultimate like olive branch So like you know You know what I'm saying Support and shit like that Because yeah I fuck with Rome You know what I'm saying

I think Rome is super dope He ain't Rome is also Brooklyn Right You know what I'm saying So like I look at Rome like home team Cod Cash same thing I became familiar with Cockcatch through the whole back and forth

I've never heard his music before We do got a lot of mutuals and shit So I'm like yo His history His parents and everybody in Brooklyn Is that super big kid Yeah yeah yeah exactly And I got hip to the music

that and all that. So I'm like, yo, you know what? Like, I really want to lead by example with that. And I want to intentionally be able to like lift motherfuckers up. You know what I'm saying? And shine the light and not like, you know, hoard or keep everything, you know, for myself. And I want this, I want all of us as lyrical emcees to welcome that and embrace that. Because I think on this side of the game, it's a lot of, it's way more competition. Oh, absolutely. Or at least the competition is different. You know what I'm saying?

So I want to kind of like kick that door down and being like, yo, we could have that friendly competition, you know what I'm saying? But we could all still coexist. Like, I don't got to be afraid, you know, to give Rome or cause some light. You know what I'm saying? Afraid of what? You know what I'm saying? Oh, because they're going to get some of my fans, they should.

You know what I'm saying? I have some of my fans. Because I feel like that's how I felt on the way up. You know what I'm saying? I'm like, yo, like I know I'm not. nice, you know what I'm saying? And like, I'll connect with people who, when I see them in person, it's like, yo, I fuck with you. Like, yo, I got some records for you. Boom, boy. I'm like, sent it. Yeah. And nicks will never send the shit. And it's just like, as a lyrical

nigga, what's you going to think? Right. Like, you don't want to rap when you're scared. You know what I'm saying? You know what I mean? So I kind of just want to change that perception and just make it fun, make it easy, make it inviting for us lyrical MCs to share space with each other. I mean, it's kind of full circle back to the New York conversation that we were trying to avoid. I think that's also what's been missing. Yes. More unity. That very, very thing. More unity in the city. Period. Yeah. Yeah. Listen, I'm somebody like, I got a firm understanding, bro, in belief that like, it was enough money I had for all of us. My name. Absolutely. And it's like, yo, nobody's going to be Joey. You know what I'm saying? Like, like, niggas could do what they want to do.

You know what I'm saying? Yeah, we got a, I'm mean, you know what I'm saying? Like, I'm, I'm mean, you know what I'm saying like I'm on TV too I'm doing a bunch of other shit too like I'm gonna shine different you know what I'm saying so I'm not worried about giving the nigger an entryway on my track is like yo I think you dope but I think you deserve

it you know I'm saying you sure had that entryway type shit and you know that's how I feel about Rome and Kai and that's what I told Rome too when like I first told him that you I wanted you know him to jump on my shit I'm like yo bro like I want to shine a light on you you know what I'm saying because you deserve that shit nigga like nice

The Romans, Rome is one of the other. Oh, no, Rome is definitely one of the best right now. And even, like, I do hate some of that New York conversation because I always felt, you know, maybe there could have been more records between pro era and ASAP. But, I mean, you know, one train obviously is a classic. Ferg is on the joint now. It was one joint that we had on the cozy tape shit, too.

What happened? What was that era like when both crews were coming up? Because I know y'all did fuck with each other. Yeah. Yeah, no, yeah. We, like, Ferg was my brother. Yeah. to this day.

You know what I'm saying? Me and Flaco cool to this day. You know what I'm saying? 12y, like... Love 12. Nass. You know what I'm saying? Fucking Addy.

Everybody, you know what I'm saying? Like, first time we went on tour was back at 2013. So it's like a real brotherhood between pro era and ASAP. You know what I'm saying? But as far as like collaborations, I don't know. You know, it is also a real thing that sometimes things just don't align. Oh, yeah. And I think it was more of that.

Like Harlem and Brooklyn. Yeah. You know what I mean? But also, like, you know, we was really, we was like, I would sound like, yeah, we was all New York and we represented pieces of New York, but I'll say like, you know, pro-era, like, we was more, like, conscious. Yeah. You know what I mean?

And, like, the mob was more like. It was wavy. Yeah, you know, wavy, trill or whatever. So, you know, trying to find that medium is not always the easiest thing artistically. But we was always able to, like, just get along and hang out. and share space and support each other. You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, Rocky then came out to, like,

when I was doing the Steve Day Festival, Rocky probably came on like three years, three years in a row or some shit like that, you know what I'm saying? And vice versa. I've been to Yams. I came out of Yams Day for a few times as well. So we was always able to share space,

but it wasn't always the easiest thing to, like, naturally find how the music was created. Yeah, which is fine. Yeah, which is cool, you know what I mean. Are there any other producers on this album that you wanted to work with and are there any other producers that you're looking forward to working with

that you haven't had the chance to work with yet? Producers, let me see. Like, who's on your like, I gotta get a couple joints with this producer? For real. That makes all the sense in the world. Yeah, for real. I think everybody else

I didn't pretty much work with at this point. I mean, super flea, I feel like you put the call out there. That Neptune shit. I was around Bree when she was working. I'm like, we're gonna break Brad on? I had to do this shit myself. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I was around Bree when she was working on that joint, friend of the show, she's been on here a bunch. That's, that's our home girl. Shout to Bree, man. I love Bree. I love for you. Yeah, facts. And when she had played me the first idea when she was right into it,

I was like, okay, yeah. That's why Joey and I around the same age is like, that Neptune shit and what that did to us as kids. Facts. Who produced that? Because they-cook night. They nailed it not in a, like a biting way.

They did make it their own. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, Kirk Knight produced that. Kirknight also produced all of the records that I had in the battle of my town and crashed on me. He smoked my town.

Yeah, yeah, you know, Kirknight, Kirknight is pro-era. Yeah, no, no, I know. You know what I'm saying? Doing y'all shit forever. But yeah, when we was in the studio that day, made Superflea, I'm like, at first I was like, I don't know.

Is it too close? We kept listening. I'm like, yo, this shit sounds like so much things. And we call it Superflea because to me what I heard at first was Super Thug. Okay. You know what I mean? And the funny thing is Kirk can't even hear the song.

He never even heard Super Thug. How? What? Out of the amount of records that he's produced for you. Let me rephrase that. He's her Super Thug, but he wasn't like familiar with it in the way that I was familiar. Yeah, okay, okay. You know what I'm saying?

Like, he heard it in passing throughout his life as childhood. And when I played, he's like, oh, I know that. But it's like, I know Super Thug. You know what I'm saying? I'll still bump Super Thug to this day type of shit. So immediately I'm like, nigger, that shit sounds like this. Yeah. And then somebody else played hollaback gang and like,

nigga, that shit sounds like this. I'm like, yo, this shit is weirdly just a fucking amalgamation of like a whole of that shit. Yeah. It's weird. But I'm like, you know what? I got to do this shit. Yeah.

I got to do it. I remember on the show I was talking about the first time we actually met. We were in Atlanta at JD Studio. And I was telling Roy, I was laughing. I was like, yo, I was in the studio with JD. And, you know, Joey walked in. I was like, you know, obviously I love what he's been doing for New York and everything. Finally got a chance to meet him super cool.

I was like, yo, but he fucked me up because he was standing in the hall. And if you ever been to JD studio, he got all his plaques all over the floor. All the action figures and shit, yeah. So I'm like, yo, so Joey was standing there. He was staring at Bow Wow's plaque. and I think a fight of something was on and we were watching and I kept looking I'm like, why is he standing at the wall

looking at Bow Wow's plaque like this and I remember you saying like yo this is the guy that inspired me to rap and I was like Bow Wow I could not believe like to this day because nothing about your sound your style the way you rap

says Bow Wow inspired me but I guess the age and obviously bow wow was a megastar But artistically was it inspirational was it just the fact that he was You couldn't turn on the TV On Nazi vibe Oh you're just saying in general

No in general in life No you're not like I feel like Like listen the inspiration What I meant by that is When I saw a bad way I remember I was a kid Yeah So I saw myself in bad way

I was like oh shit Like here's a kid Here's a black kid You know what I'm saying Like having success in this shit I always had an affinity for rap And poetry and shit like that So that just kind of made me feel like he made me feel like I was closer to the dream because I looked at him like me.

Yeah. You know what I'm saying? But it wasn't necessarily like a sound thing. Okay. And it's funny that you say that because a lot of people in this game currently today, you know what I'm saying? Come up to me and they say that. And it's like they sound. There's nothing like my shit.

Yeah, yeah. But they be like, yo, when I first saw your shit, like going boom, you inspire me and I realize it's the same thing for them. They just saw them in me. seeing like a young black dude making it out the motherfucking nowhere. Yeah. That's inspirational. That's like, oh, I could do it too. Right.

That's what it communicates. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, you know, people sometimes they're inspired in a way to where they just see themselves in you. Yeah. And it's not necessarily like a sonic thing, a musical thing. It's just more of a aspirational thing. Yeah.

I can make it. Yeah, exactly. And even that bow wow was rapping. Like forget the song. Because it was very much of Jay-D sound and not so much like what ended up being 1999, but... The shit was fire.

Yeah. I guarantee if you, if I have not listened to Beware of the Dog in probably 20 years, but that's so embedded in my brain. If you played a Beware of the Dog song, I could probably rap along the air. Take your home still slap.

I just listen to it not so long. I should still slap. Like I could probably rap. If you just played it, I could probably wrap it. Because it's so embedded in my mind. Like, no. It's imprinted. It's imprinted.

I was imprinting them motherfuckers brain. I love Tabawa. Listen, I get it, but it's just like, it's just to hear that. I was in the scream tour and all that. See what I'm saying? But I was a kid word. You know what I mean? Came over school one day.

My auntie, my mom's like, yo, they got a scream tour tickets. I said, we're out. You shitting me? That's hilarious. Yeah. I mean, what were some of your other, I guess, influences that would make sense? Make more.

I guess more sense to 1999 as far as I don't know if it would be Doom. I don't know if it would be Kyle. I don't like. You said Doom? Yeah. Oh, absolutely Doom. I was having, bro. When I was in high school, bro, I went through a crazy Doom phase, man,

because that's why I was introduced to Doom, rest in peace, my brother, Capital Stees, put me on the Doom. Like, when I got to high school, ninth grade, I was like, I'm getting signed to Young Money. Okay. That was my vision. Yeah. That was my vision for self. That's what I was thinking.

I'm like, yeah, I'm a nigga, nigga young money gonna sign me, nigga, you know what I'm saying? 10, 11. Yeah, I'm like, yeah, I'm like, yeah, you know what I'm saying?

Like, nah, that's, but then I got to high school and, you know, I met people like Steve's, and then he put me on the MF Doom. And I'm like, oh shit, I ain't even know

motherfuckers rap like this. Right, yeah. It was like, you know, because, you know, when you got an idea and you think about young money, it's like, that's everything you're exposed to,

like, on the radio, you know, on the TV. Yeah. But then when I was introduced to underground rap, it was like this whole world open in my brain. And then I started to go back in time. Then I started revisiting the classes because, you know, you grew up in New York. You're familiar with Niz.

You're familiar. But my entry to Naz is Ushiwali. Right. You know what I'm saying? It's like, like, that's when I'm hearing. That's when Naz is coming through my consciousness for the first time. It's like, Ushuwali, Wadi. Hate Me Now and shit like that.

Even with Mob Deep, like the first Mob Deep song, I love. loved was hey love and then went super bad like I thought was I was 11 I'm like I'm my shit probably my should like yeah yeah yeah like it's my intro like my my deepest shit that shit was mainly because of 112 yeah but I was really outside with shook one's drop like I was inside I was five years old what were you in uh shook one's drop 95 yeah I was I was being swaddled. Yeah. Yeah.

I was probably hearing it, you know what I'm saying? You definitely heard it. Yeah, but you were being swaddled. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So you're going out on the road. Yeah.

Going on the tour, how you feel about getting back outside, man? Man, it's different nowadays. I can't lie, you know what I'm saying? Like now post-pandemic and shit like that, like, tour feels different for me. Like, when I was, you know, 17, 18, I had the guy. We're going out there, collective strong. Shit was fun.

Now, kind of feel like work a little bit. I ain't going to lie. But what makes it worth it is seeing the people, touching the people, hearing the stories, and seeing those faces, people crying and shit like that. You know, but I can't lie. I don't enjoy the fucking terrible food. You know what I'm saying? You eat like shit on the road.

I mean, what do I eat? I can't get no ox tail right now. Not a some of them states. 30 days, no watchtale. You know what I'm saying? 30 days. That sounds like an album. 30 days no ox tail.

That's an action bronzed record. How are you going to bring the family on the road? No. We said no tour this year. This was the first time. How many years now have we been torn? Three? I'm saying even with the old pot like, shit.

This is the first time this year. This year I said no to touring. because I've got a kid and shit. I feel you, bro. Oh shit, we had Amara in Chicago, Philly. Like, I can't keep taking my kid on the road. Nah, I feel you, bro. Like, that shit is exhausting.

I feel you. Like, you know, my daughter is seven, but my little man just, you know, you're just a couple months old. Yeah. And it's like, you know, the tour environment is just not a sanitary one. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, anytime you get on that tour, every tour I've gotten sick.

Oh, for sure. Everybody gets sick and hands, huh? Yeah, just take one motherfucker to sink the bus. You know what I'm saying? One, you know what I'm saying? Because it's just so close quarters and all of that, you know. Yeah. There's a lot of energy exchange.

I'm giving daps to like a hundred motherfuckers every city. Yeah. And shit like that. Like, yeah, that's not an environment for little man. But I'm definitely going to, you know, fly back home or some. But it's good for guys. Like you're taking Kai out on the road with you, right? No, no, no, no.

I'm taking, that's, I think Kai going out with Jed. He's going out with Jid. Yeah, Kyle going out with Jid. Right now it's just myself, absolution, and right? Rhapsody. And we're about to start adding motherfuckers in the city.

Oh, that's a lot of rap. It's a lot of rap. It's a lot of rapy rap shit. Yeah. But you know my ass going to be front row for it. Yeah, I got to get to get that show.

Y'all got to make some noise. Rory going to scream. Oh, you know Rhapsody family, I've known. Yeah, shout out the Rack. Shout out the rap, man. What's one of your favorite Mac Miller memories?

Matt. Oh, man. I can't remember where we was at. We were somewhere overseas doing one of those festivals. And I remember pulling up, you know, because at the time Static Select was my DJ. And Static and Mac had a super close relationship. You know what I mean? That was like his little brother. So I remember we like, you know, we went to Max dressing room. And it's so funny

because at that point, I seen him reading his lyrics and listening to his music. Like trying to get prepared for the show. And I was like, man, I ain't never going to. have to do that. Now that's where I'm at in my life. It's like, before every show I got a like, I'm reading the lyrics. Like, I'm like, but it's just such a distinct memory of that because I remember being like, that shit just seems so fun of me. I'm like, you gotta read your lyrics? Like, you don't know your music? But I, you know, I'm thinking from a nigga who only had one project out type shit, you know what I'm saying? At the time, and you already put a couple out. But,

yeah, that whole, that whole situation, that whole day, man, we just had a lot of fun. Like Mac was a very, just a fun dude to be around. You know what I'm saying? Like, never serious. You know what I'm saying? It's just being jokes and just a good time and shit like that. So I remember that. I can't remember what fucking festival that was, though.

Super talented, though, Mac Miller. Yeah, man. Rest of peace, man, for sure, for sure. So let's talk about, you know, the big screen. Being on TV, man, with Raising Canaan playing unique. How much has that changed? changed Joey's like real life. How much has that impacted your real life?

Well, shit, man. Like, black people gravitate to me now. Like, in real way. Like, you know what I'm saying? For the longest time. It's not me. Like, yo, you heard 1999? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

You know what I'm saying? No, facts, facts. You know what I mean? But a long time, I could kind of go under the radar. You know what I'm saying? Like, you know, people are known like, oh, yeah, you know what I'm saying? But they're not like, it was no super.

fans. Like, you know what I mean? In my community like that. But now it's like, yo, boy, man. Like, I ain't going to lie. Sometimes I'm like, oh, some niggas over there, I'm going this one. Too many niggas outside. Yeah, I'm going to be.

Yo, you need going to wrong with me. Oh, shit like that. I be really low, bro. I be low and shit like that. So, no, but it's dope, though, man. And I really do love it. Like, I really. I really do love it, man.

Like, it's a beautiful thing. You know what I'm saying? Like, you always want to be embraced by your community. Absolutely. You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. It's beautiful. You're acting, though, like, definitely, like, you're, you're like an actor, like now.

And I understand it's, you know, playing a role of unique. And Raising Canaan is probably not too foreign to you. Movie Star, there you go. It's not too foreign. And let's not leave out him playing deck, I was mad when he didn't go to the second season. Yeah. But playing unique, obviously based in New York, New York story, kind of familiar to the slang and the fashion, everything is very familiar to you.

But you did add an element to Raising Canaan that I think brought in a lot of people like, yo, this is a really good show. Because a lot of people was kind of off it. The whole Power series got kind of weird after a while. But Raising Canaan, I think, brought in a lot of people. and then Unique's character definitely elevated it. But there was an interesting part

in season three obviously Ronnie beats the shit out of Unique. I thought your character was dead. I'm like, all right, contract. First we think it was contract. They couldn't come to an agreement.

Correction. Unique beat the shit out of Ronnie. But then the nigga got a metal. You know what I'm saying? He got a medal back. He won a unique one-man fight. Let's not forget that. Let's not forget that.

But then he got his hands on a fucking... All y' y'all be out of the streets. He was like, yo, I hate what Ronnie did? I'm like, did it. Did you see what I did the first? Yeah. And then we saw real footage and I was like, nah, Joey could fight too. But that whole thing, because I, it was presumed that Unique, the character was dead, which was like, this is probably one of the most favorite characters on the show why would they kill Unique?

Yeah. So I was on, they was like, nah, Unique ain't dead. He's coming back. I say, you'll listen, man, if they try to bring this unique character back after that beat, he took with that pipe and then dumping his body in the middle of Paul's. That was crazy. That was crazy. That was crazy. That was crazy.

That was beside myself. I couldn't even get it. I couldn't even say pause. That was crazy. Dumping his body in the middle of nowhere and then to come back to the next season. Like, was that originally part of it or was it something where unique was supposed to be written off because of we always think about contract issues. They weren't able to agree on something. So they had to kind of kill a character or was that literally part of how I was supposed to go.

So by the time, you know, you've seen it on TV and you're watching it, we already understood where we was going with it. Okay. You know what I'm saying? So it was already worked out in the background that I was coming back. Okay. Nobody else knew it except for me and like the showrunner. Okay. You know what I'm saying?

But what had happened was I opted out. I was like, you know what? because I had a schedule conflict with my tour when I dropped 2000. Okay. And the shooting schedule for Canaan. I was trying to make both work. It was no way to do both. So I was basically like, you know what?

Yo, y'all could kill me off. Season three, I wasn't planning to be here that long because I didn't want to get, you know, pitching hold into no character, you know what I'm saying? I didn't want to stay in, you know what I mean? So, fuck it, you know. And, you know, they didn't want to let me go. They like, it was kind of devastating. Of course, you became a fucking character.

But I'm like, yo, I'm still a rapper, though, guys. You know what I'm saying? I have a rap career. You know what I mean? I got to hit the road. World tour. You know what I'm saying? Like, so, you know, for me, it was just like, all, fuck it.

Like, you know, I felt like I ran the course at that point in time. I did what I had to do. So I was content with walking away. But the day that I walked into the headcasting office, head casting is, so you see the way you feel. fucking beating the character is like I had to get my my my head like uh like a silicone version of my head made almost there in there so they could like beat your head in yeah you know what I'm saying they could destroy it and um when I walked in there I had this crazy gut feeling that I was

making the wrong decision. Okay so I'm like yo like I think I'm making a mistake you know and Another thing that really made me walking away easier, I had a play that was in the future, like another opportunity, another role. But it wasn't solidified. You know what I'm saying? It was just something that was in the talks about. So I'm like, fuck it.

Like, you know what I'm going on my tour and I'm going to come home and I'm going to walk right into some other shit. So I'm like, you know what? But something was just telling me and it's like I'm very keen on like gut and like spirit. Like I feel like spirit talk to me. You know, like I listen. So I call my moms because, you know, my mom's is somebody who's always super profound when it comes to, like, decision making and shit like that. So I'm like, yo, like, I don't know what to do.

You know, I got this other opportunity, boom, boom. And, you know, she was like, yo, listen, one in the hand is better than two in the bush. And when she dropped that on me, I was like, all right, mama call you back. I call up Sasha Penn, who's the showrunner. And the creator, Razor Kay. And I'm like, yo, Sash, it's in any way we could, like, bring me back. And he was like, Joey, don't fuck with me right now. Don't play with me.

Are you serious? Because when we hang up, I'm going to make some calls and I'm going to call you back. But do not make me make these fucking calls. And you're not serious. Do not fuck me. It sounds like Kelly. And mind you, empower, we, 50. blew up in a warehouse and came back.

Right. We'll find a way. We'll find a way. Right, right, right. That nigga was locked in the old. We'll find a way to bring him back. They locked him in. No, we'll find a way.

Don't find a way. He came back. You know what I'm saying? Put a little burn on his arm. Yeah, he's fine. Yeah, a little scratch. You know what I'm saying? Fuck.

Like, yeah. But, yeah, he was like, all, you know, and he made the call. He called me back. He was like, yo, you got to keep this between us. You know what I'm saying? Because I got to do a lot of clean. I got to go back in the fucking writers room.

I got to change the story. Like, so just keep this between me and nothing shit. You know, I held it down. And, you know, I had to kind of rot it out. So the fucked up shit about it was I had to tell on my castmates, like when we did the table read for episode five where unique dies, yeah. Anybody said they farewells to me.

That's crazy. I know. I felt like an asshole, bro. I ain't going on. I'm like, yeah, you had your whole wake and Table reading, everybody say, oh, thank you, y'all. Like, you know what you're giving. It's incredible.

You know what I'm saying? I'm like, you know, I love y'all, man. Boom, boom, boy. Just for me to come back episode 10, yeah. Like, you know, so it was funny. That is hilarious, man. But, I mean, I understand why they made that, if they had to.

They had to bring unique back. And that has something to do also with the Wu Tang Hulu series when you was deck for the first season. Yeah, exactly. Which, by the way, I think Rizzo does not get enough credit. That's one of the best. series I've seen and you smoke Shout the Rizza

You smoked the play deck I was mad Thank you When it switched But forgive me for not knowing the other gentleman's name That played deck He smoked it as well

Oh yeah I forget my man's name Yeah he was I know he honestly thought he was a better deck than me Okay I thought he was You know what I said How did you prepare for the deck role

For the first of you To be real with you My heart wasn't all the way in there Okay You know what I'm saying And I think there's a clear distinction on like Joey playing deck and Joy playing unique. Because I never, like, I made it a thing.

Like, I never wanted to play a rapper. Yeah. Never. Okay. I made the exception for Rizza. Yeah. Because I love Rizza. And, like, he was one of my early mentors in the game.

So when he asked me, it was like a no way. Can't tell him no. Yeah. Like, I ain't. It says no to Rizzo. Yeah, I'm not. You know what I'm saying? I'm not going to tell him, no.

Like, you know, when they wanted me to do that, I'm like bad. But I never wanted to play a rapper. Okay. You know what I'm saying? And so while I was trying to make them both work, I couldn't because my deal with Canaan was exclusive. Okay. So I couldn't be a recurring on another show at the same time that I was on Canaan.

Yeah. I didn't have an exclusive with Wu-Tang, and that's how they lost me. You know what I was able to get another role and, you know, a better opportunity, what was a better opportunity for me and, you know, kind of peace out. Yeah. I mean, even as a fan, like when they did the press release for the first season of the Wu-Tang, saga. They had your name and they had Davies. It was like Joey Badass

playing Inspector Deck. Davies playing Methamah. By the way, I thought Dave's meth was a perfect casting. I was sitting there like, all right. Obviously they're rappers, they know how to deliver this shit. I was blown away about the way that worked.

Because Dave E. Smoke Method Man. You saying perfect casting, I'm telling you I was wrong in looking at that. I was like, I get it. Dave, from New York, light skin. This This will work, I guess, because he'll know how to deliver shit. He smoked that whole role. And you doing deck, I

wasn't even sure at that time. It's like, all right, we just grabbing around with the games now. I still had dreads. I still had dreads at the time. Underneath the little bandana, shit, was my dreads. I haven't even cut my hair yet at the time. Why that show did not get awards is beyond me. That whole series is

absolutely incredible. Shout out to Rism, man. Shout out to Rizum. We can close here. Would you say I was your best co-star in a video of all time when we did the Black Odyssey thing I mean I feel like You was great You was great

You was great You know You was a great bad teacher I felt like I felt like we had better On-screen chemistry than any of you Okay man Anything of Wooten

I really thought like you and I We were going to take it to the top after that video But not that's cool man I understand Yo ain't too late man Yeah we can do the buddy cop movie The buddy cop movie

The buddy cop Now you're going to little too far. Lonely at the top available now. Joey Badass on tour with Absol and Rhapsody. Coming to a city near you soon. Definitely going to the Brooklyn show. Oh, for sure.

Yeah. How about? It's that Paramount, right? Yeah, Paramount. I keep saying, Palladium. I never did Paramount. It's my first time. Definitely pulling up to that.

It's like a new venue or some shit. Definitely pulling up to that. That's our guy, Joey Badass. My brother, thank you, man. Good seeing you. Thank you for having me, man. Love. I'm Daniel Alarcon.

and this is my friend is much more famous than I am. I wouldn't go that far, but I'm John Green, co-host of 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. And I'm Kunky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers.

We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. American Soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramos sending on to Ernie Stewart, the chip.

Score! I'm Tab Ramos. I'm Tom Boe. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines, the biggest decisions, 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. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tab Ramos, on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast.

Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHart Podcasts presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip.

Just a little bit bigger hips. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. With all the snacks and drinks. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Well, they hit a bogo. Well, then you got them. Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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