No Jumper - Elvin Rodriguez on Starring in Netflix's Hustle, Meeting Adam Sandler & More

Episode Date: February 17, 2023

Sharp sits down with Elvin Rodriguez to talk about his Netflix’s sports movie and Oscar-nominated film: Hustle, his upbringing, future projects, and more. https://www.instagram.com/elvin5rodri... https://www.instagram.com/tha_sharp_one/ ----- 00:00 Intro 0:05 Elvin talks about being in the Netflix movie: “Hustle” 1:00 Elvin on how the pandemic affected his career 2:30 Growing up in Harlem with dreams of becoming a pro basketball player 4:05 Elvin talks about his experience on filming the Netflix movie “Hustle” starring Adam Sandler 7:20 Elvin on playing professional basketball in the Dominican Republic 10:00 Elvin talks about why he chose Netflix over playing pro basketball and moving to LA 15:35 Sharp talks about seeking a professional manager and encourages him to enroll in acting classes 25:30 Sharp and Elvin talk about advocating against violence and staying in school 29:30 Elvin talks about looking for a manager and inspiring others ----- NO JUMPER PATREON http://www.patreon.com/nojumper CHECK OUT OUR NEW SPOTIFY PLAYLIST https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5te... FOLLOW US ON SNAPCHAT FOR THE LATEST NEWS & UPDATES https://www.snapchat.com/discover/No_... CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE STORE!!! http://www.nojumper.com/ SUBSCRIBE for new interviews (and more) weekly: http://bit.ly/nastymondayz  Follow us on SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ENxb4B... iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/n... Follow us on Social Media: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/No_... http://www.twitter.com/nojumper http://www.instagram.com/nojumper https://www.facebook.com/NOJUMPEROFFI... http://www.reddit.com/r/nojumper JOIN THE DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Q3XPfBm Follow Adam22: https://www.tiktok.com/@adam22 http://www.twitter.com/adam22 http://www.instagram.com/adam22 adam22hoe on Snapchat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Sharp Tank. No jumper. Sharpest, coolest podcast in the world. And today, if you ain't seen my man, he was yoking on shit in the movie Hustle, man. He was dunking on shit, man, going crazy. I got my man, Elvin Rodriguez, in the building today. Ladies and gentlemen, how you doing today, man? You can't complain, bro.

Thank you for bringing me on, for sure, for sure, man. You from around here, or you? Harlem, New York originally. So you flew in? Yeah. Well, now I've been living out here now for the past year, you know, ever since the movie came out, but yeah, man. It's trying to, you know, do it out here, man.

Yeah. How's it been for you, man, like doing film and everything? It's been pretty good, to be honest, but that was my first film I've ever done. Yeah. You know what I got lucky during the pandemic. Because, you know, in the pandemic, ain't nobody knew what the hell he was doing. Right, right, right, right. I'm in the curve like, dang, I don't know what I'm going to be doing with the rest of my life.

All I knew was basketball in school, you know. Yeah. And just being under a specific system. When that pandemic hit, I was like, man. It seemed like when the pandemic hit, it changed for a lot of people. Yeah. Because you know what I'm saying? I feel like that's when I start trying some shit.

Like, or it just happened, bro. It was like, I think that was a time where people were watching a lot of shit. There wasn't nothing else to do. Yep. I agree, too, man. Like, to be honest, I didn't know that I can make music, act, or any of that stuff. because I was so used to waking up, going to practice, going to school, doing the same thing all over and over again. So it kind of like, you kind of like forget that, oh shit.

Like maybe I do have like other talents that I had to tap into. They fucked up and gave niggas time is what it was. That's what it was. Gave people time to really think about what they can actually do or be great at. Because I feel you on that, bro. Like motherfuckers, they wake up, they don't got time to worry about something that they may like because they got to go get some money to put some food on the table. They got to go, like you said, repeat that system every day, you know?

So that shit is crazy. I'm not going to lie, man. Like, when I look at it, like, how could you ever think about something when you work in a 10-hour shit? Like, last thing you want to do when you come home is worry about something like that. You want to take a shower, grab a plate to eat, maybe catch you a flick and rub on something soft. Yeah, I'm trying to tell you. I mean, shit, I don't think he's trying to do nothing extra at that point, you know?

So I think, yeah, I feel you. When the pandemic, when it did hit, it shut a lot. of stuff down. So all people had to do was sit back and think, you know, and I think, you know, I think smart ones like yourself found some type of different transitions, man, to get into, man. And look how it worked out for you. I mean, it's doing great. It's been doing great, man. And just like the love you get from it is just kind of crazy. You know, all I knew was basketball, right? And like, growing up, I would stand in front of like my grandma's TV and just start talking to myself. My grandma walking like, yo,

what are you doing? I'm like, Grandma, I just want to be on TV one day. I don't care if it's basketball, acting, music. Like, I just want to be on TV. You know what I'm saying? Just inspiring the hood, too, man. I grew up in Harlem. Yeah.

It's like the ways it's set up, it's set up so that you don't... Tell me and the viewers a little bit about that. Like, what was that experience like for you growing in Holland? I mean, growing up in Harlem, bro, like, all I knew was basketball and school. Yeah. And grandparents. Like, I could barely go outside because, you know, half the week, like, somebody was getting shot. My grandma's paranoid because something she's seen on the news, so she's like, yo, I don't want you outside.

Right. She wanted to happen to her granddad. Yeah, exactly. So it's just like, it was kind of hard and it was being around that type of environment, kind of like restricted my brain a little bit because, you know, I would get down to myself a lot. Why you feel like it restricted you? Because like, you know, you would see all these great things, all these NBA players doing great.

I'm just like, man, like, always wondering into myself like, how am I going to get there, you You know, how am I going to be able to take my family out of this circumstance? But, you know, just sticking with the dream, sticking with the vision. Yeah. Kind of like led me to another place, you know? Yeah. And that's just like influencing, playing professionally, playing Division I, and being on a Netflix movie, bro. So it's like...

That had to have been crazy. What was it like for you being on the movie Hustle and working with Adam Sandler? Man, Adam Sandler, he's cool, he's cool, bro. He's like one of the most down-to-earth people I've ever met. Man. Dude, we in my Yorker Spain, that's where they film my scene. Yeah, that shit was crazy, bro. I thought you was from over there, bro.

I thought like they just came over there and grabbed a few niggas, because you were speaking that shit fast with them, brun, and had that vibe to it from what comes from Spain, you know, just that culture because it's beautiful. Yeah, yeah. It's crazy. It was wild, and he pulls up and it's like Range Rover with these long basketball shorts and like a long tee, and I'm looking at him like, he's not serious right now. I was like, bro, this guy's worth this much, is dressing so regularly.

Like, you know what I'm saying? That just kind of like made me feel even more comfortable, like approaching him. I was right, like he's a friend, he's a good friend, loves a hoop. Yeah, yeah, yeah, man. It seems like he loves the game, yeah, man, for sure. It do. It seemed like he loved the game because he's always like trying to be, he's always been involved in some of his movies.

He's always got like some basketball or something, something that even pertains to it or even walks around some type of sports even, you know? So that's crazy, man. He's a, yeah, I definitely grew up watching some of his stuff, man. And then I just, I watched the movie Hustle and then I saw you. I was like, man, this dude. Like, who is this dude? Then come to find out you from around here, I was like, man, I didn't even know if he

speak English because the way you was, y'all was over there was, it looked very real, you know, the people were involved. It was, it was crazy. For you in basketball, do you, do you plan on like, trying to do like a G Lee? You're trying to do something? You know, it's crazy, but a lot of people have been to actually. me like, you know, you're going to take this, like, basketball serious or what? I play professionally, right?

And then after I played professionals, went also the pandemic hit. I went home and like during the pandemic, they weren't allowing nobody to play basketball. So I had left my crib one day, you know, the news is like, oh, if you leave your house, you will be going to get locked up past a certain time. And I'm just like, okay, I don't care. I remember that, yeah, they was doing them curfews. Curfews. That shit was crazy.

You know what I'm saying? I'm like, all right, I'm a 22-year-old with curfew. That's kind of crazy now at this point. I'm like, I'm going to go find me a hoop and I'm a hoop. And so I did just that. And as I'm climbing this gate, this guy pulled up, he's like, yo, yo, yo, Elvin. I'm like, damn, this is an undercover cop. I'm like, you about to get me.

But in reality, he was like, bro, I know I've seen you playing dykemen, which is a tournament back home in New York City. He's like a big street board tournament. And I'm like, yeah, yeah, that's me. Why, what's up? He's like, you should try it for this movie. They need a Spanish basketball, you know, speaking character. I'm just like, I'm going to give this a shot because, you know, I can't go wrong, you know.

Right, right. What's the worst can happen? They turn you back and you go home. Exactly. So I gave it a shot and then like a week later, I'm getting a callback. They're like, yo, we need you. I'm like, what? This is crazy.

So did I know I'm on a flight on my way to Mallorca? You know, so a lot of people, they asked me, like, you know, they asked me, we need to Like, oh. Are they first class? Yeah, first class. Yeah, there we go. We got to talk about it. I just needed to know, bro.

I needed to know. Hold on. Did they put you together right? They did that. They did that, bro. You know what I'm saying? You say you, I got a touch on it. You know, I wanted you to finish, but I had to ask, like, did you, you say you

played professional. Yeah. You played professional ball. Yeah, in the Dominican Republic. Yeah. Man, how, you know what? It seems like a lot of players do that, man. Yeah, bro.

They just say, fuck it. Like, I'm going overseas, bro. Like, I'm going overseas, bro. like, I'm gonna go play ball overseas. And it'd be some dope players, you know? But maybe, what do you feel? Do you feel like motherfuckers do that because they can get better shine over there, better, you know, insinatives, you know, from the situation than they would playing over here

in an American league? I think it's more so the experience, you know what I'm saying? Because like, the way the NBA makes a seem is like almost impossible to make it. Yeah, they do, bro. You know what I'm saying, bro? Yeah, they do, bro. Now you start hearing about these teams in different countries and you're like, nah, nah, hold on. Hold on.

This guy went overseas. I bet I could go overseas. Right. You know what I'm saying? It's like out there, bro, literally you could get your son on wherever. And they show a lot of love, a lot of genuine love. You know, these are people that, you know, don't have the actions that we do out here in the States.

And we take it for granted. And we take it for granted. You feel me? So it's like out there, it's like, yo, nah, this is a, we like him and it's not even about your name. We'll booze superstars here. Like, and we over there, they over there praising people who are. ain't even on a LeBron type of status or somebody of that nature.

I feel it. And then they come back to the stage and it ain't regular, you know? Yeah. But you tell everybody about the stories, yo, you know, overseas I'm the king. That's why motherfuckers leave and don't come back. You feel me? That's why they leave and don't come back? It all makes sense now.

I'm trying to tell you. It's like why not go where you can get your love? You know what I'm saying? And I'm telling you, I say it all the time, bro. If you feel good, you're going to play good, bro. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? If you look good, you're going to perform good, bro.

Yeah. You see a bunch of superstars pulling up in a fly fits, you know. You know, probably just got a massage a day before. Yeah. A lot of fan love. And it's like, nah, now I got to do my job. You know, you don't got to worry about all the other things, you know. Yeah.

Because we definitely, I think us as NBA fans over here, we definitely, like, hold the motherfucker accountable. Right. Like, they can have a bad day. You better not come up in here playing bad because we're about to make it worse. You know what I'm saying, bro. Straight up, some of the fans are crazy in some cities. How long did you play pro over there?

I played pro just for six months, bro. In the pandemic hit and it was like they had to send us back home. And it's funny because I had gotten drafted to the LNB, which is the league national basketball. It's kind of like the NBA in the Dominican Republic. Like if you make it to that league, you're stamped. So I had gotten drafted and I had to turn it down because I wanted to do this movie. Damn. It's like Netflix versus the...

Pro, pro boy. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. And I'm like, I got to go with Netflix. Why couldn't you have that worked out for you? Did the times not fit? Yeah, the times didn't align. You know what I'm saying? And it's just like, okay, we'll find somebody else.

It's that fast. Right, because they ain't going to fuck around and wait for you. You know what I'm saying? It's like, all right, cool. We have another play that wants it, you know? So I'm just like, you know what? I'll let somebody else get that. You know, it's something I've been working for my entire life,

but then this other opportunity comes. knocking at my door and it's Netflix and I'm just like, nah, hold on, I gotta re-evaluate something. This might be my calling, bro, you know. Yeah, you were, bro, you, for the time you was in the movie, it was, it was outstanding, bro. It brought a lot of energy in your scene. They had a lot going on.

So that's why I feel you on that, but I'm like, damn, bro, just to, that's something you've been working on all your life too, bro. Like, you've been waiting to get out of that shit, you know what I'm saying? So it's like, yeah, to weigh the options, movies, or basketball, which one do you feel like you could find it? I mean, you can find a longevity in them both. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. And I mean, shit for Netflix, it's less harm on your body.

You go out, do some shit, like a nigga gonna gotta do a whole bunch of extra everything, you know? So I do get that, homie, for real. You know what I'm saying? And the minute I moved out here, I'm just like, bro, I could do it all. You could act, you could hoot, you know what I'm saying? And it's not putting no restriction to yourself. And my name in the movie, and my name in the movie, my name is like, Mr. Everything. And I try to like, I took that, I'm like, okay, Mr. Everything.

And now to look at it from like no cocky way, but like, I feel like I could do it all, you know what I'm saying? Except, I mean, I can dance a little bit, but I could hoop, I could make music, I could act. Like, it's no limit to what you could do. Do you feel like you started to find this out about yourself more when that pandemic hit? Because you got to sit at? A hundred percent. Like you said earlier, Tommy.

Yeah. You know what I say? That's the hit it. Timing is everything, bro. You just hit it. You know what it is? Everything just hits at the right time. And you know what?

I feel you on that, bro. I ain't going to harp on you to say like, damn, because I'm looking at, I'm like, me personally, I probably would have took the basketball contract. Right, right. You know what I'm saying? That's just me personally. But then when I start to look at it, it's like, a motherfucker could be great at anything they set their self to.

So sometimes you got a gamble. Right. Sometimes you can't do everything. Sometimes you got to really gamble, man. You know what I'm saying? Be like, all right, well, fuck it. I'm gonna go here, you know, even though I probably got less experience in that department. Right.

Because you don't seem like you've been acting all your life. You was playing basketball all your life. Do you think, now see, in the movie, you did a basketball, that was a basketball scene. Absolutely. Do you feel like you can do things outside of that other than just playing basketball in somebody's film? Oh, 100%. I could do, I feel like I could be in a dramatic movie, like a drama movie. I'm very dramatic sometimes.

I'm not going to lie. Yeah. Like, I found this out when I was working with my- You kept in a band, bro. I'm not mad. Yeah, you're saying I got to be dramatic, bro. It's like, you might not get it your way. Now I see how a bunch of females they get it their way.

You know, they're like, oh my God, I can't do this. Why I can't do that? And then it's like, you know, I, here you go, like, no worries. But I feel like I could tap into like drama. Pretty much anything they put in front of me, I feel like I could do, bro. You know what I'm saying? You don't know unless you try. Yeah.

I feel like I definitely see myself more in the drama side of things or that serious. I like serious, bro. You coming out off this movie and it being a hit. How's it changed for you in your life like the people around you? Oh yeah, it's changed a lot of people around you, bro. It's kind of crazy, bro, like, you know, everybody's like, yo, how did you do that? Yo, bro, put me on, put me on. Same people that, you know, look at me back then and it's not even paying mine to me.

Just another regular basketball player from New York. It's crazy when it's like that um, bro. No, but they've been seeing you, they just never really fucked with you, bro. That's all it is. Saw you get on. Now everybody, oh man, I always knew, yeah, we know him, we've always fucked with him. We ain't never fucked with him. That's my cousin.

That's my cousin. We ain't related in no sense, shape or form, me. For real. But it's all good though, bro, because that means you're doing something right, right? It is. You know, I tend to look at things in a positive way, right? Like, it's like, okay, maybe there was a reason at that time. why they wasn't fuck with me at the time.

You know, I'll get down on myself. I'm like, yo, bro, what's your stuff? Why can't rock with these niggas? I can't, why can I not mess with such and such? But in reality, it was all because the moments like now, bro. Yeah, well, your life has definitely changed now, bro. And it's for the better. For the better.

But I just want you to know in a piece of game I want you to leave with today. Just know that not everybody could go with you, bro. Yeah. Remember that, homie. Like, for real. Because it seemed like you got a good heart and you like to put a helping hand to situations. Me too, bro. But sometimes you got to know, money, you can't take everybody with you, on me.

You know what I'm saying? And everybody's going to make it seem like you're supposed to, but don't listen to that shit. Yeah. No, man. Take care of you. Grab who you can grab and get gone. Yeah, yeah. You know what I'm saying?

Yeah, I would love to see you in some other films, man. I would, man. I'd like to see you in some other things because like I said, you definitely killed it with that, man. For real, for real. That's the goal for sure, bro. Yeah. I want to keep on with this. You got a, do you have a manager?

I don't. I don't got a minute, man. Oh, you don't got a man at the church. Freelancing, bro. I've been freelancing everything, bro. You should come on at me, bro. We'll get you moving, bro. We'll get you moving, bro.

I didn't know that, bro. We'll get you moving, bro. We get freelance, bro, really, bro. Hey, but you know what? You definitely, and it's a mo game for you. And all jokes aside, you definitely do need to get somebody around you that has your best interest 100%, homie, and is constantly shopping you.

You know what I'm saying? And putting you out there to where you got different roles that you can go fuck with. You know what I'm saying? and just even try out. Also, get some acting classes going. Keep those up. Some improv.

Like, it just keeps you sharp. You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. To where, like, you're not just waiting. And then when you get in there, like, you're rusty because you ain't been on a set in a year. Yeah. You know what I just, you know, it's time consuming, bro. But if this is what you're going to do, you're going to have to put time to it just like you did for basketball.

And you were shooting shots, man, even after the game. Before the game started and after the game. You got to do the same thing, bro. 100% bro. You know what I'm saying? This one, this one isn't just to keep the body sharp. You gotta keep the mind sharp too in this one. You know what I mean?

Get that shit going, bro. Your ass will get moving. Yup. You get moving, bro. You say you're only 22? 24. Yeah. Damn, bro.

Y'all young, man, it's getting money. I like that though. Like, but especially coming from your background, where was your parents at, man? See, my parents. See, my parents. Yeah, I was, I was, my grandparents a lot was because, like, I was, like, I was, Like, my parents had me at a very young age, so they was always working. You know what I'm saying?

And that's all they knew at the time. Just like, work, work, work. I got a kid. They had it, you know, I'm not going to say I was a mistake, but, like, at the time, it wasn't. I probably was at the right time, but, you know, shit was just different, bro. Back from them, so. You never a mistake. Yeah, yeah.

Don't ever say that in your life. Yeah. You're a gift. Look at what you brought to the table. Look at what you brought, man. Look at what you brought. you took your life. It's always the people, it's fucked up,

but it's an ugly truth, but it's a truth nonetheless. It's always the people that are the most gifted that think like that. Like, damn, was I mistake? Damn, I probably wasn't supposed to be here. Damn, I don't get the certain type of love that I watch my friends grow up with their parents,

and, you know, they always had good relationships with their parents. You know, every kid wants to have a relationship with, you know, their parents, bro. You know what I'm saying? But I feel like, Bro, we're a lot of like when it comes to that because all you did was, you took that fire and you're like, man, I got to do something. Even when it was basketball before the acting.

You know, and you're just trying to go play pro overseas? You know what I'm saying? Like, you still had a vision, bro. You still had a purpose. You knew it wasn't over for you. I watch a lot of these kids, they get caught up in the bullshit, get lazy, get fucked up, end up going to jail, just end up not being nothing.

And they had both their parents. Yeah, yep. Think about it, bro. No, I knew a lot of kids that was like that. I'd be like, damn, bro, you got your mom and your dad. Like, you still fucking up. Like, it's just, it's crazy, man. For real.

Just take that shit as a blessing, man. You got a gift. For sure, for sure. You got a fucking gift, bro. For real. Appreciate that, bro, for real. Yeah. You got a relationship with them?

No, yeah, for sure. But I talk to them every day. Every day, you know what I'm saying? Your parents. I'm talking about your parents. Yeah, my parents. I talk to them every day and making sure they're okay, you know, mentally, spiritually. It's like, you know, they're still working.

They still working. And at the end of the angle is to get them to the point where they don't really got to work as hard, you know? It's like, I'm not the only child. I'm the oldest child, but I'm not the only child. How many kids is it? Four of us. You're the oldest?

Yeah. Sisters, brothers? Yeah, two sisters, one brother. I got another one with you jacking, though, because he was. But yeah, that's... What you mean? Give him his love. No, no, no, no.

It's still love. It's still love. You in the bigger position, so... Yeah, yeah. That's my brother. It's my brother here, for sure, bro. So, my little brother, that's my everything right now, bro, and my little brother, that's my everything right now, bro, for sure. for sure.

Yeah, man. Y'all all grew up together. You grew up together, yeah. See, I don't know if even the viewer caught on to that, like you saying that you, your parents was around, but you was with your grandparents a lot because they worked.

See, back in the day, that's what happened. You go to a family member's house. You ain't go to no motherfucking daycare. You ain't going to get watched by some strangers in some building. Nah, nigga, you're going over to your aunties, or you going to your grandmama house. I got to go to work.

You're going over to such and such in them out. today, like straight up. Like, that's how it was. It's not really like that no more. Like, I don't see really that family orientation. People just be like, it's cool. I'll take my kid to fucking to daycare and go pay fucking $1,000 a month

for him to be there three days out the week. Take them to a family member's house. Get cool. And I guess some people don't have a bunch of family. But it seems like the family that some people do have, they're not even cool with them. It's like if you don't got a lot of family, try to mend that shit, man, for what it is.

It's crazy. I want to touch on that, bro, because, like, during the pandemic, that told me a lot, bro. You know what I'm saying? It kind of showed me, like, the only time families really do get together, bro, is, like, weddings, funerals, birthdays, you know, those kind of things given. But it's never just because. It's never just because. I ain't seen that in a long time. You feel me, bro? We all over here cooking the day, and then everybody, by the end of the day, everybody that made it over there, you know what I'm saying, and getting something to eat.

I don't see that no more, bro. Like that, that time is definitely coming gone. For real, bro. Come on, man. Kids don't even play outside no more, bro. Nah. No. Everything, you know.

It's changed, bro. It's wild, bro. But it should be a national holiday, like link up just because. You know what I'm saying? Family link up just because. You know what I'm saying? Maybe that'll bring people together. I believe all these holidays, bro.

They all manmade. And if you notice all the holidays that we do deal with, They all come with spending money. That's. You know what I'm saying? So it's all designed for you to have to spend money. Think about it. Valentine Day is coming up.

Who the fuck even created that? If I'm buying my bitch something, I'll buy her shit all the time. Why the fuck I need to buy you something on a certain day? What if I don't got it that day? Right, right. What if I don't want to spend it that day? Right. But the TV and all them, you know, all these Valentine's Day sales and sales

and all this extra shit, man, you know, come down down to the diamond store. Valentine's Day, 50% off. You get down there. That shit still costs you an arm and a leg. I don't take no 50% off shit. Straight up, bro. Like all these holidays are designed, bro, to take money. Fourth of July, what do you want to do?

Buy fireworks and fucking barbecue. You know what I'm saying? Fucking all these holidays, man, they all, to me, they're all manmade, bro. Thanks. They're all man made. I agree, bro. So I feel you on that, like, when you say, like, why can't we just do a day as a fam? People would be much, I encourage that.

Yep. Me. Like, when it comes down, you. And like even people around me, I'd be like, man, get right with your fam. Like, your people. Like, try. Like, and they do and then they end up having a better relationship. Like, damn.

Like, man, just listen to your people. But people don't like to listen to each other, especially their elders, bro. Don't nobody listen to them. Somebody give a fuck about that. For real. They don't care no more, bro. Like, these kids, like, they've lost all self-respect, you know. And they wonder why they don't really get nowhere.

It's just, it's drug time. Let's do drugs. No, man, get your ass up, man, and go fucking do something. Go experience them shit. Life is about experiencing things. Why would you ever have to go out, though, and go experience when everybody watches it on social media, on the internet, they experience through there. That's how they'll experience it.

Everybody, they don't, it's lazy, bro. It's instant gratification. They don't mind just watching it from afar real quick. You know what I'm saying? Like, oh, yeah, I'm living the moment with them. Facts. Go live that shit, man. Sometimes I do wish, like sometimes just shut it down for two weeks.

weeks and let's see what people really do. Yeah, that's a challenge. You'll see who people really are. Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure, bro. I agree. Sometimes I wish like we could just walk on a, even like going for a walk, bro, walking and talking, that's cool. That's great vibes, bro.

You know what I'm saying? Talk about or see some funny shit, you know what's going on outside. You're like, oh, snap. I like TV. I do. No, yeah, of course, of course. I'll elaborate on it. Like, I like TV.

I think it's cool. But there's nothing I love more than like a cocktail and a stimulating conversation. You can't buy that. Like it's better than TV. This is better to me like sitting here just talking to you about just life and where you've been, your experiences. You know, touching this newfound fame and just coming up within, you know what I'm saying, just movies and things like that.

Like I like this more than what I can sit on TV and here. No, I want to hear it from somebody I can sit next to and we chop that shit up and we figure it out. Absolutely, bro. For sure, man. Appreciate that, man. You know, I do, man. I appreciate you, man. Just even coming and rocking with me, bro.

What's the goals for you? Like the next, like what's your? Like, what's your five-year mixture, man? Like, where do you see yourself to where we can all, if the people want to check in on Elvin Rodriguez, five years from now, where can they expect to see you? Oh, 100%. Obviously, like, well, definitely there are more movies, for sure.

Definitely more movies. Doing more impact, more impact. I'm working actually right now with a nonprofit called the Hoot Bus. And, like, it's a bus, two rims on each side of the bus. And we basically travel cross-country on a bus. giving back to communities, playing basketball, influencing, just being with the people, you know what I'm saying, for the people. Have you all already, so it's kind of like a tour.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was actually an NBA 75 commercial with Michael B. Jordan. He was, like, on a bus, like, coming inside a bus, and it's just, like, bringing people into the bus and following us on his journey. So, like, I want people to, like, follow my journey. I've definitely seen myself in more movies, you know, traveling the world and impacting, bro. It's like the way I've been doing ever since I was young, showing people, yo, there's a way to do it in basketball. There's a way to doing it in acting. There's a way to do it just being you, you know, for sure, so I think. I think for basketball, like a lot of kids, I don't know,

like kids don't want to be really, I'm not saying every kid, not saying that, but I just be thinking like a lot of these kids, they don't really want to be hands on with stuff like that. They'd rather be more hands on with a pistol, with a gun. Rather be more hands on with that. You want to go outside and prove something with that instead of trying to go down to the local park call me and shoot some hoop and try to, you know what I'm saying? Show things they got game. That's cool. That's way more cooler, bro.

It is. Way more cooler. It is. But it's just, it's the influence, bro. You know, so to hear you even be, it's like, man, we're just trying to go around. We just trying to enlighten some of the kids, man. We just trying to hoop with them, show them, hey, man, you know you could pick up a skill. You could pick up a gift.

Even if this is something that you don't go do professionally. It's just something you can say that you've done. It's a tool, you know? It's discipline. It's another sense of discipline, man. That's what I like about it. I think that's dope. And I think, at one point, bro, I was one of them kids.

I thought it was cool, bro. Oh, I thought it would bring girls, oh, these girls feel safe. No, bro, honestly, bro, like, you know what's cool, bro? Like getting your mom a crib, you know what I'm saying? I think that's cool. Yo, I mean, school, I mean, if you like school or not, that's cool. But, you know what I'm saying? Doing something, bro, that's art.

That's hard. Maybe you might find something in just doodling why the-the- I'm not saying, like, don't listen to the teacher, but like, bro, like, follow your heart. That's cool. You know what I'm saying? Or, you know, make it. impact, that's cool. It's not necessarily the guns and the pistols and this, that doesn't. You never went to a performing arts school or nothing?

No, bro. I never went to three different high schools, bro, just traveling, just trying to, just going along with my intuition, just like, just envisioning like myself and just following wherever life took me. Because you would have did great in a magnet school, like a school that just, you know I'm saying, has that performing arts and just different, like they don't really have that, bro, in schools, man. Like, you know, like you said, I went three different schools.

You don't see them like really just funding fucking putting a hell of money in this program for kids to like and they're really making it out. Kids are going to Broadway. Kids are going to hear from this, from this program that they started. Bro, they're not putting money into that shit. As I say, you got to go to certain schools. And I don't like that. I feel like it should be granted to every school because maybe you would have picked this up a lot sooner and would have been in shit a lot sooner. You had to, you had to catch up on a wave on a whole different time.

You know what I'm saying? But what if you would have had access at that as a youngster, a little bit younger than what you are today? Let's say 14, 15. Right. You know what I'm saying? Ninth grade, your last high school, man, they got all that shit up in there to where. And it's really busting these kids out to greater things. 100%.

You know what I'm saying? Whether it's movies, commercials, you know what I'm saying? Fucking you name it, man, even knowing how to get behind the camera and run shit. Right, right. They don't do that shit, bro. You got to pay for all that shit. I'm trying to tell you, bro. And it's crazy, bro.

Like, even people, I know a lot of people, don't. even like being in front of the camera, but they like, you know, being behind the scenes and, like, orchestrating or giving advice. And those be the people that are the most talented, to be honest. You are the talented one, but they're like, yo, bro, maybe you should try this way or maybe you should try that way. And then you guys both, you know, collab on some. And it's like, damn, you make magic out of that, bro.

You know what I'm saying? So it's kind of crazy to me, bro. Like, you know, I think I really, I'm grateful for my journey, for sure. You know, and there's much more, it's only getting started. I'm sorry here, but, you know, I am grateful for that kind of like. I think you got it, bro. I think that you're going to, you just keep moving, man, keep staying focused. You know, I know it's probably hard for you, man, especially this shit changing, you know,

because now it's putting a lot more people probably on your back with their hands out, bro. You can't say it ain't happening. I know it is, bro, like they've seen you. Oh, Elvindon done mate, hey, bro, hey, can I hold a hundred? Can I hold a couple hundred, bro? Hey, let me get a little something real quick, man. And these be people that never probably asked you for, ever in your life, honey?

Ever, bro. That's because they know you didn't have it. See, it's a difference. Now they know you got it. Now everybody going to come up and change. Oh, I've been fucking with you, I've been fucking with you. Let me hold a 50, man. Let me get 50, man.

We get a 50 ball. Yep, yep. I know, y'all, man. Like, yeah, that's cold, man. But I really hope, man, that I see you in the future, man, on big screen. Like I said to you, church, you need some. Hey, dude, I said, man, get you. Get yourself some representation, man.

That's the biggest thing, bro. Because you can only find so much. You need somebody that's what they professionally do. That's what they're into, man. They go out and they'll find, they'll source these gigs for you. Yeah, bro. That's pretty much the little piece that I'm missing right now, just representation, bro. Yeah.

It was, you know, I've been freelancing. It's got me this far, bro. But, you know, I feel like with a little extra, that's the kick right there, you know what I'm saying? Got yourself in through the door, a little representation. Now it's like, all right, boom. It makes it a little bit. easier for you. You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, you, listen, I feel like this,

homie, your job is to worry about acting. Right. That's it. That's all. Not sourcing yourself out to talent, not having to deal with anybody and talk to them and try to make deals. That's not, that's supposed to be out of your hands. Somebody should be taking care of that for you. Right, right? You know what I'm saying? That's the way I look at is opportunity, right? It's not also about the dollar sign or whatever. Like, it's great, bro. My goal, like, yeah, it's great to have money and stuff like that and grow from that, but really just putting myself out there and doing something I love, having fun and getting experiencing. Right.

What I'm saying? The people back home, they see that, they're like, yo, bro, like, now it changes their mind. Even if they thought it was like they were in a mess of situation, I came up, I came from the same situation as you. So it was like, damn, you're doing it bad. Now I want to do something positive. Now I want to do something good. So that's just the way I look at it, you know, more so.

Yeah, man. Being able to take care of myself and family as well, obviously, but, you know. You want to get some memes out this shit. That's what I'm saying, bro. Yeah, you want to get some M's out this shit. You ain't trying to do this shit for a short time. Yeah, bro, I'm trying to stay in it, bro, for sure. Yeah, man.

Well, I hope that we see you, though. I'm, I'll fuck with you and I appreciate you for coming, I mean. If there's anything that you ever need, my nigga, if I got any plugs for you or anything I can shoot your way, homie, we're going to definitely talk about it, man. For real, bro. Make sure, man, anytime I know you be around, you're moving around this LA, man, we always go grab something to eat, church, go sit down. We can go chop it up and we can put something together, homie.

Let's do it, bro. I appreciate you. I appreciate you. Chama Chama South Church. Sure. The Sharp Tank. No jumper. Sharpest, coolest podcast in the world.

I'm going to show you how we do it around here, church. Hey, Riley, hey. Shoot us out the motherfucking chair.