Fly Thugga on Growing Up in Compton, Hand Drawing His Own Designs, Getting Shot & More
00:00What's happening? Lush Uno, the coolest podcast in the world, No Jumper.And I'm very, very proud to introduce y'all to this guy right here who has an insane story, been through a lot and is pure.If you just like take talent and crystallize it down to his purest artistic form, this guy embodies it.My guy, fly thugga. No hard art, thug a, you feel me?Yeah.Sure.So, um, Born a race.in the city of Compton.
00:31Born and raised.In a pretty legendary sectionover there.The grandees.Nutty Blot.Nutty Blot.Yeah, I grew up on the streets.For me, in the neighborhood,
00:40the grannie is just like two,like two blocks over from me.Okay.But, you know, I grew up over there.You could say I grew up over there, too,because shit, that's where I went.You know what I'm saying?Anytime I'm, you know,
00:49anytime my grandma, getting on my nerves,you know, as a kid, as a teenager,you know what I'm saying?I'm over there.I'm in the grandies.That's a kicket spot, right?Like, everybody going to be over there.Yeah.
00:58But also what I know about Compton is that, like, you know, L.A., most parts of L.A., you got to drive, like, a few minutes to get to the next hood over.But, like, I feel like Compton, it seems like every other block is a different hood.Yeah, hell, yeah, like, I mean, like my story, for instance, you know what I'm saying?I mean, I mean, like our ops, I mean, I hate to even say ops now, you know what I'm saying?Because I'm like past that.But, you know what I'm saying, the neighborhood that my family, I mean, that my neighborhood be,with, you know what I'm saying, my other side of the family is from there.And it's only across the street, you know what I'm saying?
01:33Like my mom's side of my family.You know what I'm saying?It's from the other side.You know what I'm saying?But I understand how close we have.Yeah, yeah.It's that.And that's the other thing, too.
01:43People don't understand, like, the family connections.It's very common for, you know, the other side to be, like, you got cousins from theother side.You got, you know what I'm saying?uncles, aunties, whatever.That's very, very regular.So let's take it back to the point of origin.So what was a as far as what do you think is the biggest difference between Compton and LA for those that don't know?
02:07Compton, I'm not going to lie like, you know what I'm saying?We all down there like getting to it with each other just like LA, but it's just smaller.You know what I'm saying?Then like, you know, you got the Crips.I mean, you know, you got the Compton Crips and you got the Pau Rules.You know what I'm saying?Majority of us, you know, we get into it with each other.But in prison, you know what I'm saying?
02:26We all want like as far as all the Compton Crips, you know, matter.You know what I'm saying?About the murders on each other, neighborhoods and all that shit, you know, in jail.You know what I'm saying?It saw a cop the crip.You know what I'm saying?Same thing like with the par rules, you know.Y'all under the same guard, essentially.
02:40Yeah.Same accordance.So how old were you the first time you, like, realized what a gang was?I grew up in, I grew up around the environment, you know what I'm saying?Because my shit, the street I grew up on, my dad, from my neighborhood, my uncle, for my neighborhood.My uncle was a big Woody.my dad is a little Woody, you know what I'm saying?Okay, so that's the Woody character.
03:02Yeah, yeah, that's why I did that character.Okay.Yeah, I just wanted to do, I wanted to do something that, you know what I'm saying?I wanted to make a black Woody, an outlaw Woody at that, you know what I'm saying?I actually had like a pitcher of Woody and he was a sheriff, you know what I'm saying.So I'm like, damn, I got to switch this over.I want to make them, you know, from Copton, you see him like with the Compton chain.I don't know if I can.
03:22Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely.Yeah, got him with the Compton chain, you know, with the fade, you know what I'm saying.nobody wanted, you know what I'm saying.Made them outlawed too because I'm talking to them.Oh shit.Yeah, because at the same time, you know, I was like into Westerners, you know what I'm saying?Like a kid, I always been like into Western.So I wanted to make to a Woody that reflect like an old Western, you know what I'm saying, style type.
03:44So your pops was called Woody?Yeah, yeah.Okay.It's a family name.Sorry, are you Woody as well?Yeah.Okay.Baby Woody.
03:52You baby Woody.All right.So as a small child, you already were like a, you're, you're like, you're a family.You knew what that blue rag that's on you right now.You knew what that meant.Yeah, yeah, yeah.As a small child, would you say?Like, three, four, five years old type shit, you already knew?
04:07Yeah, hell yeah.Like, in my documentary, like, I say that, you know, I was five years old when one of my homiestold me I was going to be baby Woody from Nuddy Blank.You know what I'm saying?So it was like, you know, at that time, like I said, I told him, I wasn't going to gang bang.But, you know, shit, as time went on, you know what I'm saying?Eventually, you know what I'm saying?Even in elementary school, you know, claiming the neighborhood.
04:27Yeah.So it's been since elementary school.So, okay, a lot of times the stories, when I talk to people from out here,what they be saying is like during elementary school, everything is kind of cool.Like, even like, you might know what section you're going to be from type thing,but it's not necessarily like on-site and a monster.You might have homies.But then at a certain point, when you guys are in like sixth grade or whatever,
04:50you turn 11 or 12, all of a sudden, like, this person can't be my homie anymore.Did you experience that?Yeah, I experienced that, like, going to Compton High.Like I say, like, I mean, the dudes across the street from me, it was always love with me.You know what I'm saying?They always embrace me with love because who my family was on that side.Even though I was from the other side, I took out to the side with my dad, you know what I'm saying?My uncle and then was from, because that's the side I, like, grew up on, you know what I'm saying?
05:14But, you know, it was always love, you know what I'm saying?Like, they fuck with me, you know what I'm saying?But it just, like I said, in high school, even the same dudes I went to middle school with it,you know what I, you know, I was cool with them, even, like, in high school, like, when Irun across them, then like the homies that's like younger than me, they ran it to them.They tripping.Right.With me, it was like, nah, like, like, no, like, you feel?
05:35But it just stall them out.You just stall them out.You know what I'm saying?But it was times like, I mean, yeah, and this happened like in the court building,you know what I'm saying?Because at the school, you know, we walked through the court building and go to theGardena bus and I, we are running to certain ones, you know what I'm saying?But it was just hard for me to even, like I say, get involved in and to that, you know,
05:50it just, I mean, but, you know, over years, certain things transpired when people getkilled and then now it's like now you know hate started to grow for him like you know what'syou know it comes to a point where you got to pick a side you know because like a lotwhat I see from a lot of people is a lot of the beef that they inherit they don't evenunderstand like I've asked a lot of people from a you know like for example like 6-0 or a traybe like do you know what y'all are beefing over and I'm not full they a lot of them don't evenlike I'm more educated to the origins of whythey killing each other's homies and some of them are and that that that really struck me was it
06:29kind of like that or were you like do you even know why these other sections are your ops like thatnot and that's not it was another reason why it was hard for me to see even have hate you know whatI'm saying tourism hoods because it's like damn for what you know what I'm saying I'm more sogoing to question it you know I'm not one that's going to jump out and say oh fuck them or fuckyou know what is the reason for like I don't really have no reason you know what I'm sayingand they hate them dudes, you know.So were you close with your parents growing up?Yeah, hell yeah.
06:58My dad, you know, he's done there.Yeah, he basically, like, raised me all my life.You know what I'm saying?My mom's too.You know, but I really grew up on my dad's side.Okay.Yeah.Okay.
07:06So strong relationship with Woody.Yeah.You feel I mean?Yeah.So at what age would you say, like you jumped off the poach?Uh, 16.Yeah, like when I really just started taking it serious, you know, I was 16.because like son transpired at Compton High I got into it to do he was you know he was talking
07:27shit about me you know what I'm saying he didn't know that my girlfriend had him on three-wayyou know what's saying I'm talking about oh what he going to do the witty and this and that so you knowI'm saying that morning I just got a lot and then I pitted on my uh yeah I got a lock out my dresseryou feel me so first thing when I seen him at Compton High you know what I'm saying I bust him inthe head you feel me and then but you know lock in a sock yeah hey hey heyhe didn't with the lock in a sock yeah my boy in the mayor was thereYeah, my boy, L.I. the mayor.Hopefully he packed a lunch.
07:55Yeah, yeah, no, but what happened, though, you know what I'm going to say,I ain't going to say, no punk, because the next day, you know,he came to school looking for me with a motherfucking, like, you know,with a fobought-by-fault, you know what I'm saying?But the only reason, but, I mean, but the dude, right, you know,when I bust him in the head, I was going to keep going,but the school police came out and started chasing limp.I mean, with L.I., you know what I'm saying?
08:15The whole time, I'm thinking, like, you feel me, they're coming for me,so I ran down the lodger all the way to my neighborhood,the school police car flying, but I'm thinking,after me, but, you know, already bused dude.Yeah, he got there, five, stay boozing.But yeah, yeah, but they make a long story short when he came to,I mean, he ended up coming to my neighborhood.You feel, looking for me.
08:33So now I'm like, damn, I got somebody coming to the neighborhood looking for me.I'm already starting.And that's when I really started, you know, hanging with, you know,and I'm saying, armies that I was really, you know, trooping.So, okay, school police, that's the concept that most people is foreign to them.Most schools don't have, like, full-on police forces.What's the school police?you know, to keep order.
08:53Yeah, like my boy,Limp, he wasn't even going,I mean, he wasn't even going there.That's why when they see him,you know what I'm saying?They are,oh, you feel me,they started chasing him because they know
09:00he wasn't supposed to be on campus.Okay.But these,but they got badges and everything.Yeah,they were just like the regular police.Okay.They were just like the regular police.
09:09Did Compton High have like metal detectors and all that?No.Like, okay.No, not that time.Again,because this is a while ago.Yeah.This is a while ago.
09:17Yeah.This 2000,what happened like 2002 in L.Like 2002?Yeah, two down two.Oh, two.Okay.So around that time, like, you jump off the porch and you're just, you're getting at that point, why do you feel like you, like, we're so invested in gang banging?
09:35Like, why, why did that become your passion?Um, shall I say, I mean, since the kid, I always wanted to put on from my neighborhood, you know what I'm saying?I was a little kid.I just, you know, I, you know, I didn't want to put on from my neighborhood.I was already getting so much love, you know what I'm saying?And embrace, you know what I'm saying?who my dad and my uncle is, you know, my uncle, he's erectable, you know what I'm saying?Big Woody, he's a legend, you know, from Compton and this, you know what I'm saying, you know what I'm saying?
09:58You know, you know, you know what I'm saying?If you know, you know, then so, then my dad, too, he got a lot of love.You know what I'm saying?So by me being from that family, you know what I'm saying, they automatically embraced mesince I was a baby, you know, my auntie, you know, I'm saying?She always kept me with her and we be going like to different little parties in the neighborhoodand like, you know, different little spots, you know what I'm saying?Yeah, but mainly my auntie, you know, you know,
10:22My auntie Sherry raised me because she couldn't have kids.And then my dad, he got me when he was like 15.Okay.My mom, she was down there like 14.You know what I'm saying?So they was young living their life.Well, you know, my auntie, she hung out.You know what I'm saying?
10:33She liked there in her neighborhood.I mean, she grew up her whole life for the neighborhood.So, yeah.Okay.So at what point, like, do you feel like, because the thing that really sticks out about you to me is your artistic talent?Yeah.You're like an amazing artist.you've now we're going to talk about the whole like process and trajectory of what led you to
10:56where you at right now but like when do you first realize that you could draw uh since i wassince like elementary school you know i always just being into drawing and you know what i'm sayingeverybody just always you know came to me to draw stuff and i always had like a creative talentand it's like something i mentioned even on my documentary you know what i'm saying the dudes who gowho went the elementary wooders was i mean was my boys from park village you know and so i even tothis day, they, you know, they just bring up, you know what I said? They bring up, like, drawings I usedto do back in elementary, you know, but it's just something that's always been my passion,like, especially over time, you know what I'm saying? It's just something that I love doing this,
11:31creating something different that I know that's hard in my, in my head is creativity. You know,like, all this is, it's creativity and bringing it to life. Did you get love for that,or did people, like, try to, like, ever, like, hate on it, where they're like,oh, you just be drawing, that, that ain't gangster, do, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,it was just more so like, I'd say elementary and middle school.And when I got into time to come to high, I didn't really draw as much.You know, I'm running the streets.You know what I'm saying?
11:58And I didn't really pick up drawing until when I had caught life or life sentence andwith the juvenile hall.And I mean, because I had caught life as a juvenile, you know, so that was like my pasttime, you know, it was drawing.And we're definitely going to get into that.But so, but as far as a, like, you know, every hood's got graffiti.Every hood's got like people that are hitting up the walls, let you know what section you in.Were you the guy catching spots for you?
12:25Yeah, hell yeah.Hell yeah.That's how I really like my graffiti on flight.You know, that's really how I got my, my strike.I mean, like I said on my documentary, I used to mimic my homie baby Bam, uh, strikeums.You know what I'm saying?He always to tag up all down Carwell.That's the like the main street that go through my neighborhood.
12:41It's like a, yeah, it's like a main street.Made your thoroughfare.Yeah, and it's all walls.So he's always just.tag, you feel, so always mimic his strietons.I mean, yeah, his strikers, you know, as a kid and I go home, and I'll be taggingon shit, and my dad, he'll whip me because, you know, he went into that, like, especiallyelementary.
12:57Yeah.You know, he sees me tagging the hood like, look.He used to whip the hell out of me, I mean, and tell me what you think, I mean, what do yousay?Oh, you want to be Mr. Nutty Block, huh?You know, yeah, he'll be whipping my ass.Yeah, but that's why I end up getting, when I went to prison, and I had life, I tattooeda Mr. 1665 on my eyebrow.
13:13I mean, because that's the street to the hood, you know what I'm saying?But on your eyes.Ball? No, my eyebrow.I had a big ass Mr. 1665 and NY right here.But, you know, getting out, I didn't want to be no target.You know what I'm saying?Yeah.They already be thinking that's neighborhood.
13:27So, yeah.Yeah, that, okay, that's an interesting distinction that a lot of people don't get.Because y'all were the New York hats and neighborhood crib were the New Yorkcats, too.So a lot of people might associate that.But if you're from Compton, that means something completely different, right?Yeah.Yeah.
13:44Yeah.Yeah.Then it was just like, so like I say, when I did, when I did tattoo my face, I gave up on life.I'm like, so I'm not never going home.I'm just, you feel, I already got life in the neighborhood.So I'm just about the front line.I'm like to step up on every DP.I'm like to, you know, I'm like to really pit on.
13:58And that was, it's funny because like when you got locked up a long-ass time ago,face tats weren't as common for like regular people.Like now it's not even just like a gangbanger thing.You'd be like a random sound cloud rapper or just like a random hipster.You might could have face stats at this point.But at that time, I really meant something, right?Yeah, I got it.I had tattooed my face like in 2012.
14:20Yeah, I did it myself in the mirror.I'm tattooing like this in the mirror.Like, all my tattoos that I got over my body,I did myself, even my homie face that I had caught life over.I tattooed his face right here.I did it myself.So there's some, like, pretty legendary people from your section.First of all, BG Knockout and Dracer, right?
14:37You know what I'm saying?Do you remember, like, being a kid and like being like,oh, these dudes are in the rap game doing they things?Yeah, they did music videos at my house.I was in a few of the music video.Really?Yeah, hell yeah.That's family right there.
14:49When you were a little-ass kid type shit?I'm riding my bike, you know what I'm saying?Past homies.They filmed clips in my backyard in my front yard.My favorite verse in the history of hip-hop,well, it's the knockout definition.Come on, man.Like, that's a life-changing verse right there.
15:07Did you, did you, and then, of course,there's another guy that's super legendary from your section,battle rapper, a good friend of mine, Gichi, Gadi.So were you and Gadi outside together in those relationships?Yeah, for sure.I mean, yeah, Warden, you know what I'm saying?We go back since Warden.I think I'm like a year or two older than Gadi.
15:28But yeah, but mainly at Compton High, that's when we, you know what I'm saying,as we, you know, we really develop and really start full flash, you know.You, I, the mayor, Gigi, all all kind of in the same age or age type.Okay.Yeah, we just like a year apart.I think I'm like a year younger than L.I.and get you like, I'm likeprobably two years older than you, I think.
15:49Yeah.So when I look at gangbanging,I feel like there's three phases of gangbanging.You can correct me if you think I'm wrong.There's the fun phase.Yeah.There's fun with consequences.And there's consequences.
16:03Yeah.So when did it transition from being fun to fun with consequences for you?Oh, damn.I mean, I'm not going to lie.I mean, it was fun, but it was always consequences.Like, I already knew, you know, about the death, you know what I'm saying?It was one of my homies got killed, probably, like, three houses down from me.You know what I'm saying?
16:25When I was, like, sixth grade, yeah.Yeah, but he was like 20 years old, you know what I'm saying?But that's when it really, like, fuck me up as a kid, like this witness, like, damn, the homie,damn, he really got killed, you know what I'm saying?Then my auntie, even growing up, my auntie, she used to be on me, like, boy, I don't know why you want to go end up in jail or dead.So, you know what I heard telling me that and things I experienced on the block.And you know what I'm saying?Just living that life.
16:50I knew I knew what came with it.You know what I didn't have no fear.I don't understand how people could have any expectation of you doing anything besidesthat when it's like pretty much served to you on a silver platter.It's like this is like this is what you're going to do.This is where you come from this.Who your pops is, who your uncle is?Like I don't understand how anybody would have any other expectation.
17:11Was there, is there other members of your family?that went a different path and were just like more square.I don't square is not the right word,but you know what I'm saying?Like traditional.Yeah, I had an uncle, you know what I'm saying?My dad, older brother, you know, he joined the military.He's doing good.
17:26Yeah, my uncle was up, been you right?But most of your influences and most of the people are right,everything around you is pretty much telling you, bang the set.This is what's important.And this is a direction to go for the most part.Yeah, in my block too, like the street I grew up on, you know, it was shit,especially the, I mean, you know, the early 90s, mid-90s, shit, that's where it was,that's where everybody kicked it at, you know what I'm saying?
17:49That's where the shootouts occurred.That's where I used to be looking out my window, even as a kid looking at the shootouts.You know what I'm saying?My family laid on the ground, you know what I'm saying?I was into, I'm like, you know, I want to see, you know what I always watched it on TVthrough like the Cowboy Indian movie.So it's like now I get really see like full-flash shootouts.So you don't even realize how, like, bucked up it really is kind of at that point.
18:09You're like, oh, this is damn near exciting because I'm watching the movies.He's like, and that kind of normalized it to you.So you're like, all right.So, okay, what's your first memory of a shooting?Damn, what's my first one?Oh, yeah, like my neighbor, I mean, I mean, until I was another thing too, like next door,you know what I'm saying, I had a homies who live right there, you know what I'm saying?And all the homies to hang out right there.
18:36So, yeah, this probably was done at like 94 because one of the homies that was involved,you know what I said?He passed in 95, you know what I'm saying?So I'm party down there like eight, seven years old, you know what I'm looking out the window.The shotgun, watch a little, I'm going down the street with it after the shooting.So, you know, it was just a part of me like growing up, just watching it.So, okay, so then you wind up, how, you're 16 or 17 when you caught that?My case, 17.
19:01You're 17.Okay, so what led up to that, like that situation right there?First, I mean, well, first of all, I was in camp.I was in juvenile camp, you know, me and my homieswho used to walk through the neighborhood.You know what I'm saying?So we've seen somebody walk through the neighborhood.We pocket check them and he ended up telling him.
19:19You know what I'm saying?We went to jail from the grandees.You know what I'm saying?Me and my homie, Mike Dogg.But, you know, during that time,one of my homies got killed, you know,my homie dog got killed.And so when I got out of camp,
19:29you know, that's the only thing was on my mind was retaliating.Yeah.So wait, so first you went to,so you went to camp for banging us?What was the charge?No, my mom.bad, yeah, we had pocket check somebody.You pocket checks.
19:44Yeah, and it was strong of robbery.Like I said at that time, I'm not even knowing the stronger robbery.I'm looking at, I'm looking at the police like, that's him on being a buster letting us go to it.Like, no strong on robbery.What?No, for real, though.For real, it's like, he should have been about it.I'm like, damn, that's only him being a punk that's going on his pocket.
20:03I'm like, I'm sick.I'm not knowing.You know, I'm not knowing.No, that's, that, like, the fact that you're able to have that self-awareness to realize,how insane it is that you even thoughtthat that was an appropriate thing to say to the cops.Like, what do you mean?Yeah, I'm like, what the hell?
20:19Don't you see he's a busser arrest himfor being a bitch?Yeah, that's one thing.My auntie, I remember my auntie telling me like,boy, you don't need to commit no crimes.Yeah.Because he's like, boy, you don't know what the fuck it says.Like, yeah.
20:30So, okay, so you did this.You went to camp.What was it like when you first went to camp?Were you, was it like,is it instant fades with enemies,like, like,Same thing is...Yeah, hell yeah.
20:43I mean, yeah, hell yeah.Like, my first...I mean, like, one of my first little conflicts,you know, when I get in there, you know,they already know who I am, you know what I'm saying?Already, I mean, it's already people there that I know.So, you know, one dude, you know,I said, you gotta line up like this.
20:56For me, so first thing I said, he threw up, fuck the hood.Like, me from me so I thought what fuck is his hood.Like, man.So he just, oh, like, I'm like, yeah, all right.Like, you know, so we end up lining it up,getting the cracking me up.Yeah, so, I mean, but yeah,in capitalist ways, you can get away with,
21:10fights, you know what I'm saying?Yeah, yeah, yeah.Yeah, we're going to sign up on the wreck, on the wreck crew.Like, all right, sign up on the wreck crew, you know.They're like, I swear to God, they encourage it.You feel me, like, the, the guards or deputies, whatever they called, you feelme in the halls, they be encouraging, they want to see fools fade, I feel like.I mean, you got certain ones, but this, but this particular situation, you know,
21:31didn't nobody know.So, yeah, but she, I mean, but, you know, I'm not going to lie.Like a big dude, like a little stocky dude.You know me at that time, I'm like hell of skinny.You know what I'm saying?but, you know, my only thing, I got win,I mean, I got winning because I always just to move,like, when I fight always.
21:45Yeah.You feel me?But, yeah, but, yeah, he got winning, too,because he, and everybody could even hit me, you know what I'm saying?So, I mean, yeah, so for him just to stop and, like, you know what I'm saying?Like, you know, he said his hood, like, well, yeah, I'm wu-de-whoop.So I tell me, I'm woot-whoop.You know what I'm tired of hell.
21:59I'm like, you feel?I'm lucky as hell eating.Yeah, I'm tired.Hey, conditioning goes a long way in fights.Let's be honest.You feel me?Like, people don't understand.you, the people, the person that's going to win the fight, he going to monitor the other person breathing and all that shit.
22:15He had the ups on me.You don't say, how do you know now?I don't think he really know.I'm like, I'm already skinny.You know, I bet he gained weight, you know what I'm saying?Since I've been out and like toward the end of my time, I used to be skinny as ill.Yeah.Okay.
22:27So you went to the halls.Then you came home.How about you were in the halls for what?Like five.Well, I was like five months.Okay.I did four month camp program and just one month in juvenile hall.And that's when they sent me to camp before.
22:39And that whole time you got revenge on your mind pretty much.I mean, towards the end, because it was towards the end, you know, that's when that happened.You know what I'm saying?You know, I already had my mindset on what I'm going to do when I got out.Like, you know, that's what I'm going to do.And to be clear, there's nothing incriminating we're talking about.Yeah.I already got my time for it.
22:57You did substantial time.You know what I'm saying?So there's this ain't no federal, nothing.We're not like, we're talking about things that already happened.And there's no.So, okay.So you got.what was the reason that you got,
23:10so the dude had killed one of your homies?Yeah,a particular neighborhood.Okay.You know what I'm saying?Okay.And then you were just like,I need that essentially.
23:21Yeah, yeah.I mean,you know,I mean,that's how you really was raised.You know what I'm saying?Well,you know,
23:25it's,you know,it's eye for eye,you know what I'm saying?But,you know,I had to even realizeeven in prison,
23:30you know what I'm saying?It's crazy because I was watching,I was watching the documentary.I think it was the one of Dale,but he was saying,like,shit the biggest games is shit america you know what i'm saying america russia they're doing thesame shit motherfucker's doing on the smarter skill out here in these neighborhoods you know what i'm saying
23:46but alicewood got me into uh you know social study and history you know what i'm saying once i startread now i'm like damn like shit this ain't in anybody but a game american and then but a gameyou know they clicked up with with the i mean with uh with england yeah yeah yeah yeah the u.sthe u.s like basically like the neighborhood card and then you got like uhI mean, yeah, basically clicks.I mean, you got, you feel me,North Korea and, um,North Korea and,
24:13and Iran and China,they basically like moving and grooving soon.Like,it's crazy.Like,it literally is the same thing,but on a global scale.I mean,
24:21no different from,from clips,I mean,from crips and bloods,but,but,but yeah,I'm trying to think away,
24:26what do they call the,uh,well,I mean,the Russians,I mean, the Russians in China,uh,damn star,
24:31the,the Soviets you're talking about,or the,uh,or communists.Yeah,Communists, yeah, communist country.And we had, I mean, what is it?
24:38Democracy.Democracy.Yeah, yeah.So that ain't no difference from crips and bloods, you know what I'm saying?Pretty much.It's like the whole way we look at society and the way things should be run, like, we look at it as everybody has our own free will, has a choice.And then in communist countries, it's like the country is first before everything.So that's like the main difference.
24:58Okay.So you come home and you got, you're on a mission.You feel me?Like you're trying to up the score.What happened?Should I end up,I mean, should I end up getting shot on accident?I ain't even killed.
25:12I mean, I didn't even get a chance to even hit nobody.You know what I got hit on with some friendly fire, you know?Some friendly fire took place and that should I almost die.You know what I'm saying?Even from that, yeah, but should I still end up getting trout?You know what I'm saying?So it's friendly fire then.So it's not even like, so it's accidental basically thing.
25:32Okay.And somebody wind up getting hit.You feel what I mean?And then so when did the one of the point?Like did you know like instantly?Like oh shit like I'm bucked like.Yeah, yeah.Oh yeah.
25:43I just fell down like damn.You know, but it's crazy because I never thought I was going to be able to walk again.I thought I was dead.Like that was one of the most tragic times in my life.Like it's crazy when looking back at it down like to to know that I survived that.And you know what I'm saying?Survived at that time and just everything that I went through just like, you know, it's like damn.Looking back at it now, it's like fuck.
26:03Where did you get shot?Oh, my hip.Okay.My shit went through, like, my pevers and, you know, it was, like, it was like poking out my hip.I got shot with an AK.Yeah.Yeah, 17 years old.So if that had hit your spinal cord, it would have been all bad.
26:18Yeah, you probably wouldn't have paralyzed.I mean, shit, it really, it really went through my hip and, like, ripped all my muscles, all my, all my head.You know, you know, to where I was in a wheelchair, you know, for a while.And the doctor just said, how much, you know, higher much, you know, how much your muscle come back is how much, you know,and you're going to be able to walk.But, yeah, it was, it didn't especially being in the halls at that time, you know what I'm saying?Yeah.Still, like, gang stuff going on.
26:41And they see me, they already know what I'm in there for.So it was like, you know, I, uh, shh, I remember my time.It's my first time trying to walk outside the wheelchair.And I had to get stutures, like, my stomach got infected.I had to slice over my stomach.I had, like, four stutures.Yeah.I belly could walk, like, my leg, like, my leg gets to go out, you know what I'm saying?
27:00I didn't have no muscle in my leg.So when I try to get out the wheelchair, like, I'll slip and fall,like, bam, and that shit hurt my stomach.My stomach is wide open.But I remember one time I'm trying to walk my first time walking out the wheelchair.I walked to go get some water.And then I see, like, you know what I'm saying?Same dude.
27:15I used to try to, you know what I'm saying, protect, you know what I'm saying?You know what I'm saying?You know what I'm saying?Right.This family from my neighborhood.You know what I'm saying?So I'm like, no, no.But it's crazy.
27:23He'd seen me in the first.He's like, fuck.You know, he dissed in my neighborhood.You know what I'm like, fuck.But I can't do shit.Man, I'm barely learning how to walk.I'm just like stuck.I'm just lucky he ain't rushed me
27:33It would have been badDamnYou know what I guess he's waitingOn my reactionBut I'm justI can't do shitYeahSo you got okay
27:41So when you got snatched upAt that exact momentAfter you got shotBecause obviously you can't go anywhereYeahSo when the paramedics comeOr whateverThe police come too
27:50And they're likeAnd then what are theySend you back to the halls forLikeNahI went to jail right after thatBecause twoYou know
27:58The dudesWhen the dudes from cross the waySay yeahThey shot when they homiesYou know what I said?You know, the nutty blocks did it.You know what I'm saying?And then they just came and snatched you up, basically.
28:06Yeah, I mean, then like five, I mean, you know, five minutes later, shit,should have marty with the king.She, well, I'm right there.So it's like, Martin King was only like five minutes away.So they just pit two and two together.Okay.And then, um, is, is that the charge that wound up sending you?Yeah, murder and two attempts.
28:23So it was a murder and two attempts.They got me as an aider and abater.Like, you, you participated with this.So, yeah.And they gave, were you?Were you expecting, what was your sentence?90 to life.90 to life.
28:36So you're 17 years old.And so by that logic, you're going to get out when you're 107 years old.You feel me, you're going to most likely die in prison.Like, what's your first thought?You're there.I'm assuming some of your family members, close friends, you're there.Yeah.And were you surprised or did you kind of know, like, oh, shit, it's going to be slimy?
28:57I was, like, surprised.I'm like, how the hell did they convict me on this?It's because, you know what I'm saying?They didn't really have nothing, like, you know what I'm saying?Well, pointing to me.But, but, too, when I went on my appeal, I realized that, you know, the judge, she scratched my defense from my judicial structure.We said, your knowledge that a crime is being committed and it's fair to prevent it don't amount to aid and debating.Like, you know what I'm saying?
29:16Just because I'm near it.I don't mean, you feel me, that I participated.Right.Which is perfectly logical.Yeah, and that's the only thing they had was presidents.You know what I'm saying?But, you know, I mean, shit, man, I'm not going to lie.Like, that court, that court, right?
29:28they don't play fairthat is sofucked upCompton Courthouse where it's grimylike OTHRito saidlike gosh okayso you getwhen you got busted
29:42and you first seen what the charges wereobviouslyoh yeahobviously you're not a snitchyou're not a ratyou're a real oneand that I mean likeit shows by all your homies
29:55a lot of your homies are here right nowyou feel meyou're well respectedDid you feel like, was it just not even an option in your head?Like, what, writing?Yeah, I will know.What writing have changed?Let's say you did.
30:08Would that have changed anything?Probably, right?I don't, yeah.I mean, I don't really know because, you know, people will be telling,and they still get life, you feel?Me, so.Yeah.Yeah, but with me, it's not no option.
30:20You know what I say?My shit, since the C, you know, I already know,you know what I said?Like, my auntie always said, you only going to end up in jail or dead,so I want I'm going to tell for it.You know what I'm saying?I know the consequences of me,gang banging and what's going to come from this.
30:30So I know I can get life.I know I can end up dead.So, you know.Do you think because you had spent some time in the halls at this point and stuff,you're kind of like getting used to being incarcerated too?Like it's not that scary of a thing to you?Nah, I mean, you know, I'm a person that adapt.You know what I'm saying?
30:49You know, I adapt to the situation.You know what I'm saying?It's just like, you know, yeah, I adapt.You know what I'm saying?But like you say, you're going to that camp program,I mean, you kind of, you kind of get used to being, and, you know what I'm saying?Shit, locked up.But, yeah, it just, you know, it's just how adapt.
31:05You know what I'm saying?I didn't really trip off the time when I was more so looking at like, oh, man, I'll be backhome, especially where we found on my appeal.I'm like, oh, I'm going to get my shit reversed, but it didn't happen like that.You know, luckily the law changed for people who were sentenced to life as juvenile.Yeah, that's all right.That's so crazy to me that that was even a thing.And, like, you know, we were actually talking about this.
31:24I wish Flacco ass was here right now.because he was talking about the new DA Gascon or whatever when he came on and he tried to reverse.And this is in LA.I think it's slightly different in Compton.But he had changed the law.So where if you're a juvenile offender, you can't get life.Yeah.You feel me?
31:45But the fact that that was ever a thing is fucking crazy.Yeah.I did 21 years.I did more my life in prison and jail than I did on the streets.Okay.Yeah.That's, yeah, that, that's crazy.We're going to talk about all that.
31:58So you get, so you got busted.What sentence in your head were you expecting?Like 25 to life?I thought, well, I mean, well, you mean, the sentence from that?Yeah, yeah, yeah.I mean, I knew it carried life.Yeah, I knew, I know it carried life.But you didn't think they was going to say like 90 minimum, probably.
32:19Yeah, I mean, but you know, life is life.That's what I was always told.Like, you know, life is life.So it really didn't matter, you know.So when you, okay, so you got busted, trying to fight the case, you kind of know it's a lost cause.You're definitely not going to be, you know, snitch, regardless, you feel me?Then they said you, so are you, by that time you got sentenced, were you 18 yet, or are you still 17?Yeah, I was 18 when I got sentenced, but, you know, they go off when the crime occurred.
32:45Right, right.So because a lot of times, like, if you're committed crime as a juvenile, and then they sentence you after you turn 18, they might give you,they might send you toYA or give you juvenile lifeand you'll max out when you're 25 type shitbut yes I got sent it as an adultthey sent you as an adultyou feel me gave you 90 to life
33:04where did you go from therelike what's the first prison you went tolet me see I mean wellwith the first prison I went towas New Folsomokay I went to New Folsomyeah I had a homie there so it was coolyou know what I'm saying like
33:17level four yard yeah level fourI did all my time on level fourI never seen on other levelsSo what's the difference for people that don't understand?Like what's the difference between like a level four, level three yard and like a regular prison yard?The security, the security level, you know, level four is more, well, 180.It's secure to where even the pods is like broke down.You know what I'm saying?
33:39It's eight section and B section, A, B and C section.And like, well, like, then it's another, it's a lower level of the level four, which is a 180as to where it's more a little open.You know what I'm saying?It's still level four, but then level three, you know what I'mand you get more time out.You know, you know, running around.So the security is, that's fair.
33:58So in a level four-yard,you spend the majority of your time in your cell?Yeah, hell, yeah.Hell, yeah.I remember one time, I mean, I remember shit,once about a time, shit,you only used to come out for two hours.You know what I'm saying?
34:10But then over time, like, probably done it,like, probably like six,well, probably like 10 years ago,they end up changing it to where you get to come out for day room.You get to either go to day room or yard,and then, and then you get to go out for,For night yard or staying for day room,if,
34:25like I say for the majority of the time,it was only like two hours regularization.That's if you got on lockdown.You know,a lot of shit be happening on low falls.They used to even,Leo ass slammed down for months.What's like the craziest fade story that you have
34:39that you feel comfortable talking about?Fade story?Yeah.Let me see which one.I got a lot of fakes.But,yeah,like when the craziest ones,
34:48like my boy,I mean,well,I mean,well,one of my homies,you didn't take your cell phone.on right up, you know what I'm saying?
34:53He was my older homie and I used to feel like he has to treat me like a certain type of way,you know what I'm saying?Try to love me you.Yeah, and then it was like, you know what I'm saying?Even though I got, you know, a name and I got love, you know what I'm saying, for my family,but you got some dudes that I hate that, they envy that, you know what I'm saying?So I used to feel that that's where it came from, you know what I'm saying?But he didn't just let me use his phone and shit, you know what I'm saying?
35:14But, you know, so which is cool, you feel?You feel?Because I get my own shit, you know what I'm saying?But, but it was just the way how he used to treat me in a cell.I called my phone.I took the write-up.He got called with his phone.He didn't want to take the write-up off me.
35:26You know what I'm mad?Like, man, this thing ain't going to take his own write-up, like, you know what?So now I got to, I got to punish me.Now I got to get punished with his time.You know what I'm saying?So I mean-Because basically you're supposed to, if you get caught with something, the protocol is,you take responsibility for it.
35:42But he ain't want to do it.So it's kind of like, hey, I don't know, you feel of me?So, like, instead of taking responsibility.Yeah, so, I mean, so what happened right?I'm coming there.from yard, you know, I'm just, you know, I mean, I was running a few laps.I got it on my head because I'm like, man, I'm like, man, one thing I'm not about to do is lethim transfer up out of here without me getting on them.
36:02So he knew you was already on that ass.No, he's not, you know it because I'm a humble person.I don't carry myself aggressive, so I just walked in the cell.I had one of my homies from Park Village.Squally, bone, watch the door.I'm like, hey, squally, man, watch his door, man.I'm like to get on this floor.You see me, so he watched the door, I just go in there.
36:16You feel me, get on my older, homie.He's like, oh, man, what's this fort, man?You're a bitch, you're fucking.You're a bitch.He's like, oh, man, what's his love?He's screaming, you feel me?But he's a tall dude, you know, when he did get up and, oh, shit.I mean, when he did hit me, you feel me, it dazed me.
36:32It fucked me up.Hey, break that up.Hey, break that up.Once he's seen he got a good hit on me.You feel me?My homie, he dinner like my dad is the one I got off on.You know what I did?He didn't have six.
36:42He didn't, six some tall.You feel me?Yeah, but yeah, that was like one of the coldest thing.Oh, yeah, then I'm standing in the cell with him.You know, I'm not leaving.He just like, you know, when it's over, like, man, what's that?Go ahead.He'll take your phone right up.
36:51Man, I did.Man, you didn't take your phone right.But that changed the dynamics in the cell after that, huh?Yeah, he was, I mean, he was humble now, you know what I'm saying?You know what I'm saying?Yeah, yeah, yeah.Now a sudden he, you know what I'm saying?Yeah, but, yeah, but, yeah, it was humbling for him because he never seen nobody.
37:10Plus, he just go from zero to a hundred.It's only, your humility is like a weapon because people don't realize, like, they might think that you're a chill guy.but you're liable to go bad at any second if they're doing some dumb shit, right?Yeah, man.So, okay, there's been a lot of talk these past few years, like, particularly in L.A. County,you're not hearing about it as much in prison, but people after their winning phase are doingcrazy shit, peanut buttering, uh, carroting apparently is the thing now, too.Like, what are your thoughts as a long-term, uh, inmate or, you know, former inmate?
37:44Damn, I don't know.That's, like, you say, that's new.I haven't really witnessed nothing like that.You know what I'm saying?Like I said,I did most of my time in prison.You know what I'm saying?That type of stuff happening.
37:53That's county jail shit.Yeah, that's county jail type stuff.Yeah.But, you know, it did, you know, it do happen.You know, they do shit like that to try to mediate somebody.Is it true that, would you say that L.A. County is a jankier place to be there in prison?Ooh, that's crazy.Right.
38:09It's crazy because when I was in a pen, when I was in a pen, when I was in a pen, as a kid,you know what I'm saying, getting ready to go.I mean, when I was in the county, getting ready to go to the pen, you know,they always say, oh, you go, you're going to hit that level four, man.You know what I said?You're going to have to wear books around your stomach, man,and it's going to be cracking and moved, and you get there.It's not that.
38:25And then, here it is.I did there in 20 years, and I'm going back down to L.A. County on my people.Man, it's about to be cracking down there, man.You better keep me with down there.You know, you got to, you know, it's regular.You know what I'm saying?It's normal.Like, you know what I'm saying?
38:38But again, at that point, you're probably, like, somewhat desensitizedto what's going on and being locked up because you've been locked up.because you've been locked up for so long.I'm assuming that you might not have the clearest perspective.Like,wasn't something that's not janky or threatening to you to a normal person might be terrifying.You feel me?Because you're,
38:58because you've already been through so much shit.You did 20 years.Like,oh,I'm just going to another fucking facility.Whatever.You feel me?Like,
39:06yeah,yeah,then that's another thing.I just try not to overthink it.You know,people just blow shit out of proportion.And when you get there,it's not even,
39:13I'm not,I'm not taking away from the county because shit did happen.You know what I'm saying?do shit go down but at the end of day you know you got to stand your ground and that's what i didyou know what i'm saying just stand my ground just do everything i've been through you feel me andstand on whatever decisions that i made you from me what would you say like uh what would yousay is like the most like frightening experience what was the most scared you were was it when you werefacing that charge or was like there's something in prison that was scarier than that um damn
39:40i mean shan't going to lie man when they told me shit i was facing the murder case man i'm i'm my heartI didn't want to pay.You feel me, 17 years old?I didn't even want to faint on that bed, you know what I'm saying?But, you know, yeah, then, like, well, as far as in prison, like, I mean, I mean, like,one of the coldish prisons that I went to was Salinas Valley.I was there, like, nine months.It was there, like, six different racial riots cracked off, you know what I'm saying?
40:06There was, like, probably two-un when I was on the yard, but it was different races,and it was just crazy, like, seeing them going at it and holy shooting, and, like, youtrying to watch out, you know, it just was crazy.So if it's like blacks versus essays, blacks versus Mexicans, do the bloods and crimps come together as one?Yeah.Yeah.Yeah.More certainly.
40:24That kind of shows you something, right?That like a lot of the things that we use to divide us and they're different is kind of not really a thing.Yeah.Yeah, no, for sure.No, for sure.That's why I like getting out.Like, I don't really take shit personal.You know what I'm saying?
40:39Like, you know, because in there, I'm cool with dudes we was going at it with.You know what I'm saying?I'm cool with bloods with power rules.You know what?saying, I'm cool with all these dudes, you know what I'm saying?And then, then shit, you may be cool with them and be getting to it with your own people,you know, with your own homies, even some people that, you know, from your own neighborhood,you know what I'm saying?
40:56So, I mean, I'm not going to lie to going through that time.It matured me as a man to have my own mind and deal with things, the way I deal with itand shit.I mean, like, even being out here, I don't really care with nobody from.I'll be looking forward to designing clothes and doing collaborations with dudes, you know what I'msaying?from another side. I don't care, you for me?Because I'm more on some business shit. You know what I'm saying?
41:18The street shit, we're going to leave out in the streets.You feel me? Like Nip said, I'll be on my business shit.Y'all bring out the low in me.You know what I mean? Like, and like a broke weedhead.My pistol of smoke for free. I always love that bar.But, um, okay, so at what, so you said that, um,so you went in at 17, at what, or 18, technically at what point?Like, when you first got there, did you,
41:44feel like the older the older inmates were kind of like okay this guy's new he's younger we couldtry to manipulate him and try to make him into a soldier crash out type thing did you feel like thatenergy like that like do the older to older inmates that are more experienced trying to pray on theyounger ones is not not just on some weird shit but also like we go make your turn up yeah yeahyeah it's your turn because you're young but now it on there sure to go like that becauseyou got dudes that's been there all these years and that's older homies that ain'tthis shit, you feel me?But, you know, over time, like, you know, like, when I first got there, I used to always
42:19ask my homie Joker, you know, I used to always ask him, like, questions.Like, hey, man, how is it?He's like, man, you over thinking this shit, man.And then over time, I started realizing, like, these same dudes that's older than meor, you feel me?Like, I mean, like, I mean, as far as this, in my car, as far as this countrycore, as far as country core, and this dudes in general, like, I was, like, man, they,I mean, they didn't, I mean, they didn't turn out to be nothing that I thought they were.
42:41So that's what developed me as a man, even a young dude.Like, man, this dude.It ain't even, for me.I have more rank than them, more heart than them more.You know what I'm saying?It's crazy because I can't even think about, like, me knowing myself at that age.Yeah.I was so, would not be mentally prepared or able to, even like, I would mentally break down and just, I don't, I don't know how.
43:04What was it that gave you the strength?Like, did you find God?Did you find Allah?Like, what was it that gave you the strength?Yeah.I'm not going to lie.like, in the beginning,I didn't think I was going to be there that long,
43:17you know, based on my appeal.So you really thought this whole time?Like, oh, you thought you'd be holding a couple years type of shit?Or what?No, but I'm not going to lie.Like, during my eighth year, that's when I kind of like broke downbecause one of my boys, you know,one of my compton homies from Carver Park,
43:31from my boy P. Twin, he was next door to me.You know, and he said some shit like, man, damn.And I'm glad I don't got that much time.Damn, I'm glad I got a date.And that shit, like, broke me because I had life at this time.So I was like, fuck.You feel?That's when I already started getting tattoos.
43:43and not giving a fuck.Yeah, you said that was like 2012.Okay, that's when.Yeah.But I was saying that to say that it hit me.It was like, damn, I'm really, I really got life.Damn, I really didn't have a chance to live as my, you know what I'm saying?As my adult years, like, damn, I already had, never had a chance to do, you know what I'm saying?
44:00To have my own core, you know what I'm saying?To do this or do that?Like, damn, I really lost my life at 17.And then what fuck me up to?Because I'm looking at like I was a good person.You know what I'm saying?Like, damn, how to fuck I get nothing like?And I always been a good person.
44:13saying so it's like the things you do on the streets you're thinking i mean you know i mean you know in yourhead you know i'm saying you doing what's right because you know i'm saying because this is really how you raiseand yeah so i mean so he's a bitch why well of course i'm a pocket check him you feel me likewhy do you let me run through his pockets i mean not as far as that but i'm saying the gang stuff you knowyeah yeah yeah yeah i totally get you're looking at like you know you doing what's right you know what i'm sayingfrom your heart all i'm doing this out of love you know what but oh that's interesting the way youput that because I don't think a lot of people because you think that you're you're essentiallylike a warrior you're writing for your people you're like holding it down for your community
44:51for your tribe you know what I'm saying like so right there like you don't even in it's not eveninternalize that what you're doing is inherently wrong yeah and then especially when you look at shitlook at the fucking other countries in the world they be at war yeah they be killing their enemiesdropping bombs same shit it just we not it just I don't know they got it to where oh youkilling a civilian, you know what I'm saying?Even though it's gang and this shit going on, that's how you get trial.Like you killed somebody, and it's, you know what I'm saying, a civilian.But they want you to go to war for the country and kill for the country, but not for your
45:25neighborhood.Right.Yeah, that's that when you put it like that, that's absolutely insane.A lot of my homies have told me about, like, being the court tank when everybody, you know,people getting sentenced and all that.And like, one of the homies that got like a 15-year sentence.He wanted to, his initial reaction, he wanted to cry.He wanted to, like, he was all upset, but he said that you can't do that in the court
45:51tank because 15 years might be light compared to somebody that just got 90 years or some shit.So if you over there, like, acting like all upset about some shit, this motherfucker just got life.You have a date, motherfucker.You feel me?No, it was just like when I went back down to the county, I did a year, you know what I'm saying?For my appeal.Yeah.And it'll be people coming there in the county jail for a week, you know, and they'll be crying.
46:17You know what I'm saying?Then you got certain homies be crying.Like, bitch, they got 15 years life, man.You're crying about two weeks.That's what I'm saying.Yeah, yeah.Yeah.But then you were on the other side of that because you had your homie being like, shit, I'm glad I got a date.
46:31Oh, yeah.And you're like, fuck.Yeah, when I was in the cell, yeah, that's really fucked me.All right.And it's crazy.You know, for me, this crazy.I never had told him why I started getting a tattoo because he just like.Yeah, what happened, man?
46:42You said you weren't going to get no tattoos.You're trying to go back to court.Well, I didn't tell him.You know, what he said?It kind of like, fuck me up.It made me realize, like, damn, I really got life.Like, yeah, I'm saying.Yeah, fuck me up.
46:51So did that make you not only do that, but did that make you kind of like want toprogram and turn up more like when you in there?Yeah, for sure.Because I already had in my head, like, man, if I give up on life,come on, I'm going to tattoo a big ass N.Y on my face and I'm might to step up on every D.P.You know what I'm saying?Because I'm like, I'm not going home anyway.
47:08shit, this got me in jail.So I might as well just, you know what I'm saying?I might as well go full flesh with this shit.And that's, but as crazy soon as I did that,then that's when that juvenile law came.You know what I'm saying?I mean, to where we had people advocating for juvenilesthat caught life.
47:23Yeah.And that was one thing that my dad told me like,man, it's like you're giving up.You tattooing your face, man.They just passed this law for juveniles.You know what I'm saying?People that got life of juveniles in the wolves.So it was just like, damn.
47:33It's crazy, you know, but it's God, you know?Yeah.And you know what's crazy?Looking at your face right now?I would not know there was ever any tattoos.Now, okay, now that you pointed out,I could see like a slim little outline of the N.Y, but like, okay, so was that part of,
47:50I'll get to that in a second, actually.Who is a D-Dog, aka Nutty Nutso?And what was his influence on you?Yeah, that was my, yeah, that was like a BG,you know what I was saying?That's the one who got killed, you know what I'm saying?When I was in juvenile camp, you know what I'm saying?But, I mean, but, you know, a lot of people, they don't be realizing that, you know what I'm saying?
48:11When you lose certain people, you know, that's the only thing happened is you're getting other people involved that didn't gang bang, you know, and that's what happened with his death.You know what I'm saying? You had homies that was, you know, that was from his clique with a little rapping crew like Young Hoggs, you know, dinner.Ten of them people turned in the neighborhood.You know what I'm saying?I mean, like, oh, what is the car?Like mortars?Yeah, yeah, yeah, martyrs.Yeah, yeah.
48:30Yeah.So basically this dude was so well respected.Yeah.Not just for his music, but who he was.There's a lot of people that didn't play about him.Yeah, for sure.So when he passed, and that was the death that pretty much made you want to turn up as well.That's him right here.
48:50Okay.That's right.Yeah.Long live.So he's a legend over there.Safe to say.Safe to say.And so when you're in there, at that point, okay, it's like 2012, 2013.
49:06they're now trying to give these programsto potentially reverse life sentencesfor juvenile offenders,but you're also at the prime of your case of the fuckets.Like, are you thinking about,are you still thinking aboutnuts so at this point?Or is it just more,
49:23is it like, now it's just deep in your soul?I mean, yeah, no, don't get wrong.Like, you know, so, the homieshas always been a part of me,you know, that was like one of the shirtsI got made, fly thudgers shirtsI got made in prison.You know what I'm saying?
49:35Because I drew his portrait, you know what I'm saying?I even had this portrait, you know what I'm saying, on my desk.Yeah, but, yeah, matter of fact, that was the second, that was like one of the second drawings.I mean, that was one the second shirts that I made.Like, this was my original one.The flag, the classic.Yeah, welcome to the grandees.Yes, my original one.
49:52And then the second one, yeah, the second one was my, was D-Doc.You know, I drew him and put him on the shirt, you know what I'm saying?So when did people realize when you were locked up, like, when did people realize,hey this guy can fucking drawthis guy's got talentwait when you say uh whouh who with other people when other peoplelike the the other uh
50:14you feel me your fellow inmates your fellowcomics yeah no they always seen ityou know what I always seen even the juvenile hallI always be drawing shit like you know what I got some boyslike you know so I got some partnersyou know what I'm saying that I'd be bringing that uplike you feel me I think he infant T-lokefrom Harlem yeah he always
50:30bring it up my boy I think he infant dopeyfrom a faux trade yeah they always rememberremember my join from when I had, I mean, I mean, when we was trialled as juvenile, when wetried as adults in the juvenile tank, yeah, they always, I mean, yeah, in a juvenile compound,yeah, they always, uh, you see me, they always like that I drew. And then one time I, I drewsome shit like a mural, you feel me? And when the staffing up selling my shit, I painted itand all that shit, yeah. Did he give you the money? No, no, I, my janky as fuck. Yeah, yeah,yeah, they sold my, my, my, man. Yeah, that was something big that they remember.
51:03Then, too, I did the, I actually did the painting while I was like, it's called the,damn, what is that shit called, man?It's like you were in the hole, but, you know what I'm saying?You just inside a room, man, I got into a fight.Okay.So, this was my pastime, you know what I'm saying?It's sitting here drawing and painting.So I did like a big ass like Murrow.
51:19Then my fact, I did the homie D dog like his face was like inside the clouds.You know what I'm saying?Matter of fact, it was just like this.It was just like this.It was like a brick wall with dudes hanging out.How do you remember the exact?It's crazy because this is so detailed.Like, how do you remember, like, exactly how many windows were on the side of this building?
51:38Like, how the fuck do you, like, have that image in your head and then bring it to life like that?I had a picture.I had a picture with my homie.Okay.Tea baby.He was standing right here.You know what I'm saying?He was standing right here.
51:49You know what I'm saying?We're showing the background, showing the grandees.Yeah.Yeah.So is he really gripping on a paraphronomenal cakes like that?Yeah.I said the homie was horny for sure when he painted this.Like, yeah.
52:02Happen to see this like in a magazine.I seen a girl that looks similar to her,but I just made it a little bit more ratchet with the red hair.And you know what I'm saying?All that stuff going on.But yeah,I just wanted to make it like a stripper.Like, you know what I'm saying?
52:12I'm not going to say who it looks like because it's kind of offensive.But it looks like a famous woman that we hold in high regard in L.A.Yeah, but I mean,I mean, as far as her,I just wanted to make her like ratchet.You know what I wanted to make her like sexy,like a sexy ratchet.You know what I'm saying?
52:29Yeah, I wanted to make dough like hood.She looked like she.She looked like she got to make her.be like, give me my chain back.She kind of looked like that.Yeah, but this was one of my first big drawings, though.You know what I'm saying?This is when people, I mean, yeah, my first collage.
52:43You know what I'm saying?Then I got it put on shirts and sold in neighborhood.Like I said, I was designing clothes in prison.Okay.So, yeah, so you're, so that, that's what I wanted.So at what point do you realize this is like the most applicable way for my skill set to shineis through clothing?Like, what was your, when did you realize that?
53:01And then also, what are like the original clothing brands that influence you when you was liked up to actually do it yourself?All right.Or what got me to, you know, designing clothes is like I said, when I used to be in there drawing, you know what I see shit like this, bro, man, you know, you can put this on clothes.You know, you can put this on clothes, man.So, you know what?So that's what got me.Like, oh, you know what?I'm going to throw this welcome to the grandies on the shirt and pit fly thug over it, you know, because fly thugger, that was my Facebook album name, you know, where I used to take pictures in myself and post.
53:31post pictures. So I'm like, okay, man, that's a catchy name. You know what I'm saying for a clothingbrand. I'm a pet, fly, thug over it, you know, with the, welcome to the grandees. And then so I juststart, you know, designing more and more stuff. Yeah. I mean, then it's like even like, I mean,it's like even after this, you know, people are like, oh man, you know, you got to make somethingmore than just the hood, man, everybody's not going. So I just start venturing outdoing other shit like outside the grandees. Yeah, because like here's the thing. Like,only certain people could wear this in Compton. You feel? And if you wear this in Compton, you feelme and if you wear this in Compton, you might get asked about it by random people.
54:05Yeah, I mean, uh, safe to say or not?I mean, but you can't really tell that it's say the grandees, but it's more,but it's more so like in a cartoon form.Yeah, but outside, but my, my point was like outside of here, everybody going to thinkthat shit is fire.Like, if you're not directly involved, like somebody like me, I'm from West L.A.,you know what I mean?Like, like, I, those politics don't really pertain to me at all.
54:28So I just saw that and I'm like, oh, this shit is fucking dope.Yeah, no, but too, I mean, the way I look at it as far as everybody could wear it because it's, I mean, I mean, it's basically just like that show, welcome to the PJs, you know what I'm saying?This is basically, I mean, it's no different from that.I mean, from that, it's just showing like, you know, I mean, it's really showing how we grew up in a life, you know what I'm saying, within the grandees, you know what I'm saying, in the cartoon, in the cartoon form, you know what I'm saying?You don't see no hoods crossed out.It's not no gang signs.No, it could be a lot more.It could be a lot more active for sure.
55:01Yeah, but I want to share, you know what I'm saying?Like, you know, my neighborhood, I mean, you know what I'm saying?Disapport, I mean, with, in which they call it ghetto, I don't really look at the ghetto.But, you know, people, you know, that's the ghetto.I want to share a clip, you know what I'm saying, from our lifestyle, you know what I'm saying?So, okay, so like Watts is where like the actual, like, PJs mainly is that.You feel me?You got the projects.
55:21You know what I'm saying?You got the Imperial Courts.You got the Nickerson's.You got the Jordan Downs.There's other projects out there, too.Compton don't really have like projects as much like that.There are projects, but there's a, but like the grandees,that's essentially, uh,
55:36is,it's just like section eight housing for the most part?Just like,yeah,I would say so.I would say so,but you know,it's our project.
55:43It's basically the project.So that's my point,like at the end of the day.Like it's,yeah,you can call it projects,you know what I'm saying?And it's like,
55:50one way in dead and it's dead and street.So it's like,you know,it's kind of,you know,it's triggering here,but it's like,you know what I'm saying,
55:56it's like,safe haven. You feel I hate to use the word safe haven't, but it's like, you know, saying,it's only one way in, one way out, so you can chill. Right. Yeah, you ain't got to be watchingyour back like in the neighborhood. So are these all actual homies that you might model those after?Or those? Oh, you know, you know what? It's crazy because like these certain images I did draw fromlike pictures that I had, like a stack of, like, I mean, with albums from being locked up so long.So I look at certain images like, okay, I'm going to draw this. I'm going to draw this kind ofpose like with him holding a cup and I'm going to pick this on there. Yeah. So it's a little.
56:27It wasn't actual like homies, but it was like different like poses and shit.Yeah, that I added on there.And then like, okay, so here's here's, um, I want to talk about you getting out first,but I also am really curious, like when you're locked up and you're seeing society like change.But you're not really privy to it because you're not outside because when you got locked up,there was motherfuckers had Motorola razors and shit like that.All of a sudden there's iPhones coming out and all this shit.Like what was it like?
56:57Are you aware of, like, the technology advancements and the way music and culture are changing?And you're just kind of like...Yeah.Yeah, hell.Yeah, a lot of things, you know, like, one thing's, like, that fuck me up to.Like, when I went to the DMV and they told me that, I guess that your California, I mean, your California ID, it's the same as, you know what I'm saying?When you was a juvenile, when you got your ID to work a summer job, you know what I'm saying?But at that time, I didn't know, so I would not win.
57:27it was kind of like frustrating because a lot of shit is just off and on when to ask all these questions.I didn't do two decades, you know what I'm saying?Right.Locked up.So it was like when I went back to my room, I was in a half of my house like MCRP.Yeah.When I went back to my room, I just fell to sleep because I was like kind of everything is just overwhelming as fuck.Overwhelming to me.
57:47Yeah.Yeah.Then like as far as the technology, yeah, hell yeah.And another thing, too, like my first time using.you know the paper towels when you waved your handyeah I remember you said that before thatyeah so I'm actually like man how to helldo this paper towel come and so used to
58:05put it to the side right so do like hey manhow long you been gone man you've been going for a long timeyeah so it was like yeah I didn't know you justwade your hand like this and the paper towels come outsimple shit that we take for grantedyou feel me that we wouldn't ever think aboutbut that like that's that's crazymotherfucking just trying to
58:21just took a piss and trying to wipe hisyou just wash his hands likewhat the hell didn't paperThey're like, hey, man, he looked at me crazy.Like, yeah, you ain't going for a minute.Like, yeah.So when, okay, so back to your, your artwork.So when you're locked up and you start doing drawings,
58:38I'm assuming you're doing drawings for other people.Like, yo, draw a picture of my girl.Yeah, sure.They paying you and fucking hell of chili lime soups or whatever.You feel, me, to paint their girlfriends and then things like that,their parents and all that.Yeah.And then you start getting interested in.
58:53What clothing brands inspired you?Oh, yeah.Clothing brands inspired you.Oh, damn, it's like only people that really had, like, pictures that reflected us was Fubu.You know what I'm saying?Bad Aber and stuff like that.They never, it's crazy because like, it's like now when you look at it, you know, you didn't really have.I mean, you didn't really have nothing like this.
59:11You know what I'm saying?Oh, yeah, it's true.That's true.They got characters.Yeah, so.We just had Bugs Bunny sagging.That was like the closest thing.Like, I think Kooji had that or something like.
59:20Yeah, yeah, yeah, iceberg.Yeah, yeah.Yeah, but that's still.There wasn't actual, like, images of people from.the hood like black people on clothes like that like yeah I feel what you're saying yeah so fubuis super influential yeah fubu yeah yeah they had the black face you know I mean not just in blackbut cartoon care no yeah 100% and that that that's the crazy thing too is that now fubu like you knowthings come in cycles with fashion right now like that's just like hot again you feel me like
59:49like the brands that was cracking 20 25 years ago or now back in everything in fashion cycles likethat. So, okay, it's 2013, 12, getting eybusters tatted on your face, you feelof me, not just eyebusters, but you getting the hood tatted on your face. He might,might have had eye busters. I don't know. You feel of me? Like, yeah, no, like, yeah.I mean, like, the way prison affected me is that I didn't get no hoods crossed out because,like I say, and they're the same people that you beef with, you know what I'm saying,you and there on some social shit with them, you know what I'm saying? I mean, like, eventhe bloods and paroos, I don't got.
01:00:26I know peas or bees and nothing that shitbecause at the time when I was getting my tattooshit I always hung out over therewith the bloods and parooside, you know what I'm saying?They had love for me because I mean like I say, it'sgoing to be time when you're going to get into it with your homiesif you know, you're going to have different, you know what I'm saying?You're going to have different, you know what's different, you know,
01:00:41different ways you're going to view things, you know what?And I was always like a stand-up type person.However I feel, I'm feeling.I don't care if I was going against all the homies.You feel like how I feel like I'm standing on that.You know what about like a, what was racialtension like in there? Like is it, were you able to have friends of different races or is thatkind of like a difficult thing? Not for sure. Not for sure. You know what I'm saying? It's not like
01:01:04back in the day, like to where it's like, oh, we don't mess with them because they, why or becausethey masking? She actually have cool ties with them because like the shit, the messings, all they shouldbe be in-house shit. You know what I'm saying? All the shit that they do, you know what I'm saying?And then just like us, you know what I'm saying? As far as the blacks, you know, it may be, I mean,most of the violence start over peoplethat's fucking up that's intervening with this programfor people trying to go homeand you know what I'm saying
01:01:31trying to do something productive with themselvesso I mean so if youfucking over somebody timeyou know what I'm saying as fartrying to go home and you start in tensionwith this other race they're going to remove youespecially you're doing something bullshitI mean you know if you're doing something bullshit
01:01:44you know you up out of hereyou feel you disrespect another raceyou're out of hereand do you feel likefor you at a certain pointlike once you started to see the light of the end of the tunnel because at a certain pointlike you said your father made you aware hey they got programs for you know that arereversing juvenile sentences and things like that do you feel like there's other people
01:02:09that are like nah actually I want this guy to stay right here in the cell block with meI don't want him to go home yeah for sure it's crazy that you said that yeah because yeahI mean because you know you got motherfuckers that's going to hate you know what I'm sayingpeople that's going to hate, you know, you even got, see, some of your own homies that got life,you know what I'm saying?See, you go home, they're going to, they're going to hate on that shit.I'm going to miss the homie.I want them to be over here.
01:02:33Hey, I don't know.Or they want to be in your shoes.They want to be the one going home from a life sentence.Right.You feel me?So it's like you're going to feel some type of energy.Then like you say, even trying to go home, you know, it's crazy because that's one of thetrickiest parts.
01:02:46It's like, man, I'm trying to, you know, it's like, I'm going to stand my ground.You know what I'm saying?I'm going to demand my respect.And I'm trying to go home.So it's like you got to cipher all this shit, the politics.And you know what I'm saying?By the same time, you still got to have your name.You know what I'm saying?
01:02:58Going home.You know what I'm saying?With a good name for yourself in in prison.It's so funny because this is going to sound retarded as fuck.But this was like everything you said just reminds me of like me working at no jumper.Yeah.Because I got to stand on business.I want to make cool content.
01:03:15That's exciting.I know we got to indulge in the fuck shit a little bit because that's what the people like.But at the same time,I got to maintain my morals and integrityand I want to go home at the end of the daywith my head held high and happy about my action.So obviously what you dealt with is infinitely more extreme,but I can relate on a microcosmic level.
01:03:37Yeah, it gets tricky.It's tricky.That's what I'll say.It's very, very, it's difficult to navigate that fine linebecause you don't want to-You're trying to go home.You don't want to be stuck in that motherfucker and, you know,So, yeah, so I say that was the biggest thing for me.
01:03:53Like, you know, so I'm not going to lie.Like, my time, I didn't even get no stiggins.Like, you feel me?I mean, don't get me wrong.You feel me?I mean, it ain't that I wouldn't did it.You know what I'm saying?It's more I'm thinking about trying to go home.
01:04:04I know by statis, motherfucker, I'm going to be stabbing the killers assand I'm going to have another life sentence on top of what I got to go home.You feel me?So that's what's in, you know, that's what's in my head.I'm thinking about home, you know what I'm saying?But when you get in those face stats at a certain point,you're kind of like, you got a case of the fuckets for a while, huh?You know, at that time, like I said, at that time, I gave up.
01:04:22But then, like you say, when these laws came in, it's going to make you kick back and startthinking about going home, especially when you start seeing so much bullshit going on in prison,you're like, man, I got to get the fuck out of here, you know what I'm saying?It seems like you'd have to have an incredible amount of patience more than anything, too,because what we're talking about, that's going to take, okay, they just now starting to changethese laws, but in order for that to actually come into a.And then like then you actually got to apply for it and all that that that that takes years, right?It took you how it took you 10 years to come home after the year.
01:04:56I did 21 years.No, I'm saying.At that point like, because you had already been in for like 10.Oh, oh.Oh, oh.Oh, oh.So when I tattoo my face.Yeah, yeah.
01:05:03When they changed the laws and all that and you start kind of thinking differently.No, you know, they changed the law when I was in the county jail when I was.Oh.When I was fighting my case.Okay.Yeah.When I went down after being down like 20, 19 years.something like that.
01:05:17So at what point did you start?So the whole time you're trying to fight for your freedom, basically.Yeah, based on another argument, I had a different argument.And then the juvenile law came.Okay.Yeah.But still, like, would you say that patience is like one of the most important things that you learn?Yeah.
01:05:33Hell yeah.Yeah.Yeah.It's like, shit, right now, sure.I mean, shit, I'm so patient.You know what I'm saying?A lot of people, you know, they see my drive from my art and my clothing and everything I'm doingproductive out here.
01:05:44But, you know what I'm saying?I'm patient as far.as in a sense because I'm not just trying to rush to get to the bag.I'm not trying to rush to get this certain turn of car.You know what I'm saying?I'm, you know, I'm patient in a sense, but I had this vision.You know what I'm saying?The same vision, I mean, it's not even this vision, but faith.
01:06:01You know what I'm saying?That same faith that got me out of prison, you know what I'm saying?When I didn't know how the fuck I was getting home, you know what I'm saying,but I knew that God was going to get me home, you know what I pett my faith and, you know whatI'm saying?In God's hands and he got me here.So at that same faith, I'm moving on out here in the streets on, you know whatsaying my life coming together, you know.
01:06:18So when did, when did you realize, what was the moment where you're like, okay, I think I mightactually get out?Like, this is going to work.Like, this is, the sentence is going to get commuted.Like, at what point was, like, did you start to really see that light at the end of thetunnel?I mean, my homie, one of my homies, he got released.You know what I'm saying?
01:06:36One of your crimees?No, one of my homies.He caught life at the same time.I caught life.I mean, yeah, we caught our cases right, like two weeks from each other.Okay.I caught.Man, you guys were active at that.
01:06:46for it. Jesus.Yeah, 17 years old, you know what I'm saying?Fighting murders.You know what I'm saying?I mean, yeah, we were murder cases.But, yeah, but he ended up going home, you know what I'm saying?Yeah.Well, with his lawyer, best defamintment, you know, shout out to best definitely.
01:07:00You know, she got me home and two of my other homies.Yeah, from, yeah, from light sentences as juveniles.You know what I'm saying?So when she got my homie K.Ron home, it was like, damn, like, like, this shit is real, right?Yeah.Okay.Okay. And then you wind up actually going through the process and then what a lot of people probably thought was the unthinkable.
01:07:23I don't know how your homie's felt because I know like for me sometimes at a certain point when the homie's been locked up 15 years.Like I don't like I want to see him again.But I don't I.You kind of like adjust your brain to stop even thinking that they're ever going to come home again like type shit.And then you come home.So okay, I got a couple questions.first of all, when you was locked upwhat clothing brands were cracking
01:07:47and then what clothing brands were crackingwhen you came home and how different was the fashion.Yeah, academic was crackingNietzsche.I know people were wearing like Sean John.Because the Valor Suitor.Yeah, Valour suit era.You got locked up in the Valor Souter era.
01:08:02And that was funny because we're back.Damn, you're in the Belor suit era again.But just like the, that's crazy, bro.That's crazy.Yeah, I mean, but not because you're all,But yeah, that's what I'm trying to bring.I mean, well, that's what I'm bringing back to the clothing is, you know what I'm saying,is the urban style, the urban culture, the hip-hop culture.
01:08:20You know what I'm bringing something different.You know what I'm saying?You know what you see?Now you don't see this, you know what I'm saying?On clothes.So, yeah, I'm trying to, you know, I got my own lane as far as with the way I draw my creativityand as far as you see the characters.And you're ill with the aerosol, too.
01:08:37So like you said, you started with the strikeums and things like that.Did you ever like,did you ever,before you got locked up,were you doing murals and piecesand things that weren't gang related?Like,not just like putting up the hood,
01:08:50but were you just likea graffiti writer too?Oh,yeah,yeah,for sure,yeah,for sure.
01:08:55That's all I used to dois tag up the hood.Tagging the walls,you know what I'm saying?I love tagging the wall.You feel me?Like,you know,
01:09:01from decorating the hoodall down,Calwell,just do everywhere.Yeah,I just like taggingfrom the camera.Yeah.
01:09:08Tagging even with a marker.So,okay,so you're,you're,You're mainly, like, hitting streaks and markers, but were you...But you're airstall, too.Yeah, yeah, you're spray paint, you know, in the neighborhood.
01:09:17You know what I'm saying?I'm tagging up all the loss.I think we need to get, uh, I'm going to set this up.I think we need a fly thugger piece over here at no jumper.I got you.I think we need that.What do y'all think?I think so, yeah.
01:09:28I think that's a mando.Okay.So what's your plan in your head as you're getting ready to go home?Are you like, I'm going to hit the ground running?Like, are you, first of all, are you seeing,like damn the homie geotty's going up right nowally the mayor's going up did you even know likewhat battle rap was like that before
01:09:47and like uh no and i may need to start picking up on meyou know what I'm saying listening to dudes you know talk about itlike you know what I'm saying I was my oppositionI mean yeah I mean well yeah he was a big fan of Gucciyou know what I'm saying it was crazy the ops love Gottiyeah yeah yeah that's what you know you're hard when the opsstill fuck with you yeahThat's when you know you hard.
01:10:11Yeah, yeah, for sure.Yeah, for sure.And this is a dude really hate the hook.I ain't gonna say his name.Yeah.So you're starting to hear from different people,including people that aren't supposed to be getting along with your community.They're like, hey, like your homie is going crazy right now.
01:10:27Yeah, for sure.And it was it kind of different because battle rap's so different from like musicwhere you like, oh, this is, did it trip you out?There's no beat.They're doing an a cappella and all that.Like, yeah, then it's crazy because like my first time even seeing one,battles when I went to MCRP.I'm just sitting on the couch.
01:10:43You know what I'm saying?And they said,Gip from Copton, Gichi, go, hey.So I even had recorded it since the 20.You feel me?But it was my first time ever seen him on TV and battle rapping.I said, we grew up since kids, you know what I'm saying?This on some regular every day hanging out, you know what I'm saying?
01:10:56Yang Bangor type shit now to see him on TV.It was just like, damn, right?You know, it's funny.So the first time I ever saw Gichi way before I met him was on a, I think it was street TV.Alex Alonzo, you feel me?and he was like oh there's this guyBayloak and do that's my first timeto be honest with you like I obviously knew
01:11:17like what the nutty blocks wereyou know what I'm saying like and all thatbut that was the first like realwindow I had in seeingy'all's lifestyle and things like thatand then it became crazylike just how much it's grownand when you were locked up
01:11:37was that kind of like a sort ofsurprised like A,because not every hood gothomies that are doing it big like that.You would think they do, but there'sa lot of hoods that ain't got noemotion. Yeah, not for sure.Not for sure. But, you know what I'm saying? And that's one thing we
01:11:50always talked about was this. You know what I'm saying?Because he always knew, you know what I'm saying, myskills, you know what I'm saying? From drawing, I mean,I said, even like taggingon walls to drawing, you feel? Where I waslocked up, I was drawing a little shit.But, you know what I'm saying? For them, they even startseeing my drawing advanced on social media.
01:12:06Like, you know what I'm saying? They didn't see theclothing line thing.So this was always something that we talked about doing was, you know,getting this off the floor.And it's like, you know, we hear we're actually doing it.Yeah, we're doing it.So, man, that's crazy.That's crazy.
01:12:22So at what point, at what point were you like, okay, this is actually something that a lot ofpeople are going to be interested in and I can make this a whole career.Yeah.Like I say, people, I mean,like I say, my fellow inmates,you know what I'm saying?They really encourage me, like,bro, you need to put this on shirts.
01:12:44You feel me?So it's like, now I start putting it on clothes.You know what I'm saying?It's my, you know, it's a passion as well.You know, John is my passion.But dressing up is my passion.It's also my passion.It's designing like some of the coldest shit that people are like, damn.
01:12:58When, who decided to make the,was it your idea to make a documentary about your lifeor does somebody else like,yo, we need to tell this story?Yeah, no, my homie.You feel me?My homies is always big on it.You know what I said?
01:13:09Like I said, Gitchie, he always like, man, he needs to get your story out there.You know what I'm saying?Man, you got a cold story.You know what I'm saying?Growing up, you know what I'm saying?Growing up, you know what I'm saying?Your family and then, you know, what you've been doing as far as your art and the clothing line.Like, man, that's how they're going to connect you with who behind fly thugger.
01:13:25You know what I'm saying?Yeah, I mean, him and my other homie, my homie, that's rest in peace.The one I told you to have got out with me.Yeah, he ended up passing.But yeah, he also was like, man, you need to tell your story.You got a cold story.You know what I'm saying?And his thing was writing movies.
01:13:40You know what I'm saying?For him to tell me, you know what I'm saying?About my story, you know what?My homie tiny no good.You know, he also was like, man, you need to tell your story, man.Fuck all that.It should tell your story.Think about how you came up with this.
01:13:52Why you, you feel me?So people was always into the story.You know what I'm like, you know what?I'm like, you know what?I'm like, you know, I'm about to do this documentary.You know, I only was out five months.Like, like four and a half months.I'm like, man, I'm about to do this documentary
01:14:03and I'm not about to do it sitting in the back yard.I'm not about to sit in the grandees.I mean, we're about to walk through the hood.You know, some of my homies like, what?You know, it's war.You know what I'm saying?All the time.But I'm like, no, fuck that.
01:14:15You walk it through the hood.You know, because I got a lot of historyand different things.That's an amazing doc.I want to put a link in the description for thatbecause there's a really, really dope documentary.What would you say,what's the, okay, you say you got an important story
01:14:29and your homies were telling you that this,this story. What's the moral of the fly thugger story?Yeah, the moral, I mean, yeah, I mean, shit, the moral of the fly thugger story,damn, it's a lot. I mean, one, like I say, shit, the writing, I mean, my font to thefly thugger, that's my actual strikeums, you know what I'm saying, being the artist andpitting my art onto clothes and, like I said, always being into dressing since the kid,you know, like I say art, you know, pitting my art. I mean, I got hand-drawn personal art onclothes, you know what I'm saying? That's something you don't see. I mean, then I also try to look it up,
01:15:04like, you know what I'm saying? Is there any clothing designers that put their own art onto clothes? You know what I couldn't refinance? So that's something even different too.That is very different. Most people just taking other images and putting it on chat GPT and shit.AI and yeah, you, you're anti-AI. You AIK. Yeah, I'm on.Yeah, and that was another thing too, you know, people were saying that they like more of thehand-drawn art better than AI.it's more authentic, it's more original.100%.
01:15:33And you have the right number of fingers.That's also a good thing because the AI be like having a warped looking hands and shit like that.But I think what I gleam, the moral of your story is a lot deeper than that because this is a story of perseverance.This is a story about not giving up about when all odds are against you and you and life done kick that ass and beat down.you still hopped up off themotherfucking pavement and said, guess what?You feel me?I'm still here.
01:16:04I'm still alive and I'm going to be my best self.My best years, a lot of people when they get locked up,they think that, hey, you feel me?This is where life ends, but nah, this is where your story really begins.That's to me, I don't know if you take it like that.But when I see your story, when I look at like the moral, it's about perseverance.It's about consistency and it's about not giving up player.Yeah, you know what I'm saying?
01:16:28Yeah, thank you, man.Thank you.I guess, you know, it's crazy.It's like you go through so much stuff that you become numb.You know, you become numb to, you know, what you go through and it actually don't even,it don't even seem like nothing.You know what I'm saying?It's like you have like a tunnel vision to where you're not even focus on what you've been
01:16:47through no more.You focus on, you know what I'm saying?Where are you trying to get to?1,000 percent, man.Amazing story.Let's bring attention to the artwork.and some of the clothes so we can show the people.What's up for?
01:17:00People don't know, like, this image right here.By the way, is that a real Monte Carlo right there?Yeah, I drew this picture from, you know what I'm saying?From an actual picture or one of my homies.That's the homies whip right there.That's a cold whip.Yeah, and then my dad had one of these when I was a kid.I was like in there like sixth grade, you know,
01:17:18and that was like my favorite car that he had.You know what I'm saying?S.Martin Carlo, you know, it was purple with like the metallic flakes.Yeah, it was a bag down-ass car.I don't know I think for thoseIt needs those kind of rims is betterLike I love white walls
01:17:33I love this right hereThat that's what the kind of rims that whip needsYeah, it's the stocks you feel like meYou keep in the hood butAll right and so some of these other images right hereWe got the Smurf gang right hereYeah Smurfs yeah Smurf I had to change upThe Smurge right because I used to be watching
01:17:52You know Smurfs sure and I'll be watching themGetting Chase and they blue like you know what I'm like manyou know what I'm about to make them, you know what I'm saying?Stand up the Gargamel.Was they running a train on Smurfette?What do you think?Was everyone hitting that with Smurfette for the streets?I mean, you can see it now.
01:18:07I said, yeah.I mean, yeah, she's, she hood.And what's up with Papa Smurf?Why he got the red?Is he like a, is he like a turf hopper?Like, did he like used to be a, he used to be a blood and he hood hopped or what?Like.And no, that's one thing about my, by my creativity.
01:18:22I'll switch things up.Okay.You know what I'm saying?Poppers broke out the blue on here, yeah, he was always creeping over here.Yeah, yeah, blue smurts.Yeah.Yeah, so I got him like thugged out, you know, taking the stance against gargamel.And then, oh, yeah, and that's another thing that they got to see is the sweatsuits I made with the smurfs on it.
01:18:41Oh, yeah.That smurf, that's cold, you know, the blue smurfs everywhere.And then that's your main character.Yeah, fly thugger, yeah, this flytugger right here.Yeah, that's my main character.It's crazy because I drew him with his hat to the back, hat to the front.You know what I'm saying?I switched it up to where I have different versions of fly thugger, you know, one with the fade.
01:19:02You know, it's the same version.Yeah, yeah.You got Boosie Fade Fly Thugger.Yeah, then you got the hat.Okay, hat to the front, hat to the back.How many of these did you do when you were locked up?Which ones?Like these.
01:19:13You were like, I know this you did when you were locked up.Yeah, I did that when I was locked up.Then I got the one with the hoodie on.and this is a frighteningly real nipsy hustlelike I mean that lookthat's a photograph brothe fucking texture in hisfacial hair and his
01:19:33his braids that's crazy doglike that looked like you like glued hair to itthat's insane how you got that much likehow do you get the dimensions to pop out like thatyeah okay yeah see with this picture I took two picturesone with him looking up and then the other oneOh shitOkay, yeah
01:19:53With this one I didI mean well I took two picturesAnd I collaged itYou know what I'm looking up in the skyAnd then the other oneWith his rag around his neckYeah but as far as the detailsAs far as the details go
01:20:06Like I said I just look at the pictureAnd I just I don't knowThat's just something I readMe into the detailsTo find detailsAnd then just make it popYou got the eye broThere's no other way to put it
01:20:17And who's this right here?Oh, yeah, that's one of my home girls.I had drew her a portrait, you know what I'm saying?But I just wanted to show how Vance, you know what I'm saying?My portrait hand done got because that was something that you mentioned too as far as being in prison and people actually need to do portraits.Yeah.Yeah, so I just wanted to show, you know what I'm saying?How my portrait hand had elevated, you know what I'm saying?
01:20:38And I can say, this is peeing, you know?And it's crazy because I feel like she's in the room with us right now.That's crazy.Oh, is that detail?Is that details?Yeah.And then you got a, of course, you got Woody.you feel me the
01:20:50witty yeah that's youfeel me yeahyeah in real got the blackwitty you know what I'm sayingI made him to uhhe black and he banged outhe's not no cophe's the outlaw you see
01:20:59that's the outlawyeah that's the outlaw right thereyou see I got the one itthe 165,000 dollar rewardyou know what I'm sayingthat's nice touch right thereyeah hell yeahbut that detailing man
01:21:10I think that's where I'mthat's what really make my John's popis that fine detailyeahnow you you uhyou definitely bring it to life.All these are crazy.That's you posted in the hood basically.
01:21:25Okay, yeah, and that's basically the fly thugger.I mean, well, I mean, yeah, this is basically where I got, I mean, with my flydugger image,he actually comes from the dude from the Welcome to the Grand East.Him right here.Okay.Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep.I just ended up revised him over so many times, you know what I'm saying?You'd be making yourself look a little more light skin than you really are.
01:21:44Oh, yeah.I noticed that.Oh, wait, you said, oh, you said, this one of a lighter.Yeah, you know, light.Yeah, that's fire though.So, okay.What do you do now in order?Are you just so focused on your art and your and your ventures that getting in trouble is not even on the table or like?
01:22:06Yeah.Or how do you, like, is it, are you ever tempted to go back to your old ways?I'm not going to lie.I'm not going to lie.That should be hard.But at the same time, what I just overcame, you know what I'm saying, you got to think about going through that over again.You know what I'm saying?So it would be like, you know, I'm just trying to make this my main focus and I try not go, go backwards.
01:22:25Shit, man, I just, I just went through the 90-year-life sentence.You feel me?You feel me?I'm blessed, you know what I'm saying?By God to even be here.So, but like I say, it's hard not to get involved in politics and shit that go on, but shit,your biggest lesson is you say that journey, you know, but, but as far as what I do in my time,I would just in Defy Ventures.
01:22:44It's like a, it's a class.It's a, I mean, it's an online class for dudes.getting out of prison and starting their own business.Yeah, so that's what I've been doing as far as on my time, as far as building my brand.You know, they help you, you know, build your brand.Like the first four months is a boot camp.So you read down there, you read down there, 1,200 pages.There's two books.
01:23:06That's 600 pages.That's a lot.Yeah, teach you everything about business, growing your business.And, yeah, then also it's like the acceleration phase to where, you know,they just help you, you know, build your business.So yeah, that's basically what I'd bePicking most of my time or two.And do you think that gangs
01:23:23just by nature are negativeor do you think there's positive aspects to gangs?I mean, you know, it can be negative.I mean, you know, the stigma that's placed on itis as far as being negative.But, you know what I'm saying?You can make something positive out of it.You know what I said?
01:23:39I was just watching, you know,Del Dog documentary from Main Street.You know what I'm saying?He did a lot of lots of things before, you know what I'm saying?Before he passed.You know what I'm saying?He had his, you know, he had his four life records.You know what I'm saying?
01:23:51He turned his four life record into a clothing brand.You know what I'm saying?He had a nonprofit.You know what I'm saying?He's also preaching to his homies, you know what I'm saying?Out there in front yard and the streets and in his neighborhood.But I'm saying that to say, you know, how you say I'm no longer a game member, you know,I'm from, of course, I'm front.
01:24:09I grew up where I'm front.Right, right.Of course.It's always going to be.But, you know, I'm not active.You know what I'm saying?I believe it's different from being active and being where you from and doingwhat you do because no matter what you do you know they always gonna look back at you like oh
01:24:22that's him from you know what I'm saying from you know where you grew up right always gonna belabeled from when you grew up from no matter if you gang bang or not look at Lamar I mean look atKendrick Lamar you know he don't gang bang but this where he grew up at so they always gonna bea reflection he was really more banged out than he portrayed a whole different image and likelike people wanted to because I remember when Drake was all like oh like he don't even banged itactually Kendrick really was like you know I'm not saying he was like that like that but he's more than he portrayed and I think he just wanted to put a different image out there for people to see another side but no I totally get what you're saying so um so you're not trying obviously you're I don't want to say above but you're past the politicking phase of your life um what would you say to what would you say to people that are in a similar circumstanceYou feel me?Because I think, like, to me,
01:25:17another big one of the morals of your story is there's a second chance.And you can change your ways.So what would you say to you in 2012, like the version of you?Man, it's, I mean, you know, to stay focused.You know what I'm saying?Even though I did it, you know what I'm saying?Keep faith.You know, keep your faith in God.
01:25:39You know what I'm saying?God going to, you know what I'm saying?He's going to lead the way for you.You know what I'm saying?Even when you don't know which way, you know what I'm saying?he's going to lead the way.And that's, I mean, I'm not going to lie.Like, you know what I'm saying?
01:25:49During that time and what I went through it made me a firm believer in God.You know what I'm saying?Yeah, it's kind of cold to say, you know what I'm saying?Because, you know, when the people see game memories and they just label you this type of way,but, you know what I'm saying?God is going to affect you in one way or another.Say less.And did you want, you wanted to show some of the clothes that you got?
01:26:08Yeah.Is they still out there?I wanted them to come in and show it off.He has do a little walk through right quick.Yeah.Fill me, let him know.Yeah, do a little runway.The little runway drawn right quick.
01:26:20You feel, which the people can see, like, honestly, I love the gear.Like I said, right before we started doing the interview, Gotti is my homie, for real.And I'll, any favor, he asked me.But this wasn't, this, this interview right here ain't even Goddy calling in her favor.I was so compelled by your story and so interested in it that I felt like this need to beof the world. So we got Eli of the mayor.We got the other homies in the building.They're going to show, you feel me? Oh, yeah.
01:26:50Everybody else left?Oh, hey, got,a community collaboration.Yeah, just show them real quick, what time is it?We can bring all that over here.Yeah.Bring all of it over here.You know, I want to show this off, too, man.
01:27:06With a flight, doesn't what I'm saying?I want to show the flight there on the side.You know, that's a good old fly shit.What camera we're looking at, too?The second one.Oh, Pete, look.Y'all know what's going on, man.So fly a thugger thing.
01:27:21Look, this is my brother.He put together this community collaboration.So the reason he called it back to the you, you know, of course.Go back to you.I say, so what you know, what, uh, what Luts know and people that know is L.I.Got his own brand, which is pack a lunch.A lot.A lunch.
01:27:35You feel me?You know what I'm saying?So you see he put together the flydugger pack of lunch collab.And you know, of course, I got the no studio in brand.You know what I'm saying?So then you got the fly thugging no studio.And then you got the homie cash, got the Central Lab.We got a, Sam, you can't see the vision, my boy, J-Wan.
01:27:53We got a T-G with the T-G firebikes.You know what I'm saying?We got a lot of different homies with that.That shit is so sick right there.We got a lot of different homies with clothing brands.You know what I'm saying?We got a lot of different homies with clothing brands.And then we got some of the monuments.
01:28:06So the community collaboration got all those brands on there and a few of the monuments in our hood,which is like the miracle market.That's the airport at the bottom over there?Yeah.You feel me?So you see, yeah.So if you see it got the standing on business,which is one of our, one of our guys, man, A, D, and them got that.
01:28:22You got the No Studio and that's my stuff.We got the pack of lunch.You got it all, so it's a collaborative, you know what I mean?So ain't nobody missing.You know what I'm saying?I love it.If you rock, if you get this, you represent everybody from our,from our side of town.
01:28:36They brands, they stuff they putting on and stuff.And it's dope.Like, look at us, man.We, we mixing the, with the designer.We got the Louis shoes on with the fly dugger.We got the Nogis.We got the Gucci.You know what I'm saying?
01:28:47We got all that's going on, man.This one right here.Compton Tar, baby.Yeah, it's crazy.This is my here is the Compton Tar Bay.I've seen that.Yeah.Hey, I read it.
01:28:58You know, the Compton High, you know, the Compton High, you know, the Compton High, y'all got to get right.And make this official, quit playing.Right, you just put the money up, man.You got the school district.School district.Where are you at?Yeah, the new jackets.You know, I want to get a contract.
01:29:13You know what I'm saying?We're Compton High, you know what I'm saying?Designing these.You know what I'm saying?I also got the joggers to go with it.You know what I'm saying?You can't forget about the joggers.Now, you need the bottom path.
01:29:21You got to have the joggers to go with it.You got the tar bag going down the side.You know what I'm saying?You got the tar bag, you know what I'm saying?You know what I'm saying?Shit is fire.We used to go get a tar bag special.It was more like, you know, I'm going to say this.
01:29:36Eclipse.And you know what I'm saying?And, you know, salute to Dr.Dr. Dr. Drakes, what he did for that school is amazing.You know what I'm saying?I'm for the show with a love to went to that Compton High.You're hearing me?That's different, right?
01:29:44Yeah, that's a different Compton High than what we went to, you know, but.Olympic size pool.But, yeah, exactly.But was better than somebody that literally went to Compton High.You know what I'm saying?Lost their freedom, went away, came back with a new more positive attitude,changing everything that can really show those kids like, look,hey, I went to this school.
01:30:04I took pride in this.I made a mistake when I was y'all age.But, look, y'all had to make the same mistake.This is the type of energy that you bring back to your.your city when you put, you know what I mean, when you put the right people in position, man,I think the city of Compton, I think Compton Hive, they get wind of this.Like no jumper giving a big platform for him to speak on this.That's what I'm saying.
01:30:21They might actually really understand how big that is to let this be the new logo, be the new,you know what I mean, the new jerseys, the new everything, man, for their school, man,because, man, you could be Compton Hive, we're talking about somebody that really went there,went to those schools, had them teachers, man, went to them, walk that track, did all that.You got a new school, you got somebody coming back.So Compton High, man, we ain't, we ain't, we ain't,pressing our lines, but we definitely arereaching out and hoping that, you know, man, you take
01:30:45a chance to, you know, take a chance on some youngkids from Compton, man. That made a change, man,and let the new youth get a new look atthis new tar bag, man, you know what I'm saying? For real,for real, for real. Who else? Who else? If there was anyart class he took, it was over there. Come on, you know whatsaying? That my boy teach art classand teach art class. Yeah, you feel
01:31:03me? No cat. Yeah, yeah.No cat. Like, that's realrehabilitation, though. You know what I'm saying? A lotof people don't, don't, don't, don't. Realwhen you start talking about that, like this is real rehabilitation right here.You know what I'm saying?He took his time in that seal and really rehabilitated itself.We know people who go to jail and probably don't change.
01:31:20You know what I'm saying?We're looking at the, you know what I mean, the image of somebody that literally took his timeand had 90 to life and said, I'm going to come back, do something different.Like he said, man, I had many options to crash out, tatted his whole face at NY'sand all the kind of stuff.But came home and said, let me take that off my face.Let me clean up my image.Let me get focused.
01:31:36You know what I'm saying?You got a champion that type of stuff, man.So like he told you, man, we've been homeboy since kids.and it ain't no fake love, no none of that.So like you said, man, by you hearing this story,this ain't no favor of me, this was just doing how you wanted to doand him, his hard work, getting him up here.You know what I'm saying?
01:31:51His hard work and showing what his talent got him, man.So I'm proud of you, man.I'm glad to just being here and being the cut and just hear the storylike I ain't never heard it before.You know what I'm saying?It's definitely an amazing story.And the best part of it is, it's just the beginningbecause the flight thugger legacy has got a lot to come
01:32:09in the future.You feelme?Do you live in Compton Sillor?Yeah.Hell yeah.That's,I got a,
01:32:16oh yeah.Two,I got a website,you know,with all my clothes on there.You know,you can check it out,you know what I'm saying?
01:32:22Fly Thugger,F-L-L-Y-T-H-U-G-A.You know what I'm saying?I got,my Instagram is fly-thugger.You know,you see all my drawings,you know,
01:32:31all my clothes,you know what I'm saying?Fly Thugger,F-L-Y-T-H-U-G-A.You know,shit my YouTube.channel, you know, with mydocumentary on there, talk about my whole life.
01:32:44I know that more for like two hours, but, you know,that's why I call it, you know what I'm saying, a realcompting movie, you know what I'm saying? It's a documentary,but at the same time, it's a real Compton movie.It could be a movie, too. Yeah, I want it tobe a movie. I think that. We might need to talkabout that. We might need to talk about that.With that being said, Fly Thugger,
01:33:00any final message for this? It's been an amazinginterview. Yeah, I want to, yeah, I just want to thank you.You know what I'm saying? For, you know what I'm saying? For getting meabout the city, you feel me? I want to think, I mean,I mean, yeah, you know what I'm saying, presenting my talent, you know what I'm saying, my talent,you know what I'm saying, showcasing my talent to the world, you know what I'm saying, and this brand,you know what I'm saying, we're about to, you know what I'm saying, we're about to build this brand upto be one of the biggest, you know what I'm saying, street where brands there is, you know what
01:33:24straight from Compton, you know what I'm saying, from somebody born and raised in Compton.I said, we got talent out there in Compton, you know what I'm saying, it ain't justgangs, you know what I'm saying, you got people, you know, so you got people that's supposed to bemillionaires, it's just shit, we get caught, you know, people get caught up in the streetsand doing what they doing, but, you know, exactly.what I'm doing.She got motherfuckers that's millionairesis doing the same thing.
01:33:43You know what I'm saying?The roses do grow from concrete.Yeah.Come on, man.Like Pac said.Yeah, and I want to think,you know what I'm saying?Yeah, and I want to think, you know what I'm saying?
01:33:51Shit, man.I mean, as far as what I see,as far as on the battle rap,on the battle rap scene,you know what I'm saying,he's actually a good dude,man, he takes,I mean,
01:34:00he's mean to these people in battles,but he's actually a good personin real life,despite the horrible things he says about people.Yeah, for sure.Hey yeah for sure manGichi got a good heart man you know what I'm saying he'll take hislast dime you know what I'm saying
01:34:14And give to a homie or you know what I'm sayingI mean anything you need you from me he gonna be there for youYou know what I'm saying?No one of the realest dudes I've ever madeYeah sure that's a good dude right thereShows Sakati and shout supply thuggerOnce again this is no jumperLike share subscribe
01:34:30Please tune in with my guys movementsWe don't have you backWe're gonna have you feeling me like you knowWe rock with the community so I thinkYeah, like, oh, man, let's go.Yeah.Yeah, for sure.Come on, come on.
01:34:45Yeah, yeah.I would love to have you back, player.Make sure, man,make sure y'all stop by, you know what I'm saying?By that.Flydugger store, too.W.W.flydugger.
01:34:56Dot store.You know what I'm saying?Get your flight dugger apparel, man.Buy you son.Fly shit, man.The fly shit they got going right now.Ain't nothing else fucking with this flight dugger shit,man.
01:35:05Hand drawn from a real street, nigger, for sure.Come on, man.man good name good good from the grandees to the motherfucking world yeah man trying to getthis sold all the way in Japan we have the galaxy with it all right then with that being saidwe about this be yiatsu
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