No Jumper - Young Dro Interview

Episode Date: June 18, 2020

This video was recorded before the recent events. We had the pleasure to catch up with Young Dro during quarantine, and we talked about T.I and Grand Hustle, relationship with Yung LA, Gucci Mane, lean, his work ethic and more! 5:03 "They scare us for the most part because covid is not airborne" 12:41 Young Dro leads his music with his sense of humor, based on his less fortunate upbringing 16:58 "I love the old Gucci but I'm inspired by the new Gucci!" 31:08 How Grand Hustle move around Young Dro and T.I. 48:09 Drop speaks on Yung LA's debacle with Duct Tape ----- FOLLOW US ON SNAPCHAT FOR THE LATEST NEWS & UPDATES https://www.snapchat.com/discover/No_Jumper/4874336901 FOLLOW OUR NEW SPOTIFY PLAYLIST! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/529mn7of2HBKdLfrAMUzcK?si=rWVBWCuWSXeh0TFYb2P-dQ CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE STORE!!! http://www.nojumper.com/ SUBSCRIBE for new interviews (and more) weekly: http://bit.ly/nastymondayz Follow us on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nojumper iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/no-jumper/id1001659715?mt=2 Follow us on Social Media: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/No_Jumper/4874336901 http://www.twitter.com/nojumper http://www.instagram.com/nojumper https://www.facebook.com/No-Jumper-198283650194402/ http://www.reddit.com/r/nojumper JOIN THE DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Q3XPfBm Follow Adam22: http://www.twitter.com/adam22 http://www.instagram.com/adam22 and adam22hoe on Snapchat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Young Dro in the building. How are you feeling, man? Oh, man, I'm feeling good. How you doing, brother? I'm feeling great, man. I was just listening to Best Thanks, smoking on the way here, and it brought back so many goddamn memories of my, well, I guess I can't see my youth, but, like, my early 20s.

That's your youth? Not really my youth, but, you know, it's like, you know, G unit is like my, no, I can't say G unit. Like, Snoop is like my youth. You know, crisscross is my youth. But, you know, I was really running around drinking my ass off and fucking whaling out listening to Young Dr. for many years there, you know?

Yeah. You drink your ass out of it. I mean, yeah, that's like period in your life. You're still a big drinker? I mean, well, mostly like champagne, or like 1942 or something like that. Hmm. I really think like liquor, like, tastes, like, really nasty.

Oh, yeah. I know, and you can't say that about lean. That's like the number one value proposition for lean is like, man, it should taste too good. I mean, well, for me, it's kind of like, the reason why I really really, like lean like that. It reminds me a Kool-Aid. But isn't that fucked up? Like, that's one

thing I hate when anybody will give you a hard time about enjoying lean, like, recreationally. And it's like, why is everybody okay with somebody going to the bar having a couple of drinks? That don't make you an alcoholic. But you hear somebody talk about drinking lean one time. People are actually acting like you're a junkie. I mean, well, to each is, I think the people that really try to do, like, if they try to throw shade on us like that, they be,

they really want to drink it themselves. They don't got the self-control or no, they just don't know what the fuck's going on. And I swear to God, if they knew the taste of it, they'll be like, just like us. Man, I'm so rare with my lean consumption, especially at this point. I feel like I got too much to do, so I just cannot, I can't put myself into that mentality to just be like sitting around all drowsy and shit. Yeah. I mean, yeah, I mean, for me to relax, I do give me like a full walk.

you know what I mean walk hard or something like that you know what I'm saying but you know what I mean just for the relax right you know what I mean and then like

they wonder why like people like us don't never have coals or nothing like that because we always drink a lien that might be you I don't know if I could take that no bro I don't be under the weather

like the coronavirus can't even fuck with me I'm already on lean bro I'm drinking cal syrup you were prepared for it yo I was in the studio the other day though when somebody was trying to sell

they were selling lines of Quali for 150 and everybody was acting like it was normal. I mean, well, yeah. I mean, they're about the rate, you feel what I'm saying? Shit done changed. I mean, yeah, yeah. But see, since the act ain't round, you know, the act used to be like 200 line. So, you know what I mean?

And this thing to it, walk, you feel? Yeah, I mean, that's just crazy to think that, like, they're gonna be charging activist prices for a lot of lien now. Okay, so how you deal with you? How are you dealing with the coronavirus, the pandemic? Have you actually been socially isolated or are you just kind of capping for social media? Actually, yes. When the pandemic first started, I was in Baltimore.

I was about to, well, actually, I had started the Wild and Out tour with Nick Cannon. Okay. So, you know, we had did one of our shows in North Carolina. It went great. And me and Nick talked backstage and he was like, matter of fact, just do the whole tour. So I was like, cool, bet. So we fly to Baltimore the next day. And everything hit in Baltimore.

They shut the whole showdown. Like, they shut the whole tour down for like, you know what I mean? So when we left, came back home, you feel me? And my, you know, the people in my family was real, like, you know, we religious people. And, you know, we believe in God. So, you know, we felt like if something like this had happened, that was beyond government, that was beyond politics,

that was beyond politics, that was beyond, you know what I mean, the stuff that we do day to day, you feel what I'm saying? It was way beyond. I thought it was like a sign from God himself. So yeah, I did stay in the house like for a minute. I didn't go out a lot. My daughters and my son, you know, I did go back and forth to pick up my son, but I didn't go out to hang out nowhere.

You feel me? I felt like I was, I was. I was just like a human. You feel me? If you tell me the coronavirus out, you can catch you in the air, I felt like the average person. I didn't want nobody to give it to me.

So I stayed in the house, man. No, yeah, definitely. It's kind of actually weird how it is now, where I'm almost forgetting about the coronavirus. And on the way to work today, I was like, I almost stop at 7-Eleven, get something to drink. And I'm like, I don't have a mask. I ain't even going to let me in there.

I mean, as far as the masks and stuff go, I think that's a bit. You feel me? I think that's like, they're putting too much on it. You feel me? I think that if it's airborne and we can catch it, you feel me? And half of the people that's walking around with masks, you know, they pull them down, they're wearing them like right here.

Or when you really want to talk, you pull it down and talk. Like, if you pull it down and talk to another person, you feel what I'm saying? What's the use of wearing a mask? Yeah. Like, well, you know what I mean? So it's a lot of ways I'm thinking about what's going on right? right now and it's really, it's really like wrecking my brain like seriously though.

This shit killing me for real. Oh, for real what? Just the not being able to socialize as much as you would normally part? I mean, well, all the stuff that is making me think about, you feel of me? Somebody, like, say for instance, somebody sneezes a cough. Like I normally wouldn't pay attention to that. But like, you feel me? And I'll be being funny when I do say something, but it's also what can happen.

You feel me? And you're like, boy, you got there. But it's also like you're thinking about shit that you just never really thought about before, but now shit seems so much more disgusting, really. Like somebody fucking sneezing in a crowded room might not have necessarily occurred to me to be such a big deal. But now that we're all concerned about this, it's kind of like, fuck. Like that feels like a much bigger deal than it used to. That's what I'm saying.

Like it's killing me right now. Like it's, you know, it's making me thinking about things that I shouldn't be thinking about. But I shouldn't be thinking about. Can I say that? No, yeah, yeah, no, it makes sense for sure. So you posted up in Atlanta right now, or? Yeah, I'm in Atlanta. We haven't moved.

I mean, we just here, you know, like for the past, like two weeks ago, we started going to the studio, you know, we're social distancing, you know what I mean, as far as a crowd of people in there, you know, you might be me tipping the engineer, you know, I'm saying. And we've just been banging it out. That's how, you know, right before the pandemic,

that's when I recorded TikTok. Okay. And so, yeah, had you not put out a song for a minute before that, and you felt like that was like a big release in that sense? Well, actually, I had put out a project, I Am Legend 2 with DJ Screen. Oh, okay.

But was it not on streaming services? It was on all platforms. Oh, okay. Me and DJ Scream did it real big. It was, you know what I mean? It was a remake from what we had did in the past. Me and Scream, like, me and Scream, like, family as far as the music go. And we just put out I Am Legend 2.

So that was a project that I really wanted to go, like, further than it went. But she just kept recording and went back in the studio, recorded TikTok. And that's actually one of the best songs that I have, like really make this year or recording. Definitely. No, yeah, I was fucking with that song on the way over here. And I was wondering what your relationship is with TikTok.

Or have your kids put you onto it? Or who's telling you about TikTok? How did you know that, bro? Listen, this is how I make the song. Like my little girl, like, she's like 11, 12. She's 12. So she was like, yeah, dad, I be on TikTok. I be doing this, doing that.

You feel me? And I was like, she was like, you don't know anything about it. You know, I've been having my TikTok page dad. You feel? I said, okay, well, I'm about to go make a song. You feel me? So when I made it, I made it, like, for my daughter, like, you know what I mean? Just to show her that dad still rocking. You dig a little bit. Oh, that's hard. But so with you and your daughter, though, like, was there a particular moment where she realized, like, what dad was? Or has she always just, like, completely understood?

And is it ever weird for her? Because she's so, I'm assuming, like, younger kids, they tend to gravitate towards younger artists. So, like, what is her perspective of your place in the game? Well, when she was growing up, she actually didn't care, I want to say. And she didn't care to the point where it was like a nonchalant thing for her. Like, you know, we'll be out and people will be asking to take pictures. And she'll just ask me like in a plane voice, like, why people want to take pictures with you? Yeah, yeah, no, totally.

You know, and I don't want to tell I'm going to try to boast of it. I'm like, well, dad's like an entertainer, you know what I mean? She was like, oh, you know, that's cool. And she was like, you know what I'm saying? So it didn't really matter to her. You feel me? Even right now, she has more YouTube subscribers than I do. Really?

Yes. Wait, how old is she? She's 12. She's 12 and she's just making YouTube videos or is she actually putting time into it? Well, actually she wants to venture off into being a YouTube sensation or whatever. Okay. You know, she told me, like, she likes wearing, like, she likes cats. You feel me?

She really loves cats and dogs. So she wants to like this cat head that she wants to put on her head. And she wants to, like, do daily things with that on and what, and let people watch her doing her daily things. So I'm going to support that. Oh, no, yeah. It's a beautiful thing. I was actually, I had that conversation with my girl the other day, though,

because she was trying to get me to do a dorky-ass TikTok dancing and shit. And, you know, I'm kind of being hesitant. I'm kind of like, oh, you know, I don't know if. I want to do that. She's like, she made a really good point. She's like, you're going to do it for the kid, right? Like, once we have the kid, you're going to have to be a goofy-ass dad and you're not going to say no to the TikTok, right?

I'm like, yeah, I guess, you know, I'll do some goofy-ass shit for my kid. And then I was like, man, that must be how this happens. You could have a dude who takes himself a little seriously. But as soon as his girl and his daughter or whatever want to make a TikTok, boom, you're in the game. You're in the game. I mean, well, it's, well, you know, I like adapting to whatever. is like current too also you feel what I'm saying so that's that's a lot that's that goes

back to like how how I rhyme or how I rap you know I mean and what I talk about and what I choose to glorify in my lyrics you feel I'm saying I think that I do that from like being you know up on whatever going on in the street you feel what I'm saying like you got to keep like you got to keep if you want if you want to if you want to if you want to if you want to I think if you want to last like you can always be at the top. You feel me? But once you go down, it depends on what you do why you're not hot. You feel me? What you do why you're not hot is go back to where it started. You feel me? You go to the streets. You hand-to-hand. You tell people this. You show them your swag. You spill a couple of balls.

You feel me? You feel what I'm saying? You can't even barbecue without calling me. I got all the the sauce. Yeah. Yeah. No, 100%. And it's like, that's actually one thing I was thinking, though, over the last couple of days to listen to a lot of your old shit is like there's like a certain attitude that you had that was way ahead of the game that was like, you know, you're talking about selling dope

but you're still saying funny, creative, goofy sort of stuff about your lifestyle and that's something that seems very commonplace and rap now. It was not, there's a different vibe that wasn't necessarily there

and I think that's a lot of what made you stand out so much is that like, oh, this is a dude who maybe he's coming out from the same era as Ti and GZ and Gucci, et cetera, but you had way more of a sense of humor about it. Yeah.

I'm glad you noticed that. I mean, like, that's kind of like what I want to give out. You know what I mean? Like, it's a lot of stuff that we go through. It's a lot of stuff that I didn't been through in my life that really, that's really bad. You feel me? So when I did decide to start writing lyrics,

I wanted to have a sense of humor about it. You know what I mean? I wanted to talk about. things that really people made fun of me about you feel what I'm saying and and I just took it and twisted it you feel what I'm saying so when I did speak like how you was talking about I did it like it came from a real good place in my heart you did what I'm saying yeah because nowadays it's like people kind of maybe understand that the name of the game is to sort of describe the things in our

life in the most creative or interesting way but at that time You know, I never heard somebody compare their car to a fucking fruitopia, you know? And that just, that was like mind-blowing to us at the time. Yeah. I mean, like, yeah. I mean, most of the stuff I wrapped about I didn't have as a child. Like food, cars, you know what I'm saying, money. And, you know what I mean?

Well, I always had bitches. But the stuff I really, really wrapped about, I really didn't have. Like, everybody was like, why you mix food into your car? I was like, because, like, I was short of food. we didn't have a car. So in my in my mind, I dreamed and thought about stuff like I fantasized about 30 inch rims on an escalate road goal. You feel me? Right. Some 55-dollar rims, you feel me? You'll never see a truck like this again. You feel me me? Yeah, Pearl Carleck truck, roads go 30s, roads go everything, don't know, I was,

grip, you know what I mean? You feel what I'm saying? Definitely. That's how I pictured life when I was broke. Right. No, yeah. And that's like that's a lot of same energy that I felt like when you you have a lot of like sound cloud rappers and shit like that is that they very much like get the energy that you were coming with at that time that of you know you could still sound tough or hard or whatever while also being kind of fun and creative and talking about shit in an interesting way you know yeah I'm glad you keep that 100% and also I think the big thing too is that it's like you know a lot at the time that you came out too. A lot of people didn't want to give somebody credit for being lyrical unless they were,

I don't know, conscious, more like talking about super serious shit or people would give somebody a pass from somebody from New York who was just sort of putting words together, talking about a bunch of gangster shit. But then nobody wanted to put, like, nobody wanted to ever consider Gucci lyrical when I look at Gucci, I'm like, bro, a lot of the shit he was doing early on was incredible, like absolutely mind-blowing. And people really didn't want to put Southern rappers in that box of being, you know, talented wordsmiths. Yeah, I mean, and it's funny you said that because like me and me and Gucci talk all the time and like when he did come out, shout it was like one of the,

you feel me like one of the dark skinner cats from my, you know, it's like I, I peaked it out because how consistent he was with what he was doing and talking about real life things. You feel I'm saying? I'm talking about it was almost like I was. almost like I was looking in the mirror when I saw Gucci. You feel what I'm saying? Like shout to me and shout it just a lot. You feel what I'm saying? But he was like turned up like a couple of degrees higher than I was forced to hustling. You feel what I'm saying?

Because like shout to real street. But at the same time, and what I do admire about Gucci since you brought that up is the fact that he did that and then turned around and didn't even better. You feel what I'm saying? Yeah, I know. That is a weird thing to think about is that like the audience I mean man the audience are so addicted to negativity that it's kind of like if you're somebody like you who was

never like blatantly like fucked up publicly or whatever that it's like sometimes it's less for them to grab onto with Gucci they got to see this like this crazy story of him like being all fucked up and then coming out of it as a better person a lot of times people love that fucking

that sort of narrative yeah I mean well I'll see this I love the old Gucci, but I'm inspired by the new Gucci. Right. You feel me? Yeah. I mean, it could be hard to still be in your creative zone, in your space, even when you are at a point in life where you've sort of gotten rid of a lot of your bad habits.

Yeah. I mean, all of you know, it ain't nothing wrong with growing. You feel, I'm saying? Like, one of the most consistent things on earth is change. Hmm. You know, so, and I'm all about my change. like literally you feel what I'm saying so it it makes me feel good to see a person transformed from something that was made up made a positive out of a negative

mm hundred percent so when you when you're looking at a young artist and you see you know a lot of the young artists they're very much like they just want to present an image of them being dangerous whether it's them you know showing themselves a lot of drugs them showing themselves a lot of guns, showing themselves doing all kinds of crazy shit on social media and stuff. Where does your mind go when you see an artist in that position? Because you sort of know that a lot of those things might be part of why the audience is so interested in them. But then at the same time, you know what that's going to be like for them in the long run in terms of like, oh, maybe you shouldn't be having guns in your video this aggressively because it's just going to make you

a target to the cops and whatnot. Like what do you say to those kind of kids and what's your thought process on that. I mean, well, I'm from Atlanta, like, everybody got strap on. True. Like, it almost looked good with the outfit. It's like a Gucci belt, yeah. Yeah, you feel me? But a lot of people get it misunderstood when they see a young, a young nigga go up on Instagram. He got the strap on him.

You feel what I'm saying? I got big five on me, shout. You feel? And all that, man. Hey man, headshots, all that. Me, taking them out for him, wiping the niggins nose over here. You feel me? In reality, the guy that you're really impressed by hasn't even really used this gun before.

You feel me? Like, he got it on him, but I don't think shout out or perform how a sniper really would. You feel what I'm saying? Like in the heat, in the heat of the moment, you'll probably shoot your goddamn self. You feel what I'm saying? I think that once you start putting yourself toward the guns and hanging them out and yeah, man, we strap up. You feel me? You're drawing.

You're going to have to use it, obviously, like eventually, I want to say. Like, you feel what I'm saying? So I wouldn't, I wouldn't glorify guns in your video, you feel me? I wouldn't glorify, I wouldn't glorify it to the point where it was making a, like letting the people, letting the people know. or I'm strapped up, I shoot you in the face. I'll glorify it to the point of like, I'm protecting what I have. You feel what I'm saying?

I'm strapped up. I ain't trying to kill you, but I, you feel me? But I got this gun on me because I'm trying to protect what I have. That's it. You feel me? That's what I would promote. I wouldn't promote, yeah, flashing a gun,

you know what I mean? I split one of y'all. You feel? I will split one of y'all, I mean, I wouldn't promote that in the wrong way, you feel, you feel, me? And what I have to say about the youth that's probably head

it that way, you know, what you put in is what you get out. You feel me? If you want to, if you want to be a shootout person, if you want to, you know what saying, say you've got a hundred guns, eventually you're going to have to shoot out. And, you know what I mean? Show somebody those hundred guns. So don't just get it misconstrued thinking that you can just flash this shit. And it's 100 people looking at you on Instagram and 30 of them don't like you and willing to

try you about that. Yeah, you want to test that, nigga. You feel? No, yeah, that's That's kind of crazy. It's so true, though. A lot of people really are, like, showing guns off on social media

and just fingers crossed so that they're never going to have to do anything with it. I mean, I wouldn't say so much finger crossed. They'd be doing it, like, without thinking. You feel what I'm saying? It'd be a person watching that shit. It'd be niggas that be watching Instagram with niggins for straps and I'm like,

as soon as I see that thing, I'm going to make that nigga you with that motherfucker. You feel what I'm saying? Jet called. And I don't need a guy. If I send someone, I'm a test shot at jaw and everything. You feel me? So whatever you promote, that's why that goes back to when you're saying I was just rapping about humor.

You feel I mean? That's why I rap the way I rap. I'm not a shoot them up, bang, bang, you know what I mean? Dump it out, rapper. But I'll talk about that. That's not my aim. I can tell you I've been performing. I did over, I think I've done over 20,000 shows, man.

Wow, really? Yeah, in my career. Holy shit. I've never got to fight. Really? Nobody's ever touched me in the club. Like, you feel me? Nobody's ever harmed me or did. Well, one time I got hit with some water, but that was it. Some water, you got lucky. That's crazy.

That feels like that's what happens to a lot of people, like, very early on in their career, is that they get tested in some environment. They get booked for some show at some random place down south, and they think they could just fly in and be with one homie, and then they figure it out real quick. that actually if you're putting a certain image out there and even if you ain't putting a certain image out there there's a lot of people that are going to want to find out

what you're really on. Yeah, and that goes to, I cater, like anytime I'm applying to any city doing any show anywhere, I always cater to my audience, I cater to the people in the town, let them know that I come bearing gifts, I have no quarrel with you, you feel what I'm saying? Like, you know what I'm saying?

Because I'm not home. If I do the show, I'll be more aggressive, more nonchalant, more cocky. You feel what I'm saying? I'll be like, I'm at home. And I expect for you to be that in your town and rip your city the same way. But when I'm ever out, I always,

I pay homage to who's ever, get money in the city, whatever big drug dealer. Man, listen, take pictures out, sit down, eat with you. You feel what I'm saying? I know how to add that real good. But that's interesting, because there is that conversation that we hear in rap from time to time

about like checking in. Like should rappers check in? Is it smart to check in? I mean, it's kind of different from somebody like you where you're coming with like a built-in level of respect. So it's not like you're some young rapper who's about to like just show up in a city and have real gangbangers like trying to extort them or get something out of them. But would you recommend that like the average young rapper just stay like far away from the street shit as much as possible or do what you're saying and sort of try to show your respect and show that you care or that you're trying to be a respectful part of the culture? Of course, show that you have respect and that you care and trying to be a respectful part of the culture. That's all top.

You feel me? But as far as checking in, I think that that's it. I think that's a necessary thing. Not checking in to the point where, oh, nigger, when you land hill, nigga, you better come holly at me if you don't, you don't get shot. Not that, like, not that check in. is checking in like if I fly to Cali, I call Big U and say I'm on the way. You feel what I'm saying?

I call Big U, say I'm on the way, fly to Cali, shit laid out. I call game, I'm on the way, shit laid out. You feel what I'm saying? When I get there, I'm already covered, this they land. You feel me? Just like I said, when I'm in my city,

I'm popping out, I got shit going on. This is how I act in my city. So when I fly to their city, this is how they kick it. Like I kick it in my city, they got me covered. You feel, I'm saying? So it's almost like, Don't check in, but let motherfuckers that care about you know you're there. You know what I'm saying?

No, definitely. But it's interesting because nowadays, like, I mean, you kind of come from a generation where it was expected that if you were a rapper, that you were going to have to be respected on some kind of street level to a certain extent or it wasn't going to work out for you. Now we got like a new age of rap where you could be a snitch and be out here and be a popular rapper. How does that feel from your perspective? I mean, you know, I don't condone anything that has to do with crying.

You feel me? You're breaking the law. If me and you go on a leak together, you feel what I'm saying? Which I'm totally down, by the way. Yeah, if we get caught up, it's that. You know what we're going on, bro. We came on and lit and got this what's happening. You feel what I'm saying?

it's rare that you see cases like an innocent person like a person that really didn't know what you had going on you feel what I'm saying

I really don't know I'm not a part of that and you know what I'm saying you put something on them that they couldn't you know what I'm saying I don't really have to go through whatever you're going through

but you can bring some of your problems on innocent people you did what I'm saying that makes people feel like oh shit well, this nigga just did this to me. I haven't done anything.

You feel what I'm saying? They'll speak on it like that. I don't think that a person should be not 21 about their crime. You feel what I'm saying? Don't put nothing on me. You feel what I'm saying? Don't come out here.

Like, say, if we come outside without a pistol, you feel you got your pistol on you, you got your dope on you, you feel me. This is your pistol and your dope. That's your five or ten. That's your five to ten on you. You feel me? I got my five to ten on me.

You feel me? the police pull up and we get caught together. Nigger take your five to ten. Don't say it in mind. You feel what I'm saying? You put you in a tight position when y'all in the car together and y'all got straps on y'all

and the nigger said, and the nigger take the strap, I throw it on the seat, Paulie pull y'all low, and then he say, it's shouts. That's lame-ass shit. Yeah, that's rough. That's lame-ass shit.

And I don't know if they even got a word for that. Like, if you tell on him, that's a snitch, but what do they call? a person that put a charge on you that, you feel me? Yeah, nigga, this is my pistol. And this is my dope. And when the police pulled on, I'm going to throw it over there on the shoulder and got down, I'm telling him, he heals, you feel it.

And he's supposed to go do time for that. Yeah, that's crazy. Yeah. You feel me. That's you, my man. There was a video that just came out the other day, actually speaking to Gucci at him fucking sort of whiling out because there was a dude who I guess snitched on him back in the day and he pulled up to the park while they were shooting a video.

And I guess maybe the dude forgot or whatever, and Gucci was whiling out, like kicking him out of the park. Like, hey, I don't care if it's been 10 years. You know, you just saw me back in the day. That's over. I mean, that's like, that's a dis, that's like fucking up loyalty. Like loyalty and like if I can't trust you, just like I just said about, nigga, you, you tried to,

you tried to do something to me that was going to take my freedom. You feel what I'm saying? rather if you tried to throw the dope on me or if you told on me if you tried to say your positions was mine or if you snitched on me about my positions. You feel me?

I don't think, I think Gucci reacted just like a Norman Hillman would. Definitely. It's actually kind of interesting because now you're sort of seeing all this shit take place publicly in the sense of who is willing

to actually align themselves with people who have told. And it's pretty interesting because you're really, kind of seeing, I feel like almost everybody in the rap game sort of having to make it clear that regardless of clout, they're not fucking with it. They're not going near it. That's safe to say. I don't think you should be involved with anybody that that or tell and get somebody like 40 years, like, I'm going to snitch on the nigga and get

the nigga 40 years. Then he got a whole family. He got a daughter, two, three kids, son. You feel what I'm saying? And I'm fin of just. Tell on shouting. Jay to get my time. You feel me? I got locked up for what he, you feel me? I'm going to get him locked up for.

You feel me? We all out here, but I'm going to tell on in there you get him farther here while you're laying in here and your grandma should get fucked from the back every day for 30 hours. Like, real. Damn.

That's rough. You ever fuck somebody's grandma? Huh? You ever fuck somebody's grandma? Hell no. Just for revenge? No? I mean, like, yeah.

You want to know something else? Yeah. Throughout my life, I don't think I had six with a woman over 32. Hmm. I want to think over 30. Yeah. It's my 32 now. That's pretty close to true for me too.

And as my girlfriend, we've been together like four years, she's starting to approach 30. I'm like, oh, shit, maybe I get out of here. I swear to God, you did too, the word. Listen, man, I don't know if it was like a coincidence, but like every time like I approach a girl and she's older than that, she'd be like, how are you like something, something, something? Yeah. I feel like any girl over the age of 30 is going to be able to know how immature I am

and they're going to be able to just tell right away. Exactly. Yeah, it could be rough. Um, okay, so I'm interested in, uh, like, what is the actual, like, like, what's, what's your role in grand hustle and in terms of involvement with tips, stuff and everything? It's been a long time. Like, what, what is, how do you view your role in the whole operation? Um, well, the whole operation revolves around T.I. and Roe. It's almost like, it's like, it's like my feel. You feel me. I mean, like, like, me and shouting. whatever shawley got going on I'm a part of that you feel what I'm saying as as much as I could

as far back as I can remember you know what I mean before all of the money all of that you know I mean we always about to be you know what I mean like straight up one you know what I mean straight up to each other and I can say this we did that without even

having to say it like having to say we're going to do you feel I'm saying it was just natural so as far as As far as Grand Hustle go and how I'm a part of it, it's like, we're the founders of it. You feel what I'm saying? It ain't no T.I. You feel me? It ain't no droll without T.I.

You feel what I'm saying? And all the rest of the artists is on the label, me and Shotta started out together with the PSC. You feel me? Matt Boney, Big Country, C.Rod, Do you feel what I'm saying? So as far as the, as far as, as far as, um, ran hustle go, I'm an executive. You dig? But was there ever a point where it was sort of, you know, a learning curve in terms of you sort of transitioning into that role and kind of going from the younger version of yourself

to the more adult version of yourself? Or has it always been like a pretty smooth transition in that regard? Or did you ever have to sort of figure out what your role was going to be in the long term in terms of the whole operation? As far as that go, I really didn't think. I think about it much. I just produced and did what I had to do for the time, you know what I mean, for whatever time it was.

You feel what I'm saying? It wasn't that I was like, well, I'm going to work so I can move up into the ranks. And you feel me, I just was dropping music doing what I had to do. And when I looked up, I pioneered a record label with my partner. And you just, like, yeah, I mean, it's pretty unbelievable. But it's actually a, is it a different challenge now? because of the fact that Tip has sort of moved on to do it a lot of stuff that's like big mainstream shit in terms of doing the podcast and he's just got a whole lot of different shit going on. Like, does that make you feel like your role is more important in terms of focusing on the artists and the music?

Or is it make you feel like, oh, I need to figure out ways to get more involved in sort of non-music corporate type stuff that goes outside of that? Right. Like the stuff that Tip do that's outside of music is very influential. You feel what I'm saying? We always talked about and still today, I want to be an expiring actor. You feel what I'm saying? The things that I saw him do when he goes outside the box, you feel what I'm saying? Like I'm not that political, but I also have a lot of knowledge about my

surroundings and what's going on. And when I see him going in the area that he goes to, it's almost like profound. Like it's he has a he has he has he has the ability to do some of the things that I can't you feel what I'm saying? So it's a lot of stuff tip doing that I just won't do or just like it's not my it don't fit you feel I'm saying. So it's a lot of things that he's doing that you know what I mean I look at him like I'm proud of my boy. But at the same time I've been going through a lot of stuff in my life. to where God blessed us with the same talent, right? But he's able to withstand more things than I can because I, you know, because of how we grew, how we grew.

You feel me? Like, it's a lot of stuff that he identified with that I didn't identify with. You feel what I'm saying? So when I said, doing different things, I don't get, I don't be like, oh, I got to do something different. I acknowledge that. And I look up to that and I respect him and say, I'm glad he made that move. It's almost like I'm living vicariously through him

when he does stuff like that. You feel me? Yeah, so and then like as far as I go, you know, it's all about music with me and like, I be in the streets too much, you feel I'm saying? Like, I really don't like being on no motherfucking body time. You feel me? Like if you try to give me $10 million and say,

well, dro, in order for me, to give you this $10 million. We're going to need six albums. You're going to have to do nine interviews a day. I need you to go take this photo shoot with T.I. I need you to do this other photo shoot with Nicky Minard. You know, just hypothetically speaking. You want me to do all of this type of stuff.

And I'm really not equipped for that. I'm just a musician. You feel what I'm saying? Like, that's where I kind of like fall short, I want to say, because a lot of people, a lot of people say, well, what, dro? Well, why are you any up here? You're supposed to be here? Like, I'm not mentally ready.

You know what I'm saying? But, and I also, when I am ready, I'll put out a hit. You feel what I'm saying? I made me like $900,000 in a year. You feel what I'm saying? And then I cool back out. But I just made the hit on my own. The record label didn't say, oh, we're giving you a budget for this.

I just come up with it, present it, and it's a hit. You feel what I'm saying? So it's a lot of stuff that I've done that I could, it's a lot of stuff that I've done that I could have done different that would have made me one of the biggest artists ever. Really? Yes, it is. So you had, what, corporate looks?

I'm trying to guess at the things that you could be talking about, corny-ass opportunities to basically become a caricature of yourself, where all those on the table in terms of you making, that you didn't believe in or having to do shit that you didn't really think was cool? Well, not so much that make music, I didn't believe in and do nothing that was cool. It's just that I have to move to your beat.

You feel what I'm saying? I'm in front of projects like, nigga, I'm on drugs. You feel what I'm saying? I don't know, I don't know, I don't know the degree of how you want your money. You feel, I'm not, I don't want to move like you want me to move. You feel me?

Half of the time, out my fucking mind, I've been shot. My mama been shot. My dad is smoked dope, nigger. My whole, like my whole mama's side, my mama's side of the family. Everybody dead off crap. You feel me? I don't really, I'm not really that kind of person,

but I do do music good. You feel me? So once you're trying to figure out, oh man, why you ain't this and that, just because, you know, whoever's around me, they got richer and famous more faster. You feel me? If I keep doing it, you know what I'm saying?

Just because I didn't, I'm not first that doesn't mean you feel what I'm saying that I'm not headed toward that way. No, 100 percent. I feel like especially like, I mean, it's always interesting seeing like the sort of the rapper and the rapper's best

friend type relationship because it's like as a rapper gets more and more corporate or more and more involved in whatever, it's like that role kind of becomes even more and more important. Like I feel like if I was in your position I would be seeing it that way of, you know, maybe this guy is going to be so busy doing all this other

shit that he actually really needs somebody who's a little bit closer to the streets, closer to the artist, closer to the studio, that that's the role that all of a sudden becomes even more important for you. It does. I mean, what I just told you about how I handled the business is totally not the way to handle the business. You feel, me like, so if you are in a position to where somebody is going to give you $10 million, I suggest that you, you, you know,

position yourself step your game up adapt you know I mean meet that meet that need that they want that they want you feel what I'm saying be be attentive be like show up you feel what I'm saying like a lot of a lot of a lot of opportunities that I had over my career I didn't show up and it it wasn't that I didn't want to show up I was I was going through life and I really didn't take it like that. You feel what I'm saying? I ain't say well this situation is gonna make or break me. Well it passed by you feel me. They'll talk about it later draw why you ain't you feel what I'm hurting like it I feel it me but at the same time

I'm okay you feel me uh I don't answer to no fucking body. Definitely right right now answer to no goddamn by I don't care. Ain't label calling me talking about shit and I'm having wrecks, on having houses, on having cars. You feel what I'm saying? And most of all, I'm having faith in God. Definitely. A question I always wanted to ask you was back in the day when they were sort of trying to put you in Young L.A. together as almost like a group.

Whose idea was that and where did that sort of come from? Well, it actually came from me. When I met LA, it was like we was in Tomaville in ATL. You feel me? Tomaville, the project or whatever. And a nigga asked me like, shit, man. She ain't really fucking with the hood. She ain't man, put shot on.

I was like, where he at? And he rap, you know what I'm saying? So when he rap, it was so, I'm talking about the bars that LA was spitting, but was so ahead of his time. I'm talking about when I let him rap for tip, you feel? That man went so crazy too, like, why I shouted, got it. You feel me? And once I saw that, I couldn't do nothing but latch on.

He had something that I didn't have. And I was, and I had a number one single in the country, you feel me? He had something like when I took a liking to it, it was like, okay, um, instead of just putting this artist out and just letting him flourish, I want to be a part of it. So, you know, I mean, we, like, Like, we'll do our shows. Like, we almost went like everywhere together.

You feel what I'm saying? Whatever we did, we was like, you feel what I'm saying? Like, before we even got on, before he got on, you feel, we might be riding the bin, you know what I'm saying? Shard might have a strap on, he'll get the strap out my console and put it on here like, umber butts, you feel like I'm a son. That's how Shari was.

So it was like a natural thing for me to be attached to him and make that seem like a duo thing. You feel I'm saying? Definitely. No, when you look back at that, I mean, a lot of what he was doing, lyrically and shit, you could kind of point at like Thug and Rich Homi Kwan and all these people who came like a few years later and be like, damn, Young L.A. was sort of, he was very much in that box stylistically, but a couple years early. I mean, I'll say this too, a future.

Like, he came out around the time, like, you know, Young L.A.'s second single was futures. like him and future had the same name. You feel me? Watch this. Watch this. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. You feel me? Like, when he came out,

he was like, oh, and when Future came out, it was like the era of, like the swag era. Like, swag was like a big word. You feel what I'm saying? Oh, yeah. That was a whole era.

It's kind of hard to explain these days. Yeah. When Shorter came, when L.A. came, he had something to offer that was, I wouldn't say, different from what I was kicking, it was more suave.

You feel what I'm saying? Yeah. No, definitely. And I remember even like as a younger man, I was very amazed because I was like, wow, they're really talking about black boy, white boy's swag. I'm like, I never heard a black dude just sort of describe his way of dressing as like a white boy type of thing. But I was like, man, this is a whole new generation.

I mean, well, that stems from how I used to dress. Like I was totally, I had six goals at the top, four at the bottom. I had a polo outfit on. My shirt was tucked in. I had a belt on. I wasn't sagging. I had moccasins on. You feel what I had the same color socks as my shirt.

You feel me? I had a tape up, you feel, me. Low season with the waves. I looked at like I was coming from playing cricket or something like that. You know what I mean? Like, and it was like, man, they did black boy white boy, black boy, white boy tacks. Yeah. No, I mean, that's a good point, though, is like, even just your style of dress at that time,

I mean, we had obviously always seen the polo, especially from, like, New York. They had their whole polo wave and everything. But, I mean, you put it in a whole totally different box. Like, no, I'm going to look like I came straight out the country club. Yeah, and what people used to always say, like, bro, Ralph Lauren and gay, you know, deal. You know what I learned in the museum industry? the way I promoted Ralph Lauren

in my lyrics, on my singles. You feel me? Not just album records. Like, they'll endorse you if you say Ralph Lauren and you're single that's on the radio. I said that shit in all my songs and never did get shit. No, I forget who it was. I think it might have been Bubba Sparks. I remember him saying that he was wearing so much polo

and then he realized at one point, like, fuck this, they ain't giving me nothing. So he started rocking LaCost or something. some shit. Well, actually, I went through the same face, but I didn't really, when everybody thought that I was supposed to be mad about it, I was like, if I was to see Ralph Lauren today, I said this long time ago, if I was to see Ralph Lauren today, I wouldn't ask him for shit. I wouldn't say I need no endorsement. I actually really just like dressing. Yeah. And I mean, that's how it is now, too. At least everybody's used to it now. Like,

no matter how much you love Gucci or Louis, realistically, all these rappers that are going crazy and Gucci and Louie, most of them may never got no free Gucci or Louie. Maybe a little bit more nowadays. I mean, it's almost like, it's not a, it's a lifestyle, you feel what I'm saying? It paid me for this. Like, you know what I mean?

It's a way of life for me. You know what I mean? Players only live once. Do you feel like it's kind of over for Polo, or is Polo still alive? I mean, it's, it's, that wave is pretty much over. You feel me? But it's always good to rock a couple of pieces

every now and then, you know what I mean? It's just, you know, like to stand on the street, and we can be in a crowded area, a heavy populated area. And if you showed me somebody that dressed like how I did back in the day, it'll be very rare today. Because stuff comes and goes. I feel like a lot of that polo stuff is so classic, though, that it's just waiting for somebody to pick it up and just go crazy with it again.

And, you know, if you had, you know, a future or Travis Scott or whoever, just decide that they wanted to start going hard with the polo again, and it could be right back at it. I mean, well, like, that goes back to what I was saying about. It's always, like, Polo's classic. You feel what I'm saying? Like, when I did the ball and out show, I put on a couple of pieces, you feel what I'm saying?

And that shit was, like, epic. The outfit was epic. And you know what I'm saying? And the way I stepped out, they was like drove, killing him with the way he used to do it. You feel? I'm saying. But it's not like an everything.

I don't think like I didn't shop so much with Ralph Lauren I about know how to outfit hit and what he got in the story. If I see like his whole catalog for last year I didn't like because I had already done it. But it is some pieces that he comes out with that I just have to have. You feel what I'm saying? And it's the way I'll do it. That'll make you say, well, nigga, that's vintage. Instead of saying that it's his everyday thing. I got some vintage shit that is un-fucking denoted.

You dig? Definitely. All right. So just to finish the young LA thing, though, I was always, like, very fascinated because I was a big fan of him in the early days of stuff. But then a whole bunch of shit happened. Basically, like, he got a face tattoo of the duct tape logo. And then there was this viral video of him possibly getting beat up in the crib. What was your perspective on that as somebody who was maybe a little bit more mindful of being respectful or street shit or whatever? Like, how did you view that since you were so heavily associated with him at that moment? to be honest with you when I saw that video, that shit broke my heart. You know what I mean? Because, you know, when we growing up and we're young, even in our 20s, we still have people that we look up to and we admire.

And you feel me? Almost like, I want to, if I could say it, it's just like a person that you want to be like. You feel me? I like the way shot a kick and I want to talk, you know, you'll find me talking like, you feel me? So that was the situation that that was what young LA went through. He saw somebody that he really admired and liked.

He got that on his face. Do it out of disrespect or nothing like that. He really admired those guys, you know. And when they did that, I was just, it broke my heart because I was saying he was just trying to be, you feel me? I got some shit tattered in my face. Fuck. You feel you like? why would you like why would you get beat up for that you know what I mean but you know to each his own

they might have felt a way you know what I mean without him no you know what though I can say this I feel both parties because they might have felt the way that look man we don't stro up in blend blood sweating tears by this damn label you feel what I'm saying we went through a lot and being you think you're going to get the shit tattered on your face you feel what I'm saying they I feel them too you know what I mean but he just wanted to be cool it's weird because I can see it from two different perspectives

because realistically if somebody got my logo tattooed on their face I would think it was a little weird but I wouldn't be mad about it because it's like if you really are supporting my shit that much that's cool but then like if you think of that label that brand as more of a crew

or a gang then all of a sudden the perspective of it is how the fuck are you going to be represented you know like that's two very different things and I can see how maybe his state of mind at that time, he might have thought that that would have been more accepted than it would have been.

Yeah, and I do want to say this. Like, I know my people, I know my, what kind of character we have and what we want to portray as far as trap people, street niggers, you feel me? And we, like, black people, they react

different on stuff like that. That shit petty as hell, and it's crazy as hell. But, like, I'll shoot you. in the face by the nickel. You know what I'm saying? And I think that's almost culture for us, I want to say, you know what I mean? Which is stupid. I don't, you know, I don't think it's nothing right.

But, you know what I mean? We live by die by life. Don't de respect. Now, you feel me? If I see, like, don't be, don't say that bad by grand hustle. My feet. Keep that shit out your mouth. Let alone get that shit tattered on your thing.

They won't kick your head. You know? No, yeah. I mean, but a grand hustle, like, you could get it. If I had a grand hustle tattoo on my back. right now, you'd probably be like, damn, like, that's some weird ass fanboy shit, but that's cool. That's like a little different. Yeah, I mean, you know what, though?

When that shit happened, that shit was like, that shit went viral, bro. You know what I mean? And it was an unfortunate situation. I mean, and everything that happened when young got late, it was unfortunately because that guy was very talented. But, you know, people go through stuff. Like I've had so many down points in my career. Like, it's almost like fucked up.

You feel what I'm saying? I didn't have so much wrong shit happened to me while I was making music. You feel me? You know, it'll be fucked up for me to look at him and say, you feel me, he should have kept it perfect. You feel what I'm saying? You should have been a G at all time. You should have been a G for 999 years.

You've been hard to do that. It's almost you can't do that. So what he was going through, I forgave it. I never, I never was mad. I never, you feel me? But at the same time, my partner was mad that I brought him over there, and he had did that to us. You feel me?

He said, what he said about them and stuff like that. And then when they got back, it was almost like some mafia shit. You feel me? If I bring you over here and then you cross, if you cross my people, then people are like, shit, but that's your man, you know, you got to clip him. You feel what I'm saying? The boss of the boss

that said, clip him, you know what I'm saying? Right. You violate the family, he'd get clipped. But guess who got to clip him? I do. Right. I never felt like that. I never felt like, I was like, oh, mad or nothing.

You know what I mean? Me and Tip made a song about it, but I never disrespected him. I never, you feel what I'm saying? I always felt him. You know what I mean? And I always, I know where he comes from. He comes from like a place where I come from,

and he's allowed his mistakes. You feel what I'm saying? But I feel what I'm saying? But at the same. But, I feel what I'm saying? At that time especially, you feel like that was kind of, that there wasn't any coming back from that career-wise, because nowadays it feels like, you know,

I've seen some of the biggest rappers getting knocked out on camera. It didn't really seem like a slow-them-up too much. I mean, it was a, it was a, it was a, it was a game-changer career-wise for him. Mm-hmm. Because you, you didn't, you didn't, so, like, you didn't saturate yourself enough. Mm, true.

with us, you know what I mean, or in the industry or, you know what I mean, to come back from something that you messed up in the beginning. You had to start all the way up as opposed to if I would, like, if I messed up right now with TIP, we can damn damn it work it out, nigga, we're 20 years in, you feel what I'm saying? Right. We was getting to know each other, you feel me? He was a star like in a year of me bringing him to where I was at, you feel me? Right. I wouldn't pick him up in like January by fucking June. This is a star like, in a year. This This nigga was the number one song in the country.

So if you mess up while you're actually progressing, you don't get the, you don't get the chance to actually do what I could do with the seniority that I have. You know what I'm saying? So but, but, but you know, to each his own, you know, and I wish nothing but the best for L.A., you know what I mean? He's still a talented guy. You know what I mean?

You still my guy. You know what I mean? Even though we had some differences, I believe in destroying and rebuilding. Definitely. Yeah, maybe I should get him on for our interview sometime. That'd be interesting to hear his take on that whole thing. It'll be very interesting. He's going to tell you exactly what I told you about, like how I killed. Right. Okay, so what else are you working on? What's taking up your time? You spend a show a lot of time in the studio, I guess, since you've been locked down? Yeah, actually in the studio. Me, thug and Chip was sitting in the studio the other day. Me, Thug, Chip, Yad Gotti, just in there cooling it.

That's funny. I met Yacht Gotti over at Duke's house the other day out here in L.A. Yeah, man. Jack, like, one of the new sensations I fought with Shara like family, Duke like family, Thug like family, like, you know what I mean? But we was in the studio the other day kicking it. And we're really staying work. like I worked at the

change to when the quarantine hit. And I think that a lot of people like me to you know all the rappers in Atlanta we really wanted to get back to performing and stuff like that you know what I mean? But at the same time

we had to challenge our energy towards studio and producing and actually trying to you know come up with better ways to lived actually better than what we was living before. You feel the same? Yeah, I mean, you kind of take it for granted that going on tour

and being in the club every weekend and everything is just part of the life. And now all of a sudden you're kind of like, oh, shit, you remove all that. I got a lot of other shit I can really, really focus on. Yes. Like, we've just been in the studio. I got music with King. My nephew, Tip LaVoy. I got music with DeMoney.

I got music with Shard de God. Shot the God is actually on Chris Brown and Thug of New tape. Shadda God been doing it forever. He's been fired for a long time and I saw that he was on that tape and I was like, damn, that's fire. They gave him that look.

Yes. Actually, me and him in the studio, actually me and him in the studio, we're sleeping in that motherfuckers. Right. If you're about to come out with our EP together, we have never gave that to the people.

So we wanted to get that out before we retire. or whatever or just call it like you know I mean we got to get a tip and throw out so me our EP me and shot got music I got Ball Empire you know my nephew J 31 J.Bs and he out duty too rich he's an artist of mine Pipp and Pablo it's a lot of stuff but Pipp and Pablo one of my artists and he just got it we just did a single with Bousie you feel me oh that's what's what's a said we're called Pimp and I we just did a video We're about to put that out.

Man, what else I got? Books on the way. What's the book? The book is called Rap Game. You feel I mean? The rap game and how, from my eyes, you feel what I'm saying? It talks about me coming up, how I got to where I'm at, what I went through, what I saw. You feel it?

It talks about the bloody summer that's in Atlanta. When the New Orleans came up, you know what I mean, killing everybody, everybody was the The city was on, the city was at war. The Miami boy back then, you feel what I'm saying? Talk about how her and the home diggers. It's going to start prevailing in the street. My Uncle Tart strong, shouty giant. My brother Tread, how we got blue ivory.

You feel me? We got clubs. We got area four. We got blue ivory. You feel me? A whole lot of things, man, that we got going on over here. You know what I'm saying? Besides the rap.

No, that's good to hear. I mean, Young Joe, always been one of my favorite person. and artists in the rap game. I'm glad we were able to connect, man. We should definitely get another interview in once here on the West Coast. Now, listen, I'm coming. I'm coming.

I'm on the way there. I'm on the way there. I got to come out there and see my boy, Amir. Who's Amir? He's like a, that's like a friend of ours. Okay. Like that's like not, I would say family. Amir boy.

He's out in L.A. You know what I mean? He works for, I think, Epic. Oh, okay. You know what I'm saying? But he's out in LA and I'm supposed to be coming to see him soon

so I'll be out there on your tail, man. Bye. All right, man. Hey, young Joe, this is dope getting to tap in and looking forward to all this new shit coming out, man.

Oh, man. TikTok out right now on all platforms. One of the hardest songs in the world. Go make a fucking TikTok to it, people. Yeah, man. Go make a TikTok to a TikTok because young Joe sent you. And me and TikTok post

they have something going on. I want to make this their theme. Oh shit. All right. I like that. Go tell the Chinese that they got to support Young Droo. Yo-yo yo-yo-yo-yo-yo-yo-yo-y. Tokyo diamonds. Yoing, yo-y-oing. Yeah, man. Classic memory right there. Yes, sir. All right. Appreciate you, man. Much love.

I love, Boof.