The Breakfast Club - DJ Envy On Building More Than A Career

Episode Date: September 18, 2026

Loren LoRosa sits down with DJ Envy in Las Vegas during iHeartRadio Music Festival weekend for a conversation about his journey from mixtape DJ to radio personality, entrepreneur, and longtime voice of The Breakfast Club. Envy takes Loren behind the scenes of how he learned the business at a young age, built his brand around the things he genuinely loves, and turned his name into opportunities beyond radio. He also opens up about fatherhood, the importance of being present for his children, his love for HBCUs, and why he wants the next generation to see that there are different paths to success. Plus, Loren and Envy reflect on the lessons he's shared with her throughout her own career and the impact he's had on how she views business and building a legacy.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Didn't catch the latest Roland Martin unfiltered podcast? Here's what you missed. People wake up and go, oh, damn, wait a hold up. They change all of that. Yes. It's real.

This is a wholesale attack. It is targeting black people in every federal agency. It's raw. White folks have never allowed that reckoning to last more than a decade. Catch Roland Martin's daily commentary on the Black Information Network. And download Roland Martin unfiltered on a lot. The IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a homeguard that knows a little bit about everything and everybody.

You know if you don't lie about that, right? Lauren came in hot. Hey, y'all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa, and this is another episode of the latest with Lauren LaRosa. This is your daily dig on all things, pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room, baby. Now, normally we kick off behind the scenes of the grind, but I feel like this whole episode is going to bring you behind the scenes of the grind. Because today, the conversation that is going to shake the room will be had, but with a special guest. Let me see if you guys recognize this voice.

Hello. They're not going to recognize that voice. Yeah, what up, y'all? It's DJ Envy. I got DJ Envy here. You guys know DJ Envy from the Breakfast Club, father of 40. No. The father, the DJ.

The man, the myth, the legend is joining me for the first time here on the latest with Mauna Rose of the podcast. We've had Sharr on. Jess has popped in on a couple episodes. Welcome. We're breaking your cherry. Thank you. Well, thanks for having me.

Thanks. So we are here in Vegas right now. I told you guys that we were headed out to the Iheart Radio Music Festival. My second year here at the festival, Envy is here as well too. So we'll be ripping and running. But last episode, this is actually really timely. I was telling my listeners, we call them the lowriders, like Ella, get it, writers. They'd be writing for me.

I was telling them that my first I Heart Radio music festival, you were telling me how it was so important to go because I get to meet like the people who make I Heart the company move and shake and you were helping me navigate during that time just like coming into I Heart Radio

and understanding radio but also understanding the business behind it and the strategy behind it. And now we're back here year too doing it again. That's right. Yeah, I didn't go last year because my daughter was getting engaged So I went to Greece to watch the engagement. Yeah. But yeah, I Heart Radio Festival is a weekend of just pure celebration of music.

So it's one of the only festivals that they blend so many different genres of music. So it's not just hip hop or R&B, it's country, it's pop. We have BTS, which is a pop Asian group that they'll be there. So when you look in the stands, it's not just seeing one group of people. You see everybody. And outside of that, you see so many different people from the IHeart company. So, of course, you'll see the president, the vice president. But you'll see the program directors, people from sales, people that make the engine actually work.

And you'll get a chance to see them. But because it's such a close type of thing, you'll see management of Snoop Dog and Snoop Dog's handlers. And you get a chance to really see behind the scenes and hang out with the celebrities and artists and see how they actually live and how they would go on tour. So it's pretty dope. I'll be bringing you guys some audio from behind the scenes. You guys know I take you onto the latest locations as well, too. But envy, I always talk a lot on the podcast about just you and Charlemagne, like, as business people behind the scenes and how you guys have been able to build and sustain for so, like, so long. Like, it's been like decades at this point or one decade because 15 years.

15, no, two decades, 20 years. Mine has been two decades. Oh, talk heavy. Because people, people got to put the mixtape era of your life together. So you know, a lot of people. So that's three decades. Three. he'd be getting money for a long time y'all okay no but um i think people segmented like they it's like

DJ envy mixtape DJ if you are hip-hop like uh affiliator or parallel or you know you know and then it's like DJ envy to DJ then it's DJ envy that has done all of that who is on breakfast club and who has made a national name for yourself just as a personality and like a VJ what has that been like for you because we talk to a lot of celebrities all the time and you always ask them tell me how it started right you've been able to tell me how it started for almost 40 years now yeah well a mixtape game was a different type of game because it's it's weird because people know me like you said from different parts of my life like most people don't even know a DJ they're like you really DJ yeah started off as a DJ I actually

started off as a battle DJ but the mixtapes were a time where you actually created these tapes and it was like a it was like a how Spotify does when you have the Spotify playlist and stuff like that but it was a DJ envy playlist on a tape and clue would have one and this DJ would have one and we would sell it. So that was the first start of business where you would have to make this tape. You would have to produce it, produce the covers, copy the tapes and then ship it. You would have to send it to whether you use UPS, you know, the post office or, you know, FedEx, and you would ship it and it would be cash on delivery.

So when you get it, you would have to pay for it. So you got to think at age 17, 18, a kid making $20,000, $40,000 a month at that age. I was making more money than both my parents at that age. So it was the start of business and learning what to do with business. And, you know, like any other kid in 1718, the first thing you do is buy jewelry, cars, and sneakers. Yeah. And then you start realizing there's other things instead of that. Like, I bought my first house at 22.

Age 22, I bought my first house. So you start, you know, thinking about business. And then that, you know, transformed into me DJing and doing albums. And I did a couple of albums. And then I knew that I couldn't sustain that. So I wanted to get into radio. Radio was something that I really, really loved. And radio, I jumped into it.

I started doing overnights. I started doing weekends and started doing mornings with Ms. Jones. And then it transformed to me coming over to the other station, which is Power 105 on I Heart. I started doing afternoons. And they really needed a morning show to kick off. And they asked me what I wanted to do it. And I said, no, because mornings is a lot. You see it.

It is a lot. Yo, you don't. This is the first day in like five days. I felt rusted today. Yeah. So mornings is a lot. And then, you know, they started throwing money at me. And they wanted it to be my show.

I didn't want my own show because I didn't want to be the. only person. And, you know, we talked to Charlemagne. He became a part of it. And talked to Angelie. We became a part of it. And then we just made it a team. And the Breakfast Club was started.

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So if you're looking to connect, then we hope you'll join us. Listen to the Honest Talk podcast on I Heart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Didn't catch the latest Roland Martin unfiltered podcast? Here's what you missed. And the argument is, do you want to win? If you don't win, you have no power. It's real. Those are the very people who I always say vote against their own economic interests

and they complained about the very thing they're receiving. It's raw. I knew that the issue of transgender athletes was not going well with a lot of black men. Roland Martin unfiltered. I went off, I said, this is exactly what I'm talking about. Y'all going to scream at Chanel, but you don't want to see a black luxury company in the same vein.

Catch Roland Martin's daily commentary on the Black Information Network. 12 seats, those are moving south. So if you Democrats, you don't wait to 2030, you better be hitting the ground going hard in the South now. And download Roland Martin unfiltered on the IHart radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. Did you understand then early days? Because I was in radio was like nobody would debate how impactful radio was during the time. It was like the thing. Did you understand then the impact that you guys were having?

Like New York Radio and the personalities were the celebrities. Like we hear so much history about, you know, you and all these other people. Did you know that, though, in the moment? No, I mean, for myself, most people don't know that radio is an art, right? Radio is like a basketball team. Every player for a show to work has to play their part, right? Meaning, call me the point guard. I'm dribbling the ball up.

Yeah. Right? So I have to make sure that everybody gets their shot. So I might throw it to Charlemagne and he might dunk it. Or I might throw it to Jess and she might. you know do a layup what might throw it to you but it's it's knowing who you are in that radio and playing that role right when you see people playing the same role if you ever listen to any other radio station or any other radio show like me and charlie this show wouldn't work if me and

charlemagne was the same yeah you know i mean it wouldn't work if me and you were the same if me and just was the same it wouldn't work we all each individually have our own talents and our own individual talent shine on every show well you helped me really understand because i don't think that i I understood the, how radio touches people when I was first coming, like on the, on the show, until I started going outside and, like, people were, like, talking to me like they knew me. Of course. They were, like, I might say, oh, I'm going to go see my mom on Friday. I would see somebody on Saturday.

You went to go see your mom. How is she? And I'm like, how you know that, right? Like, you become a daily habit of theirs. But one of the things that I always mention when I talk about you is how you really helped me understand, like, even business outside of the radio. Like, I remember you saying to me, you went to a. HBCU and I was like, yeah, and you were talking to me about Hampton, and you were like,

you should start talking about that. And I was like, I mean, I mentioned it. He was like, no, you should start talking about that because there's a space for that and you can really find your way in that space. And I literally talked about it on air and it like, it changed so much for me on the, just on the business side of things. And you, and I always am like, how do you, how do you, how do you, how do you, how do you, how do you, how do you guys, you've been doing it for a while? But like, how did you guys understand how to brand and build real businesses? There's a lot of people who aren't as relevant as you are from your era. So I always learned that whatever you're into, people can tell, right?

So people know if you listen to DJ MV, you know I have six kids and I'm a family man. I love my family. So everything about family people come towards, come to me, right? If it's about cars, right? They know I love my cars. I own them. They come to me. If it's about investments, when it's real estate, they know I own a bunch of properties, right?

When it comes to HBCUs, they know I went to Hampton University. And I was shouting out Hampton before it was cool because at one time, Nobody was ever shouting at HBCU. Oh, they told me that because I went to, I remember Ben-Till, because I graduated from HBCU, I would never have like a main street job. They told me that as well. Like any good job. Told me that as well. And that's why I really shouted out and talk about my HBCU and talk about my experience and tell people I got a degree.

I graduated. I didn't just go for a year and say I went, no, I graduated. I got my degree. I walked across that dog on stage. So for myself, it's just talking about the things that you into and that just attracts people. So, you know, I always tell everything, you know, in this industry. you'll have ups and downs and they'll love you one day and hate you the next and you know they'll try to cancel you one day and then put you on a you know on their shoulders the next but

with my hbcUs they have always stood ten toes down no matter what happened in my career the hbcUs always was that warm hug for me so i'll never let the hbccues go do you feel like because that's the last question um because envy yo it's like three o'clock in the morning here and i just told envy hey you're going to be in my podcast today uh do you feel like because you started out so young just figuring out, you know, you talk about the ups and downs, right? You brought a house young. You were a dad young. Do you ever look back and there are things

that you like, not regret, but like just wish you had done better when it comes to your kids or just your own life or things you're trying to make up for because when you were younger, you didn't know any better. Steve Harvey talked about this a bit in that conversation with his daughter. And it made me think of you and Charlemagne because y'all have been dadding and lifeing for a long

time on a big level. He said that he felt like he spent most of his adult life trying to make up for the young dad he wasn't even though he was a very he was there but he just didn't know he was young yeah now i was different i was there there like some people you know they they choose their jobs over their family and i did it was in times when i did work my ass off but i always made it my business to be there for my kids right if you look at me and my kids and you look at some people in their kids you can tell the difference right you can tell the difference how close me and my daughter is how close me and my son is how close me and my

young kids are because you know it's funny I had a conversation with my dad the other day my dad is 83 years old right and I was telling him I'm going to Vegas and he was like yo he was like just do me one favor right because you know your parents when they get to that old age they start having that life conversation right yeah and I hate it but um he told me he was like just do me one favor I said what's up pops he was like yo I know you like working I know you love money he said but just remember those girls he didn't even say my sons he said those girls love you he was like I see their face they love you around he said just make sure you never pick your job over them girls because them girls love you like no other and that always hit me like you know that always meant the most

of me i always like my daughters love that like i know when when i get old and if i you know can't wipe my own ass or i have dementia or i'm sick i know them four girls i'm gonna take care of daddy i saw tauta parry talking about that as well too like he was saying to young people like make sure you're good now to people because you know you get older somebody's going to have to take care of you. That's right. Yeah. You've heard the chaos. Now you can see it. Hello. My gosh. Watch all your favorite podcasts from start to finish, right inside the free

I-Hare radio app. Gets the blood going up. Catch every laugh and eye roll on shows like the Tom Green Farmcast and park the bus. Now with full video. We're building a ramp for Tony Hawk. It's the same hosts and the same chemistry with all the hilarious moments you've been missing right on your screen. Cheers. Open the free IHare radio app. Search video podcasts and tap watch. Didn't catch the latest Roland Martin unfiltered podcast?

Here's what you missed. And the argument is, do you want to win? If you don't win, you have no power. It's real. Those are the very people who I always say vote against their own economic interests and they complain about the very thing to receive. It's raw. I knew that the issue of transgender athletes was not going well

with a lot of black men. Roland Martin unfiltered. I went off, I said, this is exactly what I'm talking about. Y'all going to scream at Chanel, but you don't want to see a black luxury company in the same vein. Catch Roland Martin's daily commentary

on the Black Information Network. 12 seats, those are moving south. So if you Democrats, you don't wait to 2030, you better be hitting the ground going hard in the South now. And download Roland Martin Unfiltered on the IHart Reefiltered on the IHart

radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. Yeah, thank you for joining us today, Envi. I hope you guys have enjoyed the conversation. And this is a good kickoff to the IHeart Radio Festival Weekend, music festival weekend, because as I take you behind the scenes and I navigate, you guys are getting to hear from one of the radio icons that I learned how to navigate from. So thank you.

Of course, Envi, you always looked out for me from very early on. I used to be like, he's so nice. I would have never thought. You so to yourself and so quiet. You just never know what it is. You know what it is? Most people don't notice. The reason I started posting my cars, extravagant stuff online,

was not to issue on people, but was to tell people they can do it without doing nothing foul, right? I always say, but the biggest thing I always say is I never sold drugs. Yeah. I never did crack. I never sold coke. I never did. I never did any.

My dad's retired police officer. So a lot of times when we come from the areas that we come from, I come from Queens, New York. Yeah. The only thing that we see are the local drug dealers, the local scammers, the basketball player, the this, that, and the other. But I'm like, I didn't have to do any of that. And I'm still able to buy the things that I want and not have to look over my shoulder. Yeah.

You know what I mean? I can buy my Ferrari and drive down the street and not know that I did anybody dirty. So that was the main thing. And I tell everybody all the time, there's so many different ways. And if you come from areas like we come from, you want to show those kids that there are other ways to get out of those areas without doing the typical, you're going to sell some drugs. or the typical gotta be a basketball player. There's other ways to do it. You know what's crazy?

I mean, I ain't never sold no drugs or nothing, but like where I come from, it's rough, it's rough too. My mom just did a good job of shielding us from that. But you and Charlemagne, like, I had already been through a bit of life and had worked good jobs and like, you know, done well for myself and all that stuff. But meeting y'all opened up a new level of like,

oh, this is what building business looks like. Absolutely. This is all for the fact that they get on a mic every single day and they have a name, And off of that name, you guys have built so much for yourselves. Y'all structured teams. Like, I was in, like, a corporate arena forever. So to watch you guys as entrepreneurs, the only other entrepreneur I've ever been able to look at in that way, honestly, was my mom.

Right. She did it, but there was a lot more she wanted to do. So y'all opened my eyes to, like, those next levels of things. And that's why she loves y'all, too. But we shouldn't have to open your eyes. And the reason I love your mom and your grandmother is they did something that most people haven't, right? Even though you guys are from Delaware and it's not a huge market. But what they started and what they created for you is to be applauded, right?

It's because that's what I want for my daughter. Meaning your grandmother and mother have a house for you already that you don't have to live in that's going to bring you money regardless. You never have to rely on no nigger. You never have to rely on no man. Because regardless of what happened, you will have some money coming in. And that's what I want for my daughter's and my son. Like I bought my daughter her first home. But the reason I did that is because I never want her to rely on.

on anybody, need anybody. You know, she knows she got a place to sleep. Now, everything else, you know, you got to figure out your car, knowing your electric, but that's, that's whatever. But you know you got a place to sleep. And I applaud your mother and your grandmother for putting that in you, putting that in you early. They worked hard, okay?

They worked hard. But y'all, that's just been another episode. Listen, I'm telling y'all, I'm going to be bringing you guys the latest from the ground here in Vegas, right here on the latest with Lauren the Rosa. Follow me across all socials, L-O-R-E-N-L-R-O-S-A, my low-riders, because I'm going to be also dropping content. in real time from the festival so you'll get to see envy, see everybody I run into. Yeah, you know, I tell you all

every single episode. Y'all could be anywhere with any old body talking about all of the things, which you guys choose to be right here with me, my low riders. I appreciate you guys and I'll catch you in my next one. Didn't catch the latest Roland Martin unfiltered podcast? Here's what you missed. People wake up and go, oh damn, wait a hold up. They change all of that. Yes. It's real. This is a wholesale attack. It is targeting. black people in every federal agency.

It's raw. White folks have never allowed that reckoning to last more than a decade. Catch Roland Martin's daily commentary on the Black Information Network. And download Roland Martin unfiltered on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.