The Breakfast Club - INTERVIEW: Benny The Butcher On Self Realization, Signing To Def Jam, Police Harassment, New Album + More

Episode Date: January 12, 2024

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Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God.

What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. We need help! That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast

Post Run High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay.

Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Lauren Smith, Laura Layton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8th, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, and every single wig removal together. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app,

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I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa, it was called a four-month. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Wake that ass up. In the morning.

The Breakfast Club. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Charlamagne Tha Guy. We are The Breakfast Club. We got some special guests joining us this morning. That's right. We got Benny the Butcher. Yes sir. And you brought your daughter with you.

I did. Okay. My June June. Your June June. She in the music too? Nah, she ain't in the music. Well, she might be. Okay. You know what she told me?

Don't know yet. She told me she sing about a week ago. She surprised me with it. Wow. But did she sing for you? She did. how was it she good i almost cried i'm like man we about to do this all over again what made you feel like you wanted to bring your seed with you today man just i want her to see to be with me i'm saying this she 18 right so she she lived her whole life with me and see all of the phases but she really she

really don't know what i do you know she really don't know what i do so i think it's important for her to see what i do for for everybody in my family to learn what i do this is where this money come from this is my plans this is my this is my hustle and you know i mean take just the family business you know what it sounds like it sounds like sometimes your kids think it comes too easy you get it so you have to show them sometimes what it takes to actually get the money that puts them through school, college, the jewelry, the braces, the headphones. That when you say, Dad, I lost my headphones. Can you buy me some new ones? It just don't come that easy.

Exactly. You know what I'm saying? And eventually I do want her to take some part of the business. I feel like there's a lot of self-realization, self-awareness on this album. Even with the title, Everybody Can't Go. Self-explanatory title. But when did you personally realize that everybody couldn't go with you? Man, I realized that when they were going, when they were with me everywhere, when I was being around people who I shouldn't have been around.

You know what I'm saying? So I had to get to the point where, you know what I'm saying, you saying a word no I had to get to the point where I had to become selfish again because you had to become selfish to a point to to take it to reach your goals but I got new goals so I mean I gotta become selfish again another time was it like survivors remorse almost because you know when you first start of course if I would see you out you out with 50 people hundred percent and what those 50 people come 50 problems. You know what I mean? A situation can happen to somebody that, you know,

that is just a man's man. It's got nothing to do with me. Nothing to do with you. But at the end of the night, Benny the Butch involved with a fight in this club. So when did you realize, what was that moment where you'd be like, I can't do this no more?

Man, basically, you know what I'm saying, when it starts to affect my hustle and my livelihood, my freedom, you know what I'm saying? It's like, that's the story of my life, to be honest with you. You know what I'm saying? When it starts to affect my hustle and my livelihood, my freedom, you know what I'm saying? It's like that's the story of my life, to be honest with you. You know what I'm saying? You know, back home, the police got my name in their mouth. You say that on the album. These niggas, these chicks, the ops.

Like, I really just got to show people who I am and what I am. You know what I'm saying? That if I don't if I don't if I don't come around certain places I would never see people ever fucking get in my life I'm saying so it's just time that you know I mean take that next step the boring life I just turned 39 you know I'm saying I'm getting up there you know like yeah niggas I was asking did you feel like survivors most like I made it but my man's didn't I gotta bring them with me so square that's how I'm just square exactly 100% I was asking did you feel like survivors

most like I made it but my man's didn't I gotta bring them with me or I felt a way that I gotta show him a different life do you ever feel that way man a hundred percent when you when you from were you from a hood a collective a city like Buffalo you almost take that on as a responsibility you know I'm saying but you got to wake up and realize like that's not my responsibility my goal is not to get you rich or my goal is not to get you out the hood my goal is to provide an opportunity so you can do those things for yourself that's right hundred percent but anything besides that is not on me how do people in Buffalo feel about songs like like brawn because to me when I hear it it's not like you

turning your back on the hood you just feel like it's time for you to go experience something different mm-hmm that's it you would hurt a part when I said I I told my folks back home so long you know I mean and I just what it is and if anybody loved me and if anybody want me to succeed any further they want those things for me and if they don't fuck them did you know you wanted to go when you when you made that movie said someplace warm did you have a place in mind just someplace warm I'm telling have a place in mind? Just someplace warm. You know what I'm saying? I'm telling you, after this album,

we're going someplace warmer. How did people react to that when they heard it? They might not have heard it yet. They haven't heard it yet. We're going to see them. I'm going to lose a couple friends. You know what I'm saying? There's going to be tweets and whatever.

I don't care at this point. You came up here about a year ago. I don't even know when you came up here, you talked about your new deal with Def Jam. Because at the time, I don't care at this point. I also feel... Oh, go ahead. You came up here about a year ago. I don't even know when you came up here, did we... You talked about your new deal with Def Jam, because at the time, I don't think you were signed with Def Jam, or you did it, but you didn't announce it yet.

Well, you announced the album in February of last year. Yeah. When I came up here, I think I was, because we was talking about how I didn't get the paper yet. Remember? No, he wasn't here last year.

It was like 2021. 2022. Yeah, 2022. So for people that don't know, you were Snoop's first signee on Def Jam. Yeah, yeah. How did that come about? I think people assumed Snoop would go West Coast first, but he went with y'all.

So what was your relationship with Snoop, and why did he do that deal, and why Def Jam? I tell my side of the story, but let me tell his side of the story, basically, because it's crazy, too, is that. That's what he's saying at the end of the song? Yep, yep. When he first came to dev jam he asked them like yo who y'all want who y'all been trying to get and he said my name so he been you know he's snoop so he wanted to show them like I'm Snoop watch what I do so he sought after me you know I'm saying and you know he og and and and he speak my language so the things that he said and advice

that he gave me led to me signing with dev jam when we were already trying we were already in talks for about a year and it wasn't going I'm saying was a moving he says on the album it took 15 minutes there's a 15 minute phone call and after that it was done that's real it was it was less than 15 minutes he was just saying that for you know I mean less than 15 minutes what was it was it a number he gave you yes yes yes and guess what Yes. He said yes. It was the number. We didn't even go on. You know what I mean? It was the number. Yes. And guess what? You know what I mean? Like, the first number was good, and the second number was double that.

But I just felt like, you know, I grinded independent for so long, so I just felt like, if I'm going to go to a label, it got to be for this. You know what I'm saying? And it got to be at this place and for this number. So, you know, it really was a rocket science made it happen. What other resources has he provided other than the money because i love the song back again like you you you snoop perfectly on that record he killed that hook but what other things he provided other than money uh input input uh advice uh he he opened his doors up you know things like that that's all the artists could want you know what'm saying cuz it's other places like like oh you know I'm still

coming up so those things are not prevalent in other situations I'm saying so when he do it you know he's a West Coast guy like you said he brought me to Dev Jam you know I'm saying it's like it's on some East Coast shit so you know other people could have done that other people could have made that 15 minute phone call for me but it didn't happen so that's Other people could have made that 15-minute phone call for me, but it didn't happen. So that's what he done. That's more than enough. I will never understand why New York executives find it so hard to sign New York talent.

Like, why did it take Dre and Em to get 50? Why did it take Young Money to get Nicky? Why did it take Snoop to get Benny? It's weird to me. They chasing, man. They chasing what they think they got to. I don't know. You know what I mean?

When the Diamonds and the Juul's is right in their own backyard, they chasing. I think a lot of times, like you said, your sound was so different from what was out at that time. People didn't necessarily hear the sound at that time. Right. And I was going to ask you, with your sound, like listening to your album, there's no album like that right now that I've heard. Where it almost brings me back to the era of the mixtape days and kids growing up where there's an intro, it's a heart. So how was your mind frame when you did your debut album?

Because this is your first album on Def Jam, really. I just wanted to show people that I'm refined. Like, this is what I do on all levels. That's how I describe it. It's refined hustler music. It's still the same butch that people used to, but you know what I'm saying? You know what I mean?

I'm smarter. I'm wiser. You know what I'm saying? I'm still hungrier. I'm richer. You know what I mean? It's like things are going in my life different. You know what I'm saying?

So my mind frame, I wanted to show that in the music. You know what I'm saying? I wanted to show my mood. That's why I named it Everybody Can't Go. I wanted to, you know what I'm saying? I be having to show people what the fuck is going on. You know what I mean? I still feel like you don't get as personal as you could.

And I wonder, is it because of Statue of Limitation? I'm going to be honest with you. I thought about that too. A lot of things I speak on the surface because, man, I got another five years to ten years to tell people what the fuck is really going on. And I can't wait. I can't wait to come back up here and talk about what the fuck is really going on right now. You know what I'm saying? But, you know what I mean?

I don't break the law or no shit like that. That would be dumb. But, you know what I mean? It's a lot going on, man. I ain't gonna lie. It's a lot going on. I remember hearing Jeezy say that one time. Like, I forgot what album it was,

but whatever the project was, the Statue of Limitations was up, and he felt like he could express himself even more. But I do want to say, I do feel like I'm being harassed. By bullies? Yeah. Still? In Buffalo, hell yeah.

You didn't say that on that one. You know what I'm saying? I just found out I'm on the FBI watch list back home. They raided my studio about two months ago. You know what I mean? I haven't even been home in three months. I don't even know what the fuck is going on. They hear my name.

These niggas is running their mouth talking. I'm the biggest shit that ever happened to Buffalo since the Wings and Josh Allen. You know what I'm saying? Like, for real. It's getting crazy, man. It's getting crazy. And I really want to,

I almost want to just like to have a lawyer send an email to these niggas, man. just like what the fuck you know I'm saying is my as my client doing that got y'all dick hard like that that y'all want to keep messing with him keep bringing his name up cuz if y'all y'all got TV I got Instagram I'm pretty sure I'm pretty sure when I see who watching my stories you know the pages with no profile no profile that's agent Dan somewhere I'm not a fool so I don't post nothing, so I don't post nothing like that. I don't do nothing like that.

It's just, I've been hearing that since 2014 though, before anybody heard anything from me. You know what I'm saying? We was knee deep in this shit. Phone ringing every day, whole crew. So I kind of understand a little bit, but I gotta be dumb to be doing that type of shit. You know what I'm saying?

You know what's so interesting? You hear rappers say that in their music all the time. You the first person I've ever heard really say like, hey, man, leave me alone. For real, man. Leave me. White flag, man. I'm waving a white flag.

Leave me alone, man. We doing movie music and merch. You ever thought about really having a sitting, maybe sitting down and having a conversation, letting them know, I don't know what y'all think this is, but it's not. I thought about it, but I don't know how far that would get me. But I just made some new friends, right right by the name of Al Sharpton and Ben

Crump I'm saying so I mean they don't make me get my boys on the phone you know I'm saying like for real though but it might be leading to that but it's also like who would he speak to like what was it age of Dan is it prosecutor this person like who is on his neck and for what reason now I was gonna ask is that the reason why you said you haven't been in Buffalo in three months you kind of stay away from that area because you just don't want to be caught up in the bullcrap when you got things going on I don't I don't I got so much I got so much going on and I've been blessed to come from that life you know I mean and

I promise I don't glorify none of that but I'm really one of them guys you know I'm saying I'm really one of them guys I don't mean to discredit nobody else but you know I mean I did that to society exactly let's talk about that exactly I don't want you know that's not glorify you paid you dead exactly so for me to put myself in harm's way meaning with anything and which would you put other people around me harm's way that'd be dumb did you are you did that time right yeah? Hell yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fat Time, man. State, like I said, I'm not proud of it.

Because people wouldn't know that if I didn't tell them. I don't wear what I've been through on my skin. You know what I'm saying? How does that make you feel when you hear other rappers talk about some of the stuff that you've been through that you don't necessarily have to glorify, but you see them glorifying, but you know deep down in your heart that they've never lived a day of some of the things that you did? Man, really?

I don't even care, man really i don't even care man i don't even care it's like if if that's what you want to glorify if that's what you want a part of man congratulations man you would you a dummy you know i'm saying and uh donkey at the day for them niggas man for real because it's like it's two sides of that it's two sides of that we don't we don't lost our brothers it's people supposed to be here with me right now today who ain't going to witness none of this because of those things. My blood brother is gone. Machine Gun Black is gone. She really ain't even get to know her uncle.

It's like, man, who would want to glorify that? Who would want to be a part of that, honestly? The first thing I thought of when we made it this far making this money off legal shit it's like we really didn't have to do none of that shit we just had to apply ourselves that's the first thing and that's what i go back and tell my homies like we know we ain't got to do this shit you know you ain't got to do that we did it because we thought we had to do it we didn't have to do that shit i always tell people don't judge brothers for what they did in survival mode man you know that's that's what y'all knew at the time exactly you know I'm saying that those was the

opportunities that was provided those those we was being taught by hustlers pimps and killers you know I'm saying now now everybody's successful not everybody but you know the t-shirt guy successful the mechanic guy successful the dude who who cooking cooking ribs up and cooking food successful the chick successful of here everybody doing it. We ain't had to do that dumb shit. When did you see the change in your dad? When did you see that?

When did you see this dad is a different person? I feel like when he moved to Atlanta. Because, like, at first I was really, like, shook about it. I'm like, oh, this is getting real. Like, this is getting serious. I thought I was going to be away from him and stuff. But I still was seeing him. But I feel like definitely when he moved away, that's when everything started changing.

And what changed you in Atlanta? What made that change happen? Man, Westside Gunna Conway, they showed me that superstar life. You know what I'm saying? I seen it. It's different from somebody telling you about it. And it's different from like you seeing somebody. These is my cousins.

I seen it. And like I always say this in interviews, they was very subtle about it they wasn't come to me like yo we doing this we doing this they was just showing me they wasn't talking about it they was your show him like you ain't had that watch yesterday you just bought that car today like what is we doing on this rooftop meeting with these people like we sitting in the depth gym I'm fresh off the projects yeah I'm saying like these boys really showed me and i'm like oh ain't no way i'ma be back in the hood doing no dumb like it's time to get it hold on that's crazy so you was the last person to accept that because it felt like benny was the forefront i was the last person

they had everything going on they was already they was already the deal was already signed when i came around before i signed my grizel to did I tell you buddy like they try to like sign I sign my Griselda deal and they they changed it the dates on a paperwork to try to make it seem like I was signing Griselda before they did shady so I'd be under the shady umbrella but the ink was already dry don't say that that's what happened when I said when I that's what happened that's real shit forgery that's real shit I'm's forgery. That's real shit. You know what I'm saying? That deal is over now. We can talk about it.

That deal is over now. But that's real shit. That just buzzed trying to include me in everything. But I was the last one. That's correct. I mean, by the time Griselda hit the streets, of course, it just felt like Benny was at the forefront. We knew all of y'all. We knew Westside.

We knew Conway. But it was a talk about Benny the Butcher. Because I grabbed a baton. I grabbed a baton because they showed me and all I wanted to do was like, I wanted to live up to the standards of what was going on. I'm like, okay, I see this how you carry it. Wait till it's my turn. It ain't take me long.

So you was rapping, of course, clearly, but you was rapping before that. You just didn't believe that it could happen? Yeah, I was. I was just, you know what I'm saying? I was just one foot in, one foot out, like the song say. Like one foot in, one foot out. You know what I mean? You know, that's a disease. You know what I mean? Once that get on your back, it's hard to get it off. You know what I mean? I'll go ask you about that record, because I feel like you're talking about existing

in the music business. But where's the other foot? I don't want to say that the other foot is a life of crime, because I don't think you was in crime. I just think that you might have still been in the street. That's it. That's it. That's it. Like I said, I was one foot in the game after that freestyle with Flex.

I was one foot in the door at Jay-Z House with Wes. Meaning like, when I'm doing that freestyle with Flex, I was like, you know, I was still doing things

I probably shouldn't have been doing. He was going back to the block after. Exactly. You know what I'm saying? But by the time I had that meeting to sign to Roc Nation,

I was like, I'm in Atlanta now, like baby girl said, and I'm doing what I'm doing, you know what I'm saying? And tunnel vision. Is your country falling apart? Feeling tired, depressed, a little bit revolutionary? Consider this. Start your own country. I planted the flag. I just kind of looked out of like, this is mine.

I own this. It's surprisingly easy. There are 55 gallons of water for 500 pounds of concrete. Everybody's doing it. I am King Ernest Emmanuel. I am the Queen of Ladonia. I'm Jackson the first King of Kaperburg. I am the supreme leader of the Grand Republic of Mentonia. Be part of a great colonial tradition. Why can't I trade my own country? My forefathers did that themselves. What could go wrong? No country willingly gives up their territory. I was making a rocket with a black powder, you know, with explosive warhead. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Bullets. We need help! We still have the off-road portion to go.

Listen to Escape from Zakistan. And we're losing daylight fast. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise

once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Post Run High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What's up, y'all? This is Questlove, and I'm here to tell you about a new podcast I've been working on with the Story Pirates and John Glickman called Historical Records. It's a family-friendly podcast. Yeah, you heard that right. A podcast for all ages. One you can listen to and enjoy with your kids starting on September 27th. I'm going to toss it over to the host of Historical Records, Nimany, to tell you all about it. Make sure you check it out. Hey, y'all. Nimany here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop.

Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa, he was called a woman. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there, my little creeps. It's your favorite ghost host, Teresa.

And guess what? Haunting is back, dropping just in time for spooky season. Now I know you've probably been wandering the mortal plane, wondering when I'd be back to fill your ears with deliciously unsettling stories. Well, wonder no more, because we've got a ghoulishly good lineup ready for you. Let's just say things get a bit extra.

We're talking spirits, demons, and the kind of supernatural chaos that'll make your spooky season complete. You know how much I love this time of year. It's the one time I'm actually on trend. So grab your pumpkin spice, dust off that Ouija board. Just don't call me unless it's urgent. And tune in for new episodes every week. Remember, the veils are thin, the stories are spooky, and your favorite ghost host is back and badder than ever.

Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On Thanksgiving Day, 1999, a five-year-old boy floated alone in the ocean. He had lost his mother trying to reach Florida from Cuba. He looked like a little angel. I mean, he looked so fresh. And his name, Elian Gonzalez, will make headlines everywhere. Elian Gonzalez. Elian. Elian. Elian. Elian. Elian. Elian Gonzalez will make headlines everywhere. Elian Gonzalez. Elian. Elian.

Elian. Elian. Elian. Elian Gonzalez. At the heart of the story is a young boy and the question of who he belongs with. His father in Cuba. Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home and he wanted to take his son with him. Or his relatives in Miami. Imagine that your mother died trying to get you to freedom.

At the heart of it all is still this painful family separation. Something that as a Cuban I know all too well. Listen to Chess Peace, the Elian Gonzalez story, as part of the My Cultura podcast network, available on the

iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What was that conversation like at Hosa? It was basically, you know, he describing business like, he's making future plans about business. We can do this, we can do that. I was watching it.

So it was another moment of realization, like, what's going on? Like, oh, you got a real opportunity. Because first, when you get in the game and you don't underground music boom bap how we doing it you don't you don't think you could you don't think you could uh you know shoot us far up as we done but that was another moment like now they gonna let you had this shit you know I'm saying like if you do the right thing you can had a shit if you want to and one time it's a lot of people don't know even though we've

talked about this before but you know people learned something new even if it's the same thing you've said in the interview before but you and Emory was locked up together yeah yeah yeah we was locked up together man and it's like just to be sitting with him and kicking it with him on the other side like man I just that do something to me you know I'm saying I do something to me and I just realized how how strong the power of God is and the power of hustle and having good family and friends around you know did y'all build in prison no we did you know I left him alone he was you know what i'm saying he was hoes man i didn't want to be one of them guys yeah i'm saying but like i said like he knew who i was because you know

something we was doing hot in there you know what i'm saying and i just it just feel good to just bump it to him like yeah i was in that spot with you and i look at it what are those conversations like now always giving game you know what i'm saying i talk to e a lot I'm saying I look at it what are those conversations like now always give me game you know I'm saying I talked to eat a lot I'm saying us smoking and I'm saying on the balcony at the Roc Nation offices just chopping it up about family and the conversations are rarely about music rarely about music out of a two-hour conversation we probably talking about music 15 minutes if that so just getting that game an insight on on how to maintain life on this side you know i love

that dude one of the most solid humans you ever promised you i promise you i was gonna ask you know things slowed down at one time at one time it was all about gazelle that was everywhere then it slowed down a lot now i'm starting to see it back again what was that slow down for was it to regroup or was it to do an album was it to take a step back definitely to regroup like i haven't put an album out in two years you know i'm saying so definitely that and uh man these niggas been copying these niggas been watering everything down and we and we've been we got so successful that wherever the support was coming from it kind of it kind of people backed up because we was about to take over all of this shit just like we did anyway you know i'm saying so you know that's how people do when they

when they see you grinding they see you about to snatch the trophy again you know people dial back on you a little bit I feel like that I can't speak for Wes Oconway I kind of feel like people dial back on us because they like man you know this is getting out of control them buffalo niggas you know I'm saying it's getting out of control but you know Wes he's still doing what he doing you know I'm saying I believe he he's gonna be in the next five years maybe sooner I believe he's gonna be designing from for a major designer real soon Conway he just he's always been the top spitter to me he still is you you you'd be hard-pressed to name five niggas who could get in the ring with him and me I'm just a butchie and I'm saying so you know that Jim deal I'm

saying about this my first this is my first major label album I'm saying people like you say Charlamagne people forget about that because the run we had I never dropped a major album and my whole life and this is the first time so we still climbing was there any internal issues because on album you know you seems like you went out of your way to let people know Griselda still together you speak on people wanting to see the triangle break up y'all got the grilled Griselda Express record why do folks want to want y'all to break up so bad man cuz we've been

running it for so long we've been running it for so long and and and uh you know you're sick of seeing that I think I think a lot of artists experienced that mm-hmm when everybody was just on Drake asked for his album I think he was experiencing that you know I'm saying to even the point where the ladies who love him, I was hearing ladies, I was hearing women saying, it's like, yeah, I ain't like the last album. I said, he been running it for so long. He been running it for too long.

You know, we seen Hov go through that. I'm saying we seen everybody go through that. We seen Brian go through that. If you got a long run, you're going to go through that. Exactly, so I think people want some controversy there. They expect that. And so, you know, and when they don't see us together, they're like, oh, man, they must be beefing. Man, we're family.

I'm almost sick of saying that, man. We could never be broke up. That's why I spoke about it. That's why I said it on the song. I remember when Conway was up here one time, he spoke about financial issues. I don't know if he was saying Wes had him in a bad deal or something like that. Man, I really don't know if he was saying what's had him in a bad deal or something like that man I don't I really don't know the business mm-hmm I see that interview and I seen him spoke about it maybe he felt like maybe he felt like he deserves son after after a auto the foundation work that he did and

I'm saying of course I feel like he do but I said ain't none of my business the niggas his brothers you know I'm saying I'm niggas working putting a hauling ash part two out i think it was in it i'm gonna guess was that uh out the country shooting a video together i was jealous i'm like what you think is doing without me for real do you really think trust is more valuable than love that's a record you got on the album trust more valuable than love and if so why because love is faulty love is flawed you know i'm saying trust is trust is black and white either you trust somebody you don't i'm saying love is love is notulty. Love is flawed. You know what I'm saying? Trust is black and white.

Either you trust somebody or you don't. You know what I'm saying? Love is not. You know what I'm saying? It's a gray area with that. And I'd rather had a trust than had a love with somebody. You know what I'm saying? Because I can't depend on your love. I can depend on your trust 24-7. You know why I kind of agree with that? Because I feel like trust is a character thing. Like, even if I don't know you like that, if I see $5,000 of yours on the table and I know it ain't mine, that ain't got nothing to do with me. Exactly.

Somebody you trust won't steal from you. Somebody you love will steal from you. Absolutely. That's facts. Absolutely. Now, people are mad that you said you were supporting Trump at one time. Yeah. Are you still supporting Trump?

And what's the reason? No comment on that. He was voting for Trump 2024. No comment on that. It's look like he having a hard time in that case right now. You And what's the reason? No comment on that. So you're voting for Trump 2024. No comment on that. It's look like he having a hard time in that case right now. You know what I'm saying? But no comment on that. What I did learn from that situation, people in our position ain't supposed to speak on their political candidates.

That's what I learned. And I also learned everybody voting for Trump. You know what I'm saying? I didn't vote. Only president I voted for was Obama. So I really was just talking shit. You know know I'm saying I didn't vote only president I voted for was Obama so I really was just talking shit mmm I'm saying but I was just noticing what I really what I without what I was getting at that statement is you know a lot of times African Americans we vote we vote Democrats man what the fuck that been doing for us that's all what I mean it's like what

the Democrats been doing for us that I was expressing my frustrations on that so I'm saying I don't know I don't know who I'm voting for you know it's like what the democrats been doing for us that i was expressing my frustrations on that so you know what i'm saying it ain't i i don't know i don't know who i'm voting for you know it's interesting because there was a time which like you said you didn't discuss your politics you didn't discuss your religion you didn't discuss who your favorite rapper was out of jay-z and uh nas yep you were here you hear that favorite rapper conversation jay-z and you might have to you might have to sit back you might like let me let them discuss that i ain't about to even say nothing that's right um i like what you said too about fans being too focused on criticism can we get back to enjoying the music do you feel like the lines are blurred between fair criticism criticism and just hate from people i do i do because i feel like like like with all

of these dudes who all of these dudes who get their income tax money and go and go start a podcast now they judging y'all whoiggas who've been here for years. You know what I'm saying? It's like anybody who get a, you know what I mean? This nigga put a song on SoundCloud, now he talking about, like, my shit better than Benny's. Like, man, slow the fuck down. You know what I'm saying? Just respect the art.

We the people who made y'all want to do it. You know what I'm saying? So respect the art. We accept criticism. But for me, it has to come from somebody who's validated. You know what I'm saying? And people are going to say, what validates somebody's opinion?

I've been listening to hip-hop for all year. That might validate your opinion, but you got to have a professional opinion for me to take your shit seriously with all of these voices right now that we can hear all of these voices from social media and all of this shit. So, I mean, I'm sick of hearing niggas' opinion,

you know what I'm saying, if it ain't validated. Now, what's your opinion on, this is dad mode, your daughter on social media, she starts dating, what's your opinion on that? This is what I tell her. Any guy you meet, the first thing that you call yourself like and you spend the time with, the first thing you do is what? Bring him around you.

Bring him around me. You know what I'm saying? So now, if he disrespected you he disrespected me too he don't got cool with me he don't look at my eyes I'm saying we done sweet uh smoke the blunt together watch the game together we done we done had some food together so you like her pops cool so we are in the heat of the moment arguing you know what some shit you can't say because you know who you got an answer to that's right I mean you kind of we

got a bond not a real bond but you know you dating my daughter you know I'm saying so respect that's the first thing you got to do to. That's right. And me and you kind of, we got a bond, not a real bond, but you know, you're dating my daughter. You know what I'm saying? Respect. That's the first thing you got to do because anytime I was dealing with a female and her dad was in the picture, it was always in the back

of my head. It's like, I can't do old school like that. I can't cuss her out right now. I can't do old school like that. I can't do him like that. You know what I'm saying? He's cool.

You know what I'm saying? So I tell him, you know what I mean? That go for my sisters. That go for anybody. If you're dating somebody, bring him around and many of your family

and let them vet him. You know what I'm saying? Let them get a bond anybody if you dating somebody bring him around a minute your family And let them vet him you know I'm saying let them get a bond together How do you know when you should bring somebody around pops though? Can't bring everybody around pot right you super can't bring but it's like when so living with my mom her biggest thing was like Like bringing them around so they can monitor it you know so they can like know them so instead of me trying to just do it anyways why not yeah like why not bring my family around why not make it a thing for everybody to know you know that's you said something earlier what what did you know your father was getting into that made you be like you were concerned probably what because no he we're really close though like he really tells me

mostly everything so I didn't have to like see it from nowhere else or find we don't I didn't have to find out about it from nowhere else he would talk to me

about everything I'm a goon you know what I'm saying I'm a goon I probably was calling it up like yeah you see like you know

that's how I was raised my mom raised me like that my mom fronted me my first pack of weed you know what I'm saying so to go sell yeah

wow at school how much was it it was probably like a couple ounces how did you ask your mom that like that they're like mom i didn't even ask her look i've been a hustler from day one right so she was giving it to my older brother he was it up so when she gave it to me i'm like you know what you supposed to have been doing give it to me give it to me i've read yeah you know what i'm saying so that's i learned that from my mom like i i this this is really my best friend right here you know I'm saying and we communicate like that on that level I let her know what's going on so she can know what's going on with me you

know I'm saying so you're the generational curse breaker in your family clearly I swear I am and I'm saying she next though she graduated high school she's on she just graduated she she on the pace to do great things I'm saying I'm I'm really excited to see what she gonna do but yeah I mean me right now I want to go back to the rap conversation who should who should be allowed the critique rap definitely definitely the DJs mm-hmm I'm saying DJs we love y'all you know I'm saying yeah I don't get enough love yeah I don't get enough credit definitely the DJs definitely the the ogs the hip-hop pioneers who've been doing it uh the execs who help people the execs who've seen people come and

go uh you know guys like yourself y'all come y'all y'all interview artists y'all know artists temperaments moves y'all probably can interview artists who probably ain't hot right now and say like he he gonna he out of here you know i'm saying he got the right attitude so uh i can keep going on definitely Definitely the fans. Definitely the fans. Not casuals, though. Not casuals. Like me, you know what I'm saying?

Buffalo don't got a basketball team. I'm speaking. I'm speaking. I got an opinion, but I'm really not spewing my opinion. But if we talking about football and everything, I'm spewing my opinion everywhere left and right. You know? So definitely not casuals. You got to be in this.

And it's a few more categories. It's a few more categories. It's a few more categories, but definitely not people who just casual, people who just, I don't know what's hard to say. I know they're going to be mad at me, but I know y'all opinion don't belong in this shit. You know what I'm saying? I think another problem is, man, a lot of these people are really just saying salacious shit to get motion for their YouTube pages or their podcast. They don't even believe 95% of the stuff they say.

They just think talking reckless about somebody or, you know, I don't want to say hating, but just talking shit about somebody is going to get them motion. 100%. That's why you're 100% right. And I meant to say that that's why the opinion shouldn't matter because somebody just trying to put the first funny viral comment on a picture or on a retweet. Or a re-X, what you call it now? It's called X-Lowny. You know what I mean?

So that's all they want to do. They just want to be funny. They just want to, you know what I mean, have fun. But artists give them validation too because sometimes artists go see them, whether they're a podcast or a blogger, and they have no real resume out there. They give them a shot and opportunity, which boosts their careers. And sometimes that works. Yeah, because I think a lot of the interviews and everything now are not even about the music.

You know what I'm saying? Just like you said, we watching these interviews pop up, interviewers pop up out of nowhere. And they not talking about music. They just, there's jokes on there. They get to see a different side of the artist. So I do like it. But it's like, you know, it's really no validation i don't got to do with the music i'm saying respect to those guys but a lot of them podcasts like a

person like me i don't belong nowhere to on there i'm saying if we talk about the music i'm i don't want to be on there laughing and joking with and you know i'm saying trying to make me go viral none of that i'm not that guy you know what i'm saying i want to talk about the music that's my strong point let's talk about the music and because you know what I'm saying? I want to talk about the music. That's my strong point. Let's talk about the fucking music. Because, you know, a lot of niggas get naked when you talk about the music because ain't no Jews, ain't no accolades, ain't no nothing. The niggas who sold the most records in the world, you know they can't stand in a room with the real spitters? They don't want to talk about that.

They want to talk about the Ferraris and all that type of shit, and I get it. I hate to be the old school guy saying that, but shit, getting on my nerves, man. Can you rap is what you're saying? Yeah, can you fucking rap? We know all about that. Can you fucking rap? Stop hiding behind all that but shit getting on my nerves man can you rap is what you saying yeah can you rap we we know all about that can you rap stop hiding behind all that dumb that's why i appreciate i liked your conversation on rap radar i liked your conversation with looney on this it's up there podcast yeah that was a good one yeah it was focused on the music right and anything that that you talked about was rooted in the music right but i

understand it though because to be a superstar you got to have scandals and i'm saying you got to have scandals on your name you got to have like you got to have the breakup rumors nowadays exactly yeah nowadays you got to have all that type of attached to your name so i get it now what's your relationship with detroit yeah i knew you was hot before you go there well i was gonna say what's your relationship with the trash seem like detroit holds you down a lot and it seems like you love detroit a lot and i see a bunch of det Detroit artists on the album. Because Buffalo is kind of like Midwest. Right, right, right.

You know what I'm saying? It got the Midwest vibes from the way we talk. We grew up in that era, so this is how our music sound. But a lot of them young kids right now in Buffalo sound like Detroit. You know what I'm saying? They sound like they from the Midwest. So, you know what I mean? I was taking trips back and forth to Flint

when I was a shorty. So, and we respect them dudes, man. In the feds, like, we being there with Detroit dudes, all that type of shit. So, there's definitely some correlation there. Why can't you and Freddie Gibbs get on the same page? Because I know y'all had the altercation, but then recently I saw his ex post a picture,

you two all hugged up together. What, why, Benny? Why? Almost cracked up laughing, but I gave her chain back that's the homegirl I'm really a nice guy I gave her her chain back somebody reached out was like yo she might you want her chain back and I gave it back to her that she came to my birthday party that's it she was caught in the middle of some that she had nothing to do it when I'm saying it and she probably thought I was a devil but she get to see that I'm really a nice guy And I said it's nothing more nothing less. You know I'm saying I see she put that song out academics were saying I wrote the song I ain't like that fucking song. I wouldn't I won't

Yeah, I wouldn't I wouldn't do no I wanted people to know that like I I don't like come on like I'm P for real like I'm not like going Write no song just because she got her issues with him Don't make it seem like me her best friends now She wanted her chain back in and we got to know each other and she's hung out Do you think you and Freddie could ever like no, hey? No, hell no one time. Yeah, we're cool, right? Well, yeah, I wouldn't even call it cool because I did a wreck Yeah, we did a record. I maybe thought we was cool. But you know saying people and people be asking me that but I

Hate even keep talking about this shit, but it's like man we was cool but you know saying people and people be asking me that but I even keep talking about this shit but it's like man you don't do that shit you know I'm sending people you cool and that's just and that's just it you know I'm saying I really don't have no problem with him he never done nothing to me in life I have no problem with him it's just that I would be goofy and the people who I make my music for but look at me goofy is a five was staying next to him you know I'm saying? I'm going to be honest with you.

I don't even remember what the issue was. So that's my point. So when you might remember it because it's personal to you, but for me, I don't even remember it. So if I saw y'all piece it up, I'd be like, that's good. Two black men. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I understand that. Let their bygones be bygones. But it is bygones to me. People can say that right now. You know what I'm saying? It is bygones. You know what I'm saying? The fans, they want to pit us against each other. And I get it. You know what I'm saying? It's bygones to me though. Like people can say that right now. You know what I'm saying? It is bygones. You know what I'm saying? The fans, they want to pit us against each other.

And I get it. You know what I'm saying? It's entertainment for them. You know what I'm saying? It's entertainment for them. They wasn't in Buffalo when this shit happened. You know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying?

They baby mama not popped up after. You know what I'm saying? So they don't give a fuck. They wasn't in Houston when I got shot. So they don't give a fuck about what happened. So I understand that they want to be entertained but I'll be telling them to was like stop I don't got no problem with that man I don't think that man got no problem with me he might you know I'm saying but it is what it is I don't give

a fuck you think if you had said that previously then that situation probably wouldn't have happened to Freddie in Buffalo if you just said you I don't have no problem with that man I did have a problem with him until that happened. Then I was cool. Come on, baby. Honestly. You feel like you got your get back. What's good?

Honestly. Damn. Now, you said this is going to be album of the year. And you're supposed to feel that way. Why do you think this is the one? Because my music is always anticipated like a motherfucker. These dudes be dropping. These dudes, I'm one of the most anticipated artists every time I drop.

You feel what I'm saying? And I think that helps me. Everybody been like, well, my fans, you know what I'm saying? Yo, when you dropping, when you dropping, when you dropping, they almost getting sick of me. But I think that helps. The anticipation and the hunger for it, that counts for everything. And I got that on my side.

Nobody drops first quarter. You know what I'm saying? I got that on my side. Nobody drops first quarter. You know what I'm saying? I got that in a bag. My nigga EP told me that. You know what I'm saying? I got that in a bag. You know what I'm saying? So it's really not a lot going on.

You know what I mean? And I'm talking shit. I'm with the producers who I get the most feedback with. I get the most, you know what I'm saying? Hip boy, alchemist. Hip boy, alchemist. You know what I'm saying? So I, alchemist. Hip boy, alchemist. You know what I'm saying? So I got all my superpowers working in one spot.

I'm at a major now, you know what I'm saying? Getting an extra push. You know, a lot of people say that don't mean shit. That, man, that means shit. You know what I'm saying? That means shit. Don't you notice that everybody who tell you don't sign to a label after they rape the labels for the money? You ever notice that?

After they done did five, six albums. They done took their money. Yeah did five six hours yeah yeah yeah then they like yo don't do it yeah and that and that do mean that they telling you because they've been there and they learned from that but like y'all raped them for a minute now y'all saying don't do it let me get some of this money you'll get to a situation like you look at uh artists like a nba young boy a little dirk or nle chopper that was never a radio type an artist like yourself are you gonna go to the point where it's like, I'm going to make a radio record? Because all those artists have made a radio record after being underground.

Like we seen it with NLE Choppa. We seen it with Dirk. You know, is Benny the Butcher going to be like, you know what, I'm going to make a radio record that I can hear? For sure. For sure. Because on my next album, I'm going with the ladies. I don't give a fuck what nobody say.

You know what I'm saying? I'm working out. You know what I'm saying? You see I got my two braids slicked down. I mean, I'm going with the ladies. I don't give a fuck about none of that. You know what I'm saying? I'm working out. You know what I'm saying? You see I got my two braids slicked down. I mean, I'm going with the ladies. I don't give a fuck about none of that. You know what I'm saying? I got to.

They been asking. I'm doing female songs, man, after this album. Not all female songs, but I'm doing that. You'll get more. You said on Rap Radar Podcast that you still stand on your tweet about having the best Def Jam release since DMX, but last night you, I think that was last night. I saw it recently.

You clarified that. Basically, I wanted to say, you know what I'm saying, respect to DMX and his night you I think I was last night I saw it recently yeah you clarified that basically I wanted to say you know I'm saying respect to DMX and his family and everybody like that but what I meant was I'm creating a Dev Jam moment you know I'm saying these people these people who get on Twitter and say like first and foremost these bogs post that shit to get the reaction I'm sick of them doing I'm sick all of these internet fucking weirdos you've seen that post that picture they posted of Jada Pinkett. The real Jada? Yeah.

It's like, how y'all think she look at her new look? Man, why y'all know y'all post that to get people talking shit? That's why I call it the worldwide niggunette. That's exactly what it is. I don't want no part of the worldwide niggunette. So, you know, it's a lot of things I say, but the blogs posting that to get people up in arms, but, you know, they not in these meetings. They not in

these circles. You know what I'm saying? It's like they love to have me in that dev jam building like i'm benny the fucking butcher i'm saying one of the if not the top underground artists in the past few years at a major label you know i'm saying so that's what they needed you know i'm saying it's a resurgence over there so that's what i was talking about i'm gonna i'm gonna have a dev jam moment i'm saying we don't remember we don't remember remember no artist Def Jam moments or no hip hop shit in a while. And that's just that. And that's what I was speaking to. You know what I'm saying? And I know when X was dropping, those was a Def Jam moment for me when I was a shorty. So that's what I was talking about.

Is your country falling apart? Feeling tired, depressed, a little bit revolutionary? Consider this. Start your own country. I planted the flag. I just kind of looked out of like, this is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. There are 55 gallons of water for 500 pounds of concrete. Everybody's doing it. I am King Ernest Emmanuel. I am the Queen of Laudonia.

I'm Jackson I, King of Capraburg. I am the Supreme Leader of the Grand Republic of Mentonia. Be part of a great colonial tradition. The Waikana tribe owned country. My forefathers did that themselves. What could go wrong? No country willingly gives up their territory. I was making a racket with a black powder, you know, with explosive warhead.

Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Bullets. We need help! We need help! We still have the off-road portion to go. Listen to Escape from Zakistan.

And we're losing daylight fast. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about.

It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Post Run High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So y'all, this is Questlove, and I'm here to tell you about a new podcast I've been working on

with the Story Pirates and John Glickman called Historical Records. It's a family-friendly podcast. Yeah, you heard that right. A podcast for all ages. One you can listen to and enjoy with your kids starting on September 27th. I'm going to toss it over to the host of Historical Records, Nimany, to tell you all about it. Make sure you check it out. Hey, y'all. Nimminy here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families

called Historical Records. Historical Records brings history to life through hip hop. Flash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone. The crack of the bat and another one gone. The tip of the cap, there's another one gone. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it.

And it began with me. Did you know, did you know? I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa, it was Claudette. thing. Check it. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records, because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there, my little creeps. It's your favorite ghost host, Teresa. And guess what? Haunting is back, dropping just in time for spooky season. Now I know you've probably been wandering the mortal plane, wondering when I'd be back to fill your ears with deliciously unsettling stories. Well, wonder no more, because we've got a ghoulishly good lineup ready for you.

Let's just say things get a bit extra. We're talking spirits, demons, and the kind of supernatural chaos that'll make your spooky season complete. You know how much I love this time of year. It's the one time I'm actually on trend. So grab your pumpkin spice, dust off that Ouija board. Just don't call me unless it's urgent. And tune in for new episodes every week. Remember, the veils are thin, the stories are spooky, and your favorite ghost host is back and badder than ever. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

On Thanksgiving Day, 1999, a five-year-old boy floated alone in the ocean. He had lost his mother trying to reach Florida from Cuba. He looked like a little angel. I mean, he looked so fresh. And his name, Elian Gonzalez, will make headlines everywhere. Elian Gonzalez. Elian Gonzalez. Elian. Elian. Elian Gonzalez.

At the heart of the story is a young boy and the question of who he belongs with. His father in Cuba. Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home and he wanted to take his son with him. Or his relatives in Cuba. Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home and he wanted to take his son with him. Or his relatives in Miami. Imagine that your mother died trying to get you to freedom. At the heart of it all is still this painful

family separation. Something that as a Cuban, I know all too well. Listen to Chess Peace, the Elian Gonzalez story as part of the My Cultura Podcast Network, available on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When I say that, people are like, yo, what about Hov? Or what about this? Or what about Kanye's album?

I'm like, that's what I mean. You know what I'm saying? I'm going to catch one of the moments. I was speaking on what was the moment for me. You know what I mean?

It's funny, too. You got a couple of Cat Williams references on the record, so it feels so timely me. You know what I mean? It's funny too. You got a couple of Cat Williams references on the record so it feels so timely now. You know what I mean? Yeah, that's right. Right, right, right.

That's crazy, man. Shout out Cat. Cat, he was on the rampage, man. You think everything he's saying was true? No. No. I don't think so.

I think there was some truth and I think there was some things that weren't true. I don't think so either. Cat knows how to entertain too though. Yeah, he know how to entertain. I think it was a lot of truth and what he was saying but

you know he was up there talking his shit you know i'm saying i just hate the intention was the truest part of it yeah definitely definitely you could tell them niggas was getting on his nerves yes you could tell he was like you know what i'm about to go up here on friday's niggas you know i'm saying did you have a relationship with him or you just like him that's why you i never met cat i'm a big fan i'm a big fan of cat i never met cat uh i've been to dayton a couple times i was locked up with a couple dudes from dayton so i could see like his character and them you know i'm saying i see where he gets it from but uh i never met him big fan though so question why not do any lady records on this project like why not give people how it's going down on on this one

since it's your debut with Def Jam man that's not where my energy led me mm-hmm that's not what my energy led me and I let the energy lead and uh maybe towards the end of it I thought about it but I didn't I didn't concern myself with it too much because that's not what my energy led me but I I see that's where it's going on the next one but you know I mean it wasn't there I just wanted I just wanted to put my foot further down on these niggas what else did you mean when you said it's not a lot of respect being a rapper right now? You don't get a lot of respect being a rapper right now?

Because back in the day, only the cool, talented guys rapped. Now the nerds rap. I'm saying now whores rap. Now no lame niggas rap. You know what I'm saying? So it's just another job job it used to be like the cool shit it's just another job now you know i'm saying trust me i'm blessed and i'm thankful to get here because i started doing it when when it was a cool thing to do i'm saying you know

it's really not that cool no more because everybody watered it down but i wanted to get it i want to get it back to cool i'm not mad at those guys because you know they putting food on their plate for their families and everything else so and i think that's the dopest thing you could do it's just it's not that cool it's easy accessible we seen it with djs we seen it with podcasters we seen it it's just you know people could just pick up a mic and do it and they think it's cool exactly now back to the x you know that that one year that x released the album in the beginning of the year in the end of the year is that what you're thinking about doing too? Of course. See they ain't let you write see you on that I'm definitely dropping another album this year. And it's all for the ladies? Not all for the ladies. You said it three times I'm gonna do a song or two for the ladies. Yeah he tried to put me over there, but I'm definitely trying to get that record with SZA, Summer Walker, Coco Jones.

Man, all the dope female artists that I listen to, man. I want to get a record with them. You know what I'm saying? I kept hearing about a record Conway had that was supposed to be like a female-friendly record, but it never dropped it. I don't think i don't think so i know that uh that record that that fab one that uh it was like uh it was like it's a bad boy record that he just dropped that boy record but that right he just dropped yeah we had a boogie on there hold on let me see i don't remember that one you just have a it's a boogie on there right he just dropped it you're

not talking about my are you oh you're doing enjoy with king combs yeah yeah that one okay okay okay okay okay okay okay okay okay i'm working my bad i'm talking about conway was on that record first really i'm saying so maybe that's what people talk about that record was tough i i was he was on that record with them when that was his it was his record i never heard i i never heard like the fat verses until the song came up but conway like had two verses on there. Wow. What happened, like a producer gave it to somebody else? Man, I don't even know. He just played the record for me one day,

and I'm like, damn, that's dope. We're not coming out. I'm saying he never said nothing about it, but I don't know what happened with it. You know my good brother Hovane, God bless the dead, man. Like this was years ago. He let me hear a record with you and Drake.

And it was hard. Like Drake was, he was snapping. He was in his bag. Like, what happened to that record? Man, it got lost in the sauce. What? I used to have it in my phone. I got it.

That's where it's at. I mean, that was years ago. That had to be like three, four years ago. Yeah, but it got lost in the sauce like a bunch of records do. I got a record with Meek that nobody never heard. And I actually did the record with Meek like a week before I did the record with Drake. You know what I'm saying? I got a record with Nas, the world never heard.

Really? Why you holding all this music? The Hit-Boy produce it? Yep, Hit-Boy produce it. Wow. It's clearing these records. That's what it is. It's the next level of the business. I got a record with Skyface with the Mechanics. That's what it is.

It's the next level of the business. I got a record with Skyface with the Mechanics. I got some records that I'm waiting to come out. Who produced the record with Drake? I want to say 40. I didn't know for a long time, but I want to say 40. I think I heard back that 40 produced it. How you just lose a record with Drake?

He's the biggest hit in the world. It just didn't get cleared. I don't think it was the right place at the right time. I've been saying that for like three years now. You know what I'm saying? He wouldn't clear it all.

Who else would have to? It's his decision, right? That's crazy. That's what I would... I don't know. Maybe was it, like I said, when people were trying to get, like right now,

it's people who got features with me trying to put them out. Or, you know, the label, like, man, hell no. Now is not the time. Maybe that's what he was going through I don't know that's a bit the part of business people don't understand right that's what member Busta Rhymes was upset at one time because Drake didn't clear it but Drake got an album coming out or you got an album coming out somebody want to clear it you like not right now you know I

mean because and I'm sure the labels like not right now we need everything focused on this project and then by the time it comes around, it's old. I think Buffalo and Canada, they got a relationship, too, because Buffalo's right there. Yeah, right there, definitely. Definitely, man. Shout out Cardinal Official, man. You know what I'm saying?

Shout out Cardinal Official. He been running shit down there. His first one. Hell yeah, for real, for real. First one with that flag. I just got a couple more questions. Do you feel like there are certain stereotypes and misconceptions about being a rapper that contribute to the lack of respect

you feel like rappers get now um yeah hell yeah i feel like you know people get to see too much of one side you know what i'm saying uh the negative when i say negative like and people got to realize that when people talk about guns and drugs it's always not negative that people just speaking on what they've been through it's like any other thing but you know a lot been going on rappers been dying uh it's like i don't think they get to see enough of both sides of these artists you know what i'm saying i i love that that uh young boy did that interview he's been doing interviews lately so they can see uh different parts of him i love that except for him saying he's not big on fatherhood that was crazy i didn't see that part yeah that's the one with Bootleg Cab.

I don't know which one you're talking about. Damn. We said that? I don't know. He probably got his reasons, man. You know, baby mothers are crazy. That should have nothing to do with the kids, though. Definitely.

You got to be big on fatherhood. You can't say you're not big on fatherhood. Yeah, man. You know, he probably feel like, man, he providing and everything. You know what I'm saying? Still going through problems but fatherhood fatherhood is definitely a gift and a blessing and me I don't got a lot of kids all over the place I'm saying that he do but when you got 11 that's a lot of kids yes but when you when you only got it we only got a few a couple it's easier

to to do things like that so i could just imagine having a bunch of having to deal with uh different women energy and all that get crazy but i feel like man people got to see both sides of an artist and his own artist to show people that because and it's on the people too because everybody asks me like yo they're shooting in buffalo you ain't do nothing you ain't do this you ain't i did so much you'm saying I just ain't paying attention to it so people got to go look no don't got to go look they just got to acknowledge the positive things that rappers do it really don't get a lot of airplay because you know you know they focused on the evil shit they focus on the dumb shit well tell them now the

mass shooting in Buffalo happened in the grocery store right yeah the tops I was in Buffalo that day I donated money I did a song for uh i'm still in the process of doing things right now i'm planning on doing a free concert this year in the city for it uh i'm going to court with ben crump and i'm saying the next court date um uh sold t-shirts uh and and it didn't uh keep none of the money like i said i did the song and then keep none of the money donated all the money off the song and went on uh msnbc the top rated uh news cable show on yeah ari melbourne on tv and i'm saying and spoke about it and brought awareness anything else i hate that man i hate the fact that you're even saying that that's just that's your time you did it you did what you did

for your town not for publicity you did it because you from there you love the people out there and that's all that's your matter even that's great to me though because they want rappers they don't have a problem when rappers rap about how much jewelry they got you don't talk care how much money and cars you got right if i talk about my community service or money i donated to a good cause like i don't speak about that why not real hey you see uh what me and dion dawkins did we uh we did a piece we did a piece on my block you know I'm saying after that like bringing you know because you know Buffalo is a white city you know I'm saying bring it and they big Bills fans so the Buffalo Bills helped me bring awareness to what was going on on our side of the city you know those Buffalo Bills fans too as fans over

there who never been to a game never been to Or Orchard Park. And, you know, we won an Emmy for that. You know what I'm saying? Over Derek Jeter and Eli Manning. You know what I'm saying? Wow. Just speaking about what happened to Buffalo,

bringing more awareness to it. You know what I'm saying? That's what I done. But, you know, people don't care about that. And people speak it like it's a fact. Man, you ain't do nothing.

Man, how you call yourself from Buffalo and you ain't do nothing? I'm like, bro, you wrong and loud as fuck. Yeah, you wasn't tapped in. Real shit. Let's get into a joint off the album, man.

What you want to hear? Man, I would like to hear, let's play Braun, man. Braun? Let's play Braun. Let's do that. Let's get into that. All right. Well, we'll get into that now.

Benny the Butcher. Quick question. People that don't know, how did you and Lil Wayne get up for Big Dog? Oh, man. Shout out Mac Mayne. Mac Mayne, he middle man a whole bunch of my records with Wayne. You know what I'm saying? that don't know how did you and little wayne get up for big dog a man uh shout out mac main mac main he middleman a whole bunch of my records with wayne you know what i'm saying and that's the first thing i do when i need a wing record i hit mac and wayne told me when we did the first record he told me anytime you need me i got you and you know i i use that vessel and he ain't never turned

me down anything i said he's sending it right back and he cleared it and he cleared it for the album and he cleared it asap now last thing people would want to know how come they don't see hove on the album they know that you and hove got a great relationship this is the first album on def jam i know a lot of people i'm sure were looking for that whole verse i think like i can't speak for i can't speak for big dog but did you send him some stuff i haven't i haven't because because when i hit him up when i hit him up about music i don't think he was focused on music. So like I said, I don't like to ask. I want to,

I want to, I know he's watching. You know what I'm saying? I want to, I want to earn my record because that's what I realized. I'm like, okay,

he ain't just going to get that record up easy. I got to earn it. So I'm back in the shop. I'm back cooking. And hopefully the next one, you would get that. You know what I'm saying? But I feel like,

I feel like I'm still, I'm still like improving grounds with Hov and I still got to earn my spot, which I ain't tripping about. You have that verse ready? Because I know it's something that's probably in your mind. Like, I know when it goes, I'm going to eat this, or I'm going to do this. I don't got it ready.

You know what I'm saying? I got a note. Like, I got a notice for that. You know what I'm saying? Like, any record that you hear me on with an artist, I'm just doing these records, and then they hitting on them. Like, I'm not doing that with Hov. Like, I got to know that this is the Hov record.

Your daughter lit up when you started talking about that. So you must talk about this Hov record a lot. You must talk about doing a record with JL. She just know that's my dog. She just know that's my dog. She like, you know what I mean? She know that's my favorite rapper. She know that.

I look up to Hov, man. You know what I'm saying? I'm not a guy afraid to say that. You know what I'm saying? Like, I look up to bro. We all do. You know what I mean saying like I look up to bro you know what I mean it's like the way he the way he do it how he how he carry his business everything like that I honor that I look up to that you know I'm saying that's special to me the evolution of him

as a man to me is more special than anything he's ever done as an artist just watching him growing to the husband family man that he is especially after the whole lemonade shit like right like that was yeah that's dope man that's dope you especially after the whole lemonade shit. That's dope, man. That's dope. You gotta respect that. I think we've seen it too. I think that's part of it too. We've seen his evolution. We've seen him come from the kid from Brooklyn. He put out Big Pimpin'. We've seen him in the club. We've seen him do everything.

Do it again. Come to the hook and do it again. He was doing them dirty. He that boy, man. He that boy. He was really in the clubs. He was out. That's what makes it... That. He that boy. But he was really out. Like, he was really in the clubs. Like, he was out. You know, that's what makes it. That's why EP's laughing, because he seen he was there. Yeah, let's stop bringing up old stuff before they try to cancel a whole, pull up some old

record. You right. You right. Well, let's get into the record right here. It's Braun. Benny the Butcher. The album comes out January 26th. Everybody can't go.

It's The Breakfast Club. Good morning. Wake that ass up. Early in the morning. The Breakfast Club. Good morning. and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast Post Run High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. gives up their territory. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zaka Stan.

That's Escape from Z-A-Q-A-S-T-A-N on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best

and you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone. This is Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Layton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8th, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, and every single wig removal together. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hey y'all, Nimany here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Executive produced by Questlove, The Story Pirates, and John Glickman, Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Smash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone. The crack of the bat and another one gone. The tip of the cap, there's another one gone.

Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. And it began with me. Did you know, did you know? I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa, it was called a moment.

Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.