The Breakfast Club - INTERVIEW: Joey Bada$$ Talks New Project, Coming For The West Coast, The 'Big 3', Fatherhood, Therapy + More

Episode Date: August 19, 2025

Today on The Breakfast Club, Joey Bada$$ Talks New Project, Coming For The West Coast, The 'Big 3', Fatherhood, Therapy. Listen For More!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Envy is out today But Naila Simone is here And we got a brother who's got a project coming out on August 29th, Carl Lonely at the top. The good brother Joey Badass is here, man. What's up, what to do, man. Good morning. I am, blessed black and highly favorite.

How are you feeling? Good, man, good. First of all, how is fatherhood? Fatherhood is amazing. Amazing. Congratulations. Father of two now. Thank you.

Thank you. Appreciate that. Loving it, basking in it. You know what I mean? I'm at the stage and getting much sleep. Yeah. Right now. But, you know, it's going great.

How old is great? A couple, what, two months now or something, right? Yeah, something like that? Yeah, okay. How did it change you as a man? I mean, I'm going to say it changed me as a man. I say it's refining. You know what I mean?

Just, you know, maturity. It's like I ain't got the bandwidth, bro. You know what I'm saying? For like the bullshit no more. It's like when I had my first child, the biggest revelation I had was like, oh shit, I only got one kid. You know what I mean? It's like I've been taking kids so many people and, like, putting so much energy into

that and you realize that you have like one child like one person that you actually solely responsible for and you know having um my son now it's like you know it's no different it's just it kind of gives you that extra boost of like yo listen let's get to it let's get it done like when we leave in the house we on a mission and the mission is to complete it and you know get back home that's right yeah yeah for real you got the best of both worlds now because you got your girl and your boy now absolutely absolutely as you said you've matured is there like a major difference from your first time having a child when you're younger versus now? Yeah, I mean, I'll say the biggest difference was, you know,

I don't, I'm at a different readiness and preparedness level now, you know what I'm saying? So it's like, you know, with this one. And then also kind of having the experience in the data now, right? It's like, like, playing word data, you know what I'm saying? Like, and having that to apply. So everything that I've learned from my first experience, being able to take that and it kind of

catapult me into this one like where it's just like ah yeah yeah you know what I mean everything is uh pretty much is like going on navigating the street and knowing where the bumps is at you know what I'm saying like it's kind of like that

you know I was listening to uh dark or they sent me lonely at the top last night they just sent me snippets but I listen to the whole dark or this morning yeah that was purposely done because I know you guys have a system and y'all like to listen to the music before but I also like to reserve some of it because I want you guys to, you know, actually be in tune.

You know what I mean? When it dropped, so, yeah. But you say on Dark Horror, you say independent mindset, you ain't fucking with them majors. When I think about everything that's going on with your label right now and them delaying the album, does it make you wish you was indie? Well, what I'll say is, you know,

we had our complications. And, you know, I think what had, what had disappointed me or angered me the most is that I'm very passionate about my relationship with my fans and you know when I say things I want them to know that my word is born so I hate that I was put in a position where I communicated a date and then I had to change that

you know what I'm saying because I worked so hard on that relationship with my friends because you know I historically it hasn't I haven't always been the best at that And that's, you know, me taking accountability and me wanted to improve and be better, you know what I'm saying? But, you know, so yeah, we had our little whatever, but we're on common ground now, you know what I'm saying? And, you know, I feel fully supported and everything

in August 29. Do you really feel fully supported? Because that was last, right? What the point was really, brother? Do you really? You know, we gotta drill into this thing, do you? You see how I was trying to just be political, right? Just get past.

He's that, but do you really, let's dig it to it. Like, damn. I thought the juice is. to take the edge on. What's the point of a label even delaying an album? Because it's not like they're going to work the records at radio the way that they should. It's not like they're going to put the building behind you

with the promo and marketing the way that they should. So what's the point of the laying the album? So, man, you got some intense feelings today. You know? Yeah, that's like, more than some juice, y'all. You know what some juice before you get started? Did they give you a reason? You ain't like that ginger shot.

No, I did. but did they give you a reason did they say hey so the reason was that they felt as if like you know they wanted to put more into it and you know like I had my um my uh my complications with that if you will but um at the end of day you know I'm like okay you know that's not a bad thing I just think that the way that it happened you know what I'm saying like telling me the week before my fans think that the project is coming and is just, like, not productive. You know what I'm saying?

It's counterproductive to the whole situation. So, like, you know, I could say that their intentions were good, but the execution of it wasn't the best. You know what I'm saying? But, like I said, like, you know, old is well now, and, you know, everybody's on common ground. And we got a date, so...

All right. It was 29th. At the end of the day, I just want to put this music out, and that's what I'm looking for it. Because I was having a debate about you in a group chat, you know, the hip-hop group chat.

Oh, yeah. And so I was saying, And, like, Joey, like, I listened to the project. I've been in the group chats a lot this year, huh? But for good things. Great reasons. It's like the fifth person I heard of saying, y'all told about you in the group chat. And everybody had one common thing in regards to Joey Badassie's Music.

They always say he just need a record. Is that something you chase? I won't say that I chase that, but I won't say that is something that I'm not cognizant. You know what I mean? I definitely have an awareness of that. And, yeah, lonely at the top of August 29. Let's see what happened. You know what I'm saying?

Is that implying that it's on this tape? We'll see. You know what I mean? We'll see. Like, no, I think that there's a record on there. You know, maybe two records on there. Ready to Love? I think that's a great record.

Okay. You know what I mean? I think that's definitely poised for that type of position. But there's another one I'm specifically thinking. What is the Super Flea one? The one that got like the club vibe to it? Man. Okay.

Listen, I'm trying to reserve. You know what I mean? I want people to... Because, you know, it's funny. And I'm glad we're having this conversation because I feel like in 2025, like, I'm at a point with my artistry where it's like, I really don't want to give samples out. I really don't want to drop no songs ahead of it.

I really want you to experience the body of work like I intended to. it to and I wanted it to be fully new when people hear it, you know what I'm saying? Like, I don't want to give away too much. I have too much expectations. Like, I really enjoy creating bodies of work and sharing that. You know what I'm saying? So, but yeah,

you know, you still got to promote your project. It's like, how do you promote the project without like putting singles out and, you know, shit like that? But this is one cliff hanging ass nigga, man. Like, he on a cliff with his music and in acting because Who me? Yeah, you know, I'm a clip hanging there. Yes, you are.

You'll leave somebody on a cliff and not know what's going on because even in the films, even with the shows, like, we ain't know if unique died or not. You got to create some suspense. You know what I mean? Some suspense, some anticipation. Yeah, you know what I mean? I feel like you should feel something.

Hell of anticipation this year, especially starting off the year. What was it? The first week of January, you come in. First day. First day. First day. January 1st.

Attacking the, or, you know, claiming your title in New York, but then also, you know, coming for the West Coast. What struck that? So first of all, it's like, you know, my intention was never to come for the West Coast. You know what I'm saying? I think that like with Roolers back, my energy was more connected to like, it was really in the spirit of like, yo, y'all having your moment, but New York got something to say too type of thing, you know what I'm saying?

And it's like, yeah, you know, people had their complications that like, oh, y'all had your moment. We didn't say none. They said it third. I'm like, yo, it was 2025. And it was a playful nation for me You know what I'm saying? Like this rap shit is a sport

And I have so many allies on the West Like from my perspective If you really seen it It's like I didn't mean no disrespect That wasn't my intention or whatever But I'm like yo we rapping You know what I'm saying So when people felt like

I was attacking I had to respect it Because I think that my perspective Would have kind of been the same If the shoe was on the other foot Like yo You know what I'm saying So and I think that a lot of people

took the opportunity and a lot of good things came from that. For sure. Yeah, like rap. I mean, honestly, that's how the competition started in the group check, because I said, I said, Joey Badass is the nicest, like, new dude from New York, right? You know, even though you've been out for a while, but it's like, he's that guy right now. Like, that's what I was asking the group check. And so everybody sent the emojis back like, hmm, let me think about that one.

But if not you, who? That's how I feel. Right. You know, if somebody was to respond back from. like the West Coast right if one of the rappers was the like all right go back at you were you prepared for it to be oh people people did respond yeah a bunch of people respond it was like 50 niggins respond yeah no we definitely gonna get into that but I want to get into this line on rulers back where you were like women lie but Joey don't

lie might delete later I know damn sure that Joey won't that's sorry not sorry oh sorry yeah but with that line I you know the play on words but might delete later and that being close project how do you feel about the big three now um i mean what do you mean do you still feel like there is a big three did the big three change do you feel like it's like not a thing anymore no i want to say that it changed i mean i say that um you know over the last 10 years when we talk about rap like yeah i think that those figures are the prominent figures you know what i'm saying in the space um i think you know a lot of interesting things has happened in the last year

yeah to say the least you know what I'm saying but yeah I mean I don't feel no particular way about it you know what I'm saying yeah I love it I love it all

as a New York artist you feel the way and the reason you feel the show because when you're talking about big three and no MC from New York is mentioned

oh I mean bro listen I think I think the big three though was more of like how do I say it like I think it's more of a like it's a Like a class. I feel like that, like, when we talk about the big three, we're talking about that class.

And I think that there's a new era that's like, you know, kind of right behind that where we might be talking about the different three individuals in like the next five years. But you don't consider yourself in that class? I mean, see, the thing is I kind of do, but I'm so much younger than anybody else. Anybody else in that class got me about like eight to ten years. That was going to be my question for you because I feel like the game that you play versus the game that plays different like I think you brought it to my attention that Big Daddy Cane and Jay Z are the same age and then it's like they are yeah close to it they're the same age but

they're in different classes so I feel like it's the same thing for you where it's like you're in the same classes then but you your game is just a little different yeah yeah for sure for 16 J 55 oh wow wow shit the more you know um yeah but you know I feel I feel similar to that and I think that me being younger has kind of allowed for different things for me. You know what I'm saying? Like, I think everybody path is different. And there's not much that I would really change about my path.

I'm just getting better. You know what I'm saying? As I go on. And, yeah, you know, I think that me being younger than those pairs gives me more years. You know what I'm saying? It gives me, like, still like a longer runway to, you know, do what I want to do?

So in terms of your music career, what do you think has kept you from, like, getting to that next level? Just music. Well, what you mean? Just, like, to be in that, to be mentioned with that, with those guys. Or maybe have the commercial success that they have.

Well, I think it's me. I think it's the music that I put out. You know what I'm saying? I don't put out a lot of commercially poised music. You know what I'm saying? Do you think it's that, or do you think it's that you went the independent route? I think it's a combination of both.

You know what I'm saying? Like, I didn't, I don't think that I've put out much commercial sound and music. You know what I mean? And it's like the ones that I did, like, you know, I put out devastated back in 2016, and that had a big moment. And that's like probably one of my least favorite songs in my catalog.

So it was like, I remember how that made me feel, and it's like, even though it had the success, I'm like, is this feeling worth it? Like, do I want to, like, really be attached to a song that I don't love? You know what I mean? So like, it kind of became more about artistic integrity for me. It's like, I just kind of value that a little bit more.

But what I will say is I am trying to find the sweet spot. You know what I mean? I am looking for that sweet spot. It's like, how can I stay true to me but still like, you know, amplify it, amplify the sound. And nobody ever talks about that. Making a record that works, but it don't feel right to you, but you got to go out there and live with it. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure. You know what I'm saying? So that's what that taught me.

And it's like after that it was like I was very skeptical about making those type of sounds again. Like, you know, even though for me, like, I really do enjoy being experimental and versus. And I enjoy, when I play a song for somebody and they're like, yo, that's you? I enjoy that feeling. But sometimes it also kind of like takes away from like division a little bit, right? Because like I don't have a single other song like devastated in my catalog. And it's like when I'm going certain places, that's the representative thing of me. But it's like when you dive into my discography, it's like my shit sounds nothing like that.

You know what I mean? So I think just kind of being aware with that. and then also just focusing on my bodies of work as well, you know. And I think it's about what you want from my artist. Like, when I listen to the project, like underwater, three feet away, speeding through the rain, like, that's what I'm on. I'm like, oh, okay, that's what I'm rewinding. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Those are the records I enjoy. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Those are my favorites right there, too. Yeah. Like the record underwater, I totally understand what you meant, you know, when you say you feel like you're underwater. But what do you do in those moments when you feel like you're underwater, when that fame and the pressure and the expectations feel like you drown?

Well, turn to God, you know what I'm saying, talk to God, connect with God, connect with Source, and do a lot of self-reflection. You know what I mean? I'm somebody who, like, I'm not obsessed with being right because I believe that when I'm wrong, I learn, you know, and, you know, when I'm right, I'm just like I'm right in the moment. So, like, in those moments, I do a lot of self-reflection, self-correction, and, you know, I like to take accountability. because I feel like that makes me better. It makes me stronger. And it gives me, you know, the wisdom that I need for the next day. How do you protect your piece in the industry that drives all care?

Stay out the way, man. You know, stay out the way. I think this year has been the most in the way I've ever been. But for a good reason, yeah, yeah, yeah, for a good reason, right. Like, a lot of good music came out of it. But, you know, just from a general standpoint, like, I think it's staying out the way. And I think lifestyle affects a lot of that, right? Like, you know, like, where I'm at now, my life at 30 years old, like, you know, I'm still

fairly young, but my life reflects that of, like, a very mature man, you know what I'm saying? So it's like, you ain't going to really find me in the club. You ain't going to find me in, like, you know, these dark energy spaces, you know what I'm saying? Where, like, yo, I got my social battery is so low. Like, yo, when I saw you out the other night when we was at the Metro Boomer Joint, like, after that, like, I just had to stay in the house with five days. It's like, yeah, recovering. You know what I'm saying? You didn't even do nothing.

You sat. And it was too much because, you know what I mean? It's like I gave mad daps out, you know, mad people like, yo, boom, boom. It's like the first time a lot of people were seeing me, you know what I mean? And it's just, it does a lot to me and it's like I kind of got to recover from that after. Yeah. Yeah, I'm probably going to have to recover from this interview.

Dang, I bought them niggas, I bought them niggas juice thing. It's all press me about the label. How much is being a successful acting change? How much is being a successful acting change? the trajectory of your career um you ain't just joy you bad ass the rapper when you go out you know i would say that you know it made music because i feel like at a point music was becoming to me like um feeling like a job and i think that the success in acting has like supported music being art again for me and just like it being like just do what you want to do because you good you know what

saying like like you good there's other things that you can do like you know you are you're limitless so do what you want to do and just make sure that every expression is as true as to heart you know what I mean it's to spirit as as you wish it to be what do you like better acting or music I like both you know I mean it's like people ask me that question a lot and I'm like man like why do I got to choose you know what I'm saying like I think that they're we're talking about the field of arts so to me it's the same thing almost you know i mean it's like it's still me i'm just showing up in another space uh another medium but as an artist yeah still you know i mean expressing myself performing this that the third

so it's like yeah i like both like you know i mean i don't plan on choosing that one over the other like i think that yeah i'm highly capable and i'll continue to be capable of just doing both you know what I'm saying, like, yeah, I got some movies that I'm working on, some shows that I'm working on. I can't, you know, spill no beans yet, but... Another cliffhanger. Damn, man, I got to be aware of that, I'm like, damn, my, clip hanger has a thing. It's on the clip. Like, yeah, what's next thing?

No, you leave us on the clip all the time as we're upset. It's lonely at the top of the cliff, I guess. Yeah, no, this is a good problem. Has acting changed the way you write music? Um, hmm. No, but I have been having a repeated thought. Like, I want to approach my music more from a space like that, more from like a theatrical space.

Like, how can I, you know, not with this album, but like how moving forward, how can I involve what I've learned on the TV and film side and bring it into my music more? I have been like, you know, examining that whole field of thought and being like, yo, like, I definitely want to charm my hand at, like, world building and playing a character on a body of work, if you will,

and, like, playing into it and music videos and all of that type of shit, because I'm like, I could do that. You've seen that, though. I mean, Biggie did it with, like, ready to die, or Rayquan did it with only... Right, right, right. But, you know, doing it in 2025

at a whole new level, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Even Kendrick, did it with Good Kid Mad City, you know? Like, those guys do it. How connected are you to your role is, like, For instance, playing Unique and Raising Canaan. How many, like, are there a lot of similarities between Joey Badass and Unique? I say, when it comes to any character that I play,

the first thing that I do is find a similarity. But I also find the differences, too, right? I think that I get very, I do get very connected to my characters because I think that my style of acting is kind of, like, method a little bit, they call method acting and it's like I have to I have to believe it and I have to like like I tell people all the time like I don't I'm not interested in acting I'm interested in like living like you know I'm saying like I become the role and like I live it out like on film yeah you will you know I'm saying because to me that's the only way that it's real like there is when you see me there is aspects of

what's going on that I'm like in that moment like I believe you know what I'm saying like it's real to like this is what's going on is and then it's like i think that one of my strengths as an actor too or my biggest strength i would say is my instincts because you know it's one thing to look at lines and lines is easy for me because i come from rapping yeah so it's nothing for me to memorize lines but for me what like really brings it to life to me is when i get in that environment and i'm like okay cool like i'm kind of talking with the environment if you will you know what i'm saying And it's just like, shit, I don't know, I might approach, you know, my, my scene partner a certain type of way, but, like, that wasn't scripted, or I might say something to bridge

the lines together because that just feels real for me. Like, this is what I would do in the situation type of thing, yeah. And do you, have you ever gotten stuck in a role, right? Like, oh, shit. Oh, no, no, no, no. Go home with it in, okay. When. You go home back and, like, you need you getting a police called on you.

When you need got killed off, did you know you were killed off? Or, like, did you know you were coming back? Did I know I was coming back? You didn't get killed up. Oh, you mean it, the cliffhanger? Oh, right. So I did know I was coming back. Oh, you did know.

I did know I was coming back. So, like, you know, the story goes that, um... So the reason why that even happened was because that year I had put out an album when we was filming that season and I had to tour it. And the tour was conflict. with the shooting schedule and I was just like yo at that point it was like season three and I was just at a point where I was like yo I feel like I mean how long is the show going going to go on I don't know but I feel like I've done what I had to do so I'm like I'm cool with

y'all 86 to me if that's what you got to do right you know what I mean so that's where I happen it was written into the script unique dies and then the day that I wanted to get my head casting right which is like the process of like you know if you about to have a brutal death in the TV you got to get your head casting because like they need something to bang in you know what I mean like so like they make a fake prosthetic version when I walked into that office I was like oh no something is wrong I made a mistake you know I mean like like and I called up Sasha Penn who was the creator and the showrunner of Raising Canaan and I'm like yo is there any way because you know what it was I had that moment and I'm like yo I

I felt like I was at a crossroad, so first I called my mom because my mom is somebody who is just going to give it to me raw, you know what I'm saying? So I'm like, yo, like, what should I do? Because at the time, there was something on the horizon that wasn't set in stone yet. So I was cool walking away from the show because I'm like, I'm about to walk into this other opportunity when I get back to him. And then my mom had dropped some wisdom on me like, yo, one in the hand is better than two in the bush.

And I was like, I don't know. me call you back and I call up Sasha and I'm like yo is there any way we can reverse because he never wanted to let me go he never wanted to kill my character I mean yeah right you know what exactly yeah yeah he never wanted to kill him and then he was just like yo joe like tell me you serious because if you are like I'm gonna make some calls and it's like you cannot play with me and I'm like nah I'm dead serious he made it happen for me and I left the fucking head casting thank god I was so pissed look like I'm like I'm like I'm like You don't need to look at DMs, bro.

I was up in them like, I was mad at him. Like, he was really unique and he's not unique. You only wanted to kill you if he wanted to die. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's crazy. Yeah, really. Were you dying to tell us, like, all right, guys, I'm coming back. Because everybody was tweeting you, you know, mentioning you.

It was a whole thing. It was a... Yo, so it's kind of fucked up because I had to even lie to my castmates. Yeah, like, I couldn't even tell my castmates. Why, though? Because that's what they told me. There was like, yo, like, you can't, you can't tell a nope. Because it was a cliffhanger, right?

Yeah. So it was, um, everybody was still shooting. Like, I died's episode five. And it's like, they had to keep going. So it was like, they're like, no, we got to keep the character, like we got to keep the character safe. Like, everybody got to believe that shit. Right.

And I was like, oh, I mean, all right. That makes sense. It's unbelievable because 50 cent do be doing some random, random near death moments and then they come back. What is 50 say? during that time but is he or he's not that type of involvement um what did he say at that time um i didn't speak to 50 till after when i had king back and um yeah he had he pulled up on me one day and like it was just me and him like we just chavoured up for like 45 minutes 50 is like he he said

a lot he said he said a lot that day you know what I'm saying he dropped a lot of game and um and wisdom and I could tell that like he got respect for me and obviously he's mutual you know what I'm saying so yeah no he was just basically like yo you got it man like you're like yeah you're the one like you could do whatever the fuck

you want to do in this joint like and he was like yo you know I I want to let you know I got like 30 plus other shows so it's whatever you want to do you know what I'm saying and like you know just kind of giving me that talk and I'm like word I want to go back to the music for a minute right like you've always kept that class

New York City sound do you ever feel any pressure to evolve with the time pressure I feel like I did in the past but I feel like now I'm at a point it's like man I feel like when you get to like you know your 30s and then I think I've had an accelerated growth so even though I'm 30 I feel like I live like I'm 37 that's I got my lifestyle is for real and I just feel like I'm at the point where it's like man like I know exactly who I am you know what I'm saying so I don't I don't feel the pressure to like do anything that anybody else is doing like i just want to do me like i'm very content and fulfilled by doing what i want to do and what feels natural and true and authentic for me

yeah because it's like if it don't feel authentic it's like i feel off you know what i mean i feel out of balance so what that said coming from a burrow like brooklyn was just so rich in hip-hop how did it feel watching so many brooklyn artists embrace like drill me um that's an interesting question I mean it felt like because I feel like Joe didn't come from New York you know what I'm saying it came from like I mean what did it come from Chicago is it UK yeah London Chicago so I mean I thought it was interesting though like I wasn't mad at nobody whatever you know what I'm saying like it kind of eventually you know New York made his own version of it type of thing you know but um yeah I mean listen like that's what they do

I do what what I do like I've always been proud of like just doing my own thing you know what I'm saying being able to stand over here in like my own lane and shit like that like I just always been content with that you know I mean but shout to all the homies you know what I'm saying because I know all of these guys and everything mutuals you've got a residency at NYU this is correct well I have one I have it's over now yeah how did that come about um so I started a mentorship program called Impact Mentorship, which provides professional mentorship for men of color in the United States and Puerto Rico. And, you know, one thing kind of led to another and NYU noticed the

work that I was doing, and they reached out for me to do an artist in residency. And I was actually the youngest artist to ever do a residency there. And it was beautiful, man. Like, I'm all for connecting with, you know, the younger generations and sharing my wisdom. Because I feel like, you know, I ain't come this far to just, like, not share what I've learned with people. Like, I'm very big on, like, going back to the navigation analogy. Like, I'm very big on, like, yo, I've been down this road. There's a pothole right there. Make sure you go left or, yo, that room right there is on fire.

You know what I'm saying? I mean, you can go see for yourself, but just know, as soon as you touch that door handle, your hand is going to burn. You know what I mean? You know, sometimes people still want to, you know, but I'm very big on sharing that. because that wasn't done for me all the time in my come-up. You know what I'm saying?

So I want to make sure that I could use myself as not only an example, but as a tool for like, you know, people on the come-up, you know what I mean? Because, yeah. But you can hear, though, when you listen to your music, even just a regular conversation when you said earlier, you said, Shaliman, you were really expressing some type of feeling this day. You know what I see?

Yeah. But when you listen to like the underwater, like I said, the three feet away, the speeding through the rain, you clearly are addressing your way. addressing your mental and emotional well-being so do you share the work you've done with people oh yeah yeah like this project right here like it it went platinum already amongst my friends and family okay you know what I'm saying like shout out to untitled is an app that they allow you to kind of like you know share music and it's like yo my shit got 5,000 streams already but not

literally like it got 5,000 plays just for me sharing it with my friends and my family and it's like seeing everybody gravitate to this, gravitate to that. Like, you know, I kind of, like, my village is very involved in, you know, the music that I'm making and producing. And you, I heard you talk about meditation before. Oh, yeah. Therapy. Oh, yeah.

All of that. Yeah, all of that. All of the fucking, the self-improvement shit. Like, I'm all about it, you know what I mean? Yeah. What's more therapeutic? Actual therapy are going in the booth and getting it off? You know, you always hear the artist, be like, your therapy is.

Yeah, yeah. My music is my therapy. You know, it's interesting. You asked that because, you know, I think both of it. therapeutic i think um you know when you when you in the booth though is like it's just letting off steam almost like you know what i'm saying you get to express but like do you really get to understand you know what i mean and i feel like that's what's sitting down what the therapist really brings to you it helps you get to that place of like knowing why things are happening to you and not just

like what are what is happening to you you know what i'm saying i feel like the music gives me the outlet to talk about what it's happening, but therapy gives me the outlet to understand why things are happening, you know what I'm saying? And yeah, it's like, I actually am looking for a therapist at the moment. Oh, another new one? Yeah, yeah, new one. Why do you think you need a new one? Well, I loved my past one, but it's like, it's just been a little minute since, you know, we connected, so it's just like, I'm looking for somebody new. Right. Yeah, because it's like, Yeah, you know, we got to, we're going to have to do the whole thing anyway. Like, you know, re-download and shit like that.

But, yeah, but yeah, he was great, and he, um, he helped me a lot. I love when black men learn early, what I learned late, because I didn't start going to therapy because I was 36, 36, 37. So what was the moment you realized you needed it? Hey, guys, it's AZ Fudd. You may know me as a gold medalist. You may know me as an NCAA national champion and recent most outstanding player. You may even know me as a people's princess, but now you're also going to know me as your favorite host.

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So I actually had did one of those therapist sessions with Noisy. You remember those joints? They used to put out with the rappers. The Therapist series. Prodigy did one too. The Prodigy did one. YG did one. I did one.

And it's funny because that's the first time I ever did therapy. It was live for the world to see. You know what I mean? And I felt like indifferent about that at the time. But I was very glad that I did it. And I was very like, you know, typical like he's gonna say

right he's gonna help me with and I end up like crying and interviewing and all type of shit and then after that I actually connected with him and that's who became my therapist for like the next five years

you know what I mean we conducted private sessions after that and you know and yeah shout to Dr. Siri like he's he has helped me become a better person yeah I love that I love how you can be transparent about that

not many men can be transparent about that. Prior to your relationship with Saraya, you kept your personal life very private. Like we knew very little about you, and I know that is intentional. But how hard has it been adjusting to people knowing, because we still don't know a lot, but just even knowing that part of it.

How have you been adjusting to that? I would say that it's a learning experience because it's pretty new for me, you know, but what's not new for me is being a public. figure so I'm somewhat used to and normalize the idea that I'm free game you know what I'm saying like my life is up for anybody to talk about like at least whatever I show yeah you know what I mean so I just try to be as cognizant as that as possible and um you know uh show what I want them to see and you know not show other things like you know I don't I've never been a person

to like, you know, really show my kids like that on social media because, you know, like, you know, with my daughter, for example, like, her mom and I is obviously not together. So, like, there are moments where my daughter is not going to be with me. And the last thing that I want is for people coming up to her because, you know what I'm saying? They know me or something like that. Like, yeah, so it's like I do that out of protection. And, yeah, I'm very, very critical about, you know, protecting. the people in my life you know what I'm saying it's like I'm not just because these people are not

on the stage I am you know what I mean so I'm I'm I'm built for this you know what I'm saying the public opinion and stuff like that people say negative things me I see negative things at the time I don't respond I don't engage but these people are not you know what I'm saying it's like that a really affect their world and affect their energy you know what I'm saying so I do my best to protect my love ones you think people realize how popping you are in Hollywood How popping I am. You were part of a project that won a Oscar, bro.

Yeah, I mean, shit. Listen, man. I don't think I really give a fuck about that type of shit, shall do you know what I'm saying? Like, if you came to my house, you would understand why I don't give a fuck. Like, I live a beautiful life. You know what I'm saying?

Like, I pray every day, every morning. If the world got to catch up with some type of understanding of who I am, inshallah. You know what I mean? Look, why you didn't wear blue at the baby shower? You from Baltimore?

Yeah. Oh, okay, yeah. Just realized. Yeah, I'm from Baltimore, yo. Yeah, so why are you wearing blue? You just... My lady wore blue. I got you.

Yeah, she wore blue. You know, I had to balance it up. You look nice. No, y'all looked great. I was just, you the first person I saw where black, all black, black, black panther at the, uh... You know what I mean? You're fighting in the power.

Militin at the baby, y'all. He was not playing. He was not playing. But you look nice. It was a beautiful event from what we saw. We didn't really see much from the baby shower, but from what we saw, y'all did look nice. Thank you.

Being that you are somebody who's so evolved and deep in the work with therapy and stuff like that, how did you feel about J. Cole's apology during the whole rap battle? I understood it. You know what I'm saying? Like, I definitely understood. It's like a head down.

Yeah, because, you know what it's like, I don't, I don't want to, like, I'm really not looking for a moment of like a clickbait thing. You know what I'm saying? I'm really trying to be intentional about what I say. But, you know, I understood it. I just feel like, you know, if, I just feel like you should have never engaged in the first place. I agree. That's it.

That's all I'm going to say. Like, you just never engaged if it was going to be about that. So, you know, and referencing back to the line that you had brought up. And that's what I said is like, you know, I won't. I won't do that. Like, I won't, I won't delete. Like, if I'm going to say something, I ain't going to take it back. I'm going to take everything that comes with that.

You know what I'm saying? Even if it's a conversation to be had, like, yo, I didn't mean it like that. Like, it's my attention, but I'm still going to stand on what I said. You know what I mean? Whatever. I mean, I think it was commendable that if he felt that he did something out of the pocket and he was like,

yo, that's not me, y'all. Like, forgive me. I respect that. You know what I'm saying? Like, it takes a real man to do that. But I just feel like he should have never engaged. Was that your approach when you was going back and forth with all the West Coast rappers?

Like when you was writing your bars you was like, let me be intentional about every word because the things I say, I'm going to stand. Well, not initially, honestly. You know what I'm saying? Because when I wrote rulers back, I honestly didn't think that it was going to get all of that. Like, I thought like, you know,

I thought that people, sometimes I look at it as like, I have so many peers in this thing and everybody who's going to hear is going to have the same perspective as my peers. And it's like it was one of those moments where I had to realize that like, yo, this landed on the doorstep of a lot of people who don't know you. You know what I'm saying?

Who don't know your character. They don't know your personality. So I had to deal with that. But even still, I stood on what I said. You know what I'm saying? I'm like, yo, I ain't about to, you know, just jump on Twitter like, yo, boom, like, nah, I said what I said. And I know what my intention was about it.

But if you feel some type of way, you feel some type of way. You know what I'm saying? I can't do nothing about that. That sucks, though, because perception can be louder than, like, like your intention absolutely you know I'm saying and again being a public figure this is one of the things that you come to realize and why you got to be super intentional you know I mean you got to think about it all and I think that's the only misstep that I made was not really taking a time and sitting with myself and really

thinking the type of effect that that was gonna have like because like I said for me it was playful like I was in the studio the night before and then we recorded the video soon as we came out the studio and we put it up the next day it was no thought You know what I'm saying? It was just like, yo, we're in it. I feel good. Let's do some off-the-wall shit. Let's just put it out.

Yeah, it's music. What's the word? It was like in the moment. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. I'll tell you one that you know what that moment made me realize it's not a lot of new spitters from New York. Because the spiters from New York who actually can spit that a new,

some of them jumped out there and, you know, got busy with you. A couple. Like who was the one? It was one in particular. It was just one, yeah It was the only one Meanwhile, they were like And in my homies for a year

Yeah, when you got brought But then it was like six dudes from the West Coast Reason It was like 50 Raybon It was a lot of people It was a you know what Like in addition to all of the names

That like are like you know More known There was also like 10 more 20 more people Who we don't know Like every day like I would go online And I'd be like Joey bad ass this

I'm like another one But I'm like, man, I like that though I'm in the conversation Niggas is paying attention Like so I mean Not for nothing I like that But do you feel like the New York rappers

Were too complacent though Don't you feel like more than should have role with you Maybe they just didn't have the lyrical ability to be I mean I don't yeah I don't think that Like I don't feel away about nobody jumping in Because it's like yo I'm handle my business You know what I'm saying It's like if I'm on the street

And I get into a fight Or somebody is jumping me I don't see none of my friends around. I'm not just gonna think that a random person on this, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, especially if what's perceived as I provoke the fight, I'm gonna handle my stuff, you know what I'm saying? I don't feel no way that nobody, like, jumping,

like, I'm gonna handle my stuff. I saw Benny tweet out, like, I think Joey is handling him very well. You could have wrote a verse, Benny. You could have wrote a ball or something. But you know what, too? What I would say to that point, I'm glad nobody else jumped in because even though I was going back and forth,

I have enough ties and allies over there where that shit was never going to go left field. It was never going to go out of pocket. And I feel like if anybody else would have jumped in, it could have got convoluted like that. Now we're talking about street shit and all of that. You know what I'm saying? So I was able to control it in a type of way where it's like that's not what this is about. You know what I mean? And I feel like any other type of interference, it could have.

of took it, blew it out of proportion. I'm glad that in a lot of New York Knicks rapping. When Gina Views told niggas to rap, that wasn't just for the West Coast. Oh, you know what I'm saying? I wanted to hear everybody getting busy. Well, you know, shit. You know, it's lonely at the time.

It's interesting time. Who knows what it unfold? Is it done, though? Like, do you think it's actually done? Because I felt like... Absolutely, yeah. Are you sure? Because it started in January,

then we had, like, a gap. Then it picked back up. So I feel like now you're about to drop this album listen shout to the homie daylight shout to the homie rayvon like you know not the homie but somebody who i have since spoken to we had a conversation we spoke about it like yeah of course it's like yo you did just stuff like mutual respect that type of thing so it was like yeah like it's done it was never no real issue in the first place i said something some people felt the way they said they stuff back to me but nobody wanted to hurt me you know what i'm saying it was never

about no bodily harm or nothing like that so this is something that we good like I bet boom you know we had our little friendly fade and like we're gonna we gonna keep it pushing you know is TD East the real thing I think it can be yeah so you know me me and top has some conversations for sure yeah yeah I think I think it can be a real thing you know if we want it to be interesting yeah now you performing um Jimmy Fallon right Jimmy Kimmel Jimmy Kimmo you performed the this on Jimmy Kimmel I'm like this is I love when people get what they white people confused. They do it does all the time.

They do it does all the time. It's okay, Nile. It's okay. I really don't want no problem. But I was just entertained to see you do that, like, on a show like that. Well, yeah, no, thank you, yeah. I was, you know, I like pushing the envelope

and, like, you know, doing things outside of my comfort zone. So, like, that was one of those moments for me. Also, like, the choral. The dancing. Oh, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I love, I love, um, I love that. aspect as well you know what I'm saying and like when it comes to like award shows and like I'm a performer you know what I'm saying I want to put on the show every time you know

I mean I'm never just gonna have like a certain type of moment and not do something like somewhat theatrical with it you know what I mean yeah it adds a lot of value because I feel like a lot of rappers are very on the mic yeah you know you know too cool or shit like that and I and I could be one of those rappers but that was definitely one of those moments where I'm like y'all want to challenge myself to do something different and new we we did that on in like a day you know what i do want to ask one last thing about the back and forth with the rap so why kendrick why did you want kendrick in particular i didn't want kendrick in particular i think that the narrative became that because when i said too much west coast dick and everybody is like oh he hating on kentrink

he talked about kentrick i'm like i'm not hating on kentrick like those i love those guys you know know what i'm saying i've had i've had a long-standing relationship with these guys from the beginning of time by the way me and abso announcing today we're about to go on tour yeah we're yeah me abso and the rap city is going on tour you know what i'm saying so it's like the dark overtore yep uh coming this fall so it's like you know to a lot of my confusion i feel like people were trying to build that narrative that like yo joe is hating on kandrick he's like hating on his success and he wants to battle i think for me it's just more about i'm always going to be a competitive rapper all of these guys know that because they're the same way too you know what i'm

saying but it's like it's in a spirit of like love and just like competitive energy it's like i don't i don't i don't hate is not in my blood you know what i'm saying like i don't hate on no man like you know what i mean so i think people became made that the narrative and all of the people who responded to me adopted that narrative like oh you hate it on die like when when rave on first responded like a lot of his shit was like oh the pop out did this for I'm like great I'm not mad at you know what I'm not mad at you know with y' y'nick I was fucking Crip walking and not like us all summer you know what I'm Are you allowed to do that?

Yeah I'm allowed to do that what you mean if I'm allowed to do it That one's crazy why not you're a Crip I don't know I Crip walk bro what the fucking yeah you know what you got to you got to be Crip to Crip walk I don't know I don't know okay you ain't got to be Crip walk okay you know what I'm saying fucking Crip walk man you like the I'm gonna hit my shit. Let's do my dance. Niggas, nobody gonna do nothing about it.

Right, right. The fuck. But yeah, you know what I'm saying? So I was Crip walking tonight like a, all summer, like I said, you know what I mean? Yeah, you're not getting no more juice at it. You're done, there ain't no more juice. I want to ask, you said you were that Metro Boomin.

Metro Boomer, I love Metro Boomer Project, by the way. You know what I mean? Because I like how he pays homage to that era. Have you ever thought about doing something like that? with like a Pete Rock or Premier because your flow is so 1990 now I would love to hear you with that level of of production. Have you ever thought about that?

I know you got Static Select on the new joint. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've thought about that. Shout to Metro too because I loved how nostalgicly ATL that project sounded. Like I really did appreciate that. But yeah, yeah, yeah, I have those thoughts and I think that I have those pockets even on this project too. You know what I'm saying?

But making something fully in that vein I could see that I could see that maybe we should have a conversation about that you let me know who you think I can pull that off that's easy have it Pete Rock Ninth Wonder premiere but it's like you saying man names is like I need you see what you want to do a one in general right okay you don't think so

one in general would be good especially right now in the climate like Alchemist has done that a lot I would love to do a project with Alchemist me and Static we already got like a project of material like just in the vault you know I mean so that's That's easy. That's a no brainer. But I would also really love to do a project with Alchemist, Michelle.

Who would you lock in with, like, a classic New York producer? You had to pick one. Oh, shit. Me and Havoc, we've been talking about working, too. Pete Rock is my man. You know what I'm saying? Since the beginning, me and P. Rock first worked together on, like, 2012. We still got some shit on the hard drive.

Then, that's key. It sounds like we have a tape already, then I'm just saying. Oh, yeah, yeah. No, we could definitely make it happen. We could definitely make it happen. That's something that I could do. do. I think the only reason I haven't done it because I felt like it was so low-hanging fruit, that's probably why I haven't done it. And it's like, I can't get songs like underwater

if I do that type of shit. Why not? I feel like just because it's easy, don't mean you should do it. It's just easy to you, but it ain't easy for other people to do. That's why you should do it. No, you're right. You're right. And it's like, yeah, I'm leaving that like, you know, I'm leaving here with something. Do you feel like substance is undervalued in today's music industry? I do. I do think that substance is undervalued. And yeah, you know, I think that we live in a very godless world, godless society is very vain. So it was like, I think the music is a reflection of that. And I think, you know, I think Nina Simone says something like that. Like the music is always going to kind of be a reflection or speak to the times. And that just happened to be

It's times that we're in. So I think we do need to appreciate and lift up the artists who are, you know, going out their way to make intentional and substantial music and messages. Because it's important. It's just like it just happens to be that, like, you know, people like sweets. And what I mean by that is like, you know, metaphorically speaking, like candy. And like, you know, people like to get the buzz quick and shit like that. And sometimes, you know, the more medicated stuff, if you will.

It's not as, you know, bright and colorful. Shiny object. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. I feel like when you sacrifice the substance, you sacrifice in your mental and emotional well-being. So what would you say to younger artists who feel like they need to sacrifice their substance, their mental health, just to have success?

What would I say the young artists who has to come again? Sacrifice. Sacrifice the substance for success or sacrifice? Well, I feel like for the young artists who are not being substantial, I don't think they're necessarily sacrificing anything. I think that's just who they are. You know what I'm saying? And I think that they are a reflection of what their life cycle or their lifestyle looks like. You know what I mean?

So to the young people out there in general, you know what I'm saying? I would say to like, you know, really take your life seriously. And like, you know, look at the people who's around you and really think about. what kind of information are you gaining you know what I mean because if you the smartest version in the room like you know you obviously in the wrong room they say that all the time but also I believe in learning I believe you see we live in a a society too where the information is there but nobody has a thirst or hunger passion for knowledge you know I'm saying like like yo right now I'm

the point in my life where I'm telling everybody around me because now I've become so into it like I'm telling everybody around me like I got to get into these stocks but get into the stocks getting into these crypto you know what I'm saying because like I'm looking at it from perspective like I'm already rich and successful you know what I mean so for me it's easy to like throw 50k into the market and flip that and see what it do for me but you said 80 like a Kobe game on the you know what I'm saying so it's easy for me to do that and see the return but it's really a matter of the percentages right where it's like okay you know you could throw I'm throwing an 80k but you could throw in 800 and get a 60% return

and like you know put that up and reinvest that rinse and repeat because I'm like yo if I wasn't doing what I was doing I think I'd be a date trader right and it's just like it's so and this is what I mean like there was a there was an interview clip with me and gillie that had went viral and it's just like I sat in there like it's so much money out here for all of us and I really do believe that but what's keeping people from that money is being too lazy to obtain the knowledge and it's like yo why are we like they didn't teach us this in school but the knowledge is still out there like I've taught myself this year over the last six months by just being on YouTube video you know how the options trade how to you know what I'm saying boom boom like doing my

research on these companies boom boom and now because I've had had a portfolio like you know with Morgan Stanley for like 10 plus years and it's just like I've always just put money in there and they give me my 12% standard return on the yearly but now I'm doing my own plays and now my shit's going crazy because I'm paying attention so what I'm seeing now is like damn like this was this was just a matter of me not knowing you know what I'm saying like that's the only thing that was keeping me from this bag right here was just that I didn't know so I'm like screaming off the mountain top right now at this point in my life to all my people like yo get into these stocks you know i'm saying before they find a way to

fucking lock us out because it's so much money in it and it's so accessible nowadays like yo get robin hood you don't got robin hood any phone get robin hood you know what i'm saying go down the deep dive go on bar chart go on bloomberg new cnbc what's going on taping the wall street travel world street travel on your leisure chrisane stock brother uh you know i mean these are pages that i follow you know what i'm saying people brothers who have educated me shout out to m'sha shout out to troy shout out to 19 keys you know what i'm saying but like it's a serious like my young people out there like this shit is serious and it's like the sooner you get in the more like thankful you're gonna be you know what i'm saying like

yo i remember when bitcoin was at 8 000 and i was like that's a lot for a stock but i should have bought five of those right now was that 115 000 today and it's going to 200 and after to go to 200 it's going to a million so even right now you should get in you know what i'm saying like you should get in yeah like you got CEOs right now who's saying that they put in in 10 000 every day if they could if they could sell their company they sell all their shares and put it in bitcoin i can't tell y'all who said that but it's a real notable billionaire you know what i'm saying so it's like yo we got to get into it man like when they want to hide shit from us it's like they just kind of make it intricate to obtain

you know what i'm saying we got to get it we got to find it's out there he's giving you this game because he don't want to be lonely no more. Yeah, I don't, I don't, I don't want to be lonely. I don't, you know what I'm saying? And by the way, you know, I want to talk about that a little bit too. So Lonely at the Top is also an homage to one of my favorite gangstar songs, which is Moment of True. And like, you know, I kind of do a vocal interpulation of it

on my self-titled track, Lonely at the Top, on the album. And it's just like, those is, that's always been one of the songs to me that has resonated deep in my hip hop heart like recipes the guru and uh you know just what that means to me is like when you get to the pinnacle of your success in your life you will find that it is lonely you will find that a lot of the people that you try to bring with you on that journey are like no longer kind of standing around you like sometimes like i feel like you know connecting it to survivor's guilt or connecting it to like you know the deep self-reflection that you have or even the isolation that might be necessary for you to get to a certain type of point

because certain people or energy will hold you back. You know what I'm saying? From you being at the top of your game, you being your best self, you know what I'm saying? So that's what the title means for me because I just wanted to address that because I have seen people be like, at the top of what? We're like, what are you at the top of them? You know what I'm saying? You haven't achieved success.

People are crazy. It's like, bro, like you should see my. house you know what I mean you would know what I'm on top of you know I mean like you can't live in my neighborhood you know what I mean so but yeah I just so my last question why dark Oregon because everything I'm hearing you speak speaks to light it speaks to bright oh yeah I'm leaning into the shadow it's a balance okay you know it's a balance and I'm actually glad you brought that up because this project I feel like is a balanced project like it all exists all at once it's like

yeah I'm gonna talk with light but then you gonna see the Joey in the sneaker store throwing them up because it's like you know sometimes it cold you got to defend yourself well you got to um you got to stand up for yourself if you will and sometimes that's going to take you to a dark place it's all necessary it's all part of the journey you know what I'm saying you can't just be like how would you even know what light is if you ain't know what dark was you know what I'm saying so yeah Joey badass lonely at the top drops August 29th good to see you brother man like growing man keep evolving King like wise absolutely thank you all for having me today

It's the breakfast club. Hold up. Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. If you're on finish or y'all's done. Ah, come on. Why is this taking so long? This thing is ancient.

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Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create, and boost productivity all on one device. Hey guys, it's AZFUD. You may know me as a gold medalist. You may know me as an NCAA national champion. You may even know me as the People's Princess. Every week on my new podcast,

Fud around and find out. out. I'll be talking to some special guests about pop culture, basketball, and what it's like to be a professional athlete on and off the court. Listen to Fun Around and Find Out, a production of IHeart women's sports and partnership with unanimous media on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Hunter, host of hunting for answers on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite-sized stories of missing and murdered black women and girls in America. Stories like Eric a hunt. A young mother vanished without a trace after a family gathering on 4th of July weekend

2016. No goodbyes, no clues, just gone. Listen to hunting for answers every weekday on the Black Effect Podcast Network, Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Everyone thinks they'd never join a cult, but it happens all the time to people just like you. like us. I'm Lola Blanc and I'm Megan Elizabeth. We're the host of Trust Me, a podcast about cults, manipulation, and the psychology of belief. Each week we talk to fellow survivors, former believers, and experts to understand why people get pulled in and how they get out. Trust me, new episodes every Wednesday on exactly right. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I-Heart podcast.