The Breakfast Club - Mario Interview

Episode Date: February 27, 2015

Mario stops through to discuss leaving J Records his longtime label, starting a new media company, how his relationship with his mother is progressing and much more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. It's Teresa, your resident ghost host. And do I have a treat for you. Haunting is crawling out from the shadows, and it's going to be devilishly good. We've got chills, thrills, and stories that'll make you wish the lights stayed on. So join me, won't you?

Let's dive into the eerie unknown together. Sleep tight, if you can. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Jenny Garth, Jana Kramer, Amy Robach, and TJ Holmes bring you I Do Part Two, a one-of-a-kind experiment in podcasting to help you find love again. Hey, I'm Jana Kramer. I'm Jenny Garth. Hi, everyone. I'm Amy Robach. And I'm TJ Holmes. And we are, well, not necessarily relationship experts. If you're ready to dive back into the dating pool and find lasting love, we want to help. Listen to I Do Part 2 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Real people. Real celebrities. Real talk. Join the Breakfast Club. Black stuff in your ear. Weekday morning, 6 to 10. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Angela Yee, Charlamagne Tha God. We are the Breakfast Club. Now we got a special guest that looks like he just came from the Empire's all-white party.

Yep. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Let's go with it. Mario! What's going on, baby? What's up, son? What up, Envy? Long time no see. You know what I'm saying? Good to see you.

You doing your independent thing now? Yeah, man. New single out? You said it got leaked. It did get leaked like a week before. But we just put the new version out. You know how to get it right for radio. That's what I was drinking on my birthday.

What, Fireball? Yeah. Yeah. I had a bunch of those at midnight as soon as it turned my birthday. Is it named after the liquor? Nah, nah. Actually, it's what I was drinking in the studio when I was doing it.

So the producer, Parker, walked in with the red cups. It was like four or five of us in the studio chilling at the crib. And I tasted it. And during the hook, I was singing, We're spending all our Benjamins tonight. And then I tasted it.

I put it in the drink. I'm like, it's joint banging. That's what made you leave J Records. That was your long standing label home from day one I mean

you know that's fam always fam you know I was blessed to have an opportunity to make it out of Baltimore and be with a label

like that and get signed by somebody who was a legend in the game you know what I'm saying but yeah it was just

it was time for us to you know to part ways just? Clown Davis. Yeah, it was just, it was time for us to, you know, to part ways just in terms of me growing up and wanting to want more for myself as an artist, you know? And I was blessed to negotiate out of the deal. And instead of jumping right back into another deal, I did some research, and a few of me and my other friends in the industry started this new company,

Car Rivers Media Group, new digital distribution. But outside of distribution distribution we also manage artists as well as publish um writers and producers manage writers and producers as well a lot of writers and producers do need some management yeah i mean everybody does everybody needs you know the right team team is everything did you feel like the label labels just can't do what they used to do for artists because you was you i mean you you was at the beginning when labels were good. Yeah. Budgets were good.

I mean, yeah, absolutely. I mean, I remember spending, you know, $500,000, $600,000 on a video. You know what I'm saying? And budgets was crazy. You know, you know, Envy. Now it's what, $10,000 on a video? I mean, you know, technology and, you know, a lot of things. But I think it's about you and the label being on the same page

as far as your brand as an artist and having an incredible team and just you feeling like, you know, the support is there. You know, for me, it was more about me having a vision for myself that was bigger than just the, you know, niche audience that at the time, you know, my label was, you know, pushing me to, you know, and also the the time you know my label was you know uh pushing me to you know and also the music that i wanted to do like it seems like you've just been mute well let me let me ask you that you did a whole album with rico love yeah we did a project together now um so what's what's going on with that well it's it's technically owned by you know another label

okay so it's never we're never gonna nah hear that it's never going to come out? Nah, nah. Hey, never? I got new music, you know, the whole project, the new project, I got a whole new slew of music, you know what I'm saying? But Rico, the homie, you know. So the music's not timeless? I mean, it's good music.

It's good records. So it's a red tape behind the scenes? It's just my direction and the type of music that i want to make is just it's more uh you know it's more universal and it's just it's just me like every record that you every record that you you're going to hear from my project is i'm writing on every record is you know what i'm saying it's all me so it's like you just like even with fireball the way we did fireball i I was at the crib You know it was nope like you know usually Yeah, usually when you like um

On a lake like you go to these big studios you spending $2,500 a day in the studio It's like you know It's really unnecessary to a point because it's not like we making records with like strings and like I am now but like we like strings and like um You know yeah yeah like you know we're just using pro tools got an engineer and it's a mic big speakers so a lot of times it's for entourages or but you wasting money and I just felt like being more of a businessman now it's like that's not it's not really the direction I wanted to go in now you can say a new direction

or what's the new direction is it is it more worldly like what direction does mario want to go in now and what direction did they have you in like for instance um like i said before like it's just more uh me writing on most of my records like at the time i don't think that the team i was with believed in me as a writer now it's like you know i'm writing more of my records but i'm writing records that I could have written then. But the belief wasn't there, the trust and the, you know, the vision for me as a writer. I don't get that because, I mean, even like when Kanye came up here, he was talking about his sneakers.

But that's your career. I can't see, on your career, how can somebody tell you, no, you can't write? Probably because you started so young, and it's hard for them to not look at you as little Mario. Yeah, and that's a big part of it. I started with them when I was 15 years old. And sometimes it's hard for a parent to look at their child or something that they created or helped to create

and trust it off top. It's just business. But you did record the whole entire album, and then at the end of it you just said, this just isn't me. And I guess you decided that you wanted to be the one that was really writing and doing more of that or well it wasn't a whole album it was like seven songs okay and um nah it it just wasn't the direction that i wanted to go in you know it was great music like rico's an amazing writer but it

wasn't it wasn't a direction okay Okay. You know, the songs. They're still dope songs. Somebody could cut them today and, you know. It sounds like you've been paying attention to all these years. What do you mean? Like just soaking up the game, just soaking up the business side of it. Yo, you know what's crazy? Like I travel a lot. You know, I go do a lot of stuff overseas.

And when you are outside of, because the industry's small. To us, you know, to people in it, when you're doing it, like you feel like it's everything, you know, but the industry's kind of small. And then you don't realize that until you step outside of it

and you see, you know, real money. You know, you go overseas and you sit in it. Like a lot of my friends have their own businesses. They don't even know what's going on in the music world billionaires 100 million like real money people and you realize like you know i as an artist you you were you are fooled into believing that you are the ish like just it you know i'm saying all the time and it's like you got to realize like real business is not just being an artist it's not just being you know the person'm saying? All the time. And it's like, you got to realize like real business is not just being an artist. It's not just being,

you know, the person that people spend a label, real businesses is ownership, you know, real doing real business and having your own company. Like it's, it's about building something that, uh,

will create some passive income for you. So for me, instead of jumping back into another deal, it's like, yo, how can I create a situation where I can really use all of my gifts and

when I don't want to do music no more, I'm still eating or I'm becoming more of a part of the business side of it than just, you know, the dude who can, you know, get as many women as he want or who can go buy a Rolex and a Bentley and a house. Like, nah, like I want more. I want more for myself. Nothing wrong with the pussy, though.

Yeah, nah, it's not. Not at all. You did practice accidents, though, for a period of time. Really? Did you? Yeah, I did. I did, yeah. Oh, you just told a girl that because you didn't want to smash her at the moment

when you found out about the chick? Nah, I did, though. How old was she when you did that? This was like four years ago. It was a mental thing, spiritual thing? Yep, you're right on point. Mental thing and spiritual thing, and the girl I was seeing at the time was doing that as well. What were the benefits?

Like you said, mental, spiritual. You learn as a man that your sexual power is power. You can use it. You know what I'm saying? Your sexual energy, you can use that. Is it okay to masturbate during that time? It's like why they tell sports players, don't have sex before you get... It's real. You know what I mean?

Because I've done it. I'll be somewhere and then something before a show, and it's like you don't feel the same. Is it okay for you to masturbate or do things like that if that's what you into during that year okay of abstinence and what about are you asking me if i masturbated yeah you did you are i have before yeah all right no i meant during that one year yeah absolutely i did like i'm masturbating right now we're very close We're still friends yeah Did you ever get a chance to hit

Um I mean you know I don't put it out there like that After a year making you wait You hope so Right Alright What about oral sex

Were you allowed to do that During that year Maybe You said ask straight questions Maybe I'm just saying maybe No I'm just wondering like When people say they practice abstinence

Does it mean no sexual contact period Or does doesn't mean like okay we can kiss but nothing like naked or anything he hasn't had sex in a long time she's asking really i mean if it makes you feel more comfortable i've tried to suck my own penis hey yo that's that's that's that guy really crazy i'm gonna stick with this question over here i'm gonna stick with this cause i'm sorry what'd you do with your legs You put your legs up I tried it didn't work What you was saying This is uncomfortable

This is a weird story I know And then when he finished He actually did it on his face No I didn't And you too Yo Envy what's up man What's going on man Yo

Look man I can't Look Nah Nah man We ain't Nah Oh yeah Let's talk about financially now

Would you go independent that's more money you gotta pay on album costs and all that and you're cool with investing in yourself

absolutely I've been like I've been kinda investing in myself even when I was at the label there was certain costs that I had to

you know but it's business you invest in yourself and you know I've never been like a super you know spend on everything

like I I've i seen so much bro since i started like in the game from other like and i learned so much and then like i grew up in bottom when my like you know if you look at my lineage like in baltimore like a lot of my family members were like like real street dudes and like really making money in the street so i've kind of seen how money works from a young like not on the you know business level but just in terms of just how how to invest how to save your money how to still be fly but not just yeah like and then you looking up you know all you got to show for it is is material like you know so for me it's like when I start when

we started like a lot of them some of the money that I've saved up, I put towards, you know, what we're doing. How's your mom doing? She's good, man. She's good. How's your relationship strong? It's, you know, it's better. You know, I can't say strong because I think that takes time.

But it's a lot better. Is she clean? Your mom is clean and everything? She's telling me she is. We see each other every few months. Like she'll come back and forth from, you know, Maryland to LA or I'll go to see her. Like,

so it's like, you know, we were not as close as we were in terms of like, you know, seeing each other every day because I needed time to really focus on myself. And if I wanted to do that, you know, I needed to,

you know, and let her grow and make her own decisions instead of being like on a like father. And if I wanted to do that, I needed to let her grow and make her own decisions instead of being on a father figure. Like, you need to do this. Sometimes people got to grow up. Is there a point where you felt like you went so hard trying to get her cleaned up that you may have lost a piece of yourself? Absolutely.

Absolutely. That was one of the hardest times in my life because I didn't understand it from like a mother-child point of view. Just like, you know, where is, when do I get a chance to get that, you know? And I think that had a lot to do with how I was. You was like a parent. Yeah. And I think it had a lot to do with how I was with women too and me looking for like the nurturing side of a woman from different situations

and and you know just making crazy decisions as far as that goes too but i had to learn from all that took some time off to really get myself right spiritually grounding myself you know and you know now i understand i'm able to look back at those situations and look back at my situation with my mom, understand and get to the root of my issues and, like, how that affected me, and, you know, make the best decisions moving forward. I even talk about it in some of the new music. What's up? Did you ever lose a girl because a girl might have been like,

look, Mario, I like you, but I don't want to be your mom? Nah, it was, I never, I had one girl tell me that, but not, I didn't lose it because of that, but I have had one girl tell me that but not i didn't lose it because of that but i've had a girl tell me like yo like you you know i think that you you missed that side and like it's not so much just the nurturing side either it's more of the like you know the non-trust and like you know not wanting to commit all the way you You know what I'm saying? Because when I did trust and commit to, you know, loving and trusting my mom, certain things happened that I never thought would happen or never thought like a mom would do. You know what I'm saying?

So it's like when it comes to, I think in the back of my mind, I was like, you know, I just would never give my all. You know what I'm saying? But I'll tell you one thing. When I do get it right, when I do get it right, that girl gonna be the happiest girl in the world. So you said you talk about this in the new music as well. So how hard was that for you to actually write those songs?

It wasn't hard. And you know, it's crazy because subconsciously, I think I didn't realize it until after I listened to the song. Like, yo, I'm writing it like, because I got this song called Monster. And in the song, I'm talking to the girl and telling her how I'm trying to protect her from a certain type of dude. But I'm really talking about myself. And I didn't realize that until after I listened to the song.

Like, yo, like, subconsciously, I'm talking about myself. You know, and, you know, it's just. You cause a lot of girls heartbreak? Because, you know, they always say hurt people hurt people. I mean, I think I've had my fair share. For sure. Just indirectly,

you know, not directly. I've never really been, like, if I'm with you, I'm with you. Like, you know what I'm saying?

Yeah. So is music your vice? Like, does that help you get things off your chest? Absolutely. Do you do therapy? Like,

what? Absolutely. I've never done therapy before. This is my therapy. I think also having an organization working with kids and talking to kids has been my therapy too. You know, when I'm talking to kids that's from Baltimore and they telling me, you know, I had this young kid in one of my groups.

He was like 12 years old and he took care of both his younger siblings. You know, he would come to school late, 10 a.m., not 11 a.m. because he had to make sure they were straight. And he was strong. i'm like yo like i and i went through that too when i was like around his age i remember my little brother you know at one time i would come home and he would be like on the floor crying you know because nobody was home no taking care of him and i make sure he was straight like you know crazy stuff like that so kids have been my therapy when it comes to that. But now it's like I get it.

And growing up and maturing, you start to understand. And when you can look at the things you've been through and not like dwell in that moment, not holding those things, making yourself feel guilty, you have to let all of that go so that you can move forward. And that's with anything, you know? Are you looking forward to having kids also? Definitely, yeah.

But you waiting on a take to Connelly. You know what I'm saying? See, this is the thing, Shelly, man. Once you do that, that's like a, you can't, ain't no coming back. No coming back. You know what i'm saying so it's like for me it's it's it's um it's about finding somebody who who who you know who knows themselves who who's secure you know and then me being ready to like you know and um trusting that person and just being the right

on the right page with that person like i've never met anybody where I'm like, yo, I see myself having a child with this woman. You inspire me to want to have a child. Are you scared to have kids based off what you've been through as a child? No, I'm excited to have kids because I feel like I know I'm going to be a good father. You've also been working on a book, right? Yeah. It's crazy because as I continue i continue where i just it's there's so many different directions from the health health aspects from the spiritual aspect

from the you know the mental the music aspect so i'm just like working out you know what i want to do but i wanted to get this river medias group thing up and moving and you know take this year to really brand myself you know as an artist because i feel like i i um i did with the label but now it's like another level it's like you know i got you know designers i'm working with a new designer in alea core uh right now she's designing all my clothes for me for my promo tour everything she's super dope and just like everything just making sure my fans know who i am outside of just music and i think that that's like really important you haven't been that active on social media lately though. Did you consciously say you're going to step back and not?

I just, now I was like, I'm being more active now because I feel like I got my team right. I feel like I got my situation right. So now it's like, I'm ready to go full fledged. So I feel like from what I, what I do from now on is what counts the most.

Who are your friends in the industry? Who do you speak to in the industry? If there's anybody. Yeah. Cause like Neil used to write for you. I mean, what you mean speak to? Friends, somebody that you would consider a friend, that you could come to for advice or that you call your

homie or that you... Or you'd be like, hey, I'm going to Southeast. Come, let's go. Come, they all fake, Mario. Yo, I don't... When you up, they with you. When you down, you don't got nobody calling you. Your phone stops ringing. I'm just saying like i everybody ain't fake you know i'm saying but at the same time um i'm super like

i like organic things you know and it's like you know i just i know people i can call up anybody you know but it's like you don't consider them friends yeah like you know you're not gonna invite them to your baby shower when you have that baby

if they like yeah it's like you know friends is like it's a there's people that you support that's a crazy question

their music but you might not necessarily consider them somebody that you're gonna confide in yeah yeah and that's pretty much what it is it's like you know in passing and there's a lot of people They're music, but you might not necessarily consider them somebody that you're going to confide in. Yeah. Yeah.

And that's pretty much what it is. It's like, you know, in passing, and there's a lot of people I respect music-wise, but I don't have too many, like, friend friends. 50 Cent said it the best, man. These industry dudes ain't friends. They know how to pretend. I mean, you got the number one records, and everybody calling, oh, what's up, Mario? But when things get a little cool, it's like, eh, nobody's calling. Well, I saw you tweeting that you like Seven Streeter's song, Don't Kill the Fun. Oh, she's dope, Mario? But when things get a little cool, it's like, nobody's calling. I saw you tweeting that you like Seven Streeter's song, Don't Kill the Fun. She's dope, man.

I love Seven. Like, Seven, yeah, she cool. She good peeps. Yeah. She good peeps. All right, I get it. She good peeps, yeah. Well, we appreciate you joining us, bro.

You probably wrote with her before, I'm sure, at some point. We never really wrote together yet. But, you know, and again, it's's like you know she's a freak on the low too shut up she's seeing somebody sir i know but she is kind of a freak come on ye i mean through the music like you know and conversation too yeah seven cool but um yeah we definitely gonna work together so hopefully are there other people that you wanna put it out there right now

that you say these are the people I wanna work with now that you I mean put it in the atmosphere like I just wanna work

with people who you know all types of like I wanna work with Kanye you know I feel like Kanye is one of those artists

like if you know if there was any crew or anybody that in terms of like musically and culturally, that I would be, wouldn't mind attaching myself to back then when I was, like, you know, whatever. It would be, like, you know, good music.

Because I feel like, just in terms of every artist is strong on their own, like, you know what I'm saying? Talent-wise. You know, you know what I'm saying? And I just feel like it represent music and like pushing the pushing the limits and um that type of thing so yay uh you hear that yay yo ed sharon like i like his music i feel like just in terms of a vocalist you know um and being young and fresh i think he's dope uh who else um katie perry uh love katie perry yeah she's the best breath in the game Who else Katy Perry Love Katy Perry Yeah she's dope

One of the best Breaths in the game Who else Bey Beyoncé Some of the new Younger cats You know

Ray Sherman These are like all Charlamagne's favorites You know You know good music You know good music Charlamagne Ray Sherman You with your My whole iPod playlist And there's so many favorites you know young new producers you know shout out to my homie Parker

man who did like four joints is yeah we you know we talking right now so you know you wanna see what's up and he you know super talented dude who else there's so many. But that's just to name a few. That's when it get in the air. So when we get in the full project? Well, we're going to be releasing the app soon for Rivers Media Group and you'll be able to download music.

And some phones will automatically have the app downloaded, so we're working that out right now. And I'm going to release singles for this project, bro. Not a whole album. I'm going to wait until after this project to do that. And yeah, I'm going to be in for this project, bro. Not a whole album. I'm going to wait until after this project to do that. And, yeah, you know, I'm going to be in the city near you real soon. Oh, yes. Fireball tour.

And we're doing a video in like a week or so. Getting that going. Getting that popping. Oh, this Friday, man. Make sure y'all come through the Mixed Lounge. You know what I'm saying? Hyde Park, Long Island. We're going to be in the building.

Y'all should come too. Hatch Park. What's it called? Hatch Park? Is it called? Hyde Park. Hyde Park? What'd I say? Yeah. So, Hyde Park, Long Island. We're going to be in the building. Y'all should come too. Hatch Park. What's it called? Hatch Park. Is it called? High Park. High Park.

That's what I said. Yeah. So High Park, Long Island. We're going to be in the building. Come through, man. That's what it is. New York. You know what I'm saying? All right.

Well, ladies and gentlemen. Oh, yes. Mario on Instagram, Twitter. It's Mario. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. 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 Zaka-stan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-a-stan. On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 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. Hello, my undeadly darlings. It's Teresa, your resident ghost host. And do I have a treat for you. Haunting is crawling out from the shadows, and it's going to be devilishly good. We've got chills, thrills, and stories that'll make you wish the lights stayed on. So join me, won't you?

Let's dive into the eerie unknown together. Sleep tight, if you can. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show, Civic Cipher. That's right. We discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence,

and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle. We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other. So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.