The Brilliant Idiots - Mentality Of Mamba (Feat. Russ)

Episode Date: January 30, 2020

This week Charlamange The God and Andrew Schulz discuss the loss of Kobe Bryant, social media’s short attention span, Russ drops by to talk about his come up, his new album, plans for the future, and more!!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To the guy who said, I'll marinate the chicken, then forgot. Hi, you're a Safeway PA announcer here. We've got pre-marinated meat. So all that's left is pretending you made it yourself. It's so stupid. It's positively brilliant. Yep, Shalda-Many, guys. Andrew Shull.

We are the brilliant idiots. And we got some church announcements? Yes. Andrew? Yes, we do have church announcements. Talk to me. The announcements are a very important part of what we do in church. Fourth show for the special.

April 12th, Easter Sunday, LA. Still some tickets left. Going very fast. If you left on the balcony, go get them. The Andrew Sholes.com. Tempe this weekend, sold out. Thank you. After I'm in Hawaii, two shows, Blue Note, Honolulu.

Some tickets left. Go get them, Hawaii. There's a radio personality out there that is a huge fan of yours. In Hawaii? Yeah, huge fan of yours. Well, you should be. All right. Thank you.

What's the name? Her name. Her name. Her name. What's her name? I don't know. I forgot. Oh, salute to you. Damn.

I was that new name. I can shout her out. She asked me to say hello and shout you out. If I Google Hawaii radio personality, you think you might come up? Yeah. I think it's Moana. Let me see. Let me see.

Hawaii. You know the name of the station? I don't know. Hawaii. How'd you meet her? How do you know? She DM me. Look at the DM, Andrew.

I get a lot of DMs. Okay? Did your girlfriend know about this? Sam, man. I wish I knew her name. She's quite infuriated by it. Okay? Sometimes she's like, why are you looking at the DMs that don't even show up?

Well, listen, Hawaiian radio. You know the secret DMs, the ones that, like, Instagram's trying to keep away from you? Yeah. I'd be a nose. Listen, the Hawaiian radio personality, whoever you are, I appreciate you. And hit Andrew or hit me so I can shout you out on the next podcast. Yo, we're going to get that. Theandrewshelts.com.

More cities. We're coming back. I mean, just a bunch. I know we're in Jersey, Pittsburgh, Orlando, Miami, Virginia, Charlotte, more shows at and Theadryshows.com. Get those tickets. And again, get them early because what always happens is we come to the market and then you guys are buying these tickets.

It's insane, the resale. Yes. People are buying $700 resale tickets in Atlanta. So your friend owes me $1,400, okay? We put them down. We gave. So just get them early. Just this.

I'm telling you right now. I'm warning you right now. He's hot out here, son. Things are good. Has he hot out here? Things are good. Now, fuck all that things are good shit. You hot out here.

I'm the greatest. That's right. I'm the greatest of all time I just realized it. I'm the greatest of all time. Come on, man. Mamba mentality, God damn. Let's fucking go. Okay?

Holy shit. Now, listen. Am I playing around? I don't want, I don't, I, it's two things I remember. Six up looks sharp. That's right. It's two. It's two things I definitely want to address.

We're definitely going to talk about Kobe Jelly and Bryant. But I want to talk about any, yo, this shit seems so old now. And this is how I know nobody really gives a fuck about anything. Go. Like, nobody really gives a fuck about anything. Like, this shit comes and goes so quickly. What is it? Last week, it was hysteria over Joe Rogan saying he would vote for Bernie Sanders.

I was in, what was I? I was in Charleston, South Carolina, on Friday morning, I believe. And it was the number two trending topic. It was like 60,000 tweets. You know when something like that happens, when you wake up in the morning, you see somebody trends in you're like, what the fuck happened to Joe Rogan? I click on it.

And I'm like, people are upset because Bernie reposted Joe saying that he would vote for him. He would vote for Bernie. In the primary. My first thought, I was like, okay, I have to, first of all, I already knew it was some political bullshit. But break it down how it works, because people don't know how the political system works. It's political bullshit.

It is, it could be Elizabeth Warren's team. It could be Matt Pete's team. It could be Joe Biden's team. We don't know who's team. It's Biden or Warren. It's Warren or Biden. It could be either of these people, right? And they're all stirring up shit. They start digging up old shit that Joe Rogan and said, oh, Joe Rogan said something

transphobic. Oh, Joe Rogan said something racist. You know what they said that he said was transphobic. Can we get into that? Yes. Okay. He said there was a, Fallon Fox. Fallon Fox was a UFC or a MMAS.

fighter who was a man who transitioned into a woman and didn't tell anyone and is going into the ring breaking women's skulls because men are stronger than women. Sorry to break it to you ladies. I did hear she lost one fight though. Huh? I did hear she lost one fight. Who's that bitch? I don't know. I don't call women bitches. Well, I call that one. I don't know because that girl could fucking throw down. I could be just making that up. Huh? But I do know she was fucking women up. That I know. Fucking women up. Like literally fracturing their skulls. Yes. Okay? And he's like, I don't think that's fair. You know why? Duh. Because it's not

fair. I'm sure we've had that conversation here on Burying Niddy. It may not have made it, may have stayed on the cutting room floor. What did you? It made to the full episode. I'm not sure. I don't know anymore. I don't leave it up to me and you anymore. Bro. Okay. So I don't know if it did or not. But I remember us having that conversation

and I'm like, look, everybody can identify whatever you want to identify. Yes. But come on, guys. Yeah. Come on, man. Let's pump the brakes a little. bit. Let's pump the brakes. Men that are transitioning into women that have transitioned into women should not be doing physical fighting activities with naturally born women since gender.

We find it wrong for people that have the advantages men have to beat up women. I will say that and feel confident. I don't want women to get beat up by people born as men. And by the way, I'm not even going to call them men. I'm just going to say, I just don't think a trans woman should be fighting. a cisgender woman. Yes. Simple as that.

Simple as that. And when you see women getting, cisgender women getting their skulls cracked, yes. Then that tells you there's an unfair advantage somewhere. Yes. So that's what Joe Rogan was being called transphobic for. Now, I don't know if he was using the right verbiage and right language,

because I can't even keep up anymore. You know what I mean? I spoke to him. He was. The clip I saw, I saw him talking about that one specific human. Fallon Fox. Fallon Fox. And he said

he was upset about her. He was like, she is a man. And she's beating women up and yada, yada, yada. Yes. Okay. I think that's worth of discussion. I don't think that's enough

to label somebody transphobic. Now, the planet of the ape shit, Joe, you on your own with that one. All right? Right. Well, here's the thing with the ape thing. He calls himself an ape all the time. Yeah, but he's not black.

No, no. But what I'm saying is if you refer to people as that who are just, huge and strong? No, that's not what he was doing. And you know why? I'm going to tell you why I'll shoot Joe Rogan a bail on that, even though I'm not, I can't defend that.

He said in the moment in real time, no, that's wrong. That's racist. He said it. Oh, he corrected in real time. In real time. On that clip from years ago, he goes, look, they dropped me off in this black neighborhood. He said, I didn't know the black neighborhood.

I thought I was going to see Planet of the Apes. I ended up going to watch it with the Planet Apes or some shit like that. I forgot if that one did that course. But in real time, Real time, he corrected himself. He was like, yo, I'm not going to say that. That's racist. He's going for a joke.

He realizes it's not as funny as it needs to be for how fucked up is. That's it. That's it. Okay. Now, boom. Those are the two things I saw people going at him at and him using the N-word. And we're talking 10 years ago with that, right? Yeah, that's a long time ago.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, he's talking about Planet Apes. That shit had to be like a decade ago. You don't even doing a broken podcast for 10 years. But even with the, you know, his use of the N-word. Look, I've been said it. I don't think white people should use the N-word. But we have to acknowledge that there was a period

where there was a lot of white comics using the N-word. Whether it was Louis C.K., whether it was Neil Brennan, whether it was Joe Rogan. Like, it was a thing. Like, you can go, I don't know why it was a thing. And it wasn't like they were saying my N-word, my N-word. No, they were talking about the word.

Yes, it's jokes revolving around the word. I don't know why Joe Rogan was saying it because all I saw was the compilation where they were just like, nigger, nigger, nigger, nigger, n that shit sounded like Y-G song. So I don't know why he was saying. But I do know this. This is what I do know. I've listened to enough Joe Rogan to know that Joe Rogan don't sway either way.

I've seen Joe Rogan, you know, get upset because people call him alt-right. And he don't know where that shit is coming from, you know? He's a liberal guy. I don't even know if he's liberal. I do. I do because I speak to him and this is what he tells me. I know for a fact he's never voted conservative ever. Right.

But in 2016, he endorsed Gary Johnson, who was a fucking libertarian. So I don't know where Joe Rogan falls on the political spectrum. I can tell you where. He tells you where every single episode. When I hear him, I just hear a guy who's curious about life. He has everybody on. Everybody. He has everybody.

He has conservatives. He has liberals. Pro-Israel. Pro-Palestrian. CNN would never have that on, by the way. So he has every part of the spectrum on that show. It is the most intellectually, racially, politically, diverse show on the planet, hands down.

This has nothing to do with who he is. What this has to do is elites have politicians and they have PR engines. And by a PR engine, I mean CNN or one of these television shows. Now, we've said it for years about the conservatives with Fox News. They don't even masquerade like they're not. Fox News is like, yeah, we're the right-wing channel. CNN lies and acts like they're just... Moderate, middle ground.

No, you're not. You are the left-wing outlet of the political... are actually of the elites that use politicians to get their shit through. So, Bernie Sanders, say what you want about him, is uncorruptible. Bernie Sanders is going to do what the fuck he wants to do, and that's it. The people that are the elites that like to use the politicians as puppets, they don't like that. What do you mean you're not going to do what we tell you? We need somebody who is willing to do whatever it takes to win, which means whatever we tell you to do,

i.e. Elizabeth Warren, her whole career has been doing whatever it takes to win. I used to be Republican. Now I'm a Democrat. I used to be Native American. Now I'm a white girl. I used to be this. Right? That's what she does.

She used to be young. Now I'm old. Yeah. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? I guess that's how that works. One thing she didn't flip flop. Not a choice.

Let's be old now. So, and Biden, of course, same exact. Part of a long political system. He'll do whatever it takes when he'll do what they tell him to do. CNN realizes and those political elites and those elites realize that Joe Rogan has, the most influential platform on the planet. And some of these states... Those hypothetical swing voters

who probably voted for Obama in 08 in 2012, but then turned around and voted for Trump. Those are the people, like, even somebody like Joe, Joe endorsed Gary Johnson in 2016, but this year he's feeling Bernie. Those are hypothetical swing voters that can swing elections. Those two to three million people

and Nancy Pelosi wasn't trying to upset when she didn't want to impeach Trump initially, those are the people Joe Rogan is talking to. And there are plenty of states we could talk about right now. I'm sure that we're decided by a few thousand votes. Okay? Now, when you have a podcast like Rogans, it's getting hundreds of millions of downloads, right?

Hundreds of around the world. But here, and the podcast is centrist in nature because you have all these people from different walks around coming in. If you listen to Joe Rogan's podcast, you cannot say they lean one way. That's it. So now you have influence over those voters. If he says, I like Bernie, those people are going to potentially like Bernie and they can sway in an election.

Now, the elites in this country do not want any. one person that is not bought by a system to sway voters in a certain direction. They don't like independent thinkers thinking thinkers having power. They don't like you having power. They do not like you having power. Matter of fact, they're probably infuriated by it.

I'm sure. Yeah. So it's like when that happens, they go, we have to take away his power. Now, how can we take his way his power? We can shut down his platform, but we can discredit him. We can't make him radioactive

so that him supporting a candidate would make the candidate go, I actually shunned that's a, I'm going to tell you why that will never work. It'll never work because the people who like Joe Rogan, all that shit y'all was rehashing, they heard it already. They don't get. They listen to it.

And we know how bullshit CNN is. We know how bullshit Fox News. We know how bullshit all these news organizations are. We know that they're fake, right? Like, we know that they're here with a political objective to keep the status quo for the people that were on the mess. That's all they're used for. It was all political.

None of that shit had anything to do with Joe Rogan, ladies and gentlemen. That shit had everything to do with somebody, not liking Bernie Sanders. By the way, again. Again. They're about to set Bernie up again. The same way the DNC did him in 2016, they're going to try to do that shit to him again in 2020.

Because he's incorruptible. If he picks up steam and it looks like he's about to be the nominee. I'm telling you it's going to happen. They'll find a way to cheat him out. They'll use the super delegates like the Democrats do to literally strip our votes away. I am a registered Democrat. You are going to strip my fucking vote away with these stupid superdelegates.

And why would you cannibalize yourself? If you're a liberal, if you're a liberal, right, and you know how powerful Joe Rogan's platform is and you know Joe Rogan can probably, you know, not only sway those hypothetical swing voters, but sway maybe some conservatives too to say, you know what? Maybe I will look into this Bernie guy. If you know that, why would you get in the way of that? Why would you cannibalize that momentum for Bernie Sanders? Because those people don't care about party. They care about policy, right? All these like elites that are Democrat, they're not real Democrats.

They don't really care about trans rights or gay rights. for women's rights. They're just rich people that are on that side of the party and they use these different hot button topics to manipulate people in voting, right? You think the rich white people that run the Democratic Party give a fuck about poor black

people? They haven't done anything for poor black people for fucking the entire time the parties existed. So why would they start giving a fuck now? They just manipulate you to continue getting them elected so they can push the policies through that help them save money and resources. That's the whole fucking game.

Conservatives are, it's so weird that they're starting to promote like they give a fuck about black people. Because they, I think on some level they're starting, they're going, oh shit, black people are getting privy to the fact that Democrats actually don't really give a fuck about them. Yeah, because I mean, if you look like, you know, even with Donald Trump's messaging of, you know, African American unemployment is super low and, and, you know, we've created more jobs for black and brown people and the first step back, you know, when you see that. And even the fact that, you know, at one point, Donald Trump was. running ads on Breakfast Club videos. Yeah. Because you can't, on YouTube, you can't do anything about that.

Yeah. Like that's, it's free, what they call it? Free market. I don't know what the fuck they call it. Dude, Donald Trump was running an ad on my video, whereas a joke I talk about him grabbing pussy. There were Trump ads being run on the video.

Why do you? I can't believe it. What you said? Think about that, right? Yeah, yeah. And when I was with Mayor Pete in South Carolina last week and yeah, Mayor Pete said something to the effect of

Republicans and Donald Trump, will do anything that they have to do to stay in power. And it was in reference to me asking him about, you know, closed door campaign fundraisers and, you know, taking money from billionaires. And Pete doesn't have a problem with that. Because Pete was like, just because somebody gives me their money,

don't mean I'm going to be beholden to them. And if they're going to give me their money and think that I'm going to be beholden to them, then they shouldn't give me their money, right? I like that. I like that. Right. So he said that talking about Trump.

And he was saying basically how Trump then will do whatever it is to stay in power. and now what that said, Trump will put that video on your grab him by the pussy video. Why? Because he knows people is watching. He'll put the videos on Breakfast Club videos. Because he knows people. If his Democrats, it's usually on the presidential candidate interviews.

If he knows Democrats on the talking shit about him, because he knows people is watching. Bernie Sanders knows Joe Rogan has an audience. Why not the Russian let people know? Joe Rogan said he would vote for Bernie Sanders. Joe Rogan, this guy that endorsed a libertarian in 2016, He likes to hunt. He likes all the conservative shit.

But he said he would endorse Bernie Sanders. Why wouldn't you promote that? And why would you be mad at Bernie for promoting that? Who are these perfect people that y'all are out here seeking in America? Who are these people that say the right thing all the time, have never offended anyone, have never... Don't exist. No! That's not America.

Don't exist. But they use it as a tool to get you to obey them. They go, hey, you've got some fucked up shit in your past. We're going to talk about that. Unless you push this bill through, unless you take this policy, unless you, whatever. I used to say I'll talk about it first, but that means nothing. Trust me, I know. We've learned the hard.

No, you can talk about it first, but they don't give a fuck until they put their sauce on it. That shit works an eight mile. Ah, your season, it means nothing. All right. Okay, watch this season that I put on it. This is the dish that everybody's going to eat. God damn it. It is bullshit.

It is, it is, it is, I mean, it's just annoying. I think Joe handled it the best way, which is just you keep on going, you keep on enjoying, you keep on doing your shows. And he's in this rare air where he actually has more influence than the companies that are shitting on him. So no matter what they say, he still is in their, he still is in the people's ears four days a week. And they're hearing his side of it. And they have way more trust in him than they do these traditional news sources, because these news sources have lied so much it has been exposed. So they're like, all right, well, I'm a ride with my guy. Yeah, I don't like when I see headlines like, um, when he said, oh, Joe Roe,

has a history of making transphobic and racist comments. No. It should say Joe Rogan has made what can be perceived as transphobic and racist comments. Even that's the ban. The trans one is. He said himself that the planet of the apes was racist. So yes, you can say that. But don't say it's a history.

Yes. You know what I'm saying? History means that you do this constantly over and over and over and over. I don't like that shit at all. But it goes into our next thing I want to talk about. People really don't care. I was on the phone debating with Van about this Joe Rogan, about the Joe Rogan stuff.

Sunday morning. Yeah. Sunday morning in L.A. It was afternoon. I was in Atlantic City at my daughter Chilean competition. I was in the hotel. I'm debating with Van about this. He had a text from Debbie Dev.

Deveev text me and she goes, no, not Kobe. And in my mind, I'm like, well, Kobe, I know. I don't know. You didn't get caught cheating again because black men don't cheat. So what the hell happened? And she sent me the link and I clicked on. I go, yo, in the middle of the conversation, we was debate, I go,

yo, he probably thinking I'm about to yell about some more George's shit. I'm like, yo, they said Kobe Bryant dead. Everything shifts. Yeah. Gone. What happened? What happened to the Joe Rogan? Gone, bye.

Everything, energy, everybody, energy shifted. Nobody really cares. Just distraction. It's a, and it makes me so sad. Yeah. Because what's next after this? Think about it. I want everybody, I want you all to remember these moments because you can, you don't

You even have to go back that far. You can go back to Nipsey 10 months ago. Think about how everybody cares and everybody's like, oh, we love each other and, you know, make sure you hug your people and tell them that you love them and this and that, y'all, yeah. What's going to distract us from this? Something. It's only a matter of time.

Something. After the funeral happens, it's only a matter of time. People really don't care like they say they care. Now, I'm not saying they don't care about Kobe. I'm just saying that we can be so easily distracted. I know y'all don't really give a fuck about the Joe Rogan. shit. That was just something for y'all to tweet about. Yeah. This is something that

you actually truly do care about, but even this. You will move on. You will move on. That's why I love when Duvall would always go. What's y'all fake caring about today? Oof. Because he realized it's fake care. Well, even if you really care. Because by the way, fake Karen is the Joe Rogan shit. Yeah. Really caring is the Kobe shit.

Yeah. But people will move on. You see it on Facebook and Instagram. I used to time people. I used to see them change their profile picture to someone who and then I'd count how many weeks until they changed it back for how many days.

And you're basically saying at that point, like, all right, we don't need to care that much that this person's dead anymore. It's more important that there's a picture of me on a beach. You think they'll make it to the Super Bowl? You think the Super Bowl will shift the energy?

I think the Super Bowl will probably give some sort of homage to him. Because this is the biggest depth in America, I think, since JFK. Michael Jackson. No, Michael Jackson was like weird and dead. already and he was on trugs and he like

Michael Jackson, bro. He looked odd. Michael Jackson. I'm with you. My initial thing was Michael Jackson, but like Michael Jackson was just in such a state. He just put out like a bunch of like albums no one cared about. And while he was way more iconic than Kobe, he just, Kobe was still in his prime and beloved, right?

Matter of fact, Kobe was probably more beloved in his retirement than he was while he was playing. Yeah, but still Michael, bro. Michael stopped the world. Like literally, Michael, like I watch, I saw on Sunday, things stopped for Kobe. But it was also Sunday. Yeah. So what would have happened on CNN if it was Monday coverage of the impeachment? You know what I'm saying?

Ah, yeah, yeah. On a Sunday, yeah, we're just talking about all the old shit that happened to last week so we can break in with the Kobe stuff, yada, yada, yada, yada. Because they went right back to regularly scheduled programming on Monday. Right. Sports Network stayed on it. Yeah. You know what I'm saying?

And I think music, I was trying to debate. What's more universal musical sports? by far, right? It's nothing compares to music. Michael Jackson sold 75 million records with Thriller, man. There's no question. Yeah, yeah. There's no question.

I just, he was past, he was past the stage of Michael Jackson. I don't know. I thought that, too, until he died. Really? The world, June 25th, 2009. Okay. The world stopped. I won't, I won't debate that one.

I think it's close. But it was one of those deaths where it was like, he was such a profound part of everybody that was alive, life? Listen, I don't even want to talk like that because it sounds stupid. I was going to say second most impactful I've seen. But I, yeah, man, I've never seen anything like that in sports. Because if there's one set of humans on the planet that seem indestructible, that seem like mystical, mythical creatures.

Right? Like that just seem larger than life that you don't think things like this would happen to. Spanish women? It's athletes. Oh, athletes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. especially somebody who's in the rare air that Kobe Bryant was in. This is God-level basketball talent.

Like, you're talking about in the history of the NBA. Now you're right. You're only putting, like, you're only really discussing three or four people with Kobe. Yeah. Magic. Jordan. Michael. I'll talk Bron now.

I talk Bronner. But Kobe was always my number three behind Magic. And Michael, very rare air and the tragic The tragedy of it, bro I've never seen something that tragedy That's Because you know

And I hate to say it like this man But you know When you see somebody get shot We've seen that Yeah You understand what I'm saying And it's easier to wrap our head around Yeah

Why somebody got shot You know what I mean Like okay somebody got shot But when you see And you feel like you can avoid that Right yo you get security You know you get You get book move out

Whatever it is Like it's You don't go to the hood Whatever it is You feel like it whatever it is. But when you see something like that, a helicopter crash with your daughter,

when you're just doing your regular everyday Sunday routine as a father, like I was literally out on Sunday doing extracurricular activities with my daughter. I was in Atlanta. Did I say extracurricular activities? No. Said activities. I did. You sure?

I am 100% sure because I would be horrified if you said it. What the hands were brother Leonardo saying? Extracurricular activities. I was at my daughter's cheerleading competition in Atlantic City. When I got that news. I had to sit down because I was having a panic attack. Yeah, what did you go through as a father with young girls? Well, I didn't know that his daughter died at first.

I thought it was just him. So immediately as a man, this is just me as a man. I'm like, that is my worst nightmare. Something like that happening to me and me not being here for my family. Like that's immediately what my mind went. Like, man, he's not going to be able to watch his kids grow up. I was thinking about his daughter that played basketball because I didn't know she died yet. then these fucking dumb ass

By the way, we've really got to, I've been telling y'all this for years. Some Orson Wells' War to World shit is going to happen because of social media. How the fuck did y'all go from Rick Fox being dead to his four kids being dead? How did all of this happen in a matter of 30, 40 minutes? Now, the kids, I can understand your speculation about that.

Why the fuck would Rick Fox be with Kobe Bryant? I don't understand. On a random Sunday morning? I don't understand. Does anybody wonder why Rick Fox died? On Sunday? Yeah. So as a father, at first I was just like, damn, that's fucked up.

He no longer here. But then when I found out his daughter died, I'm like, that's the two worst nightmares, right? The two worst nightmares is you not here for your kids or something happening to your kids. Right. And then I started thinking about the last moments in that helicopter, like.

Ay, aye, aye, aye. What do you do? What do you say? Your job is to protect and provide as a father. What are you doing that moment? So apparently, I was at this Patrice O'Neill, benefit, rest and peace, the goat, man, that they do every year. And Bill Burr was performing, and Bill Burr does a lot of helicopter flying himself.

And you're familiar to comedian, Bill Burr. Yeah. And then, so I asked him about it, and he actually knew the air traffic control guy that was talking to the pilot of a thing. And he basically broke down how they flew. And he said the pilot should have never taken them in there. Not even taken off, never taken them into that basin because it was all this fog. in this valley. So you come right over a mountain and then the whole underneath the mountain is this valley all covered in fog. They say he couldn't see. So he couldn't see it. He was blinded by the

fog. Couldn't see anything. And he was too low that the air traffic controllers didn't have him on the radar to tell him the director. 100%. And then so apparently what happened is they were going 185 miles per hour and they just went right into the side of the mountain. So it wasn't like propellers are out. You know you're going to die and you're holding your baby girl in your arms trying to keep her, you know, calm while she's on her way to her death. It was instant. I hope so, man. Which is the best case scenario of the worst case, right?

Yes, man. Because I was sitting there, I was like, I hope they didn't burn up in the hell, you know what I'm saying? Like, God damn, yo. And when I heard that they recovered all the bodies, that made me feel better too, because that let me know that, you know, maybe it was instant. Maybe they did just crash and that. What is our fascination with?

with the body. Like, I've seen this a lot. Like, you know, these people were lost and they were never found or something like that. And then the bodies were never recovered. Closure. So we don't believe that someone's dead until the body is that. I think it's closure. I think it's closure.

And also, you don't want to just think that, you know, you love this person, right? Like, we're spirits. We're all spirits, right? In a human existence. But there's somebody out there that loves your human existence. There's somebody out there that loves your nose. soaps. Like, I'm serious. Like, I'm just saying.

I'm going to find her. I'm going to find her, bro. My wife loves, my wife loved me in my discoloration. She loves me when I scraped the toast. You know what I'm saying? So. When you scrape the toast, when you got rid of your... Yeah. So, so, so, so, you are stupid, bro.

So you don't want to think that this body is just out there. You know what I mean? Getting eating, eating on by animals, whatever. Like, that's still. This vessel, even though it's nothing but a vessel, it means something to someone. That's why you want to take this vessel, put it in a box, have the ceremony. They want, we got to do this for this vessel, even though it's a total waste of money, by the way. What, the idea?

Everything. The funeral is there, everything. It's a total waste of money. But you have this vessel that you still want to celebrate. You want to make sure this vessel is in a good place. You know what I mean? And I think it might give people some, what's the word I'm looking for? Some peace of mind.

When they can go to the world. a grave site. Put you, get on a microphone. So Taylor asked, why do you think it's a waste of money for a funeral?

Why don't we have funeral for dears that are on the side of the road? Just sitting there the cane. We don't know the dears. That's not true.

We have funeral. They're still lives. I'm just saying with a funeral, like you just said, like going to the grave, it gives you like a peace of mind or whatever.

Same thing with a funeral. They have talks. I think I would rather be cremated. Really? Yeah, because think about it. Think about it, right? Yes. It's air.

as we want to be as human beings, this version of us is not always going to exist. Right. Like, humans are going to evolve. Right. Do you know how many gravesites these buildings are built on? I've been thinking about that. You know how many people had these funerals back in the day

and they cried and they teared up and they buried people in the South and in California wherever else? And now it's a Starbucks on top of that shit. Well, some of these, I think we could admit that some of these, what are they called? where the dead people are. Grace sites? Graveyards? No, it's called a graveyard. Cemetery.

Yeah. I think some of these cemeteries, I think, are occupying good real estate and they could be, you know, used for other things. Eventually they will. It's going to be something. I don't know. It could be a flood. It's going to be something that not stone's headstones off and we're going to be gone. And the next generation of people who are not even going to know,

they're walking on the remains of Shaldemand the God and Andrew Schultz. until they just randomly hear Dick talk in the middle of the night and they're like What the fuck? It is an odd thing though To have a cemetery

It isn't odd thing It's like take up all that space It's a lot of space I'm telling you Go to South Carolina And let them take you on a ghost tour at Charleston And have them describe to you

All the buildings That were built on top of old cemeteries Life moves on Yeah They just get rid of the cemetery That's what I'm wondering. Get out the way. Some people don't even have headstones.

And also, you have to take a trip to the cemetery when you could just have the ashes in your house. It's way more convenient, you know? I don't know. My dad used to always say he would like to be cremated and then use him as fertilizer. That's what my dad used to always say. So that he can be part of the trees or whatever in the background. My dad wants to be sprinkled in the ocean. I've heard that too.

Yeah. Why? Can he swim? Yes. asshole We had a pool too, by the way I know You grew up with Kobe

You know she grew up with Kobe right? There you go See, stop, no one's wrong Can I say on a serious tip? On a serious tip She posted the photo of her and Kobe Instagram has that new shit That they can detect Photoshop

They flagged the picture That's all I'm saying No they did not That's all I'm saying They flagged the picture They flagged the picture No they did not But on a serious tip

I just want to say like this Kobe thing hit very hard, especially in Little Marion. Because he did, he contributed a lot to Little Marion. Yeah. And then when I would say, Kobe went to in Philly, that's the high school Taylor went to. And when I would say Lower Merritt, they're like, oh, Kobe's school. Like, is this a lot? A lot. It's really heavy.

Yeah, man. I mean, listen, it's definitely the worst. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong. It's the worst sports death I've ever seen in my life. I can't remember the last time of sport. And Sha kicked that shit on the head. when he was talking about like, yo,

I've met Bill Russell, but Russell was older, you know, Dr. Jay, he was just naming all of these basketball icons that are still around. And he's like, you know, Kobe,

not going to be here. Like, they're not going to be able to get old and they'll talk shit to each other. He's not going to be able to give his Hall of Fame speech next year. By the way, you motherfuckers are so stupid

and y'all piss me off so bad. When y'all, when they announced that Kobe was getting inducted into the 20th, when you were like, why somebody got to die? Why do you got to wait

to somebody die and induct him in the Hall of him? Like, getting in. First ballot. This is just the first year he was eligible for nomination. They already had announced

that he was a nominee. Him, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, he was going to be a unanimous first ballot Hall of Famer. Undeniable.

Undeniable. That's it. How soon is too soon to make jokes? Oh, about Kobe? No, not Kobe in general. I heard a good Kobe joke, though.

I don't want to hear it from you. No, no, this is good. Your idea of a good Kobe joke. No, this is good. I got shout out Tony Hinchcliff with this joke. It was a good joke. he goes, he goes, Kobe passing, never.

I get it. You have to understand. You have to understand for the situation, right? And how. I like it. It's a good joke. It's not tasteless. Because the joke is about legacy, right?

The joke is about what we remember about Kobe. It's not making light of his death. It's going, we're all feeling in the moment, this is unbelievable. I can't believe this happened. And he took the feeling of, I can't believe this happened. And he gave it purpose. It's, I thought Tony Hinchcliffe, great comedian. That's a good joke, Tony.

And I thought it was just. Double entendre. There it is. It's a double entendre. I like it. I like it. I just thought like, like, it shows that not every joke about a tragedy has to take advantage of the tragedy, right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. There are jokes about the tragedy that you can speak to how we all feel about it and can still offer a chuckle or a smile in a really fucking dark time. Yeah, yeah, your man is lame, though. Who's that? What's his name? Oh. You know why he's lame?

Yeah. That was not a joke. It wasn't a fucking joke. Yes. You can't hide behind the guys of a comedian when it wasn't a joke. It was no joke. There was no set up. There was no punchline.

You got on motherfucking Instagram and you was like a fucking rapist died today or some shit like that. The world is a beautiful play. Whatever the fuck you said. There was no joke. You made a statement, right? So being that you made a statement, you had an opinion on the situation. You called a brother a rapist. and that was it.

Don't hide behind, oh, it was a comedian, I'm trying to be funny. Like, no, no. And the thing that is... Y'all should banish him from the comedy community for that. Because you can't misuse the title comedian show. If you're going to use the title comedian, it has to be with a joke. Here's, okay, I completely agree, and I won't defend non-jokes.

I defend jokes. Yes. And I defend the attempts at jokes. So even if you made an attempt at a joke, I would defend you. But there wasn't even an attempt to joke. No attempt. You just said things that are true or something like that. You turned into a white feminist.

That's what you did, Ari. That's the most offensive part of it. You turned into one of these white women. You're trying about... Yes. You turned into a white feminist. Yes. Like, go write a fucking blog.

Yo, you turned into a white feminist blogger. That's hilarious. That's the most offensive thing. He did. But what I'll say is this is, what Ari does is when anybody dies and he does with close friends of his has died. He does one of these kind of rants about it.

He did about Tom. Petty did about Ralphie Mae, a comedian that was a good buddy of his, right? So there is like, if you're a really devout Ari fan, and he has tons of fans, I think they understood the context of what was going on. Then he said he didn't know at the time, like you didn't know at the time, that his daughter was in there, that there were other innocent people there. I don't give a fuck. Listen, I'm not defending it. What I'm saying is the context of which it was said. There's still no joke. And furthermore, he took it down. He took the video down.

He said he got hacked. No, no, he did that as a, he did that as sarcasm. He leaned in with the hacking. He was like, I was acting. He was like, making fun of people go, I was hacked. So he leaned in. And then he took it down. Now, if you take it down, I don't got to defend you.

Because you're not defending you. You know what I'm saying? Like, if a comedian is out there going, I'm standing by my joke. You know, like, when we had that whole shit with Nikki Minaj or whatever, and they were like, apologize, I apologize, I'm not apologizing. Because I'm a stand by what I said, right? So it's like, then we defend that. But if you're not.

going to stand by what you said. You can't expect the community to stand by what you said. Does that make sense? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's like... And it wasn't a joke. There's no joke.

There's no comic that should stand by that because he did not make a joke. He turned into a white feminist blogger. Yeah. And he... I really think... That's funny, though. Yo, I really think he thought

he was going to get a bunch of praise. I really think he thought that all of those those feminists were going to be like, Yes, Ari. He don't want them as well. Yes. I don't know. I think he was just trying to

troll all the people and he was just trying to, I don't think maybe he was a little detached to how beloved Kobe was. Clearly. Yeah. And he's in LA, so you should know. But every interaction I've had with Ari has been a good interaction that he's a sweet dude and a kind dude and a very funny guy, very funny on stage. And it really sucks that this situation happened because obviously as comics, people come

to us. How do you feel about this? And all of us feel the same way. Where's the joke? There's nothing funny there. And that's why I said the Tony joke, because the Tony joke is a joke. The Tony joke is perfect because if you're a comedian and, you know, somebody says, how do you feel about, you know, Kobe dying?

You'd be like, yo, my first reaction was Kobe passing? No. And you let it sit. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. People get it. That's it. They get it, you know? And the reason I ask if it was too soon because I saw somebody, I don't know who posted it.

Somebody posted, you know, if you got 80 good, I don't know if it was any good, I don't know if it was any good Kobe jokes. It was something to that if you got any good. Kobe jokes like, let us know, like, you know, the light in the mood, right? And then I saw Jess Hilarious post the meme of Kobe and Jesus playing one-on-one. Jesus crossing him over. And then it was his whole debate in the comments like, Kobe will watch Jesus, right? You know what I mean? Jesus got on sandals, which is, like, all that's...

Because now we're living his legacy. Yes, man. There's no rule that says you can't make jokes. But there should be a joke. Not about him, though. It's just got to be funny. Not about the death. Exactly.

I don't want to hear no... Even Tony's joke is about the death, but it's funny. It's not about the tragedy of it. Exactly. Like how back in the day when a dude was playing the airplane stuff after a leodite, no. Right, right, right, right. That's just tasteless, you know what I mean?

But if it's like... Because what's the joke there? There's no joke, that's like, just because you say something that's shocking doesn't mean it's a joke. A joke involves something clever and some misdirection. Tony one was clever. Look, you need bare minimum. Misdirection for a joke to work. So if we're just breaking down the science of a joke and I hate doing it.

doing that be, I think jokes would come here in your fucking soul. But if we're doing the science of it, there needs to be some bait and switch. Yeah, man. Some misdirect, some double entendre, some illiteration, play on word, something. Not just a shocking description of something. That's not a joke. And I think that's why he got crucified. And he's got to know that.

And if he wants to continue doing the death thing, you better come with some funny. Man. Because I'll defend funny to the end. I'm different. I'm from the South, man. I don't play with death, yo. I believe in spirits and I believe in energy and all. that, like, there's no reason to be playing

with the death of somebody. Like, what Tony did is funny. That makes a lot of sense. But just to be... Because you're remembering the life. The joke is about his life. Yes. It's a double entendre on his words.

Like, you know what I mean? On his life, and they always say Kobe never would pass in games. Like, that makes perfect sense. I get that. But just to be making jokes about somebody tragically dying, nah, and you better...

Boy, I hope you know how to fight. I hope you got guns. Because somebody gonna see you about this shit, especially when it comes. somebody like Kobe. That was the thing, man. It's like... Because sports may not be as universal as music,

but there's nothing that brings people together like sports. That is a great point. There's race... A racist and a black person could be Rooker's fans. A blood and a crib could be Lakers fans. It unites groups that... Sports unites groups that never interact together. Way better than music because music might happen

once a year of the concert. But basketball's happened three times a week. Yes, sir. Wow, that's a really great observation You could be in a bar high five Listen, if I walk down the street Yeah Come June

Yeah And not even, I don't even got to say that If I go to Miami this weekend Yeah With Kansas City gear on Our, who the fuck they're playing? 49ers, yeah, yeah, yeah I got so many friends

There's millions of 49ers fans Down there right now, millions of cheese fans And guess what? I got a bunch of enemies too Because they don't give a fuck They don't give a fuck What my race is, my gender, they're looking at that jacket. Like, fuck you, you

49er fan. Fuck you, you fucking cheese fan. Like, there's nothing that brings people together like sports. It's, it is religious in that way. Come on, man. It is religious and the second you walk in that church, you can look around going, I know I got some shit in common with

these people. Absolutely. That is interesting. It doesn't maybe No, it does. It's different. It's different, but when something happens to someone in sports, you're dealing with the smoke of all the people who fuck with them. You're dealing with like legacy.

You're dealing with 20 years of fan smoke. And it's not even the people that fuck with him. It's the people that hate him. Because they didn't hate him personally. They hated him because he used to bust their team's ass. Now that he's retired, now that he's passed away, I can give it up for him. Yo, but you know what?

And that's something that caught me about specifically the Kobe thing, is that we, especially with sports, right? We spend so much time and energy hating people. that we don't know only because they're playing for a city that's not ours, right? And I did this with Jordan, right? I hated Jordan because he was on a different team. He would bust my team's ass. And thank God, I matured a little bit,

and he looked a little vulnerable when he came back that I actually started rooting for him. Right? So I got to experience some of the greatness from the side of rooting for it. And that shit right there flipped a switch for me about not only sports, but like creatives and all these other people. I'm not going to fucking hate on great work and miss out on greatness. Like, if you aren't great, I'm going to enjoy your fucking greatness. Absolutely.

I don't care how I feel about you personally. If you got some greatness, I'm going to enjoy it because that's just stupid. I'm not a Patriots fan at all, but I love seeing Tom Brady go against time. I'm not going to lie. I love to see it. You know what I mean? I love it. I love even when I don't like a team.

Like, I like when I see, you know, legacy players leave with a championship, even if that's not my squad. You know what I mean? I just feel like that's how you see. supposed to go out when you were champ. And, you know, I guess the final thing I say about Kobe, man, to me, this is just a, is this another... You never spoke about your daughter thing. I'm curious about that before you wrap that up.

Well, I said, no, I said that's just my... When you found out that he lost his daughter, what was the reaction there? Because the initial reaction was, you thought it was just him. It was a little shock at first. And I immediately went in the protection mode as if I can protect something like that from happening. because it just seemed like such a freak accident, like on some final destination shit.

You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. So I just kind of like went automatically in the protection mode and I had to just like, and I was like that the whole day and then even, you know, driving back from Atlantic City. What was it like driving back? Were you extra safe? 65 miles miles by.

Not even playing the games, right? Speed limit. Isn't that interesting? All day, every day. Speed limit. You know what I mean? But I drive like that anyway. Like, I hate, my wife is 90 miles out.

I'm like, what are you doing? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, what are you in a rush to? to do. Yeah. Die. Yeah. Get pulled over.

So I die and get shot by police. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what I'm saying? Why? We don't need none of these problems. Officer she was driving. That's immediately how I felt. I just felt like I felt very protective.

Yeah. But it's like you can't. There's certain things you just can't. You have no control. You have no fucking control over. And to argue against the reality of that is crazy. You know what I'm saying? And just think about that.

It's a submit to life. You got to submit to life. I don't even think we live in, bro. I just think we exist. And what I mean by that is, like right now, we're just existing, right? Yeah. Like anybody can be alive, you could live.

But the reason I say existing is because your existence is after this is gone too. Yeah. Because Kobe still exists. Yeah. He just don't exist in the physical form anymore. So I don't even like to just say, I just like to say, yo, we're just existing. That's it.

And that's just how I feel you're existing. physically for a while and then you're not. Now you're just existing spiritually, but truthfully, you always exist spiritually because it's your spirit that people talk about. You know what I'm saying? Unless you fucking Chris Helmsworth or Denzel or somebody, you know what I mean? But other than that, it's your spirit.

People constantly talk about. It's what you put inside of people. You know what I mean? It's like I was listening to you on Whitney Cummings and Whitney was talking about how she goes to you all the time for advice. You know what I'm saying? I think about my home girls who kind of me for advice all the time. Like, that's a spirit. That's something that's going to live.

on way after you're gone. Yeah. So you're always going to exist within these people. So I don't even like to say we live in. We just, we're existing. Yeah. And we're going to, hopefully we just keep existing. We're not going to exist physically.

That's going to go away and just hopefully stay around existing spiritually. And then that's it. You know? Yeah. But yeah, I just, my final thought is just like, your death doesn't discriminate. And I feel like that's all this situation told us. And our ego sometimes makes it, makes us things. it does, right? Our ego things. Oh, successful

people, they don't get in freak accidents. Rich. Rich people. Famous. Yeah. Status. You know, like I said, he's just like a mythical creature. Like, things like that don't. This guy has been the most blessed person, his whole life. His whole physical existence. And something that tragic, that unlucky happens to him? Yeah.

Nah, man. He wasn't what? Start talking to the mic, huh? He wasn't troubled, though. Like, everyone knows that passed away. Like, the juice world maybe and, like, like, you could, they already had drug problems. So it's not necessary. I want to say it was surprising.

I understand what you're trying to say. You're saying, like. You're saying that, like, this is not. You didn't see it coming. Yeah. It's not a Hollywood. What is it called Hollywood story? Remember those true Hollywood stories where, like, an actor or something ends up dying,

but he went through this really dark path and then he ends up overdosing, et cetera. This is somebody whose life seems to be. be getting even better after sports, which we never thought would happen to Kobe. He talks about his dog period, though. Yeah, yeah, he did. He talked about his dog period. He was on a, my man, um, drum show. Was it Drum?

Drum. Dram? D' J. Tramma. Drum? What's the name of the drama podcast? But yeah, he talked about his dog side on there. But he attacked retirement in the same way that he attacked basketball, right? He's like, I gained weight.

I started to do this. And I realized, no, this is not the life. And he really invested in family and business and all these other things. I think, yeah, that's one of the reasons why it was so tragic for us as fans because we saw someone, and this is very rare, who was so obsessed with their sport and the success in their sport. And usually those people fall apart in retirement. They get alcohol problems or they're smoking cigars all the time. They're just trying to replace their gambling. They're just trying to place that edge that they got, that high they got from competing.

and he seemed to transition into like fatherhood like so seamlessly. Yeah, man. And then to have that shut down like that, man. Yeah, it's in like that. Like that's not, you know. Does it make you question life and like the purpose? Everything. I felt like that with Nipsey, though.

I felt like that. Like, I don't even know if I believe in karma no more. Talk to me. And I'm sure I said that on the podcast before because I don't, I think karma is just an action. Like, you should do good because you want to do good. I don't think that you should do good and expect that good. things are going to happen to you in return? Because how many times are we going to say things like the good die young?

You know what I'm saying? How many times are we going to ask the question? Why do, you know, bad things happen to good people, right? And you can't, you know, that's why I hate what I see these white feminists saying, you know, things about Kobe's past, you know, because if, if that is the karma for being accused of rape and getting acquitted in court, why did it have to affect everybody else? in that helicopter. Because to me,

if that's the case, karma has karma coming back to it. Because karma didn't have to take those young girls. What did those young girls do? You understand what I'm saying? Like, what did that mom do that she got taken away from her parents? What did that father and that other wife and his daughter? What did they do?

Like, so I don't even know if I believe in common, bro. I'm going to be honest with you. I just think that you should do good because you genuinely want to do good. I think karma is just an action. What if we live within our karma, meaning by doing good things, we actually feel good doing them? So it's not like I help a homeless person and then two months later I get a little help from someone. But the actual action of doing makes me feel good. That's why I say calm is in action.

Yeah, you hit it. That's exactly what I say karma is in action. Because we're not waiting for a payback. The payback's built into it. It's like every time you help somebody and you hit it, that's exactly. You get to feel that high you get from help, and that's the karma. That's why they say your true purpose and life is service to others. I did something for somebody.

It made me feel good. I don't care what that person does for me. Isn't it crazy how all these religions really say the same shit about humanity and the human condition? They just got different words. Absolutely. So it was like, what is that faith? I always forget these. Faith without works is dead.

And then what was the doing service to others? What was the line of others? Well, that's Dr. Wayne W. Diet. That's your true purpose in life is service to others. Right. Or maybe that's Russellson. I'm going to give Duane W. Yeah, might be.

Talking about karma. Yeah, I don't know if I believe in karma. And if you're a shitty person, I think you also live in that karma. I think people who are shitty tend to be less happy unless they're sociopaths. Of course.

So it's like you are living in the anxiety of your actions. Look at what you would always say, right? Like how much freer you are now that you're not cheating. Right? That is positive karma. Is it not? You living a good life and then you feeling good because you're living it,

opposed to sneaking around or doing all this other fuck shit, and you're having these like negative emotions constantly surround you? That's why you had that skin discoloration, bro. Man, shut up. It was. No, it was. Yeah, if black men don't cheat, you were changing different colors to avoid it. Man, shut up, man.

Right? No, man. This shit is fucked up. Look how good your skin is now that you're faithful, bro. I'm going to see Dr. Sandy right now. But that's no, you're right, though. Your skin is great because you're faithful. No, you're right.

Listen, it's all about energy. But that's a true thing, though, right? Because when I used to cheat, I used to feel bad, right? Because I know I was doing somebody had no business doing. There you go. So I was, I was wallowing in my own guilt and that shit will kill you. Yes. You know what I mean?

Because then you start. You were living in your condo, bro. You were living in your karma. you're thinking she doing something wrong so you're looking at her funny and now you don't know what I'm saying? Isn't that funny? When you ain't shit

you assume everyone around you ain't shit I think that's the weirdest thing isn't it? I'm gonna think about death too I think that you I think Taylor might have asked me this other day like I don't know if I believe in hell I think that you I think you leave as pure as you got here

Ooh go on that I think you leave as pure as you came I think when you die And all of this You know your physical existence is gone I think you return back to wherever you came from just as pure as the day you came. You know why I subscribe to that? Because, excuse me, a lot of the people that end up being serial killers or mass murderers

and all this kind of stuff came in pure and then had horrific things happen to them throughout their childhood and their life that warped them into these people. Right? Like I think Jeffrey Dahmer, one of those serial killer guys, I think he was raped a bunch and assaulted and all this kind of shit. in his life. So his psyche as an innocent little child was abused into becoming this person. So with low key, it would only be fair to bring him back to his purity when he died because he didn't ask for that shit. A lot of circumstances are out of their control. You know, so being that they

became these people because of their circumstances, you think God is that cruel. And I think we got to stop giving God credit for some of this stuff, man. Some of this stuff is just human error. You know what I'm saying? Like, like that pilot made a choice. Yeah. And that choice costs everybody in that helicopter, their life. God gives us free will. God gives us the ability to make choices. We hope God is there to protect us and, you know, cover us. But if I take a gun and put it in my head,

my brains are probably going to get blown out. Yeah. I can't ask God. It doesn't work that way. You understand what I'm saying? Like, I can't simultaneously pray for God to protect me, but then put a gun in my mouth and pull the trigger. Like, now you're just being ridiculous.

Like, you know? I mean. It's the same thing. Like, yo, they say Kobe went to church that morning. He was prayed up. He had faith, but that pilot made a decision. There was some human error involved. Couldn't see.

Ran into a mountain doing 186 mile per hour. God didn't make these indescriptible, baby. You understand what I'm saying? Like, he didn't make these bodies indescriptible is all I'm saying. So I don't know, man. And we wouldn't want them to be. No, I would. I don't think you would because I don't think you would value life.

We value life. What happens in these moments? They teach us the value of life. When we see someone that we care about, die, or when we see someone who care about not only die, but lose their family members, we hug our family members, right? These are constant reminders on a universal scale

of how valuable life is and how not, what's it called, promised it is. And how quick it can go. Say what? How quick it can go. It's a 41-year-old man. I'm 41. I'm born in 1970.

You didn't do it all in this life. You played 20 years of basketball. You got all these championships, everything and your life is literally gone and what, 15 minutes, whatever long it took for them to be in that plane? Like, I mean, helicopter, like, Jesus Christ. Amen.

What about the logo? The logo, what logo? Oh, I love this idea. So they said they were considering or there was a million petitions It's not going to happen. I don't know if it happens, but it would be really interesting. They would have to pay the family. Say what?

They'd have to pay the family. Pay what family? They'd have to pay the Bryant's. That's Colby's likeness. You know, the NBA has never acknowledged that's Jerry West's his likeness? Is that right? Yes, because they'd have to pay the fuck out of Jerry West.

You know what? You know what? I bet you the Bryant's would sign it off. And I bet you Vanessa Bryant would sign it off. Because in a weird way, Kobe was always in the shadow of Michael Jordan, right? He never was as great as Michael Jordan in many people's eyes. But he did something that Michael couldn't do, which was transition to life without basketball. Way better than Jordan did.

You think? Yeah, 100%. Jordan became an owner and the owner of joy. Not only the owner of the Hornets, Jordan Brand. Jordan lives a great life. No, no, he's successful financially, but if you look at him, he doesn't look great. You're just judging that off his jeans. I'm, yeah.

That's the holy reason. By the way, gave Kobe a few. You'd get Kobe about nine more years. You don't know what Kobe would have looked like at 50, you, bro. By all reports, Jordan is not like the happiest of guys, you know, and that was during his playing career, and it continued to afterwards. I mean, every time you see Jordan in an interview, he's drinking, right? I've yet to see him in an interview where he doesn't have like a glass of scotch or tequila or something. Wait, do you see me when I'm retired?

You're going to see me when I'm going to be drinking a lot? What are you going to think? I'm going to think I'm like, I'm not going to be doing good. I'm saying. You know, he's fucked up. He's drinking all the time. You never see someone drinking all the time and be like, oh, they're happy. Man, that man spent, yo, he spent decades literally giving his life to basketball.

Well, now, he used to drink when he played sports, too. So it's a story of him drinking whole. 18 packs of beer and then going to fucking score 50 points. Yeah, and not happy. Maybe he's just an alcoholic. Maybe he likes it. Yeah. And that's not good.

Right? Like, who's a positive happy person that's also an alcoholic? Yeah, I don't like to judge whether people are happy or not. I don't know. Look, his jeans do look sad, if that's what you want me to say. His jeans, look, it is what it is. Yes. I just, I forgot why I even brought it up, to be honest with you.

What was I saying? You're talking about the logo. Oh, the logo. It would be an interesting one up on Michael Jordan, posthumously. All of a sudden, he becomes synonymous with basketball from now for forever. And he gets that thing that he always wanted to be the most, to be the most incredible a basketball player in history. Like, history can be fair.

I would, I, I, I don't know if that's what Kobe, I mean, listen, I don't, I can't speak for Kobe. I don't think that's what Kobe wanted at 41 years old. No, at 41, it changed. He was like, it's the legacy in how, how you affect people. And your kids, man. And I don't, there's no, I refuse to believe that if Kobe Bryant had the opportunity, This is how he would want to be immortalized.

Yeah. Well, you got to lose seven people that are close to you, one being your, or eight people that are close to you, one being your 13-year-daughter and your life, nah. Yeah. It ain't worth it. It ain't worth it.

Everything we're chasing. All that professional stuff we're chasing. The rings for whatever we do, whether it's radio, comedy, whatever, whatever, none of it's worth it. At the end of the day, what's worth it? That family you got at home, you know what I'm saying? What if you don't have a family at home?

Take your condom off. Start doing it? That's it. What if I don't wear them? Then you might want to go get checked and see what's wrong with your little skeet-sketer. You know what I'm saying? You might not have a stupid sperm. Bro, come on.

You never had no scares, bro? I've never had no scares. You never had no scares? Say what? You never had no scares? I'm always scared. You never made a girl miss her period? You never made a girl miss her period?

Even if she didn't get pregnant, she just thought, like, I don't know, it's a little late. It's always late. Girls never know when their period is. Really? Once a month, my girls. I don't pay for no periods in here. Say what? You don't pay for no abortions?

Yo, Bernie Sanders got to handle abortions from now on, bro. If you're going to handle Medicare, bro. Bernie, you got health care for all. That's the platform. Rest of peace to Kobe Bryant. No, I never paid for. Really? Yeah, yeah.

Or I never handled it to my knowledge. I mean, Charlotte made out here keeping playing parenthood a lot. I'm a fucking got a plaque. I'm just telling you how good my firm work. They're hanging his jersey from the fucking wrappers. I'm just telling you how good my firm work, baby. I got three in three possibles. All right.

Okay. You got a half-court basketball game just in heaven waiting for you. I got three, exactly. I got three hands, three waiting on pop. You wanted that boy? We all up here. All right? I'm just saying.

Let's play these bills. Let's play these bills. Let's pay these bills. and then we're going to have our guests come in the building. Yes. Go ahead, Shoti. All right, guys. Today's episode brought to you by Postmates,

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Now let's get back to the show. We have a guess I'm very excited to talk to, man, because he's not aware of this, but he's been very responsible for a lot of the success I've had in my career, my whole idea with posting clips on the internet and posting weekly content. Stand-up comedy comes from the way that he operated with the music industry.

So this is really exciting. get to sit down. They're massive inspiration and incredibly successful young gentleman who has a lot of very interesting things to say about his business but also about life and legacy. So it's great that we get to sit down with Russ. Everybody, Russ, welcome to the show. It's a Napoleon Hill mindset, though. Guys, guys.

Jesus Christ, you get too independent thinking, mind the motherfuckers in head. They just start filling all the goods before the podcast even starts. You're right. Shalameen the God here. Andrew Shultz. We are the brilliant idiots and we got a special guest in the building, man.

He's got a new album dropping. Today's Thursday. Tomorrow. Yeah. Today, midnight. Technically, yeah, tomorrow, but yeah, midnight. You know that voice. Russ is here.

Yes. What's happening, Russ? Can't complain. Living the dream. Now, I'm glad that you're here because Andrew Shultz, did you tell them already? I'm sure you did.

Of course. Yeah, we've been talking. I couldn't wait. I was so excited. Let's act like that conversation never happened. Hey, me know? I basically, I basically have been, I, oh,

a lot of my success to you. And I was telling you this before. And yeah, you really inspired me to put out the content. And it's weird how it happens because I get a lot of credit in the comedy world, you know, like taking comedy from TV to the internet. And I always say I just took it for musicians. Yeah. Whatever musicians were doing, they're 20 years ahead of comics.

Right. Interesting. You specifically with releasing a song. I thought you did it for a year. Yeah, I know you did for two years. Yeah, two and a half. It was a long time. You did a song a week.

Yeah. So I did a song a week. roughly for like two and a half years on SoundCloud. Yeah. Yeah. And this is before, like, you know, the reason why I was doing it on SoundCloud was because that was the platform. Like, you got to understand.

This is before Apple Music was even out. Right. And it was when Spotify was still new, like, rap caviar was not a thing. I remember having, uh, my first song that really went big was like what they want. It was in rap caviar. And I didn't know. No one knew around me. No one, like, no one cared just because like, what was that at the time?

So it was really just about SoundCloud because it was the quickest way to get just direct to consumer and people just, I just want people to hear my songs. So I was doing, yeah, a song a week and I ended up doing 96 songs. What got your attention about Russ, though? Because I mean, that's not, it's, artists do that. But what about Rush specifically? I don't know if artists do that. Artists don't do that.

They don't put it out songs all the time? Every week. Not a week. No one's ever done that. For 96 weeks in a row? It was like a mixtape model, like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

But someone told me that you were doing it once a week. And I was like, okay, that's hard work. I hate, I will never complain if I'm working harder than everyone. Yeah. I was like, okay, I'm not working hard enough. Yeah, okay. And I was like, okay, boom, if I put this out once a week, I'll be good. At least I know I'm doing something to further my career.

Yeah. And then once I started having all the things out, I remember when something hit. Do you remember when your first joint hit? I remember, like, you know what, for me? Because when you're putting out so much content, it's all this kind of like gradual accumulation of. Oh, so it wasn't one song. No, it wasn't like you wake up and it's, oh, my God, it's going crazy. it's just that this song hits 10,000 plays,

and this one hits 12,000 and 15. And before you know it, it just compounds. But that's why putting out so much content is great because it all ends up compounding. Yeah. You know? Because my song I put out this week will get promoted by the song I put out next week and so on and so. Taylor, what are you doing?

I think you got a girlfriend, Taylor. Relax. Jesus Christ. What's up with you, man? What's up? What's up? Thank you. So never can you do that for anybody?

Am I still being heard? You still don't want to give me your grape food juice? Oh, is that a new slang for something? It's a me too, Aaron. You got to push it up a little bit. She's literally drinking grapefruit juice for those who can't see this. Yeah, man. So basically I looked at it and for me it wasn't like really that gradual thing.

I think what happened for me was I had one clip go viral. It was on Super Bowl Sunday like a few years ago. And what this is what happened. It was interesting. It went viral, but I had all these other clips out there. Which is why, see, that's the key. That's why I tell people like, you don't want. It's catalog.

People go for one moment, but it's like if you have tons of work out there and then one hits, it becomes the champagne glass at the top of the tower. You know, you're just pouring that one and they start spilling out. Yeah. So there's one thing hit, and then everybody started checking the other stuff, and then the algorithm got hit. And it was like, oh, okay. I like this song to now. I like this guy.

And that's the key. And that's what we learned. And literally, I credit this to you. I say this on any podcast that they asked me about. But I was like, I basically looked at like this. And I start to look at like funnels, right? And I was like, okay, how do we find someone on the internet? Like, how do you find a musician?

You don't listen to a whole album? That's stupid. It's insane. You put out a single. And I'm like, why are comedians who are strangers to most people putting out an hour of saying, sit down, take an hour of your content to listen to a stranger? I would never listen to any stranger for an hour. I don't care of funny a dare.

A stranger. So I'm like, I'm a stranger. Even if it was recommended? Even if it was recommended. In our word, no chance. You better tell me one funny joke right now. So I'm going to give you one funny. I'm going to give you singles.

Boom. I hit you a single, hit you a single. And then I put out the longer project. And that's what we did. And shit just exploded. And then other comics started getting on it, man. So yeah, man. That's beautiful.

You have influenced the comedy. I swear got you. If you look at your phone right now, you look at your explorer page, you will see comics posting that clips on Instagram. That did not happen. before you did the week of music. What is that? That's amazing.

Yeah. Wow. The ecosystem is effective, man. Yeah. That's beautiful. But I think it's like, I think that every artist should implement a more consistent, simplified method of content. Yes.

Because like he's saying. Content consumption or just? Content. Contribution. Okay. Because it's like, that's why I did this thing. It was for the same reason. No one's trying to hear an album from someone they don't know.

So I was like, I just need to get y'all's attention. I know y'all can listen to one song. So I'll do a song a week, same type of thing. And then when you have the catalog, whatever that one song is that makes the pop boil over, when you then go on the internet and type in, let me see if there's anything else and you find 200 songs.

You're like, oh, you were prepared for this moment. And now I'm a hardcore fan. You can't be a hardcore fan of someone that has two things. Two songs. We were talking about this. It's like, if you're smart about it, and sometimes it happens organically,

you have like a funnel to being a super fan, right? Right? And let's say, for example, they listen to what they want, right? Right. And then all of a sudden they're like, oh, he's kind of nice. And they listen to another one. And then a third song, they're like, I fuck with him. Right. I'm a fan.

So my whole strategy was three pieces. And imagine 30 songs deep. Now forget it. It's over. Now it's, I'm getting the tattoo. Now it's, not only, I get into tattoo. I got to go to the show. I got to buy the merch.

I got to buy the merch. And that's what it is. It's like, is my merch? Now, I think everything I do is better than everyone just because it's like, I have to think like that. I say you have to move. And that's why people don't like you, but that's the mentality you're supposed to have.

You're supposed to have. The fuck is wrong people? But is my merch technically better than this? Is my show technically better than this? Is this a song better? It's all subjective. But what it is is that I have people bought into me. There's a lot of artists out here who have people bought into their songs.

But like I have people bought into me to the point that, yeah, you know what? All you're doing is selling a fucking hoodie. But I'm buying it. Because I like you. Yeah. My boy Mark said this shit to us. We're on the road. He goes,

because we're talking about the importance of, like, the person in front of the brand. Yeah. And he goes, you go to any WWE show to wrestling shit. They sell John Cena's outfit after the show. That is the worst outfit. It's literally jean shorts and a t-shirt.

That's amazing. And they sell it so you could dress like John Cena. That has nothing to do with how cool the clothing is. No. It has to do with the person. It's because how cool he is, the perception. Boom. Yeah.

That's what you know. It's like, shake the snow globe. That's the new album. That's coming out. The way I got on the rust Because it was the hate campaign People had against you Yeah

And I'm always drawing to people like that I need to know why somebody Is hated so much So I go and I check it out I'm like Well what the fuck He can wrap his ass off Thank you

So why don't people like him Yeah You know And then I started seeing videos of you Getting people fucked up And I appreciated that too I'm being honest with you I'm being honest with you

I appreciated that too So even I'm like I think I fuck with this guy You know what I mean? I never heard you have a conversation, nothing. I just saw that. And then even when I saw the things you were saying about people in drug use, I'm like, how can somebody be mad at what he's saying in regards the artists using drugs?

I understand it though. Why? I'll tell you what it is. It's, and I forgive, I was talking with someone yesterday. I forgive myself and I forgive people who have an issue because I also understand the perspective of when you see a rookie coming to the league in the NFL or the NBA and have a good rookie season. You're like, who cares?

Do it again next year. And when you're a rookie talking crazy, like imagine if like John Moran right now was just in every post game interview like, I'm going to be better than did and I'm the best player in the league. It's like, yo, I feel you and the numbers back it, but like hold on a little second,

like do it again. So I understand that you're talking a lot too early. I get that perspective. I don't think I am, but I understand if you feel like that. And so I realize that in order to combat that, the only way to solve that is for me to be this dope for a long time. Like, it's longevity.

It's at the end of the day, like, you're only a legend if you do it for a long time. Like, Drake has been so ill for so long, you have to give it up. Cole, Kendrick. Even Nikki, whatever you want to say about Nikki, it's like, yeah, but she was and is really successful for mad long. Like, people can't last a summer out here. It's a decade, you know? So I just know that I get it.

If y'all don't want to give me the credit right now, that's cool. But check back in five years when it's like, yo, Russ has been here for 10 years, been saying the same shit, still putting up numbers, doing arenas, da-da-da-da-da. Now he's got the singer pregnant. Yeah, but the ill thing about that is, the ill thing about that is they're going to, all they're going to do is go back and give you your props for saying it from the beginning.

It's like the same thing with Kobe now. It's like, he thought he was arrogant back then, but now it's like, yo, he was telling us he was going to be that guy. You know the resolution for that is fans. Fans are the ones who just tell the world from day one, no, Charlemagne is great. Schultz is great. Russ is great.

And that's what you bank on. That's what you feed. You pay attention to those people. And you let the rest of the people catch on when they catch on. And that's what it is. And I've, like, I used to fight it a lot. And I still, a lot of times I fight, like, trying to prove yourself. Like, no, I am great.

I'm better. Like, look at my numbers. I'm better than him. I'm better than. But it's like, man, people are just going to catch him. on when they catch on. Yeah. And that's just what it is.

And like, you can spend so much time and waste so much energy and almost be ungrateful because you're so focused on who doesn't fuck with you and trying to get them to fuck with you. Absolutely. That you forget that all these people fuck with you. Why don't you just fuck with them and maybe, you know what, the five people in their friend group who didn't like you, maybe they'll now like you in a year from now, whatever. Like, just focus on this.

So why can't you ignore people when it comes to, like, punching people? I'll tell you why because. Because I like punching people. No, because I'm never, I'm never. I'll say this. I'm really never even trying to operate from that frequency. I'm really not. But I will say,

I take it offensive because if you're Joe Schmoe from middle of nowhere and you have 10 followers and you say Russ is an L or whatever the hell, it doesn't matter because you're not influencing anyone. Yeah. So it's not offensive because you have no pull. Now, if you as a stranger and a grown-ass man who I've never met, never talk to, we're not cool, we don't have any, we have no issue and you decide to round up your army of fans whether or not you realize that's what

you're doing but if you decide to round up your army of fans to influence them to have a negative opinion of another grown-ass man who's just trying to be successful and do his thing I take it as offensive as it is right because you're crossing the line now you're you're now you're now trying to like because you don't understand that by you getting your army of fans to feel some type of way about me and you influence them because you got to understand when we have fans you could tell them jump off a cliff and they might jump up off the cliff. Right.

So if you say, nah, we all don't like Russ now. I take it offensive because you saying that might fuck up my streams because maybe more people are going to be peer pressure

to be like, now I'm not listening to Russ, which means you fuck up my family's money. You fuck up a lot of things. So I take it as offensive as it is. So especially because we're not cool like that, we don't know each other. So if we do see each other,

you should know what time it is. And if you, like, I'm also just, I don't understand this. If you talk shit about, somebody and you end up getting punched in the mouth, what is the confusion?

Yeah. What's the confusion? That's a wild shit to say to somebody after you punched him in the face and like, what is the confusion? I don't like, bro, every time it's happened, it's like, I can't believe. It's like, where are you from?

Where are you from? They turn it into the victim. But it's like, if you break it down like that, like, yeah, I mean, Russ never said anything to me, ever. I talk shit about him. And then I got punched in the face. Yeah.

I can't believe. They thought you was going to give them the same energy. They thought you would come on the internet. No, it's just disrespect is what it is. It's that you're not saying that to 21 Savage. You're not saying that to Gucci. Oh, they thought they could get away with it. You think it's just sweet.

You are not, however you feel about Gucci or Kevin Gates or 21 or people that you think are going to come see you about it, you're not even going to tweet it. You're tweeting it because you think there is no repercussions for your action. So it's like, cool. I'm here to let you know that there is. And so if you guys want to keep doing it, you're going to keep getting punched in the mouth.

Is that why you wear your head down? Do you have like cauliflower on your ear? Like you secretly a M.M.A. So he got to hide for people. My brother's a real deal. He does M.M.A? Yeah, he does Jiu-Jitsu in the whole nine. Wow.

What's the, what's the Shaked the Snow Globe? What does that mean? So, So shake the snow globe was about resetting and reflecting because I got very stagnant and jaded to the pros and the cons. I got jaded to having money and walking around my house. Like, this is regular that I have my logo in my pool and I have a multimillion dollar fucking thing going on.

And my studio in my house is crazy. I got a gym. I got a sauna. I got my mom. I bought her a house. All these beautiful pros that I'm torn around the world. I got fans. I got everything I ever wanted.

And then the cons, like, you know, I got too caught up in that, the negativity. And then my family's personal life going on. And I realized that I got so stuck, like energy. wise and so stagnant that I was like, man, I was walking around my house one night by myself. And, you know, I live by myself in this 12,000 square foot house just in the cut, you know, the north side of Atlanta just tucked away. And I was walking around my house one day and I'm just like, man, I look around and I'm looking at like my pool table with my logo and like just all these.

I don't know, when you have a house, you start really realizing like, man, like, nah, my rap paid for these curtains. Like the curtains. You know what I'm saying? Like the glass. the plates, you feel me? Like, it starts really settling in, and I never had stability like that.

Does it fuck with you? Because I know for me, man, I'll be feeling, I run through stages, right? Like, I have, like, guilt. Sure. Because I feel like, yo, damn, it's people, you know, that came up with me that don't have this,

you know what I mean? And I started having, like, Survivor's remorse. Like, you know what I mean? Survivor's guilt. Yeah. I start thinking about my mom making $30,000 a year.

It fucks me, but then I also just feel like the chosen one. I really do. I just feel like, you know what? It's been bestowed upon me to do this, So that's what it is. But so I was walking around my house and I was looking around just not just at the physical house, but then my life mentally.

And I'm like, and I said to myself organically just like, if not now, then when? And that was the statement that changed like my life because I was like, man, at the time, I was 26. I'm 27 now by the time I was 26. I'm like 26. I got all these things. I got everything I ever asked for. If I'm not happy now, then like, then I should just give this up.

You weren't happy? No, like. Maybe you didn't feel worthy. I thought I wasn't happy or something. Like because I wasn't focused on what mattered, you know? Yeah, yeah. I was so... You're outside in, not inside out.

Exactly. I was so focused on like the next thing or the what can I do better. Like, bro, take a second. You're walking around your fucking house. Yeah, enjoy the moment. Yeah, so I was like, if not now, when, like I don't want to be 35 and look back and be like, what the fuck? Like, that was so lit back then. And I didn't enjoy that.

Like, I'm tripping. So it's a scary thing I would imagine. to achieve all of your dreams and then be sitting there like, wait a minute, why am I not as happy as I thought? Because it's a personal, it's a personal problem.

Yeah. It's a personal problem. And that's something that I've been working on, but I realized it that night, which is why then I called it shake the snow globe because when you look at the snow globe and it's just all stagnant and still, and you look at it for too long,

it's still. And then you got to just shake it up, you know, and just reset and let it all fall back into place because the dust had settled for a little bit too long. So I was just like, nah, man,

I got to like shake it off. I got like the tin man. But like I haven't been, you know. You need the oil. And I'll be feeling like that too sometimes because it's like, you don't, it almost feels like if you don't appreciate what you have, God will take it from you. That's what I started getting scared about too. Like I started catching myself mentally.

And it's still like an ongoing battle, but at least I'm aware now. But I started getting like that too like, oh shit. Like, please don't think that I don't want this, you know, because I want this. I like it. I'm just trying to work on it. But like, don't go anywhere. Is that what the book was about this all in your head? Yeah.

Well, what's funny about that. Like, I need to read that. I need that book more than a lot of people. I have all the game because of what I've applied to my life. And I could put it in a book. But I almost got so good at preaching what to do. And I stopped practicing it. So that's what I've been trying to work on now.

But that's what the album is. What was it? Was it like, was this you going to therapy? Were you? I know. I never. I called the studio my therapy sessions. Because I feel like,

when I'm down there. Now, this is the first time that I've had a studio in my house. Like, that's the other thing with this album. This whole album was recorded in my basement by myself, you know. Don't talk like you got an ordinary basement, sir. No, but... I'm sure you got a full deck studio down there.

No, I do, but that's why, like, that's what's amazing about is that I get to go down there and just lock in and zone out. So this whole thing, like, you know, the other two albums, I'm recording on the road in this hotel room, in this hotel room, and it's chaotic. This was the first time I had stability,

even from a creative place. So I got to really explore my own creative potential and reservoir. And that was therapy for me because I got to really just be super vulnerable, you know? And it was really important for me. Writing that book was important because putting it down on paper and writing it made me feel like, yeah, you know what?

Okay, I forgot that I even feel like this. Because it was all coming out so easy. Like all the chapters in the book and they were so easy to write that you would think that I follow them religiously. But I was like, man, I'm bugging because like it can't be this easy for me to say, but I'm slipping up on following what I'm even trying to please the young. Yeah, I saw the handwritten letter you wrote.

Yeah. And you talked about not being proud of the headspace you were in in 2018. Like, what exactly weren't you proud of? I wasn't proud that I was, that I, that I was operating at a lower frequency than I wanted to. It was, I was too caught up in the negativity. But it's hard. Like, it's hard. to like there's no rubric for it like you got to understand uh the negativity is the criticism

the negative the media negativity because at the end of the day like there's no way to prepare for it so naturally like when you're going through it you think that man if all this hate is online i'm seeing all this shit like i'm thinking i'm about to go to my next show and get rocks thrown at me you know like whatever like you just like i remember going to do Coachella and being super concerned like People really hate me. Because, like, yeah, because, like, it wasn't my show. It was a festival. So I'm like, I'm going to Coachella and I'm like, man, I'm just hoping that this goal.

I'm hoping that this goes okay. It was the most insane show ever. Yeah, because what happens. Because it's not real. Then I learned it's not real hate. Hate is real life. This shit is just clicks in likes. The hate might be fake or it might be on the internet, but it multiplies the love.

It's like, it's the same shit that happens with Trump, to be honest, is like, the more people trash Trump. Yeah. The more his supporters ride. They're like, oh, no, we're wearing a hat. We're doing it all. We're putting the bumper slinkers. Yeah.

So, of course, the show is going to be that much better because they're there like, nah, that's our guy. But that's why I always give it up to the fans because they could easily. And I know I've lost fans to peer pressure. Like, you know, if I got a 16-year-old fan, it's really easy to be like, well, all my friends said that you suck. So I can't keep listening to you. But then they're not the real ones.

Yeah. No, they're not. But at the same time, the ones who stick around, to be a 17-year-old, 18-year-old, whatever, and your friends say, yo, he's whack, I'm not going to the show with you, and you still pull up and you still go hard. Like, it's just so real to me.

So, yeah, I just wasn't proud of sinking into the negativity and I wasn't proud that I wasn't taking care of myself as far as, like, I got burnt out. I got very burnt out as far as, like, I didn't have, I bought my house December 2017, all 2018. I was on the road and it was getting worked on. I didn't sleep in my house.

So January 2019. So I was just running around. Like I was just on go. And I had no stability. There was no routine. It was just, you know, you're getting tugged this way and tugged that way. And before you know,

your center is all off balance. And you just feel burnt out. You feel like a fucking mess. And you feel like, you know what? Fuck all, y'all. You got nothing else to give. I'm about to sit in my house for six months, which is what I did in 2019.

I didn't do anything for the first half of the year. Because I was like, nah, you know what? I'm going to take some time for me. And actually enjoy my life, enjoy my pool, have girls over, recording my studio, did it, like, enjoy my life. Maybe you need a family, man. Stop wearing condoms. Like maybe you need to.

See, now this is, I'm, I'm that serious. I'm so am I. Maybe you need a family. This is a real conversation that I've had. You maybe you need family. Like, I used, seven months ago, I was, I'm not having kids, so I'm 35. Then I had a conversation with a girl, and I had a conversation with Swiss Beats, where it was like, life doesn't start until you start a life.

Absolutely. You talk about having a center. Like, I know for me, my stability, my center. is my family. You say you're coming home, but you know, you're coming to a house. Yeah,

and it's an empty house. Yeah, it's not a home yet. It's a hotel. Yeah. It's not a home until you got a queen and you got a child. Like, it'll give you a real purpose.

Yeah. No, I agree. That's a real thought that I've had because I've also been like, man, the only thing left for me to do is everything I've already done. Like, everything I wanted to do,

I've already done. The only thing left is to get a Grammy. Outside of that, I have a real thing left. Why? Why? Why? Yeah.

You strike me as a person that would not give a fuck about that kind of validation. Well, because I want to prove to myself that I was right when I was fucking 15. You already did. No, about that, too. No, I know about that too, though. Oh, you mean that was something you had on your vision? That was always something I had on my thing. So I just, I want one and then I'm fine.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's fake. It's bullshit. I know, but it's like. It's just to reinforce the people that they want to win. I want it. I want it. I want it.

I want it. I want it. That's real. But why does it define you? It doesn't. It's like your ego needs it. No, it's my ego. You know what that's crazy.

You're speaking his ego. Listen, that's what's crazy. It's literally it's, it's, it's, it's, it's been gone, die. So you want to get it and then do the whole JZ? It's almost like I have one debt left to pay to my ego and it's to get it. That's what you think. And then you're going to be like, I need something else. That's real.

Yeah, I owe my ego that. He's like, yo, listen, you still owe me. Here's a question. Do you think that the hate comes from people resisting change? I just think at the end of the day, bro, I'm in hip hop. I'm a white guy and I'm talking a whole lot of shit. Are you white? I didn't know you was white, bro.

Yeah, well, I'm... I thought you're white in the end of 2019. Sicilian. Yeah, but I am. You're the black as white. I agree. Well, Sicilian... Italian are off white, though.

But this is the off white of off whites. Italian's wouldn't like to be called white. Bro, but the Sicilians, they got a little black in them. Well, if you go back to the Moors and... The Moors were out there. Not asking permission. Yeah. That's a real, like...

When you do the ancestry on it, it's like the Moors came to Sicily. That's why Italians went from blonde hair, blue eyes, dark hair, dark eyes. But the perception, I get what you're saying. White guy, long hair, yeah. And that's what it is. And so I understand it's like, yo, like, let's just call it what it is. Culture is a euphemism for black.

Urban is a euphemism for black. So when you have a white guy coming into the culture, a black space, trying to speak on black things, it's like, bro, shut up. You might be right, but we don't want to hear from you. Which I absolutely understand. So that's why I'm not tripping. I've seen you post posted. I've commented on like, yeah, I'm glad Russ.

I can't remember the exact post what it was. It was something about... Everybody should say the N-word or something? No, shut up. It's about white artists. Yeah, Nigeria, that's the word. White artists and culture. It was something.

I can't remember exactly what it was. Everybody gave you props for that, though. Probably about how I was talking about just label owners are these white guys who... That's what it was. Who sign black kids that they wouldn't even want their kids hanging out with, but they just do it to. make the money, which is true. And that's why it's like, you know, white people historically steal from black culture.

Right. That's a fact. So America was founded off of terrorism and thief. So it's like old. I mean, that's all cultures, right? I don't think there's any culture there was just like, well, no, but you got to like, you got to look at the Roman Empire, right? They didn't do that. But you got to look at like even, you got to look at even how what the 2020 white.

girl wants to look like. Yeah, yeah. She wants to look cool. No, she wants to look black. Well, black's to find cool. That's what I'm saying. We're attracted to cool. No, but the problem is that the same thing

that black women will get hindered from, which are just natural, beautiful black features is the same thing white people will use to sprinkle onto their whiteness to just look cooler.

100%. I guess what I think we get lost. in the idea that black people are a monolith, right? Because not all black people are going to dress the same or look the same, etc. But cool is cool regardless, right? So, like, if you go to Korea, you can see a bunch of Korean kids. Dress like black kids. Dress like black kids, doing fucking, what is it, break dancing?

Sure. You know what I mean? We've got corn roast. So it's like, oh, that's the cool culture. That's what we're drawn to. I think, I think, now, I'm probably speaking a little bit out of term, but I don't think black people have a problem with y'all doing that. I think it's more about.

they have a problem with if y'all are doing that and being accepted then why when we do that we get chastised for that i think that's part of it also um not wanting people to revise history yeah you know what i'm saying like yo this was the genesis of this culture this was the genesis of this music it was rooted in blackness and a lot of times we all know they like to rewrite history and that's what it is and that's why it's like i understand that you know and that when i said like historically white people steal from black culture like when you look at hip-hop hip-hip hop was you know for us bias it was black created in Black Own and it was created for black people. And so when you have somebody white coming into it, it's kind of like,

here we go again, you know. And so I understand that it's delicate. And it's in until, and if you're white in hip hop, you have to contribute to black culture in some sort of fashion. Otherwise, you are simply repeating history by coming into black culture, using that as a medium to steal and profit for self. Yeah, I think it's like anything else. you just got to point where the originators.

Point where your inspiration came from. Like your inspiration came from this black artist, that black artist. To me, it's just like by paying homage, to be honest. No, that's cool. But you also, I think it's also about the music. You can't come into this from the vessel of hip hop and use the clothes and the language and the music and then go off and start doing something. Is weird to be there.

Are you talking about post Malone? No, I mean, I think. Sounds very posty. No, but I think that's like, I think, That's a fair example because I do think that that's, it's an interesting thing to look at from that lens of where, you know, you come in with braids and golds to the point people are thinking you're mixed.

And now, you know, you drink Bud Light and wear cowboy boots. Which is like, like, your music's phenomenal. I think Post Malone's music is phenomenal, but I think the caricature of how it came in compared to where it is now seems a little, it's a little interesting. One interview with this guy. It was white.

I was white again. You know what I'm saying? White Iverson was his first song. Yeah, it's just interesting. But he was smart for him. The thing is, the thing is he makes great music, you know? He makes great music and he's super talented. But yeah, I just think certain things like that, you know, those are fair critiques as far as like, yo, it feels like you came in and used hip hop because it's the coolest genre and the coolest look and aesthetic.

You used it to propel yourself to the forefront and then you reverted back to who you really were, you know, which I. And shit on hip hop in the process. Yeah, so I think that's a fair critique, but that's why I feel like for me, I just think it's going to be time as far as like, man, Russ has been putting out quality hip-hop. Like, I feel like I do hip-hop justice. I don't make a mockery of it. I don't portray any negative stereotypes. I don't feed into it. Like, I could go and post myself in the Gucci store spending 30K because even though Gucci's racist, I'm white.

They're not racist. to me so I could do it. But at the same time, if I'm in hip hop culture, which is black culture and Gucci's being racist, I can't be in the Gucci store blowing 30K. So you feel responsibility to the black culture? Because otherwise it's just like, oh, so you get to eat off of hip hop culture. But when someone is being disrespectful towards it, you're like, no, they're not being disrespectful towards me.

I'm white. Yeah. So even when you see other black artists still wearing Gucci and stuff, you'll still say, nope, I'm not going to do it. I can't. Because then it just looks like it looks like it's all pros and no cons for you. you know so I just think you gotta just be aware of what's going on I just feel like I do hip hop justice by speaking about the ownership of what needs that because I also think that the solution to young

disadvantaged black kids getting taken advantage of by white label owners lack of information is lack of information and the solution is ownership the solution is is owning your music putting it out the internet having your fans shooting the videos edited da da da da going on tour like you don't have to deal with them but the solution is ownership um so i just think i just think that i do do hip hop justice i have a message like

and i've said it before like y'all talk about you know which is fine spending $13,000 in the Gucci store I brag about 13,000 hard tickets and I feel like if that makes me arrogant then I suggest you move the goalposts because why is $13,000 in a

lucci store towards a company who doesn't like black people. Why is that received so much better than somebody saying you should be bragging about something 13,000 tickets? Do you guys think in the future, like rap music will just become so synonymous with American culture that someone like you won't feel like an outsider in it in the same way that like basketball is so synonymous with American culture? I don't think it's a bad thing to feel like an outsider. I think that's white people's problem. Here's the problem with white people. Right. Like everything about everything, white people are included in everything.

Hipops the one thing and saying the M word is the thing that they're not included in and they feel just like disgusted. Stupid hill to die on. And it's like, yo, for once, you know what? Yeah, this isn't for you. It's not by you. And that's what it is. And it's okay to feel like an outsider like minorities have been the outsider to everything forever. So you know what?

If hip hop is the one thing where white people are the outsiders in, I don't know if that balance should shift. I'm fine with being the outsider. I just want to contribute in a positive way. And I do want my credit for contributing in a positive way. Now, I would understand, right, if I came into this face-tatted,

like wearing the hip-hop costume, you know, face-tatted, and I'm talking about this type of shit, and I'm doing this, just, you know, if I was on that type of aesthetic. but I'm not a gimmick. I'm not making a mockery of hip hop or black culture. I'm trying to do it justice by, you know,

staying true to the message of hip hop, which I think is underdog and freedom and ownership. And I just think that, you know, I'm cool with being an outsider as long as it's acknowledged that I am trying to help. If you won a Grammy, say it was in the best, what is it, hip hop rap category, whatever. Yeah.

If you wanted the one Tyler one, would you be upset? No, because I feel like the music that I make is hip hop music. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Did you see what Tyler said? I do, but Tyler's spot on. And I've always said, too, that I just said it in this interview too, that culture and urban is a euphemism. So that, like, white corporate people,

when you go to the label meetings and it's all these white guys who play softball on Sundays and they're like, you know, our urban department, it's like, say what you really mean, you know. Urban is just another word. I think they used to. And then people were like, stop saying that. started with that word And they were like, whoa, chill the fuck out

Are there another word with an end in it? Maybe put the end at the end. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't like the word urban because it sounds biographical. What does that have to do with music? Well, yeah, because it's... Geographical. Geographical, yeah.

Because, yeah, so I wouldn't feel away, but I will say on my first album there's really a wolf. You know, you submit it to the Grammys and then they listen to it and choose to put it somewhere. So, like, that's the other thing people don't understand too.

When you submit your music for the Grammys, you have to, first of all, you have to pick what you're submitting, then you submit. Then it's all these industry voters and whatever. They're in a hotel in L.A. And they have rooms designated for this room. Y'all are just listening to the pop submissions

and whatever. So Tyler could have not submitted to hip hop if he wanted to. No, he could have submitted to whatever he wanted, and they could have decided that, no, it's hip hop. Ah, so they could still move it. Yes, so when I submitted my, there's really a wolf album to hip hop,

they moved it to urban contemporary. What? Yeah, because I said it was too much singing to be rap. But now with the Tyler situation, Tyler's album was majority singing. So then it's like, well, so what do you really mean? What it really means is like, I don't know if we can call the black kid pop

and I don't know if we can call the white kid rap. Yeah, definitely. been going on at radio for the longest. Well, radio is still, radio is still race-related. Urban radio is black-dominated, and rhythm is where we all hang out together and pop is top 40 is white.

I mean, that's why at the end of the day, I'm not, you know, I'm fully aware why my song best on Earth is now top 10 at urban radio. There's... Wait, why is it urban? There's an urban... I hate that word, bro.

There's a... There's an urban... artist on my song. I'm not surprised at when you when you look at even, I always use this example, Machine Gun Kelly, who raps, right? He's a rapper.

Yeah. Raps super well, technically raps great. He had songs with Camilla Cabello or whatever that were number one at top 40. Nothing on Urban. So how do you have a rapper, a rapper on pop radio, but not on Urban?

And then vice versa, you have Post Malone who doesn't rap but gets Quaveon 21, which is the urban play. And that's why it shoots up the urban charts. You feel me? It's just playing the game, which I like, I understand. I get it, but it is, um, it is bizarre that it's still so separated at radio. But I, people like to see themselves reflected, right?

It's just audience. You remember Jeremy, Lynn played basketball for the Knicks? Yeah, of course. And you remember how crazy it was, Lin Sanity. And like, I would go to games and that shit felt like 50% Asian. It was crazy. Yeah.

And they just felt represented there, right? Sure. It wasn't like they hated watching. black basketball players or white basketball players. They just felt spoken for it. They felt spoken for. So maybe there's, maybe there's some white people that, you know,

when they watched Eminem, they were like, well, this is the first time I feel comfortable rapping along with it. That's why I've had the conversation of, you know, when people are like, well, when people are like being white, does it make it easier? And it's like 100% it makes it easier to be global because the reality is that the white kids in Belgium

are going to relate to me more than maybe a quavo off rip. Yeah. Because, like, when they see me, they see themselves. So that makes sense now. So it makes it easier to be global, which it's probably why I can go to Portugal for my first time and do the arena and sell it out. Humblebrake. But at the same time, yeah, but at the same time, can I, but there's the hip-hop media who still says who's Russ, because why? The same thing working for me globally is the same thing working against me hip-hop wise, which makes sense because hip-hop is its black culture.

So if it's easier for me to reach the global masses, which are, you know, the white kids in Belgium and Germany, but harder for me to reach the real essence of hip hop, which is black culture, that makes sense. And I can't be mad at that. And the hip-hop media probably thinks all your success comes from being white. Which that is a fair critique. I can't sit here and stop my feet. That is a fair, fair critique, which is why I just always resort it back to, though. But look, what I'm talking about, look at my messages, which is ownership, self-belief. and ownership is the key. And I'm not talking about blowing money at designers that don't like you and all these things. You know, it's like, you know, resort it back to what I'm talking about. I'm not coming in.

Why is it a fair critique? Because it's a fair critique because if I was black, would I be selling out the same shows in Portugal or would I need this? I'll tell you why, because a big reason why my first huge fan base in the Middle East was huge because they thought I was Middle Eastern. Oh, oh, let me take that back.

So if I was black, would they have thought I was Middle Eastern? No, you might not be selling out those shows in Portugal, but you might be selling out those shows in black and brown spaces. 100%. Well, that's when you give it and take. It's just like if I was black, I would be... It's actually a really big benefit. It's almost, it's like, it's kind of like obvious

because it's like, if I was black, I would be bigger in black spaces, but because I'm white, I'm bigger in white spaces. And that's why I can't sit here and be like, but why am I not bigger and black, bro, because you're not black. Like, it's just that simple. Or maybe black people just don't know yet. You know what I'm saying? But what I'm saying, I can't get frustrated about that because that is a fair thing.

That's like, that's fair. This goes back to the house situation too, though. It goes back to white people thinking that everything is old to them and like, how dare you exclude me from your conversation of it's like, no. But you got to appreciate your audience, regardless of who they are. No, for sure, which is why like I focus on my audience, but you can't stomp your feet and be like, but like why don't y'all fuck with me? Why don't y'all know? It's like, bro, like give it time

and also cut the entitlement out. You know, you're not entitled to a certain demographic just because you think you're dope. It's such an interesting conversation for me though because I see black artists who want more white fans. Yeah.

And then I see black artists who have a bunch of white fans who want more black fans. Interesting. You know what I'm saying? And then like even at radio when you talk about, I remember when Rihanna would never get played

on hip hop and R&B station. Right. Because she made pop music. Sure. So the pop stations used to just play Rihanna, hip hop wouldn't, which I used to didn't like because the pop stations would play Katie Perry. And if she put JuCJ on the record, the hip hop stations would play her too. Right.

So I didn't like that. But that's the obvious. That's what people do, though. That's why, like, you see, you know, when, and I love, like, I also wish that there was a more, because before I'm about to say, I'm about to say, I wish there was a more accepting space for artists to speak openly about other artists and certain moves without it always getting taken as

hate and I can't fuck with you like there should be more Shacks than Charles Barkley's in music where no we're playing the game too like I'm speaking from a place of experience can I just speak openly though go ahead right speak openly so like same thing with Katie Perry and JuCJ

it's the same reason why you see seea put Kendrick on the song same reason why Maroon 5 goes and gets Cardi B it's because it's mutually beneficial so Hardy B gets all the white fans from Maroon 5 Maroon 5 gets to go and get all the black fans from Cardi B. Got you.

And it's a win-win. But is it mutual? It is mutual. Hold on. Do you really think that all of Cardi B's fans are going? I got to check out that Maroon 5 concert coming up. I can tell you that Maroon 5 has a better chance of getting Cardi B's fans by doing a song with Cardi B. Who's getting more?

I feel like that way benefits Cardi. Maybe. I think that's the end of the day, it also makes, yeah, that's what it is. But it's not a given take. That's what I'm saying. I don't know the exact same. It's not the exact same thing. It's not that black and white, but what it is is that pop artists, this is traditional.

Pop artists have always used hip hop artists, black artists, to look cool. Yes, right. And that's because pop was never the cool thing. Right. Pop was always the kind of like your top 40 and corny. Yeah. I love Maroon 5 though and I love Top 40 music. But top 40 was always it's not cool.

Hip hop is cool. So cool, let's take a not cool thing, mix it with a cool thing. Maybe we'll end up somewhere in the middle. Because it can't be mainstream and cool. Those things don't go together. I'm about to say, what does hip hop do now to this pop music? It might... It's up to you, but...

It is, but... Not because the sound, but just because it's the most popular job. You don't want to be. Hip-up is the influence when you become pop music. That's as beautiful is that hip-hop is so cool that it is the most popular thing now. Yeah. Yeah, but if you call it pop, it loses all the cool. That's why you can't call it pop though.

You can't be cool like you said unless you're the underdog, right? You can't be cool if you're doing something that nobody else is doing. That's what makes something is cool. Well, that's why you have to be careful with your creative and artistic decisions, because before you know it, you've done too many mainstream looks and you are no longer that cool. Right.

You're not cool to your core. Right. That's when your core flip on you. No, you're not cool to all the people even want to go about you. Because when your core flips on you, then all those people that weren't your core, they're like, oh, you're not cool no more.

They say you're not cool. Exactly. Because the world of music revolves around hip hop as far as what's cool. Like, what are we saying now? Hey, everyone, what do we say? How are we dressing now? What do we do?

Like, they look to hip hop for what to do, what to do, what to wear, what to say, the whole thing. But the second you become not. cool to hip hop is the second you're just not cool in general and you better just go over there sit with the guitar and sing some pop songs right and try and make some shit shake how do you forgive yourself for your your past unhealthy mindset how do you um because i'm still here and it's and i'm alive and my family's healthy and i still have everything i want i realize that um

you know the worst moment in life that happens like the sun comes up tomorrow you know what i'm saying Like you still end up having to go through it. So it's just, it's just always a little bullet points. Like, yeah, that was really fucked up. But you know what? I did make it through. I'm standing here today.

And I can't let that, like, define me. You just kind of, you got to grow from it. And just forgive yourself. I look back at certain interviews or certain things I said. And I'm like, no, you know what? I get it. I understand that that guy was, he was head hunting. That's why I say in the flute song,

I've been on my Kobe number eight shit because it's like, when Kobe was number eight, he was headhunting trying to prove himself in the league. And, you know, when I first came into this, I was very much so, like, in survival mode. Like, nah, I got to prove to everyone that, like, you guys are only doing a thousand tickets. I'm doing a thousand and one tickets and did it.

Like, all these things, just to try and prove that I belong and, like, solidify my spot. But then time passes and you realize your spot isn't going anywhere. You're in your own lane. And, like, man, I was kind of, like, going pretty hard. And, but I forgive myself because I should have been going that hard. I should have been. But now it's just about growing and kind of settling in and just taking your coat off, you know?

What about the people you had to beat up, man? I don't, I don't forgive. How many people? I think I've seen two videos. How many people got beat up? I've seen two. I don't know. I saw the most recent one.

I can't remember what year that what? What was the most reason? When the guy was standing outside the trailer? Was that smoke prop, that wasn't smoke part, wasn't? No, that was, that was guaped eye. I don't see. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't know. That's Russ. I'm like, look at Russ. I forgive. My guy. What's going on? What's going on? Who's global? Are you shaking?

So what happened? You never saw that one? No, I didn't. I'm like, the guy was standing outside the trailer. Yeah, yeah. Rush approached him like the fine. I thought I had a good inspiration.

A sweet guy made nice music. Russ wanted to have a conversation with him. Right. And I don't know what the guy said to you, but clearly you didn't like what. you say. No, it was more, it just comes down to this, right? Like, I feel like we're all, I hate when people like, I'm a grown ass man. I hate that because it's like, what are you trying to overcombat say for? But we're all grown ass man. And it's like, you know, if I don't know

you and you don't know me, we don't have mutual friends, we've never talked before, and you diss me in a song. Now, granted, is it a diss like, fuck you and your mom forever, did it? Nah, but it's like, it wasn't a positive thing. It was a dis. So if you just diss some random rapper or some random man that you don't know. in a song. And then your trailers are crossed of mine and you see me walking up to you with 20 people and you know that

like I have no interaction with you prior to any of this. All you know is that here comes a guy that I dissed in a song. You never met before that or anything. Ever. So it's like, what do you think this is about to be?

Yeah. And it's just like, a prayer circle. Clearly all of these guys are here for prayer. Yeah. No, yeah. I was asking for the feature. Yeah.

No, but it's like, you know, even with smoke prayer, I never really intended it to go there. I was perp with him. I approached them face to face and I just asked like, yo, what was that about? What was this about? Same thing with Bob died.

I just asked him, what was it about? What's the confusion? And yeah, and I just said, why I mentioned my name and song. And, like, you know, he puts his phone down and pulls his pants up and starts turning his head. And, like, if somebody that you diss that you don't know from anywhere

is in your face talking to you and you're turning your head and doing this pulling up your pants, I'm thinking, oh, you're about a swing on me. Yeah. So I'm just like, fuck, I wasn't even trying. trying to go there, but I'm definitely not getting hit in my mouth, so I'm going to hit you and yours. Right.

That's all it was. But, like, it didn't have to go there. You could have been like, yo, my fault, like, that was some dumb shit. My father shouldn't even mention you. Why am I a grown-ass man thinking about another growing-ass man, why I'm writing a verse? That's a little weird. And it could have just been that. In this era, the internet, it is always better to swing first.

Now, I'm not encouraging violence. I'm just telling you that when the cameras are out, right? Like, if Russ would have hesitated just a little bit and this guy swings, then people come to break it up. Now the headline says, yo, guap dad, swings on Russ. Put it like this. If I got swung on, the same hate would have happened except worse. They would have just been like, you got beat up. Bro, got stomped out.

It's like, well, shit, at least you could say whatever. And the whole narrative, like, you're getting people jump. It's like, who cares? What are you talking about? Getting people jump? Like, if, first of all, if I swing and then my friends and your friends start fighting, I don't know if that, is that getting somebody jumped? Did he have a lot of friends with him too?

He had people with them. And the craziest thing, I don't want to say on this too long, but the craziest thing is when I swung on him, he ran, which you can see in the video, he ran. He saw it. And his skinny-ass white friend photographer stayed back and was fucking with it. Which, like, we were all like, yo, we should hire him. He's fire. He stayed behind and took your ass beating.

Like, how you let this skinny-ass white kid take your ass beating, and you ran off. Are you saying white people are more brave than black people? Is that my God on this podcast right now? I just thought that. You must not see who's back in Russ. I just thought that. Dude, you better, you better look at Russ.

This is black up. All right? Okay. Right. Right. They steal shit from black people. They steal ass-beians. They steal all the things, man.

It's a fucked up situation. I thought that was pretty telling, you know. You think that y'all could ever be cool? You think you could be cool with any of these guys moving forward? I'm not a hater. So, like, I always say, like, if smoke perp drives a hard ass on today, I'm bumping. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I thought gupped out wearing a 10-foot durag was sick.

I commented on the Instagram post. I was like, this is amazing. You said that? Yeah. What people say, I didn't even see that. What do people say when you said that? I don't know. It was amazing.

That's fire. I don't like, I'm not a hater. Like, but you disrespecting me and you diss me. And then when I walk up to you, you start acting weird. So I'm just going to handle it accordingly. And if that means whatever, then it means whatever. And if I'm gwopped at it, I'm probably like, fuck you for life too, which I get. But at least you know now, like at the end of the day, bro, all these people, I never started

with them. I didn't say shit to y'all. Y'all diss somebody. Call me out my name and you got punched in the face for it. Move on. Question. How long does a jumping last? It wasn't a jumping.

It wasn't a jumping. Or just like a squabble like that. Like at what point do you like, I think we're done punching. What? You didn't see the video? No, but he ran away. Oh, he was a good,

he was running. You guys aren't quick? What's going on, guys? No. No, I'm saying. He's turning this way. They turn their head like, yo, bro. What are you talking about?

Bro. How do you can get them. Get them some cardio, bro. No, what I'm saying, like, you could watch the video. Like, he ran away. his friend stayed back to fight. He ran away, which like, I get, I guess, but it's like, it wasn't that serious. Like, I only swung because I thought you were going to swing.

I should wait for you to swing. Yeah, no, never wait. Yeah, so. Yeah, I don't want to encourage violence, but I'm ending. But you know what I always, here's what I always, here's what I always, here's what I, here's why I just want to end it and then let's move on. But the reality is a lot of people because I'm me and it's easy to be like fuck Ross, L Russ. That's nice. Go to chapter one.

Just ask this person, this grown up. man, guap dad or smoke perp or Adam 22 or whoever, just ask them, yo, why did you randomly just start talking shit about another grown-ass man who you've never met? Right. Just ask them that because if not for that. If not for that. Is that what you think it is?

If not for that. No, I'm being serious. Why do you think? I have, because it's easy, because I'm telling you because it's easy. Oh, you think they're taking advantage. They think it's just you, bro. Like, I'm white. I'm short.

I sing love songs sometimes. It's easy, bro. Like, I get it. They think it's an easy lick. I get it's an easy. I'm going to say this. People won't think I'm real. I'm going to get retweets.

You know what, bro. People can say whatever they want to say at the end of the day. At least you know that if you diss Russ in a song, there is a high chance you're going to get punched in the mouth for it. Can you jump no jumper? What? Can you jump no jumper? Is that a trick question? I'm not.

No, I'm just saying. That's what he did you? Yeah, yeah. But, like, me and Adam. had a conversation? Yeah, me and Adam talked and it was like, and we squash everything and we're cool. Was this after he saw what you was working with as far as your crew? Yeah, like, no, me and Adam are cool as far as I know. But it's just like, I just think it's just, it is unfortunate for it to ever go to a violent place. But unfortunately, for a lot of people, that is the only language they understand.

Money is that violence. Because it's like, it's not real enough till it's on your doorstep. Yeah. So it's like, who you could tweet back at me all day. I'm not going to, I've never once like, I don't know, I'm not. doing the Twitter shit with y'all so I want to talk to you about a couple more things um you know you you have discussed openly you know your problem with artists promoting drug use yeah so when you see a mac miller pass away rest in peace mac miller when you see a juice world and lexy uh yeah yeah from Minnesota yeah yeah when you see these people pass away mm-hmm i don't want to say big i don't think uh spike in the football is the right word you know what i'm saying but yeah a reason to come back and say look i This is what I was trying to explain me up.

I told you some moment. No, because I don't think, I think that's distasteful. But I think that it is, you know, it's sad that that happened. And I think, I think unfortunately a lot of times with them, I don't know if it was, if it was so much of a crazy addiction problem with like a Mac Miller or a Lexi or now, I don't know. I'm just like, hypothetically, I don't know, but, or if it was just one night you took one too many, things and you're partying and just fuck

it's a lembiz situation you take Coke one time in your life and then it just fucks up but um I will say that I did find it sad that it took that and then a juice war situation for a lot of artists who have tried to you know reprimand me publicly

it took that for them to come out and say man I've been fucking up talking about drugs and this is whack and I'm going to go to rehab now and it's like oh so that's what it took sometimes you gotta remind people though right you gotta remind people that this is what I was trying to tell. No, but the reality is like, unfortunately, for a lot of artists who had a problem

with me saying what I said about rappers glorifying drug abuse as if it's a game, it took three overdoses for y'all to finally hold yourselves accountable, which I think is pathetic. But it's like what you said about being on your doorstep. Them people realize. Because then it's like your friend died. So now you're like, oh shit, I should stop posting pictures smiling next to lean like it's cool. And you know what? I'm tripping.

I got kids looking up to me. It's like, damn, bro, it took you three overdoses for you to realize. that you have kids looking up to you? Do you not look at your followers? I don't get it. Do you get caught up in it, though, when you listen to, like, a future song, and it's great music.

It makes it sound cool? Yeah. And it sounds. I don't even know half the things he's saying in the song. It just sounds fun. Yeah, no, it sounded fun. That's why when I was 19, me and my friend, we wanted to go try lean because it sounded fun,

and then we just didn't do it. And people got on me for that when that clip went kind of around the internet. Like, how are you 19 letting a, like, you're a grown-ass man, 19, talking about you were influenced to do something. I'm like, wait a second, is there an age limit on when you can be influenced to do something? Right. So you can't, like, if you're 35 and you listen to a rap song that makes you want to go do something positive, you're whack, you shouldn't be impressionable at 35.

It's like, bro, like, there's no age limit on when you can be influenced by, like, 19. And you're acting like I was 39 talking about, yeah, you maybe want to try lean. Like, I was 19 and y'all are 35 tempted to scam because you heard it. So shut up. How do you count it at in your music? How do you counter the celebration of the drug culture in your music? Because I feel like it's got to be records that encourage people not to do it, right? Yeah, but then that comes off a little too.

I do have a song called, that's not out. It's over a boy, one to beat called The Kids. That kind of speaks on it a lot. But you don't want to come off to like wagging the finger and preachy. But you just kind of want to provide an alternative, like a different song that, you know, isn't talking about that. But I do think artists need to hold themselves accountable. And I love Future's music too. I think future making it and grinding and doing all that is great.

But I do think at the end of the day, if we're just being real, you have to hold yourself accountable as a 36-year-old man or whatever he is and someone who's come on an interview and said that you don't even do the drugs you were talking about. Which all that says is that you're literally just doing it to poison and entertain. And I don't know if that's great because... No, it's not great. At that point, at that point, the culture is hyena-driven. It's we eat our own because...

you have come on an interview and said, no, I'm not even doing the drugs I'm rapping, but I just know y'all want to hear that, which really says to me, I'm not getting high, I'm not overdosing, y'all are, that's great, I'm going to keep giving you

the background music for it because it makes me money. That's a part of the problem. We've seen this movie before, though. I mean, you had rappers back in the day who would rap about all of this gangster shit that they was doing. Yeah.

And they weren't, but they got people locked out of the process. Exactly. You know, and they were doing it all for just entertainment. Look, I have no problem with so-called negative. Can I cut you all? off a quick because when people because I know what people are going to say to that which is well if someone if someone makes you want to

go do something fucked up because of a rap song then you're weak minded no it's like okay but hold on a second does someone make you want to go do something positive in a rap song does that mean you're weak minded because influence is influence influence has no negativity or positivity if you listen to a song

and it makes you want to go do something if you listen to changes by Tupac and it makes you want to go be positive yeah does that mean you're weak minded no so just on the flip side, it doesn't, you know. Humans are impressionable. That's what it is. And music is supposed to inspire.

Artists are inspiring people. Music is inspiring. So you have to be careful with your platform because you have to understand that it might inspire you to do something negative or bad. If I make a song called Go Get Money and then I make a song called Go Do Lean, I can't be like, you're weak minded if you only listen to the Go Do Lean version. Like, no, bro. People are impressionable.

People are influence. I mean, that's why we have advertisements. That's it. That's what commercials are every day. That's what I'm saying. It's a car commercial McDonald's. And Loki, maybe we should look at athletes like that too. Because every time I see LeBron in a McDonald's commercial, I'm like, you don't eat this shit.

Right. You know, like, so it's like you are the pinnacle of health. Right. And you out here telling kids that East Ship that's giving them heart attacks. So it's... I talked about that shit last night when I got off to playing McDonald's. The only thing opened. And I was like, I should go get some fucking fries in a quarter pound of.

LeBron eats that shit. LeBron needs that shit. The Bron is that shit. LeBron is in the McDonald's? All of them, yeah. I think especially in hip-hop, songs are commercials for the lifestyle, you know. And so I think that if your song, which is the commercial for the lifestyle you're selling, if your song is talking about using drugs or whatever, you cannot be surprised that people

watch your commercial, aka your song. It was like, wow, that sounds like a great idea. And then you turn around and be like, y'all shouldn't do it, though. I always say you can't live this, do as I say, not as I do. You can't live like that. So my dad used to sell me when I was selling credit. Don't do what I do. Do as I say. You sell crack too, my motherfucker. I won't hear that shit.

Right, right. But it's like my dad used to tell me too. You can't tell you. I couldn't tell my little sister, do as I say, not as I do. Like, my actions speak. So, you know, like, you could be on the grandma, telling people, you know, don't give money to these designers. They don't fuck with you and don't buy jewelry. Don't waste your money on it. But if your selfie video is coming from a place of you're wearing Gucci and 10 chains on your neck, I don't know if it really resonates.

It just seems a little fake, you feel me? It's entertainment. It's sad. because when you're young, not even when you're young, but just humans are impressionable and it's hard to discern what you should and shouldn't do.

And if you don't want to be looked up to, and if you don't want to be a place and or a source of inspiration, then stop rapping. You feel me? Then stop rapping, but you cannot get on a song, promote something in your music,

and then be surprised when people turn around and do it. You are part of the problem. That's that simple. That's why you can't say you're not a role model, because you are. Whether you want to be or not. It comes with the dinner.

You have millions of people looking at you. That's a role model. Like, deal with it. Like, look at Wiz. Whiz had the whole fucking world with a blonde streak in their hair wearing Chuck Taylor's. You know what I'm saying? Which is fire.

I thought that was a birth defect. I didn't know he was actually, I don't know he was dying it. I thought, like, you know how some people have like patches that are like, they have no pigment in their hair. Like a Vitaleigo. Yeah, that was like a hair vitiligo. And then someone was like, no, it's a choice.

I don't know. Yeah, no, but it's like that type of thing. Like, that's influence. And so when Tyler the creator has people who dress like him, like all these things you're influencing people. So if you think that, you know, I know for me when I put out music and it's these, you know, the times where it's these inspirational songs and do it myself and the manifest and it's on your head, that's going to inspire someone to go and do something positive. But as as easy as I can make you want to go, you know, fuck the world up and be great and just seize the day is as easy as you could go. I could inspire you to go do some fuck shit. And an artist is trying to like shy away from like, ah, I just rap about it, but like don't do it.

It's like, no. Your music has more influence on you than you do. Yes. It doesn't make any sense. It's funny. It's like, I'm never, once again, that is not going to go over where. I'm letting y'all know now when y'all watch this, I'm aware you're going to have an issue. But the reality is that it's the truth.

And when 20 years past, I'm on the right side of the fence. Because I don't need to wait for overdoses to happen to be. like, wow, maybe we should be careful about what we're talking about. Like, y'all, like, get with the program. You feel me? That's the, that's the funniest part when, like, rappers start supporting politicians. And, like, you see all these rappers coming out and talking about different people. How could Trump speak this way?

It's like, do you listen to you? Right. He talks about women that's like, listen to one song did you have. After what happened with Joe Rogan last week, I'm shocked at more. Oh, fuck, shit, man, and these fake... We'll talk about that. All right. I'm shocked more people who have...

gotten on people for their rapper endorsements. Well, you know what it is? It's actually, you know what that feels like? It feels like almost like a disassociation. Like, rappers are not aware of the power that they have. Yes. It feels... You're not a painter.

It just feels like, bro, are you aware of who you are? Yeah. Maybe they're not. I think that it feels... Well, they don't want to be. It's either you're absolutely unaware or you're in denial that you have that much pull. You know what it is?

You probably have experienced this. If you, the Migos and you grew up in a social... certain part of Atlanta, around a bunch of brothers and sisters that look like you, they talk like you. You don't realize your influence that you go off to some far off country. And there's some white dude and there were tattoos on his face and this double cut, whatever it is, it dread. Then you're like, whoa. You know what I mean? Now you realize how powerful your voice is because you expect the people where you're from to gravitate towards it and you're to influence them. But when you go somewhere else and you see the power of your influence, wow. I feel like this.

I feel like music since the day it started, and this is like the message I really want to give, Music since the day it started has raised kids. Of course. Has helped raising kids. So I think what is going to happen, start happening, what's going to be the turning point is a lot of these rappers are having kids. And I think a lot of these rappers, maybe not in an interview they would say, but I think a lot of these rappers would agree that they don't even want their kids

living the lifestyle they're rapping about. Absolutely. So the truth is that, but you're raising kids all around the world. Now that you have one of your own, you're like, wait, maybe. like if you're if you got to tell your kid don't listen to my music or if you do just understand it's all rap and it's all entertainment how convenient that your kid gets to have

you in his ear but the kids around the world don't and so you know when kids all over the world are getting fucked up because they don't have you in your ear telling them it's not real it's just wrestling then a lot of movies though real quick no to his point a lot of artists don't get there and what I mean by that is they don't get those 10 year runs

to grow up and evolve like Jay Z Jay Z can give you 4-4 4 that's why I love Jay Z because he may kill You know what I'm saying? But he can do that. A lot of guys don't last that long to give you that. Yeah. At what point do we not censor, right?

I'll tell you the thing with movies. We were raised by movies and TV. The context of movies is its acting. Entertainment. Hip hop, the context of hip hop is that it's supposed to be the truth. 100%. And they're different. I do think they're different.

Hip hop is not supposed to be acting. That's what makes hip hop hip hop. It's supposed to be real. So if you're now saying, well, everyone should know hip hop is not real. Right. And now we're changing the essence of what hip hop is. Right. So listen, do me a favor of Russ.

When shake the snow globe goes number one, right? Yeah. I want you to put on a white Terry cloth. Sure. And just do like this on Instagram and say, I am Jesus. I'm not mad at that. That's how I was going to come out of my next show. That's how I was going to come out of my next show.

I'm serious. I'm serious. That'll be crazy. Which is fog at my feet. Yeah. Yeah. Good to see you, man. Good to see you.

Glad you can pull up. I want to ask you about Kobe, though, because I know. Yeah. Yeah. I think people like, we talk about this a lot. When I say we, I just mean like my friends and my like, I always call them just like my counsel. We just talk about everything in group chat. But people like Kobe and people like Nipsey are legendary because of the legacy they leave behind, which is a mentality. A lot of people, a lot of artists who have passed away, will pass away, whatever, it's hard to honor. them. If you look at a lot of artists right now, how would you honor a lot of these artists right now? If you look at the landscape of hip hop, what would you do to honor some of these people? And there's nothing

to do. Are you going to buy a chains to honor? Like, yo, in your honor, I'm buying a protect today. It's like, okay, I guess. But, you know, when you look at Nipsey, Nipsey had the marathon continues. Like, it's a real mentality. Like, some of you can apply to your life. Everyone can apply it. Absolutely.

And, you know, everything. Kobe, Mamba mentality, locked in, focus, Lays it in. Like mentality. So I think for me, that's why like people like Kobe and Nipsey are the ones. Those are the people that do change the world because they impacted by leaving behind a mentality. Like, you know, I listen to Nipsey every day.

But what I do more than listen to Nipsey songs, I listen to the mentality left behind. I live it. I honor him by like living it. I can hit you talking about ownership. Yeah. Same with Kobe. Like, it's like I'm going to try and do my.

best to be the best version of myself and stay going to the gym, which for me is my studio and stay locked in. But that's why I am, like, I'm proud of myself that even the little amount of time that I've had the space to speak from, I've left behind a mentality. I've put out a book. I've given people tools to, it's self-belief, it's manifesting, it's ownership. And so I know I've left a real mark. If I die today, I know there's a mentality left behind.

I mean, I'm a perfect example of it. Yeah, right. Thank you so much. There's all these comics out here. No, I mean, like, you didn't know that you influenced me like that. And there's all these comics out here that they think I've influenced them, but that really came from you. And that's a trickle effect.

That's a domino effect. But that's beautiful. But that's beautiful. But you talk about mentality or religion or, you know, ideology. Like, yeah. It's so true. That's something that really does live on forever. I never thought about it in terms of, we often think about legacy in terms of numbers,

but it's not about numbers. No, because stats can be broken. No, it's how you, like, what do you do the, what does that? Faith without works is dead. Faith without works is dead. So it's really to work. because, like, if you can pass on work, if you can pass on the action.

Yeah, the mentality. Yeah, not the end result. No. That really lives for as long as it's effective. Yeah, because Kobe stats can be broken. No one's like, I'm going to the gym at 430. Yeah. That's the mentality.

I'm not afraid of you. I'm going at you because that's my mentality. And I'm going to own the gym. And I'm going to, but it's the mentality you leave behind. And I encourage artists and just people in general to leave behind a mentality. Have you thought about what your mentality would be called? My mentality is do it yourself. and self-belief.

That's what it really is. And that's why it's all in your head is that book, to me, I'm sorry to the fans of the music, but that book is more important than any song I've ever dropped. Because that book is my mentality in book format. Yeah. And so when I die, before you listen to any song of mine, read my belief system.

Yeah. Because if you apply this to your life. That's the religious text. As opposed to just the songs, that's going to help you. And that's what I'm leaving behind. That's why I feel like I can, and pat myself on the back because I did give back. I did contribute to the world.

I left the world a better place than how I found it. And I feel like Nipsey left the world a better place than how he found it. And Kobe did. And a lot of these people, like I said, it's just, you know, yeah, you bring joy to people with your music and that's cool. But, you know, when you're gone, how do we honor you? We're going to go to the Gucci store. We're going to go buy a watch.

And then, like, half of us can't do that. So then what do we do? We're just going to listen to your songs. It's like. Smoke perp. It's true. No. Shake the snow glow out at midnight.

My man, motherfucking rush, man. Yo, thank you so much for coming, man. It's meant a lot to me. I'm glad we got to meet. Yeah, me too. I appreciate you. Thank you. This is amazing.

My man.