The Questlove Show - Questlove Supreme: DJ Drama Part 2

Episode Date: November 23, 2022

In part 2 of DJ Drama's Questlove Supreme interview, the Grammy Award-winning DJ and executive opens up about the 2007 FBI Raid that was intended to end his mixtape operation. Instead, Drama adapted. He speaks about building Generation Now and ushering Lil Uzi Vert and Jack Harlow to stardom. Drama also tells Questlove how much The Roots have meant to his journey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Actually, I don't. But anyway, we are back with part two of Quest Love Supreme's episode with DJ Drama. Now, don't forget, this was filmed on location in Atlanta, Georgia, and we recorded this episode in TI Studio, which is really a dope spot. So make sure you watch or listen to part one. That's where drama, you know, my homie from CAU, talks about his Philly upbringing, his respect for Questlove and The Roots, and making critical inroads with T.I. and G.Z.

And Foniest Tribe in Atlanta. All right, y'all, let's get ready. Here we go with part two. As a mixtape DJ, you're locking it down. But as far as now when you're DJing in clubs, If I'm hiring you to DJ a party in 2006, 2007, how long, like, how long is your set? And are you doing just exclusive stuff that is exclusive to you? Or are you still just like doing regularly DJ stuff?

So really what wound up happening was around that time, I actually wasn't doing a lot of gigs because I then became DJ drama and I went literally from getting paid $300 from doing parties in Atlanta to them not being able to afford me. And then I was also tips DJ, so I was on the road, so I didn't really,

I wasn't doing a lot of my own gigs. I would, I would hear and there, I would get higher, but I would probably do like a two-hour set and I would, you know but this is a still a time when like so i guess sorado was already out right so i would do like big gigs like i remember when vibe had like the vibe

something down here and outcast perform like they will book me for that or like bt will book me and you know i was just i was playing like i would mix it up i mean i would do what was hot but i would also you know kind of play some gangster grow shit so are you a business in terms of like now you have a manager and an agent and a staff yeah a office space like definitely we had walker street was our was our was our was our office shout to jeanise jeanise worked for us um we had i had uh jason brown was was handling all the distribution Orlando mcgee was my first manager and yeah because then I got the opportunity to get an album deal. I mean, I literally met with every label at one point

as far as their interest in signing me as a DJ to do a Gangster Girls album. And based upon my loyalty and I had known the building, I signed to Grand Hustle Atlantic. But yeah, I definitely had staff and a manager and, you know, the whole nine. So with dedication?

Like, how did that come to? I was on the bus with Tip. We were on the Urban Legend tour. He was on the phone with Wayne. I heard him talking to Wayne, and I was like, yo, let me holler at him. So I remember being on my bunk, and I just got on the phone with him,

and I was like, what's up? And I was like, you know, and at that time, Wayne was doing his squad up. Yeah, the squad thing. So I was using a lot of those songs on Gangsta Grill. So I knew he was kind of in his mixtape bag. And I was like, yo, you know, we got to get one. And he was like, yeah, you know,

I mean, he was already familiar with me. And I remember coming off tour for a time, and I went to Stankonia and met with Wayne and Tess, and we just kind of like went over. I brought on a bunch of instrumentals, just options of things to wrap on and things in that nature. And I literally just came up with the name Dedication, just like, let's call it dedication.

And he was like, all right, cool. And Rob Petrozo, who used to do all my artwork, came up with the cover, which was, you know, legendary. Right. And, you know, because by that point, Gangsta Grills was a brand, like, you know, when I was moving them throughout the southeast or up north or what have you, people were already like, okay, if it's a gangster grills, like, we need it, we want it. And the Wayne tape, you know, I remember when he sent me to music and listening, and I was like, yo, this shit is different. This is not the wobbly, wobbly dropping like his hot kid. Like, he's on some shit, like some real bars on.

here and you know when we I did the tape and I kind of I had known like yeah this this is this is a moment you know I'm saying and then it really turned into a moment and so it was like it was like back to back for me because I just did trap or die and then dedication happened and it was like Wayne was on fire from you know Carter to dedication to you know coming into his own and so here I am And again, this kid from Philly went to school in Atlanta, who's now the king of the mix tapes with Tip GZ and Wayne, or like who are the hottest guys not only in the South, but now in hip hop. And it was like, I'm in the mix. Like, I'm the platform for, you know, what's getting these niggas hot. In your mind, and this is before, you know, the feds and the RICO stuff, but like in your mind, what was the end game?

Are you like, great question. Let me start. Like, when do you, you're like, hey, I need to be puffy. Or I need to start my label. Or I need, like, because in your mind, you're like, whoa, I was just in college. You know, seven years ago. Now, like, I determined what the future is. You know what it really was?

When I first got hot or got popular or became that guy, the only thing that I told myself is, yo, okay, you guys. got here, like from 92 to 05, like, there was a lot of leg work to get here. Right. You got to stay here, Dram. Like, I didn't know how or what it was going to be, but I just told myself, like, yo, like, you've got to stay relevant, like, somehow, some way. And it happened in a lot of forms.

I mean, my brother over here, like, when, at the time, when Gangster Grill's was known for trap music and southern hip hop to an extent, you know, at the same time, like, they, their performance, it was at Apache Cafe or Yan Cafe. It probably is Apache. It was Apache. And the little brother had a show, and the bus was outside of the venue. And I came on the bus, and we sat down. And I told them, like, yo, I'm a huge fan.

I have been for some time. and then, you know, they told me the same in return. And they were like, what do you think about doing the gangster grills? And I was like, what? What are we waiting on? But around the same time, I was getting pushback from various people like, wait, you're going to do a tape with who, little brother and Farrell? Like, that's not gangster grills. Like, how does that make sense?

And, you know, I've always looked at myself like John Singleton and Martin's Cross. Like, I make, I can make boys in the hood. But then I can go and make poetic justice and I can make higher learning and I can make baby boys. So that was how I approached this. So the fact that people were like pushing against this is not a platform for little brother was like so like put a battery in my back.

Not only like what are y'all saying, my shit's not, and I say on the tape. He said, yeah, you thought my shit wasn't going to sound good on this? Yeah, like. And that was our mentality going into it, too. I mean, hence the name, you know, separate but equal. It's so iconic in so many ways. Like, how are you talking Wayne into, because, you know, to be on, it was kind of perplexing that he chose that beat.

Really? He chose that beat. You didn't even know I was going to ask you first. He chose that beat. All right. Wayne chose. And that just shows. Wayne rhymed over loving it.

Well, no, no, no. I'm talking about star. He rhymed over loving it. Yeah. Well, yeah. Like he. Hey, he rhymed over. Yeah.

He rhymed over a star And I'm like, God damn Like, he's killing our shit More than our shit I was so anti-Wain back then I ain't here, none of it That's crazy You missed dedication?

I was on the radio I was very anti all these things And that's what I was known for But I heard that little brother Joe's though That was those I got I just like You but you listen to the little brother

I did You know I did Don't do that So you wasn't in a gangster girl Oh yeah she's one of the ones Like when are you gonna do Another automatic release No no

No, no. So what? Like, because that's in you two. Yeah, exactly. Sing K. Yeah, exactly. But I'm saying like, like the Farrell. If my mind, I was like, did you, I was like, man, maybe he held Wayne to gunpoint like, you better rhyme over this Philly track.

Or not going to. Like. No, he was. He was just, he's from the flaw. Wayne is a head, man. Big giant. Wayne is a head. Fucking hip hop bit.

Yeah. You know. And for me, it was my, like, again, also coming from making automatic relaxations or coming from. coming from wanting to do this because of y'all, like, when little brother approached me and when Farrell approached me, it was so exciting for me because it was one, it was an opportunity to branch out. And then, two, it was an opportunity to, like, feel like I was giving back to my roots, no pun intended. Right.

But, like, like, what? Like, I could make a little brother gangster grills or Farrell gangster grills. Like, oh, man, once I open this door, that just opens the floodgates for, you know, for it to go in so many directions. And for us doing that, when we did separate equal, like, because my whole thing was like, I hated mixed, well, I love listening to mixtakes, but I didn't want to make a mixtape, you know what I'm saying?

Like, my thing was, if I'm gonna take time to write these original rhymes, I'm not putting them shits over somebody else's tracks. You know what I'm saying? Like, I can take them new rhymes, I can put over a new beat, you know what I'm saying? And that's a new jam. I love that our tape was like that.

Yeah, we only rhymed over like maybe one instrument, the rest of that shit was all original joints. Can we discuss the no drive? I'm a version, though? Like, you know I've had a... You saw it. Yeah, well, it's tough. Yeah, but yeah.

So... What's going on? Let's talk about it. Whatever I miss. What I missed? We did a... We did the tape. And that was in like...

We did Cerebral Eagle. That was like 06. It was 06. Yeah. So maybe like what, like shit, two years later. Like, we did a, we called a drama-free version. Because at the time when we were... Ouch.

Oh, I just caught that. Yeah, it was a drama-free version. Because we had the movie. Because we had the movie. But like all your drops on this stuff. But then if I'm not, if I remember this correctly, I think who we were putting it out, we were putting the project out with,

they just didn't want. Yeah, I mean, it was a tie. You know what I mean? Because retail wouldn't, they wouldn't put it in. Like you couldn't get in certain stores. They felt like it was a mixtape. Exactly. So we was just like, all right, well, here's the records.

And they was original records and they was our fucking records. So, you know what I mean? I get it. I mean, the fact that it was called drama free was definitely kind of made me sad. Oh, man. And it wasn't no, like, that wasn't a shot. It was just like, it was just like, okay.

Drama free. Like, there's no DJ drum on here. It's kind of catchy, though. I ain't mad at it. It's catchy as a motherfucker. It's shady. No, I'm just playing. Before the word shady was out.

I got it. I mean, they're not the, you know, they're not the first person to do a version of the tape without me. I mean, Crenshaw exists on, on streaming platforms without me on that. That one hurts too. Like, you know, like, that was a, I was part of, I was a part of Crenshaw. Aren't you the, the, the, the spice. I'm the bells and the whistles, yeah.

Like, yeah. Like, that was the thing about, that was one, I mean, hence why, because when I did the tape with Gizi, like, the music didn't exist without me on it. So all the DJs had to play the versions with me on it, and he didn't give it out without me on it. So you would go to the club and hear gangster girls all over because the music didn't exist without me on it. Sounds like a do-over.

Sounds like a do-over. I don't know. It's like almost hearing a Dilla Join without the siren and the Dilla Dilla Beach. Like he thought he was fucking this shit up. Like nobody would rhyme over this shit. To me that made it better. I mean, you know, I, like, to me it would hurt, like, I've never listened to the separate but equal drama free version.

Like, I don't even, it would hurt my soul to even hear it. To be honest, yo, this, I think the separate would equal drama free version. So, and it's crazy, I thought it's me and you have never talked about none of this shit. So, man, when we did that, we did that record, and I always just want to thank you, man, because I sent you those records. Like when I manager at the time, Doe, me and Poet finished everything, and I just put the records in a sequence.

I put all the songs in the sequence, skits, like everything. And I was like, I think this worked, but whatever, I'm sure Drom will do his thing, he'll change it up, whatever. I trust him. And so when they sent it back, we were on tour, and Doe was like, yo, Drom just sent the joint. And I was like, all right, cool.

And I opened it up because this is, you know, MP3s. So you will open it and see the track list in first, before you loaded the shit up. And you kept the track listening the exact same way I did it. And I was like, holy shit. You know what I mean? Like, that was just a big honor.

Well, when I listened to it, and I heard it and then I heard it in the way that the skits were and everything. Like, I'm not, like, you know, I know part of my job is, you know, there's people that want me to put it in an order or however to do my thing, but I'm not going to mess with something

that's already dope, you know what I'm saying? So for me, it was already like, okay here's my bells and my whistles but if this shit flows the way it flows like why change perfection you know what I'm saying so I always appreciated that man

bro like I mean you like the little brother in the Farrell tape like came out at a time and it came out literally like back to back and those tapes are so important to me because again like you know from where I come from from the cloth that I come from and for what I was being known for at the time and not

that I was fighting against it, but it was like, yo, I wanna show the world like I am hip hop, like to its full, like I am from the cloth, you know what I mean? And to be able to do those two projects where like, it made me like, it made me like, no, we both had a point to prove. Because you had, we both had a point to fucking prove

because for you, you know, you said it was proven like we were from that cloth. For us at that time, you know, we were coming off the minstrel show and it was just like, ah, them niggas, they just some backpack hate niggas. And it was like, no, we fucking rap. You know what I mean?

And it was just like, look, it don't matter if it's trap shit, whatever. Like, just be dope, you know what I mean? So it was like even that, in that sense of what people were looking at was southern hip-hop. And then, you know, us doing that tape and separate but equal, like, as a title. And y'all being from the South, like, it all just made, it was, it was great. It was a great moment. No, it really was, man. And that was just, I'm so thankful that, you know, our paths, like, crossing the way it did.

That shit was amazing. Amazing. I know that you rehashed the story. over and over and over and over and over again. So I'm trying not to beat an already dead horse that you move past. I mean, the question is basically, like in 2007, I'm trying to figure out how an industry that utilizes you to break open their artists.

Like, and again, I'm a staunch East Coast head, you know, Tarek himself, listening to nothing but your mixtap. So this is how I'm learning about Wayne. This is how I'm getting my education on what I need to learn about the rest of America and step my niche. And I'm trying to, like, and I understand that there was a period between 2003 and 2008, especially like with record labels not knowing, like, if they're going to survive now,

the streaming culture. Like, you know, we already had the... Lime, a Napster. Yeah, like, Go and Napster. Yeah, like around 2003, whatever, like, that shit starts. But I'm trying to figure out how, like, you were definitely utilized and used. Right, by the labels. To break open people.

Like, so just in general, and not like from a one to ten, how shocked were you when you came home and like, wait, what the fuck is this? Like, did you have an inkling of a clue, like? None. Or even when the shit was selling, like, how? Hotcakes. 12. Even when she was selling like hotcakes,

was there any person that was sort of like, have you ever received pushback from anyone that like you rhymed an instrumental over and like, James like, hey, why did you use fron

or why? Never. It wasn't on the artist. Like that was a badge of honor to have someone like wrap over your dog. It wasn't that. So I mean, we,

there's a, there's a lot to unpack here. Right. Again, I know I've told the story. One part about it is, first off, it shows the disconnect within the labels, right?

So as much as the marketing departments loved me or the mixed show departments or, you know, the promotion department, how much I meant to them, the legal department of a label didn't understand. They have a clue? They don't get it. Like, wait, what?

Like, that's not cleared. Like, we're not, you know, wait, hold on. So they're, you know, I was friends with, the promotions and the marketing side, but yeah, the legal department didn't, it didn't make sense to them. Why are we giving this free music out? And then this is also a time where

outside of my mixtapes, there were hundreds of other mixtapes that weren't sanctioned, that people were, you know, however getting MP3s, hacking, for whatever way they were getting them, music was coming out that people didn't give permission for. And then on top of that, around this time, these mixtapes, minds, and others started to show up in best buys and in targets and in Walmarts with barcodes on them.

And that, yes. So in that, you know, and that made it confusing. And I just spoke about this on Math Haifa because they brought up, you know, after I got rated, one of the people they asked about what do you think about what happened to DROM was Wayne. And Wayne said, play the game fair. DROM needs to play the game fair, smarter, like Clue or Calid or something of that. But is it the same? I mean, the reason why I never took offense to it is because, you know, when these, when these, because there was a street code that went along with mixtapes for promotional use only, right?

Everybody knew that we were making money and, you know, that's how I was supporting myself. But when the mixtape started to show up in the stores with bar codes, as an artist, I could understand how one could fill the type of way. It ain't promotional use for more. Yeah, because they're like, wait, hold on. Why is my shit in Target with a barcode? And I'm not seeing a dollar from it. Because they're okay not seeing a dollar if you're just selling it the way you're selling it.

To an extent. I mean, again, now looking back on it at the wise age of 44 that I am now, in my 20s, the type of money that I was making, I would, you know, I would have easily thrown someone at 25 or a 50 if I'm making X amount of dollars. Like just as a quick thank you, it would have been a nice gesture. Like, but, you know, on the other end, these guys are going and doing shows for $150,000, $200,000 off of what we've built together.

So, you know, I don't count anyone's pockets, nor did I feel like anyone should count mine. And to be fair, I mean, again, we've just talked about it now, But, you know, I never felt, you know, me and I can speak, you know, from my brother Poole as well. For us, it was never that. Like, we- Did ours show up with a barcode? No, it didn't. I was in a barcode. I remember, like, watching it on the news and seeing, like, when they was taking, like, the shit out.

Oh, they, separate. Several-eagles was there. Bro, I was like, what the fuck? You saw you're joining on the news shit. Oh, yeah, you see the goddamn police carrying your shit outside? I don't remember. Yeah, y'all's was there. Brah, that shit was nuts.

So, but, yeah, but. For us, like you said, it was just a code of honor. It was just understood. It's like, okay, we do to take, you know, drama, he's going to move it on our end. We'll do whatever on our end. We'll do press it shows, whatever. Like, it was just, you know what I mean? It was a mutually beneficial thing.

And it was like that for most people. But, yeah, I think all those things came into play. I think the fact that, you know, 2007 was a very pivotal year for the music business where, you know, it was a transition. And, you know, the bottom line wasn't adding up for them. them and there's many theories or conspiracy theories or, you know, let's take the big guy out to shut this down. However, you know, hence, I don't, you know, I do know that for a fact that people were told artists were told like, yo, if when, when drama situation comes up,

don't speak on it. Like, leave that alone. You know what I'm saying? Or, you know, nobody necessarily, people used to ask me in interviews, like, did you fill the type of way when nobody spoke up for you? And I was like, I don't know. Honestly, not really. Like, you know, like, there were a couple of people behind the scenes I talked to, you know, just that reached out or what have you. Yeah, well, us when you got, when it happened for us specifically. So, yeah, that was like 06. 07, we did the injustice for all.

Was it 07? Wait, we did the injustice for all. It was January, it was January, 07 when my shit happened. Okay, it was January of 7. So I think maybe it's the next year, maybe it was 08 or later that year. Anyway, we did Mick Boogie tape. and justice for all. I remember that.

Yeah, and I was telling me, I said, yo, so y'all did that before the raid or after the raid? That was after the raid. Got you. That was after the raid. Because I was telling me, I was like, yo, bro,

like, we got to get drama speaking on this because the first record on that tape was Can't Stop. It was a record called Can't Stop is where we was talking about that shit. And it was just like, I said, nah, bro, like, we got to get drum talking because they're not, they're not going, we're not letting them shut this shit down.

Like, fuck y'all. Amir, I felt the type of way. Like, I felt a lot of guilt at the time because I'm like, damn like this is a culture like I grew up loving you know I'm saying like and I can't let this shit die on my shoulders like like like damn you felt like you killed the mixtape game for a moment for a moment metaphorically literally yeah like I felt like damn the downfall of the fucking mixtape game is going to happen when I become the top of the food chain and like you know I spent a lot of time like you know I still went and put tapes out right after that and

How long was it until you Look both ways where you cross the street And like oh I put a tape by like a month Two after like I did like Gangster Grill's 16 and And was just talking crazy on there Like you know and I I remember the first big

The first big mixtape that I probably did Was Dedication 3 And then I remember you know that was after You know Wayne had went and said like Fuck mixtape DJs or fuck DJs Or something and then he called in My radio show and we cleared that up And then, you know, we went on to do Dedication 3.

But, yeah, I mean, again, I was like, you know, I had a point to prove, like, yo, I'm not first, you know, and then Atlantic Records called literally the next day, like, oh, my God, how fast can we get your album done? Like, we can't pay for this type of publicity. What? Was it Riggs? Yeah, because the record, was it Riggs? Riggs actually did all the skits on my first album.

Okay. So Riggs did the, I mean, it was literally Julie and Craig, and I think Kevin was still there. at the time and Kise and then they all called like, yo, we can't play for this type of publicity. How soon can you turn your album in? So, you know, my first single actually was titled Fed's Taking Pictures. Taking pictures.

Yeah. So, you know, I went to I won't a long record. You hadn't had it. Beneath the Diamond's Joy. Oh, I love that. I loved that. I loved that was the shit. For some reason, when that happened to you, I feel like a lot of people who knew you, we felt like it couldn't have happened to some better person who had resources or

prepared for it in a way. I don't know how to explain it to you. you, but we felt like we knew you were going to be okay because you were smart as fuck. Right. And because it, but is that another reason as to why it felt like it kind of came and went in a way, resourcing? Well, for me, I mean, you know, again, I mean, it literally made me more famous than I ever was. I mean, next thing I know. Oh, so you never had a crying moment.

You was like. The only crying moment I had is the next day I got out. And I wasn't familiar with what the RICO was. And then I called Tip and Tip was like, bro, they hit you with the RICO. like check your bank account my bank account said 0.00 after having six figures in it so I definitely shed a tear um but after that did they return your stuff like where is no they kept they so I had we had two accounts for a museum sake like where is that stuff well they gave back what they gave back the equipment they gave back one of our accounts they gave back the account that ironically was like the the label budget a

account with but the the the drama like the d or the DJ drama account that I had with where what most of the money was they kept that because they they said they couldn't differentiate what was what so we're keeping all of this but how long did it take the replace that it wasn't that long I started making money I mean you know I got it back I got back up you know so take me too long obviously it was a performative yeah actually like what was the the end result lesson to learn like yeah I mean what's the moral thing the story. The R-I-A, you know, and around that time, me and Cannon had kind of had a fallen out and, you know, we went our separate ways for a moment, but the R-I-Double A made us do this,

like, PSA where it was like, hey, kids, like, don't sell music. Yeah, like, that- chilling this shit, they treat us good. Yeah, like, it never came, they never put it out, but they made it, we shot it at, um, tree sounds and they literally, like, you know, gave us a script, Like if you make music Do you have a copy of it? I wish I did. Yo man, you got to find that joy and put it on your Instagram.

I know it exists. It has to. And this was literally the first time me in Canada had seen each other in a while and we had to do it. You know, part of the agreement was us doing that PSA that they never put out.

But it's like, you know, like for me, like Lai is said, like when I was doing interviews, I remember saying like, yo, this is not the end of my story. Like this is one chapter. Like, you know, For me, it was like, yeah, this is just, you know, anybody who's anybody gets hit with some type of adversity.

And this is just my first, you know, my first real challenge. And, you know, I'm a, I'm a be here. Like, I've been here. And at the time, I had, you know, been here to up to that extent, not knowing what life had in mind for me up to this point. But it was like, yeah, like, this is just one chapter in my story. This is not the last chapter. Like, watch what I do. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be.

Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at 10. TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. There's two golden rules that any man should live by. Rule one, never mess with a country girl. You play stupid games, you get stupid prizes. And rule two, never mess with her friends either.

We always say that trust your girlfriends. I'm Anna Sinfield, and in this new season of the girlfriends... Oh my God, this is the same man. A group of women discover they've all dated the same prolific. con artist. I felt like I got hit by a truck. I thought, how could this happen to me? The cops didn't seem to care. So they take matters

into their own hands. I said, oh, hell no. I vowed. I will be his last target. He's going to get what he deserves. Listen to the girlfriends. Trust me, babe. On the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

This week on the Sports Slice podcast, it's all about the NFL draft. And we've got a special guest, the director of the NFL's East West Shrine Bowl, Eric Galco, joins the Sports Slice podcast to break down what really matters when evaluating draft prospects. From hidden traits teams look for to the biggest mistakes franchises make to the players flying under the radar, this is the insight you won't hear anywhere else. If you want to understand the draft like an insider, you don't want to miss this episode.

Listen to the Sports Slice Podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, for wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12. and TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. What's up, everyone? I'm Ego Wadam. My next guest, you know from Stepbrothers, Anchorman, Saturday Night Live,

and the Big Money Players Network. It's Will Ferrell. Woo. Woo. My dad gave me the best advice ever. I went and had lunch with them one day, and I was like, and dad, I think I want to really give this a shot.

I don't know what that means, but I just know the groundlings. I'm working my way up through, and I know it's a place they come. Look for up and. He said, if it was based solely on talent, I wouldn't worry about you, which is really sweet. Yeah. He goes, but there's so much luck involved.

And he's like, just give it a shot. He goes, but if you ever reach a point where you're banging your head against the wall and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit. If you saw it written down, it would not be an inspiration. It would not be on a calendar of, you know, the cat, just hang in there. Yeah. It would not be... Right, it wouldn't be that. There's a lot of luck.

Listen to Thanks, Dad, on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. In 2023, former bachelor star Clayton Eckerd found himself at the center of a paternity scandal. The family court hearings that followed revealed glaring inconsistencies in her story. This began a years-long court battle to prove the truth. You doctored this particular test twice in someone's, correct? I doctored the test once. It took an army of internet detectives to crack the case. I wanted people to be able to see what their tax dollars were being used for.

Sunlight's the greatest disinfected. They would uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing. Gregalespian and Michael Marantini. My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trap. Laura, Scottsdale Police.

As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences. Ladies and gentlemen, breaking news. at Americopa County as Laura Owens has been indicted on fraud charges. This isn't over until justice is served in Arizona. Listen to Love Trapped podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Man, I always wanted to ask you about the all the story telling three. I was just about to bring that up. Come on, man.

How did that come together? Three or four? Four. Oh, four. I'm sorry. I was like, wait. There's a three? Yeah.

There is a three. That's why it's four. Big Boy has to tell you where the three exists, as he told me, because that's why we, artist storytelling, four. Okay. But I was supposed to do an Idaho Wild gangster grills. Oh, wow. Okay.

Really? Yeah, I was supposed to do a tape around that time. They were going to go, we were going to do a tape pre-Ida Wilde going into the project. Me, Stacks, Big, and their manager, Blue got on the phone, and they came to me like, yo, we want to do it, gangster grills. And I was like, hell, motherfucking, yeah. And then a few months later, they called and was like, listen, bro, we're just buckled down with the movie and the soundtrack. And we, you know, we apologize, but we don't have time to do the tape.

And they were like, but how about we offer you a song for your album? And I was like, hell yeah. Like, of course. So I started the process of literally sending 3,000 beats from every big known name producer out at the time. you know because this is the time when I was doing the first gangster grill album gangster grills was the biggest thing going so everybody was pretty much giving me beats and I would send him to 3,000 and he would be like nah nah nah he would pretty much turn everything down one of the last tapes I made before the raid was Jim Jones seven-day

theory tape from we set the trends no well no no I mean yeah that Jim Jones yeah with the tape our first tape was called the seven-day theory which was a fire tape max b is all over there um uh rest of piece stack was on there you know that was when um that was when he created bird gang and there was a beat on that tape and i asked canon like make me a beat similar to that beat so canon made the beat and then we had gotten the raid had happened and lake was actually managing Marsha at the time. Oh, okay. So I sent the beat to Marsha and I told Marcia I was like, yo, like look like, man, they just locked this up. Like people saying this is the end for me. Like I need something like nothing's going to stop us. Like I'm going to be here. Like you can't

stop us. And she literally like took what I said and turned it into the hook. And I sent the record to 3,000. And he said, I'm going to call you tomorrow. 24 hours later he sends me back his verse of Art of Storytelling Part 4. And I just was like, I couldn't believe it that I had an Andre 3,000 verse. And on top of a Don Cannon beat. So then I went to Stankonia and I played it for Big. I think at the time I was like, I was still trying to figure out what record Big had wanted to be on. I played him a couple records.

And then when I played him now, he was like, oh, what are we talking about? like I'm doing this. So he did his verse and then Big was like, yo, we should call it Art of Storytelling Part 4. And then hence, you know, I literally have a fucking outcast record on my album. And then, you know, I wish I would have knew then,

I wish I would have knew now what I knew then because 3,000 offered to do the video and he was just like, yeah, I just need 100,000 from the label. And me not, me not as knowledgeable as I was, then I kind of let the opportunity pass and looking back on it, I would have told the label,

give me fucking $100,000 to give this man for this record. Like, we probably could have got a Grammy nomination out of that, you know what I'm saying? If it would have literally happened. But, I mean, it's still an amazing record. You know, how many DJs can say they have an outcast record?

Like, it's one of my proudest moments in my career still. And you still got a Grammy. Yeah, I still wound up getting a Grammy. Well, how did you approach making the transition from DJ to executive? Naturally, honestly. I mean, it was just like, you know, again, relevancy has always been very key for me in my career and, like, staying on a cusp. And I think a lot of that comes from being a mixtape DJ and like just like my addiction to new shit.

Like my fascination of like what's next, you know what I'm saying? And not kind of letting myself get boxed into. one thing, you know, like, there was a tweet somebody that put out was like, yo, DJ Drama literally went from the roots in Bahamadilla to Tip Jeezy and Wayne to Little Uzi and Jack Harlow, like give this man this flowers. That's hip-hop. Yeah, and that's exactly what it is. So, you know, just around, I had, when I was making my albums,

I had left Atlantic and went to E1, and you know, I was still using a lot of the staff over at Atlantic just kind of independently to work my records and things of that nature. And I started to make, like, records that were having success, like, oh, my, like, my moment. And so when I was doing that, one of the people, you know,

I used to have Sam Crespo work my records. Man, Sam Crespo. My brother, Sam, and Sam was like, you should, like, think about being an A&R. Like, you know, I should bring the idea to Julian Craig. Like, you know, you're putting together some real good records.

like maybe it could be an opportunity for you to come in a building and be an R. And I was like, I'm down. So he mentioned it to Julian Craig. And, you know, clearly, you know, they were like, DROM, that's our guy. Like, we love DROM. So I flew in New York. I had a meeting with Craig Julian Kaiser. And they were like, you know, are you interested in, you know, coming over here as an ANR? And I was like, yeah. And then I was like, oh, yeah, by the way, I'm building the studio in Atlanta that, you know, you guys might want to partner with me on. And at the time, uh, Kwan Prather, KP was, was vice president in Atlantic. He was working out of another studio.

They sent him over to my spot, Mean Streets, to check it out to see, you know, what he thought. And he was like, oh yeah, this is dope. Like, this, this could be a thing for us. So part of my deal when I came over as an A&R was also for Atlantic to be, uh, partners with me on Mean Streets. so I literally, you know, took their money and built the rest of Mean Streets up to, you know, from what I had already built from it. And when I got there, I really was kind of trying to find my way. They had put me with, like, artists that were already on the label to try to work with. And it just wasn't, it wasn't meshing.

Like, it wasn't, you know, I would go to A&R meetings and things. And, you know, they would give me an artist to try to work with. and it just kind of it wasn't. Do you remember who they were trying to put you with at the time? Did anybody you can name? So Spenzo

Boosey. CapG was KP's guy and he was there. He was around but you know he was those were some of their the artist that

you know early on they kind of wanted me to quote on quote I guess A&R be a part of and then also Doug was you know

I happened to be the closest thing to Thug in those days that they felt like could be of an assistance to help with Thug and, you know, getting music or, you know. Young, not Slim. I'm sorry. It's a few of them. Young Thug, Thug. Okay. All right. Okay.

Yeah. Young Thug, not some thug. Yeah. Shout to Slim Thug. You got a gangster girls, too, though. But so, yeah, Thug was working a lot of Mean Streets. So, you know, I was kind of in the mix with Thug and Atlantic and, you know, just trying to make that whole thing kind of work out. and it went how it went. But we also, you know, myself, Lake and Cannon, you know, when Cannon was vice president of the Def Jam around the time I got my gig, and then we had missed out on a couple opportunities of artists. I took Migos to New York for the first time

and presented them to Alan Grum Black, and he offered them pennies, and, you know, they went and did the right thing and went to QC, shout to Coach and P. You know, those are my guys. You know, we kind of started our labels around the same time. But me, Cannon, and Lake, we're like, yo, we can't miss nothing else. Like, we're not missing nothing else.

I was going to say, besides Migos, who. So, Torrey Lane, I wanted to sign Tori, O.T. Genesis. T. Fly. I actually wanted to sign T. Fly. So those are a few that, you know, were in the midst of us. And, you know, when we were trying to figure out the label thing or signing artists around the time. Cannon came back one day

and just was like, yo, I heard this kid little Uzi Verk. And I was like, let's do it. Get him. Sight unseen? Unseen. That is crazy.

If you believe, if you're man believing and I'm like, let's go. Never heard nothing, didn't know nothing. Where's he at? What are we doing?

Like, and it was... This is around what year? This was 2014. In 2014. Wait, that's when? Yeah, we signed Uzi 20. I was about to say, I know that we had Uzi on the Roots Pick like way before

He had a kill. No, you did him. That was like 20s. When he was opening. He was opening. Yeah, he did Roots Pickney. Oh, okay. Money long, it was money long.

It was before Exaltour Life. It was money longer days when he did Roots Pickman. Right. Because I did it in 2017. Because when I brought a little baby. Yeah, y'all had that stage going. looking like who is this guy

like I remember that I brought baby to Roots Picnic and I think that was right before the Drake record like or maybe the Drake record it just came out but literally I remember the crowd like not understanding like I just brought you a little baby like here but so yeah so we signed

so we signed Scheme actually was our first artist that we signed Shout to Scheme he's kind of mad at me because I haven't brought his name up when I talk about the label. So we signed Scheme, we signed Uzi, and we were trying to sign this group called The Wedding Crashers, which Quentin Miller was a part of. So we named a Generation Now. Generation Now was actually a mixtape title that I had used early on.

Before Little Brother and the Farrell tapes, I had gotten drops from Kanye West. He was opening up for Talib Quali, wound up getting drops from Kanye West. I also got some drops from Joe Button and it wasn't it was like damn this is not gangster grill it doesn't feel gangster grills so I needed another title for another brand so I came up with Generation Now

years later we wound up double back in when we were looking for a title for the label and I was like what about Generation Now so the guys were like yeah that's fire so we Atlantic was on the verge of firing me like I was two years into my deal and they were looking at it like look We just paid DJ Drama all this money.

He ain't brought us yet. We put all this money into this studio. Like, what are we doing? What's going on? Like, where's our return? Craig Calman came to Atlanta. We sat in the radio room of the, the, um, of Mean Streets. And he said, look, Dr.am, I believe in you.

You know, I don't want to let you go. Like, let's just do a one-year deal. we're gonna we'll stay partners on the studio and we'll just you just you guys just focus on uzi like we'll just just you guys just focus on little uzi and I was like cool like I'm with that like okay cool and next thing you know you know love is rage comes out

mean streets becomes the go-to studio in Atlanta and the tables turned within six months and 180 and you know it was like told you Not going away Your ancestors are watching you And guiding you How did Jack get on y'all's radar?

Because for me, Jack, he was the record And I don't think this was before generation now My record was sundown Like that was the one That was on your generation now That was generation now? Yeah, okay He had put out a record called Dark Night

That was the one that really forced our hand But we had heard of them before them A friend of mine brought him to me Um, late 2017 and put them on my radar. And then, you know, K.Y. Engineering, who is based in Atlanta, who had engineered for Wayne, Tyga. He mixed Dreams and Nightmares. Um, he mixed that whole, mixed whole, uh, first album. He was Waka Flaka's engineer.

He's two chains as engineer. He mixed my records. He did my quality street music album. He's from, his name is K.Y because he's from Kentucky. So around the same time, he was telling, right? Okay. Okay. He was telling Lake like, yo, I want to bring you something when it's ready.

So Jack wound up on my radar. I went and followed him. He had like 7,000 followers. He saw that I followed him. He followed me right back. He then went on to tell me later on that he told a friend of his like, damn DJ Drama just signed to me. I think I'm assigned to drama.

So we, so he winds up. He winds up being in Atlanta and coming to Mean Streets. And, you know, that was our first time meeting. And we, like, you know, we sat down. We chopped it up. We were talking. He was like, you know, what are you into? And I'm like, I'm in a movie.

Like, I'm a movie buff. Like, I just love movies. And he was like, tell me a movie that you think that I would be shocked that you would know. And I told him this movie called It Too Matambien. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And he was like, wait, what? He was like, DJ Drama. The Etubama Tamien.

Has watched E2 Maatambien. to Tom being in. They think they know. They don't have no. Yes, you've been to the writ. And like, so I think that really blew his mind. And then, you know, we, um, we had a meeting, you know, um, with Jack and, you know, our staff. And he was on, you know, we, we, the opportunity was about signing him was there.

And, and then we weren't a hundred percent. We were like 75 percent. And then he put out dark night and we was like, okay, we got to do it. Like, we got to, we got to, we got to. sign his kid before we miss out. So we went on to sign Jack. And, you know, again, this is, you know, when I signed Jack, he looked like Napoleon Dynamite.

Right. So, you know, he's coming along, the heart, the sex symbol heartthrob that he is of today was, you know, he's come a long way, but I saw it in him. Like, you know, the same way I saw it in Uzi early on, like, you know, I saw, like, these are two guys that, for me, like, regardless of us being involved, they would have made their way into hip hop.

Same way, regardless of however, I would have been, I was going to... With or without you? Yeah, I was going to get here somehow some way. But again, we allowed them to stand on our shoulders to, you know, go a little faster, you know, me walking him in his sway and, you know, him being able to, you know, just move around. Especially somebody like Jack, who, you know, is a white rapper from Kentucky, to be able to say he signed to Generation Now and DJ Drama who created Gangsta Group.

and the label that, you know, you know, Little Uzi-Vurt was a part of. I mean, I think that brought a lot of, you know, you think. Yeah, to the table, you know. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying.

Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the Fourth. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. There's two golden rules that any man should live by. Rule one, never mess with a country girl. You play stupid games, you get stupid prizes. And rule two, never mess with her friends either. We always say that trust your girlfriends.

I'm Anna Sinfield, and in this new season of the girlfriends, Oh my God, this is the same man. A group of women discover they've all dated the same prolific con artist. I felt like I got hit by a truck. I thought, how could this happen to me? The cops didn't seem to care, so they take matters into their own hands. I said, oh, hell no. I vowed. I will be his last target.

He's going to get what he deserves. Listen to the girlfriends. Trust me, babe. On the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This week on the Sports Slice podcast, it's all about the NFL draft. And we've got a special guest. The director of the NFL's East West Shrine Bowl, Eric Galco, joins the Sports Slice podcast to break down what really matters when evaluating draft prospects.

From hidden traits teams look for to the biggest mistakes franchises make to the players flying under the radar. This is the insight you won't hear anywhere else. If you want to understand the draft like an insider, you don't want to miss this episode. Listen to the Sports Slice podcast on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slical Life 12 and TikTok podcast network on TikTok. What's up everyone? I'm Ago Wodom. My next guest, you know from Step Brothers Anchorman, Saturday Night Live and the Big Money Players network. It's Will Farrell. Woo. Woo. Woo.

My dad gave me the best advice ever. I went and had lunch with him one day. And I was like, and dad, I think I want to really give this a shot. I don't know what that means, but I just know the groundlings. I'm working my way up through, and I know it's a place that come look for up and coming talent. He said, if it was based solely on talent, I wouldn't worry about you, which is really sweet. Yeah. He goes, but there's so much luck involved.

And he's like, just give it a shot. He goes, but if you ever reach a point where you're banging your head against the wall and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit. If you saw it written down, it would not be an inspiration. It would not be on a calendar of, you know, the cat. Just hang in there. Yeah, it would not be. Right. It wouldn't be that.

There's a lot of luck. Listen to Thanks Dad on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. In 2023, Former Bachelor star Clayton Eckerd found himself at the center of a paternity scandal. The family court hearings that followed revealed glaring inconsistencies in her story. This began a years-long court battle to prove the truth. You doctored this particular test twice in so-ins, correct? I doctored the test ones.

It took an army of internet detectives to crack the case. I wanted people to be able to see what their tax dollars were being used for. Sunlight's the greatest disinfected. They would uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing. Greg, the Westian, Michael Marantini. My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young.

This is Love Trap. Laura, Scottsdale Police. As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences. Ladies and gentlemen, breaking news at Maricopa County as Laura Owens has been indicted on fraud charges. This isn't over until justice is served in Arizona. Listen to Love Trapped podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, before we got to wrap up the episode. Damn, we have to.

You don't even know how long we've been sitting here, do you? No, I thought we just started. We got to, the camera crew got to go home. That means you got to invite us back and we'll come to your spot. Okay, but before we wrap, like, I don't know if, like, I don't know if you're aware of this because I say it all the time. but being sitting at this table like I have to say even though I say it all the time like like you got to understand ameer like if it wasn't for y'all like I don't I don't know that I don't know if I would be here like watching like running in ladies and gentlemen that's

no no no no you think you was going to start taking your power what you're doing you think you're going to This is the ongoing joke of the show where they watch me squirm. Like, bro, listen. But I know he means it because, like, that shit is real. I used to run into Amir playing video games on South Street. And he would like let he would like put his headphones on me and let me hear fucking Tariq rapping like G rap or like, you know, like I used to go to the truck. I was at the Trocadero at their signing celebration party. Like, for me, like, I remember when Distortion of Static first came on Rap City.

Like, you got to understand for me, bro, like, the roots are the reason why I knew that you could really do this shit. Like, oh, this shit can really happen. Like, I just watched this group in Philly. Watch her face. I'm just making him take it because it's hard. It's painful. Go ahead. Keep going on.

Go ahead. Like, I watched this group that I love. loved make this album called organics while i'm in high school and that's all i'm listening to and then like get a record deal like get signed to geffin like these guys that were freestowing on my little mixtapes that probably only a hundred copies exist didn't go on to become the fucking roots like oh my god this you can like this rap shit is real like everything before that for me was just seeing it on like watching The box and seeing Kane and KRS and Public Enemy and NWA is just like me watching it on television.

Like I knew y'all. Like I was there. So that for me was literally the reason. And I say it all the time. Like you are the reason why I knew this shit could really happen, bro. Like, and I have to give you your flowers by sitting here next to you. Thank you. It's for the documentary.

It's for a documentary. That's right. It's going to be great. No, I appreciate every word. Yes. Years ago, I would have definitely ended the episode because I hate compliments. No, but I really appreciate that. And this conversation was long overdue, yeah.

No, no, for real. Long overdue on every song, even for me and now. Oh, y'all, yeah. And I'm very proud. Like, again, like, you know, the fact that you validated us as well, because it meant a lot to me that, like, wow, someone believes in us enough to put us on a mixtape. To me, that was important.

Black Thought Gangster Girls is definitely on my bucket list because it's full circle for me. Like, it has to, that's one that I have to. Wow, that'd be amazing. Yeah, it has to happen. I was going to say that eventually one day you're going to have to make a gangster Grizzelda tape. It's fire. You got to make that happen.

It's fire. This intro will make that happen. That's a great idea. Wait, I have one last question. I've been watching how things have been developing in the last few weeks. Speaking of Griselda. And initially what started out as something that could have gone ugly is actually turned into kind of like a cool moment.

Talking about flex? Yeah. Yeah. Where initially, you know, there were complaints that you're not supporting, da-da-da-da-da. And, you know, maybe once every five years, I'll hear another generation coming that will tell whoever the gate. is like let somebody else in and let somebody.

But as a DJ, and I usually go through this kind of quasi-depression period, maybe in November and December. Okay, so 2023 is coming up. So instantly I'm like, all right. So someone born in 2002 is now legally going to be louder than nightclub. Right. And that means when they're like 14 years old in, you know, 2016. or whatever.

I mean, like, I'm always doing the math of reference points. To me, I don't know. Like, for you, is there ever time where you're just like, I don't know, I might be too old for this shit? I don't want to just reduce it to ask too old for this shit. But, like, too old for this shit. I mean, like, right now. It's exhausting to keep up. With, like, I legit was on Wikipedia, like, taking a crash course and drill.

because I just like, all right, I got to educate myself. Like, I whole bunch of gigs coming up for a bunch of kids. Oh, yeah. You got an ice spice. I don't want to be that person, but it's like, I feel like if you have to be paint by numbers, like, okay, what do the kids, whatever? But for you, like, is there ever a point where you just get exhausted where it's just like, dog, just throw a Royer's album one and I'm calling the day.

Like, I'm going to. Never. I'm going to take a nap. Never. So there's never a point where you saw an act like, okay, this is what the future is? No. So for you, like the more dangerous is,

the more you, people my age are, it's talent in every generation. Yeah, and I think, again, like I said, like I'm from a mixtape culture where it's like, new shit, new shit, new shit. So it's like my fascination is with like, what's next. Like my label is called Generation Now, you know?

So for me, it's like, the fact that I've been able to navigate through fucking being in a Bahamadilla video to Jack Harlow, you know, or to Tyler, creator, call me if you get lost and winning a Grammy, like, my career has literally been an example of being able to surf through the eras. So, like, you know, it's a young, like, I love where hip hop is today. last night I went to the Wu-Tang and Nas concert and I was like a kid in a candy store you know I mean that's that's my era like that's when you know when you're a teen those are your pivotal moments you know I'm saying so yeah

for me I'm like as a 44 year old man I'm I'm in heaven you know but at the same time I'm also a DJ who more likely plays for audiences in their 20s than I do for audiences in their 40s so it keeps me current And again, I just love the culture so much.

So I love every diaspora of it. You know what I'm saying? So I don't, you know, this shit keeps me 21 forever. Like even now having this resurgence of gangster grills, whether it's with Simba or whether it's Ice Wear Vezzo or Sedi Hendrix or, you know, it's like being able to still be in this space. And, you know, I got to give Tyler his flowers for. or, you know, in a sense, kind of, you know,

bringing this resurgence of gangster grills back for what he did. Yeah, so no, I don't get in that space. Like, I'm, you know, again, I'm to be a DJ and to have the accolades that I have, it's like my goal was to get my name on a flyer. So the success that I've had, I don't take none of it for granted. And as much as I've accomplished, the way my brain works is always like, damn what the fuck am I gonna do next you know I'm saying so I think that's what keeps me in this space of still being excited about you know tomorrow or not you know again being on a whiz and logic tour

when I'm out there I'm asking you know all my 2000s babies make some noise and it's they make a lot of fucking noise like still a lot of 90s babies in there too and the 80s babies are a little more quiet I don't even ask about the 70s I leave that alone but you know even when I walk out on stage, you know, having these kids like say my name and chant my name and be familiar with me because of Tyler or because of the Dreamville mixtape, like, it's such a blessing. You know, I'm saying that, you know, I'm still here. And you're still finding a new audience. And I'm still finding a new audience and I'm excited about it, you know.

As much as I'm excited about being able to go to the fucking Nas and Wu-Tang show and, you know, seeing that sell out. And shout out to you, God, who thought about it. was a stalker in the hotel lobby this morning. I'm literally like, you got. You got it. What, man? I was like, it's me.

So, is that you? Oh, man, I'm sorry. I thought you were, like, he thought I was trying. But you got to understand, too, like, even, I hate to, I don't want to do this, make you squirm again, but like, bro, like, bro, I saw you in the fucking, like, I used, I was there past the popcorn. You're on television every night. Like, you have a, you have a fucking, you have a fucking Oscar, bro.

Bro, like, you have an Oscar, like, those things to me are like, yo, the sky is not the limit. There's no limit. I'm going to tell you this much. This is, this is, I'm not even blowing smoke. Today was a teachable lesson because every time you say something, I'm like, wait a minute, how are you just yes and jumping to some shit without like, like, seeing who's going to be there first? Yeah, I'm like that. And I need to be more. So this is actually taught me more.

You're a little more bougie than I am. I'm very much. guarded, I'm protected, I'm guarded. I want, we know that. I want the formula of work. I want the, bro. He has crystals in his crocs. So if you run into somebody in the street right now and they're like,

yo, I'm an inspiring artist over. It's the street. Can I get, can I get your number? Five people, five people. Blau, Slum Village. That's in 2003. Jill Scott. Blau Slum Village, Jill Scott, Little Brother.

I'm 5 and 0, but I'm probably five and five. 42,000. Oh, those five, like, came to you? Mm-hmm. I, yeah, I was in a position where I was like, I felt in my heart like, right, oh, this is, oh, Cody Chestnut, that was my five. Oh, I remember.

Well, he was on automatic relaxation. Yes. Definitely was, definitely was, definitely was on automatic relaxation. All right, we got to wrap up, but please give, uh, Laya, another automatic relaxation. Not just me? It's a whole bunch of people, you know. Yeah. We out here.

We out here. This is a few of y'all. Yeah. Like, can I just give you copies of the old ones? I'll take that. I take it too. Like there's not, I mean, we, we, when it was what it was, like, now that exists, there's a lot of that out now.

There's Spotify playlist. Yeah, but it ain't nothing like automatic. But I think coming from you, I think now at this point in your career. I don't think it would be that for you now. Like, if you did that now, it's going to be new to the audience. Yeah, you know, it's going to be a new thing. And they'll be listening now. Now you don't have to go well Facebook drills is where they went.

They're going to check for DJ drama regardless. So if you win in that lane, you're going to be new thing. that would be, it would be something new to that audience. No, I'm respected when you say. Hardback, relaxations, and gangster Grizzelda. There we go. All right, on behalf of Quest Left Supreme, Yo, Fonte and Sugar Steve and Laia.

Shiger Steve didn't say anything. He was... I'm learning. Except about the skateboarder in Philly. You know, he's... Steve's here, trust me. Anyway, no, thank you for doing this, man. I really appreciate this.

Oh, my God. Shout out to Sam U. Oh, my God. Best school in the nation. Shout to Famu. Thank you to the staff, everyone. Fam U, thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, y'all. And I am going to break that Miss Pac-Man record one more time. Yeah, shout to exit. Shout to my man exit. Yo, listen, just next. One day, if somebody comes, just give him you a number, bro. You never know. He's not.

You don't have to answer. Like, they text me all the time. Like, if I don't want to answer, I don't have to answer. You know, random people have just, when I was on tour, this guy just called me out of nowhere. I was like, hey, this is DJ Drama. I'm like, yeah, where'd you get my number? He's like, uh, my manager gave it to me. And he was like, yo, I'm a new artist. And I said, listen, bro, I'm a jewel you real quick. Like, when I was coming up, I couldn't just call Jay-Z or Funkmaster Flex. Like, I'm like, and most people aren't going to be as nice as me, but I'm telling

you, before you try to get on my radar, look to your left and look to your right and try to create a movement with the people around you. And then before you know it, you'll be on my radar. Like, don't just call the big wigs and think you can get on. Like, it's not that easy. Like, I couldn't... Yeah, I couldn't call Jay-Z or flex and say, hey, I'm DJ Drama,

like, I'm dope. And I was, but I didn't have the right to do them. I didn't have the right to do that, yeah. You know what I'm saying? So... Teachable. That's the jewel right there. All right. We'll see you on the next go-round. Thank you very much. Thank you. Questlove Supreme is a production of

Iheart Radio. For more from IHeart Radio, visit the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey,

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It would not be on a calendar of, you know, the cat. Just hang in there. Yeah, it would not be. Right, it wouldn't be that. There's a lot of luck. Listen to Thanks Dad on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In 2023, Bachelor star Clayton Eckerd was a. accused of fathering twins.

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