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All right, EYL, Queen Naja. Thank you for joining us. Appreciate it. Thank you for having me. Appreciate it. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
My first question is, how has this journey been for you? I know it's been a short period of time, but it's been a long period of time as well. So you now, you're A-lister, everybody knows you, everybody loves your music. Is there still moments where it's kind of surreal to you? Or are you like fully caught up in the moment right now? Honestly, I never really get to bask in the moment. I'm trying to learn how to.
So I can't say it's really surreal because just not right now, it's a blessing, but I'm trying to learn how to just, I'm always rushing, rushing, rushing everywhere, but I never really just get to bask in a moment. But it's been a journey, I feel like.
It's been a time where I was super down. I thought everybody forgot about me. But now I'm back here again and I just bounce back and I'm happy. So it's a blessing. Yeah, yeah. So this weekend you're presenting at the awards. Obviously, Mary is performing. I know that you're a part of the tour. Can you talk about heart and fluency and what it means to be a part of it? Mary? Yeah, Mary Jay.
First of all, the first song that I ever sang that came out of my mouth was, You're All I Need to Goodbye, What Method Man. I was three years old and it's really a full circle to just be in this thing. First of all, I'm going on tour with her. Yeah, so I'm really, really excited and I feel like if she can see something to me to share her stage, then I'm gonna be around here for a minute.
So I was looking at it basically translates to like the new Nigeria you understand me or the music of Niger Do you find Nigerians or people out there in Africa tap in with your music? Okay, so my my first name is Queen My middle name is Niger and it has nothing to do with Nigeria and a lot of people get that mixed up My name is Niger because my father's name was
My father's from Yemen. His name was Muhammad Najib. And my mom just instead of she put an A on the end. So Najah Najib. So a lot of times the way she spelled it was like the Nigerian. And I didn't learn that until like on Twitter recently. But yeah, it has nothing to do with Nigeria. But I think it does work for me because like when they see my name, they gravitate towards me. And I love Nigerian artists. I haven't been there.
If it works for me, it just works for me. So I feel like it's on a job training when it comes to success and especially the music business. And a lot of people make mistakes because there's no blueprint or there's no road map to follow. So learning the business side of it, how has that been for you? Have you had mentors that's like teaching you the dudes or the don'ts? Is it just like experience? How have you learned the business side of music?
Well, I was blessed to have a really, really good support system around me, like a small, solid circle, and I'm learning from that circle. I didn't know a lot, I didn't know nothing comes to industry, honestly, but I'm still learning as I go. It's a lot of things. I've had learning experiences where you have to experience something bad first and then learn from it, so that's just like an everyday thing with me. So, yeah, I'm still learning.
Yeah, so one of the things especially in business and obviously in music is collaboration. What's the process like for you when you're looking for somebody to collaborate with? Obviously we know the dirt and I was a big show on record is incredible. What's that process like when you're trying to collaborate with somebody? So usually like
All right, usually I'll build, sorry, build beats from scratch. But if I don't, if I like a song, regardless if I build it or not from scratch, I think of a concept to it. I'll go mumble and like some cadences and then I'll create the words and I'll say, oh, this person would sound really good on this song. Like I can hear the voices on there. You're making the record yourself? You're producing it?
You can say I'm partially producing. I don't press the buttons, but I tell them, use this instrument, make this beat, make this cadence. I just don't know how to do all the technical stuff. But I know what I want when it comes to music, and I have a really, really good ear for it. And then I just get the whoever I want. I DM them. I don't really have to label do stuff because I like for it to be genuine. But if I don't get them, I just wait. I just wait. And if it don't happen, it don't.
What's the future of your brand? Like we see Rihanna become a billionaire for having her beauty brand. And I feel like, especially when you got like a solid to solidated community, you can really start pushing out products. And that's when you really hit your trajectory. So what's the future of expansion for you? I'm not going to lie. I do want to put out some products because there'll be more money in that than the music.
Okay, I just want whatever product I put out to represent me and my brand. I know I really love to be comfortable and I love to lounge around the house, so one of the things I wanted to do was one Z's like lounge wear. I'm big on hygiene, so kitty-kits for the girls.
Yeah, kitty kids. Very important. But yeah, I don't know. Maybe I'll come up with something else later on, but I'm still trying to balance out this life.
Hopefully that comes about later on. I have ideas though. I feel like the greatest artist, whether it was DMX or Eminem or even Nas, they always told their life and you felt their pain, you felt they was going through. And it's a gift and a curse because your fans feel like you're your family, but you also letting people know what you're personally going through. Yeah. So how do you balance that? Because I know that's your story. How do you balance that?
Is there ever a point where you turn it off where it's like, this is my pain, this is my music, this is my joys, but this is private. I don't want to share this. You know what?
story of my life because I definitely used to overshare a lot like overshare um it's I've grown to be a little bit more conservative but now I think I'm a little bit too conservative so like I'm an extremist I'm either here or here I'm trying to find like a medium um because at the end of the day the reason why people love me and how I came about was from being transparent and showing my life
But like you said, people think they know you from just like, they think they know you from a 20 minute video and it's just like you don't. You really don't. And they have their opinions and sometimes it could just get so overwhelming to where, you know, I start to go into this little shell and I don't want to, but I can't do that because of the industry I'm in. And I have to, I mean, you got to be out there and you got to be visible. So I just have to find a medium still. I think I'm going to get back on my YouTube channel. Okay. Yeah. Coming back.
Yeah, that's why I started. Y'all heard it here. So, obviously, the coach is the biggest night, Sunday. You're presenting. Is it somebody you're excited to see? I'm just really excited to be here. It's not like I'm excited to see everybody. Yeah. So, let me ask you last. How do you balance? Because, you know, you got family, you got a career, you got a tour, you got a relationship. Do you meditate? Do you take walks? What's your mental health like?
We saved what we doing. I just pray. Honestly, I grew up in church and stuff, so like honestly, I just pray. I need to do a little bit better that, but to be honest, I think I need to find something. I still have to find something like that puts me at peace, but I know one of the main things is like,
Car rides, studio sessions, that's where, that's, when I write my music and go to student, that's my therapy. I do have a therapist, I talk to a therapist and it helps a lot. But I wanna find a hobby, like I wanna find something to do outside of music that I just really, really enjoy. Yeah, I gotta find it. That's it. Well, thank you. The one last question that I have is, we talk about R&B and I feel like we're in a good space for R&B right now.
Who is your biggest R&B inspiration? Biggest R&B? Oh, that's hard. What was your favorite, all-time favorite? Winnie Houston. Winnie Houston. Mary Jay. Of course. Mary Jay for real. Monica and a lot more, but I grew up listening to them, so yeah.
I would say those of me three. We appreciate you coming. Make sure y'all go check out the tour. Queen Nazioh. Yes. Yeah. Thank you. Here with Joey Badass. Joey, thank you for joining us, bro. I appreciate it.
Hold the mic on the phone. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So we here for BET. Nice to y'all with the mic on your hands. I was like, Mike, so Joe, you're very interesting to me because you represent a nostalgic era that we grew up on 90s, but you also are new school. And you got that and you're multi-talented. You act, rap. So it's like a gumball.
Where do you get your inspiration from? Like, where do you get your inspiration from? And how do you stay fresh with the tongues? Well, God, I feel like everything that I do is a spiritual experience. You know what I'm saying?
If it wasn't for me feeling purposeful and the things that I do, I don't think I'll be able to do them properly. You know what I'm saying? So I would say that's definitely my, that's my jump start. You know what I mean? It comes from spirit. It comes from the soul. That's why I find my inspiration and
Apart from that, it's just expansion. You know what I'm saying, one or two, build more for my legacy, for us. You know what I mean, for my people. Award winning actor. You sure what? I said award winning. Yeah. Let's start there. Obviously you'll stand out and the power series. So when did the love for acting come about? Is that something you were formally trained in or? I was always interacting. I was dancing. Right.
Get into my high school. I went to an Edward Almorro in Brooklyn Bosque out went there Adam Yacht from the BC boys little mama Joey badass And they had a theater program there I'm trying to get into like LaGuardia and stuff like that, but because of my attendance I couldn't I couldn't go yeah, they're like nigga you live in Brooklyn and your attendance is bad in Brooklyn and
It's like, I'm going to stay remote here. So I end up going to end with all my love, and I was in the game department for about two years. It's kind of like a culture shock for me, because my first time's going to school, like white people, and stuff like that. So it was kind of hard for me to keep up. And I never get kicked out. But, you know, music was always my first love. I always have music, like, just hearing with me. And I figured, I learned quickly that, you know, trying to make it as an actor in New York City. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
I doubled down that music as my main focus and I figured that in a few times, I'd be able to use it as leverage into the acting business, which is essentially what I did. Let me ask you, mate, I know a lot of people utilize law of attraction and shit like that. And I can tell you deep into the esoteric, you understand symbolism, the power of it. So I know you tap into the different universal laws of intelligence.
I like the law of confidence, so the law of focus. Which one you tap in, you feel me when you want to go to that next level? Which one is a principle that you apply? Between the law of focus and the law of confidence? Whatever law, the universe, your utilize. Well, I'm big on faith. You know what I'm saying? I'm going to be faith based, so like.
I got a way of thinking where, you know, you could tell who's praying, who's not. You know what I'm saying? Usually people who are frustrated with your life and blaming other things, they probably could praise someone. So like me, like when I look at one of the other day, I'd say, I mean, I pray every day off top, but when I really want to go to the other day, I'd say thank you to the next level.
I turn the socks, you know what I'm saying? I turn it to my faith and then that alone feels everything else. It feels my focus, it feels my confidence, it feels, you know, whatever it is that I need to make it to that next love and that giving point. That's the law of belief. Whatever you believe crystallizes and becomes real. So, yes sir.
Acting or rapping which one do you prefer like what was what's the number one for you? I mean listen man. I tell people all the time like it's like
It's like two women that you love. You know, like I ain't about to explicitly say which one I prefer, but I'll tell you this, I couldn't survive without music. You know, that was my first love. That was, you know, my first baby mom.
Forever and dead, it's a her. But they both make me better for each other. You know what I'm saying? It's like I'm acting for a while, come back to music. It's like a new level of freedom. Because I'm like, oh, like, I don't, you know, this music, I don't got to rely on music no more. Same thing with acting. I vote for this. And it's like, I ain't got to rely on this either. So, you know, they both feed off each other, man. And it's like, I wouldn't, I wouldn't trade one for the other. I need them both. I need them both. So talking about the music.
The latest project, I know with some delays. What's the update on it? What are we going to see?
And that's when Muffler's gonna know, okay, the date is locked. It's official. You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, you know, I ran into some complications. It's been five years since my last album. So there was a lot of excitement in putting this music out. You know, I'm very eager. But, you know, it's also my first major label album. So that was really more of the complications that I'm having is understanding the chain of command and
the whole system or like you know having to have everybody on the same page and things like that you know I mean like whereas when I was independent I just pressed the button like I'm ready if I say June 17th June 17th that's when I'm uploaded you know I mean so there's a lot of things I was out of my control but
Listen, when I'm on that stage, it's just Joey Badass. I ain't got no time to point the finger at nobody and anything. I'll just take accountability. It's coming soon though. I can't wait. Shout out to everybody who's waiting and been patient. Appreciate y'all. And you got out in front of it too. That's the power source for media. As soon as you know with the delay, you hear everybody up on IG, it's going to be a delay. And that ain't no. I feel like the game needs Joey Badass, mostly because I think I do high level conversations. I feel like your music high level. And plus, it's in a lane where
It's a lot of shit that's out there, but it ain't nothing to allow you to kind of, you got a masculine energy. You see what I mean? I think you bring that to the game. And, you know, the music is high energy, which if you're talking about something, what's your belief that you represent in the game? No, it's Joey badass. I think I represent a call to higher consciousness. You know what I'm saying? I represent open mindedness. I represent unity. And I represent, you know,
Yeah, just brought it thinking, man, how you level shit, you know what I'm saying? Like, we about expansion over here, you know what I mean? Like, my whole experience as a musician, as an actor, I've seen them try to marginalize us as a people, as a culture. And, you know, I'm here to double down on the fact that we oceans, we ain't swimming pools, you know what I mean? We've asked and unpredictable, you know what I'm saying? And there's no limitations to what we doing, so.
My last question from a business standpoint, you being independent, going to a major, what made you do that and how has it changed as far as the business dynamics is being an independent artist and being on a major label. First of all, great question, you know, because my whole foundation is built on independence.
You know what I mean? That's like my call of fame right there. So my decision on going with a major was me getting to a point in my career where I created enough leverage where I was able to find a partner and be able to act for the things that I want and that I deserve where, you know, it didn't slight me. You know what I'm saying? I didn't have, I wasn't giving up the lion's share or anything like that. So, you know, and also as independence, as creatives,
There's bust so much we could do until we reach a glass ceiling. It's like being a painter. You could sell all your artworks right out of your photo studio, but eventually it's just word of mouth. Whereas you go partnering with a gallery or something like that and it's like now your works is getting out there some more and shit like that.
That was kind of my decision-making and also like having an escape plan. You know what I mean? Like I ain't major forever. Two albums and I'm out. Are you studying Web3 any? Is that what? Web3, where? No, I'm not too big on the Web3 NFT game. Like, you know, I like to live real life. Not even. I'm talking about just like utilizing the platform.
Because when I think about independent orders, that's going to be the best platform in the blockchain. You understand me, it's going to expand what you're going to be able to do. It's basically going to allow you to circumnavigate having a label because you're going to be able to take those same things they got in operation and automate it. For sure. You feel me? So not NFTs are just one phase of the blockchain, but the new iteration of the internet will allow the creators to be able to own it and take advantage of it. Word up. Well, I mean, to be honest, I got to catch up a bit. You know what I'm saying? I got to catch up a bit.
Pandemic, I'm out here living real life. You know what I mean? I got my baby daughter at home. I haven't really been diving too much into it. You know what I'm saying? But I'm with you on that. I'm with you on that. But I appreciate that. My last thought, as you're talking, who's your biggest music influence, not named Jay-Z? Because when I'm hearing you, I got a guy in mind. I'm like, I know that. I know that. I'm here. I feel like there's a Rock Kim influence here. For sure. For sure. I love Rock Kim. You know what I'm saying?
For me what I love about rock canvas is more like the energy and the spirit and the embodiment of just you know I'm saying being high level and being like focused and on your Dean you know I'm saying and not having the it is about integrity over success you know because that's what I value you know I mean so yeah for sure but I was I got to give it to life
Nice. Pop. I can see that. I can see that. I can see that. I can see that. No, no, no. And that's my big puncture. Yeah, I'm good. Yeah, like I'm grateful to have that relationship with him. You know what I mean? I'm really calling him. Appreciate it, brother. My dog, thanks for coming over. Neil, welcome. Welcome back, brother. First of all, this is over you here. Last time we saw you with Invesque Fest.
VIP night. So I want to formally thank you for that, man. That was dope for me. I had a great time, brother, indeed, indeed. Appreciate y'all having me. No problem, man. So you, as like a legacy artist at this point, which is crazy because I grew up on your music. So now it's like you're a legacy artist. How do you maintain
Your relevancy in almost, what, 20 years in the game, 15th? We almost at 20. Yeah, we almost at the 20 mark. You know what I mean? For me, it's always been about acknowledging the trend, but not following it. You know what I mean? I think a lot of these young cats don't realize that trends are meant to come and go.
And if you attach your artistry, if you attach yourself to that trend, once that trend leaves, you kind of leave with it. You know what I mean? So I've always tried to attach myself to things that aren't going anywhere.
Going anywhere. Sound of a guitar is never going anywhere. Love is a feeling as an emotion, as a move, and they ain't going nowhere. It might not be the most popular thing right now because, you know, it is what it is, but it's never gonna go out of style. It's never gonna be a time where it's like, we don't need love, we always need love. We will forever need love, and we will forever need love songs. And as long as that's the case, Neil will forever be around. Yeah, I think, I'm glad you said that, because that's one of the many talents. You started as a songwriter, became a worldwide success as an artist,
But at these times now, do you go back to the original town? Like, I see there's an artist out there, they can be great, they need that neo pen. Is that how you are? I mean, that may not be the mind state as to why I do it, but at the same time, I'll never not write, you know what I'm saying? That's therapy for me. You know, if it's, I've always been better putting it down on paper as opposed to even saying it out of my mouth. So, you know, whenever I get into that place where I'm Superman in my family, right? So whenever Superman needs saving,
I get in my pad and I'm good again. You know what I mean? That's always been my therapy. So the fact that I can do it as a career and make money doing it, that's just fringe benefit. I'm saying because of it. You know what I mean? Like I'm stable because of it. Yeah. Do you think we had it to a place where
Because R&B is one of those genres that is forever needed. Number one, we're very lustful society. We ain't got enough love in the culture. You understand me? And I think R&B is probably something that we need to listen to even more. And recently, we sang Drake and Beyonce do like house music.
And a lot of people in dance music and a lot of people were saying, well, this was actually a good thing because it's a break from what we get. A lot of music is dark in these days. What is R&B or what is the future of music as a therapy for the culture? You understand me specifically, like, what's your intention you put in the music as far as what you want to spread?
Um, well, I mean, I've been, I've been about love from the very beginning or, or should I say the black, white and gray of love? Because, you know, you can't appreciate the highs of love if you can't acknowledge the lows of love. Like they, they, they both exist for a reason. It's like yin and yang, you know? Um, I'm just, I'm, I'm trying to make sure that anybody going through a heartbreak or anybody going through anything like that knows and understands that they're not alone. You don't, nobody, you going through it, but it ain't just you.
I'm going through it too. That's what the song says to them. And what the song also does is give them a soundtrack to what it is that's happening. I'm depressed. I feel bad right now. I need a song that's going to pull me up. I got that for you. Or I just feel like being in my feelings today is raining. I want to just be in this place. I got that for you too. That's what my music has always been. Put the song on and apply it to your life accordingly. That's what a neo record is. So when did you
Let me ask you this, as far as balancing business and music, right? A lot of people say they get turned off from creating because they have to deal with the business side. Did you ever have that experience? And how has your experience been navigating being a creative and being a businessman at the same time? So this is the way to segue into the new album. July 15th.
I've been writing on this album since 2018, since before the pandemic. And a lot of the reason, aside from the pandemic, a lot of the reason why it's so long is because I fell into that place where it was like, all right, this is a good song, but is it rhythmic enough? Is it popping up? Is it urban enough? And then I'm looking at like, I'm looking at the format. It's like, all right, the sound is.
changed. I ain't getting no younger. Do I fit still? Is there ever a place for me in this deal?
fell into that place and it took a major, major toll on just my creativity. I couldn't write nothing like, because I'm second-guessing everything I'm doing. I had to finally get to that place where I realized it meant I've never been in business for the business of selling records. That's not what I do. Record label sell records. I am not a record label. I'm an artist. I'm a writer. I'm a singer. My only obligation is to put my heart and soul into this music. That's it. Once I got back there,
The songs just poured out of me. So I got back to that. I got back to a good place. The business side of this will steal the joy of the side if you let it. Now at the same time, to do this and not know that it's a business is just stupid. No one understand that there is millions upon millions upon hundreds of millions of dollars made with this. But you can't ignore the fact that it's a business. But what you don't do is take the business into the studio.
You don't go in the studio and go, all right, today we're gonna write a pop song, y'all. Cause it'll never happen like that. You gotta go in the studio and do what your artistic integrity lets you do. And then let the people that do that, figure out where it's supposed to fall. Okay, you did a pop record today, I know where to take this. You did a rhythmic record today, all right, I know where to take this. In the creative process, it's just about creation, bro. It's just about art. Let it be about that. Let it be, let that be your joyous spot. And then let the people that do that.
Do that. At least that's been my philosophy of it. Yeah. So you said, I mean, someone around 20 years, like Charlie said, we grew up on the music, but it has changed. And so I wonder now, is there artists that you listen to that inspire you, the music and say, like, I like this. All right, I can hear what they're going with. Or when you're getting in that process of writing for the new album, did you go back in time to 80s or 70s sounds, be like, I needed that to inspire me.
Uh, I can honestly say a little bit of both. A little bit of both. Because again, you can't, you can't ignore what's happening right now. Like you can't call yourself a music person and ignore what's happening right now. But at the same time, you also can't try to transform yourself into what's happening right now because it's happening right now. You know what I mean? Like I'm 42 years old. There's some things that are being said and some of these records that is just going to sound stupid if I say.
I'm aware that I acknowledge that and I ain't even mad at that, you know what I'm saying? I'm always gonna give you the metaphor that's gonna make you think a little bit to get to where you got with that, you know what I'm saying? That's always gonna be my thing. But at the same time...
I can't say that it's not young cats out here doing it. Like the boy blue, he's making moves. I can't acknowledge that. Lucky day, making moves. Givey on, making moves. I can't ignore that. So I listen to these cats and I kind of, I'm almost kind of taking back to my beginnings. Like I know where you at right now. I know the excitement you're feeling right now. You know what I mean? I'm on Brick Hotel, I'm thinking like, that's one of them records. Yeah, yeah. Shout out to that boy, by the way. Givey on. I love his tone. He see it don't sound like what's going on today.
Yeah. I kind of got a two part question. First part is, do you recognize the metaphysical aspect of music? You understand me? Like, you know, we water being sold music as a frequency and change it. Like once you put emotion, emotion into something that gets stuck into a person as they listen to it. Like a person may listen to your words and your voice and your energy a thousand times. They may listen to our podcast or media once or twice.
You understand me do you recognize that power metaphysically that music has as you're going into here with that intention and then to do you plan on in the future utilizing like NFTs web 3 blockchain to really monetize your music in a different way to go direct to kasuna um two parts so yes i'm definitely aware of that i'm definitely aware of
Music's power, you know, sound is frequency, frequency is vibration and all these things affect us, affect ourselves, affects us on the inside. It ain't just, I listen to the song and I like it. I listen to the song and it does something that affects me. I get goosebumps or whatever the case may be. It's because of vibration, frequency, and frequency. So I'm very aware of
How powerful that is. I'm aware of how some cats have used it the wrong way. You know, you put a frequency in your record that makes people addicted to it, but it's not feeding them anything. It's just making, it's just creating craving. Like that's almost backwards.
I just crave. I just crave. I just crave. Well, what do you crave? I'm trying to get you to music that's going to get you to crave the right thing. That's going to get you to crave that thing that's going to make yourselves move the way they need to move. You know what I mean? That's what I'm always shooting for. And as far as NFTs and all of that stuff, I'm definitely in that world.
Not as heavy as I would like to be. And it's mainly just a standpoint of sitting still long enough to get the information, to gather the knowledge. But I see what that is. I see the potential in that. Right now NFTs is something that you can't even touch. It's intangible. But in a minute, you about to see houses as NFTs. You about to see whole records as NFTs. That's where we about to go. I see it happening.
So last question before we wrap, I will actually, I want you to tell the people about the new music. Cause you know, like I said, I grew up on it, the old music, but I'm looking forward to the new music. So what can we be looking forward to on a new project? Copy that. So self-explanatory is the name of the new album. I called it that simply because the music speaks for itself. It doesn't really need much explanation on top of the fact that I've been here almost 20 years. I feel like y'all should know me at this point. I shouldn't have to explain who I am, what I am, what I do.
Um, on this album, you will find acknowledgement of what's going on right now with my spin on it. And, but you will also find, you know, that song for the die hard fan. That person has been there since then and the vibe and energy that they look for. I'm always trying to please all the people at the same time. And I know that that's virtually impossible, but damn it. I'm gonna keep doing what I do for who's listening and who cares. And, and, uh, yeah, yeah, that's what it is, brother.
What you want to spot? I mean, so sick is up there, but uh, sexy love problem.
Touch and love. Good taste, good taste. Missed and offended. Indeed. Indeed. Indeed. Appreciate that love. Yeah. Ruppershop. Come on, man. It's sort of something that made me think I could sing it. So I'm singing that one. That's where you know it's a good record. I feel like I'm feeling... I might say, I'm good right now. Somebody got a neo hook. Alright. And I'm going back to you. Best song that neo wrote.
I don't know what's going on. I don't know what's going on. I don't know what's going on. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.
Damn, I mean they both equate it to really quality Christmases. I will say that
Really good Christmas is off for both of those records. Still. It is day. It is day. Yeah, my kids love those songs.
If I had to choose one over the other, I probably, probably irreplaceable. Only because it was a learning experience for me. You know what I mean? Like, I wrote the song with the intent to keep it and learn that certain lyrics, the person delivering the message matters sometimes. For example, I can have another you in a minute. Matter of fact, she'll be hearing a minute from a man. Sounds a little mean, a little misogynistic.
before a woman to say, I can have another you in a minute. Matter of fact, he'll be here in a minute. Every woman in the world is gonna rally behind her like, that's right, girl. We ain't patiently gonna tell her. You know what I mean? So I learned that lesson through that record. That's a super fast. That's a super fast. That is a boyfriend. Michael Jackson of Prince. I can't even do it, right? You gotta save us somebody. You gotta lean to the side. So I tell you, so I learned how to sing
Memicant Michael Jackson. I learned how to perform Memicant Prince. And I've had moments with both of them before they pass. I got to actually write with him for Michael Jackson. We didn't get to record the records. But like talking to this man regularly and him critiquing the records that I'm writing for him like that was an experience. And then Prince.
Libra scale. It's probably my worst performing album. And I was bummed out. I was messed up about it. And we got we got we got invited to Prince's Grammy party that year. I remember I was I was psyched about that because he was Prince fans. So we go in. He's on stage. He's performing with. He sees me. He puts his guitar down. Be lines for me and comes to me and says to me, you know, Libra scale was a good album. And don't let anybody tell you different.
Back up stage and finish what he was doing and that that for me in that moment cuz I was I was I was beat up. I was I was beat up This like the album the hell with anybody didn't like it. Yeah, I gotta give you credit before we go
Your versus battle, probably the most slept on, but absolutely classic. Appreciate that, classic. It's probably the reason I was there last night. There's some things that's in the works. We have some discussions, some discussions about some possibilities. Yeah. Yeah. That's that's. I'm talking about it. We got to see. You know what, why y'all are here? Okay. So if I was to do it again. Yeah. Who I want to see you against?
That was because that's the main thing right now. Something that nobody would expect. No, you go first. I'm gonna say Jamie Foxx. I'm gonna say Jamie Foxx. I like that actually. I'm actually not mad at that. I'm expecting. I like that. I'm going to stop. I'm going to stop. I'm going to stop. I'm going to stop. I'm going to stop. I'm going to make it up. I'm going to make it up.
You said Jamie Foxx was such a good answer. I want to go top it. I think you and Maxwell. Maxwell?
That's a power out. If we were talking just an R&B battle, I think that might be a move. I think it might be a move. So you don't? But if I pull out any of the pop records. You can't do the pop records with me. And that's why Jamie Foxx would be good. But he got rap. Because he got 20 of them things. Yeah, he got 20. Jamie? You Jamie? He got features. 20. No, he got 20. Including features, yeah. Yeah. See, that's when you know the conversation is going to come on home. We won't be able to do that.
All right, here we are. Maybe on June, 2018 weekend, the coast is going to be nice upon us. Maybe I'll crack it in, man. The legend has so many many talents. Thank you for telling us my brother. Thank you for having me, man. Come on, man. Y'all, all legends right here. So to sit down right here, to be included in this, this conversation and this couch, it means I did the work. Absolutely. Absolutely. So.
I feel like you reinvent yourself and you use things that's trending the reinvent yourself. So we got to talk about this versus. When did you decide, okay, I'm a remix this flippant and did you think it was going to go viral? Like people, some of these verses, I don't watch the verses. I don't watch this weekend. That was a must see. Yeah. Listen and shout out to my brother Spice Adams, man.
Without him, we connected and just did it organically. But to your point of reinvention, I want to talk about that for a second, because we're in a room full of artists, right? And 20 years ago, this same type of room existed and it was a whole different set of artists. They come and they go.
I don't purposely jump on something that's trendy because I'm like, ah, it's going to be viral or it's going to, I just live in today. I live in the now and I create from a now space. And so if I always stay in that now space, I'm always in what the current water flow is as opposed to like creek water or like pond water. It's not dead. It's not stagnant. So you'll never see me talking about what I did last year or 10 years ago. So I try to stay in that flow of that. So that helps me reinvent like skin cells. Like it just,
Gradually does it naturally, organically, as opposed to trying to do it. You're not going to see me bleaching my skin to try to get fresh skin. It just does it on itself. Don't do that. The guard will be highly disappointed. You lied enough already.
Come on, Keith. I represent the life skin coordination with pride, you know? I don't need to get no light up. We got together. We got together. Exactly. One of the things that I think people don't really give you credit for, maybe they'll know is how you've turned the business economy into an actual business, creating content, licensing, owning it. You talk about that a little bit? Yeah, for sure. I've always heard not to spend your own money, right?
And it made sense at first until I keep getting my tax bill at the end of the year, right? And so I'm like, hold on. I'm sending money to dudes who wasn't with me shooting in the gym. And I don't know what they doing with that. And it's a lot of that that I'm sending out. So it's like, I, well, the way my business is set up, if I can expense it, if I could draw my expenses versus my earnings at the end of the year, why not?
Invest in my own lifestyle and things that I want to spend that money on before I have to send it over to those guys. And until I fully learned it, maybe y'all could talk about this offline with me, until I learned how to pay $300 like Donald did in taxes and get the right loopholes legally.
I'm gonna go ahead and do My legal version of that which is I'm gonna invest the bread that I got into my own project So what I do is for example, I create I shot my own stand-up special HBO Netflix none of them was coming knocking on my door not to say that they won't Eventually, but they didn't really know I was doing stand-up So I knew an offer wasn't just gonna fly into my doorstep So I shot my own joint and when license it with Kevin Hart at LOL
That's my brother, licensed it, got it back, and now we shopping for a new deal for it. So I already made that money, and I'm about to make money on it again. So that's pretty much my short-term template of how I do things. Let me ask you, man, during the time of the verses, you also took some of that same energy and put it towards Kevin Samuels. The rest of the piece Kevin Samuels, he's no longer here.
But when you got the news of his passing, you know, because he talked about high value men and you know how he spoke upon women, how did that affect you, you understand me on your platform? Like did you get any feedback on that? What was your actual thoughts about chemistry?
And I've had to talk about this a couple times, obviously. But the character that I do, Dr. Devin Fontaine, is a mix of people. I used to do this character named Fontaine 10 years ago about the flamboyant brother that we all know in the hood that ain't comfortable with it saying what it really is, right? So I always did this. That's why the voice is so exaggerated and cartoony. That's Fontaine.
So the more I got into imitating this therapist guy, because I always called him Devin. I was never straight Kevin Samuels. I started calling him Devin, because I didn't really know enough about him. All I saw was a little clips that people would send me. And I was like, all right, let me just play a character that's similar to him that don't really want to be on the line, even though he's trying to help these people. And I just exaggerated it. And the more I got into the voice, it became fine change. So that's why it wasn't a direct
Yeah, wasn't that personal? It wasn't like when he passed, it wasn't a direct effect on me, like rest in peace to the brother. But I literally, we never met. I don't know him like that personally. So, you know, he created a platform of online therapy that I thought was humorous for my character to partake in. So that's really the extent of it. When we talk about the business of comedy, we talk to Steve Harvey and he was like, you know, when he first started, he never understood business. It was just go and tell jokes.
And then he understood the business later on. But we see a lot of comics now on Instagram, but I'm still not sure if they fully understand that comedy, it's like music business, right? Like comedies of business. So when did you realize that comedy was actually a business? And what would you say to up and coming comics that have a talent, but they only really know how to make people laugh?
I knew it was a business from day one. I went to college for business. I have a master's degree in business. So even back then, when I was a broke college student at an HBCU, Fable State University, shout out, I knew that I was going into the entertainment industry.
I already had the talent, so I didn't waste my college years taking up theater. I was like, no, I know I could do that when I get on the stage. I want to know what these dudes are talking about on these contracts and on these deals. I need to be able to talk to my lawyer and be able to communicate and speak the same language. So I don't know who understands business or not in comedy, but when I look at guys like 85 South, when I look at guys like Desi Banks and Ha Ha Davis,
My instinct is that they do know and that they really created a business model for themselves with the help of Steve Harvey. Steve has been an OG to some of those younger guys, to me as well. And yeah, it's really about creating a product and being able to market it and sell it. And if you don't understand, as a comedian, as a rapper, as an actor, that you are also this,
You're gonna be waiting for the phone to ring and to be hired as opposed to figuring out how to package yourself and put yourself on the market to sell and take all the money. So we're here, BET weekend, the awards coming up on Sunday. Talking about the importance of having a space where we can celebrate each other, the importance of this weekend. I'm sure this isn't your first. What does this mean to you this year? I was saying this earlier.
black excellence. We always run to the other side to give validation. And if we could just put aside all the competition and all the bickering and all the nonsense that black people do, namely black men who don't sit down when we have an issue, who have a difference in meanness, brother, don't even have the same religious beliefs, right? But meanness, brother, break bread. We talk offline. We don't even talk about religion. I just see a brother that I respect. And we just
We just comment on each other stuff. We uplift. Yo, you good, you straight. Yo, let's talk about song. So when we see each other next, if we could just get that unity, that excellence and understand that we are more powerful together. You know what I mean? For me, that's what I look forward to seeing. I don't want to see another young rapper dead or another
All that energy is something that we need to push past, and I pray that we do. But that's what I'm looking forward to this weekend, is to see who shows up in the craziest outfit, you know what I mean? The sparkly shoes and just has fun, you know? Being secure in who they are, and that doesn't rub off in a negative way to somebody else.
You know, stories is more powerful for the knowledge, man. And I think comedians, a lot of times, get the opportunity to tell stories in a way where you teach in lessons. You understand me? At the same time, comedians have been heavily censored nowadays. You understand me? But I think that it's important to allow comedians to go into the dark spaces because that's where you bring people out. That's where you get to have real conversations and we get to push the culture forward.
So, what shall take on, do you censor yourself in fear of the so-called counsel court, which nobody actually gets counseled? And then what's the importance of comedians being able to narrate and, you know, in the king, the court gesture was able to say anything he wanted to. You feel me? He can talk about the king. He can say he's a tyrant and everybody laughs. But that's necessary to decompress and, you know, pick that valve of pressure in society. So what shall take on that?
I don't do anything out of fear. I don't respond to fear. I said what I said. At the same time, if you know me as a human being, I'm a very tactful, compassionate guy. I'm very empathetic to people. So I'm never trying to talk about anything on stage or in my humor. It's going to make somebody feel like it's affecting who they are as a person or affecting their soul. But there are such things as truths.
There's some ugly truths out there that we gotta talk about. And I feel like the faster we do that and get comfortable with that, the better we are, my God, good to see you. The better we are with being able to push past it and salute to Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle, those guys who make it their platform to speak true. It may not be what everybody likes to hear, but it's what, it's true to them. So, if you think we're about getting slapped on him,
Second, you know I worry about getting slapped on you. You know what I mean too. You know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too. You know what I'm saying too.
Everybody knows you you're you're a very you know outgoing person as far as your personality People come up to you. They tell you jokes. Do you ever get tired? Does that ever like your bro? I'm not right now. It's not the time. It's like yo when people come to your money Yeah, it's like
You're like, nigga, I just want to eat a wok. Like, I'm just here about this piercing theories of the world. Like, not right now, brother. So you get questions all the time and you got to, you got to explain the plight of the black man on every trajectory, everywhere you go. Hey, so let's hold keys. Let me, let me ask you this. They say that black men are more prone to getting diabetes. Do you think that diabetes is directly connected to what porn we watch?
Because then booties be sweet. And you be like, nigga, I just came to get a haircut. I'm just like, man, continue to tap into yourself. I appreciate you, y'all. Man, I'm good questions. Keep asking yourself that. Right. Yeah, man. I don't, yeah, you know, I love that people show the love and they're aware of what I do, but it ain't always appropriate. You wouldn't walk up to Mike Tyson, be like, hey, you a boxer? Touch me and my goddamn face right now. That's a fact. Would you do that?
Could you do that? So now, man, I'll just be chilling. That's what's up. That's what's up. Man, I appreciate you, man. I appreciate y'all, man. Much respect to y'all. Like, this is a great conversation. I've been waiting to have with all of y'all. That's love, man. That's definitely connect off. Let's do it. Let's do it.
All right, so we had, it's like I said, this is what I'm most excited about. My God, Simba. So I'm a big fan of the music and the era that we came from is very nostalgic to us. Yes, sir. And a few people give me that feeling. I got a chance to meet Benny the butcher and I told him that.
and Simba and I don't even know if you know this boy like I mean your comments like fire emoji so my man Abdullah I'm like you know Simba he like I know him because you repost him all the time so
lyrical giant thank you brother thank you thank you man this is like a breath of like fresh air like you said that music that we grew up on when we heard that sound it was like automatic like well what was that when it went what that was the whole point bro is like
I just was sitting back like a few years ago, and I'm just like, I'm trying things. I'm experimenting. I'm doing melody music, writing pop songs, and APG writing for Scooby-Doo album. And I just had to sit down like, man, who am I as an artist? You know what I'm saying? And when I think about it, I always go back to my uncles.
Uh, my mama, you know, I mean, they come from that era. So I'm really a reflection of them. You know what I mean? But I can't just be out here rapping on old beats, you know, it's like, how do we redefine that? You know what I mean? How do we make it current for today? So that's just literally been my goal is to basically bring back that nostalgic feeling just in today's form.
So, you know, I'm from the Bay. I'm from Oakland and I know I always tell people I'm from Oakland. That's why I'm so well spoken. Exactly. You understand me exactly. It's a certain energy. It's the city. Not on the Bay Area. You understand, you're gonna do it a little different and I feel like that's what I get in your music is well because there's a lot of suckers that go on. Yeah, but your music is like empty sucker. Yeah, and you call it out. You feel me? So, but at the same time
UBSL Edge where it's like I'm not afraid to stand right here. You feel me and I'm gonna do a fair listen Where you get that from? Like I say, bro, my mama, you know I'm saying like my uncle's bro like
I come from a family, bro, where it's like, I'm supposed to be in jail, right? I was born in jail. My momma had me in jail. Uh, my auntie went to jail. My uncle Ronnie did 10 years in jail. My uncle's speedy total. My uncle Ronnie to get out of jail. My favorite cousin went to jail. So it's like, technically jail was supposed to be part of my story, but I always seen where they would go wrong growing up. You know what I mean? And I'd be like, you know what?
I ain't bout to sell dope, I'm like that with a little weed here and there to get some money, you know what I'm saying? But I ain't fucking with cocaine, I ain't on that, you know what I mean? I ain't finna just be spinning, cause somebody punch my little nigga in the face, you know what I'm saying? It's like you gotta really do something to me to make me wanna physically harm you, you know what I'm saying? So, I just always put that in the music, you know? It's raw, it's uncut, it's how I feel. Most people are scared to say how they feel, it's just
How you gonna help somebody get through life if you can't communicate what you're going through, you know? I feel like all...
It's a thin line between the type of music that you make is so nostalgic to me because it's like Nas is my favorite rapper of all time. And Nas always, he was always like a positive vibe, but he was never a positive rapper. Like you know what I'm saying? He's still a street dude where he could always get a message of positivity where it's like some of the more they put you in a box as a positive rapper. It's hard to ever get out that box.
You, I kind of look at like that. Like, it was written. Like, you know what I'm saying? I listen to your music, and it's like Big Pharma, some more dope than Big Meats. Like, you know what I'm saying? It's messages. It's a fact though. But it's vibes. Like, you know what I'm saying? It's vibes. You got the Cartier frames on it. It's not ultra preachy. You do that on purpose or? I'm front of like, bro, just saying we front of Babe, bro. You know what I'm saying? We from the Panthers.
You know what I'm saying? We gon' have some information, but at the same time, this shit in us, it ain't on us. It's isn't broke. I grew up knocking women, playing ball. You know, I was that nigga in school. I didn't get hot in music and became cool. I was always cool. You know what I'm saying? Before I was doing music.
So it's like that has to be shown in the music and that's no offense to You know the spiritual rappers or the conscious rappers because we need them to but at the same time, bro It's a lack of cool niggas, you know, I mean in the industry and we all just can't be on this
Gangster shit just shooting everybody. It's just like bro. Come on. We all ain't killing everybody But it's more good going on in the ghetto than bad. It's just a bad. It's more publicized You know what I'm saying? I'm just here to speak on the good and call out the sucker shit like bro sick You know so so that that moment that LA leak is freaked out I feel like that's when the world was put on notice sure that sure what was coming for sure What was the how did that moment feel to you like you've been working at this right and you've got this moment to shine
And if it exploded what was that moment that what it feel like to you at that time I've been out here both
Bro, I didn't, man, look at my big brother. It's my big brother right there. Oh, Hurricane. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Aw, Bay Area, so, you know, Bay Area be having a black cloud on it. You feel me? Yeah. It's a lot of talent in the Bay, but it don't really get shown to break out. Thanks. What you think, but now I'm seeing, you know, individuals such as yourself, little Russell, and I feel like the internet allows you to navigate that black cloud. For sure, for sure. You feel me? When you was in and coming out at the game, number one, who did you look up to in the Bay Area?
And did you feel like being a Bay Area rapper, you was going to have that cloud and not be able to expand on? For sure. That was the reason I moved out. Um, like I grew up on short 40 max rate, keep the sneak, term tall. You know what I mean? Like I grew up listening to Bay music, but my mom.
My mom buried business minded. So my mom was in the real estate early. So she had homes in Texas, Vegas, Atlantic City, and I would always move around as a kid and notice Bay music wasn't being played in these places. And then when I would play it, people wouldn't get it. You know what I mean? A tempo might be too fast or whatever it may be. So when I started doing music, I was like, damn, I want to be the person that keep that Bay authenticity in my content.
but still make the sound of it universal enough that where the world could get it. And I feel like in the beta reason we got that black cloud is because we got a limited amount of black people in California.
So when you go in the south, you got black restaurant owners, black hookah spot owners, black car washes, which gives black music more platforms, right? Over here, we got very minimal with that. So I feel like a lot of artists feel like it's a certain amount of seats that success. Or when somebody else win it, like if they took your spot, when it's like, nah, we all can win. We just got to ask questions and communicate with each other to figure out a way to help each other get to the goal.
I rock with that. I'm getting into it. I'm getting into it. My mom been on me about it for years. I just been so psycho with this rap, just driven, just tunnel vision. You know what I mean? I ain't want to do nothing else. But now that my finances is growing and I'm getting a lot better, my mom put me in position to do a lot of shit. I'm actually trying to get a duplex right now.
You feel me? So that's definitely something I want to get into. And after my rap career, I want to be an architect. You know what I mean? So I want to design homes and buildings and kitchens and all kind of things. Well, it's about. That's what it's about. So obviously, the freestyle goes crazy. The goat singles out going crazy. Shout out to that. We all goats. Yeah. I have the business opportunities that are coming to you. Like, how do people approach you? What's your status? You're independent? What's going on? Yeah. So I'm going to major. I'm signing to Atlantic.
But I move like I'm independent. You know what I mean? We actually get ready to start my label. I don't like calling it a label, but that's how most people could understand what it is. But we get ready to start our company and it's called majority rules. And the whole idea of it is to be a brochure for artists, right? So when artists get this money when they first get signed,
Don't nobody tell you what to do with it, right? You just get the money and it's like I ain't never had it. So I'm finna go get all the clothes I wanted. I'm finna go knock the bitch. I couldn't get two months ago. I'm finna go get the crib. I'm finna go eat where I couldn't eat, right? And then you look back three months down the line and you broke and are you looking at the label like what y'all doing? Y'all supposed to be helping me get money when it's like an actuality nigga you supposed to take that money and go get independent publicist.
You feel me go get a cameraman go get a strategic go get a digital team. So we want to be the people that sign digital team sign creative people sign producers and songwriters someone artists get that money. They can come to us and we could break it down. Okay, bro. This is this a producer you could work with this somebody that can help you creatively and now have an infrastructure up under and they got to lose so much money in the process of doing that.
Now, I think what you represent is very important, because like you said, it's like there's a lack of just regular people in the music business. Everybody's a drug addict, everybody's a killer, but it's like the majority of people aren't like that. And when I hear you speak,
you sound sober. And that's something that is rare. It's rare. I'm saw stuff on the tequila right now, by the way. But even when I say sober, I just don't mean from drugs. I mean, yes, humility. Just, yeah, you just sound like you got common sense. Like, you know what I'm saying? And I appreciate that. I think a lot of times we talk to artists and it's like, damn, bro, like just speak to me like a regular person. But it's like some of them don't know how. You know what I mean? Like some of these kids, what do you got to think?
You have a little tutu from Jacksonville, Florida, right? And he made a song in his closet with his homies about some issues they was having with some niggas from up the street. And some little suburban kid posted this on TikTok, and it went viral. And the world found out about it. And then label star called him. They flying him to LA. They throwing him in these big studios. They putting him with the producers. He don't even know what to do.
It's all new form. He ain't never had to sit in front of a camera and talk to nobody. Like I said, I've been popular in my whole life. So I had to argue with my teachers. You know what I'm saying? I had to fight with my basketball coach. Like, I'm used to talking to people. Some people in them environments, they not used to talking or telling what's going on. So we can't blame them for that. We just have to educate them and help them navigate through that. But at the same time, Nick has got to want the help.
Man, you didn't bend on a lot of platforms, man. Jimmy Kimmel. People don't, like, it's interesting because I feel like, kind of like myself, right? When somebody see me on the platform, it's like something that's not supposed to be there. It's an enigma. You feel me?
And somehow you challenge that and navigate. Like I feel like we're in an era where it's a glitch in a matrix. You feel me? Thanks. And it ain't even really a question. It's more or so about maintaining that integrity that you got. You understand me just alone that path because I can just see the future of you growing. You see the brand developing and people really rocking with that and you creating a whole new archetype.
that people can follow as a blueprint. You understand me? People love Nipsey because of what he represented. You feel me? And then you got that same representation. So half of the shit I'm speaking on.
And how I was able to find out about this information was from Nipsey. I met Nipsey in 2012 at A3C Fest in Atlanta. And this one that we cookies had just came out, right? And we was only niggas with cookies in the bay. So we got some to the A, right? We was in the club club compound smoking. And I feel somebody tap me.
He like, hey, bro, y'all got some of that for sale, but y'all smoke it. You feel me? I'm like, man, it's some new shit. I'm like, nah, I'm a fan of you. I ain't gonna sell you no weed, but we could smoke together. You feel me? We talked it up that night. He gave me his number. He said, man, whenever you're in LA, hit me.
I lied to the nigga. I say I live in LA. I'll be there Monday. You feel me? He like already in me. I flew back to the bay Got my car and drove to LA. You feel me? I ain't have a hotel room. Nothing. I just drove out there and I got to the grave when I was like Brahmin LA I just got back where you at 20 minutes later. He sent me a address He said I'm at the studio pull up. I went to the studio. He had a studio downtown
Went to the studio, and we had a conversation. He gave me this book. The 22 immutable laws of branding.
Right? And that book taught me how to stop looking at myself as an individual and how to grow my identity as a business. You know what I mean? So everything that I'm speaking on, majority rules, the reason I stuck in that one lane is just rapping, it come from that book that nip gave me. So resting piece to the goat, man. That's a fat. So the album is on the way. Yes, sir. They always say you got your whole life to make your first album. Yes, sir. And three months to make it second. Yes, sir. Do you feel any pressure?
for this debut, right? Because obviously we come in, we know illmatic and we know the crowd. And we know these debuts obviously get rich about trying. What's the emotion in building up to this moment? Man, my thing, bro, is just really it ain't even about like trying to go platinum with like and pressing everybody. It's just more so fun and where more of my fans are.
You know what I mean? Knowing what they like to drink. Knowing what they like to eat. Knowing what they like to shop. That's really what I'm most excited about. So I don't really feel no pressure because I don't get into other people's expectations of what they feel I should be doing. You know what I mean? And I didn't done this for too long and I'm damn good at it. You know what I mean? So I know anything. I drop it. It ain't gonna be wet. You know what I mean? So I don't feel no pressure at all. I'm just really excited to get the music out more than anything.
All right, we got we got we got a wrap but it's one last thing I want to say we should not even a question it's a request Okay, I met all three of you now, and I'm glad I met all three of you You were actually how I thought you would be yeah, I would like to see this collaboration Toby Denny
December Easy call Bitty my brother. I just was with Benny last night. I never met Toby, but I'm a big fan is Super photo humble big fan of his we put it together Appreciate you gonna make sure we link back up to not for sure I like that alright
We here with the lovely beer. Thank you for joining us. Appreciate it. Appreciate it. Vavs, how you like the BET experience the weekend? This is your first time coming? Actually, yeah, this is my first real time coming. This is my first time being nominated. So it's a different vibe. What's that feeling like when you heard the news that you created is now being recognized for people that look like us, a platform that's built up by us? What's that feeling like?
When you know you watched the BT Awards your whole life and I've always been an artist that's like, when am I gonna get on the BT Awards? When am I gonna get on the BT Awards? And now it's just like, it's just surreal. It's like, it really happened. I'm like, it's crazy. God is great, man, for real.
I imagine something a little different. I've been lately saying it's something called soft life, where it's like, because you got a very soft voice, but at the same time it commands presence. You understand me? And the soft life is about black and brown women not needing to be displayed like tough, but they can be softening, feminine energy and like show joy and laughter. You feel me? What you feel about that?
I love that you say that. Nobody ever says anything like that. And I'm glad because, you know, I grew up in an era where it was like the 90s, early 2000s. It was very like Alia and, you know, it was a different vibe. It was very like fly girls and, you know, just a different vibe. So I've always felt like as an artist, I just want to be myself and whoever that translates with is who it translates with and just not have to fit into a mold that people wanted me to fit into.
when I first started making music. That's beautiful. I love it. Thank you. I appreciate that. So how's it like working with Cole? How's it like working with J. Cole? Oh, Cole is amazing, man. Cole's actually like my favorite artist to this day. Like just because of who he is as a person and like not only how talented he is and the way he pushes this pen, like he make me every time I go in the booth now, I'm like,
I gotta push my pen for real. Like, Jay Cole is watching me, right? I can't let Jay Cole down. That song is dope. The video is dope. The whole London vibe is dope. What inspired that?
It's crazy because we love London and I think Jake Cole actually spent some time in London too, like extended period time. So when we had a show out there, so we was just gearing up to go to London and I was like, all right, I'm getting in my London bag and I just like to have fun when I'm in the studio and that's what that song was. I wasn't even expecting Jake Cole to get on it, like to be honest. I just wanted to play it for him.
What about crypto? I seen you do the collaboration with the crypto. I actually did like a little remix to it because I love that fact. Could I always say, you know, I say crypto in your purse, not in your wallet, right? That's how I teach it to women. So what do you feel about the industry of women actually understanding this new age financial technology and stuff?
Well, I just feel like as a woman, the more things you can put your money into, the better. Like if whether that be real estate, whether that be a makeup brand, whether that be a salon, crypto, like for me, crypto was so scary at first because I'm like, I don't know much about stocks, but it's actually like a lot easier once you get your foot in and you just try it out. More people need to just like do a little bit of crypto and then take it a little bit and grow.
You're really good with the crypto. I know about you. You got some tips? Anything I should invest in while I'm here? What are you investing in? Like stuff, but like stocks that like people will tell me like, oh, you should invest in this. I might go get a couple of those. But really stuff that like I use in the long term. So like I have a lot of like long term stocks and like just stuff like that. How about say we're not investing in the
Um, actually I haven't. I haven't. So they got to like pay me for me to invest in the first time. So obviously being a newer artist, what's it been like for you being accepted in this industry, right? Like I feel like we came in with such a heat rock. It was like, who is this girl? We love her. What's it been like for you just over this past year?
Well, most people know I'm not a newer artist. I've been out for like 10 years. I was like shelled. I had a situation that wasn't right for me for a while. So nobody really knew my music like that. People just knew me. So now I'm at the point where people are able to attach the face with the music. And now they see like, oh, it's a real person.
It's been a drive. So 10 years, they didn't know. And now what is that experience? We're like, go finally. My time has arrived. It feels like hard work pays off. And it really just feels like you can never stop the motion. It's always going to be up and down motion. You just got to find your motion.
How is life for you these days? I know like once you get up and running, everything comes at you. And so many people hitting you up. It's hard to answer text messages. Like, are you enjoying that? Because I know you're going through it. Because we go through it. Yo, you see the question you just asked? That's a great question. You're enjoying that? You feel guilty about like that? That's the hardest part for me. It's like finding that balance of like, um,
I'm so busy and I love being busy. I would never not want to be as busy as I am now. But it's like finding sleep, finding eat, finding family. Those things are not being able to respond right away because it's like people think that I'm at the disposal of my phone and I do not have my phone nine times out of ten. It's like everything gets, people take it way more personal and they don't know what it's like on this level.
Thank you guys so much. Thank you for joining us bro, appreciate it.
I said thank you for joining us. Appreciate it. Absolutely. It's fun again. I ain't did something like this, you know, in many. So even bringing the culture together to do, you know, the politics and the culture is different. So we see you at a lot of different events. What's the power of networking? A lot of times people are artists.
entertainers, entrepreneurs, they don't fully understand, like even this room right here, right, going around, you probably might not even want to do this, but what's the power of networking, getting out there, making relationships, shaking hands, things of that nation? I think there's a simple beauty and collaboration, you know, however you can imagine that, and I feel like
Everybody's passion is like a puzzle piece, you know, so everybody got to like Somehow come together. We make the picture, you know And you never know who you might meet on any given day, you know And I feel like you know obviously bringing people together in one room It's almost like a free-for-all, you know, so it's really about what you do with it, you know You got to be a people person you can't be
You can't be shy, you can't be quiet, you know, speak up, you know, speak your truth, you know, speak your story, you know, and the rest is history. Yeah, yeah. One of the things you spoke about is passion. And so we've seen you with the music, obviously that's one of your passions. But I think people have underrated you in the acting field. That's one of the things that, you know, we've seen you in power. What did you discover the power, the passion for acting?
I think growing up, being exposed to so much at a young age, and that's just like traveling so many different places, being exposed to so many different cultures, like culture shocks, which ultimately allows you to grow at a young age early, and you're able to really become a chameleon. And so on top of who I am and my personality, my mom always, they say, boy, you're a character. You say that every day.
for years, you know, eventually you become one, you know, but still you, you. And she was like, you know, they got an industry for that. But I would never really want to, you know, claim it up until obviously I was growing up and realize, Oh, this is a space for me actually. I thought you had to just be like picked, you know, and I know that you can actually like put yourself forward and, you know, really do it, you know, back then when she was telling me so she's all about growing, you know.
What about legacy, man? I feel like your family as a family of brothers, each one of you all have your own individual presence. But collectively, y'all represent a legacy. You understand me? And I was just looking up something as far as like, you know, y'all do the dances. And dancing is one of the most spiritual rituals known to man. And y'all like bring energy and joy at the same time in y'all representation. You understand me? Y'all bring people together.
What do you feel like just as a collective and as individual what y'all represent for the coach as a family of like black men putting out that energy? You know family is everything not to sound cliche but you know growing up you realize that importance and you realize the unity in that and the power in that and where that could go and then next thing you know friends become family and then next thing you know
You know what I mean? It's that effect. And nothing beats that. And I feel like whatever we want to do and apply that factor, it's a no brainer. You know, it's almost like an instant.
Success, you know, I mean it's almost Founded off love, you know, I mean unity, you know, but then Spread with love and unity as well, you know, and I feel like that's the real You know, that's what brings us together. I feel like you're very talented with the music acting through fashion How do you know what to focus your energy on? Because sometimes you can spread yourself too thin and be like all over the place So how do you personally know like this is what I'm doubling down on right now? You know, I'm big on timing, you know, and I feel like
who I am as a person who we are as people. We go through different stages in where we want to get off what we feel like we want to put out into the world. And I feel like with me doing the acting, me doing the music, sometimes it is hard to juggle. I like to say it balances itself. One doesn't really occupy the other.
But then at the end of the day, I'm trying to bring it all together through my music. You're going to hit a fashion in the music. You're going to hear the characters I'm playing in my music. I may can't go directly to that place, but I can like perform it in a way where, you know, that character is, you know, that person going through it right now. I'm over that, but I still want you to feel that. I felt like I need to make a song about it, you know.
So it is, you know, tough, you know, but then it bounces itself out and that's rewarding. Everybody has their good days, bad days. And I feel like that's the timing with almost like how I juggle, you know, the things I like to put my heart into. For sure. It's funny. Well, Kijo brought up legacy, so.
I wonder sometimes do you feel the pressure like obviously the siblings we know the family business but do you feel pressure to continue a legacy or you more on that lane where you know what that is a legacy I need to create my own stamp in this world is it pressure there
By default, I'm contributing to the legacy. And I feel like that speaks volumes in itself. I'm not running away from the legacy. So therefore, it's only adding to it. And I feel like the extension of my brother and my sisters even, they're going to go into a whole different industry that we all ain't ever seen.
But it's not going to be a separate legacy. That's going to be an extension. That's going to just continue the legacy overall. So I think that's the beautiful thing about the family. Like you said, the unity and all and how we really pushing the culture and putting that first, you know. What about I think what's Luke doing with his son and everything in the web through space and the NFTs and everything. Do y'all have any projects y'all working on, you understand me in that space? So push things forward. We've definitely been having
all type of zoom. The knowledge behind it all, you know, especially my pops, you know, he really wants to know it, you know, so it's a constant learning experience. I think for him and all of us, because he comes up with questions sometimes might stump us and we got to go back and, you know,
find two, three different variations of the answer. So he can really understand. And so it's just not one-sided. And I respect him because he's made me step my game up and learn about the space, too, because it's very, very, very interesting. But until you can really grasp it, that's when he really wants to then step foot in. But we're definitely, definitely. He didn't cop the AB, he didn't cop the punk. So he's slow but sure in the space.
We all are, like I said, about to become active. Yeah. Before we wrap, I just want to ask you, what's your plans going forward? What's your five-year, 10-year vision board? With the space of TV film and music, I feel like that's the timeless industry that I want to just explore from A to Z. I haven't even activated anything in my artistry, shows, touring.
You know, so that's on the lighter end of things. But I want to travel more, you know, and really, you know, step outside the box of, you know, what I've done. I feel like the pandemic.
taught me a lot, and there's a lot to be done. And it was a learning experience for me and a lot of people. But I think this next five years is probably going to be the most exciting five years of my life. Especially, I'm 30, third level. So it's almost like a real reset. So that road to 35 is about to be here. Crazy. Yo, it's the coach's biggest night who you most excited to see. Man.
I'm excited to see it because my pops has not let us come to rehearsals. And so I'm excited to see what my pops got. Because he's in on some and he's not in on some. But we ain't in on none.
Let me have a last question, because your pops is interesting. He stays connected to what's going on. And I think I've seen him one time. It was somebody that was popping. He was like, well, I don't know about them. You understand me? What's that process like of making sure, like, do y'all bring people to him? There's attention to make sure, like, yo, you got to stay interconnected so you don't lose grip with this. Absolutely.
I like to say I bought him Drake before Jake Prince bought Drake the Wayne. He didn't get it. But I'll be on that. It's all about timing, you know, because sometimes he could be having a great day and you show him something and he like it and it could be a bad day. You show him something great and he's just not being a move for it. But it'd be something just as great as you need to hear. So I think we're just consistent on what we're passionate about, you know, putting in front of him.
We know we ain't about to bring him no BS. But he knows we ain't about to bring him no BS. So he tries to take that into consideration first. Like, this ain't like, listen to my mixtape. Listen to my mixtape. It ain't one of those. It's like, look, it's a reason I'm bringing this to you, Pops. And I feel like he respects that. So we always own them. I mean,
He don't know us too. You know what I mean? He be putting us on like, yo, you know, this person. And we'd be like, wow, he beat us. He, he, he, he found us first. Yeah. Yeah. Now that's what's up. I work with my pops. Like we do video content together and the people love it. And just that demonstration of like a son being able to work with their father, it's like legacy in the present. You understand me? Not like let's remember what happened. But I think that's probably one of the most powerful demonstrations y'all have as a family.
I appreciate that. We all promise to continue to keep that going. Most definitely. That's what it's about. Appreciate it, thank you for the time. We've met a few times in passing. And one thing I'll say, your humility is definitely infectious. You just kind of get a vibe for it personally. And every time that I met you, you've just been super humble, super down the earth, super relatable. And that's something that, you know, we appreciate it. So I appreciate y'all. I'm sure we don't have many more run-ins too. So it's the game respect y'all.
Thank you for joining us. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me. So I caught in the game a true legend. How have you been able to navigate Hollywood and state relevant for almost 20 years now? I haven't gotten rid of my real ones. I still have them.
I have an incredible family that keeps me grounded. And I just understand what this is about. Like, this art is bigger than me. It has, like, God gave this gift to me to share with the world and change and touch lives, and that's what it's about. So, for me, it's not really about the vanity. I mean, I like to be cute and stuff like that, but I'm a girly girl. But at the end of the day, I understand my purpose, and I know why I'm doing what I do.
Yeah, let's talk about why we're all here. BET Awards. To celebrate us. To celebrate us. And they got the right person hosting. I think so. Yeah, so this is not your first time hosting an event. What can we expect from the show this weekend? I think y'all gonna love this year's theme. So last year we focused on the Queen, but you know, we ain't nothing without y'all. So this, this, yeah, because I know this like a lot of times we like to make little jokes and stuff about the men. And I'm like, we can't do that.
We, you know, they get beat up on enough in the world, right? So what we're going to do here is celebrate y'all. We'll celebrate you lifting up those that came before those are here now and just making Abby, sending you away with some hope because this world, looking for another country to move.
I feel like that's perfect because I feel like that's the balance. Like I was talking with Bia about this earlier. So young black women put me on cost. Soft life for women representing themselves softer instead of the images of women having to be hard and tough. But it's like, no, you deserve to just laugh and be in your joy. And I feel like by lifting up men, they stand in that position so that women can be soft as they want to. What you feel about that? Because I feel like that goes into what you do with mental health.
Well, you know, we are all carrying generational trauma that has been passed down to us that we're not even aware of. And until we get the help and the healing that we need, we will be operating this functionally until we pinpoint our past traumas. And a lot of that stuff
We don't even understand, because it's just, like I said, it's been handed down. I wondered one day, I'm really claustrophobic. I don't like being in tight spaces. This is before COVID. Now I really don't. I'm crazy. And I'm like, I'll get me out here. But I'm very claustrophobic. And I remember I had to play a runaway slave. You ain't a star unless you played one. But I remember they had to put me in this little compartment under a wagon, a horse wagon. And I just remember my body convulsing.
that's nothing that I that's not speaking on anything that I've experienced in my lifetime that was clearly generational trauma from slavery because what space have I been into for both that kind of feeling you know so my point is is that and things like the things that black people have and this is what makes us so beautiful because you can oppress us you can kill our sons you can do
take our children from us, take our husbands from us, guess who we gonna always tap into? Joy, we gonna find it. And that's who we are. And I love that about us. And it's unfortunate that we are oppressed, but that's the reason why we are, because nobody can tap into this joy like we have. It's in us. No matter what you try to do to us, we gonna make you feel better. That's a gift that we have, you know? And I think the enemy is mad.
And we actually, we have the V.T. Awards, weekend, you're hosting. How important is it for us to support?
BET Awards, black awards, as opposed to boycott and complaining about other awards, and always saying that we're left out, we're not recognized. Like, instead of focusing our energy there, how important is it to focus our energy here? It's very important to focus our energy on us, because we all we have, but at the end of the day, we all we need. Like, that's why I did my deal with BET. I'm sick of begging, and can you please this story?
When I brought my first story Queenie the godmother of Harlem that nobody knows about but you know about Frank gas and you know I'm not Frank Lucas and you know about um bumpy Johnson but you don't know they came from her and she didn't even sell drugs so when I took this story to beat you I shopped it all over town nobody wanted it and I'm like
That's because they don't really want our stories. You know, they really don't. If the money's not, they don't see numbers. They don't see how it can make them a profit. They don't care. And for me, I don't really care about the number or the money. I care about the story because some little black girl, some little brown boy needs to see themselves, you know, and needs to know this story. We need to know our history. They are already taking it out of school. So that's why I signed with VT because I'm sick and tired of begging and we don't need to beg. Look at where we are.
We have all the about why are we still begging and worried about what the Grammys and the Oscars and all of them. They never wanted us there anyway. I mean, that's it. That's the freedom we're talking about. So at this point now, is that more of the focus writing stories that are authentic to us as opposed to acting in stories that, you know, we're being hired to do? That's like a production company. You do what you got to do to get what you need to be. And then you start making your own choice. You start being a boss.
And so that's, you know, I'm at the position now where I create my own doors to open. I create my own scripts. I create jobs for other people. So I hope that's what everybody's paying attention. Yeah, but I got this. They're going to watch you do it. I hope so. And so it becomes inspiration. Yeah, I hope so.
I was like, last one was yours. It wasn't a question, just wanted to give your flowers, because I love what you're doing and everything. You show your exercise, you show your mental health journey, you show your joy, you show the ups and downs and the pain. I think you showcase like a real person. Oh yeah. You understand me, it's not one side and I think that people need to see that. You understand me? And so not like, that's what I'm saying, it's not a strong black woman, it's a soft black woman. You understand me and then that softness is your power, so I appreciate you.
Thank you. And I'm not afraid to be vulnerable because that's where the strength is. No one I'm really being strong. I said no one I'm weak is when I'm really being strong. Absolutely. Because you're not afraid to identify it. I need you to write me in a movie. I can't think I ain't never been in a movie. You feel me? I ain't never seen it like that. I got too much shots. You feel me?
