Akon on Kanye West, Young Thug, Gunna, Big Meech, Michael Jackson & more | Ep. 60 | CLUB SHAY SHAY

the only person in my opinion that could. have. achieved just as great as a legacy as. Mike to me would have been Chris Brown I. just believe that Chris Brown was. surrounded by the circle of creative. people that Mike was surrounded by wow. cuz Chris got the talent wow he just. needed the. direction my grinding my sacrif hustle P. the price want a slice got the roll of. dice that's why all my life I been. grinding on my life all my life all my.

life. sacrifice the price a. slice hello welcome to another edition. of Club Shay I am your host also the. proprietor of Club Shay and the guy. that's stopping by for a drink and. conversation today is a diamond and. platinum selling uh singer songwriter. producer Grammy nominated recording. label owner entrepreneur and. philanthropist acon what's up baby how.

you doing from the CRI all the way from. the a how you doing I'm amazing man hold. look let me get this pronounce your full. name for. [Music]. me I need you to slow it down cuz I the. only thing the only thing I heard was. acon everything else ran together okay. so everything else run together for sure. okay so how you say the first part Al.

Alon. Al D alala damala. right. time. lululu oh so all all so what what they. wrote on my card all that's not you got. more names than that you got like seven. eight names I me so let me ask you a. question who actually call you your. government name or they just call you. Aon yeah my family just call me Ali they. just call you Ali Ali it's short for Ali. so if some if somebody like if you.

walking down the street and they would. to say Ali you going to assume they I. would I would 100% it's either family or. somebody that knew me since I was a kid. okay you got new music coming out what. made you what made you decide to get. back into the music game at this point. um well actually you know it's like. after you done achieved everything you. kind of go back to what you love like go. back to the root of what makes you happy. and music was just that thing because I. realized my first go around in the music.

business everything was so based around. the business right everything was like. okay cool I need to make money I need to. get rich I need to invest I need to make. sure that my family my kids and their. kids are straight right so once you got. your Investments all in order then my. legacy was built out philanthropy was. really know was um based and balanced in. Africa I was like man I want to I didn't. I wasn't enjoying myself after a while I. wanted to just go back to having fun. again so you want to go back and make. music that you like not so much that it. it might not have the commercial appeal.

because you've already satisfied that. side now let me do what I like right but. but but you want a commercial appeal. still but no but this the thing even. when I was doing music I only did what I. liked anyway but that's the only part of. it that I enjoyed okay but it's the. everything that's attached to music all. the opportunities that you can actually. run into that you know that the business. side came from what music attracted. right so the music open the doors that. no that normal doors wouldn't open for. me what is it that you don't like about. the music business I don't like the. politics about it when you say politics.

I think the politics about it is what. really drove me away from it and then. it's also the uh the aspect of just the. unoriginality of it like I felt like if. one thing worked the whole industry. would ride towards that one thing that. worked and everybody would try to. duplicate that it became more of a copy. and paste industry right originality. didn't matter anymore and then if you. was in if you tried to be original you. got shunned or blocked because it it. wasn't nothing close to what everybody. else was doing everything I yeah I.

couldn't get with that yeah. so. you you I mean when you talk about. locked up I'm looking at your career. before uh locked up took off you were. going around to prisons and actually. performing right that's how we broke the. record yeah it was interesting. what I heard of small gymnasium YMCA I. really heard people kicking it off at. the prison. system so so what made you decide to go. that route.

well it was it was about being creative. at that they like they got a whole lot. of money to pay for top price for. tickets at all it was free actually. exactly I had to actually pay to get it. done exactly no but what it was when we. first did locked up it it it was it was. it was tough to get it played on the. radio right tough to get it marketed and. promote it and my whole concept about it. I was like wait this is a street record. obviously Street to the core the best. place for this record to actually get. any kind of marketing promotion is the. plac in where the concept came from. which was jail right so I ran into this.

Warden over at um rocket Island at the. time okay they had his new program that. they was exercising and he reached out. to Steve riffkin one of you know at the. time was a CEO of SRC Records who I was. assigned to and he said yo listen man we. got this concept where we want to be. able to bring artists to come perform. for inmates you know and just kind of. get these kids you know thinking more. about yeah positive so I was like man. listen I do it let's go locked up it's. the perfect record right so we went in. and did it the program was so successful. he invited us to all his other areas. that he controlled right and we end up.

doing a Penitentiary tour and then how. the record popped off was that the. inmates would call their parents and. have their parents call the radio. station on three-way to request the. record and that's how the record broke. on the radio wow yeah did you think at. the time that you was making this record. that it was going to do what it did no I. had no idea at the time it was it was a. passion project project I was just going. through the process and wrote about it. because I had a habit of writing things. that I went through so when I got locked. up that habit followed me in jail and. ultimately just became what it was so. that would so Locked Up is real life for.

you yeah yeah real experiences yeah. speaking of that we see now in Atlanta. what's going on in Atlanta we see gunana. we see I think Young Thug the yel and. they're using their actual lyrics right. in the RICO in the Statue right you. wrote this is real life to me how much. should they be allowed because in. California the governor no we're not. going to use lyrics against people right. and you know what I I agree with not. using lyrics against people because a. lot of times most of the stuff that a. lot of rappers talking about ain't true.

right it's this fantasy world of being a. gangster or this fantasy world of being. the the studio gangsters studio gangers. right so which is cool because movies do. the same thing they real life right you. kill somebody in a movie don't mean they. can go and say oh you killed somebody. you you I'm charging you for murder. right but the difference in a lot of. these cases is that this a lot of the. information that's being released on. these songs are information that's never. been put to the public in an. investigation right so how do you Justus.

lyrics in investigation that match a. case almost to the te that is. information that's never been released. to the public it's kind of hard to fight. that so to kind of confess your own. crimes on the record is kind of stupid. yeah it it is a a little ridiculous is. yeah it's ridiculous I mean look I I I. love your stuff I mean you from the crib. so I I got a special liking to artists. that's in Atlanta like tip and Luda. yourself uh Goody Mob uh Outcast those. guys so I'm I'm I'm biased.

I love locked up but my favorite song. you on the hook with the Soul Survivor. yeah soul surviv how did that how did. how did that project come about yeah. that that's actually one of my favorite. records as well too at the time um BMF. was a a group out of Atlanta that was. just like they was would be they was. killing it in every aspect right. literally in figur. they okay and Mech was a really really. good friend of mine okay and he said. listen Khan I got this artist man I need. your help on it I promise you man I'm. going to look out for however you need.

me I got you I said man just bring him. to right he brought him by the studio. yeah and Jeezy at the time was so raw. right I was like bro this kid I don't. know where you found him but he's out of. here right like he's out of here right. so Jeezy played me his mixtape at that. time and I said Okay cool so when I left. the studio I reached back to me I said I. got him trust me so I I I did the record. which was Soul Survivor send it to Jeezy. soon as he heard it he's like oh bro. this is it this is it yeah this is it he.

he he knew he had a bang he knew like he. knew I mean literally an hour didn't. pass he sent me back the song always. with his lyrics already on it I was like. oh yeah this is a monster record but it. was it was as simple as meech connected. us right yeah is that how it is that is. as simple as that somebody brings you an. art I mean because it happens all the. time I'm sure people passing you. mixtapes on the street hey hey hey bro. hey I got that heat on me bro I need you. to take a listen what what made you so. sure that jezy was.

I just knew like I think that's always. been a gift of mine that God just gave. me that PST to know a star when I see it. like I just knew it like just automatic. knew it but me a lot of my. collaborations come from me just. passionately liking it personally right. like if I like it personally I'm G do it. regardless of what because I just I just. like it right and I see it's going to go. somewhere but often times it was never. politics involved in my decisions when. it came to music you got the Guinness. World Record number one selling artist. that ringtone right how did how did that. happen well at the time like music was.

always like a vehicle to me to get to. the money okay like imagine a hustler. seeing an opportunity where you can be. famous and use that to open up doors for. other opportunities to make money right. so when I was doing records I looked at. the concept and the stats of how people. were rushing and beating themselves up. to sell singles which was like four. minutes long right and for $1.99 right. and then you had ringtones which was. just new in the market you know a. digital you know. concept where the ringtone was like 15. seconds. but it was.

$4.99 okay I said well hold up I'm think. I'm on the wrong side of the. sales we need to be selling rington if. all I need is 15 seconds of it for $5. and it was that simple it was that. simple and that's when I started. creating my whole Revenue model around. selling ringtone so every single was. based on. ringtone obviously the Atlanta scene I. mean everybody knows everybody you know. Killer Mike you know Gunner you know. Young Thug you know tip you know Luda. right so what makes the Atlant Atlanta. scene so special wo I think the what.

made Atlanta so special was the fact. that it was something brand new to. hip-hop at the time you know they had a. different perspective when it came to. rap music CU we used to be R&B we had we. had baby face oh yeah we had La re we. had TLC we but I think LEF yeah don't. get enough credit for they started it. all they started at all man La re and. baby face if it wasn't for them there. wouldn't be no Atlanta seed right like. they took it to to the South where they.

saw the the I mean it was just brewing. talent that nobody was actually cooking. right like how do you like oh they like. man we need to set up shop right here. right and sure enough when the um when. the Olympics came and the world came to. Atlanta it also created this. International Vibe as well too so you. got a lot of like myself I came because. of the um the Olympics so but when he. created that and then people actually. was able to hear the sounds of the South. and feel the energy of it I think it it. really transformed the business because. everybody was so inspired that even. people from New York was trying to sound.

like they from sou right and it just. changed the. game you mentioned uh we were talking. about the uh YSL and their situation and. and and and BMF uh Black Mafia. Family how how did that because it seems. like the BMF and what they had they. glamorized they had a doc had a thing on. I think it was Netflix and they showed. the rise and the fall of the BMF and. they showed the big lavish cars and they. showed the scrip clubs and all that. stuff is that tell me Atlanta's more. more than that no Atlanta's definitely.

more than that I mean you got to think. New York had it too in Brooklyn like. right you can go in pretty much any city. right you know La had it with Rick Ross. like anywhere you go they they going to. have that rap music was based around the. lifestyle of the struggle like the rags. to richest story is rap music right so. when you in any major you know. challenged neighborhood or Hood you can. kind of say okay there's always been. that one person that everybody looked up. to which was a neighborhood drug dealer.

right he made the money fast he looked. amazing all the girls wanted he's right. he's the guy that all the kids want to. be like yeah but see coming up the OG's. would tell you no bro they ain't. touching that go to school right today. it ain't the same they ain't no OG's. OG's that are kind to give you that game. right all the ogs that gave us the game. all dead or locked up yeah so and so now. what it is is it's social media all. social media every everything on social. media everybody doing well cuz they soci. media got me thinking I'm poor the mug.

they got rollro they got business they. fly priv like how he flying priv I'm fly. commercial what am I what am I doing. wrong to start rapping or selling. something yeah I mean but the social. media is just like a rap song now okay. you can become whoever you want to. become right so the rap song We idolize. those that group and that's we're. telling their stories right like when. you look at rappers they telling the BMF. stories they telling those story like. they it wasn't them living it but they. living through them but through the.

music you can become that right so. social media is no different the only. difference is now now you can curate. your background you know produce your. whole environment and make it look like. you're this billionaire you know and. then right when you jump off that. private jet that you just took a picture. next to that you didn't even rent yeah. you go back to the front of the you know. the signature place and ask for and and. call you Uber right so it's. like you know but at the end of the day. when you look at the the the I mean your. man your feed look like man this boy. getting it yes yes getting it you know.

do you has social media skewed reality. 100% cuz social media took reality well. well well artificial reality to the next. level right so before everyone believed. what you saw on television like TV was. the truth because you can Vis visually. like visually see now social media has. become and took the place of Television. because now television everyone can. curate their own program right like they.

can create what they want the world to. see or Envision when it comes to them. like you can create your own personality. through just you just got to be good at. Tech you know be very creative at the. end of the day do you I mean these. charges that Atlanta uh on on Young Thug. and the YSL they seem very serious no. they're very serious and uh they won't. get bonded they've been they've tried to. get bonded they've been tonight I think. three or four times Thug and. Gunner you think they you think they. going away for a while man I pray that.

they never have to deal with that kind. of experience but the the worst part of. me is saying that they probably going to. utilize them and use them as an example. that's what scares me because I'm sure. they probably did I mean ain't nobody. Angels everybody going to go through. what they go through but I think a lot. of the issues that they're dealing with. are more issues that might stem from. their past right that that's being. prestiz right and of course when you. come from a past environment of that. kind of life as you get more successful.

if you're smart you will kind of DET. your but unfortunately these kids kind. of try to keep that environment close to. them to justify and make real what. they're saying on records like. everything is about okay is he real okay. what's the question and what's the like. what is the definition of real right is. it that okay what you're saying on your. record is something that you're actually. doing in a real life or who you coign or. co-sign by on record is actually around. you when you seen them public right so.

when now when you got these credible. Street guys that's out there standing. next to somebody like a young thug or a. Gunner and these guys are still active. and you know obviously if you're active. in the streets that mean you're still. out there committing crimes but yet. you're you know you're some with someone. who might have been attached or involved. in their life in the past but they're. still currently with you you could. easily be caught up in any kind of. conspiracy because you know that person. if if it's a case on that person and. they pull up a RICO just you knowing the. person you you tied in because of. conspiracy so you got to be a lot.

smarter than you know the average person. and understand how much you have to lose. by being attached to that environment. you got to be able to let that go what. happened to like man laying in bed at. night and the situation I because I come. from a very improper situation but when. I laid in my bed at night I was like God. just give me an opportunity to get away. from this yes yes I can tell you about. my story but I didn't want to I didn't. want to relive it okay if you trying to. get out these streets why do you care to. go back once you made it to try to. relive that and try to impress people. man I'm still Hood well the problem is.

most of them never was okay but when you. got money you can become what you never. was you can become what you always. wanted to be yeah cuz ain't no Reon. believe me you know because our. generation was different yeah we did it. to get the hell up out of there for sure. I ain't look back since don't plan to. and don't give right you follow yeah I. mean they tell me all the time oh you. had this you had money all your life no. I don't I ain't F to slum it the to. prove to you I'm not going to slum it. again to prove to you that I come up. came up why damn.

you and people try you're right people. try to relive try to relive a situation. to try to prove to someone else no I. really came from the streets I really. sold drugs I really did this like why. like why would you even want to put that. on your back and and are you actually. proud of there ain't something to be. proud you didn't know any better you. trying to make ends you you trying to. get out of a situation and things happen. but once you know better and youve made. it it shouldn't be a situation where you. try to impress somebody and go back to. that thank you thank you when you were.

when you got locked up what was going. when you when you were in there the. actual inside the facility they says. there's one thing between your physical. body being in prisoned and your mind. being impr prisoned he says that's when. you're lost is when your mind is there. your body was there clearly your mind. wasn't there because you were thinking. about something else yeah how did you. pass the time how did you get past that. moment in your life I was thinking about. how I was going to over like what I plan. on doing when I get out and it was in. jail that I made my 10-year plan I I. literally had a 10 year plan of where I. want to be in the next 10 years okay and.

at the top of my plan was I want to be. able to work with Michael Jackson M that. was the top of my plan and that was a. hell that's a hell of play now you. inated I would work with m i with Mike. he big he the biggest Mo he the big. listen I said if I work with Mike I have. made it I'm good God to bless me and for. sure enough within five years of that. plan I had already reached it and I. think that's what drove me to. philanthropy quicker because once I. reached that goal in five years I was. like man God gave me everything I ever. wanted to do right like what do I do now.

I I don't want to just be known for. singing and dancing I want to be able to. be an impact I want to be a to you know. when when when I when I rub or I'm. attached to anybody their name or their. their situation is upgraded better like. I want to be able to make lives better. just God give me the position to be in a. position to help other people you know. what made you decide to move to Atlanta. what's what I mean you got there and. then you live there that's home now um I. met we we saw each other a couple it's. funny how you meet somebody we fly fly. from Atlanta to La we KN each other for.

years we conversation like hey we've. been boys for a long time why did you. move to Atlanta or did you move with. family or you moved on your own and. what's Atlanta what's the Atlant Atlanta. experience been like for you well in the. beginning my dad actually was a you know. he was a um jazz musician okay but he. also was a professor okay he chose you. know he um he taught a lot of he did a. lot of culture exchange programs with. universities okay he did it with Miami. he did in Atlanta Clark okay so he moved. to Atlanta early okay at the time I was. in New Jersey right so when pops decided.

to move to Atlanta I decided to stay in. Jersey for reasons only I knew right. then pops was like listen you got to. come to Atlanta Atlanta is a beautiful. place it's fresh and I'm like w that's a. new territory for. me you. come right then when I heard then I. heard the Olympics was coming there I. said oh yeah I'm gone right so I moved. to Atlanta but when I got to Atlanta I. was I was honestly surprised of how. amazing it was there yes I never turned. back and went back to Jersey I like I. didn't even have till this day I I left.

my furniture everything in that. apartment never came back for you know. but then when I realized the. opportunities in Jersey I mean Atlanta. and then the people and how nice they. was the food and the beautiful women and. it was just it was like it was a. no-brainer it was a no-brainer so you. came in what what year 95 I came in '94. 94 oh so you came to freak nck you know. about freak nck yes you know about freak. I. stay where I stayed I said this. would never happen in New Jersey ever I. don't care I mean we had freak Nick we. had Jack the rapper we had everything.

everything no everything freak Nick is. Woodstock man. steroids free black is wood St. for black people that's what it is. Coachella I mean I mean all of a sudden. not everybody goes to Coachella but fre. Nick ain't nothing ain't nothing like. freak Nick ain't nothing like it man you. had a stud uh before blowing up you went. to you went to jail for arm robbery. stealing cars bro I know do you know. that's stealing cars is dangerous cuz. the owner run out there up on you and. then what but that's the thing in Jersey. we we kind of perfected the art of.

stealing. cars I know it sounds crazy I know but. that's what we was known for Jersey like. this is what we do so when I came to. Atlanta you brought that to Atlanta cuz. they didn't know anything about it so. you you you was thee of your time knew. nothing about it so it was like the. perfect oh it was so perfect you had a. studio who are some of the famous. artists that came through your studio oh. man everybody work I mean practically. almost everybody from Atlanta if you. name them they done work through our. studio. like literally everybody you still user.

TLC I mean I mean even everybody. everybody everybody so everybody came. through our studio you're sitting you're. sitting on your cot and you said I want. to work with Michael. Jackson did you always know what you. wanted to do from that moment on you. like you know what Lord if you get me. out of this situation I promise you I. will never ever come back I will never. ever ask you to do me another favor. again that was with my exact words too I. said Lord i w Ste a piece of bubble.

gum just get me out the situation and I. promise you and I kept my word and my. life has been amazing ever since when we. see we see what happened with P&B Rock. and we see with DOL we see what pop. smoke what's going on it's it goes back. to this generation again trying to prove. to people right so you get to the. position where okay it's one thing to. acknowledge the fact that there's people. out there starving yes and struggling. yes. but it's another thing to know it and.

Flash it in their face and make them. feel as if they're less than what. they're what they should be right so if. you're utilizing someone else's. environment to. profit the people that's being profited. from is going to feel some kind of way. right and they're going to feel like not. only did you owe them something but it's. disrespectful that's just being poor and. knowing this right so when you get to a. situation like that you got to also. respect the idea of knowing that the.

environment in which you came from that. you don't plan to go back or if you did. or if you haven't done anything for. those people that feel that you should. there's going to be some repercussions. in you opening up the treasure. trunk of. your what's uh. blessing cuz unfortunately our people as. black people we just believe we ow. something weow you made it from you made. it from here you got to Brak it back but. even look at nipy nipy was giving back.

to his community giv back and it still. happens because that jealousy man we. have this eny that that it's just why. are we don't the community that's like. that it's not like that in other. communities they not feel like they're. owed something I mean because now I got. to man I got to drive a beat up truck or. I got to dress down because I'm afraid. somebody GNA see something and be mad at. me because I bust my ass to make it out. and now you jealous because I got on. some designer or I got on little a. little chain or I drive a nice car you.

like bro you owe me break me off no get. up and go to work I'm not saying. everybody everybody's not going to be. going to make millions of dollars right. but you can you can do something you. should you shouldn't feel like well you. got I'm going to take it from you it's. it's just unfortunate because we've. created this this the scenario that we. have to Value ourselves with material. things right and the that's how we. measure ourselves right that's how we. measure ourselves so when somebody's. coming up the first thing they do is buy. a car buy a house buy some jewelry right. so and then this is saying okay you gota.

look like money to make money right half. the time we faking until we make it and. that's just being real no I ain't going. in debt till I make it I'm just saying. as a culture as a culture we fake it. till we make it it is right cuz me and I. and it's it's like a radar because if I. walk into a a business meeting and. somebody's all trink trinket it up with. all these ornaments on them I already. know he ain't got no. money I already know you broke you ain't. fooling me bro that used to be me yeah. they have nothing off top I'm now now.

I'm tuned out already right cuz like why. do you have to do all that right if. you're successful just come show me to. you know present what you got to present. and sell it yeah but all actually just. try all. stuff. that you you say you uh you like you. believe uh uh labels are making money. off rappers dying one oh yeah for sure I. mean because believe me there's a lot of. there's a lot of things that can be put. in place to prevent it believe it or not.

M you know um but at the end of the day. we can't always blame the establishment. for mistakes that we make as right right. because it ain't like we don't know. better either like it goes back to. people used to always get on Jay on why. he don't go back to Marcy Projects I'm. like why should he yeah and do what cuz. somebody jealous and do what but what. but why why why are we like that I mean. you look at uh Justin timlake ain't. trying to beat up Robin. you know what I'm saying I mean Adele a.

you know a trying to fight so why is it. the rap culture why is it us that feel. that even if it's nothing there we'll. create a situation and it's about you. know all of a sudden now we got to be. disrespectful about somebody's girl you. got to be disrespectful about you know. how I snatched your chain or you. snatched this or I ran up on your boy. what what what what what what's what's. so big about what what is honestly I can. never understand that to this day I. don't know how to answer a question like. that is is our mentality has been so. twisted and distorted and just history.

of just being manipulated by each other. and then we don't have trust amongst. each other so it's hard for us to come. together and create anything great. because there's always going to be this. uh you know he got more than I did or. why should he' be in that position when. I created or you know established this. is It's never say let look let's just. put all that aside and figure out how we. can come together put our source. together and create something great. right without and actually wanting it. for each other than to be jealous of. each other right it just I mean it's. tough I mean you can always blame it on.

History because we we always been. separated according to classes we always. been you know but at the end day there. has to be a time in in life where we can. say you know what yes it happened but we. can do something about it right but when. do you get tired enough to say let's. just stop talking and protesting and. just have and let actions actually allow. us to come together and create something. great it said Fat Joe says he believes. rappers are an endangered species you. believe that 1,00% I mean it's a new. rapper dying every week. it's the most dangerous occupation in.

the world right now did this start with. the bigie in Tupac beef because I don't. remember look I remember when LL and K. mod D had it man I use that I use that. as an example all the time L and it was. all on wax that's all it was L wasn't. trying to roll up on Mo right uh K mod D. wasn't trying to roll up on him and we. just hey it was just you know lip. sparring at his final it's rap rap was. built on battling and then somehow Tupac. and big it and it escalated to that Lev. level and we hadn't looked back since.

yeah it it it's unfortunate because a. lot of the gangsters are very emotional. they're the most emotional people on the. planet and most of them was raised by. their mother or their grandmothers their. father figures wern't a part of their. lives so the man side of them that would. take a joke ain't there because the. father wasn't there to show okay as a. man your skin should be as tough as. leather Little Words should never affect. you. to the point now I mean being raised.

from myrian side of my family it's like. okay you get it because it's just a. different level of responsibility that. the man like owns. today the man of the house will easily. tell you well that ain't my. responsibility that's or matter of fact. he's not a role model you got famous. people that says I'm not a role model. that ain't my that's not my you know. responsibility right okay then whose.

responsibility is it if the kids are. looking up to you right it's not a. choice this comes with the territory. once you become successful and you're in. a position where you actually influence. people that's your role towards God to. say man he put me in this position for a. reason it ain't just for me to focus on. myself and tell everybody or show. everybody how hot I am I got to actually. be some kind of use to the environment. and to population to say okay cool I. have to lead by example cuz what I do. kids are watching this and going to want. to do the same thing and you got to keep.

that in mind right Kanye West you've. defended Kanye West in the past and I I. I believe in freedom of speech but I. believe you can take it too far also. right what are your thoughts on Kanye. right now well yeah I always I'm always. defending the people that nobody wants. to defend I'mma always defend Kanye West. because I always believe in life an. opinion is just an opinion if yay say. something that I don't agree with I just. don't agree with it right but I'm not. going to go jumping all over mad and.

letting it affect my energy you do. realize you but he's a person of. influence you just said goes It goes. right back to that right now the last. comments he made in these last days I. definitely don't agree right because. it's there was a reason why the phrase. black lives matter was even created. right it wasn't just a concept for. marketing and gimmick right it was a. history of behavior and hurt and pain. years that led to that to the point.

where the world was like wait a minute. something Our Lives got to matter too it. has to right right right so I see what. maybe what he was trying to say or what. he was trying to do clearly everybody we. all believe that all lives matter. correct we do right I mean it has to. matter for us to survive yeah it's. supposed to me all lives matters but. we've seen situations all lives don't. matter it hasn't mattered all lives. hasn't matter right so you can't use. your emphasis or that phrase into a.

situation like this right because it. don't fit here right this has to be. resolved first before that happens right. you understand in order for all lives to. matter this the these lives have to. matter correct because we're the lives. that's driving economy Sports. entertainment fashion I mean. multi-billion dollar corporations are. benefiting from our sweat tears work. influence everything right if our life. don't matter nothing really actually.

matters in. America he said about you know he's. going to go defcom 1 2 3 said something. about the Jewish communities he was. supposed to be on the shop his interview. on the shop they canceled that Candace. Owen showed something from JP Morgan. Chase where they said we're ending our. relationship when a bank says I'm going. to end my relationship with an. individual and that individual is worth. billions right I think that speaks. volume that says a lot that says cuz one. thing we know about Banks they money oh. I mean what they more like more than.

money is your. money they ain't going to leave you none. of theirs they give you a little bit. give absolutely but that I mean I mean. someone like Kanye I think sometimes in. certain areas he honestly. forgets that his opinion doesn't always. matter right it doesn't he thinks his. opinion is law though he think his. opinion always matters his opinion is. just his opinion opinion but as as as us.

listening to it we got to also know that. too but then to your point there's kids. that don't know the difference between. how powerful his opinion is when they're. themselves are trying to find themselves. but you know what sometime Kanye forget. that he he he he you and I color and. they got to do things to remind him no. they got to remind him they have to. remind him and and you see what happen. honestly I think he knows no he don't. know he forget I think no I think you. get a little money no I think Kanye is. smarter than y'all think this the. brilliant side of him when what is his. next plan to run for office.

right I'm mean just saying yeah from our. knowledge his next plan is to run for. office right who was his main. endorser Trump trump okay now in order. for Kanye to even have a shot he need a. piece of that D That Base yes this is. how he's getting it right he knows this. yes he knows that it's going okay he G. he gonna make a lot of black people. angry right but guess what we're. forgiving people that's it we are he. knows that too right you know what I'm. saying yeah he said something up.

but guess what tomorrow he gonna do. something great we gonna be like you. know what that crazy but he all. right yeah he make good. music so he's kind of playing the Seesaw. but he got to be careful because if it's. too much weight on one side or not. enough weight on the other side it's. gonna go down you're originally from St. Louis yeah St Louis Missouri did you. know Nelly man you know me and Nelly. like brothers like we went to the same. middle school okay that's like my heart. right there so so did you want did did. you want to do music when you were when.

you were little what did you want what. did you want to do when you were growing. up when you were like in Middle School. say you're like 9 10 11 what did they KH. want to be I wanted to be a brain. surgeon and then I wanted to be a FBI. agent I know it's crazy right from neur. surbi to com to making music damn and. then the music part came when I was. locked up when I realized okay cool when. I get out of here I need to find. something that's going to keep me out of. here something that's gonna also allow. me to be wealthy and then that's all.

this time music has always been there as. a hobby so you always have ear for music. always had always had the love for music. right you had a love for music but it. wasn't nothing that I ever wanted to. pursue as well thought that I would be. pursuing as a career okay it was always. a hobby and then you get locked up and. you say okay I got to find something I. can do that's Gonna Keep Me Not to get. locked up again right and then so when. you got out so so how did you how did. you find this you had this gift for. music well the gift music came from my. father my father was a jazz musician.

right and he always was well he was a. jazz musician before you got locked up. he just didn't realize he was a magician. with you this no I knew then but I the. thing is you didn't play any instruments. with yeah I played all the instruments. as well but he used to car listen I used. to go to all his shows and everything. but it was Jazz and I was a kid no kid. loves Jazz so that's what threw me off. I'm like man I don't want to be. listening to this all my life you like. to hit a horn the sacks the trumpet the. Trump all man that was Co yeah but when. you playing with groups like The World. saxophone Court T where. every player that's playing brass plays.

their own thing all you hear. is like you know I'm talking about the. stuff that just all over the place I. couldn't get a a sense of just a real. Melody with real Rhythm like it was. always the Jazz was always so diverse. and everyone everywhere I went it was a. different type of jazz I I used to like. the real soft jazz with the you know the. high hat with the you know like M you. know soft listening music that's the. kind of jazz like but I never really. heard that much so as I got older and I.

was into the streets I couldn't really. talk to people about situations I was. going through so I would write songs. about them right that was my way of kind. of venting and then when I started. making money and I had to justify where. the money was coming from that's when I. started investing it into recording. studios Okay and at that time cash. recording studio was a cash business. right so I would allow any and everybody. to use my Studios for free just to keep. it busy to justify where the money was. coming from but whenever there was time. available that that that what they call. it they call when you. were I know what they call it but that.

Ain what it was that ain't what I. thought it was I never knew that would. even existed man you had I didn't know. what I was doing you was. watching so that's what the habit of me. just writing about my experiences so. when I got locked up that habit followed. me in jail and I wrote about being. locked up wow yeah you know it just. happened naturally St Louis you know. Nelly did Nelly Nelly is a hell of an. athlete no he I am surprised I mean I. mean he I mean he could run he could.

catch he could shoot the basketball he. was he was unbelievable football skills. and baseball bball he was a monster yes. I was surprised honestly I'm surprised. that Nelly ain't GoPro like he really. had the potential to GoPro do you think. Nelly would be on the side that you are. did you think I mean you thought he was. going to go pro in baseball and Harry. turns out to be one of the biggest you. know rappers and from the Midwest um are. you surprised that he went that route. honestly I'm I'm not because Nelly was. always the cool kid in high school I.

mean in middle school and high school. right because he was a great athlete. handsome I mean he was G to be. somebody right but I didn't I didn't I. didn't know I I honestly rap was the. last thing on my mind at Time Yeah you. mentioned your your your African. background your heritage your roots was. it a culture shock coming from Africa. and being here and the way you did. things over there opposed to no complete. complet it was like I don't know how to. explain imagine okay imagine being this.

kid living in the jungle okay or we'll. say rural Africa at this point right. tarz you you no it was it was it was a. little better than. Tarzan so imagine no electricity right. no running water right and I was like I. just pck I was the the barefooter kid. playing soccer in the s okay there was. no cars in that area of Africa where I.

was at like you had to go all the way. into the City and we never went to the. city so we was there with where the. horses where you had to jump on the back. the horse bag okay so I went from that. to getting on the airplane now looking. in the sky I always used to always think. those were Birds I never knew they were. actual airp I never knew what they was. right when I get to the airport I see. this big old bird right and I'm like. this is a bird so now we're going inside. I'm scared I'm like we're going inside. the.

bird I'm like yo what is going I go. inside and there seats and chairs and. stuff and I'm like I don't know what I'm. looking at but then I'm I want to sit by. the window cuz I want to see see so now. as the plane is taking off I'm crying. thinking that's going to fall to the. ground I'm boohoo tears then I fall. asleep wake up into New York City wow as. we're waking up we're flying over New. York City I see these highrise buildings. right a whole bunch of yellow bugs going. down the street I'm not know they cabs. at the time right when I finally get in.

you know in the city I'm looking around. I've never seen anything like this in my. life buildings the tallest Heaven cars. faster than speed of light this was like. the Jetson for me right then my mom. brings us to this apartment that's so. beautiful so luxurious I look at it. today like a normal apartment but for me. it was the most beautiful thing I've. ever seen in my life you had no running. water no electricity you had dirt floors. and all of a sudden it might have been a. small apartment but you running water. you had heat man listen I turn a knob. and clean drinking water comes out then.

I hit a switch and lights are everywhere. and then she fed me corn flakes the most. delicious I've ever tasted in my. life in my life cornflake that white. that Roost on there is terrible but but. the but Tony the Tiger though the. Frosted and I couldn't relate to the. tiger cuz I just came from the jungle. right right so can you imagine my. experience the culture shock was on a. different level. obviously kids they see you you talk.

different you sound different you look. different you you know we got some dark. skinned Brothers in Jersey right you. know you know they they they a seen you. know right they ain't seen nobody like. me at that time you came in first place. with when they go to school so what was. it what was it like for you how was it. you know did they pick on you they we we. call it picking but they call it. bullying or makeing whatever they want. to call at the time I mean I think. bullying is a little too strong of a. word for it because well for us our. culture because we just Joon in each. other yeah but that's that's that's what.

helped give you that thick skin again. right so when I first came I was super. Nappy Headed okay I mean black is tar. right and black was not in style no you. know the light skin curly hair kids got. all the. girls it was was style there yeah we. took Wesley snip and Michael Jordan for. us to get the number one right honestly. honestly mid we came it h I think the. the the the it shifted when Tyson. Beckford got on board the supermodel.

yeah then every girl wanted a. dark that that changed the game for all. of us then Tyrese came with that smile. in the Coca-Cola commercial then we. started like oh okay okay then it. started then when I came it was more. like okay he's really black. right why then he was like well wait a. minute he's he's African right but. because me I was coming up in a. different environment I did any and. everything to you know to to to impress. the girls okay we spent a lot of money. in the clubs in Atlanta why you you.

bring you droing it like that St man I. had to overdo it because I was dark. right but I also had to you know and I. was African so being black and African. you droing that money at 112 like that. no magic SE magic oh like you was at the. city I was at the city gentleman's club. like I was there like so you at gentlem. on. ERS he from Atlanta for real. Bo what. do that all of come on man what so now.

so now you like okay okay I kind of I. kind of like being on this side so this. is what you became once you got out you. started making a little you got some. money and you like okay I kind of I kind. of like this okay this this could work. I'm I'm on the straight narrow and you. haven't look back never look back ever. since I mean but when you arrived in the. states could you speak English no I a. speak not a liquid English and then when. I start learning I started speaking with. with this heavy African accent which. made them laugh even harder right right.

so then I vowed to myself that I'm I. listen I'm a learn English but once I. know how to speak unless I tell you I'm. African you would never know because I. wanted to learn with no accent so I I. would literally pay so attention to how. they spoke the Cadence the way they said. it how so how how did you learn I mean I. hear a lot of people say well I watch TV. I watch American TV shows I listen to. them and so that's how I learned right. because now I mean most people now if. you want learn a second language you. take classes you get ebooks or rosett or.

whatever the case may be and you and you. learn that way but just looking at. American television people a lot of. people that says well I learn how. watching I Love Lucy I watch learning. watching American TV shows right it. actually I mean it actually works but I. think it's all of the above because me I. learned majority just by hanging with. friends okay you know just hanging with. my friends and being outside all the. time man how you get rid of it you I. mean just being around them and why was. around people that that I was been. speaking English all my life and I still. talk with a he heavy clo dialect but.

yeah but yours is more yeah Southern. draw it's I was about to say it's more. Southern Southern is hard to take off. like even in Atlanta even Atlanta I kind. of try to find a. way like to kind of talk out there you. know what I'm saying like for real like. for real you know what I mean like I can. go there too so I had to master the art. of accents BL blending like for real sh. you know what I'm saying like for real. sh. I mean obviously the Fuji are from.

Jersey close with W cleff yeah the whole. family man cleff Lauren price spider. like all those guys kind of brought me. into the music world they introduced me. into the music side of it okay because. when clef um uh met me I actually met. him because he sat in my chair I was. cutting his hair as a barber what that. yeah I was a bar I I I don't even want. to say that cuz they say y y'all do a. lot of jobs so I want to go there I a. even want to go I'm going leave that. alone you go ahead so you the barber you.

know so I was cutting his hair barber. worked at a laundry. man detailing. [Music]. calls and it was funny because klef knew. like I'm I'm literally cutting his hair. but then when he saw what was parked. outside he was like like he knew so he's. like yo listen you know I got a studio. out here my uncle provide for us you. should come out there you in the music I. was like yeah I'd love to so you me come. to the studio we used to write there. produce there come up with records and.

songs and that's how I became a part of. the refugee camp and then before you. know it they just introduced me to a. whole another opportunity of what the. world could be if I embrace music man. I'm looking at some of the artists that. you work with Michael Jackson Whitney. Houston Madonna Quincy Jones Lona. Richard Snoop Dogg Dr. Dre you uh you remixed uh uh uh uh W to. be starting something with Michael for. the 25th anniversary of the Thriller. right when you I mean when you talking. to producer it doesn't get any better. than Quincy Jones and Dr man I mean you.

do that's the go I was talking I was. talking I think I was talking to Snoop. and I was like Snoop if it was a versus. Battle who would you put against Dr Dre. he's like hell the only person you could. put him is Quincy Jones right I mean I. mean and can't nobody first of all I. don't believe anybody can beat Quincy. not with all his heads because he's. touched too many too many in every genre. Frank sinra yeah yeah so TV shows every. genre so he's unbeatable in vers he's un. like you can't even compare him what. what what's it what what was Michael.

like man. Mike it hurts me every day to think. about it because he was the coolest dude. you probably would ever met and he was. like the biggest misconception was Mike. was just this Hollywood character right. but he wasn't he was the simplest guy. and he can and he knew when to turn it. on obviously because his generation he. knew what a superstar supposed to look. and feel like in public right so public. oh he turned it on like he knew like. Mike was a g like he get it right but.

behind closed doors as a person man he. used to have me crying like so funny. super cool just a great great heart man. pure soul man so you you do you remix I. want to be starting something how how. did that project come about um actually. a project came about because I I I. received a call one day um me and Mike. actually had the same attorney but I. didn't know at the time that we shared. attorneys and then you know my attorney. called me. um he was like Mike wants you to come on. board and you know and and produce on in.

this new re-release for the Thriller I. was like man stop playing Michael. Jackson he said yes Michael Jackson so. but he started laughing after he said it. so I thought he was joking and at that. time like man ain't got time for this so. I hung up the phone he calls me back he. calls me back with Mike on the phone on. threeway he said you remember what I. told you Mike is on the phone hi Mike. talk to Khan and he's like hey KH how. are you with the voice right I said. these is let me hang on.

the phone again I ain't got time for. this so he calls back on the phone right. he calls back he said no it's me. seriously it's me I said no it's not he. said yes it's me he start telling me. everything about myself that I forgot. about it was so interesting because when. I flew out to Vegas to meet. him I didn't understand it it made me. realize how and why he was so. big first of all he was a he was a music. guy like he was a fan of the art mhm and. the people involved in it because even.

how he explained and kind of narrated. his story about me from his point of. view he made me look at myself different. but then more than anything I start to. realize how even how easy it was to work. with him because out of every artist I. ever work with Mike was probably the. easiest person to work with if I would. have asked him to bark on the record he. would have barked on the record only. because he believed in what I did and he. wanted me to be able to be to coach him. right to do so if the collaboration felt.

like a real collaboration you know what. I mean so it was just amazing he had no. ego about nothing he he was willing to. try any and everything to make the best. product he could it um you were the last. I mean Michael Jackson last song Hold My. Hand yeah you work with him wouldn't it. like I never left you work I was the. last to work on her as well too before. she passed which is crazy when you look. at look I understand that because look. you worked with a lot of guys from G's. and all these guys but you understand. what Whitney represents you understand.

what Mike represents you talked. about the upper upper upper there. there's levels to this music thing now. 100% And you talking about Michael he's. he's at the top of the food chain you're. talking about Whitney she's at the top. of the food chain and the last to work. you were the last to work with them yeah. that was the only one that I that I was. right in motion of working with before. he left was Prince he's the only one I. missed. that would that would have sealed my. legacy for that I'm trying to think I.

think he had a concert in Atlanta and. the way he did his. concerts you could only buy you can only. get two tickets but you had to show up. at the box office with the credit card. in hand okay obviously I'm not going to. wait no line and the tickets that were. like a 100 bucks people would selling. them for like $2,000 $3,000 and I'm like. nah hell no it was really the last. concert he ever did did it at the fox.

and I he's one of the only guys that I. didn't get an opportunity to see and. he's one of my favorite artists and so I. understand you know obviously I wasn't. GNA get but to just to hear him right. right you get an opportunity to work. with Michael work with some of the. people work with a Whitney and to say I. work with Prince because now again you. talk about the upper Prince was a little. bit different and the reason why it was. harder to lock block get into him was. because he himself was a writer and a. producer correct he created his own. music right that's why it was such would.

have been such an honor right for him to. go outside that space of himself and. experiment with someone else yes you. know what I mean so it was it was a. matter of just getting close enough to. him but just let him hear hear some of. the things that you I promise you if he. would have heard it he'd have been in he. would have been locked right but you. could one thing about Prince he always. had that Mystique that like that's. that's what I that's one thing I. actually admired about that. generation Superstars were easy to get. to right and they made it hard so if you. finally did get to them you had to make.

a count right today you go to the ball. you see it everybody you go to the club. you see it everybody everybody there. somebody right the access to these guys. now is a lot different than what it was. there what it was you're probably you. weren't Pro you weren't bumping into. Michael at the club unless it was Studio. 54 you weren't bumping into Prince you. weren't bumping into those guys un. unless it was a very very special. occasion absolutely now hey oh no yeah. yeah you go out in land you probably. bump a little baby little dirt You Go.

Bump you know you bump all bump all of. them yeah you going bump it all of them. I'm looking at um what was it like to. work with Mike in the studio oh man that. was the best experience ever like Mike. Mike Mike was the first artist that I. worked with of at that time that didn't. need no. autotune he a need no. autotune but I had to do it because I. just wanted to see autotune Ono. got just a little bit but so so when you. hear people say what uh uh I don't know.

how Recon I hear people say talent and. singing right okay if you want to say. talent I think Prince is obviously. because he can play oh no Talent hands. down hands down he does everything with. his eyes closed but when they would see. people miss when they talk about Chris. Brown and Michael right see now y'all. got to miss me I don't even want to talk. to y'all no more I ain't got nothing to. say I this let me let me let me give you. another perspective on that. in this day and Agee the only person in. my opinion that could have.

achieved just as great as a legacy as. Mike to me would have been Chris Brown I. just believe that Chris Brown was. surrounded by the circle of creative. people that Mike was surrounded by wow. because Chris got the talent wow he just. needed the direction right right so. imagine if Chris had Mike's team right. just imagine that it would it would be. something different and that's big Chris. is H like he got he got Bloods around.

him he got little gang bangers around. him right he don't have the guidance. right he's smart but he's smart. according to what this generation smart. attracts right okay for me to survive in. this area I got to keep certain things. around me certain people around me just. so I can keep getting it going right but. if he was able to delete all that and. say look I'm going to focus on being the. greatest entertainer ever Chris has the. opportunity it's too late now.

you that's why everybody love you though. cuz your boy you. so ain't no ain't nobody selling no 100. million albums ain't nobody do that. again that's over that's but but but you. now you got the streaming so now you do. I I don't know really how streaming work. do you get a quarter you get 50 Cent you. get a dime for how many streams you get. out I know how that work but I mean he. seems to be doing unbelievable in that. oh yeah he's killing it he's killing. I've also you signed Lady Gaga t p. French Montana we kid you mentioned some.

the autot Tunes has autotunes ruined the. industry no it helped it honestly helped. because a lot of these Generations I. can't saying so I get on auto Tunes I. would sound like man I I would rather. you get on autotune. please you know the the the most amazing. part about working with the older. generation artists like the Michael. Jacksons and the Whitney Houston and the. lon of Richies they need no Auto they. didn't need it I never used P the grass. and bar all those I mean everybody.

basically 8 everybody from like from the. '90s moving back towards the 70s and 80. I mean 80s and 70s they didn't use any. of that their forces were impeccable. impeccable like impecable and and guess. what those recordings that you hear that. you heard those are one takes because. every time they messed up they had to. start again from the top whereas us if. we mess up we can just all right start. from where I messed up at and rep punch. it so it was a different it was a. different time there don't use no. autotunes now I heard other day Lord. have mercy that's something that boy so.

her you sign lady gar t p French Montana. will the kid how did you meet these. artists oh man just in the travels is. moving around um with pain my little. brother boo brought me pain okay I give. Boo the credit for finding discovering. pain I was just a platform that we can. toss him on to give them get them to. where he needed to right right Gaga she. was actually already on inos scope when. I signed my label deal there and I saw.

heard and I was like yo Jimmy I need. that for my label and Jimmy tossed me. that bowl gave me that like gift he's. ever G Lady Gaga can really sing I mean. people I think I think sometimes people. look at the makeup and see had the. outfits and like oh yeah no she can. saying she's not human bro she is. amazing like. creatively mentally like she's I mean. she she she thinks beyond the average. artist like just to come up with the. things that you guys seen we had to dumb.

certain things down just to get it. across so people can understand it but. she's she's she's on a different level. what is what is your um your artist. development process how do you like okay. I got this person this is where I think. they can go right here's the process. that I'm going to use in order to get. them him or her there how do you go. about that like all the artists that I. take full responsibility for they all go. through the same system they start with. me we figure out what they want to do. how they want to see their years in 10. years where you want your life to be in.

10 years then we have a real. conversation about the industry learn. the business once they got that part. right then we take them straight to. artist development take them right there. to marvelous studios in Atlanta okay the. best that ever did it all the artists. that we ever love from New Edition to. boys and men to TLC you name it he's the. shaped them up into Superstars they all. go through that process okay then they. come out of there we go into the studio. okay we make the biggest hit record. according to our conversations your. passion and what you want to be now we.

got a body of work you've been through. all this development so you can speak. well you can perform well you are. prepared for what you're about to get. then we go into the right distribution. partner who do we decide is the perfect. partner for distribution for this record. depending on the size and where and. territories that we want to go then we. pick the labels that we want to partner. once we got them come to release dates. come release once we release they like. it's almost like raising a chick into a. chicken and just letting it letting it. go put it in the oven and it's a great.

meal see youed about Let It Go that a. what you know ain't what you did you. talk about putting of it. now. let but you're willing to let your. artist out of contracts you don't. believe in keep lown contract we see. what Meg the stallion is going through. so many even Mike ended up having a. problem with his with his label Prince. had a problem with his label you're like. okay y you're not happy you want to. leave but okay right I mean all all my. contracts are built to create Superstars. entrepreneurs and give them the freedom. to give that opportunity to somebody.

else right so I never hold them to the. fullest extent of the contract ever at. the moment they feel like okay they. grown and they want to go on their own. and I feel like we didn't gave them. everything they need to do that right. then we we we just let them walk we. don't ask for no recption we don't ask. for anything we just allow them to be. who they are T pay originally wrot I'm. Sprung for you but you didn't like it. you you could was a hit no it was a hit. but I believe the would be bigger on him. because that was a hit record I could.

have took it and he right the reason why. I didn't want it cuz I wanted it for him. right because I knew that record was. going to make somebody's career my. career was already made right he didn't. see how big that record was but I knew I. knew how big that record was and I knew. that record would make him the biggest. Urban artist that can line up with what. I need going on to take him to the next. level right so I refused to take the. record cuz I believe that that record. was supposed to be for him is there any. other songs youve turned down you wish. you hadn't I you don't wish you turned. that down there any song that you turned. down you're like damn I should have took. that one one record that I gave away.

that I felt damn I should have kept was. Soul. Survivor I thought G I said man I should. have kept this Rec man yeah I needed. that for myself right what happened with. the fan the fan that you threw back at. the fan in the Crowd Oh man that that. was an interesting time because that was. around the time when I had just got out. oh you was on I was fresh a lot of money. super arrogant and confident right but I. had to same you know the street. mentality I can't I will never be. disrespected especially for a lot of.

people right so I'm on stage and I'm. performing and the next thing you notice. I see something coming at me at first I. thought I was seeing something but then. when it got really close I like oh whoa. that almost like hit me in the face and. I said yo wait a minute who threw that. so the crowd everybody just pointed. there you have to okay he point he did. it now at that point it's like okay. shoot what do I do now I can't be out. here I can't I can't just be like. okay let don't do that no more I. couldn't let it slide because especially. in the industry we was in around that.

time if one person tries you everybody. feel like they can try you right so it's. almost like you had to set an example. which is a wrong analogy so at the point. when all them fingers was in I said yo. come on up here bring every bring them. up so now the crowd is bringing them to. me as he's coming I'm deciding what am I. gon to. do to show this dude and the audience. that I'm not to be played with right I. said' man should I just hit him with one. boom just knock him out I said no that'd.

be too much and then I said you know. what don't worry about it when it come I. just play it by ear and as soon as he. came on stage he just came to hug me and. at that moment I felt bad I was like Dam. I can't do nothing to him he actually. this is probably probably trying to get. my attention right so I said no okay I. got to figure something out then it hit. me I said cool I'm just going to throw. him in the crowd in a soft spot. right so as he come to hug me I just. picked him up found a soft spot and. threw him right but then of course it it. got it got thrown out of proportion but.

at the same time it did give. me the respect that I needed right to. move forward but at the same time I felt. so bad because I said I could you know. what I could have handled that a little. bit better hey con you look you provided. electricity for over 16 countries in. Africa you as a utility company work. with the Biden. administration because you grew up with. no electricity is that was is was that. one of the reasons you wanted to give. back in that way to your your home like. me knowing the impact of just growing up. without electricity made me say okay the.

moment I make it and I'm in position to. do that I want to be able to provide. electricity for people that didn't have. absolutely when um I see uh China gave. you six bill I gave you a billion. dollars I loaned you a billion dollars I. see you have watered a$6 billion doll. contract to build a city yes the acon. city in. sagga I'm super excited I can't wait to. host y'all when that happen how how how. close is that upon completion or I mean. how much have how much of the buildout. have you completed wow so I learned so.

much dealing with this project right I. realized that it was so much prep. leading into even construction right so. for the last two years we've been doing. Environmental Studies we've been doing. soil studies all the studies leading up. into it then getting all the licenses. and everything else so now 2023 in. January we actually start the. construction process and the first phase. is going to take three years right but. then after that phase it's going to be. done in three three year um three phases. in three years per phase but after the. first phase we can start inviting people. in right yeah I read that you tried to.

start a diamond business in Africa but. said it's worse than the drug gay no I. actually had I had purchased a diamond. mine and realized yeah it was way worse. than a drug game so I sold it you got. I'm going to let your boy Go my man I. had it for five years I said boy you get. the diamonds out of it it was no oh yeah. it was a it was a great profitable. business around the time when I was in. the music business I was actually. supplying a lot of the Jewelers in. Diamond District Tri with my diamonds. wow and you let and you gave it up I had. to it was it was it was then it was.

around the time we also had the blood. diamond conflict there was other Minds. it was a lot going on and I didn't want. my name getting tied into that stuff. because I know how the media works. sometimes I got to get you out of here. on this one you're a big sports. fan who's your favorite. team basketball to Lakers Lakers who. your favorite player LeBron honestly. whatever team LeBron went that was my. favorite team before LeBron it was Shaq. right you had I'm reading that you. almost got a scholarship would you have. a scholarship to Georgia Tech but you. mess your knee up yeah you had ho like.

that I can play I can play now one thing. about St Louis Sports was the thing that. was our way out somebody had I mean if. you was going to make it through music. you g definitely make it through sports. right my man I appreciate that bro I. appreciate your time today I really. appreciate no I had a good. time. myice hustle P the price want a slice. got the roll of dice that's why all my. life I grinding all my life all my life. grinding all my life sacrifice hustle P.

the price want a slice dice my been my. life.