Hitmaka On Women, DMX Bigger Than Jay-Z, Kanye, Shaq, Ray J & Young Berg | Club Shay Shay

You still got Chris Brown over Usher. >> What? Of course. Pause that too. >> I don't like that. There [laughter] you. go. >> All my [music] life been grinding all my. life. Sacrifice hustle paid the price. [music]. Want a slice. Got to roll a dice. That's. why all my life I've been grinding. [music] all my life. All my life been. grinding all my life. [singing]. Sacrifice hustle. Paid the price. Want a. slice. [music] Got to roll a dice. That's why all my life been grinding all.

my life. >> Hello, welcome to another episode of. Club Shay. I am your host Shannon Sharp. I'm also the propriet of Club Shay. Stopping by for conversation on the. drink today. He sold over 100 million. records and has billions of streams. He's an award-winning, highly. sought-after super producer, a Grammy. award-winning songwriter, a. multiplatinum selling rapper, a creator. of anthems, a chart topping artist, an. industry veteran, a multi-talented. musician, versatile star, and an. executive extraordinaire. He's gone. diamond as an artist, and a producer, a.

pivotal figure in shaping today's music. scene with soundtracks of our lives. He. has the mightest touch. Here he is, ladies and gentlemen. Hitmaker. >> What's up, bro? >> Good to see you, huh, >> man? Thank you, man. Thank you. How you. doing, >> man? I'm blessed, man. Thanks for having. me. So, when I always ask uh uh my. guests this, when you hear the accolades. that I read that I read off in such a. short time, what what goes through your. mind? >> Well, when I first heard it, I was like, damn, I sold 250 million records, [laughter] not just. thing that went through my mind. But.

man, just the journey, man, I think that. a lot of people skip over the journey. and don't really appreciate the journey. And I'm going to be honest, at times I. did it myself because when you so boots. on the ground and just going and going. and going, you going to take time to. reflect and then [ __ ] Look at me now. I. ain't all them accolades. I ain't got no. kids, no wife, no nothing. So [ __ ] it's. time to figure it out. >> Well, let's go ahead. [laughter]. >> That's that's coming. I mean, you've had. all the success you mentioned, 250. million album records sold, all the uh. the billions of billions of streams, and.

now because you got caught up so caught. up in it. And people that that get. caught up in their careers, they. understand exactly what you're talking. about. Salute, bro. >> Cheers, my brother. Let me know what you think. >> I've been waiting to get that sh. It's. smooth. >> Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] Yeah. >> It's smooth. >> Um, you're from Chicago. >> Yeah. >> What is it about Chicago? Why mean so. many of you guys from Chicago? >> I think it's because like the. environment, you know what I'm saying? It kind of builds you to be like tough.

And then deeper than that for me, it's. just more so like we didn't have a way. out. People like I'm I'm older now. So. I'm about to be 40. So everybody else. like the younger guys, they don't see it. like that cuz it's the Chief Keefs, the. Little DS, the G Herbos, whatever. But. when I was coming out, it was literally. common twister, do or die, psycho drama, crucial conflict, and Kanye. That was. it. So it was like you didn't have an. opportunity to be like man like if I was. in New York I would sit outside the. death jam building 24/7 and wait for. Jay-Z to come out and rap for him and.

[ __ ] like that. Like that ain't wasn't. really the opportunity. So I just think. the music it's a real musical city. though. Like I mean I'm going to be. honest like my next door neighbor like. for a while was Buddy Guy, you know? Really? Yeah. Like. >> so like the music is in the city and. it's just on us. Like it's a real. soulful town. So I think that that's. where it really come from. What do you. think's been the key to your longevity? >> The work. Like I love the work, bro. Like I don't like to do nothing. Like. people, this around the time of Grammys. and everything. I'm nominated for.

Grammys for other producers that I work. with and situations, but I hate. partying. I hate phony kicking it. I'm. not really like I think if I if I phony. kicked it more, I might be like in a. different space, but I'm just so dead. on. >> If I f with you, I f with you. If I. don't, ain't no sense. Hey, hey, bro. Yeah. Ain't none of that. >> Cuz when you in it so long, you see the. same characters come around. So when you. ain't had [ __ ] and they were [ __ ] on. you, you see them now you up, you see. them again and the tune change a little. bit. So I mean.

>> I be I be searching for authenticity but. at the same token it's the music. business. So you got to kind of play the. game. But I don't play the game like. that. >> cuz I had T Pay on and T Payne say, "Bro, >> ain't nobody in this business your. brother." they your brother as long as. they can use you or get you got. something they want or can help them get. the way they want. But when they say. that brother, don't believe that nobody. in this business is your brother. And I. [clears throat] was like, bro, I mean, but I see you in the I saw you kicking. with people. He's like, no, >> I had to learn the hard way. And you.

said it like, hold on, when I was down, y'all didn't have time for Hitmaker. Now. I'm up now, boy. Boy, you be Hey, you be. dropping them beats. You like, no, I'm. good, cuz. >> Yeah. See, I just think that, man, like. it's two ways to look at that. Like as I. get older and go through the [ __ ] like. that, like I never really got like the. POV standpoint. Like my POV not going to. be the same as somebody else or. whatever. And then within learning that. like they supposed to use me though, right? >> Cuz I'm a I provide a service. >> Correct. >> But when you useless and you can't be.

used, then they ain't going to with you. no more. You know what? Some that uh. >> I heard somebody told I forget who it. was was on the show and says, "Yeah, oh. uh um. it say you Yeah. At least I uh I forget. how it'll come back to me, but they they. said something very similar is that you. being used at least I had a service to. provide. >> Exactly. >> So if you can't you can't use somebody. that don't have anything to provide. >> What you doing? [laughter]. >> Ain't nothing happening.

>> You mentioned G. Herbbo and G. Her I had. him on and he's unbelievable. I mean, it. was my really first time getting an. opportunity cuz I, you know, here like. when I get an opportunity to sit down. and talk to people because you have a. perception of somebody that you see from. a distance. But when you get an. opportunity to sit down and you talk to. them and you start to, you know, after. 30 minutes, after an hour, you get a. sense of like who that person really is. And I had a sense and I'm like, man, this this is a good brother. Obviously, he came up in some times and he had to. do some things that I'm sure he's not. proud of, but I think he's a good. brother. And I heard him the other day.

He said that, you know, someone tried to. trick him out of his spot by throwing up. a gang sign in the club in front of his. face. He like, "No, I'm too smart for. that, bro. I'm way way way past that.". Um, what is what is it about like when. >> somebody that I don't know if the guy. know him, he might have didn't know him. Maybe maybe it was a true g banger or. whatever the case may be. But why is it. that when we see somebody that came from. an environment, >> why we always and they come out and they. make it, >> why we try to put them back in that. situation? >> It's crabs in the barrel mentality, my. brother. You know what I'm saying? Like. I think that it's it's such a clout.

driven era right now. Like a person. would rather come and do some harm to. you and be famous for doing harm to you. than actually express that they truly. like you and they fans and you instead. of giving you the admiration and your. flowers at the time. And I think it's. just cuz we raised. It's how we raised. culturally. You know what I'm saying? Like. >> for lack of better word, black people. are like known to hate on. [laughter]. That's why it's the shade room. You. know, like I mean TMZ is for I feel like. it's for white people or whatever, but. it ain't as vi volatile as Shade Room or.

Baller Alert or the things that we got. going on. I just think that look and I'm. sure we going to talk about that [ __ ]. later. Like I was on Love and Hip Hop. Think about like Guilty Pleasures, right? >> People like to see famous people not. doing good so they can feel better about. where they life going on. You know what. I'm saying? So I really uh commend Herb. for doing that cuz I really know Herb. He a little brother of mine. Like I. ain't going to lie. We were just talking. yesterday and um man like he one of the. good ones. He's one of the great ones. and I think that he realized what his.

purpose is cuz when I met him man he was. just Lil Herb. I met him with Nicki. Minaj uh when he came and did that shy. rack song in LA for Nicki. So man I love. her man. That's a little broke. >> This episode is brought to you by Prize. Picks. Whether you're starting a new. routine making player picks for the. first time. Trying something new can be. hard but in life and on prize pick it. always feels good to be right with high. pressure playoff matchups every weekend. Elite hoops action almost every night. The action never stops and prize picks. lets you take control. Find your. community on prize picks. With new.

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Just download the Prize Pick app today. Use code Shannon to get $50 in lineups. after you play your first $5 lineup. That's code Shannon to get $50 in. lineups after you play your first $5. lineup. Prize picks. It's good to be. right. >> Also, uh Van Mhm. Um, where were you. when you heard what had happened to Van? >> I was in a studio. I told you I don't do. nothing but work. And the crazy things. for me is that. >> Van has such a good spirit. >> Like. >> I did Van I think I might have did Van.

Biggest record uh besides Crazy Story. It's a song called Steel Trapping. featuring him and Lil Derk or whatever. I think it's like triple platinum, four. times platinum now. And um when I work. with them, a lot of people see I don't. just make beats, Sharon. I make records. I make hit records. You call me when you. want a hit. You want a [ __ ] to just. play you some beats, go call him. >> That ain't what you for. >> N the song come done. I'm in the studio. 24/7. So when I work with a rapper, I'll. present a a beat with a hook already on. it to make the job easier for them. >> Damn. He ain't got nothing to do but.

just lay a track. >> Exactly. Cuz why would you want to do. that? These [ __ ] got to go tour all. over the world. They going to be big. artists. They allow me to do the work. for them, but they still got to make it. their own. cuz I could write a hook for. anybody sitting in here right now and. they might not perform it the way that. artist performs it. So when I got with. Von and he took those records and that. was a demo and he like damn gang I'm. really supposed to reay what you said. I'm like yes but put your own spin on it. true to you and then that allowed him to. do that and I ain't going to lie, we did. those songs and we did a bunch of.

different records and then shortly after. he lost his life and I felt like his. trajectory was just going so high at. that point but you know how this [ __ ] go. man. Like he was really one of them. So, like I don't even think that with him. passing he would be too like caught up. on crying about it or you know what I'm. saying? Like he he live he lived and he. he did what he's supposed to do. I think. he got farther than he might have. thought he was going to go. >> But here you said here is a guy and you. can see he's ascending here. >> Why not get off that train that's gonna.

either put him put him where he. currently is. >> into the penitentiary. Why when you go. in here, why would you take a detour? >> Uh because Van is in the era of reality. rap. So they thing was to go do [ __ ] in. the streets and go tell real street. stories that academics or any of these. different people can go put the dots. together and try and connect it. Like. that's why people with them so much cuz. it was like, "Oh, I'm talking about this.

situation. It's a real situation that. happened. >> I was involved with it to a certain. degree. allegedly, you know what I'm. saying? And it was just right there. So, people were drawn to the reality rap of. what he was doing. And now, I feel like. that era is kind of leading us right now. to another direction. >> because uh who is that started at? Somebody said F the Street. >> Oh yeah. Uh 21 Savage. >> Savage said F the Street. Um because we. saw what happened with uh YSL in Atlanta. and we see the things that and it's. like, man, look here.

>> F the streets. >> Where are you? >> Oh, I ain't in the streets at all. I'm. an executive. I don't know what that. talking about. Like, yo, yo, yo, yo, Shannon. Yo, listen. I'm I'm from. Southside of Chicago, man. I was blessed. that my parents actually like D. Your. people had money. >> They put in that work. >> Yeah. >> So, you know, they get on my ass every. time I say I never ate a sandwich, a hot. dog, hamburger, grilled cheese, McDonald's. >> Oh, you had hot meals. >> Oh, I had chefs AND I HAD A. >> I had a decision to make. It wasn't. really about what I was, you know, how.

like you going to eat this grilled. cheese. It wasn't none of that. I was. going to school with like a thermos with. chicken noodle soup inside of it. Shannon, >> damn. >> Yeah, man. I was moving different. So, I. was around the streets. Music led me to. the streets. >> Okay. >> I was living in the suburbs and I was so. caught up into the music and the DMX's, the Jay-Z's, and back then it wasn't. reality rap, but you had to be true to. whatever you were. So, I was the dumb. that was in school that could have had a. Range Rover at 16, but I wanted to go.

sell crack in the middle of the hood and. think that I'm doing whatever I'm doing. And my parents was all the way up. [laughter]. >> You mention you mentioned you uh you. wrote one of Dirk's uh excuse me, Bond's. biggest song and with him and Lil Durk. >> How was that experience? What was that. like? >> Man, the experience was crazy cuz you. hear the stories about King Bond them. And then you got to remember I ain't a. street dude, right? So like I usually. work in my own little zone. You come see. me in my space like how we just came to. see you in space. I had to go to him. >> Oh no. >> It's 35 in the studio. It's like yo. So.

I'm not in my comfort zone. automatically. But. >> is it necessary that he that he that. they be here all here? >> I'm like yo bro like I don't know what. they got going on. They all y though. Like they all moving a little different. >> Two 20 pushisty masks on in the studio. It's like it was throwing me off. throwing my energy off a little bit, but. I saw the value in where he was going. and the potential. So, I was like, you. know what? Let me take some of this [ __ ]. off. >> Yeah. [laughter].

>> Let me leave some of this [ __ ] at home. You know what I'm saying? Let me come. real light. You know what I'm saying? And then let me open myself up to this. different environment. And I ain't going. to lie, we did him really fast. Knocked. him out. And it's the same way with. Dirk. Like, Free Dirk. Um, >> when I go work with him, he was. evolving. See, I worked with Dirk on. every album he dropped pretty much. throughout his career. And, um, he. evolved though. I I think he caught the. he started understanding the business. earlier than Vaughn or whatever and. start moving different start start. positioning himself a little different. It's unfortunate to where he is now but.

man like Durk and Van they they want. they Chicago they on a they on Mount. Rushmore in Chicago really. >> of y of younger of younger for sure for. sure. Yeah. Um, I mean, and look, I know. you don't like to speak on this, but and. and you mentioned like unfortunately he. got himself into a situation, and. hopefully that works out for him, but I. just I wish guys would see what they. have going before it's too late. >> For sure. >> Because like you said, you saw Vaughn. going here, Dirk going here, and then. unfortunately they took detours and and.

like I said, I mean, well, we know Van, you like Von. He was really whatever he. talked, whatever he rapped about, he was. really about that life. Cuz a lot of. people not really about that. Like, hey, bro, you a studio gangster. You you. busting caps in the studio on wax. You. ain't really in the street trying to let. nobody have it. >> But they were really about that. And so. I, you know, and. >> because you're close to him, you know. him person. You know him on a personal. level. It's not like we just from. Chicago. Yeah, he from Chicago. I know. of him, but I don't know him. You've. actually worked with these individuals. So there's a closeness that you have.

that probably a lot of people don't. have. And so I'm I mean like probably. when you heard like man Dirk really I. sure hope that is ain't true. >> man that messed me up too though because. you got to think from Von Vaughn passing. and then you got to remember Dirk lost a. lot of family too. He lost Dang. He lost. Ch. He lost his his brother who was his. manager and these all people I knew from. the beginning of his career. Correct. >> So I think you don't know how much. trauma he might be holding. You know. what I'm saying? Like I couldn't imagine. going through all that type of stuff and. I really know where Dirk from. Like I.

like I really was around these guys. Like I'm about 9 years older than Dirk. So like Dirk was like little little. little Durk on the on the block when I. was out there at the teenage or. whatever. So I mean I just praying for. these for these brothers. It's a. mentality, bro. Like and I see things. shifting. I see the ties changing a. little bit. But man, Chicago like we. just got to do better. And like I think. it need to be more OG's. They ain't had. no OG's. Correct. I ain't give a [ __ ]. about no OG. They would they they could. beat up the OG. D like that's the type. of time they was on. So I'm just hoping.

that you know what I'm saying like. people people you learn from examples. instead of having to go through the. situations theirel you know. >> Yeah. I think the thing is that. >> a wise man learn from others mistakes. A. fool learns from his own. >> But you know what my grandma used to. say? Boy sometimes you have to bump your. own head to realize how much it hurts. >> Yeah. For sure. >> And hope and and unfortunately sometimes. we have to go through things for ourel. We can see it from a distance, >> but you like. >> that can't happen to me. >> Yeah. I'm starting to learn as I get.

older, man, to go with my gut. Soon if I. think about something and doing. something, I'm like, should I send this. DM? >> No, let him let him. [laughter]. [ __ ] still sent it though. I mean, but you know what I'm saying? Like we. got to we got to we got to pull back a. little bit. >> You wor with Kanye early in his career. What was what was early Kanye like? Man, >> did you see did you see working him with. him early early 2000s? Did you see what.

everybody came to? I mean, he's a he's a. genius, >> of course, bro. So, Kanye West used to. live on 95th Street in um in Ashland or. whatever. And we used to go over there. My mentor is a guy named Boos who works. heavily with Kanye West. So, we used to. go over there all the time, rap, do all. these different things. And I'm going to. be honest with you, the man, my demo was. produced by Boos, No ID, and Kanye West. Okay. >> So, Jesus Walks, the Kanye song was on. my demo. >> cuz he was moving beats around this. before he made the song Jesus Walks. So,

on my demo that got me signed at the age. of 13 to DMX, I had one of the biggest. bidding wars going on as a kid rapper. It was Jay-Z, DMX, uh, every company, probably 10 different companies wanted. to sign me at the time. And my demo had. Jesus Walks on it. So, that was like my. first time like really collaborating. with Kanye and being around him and just. feeling energy. He was already a legend. before, you know what I'm saying? Like. he was doing Jay-Z beats. Like Jay-Z. was, you know, to us, we know where. Jay-Z is. >> Absolutely.

>> For him to be where we from and doing. Jay-Z beats, he was already a legend. from the jump. Wow. >> So, what do you think the biggest. difference is Kanye that you met. >> and Kanye now? >> Oh, you're a billionaire. [laughter]. >> That's the difference. The paper. >> Yeah. You know, the paper turn you. It's. only a few handful of people, and I know. you can relate to this, that get a large. amount of paper that still stick to. where they roots is. You know what I'm. saying? And I'm not saying Yay is a. person that didn't stick to his roots. because he a grown man. He older than. me, man. Almost 50. He make his own.

decision. But at the same token, I think. money and fame is the most dangerous. drug you could possibly take. >> It's addictive. >> It's addictive. It's intoxicating, too. And kind of once you have it, you want. more of it. >> Exactly. And that's what I'm fighting. with my therapist about right now. She. like, "When is it going to ever be. enough?". >> I get the same thing. >> I'm like, "I don't know, >> but I don't know what I would do if I. didn't work." What? What? What would I. do? What I mean, what I mean, what I. mean, to go travel and to go do all this.

stuff for what, >> Shannon? My dad's 76 years old right. now, right? The man own like 15, three. flat apartment buildings in Chicago. the. man still get up and go to them. buildings every day, check on his. tenants, do all the [ __ ] I'm like, "Yo, brother, we multi-millionaires. He's a. millionaire. I'm a millionaire. Why. don't we hire somebody to do that?" But. he won't tell me. But something in me. tell me that when you stop working, you. dead. >> Mhm. >> So I I look at him like he crazy. Like, yo, like, bro, you done retired. You.

done with all this [ __ ] Let's sell them. buildings. Let's get you a house in. Miami somewhere close to me to where I. can have like a little fine nurse that. your house can't take it. coming through. getting you good. You know what I'm. saying? But at the same token, he won't. leave. Nope. >> He won't do it. >> What do you think about Kanye recently? I think it took out in the Wall Street. Journal or New York Times where he. apologized to the black community. He. apologized to the Jewish community for. some of some of his rhetoric realizing. and he's made it like he's dealt with. some things in the past and and and and.

I'm not here to make excuses for Kanye. Kanye is a grown man and his his. apology, his letter, uh his editorial. speak for itself. Mhm. >> But what what do you what do you make of. that? >> I think this the best apology he's done. throughout this whole time because it. was like it wasn't apology based off. like man I want your acceptance back. It. was just more so like a statement like. yo like I'm working on myself. I I'm. accountable for what I did. I know I up. and it's the first time he said he was. up with black people. >> Yeah. So that you know I mean you you.

got to know like either the PR team that. ramped up or somebody auntie somebody. some a black lady running his PR right. now or he's very genuine about what he. really feels and I think that the. >> him being genuine would be the best. thing because the man catalog and just. who what he means to us now you ain't. even got to be a rapper or a musician or. nothing but he you can't talk about life. in our generation and what it is without. Kanye West being mentioned. Yeah. I. mean, you look at what he's done since. he burst onto the scene in the early.

2000 to what he is now. >> and not only just what he's done, what. he's been on other people and helped. them do, >> right? >> You know what I think Kanye where it. started going bad at and yay, I love. you, John Monopoly, all y'all don't. don't take me no way when I say this. I. think that when he went up there and. took that award from Taylor Swift for. Beyonce, no matter how much henny he was. on or how drunk he was, he was doing it. for the right reason. Yes. >> He like, "Yo, I'm an advocate for.

music." Let's be clear, Beyonce had the. best [ __ ] smoking right now. Like, and. now we letting the politics change. And. I think he was stoned for that. And he. might not have been supported the way he. thought he was going to be supported. I. lied. when he said George Bush don't. like black people, he thought the. outpour of the support was going to come. the same way. And once he didn't receive. that support and he got shamed for it. and he like I did this [ __ ] for somebody. else. This ain't even my Lo. >> Exactly. It wasn't like I lost album of. the year. >> Yeah. >> I I stood on the table for someone else.

for the culture really though. >> And this is with the thanks that I get. and I agree with you. I I I think that. he thought he was going to get more. support than what he got. But even if he. had gotten the support. >> Mhm. The support on the other side was. far too great because they control all. the awards. They can control everything. And so you got, you know, at some point. in time, you kind of have to play the. game within the game. >> Exactly. >> You, hey, I'm doing my own thing, but. you understand how this how this machine. works. >> When you when you play Miss Pac-Man, you. know how to get to the end. >> Yeah, for sure.

>> There there's a pattern that you have to. follow. >> And everybody like, "Well, I I do my own. thing, bro." I get you do your own. thing. But it's kind of hard when you. don't own everything that you own. >> So you might say, "Well, I I own a. business, >> but do you produce everything that you. own? Do you sell everything to yourself. that you own?" So you need other people. involved. And then when they shut that. power off, >> you just own something that you don't. have anybody to sell it to. >> I think it's a fine line between.

>> handling your business and selling out. >> Yes. >> And everybody is trying to walk that. tight rope. You absolutely are. [laughter]. >> Yo, so it's like I'm trying to tell the. truth, but hey, I ain't trying to get. >> I get this [ __ ] bigger than me. You know. what I'm saying? Like, >> yeah, I'm Ne. Hey, this a Hey, this. bigger than me. This [laughter] bigger. than me. >> Everybody going down this [ __ ]. I go down. >> Yo, I'm crying. >> A sports figure. D Rose. >> Mhm. >> Hometown hero just had his number. retired by the Bulls. What What does D.

Rose mean to the city of Chicago? >> I think he up there with Kanye. For. real. for real. Like because he from the. city like we love Jordan. Everybody love. Jordan. He the greatest all time. This. man really went to seon. He really was. at them schools to where we could go see. him. Like he was really a part of what. was happening. And then to do that and. then to get to drafted by the Bulls then. how your number retired by the Bulls. like I don't know if it and a he in the. Hall of Fame or he on the way.

>> There's a possibility he's on the way. But I mean to have your jersey retired. by your hometown team, a team that I'm. sure you grew up watching because look, everybody was a Jordan. If you Chicago, you're a Jordan fan. >> Facts. >> You're a Jordan fan. Facts. >> As simple as that. And to and to like, damn, >> man. D Rose, man, I remember when D Rose. when he went to Simeon and and man, he. won the state and he did this and he did. that. >> Man, now he on the Bulls and now he got. his jersey retired. >> Dreams come true. >> There's a in for Chicago. Just for.

Chicago. He's up there with Jordan. He might be. bigger than Jordan. Just for the city of. Chicago, >> I think so. Cuz he's actually from. Chicago. >> Correct. >> Mike. What? Wait. See, is Mike from New. York or is he from North Carolina? >> He was born in New York. It's kind of. like me. I was born in Chicago. >> Oh, for real? >> But I grew I grew up in Georgia. >> That's why I with you. You [laughter]. Chicago, man. What's going on, man? I. knew something was going on, man. Yak, >> man. What's up? You know, [laughter]. everybody from Chicago like yak. Yeah, they they do. That's that's some good.

stuff [laughter] right there. That. that's that that's premium. Uh uh the. neighborhood, >> right? >> I read that Shauna from the DDP was from. your neighborhood in Chicago. >> How did how did she help your music, >> bro? So, damn. When I. >> fell in love with the music, right? Her. brother, his name is Ice Drake. And then. she was signed, she had a deal with. Relativity first. And she had um her her. she had like a group, I forget, Infamous. Syndicate. It was her and a girl named. Tifa. And as you know, or maybe you not.

know, Buddy Guy is her daddy. >> Oh yes. >> So that's how you So okay. Okay. >> So we living in the. >> center playing the guitar at d doing the. movie. >> Exactly. So we in the suburbs. We doing. whatever and like she's my next door. neighbor like two two houses down. So. music was flowing through their. household and my brother was like. rapping and they were all like friends. because Shauna is probably like 10 years. older than me too. So, they were all. friends and they were all like making.

music and it was really inspiring for me. to see because like it let me know that. yo this is possible. But I was really. bad and I wanted to know about music. Boy, they did me dirty. They used to. lock me up in the crawl space. They used. to, you know what I'm saying? Do all the. [ __ ] to a little brother that you know. that you supposed to do. But I was able. to be around those early beginnings and. see how she did her thing. And then not. only that, further down the line when we. got more closer and my career evolved. before I got on as Young Berg, um she. put me on her album. I produced on her. album as well and it was just like she's.

a big sister to me like in in every. shape of the word. For real. >> So music. from as long as you can remember, you've. been around music. >> Yeah, for sure. >> It's been the only thing that you really. wanted to do, huh? >> I ain't got nothing else to do but this. >> No sports, no I hold on. my man here. like I got a J. I'm nice. Yeah, I got a. shot. Oh, I ain't going to be doing no. running and sweating and all that other. stuff, but we want to shoot for some. money. I'm the guy that you call. But in. reality, man, I play basketball a little. bit, but Sharon, you see I got these uh.

product platforms on about 57 lucky. So, I knew I wasn't going nowhere with that. And music just became my life. Just. totally. I got my first record deal at. 13. >> Wow. >> I dropped out of school in eighth grade. >> Hold on. So when you dropped out of school, so. what' you tell your parents considering. >> as financially stable as they are, I'm. sure education was a big key. Hey, they. hey, we want you to get an education. We. want you to go off. We want hey, potentially hand the businesses down to.

you. Um, and so when you tell your. parents, mom, dad, I ain't going to. school tomorrow. As a matter of fact, I. ain't going to school no more. >> Right. So at that point, Shannon, so. like my life is really like a movie. Like I'm really going to break this [ __ ]. down, but it's a movie. Like my parents, they they're up, boom, normal [ __ ] They. get a divorce. Right. >> now, as me being a young kid, I think my. mom like progressed faster than my dad's. life. So [snorts] she started dating and. going doing whatever her want to. I.

hated that. I was the worst kid ever. Like we in the suburbs like my mom. getting a kiss from her. Then she she. married end up marrying this guy, but. like I'm at the top of the banister. throwing [ __ ] at them while they doing. like I'm whing out. >> You like that ain't my daddy? Why you. kissing him? >> Exactly. So, um at that point I became. so much of a problem child that I moved. in with my father like boys in the hood. >> Yeah. [laughter]. >> Like so so I went and live my dad and he. like I'm the king, you the prince. This. what we doing. But my dad, as I told. you, he owns a lot of property and.

apartment buildings and real estate. So. we went and moved into one of his. buildings. Okay. and he my mom ended up. getting a house and a divorce and all. that other stuff. So my dad raised me. from a real young man. But now we in a. we in a city now. No more suburbs, right? So now I'm close to the [ __ ]. and I was bad. So me going to school. like. >> he couldn't control that. I would go get. on a bus. He can't follow. >> I was supposed to be going to school. They say I went I was actually made it. >> No, no, no. I put the uniform on to go. to school. That don't mean And I did go. to school. But you know what I did. Shannon?

>> You know lunch started fourth period. I. go in that [ __ ] for freshman. lunch, sophomore lunch, senior lunch, junior lunch. I'm in that boom boom. rapping. You know what I'm saying? Doing. what we do. I ain't never go to school. I ain't going to lie. I I remember one. time this and I ain't proud to say this. So, kids, go to school, do what you got. to do, right? >> I was getting like straight Fs whole. time. F. I remember I got D's one time. They got. me Jordans. >> Hold up. You got these and [laughter]. and your parents got you Jordans?

That's how much I wasn't going to school. got pros or some booos. [laughter] You. can't get no goodish in getting D's. >> Yo, I'm talking about I got rewarded for. the D's. >> Damn. Now you know your grades got to be. bad if you get rewarded for D's. >> I'm straight Fs. I'm talking about all. Fs. >> They like, "Well, this is an. improvement, son. How did George go?". >> Exactly. >> When your mother and father got a. divorce, >> right? Did you feel some sort of resentment. because you're saying that when you saw.

her being with the guy the uh the. gentleman that she ended up marrying, you felt some type of way. Did you have. a resentment towards your mom for for. the divorce? Did you blame anybody in. that situation? >> I think it was um do you know why your. parents got a divorce? >> Uh you know they tell you older when you. older or whatever you in the moment but. man like. how good this interview I'm going to. tell the truth in this whole you know. what I'm saying? So, look, [snorts] it. was a lot of things going on. Now that. I'm older and I see men and women.

relationships or whatever between. however manipulation goes and then we. have a kid in the process of all that, I. understand what was going on and where. my parents was at the time, but I wasn't. really able to really truly accept it at. all. >> And that started to split between me and. my mom. Like, like I told you, me, my. dad raised me. So, like I was doing. music and my dad was supportive of me. doing music. My mom not so much. supportive. So like man like I'm I'mma. give you the real tea. Like man like my. mom got me locked up, put me in jail mad.

time. >> Damn. All type of [ __ ]. >> Should you call the folks on you? >> Yes, bro. I'll never forget. Right. So. damn. We kind of speeding up. But like. my mom I was I was I got my deal with. DMX, right? Okay. >> I signed a DMX and like I'm up there in. New York. He moves me to Edgewater, New. Jersey. I'm living in Edgewater. And um. one of my friends at the time he had a. gun and he came in the house and like we. was all playing with the gun and we. double cocked the gun. So the gun go off. in my apartment. Boom. It go through the.

floor. It go through all type of [ __ ] or. whatever. I'm living in a townhouse. So. now the police and everything is going. crazy. I go back to Chicago and I'm. around a bunch of street guys. This why. I got a record deal. This why I'm. working on music. And um my mom was like. I'm not really close with my mom but she. wanted to see me. She was sending me. two-way messages on the like the the. Silver Scotale page at the time. >> She come pick me up. She like, "Yo, I. want to take you get some food before. you go back to New Jersey." I'm like, "No, I'm a really trying to do that. I. want to go shopping. I'm going to buy. some clothes or whatever. Take me to the. mall and we can go get food, too." But I.

had money though. I had a record deal, so I'll buy my own [ __ ] So, while we. get to the mall, she's like getting all. these mysterious phone calls like, "I'm. going to be parked by the Walgreens on. the north entrance. This I'm like, "Who. you talking to?" And she like, "No, it's. my new husband. He's going to meet us up. here. This that, and the third." So in. the mall, I come out the mall. My mom. got a BMW at the time. Two big Samoans. outside of the BMW. And they like, "Hey, Chris. How you doing? What's going on?". I'm like, "I'm good." You know, by that. time I had a song on DMX uh soundtrack.

Exit Wounds with his movie with Steven. Seagal. They like, "We hear you do music. this that and the third or whatever.". I'm like, "Yeah." My mom like, "Chris, you got to go to school." She jumping a. beamer, press the trunk, and then the. Samoans get the bags out the trunk. Now. I'm fighting with two big Samoan in the. middle of Evergreen Plaza. That's a mall. on the south side of Chicago. I'm. fighting with them or whatever. They. throw me down, put the plastic cuffs on. me. Now they put me in a car. So now I'm. riding through Chicago. getting downtown. I'm like, "Where the. is this school at? Where are we going?". We get to the airport. So now we at.

O'Hare. So like they escorting me. through, trying to walk me through, get. me the ticket or whatever. It's a black. lady at TSA. She like, "Why you holding. that young man like that?" I'm like, "I. don't know him." I snatch away from him. I'm running through the airport. I take. off running through the airport, man. I. ran to a dead end, gang. I ain't going. to lie. So, they come get me, put me on. one plane in Vegas. They like, "We can't. tell you what's going on. We We ain't. going to let you know what's going on.". They give me um a letter my mom wrote. once we got to Vegas. And it basically. said she signed away all her parental.

rights to me to this school to this in. the state. So, they shipped me to. Thompson Falls. Yep. In Thompson Falls, Montana. >> And like this [ __ ] is on Netflix right. now. They got documentaries about this. same school. Like they was raping. people, beating people up, they was. taking advantage of kids. Like, so I go. there. I'm I'm a recording artist at the. time. You can't look at girls. They. start you off at level one, zero, nothing. You can't have salt and pepper. You can't talk on the phone nobody. I. was cut off from the world. I ain't know. 9/11 happened. I ain't know nothing. I. acted bad at the place in Thompson.

Falls, Montana. They shipped me to a. place called High Impact in Jamaica to. where it was no child safety law. They. could beat you the up. I had to walk a. 100 laps with a 100 pound brick on my. back just to get back to Thompson Falls, Montana. And that's how I lost my record. deal with DMX when I was signing them or. whatever. And it just stripped me of. everything. Like I never I know Aaliyah. dies who I'm super close with. I was. close with Aaliyah from DMX and just all. this other stuff. And like me and my. mom, you know, like [ __ ] like me and my. mom ain't really close to this day right.

now. >> How could your mom How could your mom. slide away your rights and your dad? Oh, see that go back to what we was talking. about why I wasn't going to school. Cuz. I wasn't paying attention to my dad. That [ __ ] blowing up my phone. I'm I'm. in the studio. I'm doing my own thing. He said, "You took the keys away from. me." He said, "Yo, I'm trying to stand. up for you. I'm trying to vouch for you. Trying to tell your mother not let's not. go this this option. Let's not take this. route." And once I stopped communicating. with him, it left him no choice. >> Yeah. His back was against the wall.

Had your mother not intervened and sent. you there and I know the relationship. and we'll talk about this a little. later. >> Had your mother not did what she done. >> Are we having this conversation today? >> I doubt it. I was like I was really a. bad kid on a bad path and like even. though at the moment it didn't feel good. but looking back in hindsight like it. might have saved my life and might have. put me in a different position to where. I could even be having this interview.

with you now. But the wounds so deep on. that level with that with as the story. we keep going or whatever. I'm going to. let you know some more [ __ ] that went on. or whatever and then you'll understand. the dynamic. >> as someone as a child whose parents. divorced. >> Mhm. >> How do kids how what would you tell kids. if if if you had a room full of kids you. speaking to 300 400 kids. >> and they're going through a very similar. situation parents divorced. >> What would you tell these kids? love. your parents. They not they're not.

perfect. They just humans and you'll. realize it later. And that's what people. told me. But you never really look at it. like that in that moment. It's like I. want my mom. I want my dad. I want this. >> Because you had that. >> You had to. It was never a situation. where I stay with my dad and then I go. on the weekends with my mom and. holidays. One holiday, Thanksgiving, I'm. with dad. Christmas I'm with mom. This. or that. Birthday I'm with dad. Next. birthday I'm with mom. You had two. parents in home doing extremely. extremely well.

>> Mhm. >> And then all of a sudden that get ripped. apart. Do you think that had an an. impact on why you chose was going down. the path that you go or you had already. started that path even when they were. both in homes? >> Um I think it had an impact on it cuz. like I told you it put me in a different. environment. I was living in the suburbs. like we were living like the literally. the. >> ideal suburban life going to you were. the cleavers. >> Exactly. But then when they broke up, my. dad took it back to the hood and it's. like we in the hood. [laughter] You know. what I'm saying? So my experiences I.

wouldn't have been around those. I. wouldn't have been able to meet Kanye. West. I wouldn't have been able to do. all the different things. Meet my. partner Bugs who my mentor who had the. and who. >> So theoretically it was a blessing in. disguise. >> Yeah, bro. The journey. That's what we. were talking about. The journey. >> Is this situation. between your mom and your dad? >> Mhm. >> Is that what makes you skeptical of. marriage? Well, I don't trust women. [clears throat]. >> Come on, man. I'm sure you've had some. relationship in your life where the.

woman has been everything that she. thought that you thought she would be. and more. >> Mhm. I'm damaged good, Shannon. >> Oh, see, you got to understand it, right? I've lived it on different. levels, right? So, I've been the rapper. or that I've watched women. do bad things to their friends or to get. to me, >> right? Then I seen it from the other end. too. Then not only that, I think nobody. tells the truth about this is that and. this what I want to tell I would like to. tell kids like people to get this man.

when you grinding man maybe try and lock. in with something early. >> Yes. >> Cuz you know she really there for you. >> Yes. >> All this grinding and then you meeting. me and I'm picking you up in a. Lamborghini or a Ferrari or Rolls-Royce. Spectra, you're always going to be. skeptical about who really is there for. you or not. So it's just I'm just. damaged. You know what I'm saying? Now I. do got some women in my life. I'm not. gonna lie. I'm not gonna hold back on. them or whatever that I think are really. genuine people. But at the same token. now it's just so messed up is that I.

have no regard for. adapting to someone else's plan. I'm the. I'm the I'm the masculine man. I'm the. in the leadership position. So it's. really like, yo, this is what I'm doing. If it work for you and you want to be. involved with it, great. If it don't, then [ __ ] let's just be the best of. friends. And that's just where I'm at. with it right now. >> Well, have you found anyone that. understand the sacrifice what it takes. for someone in your position to stay in. your position or even climb even higher? Do they understand? Do women So when you. tell it because everybody says I can be.

number two until they're really really. forced to be number two. Correct. Like. my career is number one. >> I'm always going to be in the studio. I. got to do X Y and Z. We're going to go. on vacation. We going to go out and get. us a nice meal. We we going to do all. that. But I just want you to know. >> somebody call and say they need a beat. next week. Mhm. >> I'm dropping everything to go hit this. beat. >> You know they ain't going to never. understand that [laughter] [ __ ] Come. on, Shannon. Like, well, I think that. see look this what my hope is, right?

>> Okay. >> So, I am optimistic about things that's. going on or whatever. And um I think. that when you really take it that way. and when you in a position and you in a. successful position, I think that the. woman that you end up either marrying or. being with has to be understanding of. your lifestyle and also maybe has to be. a part of what you doing your business. may in some type of capacity. You know. what I'm saying? To where she feels. included in what's going on. Because I. mean. >> I mean I ain't work this hard for.

somebody else to tell me what to do. I don't care what you know what I'm. saying going on. I don't care how you. feel, nothing. I ain't wor this hard for. you to receive the amenities that come. along with being with me for your. feelings to dictate what I got to do. with my life. >> Do you think it's possible now. >> to find a woman to love you through all. these scars? >> Yeah, cuz I got money. [laughter]. >> But but she ain't loving you because of. through those scars. She loves you.

because of the money, the access that. you give her. I'm talking about somebody. that if Lord, don't let this happen, but. if you were not had all this money, >> if all of a sudden now you're you're. you're you're an average guy making 75. to 100,000 a year. >> Would she still be there? Would she. still love you? >> No. [snorts] What we doing with $75,000? [laughter]. >> Live hopefully. >> Is that that pre or post Texas? >> Which one? We're making We're making.

post taxes. >> I mean, nah. Mm- Don't nobody don't a. woman y stop. Shannon, you I don't know. if you in tune cuz you all on and you. you work a lot. >> Yes, I do. >> But you see these young girls. It's. young girls getting on streams that are. streamers now that's saying that they. don't want a man that don't make a over. a million dollars a year. >> Talking about 20 20 years old. >> Do they understand how few people in the. world make $10 million a year? >> Nope. They don't. >> Because when you say, "Okay, I want a.

man that's, let's say, over six foot. tall.". >> You're talking about probably less than. 8% of the population. Well, I want a man. that's educated, got at least a master's. degree, maybe a secondary degree. You. shrink it even more. I want a man to. make 10 million. >> Now, you're talking about half a. percent. So, you want a man that's six. over six foot tall, that's educated, that's well-versed, that likes to. travel, makes $10 million a year. Now. that man with all those attributes that. you want, that don't want you.

No, but I want all of y'all. [laughter]. That and that's what they don't. understand. Like they all fishing for. the same dude. >> Yes. >> And the sick part about it is that like. I respect the women that actually go get. bread they self and that are successful, but they don't want to invest into no. man that don't got as much as them. Yeah. So on the flip side of things, that's what it's come to for for us in. the position that we are. Like we got to. blindly just trust that a woman really. likes us and that we don't care, man. When I meet a woman, I don't care if she.

she ain't got to have nothing. >> True. >> I we going Las Vegas Boulevard right now. and wake up a homeless woman off the. street. I can go take her to Miami with. me. Put the ass on [laughter] the [ __ ]. you mean? >> She'll love me for life. Like you really. changed her life. But then you got the. other woman that think that that's the. entitlement that come with it because. she used to dealing with a lot of. successful men, but they never wedded. her, >> right? >> It was only temporary. >> Yes. >> Like a lot of the successful men got. some women that's respectfully um not as.

beautiful as the women that as they side. pieces, but they more thorough and they. at home and they know where their. loyalty lie. >> Wow. It's uh. I read somebody somebody said it. I. heard it. >> They say men. >> want to accumulate money to take care of. others. >> Women want to accumulate money to become. independent. >> True. >> It's sad, but it's true. >> Because we women women will say, "I'm. not changing who I am. I'm blah blah.

blah." Men says, "I love you. I'll. change.". >> Mhm. See, but the thing is though, men, us as men, we be lying to when we ready. to change. We ain't put we got to put. the fine print like I'mma change when. I'm ready to change. So if you going to. wait it out. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Or you ain't. >> Right. >> And that's really what the reality of. this whole situation is. But I'm trying. to find a balance because it's like, man, Shannon, be living in a eight. bedroomedroom house. Dooo. I ain't got. no dogs. I know. You got the dogs. >> Yeah, I got three dogs. Yeah. >> It's that's why it's kind of, you know,

when when my most depressing part of my. life is the holidays when everything. shut down, when don't nobody want to. work no more and the studio. I got to. give grace to all my staff that got kids. and all. [clears throat] Now you just. sitting at the phone looking at matching. pajamas and all this other [ __ ]. [laughter]. >> You want to cry. You sitting there. drinking eggnog and all crying and [ __ ]. You know what I'm saying? But January 1. hit New Year's Eve. They back outside. We back to work.

>> So is it a. You can be alone. >> and not be lonely. >> Mhm. You can be lonely and not be alone. >> True. >> Or you can be alone and still be lonely. >> And still be lonely. >> I mean, I think for a large portion of. my life, I was like, man, why don't I. just like I could just be Eddie Murphy. from Boomerang. I just have [laughter] a. new girl with me every other day of the. week, right? >> Do whatever I'm doing. But that's still.

also that's hard for work, too. That's. also draining. It's a lot of different. personalities that you got to put up. with and all that other stuff. Like I'm. just like I'm just at a point in my life. where it ain't like. >> man I I do want kids though Shannon. I. ain't going to lie. Yeah. You got to get. you better get get but the thing is but. here you don't waited this long man. Don't have I mean be with that woman. >> That's what I'm saying. >> I mean be be with her. Be with her boy. >> Cuz all things being equal. Yeah. I have. three kids and they're beautiful.

They're all graduates. My youngest. daughter is in residency. um as. [clears throat] a doctor, but if I could. do anything over again, I would have all. my kids from one woman. >> That's my that's my really all I love my. kids and they're great. They've never. given me any problems and and. thankfully, knock on wood, none of them. have my personality. >> Yeah. [laughter]. >> But but I would that would that's what I. would do. But I and that's what I would. tell you. And. >> one woman, >> one woman. >> One woman. Yo, have you noticed that. like people are getting crazier and. crazier as the days progress?

>> Yeah, probably. like it's these phones. like it's just the the the thought. process of it. >> You know what it is? It's the street. committee. It's the internet. >> because when I was growing up and and. and and probably until you know the the. late 2010s, early you know. >> there was the so there was no internet. There was no social media. >> Mhm. >> We get so caught up in the trying to. please living our life for someone else. >> I mean I mean really when I when I get. on the internet. >> I'm like damn I'm broke. I see women.

with all these Hermes bags and all these. shoes and they on private planes and. they got Gwagons and they got Range. Rovers and they got I like what? Damn, my life sucks. [laughter]. FOMO. That's what they selling to these. girls, man. Fear missing out. But in. reality, like them, we know what them. them type of girls for. >> Yeah. So So you basically I should go. get like some weak [ __ ] right? Like a. cool like six, seven. >> Get your solid. get a solid solid seven. with some good.

>> and and and and handle it like that. >> Them the one probably more. >> better looking babies, >> but them the ones that probably got a. lot they got a lot of they got a lot of. tread on the tire. >> Yeah. >> You know the more you go up to 8 n 10. >> it don't be as good as that that that. mid. You can get some good me. I'm. talking. >> man. See you going to get you going to. get me in trouble man. [laughter]. [gasps]. >> Man, too. Let's get out the women, man. >> Yeah. Yeah. [laughter]. >> So, after your parents divorced.

>> Mhm. >> your mom ends up getting the home. >> Your your dad ends up lo mov moving into. one of the apartments in the city. So, now. >> where you was having to, you know, get. go get back to the city, >> right? >> You're in the city. >> I'm in it. >> You're right there. Smackdown. >> Is that kind of when you kind of just. like. >> Yeah. I wasn't getting no crack in the. suburbs. [laughter]. It was like it made it made like okay so. if I'm trying to appease to all these. different rappers I'm trying to get a.

record deal that the goal at that time. was to get signed by Jay-Z or DMX or. somebody in that Rough Riders or these. type of lanes. So. >> I'm talking about I was Pablo Escobar in. my raps at 13. I got bricks and this and. that and I wasn't talking about I was. like bad bow wow right that me and. Bowwow had beef at the time when we. first got out I first got record deal I. was bad bow wow and he was bow he had. Mickey Mouse chain and I wasn't on that. like I had guns and Mickey Mouse you. know what I'm saying I'm shooting at. Mickey Mouse I'm doing all type of [ __ ].

like that so it really was like. >> I had to be authentic to in my mind I. thought I had to be but now that I'm. older right now I know that it was all. [ __ ] But it just it it it was it was. authenticity and I think it bled through. the music when I was actually doing it. When you actually taking them risks, when you actually living like that, it. adds a little edge to you. It adds And. only that, >> the guys that I got these the my deal. with and that that that took me to these. places to get seen by these people, they.

were the biggest drug dealers in. Chicago. >> Damn. >> Yeah. Like these these guys like they. had it all. And like we had a building. on hosted, 72nd of Hosted that the guy. had owned and they transitioned to a. music studio. So that's why I also. didn't go home too cuz he had a studio. with the baby. I'm talking about like. they laid everything out for me. Now. mind you, back then, >> Shannon, I was young. I was talking. about selling crack. I ain't even got no. [ __ ] yet. I was a straight virgin. >> I ain't went through puberty yet. I'm.

talking bald eagle. >> I mean, hold on. You you you [laughter]. selling drugs and that's the whole. party. You supposed to have the women, >> bro. Listen, let me tell you the crazy. [ __ ] I lost my virginity to uh to two. prostitutes. >> Damn. >> So, like I'm around these these guys. >> Well, they hooked you up. See, they had. you they they were doing some assaults. on you. You like It's like this all the. time. >> I never forget it. One of the girl there. was it was Strawberry and damn, I forget. the other girl name. And I ain't going.

to lie, they threw me in the room. It. remind me of like uh like Lil Wayne how. he say he lost his virginity. He said. Birdman was like, "Hey, go suck Lil. Wayne dick and just sent the old woman.". I was literally like 14. The girls had. to be like 25, 26, 27. And they sent. them in there and they went and had. their way with me. >> You ain't You ain't You ain't trying to. stop him though, huh? >> Hell no. [laughter]. Why you think I ain't want to go home, boy? We smoking weed. We drinking. These. girls taking advantage of me, man. I'm. thinking I'm living. I'm a rapper. I'm a.

real rapper. >> Right. So you like, "Oh, so this what I. mean drugs, alcohol, women, >> this the trifecta. I hit it.". >> Yeah, bro. I started off with smoking, drinking. I think I was drinking and. smoking by 11. >> Damn. >> I think I took my first ecstasy pill at. 13. Like we this Chicago, you in it like. that. Like this is just normal. This a. normal life. Like so when you see like a. G Herbo and like how we talking about, boy, this [ __ ] normal. Like this overly. normal for what's going on in the city. For real. For real, did the streets give.

you the attention that your parents, mom, dad didn't give you? Because it. seemed like your dad tried to give you. everything that he wanted. Everything. that you wanted, your dad tried to give. it. But that was just and like you said, you had a trust fund. Your mom, your dad. had uh uh buildings, your mom was. gainfully employed. You had everything. There was no reason for you to dart down. the path, although it turned out very. well for you um to do go down the path. that you went down. Was it attention.

that you was seeking? What what what was. it about the street that that called you. that got its hooks in you and you just. couldn't shake until you got older? The. streets came with the music. So, it was. always the music. Music was number one. Okay. >> The streets just came with the music. because the the funding for the music. came for the streets. >> Okay. >> So, it was just a part of just it it was. just one hand wash the other type of. situation. So, I wasn't searching for. attention from the streets. I was. searching for validation for how good I. knew I was, right? Like I'm really him.

I'm one of them. I'm better than Bowwow. I'm bad Bowwow. >> Right. [laughter]. >> That was like my whole little scheme at. that moment. >> You mentioned. >> that your mom basically had you. kidnapped and sent to a boarding school. >> Correct. >> And. you go to this school. So what's what's. a typical day like. >> at the school? >> At the school. >> Boom. >> You wake up at what time? >> Probably like 6. Okay. Uh, you freshen. up, hit the workout, go eat breakfast. Now, breakfast depending on what level.

you at, where your how your breakfast. look. [laughter]. If you at level one is just that. oatmeal, one boiled egg and go about. your way. >> That's it. >> That's it. No sugar in the oatmeal, no. butter, no brown sugar, no nothing. Just. the lumped up and the egg. >> That's level one. >> And water. Water to drink. Did you get. milk or orange juice? >> Hell no. Water. Level three. >> Yeah, >> that [ __ ] jazzed up. Raisins, walnuts, [ __ ] brown sugar, the. whole You get the salt and pepper for.

your egg or whatever. You get that. Boom. Then you go to school. So, mind. you, you in school. Say you catting off. in school and you messing up in school. They send you to this place called. worksheets. Worksheets is like detention. for the school. So, you got to go in. there, sit on a wooden plank or. whatever, like, and just sit there and. just stare at the the wall for five. hours. If your head move in the. slightest form from that [ __ ]. violation. Five more hours. So you keep. sitting there. So now you act up in.

there. They send you to this [ __ ] called. The Hobbit. The Hobbit different. The. Hobbit you is like a hotel for for some. [ __ ] Like you going to stay there. You don't even go back to your own camp. or whatever, right? They send you to the. Hobbit. This what your meals is in the. Hobbit. So boom. It's literally a a a a. wooden board with some with some carpet. on top of it. That's your bed. Your. breakfast is a piece of bread and a. slice of cheese. Your lunch is. >> Hold on. A piece of bread and a slice of. cheese. >> Mind you, your parents paying $5,000 per.

month for you to be in this program. Like maybe 10. I think it was like 10. They spent my whole advance for me to be. in this program. Like for them people to. come kidnap me or whatever. I think that. [ __ ] cost like 7500 for them to wake. Bro. They got a [ __ ] on Netflix. There's. a whole documentary about this [ __ ]. Like [ __ ] come wake you up out your. sleep and just come kidnap you out your. house. So boom, you in a hobbit. Lunch. is a limema bean burrito. So it's just a. tortilla with limema beans inside of it. >> Ain't no meat or nothing. >> Nah. And dinner you go back to that.

slice of bread and that cheese. Now you. act up at the Hobbit. That's when you. they ship your ass in Jamaica and that's. how I went. That was my That was how my. stay was. >> Damn. You were you was you was on one. >> I was I was signed. I was an artist. Like look this how the mind games they. play with you right now. >> No, you was an artist outside of there. You're not an artist in there. >> Yeah, I was an inmate there. [laughter]. >> Like I ain't gonna lie. Like that [ __ ]. was worse than juvenile hall. Like and. all the other [ __ ] like I went to juvie. It was worse than juvie. They play mind.

games with you in there, Shannon. >> Damn. >> And look, while you in there, >> they telling you how much of a piece of. [ __ ] you are for the [ __ ] you did. And. then while your your parents got you in. there, they got seminars happening that. your parents fly to to where they go. they got other parents that got success. stories or that they got in pocket to. say, "No, this the best thing for your. kid. This is the success." Meanwhile, they up there raping. They up there. doing all type of [ __ ] It's just a sick. sick place, bro. >> So they telling what But ain't nobody. telling your parents about the horror.

stories that your kids endure. They just. tell them the the great side of it, >> bro. They think that we walking, holding. hands, kumbayan and all this other [ __ ]. and all. And they're killing theirself, gang. >> Wow. You signed the DMX at what, 13, 14? >> Mhm. How did that situation happen? >> Wow. So, damn. This is a crazy story. So, at that time, like I told you, I had. the street dudes that was taking care of. everything or whatever. We go to LA, a a.

a trunk of the the the little the the. the King Vaughn entourage of us. It's 20. of us, 25 of us, all street dudes. So, we go out there and there's a guy um his. name was Joe Exclusive. He a gay guy. He. is a stylist that this dude named D1 who. was a part of the label had connects. with. So, him being a stylist, he was at. a bunch of different places. So we got. invited to what these want from a video. shoot for DMX, right? So we go to the. Paramount Loud. I'm there.

vibing. I ain't going to lie. Uh I'm at. that time I'm like 4'4, Shannon. Like. you know what I'm saying? Like I told. you I ain't went through puberty yet. I. had all the bricks. I ain't went through. puberty yet, [ __ ] I'm like 4'4. >> Okay. >> So we on set and um uh I never forget. this DMX walked over. He's like, "Hey. yo, Jordan, I'm going to go do this real. quick. I'll be right back." And he. opened up his hand. He had a bunch of. weed in it. You know what I'm saying? He. like, "Yo, I'm going to go smoke pretty. much and come back." So boom, he go. smoke. They send me in a trailer and um. they like, "Yo, rap for him." So.

>> at that time, I thought my flyest [ __ ]. was like some Chicago [ __ ] So I was. like, I think I don't know if the smoke. f. the fast twister type flow or whatever. He like I don't know what the you just. said. [laughter]. >> You got another one. So I do another one. for him and the whole trailer go crazy. Aaliyah in the trailer, all these. different people, whatever. Now, mind. you, I'm 4'4, so I'm really a kid. Like, it don't look like I look younger than I. really am. So, um, from there, we leave. the video shoot. That next day, I'm on.

top of the world. I'm super excited. about it. I come back to the video the. next day cuz it's in a 3-day video. shoot. Hype Williams has shot the video. It's that type of budget. >> So, we at day two now. He told me come. back. I come back. They playing my He. playing my demo out his trailer. Blasting my [ __ ] soon as I walk like a. movie like when I get to the set my [ __ ]. playing out his trailer now he going. crazy he like shorty I'mma sign you not. going to be fast but I'mma sign you that. time [ __ ] we had Jay-Z we had all these. different people but I never forget DMX. my favorite artist this the same year.

that he dropped the two albums Flesh in. my flesh blood in my blood and then the. the other and then that was X I think. they they both dropped in the same year. so at that point like that was like the. year before I met him. >> for Christmas I asked my dad for DMX CD. And then that following spring, I met. the trailer with him and he playing my. [ __ ] out his his trailer. >> So he ended up doing that, ended up. signing me and I that was the the turn. of our relationship. >> If you could do it over, is there. anything you would do differently about. that situation?

>> Yeah. Yeah. Multiple things. Um. I wouldn't have let that gun go off in. that house that he got me, that. beautiful townhouse. Uh, and then deeper. than that, I would have just understood what he was. going through. I ain't know what he was. going through or what demons he was. fighting or what his battles was at the. time. >> So, I always was upset cuz I felt like I. could have got more attention or we. could have been doing more different. things. But, it's so hard to be the guy. and then to try to put other people on.

So, in my career, that's what I always. wanted to do. I wanted to have attention. to the people that are actually working. with me to make sure they got what they. supposed to get out the situation. But I. had to create Yo, Shannon, I ain't going. to lie. DMX movie, he's like the one of. the most interesting guys I ever met. Like I'll never forget we in Toronto, Canada. We stayed at the Southern Place. Hotel. Remember I told you I lost my. virginity to uh. >> prostitutes. >> He took my first piece of too. >> Oh, you supposed to get something and he.

>> Man, listen. So, >> a come on man. >> Listen, >> we in Toronto, right? And DMX love pool, man. Love pool halls and [ __ ] like that. So, I mind you, they got me in a club. with a pool hall. But DMX at that time, he had police following him around in. Toronto. He was like the mayor of. Toronto. Like, I seen that send the. police to the hotel to go get a pound of. weed for him. Squad car police. >> Damn. >> Yeah. Like he was having his way. So, we. in pool hall. I never forget it, man.

Like it's a bunch of groupies around, you know what I'm saying? I'm the young. guy, whatever. So like I got me a girl. I'm vibing with her. And then I'm in the. like it's time to go. So like I'm in. with the entourage. He in the front, you. know what I'm saying? His car, I'm in. the back in the truck with the. entourage. I got the girl with me. We. get to the hotel. They like send a dog. up first. The dog got to go up first. So. he go to his room first. We all still. waiting on the in the cars to get out. So I get out his room. He got the. presidential suite. I probably got the. room right next to the [ __ ] go. I ain't. going to lie. So we get there. I got the.

girl with me. I've been making out with. the girl in the car. >> Oh, you get. >> boy. I got up to that damn room and put. my key. It's like a dog for real though. Rest in peace X. He was like a blood. hound, bro. I'm talking about I was. putting my key in the door. His door. swing open. He like, "Yo, shorty, what. you doing? Who is that?" And then she. like, "Hey." He like, "Uh, hey yo ma, I. think you left your purse in my room.". Mind you, we ain't been upstairs, >> brother. Hit. I know you ain't fall for.

the oy do. >> Yeah, I did. [ __ ] I DMX. She She left. She left with that. I went I went back. in my room. I had to wait for the. prostitutes. >> A man [laughter]. DMX one of the best people ever. And he. got that too. He told me the next. morning like, "Yeah, I'll handle THAT. FOR YOU.". >> NO, I could have done that, bro. I had. that. I had that under control. >> I thought Let me give you one more about. X-Man. Yo, so look, we in the studio. He. making a song called Do You with. IrvGotti. Rest in peace to IrvGotti. We. all in the studio. We in Toronto. We.

doing a song at that point. Shay, I. ain't going to lie. I saw X. He used to. do the the uh the Remy Martin VSOP, the. Grand Crew. >> Yeah. >> So, he drank two fifths by himself. >> and was still able to stand up, walk. around, >> recorded the song, did whatever. Two. fifths by himself. We leave. His wife at. the time I think was with us. Shout out. to my brother Ali. It was a bunch of us. or whatever. I'm riding the car with. him. Boy, we get to the car. He must.

have left something in the car to keep. the car in the studio. Let me tell you. this [ __ ] Shane. Like, no, for real. All right. All right. Whatever. He lay. on the ground like a dog and start. crying like a dog and he fell asleep on. the concrete in the street by the beans. What? And you know the rule, right? Don't nobody wake the dog while he's. sleep. So now we just sitting out there. by our beans while this cry like a dog.

and go to sleep for 4 hours. You can't. wake the dog while he's sleep. Lord have mercy. [laughter]. >> I'm keeping a keeping a brick with you. You can't wake the dog while he sleep. You lose your job waking a dog while. he's sleep. >> So y'all just standing around this man. laying on the concrete. up. Dead ass. I'm not lying. He's laying in. the middle of the street. Police with. us. The whole thing, bro. Hours. That's. how big he was. Wow. Was colossal.

>> It It's hard to believe that in the late. 90s there was any rapper in the world. bigger than X. >> I'm almost in full belief in Jay-Z, my. favorite uh rapper all time. But I think. DMX was bigger than Jay-Z at that point. >> Oh, I believe it. I could believe it. If. you talk about If you talking about the. late 90 early 2000 like 90 98 97 98 2000. 2001 Yeah. >> absolutely. >> unbelievable times man for real for. real. >> God. [laughter]. so let me ask you this. How did you get.

out of the boarding school? So you must. have be behaved at some point in time or. you just got too treacherous. They like. we can't do nothing with this. >> Hell no. You know what happened? My. daddy and my mama having their little. turmoil that's going on. And I don't. know what they was going through or what. landed on his heart. But that man drove. up there and got on a flight, got a rent. car and came to Thompson Falls, Montana. and came and got me out that program. after probably like 10 months. >> Did you ever call and say, "Dad, this. place ain't for me.". >> Ain't no phone. So you could So there's. no contact with really with the outside. world.

>> Ain't no phone. Ain't no newspaper. Ain't no TV. Ain't no nothing. I ain't. know nothing happened. I just told you. 9/11 happened. I ain't even know what. happened. Wow. Yeah. You cut off from the world. completely. So, it had to be something. on your daddy's heart, man. >> That he got that he took a flight and. drove up there and said, "I'm going to. get my son.". >> And when we riding, he telling me, he. like, "Man, you know, I know you love. this music [ __ ] Like, I know you can't. really like I you were wrong, but I I. think you had enough. Like, you don't. deserve like you did a lot of. accomplishments to get to this level. You did a lot of bad, but you did some.

good at the same time." And the first. thing we did, we went to Target. I got. that uh Jay-Z blueprint. I got that Nas. I am album and then I was off to the. races from there. >> So when So where did you go after he. comes and get you and you get on a. flight and you fly back? So where did. you go? >> I moved in his house. >> So you move with him back in Chicago. >> Mhm. So how did how did you uh uh uh how. did you end up in LA? >> All right. So I'm living with him in. Chicago. He starts paying for studio. time for me and helping me develop my. [ __ ] and then I become Shauna Hype Man.

Okay. So at that time like. one of my friends who lived in LA, he. was like a serious weed man. Weed man. and he started sending up me and my. people's like 100 pounds of weed every. every week. >> So you got to break that down and get. off it. >> Yeah. I was going breaking it down. getting money being in the streets or. whatever doing whatever get my little. money. I became Shauna Hype Man. I went. around the country with her cuz she had. getting some head at that time. She was. now she was with DTP with Ludicrous and. all. So her career going crazier and.

crazier and then from there I'll never I. end up meeting Troy Carter and Jay Irvin. >> because I knew Eve from DMX. >> Okay. >> So Eve was like a big sister to me and. there Troy Carter and Jay Irvin were. were um was Eve managers at the time. They ended up meeting me, taking a. liking of me and they moved me to LA. >> So you moved they moved to LA. You ended. up moving in with Eve. >> Yeah, to a certain degree for sure. I. used to live, I ain't gonna lie, like. like I had my spot, but then when [ __ ]. got bad and I wasn't getting no money, I. used to live at the UPN lot. Remember.

Eve had that TV show on? Yeah. >> Yeah. I used to sleep in her dressing. room or whatever and they used to come. wake me up before [ __ ] I used to sleep. on the lot. >> Damn. Trying to make this [ __ ] happen, man. Eve was so good to me. Salute to. Eve. >> But she changed your name to Young Bird. >> Yeah. My name was Iceberg. Like I used. to wear a lot of iceberg clothing line. back in the day or whatever. So my name. was Iceberg. And it's around a time when. like everything was young, young Hoveve, young this. She was like, she called me. Young Berg and that's how my whole name.

changed. >> and it stuck. >> Yeah. >> So, how much did you write on on her. album? Did she let you let her write a. label? >> For sure. Her last album that she. dropped was called Evolution. I ended up. writing the um the title track with her. or whatever. I think I did the hook on. that and that was like my first real. writing placement in the game as someone. that was like writing for another. artist. She she was so graceful to allow. me to go in the studio. Salute to Teflon. who made the beat. Her and I ended up. writing the hook and she kept my vocals. on it and that was just like the start. of everything. I'm like, "Holy shit.". Like, >> so prior to that, prior to that, you had.

only wrote for yourself. >> Mhm. >> And so, cuz uh who was I talking to? I. had Snoop Dogg early early on Club Sh. >> and. Hoveve wrote Still Dre. Mhm. >> I'm like, Snoop, how does someone write. a song for someone else and it sound. just like Dre actually wrote that song? It's still Dre Day. >> Mhm. >> I'm like, how did he do that? He's like,

you just have to be the person, know the. person, know how what he sounds like. So. you had been around Eve enough to kind. of knew kind of how how she would sound. the words that she would use because. that's you know when you do stuff like. that you have to be able to. >> really you become Eve to an extent when. you actually write this vocal. >> See and I was little bro too and she. gave me an opportunity. So I didn't I. didn't I didn't like. >> I didn't come into it knowing that I. would even have that opportunity. I was. just little bro who she believed in and.

she allowed to be around. And then when. they gave me that alioop and with me. being around her, I'm like, man, I can't. drop the ball on this, right? >> And she ended up loving it. Like I was. super surprised that she even ended up. loving it cuz I went and it turned. what's crazy is like it was the same. process. I went in there, had some. drinks, smoked some weed, got in the. booth, did the hook immediately or. whatever. She came in, she loved it. She. redid the hook and then [ __ ] it was on. the album. >> She's married now. Um I think she has a. kid. >> She up. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. She she.

leveled up. I don't even think she. [clears throat] remember me no more. [laughter]. >> Do you see her? Do you see her rapping. again? >> Hell no. You see me rapping again. I. catch a beat. Hell no. >> You done? You done? If you get a beat, >> I'm I'm going be honest with you, Shannon. I think I'm I'm I'm at I'm at. I'm at a place where I'm comfortable now. where I can be done. I don't even have. to do anything. >> Oh, you going to pull a hole? >> I could I could stop doing anything. But. to me, it's like. the job not done yet. I got to make some. more people millionaires. like I gotta.

put some more people in position. I. think that that's really like my whole. You ever You ever realize that you. really just blessed to be a blessing? >> Yes. >> And I just that's that's my whole forte. right now. >> Right. One of your biggest songs early. in your career was Sexy Cannot I Ray J. >> Uhhuh. >> When you're writing that, when you're in. the studio with Ray Jay, do you have any. idea that this record is going to take. off? >> [ __ ] no. >> Do you ever have an like when you. >> I hated it. I hated it. >> Why? So at that time my first hit was called.

Sexy Lady, right? And then I had another. song called The Business with my artist. and I was really trying to build my. label too. You know what I'm saying? So. my artist was on the song and that still. song is still a cult classic. It's. multiplatinum to this day too. But I. wanted to go to that song next, >> right? >> But the the head of my company, Salute. to Charlie Walk, he was the head of Epic. Records at the time. And I'll never. forget it, man. I wouldn't do that damn. song. Ray and them, they kept asking I. wouldn't do the song. And I come inside. this man office and this man got to be. about 5'3 and he he tap dancing on his.

piano playing to the to the song sexy. can I think he on coke too. I ain't know. what was going on like he got like he. give you that little vibe too and he. like yo. >> it's going to be the biggest song of. your career. I'm like what nah hell no. He like I'm like bro I'm going to be the. sexiest man in the world. My my single. out right now on Hot 100 is Sexy Lady. Now I'm coming with Sexy Can I? What the. hell name my album? I'm too sexy. Like, no. Like, yo, bro, like, I want to go to. this next song. He like, it's going to.

be the biggest song of your career. He. like, what's it going to take for you to. do the song? I'm like, man, buy me a chain, man. Call Jason of Belly. Hills, man. Give me an Epic Records. chain. Show me how serious you are about. this record. I'll get you. I I get you. good. >> So, that's what you tell Ray J. >> No, I told this to Charlie Walk, the. president of the company signed to. Yes. >> So, he like, "All right, bet. >> Call him up." He buy the chain. So I'm. like, "Oh, it's getting made." All. right, bet. Say, "Listen, I end up doing. a song in um Miami at the same studio.

that I work out of right now.". >> Wow. >> Yep. Called Circle House. Salute to BB, his father. You know, that studio is so. legendary. You have a um cops, Bad Boys, Bad Boy in a Circle. Is their studio, the people that sing the song and did. that. So, it's a legendary studio. So, I. end up doing a song there. And then from. there, it was like, "All right, babe. I. think this going to be something." And I. think that when I knew it was going to. be really good is um came back out to LA. to finish the song with Ray J. And it's.

me in the studio. Tiarara Marie is with. Ray J. That's his girlfriend at the. time. I ain't know that I didn't even. know it was Tiara Marie. She was I. thought she was a bad chick cuz I ain't. know what was going on. And I had um the. girl that sang the hook on my song that. was my artist who I was also dating at. the time too. I never forget this. session. Shannon, we coming in there. He in there, he got a gun on the on the. on the table. I'm like, "What? What is. Ray J on right now?" Like, like I'm. thinking Ray J like come on, bro. He got. a gun. He had just did his um deal with. uh Vivid for Kim Kardashian for the.

porno deal that they end up doing. >> He like, "Man, you don't I'm in my vibe. right now, B. Like, I don't even want to. like like I don't want to disrespect. your woman. Can I put these on?" And he. put on a he showed me a bunch of like. vivid DVDs of porn. Yeah. So, he won't. watch porn while we doing the the song. >> What? >> Yeah. On a big screen. He want porn. No, I'm good. Cuz. >> it was his session. I'm like, you do the. you want to do. It's your session. I. don't know what you I mean, I'm coming. in. >> I don't know what you want, but okay. Go. ahead, >> boy. He playing that [ __ ] So, we.

finishing the song. I'm doing like ad. libs on the song and finishing the song. We putting the final touches on. together. He like, "Let me go in the. booth one more time, man. I got to do it. one more time." So, he going in there. He hitting this note. He like, "Can I. just have some fun?". And he going off with it. I'm like I'm. like, "What is this doing?" Tiier Marie. like, "Boy, IF YOU DON'T SHUT YOUR ASS. up with this bullshit." She in a she in. a control room with me. She clowning. him. He like, "Girl, this my Stevie. This my Stevie Wonder." I'm trying to.

hit my Stevie at the end. She like, "Yo, Stevie." And then from there, song came. out and I'll never forget it, man. That. [ __ ] skyrocketed as soon as it dropped. I don't know how it happened, a perfect. storm of situations, but it skyrocketed. as soon as it dropped. And then I mean. the the video shoot is a whole another. different story. You know I went to jail. on the set of the video, right? >> How [laughter]. we there first shot of the day. I'm. smoking a blunt or whatever. We got. police securing us on the on the set. I.

hit the blunt. I throw a roach out. Police come. He must have been having a. bad day. He picked up that roach, smelt. it. He said, "Is he a lead guy, principal in this video?" They said, "Yeah, not today." Locked me up in. Miami. the first shot of the video, put. the cuffs on me, took me to jail in Dave. County. So now I'm in jail. I'm like, damn, this [ __ ] is crazy. I'm I'm. freezing though. Like I think I had like. a tank top on. You know, they throw you. in that jail boy. Cold as hell. I'm in.

that freezing. They trying to get me. bologoney sandwich. They don't know I. ain't never had a sandwich before in my. life. I'm like, "Hey yo, yo, these. [ __ ] is tripping. I'm trying to get. out." Next thing I know, probably like. six hours later, they like, "Ward, you. can get up out of here now." Guess who. bailed me out of jail? Oh, Shaquille. O'Neal. >> You lying on everything. Shaquille. O'Neal and Ray J had a partnership for. Sexy Kenna with that record. Shaq, it. was on Shaq record label. Shaq came and. bailed me out of jail. >> Wow. >> And that's how I get back to the video.

set to complete the video. You wouldn't. even know it cuz the the video tricks of. the and the editing, but like bro, like. I was gone. It was night time by the. time I got back to the video. I got. back, filmed the video, and it became a. success. proud of this song. Had you. ever met Ray J before? >> Once or twice. And I was just like, not. not like as a friend or nothing like. that. I was a fan of his album uh with. One Wish on it or whatever. And then not. only that, um he was Ray. He was he was. he was hitting everybody. >> So I'm like, [laughter] "Yo, this my. kind of guy. This [ __ ] got to be around.

me. I got to get some of this fruits of. his. What's up, man? What we doing?". >> And that's how we linked. >> Did you know Ray J was this crazy? >> Mhm. >> He always been like this. Mhm. Let me tell you something, Shay. Once Sexy Cannot took off, rest in. peace, him and Whitney Houston was they. were a thing. They were a couple. And. that's when I knew it was crazy. Wow. And when I say crazy, not in a bad way, but like look, we in your stomping.

ground, so sexy cannot going crazy. We. in Atlanta and um Ray like, "Man, I got. a surprise tonight, boy. You going to. love this." I'm like, "What?" He like, "You going to love Next thing I know, we. at the hotel Whitney with with Ray. So. he like, "Whitney come to compound with. us tonight. We got to show a compound.". He like, "Whitney coming with us to. compound. We fa to go crazy." I'm like, "What?". Yeah. What? Bro, you're not. This [ __ ]. is a movie. So we get in the SUV. Ray J sitting like in the back. Whitney.

sitting right here. I'm sitting right. here. So we get the compound. Now. Whitney is a real like for real for. real. like we ain't got no liquor. She. like send them [ __ ] in there. Go get. me some Patone. They come out with the. gallon of patrol. Me and Whitney. drinking out the Patone. Two hand. drinking out the bottle like this. Chain. smoking cigarettes together talking. [ __ ] Blah blah blah. And she went in. there and she supported us while we was. in there on stage. Whitney Houston was. on stage with us in compound while we. did the record.

>> Wow. >> It's pictures of it and all type of [ __ ]. on the internet and this that and the. third. But here go the craziest part. We get back to the hotel. Shay, I ain't. trying to blast it up or whatever. So, you know, Ray a dog. So, we left. compound. >> I know. He. >> listen to me. We left compound. So, now. he like, "How many extra rooms you got?" Cuz you. know how you you you moving like you got. a room for this, that, and the third. Some couple my peoples that left. I got. a couple of them. [ __ ] whatever. He. like, "Let me get that extra room." I'm.

like, "All right, bet." So, I give him. the key. So, now I'm looking for him or. whatever. I go to his room. Boy, I go in the room. It's like a suite. Walk around. Boom. Boom. Boom. You know Whitney getting. undressed in the room in Ray J room. She. like, "GET OUT OF HERE, YOUNG BIRD." I'M. LIKE, "Oh [ __ ]. me up, man." Whit cuz Ray J was down the. hall with one of my little joints. You got to get him. You had him on here?

>> I have. >> Oh, boy. [laughter]. I sure wish we didn't knew this story. >> Yeah, we different. >> where. >> to see Whitney. >> and she I'm not saying she's a top three. voice. >> Yeah, you are. You are. >> Woman's voice all time. And I'm not. saying she two or three. >> Mhm. >> Were you in awe when you said, "Man, this is Whitney Houston.". >> Hell yeah. >> This is Whitney Mofo Houston. >> Hell yeah. >> She She had that glow, bro. She had that. aura. You know how people talk about. aura right now and all that stuff? Like.

she had it. But you want to know what it. was? It was very rich though. [laughter]. >> Like I thought it was like you know how. you watch Whitney and it's like yo you. thinking like how always love. >> Yeah. You're all glammed up and she got. the she got the gown on and everything. >> Whitney going to let you know she from. Newark. Go play. Rest in peace. [laughter]. >> No cap. So when they you're in jail and they say. Howard, you good to go. >> Mhm. >> Okay. You know you getting up out of.

there. Did you have any idea that it was. gonna be Shaq that came and got you up. out of the hell? No. >> Because at the Did you know that Ray J. was like on his label? Anything? >> Yeah, I knew. But I But who really. thinking about at the time? This was the. time when he was over with the heat and. he was whatever. Yeah. >> So, who really thinking that that was. the case? Like he ended up being at the. video later that night and all that. other stuff too or whatever. So, we able. to put all the piece together. But, it. was the first shot of I ain't never met. Shaq before in my life. >> Wow. So, when you got in the car, what. did Shaq say to you? Come on, little.

man. [laughter]. [laughter]. >> Nah, man. Salute to Shaq. >> Was that the only time that you ever. have you ever had any other interaction. with Shaq after that point? >> Hell no. He just be He just deal with. all the same women that I deal with. Lord, that boy Shaq a savage. Yeah, let's go ahead on. We going to. move on. [laughter] We going to move. We. just talk about that. But recently Ray J. said that his heart is only functioning.

at 25%. And he doesn't have much time. He say I mean I think I read where he. said 27 2027 he definitely going to be. out of here. When you hear stuff like. that you do you I mean it's hard. Don't tell me you to call Ray J. I would. love to. Yeah. But look I'm I'mma show. you I'm going to show you what I said. cuz you know I I can't I got to I got to. be Look at Look at my last text. >> Okay. I'm done doing crazy. I can't. believe it's officially. >> all the way at the bottom. The last.

thing I said. >> you trolling. Yeah. With the question. mark. I don't know what you doing. You. trolling gang. Like what's up? Are you. trolling? >> Yeah. Okay, I'm done. Crash Out campaign. is officially a wrap. After today, [laughter]. just one more. After today, it's over. You at 1:40 [clears throat] p.m. You. trolling? [laughter] Yeah, bro. That's really my brother, Shay. So, it's. like I I don't know. But, I mean, if. that is the case, like, man, I don't I.

don't like it, then I'mma be right there. for him, whatever I could do. And cuz he. he changed my life. That's a 10 million. seller, right? What was it like being a teen star? You. like you get in this business, you're 14. years of age and you start you start. ascending right away. >> and you have access, you're around DMX, you're around Eve, you with Ray J and. Shaq come bail you out of jail. So. you're around some of the biggest. musical [clears throat] artists in the. in the game.

>> What's that like for you? >> I don't know. I was wild. I was even. wilder than I was as a kid. I used to. wake up every day in Papa Ecstasy and. just be wild and just like a terror just. like a bad person. Do you remember a. whole lot about that? >> Hell yeah. [laughter] Every moment of. it. Like them was some of the greatest times. of my life. Like I ain't going to lie. Like I don't shy away from that. And I. blame Juul and all them for that. For me. doing Ecstasy and all the other stuff. cuz you got to remember I was at the. Murder Inc. mansion at the heyday of. when they was doing all that type of.

stuff or whatever. And when I seen Ja. Rou take a ecstasy and make them type of. songs, I said that's where I'm going. That's. what you do. >> And I went. >> I don't really know how to ask this. question. >> I asked it. >> But you said it. >> You said there were times when you were. on the screen tour. >> that mothers would handel their. daughters. >> Correct. Correct.

See, but see Shannon, this this pre-. Instagram, we were wowing. >> Yeah. >> Like I would go to the radio station. with my people and be like, "Uh, uh, caller 99." You know how everybody on. the We at Hot 97. Yo, we in New York. Uh, ain't no Instagram. >> 310253. D. Call my man right now. We f to go. meet us at We were winging out like on a. whole another level. So, I've definitely. like been handd delivered like a a woman.

like, "Yo, like this is my daughter. I. think she's a great look for you. I. think I see where you going. Would you. mind like taking her home with you. tonight?". >> A mother giving you. That's why I said. I'm damaged because I seen the money. outlook early when I was still pure. when I wanted that real love and that. real connection or whatever, I seen the. motives. So, it's like. and I wasn't even as rich as I am now.

And that was crazy. >> Can you let your guard down after after. think about it? Here you are. You say. you're about to be 40. You got in the. game. So, you've been in this thing for. a quarter century and you've seen it. all, done it all, heard it all. Is there any way he can let his guard. down and say, "Baby, I trust you.". >> And let somebody get that close to you. >> Yeah, it's coming soon. But the I think. the the the situation just has to be so. beautiful or it either has to be so left. field or it has to be so in my field.

that we both this this what the real. damn nobody want to say this. Settling. down is a very like to women or to other. people has a bad connotation on it. >> because you think about it settling. Nobody wants to settle. >> We going to have to. Yeah. >> It might not be as dramatic or as. drastic as someone thinking that, oh, you going to have to deal with a man. having 20 kids behind your back or what. you you settling in some degree, >> right? >> I might here's an example. Sexually, I.

could not be I could be overly satisfied. and I could be not satisfied in another. dynamic of what she might can't cook, >> right? >> She might I'm settling, >> right? [snorts] The woman settling too. She might want a man that can just go to. work 9 to5, come home to her, give her. all the attention that she want and be. there for her. >> Right? >> If she deal with me, she's settling if. that's what her vision is. Correct. So, I think that us as men and women, we got. to come to the table and say, "Yo, I'm. comfortable with settling down.".

>> Yeah, I'mma settle it some way. >> But here, you do realize that you're. never gonna find a woman that have every. attributes that you're looking for. She's 510. She has this hair. She has. hair. She has a job. You know, she's. built like a an Athenian goddess. You're. never going to find can cook. She's. educated. She's well versed. You're not. going to find somebody that has. everything that she's going to be even. She's going to wait on you your beck and. call because you got to realize that she. got her own career because now you're. going to ask her because she's going to.

ask you to do a little sacrificing. because two people can't sacrifice in a. relationship because somebody going to. go to hell. >> if I don't find it in the next two three. years. I got a lot of faith in Elon how. he making them robots [laughter]. that my budget going to be able to get. it and it's [laughter] going to be able. to do whatever. Don't you want somebody. to come? Don't you want somebody Honey, I'm home. Hey, honey. How was your day. when you're having a bad day? Like, hey, you just couldn't you just couldn't get. that beat like like you wanted it and.

and you got somebody and you got. somebody that even that you haven't told. her that something's going on bad, she. knows you. >> I do. I want that. I I really I think I. want the kid dynamic more than anything, though. I would love to see like a a a. little me, you know what I'm saying? Pop. out or whatever. And I just think that. um like we said like I ain't like the. women situation is just all feelings. based. I've been in situations with. great women but they've allowed their. feelings to outshine what the big. picture is and it started you know what.

I'm saying and [ __ ] then spiraled out. into another different direction. So to. me it's like man I'm trying or them. robots coming. Hey, you do realize now. if you get one I mean I I guess there. could but I'm assuming that if you. waited this long it's going to be you. like basketball 101. >> Mhm. >> Wait, what? >> I mean you you get this what? >> Oh here. Come on. >> You think that's realistic for me to. tell a woman that I'm only going to deal.

with her for the rest of my life as a. OG? >> Oh lord. So you don't believe in. monogamy or you don't believe in it for. you. >> I believe in respect. How you respect her? What you don't know. hurt you. Long as I'm doing what I'm. moving the way I'm supposed to move and. I'm moving very tactical. [laughter]. You don't see nothing. I ain't in no. blogs. It ain't nobody pressuring you. Coming to you as a woman. >> So you try to move like Delta Force like. they went it over there. Got what you. call? >> I'm trying to tell you. I'm trying to.

tell you. That's the only way to move. though. Like it I it's it's certain. cheaters. It's the cheater that just. don't care, >> right? He reckless, careless with it. >> It's the cheater that the double life. cheater, the that's spending the money, that's putting somebody up and this that. and the third. I think that cheater hurt. more to your woman anyways cuz when she. the women find out you allocating that. money and. >> Yeah. Yeah. You got she got Birkens and. got apartment and got a G Wagon arrange. But don't nobody see the the phone. messed it up because I think that when.

men initially start doing that, they. were paying for privacy. >> Like I'mma give you some money for you. shut up for my wife not to know about it. or for this not to be a thing. So I. think that hurts more. And then there's. the the the cheater that the the the. passport bro cheater the the guy that's. in that's in Bali with. >> Maldi. You don't know what's going on. >> Well, it was I thought it was just one. I thought it was going to be your your. wife, your girl, and. >> you think I'm going to Maui Coast with. one woman?

>> I would. Yeah, that's what I was. thinking. That's what that that's what I. that came to my head. >> No, it's a group trip. Oh, you got some. the boys going with you. So, you know, preferably not. Maybe like one or two. Oh my goodness. You must be on them. sparks. Hell no. I'm on that. I'm in the. sh. I'm on this little [laughter]. You think women going to sign up for. that? Hell yeah.

You you go, bro, you in sports, right? You are in sports. You enter you you in. entertainment now. Yeah. But let's take. it off me and you. Let's just go ahead. and just put a blanket statement. You. think anybody in the NBA is faithful? >> I do. The the the the one that's been locked. in that that that had enough the the. Udonis Hasslam. >> You [laughter] need definitely you need. like about mine. You think that homeboy that got Drea. only only dealing with that?

Oh, what you feel about Drea? She she. she 45. >> I like Drea. She I like her, too. >> I don't like I said, man, I don't really. know. I'm Look, I'm mind. See, >> I get 12 hour I get 24 hours of the day. 12 hours I mind my business. The other. 12 hours I stay out of everybody else. business. So, I'm busy, >> right? this I mean and people like well she's. this she's that and she's that's a grown. man that man can boat he can buy alcohol.

he can rent a car he can do all that. stuff on his own he know what he doing. well I can look at how he moving can. tell he ain't grown like he still got. some growing up to do but we all been. there. >> yeah but he ain't ready. I don't know drill come sit down and. talk to me about it. >> please come sit down put put us all down. too we love you know what I'm saying. respectfully. >> yeah I mean I I Look, I I think. >> I guarantee he something other than her, >> man. I don't don't don't say that here. I cuz I don't know.

>> I don't know. I don't want to put that. out there in the universe, >> man. Is mad horny. You talking about do. I got Roman Sparks cuz I'm about to be. 40. That [ __ ] don't need no sparks. >> Nah, he don't need no sparks. >> He went mad horny. >> Yeah, cuz I remember that was that age. >> How many away games in the in a year? >> 41. [laughter]. >> Went went 41. He lost one of them mother. [laughter]. I hope. Hey, bro. [laughter] Hey, I hope.

Hey, Jayla, man. I hope you faithful to. your girl. Uh, I hope you you Hey, I. hope y'all good. I hope y'all locked in. >> Me, too. [ __ ] It ain't got nothing to. do with action. It ain't It ain't do. nothing for me. So, I I wish y'all the. best. >> Oh my goodness. You've been making money. at a young for a long time. >> Young age. What's one of your worst. purchases? [snorts]. >> I see I probably did it last year. I. think I did bought like 12 cars in one. year. >> 12? >> Yeah, >> you one dude. Why you need here? Why you.

need 12? >> You know, I lived in LA, so I wasn't. doing a lot of driving. So, you know. what I'm saying? I was more so like. >> security picked me up, black truck move. me around, this that and third. When I. got to Miami and they got to stand your. ground law, you can have a firearm. peacefully. And the way I move, I move. like a rich white man. And I'm not. around no like negativity and no. functions. I just went overboard. >> Did you hopefully you got rid of some of. them? >> Yeah. >> So now you got like two or three. Two or. three is a good number. >> I'm I got three, but I'm thinking about.

the fourth one. Just cuz I never had it. I never had the truck. >> Okay. >> So I wanted to try it. Right now I got. the Spectra, I got the McLaren, and I. got the uh Cyber Truck. >> You like the Cyber Truck? >> It's my trap car. You would think I'm. back in Chicago selling crack again in. that [ __ ] [laughter] I treat. that [ __ ] like a Honda. >> If you could do anything different with. what what would you do? I mean, would. you have invest I mean your dad Why. didn't you do you invest in your dad's. real estate? >> Up. >> Yeah. My My dad been my business manager.

my whole time, my career. >> Oh, okay. So, that's why y'all got 15. buildings. >> Yeah. My dad been running my business. since from from the beginning. >> Wow. >> So, he he know what he all my And that's. one thing that I could tell people, man. Like that was just so beautiful for me. cuz that might be a more important. decision besides who you do have a baby. with who watched them finance. >> Oh yeah, for sure. >> So to have someone that really cared. about me and my best interest and that. to know he got money. >> Yes. >> And to know that I got his trust his.

living trust in my email that say. everything that he got come to me. >> Right. >> How I'mma lose it? Cuz. money change people. You can have an. agreement and the money start coming in. more than what people thought. >> Now they trying to conspire away try to. find a way to get more of it. >> I don't know what I mean. and it's like you know money is the root. of all evil and it used to be well the. lack of money or the pursuit of money is. the root of all evil but sometimes.

people have an absorbent amount of money. and they still want more. >> That's why I don't believe in all this. love and all this other [ __ ] It's. [ __ ] though. It's all feeling based. though cuz if I really love you, I want. to see you be at the best at your full. potential. Like I've been in. relationships with people, public. relationships or whatever to where I'm. not in them with right now. And like if. I pull back from that and even though I. might have feelings, but if I genuinely. love this person and someone else makes. this person happy, you got to be happy. about that. I never understood the. dynamic to where you don't want to be.

with me and you want to take from me in. the process. >> Yes. >> You want to But you know what it is. though? What is it? >> They know that's the only way they can. hurt you. >> Yeah. >> All you could do, only thing you can do. to hurt me is play with my career. Get. online and say some old [ __ ] or play. with the paper. >> They know that the feelings and all that. other [ __ ] is real genuine feelings from. me really there. So no matter how we. fall out on the feeling base, I'mma. still be able to to rock with you unless. you cross certain lines and boundaries.

that's uncrossable. But these these. ladies know they can't hurt you unless. they doing that type of [ __ ] And I just. don't like that. I don't respect that. >> Wow. How did uh you got your chain lifted up. off you? >> Yeah. That was that was a young young. type of vibe, too. >> You gave it up easy. >> Hell no. I ain't never really talk about. this in like a real um detail and I feel. comfortable speaking with you about it. So, back in the day, right? So, I'm. Young Berg. Boom. I got all this [ __ ]. going on. I got the number one record on.

radio. I got the biggest song or. whatever. And um um I think one of the. label reps hit me and said uh like, "Yo, when you go to Detroit for Summer Jam, I'm headlining Summerjam." They like, "Will you uh will you go to this club? They don't want to pay you, but you know. what I'm saying? Like it's a good look. It's a relationship." I'm like, "No, I. don't No, I ain't going. I ain't getting. paid. I ain't going." Whatever. >> So, we go I go do the summer jam and I. get to the city. I never forget I flew. in on a private jet. I get there. I go.

um to the hotel. So this the night. before Summer Jam. So you know it's that. that discernment and that making good. decision [ __ ] we talking about. I'm. young. I'm thirsty. Where the hoes at? I'm in Detroit. Where. they at? What's up? I'm in this hotel. I. ain't really trying to be in I ain't got. no work out here. I ain't got no. personal work, right? >> I'm here for the summer jam. I'm the big. dog. Where they at? So um a guy that I. was dealing with at the time had made a. suggestion that we go to a certain spot. Like yo, let's go here. Such and such.

going to be here. this what it is blah. blah blah. So I'm like, "All right, bet. Let's go." Now I had this big dumb ass. chain Shannon like [ __ ] like this big. transformer chain crazy [ __ ] and um you. go back to. >> a little less. No, it's less than that. See this when you get into the carrots. then you go ticket. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. I'm almost when you. add Jesus could have hung on one of them. crosses right there though. >> I'm almost I got to be two million if. I'm just sitting here right now. But in.

reality, this was this is in the era of. the big chains or whatever. Not not the. the super quality. And um so boom, >> I'm on the tour bus. I'm like, should I. wear this chain? And I'm like I had on. purple or some [ __ ] like that. I'm like, "No, this match. I'm going to wear this. shit." So we go in the club. I'm in. there. Now I'm in the club and like I. want the the libations to start flowing. or whatever. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> These shout me out. They on the mic. I. don't see no bottles show up or. whatever. I'm just in their spot. So, I.

go to the private room to where the. owner or whatever was there, whoever. runs the manager of the club. And I'm. like, "Yo, like we really want some. bottles for the club. We want some. bottles in our section. I'll pay I'll. pay half or a discount. Like, what can. we do cuz I'm in the club?" You know. what I'm saying? Blah blah blah. And the. dude was like, "Man, my my partner say. ain't no play for [ __ ] for y'all." I'm. like, "Your partner?". >> Like, huh? So, now it started to click. to me. This the same club that the label. told me to go to that I said I wasn't.

gonna go to. >> Oh, so they already so they so they so your. agent probably told them that and they. feeling some type of way. Oh my god, where they? So now I'm in the club and. I'm like. >> uh they trying to get the up out of. here. I know we just walked in, but it's. time to get a I feel the energy shift. and just on some real truthful honest. [ __ ] like man like. >> the club security the who whoever. whoever was involved into it, how the. [ __ ] went, >> the club security end up just having. their way with us.

>> It wasn't like no in the club. It was no. nothing. It was the club security. So. when it at that point when it was. multiple beat with security on their. shirt doing whatever they was doing with. me or whatever I gave him the chain and. then from there like that was kind of. like that was a wild one that kind of. like put a pause to kind of my rapping. career. I was kind of like I was like. the first got robbed like I'm like the. first Indian over the hill like for. real. I didn't get robbed every day. You. know what I'm saying? Like whatever. But.

at that point, this is like the the. height of World Star, Twitter, the. beginning of all this [ __ ] So, like it. kind of put me in a in a bad spot. And. then [ __ ] from there, I ain't going to. lie, >> I got up out of the city at that time. cuz they really like they really did a. number on me or whatever. But, um, I. wish I have stayed all up and bruised up. and performed for my fans. >> And I think the narrative would have. went a little bit different, but I was. listening to too many label executives. and management at the time to.

get out of there. Don't talk to nobody. Don't do nothing. Blah blah blah blah. And then, you know, the narrative just. and everybody get to put on it instead. of me jumping out and saying, "Yo, this. what happened. This one ain't happen. This why I can't with Tory Lane. I love. Tory Lane, but I can't. >> cuz if he ain't do none of that [ __ ]. the first thing he should have been. doing, street credibility. Yo, this. ain't happen. That ain't happen. That's. why you can't condemn me and none of. this [ __ ] That's why I don't want to. hear no bad talk about that. You know. what I'm saying? Cuz.

>> you got to get in front of that [ __ ]. sometime, especially on these levels. For real. >> So, what advice would What advice would. you give young rappers? >> What is What is it about? What is it. about taking a rappers chain? What What. is it about that? Is that that street. cred? Like, oh, you came to my city, I I. jack your is. What What was that's. about? I think back in the day was No. Hell no. Just want to steal, bro. You. already know, [laughter] bro. People. want what you got, right? Like you a. target. Nobody wants to uh.

>> nobody wants to have clarity on just how. much of a target you are when you. becoming this. Like, bro, I can't move. the same. I'm I'm I'm terrified. everywhere. I'm on defense everywhere I. go. >> You got to be. >> anything happening. What that situation. you talking about is got to be almost. that was in 2008. It's 20 It's 18 years ago. So, but at. the same token, some [ __ ] like that. can happen 18 years ago. You still be. talking about it in a new interview. I. didn't change my name. I ain't even. saying no more, right? >> But it's still going to come up. So, in.

reality, bro, you got to be you got to. move tactical. You got to be on defense. at all times. For real. But I was young. and dumb and didn't have the right. guidance at that time. If I did, somebody would have told me, man, you. know what? You stay here. I'mma go to. the club. I'mma go get the girls. I'mma. bring them back here. >> and then let's get some liquor in here. Let's get the vibes going here. You vibe. and do whatever you want to do. >> How did Soulja Boy end up with the. chain? >> I have no clue. >> Did you get it back? >> I never wanted it. Once you get the. chain, somebody rob you from the chain, they can't. You don't want it back. What.

you. >> got bad juju on it now? >> Hell no. And then look, I really don't. even have no beef with Soulja Boy. That's what's so funny. But you know, I. guess he ended up getting it cuz he he. was on his uh clout chasing and [ __ ] He. wanted to continue on with the [ __ ] I. was at. >> So he went and got it and it never. really even bothered me because it was. kind of like. >> I don't even know Soulja Boy like that. You know what I'm saying? >> And I didn't look at myself, me and. Soulja Boy at the same type of parallels. as well either,

>> right? >> But then we see PNB Rock. >> Mhm. >> end up losing his life for his chain. >> Man, that one hurt me. >> So now you like, hold on, somebody that. I work with, he lost his life. I was in. a very similar situation and I could. have easily lost my life. What goes. through your mind now? >> He lost his life by not trying to give. it up. Get that [ __ ] up. The only thing that can't be replaced is. life. >> Yo, that [ __ ] broke. >> Chain, car, money. I can get all that. back. >> Yo, that P&B [ __ ] broke my heart, bro,

because I know that how much of a good. man he was. I know how much he cared. about his daughter. I looked at all the. success that we were having at that. moment and um to me it's all about like. I said being on defense and then it's. the hood mentality. Everybody know you. don't go to that Rosco. >> respectfully you go to the one on Sunset. and GAWA. >> Yeah. If you going, if you not going to. do it, everybody know not to go to that. boss nova right there on sunset. >> You order the one or you go a little.

further down on sunset or whatever and. everybody knows how to move out there. But I think that door dash it. >> Yeah. But look, but you know what it is. though? People feel like when they. survive the trenches, coming to LA ain't. [ __ ] Well, it's palm trees and but. that's the mentality though from a from. a guy from Philly. You know what I'm. saying? From from Philly. Like, man, like come on. Like, this this is this. easy work. But in reality, man, like I'm. so I'm so hurt by that one because, man,

I love that guy, man. For real. For. real. >> You got to Why did you stop rapping. after only putting out one album? >> Cuz that that the situation happened, the dynamics happened with the chain. situation. It kind of was like black. ball me for getting my [ __ ] took. I'm. like, [laughter] "Hey, I'm I'm the. victim. I'm the video, bro. Like, how. y'all mad at me, [ __ ] Like, some. [ __ ] did some [ __ ] to me. >> So, that happened and a lot of people. didn't understand that.

>> I was writing and producing my records. as a as an artist, >> right? >> So, I always knew like, salute to my. brother Rob Holiday who's here with me. right now. He made all them records with. me, Sexy Lady, the Business. I told the. man sitting to the left of us right now, bro, when I met him, this the blessing. that God got on my life and just this. situation, bro, I ain't know that, man. I heard a beat CD. I told him to drop. out of school. He was in like a. sophomore, junior high school. He. dropped out of school and moved in the. house with me. So, it's just different. situations. So, at that point, being.

black ball kind of I'm like, man, what. can I fall back on? Like, all I know is. music. My [ __ ] still hot. They just. don't want it from me, >> right? >> So, I decided at that point, I'm like, yo, I'm going just get behind the scenes. and get on my producing [ __ ] I wasn't. even hit maker or nothing like that. I. was just producing as Young Berg or. whatever. And then one special day, I. ain't going to lie, I just went in the. booth and I cannot lie to you. I just. was like, "Hitmaker." I just said it. before the song and then it was click. God dropped that that gym on me and got.

me out there. And that's been it. What. my first one I think I said hitmake. I. was living in Miami at the time and um I. was working out of studios and I I used. to like bro like my whole process I used. I ain't had no like I had money. My. parents had money but they wasn't really. with me like that. I've been through so. many different trials and tribulations. So at that point I all I could do was. like get beats and have and write songs. from from my house and just sit and. write the song from my house and get me.

a fifth and just write drink some s rock. and write and write and write and write. and write then go to the studio and dump. my songs and from there that ended up. leading me to be the guy named Jers. who's Vincent Herbert's cousin who gave. my song to Vincent Herbert. At that time. they had a TV show called Tamar and. Vince. >> and Tamar and Vince end up flying me to. LA and Vince and Herbert kind of put the. battery in my back and gave me my first. big placement again. I did um a lot work.

on that Tamar Love and War album and. that was what took me out of here and. brought me back to LA. >> Wow. >> Mhm. >> That's I mean it's uh. to like you know what I'm done rapping. [clears throat]. >> I'm going to get behind the camera. It's. like an actor. Like, you know what? I. ain't acting no more. >> I'm going to be behind the camera. >> and I'm going to be even bigger. I'm. going to be bigger behind the camera. than I was in front of the camera. >> Do you feel that's that's that's your. case? >> Oh, man. Most definitely. And not only. that, I'm I'm still I'm still a. creative. I'm still rapping. I'm still. writing raps for people. I'm still doing.

Hey, you think I want to sing? Then we. just talking about defense and all this. other [ __ ] You see what these [ __ ]. going through? I don't want to. My. trajectory was always to be um the next. LA Reed of this situation. >> Okay. >> To be the guy that actually made the. music, that actually was involved in the. studio, that had hits, but also could. relate to the artist now at this level. that I am right now. And it's working. Um Jeezy wouldn't let you in the video. >> Hey yo, this is a crazy that's a good.

one. Yo, bro, you good. >> Yeah, y'all good, bro. Y'all good. >> Why he wouldn't let you in the video? I guess I was black balled on his list. at that time, too. Damn. >> Yeah. So, I ain't gonna lie like that. And that one hurt me like uh cuz I was I. was climbing out of a you know how. trying to bury you alive. I'm climbing. out the grave. You know what I'm saying? And at that point, I did that song uh. it's called Double Cup. I was on a hook. It was DJ Infamous song featuring. myself, Juicy J, Ludicrous, and uh.

Jeezy. And Jeezy is on fire at the time. Biggest artist. So, um, I ain't gonna. front, Shay. Like, I was at the I was at. the video and and Infamous told me to. come early. Juicy Jay was good with me. being in some of his shots or whatever. doing all he ain't hate on the salute to. Juicy Jay. >> But at that time, like it we the video. there. I'm like, this my song like. remember I told you like I make the. songs and I'm in the studio. It was my. hook on a beat that I picked. I put it. all together and the DJ just put the. features on it. So, I'm like I'm feeling.

a little entitled like hold on. Oh, I'm. good enough for y'all to get on this. song with me doing a hook to the song, but I ain't good enough to be standing. next to y'all. So, boom. I ain't gonna. lie. I'm tell you the truth. I do my. parts. They like, "Yeah, you good. You. rap." I'm like, "All right, I'm going to. just hang around. This girls on set, this that and the third." So, now Jeezy. and them get down there. Lick is flowing. They shooting their. shot. It's Jeezy, Luda, Juicy J. They like action, you know. I got up.

and his shot G like cut I'm going [ __ ]. crazy on the [ __ ]. bro they was mad as hell and and I'll. end up leaving a video shortly after. that or whatever. >> So so Juicy Jay was cool. Was Luda cool. with you being on this or you don't. know? You just know Jeezy wasn't cool. with you being in it. >> Yeah, but I I wouldn't say Luda probably. wasn't cool cuz Luda ain't really like a. street rapper. At that time I was going. through so much like downfall on a. street level with just [ __ ].

happening that I could understand why. ain't really want be next to him at that. time. >> But then Jesus spent the block. Mad people didn't diss me. I got plaques. with him. Gucci man and dissed me like. several times and I got millions of. record sold with him as hitmaker. So you cool with that? Hell yeah. You. about to make money. So you got a. forgiving heart. So just because you hey. you might have said something foul about. me yesterday or or a year ago or two. years ago but when it come to making.

this money I'm gonna make this money. now. Man that might be most similar I am. to a female my forgetting I got a price. on it. [laughter]. >> Only time I act like a. [laughter]. >> Hold on. So Gucci like he used it's like. try me like I'm Young Berg and I'm gonna. make your eyes cry. >> I was like wow that was heavy for me. too. I was living in Atlanta when he. said that [ __ ] too. Gucci was big at. that time too. I'm like.

>> damn I don't even know Gucci. And then fast forward I'll never forget. So boom, I become the vice president of. Atlantic Records in 2016 and um [ __ ] I'm. VP of ANR and working on a bunch of. different [ __ ] And I think the first. joint that me and Gucci did was called. Tone It Down featuring Chris Brown. And. that was like an early start of me and. Chris Brown run together with features. and things that we got going on and. [ __ ] That [ __ ] like double platinum, triple platinum. >> Wow. Me and Gucci ain't never talked.

about that [ __ ] ever either. We didn't. been in the studio after the fact or. whatever. We ain't never do that because. >> no talk about it. >> It was a part of pop culture. It just. happened and he decided to say that he. he ain't got no this thing for me. He. don't feel like no way about me. It was. just something that happened. It would. be like, uh, I'mma step over you like. Tyron Lou. You know what I'm saying? Like, it was just one of them, >> right? >> So, I ain't taking no type of way. >> T Pay spoke about you being in the house. drunk, calling him broke. >> Oh, yeah. For sure.

>> You call the man broke? >> I ain't call him broke. What you. calling? >> I ain't going to lie. T Pay had almost. like he [gasps] had pause. He he kind of. he he broke me at that point because. like look. I was living in Atlanta and Atlanta was. so clicky at the time and I don't know. if you it was like that for you or. whatever but you know like it was just. clicks. It was such and such and them. over there such and such and him over. there. It's still like that. It's still. clicky. >> Yeah. So. >> but I've been I've been a single click. I've been by myself. I don't hang with. nobody.

>> See we the same. So at that point, T pay. well he one of my my idols like he's. like a. he changed my life which is what he did. I think the dream and T pay are like. really heavy on my list of changing my. life and involving my career. So I never. forget I'm on the scream tour and I. thought and like T pay was the. headliner. I'm on there whatever. I'm. like I went in the studio one day. I was. the first to do the autotune [ __ ] like. after T pay like I think it probably. before Wayne did it and all the other. stuff. So I went in there and I did a.

song and it was I thought it was a hit. and I went we on a tour I play for T. pay. I never forget it like T Payne was. like a joker but and I and I and and I. love T pay but that probably why like. when he was in his GL glory he was when. like that either he was a real jokester. He was a real like. clown laugh at you type. You know what. I'm saying? So at that point um I played. him a song. I got on this tour bus. I. played him a song. I was using an. autotune. I'm like, "Yo, bro, can you. please sing this hook for me?" He like,

"You sound so good singing it. What the. [ __ ] you need me for?" Now, mind you, I. thought he's lying cuz he ain't want to. do it for me or whatever. But that [ __ ]. inspired me to keep going. It was like. gas in the tank for me or whatever. So. now all the [ __ ] happens, the fall, the. my my all the [ __ ] happens. I live. in Atlanta. T Payne's on a on a in an. interesting pace in his career. I'm in. an interesting pace in my career. >> We end up linking. I never forget it. probably was T- Money or something like. that. And uh he took me to this house.

and um I'm in his house and we vibing. and um I just started going to his house. every every so often, you know what I'm. saying? A couple times a week. We were. making records. >> and um then T pay uh I brought him a. song that I did on my own. >> and I did the hook to this this the uh. this the Jezy story all over again. >> Yeah. >> But he did it a little different. >> I brought a song to him. It's called Bad. [ __ ] Link Up. I'm like, "Yo, this. crazy." He do the song. I'm on the hook. of the song. He like, "Um, I put Trey.

Songs on the song." I'm like, "Dope.". All right. Good, good, good, good. Hear. it hard. And then I come back to the. crib another time and I got remember I. told you earlier in the interview that. me and Bow was bad Bowwow. So Bowwow. hosting 106 of Park. Now he the host of. 106 of Park. Tay took me off the song. and was he said, "Yo, I'm make I'mma let. Bowwow sing your part, say your part on. the on the song.". >> What? Yeah. So I'm like, "Wait, hold on, [ __ ] This Wait, what? Huh?" So it just. triggered me and brought me back to it.

And I wasn't really as cool as with B. I. wasn't cool with Ba at all at the time. But now me and Ba are brothers, right? >> But. >> that [ __ ] just hit a trigger on me. And. I ain't going to lie. That was back in. Patron days. Boy, I let him have it. >> He He said he was going to kill me in. his house. He was mad at me and all this. type of stuff or whatever. And that was. the end of me and T pay relationship as. far as me being the young guy to come to. his crib and bring ideas and create. songs for him. And then further down the. line we end up getting cool again or. whatever, >> right? >> Mhm. >> Damn.

Tell me how uh the rebranding. >> because you go from Youngberg to. hitmaker. >> Why has that been so successful of a. transition for you? >> God, I really can't even like can't tell. you how. It's just the work. Like I. ain't going to lie. Like I always, like. I've been telling you before, I always. just been totally locked into the work, 10 toes into the work or whatever. So I. think that at that point, I'm going to. give you the the real. So.

Jeremiah, I didn't know Jeremiah. He's. from Chicago. He's one of my like good. friends. And um we got end up getting. cool and we just made a bunch of songs. together, right? And. >> I had a bunch of songs and I had a bunch. of different stuff going on or whatever. But I think that the energy that me and. him created, he was super on fire at the. time. And he didn't work with nobody. For real. For real. He was very elusive. He was hard to get to. He still is hard. to get to. He still is an interesting. guy. Like he marched to beat his own. drum. He like a male Lauren Hill to me. respectfully. You know what I'm saying?

Like he do what he want to do when he. want to do it. >> So I had all these different ideas that. me and Jeremiah kicked off. And that led. me to getting with Big Sean and making. Bounce Back, which is another record. that's nine times platinum about to go. diamond. And then that opened up the. door. He took me on tour with him. He. did a bunch of different things and that. kind of like sparked. I was the guy that. had the hits early up front and nobody. had that access to that [ __ ] And I. think my work ethic just surpassed.

everything that because I I knew what I. was fighting against. I went through all. that [ __ ] I knew that people didn't. like Young Berg so much. So I had to. have a ego death of whatever it is. Imagine being praised and like you said. mama's delivering they daughters to you. hand delivered like Door Dash and then. now nobody with you. So I knew that I. had one shot to kind of penetrate pop. culture again. And I was like yo I'mma. stay low and keep firing. I ain't going. to be all in the front of things or. whatever. I'mma just get my [ __ ] off.

And I really didn't have a tag early on. I did like John by Rick Ross and Wayne. I discovered a lot of other producers, whatever. I didn't have a tag until I. said the hitmaker [ __ ] and it just all. came into fruition. I think 2016 2015. from 2015 to 2016 was like the beginning. of just like terrorizing the industry. >> You might have had the most successful. rebrand. >> It's a couple of us. Me, Joe Button, and. two chains. I think us three.

>> for sure. I mean, Joe is from rap to. this this pod. >> media personality. >> Yeah. Because, you know, podcasters and. and it's still kind of looked down on. People don't, you know, sometimes the. big stars like podcast, man, bro, it's. just not for the most part. It's not. taped in front of a live audience like a. Oprah or all these other shows, but it's. the same. It's the same. >> Hell yeah. >> The same impact. >> I wish I started a podcast 10 years ago. like that. [laughter]. when uh I'm looking at some of the.

artists that you work with. Chris Brown, Meek, Big Sean, Two Chains, Wayne Baby, uh Me Stallion, Jeremiah, TI, Young. Blue, Khloe Bailey, Ja Ru, French. Montana, and more. >> What when you go into the studio, do you. have I mean, before you went into the. studio with these individuals, did you. have an idea of what they were like or. what they might be like, >> or you just leave an open mind like, "Hey, we going there, we're going to do. this and we're going to try to make. magic." Nah, see it don't really work.

like that. It's more so about with me a. lot. So, this is a normal idea for a. producer, a normal producer. They go, they ain't got nothing and they just go. to the studio and they say, "Okay, >> Chloe Bailey is coming today.". >> Okay. >> All right. Bet. Let's just have her. come. Let's let her talk to us. Let's. see what we got. Let's Let's make a beat. from scratch on on in front of her. Let's collab. I don't do that [ __ ]. >> Like, >> you already got it done when they get. there. >> It's done. So, you literally going to. come you going to come talk to me. We. gonna press play on some ideas and we. gonna see where you get in and how you.

fit into this situation. I think that. our process I learned that from Forel. and Swiss Beats more than anyone cuz if. you think about it like why you think. Swiss Beats and Forel on all them hooks. >> they had that [ __ ] done for them came. >> there. >> So it ain't nothing I didn't invent the. wheel. This [ __ ] been happening for a. whole time. But. >> a lot of people just it just wasn't as. overpoped in rap music. >> because it was taboo for for ghostriting.

or you know what I'm saying someone to. help you with something? But at the same. token it's like. >> if Drake could do it then who can't do. it. >> right? >> Everybody in R&B if R&B can do it why. can't a rapper take a hook from me. >> right? >> And they've been doing that forever. But. I just think that the the the the way I. the way I've been able to move maneuver. through it and then also being the fact. that I'm still Young Berg, that's like. the M, >> right? >> Cuz it's like I'm still a rap. I'm still. an artist, >> right?

>> I'm an executive now, right? >> But at the same token, people once you. hit it off and you get some [ __ ] going, people want to see like what's going on. over there. You know how it go. >> Soon as soon as soon as it get hot over. there, everybody, how that going to work. for me? Let me see. Let me go and put my. foot in the pool. See what happen. Who. surprised you most by the talent once. you got him in the studio? >> Who the most surprising to me about. talent? I would probably have to say.

Tai dollar. really not surprising, but I. was there for his whole um I feel like. his manager early in his career was my. manager and we never really worked. together, but I got to watch him from. like doing songs like my cabana and his. earlier stuff or Tooted and Booted with. YG, he don't sound like this tooted and. booted. If you listen to Tooted and. Booty right now, that [ __ ] don't even. sound like Tai dollar sign, right? So to. see him evolve and just to know his. story and just to see how it went and to.

know his dad was in um was in that great. brand band, excuse me, I can't I can't. remember the name, but it's it's it's. missing me right now. But like they play. every instrument. He make beats, he. sing, he record itself. I just didn't. know that how how deep in his he was. Yeah, for real. >> Um can anybody uh freestyle like Ho? Because you hear the stories like whole. like okay he get on thing he hear. >> he ain't saying anything he just. listening and then he just go. >> today.

>> or then. is that what they do now I think Lil. Wayne does that but. >> that everybody does that today. >> really. >> yeah nobody writes. >> nobody write anything down anymore. >> no it's all punching everybody just goes. in the booth and the first things and. inspires them they go that's that's the. same way I even write R&B songs with my. whole team go in there boom do a melody. then I'm the lyrics you know what I'm. saying a lot of time I might have a. melody. I might have something I can. give to my brother Ronnie or I can get a. CN or anybody I work with, but at the. same token they're like kings of melody.

So they'll go in do a melody and I'm the. rapper. We connected. You know what I'm. saying? And go from there. >> You still got Chris Brown over Usher. >> What? Of course. >> Pause that too. >> I don't like that. Damn. you. [laughter]. But no, who don't though? >> Really? >> And I love Usher. Me and Usher got got. records together, too. I love Yo, Usher. is one of the nicest guys that I've ever. been around. But just for me, like,

let's just. um output. My boy Chris a workaholic. >> Yeah, >> he love it. >> His his output is crazy. And then only. that um. I just think culturally what what he's. been able to do and just like and I'm bi. Shannon don't ask me that [ __ ] I'm. biased. Well, I got like 27 hits with. this [ __ ] [laughter]. >> I got I got one. >> Well, how about this here? >> I mean people been talking people been. getting reckless with this thing. They.

talking about Chris Brown up there with. MJ. >> He the Michael Jackson of our co of our. generation. >> We ain't going to never see another. Michael. Jordan, Jackson, Tyson, all three of. them. No, >> I mean I mean we ain't gonna see nobody. I mean people faint to see him. >> People still put on that glove. People's. doing they doing plays with Michael. Jackson. >> Oh y your [ __ ] going to faint when she. see Chris Brown too. [laughter]. >> That's why I don't be around that [ __ ]. I ain't going to lie. Me and CB we work.

so good together and all I do. >> just the studio then what's that is? >> Hell no. I ain't going to the studio. >> I'm going sporadically. >> Yeah. But at the same token, I think. that this where a lot of producers, a. lot of artists, and a lot of people get. up in the game and they fall out with. this different [ __ ] Bro, we in a. service business. A lot of people, this. where it get lost at. Once It was It's. the same thing I was doing with uh Jeezy. and Juice. And once I give you the song, I got to let that [ __ ] go. >> Right. Right. >> I can't be. >> You hold on to it like that's that's my.

baby. >> Yes, bro. I got to let you do what you. do with the song. I got paid. Once you. get paid, you got to let it go. Right. So once I'm paid, I got to be able to. step back or whatever. So I don't give a. if I wrote the biggest song with Chris. Sean for uh Chris Brown featuring. Michael Jackson, old vocals, Usher and. everybody in culture that could be a. part a part of it. That's that man work. I ain't I you can't hover over that. [ __ ] That's just like I as much as your.

trainer was for the Broncos or your. nutritionist or whatever the. >> I did the work. >> I did that. >> I assisted you. >> Yes. >> You paid me to do it. >> Yes. >> I can't be a lot of want to be the. trainer nutritionist at the party with. you at the [ __ ] You know that's how. y'all fall out, >> right? >> Cuz we we know we all know we all like. the same thing. >> Yeah. >> I want to be around no artist with no. women. That's my new rule. cuz he go cuz. he g. >> don't care. You never outshine a master,

bro. 48 laws of power. That's the big. dog. Stay away. You stay away from you. stay away from people that you're. actually making music with unless you're. cultivating relationships and they're. your artist and they're someone that. you're building and growing with. Okay? It don't matter rapper, singer, nothing. Don't you go around that [ __ ] with. don't no women. stay your ass in our. studio and keep sending them records. >> because they g because it's gonna cause. cuz you know she gonna end up end over. there at his place and you gonna feel. some type of way. I don't know what it's.

going to do but I just don't even want. to involve him with it. [laughter]. >> You work with uh uh Dre. You worked on. No Stylist. >> Mhm. And a couple more. >> We got a Grammy for the song Jaded I. think too. You know what I'm saying? Salute him. Well, I was just I mean, bro, you you it. I mean, you don't So So So what who. would you compare yourself to a a a. version of say Quincy Jones, Stevie. Wonder? Who who who would you compare.

yourself to in your genre and what you. do? Who you who's who your comparison? >> I think that uh ideally it would be more. of uh Quincy. Um uh we can't say the. other guy name right now cuz it's. turmoil but Diddy, you know what I'm. saying? This that and the third because. >> um I'm not really like I have a I have a. um conglomerate of team that I work. with. So I might not be just a oneman. band man like a Swiss Beats or I think. people look at Swiss, Timberland, Kanye,

not really Kanye too, you know what I'm. saying? Cuz he work with a lot of. different people but I think that you. get a certain. >> from purist producers. >> Yeah. Like you get a certain reverence. from them when you just do everything. yourself, right? To me, that's how you. fall off. >> Really, >> I'm executive producing nine albums this. year. How can I possibly make executive. produce do every song for nine albums. and have that [ __ ] and compete with. what's going on by myself, >> right? There's no possible way to do.

that. So, for me, collaboration is. always key. So, I'm more of a Quincy, a. Diddy, a LA Reed. Um, uh, I would say. Kanye, like from that type of cloth or. whatever. Like, for real, I don't think. nobody was on Happy. I think For real. just went in that [ __ ] and smoked Happy. by itself. >> It did all that. >> Yeah. But in order to do what you do, you have to be okay with other people. getting credit. >> Man, I want everybody to get credit. To. me, I ain't never been no that had go.

ghost producers. I go on platforms like. Club Shay Shay and say I ain't. programming [ __ ] [laughter] unless I'm. telling I'm going in that look this the. direction this the artist this who we. working with okay hold oh oh this where. they going we doing samples or whatever. I'm getting with the guy that replays. all my samples and replays all my flips. I'm doing 20 of those with them I'm. sending it to a group chat with 10. producers in it yo y'all do this this. where we at this motion it's a whole. team effort so I always been like overly.

like into like bigging up people cuz. [ __ ]. >> Mhm. >> What Jay-Z said uh we supposed to have. people to be your crutches if you fall. off. Right. >> Right. You But in in this uh the song. with Drake and French Montana, Drake's. an assistant deceased. >> for that one. >> Yeah. >> No, the French song Splash Brothers. >> Yeah. But Splash Brothers see but that's. on an album that our executive produced. for French Montana. So shortly after. that um we did no stylist and um we had. an incredible success with that and then.

after that me and French went back in. and our executive produced this album. I. think they got amnesia was the title of. it. But this he had his whole scare his. health scare. So he came back and then. they had he had a record from Drake and. I think it was season or whatever. But I. I wasn't involved with the process of. it. Him and Drake record. Him and French. and Drake are super close, right? >> So he had that on his own. I was just. overseeing executive producing the whole. project. So it didn't really affect me. No way enough. >> You work with uh uh Cassie and Diddy.

>> Yeah. What was that? How was that? because you was like, you know, you you. kind of like, you know, Daddy has a lot. and and we're we're talking about the. producer. We're not talking about we're. not talking about what transpired. outside of music industry. We're talking. about him uh uh the bad boy, the the uh. uh the the hiring of people or putting. people in place and producing great. music. That's what we're talking about. because you know how people try to twe. they try to twist everything. Uh. >> me and Diddy have a had a have a very. interesting relationship. Not in like a.

weird way like with stuff's going on. personal but just like our business. relationship has always been um very. interesting just because like I met him. early like I know I told you I was a kid. star so I met him at the kid version of. me I wasn't it then I blew up he invited. me to the studio he ended up um forming. a relationship and a bond with one of my. producers the guy Rob Holidayiday who. did all my stuff who's with me now and. like I I I didn't love that cuz I felt. like he was like stealing my sound.

>> Oh, really? >> Yeah. Like it like I felt like me and. Rob like I felt like I discovered Rob. and we cultivated something together, >> right, >> that um I didn't realize was bigger than. me at that time. I felt like it was our. thing, but in hindsight it's really. bigger than me. His culture is for. everybody. It wasn't for me just to. hoard and have on the side. And he end. up stealing my producer. He did it. >> He took him. >> Yeah. At least for me. I mean, [ __ ] got. a jet, [ __ ] A billionaire. I ain't got. [ __ ] [ __ ] I'm going through turmoil.

I told you I'm black balling [laughter]. [ __ ] Like, [ __ ] like, how you going. to tell your guy not to go get on a jet. with somebody or whatever? Do that. But. then that happened. And then Cassie to. me always just a a super sweet, sweet. woman. I never really had too many. interactions with her besides her just. coming to do the song and just maybe a. little kiki back and forth, whatever. But that was always his woman. So, you. already know how I play. I don't. >> you don't do that talking to anybody. >> Ain't nobody I I ain't falling out with. nobody. You look that's your woman.

>> And but but but for the most part, guys. have gotten kind of kind of like, look, my lady, I ain't going to even have. around the guy cuz I don't I I I don't. want no temptation on either part. >> Yeah. But he he uh I think he had work. he had work facilities also at his. homes, too. >> Yeah. >> Throughout the years. So, it would kind. of be hard to not be around. And it. would just be more so about how you want. to handle yourself when you're around. >> Yeah. You got to be professional. >> No, for sure. >> Don't even Don't even Don't ask no.

questions. Don't even have no. conversation. >> Yeah. Respect him. >> New artist. >> Mhm. >> Who Who's the best new artist out? Cuz. you know, the Grammys just happened. I. mean, we we going to find out tonight, aren't we? >> Yeah. Uh if we we talking Grammys, um to. me, Leon Thomas. >> Okay. >> He made a real impact for the culture. this year. Um, Keelani for sure with the. folded record. Um, but on a new artist. scale, um, like I said, to me, the. biggest new artists in the game right. now, the people that I'm developing,

curating, I just was involved with, um, getting Gilly, um, and Wallow, they. label deal at Epic Records. Salute to. all my partners over there at Epic. Um, his daughter, Gilly's daughter, her name. is New York LA. She's amazing. I. executive produced that album. Did every. song on that album? That's my family. I. love them. Uh my brother Ronnie who's. amazing. Dream Doll who's amazing. Toyen. who's amazing. My uh my my one of my. biggest priorities on my label Tink uh. who's also someone I'm super close with.

Her new album is amazing. Iceear VZO. We're about to drop a new album that's. amaz I'm I'm I'm kind of I'm I'm booked. and busy. I got like nine. >> You you you you like being booked and. busy though, don't you? >> Yeah, for sure. I like [ __ ] on. people with music. Yeah. [laughter]. I I love I love to work [ __ ] on. people. Samples. How do you go How talk. to us about samples? >> Come on. >> How do you go about because you know um. who is that? Somebody say Prince like.

nah I love your music but I ain't. clearing it cuz he didn't want somebody. he didn't want. >> those execs to eat off send their kids. to college uh off of that. But so talk. to us about sampling. How do you go. about sampling a song? When I initially. set out on doing this whole [ __ ] like I. ain't gonna lie, like and I'mma still. give him his respect and his flowers due. to the situation. I said being around. Diddy and being around this [ __ ] I was. like, I'm gonna be the puff daddy of my. generation. So, you know what he did for. those samples from the 80s and. >> earlier times, I said, man, I'm going to.

go and I'm going to just flip everything. that I like that was on 106 and Park. that I grew up on and BET Rap City and. all the [ __ ] MTB, TRL, the [ __ ] that. impacted me. And I set out on a mission. and that to really do that consciously. And I didn't know that I was doing at. that point. But like the way I went. about it is that um I ended up meeting a. guy named Paul Cabin who's amazing. He's. like one of the best guys I ever worked. with in my life. And this he replays all.

them samples. So whether it's a Two. Chains featuring Ariana Grande, Used to. It, that's a triple platinum record that. we got together and I flipped a Marie. Why don't we fall in love on that. record? That's not a sample. It's all a. replay. So, a lot of my music, if it. feels like a sample, but it's been. replayed. So, I found the right guy that. can really go and manifest what my. vision is. And he's been a a life. changer and a game saver for me. >> Are samples expensive? >> Hell yeah. On both ways. You got to pay.

money up front. They're advanced. And. they taking realistically like anybody. lying and say that they ain't take half. of the song, they lying. They take half. your publishing. >> Really? 50. So you got to pay them and. they still get money on the back end. >> 50% of the song. So say uh say I was in this interview. and I said a line from uh Jay Leno. Jay. Leno could send you a invoice for. $20,000 and want 50% of this episode.

That's how they play. But if you go replay it and you don't. that's if you use the master. That's why. I got with Paul and start replaying. things. If you use the master, if I just. go like take the drum loop from uh. impeach the president for Eric, you know. what I'm saying? Airbnb rock him, >> they going to charge for that. It's the. master use of the sample. Now, if I go. and I rework it and make it in my own. and replay it, then it's going to be a. lighter percentage, but it's still going. to be a percentage. >> Oh, okay. So, kind of like uh Marvin Gay.

when his estate who's that. forel and ramen thick. >> cuz they got to get up. >> Yeah. >> And that was a replay and that's why for. real thought he was safe. >> Yeah. >> Because you can tell that man bro. everything that for for real is some one. of the greatest ever. But in in my. opinion and you can tell like he's he's. a fan of culture. He loves he loves the. people before him. a lot. All his. records come inspired by something.

Think about um. >> hot and so hot in here. >> Yeah. >> That's Chuck Brown. >> Yeah. >> Everybody. a little bit of the whole [ __ ] But you. can't don't nobody [clears throat] know. that. You know what I'm saying? So he's. always. I feel like busting loose and Nelly said. I feel like touching you. He say it in. the song. So the the culture and him. being a student is never left. I'm just. more of a blatant student. Like I'mma. give you like the the diddy uh the the.

big sample as well too. >> What was the song is hard? What was the. hardest song to get cleared? >> Damn. >> [ __ ] They they still clearing right. now. [ __ ] I'm trying to think. Uh, the. hardest one that probably came out to be. clear, I don't know. None. I'm going to be. honest with you, though, cuz uh. publishers, songwriters. that that haven't passed, they Oh, no.

The song, the hardest song to get clear. is Michael uh Michael Jackson. Um, I. have a song called Transparency with. Chris Brown. >> that he put out. He didn't put it out. He just soft launched it. and it got. leaked or something like that and Team. Breezy went crazy. Like it went crazy to. the point that the man still performed. the song. He performed it on his last. tour. >> Like it was just a leak. It's a cult. favorite. And um um rest in peace Rod. Temperton. Yep. >> I think his estate wouldn't allow us to.

clear it. We couldn't get all the. situation connected TE's and Dr. Eyes. >> Yeah. Because he wrote uh CJ, what did. we try to get nice on Broadway Chuck? Um. uh George Benson. Oh yeah, I know what you're talking. about. >> Yeah, man. I said, "Oh, no. I can't pay. that.". >> I can't. Yeah. So, I wasn't able to, we. weren't able to get that cleared. And. then this the funny part when we talking. about CB and Usher. This the whole. funniest [ __ ] So, at that point, you. know, I told you I got a bunch of demos. or whatever. So, before CB end up. cutting the song, God, they end up uh.

playing it for Two Chains, who also was. one of my big big he my big OG, you know. what I'm saying? So, >> he get a pass on everything for me. I. give him whatever he want. So, I played. it for him. He liked it. Told him about. the song clearance. CB um we couldn't. get it cleared. It was CB single. He. couldn't get it cleared. Chains was I. still want the song. Y'all can't get it. cleared. He like, "Let's go replay it.". He got with Mike Dean. He replayed it. He ended up putting Usher on a song and.

Usher resang the part that CB was. singing it. And it was on Kyle Gro, too. It was uh Wayne, Two Chains, and Usher. And it had mild success, but it wasn't. as as incredible as the initial one. >> Wow. >> So, as a producer of song, what percentage. what what's the percentages like? So, you could So, you on the song, you the. producer, you taking 50%. >> So, for me, um, in 2026, I ain't working. with you unless you're doing pop splits. See, it's negative splits and it's.

>> Okay. Okay. What's a pop split? >> It's 100% of the power, right? >> Yeah. >> It's four people in a room. Yeah. >> I don't care who made the beat, who. wrote the song, and we all get 20. >> Everybody get 20. >> We in a row. >> 25. You mean? >> Yeah. 25. Excuse me. We all get 25. >> Okay. >> [ __ ] splits. >> Yeah. >> I made the beat. I want 50%. I don't. care who wrote it. Nine people could. have wrote that song. I want 50% of it. cuz I made the beat. >> And that's the difference between that. So, I just want to be uh and not to say. I do that cuz I told you I work with a.

lot of different um people. So, I'll. probably with me writing the songs and. doing that, I'll probably get if I was. doing split still, I would give my. co-producers 40% of the beat. I'll take. 10 to 15%. Maybe maybe they get 35, maybe I get 15. And then I combine that. with what I wrote on the top line with. the artist and maybe they make away with. 35 and I make away with 30, 25, depending on me and Christian how we. split it up. But that's really the whole. play.

Oh, so do they sign paperwork? >> Hell yeah. Cuz you know, cuz you know, a. man, I thought, man, I thought I thought. we were cool. Nah, it ain't none of. that. This this high level and you know. how that go. Like it ain't nobody. Anybody that's in my room, I've. cultivated the room to where if you in. it, you in it. And it ain't no. mysterious that's sitting on the couch. scratching his balls about, I wrote that. line. Like, no, it ain't it ain't. happening like that. You got to quality. control your room, my brother. somebody.

it just hit a little bit different. But. that's what that's what the beauty of of. having. >> finances, resources to have your own. studio, to make your own decisions, to. have your own setup, to do all, you know. what I'm saying? You get to control the. environment. I think that it only gets. tricky when you walk into somebody else. [ __ ] and then you got to play by their. rules. >> Kind of like remind me like when I work. with Mustard and [ __ ] like that. Oh. lord. Lord, you ain't got nothing bad to. say about mustard. >> Hell no. Okay, good. Maybe. [laughter].

>> Is there anything that you've written. for other artists that people would be. surprised that you actually wrote? Hell yeah. Uh, I would probably say like all the. female verses. cuz that's what the tricky thing is. about like this whole music business, Shannon. And this and I feel bad and this goes. back to my relationship life. It goes. back to everything that's happening in. the world. um.

men influence female rap more than. publicized or let known. [clears throat]. >> So when you see women putting out the. energy of city girls or you got to buy. me this or this that third, I need the. Birkin, I need the Gwagon, I need. there's a strong percentage that a man. influenced that that lyric. >> and that a man wrote that lyric. And. I've been that mad before. So in. reality, that's might be my most not my.

highlight. You know what I'm saying? Because I'm sad about that [ __ ] I don't. want these girls telling me that [ __ ]. Like it's a mentality now. You know what. I'm saying? Like people really think. that. >> come that comes with an expectation. They. >> But it's writing it. >> Yeah. >> While they go in the booth and say it. and they go home to their the husband. they and do what they do. >> So it's like it's a double it. We I'm up. for you gang. I'm up for me up for. everybody. Do you make uh uh have you ever made a. rapper redo his verse? Do they feel some. type of way if you.

>> Hell yeah. I mean I mean cuz they they. they might feel some type of way here. >> If you didn't want to feel no type of. way, go do that [ __ ] at home. >> Why you coming to work with me? You want. perfection, right? >> Yeah. >> You want me to push you to another. level, right? >> Right. >> You come to me to get a hit record. Right. >> Right. So whether I want you to do a ad. liib over or a verse over or whatever, but I ain't gonna lie like it's been. very rare to where I'm having like drawn. out conversations or fights or something.

like that. To me, Dr. Dre, >> and I think that he's the king of making. somebody redo their [ __ ] over and over. again. He's more meticulous cuz he's. thinking. He's like. that and and that then or the way you. said the doesn't really connect with me. It doesn't fit to me. All my music about. feeling Shannon. I'm going to the. studio. I'm getting up and we having a. good time. If it feel good, it got to. feel good. Mumble that [ __ ] You done. heard Young Thug rap these damn songs.

[ __ ] you don't know what the [ __ ]. said for the whole [ __ ] But the feeling. was right was irreplaceable. >> And that's what I'm chasing. A lot of. people are chasing um. perfection. I found beauty in. imperfection. >> And that's what I'm more concerned with. Wow. I like that. I I I I really do. So, I think you mentioned this. You don't. have a problem with ghost writers. >> Hell no. That's like hating on me. But. what what but what what because you know.

I heard you're not a true MC. If you got. somebody to get on what what is that. about? If I had a ghost rider, Shannon, I wouldn't have sold drugs as a kid. I. could have stayed in my house and not do. nothing, >> right? >> Somebody could have did something for me. and put me in a different position. I. just [clears throat] think that a lot of. different people are so caught up into. Yo, when you realize that the ultimate. warrior just some random looking white. man when he take that [ __ ] off, bro. >> Yeah. It it you up.

>> Yeah. >> You want Stone Cold to be stone cold off. the camera. >> Yeah. But it don't work like that. You. know what I'm saying? So in reality, >> the business is bigger than what you the. influence, >> right? >> And sometimes the influence can be. bigger than the business. Think about an. artist like a um Playboy Cardi. Man. don't do no interviews, man. Don't talk. to nobody. Yeah. >> This, that, and the third. Sell out of. sell out arena. >> So it's really about what what fit you,

>> right? Like if I was um who's a producer. that don't really talk at all? Like I'm. trying to think like that don't really. say no words in this climate right now. Dr. Luke Max Martin. You ever heard of. them? >> I have. >> The biggest in the game. >> You want to know why they don't talk? >> What? >> Cuz man, only black people like to talk. White people don't be saying [ __ ] Them. up up up. We want people to understand. us and understand what we went through. for the culture, >> right? We concerned about culture. They.

concerned about currency. >> And I want I ain't gonna lie. I'm I'm. trying to I'm trying to get the. balancing act for this culture [ __ ]. This currency for real. For real. Cuz I. could be saying too much right now. You. trying to get a bill, huh? A big bill. Two, three, something like that. You. know what I'm saying? That that that. generational wealth. >> Yeah. Has an artist ever tried to take a. a song that you had already promised to.

another artist? Every day right now. How. do you handle that? No. Come on. Hey, whatever they paying, I. got you. I'mma double it. Where do I see your. career going? I can't be bought right. now. in that aspect. If we got a A-list. artist, if I got Nicki Minaj that want a. record and I got. someone that's developing that wants a. record, even though the developing. artist wants to pay me triple what Nicki.

Minaj wants to pay me, I'm not in a. financial situation or a bind to where. like I got to make that decision. I'm. operating out of uh you know, I'm I'm. not operating Yeah. the rest. I'm not. moving like that. So, I'm able to make. the strategic move that could be best. for me and my team. Is there a song that you've ever given. to an artist and it's never been. released? >> Yeah, all the time. >> Well, damn. Well, take it back and let. somebody else release it. >> I mean, I could do that now. When I was. a a a smaller producer, I couldn't do.

that. Now, it's just like I don't give a. You know what I'm saying? Like, you. going to have to deal with me. You got. to work your way up to be a staple in. the business to where you can make. decisions like that to where it won't be. a backlash on you. You can give the. wrong record away like like and there is. royalty for records like there is a. certain. >> Jay-Z come say he want this this and. this man ain't nobody going to hear that. [ __ ]. Mickey say she want this this and this. Ain't nobody going to hear that. But if.

it's a developing act or someone that I. feel like um doesn't have as much uh. cache or to even say that to me, they. already know that they that they got to. pay first. >> Yeah. You like this record or you like. it? You want to be yours? Pay. >> right. >> Pay upfront at least a small 50,000. >> Yeah. >> Ain't nothing. Behold and Nikki. Oh, we you good. We. going to keep we set that to the side. for you. >> Yeah, bro. Nikki probably got songs from.

me that I don't even remember no more. That's just sitting on her hard drive or. this that and the third. Like, but she. got that senor to me. She helped change. my life. >> Wow. Where are you where streaming? >> Where are you on streaming? Cuz a lot of. artists, a lot of a lot of artists don't. they don't they they like. >> I don't know. I'm sitting somewhere when. like 25 27 almost 30 billion streams. I. don't. >> You like it? >> No. You don't like it? >> I ain't I don't got 30 billion in my. account. You mean [laughter]. >> I got that make good money? I mean Drake.

doing I mean Drake has already done a. billion a billion streams this year. >> But no, the the money is in radio. Shannon, >> it's in radio. >> Yes. It's in performance. This is what. the real deal is, right? I can compare Spotify, Apple, and. everyone to uh for you where you can get. a real idea about it. They're TV. networks. >> Okay. >> NFL got to deal with them. >> Yes. >> Where the your money that you was in. NFL, right? Yes. >> Did you get a check from from uh ABC?

Right. Right. >> So that's how hard it is to get a check. from streaming. >> Oh, so hey, so somebody making the money. and then they give you a little bit of. the money. >> Yeah. But it's only a few companies in. this business, gang. Universal. pretty much owns the whole music. business. >> Okay? >> So, if Universal goes and does a deal. with Spotify, Apple Music for their. artist, they received a large lump sum, >> right? >> They ain't worried about that trickle. down effect, right? >> You get you get a. >> The top artist going to make their. money. The Taylor Swift, the Drakes,

they going to get good money. >> I don't even think that they even care. about their streaming money. >> Really? >> No. maybe at some point, but that won't. trump the branding, that won't trump the. touring, that won't trump anything else. The radio spans, these are all people. that are hot 100 artists on the radio, right? So, it wouldn't it wouldn't it. wouldn't it would be a drop in a bucket. compared to where they're getting other. um finances from. >> Yeah, I see what a uh Taylor and Beyonce. make touring. >> I want Yeah, for real. Oh, have mercy. >> I mean, what but it's but it's still.

like I don't know if that's enough. either, huh? No. It's a production. The bigger the bigger. the money, the bigger the show. >> Yeah, for sure. >> So, if. >> you heard about that money that that. Taylor Swift gave all the people all. that money? >> No. What's they saying? >> What? How much you give them, CJ? >> I think like 500,000 a piece. >> I don't listen to what white people do. with their money cuz it don't it ain't. in my world. >> You you uh you you write a song for. Taylor, will you? >> Hell yeah. I write a [ __ ] I write the. rest of her career. [laughter] How many.

more How many more albums you got in. your TF? you talking about? [laughter] But no, that's gonna make. sense. >> It was almost 200 million in bonuses. that she gave her. >> I'm going be honest though, like Taylor. Swift, uh, she at that moment too. If I. got 200 million in bonuses to get out, then I'mma just be a novelty artist. I'mma pop out when I want to. >> Yeah, for sure. >> Pop out every now and then. I ain't.

whatever. When is enough enough? How much is it? All right. So, look, let. me ask you a question. Damn. >> All right. It ain't no difference between 50. million and 100 million. I think if you got 50, you could do what. the guy with a 100 got is doing. >> Yeah. >> When is it enough? Well, Elon Musk's worth three4ers of a. trillion and he don't seem [laughter] he. don't seem to think it's enough. I don't. You know what? I I I mean when you I I. guess I mean when you look at these guys.

and they got 100 billion and 200 and 300. and 400 billion. >> that's I mean that's 50 generations. worth of money. >> Um. >> as long as I can still provide for. myself and provide for my family. I'm. good. I'm good. Long as what when I leave here. I can leave something for my kids and. the people that I love. I can take care. of them. I'm good. You lying. I'm good. You're lying. >> Why are we doing this interview then? What you mean?

>> Cuz you got it already, gang. >> No, I ain't got it like that now. >> And I had Oprah. No, Oprah. No, Opra got. it. Oprah got it like that. >> She fell back. >> Yeah. Yeah. Opra got it like Oprah got. it like that. But I think the thing, look, coming from where Look, you had. it. You know, your your mom and your. dad, they had money. We We didn't have. money like that. and and and and. [clears throat]. to be able to get now and to like when. my sister come stay and to you know. whatever she wants to you know you know. she just loves water like oh my god my. sister probably drank she's been here. three weeks probably drank like 10 cases.

of water wait the aquapana where she. going to the Saratoga like uh. >> what's the water I drink Jordan. >> essence u. too I mean you know she likes the food I. mean she she don't really want to go. anywhere where so she'll have my sister. Instacart all the stuff to the house and. she just just eat. She don't want to go. anywhere. But that's that's nice and my. mom to be able to take care of my mom. and buy my mom a car and let her come to. Vegas, you know, go to go uh to the.

casino. >> Oh, I'm going to be on your watch. But. this what my therapist did. >> Shannon, what is enough for you? You got one life to live. You one. person. When you get in that grave, you. in that [ __ ] by yourself. >> By myself, by my lonesome. What is. enough for you? And we can't never answer that. [ __ ] question. [laughter]. >> That's why I said it ain't never going. to happen. >> No, you're right. >> Jim Jones told you not to do reality TV. Do you regret not doing it?

>> I did it. You did it. I was on Love and. Hip Hop. >> Why you do that? >> See, I up. you up or you were up? Both. [laughter]. But in reality, I'mma be honest with. you. Um, like I told you, I came back with Tamar. and Vince or whatever and it convinced. me to move to LA. And then the girl. Hazel E was like, um, yeah, we're doing. Love and Hip Hop. Ray J's doing it this, that, and the third. And I had known. her, you know what I'm saying, from the.

past. And I was like, "Fuck it. I'll do. it.". >> But at that time, I was advised by. higher up, like I was working close with. Diddy. I was working close with um with. Nikki. >> And Nikki had like business with Mona. Scott at the time. They had like a mixed. mosscato or something like that. They. had alcoholic beverage together. >> So I think that. love and hip hop was kind of like her. guilty pleasure pleasure at the time. And I asked her, I'm like, "Yo, if I. decide to do this, >> would you be comfortable with me saying. that I'm working with you and while this.

is going on?" And she said, "Yeah." So. once they both gave me the green light. to say I can say that I'm working with. them on while I'm doing the show, I just. felt like I trumped everybody that was. on the show cuz I was actively making. hit records at the and this is the. beginning of my career. This 2014, >> right? >> But I I was I was um speaking to. existing and alluding to where I felt. like my career was going. >> Wow. >> You make good money that? >> Hell no. But they make good money on. those shows. They they they they they.

made you drink enough. They you drank. like you was getting good money. [laughter] See, I'm talking about they. and that's what's so crazy about doing. them type of shows though cuz it's like. boom this early before I knew anything. So you go to the you do the show. I'm. talking about I'm head to toe in Zara. You go spend your little money at Zara. to get fresh and then I ain't had no car. at the time or whatever. So they send. you a car to come pick you up. The van. or SUV or whatever um form of.

transportation they use at the time come. pick you up. It's a rock in the car. They pouring you. up off you get in. You drinking, vibing, doing whatever you do. They drive you. around, sit you somewhere for like an. hour and a half. So now two hours of you. just drinking on the phone, kicking it, this that and the third. You got a nice. little buzz going. Right. Then they say, "Congratulations. Your worst enemy is. right here behind door number two. Here's the beats that you got to hit, [ __ ] Now go ahead. Action.".

Damn. And then that's the show. So, you. got to kind of navigate through that. And I think that people operate. negatively and don't make the best. decisions out of that situation cuz they. drunk when they do that. >> For sure. [laughter]. >> And them [ __ ] on coke and all type of. [ __ ] Them [ __ ] was tripping to be. wilding like that. I ain't never did. coke in my life. I'm just was an ecstasy. papa. I ain't never really did none of. that [ __ ]. >> But you don't do the ex. You don't do. the pills no more. >> Hell no. I'm 40 years old. [ __ ] I'mma. die. I'm tomorrow going to be rough.

after this [ __ ]. >> You But [laughter] what what do you. think about Cardi? Cardi is took the. reality show and and and turn it into a. very very promising. No, it ain't. promising. She here. >> Mhm. >> I like Cardi. They can't nobody make me. hate her. I love her. Worked with her. before. She great people. But. anybody that that that that laid eyes on. Cardi B in that moment or whatever, they. seen where she was going. >> It it it. large personalities sometimes are bigger.

than a room, >> might be bigger than a phone, might be. bigger than a TV. >> Yeah. >> So when you connect that with a hit. record, >> magic, you get wet ass. Why? [laughter]. >> It's just her personality. I mean, she. is who she is. For sure. >> She's unapologetically Cardi B. >> It still is though. >> Yes. Absolutely. >> I I I pray for the grace. Yo yo, a lot. of people get a lot of grace. I think. that me and you be thinking a lot of. things, but we don't be able to say it.

But man, I be jealous of the like I be. telling Gilly this [ __ ] Like, you know, Gilly get on there and be like, you bum. Y'all need to I'm like, >> I could never say that type of [ __ ]. They gonna fry me the up for sure. >> People got that grace. She got that. grace. Yeah. Why do you think she's been. so successful? >> Cuz she know what it like to be for. nobody to like her. The same thing that. I went through. I remember Cardi B and. she don't even remember it. But I was in. S rendevu when Cardi B was a stripper.

>> Mhm. >> She was always popular and but they. wasn't checking for her. >> the way they checking for it now. >> Right. >> So I think that fear of the bottom is. always going to be the the motivation. for anybody like like us. anybody that's. went through trials and tribulations to. know what it's like or to see where. people not like you like that, you. always have an overwhelming fear. Um, I. heard Jimmy Aine say this once, I use. fear as a a tailwind. So, as much as.

fear is like in my face or whatever, I'm. putting it at my boat and let allowing. it to push me all the way through. What is it about rappers, celebs, entertainer, athletes. traveling the same, date the same woman? I ain't never did that. You did? >> Never. You ain't date Fetty W. Fetty W. baby. Salute to Fetty [ __ ] I'm actually. working heavily with Fetty Wap right. now. Like we got so much [ __ ] Oh my. god. I want to leak the stories, but.

Fetty [ __ ] got some of the greatest Yo, bro. His come home right now. I just. left New York working on it right now. But I I I I dated her um prior to. >> So you dated somebody that somebody else. had. >> I just asked you that. >> I know Mika from Chicago and we weren't. dating like that. We were really. friends. Like she was really my friend. and we were on a TV show and like they. put me in I trans transparently when I. did Love and Hip Hop, right? >> They do a whole.

cast party before we start shooting. >> Yeah. There was another castmate on the show. that I respect enough to not even say. her name or whatever, but she was my my. my woman at the time too when we started. the show. >> and Hazel and Mika and everybody were on. the show while we filmed it. >> She ended up parting ways with the show. and parting ways with me while on we. were filming and then they turned up. these different relationships inside of. the show. So once they turned up the. situation with me and Hazel after I was.

already dealing with the other woman on. the show, >> me and Mika were really friends and she. was my drinking partner. We would hang. out, be creative or whatever. And once. they said that, yo, like. >> would you ever kiss Mika? The the um the. staff suggested that. >> and you did it. >> You right. >> But you know that who that was? >> I was an actor at that point. Ain't no. actor. [ __ ] I'm acting but I but she. wasn't his baby mama at the time. >> Oh, okay. >> That they dated after that situation.

>> So that theoretical that you you were. first. >> I ain't I ain't claiming that. >> Okay. But you and Bwa d the same woman. >> That woman was on the TV show. >> I just said you and Bwa dated the same. woman. >> And that woman who I won't say her name. was on the TV show and was my girlfriend. on the show before that last situation. them other two situations we talking. about. She was the one that got relieved. from the TV show. >> So, but.

>> Yeah. Okay. >> No, but I'm saying but [laughter]. but but y'all but I mean he kind of felt. probably felt some kind of way about. that. >> No, that was before him. >> So, I was first. Oh, Lord. I ain't know. this was a race. You heard Ray. I hit it. first. >> I hit it. I Oh my good. I'm joking. >> [laughter]. >> What is it about? What is it about? Is. because celebs, athlete, influence, entertainers, they all like the same. type of woman. The same type of woman.

are in that area. I mean, you know, if. you're in the Serengetio, a lion will. hunt will the beast, Elon, could kudu. I. mean, cuz that's what's in proximity. >> So, what's in proximity to you is what's. in proximity to other rapper and. producers. >> I got eyes. These these women are. beautiful. >> But you know she belong to if if she. been with somebody else. You don't like. Well, she done been with somebody else. She done been with a You keep forgetting. I landed on Plymouth Rock first. I'm.

older than these. >> But look, hey, I look here. You done. bought a secondhand car. They been a. used car now. You ain't always been. driving that firstand car. >> I ain't had no secondhand car since I. got a Monte Carlo back when I was like. 17. I had a Monte Carlo, a used Monte. Carlo on 22s. I called that [ __ ] Big. Bird. It was Canary yellow, but I ain't. had a a hand down since. >> How you feel about that? Would you Would. you date somebody that you know? Hey. Yo, you Yeah, come on. That's not YEAH, [ __ ].

>> OH, YOU GOT TO FLIP THE TABLE. >> YEAH, this [ __ ] ain't just in rap. [laughter]. >> Yeah, athletes. Yeah, for sure. >> It's more in football. And let's be. clear, football [ __ ] THE WORST. >> WHY THEY THE WORST? >> THE BIGGEST TRICK. >> I ain't no football whip. I see football. trick more than basketball. What? Helmet. syndrome. >> You know them in You know y'all first. name, last name. >> Yeah, but they don't see us like to do. the basketball player cuz. >> you know who changed my life too. I got. to salute him. Ryan McKenna.

>> When I moved to Miami, he started his. own record label after I went through. all my [ __ ] or whatever. Blah blah blah. I was revamping on me becoming a. hitmaker. He bought me a um condo at the. Icon Bickl in Miami or whatever. paid. for it for the whole year and allow me. just to work or whatever and do my whole. [ __ ] and um man first name last name I. seen that run through million I seen. that burn at least 20 million in my my. face what first name last name you know.

that helmet syndrome you just one of. them so you can't relate you know it's a. producer out there that can't relate to. what the I'm doing right now too right. >> oh for sure absolutely. >> say less. >> but what have you learned about mixing. business with pleasure. >> oh Now, get ready for the fireworks to fly. >> No, but you can't put your you can't put. your dick in your wallet though. Here, man. >> Uh, see, can't can't do that, though. Um, making. a song is a sexual experience. Creating.

music. might be the closest thing to sex. possible, >> but just leave it at that. Be close. Don't go that. Don't don't. >> well the two situations I had the girl. that's saying in the business or. whatever like that was really like my my. girlfriend at the time like my side oh. not really I hate to say that she was. someone I was dating and um the the. other girl that you're alluding to that. I feel like the questions are leading us. to um. >> no we ain't mentioning no name we going. to stay clear today. >> okay so that woman she's also someone. that was that still is a best friend to.

me we started off as best friends and we. still are best friends we go through. [ __ ] or whatever but and we've been. through some [ __ ] but at the same. token, um, it wasn't necessarily like. you can hire me and I can go work with. an artist and never speak to them. These. were personal buildings that happened. It wasn't about like like the way I came. in. It wasn't like here's the example. It wasn't like A-list, I'm a list, and. then we go and we hit it off and then we. get and we know that we on [ __ ] get. to him. This is.

>> developing [ __ ] We meeting each other. on a real personal level and it turned. into something and now it's the songs. and the music that got bigger than what. we even know what we doing personally. >> I read that a woman tried to set you up. by getting your house robbed. >> Mhm. She did. Huh? She dead. She did. Like literally. Hello. Oh my goodness. Boy, I don't. know. What have I got myself in with. this here, man?

So she pin So she p she she pinned your. location. >> Yeah. Well, for the in-depth deep dive. on that situation, I'mma tell you the. truth, man. >> And this where that horny [ __ ] come in, too, Sh. >> So, uh, I was, it was the first day of co in LA. You probably still living in LA, too. Remember when they shut us down the. first day? >> It was kind of. Nobody was shut down like California. >> Oh, they shut. >> was nothing open. I'm talking about.

absolutely nothing. I mean the four. five, bro, they shut us. >> I can do the centipede in the 45 and. never get run over. >> They shut us the down. So. >> they did. >> You know what I did? I got on a. computer. I got in a vibe. I can't can't. go nowhere. Had me some drinks, some. liveations. I'm just vibing throughout. the day making music, calling. co-producers, calling people I'm working. with. Just, you know, like how you. surviving a co, you know, just being. creative. So. >> when you when you when you daydream, you. crash at some point. >> Yeah. So I crashed about I cooked me a.

dinner, day drank, cooked me a dinner 5, six, fell asleep, woke up about. midnight. You know when you wake up at. midnight, right? >> That phone thing close to you. >> Yeah, I get the scrolling now. Okay. Uh. >> what you doing? >> Who live? Why you live? >> Yeah. >> What you doing live? Ain't it closed. down? Throwing ass on the live this that. and the third. So I'm like, you know. what? >> Sent her a little. No, I just send her a. little comment in the live. She She get.

off live and jump in my text. Hey babe, where you at? What you doing? Blah blah. blah. She I'm at home. She me what I'm. doing. I'm at home. Same thing you. doing. She like um send send me an Uber. I'm like, "All right, bet.". >> Sent her Uber. She come in my crib and. um at that time I I mean it's all passed. or whatever. So boom, she opened my. door. I got my gun on me off the rip. It's like. >> come in gun on me. I put the alarm on. stay. You know how you can set it up the. way. Now look, my house was set up so.

interesting at the time at Willinger. Hill. So boom, first floor of my house. when you let it in, laundry room, studio, office. Second floor, I got. elevators and but second floor guest. room, guest room, master bedroom. >> Third floor, living room, dining room, kitchen, pool, jacuzzi, all that other. [ __ ] So it was set up really. interesting. So now when she's on the. way to the crib, she like, "Babe, heat. the jacuzzi up, blah blah blah." You.

know, in my mind, I'm like, "Bitch, it's. cold as hell outside. You better come. eat this dick. Ain't nobody going no. [ __ ] Jac." [laughter]. >> Okay. Okay. I get what you get. >> Ain't nobody coming to know Jac, you. know how cold it be outside? Like you. think we f to be just outside? That's. That's That was the February, you know. >> Yeah. So boom. She get there. We vibing. We go in the house. Now look, I'm so I'm. so first time co I'm doing the lamest. [ __ ] ever. >> I got sorry out. We playing board games.

I'm drinking, doing whatever with the. girl. So we vibing and um I'm chilling. with her just like I'm chilling with. you. I turn my back. I'm cooling. I turn. around. Next thing, bow, she slapped the. [ __ ] OUT OF ME. WHAT? YES. So like I'm. seeing like stars fly around my head. like Tweety Bird or whatever. So I'm. like, "What the going on? Girl didn't. slap me." So boom, I'm working for. Atlantic. So I grab her. I'm like, "Yo, what the you doing?" Pull out my phone, start filming her. That's the first.

thing that come to my mind. Like, "Yo, I. work for this public. I work for this. company. >> I'm there. I don't know what going on.". So I'm filming her. >> She like, she ain't say no words. She go. look out by my pool. looking. She getting, she come back, sit. down. Next thing I know, my whole alarm going off. So now I'm in. that [ __ ] I grab my gun. I'm. like, I don't know what the going on. So. like I got my gun and like I'm looking.

and I'm pointing it towards the pool. I. see walking running by my pool and. hoodies and [ __ ] like that. I'm holding. the gun like this. What What you think. happened next? She tried to wrestle the gun from me. Wow. She punched me right in my [ __ ] So. now I got the gun. I'm fighting with. this young lady while we in a [ __ ] or. whatever. Like, yo, I'm screaming at. her. Yo, stop, please. What are you. doing? She fighting with me. I ain't. happy about this. Um, [ __ ] I had to. split her. Wow. Hit her once. Pow. Hit.

her twice with the gun. The gun go off. Wow. So now people thinking that like I. guess the probably thought I shot her. You know what I'm saying? And killed. her. Whatever. So now they at my front. door. They at this, you know what I'm. saying? All this [ __ ] documented all the. problem. And I ain't never spoke candly. about this heavily either. So they at my. front door kicking but the alarm going. off. So they know it's a short amount of. time for police. >> They had to leave. So boom, police come. My security come. Guess who.

good friends with the police? They come. My security. >> ex x ex x ex x ex x ex x ex x ex x ex x. ex x ex x ex x exapd officer. So they in. there. She won't open her phone. She. won't do nothing. They finally did. whatever they did which is none of my. business. I wasn't even private and I. don't know what happened. Whatever. So. she opened the phone, she dropped. location, my location, a couple other. famous celebrities locations that lived. in the [ __ ] or whatever that and I just. was on that list. So from there she went.

um my my my security team got me they. took me from my house at Woodland Hills. at the time. They took me towards to. Panga Mall or whatever and I guess it's. like a little Hilton over there or. whatever. They put me in Hilton. >> I went to sleep woke up the next day. the woman in my phone, you got to pay me. $250,000 for what you did to me. This, that, and the third. I have my security, take her home. She sent a picture. She. like, I'm gonna go on the internet. This. that and the third, blah, blah, blah. >> I had already lawyered up by then, right? My lawyer said, don't speak to.

nothing. Don't do nothing or whatever. She came out with that [ __ ] My lawyer. had already communicated with. >> Atlantic Records and everything that was. going on to explain the situation. Through the grace of God, I had all type. of security cameras in my house. So, I. was able to put on my Instagram to show. multiple men passing guns through my. [ __ ] They was able to put on my. surveillance in the house of her putting. their hands on me, fighting me, punching. me, and doing all this other stuff or. whatever. And then at that point, bro, I.

I left LA and I just went and I was just. like I felt like I was like fible goes. west. Like I had a tree branch and a. bandana with my things in it just going. I'm just bouncing around and still. trying to work and do whatever I got to. do. And then I ain't going to lie, I. just b that was like my first home. purchase like cuz you know I was renting. house. I was doing a dummy renting a. 12,000 15,000 a month house doing all. this [ __ ] full of and whatever. That was. my first home that I purchased and I.

felt really accomplished for purching. that home and um and I had to sell the. house somehow. She ended up dying in the. midst of that [ __ ] or whatever the she. disappeared off the face of the earth. and damn. >> um when all the truth came to the light. I was vindicated and I was able to. continue on my career. >> Did they find the guys that were trying. to uh break into your home? >> You don't even care about that. >> We talked earlier and you mentioned. like, "Yeah, I'd like to find somebody,

but if I don't, I really won't. >> I really want I really I really want a. hitmaker junior." Yeah. For sure. I mean, don't you want like I mean, I. had the discussion I like earlier. It's. like, don't you want that person to be. with like, "Honey, I'm home. Hey, boy. Hey, Junior." Don't you want that? I just don't know how realistic it is. Sh. It ain't real. You got You got that. at home? >> No. I'm working to.

>> How How do you I'm 57. I'll be 58 in. June. There we go. But see, I made the mistake that you. make. What? >> I put work in front of everything. >> And I missed out on a lot of great. relationships. >> Would you rather be up and without a a. woman or would you rather be with a. woman and not as up as you are? >> You want me to tell you God on the. truth? >> Yep. >> I'd rather be up not up as much and have. somebody. >> for real. >> I do it. But the thing is, I don't think. you easy to get along with cuz I ain't.

>> cuz I ain't. >> I need like I need I need I need to be. showered with love, but I know I need to. I need my space too. >> Yes. >> I need to like Are you Cancer? >> Yeah. No, I'm a Virgo. >> Like yo, I need Yo, I might be the. hardest person to be in a relationship. with. And I'm totally like. >> understanding to the woman. >> I mean, I I've kind of let some of my. you know, my idiosyncrasies out and. people like, "Oh, you you do too much.". >> You know, I'm a neat freak. I'm a clean. freak. Don't leave dishes in the sink. Uh, don't Hey, turn the fan on when you.

take a shower cuz I don't want you to. fog up the mirrors. Hey, close the door. when you go to the bathroom. Don't be. passing gas in front of me. I I can't do. none of that. Oh, I ain't did none of. that. You Yo, I'm going to be honest. You know my mama. [laughter]. with you. Yo, yo, you might daddy, boy. You talking like this [ __ ] But I don't. do none of that [ __ ] boy. You old. enough to be my daddy. You 58. I'm about. to be 40. You could have had me at 18, boy. I can't have no ain't everything. that you said on that list ain't no way. ain't none. I can't I can't I can't rock.

with none of that. But it is some that's. going to be less of a men that's going. to let their whole uh damn going let. that young lady. >> uh defecate on their self next to him. >> That's going to do that's going to do. all the weird that's going to let her. You know what I'm saying? >> You know what I get? Everybody go to the. That's fine. I'm not saying she can't go. to the bathroom. I just don't need to. know. >> Oh, never. Cuz I got so many bathrooms. There's no need for me to know. >> Thank you. You don't know when I'm going.

to the bathroom. I ain't throwing no PSA. out when I'm going to the bathroom. >> Yeah. Look, this ain't a flight. You. don't have to let me know we boring in 5. minutes. >> Exactly. >> But you know, some people think that's. love. And that's that that's too ghetto. for me. That's ghetto love. I ain't with. you. I'm good. >> I'm straight. See, >> I might be 58. >> Yeah. [laughter]. But you ain't doing it the way I do it. >> How you do it? >> If I'm I'm going poly. I'm going full Neo.

You going have more you more. So not. Neil got I think what three four. Yeah. If I'm 58, why would I not go Leonardo. the Cabrio? I thought you was talking about Neo. both. But that's the black version. [laughter]. What you talking about, G? No, I I I don't know. the people I go. >> All right. So, can I ask you a question? >> Yeah. >> What What the You know, you know who I.

You know who I like for you. >> Cheyenne Bryant. >> There you go, [laughter] man. >> There you go. >> I seen the energy gang. I watched that. interview. I'm I'm friendly. I'm cordial. to everybody. every every every young lady that's been. on the show. They said that about Cash. Doll. They said that about they said. that about Kiki Palmer. They said that. but. >> I seen some they said that about Glow.

>> You know what it is though? >> What is it? >> Just we such dominant men. We want we. want to get to the bottom of that just. to let her know like you ain't you ain't. >> No, I don't [laughter]. I don't I don't I don't. I think I think I think she's amazing. I. think and and somebody's going to be. very very fortunate to have have that. young lady. >> What's she look like in person? >> She like that. >> Oh, come on. Cheers to that. Cheers, Doc. >> She like that. I a I ain't going to hold. you. She like that.

>> She like that. You also mentioned. earlier about therapy. >> You've done therapy. >> Mhm. >> Still in it. >> Why was it important for you to go to. therapy? you don't have no one to talk to. And in. reality, right, I'm just such a man that I feel like a. like complaining about things. So, it's. really more so like. some a safe space to go and tell. You. know what I'm saying? Like, don't nobody. want to hear don't nobody want to hear.

your problems, Sh? No. >> Don't nobody want to hear my problems. >> There's a saying that 50% don't care. that you got problems and the other 50%. glad you got them. Oh, 50% okay, you got. problem. The other 50% want to see your. own love and hip hop. So they [laughter]. that's all it is. It ain't it it's and. and deeper than that. Um, man, I wish I wish, man, I hate that we. even talking about these dynamics cuz. they going to fry me up and it's going. to be a very viral interview. But man, I.

w I wish I wasn't so triggering to the. internet, but man, I wish it was a safe. space for women to really have these. type of conversations cuz it's. unfortunate like even when I look at it, one of my therapists is a woman. >> Mhm. >> So, it ain't like I'm confiding a man to. go get a man opinion or whatever. I. really want to know the dynamics of. women and how we're supposed to feel. That's I've only had women that's the. >> but we don't feel comfortable telling. that to our partners. >> cuz as soon as you get vulnerable with. your partner. >> they look at you different.

>> Yep. >> You're absolutely right. >> So yeah, I guess you you you know you. weak. You you didn't have this great. relationship with your mom. I mean come. on now. I'm telling you stuff in in. confidence and there you going to use to. throw it in my face or use against. >> I'm using this you my first therapist. male therapist. I'm using this like a. therapist [laughter] session right now. They still going to say that [ __ ]. though. You think how many women going. to call me or this that and the third. say, "Oh, you ain't got no relationship. with your mama. You broke." They going. they going to use everything against. you. But the minute we turn this [ __ ].

around and say we we want to use some of. their deficiencies against us, then we. sassy. >> We this. Yeah, for sure. You know what. I'm saying? So, you can't win. >> You you mentioned um have you had a. conversation with your mom? >> We talk all the time. Not as not as. close as I would like to be, but um. we don't know each other, Shannon. >> Right. Like, and this what the the the. most traumatic part of my my life is. probably is that. when I got on and I became Young Berg.

and all these other different things, man. My mom I haven't had a real relationship. with my mom in over 20 years. >> So, [clears throat] she don't know who I. am as a person, >> right? >> Her life went her direction. She went. and got remarried. She went and did. that. She went and established her. family. No, she didn't have more kids, but she went and did whatever she did. And but my mom had one of the biggest. childcare centers in Chicago, Illinois, just period in the state of Illinois. So, she was a serial entrepreneur. She. went and invested her time and her.

energy into other things. And life goes. on. Nobody wants to really say it, but. life goes on. So, for 20 years, we're not close. We haven't been like. ultimately close. >> Do you feel your mom aband abandoned. you? H nah I just feel bad now cuz she's. not in the same financial position that. I am. So that's the other dynamic of how. we how to regulate this relationship. too. So, her life decisions led her into.

a place to where she's not as successful. as she used to be. >> And now I'm the big dog. And I'm trying. to figure out how to manage that cuz I. just seen her on Mother's Day, but I it. doesn't feel like beautiful to know that. I'm pulling up in a $400,000 car to have. dinner with my mom and she's going back. to whatever her accommodations are. She. I'm assuming she's gotten divorced. >> Yeah. He took every Oh, she lost.

everything. >> So, it's kind of like, do I wear that. burden? That's why I also had therapy, too. Like, man, approaching 40, being a. grown ass man at this time, like, do I. go and say, you know what, you gave me. life. Let me do whatever I think is right to. be done. But I'mma be honest with you, she's done some really unforgivable. things in my life that it's hard for me. to get past. And with that being said,

um even when I try and hold her. accountable as a older man in life, she. doesn't agree with it. She She doesn't. remember. I'm going give you example, right? Transparency, cuz it's a real therapy. session. when I was young, like in my teens, and. I was looking for that energy like from. my mom or whatever, and my p my mom was. still up, still rich, >> new marriage. Um, my dad and her, they didn't had a toxic. relationship. My dad had remarried,

this, that, and the third or whatever. And, um, my my stepmom had said, I always thought my stepmom wanted to. me, right? Like, so listen, like my. stepmom used to like get high, get drunk. with me, get drunk with me, get high. with me, take me to school, just this, that, and the third. My stepmom was like. at least 10 plus years younger than my. dad. >> She was a little fine piece of [ __ ] You. know what I'm saying? back then. So, um,

she used to show me a lot of love and. admiration and I always thought that she. she would go, but one day I always knew. that with her doing that type of things. for me that she didn't respect my father. as much as I think that she should have. So, um, one day she, uh, she brought me. upstairs and she was and I think her and. my dad was going through some crazy [ __ ]. and, um, she was like, uh,

she pulled out a Bible. She was doing a. bunch of different [ __ ] and she was. like, "Your dad a homosexual.". And I'm like, "What?". And she like, "Yeah, the [ __ ] gay.". Like, huh? Cut it out. Yeah. And plus, why you. telling me this? >> Exactly. So I further. went down the the the line and mind you. my stepmom and my mom were in cahoots at. the time too. Like my daddy went to like.

China, Beijing. Like my dad is like a a. missionary. Like my dad do all type of. [ __ ] The [ __ ] Renaissance man. Like he. do whatever. >> So he gone and um he on a church. missionary meeting and like I had to my. stepmom had to take me to court for some. [ __ ] or whatever. Like I was on. probation as a kid. >> Okay. >> Her and her my mom ended up at the. courthouse while my dad in Beijing, China, they got me locked up. So that's. why I was telling you. So I'm like, "Oh, I know they in cahoots." So I I reached.

out to my mom around that time and I was. like, "Yo, um, such and such said this. What. do you I'll never forget, boy. We at Red. Lobster. I love a good Red Lobster. biscuit.". >> You let them cheddar biscuits, huh, >> boy? Cheddar from Scamp Beach, boy. That. [ __ ] was like roof crystal. [laughter]. So I'm in there and um we at Red Lobster. as a kid and I asked my mom. I'm like, "Yo, like such and such said this and. said my dad's gay and he's homosexual, this that and the third.".

She ain't she ain't block it. She was. She was like, "I don't know.". You You would have thought she said, "Boy, your dad ain't gay.". >> She went and did that. >> So almost like she was co-signing it. Mhm. >> So that added to the disdain of that, you know what I'm saying? Cuz I seen how. manipulative women could be, >> right? >> Based off of whatever the situation is. cuz my dad always was like a top dog. type. >> My dad put my mom on. [snorts]. >> So, um, man, it was just so much like.

like that. That's one thing. Then the. the school thing. Then I got my first. record deal. I never forget it. It was a. place called the Palazo across the. street from um the Grove on Third and. Fairfax. That was my first like little. condo or whatever. And like I got my. record deal and like my mom and my. auntie had came out. >> and my mom was up. She was a millionaire. and like she took me to IKEA and bought. me a bunch of [ __ ] for my crib and this. that and the third. I'm thinking I'm. vibed out or whatever. And um.

>> I guess her and my dad or whatever the. happened. I just got my deal and um she. sent an invoice to my dad for all the. furniture from IKEA that she bought me. like, "Yo, I want to be reimbursed.". >> As a mom, I mean, that's what you do for. your kid. >> Okay. And um that happened and then I. brought it up to my mom years later. >> like, "Yo, my dad said this and third. [ __ ] had to cut you a check for this. I have no idea what you talking about.".

I bring it up to her. Yo, you said [ __ ]. was gay. I have no idea what you talking. about. I don't recollect that. Then my. dad sent me the picture of the check. that he wrote my mom for the IKEA. furniture. Did you show it to her? Yeah. What you say? Are you in Are you in therapy? When you. go to therapy, do you talk about this. this relationship with your mom to your. therapist? >> Do I talk to my mom about. >> No. Do you talk to your therapist about. the relationship with your mom? Of.

>> course. What What does the therapist. say? It's some hurt there. It's some It's. some different things there. >> Two decades. >> Yeah. But it's just like, man, I'm such. I'm such a man. >> It's hard for you to forgive. >> I can't I can't forgive. And then not. only that, um my life is so good. I can't be about. nothing too, Shannon. >> Right. >> Like I feel ungrateful to be sitting. there, oh my god, something happened 20. years ago. I'm in shambles about it. I.

can't do that, Shannon. Hopefully this doesn't happen. >> But if your mom is not here in the next. week, month, year, >> will you miss her? >> I fight with that a lot. I don't even. know if I would how I would feel. Would. I go to the funeral or not? Feel. >> this deep. It's deeper than I previously. anticipated. >> If I'm not paying for nothing, if I'm. not helping someone out in the situation. or whatever than what it is, like I.

ain't going to lie. I um I got nominated. from I got nominated from for a Grammy. for Big Sean Bounce Back. And at the. time I I had some money flowing and this. that and the third and she was going. through her situations and um I uh she. had nowhere to stay. She was saying. like, "Yo, well, my living condition. isn't the best." So, in my eyes, I'm. like, you know, >> she lives in Florida. Maybe I get like a. um condo and pay it off for the year.

>> Mhm. That way it give her a year just. free grace you allow her to whatever her. job is because mind you I don't know. this woman too we don't have a. relationship. >> So have you seen her? Have you actually. seen. >> I've seen my mom probably like twice in. 20 years. >> So um. probably yeah I can count on one hand. how many times I've seen my mom in 20. years. Uh so from there I thought that. that was going to be the the solution. And um just being totally transparent. and totally honest. Um she kind of like.

shamed me for it and said that like. people that are successful as me, they. want to buy their mom a house. How could. I even come to the table and say, "Yo, a. condo or to pay this and that. I should. She she she returned from my I guess my. $40,000 offer to pay a year worth of. rent or whatever the situation." She. doubled down with like um 250 300 and. felt like I should buy her a home if. that's what that that's what she felt.

like it was necessary. >> Let me ask you this. In all honesty, if. you weren't as successful as you are, do. you feel your mom would have a. relationship with you? >> No. I see how they treat other people. that ain't got money in our family. They. with them, but they don't with them. >> How did that make you feel? >> Nothing. I'm a winner. I'm sad about it, but it's time for me to make my own. family and learn from those mistakes and. learn from the things that mishaps and. and and continue to do good by new.

people. Can't harbor all this energy or. whatever and then be like trying to like. spin out with with bad energy to. different people. The only thing to do. is correct the behavior and do it again. >> This is your situation. Every situation. is different. But I do believe you can. forgive your mom and still not have to. be in a situation where you have to deal. with her. >> Oh, I forgive her. I love her. We still. talk. I'm telling you, we talk. It's. just not as loving as I would like it to.

be. I just I'm. >> Because you feel that you feel that it's. a it's a monetary love. >> It's a material love. >> Shannon, I'm a cold, bro. Once you cross. me and like I done been through so much. We didn't talked about this whole life. Once things happen, I'm a cold Shannon. >> It's gonna be hard for her to get back. in your good graces. >> Ain't no graces. It ain't We too old to. be talking about graces. [laughter]. >> Come on. >> She's 60 something years old and I'm 40. What graces we talking about? We at the. we in the third quarter of our life.

>> I was thinking maybe hopefully wishing. that you like, man, I probably wouldn't. miss her if she's gone. But it doesn't. seem like that you feel that way. current. >> No, of course I'm going miss her. I. would miss the times that we had, but. you got to remember that the times that. we had and the ones that hold genuine. and hold safe to my heart is times when. I was probably a teenager. Shannon, >> it's been so long. >> Mhm. >> So much time has passed. So much damage. is done. >> She don't even know me as a man.

>> Is she trying to repair that or she. wants you to do all the fixing up? >> Oh, she both. Both. She both. But I mean, if I wasn't in the position. I am right now, it wouldn't be nothing. really to fix up. If I would just be a. that was in Chicago somewhere, how much. of the fixing would would be done? How I. would be useless, remember? If you ain't. got no use, you're useless. >> Yeah. >> So, if I didn't have no equity of who I. am as a person, I guarantee that she. would have that love for me as a human, as someone that she pushed out of [ __ ].

But in reality, if I can't contribute, then what you. mean? Even though I'm not contributing. right now, I'm not on my high horse like. I'm paying for [ __ ] right now. I ain't. doing it. It ain't genuine. >> We going to come back. We going to have. a conversation a couple of years. [laughter]. and you going to be made amends to this. >> I I mean I think I'm in a space to. actually do make amends with it. But the. thing is is that she's not helping the.

situation by not taking accountability. for things that have happened on her. end. If she would take some. accountability, if she were to say, "You. know what, babe? I was wrong. I didn't. always do the best situation. I just did. the best that I could. You're my first. child. You're the only child. X, Y, and. Z. I know I could have did better, son. I could have done a lot better. And I. wish I had have done better. I wish your. dad and I, your father and I, we could. have made this rel relationship work. because I think you saw a side of both. of us that you didn't need to see. And.

it kind of put you in a light that. relationships, this is how all. relationships are. And they're. [clears throat] not. I baby that's on. me. I was wrong. >> Yeah. But I agree with that to a certain. extent. But that would be what I would. be wanting from her. And that's a very. selfish thing to really be on. >> Like so when I say genuine. what I'mma do moving forward, like I had. to deal with myself, >> right? >> I had to get myself like cuz that's what. I would want in return. When it's.

genuine, you just do it right. >> Not seeking for nothing in return. just. because it's a genuine effect and it's a. genuine. reaction or outpour to what you want to. do. That's what prompted me to do that. When you looking for something in. return, that's where you wrong. So, I'm. not looking for validation for her no. more to be able to say, you know what, baby, everything you just said, I'm. sorry. I don't want no like I want to. get to the space to where I just want to. do it and just be at at peace with it. whether whether the response come or.

not. You know, >> forgiveness is not for the other person. >> Oh, I don't forgive or forget. >> Forgiveness is for you. >> Oh, I ain't forgiving or forget. >> You're going to have to. You don't have. to forget. You don't have to because you. don't have amnesia and you don't have. one of these debilitating diseases that. cause you to lose your memory. >> But forgiveness is so you because right. now you're in bondage. Your emotions are. holding you hostage because of what she. done. And I'm not saying you're not. wrong, >> but at some point in time here, you're. going to have to let this go in order.

for you to be free. Cuz right now, you're in bondage. Your emotions, your. feelings are being held hostage. >> by this woman that you barely know for. over two decades. >> All right, I'mma call my therapist out. of this. [laughter]. We're gonna get you out of this. Give me. your top. Give me your your Mount. Rushmore producers in the history. That's four, right? four. >> of all time. >> all time and I know one not I know one. on there.

>> Quincy Jones. >> Quincy first. >> Kanye West. >> Kanye Jermaine Dri. >> okay. >> for real for me. >> okay I that's that's a list now. >> that's a list I mean some people might. say Jimmy Jam and Terry some people. might say baby face. >> I I get it but your hey. >> the other list that's a songwriter that. because you know Jimmy and Terry and. baby face in LA they a lot of. songwriting work, too. I was just saying. strictly [ __ ] that just put it the. soundtrack to life. You know what I'm. saying? That's what it is for me.

>> I like that. >> Here, I appreciate you stopping by. Here. he is. Hitmaker, bro. [applause] That. was amazing. >> Got to thank you. >> That was amazing. >> Thank you, bro. >> All my life been [music] grinding all my. [singing] life. Sacrifice, hustle, paid. the price, slice, got to roll a dice. That's why all my life I've [music] been. grinding all my life. All my life been grinding all my life. Sacrifice, hustle, paid the price, want. a slice. [music] Got to roll a dice.