Master P FULL EPISODE | EPISODE 24 | CLUB SHAY SHAY

hello welcome to another edition of club. shayshay i am your host shannon sharp. also the proprietor of club shakeshake. and the guy that's stopping by for a. drink in conversation today. he really doesn't need an introduction. but i'm gonna introduce him anyway. he's a rapper he's an actor movie. producer record executive. mogul former nba nba player and mr make. him say huh. masterpiece all my life been grinding. all my life. sacrifice hustle paid the price wanna.

slice. got the roll of dice that's why all my. life i've been grinding all my life. look all my life been running all my. life. sacrifice plus will pay the price wanna. slice. got to roll the dice that's why. p what it do what's going on bro. man thanks for stopping by and giving me. a few minutes of your time today. i really really appreciate it we're. gonna cover a broad range of topics. we're going to go all over.

and hopefully i really hope that when. we're done with this conversation and we. air this. a lot of people will take issue uh take. heed to what you said. and maybe they'll become better people. better businessmen. and better aspects of their life so i. really appreciate you taking time today. yes sir yes sir let's start. with the latest reebok adidas. let it be known that they're looking to. sell the reebok brand from under their. umbrella. you mentioned along with baron davis.

that you would like to purchase this. do you feel that you've taken the. necessary steps to put you in line. to be able to take over this property. well right now uh we already show. proof of funds so we we have a seat at. the table right now. and we're getting close and to be able. to take reebok. black it'll be history something that. never been done. to have a ceo of a large. tennis shoe brand like this uh it would. change the game change the narrative.

it's all about. economic empowerment you know it's what. we protest for. is what lebron them stand up for their. games to want to show some diversity. uh but also show some plan of action. the plan of action is we don't have to. stand in the streets and protest no more. we have to understand the importance of. building economic empowerment. this is how we change the property this. is how we change the crime. rate in our communities this is how we. give back this is how we give. opportunities and uh.

this deal is just one of many if they go. through and they choose us. to be able to run a brand like this i i. have. an initiative that i want to start it'll. begin with ellen iverson shaq. and to the the next newest biggest. player in the game that'll be the next. draft pick. jail and suds i want to be able to take. jail and suds. and be one of the faces to this brand. and uh because i want kids that come. from nowhere. that that's been underrated their whole.

life and say you know what. now let's put these kids on this. platform and showcase them. and and show them that how we could come. from the bottom. and change the narrative by doing what's. right and being able to recognize the. underdogs and i think. the nba the nfl uh. the major league baseball this is. history to have. a ceo of a company like me. that come from nothing not a perfect. life but changed my life and be able to.

to do something big for the culture so i. want to take the whole culture with me. on this on this ride to get the seat at. the table. to show them that uh we understand. financial literacy we understand growth. and this is a movement this is not just. a deal like i said this is only. one of many we're gonna open up banks. we're gonna uh. open up grocery stores we're gonna. create products. so showing that we can do this so this. this is the 21st century this is how. this is gonna look. this would be very different from you.

master p because. normally what you do is that you build. from the bottom to the top. but you will be purchasing the company. that's already been established. and you will take over so why was it. important for you because normally like. you. like i said you like to build that way. you like okay i know this is me this is. my blood sweat and tears. and so now you're going in basically to. a ready-made product. now you're just trying to take it to the. next level yeah because. that's the growth uh when you look at. reginald lewis did this in 1970s.

uh this guy did this he was from uh. maryland. and he showed us that we can do this and. i want to show this generation. that yeah we can build stuff but at the. same time we can acquire. major brands and now we can help more. because when you look at it right now. it's hard for us to help people in our. community. my motto is the more i make the more i. give so now. people don't realize you know it's it's. you lose thousands so you look at.

a millionaires might lose thousands to. become millionaires. billionaires lose millions to become. billionaires and. we have to think like that that's the. only way we're going to. to close this gap up and so that's what. my life is about not closing that gap. showing the imbalance and some diversity. this is the time and i and. and i think we got to think bigger this. is me being on a mission to grow. keep learning get the experience all the. failures that i've been through.

you know falling hitting the ground. picking myself back up. and not being afraid to say i don't know. everything and putting the right team. together because i mean. the the financial team that i was able. to put together to. to go and acquire a deal like this is. incredible it's almost like sports. sports did it for me you know to where. now i know it's not just about me. i'm the head of the team but i need so. many of these great people. you know financial people now like for. me it's like. i don't need street people with me i.

need nerds i need people behind. computers i need people that know. technology i need people that know money. and that's how we grow. and get to this fixing this imbalance. p you talked about picking yourself up. after you've been knocked down i think. that's some of the hardest thing for. people. people don't like failure people don't. have a failure people don't have a. rejection no one handles that well. so how many how does you how do you. after one. two three ten doors slam in your face.

you have a business startup and it fails. how do you pick how did how did master p. pick himself up and says okay. that opportunity didn't work out but. there's another one over there. that's going to work out how do you stay. so positive in situations like this. well i i put my trust in faith in god. and it's not just about me. i know that uh whatever it is for me to. get to my destination. some of them doors need to close right. there at the right door for me and it's. a bigger door always open up and i want. to take other people with me so i know.

that this is not just about me. i want to take thousands of people that. has business that look like us that has. products and get. products and brands into these stores. and i just think that. nobody has educated us so i want to be. that person. i want to be the muhammad ali of. business i want to be the the mother of. the king of business to lead us to the. to that mountaintop to say look look. what we could do now we could eat. now we can feed our people and and now i. think it's. not dwelling on the past everybody dwell. on old slavery or just how they mistreat.

us i'm like no we can't change the past. but we can change the future so that. that that that's what drives me to where. every time i fall. i'm like no i got to get up i got to. keep going you know. yesterday was a bad day but tomorrow. gonna be better and. keep that positive attitude and speak it. so you know like you just see i got on. my shirt right here. l.a great and la great is about from. louisiana to los angeles to. to the greats i mean everybody that came. before me is not about me. and able to create a product brand.

water sports drinks uh anything in the. beverage business and. and they've been doing this for years. and i'm like you know what it's time for. us. to do that so uh to be a part of this. it's a movement to be able to. give water back to people in our. community help the elderly. they don't get this you know uh help. educate the kids in the in the community. and and that's what is i think that. failure keeps me the guy that.

invented the light bulb he filled 999. times and then all of a sudden he. created the light bulb and look look. where we are now. and so think about us now being able to. create something something to push us. and drive us. doing something positive i mean i didn't. come from a perfect life. a lot of people feel a lot of people. went to jail a lot of people. uh died at a young age and i'm saying. god spare my life let me do something. right. you know if you do right blessings will. continue so i i think that be my. motivation there's no limit to what i.

can do i name myself masterpiece because. i'm a master whatever i do. and i think you got to speak positive on. yourself and it's all about consistency. and putting in the work you know even a. failure to me is just a less. it's not a loss it's not a l it's a. lesson and that's how i look at it i'm. like. you know what it's it's not a race it's. a marathon i just got to keep going i'm. gonna get. and that's what i did in the music. industry i went from selling no records. to selling 100 million records. independently. and that's just how god is when you do. the right thing you will overcome all.

the negativity even the haters. gonna love you in the end even the. people that just wait okay. maybe they might not want to see me on. top right now. or they're going to wait till you go on. to say i'm going to buy all this product. that's cool but guess what i'm going to. still keep doing my part while i'm here. i'ma keep showing them that we can. actually do this. we can build these big brands the same. way they was able to do. and now we can buy these brands and take. over and put the money back into the. culture in the community. but we have to support each other we got.

to stop with the self-hate that don't. want to see. you know i celebrate you man like i'm. proud of you for what you were able to. do. you know what i'm saying transition from. sports to be able. to to communicate and be able to talk to. us. that's big that's how we change the. narrative we have to showcase. more of this and the people that are. doing the right thing i tell my son all. the time i say romeo. you blessed just keep doing the right. thing god gonna bless you with bigger. and bigger. and better things because you're doing. the right thing and i think that but we.

don't show that we don't showcase that. we p you and i were having a. conversation off uh uh. off camera and we were talking about and. i was asking you that's like you're in. l.a you're like yeah i'm in l.a i said. you left the booth. he's like yeah i'm in between two places. i'm between minnesota and l.a. and i you know i asked you and i asked. you i said why did you move he said. why'd you leave where you were from. that we could be at a location and we. might have five ten homies. and they all cool as long as we all. there together. but as long as i make it out if you make.

it out of someone making out. why do we become resentful why is it. like that. well because if you look at it right. everybody has 24 hours. yes why are you working they sleeping. and parting and playing and then they. want the same results you're not going. to get the same results. okay you sacrificed you go out and did. what you need to do i tell you all the. time. like i'm no different i got a brother. incarcerated we all. had millions of dollars so life is like. this people that want to sit on a corner. and smoke and drink.

and guess what you can't be mad at me or. you cuz our life is different. we got a nicer house a nicer car or. whatever because we decided to do the. right thing. we left the cone i'm not trying to go. backwards and i think that's what people. got to realize like. if you don't want to go back to it's two. type of people it's average. people and above average people the. difference average people are. comfortable being. uncomfortable above average people not. and we not. so yeah i have a house in louisiana i i.

have a house in minnesota. i have a house in uh los angeles so i. can go back and forth but the thing. why i go to minnesota my kids go to. minnehaha academy. and they play basketball my i got a i. got a. one kid hersey miller he's a sixth. street point guard here senior. and you know he's getting ready to go to. college and i have a sixth fourth. shooting guard uh mercy miller he a. freshman. and and he's starting on the varsity. team and my thing. is i'm allowing them to see both sides.

so when they go to minnesota by their. mom. they're able to feel like now i gave up. california i gave up new orleans. i got to go in the cold weather i want. them to be uncomfortable. and and i want them to be able to. experience this instead of saying. everything is good i'm teaching them. work ethics. and guess what they not the top kids in. the country right now but they will be. in the end i tell them it's not how you. start this how you finish. you put the work within these kids put. the work in they've been putting the.

work in for years. i mean we played on the national tv game. last year. we played against uh lebron son brian. james at sierra canyon everybody. yeah everybody looked at us like they. just gonna get blowed out the water. you know we won that game by twenty. percent wasn't even ranked. now we're one of the top teams in the. country but we wasn't ranked and. nobody knew what my kids were even. jaylen sus. jaylen sons now went to gonzaga he's.

probably gonna be the top five. nba player in the draft this year but. last year. nobody was talking about you and and. that's what i love about this i'm saying. like. i don't mind being the underdog even. when i played nobody looked like okay. master p. really bought they didn't know that this. is what i did before this. right so i love that team atmosphere and. to be able to. to let my kids see a boat the balance. like don't worry about what i got. but think about what you can build and.

add on to. what i have that's how we deal. generational well but you you have to. understand. uh i was talking to the trainer of the. day chris was like did he train lebron. and a lot of other. you know people and it's like what makes. these kids different. is that they know that they gotta work. for what they want like you're not just. handing it to them. because nobody could teach hard work you. just have to put your body. through this and deal with we we just. want opportunity that's it we don't we. don't want anybody to give us no we want. an opportunity.

right that's what i wanted to talk to. you about uh pete. is that you can you and i understand we. didn't have anything. there was nothing to be given out to us. our parents didn't have anything. so it wasn't like they could just hand. us anything and we could just sit back. so we had to grind yeah how do you get. your kids. when you've accomplished so much and. they can sit back and just. and go into business with you and not. have to grind. say like some like you had to grind or i. had the grind going up. how do you get kids to understand that.

you got to grind in order to get with. you well first you have to. you have to show them this success is. temporary. so you got to show them who god is first. once they know that. and they have the faith to keep going. and then you have to let them know that. all the stuff you have is like the. hurricane me growing up in new orleans. this could all be washed away you have. to start over and you got to go back. and and then you have to teach them a. work ethic so you got to start at a. young age.

i've been doing this with my kids since. they was three years old like you know. what. this is what is nobody going to give you. nothing you got it's a mentality it's a. mindset. so my kids now what i love about them. when somebody walk up to them and say. well why do you work so hard. because master p you're there you don't. have to do that and when you get on the. court. you know people know these kids are. beats they like animals because. they like i got to protect my family. name so you gotta you gotta love. something and have a purpose in life and. know. exactly why you're doing something when.

the kids say they gotta protect their. family name. they know it's like a steph curry i. played with dale curry and i don't watch. steph curry come in the gym when he was. young. but what dale taught him was that nobody. is going to give you nuts if you want. you got to get in that gym and put the. shots up my kids. at at uh 18. in in in uh 15 they in the gym putting. up 1500 shots. after the game you know on the days off. like they know like you don't work you.

don't eat like our whole mentality. is you know we got this whole thing to. where. we got to go harder than the next person. we got to go harder than the next family. we 10 steps behind. they've been passing money down from. their descendants and that's what i'm. saying tonight 100 years. if we if we're going to do this it's. going to take all of us it's not just me. that has to go hard you know we we. all have to go hard if we're going to. break this negative cycle. this imbalance of wealth and if we're.

going to do that. and we know this temporary so all i also. got to teach them about. health and philanthropy giving back like. this is not just about you because you. can't take this with you. so this is temporary success but having. some integrity. so i just think that's what i give my. kids when they get up. in the morning saying you you have to. keep educating yourself same way you. want to. be a student of the game in basketball. you have to be that in life and in. school and education so. my kids like right now we're looking for. college we're going to look for a. college that's going to not only be a.

great college. but could also help you on both ends. off the court and on the court so you. know i've been talking to a lot of stuff. i'm talking vanderbilt i've been talking. to byu stanford. howard uh i mean we've been talking a. lot of great schools but. lsu i could go on and on but i'm like. you know for my kid to come there. it's going to have to be something. that's going not just give them. basketball but also education like us we. want to keep. building that up you know keep keep.

understanding that knowledge is the most. important thing in this wisdom. so we want somewhere that's going to. prepare us off the court because that's. what a lot of athletes. look at a lot of athletes end up back in. the hood because they have no education. and they they know nothing about finance. so they depending on. financial advisors so a financial. advisor is going to be your best friend. once you make some money but what. happened before you got there. right you're trying to teach your kids. to surround your people. surround yourself with people that's. knowledgeable but people that you can. really trust.

yes yes you mentioned. about a possibility of uh acquiring. reebok and you mentioned shaq you. mentioned allen iverson. would you like to see reebok become a. mate because reebok used to be a major. player in the nba used to be a major. player in the nfl. i don't know if they were and they were. somewhat in baseball but are you trying. to get the brand. back into that because right now it. seems to be basically. adidas and nike. well think about it if that brand is. black on.

you imagine what the kid gonna do when. he walking to the store knowing that. even a white. asian latino because they've been an. imbalance. we started buying these shoes and we. never was able to benefit off. so imagine if we take a dysfunctional. brand like this. and make it just as big as night like. we're gonna change the game. like like kids are gonna be proud. uh to play in these shoes i'm talking. about high school college. and then pro athletes are going to be.

proud to when you know when you look at. lebron you look at all these different. players. they're going to be proud even if. they're not in the brand they're gonna. feel like. man we we overcame something this is. major. uh i feel like it's a it would be a. movement. like when a kid walked into a store. saying. wow i wear this because look what master. pete built. look what he give back to the community. in the culture and you're going to see. reebok everywhere and i think i think. it's about to happen. it's about to happen and if it don't.

happen then we're going to. keep building i mean i got my own brand. i got i got many you know what i'm. saying. it's stand for motivating oneself. encourage you actively to think. independently uh we creating big brands. just the cereals. that's coming out uh the master crunch. so. you know i mean we we came a long way. you know i did the music now we got the. hootie hoo. cereals you know so kids can have fun. you know. i mean we're thinking outside the box.

yeah we want to acquire this but if. if they don't get it to us it's not the. end of the world. then we're going to keep building what. we have already. taking these companies and turning into. international companies because. right now i mean i went from. having a small amount of fans purchase. our stuff. to having hundreds of thousands by all. over the world not so we. i mean from china to europe uh. to india to africa like we're building.

fan base. that just keep building and building. it's it's because. the brand loyalty and what we do in the. community people want to support us. because they know the more we make the. more we give. b let me ask you a question and i think. a lot of people want to know this. how do you how do you get from an idea. to getting something on the shelf yeah. you know what. people don't realize you have to trust. the process you have to start small. and build bring it to life like start. first. building that brand saying speak it.

like this is what i want to do then do. your research go online. figure out where you can get this stuff. made at and keep building like so let me. show you. nobody had noodles like for the. african-american. person to create noodles i created these. rap news the icon version. and uh i just. went online start looking for a place to. make the noodles. uh came up with the brain and uh you. know me and my partner james is.

like you know what let's take this to. another level and we did. and and i think that we are afraid but. think about it they've been making. billions of dollars off of us because. sometimes people always say it's the. smaller things. even if you look at auntie mama and. uncle ben those. brands that made billions of dollars but. they wouldn't own butlers and i tell my. people trust the process. next thing you know we're gonna make uh. even healthier items that's coming next. but first we got to get some of that. shelving space. so it's almost like you're saying.

starting the brand is like playing. baseball. you got to swing at the ball to hit it. you might hit a home run but if you. never swing. you're never going to hit a home run. right and so get in the game and start. small. it's almost like buying houses don't go. buy a big house until you learn the. process of buying a little small. house or a condo or whatever you say or. just the process. and and that's i mean it don't take a. rocket. scientist to understand that i like what. you've done. because i think sometimes people get. caught up in trying to invent the next.

thing. why not try to improve on something. that's already been invented. that people eat new we've been in roman. rock. yes we gonna eat it anyway think about. it. we know when we was in the ghetto that's. what that was a meal for us when our. parents come home. you happy to have those noodles you like. okay.

exactly. so because i think it's amazing i mean. you look at what you've been able to do. and and i want to let me ask you this. do you believe had your career had you. become an. nba player like you had dreamed would. any of this have been possible. cause i don't know i don't know pete i. think this forced you to become what you. became yeah because i believe you'd have. been given devoted most of your time. to honing your crap of being a great nba. player and you wouldn't have the time to.

do. this so i'm not it's a blessing and a. curse yeah this. is this this is a blessing for me. because. i won't i wouldn't be able to feed the. people i'm able to feed now i wouldn't. be able to do the things just. on an nba salary and uh. a thing that god closed those doors and. it made me. come up with something else to start. realizing you know. that i need to do something else and. that product outweighs talent. because i was always wanting to do it. with my talent.

and what god showed me this stuff would. be around even when i'm not around. and that's the difference like we got to. think like that. that's when you're thinking bigger. that's when you could help more people. you could feed more people. and i look at a lot of nba guys because. once you make it. you know you can help your family and. the people around you. it's hard to go and say wow i can help. other families and help other people. right and with this. i can i could give more people. opportunities i could create more. millionaires.

uh this this is a blessing for me and uh. i looked at it and i said that with. product. we're gonna be able to feed countries. it's not just. us no more we're going to be able to. feed families that are starving in. africa. overseas international all these. different places because we could put. this brand everywhere. and uh like you said it's a blessing i. mean because you know. when when you're in the nba and. everything don't go to where you want to. go and you got to leave and come back.

home and start over you start thinking. you just want that other shot to get. back but you know we definitely got to. take some time. and start thinking about our futures and. and that's my thing is teaching this. generation. how to be more than just at the leads. and entertainers. you know like these business people that. own these companies. that own these leads that on these teams. they they yeah if they can write you a. check for 200 million dollars what do. you think they work. exactly p i if i'm.

you know what i believe i believe. that you worked harder not that you. didn't work hard at your nba career. but i believe you worked harder because. you didn't want what happened at the nba. to happen in this bridge. because sometimes you can sometimes you. could be the right package. but you arrived at the wrong destination. so the package that you had. had to go to the right destination and. the right destination. was music the right destination were. products. that's what your calling was you didn't. know it at the time.

no that's what your calling was yeah i. mean but that's not going to work. because you'd be so caught up into. you know what you got to do and you. don't want to feel that it you you don't. want to start over. but but god i have a bigger door for you. and and. um i'm it's definitely a blessing for me. and i'm thankful. and it'll humble you on the way to your. journey. and um but i mean that's what life is. about you just have to get up that's all. i'm telling you about the failure part. you have to get up and just keep going.

you know instead of sitting around. depressed uh. upset at yourself and let the haters. tell you. you done you know this is when you get. up and you go harder. and like they always say you go hard to. go home you know what i'm saying and. it's like when you come from where we. come from. it ain't no going back to them but just. because that's how i look at yeah i'm. going back i go back a lot but it's it's. because i have a purpose something to do.

you know i got to do my part it's not. that i'm going back together live. because i. that that ain't what i i work hard to. say i got to keep growing i got to keep. getting better yeah that go hard to go. home working with me because i did. everything i possibly could. get out of home i wasn't trying to go. back i go back to visit but i ain't. trying to deal. yeah i had ricky williams on last week. and. um you opened up a sports agency. business you were uh and ricky was your. first client. yeah what would you have done because. obviously that didn't work out the way.

you had hoped. what did you learn about that situation. and what would you have done differently. knowing what you know now so i'm gonna. tell you one thing that you talked to. ricky is nothing i could do differently. because that was ricky chirps. nobody never wanted to say that they. finally said it. on the documentary what ricky told me. was look. it's neither you going to get this deal. done for me i'm going to go to the white. man and get this deal done because i. need this money. he wanted the incentives and he wanted. the upfront money which he got a lot of. money. up front that a lot of athletes didn't.

get in that time. right and um it's just a business. decision that had to be done which. which was the truth that's the way he. wanted to do it. and you got to look at it for me i've. always let people be their own boss. ricky. was the boss of what he what he need to. do but. we caught a lot of flack because we. black guys that's in that business. that that scared david falk and all. those other companies. that how could we get a heisman trophy. just getting in the game.

and that's that's because the loyalty. the community and people knowing that. and we're going to do what you want to. do you need a boss. to be honest with you that's what people. don't realize that's how i treat. that well that's the truth you know what. i'm saying so asia can say well i think. we should hold out. and ask for this but at the end of the. day that agent worked for me. i tell you what to do you don't i'm. paying you you're not paying me but. think about this ricky williams was a. kid coming out of college. yes back then and until his day college.

you know even when i played in college. we get 400. a month everybody wearing your jersey. you have no money your mom has no money. let's be honest this kid to get eight to. 12 million dollars up front. knowing that he might get hurt he like i. want to take that money. right and now and i got uh the saints on. the benson. to give him that which nobody else. wouldn't do that but and it's all about. having relationships and resources man. benson was like this. benson was like get me ricky williams. i'm gonna give him whatever you want.

i'll give him the upfront money and. that's what he was able to get. and and it happened and so everybody. else looked at it like it was. a bad deal but it wasn't ricky had a lot. of other issues going on. you know with his own personal life and. it showed throughout the time. but at least he was able to get that. money up front to be able to. to live a better life for him and his. family so i mean like you said. god do stuff for a reason and i think. people wanted to. to to to find a out to make us look bad. but not looking at.

that if ricky would have did that with a. white agent. what would they say about it because. that's what he wanted to do he was gonna. do it with any of those guys he was. gonna be with. that's what he wanted and this was a guy. that had his mind made up and if you. talk to rick you know. he's a guy that nobody wants right. so in other words but see in him doing. that. it did irreparable harm to you because. it made it seem like you didn't know. what the hell you were doing. and you're out there doing bad deals. when in actuality. you say either pete you get the deal.

done or i'm going to take it to uh uh. this. corporation this white corporation and. they'll get it done so yeah you got a. choice well you got no choice now but to. get the deal done. yes and that and that's life i mean. that's business it's not personal. it's business and that's that's what he. wanted and i think you know. however it worked out i mean that's his. career and that's what was told ex first. told him that he. he had agents that worked for the. company that told him like this is not a.

good deal to do but it's a good deal for. money-wise you need the money. and you got to imagine most of us. getting out of college we need the money. we need the money. we need the money so they don't even say. whenever we. got mama grandma in the house we already. got rain rover we already got a mercedes. we got a rolex. so we got back then versace was the. thing we already wearing versace so we. need to go ahead. we need that paper yeah and that and. guess what a lot of white athletes don't. have to go through that. no no and that's sad but we don't talk. about that.

we just try to stereotype it and and. make up stuff. just for the press of the media but i. mean any real media people could look. through that. and say wow you know after ricky. williams said it. it's on the documentary he said he said. it. it wasn't it wasn't you it was him. because he said i want to earn my money. yeah and in actuality earning your money. this is too dangerous of a game. to title that much money in incentives. you're not playing basketball you're not. playing baseball. football that was told to him but you.

know what he said it's like. it's like any of us if we know what we. want to do and the reason why we want it. to you know to happen like that. we're going to get it done the way we. want it done like at the i think in his. career. at that time nobody was getting eight to. 12 million dollars. up front to play football guaranteed. money like as soon as i. signed i'm gonna get eight to twelve. million dollars nobody was doing it. that's a lot of money for a football. player right so he was looking at it. well maybe my career is three years. i'm gonna make what two million a year.

or whatever. like that's only six million dollars if. i played three years. and if i get hurt or whatever he like if. i take this money up front and i can go. start a business. do all these other things but you really. have to be prepared. to be a boss to do that right because. you know after that time when you don't. reach these incentives then what you're. going to have to fall back on. and those are the type of things that. was told to him but. he was like you know what that sounds. good but we poor right now. we need that money you mentioned that.

a lot of white athletes don't have to. endure because. my thing was i grew up in the 80s i was. born in 68 grew up in the 70s and 80s. we didn't have indoor plumbing we didn't. have running water so you actually think. that the first chance i get some money. i'm trying to get 50 square feet. or i'm trying to get something bigger. let me tell you something when i got to. college. when i got to college my coach at. houston said why are you smiling so much. son. i said coach because i got my own bed. you know i was sleeping on the floor. the whole time i live with my grandpa so.

i never had a bed until i got to college. so. the coach was like man i love this he. hungry he gone bald he's just gonna go. i was happy so you know what i'm saying. like to have my own bed so. imagine that go to college and you get. to go. and you ain't got to go outside to go to. the bathroom you getting three good. meals a day man. i ain't going don't think i'm about to. flunk out of here you think everybody. go back home and not get three meals a. day and have to go outside and use the. bathroom and to take. and watch in the tub y'all must be out.

your mind. man let me tell you something the guy. broke in our house. we chased him up the street like man you. must have came to give us something. because we ain't got nothing. yeah y'all did him like like saying like. uh uh uh ricky smiley until friday this. bloke santa claus yeah like santa claus. when i but think about this you were. ahead of your time p. because there are a lot of guys now you. see jay-z has started a sport had roc.

nation. and his own label you were ahead of your. time there are a lot of guys that. doing what you did damn near 20 years. ago. yeah yeah and it's a blessing to be. honest with you. like like but when you do write like i. said. all this stuff for coming like nobody's. really doing what i'm doing now. and it's all because of what i was able. to to do. in the past and learn from that learn. from those mistakes and like i say learn. from those failures.

and just keep going but when you look at. it right now. i mean i look at it so you imagine. nobody really looked at this and i'm. gonna do. a basketball documentary next because i. want people to see that i didn't just go. to the nba i went to the cba. i had to go to all type of those type of. coaches. and uh to get to the lead to get ten day. call-ups it's different now. like i had to go get off in the cba to. get a 10-day call-up. so people don't know that i went to. dallas i went to them.

i went to uh sacramento i went to all. those teams on 10 day but you know you. had the stick i was out there with the. moochinaris. with with with the uh. i mean it was just so many great players. but you know so. i had to go through john lucas john. lewis in houston. if you could survive john lucas training. in the summer you could go to the league. because john luke was going to make you. quit and once i survived. that playing with the nick van nexels. and the sam because. i knew that i was ready but i also when.

i look back at it imagine me i had my. own. sports age i had some of the top nba. players. that i had put into the league so you. know i easily could have did a package. deal if i really just wanted to. i tried to do it the right way right i. went on my talent like i could have been. in the league for at least three to five. years just. on package deals if that's what i wanted. but i did it the right way and it all. worked out. and i think that's how god worked and i. think these blessings is going to be. even bigger because i did it the right. way and i'm able to see and i could help.

more people so it's not about me. i could look at these contracts i could. look at a kid and say. you know what you're going to get into. the league they're going to take you. away from your. family they're going to turn you against. your friends all this stuff and then. when it's over for you. nobody going to speak to you again and. and they say well how you know that i. know from experience i watch kids. that that i put into the league and i. and and and i understand this. because the first thing they do they you. know when you come from the hood.

they don't want you to be around your. people no more great. and so think about it who is not going. to take care of their mother or their. father which you know we see these. stories all the time like. my mom and my dad took me to aau. practice took me to all these different. things. and then once i make it and i don't help. them like how you expect to have. blessings. yes you see what i'm saying. my thank you to these kids because you. know once you they get you around this. fortune and fame. they make you forget about where you. came from but they come on until it.

they come when it's good my thing is. trying to educate these kids and show. them. when it was bad where were these people. yeah so. we got now we got to hold them. accountable because they they. they come when these are so think about. i told my one of my guys the other day i. said hey. are you best friends with your financial. advisor you know why because you're. successful. listen let's see you lose all this and. see if they you that's still going to be. your best friend. and that's what hey pee i tell look here. my grandmother my mother didn't drive me.

to one to one practice. but i tell you what my mom gave me life. and my grandmother gave me everything. but life. and so yes they're in the beginning. you're gonna be there in the end. i i don't i don't get how some of these. guys like. they make it out and then they abandon. their family i ca i could not do that in. good conscience. yeah yeah we got we got to check but we. have to keep educating them. and showing them the right way because. they say. money is the root of ali and it's the. love for money the love for money is.

different. yeah i'm reading you got a scholarship. to louisville. and when you were coming out of high. school louisville was one of the. preeminent programs in all the college. basketball. but you walked to the university of. houston why. because um i i feel like it wasn't right. a lot of stuff was going on uh in my. family. and i was i felt like this was the right. place i had family in houston. so i decided to go to houston and it.

made me who i am today. because it's like what i was able to do. at houston. in the relationships and you know like. we used to go back and play. clyde in uh you know in in the in the in. our the dream. so i seen them at one hour alumni games. uh last year and it's just you know. ricky winslow. big caddie you know all these dudes. coming and when we came back. together nobody knew that i was gonna. make it in music so they all looking at. me like.

boy you did something with your life but. we never knew because i never was into. the music. in practice and none of that type of. stuff cause i was focused. on being the best basketball player in. and i just think that houston. really showed me a lot for his you know. the whole team atmosphere. and and uh i think it was it was the. right place for me i mean i turned down. lsu. i had dale brown coming to the project. recruit me. uh john thompson and so that was that.

was the right fit for me. you know houston because you know my. coach was like no you running gun you. can shoot the ball. so i learned how to shoot with no lights. we had no lights in the project so i had. to listen. for the nets so i was always the job. shooter. you know i'm looking at you you played. you mentioned some of the leagues that. you played in the aba cba. ibl nba you averaged 24 points a game in. 2004 the abl. all uh las vegas rattlers played in the. preseason from charlotte hornets toronto. raptors. and you played with some great players.

you played with vince carter uh charles. oakley on that. bottle team you mentioned tracy mcgregor. tracy mcgrady. yeah yeah why don't you i mean. i remember you doing an interview and. you said i'm good enough to make it. it's whether or not they can look past. master p. and give me a fair shake yep. well people people got to realize master. p was so big and my music was so big. even at charlotte. i mean i did a hell of a job there but.

the you know bob bass the gm say man. your music is pure. filth and then another thing he knew i. was a tough guy right. he said why are you not scared of. handing me. i said sir i'm not scared to know man he. said well i'm scared andy mason and i. don't know why you can ask it cause so. me and andy mason end up being friends. but we got into it when i first came. here from new york i'm from new orleans. you know. god bless the dead like that was my dude. but when we first got there.

and mason was a bully i'm on the team. with annie mason deborah coleman. and b.j armstrong you know dale curry. and so when i get in the training camp. and mason. said don't nobody touch me telling all. the rookies. you know nobody touched me in practice. or you don't have a problem so you know. me being. from new orleans went up for a shot. i hear them he like little mate just do. about six ten i'm six boy he like little. man we gonna fight. after the process over a fight right now.

we got to fight it right now. and he starts saying he starts saying. man i like you. you you you you tough and we end up. being friends after that but. you know me just setting the stage. because i asked coach i said coach. what happened if we get into a coach say. whatever happened in the gym stay in the. gym so i'm like well. i got tested a couple of times even in. toronto. you know i'm a rookie so the rook is. always supposed to carry the bags and. i'm like. you know me i don't like that with. charles oakley.

that was my dog man man oakley we you. know. he was on it so it was like when we come. to town that was like man. and so they wanted me to carry the bags. i said i can't even carry. the bags i'm a super rookie so. so i never carried the bags you know. i ain't gonna say no name but but one of. the players did try. you know because everybody from the hood. but you know we played basketball. right and that i don't think that went.

too good for him. you know after that i ain't never had to. carry the bags nobody never asked me. you know so you know but you know you. already know if you're a younger player. they're going to try you. they're going to sleep with things to. see how far they can go with you. now if you let it slide because you know. in sports. it's kind of like anything it's a prison. mentality it's a serengeti. no they'll put they'll put shaving cream. in your face. i set the rules straight when i got i. said look man i come here to work to get. better. i'm not coming to play so don't play.

them games with me i. ain't trying to do that and and they. they got it but i did have to make an. example. so they can understand that you know. they're not going to keep playing them. rookie games with me so you know it's a. lot you're right. playing basketball with people i don't. know how it is now but back then. you had real guys from hoods in these. leagues. so it was always looking for the next. tough guy. who going running the team or whatever. i'm like man this is almost like being. in prison though. yeah oh yeah or if if it's a mentality.

that you got to stand up for yourself. and sometimes pete you got to be willing. you know you got to fight even though. you might not can beat the guy. but you got to stand up for yourself. because if you don't they'll continually. run over you. and hey i'll tell them all i used to. tell them i went to college i said look. here yeah. i didn't come to fight but i didn't come.

the basketball thing doesn't work it. doesn't work out. how the hell considering that you were. not in the music you weren't doing. anything in the music how the hell you. get to the music business. from basketball when you what that. wasn't a part of it to begin with. well i got hurt at houston and you know. back then they take the scholarships. away from you like there's no news for. you so. when they took that scholarship away. from my grandfather said you can't sit. in this house you got to. do something but i didn't even know if i. was going to be able to walk out after.

that no more. and uh i just started listening to music. and. getting into it and then uh i had a son. i had romeo and i'm like. i gotta get away i went to california. and i. opened up a record store you know i. watched all these people you know stand. in line i'm like i'm gonna start my own. little company. so i opened up this little small. mom-and-pop record store called the no. limit breakfast. and i started realizing watching the. people what they was buying and what. they like. i'm like man i have a story to tell so.

not only i own the store and i. understand the whole customer service. part of this. but also i realized that i have a story. to tell. and i wanted to i wanted to put this out. on the map because at that time you had. two pipe biggest smog everybody was the. east coast. west coast you had a little bit of the. ghetto boys and uncle luke. and i'm like but as far as the music. in the south going to the the east coast. and the west coast.

it was just a little bit of and i'm like. nah i got i got to represent and so i. just started. doing music and i started going on the. road because tupac never used to come. into my store. and so i started going on the road with. them and then one day they let me open. up for them. and uh the rest was history after that. wow i mean just like that but yeah. you open up you open up a music store. and then not only say you know. but you had to have bigger dreams than.

just running a music store the operating. store or storefront yeah now what what. happened was when two pie uh. two short e fought all those guys was. coming to put their records in my stores. on consignment. and when it was coming in you know i'm. start thinking like i'm from new orleans. all the stuff i'd have been through. like you know you thinking about. hustling you got a hustle going. yeah i did that's what happened i'm like. i need to put this into you know put my. story into. then i start calling my brother like man.

let's start this group. and it just it just all went from there. it was hard because think about it. i didn't have the major companies behind. me so i'll be sitting in the lobby. like we talked about earlier waiting on. these uh record people to come to the. table to try to get my music on the. radio stations and. sometimes it didn't work because i. didn't sound like. nobody in the west coast so it seemed. like it was a. failure but it it was different but it. was unique. and that uniqueness once i got bigger it.

took me. to be able to sell over 100 million. records. you mentioned that you moved to. california your grandfather passed you. got a ten thousand dollar settlement. yeah. and you flipped it in the millions yeah. normally people get that kind of money. that's really never had money. they blow it why would you why would you. you like you had an idea of what you. wanted to do with that money. once you got it and blowing it wasn't. bad. yeah well my thing was i knew i could.

have. brought a car yeah i know i couldn't. even brought some jewelry. and i'm saying you know by going to. college i'm like i need to invest. into a business so i could have some. money all the time. and that's what i did and when i when i. found that record store. uh i invested back into myself and i. think people got to realize. you are your most important investment. because. you know what you want you know what you. like and when i was able to do that. you know you're going to be passionate. about something because you love this.

it's like basketball i put my hard work. in best because i love it. same thing in music i love it and i love. doing it so. you find a business you gotta find a. problem the problem was first you didn't. see. nobody had hip-hop stores in music. they had they had uh r b stores. and they had gospel stores in the black. community. but it was no hip-hop breakfast store. and when i found that problem. i'm like i'm gonna take this 10 thousand. and turn it into something i didn't know.

what i was gonna turn it into. but i took that ten thousand and turned. it into a business and it just kept. growing so what was your business model. because like you said you went to. college but yeah if i'm not mistaken you. had never owned a business at that point. in time correct. no i i haven't but what i did was i. started going to the library and. researching. okay and i think that's the part that. education. is so important like you have to. research you have to.

to uh do your due diligence to to know. exactly what you're getting into. the ups the downs uh how you gonna get. distribution where you gonna get your. product from all those things so. i didn't just jump into it i start going. to the library i mean i started spending. so much time at the library. the the lady at the library was like you. know what are you doing i'm like. i'm trying to understand about this. music business. i want to know everything about it and i. think you know it's almost like playing. basketball people say. you know what makes you good your.

basketball iq and football like you. you know like you really have been. invested into the education part of it. and that's what i did. i started really getting out there. saying uh. let me know how these record companies. work far as the stores the retails. and then when i got into to put my own. music out. i start going back to the library. studying contracts on how to negotiate. contracts all those types of different. things and so i think. the education part me me willing to. learn. like you have to the most important.

thing is knowing that you don't know. everything. that's that's the greatest thing for me. i'm like i don't know. so only i could be an expert at it i got. to go through it and experience it but. right now i don't know. and i tell people all the time don't be. afraid to say you don't know. what was one of the things that you. learned in the street that you were able. to bring to business that helped you. become. successful in business well. not to let nobody take advantage of you. and you have to stand up for yourself. uh and and that's what the streets.

taught me. and um i think it worked for me because. most business people only have just the. business side or the education side but. to see both sides. but you know even the streets taught me. how to keep your word and having it. checked. and i think that took me a long way in. business because once i was able to. leave that life behind and understand. what corporate america. you know is all about i wanted to take. that same drive and hustle and grind. with me to corporate america but.

positive and and i think that's what. that's what saved my life because. i never was about trying to take. advantage of somebody's just. like i just want my peace whatever my. fair share. is that's what i want and i don't care. what it is. if it's ten dollars i want my chin out. don't try to give me ap don't try to. give me five dollars. that's it give me give me all of what i. deserve. yeah i mean it is all about you know.

the the principle is what matters and i. think. that's the difference like and and if. you look at it too. uh a lot of guys from the streets you. know it was a. it was a chain of command back then we. don't have that no more. right you know now you know like even. when i was playing basketball even. though i lived in worst neighborhoods. they knew percy miller basketball played. man y'all don't do that damn y'all let. him know if something. went right like man a lot of these kids. dying like they. they they killing off all the greatest.

talent that we have. i mean i seen a 6-11 kid get. shot and killed down in compton uh uh. six nine kid and it's like these kids. were just in high school these kids. gonna be the future. to come back to take care of the. community that's what i want to be able. to pass that down like we got to. preserve. the kids in our blocks in our. communities like we can't keep. killing the talent because who gonna. come back and take care of. right it's kind of like you see that in. the in the music industry. industry yeah tupac and now you see all.

these young rappers like pop smoking and. all these other guys. i'm like wait a minute where did that. wasn't that wasn't going on in the 80s. that wasn't that wasn't both the house. it's not supposed to happen like. those guys are supposed to be the gold. standard you're supposed to look out for. them they're supposed to get protected. yeah they they gonna take care of. everybody now they look at it. even like the nipsey hustle who's gonna. take care of the community now this guy. put everything into taking care of the. community and we just get rid of him. and so that's my whole thing is about.

educating our culture. so we can know we have to preserve the. people that's going to take care of the. community. and that's what they did back in the. days you know that they did that back in. the days you had to go talk to somebody. before you could even think about. getting into a fight with somebody. right and you looked at you looked out. for everybody in the community like if. you knew somebody oh. that's such a such grandma. [Applause]. i knew a lot of guys that did a lot of. things but that's such a such. grandmother we can't break in her house.

that's such a touch. we can't do you know we can't do things. like that now it seems like this. generate they don't even care. i don't care it is yeah but you know. what it is. is drugs man drugs is really taking over. and we don't want to talk about this. you know i was talking to a warden uh in. the prison and he said. 90 of these guys in here is over drugs. and a lot of these guys are good. people but they don't even know half of. the stuff they was doing while he was. committing these crimes i said wow. it really is it's a it's a it's a drug.

thing. you mentioned that tupac from e40 as a. matter of fact i'm gonna have e40 on my. show uh in the coming days. you mentioned that they came into your. store and somehow you became friends. with tupac and you can tupac. let you on the road you open up how did. that happen. i mean you know what i'm probably the. only guy the young guy in the community. they didn't even know it was my story. like this is a dance story some people. they didn't believe i'm like yeah this. is my dad's story.

you know but i think the guys was just i. mean even with e40. so i really learned the the music. industry. from e40 uncle saint charles so saint. charles. ended up showing me how to distribute my. music. uh throughout the whole bay area and uh. i mean it was just a lot of young people. that had hustle back then in the bay. area from too. short to e40 i mean i could go on and on. i mean spice one it was like it was a.

lot of young hustlers. back there and i think i was able to get. my drive and hustle. from them and having them around and um. i mean it was it was just that error it. was that error that. the bay area people for his music they. always thought out the bit. out the box and always came up with. their own language and everything i mean. even for. some of the stuff i didn't even. understand he you know he. thought it was rapping fast back. back.

nobody to this day has e40 flow. you look at now that base style. is very unique to that area that area. and to the day nobody has ever been able. to comprehend. and be able to show you he farted the. goat man. let me show you something so this is my. dog so you know i had to put e40. on these rappers phony guys.

yeah that's that that's that's e4 that's. my dog. hey he'll good dude he's coming on and. he got and he got cognac. uh tycoon yeah uh yeah he'd be doing. cooking he got pasta pan a goon with a. spoon. definitely he's definitely a mogul but. you know what forty. was able to diversify his portfolio and. that's i got a lot of respect for him. for that knowing that we're not gonna be. able to do this. entertainment stuff forever right and.

just like you know you can't do football. for them you know what i'm saying. and i and i think that now we realizing. that we need to get us something else to. keep it going. hey hold on you really tell me you ain't. gonna be mick jagger up on stage you. ain't gonna be 70 years old. i'm good i'm gonna be selling these. products that's what i'm gonna be. you mentioned that debate and then you. let me leave the bank and you head back. to new orleans. why why why'd you go back to the booth.

because i realized that i need to put my. city on the map and that's why i went. back i went back to show these kids that. we can do it we don't have to say we. from the east coast or the west coast. we could actually be proud to be from. new orleans be proud to be from the. south. and be able to compete with everybody. you know and. that's what i realized when i realized. that i know i had to go back home. you mentioned and it's been very. documented and you spoke about it that. how you would drive around and you.

sell cds out the trunk of your car give. us some of the stories i mean. do you like man what the hell am i doing. is this thing gonna ever pay off for me. or were you like i'm gonna make this. work. yeah you know uh i realized i went in. one neighborhood. i went to south central and i was trying. to sell. all my tapes and cds out the trunk of my. car because uh. easy he had took me to the swap meet and. i was able to sell cds. there right and so i'm i'm i'm hyped up.

now. but i ended up in the wrong neighborhood. and i got the wrong color on. it was like man what you doing back i. said i'm trying to sell these cd. little bitty guys say i say sir i don't. want no trouble i'm trying to sell your. cd. he said what kind of scene you had to. take that shirt off first you know what. i'm saying. i say no no problem. [Laughter]. so you know i'm not used to the whole. gang thing so i'm like you know. i took that shirt off quick though he. said how much you want for that uh.

that that uh cd i said i want twenty. dollars i'll give you ten i said yes sir. he said it better be good you know this. guy he had his gun in his hand so i'm. like i'm already stuck right. so i'm like i'm like i'm like. remember i gotta think about where i'm. going therefore i get in these places. now so that. that definitely taught me a lot but it. was good he ended up liking the music. you know. he ended up liking the music you you you. mentioned that one time you ran out of.

gas you got pulled over you fell asleep. what i mean in order because i think the. thing is now uh p. is that everybody sees where you are but. a lot very few people got an opportunity. to see the journey. that helped get you where you are. because all they see is this. they never saw that yeah and i think. i think that's what life is about you. know people. always think they know what they really. don't know because they see you with. boring now but i mean i come from a poor. place i come from not having nothing i.

mean i could. i could remember going to the store. with my family and just thinking wow. about to get me some oreo cookies uh. you know being hungry and i think that. people don't see that but. you know for the ones that understand i. want to show them that you could come. out of. nothing but you got to keep working you. got to outwork everybody like. and that's what i did i mean consistency. is what's going to get you to your. dreams and your goals i just. kept going it's like i know i'm not.

where i need to be at. but let me keep working let me get. better let me get to my destination man. and it's even bigger than what i could. even imagine it's just by keep going. the distribution deal with priority. records and uh. i think you had michael jackson attorney. working with you. and yeah i'm looking at this it's like. you got a 85-15 deal. now if you have success like you think. you're going to have success. they probably gave you that deal not.

thinking you were going to be able to. generate the kind of success. but lo and behold you generate millions. and millions and hundreds of millions. and now they're like oh what are we. doing. yeah well they they thought that you. know for one. i'm a kid from new orleans they thought. well this kid come off the streets. what's gonna happen he probably gonna. live. six months so this is gonna be a great. deal for them. right and they know that i i came to. change my life i came to be better.

i came to leave that life behind and and. i was gonna get out there and work and. go market and do what i need to do to. blow those. records up and that's what i did i was. everywhere i'm jumping on planes i'm. jumping in vans driving. you know sometimes i'm putting my own. posters up i was in new york. the guy was like is that you i said no. dog. what you think master p gonna be out. here i'm putting posters up for this. dude. i'm from the south we all look alike so. you know. you know you got to go home you got to.

go hard if you believe. you know but nobody else believe and you. know new york has an order there's no. posted sign so you got to be careful. where you actually put your signs up at. yeah yeah so let me ask you questions. your question pete. yeah you go so how did you know to to. work this deal so what was because. obviously he's michael jackson the. uh attorney he's been at this quite a. while. and he understands because michael ended. up having some problems with uh uh saudi. records. uh prince haven't had some and some of.

the bigger entertainers. had issues with their record company so. you go in so. you kind of had an idea where you wanted. to go how you wanted this thing to be. uh percentage-wise yeah what i did was. i went in humble and willing to learn. and so that's what. any artist that's listening to any. entertainer. actor actually go and humble go in to. learn as you get educated. this guy told me that michael jackson.

made the most money out of every artist. in the world he had a 22 percent deal. and so i said to him well. what's the deal bigger than michael. jackson he told me he said you'll get 85. in the rec company they get 15 as a. distribution deal. but i don't think they'll do that with. you but you're going to need 200 000. of marketing money if you're going to. get that type of deal so nobody goes. into a record company willing to give. up two hundred thousand dollars to. promote their product.

and that's what i did so once i knew. that that's why i started selling the. cds at the trunk of my car. when i made enough money that's when i. went that went at the deal knowing that. i can. handle the marketing and promotion for. this product and plus i was gonna go hit. the road. myself so once i was educated to that. information. so it's all about information educating. yourself. having the right resources and i think. that's where business starts it don't. start on the success of the business. you have to have a plan and you gotta. have a plan of action so a lot of people.

they don't have that so they just think. you know some people think oh i'm gonna. get this record deal i'm gonna sell. millions of records. the record company told me after i came. up with 200 000. they told me they was going to be happy. if i sold 10 000 units we're gonna be. popping bottles. and i'm like 10 000 units i already. put a lot of money into this so i'm. already thinking i got to go work harder. it's almost like an athlete so that's. where the basketball thing come in. from for me so i'm like i need to go out.

work these guys so i'm like if. if you got ice cube uh jay-z all these. guys was on the label at the time. easy i'm like if you got them how many. units they selling. and i'm trying to watch and see where. they at they out in the clubs uh uh. are they out of the marketplace what. they doing i'm saying. if they out one place i need to be 10. places. if if if their product is not in these. places my product need to be there but. who gonna put it up. i got to go put it up i got to go i got. to put the work in and so.

all the places they didn't want to go. i'm going. like all these little small towns i'm. like no i got to hit these small. towns these small spots and that's. basically how i did it. not being afraid to to to outwork. the next guy it's almost like sports i. got from the whole. you know playing basketball that. mentality yeah i'm not the next man. i got it might be more talent than me. but i can do something about that. working. i mean look at the people i had on the. label you had easy eat you had ice cube.

you had uh jay-z. you had skull face in the ghetto boys. all these people was on priority records. at that time. wow so after you you start blowing up. and you get bigger and bigger. did you ever have a pr a problem with. priority we've tried to break it's like. oh hold on man we might need to rework. this deal. nah i never had a problem with i never. had a problem with him like i had the. best deal. think about it is nobody had a deal like. i had so.

oh i just had i i just had to keep on. moving until. i kept growing and growing and growing. and getting better and trying to figure. out other things i want and i wanted to. get into the movie business i started. putting my own films up where they told. me you can't do that i wanted. one time i had 20 records on billboard. at one time they say that i can't. the most records you can put out is too. i say no i own the covenant i put out. every how many i want and that's what i. did. so we made history at the time because. we did stuff. that they didn't think could happen and.

i think that i mean you got to think out. the box and that's. so that's how you control your. destination is through ownership. and so by me only 85 percent of the. company i could do whatever i wanted to. do. you mentioned but also a lot of it has. to do with radio airplay. how do you get djs in these different. markets to play. your songs your music so i. i did what a lot of people should be. doing right now. i brought dj's jackets i always brought. the no limit jackets.

t-shirts i went into the marketplace. appreciated them showing them that i. appreciate them i showed up. showed up at day events i made their. events bigger and i think a lot of. artists don't they don't want to do that. they just hide behind a computer. like i'm actually going out touching. these people in that marketplace. doing free parties for them and now they. are playing my music. everywhere every time they come into the. club because nobody else is going to do. that. think about the other big stars are not. going to come to these marketplace.

places for the dj. the dj is the most important role in the. music business to me. let me you mentioned the 85 15 split. that you got. and there's something called a 360 deal. can you explain that to the people at. home. the difference between the type of deal. you got versus the conventional deal. that all the other artists were doing at. the time. yeah i mean if you got a deal like i. made then you control everything a 360. deal. they eat off of everything you got and. they control you.

and that's probably the worst deal that. you could have which a lot of artists. have it. and i know a lot of people don't want to. work and do to put the hard work that i. was able to put. in but you know you got to decide you do. you want. a distribution deal you want to own your. company. or you want to be a worker a 360 deal. it makes your work so you don't control. nothing and everything you do. they get a piece of and so that's why i. try to educate our culture today. and and and guess what a distribution.

deal is not for everybody like i said. being a boss is not for everybody. because a lot of us come from together. the deal that you got you got to work. you got to hit you guys you got to work. you got to hit the road. you got to decide what you want to do so. you got to look at it even if you look. at right now. in the movie business will smith and. denzel watch make 20 mil a movie. and my thing is to them i'm thinking how. come you don't make your own movies but. everybody. you know they just starting to do that. but i'm just saying when they were super. hot. that you know you know you get cool at.

okay well. i'm good at making the 20 mil the movie. but you see what they. grew into imagine when they first. started and that's right i think. i was i was even trying to show spike. leader i'm like man you know. you older than me and you know the. business but imagine if. instead of going to these people because. you already have a fan base. for these urban movies so if you just. made the movies yourself imagine how. much big i mean spike lee should. probably be like disney or somebody but. the black version. you know what i'm saying yes but we we.

don't we don't want to. accept that it's going to take a lot of. work it's not going to be. pampering like so the difference with my. career i didn't get all the nice. trailers i didn't get the private jets. and all that stuff. i'm working i'm in and out of planes. regular planes cause i got to get there. i've got to keep the budget down all. this type of stuff because this is my. money i'm spending. right these guys are spending other. people money but it also makes you lazy. too. at the same time and so you got to look.

at that and then. like i said being a boss is not for. everybody. because you got to take care of. everybody it's a difference because. there's a lot more responsibility and i. get it. some people just want the pampering it's. like but guess what the pampering is. gonna stop. when it don't work so i was able to keep. going because i don't have nobody saying. we gotta drop. p from the label cuz he's not selling. the records he used to sell. no it's like i could grow move along get. into something else and keep going. but if you look at it this is like the.

entertainment world they dropping people. all the time so when when you're not. good enough it's like sports that's why. i say product i always tell. sports you was one of the best daddy but. when when you can't. run and jump like you used to you go on. there they're already looking five years. earlier when you're the top dog they're. looking for somebody else's and you've. got this this is what we're gonna bring. in for shannon like. but if you knew that five years ago. you'd have been thinking a whole. different way. right and so that's the part we got to.

educate. this culture to the ones that want to. listen cause they got some i'm thinking. oh well you know what i'm gonna be. bigger than p it ain't about being. bigger than me. because think about it at the end of the. day if you just got a record deal or 360. bill you never gonna be bigger than me. because. the money you making is gonna be. controlled by them. and they're controlling where you go and. what you do that's why they give you a. big check. up front now you got to be don't be. worried about being bigger than p. be smarter than p you got it that's what. i want you to.

and all you got to do is stop and ask me. for that information i'ma give it to you. because. i want you to be i want you to not have. to make the mistakes i made. but i can't do nothing if you just want. to go on your own as there's a lot of. these orders man let me tell you. something so. i was trying to show these guys like. right now. that if they did the right deals. with the way social media and all this. stuff is going. these guys would be bigger than me but. they got the wrong deals. so they going instead of putting the.

work in the same work you put them for. the record coming. imagine if somebody put that in for. their own company what it's going to be. because you have the power once you got. a hit record you could sell anything. right right how did you go about. negotiating to getting your your music. in like walmart kmart circuit said. how did you do with that because it is. it's not easy. to deal with corporate america yeah in. the business that you're in. selling what you're selling yeah well.

you know what. you have to go in there on the diversity. side first. but then showing them that your product. is bigger than just. black america like you have product for. the world like i make. music and product for human beings so. once i got in. i had to explain that to them like uh. don't just put me in a box because i'm. like any other businessman that comes in. there. like my product is for the world my. product is not just for. african americans my product is for.

everybody and when i make my music and i. make my product. but it's owned by me so the imbalance is. that you guys should want to add some. diversity. into walmart and a target into all these. other stores the krogers. and and and by doing that you got to. give us an opportunity. and i think that's the way we got to. think like we also have to educate. those buyers because they just don't. know and i think that's what i was able. to do i was able to educate them. to show them my strategy and my plan and. then where we at right now in the world.

i mean i feel like we have to take. advantage of these times right now. to get product into these stores to add. some balance and some diversity. pete if you own your own company so you. got to set up these meetings right. yeah yeah i got to set the meetings up i. got to be on time i got to do the zoom. calls. i got to show up uh and when you're on. your company i mean. that's what it's going to be now if i. just wanted to go work for somebody i.

could just. chill but i don't get no time to chill. because i want to build generational. wealth. right. snoop dogg tell the people the. difference between negotiating with you. ignite. and negotiated with corporate america. you know what to be honest with you. though i think it was easier negotiating. with suge knight to negotiate. with comfort america because he already. knew what he wanted. in corporate america you got to sit.

around the table with. 20 different people that has their own. idea on. expectations so uh. it was a challenge because at the time. going in there. you know i was able to show sugar that. you know you're gonna sell this. artist anyway and so. what i learned from being from the. streets i'm like you know what. i actually like how much are you getting. for snoop he told me the number and i.

said okay let me put. an extra two hundred thousand on it it. made sense it's like okay. you're gonna you're gonna do this anyway. but now they gave you something extra. and i think that was the difference but. you know in corporate america. it's it's like it's a situation to where. they sit in you sit at these tables with. all these different people. and they have a strategy and if your. strategy worked with their strategy. then you get the deal if you know. because a lot of us think we got our own. strategy my thing. my thing is if you want to be successful.

in business when you go and look to do a. deal. make sure your strategy is up to par. with. what the deal you doing. so you go in there you get the deal with. schnoot. and by this time snooping and and sugar. had a falling out. and she should want to do a diss track. he wanted to do it this album. like f death row f sugar. whoa whoa whoa no we can't die bro we. nothing to do that. yeah yeah now my whole thing was i i i.

told snoop was you got to have some. integrity. and uh you know you can't keep fighting. fire with fire unless you. you you ready to burn and uh you know. this guy had opened some doors for you. so you gotta at least be thankful for. that so. you know us black men going against. black men like we have to change that. narrative and i was able to. to show him that showing that with love. and saying look man. this the right way to do this and and.

and he agreed and look with his career. now and look what he's able to do you. know snoop i mean we. we end up being the best of friends. because you know. his mentality changed you know and and. his growth. and uh he just kept growing and getting. better. and and you know he was able to build an. empire and i think. that's what this is about for me to. being able to create more millionaires. and hopefully billionaires and and have. people come true. i call no limit the university you come.

through here get the game. and go do what you got to do and that's. what snoop was able to do. and i'm proud of him i'm proud of the. man he became. and uh and and what he's doing mostly. i'm proud of what he's doing in the. community with the football league. and uh me and snoop just matter of fact. we just did the basketball game. so i brought all my kids down uh and we. we had a we had a three on three. high school the best high schoolers in. the country and so that's what i love. that. snoop heart is in the right place like.

he want to give back he want to do. what's right. and a lot of us we lost a lot of kids in. the program so you know. uh my my my program been in los angeles. for a while. and so people don't know i started out. uh. me and janelle we created urban born and. one of our first students at urban bone. people don't notice. was nipsy hustle and and it was all. about getting gangs off the street. and uh i used to tell nipsey even like. going to high school like. look man you stop gangbanging i'ma give.

you a couple dollars so i i give them. some money and they come back. well i'm trying coach they always call. me coach p yeah coach. you know i'm not going i'm not going i'm. not going to hang out with those guys no. more and then we built a great. relationship and uh. that program i mean it's still going to. till today. and uh that's that's what i mostly love. about snoop. and what we was able to do you know. still. being a part of the community and giving. back and being able to reach. kids like that you know in their youth.

and uh. being a part of their world man because. we got so much talent in the hood. but we it's get wasted by by the. it's about the violence and and the. negativity so. yeah i just think that you know more. people like snoop. and more entertainers doing that like. we're gonna save a lot of kids. late 90s you're on top of the world make. them say huh i'm body body wobble wobble. how you do that there. was there anything that you couldn't do.

i don't think i could have did anything. but you know what i'm. i'm i'm thankful and blessed. that i've always remained humble you. know because they always say money. change. but also money just enhance who you. really are and so i'm just glad that. that i was humble and i wasn't into just. doing all kind of crazy stuff to where i. just like know what. i want i want a better life for my. family so i just kept working. so i it's a blessing man to be able to.

have all those big. records and everything but that never. was. the end for me that wasn't like you know. some guys like yeah you know. i do this this is all i wanted now i was. always like. we need to figure out something better. and i need to get better i wanted to get. better with my music i wanted to get. better in my thinking. oh you know what i was rapping about. everything because when you're there on. the front line. that's all you hear that's all you see. but i also wanted to figure out how can.

i grow and one day i could. be a part of corporate america because. that's how i could really feed my. my people like it's always been about. trying to feed my people with education. or just actually feeding my people we. don't have to go ask nobody for nothing. so but i know i had to get better i had. to grow because most people. yeah i look at a lot of my friends now. they still the same and i'm like. i can't mess with you because your. mentality is still in the practice. your mentality is still on the corner. that ain't me like you can't get.

mad at me because i want more out of. life and you might say oh man you. changed it. i did yeah i got better what's wrong. with getting better. well i mean think about it you have a. baby. the baby goes through a progression it. grows that baby doesn't tell baby. forever. yeah you supposed to change you're. supposed to grow. broke is natural yeah and people don't. people don't. realize like being broke is a mindset. like even when i was poor i never. thought i was broke.

i've always said like i got to do. something you know i'm waiting on the. lawsuit my check in the middle i'm. thinking like that why everybody else. thinking oh i don't have. nothing i'm hurting and they speak that. negativity like so. even when you go back and see your so i. was telling so this the funniest thing. happened to me right. they had this kid in middle school with. me. he was five six he was like the biggest. kid. and i was in our class okay so. i pull up on facebook this kid said yeah.

y'all you know y'all looking up the. master p but i beat him up in middle. school. and and some girls they claim to play. you yes it's like you beat him up in. middle school. and and and and so uh. you know how on your facebook to tell. you how tall you is and whatever right. so he fi he's still five six shannon so. i go on now say beat me up now. [Laughter].

come on i had to do it shannon. man i'm looking at your artist you had. mystical the 504 boys soldier slim. shocker c murder romeo you you hey. i love all the guys but mystical. mystical mystical could have been he was. what happened pete yeah you know mr got. caught up with mystical he's getting. together now man. i'm proud of him and he's getting a. second chance.

together again are you looking to work. oh yeah we're definitely going on a tour. together and we we're doing stuff i mean. mystical meal. x uh mac about to get out of. being incarcerated this there was. another guy that was just. he his career could have been so big he. probably most talented guy. uh probably even more talented than. mystical but. he went to jail at like 19. yeah mac. like this guy. this guy was talented and he just. lost lost his whole career and that's.

what i'm saying like you got to do the. right thing. and and stop being around the wrong. people you know. um and i feel like that's what that's. what. that's what that's what we're going that. now like being able to. show this generation y'all don't have to. make the mistakes we made. so now man this mythical was yeah. talented brothers mystical soldiers slim. mere x fiend stealth c. mac i could go on and on man we we had.

some talent on that label man. and you had it yeah. you've lived every. person's dream not just black obviously. you're black and. that's the um but you've lived a dream. a life of life growing up in poverty. not having and rising and people get an. opportunity to see. what advice would you give this. generation how can there be more. masterpiece.

i could say don't be afraid to work. don't be afraid to when nobody. don't believe in you you have to believe. in yourself. uh put your trust in faith and god in. and have. a dream and a goal and stick with it. like it's not. a race it's a marathon like even when. them curveballs come. or the destination you know even though. it looked like you're not getting there. if you're doing something every day. consistently.

you're gonna get to your dreams and your. goals and and don't be afraid to feel. i'm just saying. don't be afraid to try to get better and. don't be afraid to work. and and and and if i did it i know you. could do it. so what financial advice because you've. been very financially responsible. what financial advice would you give. young america. educate yourself don't work for money. don't pray for money pray for wisdom.

when you work. work because you love something that's. your purpose and it's your passion. before we wrap up i want to ask you this. and you'll be the you're the best person. to ask. this i need you five top rappers. that could play that could hoop and i. need your five top. hoopers that can rap. i'ma say j.

cole okay uh. two chains okay. uh quavo okay. the gang okay. and romeo damn you left chris so. you don't look at chris brown as a. rapper no. okay chris brown kitty hoop though.

yeah chris bronker who i hope with chris. brown before he can who. okay okay okay i believe okay now give. me the who give me the hoopers that can. be rappers. i want to know who who is the top nba. hooper or the. no you know what i will let you include. football players too i want to know. who's number one. because there were a lot of be there's a. lot of going on speculation. that you know the guy up in in portland. and there was a guy that played. orlando and miami heat in the lakers. there's a lot of guys that say they are. the best.

the guy in portland is is got to be the. best. the little gotta be the he got him. from what i see i'll go with him. uh go with shaq okay all right. um. i mean who else in basketball is that we. you we thought so that's it. what am i saying can let me unveil rap. who le'veon le'veon bell.

i mean he's good you can't you can't. knock that uh. also i gotta go with um. what his name is he he got some nice. songs to uh. he married to um. what the name is the uh the singer. yeah so that's four yeah. and um.

i gotta go over it huh how you gonna. leave you off you gotta be the. only you gotta be the godfather you know. what. i did both so they you gotta leave me. out like. you you can't put me in there you. you got to be the number one in both of. them you know what. i'm a humble man i'm you know keep me. out of it. and i'll just i'll let everybody i'll. let everybody have any fun but then i. gotta i'm gonna go with uh. i'm gonna go with a.i okay.

so that's five me not counting me we. don't we don't have to put open that. little mix. how about i tell you what i need my rush. my. rush more rappers give me your my. rushmore rapper. you get four that's it any error. so from jb the krs one to two short the. two. whomever ice cube tupac biggie. give me four all right two first i'm. gonna give you two potty big. okay okay that's too old we only got two. left.

somebody get left out oh oh guess what. you know that's that's life that's how. you go. fighting biggie okay give me your four. of my rushmore hoopers. michael jordan okay. lebron james okay okay. magic johnson magic.

and larry bird bad. see everybody get mad at me because. library was my. favorite player growing up i had. everybody. for a white boy back then i'm just. telling y'all. you could cut him up scratch him with. him. you're not gonna stop it i'm just. telling you you're not going to stop it. pete i want to thank you for stopping by. giving me a few moments of your time. congratulations on all your success i.

want to give you your flowers while you. can hear me praise you. because a lot of times we give people. flowers and they can't smell them. a lot of times we praise people and they. can't hear it so i want to give you. flowers i want to praise master p. for what he's done for his community. while he can hear it while he can smell. the flowers. i appreciate you my brother salute thank. you man have a go. all my life been grinding all my life. sacrifice. hustle paid the price wanna slice got to. roll the dice that's why.

all my life i be grinding all my life. look all my. life been running all my life sacrifice. plus will pay the price wanna slice got. to roll it dice that's why. all my life i've been grinding all my. life. you know what to do hit the subscribe. button to become an official member of. club shayshay. where we always do something before. tucson.