Mendeecees’ Drug Dealing Past, Putting Mom Up For Collateral & Son Almost Kidnapped | EP. 77

sound horrible but I put my mom up for. collateral. I was getting a bunch of keys and they. was like well you guys show me where. your mom live at and she don't she had. no idea right and I took them and I. never even told nobody that all my life. they're grinding all my life sacrifice. hustle paid the price wanna slice got. the rolling dice that's why all my life. I'll be grinding all my life all my life. been running all my life sacrifice. hustle paid the price wanna slice got to.

roll a dice that's why all my life I be. grinding all my life. [Music]. hello welcome to another edition of Club. Shay Shay I am your host Shannon sharp. I'm also the proud of Club Shay Shay and. the guy that's stopping by for a. drinking conversation today is a music. manager producer real estate developer. actor entrepreneur father husband. reality TV star man DC's hair bro. stopping by the club how you been this. man taking it easy man it's a blessing. thank you for having me nah man thanks. for coming on you know every time we.

come the guys come on we have to toast. it yeah let's do it bro I appreciate it. much. nice and smooth. so how you been bro uh taking it easy. man one day at a time nah you do more. than take it easy from Harlem. everybody says they got the best bro. Harlem say they're the best Brooklyn say. they're the best uh Yonkers and queens. uh what's the best bro I'm I gotta say. Harlem right because Harlem got his own. culture we trendsetters I know you heard.

a dab of dance yes so there you go like. that that is our tradition Dabba Dan is. one of many he's an icon but he's one of. many. uh styles that come out of column and. you know he's an innovator. and he pushed the the culture forward. but it's so many so many styles in. Harlem right that's I mean you know you. guys are known for Hustlers people the. flashing you know the big cars and you. know the you know the big hats back in. the 50s and 60s the first the Minx is.

that is that what Harlem is when you. when people think of Harlem is that what. they think so Harlem you know we grew up. looking up to people like. um the rich Porters and you know you. hear the stories so you know we we breed. Hustlers Rebel bubbles they got other. things going on but it's it's really. Hustlers but okay so I'm looking at the. guys P Diddy Tupac ASAP Rocky camera. maze Keith Sweat Jim Jones Dame Dash.

Dougie fresh Teddy Riley Julia Santana. if I could okay you got to have a Mount. Rushmore you gotta have four people of. the guys that I just named who's on your. Mount Rushmore. I'm gonna Puff. I will go with uh camera on okay I will. go with mace okay and I will go with. um. I will go with. uh Jewel Santana all right look man how. do you like. Tupac not from home.

wait well he lived there for a little. while right so do we say he from there. yeah well you live in my we okay. I never heard him rep Harlem right so if. I heard West Coast yeah so when I if I. heard him rep Harlem then then he would. have been number one so when you when. everybody obviously did it did it that's. all playing number one yeah yeah so. did you know Diddy no no I never I don't. I don't know him so what what.

what if Diddy done for the borough of. Harlem the people of Harlem because we. see him out so much and like you said he. he's always ripping his hood from what I. see uh growing up he he gave a lot of. people jobs you know uh he saved mace. um I I know a lot of people that have. worked for him that I see in the. neighborhood they're not see him see. them with puff and I always know how to. you know give people five because I grew. up with them right but he inspired the.

community yeah absolutely you know just. just with style Grace and his presence. you know uh just seeing him make it out. of Harlem make us feel gave us hope make. us feel like we can make it but you know. but when I look at it you look at the. record executive you got him and you got. Dame Dash how familiar are you with that. nah I met Dame Dash Okay and um you know. I messed up because I definitely meant. to put him on my list okay because he's. a hustler right oh he definitely yeah he. constantly reminds you that yeah yeah he. he he might be number one really right.

and the reason why I say number one. because he really really really for the. streets he's ready for Harlem uh he goes. back in the community and you know help. people from coming home from jail prison. getting them getting their life back. together filming movies putting them in. the movies right. um I see a huge impact with Dane Dash. than I do with you know with that list a. lot of people on that list you mentioned. uh ASAP Rocky is on the list obviously. being from Harlem but not his biggest.

claim to fame he wife Rihanna. so uh. look I mean you see he was on the cover. with I mean obviously there are about to. bring um welcome this second child. um he's on the cover of Vogue I mean and. it's just hard I mean because he's. talking about the way he was dressed and. how you know you see a lot of guys. dressing now you see them in they wear. skirts or what I mean I guess it's a.

kill or whatever they're wearing so I. think ASAP and um Ferg ASAP Rocky they. they more got like a village style it's. not it's not Harlem you don't really see. that in Harlem you see that like in SoHo. okay so you know they they different you. know so. they embrace it I accept it you know but. they but they just haul them on their. back so I'm rooting for them I'm looking. at you you raised them single parent. household. um. in Harlem what was that life like for.

you did you and and we're gonna get into. you know some of the some of the things. that you got into so use raise single. parent household would you have been. different if both parents were in the. same yeah absolutely you know what I I. say that all the time I just be I always. ask myself that what how would I would. have turned out if I had a father figure. and my mom there right but let alone uh. a male figure as as an example even yeah. a positive example even if he's not a.

father figure right just an example of. what a man should do with the right. right thing to do so I never had that. right you know um I grew up in the 80s. in the projects and and you know when I. grew up you know crack was really really. taking over Harlem drugs was taken over. Harlem so a lot of my friends including. myself you know our parents fell victim. right so we we we kind of had to figure. it out right you know in in back then. you know Grandma had her kids and has so.

many grandkids she couldn't do every she. couldn't do be there for everybody so. you know some had to just find their own. way and I was one of the kids that had. to find my own way so when you were. growing up what did what did man DC's. what did you want to become what did you. want to be in life when you got older. you like okay you're 11 12 13 and you're. like man when I I want to be a. professional athlete I want to be this. or I want to be a doctor you know I. ain't get a chance to really to to think. that far right because when I when I was. six I remember. um Aunt you know one of my aunt.

boyfriends whatever uh introduced me to. drugs and you like wow six-year-old yeah. six year old right where you know you. put them on a block and you say hey. shorty hold this pack and and every time. they run out you you they get the pack. you I don't know what I'm doing right. but later on I come to find out what I. was doing so and and that became normal. to me right and then it just progressed. and it got you got more involved and. more involved to Hey listen this is how. I eat and this is how I feed my family.

normally. a male a dominant figure in your life. Grooms you to become my brother was. grooming me because I saw him I wanted. to be a professional athlete or a father. groomed his son to become a doctor or a. lawyer or mother Grooms her son to be. you know we see LeBron how he's grooming. Brian to be follow his footsteps you had. an uncle that was grooming you you got. Hustlers grooming kids to be Hustlers. right right I mean they're not grooming. for nothing else right they telling you. uh don't go to school that [ __ ] don't. pay that's whack right right so then you.

have your mom telling you go to school. go to school go to school but then when. your mom fall victim in the street right. your protector is gone right so there's. no one over you to be like you know go. to school so it you know that's it. that's what it becomes so do you feel. like you always do you feel like you. were always searching for that milk for. that role model not necessarily A a. father but a but a figure someone that. was positive that you could look up to. says okay that's what I want to be like. I think I think for me I stopped looking.

a long time ago. um for in in a person that I look to be. that that role model I look for myself. to be there to my kids right so I make. sure they never be me when I was that. kid looking for that role model I'm a. role model right I'm involved in a life. did you play sports growing up no I. never got a chance right I never got a. chance to play sports I think for the. most part. um I I was being I was too much worrying. about things I shouldn't be worrying. about right so how does how do we get.

someone like a kid that's coming up in. in your situation living in a similar. situation how do we get them to say you. know what I understand this is the. environment that I'm in but there is a. better way out how do we find people how. do we pair them with with mentors and. role models to get them out of that. thought process that this is the only. way out see now I think what what's. helping the kids now is the internet. right because they they see success in. different forms right when I was growing.

up we only seen successor Eva you made. it to the NBA you played basketball or. you was a hustler right uh the the. people that was the entertainments we. couldn't touch them right we you know. but the hustlers we can touch we saw. them we saw them we up in person with. them right there was like a hood. Superstars right so now with the with. the internet being the way it is kids. you know we've seen successful kids on. YouTube these Tick Tock. um um comedians. um people are making yourself and.

building itself so that that's inspiring. a lot of kids to do something different. right uh I I read a post the other day. and said uh tick-tockers make more than. drug dealers wow you know and that that. was powerful right there because I I had. to think about it and I I know you know. my son dropped a YouTube video he didn't. make five to ten Grand right so just by. just showing his everyday life right so. I could and he don't even go hard so I. can imagine a kiss that's invested in. going hard you know um just doing. something it's definitely less dangerous.

right oh yeah yeah you sleeping better. at night I'll tell you that so you ended. up catching a bed five year bid. um what what what did you do to stretch. for. um I had I had a conspiracy to move uh. uh uh kilos from New York to Rochester. and um what happened in that case is. usually when you're in the FED somebody. somebody get locked up in whatever state. they are and they get presented a deal. listen tell us who got money we don't.

care if you did business with them you. just gotta tell us point us in the. direction uh where the money at and we. Enlighten your sentence and I was. pointing at you know I had a I had a. long run and sometimes when you know. you're wrong you don't have to fight. even though it's not my situation but I. I got away with this right here so I'm. going to take the plea and and take that. on the chin and get back to my life so. you you was you was El Chapo before. Chapo no I'm gonna say oh yeah I. wouldn't say that a little weight like. that no like but I was moving some.

weight for some well assistant kid but. but I wasn't I wasn't a no El Chapo did. it ever down on you but I got some I got. some crazy stories about. um you know uh I remember one time. um I was dealing with a connect and I. decided it's gonna sound horrible but I. put my mom up for collateral. yeah I'm just getting a bunch of I was I. was getting a bunch of keys and they was. like well you guys show me where your. mom live at because if you you run off. on this you you can't afford you to run.

off right and I was like I had no. intentions of running off right so I was. like I'm I'll show you. and I and I took him and she don't she. had no idea right and I took them so if. if that normal. I think I think at that point I I had. good in my heart right to do good. business right so I didn't look I didn't. think that you didn't think that I. didn't put my mom's life I really put my. mom right you know and I never even told. nobody that right so it that was that.

was when I look back at the decisions I. made now I'd be like God Lee I can't. believe I'm still here was that one of. the worst decisions that you did that. you put your mom up that's one of them. that's one of them that's one of them. you uh man so did it ever Dawn on you. like man what if I get caught what if I. get killed what if a family member so so. what happened when that thought process. happened right I didn't have any kids I. ain't had I didn't have nothing to live. for right right I only had me right I. had me my whole life. that that changed the moment I had my.

son because I I said well if something. happened to me who has him right he's. gonna be a Lost Child right so if I if. I'm going to change that narrative then. I got to start figuring out something. different because I want to be there for. him you know and and that's important to. me that's more important than money. that's more important than uh then. that's that's number one in my life and. he changed that thought process and the. crazy stuff I used to do I started. scaling back scaling back scaling back.

and it was a it was a time where I would. be like I don't want to do this no more. right but I gotta find something to do. and the moment I started thinking of. hustles other hustles first thing came. to my mind is real estate right you know. because that's where most hustles go. right because as we taking nothing and. turning to something right and you know. so that's that's where I was heading so. when you were when you was hustling did. you put the money that you were making. into a legitimate business because a lot. of times that's what they try to do they. try to you know you got to clean the.

money up you got to have something to. show where you're getting all this. income from we tried right but you gotta. understand we didn't we didn't really. know I didn't really know the structure. you know nobody teaches Finance uh. structure we you know it's so late in. the game we learned about llc's and and. trust or even knowing how to hide the. money most of the money was like shoot. people house. yeah shoe boxes and then you know them. people start uh tapping you so you go to. Home Depot people buy a bunch of safes. and just put them in people's house and.

that you have no connections with and. hoping that you know if they come nobody. go over there right oh man so what was. some what was the most money that you. made in the deal in a deal. um profit see uh profiting one day I. think probably like 100 Grand profit. one day and you was like okay just easy. fast money it was it it was it was uh. looking forward to the next day. all right so we make it and you don't.

get a chance to celebrate you're just. happy you didn't get caught so you just. you just worrying about okay what I'm. gonna do what I'm gonna do tomorrow. so when you make. until you maybe you made 100 Grand. profit. do you think man I'm gonna go buy this. let me let me go celebrate I mean did. you buy anything with it did you get a. chance to enjoy any of it yeah I got a. chance um I bought a lot of cars I took. care of my people's uh we party we. travel we uh we we live life as to what. we thought was living life right right. you know um I look back in it now it.

ain't [ __ ] right but back then coming. from the projects most most people in. the project don't get a chance that they. never been on I there's some people I. took on a plane for their first time. grown men right so to to be able to take. the give them back 15 people on the. plane and say let's go to uh Miami for. the weekend and put them all in rooms. and have fun and do things it was like. little kids with money so you know that. we call that at that time living life. right do you ever did you ever look over.

your shoulder would you did you find. yourself constantly peeking out the. window. yeah listen I I had home invasions. um I had attempt kidnaps. um I had I had been through like so much. that that I was paranoid right right I. had correction officers. um dress up like uh cops and and act. like they they was they were serving a. warrant right meanwhile they they I seen. them stuff in bags and taking the money. out the bags and stuff and then they.

bulletproof vest and I remember my. brother said they ain't copy robbing us. so you know. um in in in that instance. um you know just trust us trust issues I. didn't trust no one right you know I. didn't know like I had friends you know. uh watching friends kill friends uh. watching girls set guys up. um you know it it was it was it was a. movie a real movie right do uh so how. you trust issues now do you still have.

trust issues so I I still have them but. they're not as worse as it used to be. because I'm not in that lifestyle no. more so it's like if you want to stick. me up go to the bank and you know just. get them a letter and see how far that. gets you but um the trust issues I have. now it just you know I'm still you know. doing okay for myself so when you're. doing okay everybody's you you. experience everybody saying they love. you want to be around call your phone. want help when this one that and if you.

got a good heart you know I I I like I'm. gonna help someone right you know but. sometimes it's not always good you gotta. be careful who you help right do you. ever worry about your past anybody from. your past running down on you do you. think about that. um or are you so far removed from that. ah I'm so far removed from that but I I. feel in my opinion you know I did right. by people right if I did wrong it's. because you caused me to do wrong right. force my hand you know you [ __ ] up and.

you did some [ __ ] right and you got to. eat that right but but I never I'm I'm. like I'm I'm not I'm yeah I ain't a. troublemaker I I like to get money have. fun at that time you know you know I was. with the with the hip-hop you know at. that time they said money cards closing. hoes all the [ __ ] knows but that was. our model right so the beefing and all. that now I had some people for that if. you want that right but I try to stay. away from that because I always knew. that once you started mixing the murders. in The Fez ain't gonna let you get but.

so much money they caught that they. gotta come right they're gonna let the. Box yeah they're not gonna do that so. what what is it what is it about that. lifestyle that culture that seems to be. embraced so much by us that with ever. since the movie scarf yeah hip-hop but. I'm saying ever since like you you. mentioned Nikki Barnes and you you. mentioned uh uh uh American Frank Lucas. yeah Frank Lucas and in 83 when Scarface. came. everybody had to post it everybody. watching that movie and you get Chopper. and you get uh you get Noriega and you.

get you know I think I think people are. intrigued by the people the underdog. right the people that come from nothing. from poverties from just the worst. circumstances as as you can think of. right and once you see them uh take. nothing and turn into something and get. that level of success right they become. a hero right right so it's just like. people uh go to Africa still gold and. diamonds you know you're still a little.

bit they call you a thief you still a. lot they call your King right so it's. the same it's the same concept. we just we just not talking diamonds and. gold right you know okay. I look at Jay and Jay had a very similar. and you bet you know Jay-Z very well and. he started in that lifestyle and look. what he became. did did you think that like you know. what. I'm gonna put that behind me and you. could become what you're becoming. absolutely I've seen the direction where. uh hip-hop was taking us and I seen the. outlet for all the guys that was.

transitioning from the streets uh. finding talent in in the hood and and. pushing the talent in the music business. so once I'm able to identify that now. this is a model I see I'm I'm going that. same way because you sleep better you. get to take care of your family and you. live a better lifestyle without you know. looking over your shoulder is you know. you don't have to do that no more so I'm. inspired right. what do you think about shows like BMF. and snowfall and Power.

see I got mixed feelings about that. right because my son um he loves. snowfall he you know he's he he's. inactive now right he go to all my kids. go to acting school and um he just got. he you know he just got signed his big. contract with his agent with a top agent. so you know he he want to play that role. right and not and and I I look at that. role and I look at that show and I'm. like I've been through all I've been. through so much of that [ __ ] right that. is it's not it's sad right that that a.

young kid have to go through that right. because that shouldn't be our life right. and and and and and you know you get. these suburb kids that that. you know they're excited by that. lifestyle and I say you don't want that. right that's not something you want. right because because you when you when. you look at it it's like. suburbs I mean a lot of times the hood. want to be in the suburbs the suburbs. want to go back to the hood right and. live a lifestyle so how much they're. just like rappers want to be Trappers.

and Trappers want to be rappers so they. they want to they want to reverse. because uh the rappers they talking some. of them not all of them talk about a. lifestyle they never lived right right. and then the real Trappers don't want to. live that lifestyle so they say like you. see how easy you make him I wish let's. show you places right you think it's. that easy yeah you let's trade places. right but the entertainment value and. and the act and I get it because it's. for entertainment and I'm not you know. I'm not looking because like I said. snowfall is probably my favorite show.

it's one of mines too it's probably. really the only show that I watch on on. television but there's an entertainment. value of it but to get the authenticity. down pat they had to go and research and. do some things with some people that. says okay this is how you do it this is. the lingo that you use and this is what. you do right absolutely because you you. have to be on ground level to understand. you know um I'm of course there's some. secrets that you you can't tell because. they still working today right you don't. want to blow people's spot up you know.

because this is how they speed their. family but they had to go deep down to. ground level and touch the hood and get. with it I heard the stories based off. Rick Ross right I got a chance to meet. him too. so that that was pretty cool because I I. what was cool is I heard his story right. and I see it on TV so you know I'm like. all right. if you jump if you could give any advice. if you could say if John Morant was. sitting right here and you could give. him any piece of advice or you could. have a conversation with him what were.

some of the advice that you would share. with him. like I would tell him like most people. were in the position he is right now he. got a chance to set his family up for. generations to come not just him not. just the Next Generation his kids kids. right I would tell him you know uh just. being a tough guy don't pay you know uh. and and having a gun sometimes I used to. tell people you know don't carry a gun. because it might Force you somebody. might force you to shoot him because.

you're not gonna let nobody beat you up. with a gun on you right you're not going. to be knocked out on the floor and you. got this one yeah you got you got that. eat that that you know how you get that. now it's like I wish you would right you. know you're a different person I've been. that person right I'm a I'm I was a. different person when I had a gun on me. and to the point where you know I seen. myself getting an unnecessary [ __ ] that. I would avoid it if I didn't have it. right so I I I I I didn't really like. guns. normally I mean normally.

if you were worth 200 million dollars. you ain't gonna try to hustle or you're. not going to try to present yourself as. that in that lifestyle. but and that's what I think that's the. thing where people look at me like John. bro you got a chance to do something you. like you said generation you're talking. about five generations with the kind of. money that he's he's in in line to get. over the next 10 15 years I've seen a. documentary he had his father in his. life yeah he had his mother in his life. so now when I start to see things like. this I'm I'm questioning like where they.

at. you know um not to say they're not in. his life right but I know when when I. started to see my son act up I'm I'm. coming right I'm what's what the what's. going on right like talk to me but. here's the difference and this is what I. tell people oh man DC it's like when the. rolls flip. when like when I was coming up my. grandfather my grandmother said I paid. the bills you listen to me but what. happens when the child starts paying the. bills right who listens to who now. where you live on the golf course that's.

me that nice car that you drive that's. me those first class seats in those. court size seats that's me so can you. talk to that child the same way and he. listens if the role because he's now in. a parent role he's doing all the things. that you normally did for him right. so with me personally I wouldn't I I. love my son Beyond money my son couldn't. pay me to be submissive to him to watch. him crash out right okay so so I can't.

do nothing with the money without him. here I mean if I need him here so we can. enjoy it right so I don't think that. ever happened with me right so you were. shot twice stabbed 13 times right. as you're lying there. what's going on is your life like. literally flashing before you I was like. man am I gonna make it or some one time. I was one time I got stabbed I didn't. know I was actually stabbed because I. was too busy. and you're fighting yeah and then you. like oh snap what's my shirt is sticking.

to me right and then you know my back. sticking and then then it's like then. when you start seeing blood then it's. like your mind like okay I'm getting. tired now right then maybe if I didn't. see it then but um it happens you know. it happens. and and when when something like that. happens. um you just gotta thank God you're still. here did you know you had gotten shot. yeah oh shot oh yeah I definitely know I. was I I caused that on myself I did some. I did some I did something my brother. got shot the day before and I called.

myself. um yeah I'll call myself just doing. something stupid and and and and the. outcome I got shot behind that. your son was a Target in a kidnapping. yeah what happened is what happened was. um. uh I started you know doing uh you're. gonna do the right thing huh are you. still doing the wrong thing right I was. doing I was doing the wrong thing and. and and and a close person uh wasn't.

wasn't was in prison and it was in. prison with one of you know mutual. friend and he was they was inspired when. I get home I heard he's got all the. money on the street when I get home you. know I want we need to get his son we. need to get his son and the person he. said that to uh came and told me and and. you know. and that was that. nothing you know we just say we stop. that. deal right so what did so what what was.

the sentence that they had had you not. taken the plea deal uh so if I went to. trial and I blew trial then I probably. would have got like uh maybe 20 years if. you blow trial because you know they. they stacked the charges up yeah the. government really don't like you to. fight you fight them back right they. want they want you to they put enough. they know they're gonna get something. one of them gonna stick right so so at. the end of the day I took the Lesser. charge for to to be like to be able to. you know I could count the time I'm like. all right well eight years you do five I.

get I could I'm so used to starting all. over it's normal to me right like I. never really have. um money issues right because it's like. it's like as soon as I came outside I I. just figured I figured it out right so. I'm like well five years I you know I. could come back and start my life back. over and and at that time. um I was on TV so I didn't know if TV. was going to be there but I knew that it. was open up doors for me right so I was. like hurry up and get this over with so.

I could you know get my life back. together so what do you think about the. situation uh I don't know I know you I. don't know how much you know or how much. you've read uh the situation that's. going on in Atlanta with the RICO on. Gunner and uh the Y uh what it YSL right. um. because like we were talking about. earlier what is entertainment right and. what is reality right so how do how does. how can you say because I'm talking. about you know capping this and doing. that that that's reality. so I see I don't know the case right and. because I I know that successful black.

men become targets from the government. because of their influence and the. company that they keep right right so. um I I know that but as far as their. case I I don't know. and um I wish some guys the best you. know I wish that they they they they. have an opportunity the same opportunity. John Morant have to to change to rewrite. history right and and support their. family uh uh people and and Inspire hope.

in their Community right so I hope they. make out the best and I hope that. everything that the media is saying true. because I know about uh the media. twisting things around to make it sound. salacious enough to to to to get a. conviction right because once when she. once you play with the media that same. people that's watching the media is the. jurors right so they're going off with. these newspaper they going up for what. all the bad things right so they're not. really taking in account of your actions.

is is basically who can prove their. story right. you um. when you cop the uh the plea. and it's like and you didn't get the. amount of time that you could have. gotten do people think you read it dime. snitched someone well I think for the. for the people that's not educated in. the uh with with the system. so if if if you if you don't if you. never experienced this lifestyle right. and you from the outside looking in and. you're just looking at like a glimpse of.

the story you you make your own opinion. you're gonna formulate your own opinion. but if you if you have a loved one there. and or you experience it then you just. have to get more information right right. that's just like me making an opinion. about YSL I can't make an opinion. because I don't know this story right so. I don't know I can't sit here and be. like uh just as far as I could say. they're innocent right you know you. understand. and what they're convicted of just. having money and power right money and.

power is is a drug and it's dangerous. right and people don't like to want to. see you with that. so in my case. um. you know people I I guess for the type. of money I was getting they feel like I. I heard that's not enough time right. that's not enough time right you you was. out there killing it for too long. best times the time but a lot of times I. kept people out my business right so. even even at the dentist I was doing you. didn't know about them right all you.

know is about the Rolex the nice cars. this and that but you don't know my. dealings right so because they behind. closed doors right so you know. that's it so why are we seeing so many. rappers going to prison for this Rico. how are they able to just slap that RICO. charge uh because the RICO and. conspiracy is is about affiliation right. and long as long as we Affiliated. together uh just say you you I'm I'm an. artist you're a street guy you you come.

to me telling me about your problems if. I give you one advice then be that's a. RICO oh it's not real conspiracy yeah. reconspiracy I can't give you advice we. and being really really supposed to be. hanging out right but you gotta. understand for for a lot of uh guys that. made it have a sense of loyalty for. other people they come up with and just. because they made it they don't they're. not gonna ban the ones that was there. for them right you know and and in every. sense of me being through that that's.

why I moved from New York to Atlanta. because I knew I had so many down people. for me right and I just didn't want to. be around that no more you know and and. loved ones I love them right like I love. them like we go out to eat and they go. They're gonna pull up you know what I'm. saying so but they that's their life. right it's not my life no more right you. know so I have to separate that man I'm. looking prison went too bad for you bro. I mean you on IG right right I mean you. eat Papa I mean come bro whatever that.

so so I I went I went through I went. through prison not only as a Kingpin but. a reality TV star yeah right so you know. when I went to the white prison you know. the the CEOs hated on me right right or. the guy with the white teeth and and the. guy on TMZ and this and that and you. know they they hate was uh go get that. garbage and Mr Harris take that garbage. and take it to the top of the hill look. and laugh to their thing right and I'll. be like you know I'll curse to say.

something on my breath and I wouldn't do. it right so they call itself discipline. me but when I go when I moved to the. camp now the federal Camp don't have no. Gates around right people getting uh. furloughs furloughs if you could go home. for uh 28 hours I mean 48 hours and. stuff like that and it's black people. young black people hip-hop people yeah. so they like yo what's up man oh yo you. want to go to a concert here. um um I'm gonna call Remy Ma let you go. to Remy Ma because she's uh performing.

in Atlantic City her and Papoose let one. of my the CEOs on my unit come to the. concert so he go to the concerts he'll. come back like go on your locker be. Popeyes uh uh Lobster all types of stuff. then he then then it used to be like. here man here's your phone so you. somebody call you and I'll be like yo. listen stop bringing me the phone in. front of everybody right so you know. it was very very very very. um relaxed in that sense but at the same.

time one of the hardest thing I had to. deal with is um you know watching my. kids grow up through prison right so you. know nothing superseded that right there. I think for me that was the hardest part. in every every visit my kid kept asking. me um Dad when you coming home right. when you're coming home when you come. home and and every time I said soon soon. they got to a point where they got tired. of hearing soon they want to know a date. did you ever did you ever tell. um. don't bring it back I don't want to see. I don't want him to see me like this I. don't want to see anybody no I I I I I.

think I never said that because I still. wanted that connection okay right and I. still wanted to be involved in a life as. as much as possible because I see when. when men not involved in their children. life sometimes a kid be bitter right you. know they feel they have that. abandonment issues and I just wanted to. reassure my kids that I love them right. right and anything I could do from them. from there was just sound advice or a. gift or something to ease the pain right.

I want to make sure I do that right and. you know my children mother and mothers. and my wife they did a great job of. keeping that connection. was it difficult to see your wife on the. internet I mean you in jail and you yeah. every day I'm gonna I'm in the bathroom. you know I'm on the toilet in the. bathroom looking through IG and I'm I'm. watching her in Dubai I'm watching her. live her life. whoa I need you I need you home I need. you miserable waiting on me to come back. so I'm like how you going to all these.

places without me we supposed to have. this experience together right right so. I I'm there hating and I'm calling I was. a big hater right then then I said you. know forget this phone I'll go to my bed. and just punch push punch my bed I'm. like when I get out I'm going to all. these places right listen come on I'm. like you you coming now you gonna watch. me go like I'm I'm going right and um I. fulfilled that I I went to Dubai I've. been to Africa a few times and um you. know I I've been to I got my passport.

stamped up so it was one of the promises. that I made was to see the world right. because because you know we Harlem was. our that was our world right we didn't. really know too much you know outside of. Harlem so man is is a big world out. there so with anything anything pop off. in prison like you like man I gotta. watch my back I gotta make ooh I mean I. had some um some people that was jealous. right because they just how I was living. in there right you know um you know they.

they felt like I was getting special. treatment they feel like you know yeah. it was. yeah. gonna feel some type of way but I feel. like I feel like don't be a hater like. be a part like join come on come on man. get your plate come come eat with me. right you ain't got it like it's enough. for everybody and I will make it enough. for everybody right so you know is it. but you have some people I ain't no. goopy that's the first thing when. someone wanna they don't they might be a. fan right but they they'd rather not be.

a groupie right then then it looks like. a fan well you know what that's one. thing I can say about you uh that you. real. um because when I reached out to you and. I was like bro can I send you can I send. you something you're like oh yeah bro I. love to I want to try it and then I mean. we hadn't really at that point in time. we had never met I just said can I send. you this and that's all I say can I see. you just I want you to try it you're. like yeah and then next thing I know you. at the mayor's ball and you posted it. right I'm like dude. he said I I want to see I want to see.

y'all succeed right and first I'm a fan. right I think that I think he's super. dope. um I think that you know sometimes you. gotta not sometimes all the time you. should be confident who you are right to. be giving another man his flowers and. tell another man you dope right you know. you you you what you did and what your. compass is very inspiring and if I can. be a little piece of help. to assist you to promote you to do. anything it didn't cost me nothing to.

shout you out and support you why don't. we do that enough why. I'm talking about us this is the. conversation between you and our black. man the black man why is it that we. can't see that why can't well and. sometimes I've read a quote that says. jealousy sometimes isn't about somebody. you having something that somebody else. wants sometimes jealousy is about them. not wanting you to have it at all right. I think we we do too much for competing. with each other right right we think. that you know it's not enough for all of.

us to eat but it is it is it's plenty of. money out there I think I think I think. I think a lot of people got like trauma. right where they how they was raised or. grew up that they everything is like. this they don't know if you know if you. give God won't bless you right right so. they like everything is like this they. holding on to everything they want. everything for themselves but you know. when you give and you able to change. people's lives and and put food on. people's table or create opportunities. that's a different type of love right.

different type of respect so you know um. I don't know man I I encourage every I. don't like stinging selfish people. around me I tell you if I figure if I. start to see them tracing you I get away. from you real quick wow. so what what was the prison food like oh. it was disgusting it was it was it was. definitely definitely disgusting but. again when I got to the um to New Jersey. Farrington to camp we had black Cooks. right they put the season in them right.

so you know they put the seasoning on it. so you know it it again you know for. someone that that. they don't have a family. um they don't have anything going on I'm. pretty sure it's easy for them right. it's a mental thing right and then once. you once you get into prison and you saw. I started to see a lot of um young black. Brothers in there that lost so many. years in prison for the the the smallest. crime you can imagine and they lost they.

hold they lost 20 years right and I. started to see that prison is a business. right you know they they Warehouse. people and put people to work to make. five dollars a month ten dollars a month. where where now you they don't even have. enough money to call a family they don't. have enough money for commissary don't. have it costs money to send an email. right so you know when you think about. the the. um the the self the phones and and and.

all of um commissary and stuff. they making a lot of money of these. people and every time every time people. get out you you notice they do big. indictments right big indictments. because they got to fill these prisons. back up they don't want these prisons. empty right they don't want them empty. well and I got a chance to work uh in. unicorn and I was working cleaning uh. ATT products right right and I'm like. Dad ATT is profiting off a prison right. and you think about all the big.

companies that's profitable but they. they complain about people going. overseas but them slave wages but we got. it right here in this country right and. no everybody's turning the Blind Eye. nobody cares until it hit home then once. they hit home then then all of a sudden. they saw the care but you know what uh. man what I don't understand is that guys. will go to prison and work for a dollar. hour or 75 cents or two dollars an hour. but say nah I don't want no job at. McDonald's making 15 an hour and you be.

free now you make two dollars an hour. incarcerated and you're not free they. tell you when to go where to go what. time to get up what time to go to bed. for two dollars an hour but you don't. want to work for 15 hours McDonald's. that's that that's beneath them what's. that mentality what's that mindset I. think that's social pressure social. pressure of God's wanting to be the man. right and they feel like they can never. they're never gonna succeed getting 15. an hour when you have the movies that we. watch right the El Chapo's and the uh.

King of New York and all that they. rather take that route than than to be. with a mop and a boom for the next five. or ten years right or to something you. know it's uncomfortable right for them. and they don't they then for me. there's a lot of challenges they just. gotta challenge it right. I see raw uh finesse two times he. brought Diamond cufflinks he said he. wanted it to remind them of where he's. been and that he's never going back. what do you think about that symbolism I. don't want nothing to remind me for real.

you can keep all that [ __ ]. listen I don't want no cuffs I don't. want no khakis I don't want nothing like. you know I it's so crazy because you. have a bottle of cracking Sushi without. hell no. I ain't buying I'm listen I'll dumb. memories is in the past and the only. thing that I wish you know not even I. wish I'm inspired to do is to stop. people from going there right right so. and tell young brothers that you know.

that I looked that could have been me. like that's not the way to go you know. so I I do the mentorship I go into. schools I even go into prison right and. and who who can they believe. to tell a story about me right you know. I lived it at a high level. so if I can tell you your outcome don't. don't go don't go get the outcome right. learn from me right you know and and I. think that um I'm able to reach him and. I I'm gonna continue to reach as many as. I can but you took courses in prison.

yeah substance abuse courses I took. every I took every program that's how. that's how I got through my days I took. every class that I can take right so I. wanted to work on I wanted to take that. time and do something um useful for me. it was to learn and um you know just for. me it was like college right right so I. never got a chance I got a GD I never. got a chance to finish school but I got. my GED so that my my time in prison it.

was um to learn as much as I could learn. not not to make this dead time I do time. I'm just sitting around. um um learn and and also reflect on the. decisions I made and also figure out how. to make better decisions so you know. when you're there your whole life. flashed behind you right and you always. say that if I would have did this. different how did this different. did you so do you did you have a lot of. of like thinking about because they say. prison okay there's two ways of looking.

at prison the actual facility in which. you're in and your mind being. incarcerated. is that when the mind gets incarcerated. is where people do bad things to. themselves and maybe do bad things to. other people. so did you ever like did you ever lie. yourself to like man I mean five years. and you know you say that's not a lot of. time but five years is a lot of time. when you can't go and come as you please. but see if I I said five years and not a. lot of time because if I say I had a. 15-year run right and I tell you. everything that happened to me in that. 15 years.

five years not a lot of times oh okay I. see what you're saying yeah you. understand yeah so so man I remember the. pandemic man DC man I'm losing my mind. inside and I can get still get my car. and drive down the street even though I. couldn't go in a restaurant I listen man. try to sleep on the floor that's hard. yeah that's how the bed feels right so. for the pandemic I was home in the. pandemic right and my and I got a a. California King right I was good right. there so I got the remote California. King got the kids the dog I was chilling.

when you got out you had a financial. wealth seminar call from prison cell to. living well. what made you decide to do that. um because when I first came out of. prison right. um and and you know I never been through. prison so I never experienced. um you know the aftermath the the the. the part like things I couldn't do like. I couldn't get I had money coming out. you know um I couldn't get a car because. I can't enter no uh contract right no. banks wanted my money because they they.

figure um he's going money launder right. right so when when you when you when you. look up the case and you see millions of. dollars they said oh he's gonna run. millions of dollars to uh uh a bank and. and you know we we don't we don't want. that attention right you know so I had. nowhere to uh put my money I had a great. accountant that when I was in prison. moved my money to Canada that's the only. that was the only person that was the. only place I could was willing to take. my money in Canada and uh when I came.

home. I started trying to trying to get um buy. a house the house I live in now I'm just. going by the house and and I I had alert. the back office and and I slid. underneath the radar but as soon as I. alert the back office they kick my money. straight on out. so it was like it was like only through. relationships and network I was able to. reestablish myself in in a support. system right so I had I had I had a job. I had people vouching for me I had I had.

that support that that made it easy but. I was more concerned how I got in that. program is the people that don't have. the support right what that looked like. for them and and and you know I I I was. losing hope at one point right so I can. imagine someone with no support. how how they losing hope and then they. end up doing what they was doing before. they got in there because they they they. uh went through all their remedies right.

and and led them back to square one and. that's my question to you how do we keep. men that look like you and I from going. and if they do go how do we keep it from. going back. I think programs uh more people like. myself like you speaking up even though. that's not your your world but you're. still like you're still a great example. for for a man and and inspiring so. people just being you know a mentor and.

able to you don't people don't know how. impactful they voices by just giving it. to a kid even grown men right because I. see grown men ask for advice right you. know um just because someone is older. mentally they not mature you see men. that that's that's still children. because they never got that chance to. grow up they still stuck do you run into. it and what I've run into sometimes is. that sometimes we are too prideful to. ask for it absolutely I I used to be. like that right I used to I used to be.

the one that had it all figured out. right I used to be so reserved I mean I. never used to even talk to people right. right so you know I I never had a. personality right right so I just say. what's up you know and keep it moving. whatever and uh my wife helped me with. that she said man you got to start. talking to people because you got this. beautiful personality in the house with. us and the kids and people you. comfortable with but you you you're. going to be in this box you're gonna.

you're gonna miss the opportunity of. making some really good friends and some. really good connections if you don't. talk right because you you these trust. issues you're thinking you know the. corny [ __ ] we think people really laugh. at us and play you know. um I just did it me and Cameron just did. a a a tap dance right so I didn't know. how to tap dance but we figured it out. and you know people is going to be. laughing at it but we had a good time. and that and we was at that time I. wasn't worrying about people laughing I. was just wanting to focus on us having a.

good time so how long after you got out. did it take you to get your money. straight because I read that you had to. give up 170 000 that you had earned from. the reality show yeah to make. restitution it wasn't really restitution. right what it was it was uh if you want. to get out on Bell well you can do two. things right. you can you get even. tell us who got some money or you could. give us some money I said I'll give you. so they wanted you to Dime on somebody. so so those are two options you can even.

tell us who got money or you could give. us some money and and I went with the. option of well you know if if you if if. I get out on bail I'll forfeit any money. that I make right right from TV whatever. the case may be I'll fall for it but. then it gives me time to uh to to just. make these adjustments before I know I'm. coming back right right and I had a call. from my lawyer tell me um you know you. don't have to come back I said no I'm. coming back right you know what I'm. saying I'm I'm coming back because this.

is going to be a short period of my life. bro that should be all behind me and and. I want it done with right so you know I. had a chance to uh at that time marry my. wife right I had a chance to have a. daughter uh uh just you know extend my. family I had a chance to uh make a uh to. fortify the relationship with me and my. moms and and be there for my brother and. mentally just prepare them for what's to. come I know you can't really prepare for.

it right but by having these. conversations and these discussions to. let them know like listen I love you and. you told Who had who who had the money. you gonna have paperwork right. but so if you tell like okay Shannon. Shannon got Bae Shannon running this and. all that no you don't need that you know. from from what I hear you don't even. need that really right no to to to start. an investigation you don't need to have. anything on you you just need that no.

know your name pretty much and and. that's that's their job that's not your. job. you heard you hear a lot of women and. I've heard this I'm ride or die hey up. down side side back front back I'm a. router that [ __ ] hey we get this High. the roller coaster your boy I'm you're. woman there with you if we down here. Yandy rather die for real right man she. hey she did that not listen she she you. know the crazy thing about that is.

um in the beginning I ain't think she. could do it right because I I know how. how clingy she was right right and prior. to me having this case I'm in my I I. grew up watching my friends go to prison. and they used to be stressing over a. girl right and I'd be like yo do your. time stop worrying about it right so I. vowed to never beat them right right. just because I had that chip on my. shoulder and I had trust issue right so. when I when I was on my way to prison I.

was like listen just be my friend right. because I don't want you to have these I. don't want to have these expectations. and get let down because I've been I've. been let down my whole life right right. I had expectations and everyone I had. expectations let me down and I didn't I. didn't want this relationship ruined did. you tell her that I told you tell her. that but did you really mean that I. didn't mean it I didn't mean it I ain't. gonna lie I mean it I wanted to see if. she took the exit right like like if he. giving me a like sometimes sometimes you.

give someone an out and see if they take. it yeah and if they take it that's what. they really want the house right but you. but as but that's you give it to them. right and she didn't take it and I was. happy she didn't take that but I felt. like as being responsible and and being. realistic I had to give her out right. man I'm looking at me you handled a lot. of 2011 Audi A8 170 000 cash. and then you like hey I'm gonna build. this I'm gonna build it right back up. listen I I told you starting all over.

um it's normal to me you know like you. you when you're a hustler you take. losses you go right back you get right. back you get right back it's in you it. ain't on you you know so. um my my mentality is just just open. these Gates I figure the rest out I mean. she was on the front line whether she. was a protest the inhumane conditions uh. she got pepper sprayed in the process I. mean. bruh that was you got a real one yeah.

listen that was crazy because I I asked. her like why are you doing that like. because I'm in the inside right I was. worried for her and she was like that. could have been you in there that could. have been you living in them conditions. right so again it hit close to home. right so you know with Yanni uh being an. activist at first I didn't get it. because I I thought you know I'm so used. to fighting for people we know right not. fighting for people we don't know but I. get it now. I'm just trying to figure this I've been. around you a little while and you're.

very soft-spoken you don't say a whole. lot I mean you speak when spoken to but. you're not a confrontational individual. and a lot of times to be on reality it. requires you to to get out of your cat. get out of character well I did one time. with the gym I don't know if you missed. that uh with the guy in the gym that. wasn't taking her cousin yeah so that. was that was one time that was a valid. reason right you know but. um my demeanor is what it is in real. life yeah with the camera right I I.

don't like to argue nope I'm not trying. to fight nobody and um that's just what. it is well how do you make it work. because a lot of these shows are. predicated and they get the better. ratings when someone gets out of. character and you seem like with the. exception of that one time you stay in. character but I think they gotta they. got enough people for that right right. and they got people that's their thing. you know that's that state thing is you. know they don't know how to control. their emotions. you know I had to control my emotions.

right you know I I I played with my life. right so when when these people uh. getting out of character and not. controlling emotion it it lives and it. dies there me it goes a whole nother. direction right I don't want that right. so let's not go there I don't I do not. want I don't want no smoke. because smoke weed can't come back from. right I don't want that you have kids. from two Island want to use the BM word. but you have kids from two different.

women and one of the your kids mom. um Yandy cousin beat up so so how how. was that so so what what did you say. like like why y'all why y'all do this so. so you know how. when you remove the the man the father. hey everything good chaos yeah you know. there's no more order no more structure. so I I know once I left. it's gonna fall apart right and um I.

just I was just hoping that it didn't it. didn't go too crazy but as soon as I get. back everything back to normal right you. know we got everybody got a great. relationship uh apologies was accepted. you know we like we we had each other. house cookouts is everything is is back. in order. um. I like the fact that you're very active. in your kids life all your kids. um and I read where you told one of your. uh um one of your kids moms that you're. not gonna turn me into a weekend day.

right I'm Every Day I'm here. I'm gonna be in constant communication. with my child. um and there's nothing you can do about. it even though we're not together. we're together. wow. cause I again. um if I if I couldn't go back in history. and change my life I could take part in. his life and make sure that he doesn't. he does the right thing you never want. your kids to experience what you.

experience right so you know in for me. you know um that's my greatest. accomplishment you know if I never did. nothing right I did that right right you. know when did you realize obviously. Yandy stood by you but when did you. realize was it that when you came out. she was still waiting for you that she. didn't want to do the process right so. she would never wake up she she'd come. visit she was coming to visit uh every. week and the beginning then every two.

weeks and then um she she would fly back. have an event and didn't even get no. sleep and go straight on the highway to. come visit me bring the kids the kids to. Sleepy the The Weave is almost off the. makeup and just to sit there from with. me for like uh five six hours not enough. sleep but just to make sure that we keep. our connection right and also I keep the. connection with the kids wow you. mentioned that you saw you saw her go uh. uh she was in Dubai and then you ended.

up you guys got married in Dubai yeah. yeah with. what was that what was that moment like. um when she said let's have a. destination wedding I did first thing I. said Dad that's gonna be expensive yeah. right so I'm like oh my God destination. you mean like Destin Florida we had like. about 60 70 people come. so I'm I'm thinking like well who's. painful right right because me I'm I'm. very calculated when it comes to.

spending my money yeah now right so you. know I'm not in the streets no more so. I'm very calculated so I'm thinking like. you know with Yandy you know she she. shouldn't give me no breaks right the. date that I was paying bills at some. point from prison right. I'm not a single mother you know you're. gonna help me right and then the day I. got out. um I think she gave me like three or. four days off and then I think the first. was coming up and she was like um. because yeah I got the first yeah I got. out on uh the 29th uh uh January 29th by.

the first of February. probably two three days yeah she said. hey let's talk about these bills. I'm like uh what you didn't give me a. chance like I didn't even get the jail. food out my system yet I still got jail. food in my in my stomach right let me. [ __ ] that out first like come on like. like my back still hurts let me get a. little comfy like right and also.

what's my plan right right I gotta have. a plan right my plan was in order. right so I I and I know sometimes it. take money to make money right so let me. figure out how I'm gonna flip this right. before you just take it all right and. she was like you'll figure it out yeah. nobody gives me a break listen you've. been figuring out this long you ain't. gonna never stop figuring it out right. so that's that that's her mentality your. first tattoo. of your wife name first and only tattoo.

what made you decide to get that. um because at that point right I never. believed in getting tattoos I don't. follow Trends. um you know something you put on you is. going to be with you today you die yeah. right and I think at that point I. thought me and this woman like our. relationship is solid right right even. even if we go separate ways one day. right when I loved her I loved her right. and she means something to me and um so.

you know if I if I'm if I love enough to. marry her then I love her enough to get. a tattoo right so that that was the. decision I made would you give another. one no I'm they hurt. they hurt they hurt they hurt worse than. getting stabbed I got stabbed didn't. even feel good I got shot them tattoos. hurt. listen. yeah some get stabbed up a few times in. a shot and you didn't do the comparison.

you mentioned that you left New York and. moved to Atlanta right you wanted a. fresh start right I I you know what it I. wanted I wanted the opportunity to uh. try to focus on my family right I ain't. want no distractions right I want to. change my environment and uh and just. have that right I'm gonna work in family. Ryan want no hanging out you know I came. to Atlanta I didn't hang out I still. don't hang out so you know is is work.

and family and and and I I I've been had. a place down there since 2003 so I I. always knew like you know we have Harlem. is is is like the mecca but Atlanta is. like black Hollywood yeah right so and. the thing the thing I love about Atlanta. is I never seen so many black. entrepreneurs in my life right and I. never I you know I lived in Jersey and. we see a lot of white people in these. big homes but in Atlanta we see all. black people in these big homes and now.

that's something good for the kids to. see you know and that that that that. gives them hope is inspiring and. everything so I said that's what I'm. going glad you made that decision to. relocate to Atlanta yeah. listen uh be thriving right now. um [ __ ] actually today I closed on two. properties uh they uh. uh single multi-million dollar bills. that I'm doing uh right in Buckhead. um I own a whole block in Atlanta. um so my real estate is is booming.

because Atlanta so many people moving. down and making it yeah it's crazy and. it's not enough inventory yeah right so. you can sit and watch or you can. participate and develop and so we just I. just started developing. you've got real estate restaurant. um which you didn't take me to last time. I was home I don't know why you didn't. do that I didn't want people to bother. you with the pictures. one day when it's when it's chill right. we're gonna go over there I'll make. something to hold that door because the.

women in there man they they get me so I. can imagine they're gonna get you so uh. what's next from ndc's uh next I got a. first look deal with VH with Vicon to. produce TV show. um I started already thinking about. what's my life after because eventually. Love and Hip Hop got to be over right. right so I started thinking about um how. far can I go in entertainment and I I. see the the real money isn't isn't in.

casting put getting a great cash you can. cap any show but the cast that's make. the show successful right right so I'm. outside and I'm with with people that's. I see that potentially could be great. cast so that's the direction where I. want to go uh when that door closed but. my main thing is um and I just think. it's sweet it's real estate ain't. nothing really in real estate really. ain't nothing really than real estate. you know I think um people always gonna.

need somewhere to live right right and. then when that person dies someone else. move in that house right so you know um. the way the market is right now. you just gotta capitalize right you just. gotta Network capitalize find find your. way and and believe in yourself and. embed on yourself right. bro thanks for stopping by I mean your. story. um from where you came from your. upbringing the trials the tribulations. that you went through in the middle to. where you came out on the other side it.

seemingly with flying colors but we know. there was a lot of hardship in getting. to where you are now and you look at. what you've been able to do you have a. very loving family you have a thriving. business and it's still onward and. upwards so I appreciate your story. congrats on everything bro thank you I. appreciate it I'll see you down the road. all right let's go. [Music].

[Music]. my life. foreign.