WIZ KHALIFA: 'They Said I Only Had 12 Months...' This Is How I Built Long-Term Success

The craziest part of my life, I can go. from performing in front of 40,000. people to either being in a dressing. room, being in a plane, or being back in. a bed all by myself. He is a. multi-platinum selling recording artist, mini mogul, and an actor. Wiz Khalifa, the one, the only. Did you feel like a big break was. coming? I didn't know what that big break looked. or felt like, but I knew that what I was. doing was working. The gangbanging and. the drug selling, that's not me, but the.

looking cool, the having girls, the. making music, I'm like, I like that part. of it. What's it like to get a record. deal and then lose a record deal? Oh, there's. no bouncing back from that. How unsafe. was it where you were in Pittsburgh? The. streets is crazy out there. Like, I. remember like one of my first friends. getting shot and killed in in seventh. grade. Wow. When when was your sibling. who passed away? She passed away, I. think maybe seven years ago. How was that experience for you, losing. someone so close to you that you love? I.

am grateful that I was able to have like. the last moments that I had and to be. able to prepare for it and was something. that I'm still dealing with. What's a misconception you think people. have about you? The number one health and wellness. podcast Jay Shetty Jay Shetty The one, the only Jay Shetty. What's up, Wiz? I'm chilling. How are you? I'm good. I'm. good. It's great to have you here. Yeah, good to be here. You walked in with this real chill.

energy today. I was like, it it was it. was very calming. Yeah, I'm a super chill dude. I love that, man. Yeah, yeah. What what's the first thing you do in. the morning? Smoke weed. Every day? Yeah, yeah. First thing? Well, I take my dog out. outside. I have a Doberman. He's a. puppy, but he's a big puppy. He's like. uh he's 10 months now, and he wakes up. pretty early, so I take him out. And. then I smoke weed. Do you ever remember. a day before that was the case? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I remember the days before. that was the case. What were those days.

like? I was in school, so I'd just. get up and iron my clothes and, you. know, go off to school. Yeah. Was there Was. there ever a time in your life where you. tried to stop smoking or has that ever. been a a goal? No. I never I never really never really. fell back off of it. I never had a. reason to. Yeah. Yeah. What What does it. do for you that you feel it needs to be. your first habit of the day? For me, it. just kind of gets me in a relaxing mood.

Uh I have a lot of things on my mind. like as soon as I wake up, so it's like. I'm here, I'm there, I'm everywhere. But if I smoke, I kind of chill, relax, put everything into its place. I write my goals down. I start to, you know, make some text. messages or phone calls or whatever. depending on what the situation is. So everything just starts to come into. place. Yeah. You write your goal goals. down regularly? Is that like a regular. habit, a consistent habit? Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely. Walk us through what that looks like.

It's really like me kind of like just. spitballing stuff. Whatever it is like. short-term goals of mine, whether it be. about clothing, music, family, uh visuals, content. I'm just kind of like just writing the. first ideas, like really short, really. just to the point, nothing really crazy. I have a blackboard, so I'll sit in. front of the blackboard and physically. write it. Or if I'm in my car or. something like that, I'll write it down. in my notes, you know what I'm saying?

Just to like little reminders and things. like that. Yeah. I love that. Yeah. How. long have you had that habit for? It. goes on and off just due to like. necessity, like how crazy my life is. So. I just I feel like. I don't know how long it's been because. I do it like so regularly, and then I. look back and I see how much I've done. and I'm like, wow, I've been doing this. for a long ass freaking time. Yeah. So, I think it's kind of like uh. like a second nature type of thing for. me. Yeah. What do you find is the.

craziest part of your life? The craziest part of my life, I think. the entertainment part is the craziest. part. And I think it's because I can go. from. performing in front of 30,000, 40,000. people. to either being in a dressing room, being in a plane, or being back in a bed. all by myself. And it's like to go from. that much energy to just be it all by. like back by yourself, I think that's.

pretty crazy. Walk us through what that. feels like mentally. Like you just. described two polar opposites and the. majority people on the planet will never. really experience those extremes. They. might experience the loneliness in a. room, but they won't experience the. 30,000 people screaming your name, Right. wearing your merch. Right. You. know, whatever it may be, singing along. to your music. What are you feeling in. the in-betweens, in the transition of. that to that? You have to have this see.

this thing where you kind of wind down. and you know. what is for where. Like you can't bring. the stage home. because eventually you have to, you. know, wind down and go to sleep and wake. up and do it again. And you can't be, you know, too turned off when you're on. the stage because you have to bring. enough energy to where somebody is way. in the back and they can feel you. So, it's really just like a projection of. like, you know, your energy and how you. feel and and.

the majority of the times I'm in a great. mood. I have great interactions with my. fans and the people around stage and. things like that. So, it it goes good. I'm in a great mood, but it's just a lot. of this goes from really, really intense. and then it could just all just be shut. off at one second and I think they. that's like the craziest part to me. Yeah, I I can relate. You know, I'd. heard that before and. I can relate in a small very small way. comparatively, but I remember doing my. first ever live show in 2019. It was at.

the Ace Hotel. or maybe 2018, something like that in. the Ace Hotel. And it was like, I don't know, 1,500. people, 2,000 people maybe. It was my first ever show and I remember. walking off stage, jumping into the car. to get driven and it was just the. strangest feeling. Like it's so hard to. explain it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I wasn't, you. know, it wasn't like people I don't do. music. So I I haven't got even got that. experience, but I'm feeling connected. with my audience. Then you get into the. back of a black, you know, a black car.

You You barely know it. I didn't know. anyone in the car with me. I was alone. And I'm driving home and I just felt I. was like, "Wow, I don't even know how to. describe. the juxtaposition." And then I went on. my world tour last year. We did roughly. 40 cities. around the world and that was like. you're in a new place every day. And now. you're feeling that same thing every. day. And so I know it's much smaller. compared to what you've done, but to me. just getting that experience and I. remember that night I was lucky. I came. home and my wife had planned a surprise.

party. So all my closest friends were. back in my house. And that kind of like it was a relief. But it But it is a really weird feeling. Yeah, I don't think the feeling is. smaller due to the crowd or whatever. I. think that the feeling is the feeling. Yeah. It's like when you're on a roller. coaster and like. you get back and like you're in your bed. and you still feel like you're on the. roller coaster. It's like, you know what I mean? So I. I feel like we still have that in common. even though it might be at different.

levels. And it's it's not even always. 30,000 people. Sometimes it could be a a. private event or sometimes it could be. an event with some kids or something. like that to where it's like you just. get really two totally different, you. know, parts of life, and they're both. great. I love my normal life, and I love. my work life, too. It's just the. difference between them is crazy. Yeah, what's helped you continue to love. them and deal with that paradox with. that ease and comfort? What's really.

suited your relationship with those, you. know, challenging or crazy experiences. that you mentioned? I think it has a lot. to do with like my relationship with my. fans. Because I love the people that I. do music for, and they give me a really, really great. response and reaction, um not only to my performance, but to my. music and just the appreciation that. they have for it. So, I appreciate them. as well. And it makes it easier because. I enjoy it, and I love to create, I love.

to be on stage, I love to be in front of. people. Yeah, so it doesn't feel like, uh. I'm like doing anything out of Oh, I. just want the money, or this is just for. this certain reason. It's really, really. enjoyable for me, so That's beautiful, man. Yeah, it's a great experience. That's such a beautiful place to be. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah, yeah, and that that gratitude to. your community for for being there for. you, for for being present with you. definitely. Yeah, what's what's been, uh what's been.

like your craziest fan experience or fan. interaction? A memory that you have with. one of the audience members that stays. with you. stuff is when people like. come up and get me to like sign my name. on them so they can get it tatted. Wow. show me like tattoos of my face on them. I think those are the craziest. interactions. Cuz I have tattoos, I'm. covered in them, so I know how important. that is, and to be, you know, just me as. an artist and doing what I'm doing and. to want pe- to have people to want to. like tattoo me on them is pretty, uh is.

pretty tight. Yeah, people ever done a lyric as well. or. Yeah, yeah, they do lyrics, they do song. titles, they do pictures, they do autographs, they do all types of. stuff. Wow. Yeah, yeah. What's your most. meaningful tattoo or one that really Uh. speaks to you? Probably uh I got a couple. I got, you. know, my mom's name, I got my brother's. name, my sibling who passed away. Um I got my little sister. Yeah, probably like my family tattoos.

mean the mean the most to me. The rest. of them are just like stuff about life. that I've learned throughout the way or. things that I've called myself. throughout life. Yeah, yeah. When when. was your sibling who passed away? She. passed away, I think maybe 7 years ago. I don't I remember exactly how many. years ago. It could be like could be. more or less. Yeah, and and how old was. she then? Uh she would have been 40 now, so she was probably 33 when she passed.

away. So you had some life together like Oh. yeah, hell yeah, we grew up together. Yeah, same mom, same dad. Yeah. Yeah. How was How was that experience for you? Losing someone so close to you that you. love. I wouldn't say like rough. because you know, you get through that. type of stuff you learn how to deal with. it. But it's definitely a situation that. I never would have expected like like we. weren't sick growing up or anything like. that. We were we were always the same.

So it's like when you get to a certain. age. you don't. plan on losing a sibling and. yeah, it was just something that we had. to deal with and you know, as her health. declined, it was something that we knew. was going to happen. So it was like, all right, cool, let's. get ready for it, you know what I mean? And I am grateful that I was able to. have like the last moments that I had. and. to be able to prepare for it and you. know, my son has memories of my sibling. and things like that. And um her.

birthday was actually on on Halloween, so we celebrate every year annually. We. throw a party. So, yeah. Um, it was definitely an experience, but you. know, it's something that I'm still. dealing with like, you know, like a lot. of the times I'm doing like really, really well. And then sometimes it might, you know, it might hit me to point where it's. like, all right, you know, let me just slow down and kind of deal. with this and or just think about it or. talk about it or just.

whatever it is that gets me through it. But, um, yeah, it's just like a. continuous thing. For sure. Yeah, yeah. How did you prepare for at. the time you said you kind of knew it. was, you know, her health was diminishing. over time. How did you prepare at the. time like, were there specific rituals. or things you did or memories you made. together that stayed with you? No, it. wasn't really too many rituals or. memories or anything like that. I was. traveling a lot at the time, so I did. make sure that I went home and spend.

some time with her before she passed. away. And then my mom was really the one. who was like right by her side the whole. time, so she was giving me kind of like. blow by blow of everything and just how. the situation was going to go and I just. did my best to try to make her as. comfortable as possible, you know, for. those last couple moments. And um, yeah. Yeah, and that, I mean, it. sounds like you said you're still. dealing with it even though it sounds. like you made the most of that time. Yeah. And now and now you're saying you. reach out to people and talk about it.

Who who would you reach out to when you. want to talk about something like that? I would talk to like my aunt Rachel. Uh, we had like, you know, we all just. laughed and joked and just had a real. good time together. Uh, talked to my mom, talked to my dad, talked to my baby sister about it. Um, I most recently talked to like just. one of my other aunties about it just. randomly cuz I I feel like we all feel. the same and we all have losses and, you. know, can relate in certain ways even though. it's not the best thing to be relatable.

about but you know we we feel similar. about it so it's cool to have those. conversations. and you know feel good about it. afterwards. Yeah yeah yeah. I love that you still. celebrate her birthday. Yeah yeah for sure. That's that's a. beautiful way to think about it. Yeah definitely definitely. Yeah it's such a hard balance I find in. terms of. mourning or grieving someone's death. Uh-huh. and then celebrating the life. you had with them. Yeah. And it's such a. fine line. Mhm. And often you're pulled. in either direction but I think it's so. important that we do celebrate life.

Yeah. and memories we had with someone. and celebrate their life as well. I just look I look at it as like if she. was still here we'd be partying so. let's not stop the party. It's really. dope watching Kendrick then and then now. because we all came up together so we. were all doing the same things we were. all speaking to the same crowd and I've. reached a lot of my old goals that I was. trying to do and I reached them by being. myself and doing exactly what I wanted. to do and how I wanted to do it. It. might not have been what everybody else.

would would have considered was going to. take somebody to the top. but it made me feel free. I was diving. into your career Wiz and I feel like. when someone like you becomes as. successful as you've become. and you know is dropping successful hits. here and there you almost forget the. journey that they've been on and the. growth that they've been on and I was. really fascinated by that because it. hasn't just been like a smooth easy. linear journey. I think people think of. success as like.

you tried something out it worked and. now you're this you know this big. phenomenon and. yours had lots of twists and turns. When. like what was your life like before. Black and Yellow? Mhm. Compared to what. it is now. What was it like before that? I would say it was pretty normal. Like. it was pretty regular. Um I was just you know like any other. 20 something year old. I think just the. way that we were working and traveling. and like going on the road and kind of. the money that we were dealing with, a.

lot of it was getting reinvested back. into the business. So, I was making. money, but I was spending money on. myself and like not even in a big way, but it would just be, you know, hotels, travel, things like that. So, I was putting. myself through like courses in business. and how to like, you know, make money, spend money, reinvest, blah blah blah. I. was doing all of this stuff naturally, but um it wasn't on that level yet. because we hadn't met, you know, anybody. who was in the game. We hadn't had.

business managers or anything like that. So, it was just, you know, me and my. friends, we were kind of just really, really hustling. and making the best out of out of what. we knew how to do. Mhm. Yeah. Mhm. I. mean, did you feel like a big break was. coming or did it feel like, God, we. don't know how this is going to go? Well, being that I already had a record. deal and then. essentially lost that record deal, I.

didn't feel like a big break was coming. I didn't know what that big break looked. or felt like, but I knew that what I was. doing was working and I knew that the. people who were into me. and. the movement that I had created, I knew. that that was more popular than. you know, the mainstream and like what. was really, really popular at the time. So, I I was really confident in that. Yeah. But, I didn't know like a big moment was. coming or anything. What's it like to. get a record deal and then lose a record.

deal? Uh it sucked for me like just. because in those days, like if you had a. record deal, like that was it. And then. if you didn't have a record deal, like. you were done. So, to have one and then. lose it is like, oh, there's. no bouncing back from that. Like I never. knew anybody but who bounced back from. that. But in my mind it was never over. I never counted myself out. I just never. knew what the next situation was going. to look like or how long or what what. that time frame was going to be like.

Where did that confidence come from? I I. love how self-assured you uh. that like what you were doing in the. community you were building was. resonating with what you were doing. Yeah. Where does that come from? Because. I think like you said so many people. today you might be listening and they. maybe they just you know got kicked out. of a job. Maybe they got rejected from. their record deal. I remember when I. when I was first coming up with the idea. for this podcast 6 years ago. I had a production company and a.

a partner that was going to launch the. show with me. I went away for the. holidays Christmas holidays came back. and then I was told that it wasn't on. anymore. So I remember that feeling and. having to launch the show on my own. If someone's going through that right. now, how did you maintain that composure. and that confidence? Like no, we're. doing something here. We may not know. when that break's coming but we're going. to keep moving. Yeah, I think it was. just by like standing on the things that. I believed in. and the stuff that made me most.

comfortable and if I wanted to show it, I was going to show it. If I wanted to. talk about it, I was going to talk about. it. It might not have been what everybody. else would would have considered was. going to take somebody to the top. but it made me feel free. And I enjoyed myself by doing it and I. think just in turn a lot of people have. fun enjoying watching me do it. Yeah, yeah. If if you could give your younger self. any advice before Black and Yellow came. out, what what would it be?

I was good. Keep doing what you're. doing. You got it. You You got it figured out, fool. Is that. Is there anything you would have liked. to have known for how to deal with it. afterwards? Nah. Nah, everything that I. that I learned and that I figured out. along my way, I think happened in its. time and how it was supposed to and it's. positioning me for even greater points. in my life as well. Yeah. Where did Where does that come. from? Because that's such a peaceful. thing and and like I said, from the.

moment you walked in, there's there's. such a peace and ease about you. Mhm. In a In an industry where people. can get jaded, Yeah. people can get ruffled, they get. flustered. Yeah. How have you kept that peace and. composure for yourself? Like where. where's that coming from? Really like. just my goals in this [ __ ] I have my. own personal goals and I've reached a. lot of my old goals that I was trying to. do and I reached them by being myself. and doing exactly what I wanted to do. and how I wanted to do it. So, you know,

knowing that that's possible and seeing. that, it doesn't make me want to rush to. the next point or the next situation. I'm comfortable waiting for what's mine. And you know, just seeing what how. everything plays out as opposed to, you. know, trying to make it be somebody. else's story. Like I feel like my whole. story and everything of as far as my. life, if I see it, I wanted it, it's. just a matter of time until I get it. So, you know, I'll just wait that that.

that amount of time and you know, just. keep just stay down and just, you know, just be very very like. have a lot of gratitude for where I'm at. and what I've done so far. And even when. I was coming up, I was really really. happy with what I had. So, the more and. more that I started to get, it wasn't. because I wasn't happy where I was at. and I had to get more. It's just cuz I was so happy and just, you know, just kept turning into more. and more. So, I just keep it like that. Yeah, there's a there's a beautiful.

quote that says, when you're grateful. for what you have, you'll receive more to be grateful for. And I think it's true that gratitude. expands, but it's beautiful hearing you. say that. Did you learn that from. anyone? Did anyone teach you, mentor. you, guide you, or is this an internal. thing that's kind of evolved over time? This is definitely some internal that's. evolved over time and has like gotten me. really, really far dealing with people. in business or dealing with the law or. dealing with just different. personalities in general. Um as far as I.

just getting what I want creatively and. not you know, freaking losing my mind. and you know, just being able to talk to. people and and have clear conversations. with an understanding of you know, what. what works, what's real, and what's not, and what we can make real. Hey, I'm Jay. Shetty and I wanted to invite you to a. brand new interactive no charge. workshop, renew you, that I'm eager to. share with you. Over the years, I've. worked with thousands of people across.

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loved. See you there. What's been the. hardest conversation you've ever had to. have with someone? The hardest. conversation I've ever had to have with. someone. I think the toughest conversations that. I have to have. are when I have to explain my ideas. Yeah. Yeah. Because? Because I'm so hyped up about. it like before it start before I. verbalize it and then as soon as I start. to say it I just feel like the level of.

intensity of it just comes down. I'd. rather just do [ __ ] sometimes and like. just show you and like but I learned you. know, by working with so many other. people how valuable it is to like have a. team. So I learned how to be able to. express, you know, what I'm thinking and. have that go through a whole process and. then and then we we make it real. That's. so true, man. I feel like that sometimes. like you can see it in your head. Yeah. But then you're like you can't. press play on the projector and then it.

comes out and so when you're explaining. it everyone's like looking at you like. you're crazy. Yeah, exactly. And you are. right. Sometimes I do feel we live in a. time in an industry where people have. heard so many ideas that until you see. something. you don't even understand it. Right. And I feel like when you look at. music or you look at movies or film or. TV or whatever it is, when you watch. something you're like oh that was. amazing but like someone when they. talked about it no one wanted to buy it. Right. Did you find that record labels. and people that you've worked with the. music always understood you immediately.

or no, you kind of had to go prove and. show? Oh, man, they didn't know what to do. with me. Like there was no clue what to. do with me early on. That's why I lost. my first record deal because when I came. in. the song was really good and it was a. sample from a popular song that people, you know, was really recognizable. But after that it was like, well, what. do you do? Do you make like five more of. these songs or like what what are we. going to do? And they really didn't. understand like me being from.

Pittsburgh, me smoking weed, me being. lyrical, me, you know, being a cross. between like you know, really really. hard hip hop culture. but then like really cool trippy hippie. skating, you know what I'm saying? Earthy mother too. Like there was no. cross between that at the time. Like you. really had to be like big white T, like. chain, you know what I'm saying? So, like a lot of labels didn't understand. what to do with me and it wasn't until. you know, I built my my fan base of.

people who believe the same thing that I. believe in and I was able to, you know, travel and do shows and then they would. come and see the show and they'd be like. these mother are going crazy over this. dude. Like it doesn't matter what we say. or what we think is dope. It's. obviously, you know, there. And I feel. like that whole format, you know, has. been done a lot like especially in rock. and roll and and pop music where the act. will be bigger in real life than they. are, you know what I mean, to to other.

people. Like they're they're bigger in. real life than they are like to hype. Like as far as the hype goes. Once they. started to see that that was my. situation, then that's when people. started pick up on me. Was that the way. you built this audience that understood. you? Was it performing live? Do you feel. like that was the significant part for. you in creating this amazing connection. you have with your audience? Yeah, absolutely. Performing live, going to a lot of different colleges and. festivals before they were as big as.

they are now. Like stuff like South by. Southwest and the really like grassroots. underground stuff is like what what. built, you know, us. And we packed into. a van and and just went on our own tours. just up and down and just drove. ourselves. And then on top of that, YouTube had just came around. So, you. know, I was recording myself and putting. my vlogs on YouTube. I called it. day-to-day and I still do these to this. day. Um they're like a compilation vlog. of like a week in in my life. And I just.

started doing it cuz I was like, my life. is so crazy. Nobody sees it and it's so. much fun and there's so much like stuff. that goes on. I was like, so I might as. well turn it into like, you know what I. mean, a little 10-minute short. Yeah. And it worked. It worked a lot. It. helped sell a lot of merch. It helped. sell a lot of tickets. It helped build a. really consistent fan base of people who. are still here to this day. Yeah. Do you. remember any of those trips? Some places. you went to where something crazy. happened that you caught on camera? Man,

it's all on camera so you. so you can see it. Anyone that stands. out to you? Yeah. I mean, I think like. there's really classic episodes. There's. like an Australian tour with me and ASAP. Rocky. Um you see like me and J. Cole in his. early days. You see. me and Currensy in our early days. You. see. a lot of artists. You see me and. Kendrick in his early days. You see me. with Nipsey Hussle. Yeah, you see like the whole community.

of people who we really came up with who. are like OGs in the game now. But. there's really classic footage of us. when we all just started out. Mac. Miller. Um a lot of people Everybody, man. Everybody who you listen to now was. on was in those day-to-days like. originally. How did you guys all meet. each other back then? Like, how did you. connect? Yeah, we were. there was no Instagram DM. Maybe there. was, maybe there was. No, we were connected through Twitter. Right. Yeah, Twitter was the vibe back then. There was no IG. We weren't like DMing.

each other on there. But, we were connected through Twitter. and clothing. And if if anybody needed a. clothes or a weed, like, we would all. hit up the same peoples for clothes, weed, and, you know, just vibes and. stuff like that. And we just all clicked. and as we started to like take off on. different levels, we would just bring. each other with us based off of who we, you know, not really like the most, but were who. were who we were closest knit with at. the time. or who it made the most sense with.

Yeah, what's it like watching Kendrick. then and Kendrick now? It's really dope. watching Kendrick then and then now. because we all came up together, so we. were all doing the same things. We were. all speaking to the same crowd. And we. were at different levels in our career, and I just remember performance-wise, Kendrick would kind of like scream on. stage. Like, he didn't sound like he did. on the record. But, now he's like one of. the best performers, and he's like one. of the, you know what I'm saying? The.

the guy's really carrying it for our. generation. So, to see him like just. jump up levels and levels and levels. through like hard work and branding and, you know, just being around the right. people at the right times, bringing. people along with him like Baby Keem and. all of them. Like, you know what I'm. saying? He's He's really doing every. move to the T of how you're supposed to. do it. Mhm. And how's J. Cole evolved as well. through the Cole is the same thing. It's. like, you know, we all started out just.

the homies like trying to get a verse on. each other's tapes, and now dudes are. like elite rappers up there, you know. what I'm saying? And it's like it's cool. to see him have his own festival. It's. cool to see like he doesn't have to. do as much work throughout the year, but. when he does drop, people pay attention. how they're supposed to. He's he does. great tours. And like as a as a performance artist. and as a substance artist, I feel like.

he has the type of career like that's. all you can ask for. Mhm. Yeah. That's powerful. What does it. feel like you were saying that like. in some ways things have changed. Like. what's changed for up-and-coming artists. today? Like what are they doing right? What are they doing wrong? How would you. advise someone if you were starting out. from scratch? Yeah. Today again. Mhm. How would you approach your career. differently or in the same way? I think. that there's levels to it. I think that a lot of people aim for. like the surface level where it's like.

you get one or two things and you're. good and that's what takes you to the. top. But usually that that that works. against you because you'll have that. spike, but then you'll go back down and. you'll have to go back up again. It's really difficult to have that spike. and have that feeling of validation and. like oh yeah everybody's with me blah. blah blah and then boom they're not with. you and then you got to try to do. something to get them back on your team. So you know a lot of people are going to.

want to go that route, but it has a lot. of negatives that come with it on the. back end. And it's a really good time for artists. to you know cultivate a real fan base. whether it be in front of people's eyes. or whether it be behind the scenes. It's. a really great time to cultivate a fan. base of people that understand you, understand your slang and how you dress. and what your lifestyle is about and. really push that to the forefront, let. that slowly build and eventually whether.

it's a year, two years, three years, or. five years, you know you're always. making a little bit of progress here, here, there. And wherever you land at, you're going to permanently be there. I. believe the opposite. I think I. I should sacrifice work for my family. If Sebastian came up to you and was. like, "I want to be a rapper, too.". Yeah. What What would you say to him? I'd be like, "Let's go." Uh the studio's. downstairs. What does your relationship. with God look like? My relationship with. God is the [ __ ] There's a lot of people.

today who get told, "You've only got 12 months. You had your. hit." Mhm. "You've got 12 months to make. as much money off of you as possible.". Mhm. Like a lot of people hear that, like, "Hey, look, your career's not. going to be that long. Let's make the. most we can." What would you say to. someone who feels that fear themselves. or gets told that, like, "Hey, look, you. had one hit. Let's just, you know, crush. this peak." If somebody tells you that, you better get some drugs and start. selling them.

Use that money, flip it. Nah. Or get some real estate, um. cuz if I mean, like, somebody who only. has a year plan in you and they're like, "Yo, you're only going to be here for. this amount of time.". They're going to move on. They're going. to find other artists or, you know, different people to represent. And. you're going to be asked out. Like, so, any artist or any. personality. who somebody is already talking about,

like, the the limit of the the lifespan. of their career, they should definitely be worried and. not try to race to, but to try to figure out how to extend. that lifespan. Mhm. So, let's take what that person. just told you and let's try to figure. out, you know, what what the next 5 years. looks like. instead of the, you know, next 12. months. Yeah. That's good advice.

Yeah, definitely. How far into the. future do you look when you're planning. music, work, life? I always try to look. at least 5 or 10 years in advance. Yeah. How different is where you are today. from where you looked at where you'd be. 5 to 10 years ago? I'm doing way better business-wise than. I've ever done. Not just making money, but uh managing. money. And I feel like I'm getting better and. better at that. And you know, that's what's going to. take me, you know, into the into the.

future as well. Is uh not only just, you know, the. making of the money, but the money. management. Yeah. What What have been. your best moves in money management or. business that you think people could. learn from? My best moves in business is. just. um. being accountable for everything. Um I think in rap music we get so caught. up on on the lifestyle. And we're like, I have to have this. Or. if it's a new truck, I'm buying that.

But me, I'm more like, I'm only going to. spend this much on clothes this month. You know, if I want a new car, I'm going. to wait a year and a half until I get. it. You know what I mean? Or. I'm going to move money from this. account to spend on this, so this is. here and that's there. And you know, we. can still pay for tour. And you know, how much are we spending on tour? How. much are we making off of tour? How much. comes in off of merch on top of the. other businesses and things like that.

But really the money management, like. the everyday type of spending where it's. like, you know, you could get carried. away buying too many clothes or. you know, getting too many nice rooms or. you know what I mean? And and I I have a. lot of luxuries that come in my life, but I could also do without a lot of. that stuff, too. So, the unnecessary. stuff and knowing what the stuff that. it's not really needed. Paying attention to that, not letting.

just those things just slip through the. cracks cuz they all add up and [ __ ] So, I think just being way more conscious of. of that type of stuff. Yeah, did you. learn that the hard way because you were. overspending or did you learn that. because you saw other people before you. overspending? Luckily, I didn't get to a. point where I overspent or overspent. I just received large ass amounts of. money. and with that comes advice. And, you.

know, so it's like yearly or quarterly, you know, we need to have these. conversations where it's like this is. what the money looks like. We had to. spend for this because of that or, you. know, you had a little bit of fun. spending this. So, let's just bring it. back on this, this, that, and the other. thing. And just throughout time of. having those conversations, you start to. figure out where the unnecessary. spending and the problems come from or. even if you start to create little. different issues, you you be like,

"Okay, this isn't really working in our. favor, so we need to wiggle out of. this.". And, you know, if it even if it's. spending this big chunk over here, that's going to take away from the. continuous spending that's kind of like. bleeding and taking away. So, just to learn that and have that visual. in my head, you know, while I'm making. decisions. A lot of people do they feel. like they're being controlled if. somebody's telling them that. But, for. me it's a choice. It's like, "Do you.

want to be broke 20 years from now or do. you want to be having more money 20. years from now?" All right, well, this. is how you do it. So. Yeah, it's good. advice, man. It It makes sense. And it's. it's hard to do in the moment cuz you. just you want to get that thing or you. want to buy that thing. And it applies. across the board. What What's the. dumbest thing you ever bought and now. you look back and go, "Oh god, that was. dumb.". Man, I don't think it was ever like one. dumb thing. I just used to be dumb how I. how I bought stuff. Like.

I would see anything and just like it. and buy it. It didn't matter how much it. cost. If it was a car, I wanted it, I. would buy it like right then and there. Sometimes it'd be a watch or something. like that. And like a lot of these. watches I don't even have no more. So, it's like. them away or sold them? Sold, gave away, lost. Yeah. And and what was the best. investment you've ever made? Um it'd. probably be like some stocks or like.

some, you know, like a percentage of of. a business that I've invested in. Yeah. Yeah, I've had I've had multiple, but. there's some really good ones that, you. know, I put some money into that is. going to come back in in some really. good ways. Yeah. I hope people get. inspired by hearing you talk about how. sometimes you got to put off those big. purchases. Wait a year for that car. because I think when when we're young. especially. and and you come into even a little bit. of money which feels like a lot of. money, it's so easy to.

to spend and just get carried away. And. especially now I feel like with all of. us just ordering things off of Amazon. and everything else these days, like you. have no idea how much money you spend. Oh, for sure. It's so easy to just. It's super easy to look up and, you. know, however much just be gone. And when it's. gone, it's gone. Yeah. And to me, like I I feel like you have. to go through that. You have to really. feel that and understand it. And. whatever, you know, you believe in. I.

believe in God, so it's like that's God. telling me like, "Okay, you spent this. much, it's gone. You're going to get. more, but you need to deal with the. feeling of you having it and it being. gone." And then now we'll see what. getting more feels like. But some people. when they have it and it's over with, they don't even know what that bounce. back feels like or looks like. So, you. know, unfortunately, the the best way to. learn is to go through it.

Yeah. But, yeah, yeah, but afterwards, like, you. know, it's on you after that. Like, you. going to keep doing the same thing over. and over or you going to learn from, you. know, what happened. Uh what is what is. your relationship with God look like? My. relationship with God is the [ __ ] I. pray all the time. I thank God all the time. Yeah, a lot of people there there's. certain people who don't feel like God. is like a higher power or anything like. that, but I like to just imagine that my. God is just like chilling up in the sky. like with a big deep voice.

Does the sun could be going down and I. could be driving. and Hotel California could be on. I'll. be like, "Thank you, God." Like, you. know what I mean? Cuz like the situation. just feels right. Yeah. Yeah. And what. does God say to you in God's deep voice? You're welcome. You're you're you're. supposed to have this. That's awesome. Has that always been. there since you were young or is that. has come with time as well? Yeah, definitely since I was a teenager. Definitely since I was like I could. remember, you know, being in like ninth, 10th, no,

probably even like eighth eighth grade. Just praying every night, thanking God. for a wonderful day, asking him to bless everybody that I. care for. Yeah, just like really cool stuff. Like, just normal normal ass [ __ ] that I want. the world to feel. What would you pray. for? What else apart from other people? To be safe. I was I was in a crazy ass. place when I lived in Pittsburgh, so I. definitely. asked for like that that safety. The. older I get, you know, I I.

I ask for like. patience and understanding and things. like that. You know what I'm saying? So, just regular [ __ ]. Wow, that's not regular. That's that's. pretty deep. Yeah. Yeah. How unsafe was it where you. were in Pittsburgh? Like what was It's. super unsafe in Pittsburgh, man. Like. the streets is crazy out there. Friends of mine started getting murdered. when I was in like seventh grade. Like I. remember like one of my first friends. getting shot and killed in in seventh. grade. Wow. And then when did you leave. Pittsburgh? I came to Pittsburgh.

permanently when I was in middle school. and I stayed throughout high school. and I probably didn't dip until. I was like 23 years old. Right. Cuz you moved around a lot. growing up, right? Mhm. At least as at least as far as I. saw 22 years old. Japan. Yeah, every 2 years I would. bounce around and my mom was always in. Pittsburgh, so I would go live with my. dad for 2 years and then I would come. back to Pittsburgh. Then I would go live. with my dad and then I would come back. to Pittsburgh. So, I was in Pittsburgh. in third grade and I was also there for.

middle school and then I came back for. high school. And then other than that, I. lived like in Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Japan. Yeah, those were a couple of other. places. your favorite place? I think Japan was. my favorite place. How old were you when you were in Japan? Uh I was in like fifth or sixth grade. Okay. Yeah, yeah. What was that like? I mean Japan at that. time but now I feel like everyone's like. Japan's the place to go. Yeah, it's cool. when you're like exploring Japanese. culture but I I just realized like as an.

adult that that [ __ ] was kind of [ __ ]. up. cuz it was like I'm living on an. American base in Japan. Right. And like just the concept of like. Americans occupying Japan. It was like. you'd never find a Japanese base in. America, but like we have the audacity. to like go over there and just be like. here here's our base. We're going to. operate as Americans. We're going to. send our kids to school here. Don't. teach them your language, nothing. They're just going to act like America. in Japan. So, that's that's Yeah.

learned Japanese? I learned a little bit of Japanese, but. it was like basic. It wasn't like really. any like diving into the culture or. anything like that. Like it's just you. live on post. and you travel from one base to another. base and that's pretty much what it was. How How do you think that experience. impacted you now? Like how is that. childhood experience of moving around, darting around every 2 years defined who. you are today? It was cool because I was. able to just be a regular kid and I was. able to like meet friends and different.

groups of friends and. run around and play and knock on doors. and. ride bikes and climb hills and stuff. like that. So it was super chill, man. It was fun just being normal and not. really worrying about too much. I think. the older that I got and the more. settled that I got in in Pittsburgh. that's when I started to like figure out. you know, who I wanted to be later in. life. But in those early years, it was. just all about like being a kid and just. playing with my friends.

When you saw all of that around you, how. did you have. what gave you that feeling to dream and. to want something more when you're. seeing like the violence around you, you're seeing it's a rough neighborhood? Mhm. What what's given you the ability. to go there's there's more to life than. this? I think it was just like knowing. that I had talent with music. Um I. always did music since I was younger. My. My uncles and my cousins were older than. me. They were like. you know, 15, 16, all the way up to.

almost like 20 years old. And I was like. the baby. I'm 13 years old. So I'm. really kind of trying to do what they're. doing. But I'm picking the parts that. make the most sense for me. So it's like. the gang banging and the drug selling. and the guns and all that [ __ ] I'm like. that's not really for me. But the. looking cool, the having girls, the. getting money, the making music. I'm. like I like that part of it. So that's. what I always really stuck to like just. even as a kid. Like I was just like I'm. going to just do what I know is cool for.

me, which is just making music. And you. know, that's kind of like what led me on. my path. Yeah, how could you how did you stay. away from all of the other things. because sometimes those can look cool. when you're young. They can they can be. attractive when you're young and. powerful. really stay away from it. I had definitely like, you know, the. older that I got and the you know, the. more. fun I started to have. I kind of was in and out of that stuff, but it wasn't for me. You know, like.

just this it's a lifestyle for some. people and for a lot of those people. like they're still doing it now. And for me it was just kind of like, you. know, being a kid or like a right of. right of passage type thing or it's like. product of my environment type stuff. You know, like the little stuff that I. would get into. is like I'm here, so you know, I'm I'm. getting down. Like I'm not going to be. the only one who's not down. You know, you grow out of that stuff, too. And you. learn from that stuff as well. So I.

learned from the the things that I did. do and I learned from the things I. didn't do as well. Yeah, I mean now. you're a father yourself. Yeah. How do you feel looking now from. the perspective of being a dad? Mhm. You've been a father to Sebastian for. a while now. Right. you just had a daughter Cadence, I. believe. Congratulations. Thank you. And like what's it been like. to be a father to Sebastian and then how. is your views of fatherhood changing now. that you've had a daughter? Yeah, it's. been really good.

Having Sebastian and having a boy. especially at his age, he's 11 now. And there's just certain instincts that. are starting to kick in, you know, where. it's like he was a young boy and now. he's like a you know, a young man and. he's growing into a more of a young man. every day, really. And just that. programming of, you know, life and. discipline and. uh being polite and, you know, on top of.

you know, just everyday stuff of like. handling his emotions with his friends. and things like that. It's a really like. fun experience going through all of that. with him cuz I'm able to remember. what it was like for me as a kid. So, instead of just like telling him the. rules and what you should and shouldn't. do, it's more like guiding him of, you know, how to, you know, navigate through these. situations, which is really really fun. And I had that with my dad as well. He. was always, you know, there for me and.

talked to me about a lot. And he was way more disciplinary than. lenient. And I'm a super lenient parent. with my son, but I'm also like really. real with him and he's able to be real. with me and he's able to talk to me. about, you know, real-life things. And. when I think about the stuff that I did. when I was, you know, coming up, you know, by the time I was his age, I. was doing a lot more stuff because like. I said, my uncles and my cousins were. older. And I'm just thankful that I was able to. have those experiences and know what's.

appropriate and what's right and what's. not. So, I'm able to monitor what goes. on with him and what will affect his. behavior later. And then just having a baby girl, I. think it just adds to it now because I'm. able to just give all types of love. Like I got the tough love with my boy. and then I got like just the sweetness. of having a daughter, which, you know, helps uh helps out a lot. Yeah. How do. you think you're going to shift your. strategy as she grows up? I think I'm. going to do it pretty much the same.

Just like cater to her needs. Like. whatever she needs, if she's like. super girly girl, then we doing, you. know, ballet and we doing dance and we. doing drama and we doing all the girly. stuff. And if she's a tough girl, then we doing. kickboxing and we doing whatever else to. rough her up. We do horseback riding. We. do whatever we want to do, like, you. know what I'm saying? There's no the. sky's the limit, but, you know, keep her. active, keep her entertained, and just.

cater to her needs. Yeah. What's. Sebastian into right now? Like, 11-year-old, what's what's like his. obsession? Um he loves basketball. Okay. Yeah, he loves to play basketball. He's. really just now learning like the. fundamentals of it. But, he's good at. it. He's a athletic kid, and he's like. it's good to see him like roughing. around with the boys, like being one of. the boys. They talk [ __ ] to each other. They get in each other's faces, and like. they really get after it. So, he's he's. like gravitating towards basketball more.

than anything. Nice. Just that and just being with the. friend being with his friends, like just. being a kid. Were you ever any good at. basketball with that? Yeah, hell yeah, I could hoop. I never had like like official training. like what he's going through, but if I. did, bro, I'd be so much better than I. actually am, and I'm really really good. So, I would be like. I'd be deadly if I knew how to do it. what he's learning right now. So, you could give him some pointers. along the way. Just like naturally, you. know what I'm saying? Hell yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

that. And you never did ballet or. anything or anything? Nah, nah, I never did that. I did like. acting classes and [ __ ] like that. I was. in like speech and drama and all of that. [ __ ] but never no dance, though. Did. that help, speech and drama classes? Like, how did that. that helped. Yeah. Yeah, I think it helped a lot. because it was like you know, you learn. how to project your voice and all of. that stuff, and you learn how to like. hit cues on stage, and you know, just. kind of like get outside of yourself in. front of people where you're still. yourself, but then you're like outside.

of yourself. I definitely think that. helped for my performance. Yeah. If Sebastian came up to you and. was like, "I want to be a rapper, too.". Yeah. What what what would you say to. him? I'd be like, "Let's go." Uh the. studio's downstairs. What advice would you have for him to. find his voice? Studio's downstairs. He's getting there. Get Get in there. Start rapping. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Hell. yeah. Would you want that or you you're. kind of open to whatever? Yeah, I wouldn't mind. Especially the. way that I'm implemented in in the game.

Like I do what I want to do. I'm not like. nobody controls me. Nobody tells. Nobody's like working me harder than I. need to be worked or anything. So I see the same vision for him. Especially in the the age that we're in. So it's like if you're going to be an. artist, you're going to be in complete. control of everything. So it starts now. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, the team was saying. that you plan a lot of your life around. him. Yeah. Like they were saying that. like sports sports games and things like. that. Like you've you've really taken.

that idea of an artist should be in. control of their own life. Yeah. Like walk us through that. mentality, that mindset. A lot of people. focus so much on their work and they. think like. that the work. is going to come to an end at some point. or they have to sacrifice. things that are important for work. And I believe the opposite. I think I I. should sacrifice work for my family. And. it should just be the other way around. because of how much that work and how.

fortunate I am to be in the situation. where I put in a lot of work. I've done. a lot of things. So I don't have to, you know, feel this. sense of urgency that things aren't. going to go my way if I miss out on. something or if I. you know, speak up and just try to make. sure that everything works out how I. would rather at work. And you know, I. had the point in my life where. I would be in the studio every day or I.

would be, you know, different country. every day or I would be, you know, a. show, uh fitting, a signing, uh TV. appearance, uh blah blah blah. I would. do all of these things back to back to. back to back to back. So, I've done that. already. But, now it's more important for me to. just wake up, uh work out, spend time. with my family, make sure that he is at. his best because he needs to go to. practice, he needs to train every day. for him to be successful later on in.

life. And if I'm not there to like. motivate that, either he's going to get. it from somebody else, I don't know who, or it's just not going to happen at all. And that's my job right now is to make. sure that he's successful. So, you know, if I miss this or if that. doesn't, you know, go the way that it's. supposed to, I'm cool with that because. in the end he's going to get to be as. successful as he needs to be. Yeah, that's beautiful, man. Because I feel. like there's such a Oh, it's wonderful.

to hear because I feel like we're living. in a time where there's such a pressure. to constantly be relevant, to constantly. like keep up with, you know, what. everyone's doing. And now you've got a. million platforms to stay relevant on, and everyone's doing this and that. And. so, it sounds like you've created like a. healthy detachment. Yeah. between who you are at your work. and who you are at home. Yeah. And that's that's quite a. beautiful thing. Yeah, I see that better working out long. term. Like I said, I look like 5 10. years into the future. And.

me chilling and me and my family seems. way more realistic than me like ripping. and running around still. So, I might as. well get used to it. Did you feel your dad was super involved. in that way as well? You were saying. earlier. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. My dad was super. involved with with me, especially like. through my teenage years. Um a lot of my time that I spent like. early in the studio was with my dad. Mhm. Uh cuz he built a studio and was. running it. He didn't know about music, and he didn't know about any of that. stuff, but I told him I was into it, and.

he built a studio and was like, "All. right, learn how to use the equipment. Start writing songs. Put an album out. Do this. Do that." And I did it all, and. he was like, "Damn, I didn't know you. was really going to do it." I'm like, "Yeah, this is what I want to do.". So, like, just through, you know, seeing. how important. him being involved with what I was. passionate about. took me to the level that I'm at. It. lets me know, like, whatever my son and. my daughter are passionate about, I have. to experience those things with them. I.

can't just give them money and provide. it for them. I have to actually do it. with them, and that's going to make a. hell of a difference. Yeah, how does. your dad feel about seeing you now? My. dad loves it, man. He's like in awe like. all the time. And I think out of. everything, he understands like how hard. I work, too. And he's really proud of it. Sometimes. he gets a little bit worried. Like, he's. like, "Is this too much? Like, you know. what I mean? Like, I know you do a lot.". I'm like, "Nah, it's cool. I'm built for. this. Like, this is what I do." So,

he sees how much I work, and he sees how. much effort I put in like constantly, but he he's really proud of me. Yeah, what's something you learned from your. mom? The value of family. Yeah, my mom taught me the value of. family. She always kept me around my. family members. She kept me around my. cousins, my aunts, my granddad, my she even keeps me around my dad's. side of the family, and they got. divorced when I was 2 years old. But she. still hangs out with my dad's sisters,

my aunts, cousins, and all that on their. their side. So, she keeps me in touch. with them. She keeps my kids in touch. with them. She does the whole genealogy of the. whole family. Like, my mother is so. family oriented and that like rubbed off. on me as well. Mhm, that's beautiful. Man. What what's. a misconception you think people have. about you, if they have one at all? I. don't think at this point there is any. misconceptions. I think there's just. like learning more about me. I think. that the more people learn about me, the.

more they they see like how chill, how educated, how well-spoken, and like. thought-out a lot of things that I do. are, and they start to really understand. why the people who love me, you know, whether it's my music or I changed their. life in whatever way, they start to. understand like where that comes from. Yeah. What What's something about you. that people may not know that you'd like. them to understand along those lines? I. think right now I just want people to. know.

like how you said, like how detached I. am from. the whole. success world. Like, I'm cool with it, but like that's. not the goal. And it's not And a lot of. people say like, "Oh, well, you have. money, so it's easy for you to say. that." But I think you just reach. certain points in your life where. different things are important, no. matter how much money you have. And, you know, some people I'm 37 years. old. Some people reach my age, and this is the time that they start. their business, and they're like, "I'm.

going to go hard, and I'm going to build. my empire now." I was just lucky to have. got a head start in my 20s, build my. empire, and now I really understand. like, you know, how to sustain it and. maintain it and keep it going for the. next 10, 20 years. And those are the things that I'm. really, really working on, uh along with. the music, you know, which is super. duper important, but it's really just. about like making this thing last. Yeah, and I don't I think you're right. I. don't think it's about how much money.

you do or don't have. I think anything. can become a drug. Mhm. And you can get addicted to it. Yeah. And I remember, you know, Kevin. Hart was sitting in that chair, and he. was talking about how success became a. drug for him. He was just addicted to. more and more of it. And so, it's easy. for you to get addicted and obsessed and. just And you're actually saying, "Well, actually, I'm. I don't want to get addicted to it.". No, yeah, no. It's my work. It's my job. It's what I'm really, really good at, and I don't never want to give that up. for, you know, a normal life or anything.

like that, but I do value my normal life. as much as I value, you know, the the I. value the 30,000 people on stage, but I. also value being in my bed alone at. night when the lights are off, but I. love it. Yeah. Yeah. I I I I appreciate that, and. I think I think we need more of that. healthy thinking cuz I think if you only. like one of the other Yeah. or you start. to detest one of the other, right? That's when it starts to get scary. Like. a lot of people love being in the.

audience, they don't like being alone. Or a lot of people like, "Oh god, I hate. being with the fans now, and I love. being alone." And I think both of those. can lead to a lot of like pain. internally. Yeah, you have to work on both, and when. you know what you're here for, um you know what which time is to do. which one. I spent a lot of time working. on the other side of it to where I love. my job, and I love what I do, and I'm very grateful to be able to make. the amounts of money doing what I do, but that's not everything to me. I work.

as hard on my personal life as I do on. that side of it. I'm in the stu you. know, if I'm in the studio 12 hours, or if I'm on a plane, you know, 16. hours, and I barely get any sleep, and I. don't eat, and I do promo, and I do a. great show, and I do a meet and greet, and I smile, and I take everybody's. picture, that's all part of the game. That's me going hard to make sure that. that part of it last. When I'm by myself, I'm waking up, you. know, at a good at a decent time, I'm. going to sleep at a decent time, I'm.

working out, I'm spending these certain. hours, I do yoga. You know, there's just. certain things that go with the process, and then like you said, planning things. around my kids. So, it's like I'm making. sure that I'm spending this family time. where it's not they're getting the short. end of the stick off of anything. So, I'm working passionately and hard on my. normal life the same way that I do in, you know, my professional life. And. sometimes it takes more energy in normal. life than it does in the professional.

life. I agree with you. Yeah, sometimes it's. easy to be disciplined at work. Right. But to actually show up for your. family and be a disciplined at home. Right. Right. requires a whole 'nother thing. And a lot of people they run from that. cuz it's easier to, you know, just put. all the put all the guilt and. responsibility Oh, I got to work. It's. my job. It's this. It's easy for you to do that. Take some. time, you know what I'm saying? You. know, be a little bit nervous, be a. little bit uncomfortable, be a little. bit bored. But you're not going to be. bored if you're around people you love. Like I'm never bored around my kids.

But, you know, take be passionate about. your normal life as well. Yeah, it. sounds like you have so much order and. discipline in your life. Like when I'm. hearing that I'm like sounds like. everything's very structured and. organized and intentional. It's not like. this random like Yeah, it's not random. at all. Everyday is very regimented. Yeah, it's definitely regimented. You. know, I look at my schedule regularly. I'm updating the schedule regularly. And it just really built to make me. happy. Like I'm cool with everything that I.

have to do as long as I'm happy. Like, you know what I'm saying? And if we talk. about it and we arrange it and we put it. in all the times that it's supposed to. be. I'll be really, really happy and I'll. love to do it. But when things start. coming out of left field and you have. your idea of what an appropriate time is. and we didn't run that by each other. like that's not going to make me happy. to do this and I'm doing this because I. love it. Yeah, I saw your Men's Health. video with the MMA which has become your.

fascination and I guess workout routine. for a couple of years now I feel. Where. Where did that start and how did that. come about? A lot of my my big homies. were getting in When I say big homies, I. mean security. They were getting into MMA. and doing jujitsu and just martial arts. and just meeting all types of people. And this was like almost 10 years ago. and they were just telling me like, "Bro, this is the next wave. Like. everybody's about to be doing this, blah. blah blah, this that and the other. thing. You got to get into it. You got. to get into it.". I'm like, "Yeah, it's cool, but you.

know, I'd rather like, you know, smoke. weed and be in the studio. Like, you. know what I'm saying?" But as soon as I. started working out, I just developed. like a passion for it like out of. nowhere. And it didn't make me slow down. smoking any like I was able to like. still get stoned, but I love training. and I love working out and I love like. learning new things. So, it just just. kept building on top of each other and. just building and building. And then I. just, you know, started to develop um. some skills that, you know, we're still.

sharpening to this day. Mhm. Do you go. to watch as well or you just like. training? I watch the shows as well, yeah. I got a. company called PFL that I'm involved. with. Uh I go to their shows all the I mean, I. go to their uh their fights all the. time. I go to boxing matches, there's. wrestling matches, there's Jiu-Jitsu. matches. There's all types of stuff. Combat sports is like. as you've seen, it's grown so much and. so many influencers want to do it and. it's just a really good lifelong thing,

too. Like it's gotten popular for how. much money it makes people and things. like that, but as a lifelong practice, like I would suggest that for any and. everybody. Yeah. If If there are men who. are watching who want to get into health. and fitness, what would be your best. advice to them to motivate them, inspire. them, let them know how important it's. been for you and it could be for them? I. would just try to paint the scenario of. you being about. late 30s. out with your kid.

somebody like is just in your face. and your kid is standing right there. and you only got. 30 seconds to prove to your child that. you're the protector. or somebody who's finna get whooped. Start working out now. That's hilarious. I It's funny cuz my. next question was going to be about. like, you know, I feel like masculinity.

is such a big talking point right now. Mhm. And, you know, a lot of men feeling. like they've inherited the mistakes made. by men in the past. Mhm. And so men carrying a lot around a. lot of judgment, men feeling left behind. in the conversation, Mhm. the different things you've talked. about today and the way you're. organizing your life. Like masculinity. is a very broad spectrum. It's not just. Right. one way. Right. And so how Have you ever thought. about that raising a son for yourself, the message you put out? I feel like rap.

and hip-hop had a version of masculinity. before and that's What do you What are. your thoughts on that? I think I've always like approached. masculinity just off of my vision of it. and. the most masculine and people that I. respect and just the the situations that. I look at as what, you know, a man. should model themselves as, are usually the most like moderate and. mild-tempered and just chill and kind.

of, you know, observant and just guiding. the situation. And any way that you can. position yourself to be that type of. person, I've always felt like that was. the more, you know, respectable thing. And we all have feelings and we all have. emotions and that's where like training. in combat sports it helps you like to. put all of that stuff in the right place. because when you get a chance to get. that stuff out, you realize where it has.

a place at where it doesn't. And a lot. of people they don't have a place to get. that stuff out, so they think that. they're being masculine by like shouting. or yelling or being rude to somebody. But really that should be like the last. case scenario. Like, you know what I'm. saying? Like, that's why I say. protecting your child because. I would never. use what I know. to. hurt anybody unless it was to protect my. family Yeah. or myself. It wouldn't be.

in any other situation because to me. like that's not cool. That's not tough. That's not even what it's for. So, I. think the idea of masculinity, it just. comes from whoever is putting it out at. the moment and what they've learned from. it. And you know the world judges the. way that it does based off of their. experiences. because they think, you know, the most. mean or the most scary or this, that,

and the other thing. But they haven't. they they show that, but they There's. not a lot of real situations that people. are in that prove that that that that's. the right thing. And from my experience. what's proven the most is the most mild, chill, moderate people are the ones that. you should probably be like the most. worried about. Yeah. So, the more that you can position. yourself in life to have an. understanding of your own emotions and. be in control of your reactions to.

things, I think that just makes you more. looked at as what people would consider. masculine or a leader or a provider or. something like that rather than like an. emotional, you know, person. Yeah, that's a really powerful answer, man. I. feel like. you kind of feel the world going through. two extremes where it's like masculinity. used to be this bravado, chauvinistic, arrogant. Yeah. you know, alpha male type. And. then it swung to like being vulnerable. and soft and this. And now I kind of.

feel like it's kind of swinging back the. other way. Yeah. And and it's almost like I like. how you described it because it's not. really hard or soft. It's kind of like. the person who can like. calm it down, guide it, move it along, knows what to do with everything. Exactly. Exactly. Cuz I've seen both, you know, and I've been around like. growing up in Pittsburgh, you see a lot. of dudes where it's like the street. [ __ ] type is like the hyper masculine. But a lot of those dudes end up like. going to jail, getting shot,

or when they come home from the jail, they're not who they used to be. And all. of that masculinity kind of goes away. when you see like the the perception of. this person go away, you see who they. really are. So, it's like deep down, who really are. you inside without this whole thing that. you're like putting off on people? And men have. a lot of pressure, especially like. growing up cuz we're more competitive. We're like really competitive. So, it's.

like I can see it with my son, like. being in sports with him and his. friends, you know what I mean? They just. off rip just go to this certain type of. personality. And I'm like, bro, you know you're like a better teammate. if you tell dudes like, "Yo, good shot.". Like, you know what I'm saying? "Good. job. I see you." Blah blah blah. But. they don't understand that now as kids. They're so competitive and they're so at. each other's throats. And sometimes that. carries on in life, but I think you just. have to have an example of somebody to. like let you know like, "Yo, it's cool.

to just be like chill and you know what. I mean? Like the homie." It's cool to. talk [ __ ] sometimes, too, cuz that [ __ ]. is fun. But like at the root of it, y'all still got to be friends and care. about each other and take care of each. other. And that's the the more, you know. what I mean? brotherly dope part about. it other than going at each other's. necks. Yeah, and we need to see that modeled. more. It's hard. You don't see it that. much. Yeah. So, it's hard to know as a man how to. Right. how to do that. But you're right. If. look at the best athletes in the world, Mhm. they're the ones who kept their.

calm when things were tough. They they weren't the ones spewing. anger. And it's interesting cuz MMA, I. think people who haven't been trained in. martial arts or don't know people who. have, often can think of it as like. combat sports are like angry. But but have you learned any practices. from MMA that you feel apply really well. to what we're talking about right now? I. think just getting punched in the face. You learn how to be calm and like not. get emotional when somebody hits you in. the face and you still got three rounds.

to do work. Or you still got three. minutes in a round or five minutes in a. round and do work. Like you can't let. your emotion You have to be calm. You. have to think. You have to remember your. footwork. You have to remember your. breathing. You have to remember defense. so you don't get hit again. There's way. more. to the story than just I got punched in. the face. And a lot of people will never. really get that that lesson or get that. feeling of I got hit and I got to keep. it moving. You know, most people want.

something to happen as soon as they get. hit. But you know, I think just through. martial arts. and it sounds extreme and it sounds. crazy, but I think everybody should get. punched in the face. I know what you're saying, though. I get. what you're saying. Like it's It's only. at that point do you know how tolerant. and still you are. Yeah. Cuz up until then, you can be. like, "Oh, I'm I'm super chill. I'm calm." But it's it's responding to. that. Yeah, and there's a lot of dudes who are. just like, "If somebody punches me in. the face, I'll kill them." But like, no.

you won't. Yeah. You got to fight back. You got three minutes or you're going to. keep getting punched in the face. So, it's like it's fun. when you just remove everything and hit. somebody in the face. How often do you get punched in the face. when you're. We do sparring off and on, especially. cuz I got to do like appearances in. shows and [ __ ] like that. Cuz anything. can happen like my nose rings could come. out. I could get black eye. Like I my. forehead could get split. to protect the face. Yeah, for sure. So,

I when I know I'm not having to do too. much, that's when we usually do do some. sparring. Yeah, or we'll do light sparring where. it's not like, you know, nobody's. in too much danger. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that makes that makes sense. Yeah, I was trying to figure out how you Yeah. how you doing that. Yeah, no, I I'm. really glad we dove into the masculinity. thing cuz I just feel like it's it's. such a need right now and I want. you know, men and women to both feel. like. you know, that we we're kind of having.

these conversations that I think. sometimes on the on the bigger screens. you don't see them. Yeah. You know. Yeah, and I think it's like the word. masculinity has gotten like so abused. Oh, interesting. So, to where people like think it's a. bad thing. And it's like. there are good examples of masculinity. Like I have a daughter, so she has to. see what a masculine man is like. She. has to see what a provider is like. She. has to see what somebody who is going to. make her feel protected.

as well as cared for and you know, all. of the things that that describe what. real masculinity is beyond, you know, what you can do physically to somebody. or even financially. You know what I'm. saying? Emotionally being there for her. There's a lot of things that. me having the right types of masculinity. are going to be, you know, positive for. her to see. Yeah, 100% 100% man. And. with this new album, what was the energy.

that you put into it? Like it's a. sequel, so there's that there's was. there something you trying to revisit or. bring back? Yeah, I think I'm just revisiting like. when I did Kush and Orange Juice the the. the style of it was like. you know, stoner kid. Everybody just. smoke weed, be cool, be chill, and this. is the soundtrack to the lifestyle. And. um I've done a lot with my music to. where I've, you know, had my take on. what I think music should sound like at.

certain points. I've had, you know, my take on what I. think are like really big, huge records. and what those should sound like. And. then I've also just experimented with, you know, what street culture is at the. time and just what's popular to the. kids. And I think with Kush and Orange. Juice, it really resonated with people. because of the lifestyle that it created. and the things that I talked about in. that lifestyle and the way that the. music sounded and grooved with that.

lifestyle. So, just being aware of that. and knowing what type of chaotic state. that we're in right now, I just felt like it was the perfect time. to just reintroduce people to a more. laid-back, chill, just smoke some weed. and vibe out, you know, and um create a. whole crowd of people who wanted to do. the same thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. And it's interesting, right? Like you. it's like you're chilled out, but then. you're super productive.

Yeah. How how do you hope that your. audience kind of feels both of those as. well? Because it's almost like, yeah. been good because I think just through. experience I've learned that the. majority of people who listen to my. music end up bossing up. Yeah, I love that. Yeah, like I've there's a lot of artists. now, you know, who were in like middle. school, high school. when Kush and Orange Juice came out or. they watched my day-to-days and they're. like, man, this is what really, you. know, let me know this is what I needed. to do to be a artist or I studied you.

every day, blah blah blah, or I dropped. out of college and I got my friends and, you know, we started our label and now. we're Big Sean and blow, know what I'm. saying? So, like I've seen a lot of people who have. taken my blueprint and turned it into, you know, exactly what I've done with. it. So, um I think the message gets. across really, really well that, you. know, you you be a pothead, but you be. productive, and you boss up and put all. the homies on. I think they get that.

that message really well. I love that. I love that. Yeah, thank you. How does How does it. feel that See You Again is the second. most viewed video on YouTube music video. of all time? I mean, that's insane. Yeah, it's pretty cool. How does that. feel? It feels good. I think it feels better. that I'm able to like walk around. because most people they they would. think that if your video is that popular. or if you have that much success that. you're just like not even real. But, like, to me, I can still go to my son's.

games. I can still, you know, go pick. records out. I can still go to the gym. without a fleet of security with me. So, like, I didn't sacrifice my, uh, sanity. Yeah. to be the second most viewed. person in the world. So, I'm happy about. that. Yeah. And it's it's such a great song, too, to be known for, I feel. It's a really good song, and shout-out. to Charlie, too, man. Like, Charlie did. his thing, and. Yeah. the whole process of like making. that song was like a dream come true. because.

it was for a soundtrack, so you never. know how that's going to go. There was. like 10 other people who were supposed. to be on the song. So, you know, me. writing a verse, I was just like writing. a verse. I wasn't like, "This is This. song's going to change my life. I need. to sit down." I was like, "Yo, yeah, yeah, yeah, here you go." Like, it's. dope verse. Like, I love the verse and. [ __ ] but they were like, you know, they. it really connected with. the people who were doing the movie at. the time. And, uh, you know, shout-out to Weave. and and Constance and Will and. everybody, but we just kind of like just.

shaved it down, and it just ended up making sense with. it just being me and Charlie on there, that's all it's taken us like super. duper far. Yeah, it's dope, man. It's. amazing. What What was your motivation. to go sober from alcohol? I My. motivation to be sober from alcohol was. just I had drank for so long. Since I was able to drink, I've been. drinking. And I never seen a reason to really. stop. Cuz like I just love partying. I. love being around people. I love, you.

know, just being a vibe. After one I think it was one show I just. got like completely wasted, which was. normal. I was like, "Man, I don't really have too many like. memories of. of places." Like I was like, "I I mean I. I love doing these shows." This [ __ ] was. like, "I don't be remembering like, you. know what I mean, anything." I was like, "I want to kind of like experience this. stuff, remember where I'm at, remember. the people who I'm dealing with, actually enjoy it, and not just be like.

turnt up, you know?". So, yeah, it was just a time of like. just gathering. information, and I'm real happy for. that. Yeah, was it hard to break away because. No. No. No. It wasn't difficult at all. I think what when I want to do. something, I'm good at it. Like, if it. means something to me, I have my own. reasons for doing it. Nobody's making me. do it. Or even I feel like even if somebody. made me do it, if it was like a. challenge or something like that, or if. like I had to for legal reasons or. something like that, I wouldn't have a.

problem doing. a lot of things. But, you know, for me. it's just my lifestyle is so free and. it's so fun. So, half of the time it's. like, "Why would I stop?" Yeah. But, if. I make up a. reason for myself, I usually end up. sticking to it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Wiz, at the start of the. interview I asked you what's the first. thing you do when you wake up. Yeah. What's What's the last thing you. do before you go to bed? Last thing I do. before I go to bed, kiss my son and my. daughter. Nice. Yeah. I love that. Yeah. Beautiful. Wiz, I end every episode.

You've been amazing, so generous with. your time. Great just great energy. I've. really enjoyed spending this time with. you, man. Yeah, I appreciate you. Feel. like I've learned so much about you. today that I didn't know for sure. Thank you. Uh we end every episode with. a final five. These have to be answered. in one word to one sentence maximum. Okay. And so Wiz Khalifa, these are your. fast five final five. Uh the first. question is what's the best advice. you've ever heard or received? Just be. you. That's from Snoop Dogg. Nice. Uh. question number two, what's the worst.

advice you've ever heard or received? Change your name from Wiz Khalifa. To? I don't know. They just told me that. that name wasn't going to work. Why. didn't they Why didn't they like the. name? Cuz it's just too different. You. know what I'm saying? Like it didn't. sound like nothing. It didn't give off. You didn't get any visual from that back. in the day when I told you that that was. my name. Yeah. So a lot of people close people to. me was like, I like you. You can rap. You're really cool, but you need to. change your name. And it ended up. working out for me because in the years.

that I was being discovered, it's a. brand new name. So when you Google that. name, I'm the only thing that comes up. So it's like one of the most Googled. names like, you know, for that year. So. the thing that people told me wasn't. going to work ended up working. it. Where did it come from? Uh Wiz is. short for wisdom and Khalifa is leader. or successor. Yeah, yeah, yeah. How did you come. across the word Khalifa? Cuz that's. Khalifa My parents are Well, my. grandparents My granddad is Muslim. Right, right, right. Yeah, it's one job. Very cool, man. Exactly.

name. Thank you, man. Yeah, it's cool. It's cool. I love this hat, too. Yeah, good luck. I I saw this on your merch. yesterday and came out. I was like I'm a. walking billboard, baby. Yeah, I love. this hat. All I wear is me. Yeah, I love. it. Uh question number three, what's. something that you used to value that. you no longer value? I used to really. enjoy going to nightclubs. I don't enjoy. it anymore. Because? Uh I feel like the. music isn't the same. I feel like people. don't really dance anymore. Like they're. just in like sections, just kind of. chilling. And it just kind of defeats.

the purpose of going out. Like I never. went out just to look cool. I would go. out to get girls. And I really don't like chase women all. like that no more. And I think it's just the polite thing. to do. Like normally, like like I said, anymore because like normally even being. in a relationship, I would just be like, "Yo, it's a part of my life." Like, "You. know what I'm saying? I'm going to be. around hell of chicks. Get used to it.". You know what I'm saying? That's what I. would do before. Like but now I don't. really like I don't really care for that. [ __ ] no more. Uh question number four,

how would you define your current. purpose? I would define my current. purpose as a leader. and as a provider. and as somebody who. a lot of people look up to. So, it. doesn't matter what I get personally, it's more about what I do for for. others. Uh and fifth and final question. we ask this to every guest who's ever. been on this show. If you could create. one law that everyone in the world had. to follow, what would it be? Smoke weed.

every day. I love it. Wiz Khalifa. Christian orange juice, too. Yep. Thank you so much, man. This is. This is so much fun. I had a great time. Thank you. good time, too. I appreciate it. man. I like your jeans, too, man. man. I appreciate it. If this is the year that you're trying. to get creative, you're trying to build. more, I need you to listen to this. episode with Rick Rubin on how to break. into your most creative self, how to use.

unconventional methods that lead to. success, and the secret to genuinely. loving what you do. If you're trying to. find your passion and your lane, Rick. Rubin's episode is the one for you. Just. because I like it, that doesn't give it. any value. Like as an artist, if you. like it, that's all of the value. That's. the success comes when you say, "I like. this enough for other people to see it.".