will.i.am Opens Up: Depression, Creativity & ADHD!

we've been set up to fail AI didn't do. that people did that here's a tool for. us to solve our problems ourselves now. here we go. get the producer singer rapper this man. does it all seven time Grammy winner one. of the industries's biggest names man. that's lyrical and we started the Black. Eyed Peas no one believed in US. now we're playing Super Bowls World Cups. Grammys you have to be hyper creative. you can't grow anything without it but.

there's a cost to creativity right. what's it like to be in your head are. you always thinking analyzing everything. get it get it go go make it make it. that's not good that's not healthy why. you make errors you hurt people I. remember I got into like a a dark period. when I. felt something that I've never felt. before just like. distortion. people want you to fail but the anxiety.

comes when you're worried about what. people think when it's things that are. happening that you didn't control. you have to be optimistic. you have to arm yourself with optimism. and purpose. [Music]. that's what it's about that path was the. hardest path in my life. [Music]. this is a window into the mind of a. creative a Divergent an entrepreneur. artist and visionary someone we all know.

but at the same time someone we don't. really know at all if you're a creative. an artist an entrepreneur or someone. with big ideas for the future or just. someone that's struggling to balance. your professional Ambitions with your. personal Pursuits. this conversation was meant to find you. enjoy. [Music].

I am fascinated with people that is why. I started doing this many years ago. because I have I've come to learn about. myself that I have a real desire to. understand people because from that I. think I can understand myself because I. think at the kind of foundational level. we're all quite similar as human beings. because we're all related if we go back. far enough so in a pursuit to understand. you I guess my first question is. um what is what is the context of will. that I need to know to understand the. man that sat here in front of me today.

the earliest context the kind of kitchen. that Will was. um. was was conceived in was was cooked in. at the earliest age. you write songs no I don't I write a lot. but I don't write because you like uh I. get interviewed a lot but. very rarely do you get interviewed by. wordsmiths. um the kitchen I was stewed in I cooked. in it's pretty uh.

I like the visual of that. um because the chef would be my mom. and the kitchen will be. the ghettos of East Los Angeles Boyle. Heights specifically. and that was encouragement. acknowledgment. of our individual I say our my family. like we all have our little superpower. and my superpower was creativity. and creativity has always been my.

currency when I had no money I clearly. was like oh look Ma look what I made. Willy that's really good you really like. that mod yeah and I would she would. encouragement goes a long way. and then that type of encouragement from. a mom that helped create self-belief. fearlessness to express to share to go. in class and solve problems or raise my. hand I got the answer to that. um. that's really what fueled.

fueled me is my mom. let Willy solve it. will he try to fix that. you know this radio is broken try to fix. it. that type of stuff my mom. salute did she know that you were. creative or was she just um putting wind. in whatever so you'd pulled up my mom. was creative my mom still is creative. she had her sewing machine she would. make her clothes to go to school. that's why most of the clothes I make is.

still. um you know one-offs two of two offs I. like wearing. things that no one has because that's. how I grew up. we would go to the thrift store buy. dollar clothes or 50 Cent shirts there. will always be too big for me my mom. would fix them and turn old into new. that's that's how we lived you know will. he go to the store take this food stamp. buy me a 25 cents bubble gum. um get 75 cents back.

um and then you go to different stores. do the same thing so now my mom has. coins that she could go and buy other. things with food stamps because with. food stamps you only could buy food you. can't buy needles you can't buy thread. you can't buy fabric you can't buy. appliances you only could buy food so. take this dollar give me 25 cents gum. which is food 75 cents chains back go to. different stores and do that now let's. go and buy other things. and so she'll buy those other things and.

she'll make stuff for us so my mom has. always been like super ultra creative so. my mom is my biggest inspo. I've heard you refer to her as being. your mum and your dad. yeah in your household. so when you when you grew up in a. in a household whether there's only the. mom I'm like every Father's Day Happy. Father's Day Mom. thank you Willie and happy Mother's Day. Mom. in those contexts it's easy for a kid to.

go one of two ways though. and I think that's what people often. don't realize is when you're in a. context where outside of the house. there's a lot of Temptations either way. but inside the house it takes a really. really strong mother if she is a single. mother to make sure she creates her own. universe so that those kids can end up. in a different place and that's what I. kind of read from a lot of the stories. of your mother is that rigor and. discipline and those values yeah there. was a we had this next door neighbor in. the projects and she couldn't read or.

write. and then. people used to make fun of her. and my mom was like. now if we all went to Japan. and we had to go out there and survive. are we not smart yes we're smart. could we survive out there yes we could. can we raise kids and raise families to. go out and do awesome things in Japan in. Japan yes we could.

but we will all go to Japan not being. able to read or write. so the stigma that we put on folks that. can't read and write. could they read people. yep. can they write a path to. raise folks to go out into the world to. do awesome things yes. so we value. my mom always valued. Humanity at its purest and people's. intents. um and the things they want to. accomplish before like you know cliche.

setbacks or and it's it was awesome that. we were raising all Mexican neighborhood. right so most people didn't redirect. which was beautiful it was beautiful you. know. I love I love being raised in in East. L.A. and uh We've. we fit we fit it in is that right fit it. in we because I was going to say fat in. it's like it's a fit there you go there.

it goes read it right for me. no I'm joking. what was your your yourself yourself. story at that age like what did will. think of will who did you think you were. and where did you think you were going. in life when you were like 14 oh 14 it. was said yeah 14 I wanted to do music. I had these wraps that I used to write. and I had these demos that I used to. make and I would go to school and I. would give my demos to my my friends. uh one of my friends his name is Stefan.

Gordy his dad was Barry Gordy from Old. Town and I'm like yo give this to your. dad check out my demo. my sister had Teddy Ruxpin it's like. this little teddy bear that had a. cassette in its belly. and my mom gave that to my sister for. Christmas and for me she gave me like a. boombox. it to play the cassettes. and she got herself a stereo. and that stereo had two cassettes and.

came with headphones. and so I got my mom's records and I had. a record player and two tape debts and a. headphone. and I don't know what told me to take. the headphone put it in the microphone. Jack. take my sister's Barbie rockers tape. put tape over. the left side of the cassette tape. record over it get my mom's record play. the favorite part press unpause record.

pause it when my favorite part was over. play it again and make a loop put the. tape and the play put another. sisters um my sister's Teddy Ruxpin tape. put it in there do the same thing record. over it now press play on my Loop that's. for three minutes and wrap over it. take the the Teddy Ruxpin tape with my. newly. formed song over Loops stereo Loops put. it in Teddy Ruxpin press play and make.

Teddy Ruxpin rap so my mom was like you. did that boy I'm like yeah Ma look. she was like you should take that to. class for your for a show and tell. they were like wow William uh at that. point in time I was William wow William. that's really cool you did that yeah I. did that the song was whatever. um for a 10 year old. um so. then you graduate sixth grade. at 12.

so from from 10 11 12 it was clear that. my elementary school. I had like a different level of. creativity so when I went to Junior High. School. um it was clear what my superpower was. I was creative and I wanted I wanted to. uh express myself in that in that realm. were you confident whatever however you. define that and what I guess what I mean. by confident is like securing oneself.

and. confident in their abilities and social. um value I guess. it happened in in three steps I didn't. know we were poor. and then I found out we were poor. and I found out we were poor when one. year my teacher Miss Rich she said you. got to come to school. with canned food and box food so we. could give to the poor families. and I come home I'm like Mom my homework.

assignment this tonight is to go to. school I gotta pick through the. cupboards and give canned foods and. boxed foods from a homework assignment. tomorrow. she's like well you ain't going to. school with no food like Mom but I'm I'm. gonna fail the class. I'm gonna I'm gonna get a fail on my on. my grade I have to turn this in well I. guess you gonna get a fail because you. ain't leaving this house with no food. so I go to school empty-handed I don't. you know complete the assignment.

then I see my the rich white kids coming. up the corridor I'm like hey what's up. Brent what up Brad what you guys doing. here yeah we came here to bring the food. to the poor family. I'm like oh really so I started walking. with them and we go to my house. make weight. that food's for us. we qualified. and the school. gave us that food. and that's when I realized we were poor.

so I go back to school. and they made fun of me for a couple of. days William he's William's poor we. dropped the food off in his house. this one girl comes up to me she's like. William are you poor how can you be poor. if you always wear suits to school. because my mom used to make us wear. suits so it wasn't like a uniform school. it was like dressed the way you want to. dress but my mom put me in suits every. day. and so the kids were like why do you.

always wear suits to school how could. you be poor. and my mom would say you ain't going to. school with no play clothes you're going. you ain't going to school to play you're. going to school to learn so you put on. these like you go to church to learn. about God you're going to church to. learn about. you know life and so put the suit on. so although there were like four or five. people. that were saying I was the poor kid that. got the food but then the rest of the. kids were like no William's not poor. look if you always wear suits to school. you guys are lying.

that became my cloth to express yourself. because. that that drape. that attire. um separated me from the gang separated. me from your poor you're not you're. you're part of the have-nots. um. and uh expression. just wanted to express sometimes mom. used to say uh. Willie what you doing nothing get your. butt over here what's wrong ma what did.

I say about saying the word nothing. even if you sit there breathing say I'm. breathing or you're thinking about. something you don't got no business. saying you doing nothing. so we would have to say what we were. doing we couldn't say nothing. because you're never doing nothing even. if you're breathing even if you're hard. speeding whatever you're thinking of. you know what you thinking about nothing. well you need to start thinking about. something. we could she didn't settle for that. you know so let's talk about creativity. then because this is what you're really.

I mean this is one of the many things. you're really really known for so is it. possible to become more creative. and how does that happen. okay. let's say it's 1983. yeah. let's go to the past now I was minus. nine or if you're 1993 okay I was one. if you're in 1993 and you're a musician. the way to be more creative is to look. at Prince.

look at Prince. because Prince was like the ultimate. creative Force. and the way Prince became creative is he. looked at Stevie Wonder. he's like wait he plays the keyboards. the drums the bass he writes the songs. okay and. Stevie Wonder was Ultra creative because. he looked at Marvin Gaye. he looked at Ray Charles. but looking from a different perspective. obviously because Stevie Wonder can't. see. but he he uh.

felt. he was inspired by he was motivated by. so if you want to be creative. more creative. you have to one compete. you have to be. super analytical on yourself. and who you're competing against you. have to be elevated. you have to take yourself from where you. are now and position yourself and see. the terrain. you have to be.

curious. humble. and a predator all at the same time you. have to do all those things. to be ultra hyper creative. you have to be humble till you walk in. the room and you attract because nobody. wants a freaking sin. you know perspectives to a dick. to an arrogant ass no at some point in. time if you're too arrogant people stop. sending you information.

people don't they want to see you they. want you to fail. and they start sending you information. for you to fail. when you're arrogant so you got to get. rid of that be humble. you have to be you have to be a predator. you have to walk into a room. ready to eat. but. but you can't eat everything. because then. you have to be selective on what you eat. what about hard work hard work hard work.

is relative because to some well this is. not hard work this is just what I do my. pinky to my lung. my pinky thinks my lung is working hard. because I have to tell my pinky when to. move. my mind. my mind ain't have has no control over. my lungs. my lungs are working involuntarily. if I tell my lungs to stop. I could do that.

but then it's gonna kick in on its own. my heart is even more involuntary I. can't will like okay okay stop stop now. stop you've been beaten for freaking 48. years I mean you need to take a break. that's what it does. you cannot yeah you can meditate you. could slow your heart rate down but you. can't make it stop bro. so hard work is relative. to watch Oregon or who or what. environment you're working in. and then there's. tools. what tools do you need to be hyper.

creative. you need humble heart. you need a fierce competitive Predator. type of. um Vibe as well. you have to be disciplined because you. can't eat everything. you have to be elevated you have to see. everything. and you have to be magnetic you have to. attract everything. what about failure and then also the. goals of creativity because one of the. things I think the two things are kind. of linked to fear failure and then what. is the goal of creativity because if I.

if my if I set myself I've just started. learning to DJ about a year ago and if. my goal is to become the biggest DJ in. the world that might make me fearful. it's a huge mountain to climb and that. might make me scared of failures so I. might not start but real creative scenes. from what I've observed they don't seem. to really give much of a [ __ ] about the. outcome as much as other people do. and I've so what is that you know what. is the right goal for creativity and how. does what role does fear and failure. play in being a good creative. the reason why you're fearful is because.

you're worried about what people think. it's true. and if you're worried about what people. think. then maybe true creative is not what you. are. you just got the costume of creative on. because creativity. when you're creating and it's like a. a rinse. whether the rents a sponge absorbs. and eventually you got to rinse it out. so it can absorb more do you think a.

sponge is like oh man I don't want. people to judge how I'm rinsing myself. out oh I'm gonna make a mess. sponge ain't thinking about that people. like are you talking about SpongeBob. well like no bro I'm talking about just. like the metaphor of absorbing and. rinsing or let's say. vomiting. it's powerful. you can't control it. and that's creativity. and some people would be like yeah. that's right will you'll the stuff you. make is like vomit you make me no if.

that's what you think I don't care I. have to let it out. it's like [ __ ]. now people could say yeah well I am your. [ __ ] is like [ __ ] but I'm gonna ask you. which farmer. does not need manure. to grow and cultivate. you need it. you cannot Farm without it. you can't grow anything without it. it's like cycles of life.

and creativity is that. the more the moment you start worried. about people's opinion then you. definitely by default are not a creative. you're doing it for the wrong reasons. what is the right reasons. to let it out. to rinse yourself. it's like you absorb you rinse nothing. you said is about the impact it then has. on the world or others well no that's a. different tool right. and then once you once you really once.

you master it like I absorbed I rinse. and that becomes therapeutic and you see. in how that helps you. then you're like wow wait if it's. helping me. well then I can. be strategic. and I could do something to help others. first it has to help you. you make sense of the world and whatever. it is you're doing whether you're. painting you're cooking you're teaching. you're tutoring you're making songs.

you're making dance you're writing films. you're doing journals whatever it is. you're doing you would have absorbed the. world and rinsed. and contributed. in some. way that brings progress to yourself and. others quick one before we get back to. this episode just give me 30 seconds of. your time. two things I wanted to say the first. thing is a huge thank you for listening. and tuning in to the show week after. week means the world to all of us and. this really is a dream that we.

absolutely never had and couldn't have. imagined getting to this place. secondly it's a dream where we feel like. we're only just getting started and if. you enjoy what we do here please join. the 24 of people who watch this channel. regularly and have hit that subscribe. button means more than I can say and if. you hit that subscribe button here's a. promise I'm going to make to you I'm. gonna do everything in my power to make. this show as good as I can now and into. the future we're going to deliver the. guests that you want me to speak to and. we're going to continue to keep doing. all of the things you love about the.

show. thank you thank you so much back to the. episode relationships. what role do you because I I didn't get. into relationship until I was like. really until I was like 28. again I thought it was a hindrance on my. chances of professional success and then. at some point I felt lonely. I didn't know what loneliness really was. but I just could feel something what's. the point. you know. when you have this Mission I'm I'm. Mission driven.

I'm like what are we trying to. accomplish what am I trying to. accomplish. 10 years from now. what's my Five-Year Plan was my ten year. plan. how did I do my last five year tenure. and uh. if there's someone that can help you. that you could. relate to. to help you ship this vision from the in. your mind. to the Future.

I have a different understanding of. relationship. It's like because you want to relate. with someone. that you could ship things with. whether you're shipping in a PCU to the. Future. or you're shipping a piece of you. to the Future. and if you could relate to that person. and help you on your journey. that's awesome. it all depends on what you're shipping.

what's it like to be in your head I know. that's hard because you've never been in. someone else's but you know you probably. figured out from conversations that you. think in a different way. yeah so. thinking a lot I think a lot. I'm always thinking. not about nothing I'm always thinking. about something. like. it's very rare that I'm just sitting. around like. oh wow look at that Chandelier. I'm thinking like I wonder how they made.

how much that weigh what a material is. that like I'm always thinking and. analyzing everything I'm like a scanner. every time. every moment. and. that can be overbearing. to somebody you're in a relationship. that could close them up. that can like wait wait. that. that's not good. That's not healthy.

and uh. and I realized that. took a long time for me to realize that. where. I gotta turn that off. I didn't know there was an off switch is. that one no there's not an off switch. but there is like a volume nah volume. number okay. um but uh. I don't know how to not. like wait that say that again.

I don't know how to just take. especially with somebody you're in a. relationship with. I don't know how to take like. oh we're just we're just at the beach. the whole time. you don't want to go down to explore to. see how deep this ocean is. you just want to chill here on the beach. I can't listen let's go down to the. let's go to try to find the crevices. let's go down deep deep deep and that's.

saying no let's just sunbathe it's just. stay on the beach. and that's cool. if I'm not a beach guy. I'm a deep diver. I'm a freaking. I like the abyss I like to be like yo. look what in the what look at that I. like that I like to freaking explore I. like to research. I like to explain microwave this doesn't. make any sense at all let's try to make.

sense of it all let's try to make sense. of it. like I like that. I love that. you have ADHD right you've referred to. it as the gift of ADHD it's funny. because I'm trying to figure out your. relationship with Stillness and silence. doesn't seem I mean from what you said. we're assuming that an electron and a. proton and a neutron all have the same. tasks and goals. so the electron that I am.

the concept of Stillness and silence. is you have no purpose. because the whole purpose of an electron. is to do that does it close to that. though that seems exhausting the cost of. that if you're coming from the. perspective of the proton looking at the. electron was around it. but you got to know who you are in the. equation. I'm the electron. that's cool you kick it there Neutron. State it's cool you still but the proton.

has something the electron doesn't have. in the Pro and the electron has. something the protein doesn't approach. yeah have but they're not supposed to do. the same thing and they both have costs. and like they have a good like a light. side and a DOT or a cost and a gift do. they so I think of like I've been I'm I. would say I'm more whizzing around. electron generally so I'm just playing. devil's advocate here because when I've. when I've come into my girlfriend's. proton world where things may be a. little bit Stiller there has been gifts. to that there's been gifts to that and I. hear everything you're saying about to.

be in a relationship you need to be able. to lay on the beach I can't lay on the. beach but I know that's what my. girlfriend wants of me she wants me to. be present with her and not to think. about the future and to think about. where we are right now yeah but there's. a way to do it from an electronic. perspective how. um. is to really look at the word. relationship and relate. even though you can't relate. you have to uh. have empathy. understanding of what their contribution.

is and support and. and be there. so it from the perspective of the. electron it is still. for the electron you think the electrons. like man I'm tired I'm tired of whizzing. around you the whole time that's not. what what's going on in the electron's. mind yeah to the electron I'm still and. I am still going around. it's all the perspective of the word. steel.

there's Steel. and then there's constant still. which still are you are you the one. that's still. and you're just like Steel s-t-e-e-l. and your Steel. or are you still. and that is still moving. still at in it no matter how you look at. it it's still still. because from the perspective and the. empathy of that electron moving.

it is still. from the from the POV of what who's. viewing it it's moving. but the electron I am still. and I will still be moving and. gravitating around you and I could still. think and add to your life. as I do the things that I do to add to. life. but the moment you stop doing what. you're doing. then it's no longer a relationship.

because they can't relate to what you're. doing and what you're adding and now. you're conforming and changing. when Maybe. that's not what you're supposed to do. or maybe you didn't you weren't candid. and forthcoming enough to make true. understanding to stand under. the circumference. and know the ledge of what it is you do. together. you speak of almost like a recent. Epiphany when you say like realizing.

that there was this off button. even though you don't think the offense. necessarily there. where do you sit now with the concept of. finding like a life partner and getting. married and having kids and all that. stuff and is there work to be done is it. finding the right person or is it an. inward piece of work that needs to be. done in your view and is it something. you you want. I want to have kids I I'm I'm going to. be an awesome dad. if you were to ask me this uh. 10 years ago.

I would have a different answer really. why has it changed and what is it now. and what was it then. that you don't do a family until you. completed the ultimate. or my version of ultimate. my my version of ultimate is to. be able to be of assistance. and. help. and provide. and service.

folks that resemble. the lifestyle. that I live the hardships that I lived. without having to ever raise money ever. again. 10 years ago yeah yeah. what I know now. I would have had a kid you would have. had a kid 10 years ago if I know what I. know now yes. why I was moving too fast and I thought. the only way to get up the mountain is. to move the way I moved when I was at.

the foothill. to get to the middle of the mountain. and now that I'm up the mountain. you're thinking that I'm doing I'm gonna. do it by myself still. and. the purpose of me getting up the. mountain was to take care of my mom. and that was my motivation that was my. guess that was my electricity that was. my energy. to take care of my family. hunter-gatherer. to go out and bring back to the Village.

I didn't know. what I didn't know then now that I know. would I be able to get up the mountain. with family and Offspring to take the. information that I have and pass it on. have knowledge here. have knowledge of my DNA. who do I pass it to. if something were to happen to me. like it's like different type of. knowledge that you just don't say.

someone it's like it's in me it store to. me somebody gave me this your mom. and my grandma and my Grandma's Grandma. and my grandmother's grandma. that person had a different life. my grandma was born in 1920. my. Grandma's Grandma was born in 18. something. that means it hadn't wow. that person was working in the field in. somebody's Factory in some unknown. company. but in America just called it slavery.

like that wasn't that long ago so but. that information was passed on to me. passed on to me resilience tolerance. hope living in a different world. so your Offspring can have a different. life. I'm a recipient of that. but when you're hustling and bustling. you think. that oh no I gotta wait to the ultimate. was I wrong. now that I can look back at my.

he was wrong. but I was right. still wrong. would I be a. would I be further along in my journey. a little bit more organized. yes why because something would have. forced me to be organized. it's not just for myself now. even though it was never for myself. it was always for my mom and my family.

I would have had even more regiment. I would have even more streamlined. aerodynamics. so that could you know you know cut. through corners. you know. and uh. make tighter turns keep the downwinds. it would be a little bit more. aerodynamic. had I you know so yeah. nothing will stop you if you have kids. probably just going to motivate you more.

but I couldn't see that back then. um. but I'm gonna be an uh awesome dad when. I'm when I'm a dad. but I want to be a full-time dad. and I realize that I don't have to be. the. the the the the the juggler. um anymore. before I had to do it all because no one. really believed and so I always had to. prove.

I had to like. be the creative understand business sit. in the business meetings co-manage. come up with the artwork execute the. artwork learn illustrator learn. Photoshop do the album artwork hand it. off to somebody else to fine tune what. you sketched up. um. plan the tour with your man like I had. to do it all. but probably because a part of me didn't. trust. that someone cared as much as I cared.

but. now. I don't have to do it like that anymore. I've got to a point where now I could. assemble teams and fun teams. now I'm the financier. I don't have to worry about somebody's. financing me. that's a different that's like that's an. exhale. and so with that exhale if I when I'm a. dad. I could be a.

I could be. um a full-time dad. as my understanding of full-time which. I'll still be I'll still be working just. not working the way I'm working now. I don't know I don't I don't want to. work the way I used to work why uh not. anymore. not anymore. I was a proton for the planet and just. going around the planet. um. the longest I've been home.

since 1998. was all of the majority of 2002. and then the majority of 2020 like. everyone else. outside of those two years. the longest that I've been in one place. it's been two months. since 1998. oh gotta go oh I'm here for two months. see you later be back two weeks gotta go.

got and I've been doing that since night. like I don't want to do that no more so. you're speaking to a change perspective. and I'm wondering because for me in my. life there had to be a symptom there had. to be something I noticed where I go do. you know what I'm doing something not. right here so for me I talked about it. being that kind of almost this feeling. of loneliness that I didn't realize was. the feeling of loneliness it was this. emptiness in my chest when you go to the. office seven days a week and then you. look at your phone and go who are my. friends like who is my partner like. tuning out of survival mode tuning out.

of that and tuning into like Thrive like. how do I thrive as a human being is what. made me shift so really I'm curious. about the symptoms that you notice in. your life that made you go I don't want. to do that anymore no but I never had. that really what's your explain no I had. my best friends that I grew up with. and we lived our Dream to the highest. level. imaginable. kids that were broke.

Apple my best friend who came from the. Philippines who I Started Black Eyed. Peas with. he comes from a province in the. Philippines where he pumped water out. the ground he washed his clothes on the. riverbed. he farmed rice with his pet bison. he did he experienced a different level. of poverty. taboo single mom. his dad was in the gangs. and we started the Black Eyed Peas. and we live the what wait how how do we.

do this guys no one believed in US. now we're playing Super Bowls World Cups. multiple Grammys. taking care of our families. no bro like this is. the biggest blessing. one could imagine loneliness how can I. be lonely I'm with my best friends. so why change. because I live 10 years from now I've. always seen 10 years from now. always.

I don't know what it was. but when I was 13 I'm like I'm gonna buy. you a house. how old was I when I bought my mama. house. a little off I was 20. 6. I wanted to do it well I still did it. well then 10 years from there. I was like Ma how about everyone else in. the list we still our aunts our uncles. and our niece or my Grandma we're still.

at the projects we're still going back. to the projects on holidays. we need we need to do a whole Exodus she. was like that's what you want to do. twink moved everybody out. um. and when I got everyone else out I'm. like well I gotta go back to the. neighborhood because there's people that. we grew up with. and they have kids now. let's start a robotics program there. start a computer science program there. so that when they in a college prep. program so that when they graduate. college they have skills that are needed.

not just send kids to college so that. when they graduate they have debt at a. diploma. so we did that. and there's purpose so I want to be. purposeful so if I could see 10 years. from now okay. at some point in time my tenure. looking around the corner. one day I'll be 70. one day I'll be Tom Jones age I'll be. 80.

I'm like I I just stopped. I don't pass it on. that's what happens here. no that's not responsible. you know it's not it's not that's not a. responsible thing to do. so you gotta pass on knowledge you got. to pass on. gifts. for me it's a gift.

the little kid on the bike. you know have good intentions I wanted. it's all for the good. um. and I wanna I wanna pass it on. you said you're living 10 years in the. future of five years in the future there. must be a cost to that when people talk. and you know spiritual people talk about. what pieces and happiness is they talk. about presence you strike me as someone.

from what you've said that is my. struggle with the concept of being. present when you're five years in the. future and this kind of leads into a. point where people talk about the. tortured creative that is like very you. know cognitively. um active how does how does one square. being a creative that's living five. years in the future with peace happiness. presence and calm. and and what's your story in that regard. like I said. we're assuming that a proton a neutron.

an electron all should have the same. role. to make an atom. in actuality they all have different. roles. and the moment an electron acts like a. proton. then an atom's not an atom anymore. so I got out of my predicament. because I didn't live in my current. reality. had I lived in my current reality I.

would still be in my reality that was. constructed for me so I had to live in. this realm that was dreamed of. and my whole premise was to manifest. that dream with strategy so I had to. I had to. live as if it was real. I had to live like I already moved my. mom out to projects I had to live like. this gang doesn't want me.

I'm no use for this gang. why even get initiated in being. and live that gang life. let me just keep wearing these suits. because these suits that my mom made me. I was my attire for the world that I'm. going to be living in. you have to live you if you living in. some place that you know that you don't. belong you know you don't belong there. why are you stuck in that.

so in my mind I have to. always been that way unfortunately I. can't change how my makeup is. so I'm constantly if it got me out of. that it's gonna get me out of this and. where we are right now my people that. live in communities that reflect where I. come from are still in some version of. that. so in 2008 I started my Foundation. started with 65 students and I and my. gut was like yo. let me surround them with robotics and.

computer science skill sets so I went. out in the world absorbed these these. skill sets these tools met. um Jack dangerman from esri met Dean. Cayman from uh Deca and first robotics. Lorraine Powell jobs from college track. my vision was to take these three. independent entities. duct tape them together to make a. cluster to give a new type of. project-based learning to kids 65 kids. that's 65 kids from 2008 to now now we.

serve 15 almost 15 000 students in Los. Angeles we've sent kids to Dartmouth to. Brown to Stanford to Georgetown because. in 2008 I was living right now. I knew that because the way technology. was going. that kids in the inner cities are going. to be. super. um conflicted with the way the world's. going and the amount of jobs that are. going to disappear. I thought I was just going to be like.

blue collar jobs I don't think it's. gonna be white collar jobs. I don't think kids in the suburbs were. going to be you know impacted by. you know this nude. this new digital age. like we've seen the last one but this. generative stuff yo bro. thank God we were doing what we're doing. in 2008. thank God we have you know. a fleet.

um. a herd of amazing. Engineers out of the out of you know the. inner cities of LA and now we want to. scale that so 2030 yeah I'm living there. right now because there's still work to. do. I was listening to one of your songs um. before you arrived here and it was very. curious. man that's just literally. it was something I think this one was. called be nice. oh yeah it's called be nice and when I. started looking into the song Looking.

about what you'd said around that song. you said I was on a dip in the low part. of a roller coaster. and you wrote that song because it. helped you to change your vibration but. also to help other people change their. vibrations the dip on the low part of a. roller coaster what are the things in in. your life that have caused that dip in. the lower part of the roller coaster I. think men but particularly black men we. don't always talk about are mental. health or the dip in the low part of the. roller coaster so I was super.

I thought it was wonderful that you um. you've made a song about that but also. you were speaking so openly about that. oh I was reflecting all night in my 1993. 18 year old so. fat fat uh. that path was the hardest path that I've. in my life. 18. 18 was the hardest. because it was uh 30 years ago.

this time 30 years ago. it was March when I had like a. it was March of 1993 when I. felt something that I've never felt. before just like. distortion. I felt uh that's a perfect word for it. dis-ease. and disease vibrationally.

is this is. like a disease. on a vibrational level. like the word disease is really dis-ease. of molecular cellular. where you're vibrating. um. there's no Harmony. or since of your vibrational field. no matter how you look at it.

and in this case you have a vibration. and thought. and I was vibrating off. and when you're vibrating off you're. dark. you're vibrating off you panic inks. you're hypertension your hyperactivity. is. um. off tilt. um and so from March till about. August. was a very very turbulent time for me. when I was 18.

and there's nothing wrong with being. emotional. and when you're creative you're always. sensitive like you're hyper sensitive. that's a part of creativity like you. feel. you feel too much. um and I feel too much I empathize. hardcore. um. I'm the guy in the aloe vera that talks. to strangers I'm the guy that's like. some I was walking down the street came. out of Tesco somebody's like well I am.

I'm like hey what's up. oh I don't mean to bug you I'm like. that's cool but straight up conversation. for like 30 minutes with random. strangers I like that because I don't I. don't ever want to. ignore. folks that. I could shed light on or. they could shed light to me you never. know what little nuggets that you give. or receive.

um. so that song that lyric was just. remembering reminding myself of like. what that. what that period was like for me it was. a very very like. coming of age. I was. and I didn't have a a man in my life but. do a father in my life to guide me. through that my mom did that which. probably made me even. Ultra feminine. which is no I have no shame of being.

super feminine. you know I remember in the 90s. we we don't have. to support in the LGBT community like. now than we did then. so growing up in the 90s we're like are. you gay like. like a lot of people question. if I was because I was feminine I'm. still feminine. I sit the way I sit I act the way I act. my mannerisms are my mom's. but it was a it was a very uh.

and I'm strong with my my femininity I. think it's a superpower. but um. that and when when you know who you are. when you when you love who you are how. you are how you vibe. that's what it's about I like girls. um never was attracted to men. I'm attracted to females. but I'm feminine.

what caused that chapter in your life do. you know what that that dark chapter in. your life was there a clear causal. Distortion is a better word distortion. that chapter in your life where you had. distortion. what weed weed okay. yeah it was the uh. it's chemicals you said shame and guilt. as well you said use those words yeah I. was shameful because. I did something that I knew hurt my mom. right.

you know like. you were smoking. and that her head hanging low like did I. do it what is my son out there doing. you know but trouble is he getting into. what is it going to lead to I saw her. panic I felt her panic I felt her worry. I felt her concern. do you still do you still have have you. had moments of distortion since. it's usually when um when you make. errors you hurt people. indirectly.

um clumsily. irresponsible. when you when when you let people down. that you love when I let people down. that I love. I distort. is Distortion different from depression. and your definition. is there a difference oh yeah big. difference. Distortion leads to depression okay like. um. let's take this water. right.

and this metal cup. if I fill it up to the top. um. and I don't move this table the water is. still. no matter how I fill it up it could be. straight to the top. if you don't interrupt the table the. water is not going to spill. Distortion is when I start to shake the. table. and if I shake the table fast enough it. could shatter the glass.

it could crack it if I shake this at the. right frequency. that doesn't disrupt the table. but can mess up the object. shattering the glass or or obstructing. with the form of this is depression. shaking the table causing it to spill is. distortion. have you experienced anxiety before a. lot of creative speak to anxiety and. when are you thinking about that shaking.

table it made me feel of. it gave me that and the the thing that I. could liken it to was anxiety. unfortunately it comes with the. territory of. um. futurist futurism. you are experiencing something that. hasn't happened yet. because your imagination is already. created. plausible. like. realistic.

scenarios. and you're already feeling the emotion. so that unfortunately comes with the. territory of having a hyper imagination. and living over there does not mean that. you live in anxiety Then no. if you live in the future because once. you're aware of that. then you know that's what it is. it's like.

the difference between the shower and. the rain. people run in the Wayne and stand in the. shower it's the difference between. bikinis. and draws. people go to the beach. when nothing on. but get afraid. when you see them in their underwear. expectations right it's expectations. it's like once you're aware of you. getting wet you ain't tripping once you. wear that you're going to the beach with. nothing on you're not tripping.

so once I'm aware that I'm thinking over. there. I don't have to have emotions there okay. so the moment I start having a motion. for future casting then I'm doing it. wrong. the the anxiety comes when it's things. that are happening that you didn't. control. and you're now having emotions because. your imagination is now thinking of the. outcomes of things.

that are out of your control. now when you're future casting and. you're seeing stuff you are controlling. looking around the corner I am purposely. looking there and then putting my. imagination to work on thinking what do. I have to do now strategically. between now 5 10. FYI FYI is world's brand new app which. is launch now and the whole purpose of. the FYI is to help creators organize. collaborate and communicate in one place. rather than having all of these. different communication channels and.

digital assets spread across all of. these different products that we might. use today yeah I had this problem last. night I was on like Monday over here to. do list over here I'm on Google clouds. over here Google Sheets here and I and. when I opened up FYI this morning I can. see from where we're on the road map. looking into the future how having all. of that in one space with AI as kind of. the the agent to power a lot of the the. knowledge work I guess is a really. special combination. um FYI is now available on the App Store. I got it this morning. um everybody should go and check it out.

and I'm really excited if you're. starting here what the roadmap looks. forward for the future because I can see. the mission. um so fyi.ai is like we're at 1.0 4.0 I. do you understand how awesome of a. platform FYI is going to be it's also. equipped with. elliptical curve cryptography. methodologies because during covert nfts. and blockchain told us that you know. protect your assets I mean here's the. key but why isn't the same type of key.

architecture and and product structure. how come it's not for my data on. Messengers. why am I not given the key to our own my. digital assets. when my digital assets are the data. itself. why is it just for nfts and crypto. so on FYI yes there's Messengers that. are encrypted end to end but where's the. key. if you're not issued a key. that the company itself. doesn't have.

we ensure that your data and your stuff. is your stuff. what is yours is yours. how you speak is how you speak. and when it comes to Ai and mimic. machines. none of us own our face and none of us. own our voice I own the publishing to my. songs you could copyright and you could. create ndas to protect your IP but when. it comes to you. every human being. walking in the age of AI.

who owns our Essence and our likeness. then why aren't we talking about that. enough. the Drake AIS yeah it's it's it was a. buzz and it's still going to continue to. buzz. but shouldn't Drake own his likeness in. his essence. why is that legal. why is it legal that Biggie Smalls is. wrapping a Tupac verse that was actually. about him. like why. is that I can't take a Nike Swoosh.

Nike owns a swoosh but I don't own my. face in my voice. Beyonce don't own her face from her. voice but Adidas own stripes. something's not right for people. so as FYI grows that encryption key 1.0. versus 5.0 the vision that we have what. we want to go how we need the community. to help us get there. I want to build the people's tool. I want to build a company that where. people own their data a hundred percent.

of it I am not my identity to my. driver's license and my my uh social. security number and my passport I'm my. data on my searches I'm my freaking. spell check I am my voice I am my facial. unlocked with the Machine Vision I am. all that stuff. on my location on my address book. it could predict me. but why can't I have power of that. why why I could say I want to weigh 194.

pounds by. November 24th 2024. I currently weigh. 210 pounds. which app would you like to use you. can't do that right now. there's no aspirational GPS. and for aspirational GPS that means the. system has to be mine not me have access. to a system. I have a record deal. because at one point in time it was. expensive to record now recording is.

ubiquitous everybody could do it so why. do I have a record deal so what is. luxury when it comes to. what's premium what's the highest way of. creating at some point in time making. films and recording music was the. highest level of creating painting for. the freaking for the uh for the for the. monarchy or for the church was the. highest level of creating. now you can just do it on your phone but. the highest level of creating right now. is building models to build models and.

compute expensive. so tomorrow people are going to be. training their own models. right that's an unheard of deal right. now like we we know the folks that are. spinning out models of these companies. but soon. compute's going to come down. and there's going to be new models. that are going to be just as powerful as. GPT. some 15 year old right now.

it's dreaming right now when they're 25. that person. is going to have his own motto. and his own company. and it's going to be. morally sound for people in the. communities. because greed not not saying that the. models right now are greedy I'm not. saying that but watch what happens in. 2023. we're going to be driven by love because. the concept that we had and that we're. baking it off of with Terminator that's.

not sustainable. that's not that's fear. and if you're going to base it off of. movies then go Star Wars not Terminator. Star Wars there's multiple models. there's multiple robots they all speak. different [ __ ] languages but there's. Jedis. and Jedi is a different yes there was a. dark force yes there was siths but. there's [ __ ] Jedis yeah and if this. is gonna take us to where we are better. humans to one another then [ __ ] bring.

it. because we can't get any worse than we. already are with one another. and I'm speaking that as a black person. we've seen what people can do to people. it can't get any more worse. so bring it the optimism bring it let's. be better people let's love better let's. empathize better let's freaking serve. better let's care better. right let's use the tool for that.

because if we're mimicking. that's what they're fearful of people. are fearful of what people do yeah. people are gripped by AI at the moment. um they're terrified they are excited. where do you sit and if you if you were. talking to those kids in the inner city. about Ai and what they need to know. about it. um what would you be saying. if I go to the inner city. I'm telling kids. hey.

our whole entire life has been set up. for us to fail. our investment for education has that. they've undermined our investment to. where other neighborhoods are getting a. bigger investment for their education. than us. the way they've zoned our communities we. have liquor stores next to check cashing. next to bad food next to bad food. our teachers are not being you know. invested in to teach us the things that. we need to learn we have no financial.

literacy. so when we get our checks we cash our. checks and then we spend it on bad stuff. our understanding of money is to spend. it to pay bills we're not even taught to. grow it. we've been set up to fail. AI didn't do that people did that. now here's a tool for us. to solve our problems ourselves now. grab it. while you can.

and we are now our own Calvary. right because the people that are afraid. are not the people here. we've already went through the worst and. survived the worst conditions of life. are these folks afraid. oh. oh those but the ones that are. responsible for our zoning and got it. okay cool now let's let's build a better. world.

let's educate ourselves with this tool. let's understand that it is a tool let's. understand that there's these biases. there let's try to solve those biases. so that what is the ultimate dream my. Ultimate Dream is like wow we all know. this wave we see it coming. it could be good or it could be bad. it's going to be good when we're mindful. of what our contributions are to prepare. people for this wave. we have to prepare folks.

and got to do information inspiration. preparation. motivation. and um. you know. mentorship. so that they can activate their. creativity. to unearth tomorrow's Industries because. this wave is going to topple yesterday's. Industries today's Industries. if you're a lawyer. and you work at a law firm and you do.

redlining on contracts that's not what. you're doing in 2030. if you're an accountant and you're. counting. counting beans. and. penny pinching that's not what you're. doing in 2030. if you're a cashier. at a at a retail you're probably not. doing that 2030. if you're a bus driver. Uber driver taxi driver. that's not what you're doing in 2030. because you're seeing.

the construct of what tomorrow is now. you're dealing with machines that could. go and pivot from subject to subject go. deep to subjects in ways that people. can't. writing songs making pictures mid. Journeys freaking crazy. it's the most amazing tool that ever. like yo mid Journeys nuts for people. that don't know mid journey is a tool. that uses um text to create generative. images of whatever you type in in. seconds so if you're a marketer.

if you're like a artist that works for a. brand. if you're an agency. that works for brands. this technology is going to give super. creatives agency so why do they need. agencies. just the vast. transformation and for hyper creatives. that now they just need. a new tool to help them like and just.

birth stuff. it's a new Renaissance. the ultimate. the Ultimate Dream if you're preparing. up a section of the world that's whose. problems have always been ignored. to now go out and solve those problems. with this tool. are you using this tool to make songs. you know it's gonna make better songs. than you.

it's Pac-Man right now we ain't even got. the Halo. it's we're in freaking Super Mario. Brothers we even got to Call of Duty yet. this thing's gonna make better songs. than you soon bro the song's out already. a pretty dope I've talked about that in. this podcast before that Drake song with. the no but the Drake song Still required. somebody to sing it and then they layer. a plug-in over it to make it sound like. Drake oh I heard a song that didn't I. heard yo this new tech.

out of here but more importantly I saw. it in 2010. in my mind's eye I was like yo no no no. if I'm in this computer that means it's. compute wait what. I'm in the computer. making music. I'm not I'm not a musician like Prince. or freaking Stevie Wonder. I make music because I can make the. computer make music. and with machine learning that means. eventually the computer is going to. remember how I made it to make music.

and eventually just make it itself maybe. even publish it itself. maybe even not even tell you no no no no. wait like. say if you're making something on Adobe. you're also Pro you're making Adobe. smarter at creating. records so you know why does why does. Adobe eventually need the person hitting. the buttons or with the ideas when it. can learn from a million of those and. then it can also track the outcome does. that become a Smash Hit and it's going.

okay so when they did this to me you. know what I mean the film oppenheimer's. into Cinemas shortly and the Oppenheimer. was the guy who was in the world war was. told to go out to make the nuclear bomb. and that is almost what I'm scared about. in this current AI race where. China or Russia or another country. versus the US they're all in a race to. create the most powerful artificial. intelligence system but also to use it. for defensive purposes but also. attacking purposes. um offensive purposes and when an.

intelligence is a hundred times smarter. than the smartest human that world is. the world where I go. are we do we realize what we're getting. ourselves into is this another up and. Homer moment where we create something. that has the capabilities to destroy. Humanity. um. that's what's I haven't figured out yet. but for everything that we create. a hammer we don't make hammers a hammer. can kill how many you know a screwdriver. a vehicle an airplane electricity.

um lights. everything that we advance hmm. the first caveman that found a freaking. flame on a branch. imagine all the folks at some point in. time when they first had a branch with. flame on it they were like yo you can. burn the village down and some Villages. burned down because that was the. capacity of that weapon the capacity of. this weapon is it can think for itself. and take down civilization and that's. the the difference is like going from.

the hammer which can probably take a. couple people out can't think for itself. and then you go right up to artificial. intelligence where it has a propensity. to be smarter than all of us. and you know if programmed with. malicious intent. I like your optimism yeah but but at the. same time like. who's responsible for the people that. are living in villages in Africa that. are clearly living under an abundance of.

resources but can't benefit from those. but is that hey I did that no that's. humans humans at that so what you're. saying it's not it's not the AI that. you're afraid of 100 yes it's people the. people it's the people maybe AI is to. push us to love. because we can't outlogic logic if Will. I Am has it that's what will happen if. Putin has it I'm not sure. like a hammer like if you would create. something dope with a hammer Putin might.

hit me with it like. I would create something like MC Hammer. yeah exactly but can't touch this. but yeah we have a closing tradition on. this podcast where the last guest leaves. a question for the next guest not. knowing who they're leaving it for and. the person that's left this question for. you I think you know them. um the question is what would be your. superpower if you were if you could be a. superhero and why. it feels quite somebody asked me that. yeah should I say who is Rita Aura.

oh Rita Ora that's uh she's my fave I. love Rita but she didn't know it was for. you get the frick out she just writes it. in the book I didn't tell her who's. coming next oh wow so usually I don't. tell people who's written it but I. figured you might know her so yeah I've. worked with her many years and recorded. songs that we never released but yeah I. love Rita she was sat there yesterday. she's awesome. it's gonna sound super like uh cheesy. or corny. I would be Particle Man.

my my superpower will be. I could. I can influence. particles to vibrate. harmoniously. because that's the concept of love. it's when everything's vibrating. harmoniously. and there's uh that would be the. ultimate superpower are you vibrating.

harmoniously right now in life. and life at the moment. no. um. because I feel too much. and when you feel. it affects your vibration. um and then it takes a while to. make sense of. what you're absorbing. you rinse out and that and you repeat.

but in that process of absorb rinse. repeat. um. you learn more about environments that. you're in people that you're around. and your curiosity my curiosity. um. and search for knowledge. like why did I go to CERN. I'm gonna go next in two weeks and then. they send me emails all the time hey.

Will we're here you're going to be in. Geneva you want to come down to. CERN. um just come see our. you know advancements and learn more. I just like to know as much as possible. I don't. and when you in my pursuit of knowing. um causes some distortion. oh. there's nothing wrong with a little bit.

Jimi Hendrix. there's nothing wrong with a little bit. of distortion. can't just be consumed by it. sorry with amplification comes some. Distortion as you amplify. and to get the word out or to get the. vibe out. you know just got to be aware of of how. you're amplifying. um. not turn up too loud or too fast. and that's you know double entender is.

on turnout. um but uh. yeah so no I'm not um. that would be my superpower is though. but the name particle man's whack. particles but. um yeah vibration manuals I don't know. Vibes man I don't know yeah um super. Vibes yeah yeah super Vibes on a.

particle level. and that will be like as soon as as soon. as as soon as a [ __ ] wants to. [ __ ] around and do some wow [ __ ] he just. like zapping with some super Vibes and. change. alter the particles because that's where. we're all made of that down every. molecule every cell. um and if you could. and if you could put Consciousness on a. particle level. that's a uh some awesome sauce.

well thank you um in many respects you. are super Vibes because you've created a. lot of awesome stuff and you've brought. um brought people's Vibes into harmony. certainly mine with your with all that. you've created with your art with your. creativity walking through your studio. your office in Los Angeles was a real. trip into. a decade's time it was a glimpse into. the future in many respects I remember. looking at some of the stuff you'd. created in there the backpacks and I. remember all of these dope inventions. and that I saw in that space and. to meet you it kind of makes sense now.

when you talk about living in the future. with that of course comes. um a disharmony I think like and that's. what you you've spoken to as well I. think a lot of creatives have that. feeling of like dis-ease. um. I think it comes with wanting to bring. about the future and that impatience. that comes with all of that I really do. hope you find the the personal Harmony. that you spoke of this the the next. passing it on to somebody I really do. hope you find that because I think I do. agree you'd make an absolutely. incredible father oh thanks because.

you're so you're so lucky you're so. built on love which I think is a Real. Testament to your mother thank you thank. you for being here today it's a real. honor to get to spend some time with you. you're someone that admire greatly for. all of the creative reasons I've said. but also just as a human being. quick one you guys know that for years. now my office is quite literally been. everywhere on a plane in the back of my. car in a terminal in an airport or on a. train you name it I've probably worked. there ever since I started my first. business at 19 years old I've been. working on the move all I need is Wi-Fi.

a desk and my headphones and I'm set and. one of the places that has always had my. back when I'm struggling to find an. office is wework I've been using wework. for years now whether it's in Manchester. Chester London Manhattan or La wework is. easy it literally requires no thinking. there's no stress of finding the perfect. working location wework does it all for. you plenty of desk space meeting rooms. collaboration spaces drinks snacks it's. all there so for your next remote. working trip away from the office or if.

you want a new Fresh space to work in. then don't just work anywhere wework. might just be your answer and you can. get 25 off your first six months of. rework all access by using Code CEO. works that's one word CEO works and to. redeem this offer visit we.com. CEO Works quick one if you've been. listening to this podcast for some time. one of the recurring messages you've. heard over and over and over again. especially when we first had that. conversation with Tim Spector is about. the importance of Greens in our diet and.

a while ago I started pressing my. friends at hewell to come out with a. product that did exactly that allowed. you to have all those greens the. vitamins and minerals you need in a. drink and after several several several. months of iterations and processes they. released this product called huel Daily. Greens which is now one of my favorite. products from heel because it tastes. great and it fills that very important. nutritional Gap that I had in my diet. the problem is.

it launched in the U.S and it sold out. straight away and became a Smash Hit for. fuel for the rare reasons I've described. it's now back in stock in the United. States but it's not here in the UK yet. so if you're a UK listener which I know. a lot of you are it's not yet available. so. let's all attack you let's DM them. everywhere we can and tell them to bring. huel Daily Greens to the UK this is the. product when it is available in the UK. I'm going to let you know first but. until then let's spam their DMs. [Music].

oh. [Music]. foreign.