← Baby, this is Keke Palmer
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- [00:01]
A
As the nights get cooler and the leaves start to change, I'm partnering with Airbnb to help you find your perfect autumn escape. From mountain cabins to charming cottages with fireplaces. Airbnb's got you covered. Now let's get into it. Hey, what's up? I love you, Mommy. You don't have to be scared.
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B
I have some gifts for Leo, too.
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A
What?
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B
Yeah, I pulled through fine.
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A
What a minute. Hey, babe. Give me hug, man. Oh, my God. Look at that. He got you this. Wow. He got you. And he said, give me my. Yes. Say thank you. Say thank you. All set. Say thank you. He's so shy. He love it. He love it, y'. All. He loves it. I gotta give you another hug. That's so sweet. I love you. It's been so long since I seen.
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B
Up on their ass.
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A
Okay, no matter what we doing in the car, just chilling pop on Amazon music, sit back and listen. Life, love, sex, science, covering it all, especially the bad. Cause money always evolved. No matter what it is, we gonna make it make sense. Nothing else to do but kick it with the homies and kings. So grab you a drink and a snack, you enjoy. And get into the vibe that only ones you know it's your girl. This is Kiki, baby. This is Kiki Palma. Yeah. All right, y'. All. Today's guest I have been wanting to talk to for a long time. You might have first heard him as one third of the iconic trio Migos, but that was just the beginning. Now he's charting his own path as a solo artist, and he's already proving himself as a hit maker in his own right. He's also a family man, a businessman, and someone who's always one step ahead, whether it's on the music charts or in fashion. Okay, he's fitted. Offset. Welcome to the show.
- [01:57]
B
Yeah. Thank you for having me, Keke. You know you're my sister. You know what it is.
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A
Yes. So we go way back to the Atlanta days.
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B
Hello.
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A
In the studio, chilling in the studio, cooking.
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B
Yep.
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A
How have you been? It's so good to see you.
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B
I've been pushing, man.
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A
Okay.
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B
I love the music I've been putting out. I've been making in the lab.
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A
And I know you've been real experimenting with a lot of different stuff. Little James Brown stuff you mentioned before. Obviously. You always talk so positively about Michael. We all love Michael, but you've been mixing a lot of things.
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B
Yeah, I just wanna always get into, like, a character or, like, some inspiration when I'm working on a new project. Yeah, I feel like sometimes it don't work out for me saying it out loud. I feel like the music sometimes is a better place for me to put it at. Like I go through real life like everybody else and I feel like that's why it's more like a personal, personal vibe. But I'm gonna have some turn ups, though. We still gonna have a good time. It ain't like no sad, like low vibrations. It's just like it's expression of feeling on this album fully, though.
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A
And I agree what you're saying. I mean, I think as an artist, that's the thing, right? A lot of times we don't wanna say it. Like, I'll perform it, I'll sing it, I'll write it. A lot of times before I say it out louder, you know what I'm saying? Just not how I work.
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B
Exactly.
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A
Now, you also dropped a single, swing My Way, featuring, I don't know how to pronounce her name.
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B
Who? Anak.
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A
Anak.
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B
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Shout out to Anak.
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A
Now, I heard y'. All. It was like some rumors y' all was dating. Is that true?
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B
Nah, we weren't dating, man. I just think they took the. The footage. Like somebody like, you know, we shooting a video and somebody like catch us shooting a scene without the camera showing.
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A
Yeah, out of context.
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B
It was just out of context. That's my friend. That's my homie. Like, I've been knowing her since Paris fashion weeks for like 2020. So it's like it's my dog and I just wanted a black beautiful queen to be in the video. That's all it is, period.
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A
Shout out to Anok. Period. Now fashion real quick. I gotta get into that because what has fashion been for you? I feel like you the Migos. I feel like what y' all represented and how y' all have ushered fashion in has been a big part of your storytelling. Was that something that you always felt or did it grow over time?
- [03:53]
B
It was something I always felt even when I was young in high school, like in Atlanta, when polo was the thing and like Jordans and stuff like that. I just always attracted myself to fash. I feel like you get to identify yourself, you get to express yourself. In fashion, there ain't no limits, you know what I'm saying? I like going left a little bit. Like clothes that I feel like people and maybe rap might not understand or might want to do. You know what I'm saying? I feel like it separates yourself. Fashion is such a big place and it's like an open field for fans, too. So, like. And when you respect it in that space, it takes a long time to get respected in the space. But once you respect it and you're, like, leading people on. On what to wear, it's like, it feels good for me to wear something a certain way. And then I see it start being the way they doing it.
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A
Yeah, it's like an unspoken language.
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B
Exactly.
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A
But you mean you always been setting transit and making waves? For sure, for sure. Now I gotta go back to the beginning because we both are child entertainers. You know what I'm saying? Like, you was a dancer in the music video for Whitney Houston's single what you looking at when you were just 10 years old. So, I mean, I gotta know, were you acting at that time? Were you like, what level of performing were you doing? Or did that just happen?
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B
I wasn't. My mama seen something in the newspaper, and my mama always been a strong supporter of me, like, entertainment since I was little. Like, little family functions. Dancing Kiara.
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A
That's my family with me.
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B
My mama was like, they having some trials for a video. She was like, I think the kids gonna be. We didn't know it was kids.
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A
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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B
So when I first went in, it was like, adults and stuff like that. And she was like, just do your thing. And then they pointed me out like, who this little boy is right here? And then that's how I got the spot.
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A
Wow. And so after that, did that make you start doing more stuff seriously as a performer?
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B
Nah, we was in a bad sit a have it. So, like, yeah, it was a. I was super happy to make my mama $300, though. I got paid. I got paid 300 for that. Like, so I was happy with that. I made. Made the house $300. And then I did one more thing that people don't really know about. I did a video with Usher and tlc. I'm not sure what the TLC when we. It was TLC song, but Usher was there. He had like, a cast on. I never forget. I was a kid. I got to got to meet him. I ain't never get to tell him that either. Yeah.
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A
So when did you get a chance to get back to entertainment professionally? Probably, like, was it at the time of Amigos? Was that re entering again?
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B
That was re entering, yeah.
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A
So how did it come about? How did you decide? How did y' all say, hey, we're gonna be a group? We're gonna be the Migos.
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B
It was really a neighborhood thing. We was only three Rapping and, like, you know, everybody laughing, like, yeah, but y' all ain't rapping. And then we made bando. And then that caught, like, our community, where we from, our neighborhood. And then we started to, like, go to Atlanta open mics, maybe this amount of people in here, five, ten people in there. And then we just kept pushing, pushing our mixtapes and trying to find, like, people, like, shout out to DJ Knight. He was one of the first DJs that, like, plugged us in with, like, my live mixtapes and in that era. Cause back then before, it was like, the apple and all that you wanted to be, like, you was the top dog if you was number one on my live mixtapes and my mixtapes and stuff like that. So, yeah, we just was. We was just the only ones from Gwinnett, too, pushing that. So. And it worked out.
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A
Did you know that it. I mean, that's a stupid question. Cause who knows that kind of thing? But did you. Did it feel as special as it was when y' all were building?
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B
Felt special the whole time. Cause we just believed in it so much. Like, could nobody tell us we weren't finna get on? Wow. And so we did it.
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A
I mean, when you look at what the Migos have done, they change. Not just rap and hip hop, but what y' all did also changed pop culture at large from the way even people sing on the track. You know what I'm saying? Not just rap on the track. What do you think about that? Like, how, like, does it really sit in you? Do you feel like it's really that known and you guys get that credit?
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B
I feel like the flowers ain't always been given, you know what I mean? Because I remember when we first came in, it was like, yo, what they. They, like, bubblegum rapping or whatever?
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A
Yeah, yeah.
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B
And then to see it, like, do big people, like, we just on Katy Perry and they like having our flow on their songs. But it's not a thing where I'm like, man, they need to. Cause I know what I did. It was never. We never came into it. Like, oh, yeah, we trying to change the world with it. It's just something God did. So just keep pushing. It's like. But it's. It's known, though.
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A
Yeah. That's why I'm like, I know people that know it's known for sure. Like, especially if you know music and you hearing how things are being affected and changing, then, you know, y' all wanted main names that come up. When did everything really feel like it hit Another turning point, because obviously you guys had a lot of. You've had a lot of hits. Would you say it was bad and bougie? Would you say it was the culture? Like, when did you feel like, oh, we done really went further than I even thought?
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B
Bad and bougie?
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A
Yeah.
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B
Because, you know, it's the number one record. You know what I'm saying? And then you not into. When you first get into the game, you're not really into it for, like, the stats.
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A
Yeah.
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B
You into it to, like, get your money up or touch people and who rock with you. Rock with you. But, like, once we got that number one, it was just kind of, like, it became more serious. That's the only thing I don't kind of like, too, though, because after the number one, it became more of a job or, like, more serious. Now you trying to focus on catching that number one again or, like, trying to make a record as big as that, when all of it was fun and it just was an organic thing. Yeah. So, yeah.
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A
Damn, that's deep. Everything changes once everything becomes so, so, so successful.
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B
Right. But then I made Ric Flair drip by myself, and it was just like, oh, I can. I ain't know I can do this.
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A
Yeah. How can you explain, like, when y' all tapped into the flow that became the Migos flow? Was that what it always was when y' all was in Gwinnett county? Or did it slowly becoming where y' all knew, oh, this is our pocket. And, like, what was the process?
- [09:16]
B
It really came from. It really came from Takeoff rp, my brother. It really came from him. Cause he just was like. He was doing it, and we was like, bro, what that is. He was just naturally doing it. You know, he was so young. During the time he probably, like, 17. We first was starting to get a little buzz, and then we just stayed in that pocket. And then. So when it touches, it was like all of us. And then, you know, he the humblest one, so he ain't saying nothing, but it's really homie. It's really tight, though.
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A
And was it. Did you feel like Yalls intention was just to get people moving, to make people dance? Or was it just.
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B
It just was the PI. It was the way we was recording, like, on Pro Tools. Like, we nudge our bars, which means for the people that don't know, like, slide our bars on milliseconds. So we do it nine times. So it's like. It's a pocket that you will fit into a beat. Like, sometimes most people do music and they ride the bass, but we might ride the snare or the sounds behind that. You don't know to make those sounds pop out some more. You see what I'm saying? So it was a formula to it.
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A
I love the science.
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B
Oh, yeah. It's a formula. You gotta have a formula. You gotta have a formula to it.
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A
Higher. Now, obviously, you know, Migos disbanded 2023. When did it really start to fall apart?
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B
It wasn't really. Honestly, before then, I think things on the business side wasn't turning to my favorite. I wanted. You know, I got kids. You know what I mean? I got kids, family, and I'm just getting older and more smart, paying more attention to my money, my finances, and felt like I wanted a bigger piece. Not from them, but from the business. From the business, you know what I'm saying? Also, like, when the business getting in the way of me, it slows down creativity. I'm growing up as an artist, and I think I made the decision to go solo because I just felt like during the time in the situation, not with the boys, I wasn't getting along with the business because I was trying to change things, and it was like putting my back against the wall kind of. So I was just like, you know what? I'm gonna try to do my own thing. And, you know, I didn't think the belief was there. Yeah. But I knew what was happening, and so I just kept pushing quietly, silently. And I know, like the core fan base, it was, like, very hard time for us, for the fans, but it was just, like a decision I had to make as a man, you know what I'm saying? Yeah.
- [11:27]
A
Did you think that there would be a time and a place where you could come back to it? I mean, obviously, like, Yalls original label qc, that also, you know, kind of not dematerialized, but you know what I'm saying? I know that they're no longer as well.
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B
Right.
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A
So did you think, hey, maybe at some point I could go back to Migo, I do my solo thing, you know what I'm saying? I come back to Migos.
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B
I don't want to go backwards. You know what I mean? I don't want to go backwards. And if I did, it would be on my time, you know what I'm saying? Because I'm trying to, like. I'm trying to reach those heights as Migos did as a solo act. And I feel like it's confusing when you dip and dab, when you go back and forth with it, and I feel like I love My creative freedom.
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A
Yeah.
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B
You know what I'm saying?
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A
I mean, obviously, it's not the same with take on.
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B
Exactly. And we never. It could never be the same without my boy. So it's like. Because he was the glue the whole time. He the glue. He the glue to everything. Like, he. Okay. You know, in a group, you got egos, man. It's like, we grown men, we got millions of dollars egos, but homie would humble that at all times. He might go group, text. Well, y' all lame. Well, what y' all doing? What we doing? He just kept us. He just kept us as one. Like, seeing the vision. Because, you know, in the industry, man, all these different people pull you. Somebody pull you. You could be this. And you could. Or you the one. Or you the one. And homes are always like, hey, we doing this for our mamas. And God put us in this position. And, like, you would have to respect what he's saying, because he's not lying. You know what I'm saying? And so when him missing is like that glue missing, and then also, I'm just on my own path.
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A
When people like that pass away, especially so suddenly, it had to make you think, you know, what did you think? Because, like, you saying, like, he the glue. He's a. He was a good person. You know what I'm saying?
- [13:08]
B
To be honest with you, I never really said this. Like, I felt like I had that. Like, some responsibility was on me. Because what if I didn't go solo? What if I just thugged it out with the business not being right? You know what I mean? Maybe we wouldn't even been right there or in that place, because I just know how we move when I'm around a little bit. Like, it's just. I could read the room a little bit more. See, hey, this ain't the play. We need to get up out of here. I'm the one that's going to say it, and then I wasn't there. So it's like not having control or something like that. So close to you. And then people talking, not knowing what they talk about.
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A
That's tough.
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B
Saying he with me or saying this and that, that. That's like, tough, man. Like, but all I could do is I feel like I never forget my roots. Right? So me pushing, as long as I keep pushing myself, I'm still representing that. Cause that's still my family. That's the end of the day. I'm still Migo. End of the day, when I go back to my neighborhood, we. It's A crew, and we mego, so it don't never go away from me. But I just gotta hold the torch. That's how I feel. I gotta hold it down.
- [14:11]
A
How did that affect your relationship with Quavo? That. Cause I know he was there when Tate passed. You know what I'm saying? How did. How was that first conversation coming out of that? Because, yeah, I'm sure there is anger because you're like, what. What the hell happened? What was y' all doing there? Like, how did y' all get through that?
- [14:26]
B
If y' all have, you know, at that time when that happened? It's like a time for brother's hood, you know? I mean, everything go out the window. And then I think that, like, with time and space, it just. It's a guilt on both ends, you know what I'm saying, with that happening. Cause I know you probably feel like. I feel like our faults and stuff like that. Cause of what we had going on. And, you know, I love Quai, but it's just. I think it's just better for us to be on our own. Different things now. We could come back to something maybe a couple years from now, you know what I'm saying? The plan was always for us to be doing our thing as solo X Top. Cause I feel like that's what separated us as a group anyways. Like, that's why we were so big and we lasted so long, is because each man could hold their own weight. Quake could go over there and do his thing. Tate could do his thing, I could do my thing. We still gonna bring hits solo and as one. And so we got the power to do that. So we just gotta do it. And then maybe, you know, with success on both sides, could bring things back. But I don't know. It's hard.
- [15:27]
A
I mean, people are always talking, too. I think that's the thing, too. When such a high profile artist, you know, and you have such huge fan bases, people are always talking. I mean, whether it's about money or relationships or he with his girlfriend and they was doing this. Like, when y' all see that, aside from the fact that there's truth to it or not, do y' all hit each other and say, yo, is this true or is this real? Do y' all like how much of that affects what's happening in real time, what people are saying online at this point?
- [15:53]
B
No, we don't. We don't. We don't even talk. So it's like whatever they say goes either way. It's like that, though. I Feel like on online, like, whatever the people say, it's crazy to me, but whatever the people say, it goes. You know what I mean? So, because, like, it's a lose, lose. You speak on it one way, then they gonna flip it. Or if you say this or you say the real people believe what they want, and negative people like negativity more than anything. If I drop an album, dissing 10 people on my album, I guarantee I get more streams than if I just drop a clean album. Yeah, just any artist, not just me, any artist. This is how it is. The negativity stick. So I try not to feed into it and dive into it. Especially if I know it's Cap, it's Cap. It's like, what's the point of me even reaching out to see what's going on? Or I just take it in and I just turn the channel and try to focus on something else. Yeah, I already got a lot going on.
- [16:44]
A
Yeah, you do. You do. Do you feel like. I guess the better question I want to ask is, who were you when you entered Migos? And what kind of artist are you now? How have you been changed?
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B
I like, I like, I like. Got to get it. That's a good question, baby.
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A
This is Icy Palma. Yeah, y'. All, I have been scrolling through Airbnb, looking at the most gorgeous Victorian mansions in the Catskills, and let me tell you, your girl is ready for a fall moment. I'm talking spiral staircases, tower rooms with panoramic forest views, the whole vibe. Like, imagine me and my friends making apple cider in a vintage kitchen, telling stories by the fireplace, and watching those fall leaves change from a wraparound porch. Woo. And the best part, I always look for the guest favorite badge, which means it's one of the most loved homes on Airbnb. Because, listen, when I travel with my friends, we need more than just a basic room. We need space to really sink into the experience, to make memories. And trust me, hotels just don't give you that this place has a story feeling. Whether you're dreaming of a cozy cabin in the woods, a desert hideaway like my favorite spot in Joshua Tree, or, yes, maybe even a slightly spooky mansion for fall. Airbnb has exactly what you're looking for. This message is brought to you by Apple Pay. When the temperature drops below 65, you'll find me in my natural habitat, cocooned in my favorite blanket, watching my shows. And no, I'm not moving. Why should I? I love that Apple Pay lets me live my best hibernation life. I'm ordering dinner, booking my autumn cabin getaway, and shopping online for more blankets and all from my cozy command center. I absolutely live for how seamless it is. From my iPhone, I just tap the Apple Pay button at the online checkout. A quick face ID scan and ding. Transaction complete. No need to unwrap myself from this blanket burrito to grab my wallet from the other room. What I appreciate most is how Apple Pay lets me skip all those never ending online checkout forms. The way I see it, less time filling out payment info means more time to getting back to my shows. And that's the kind of multitasking I live for. Next time you're online shopping or in app, just look for that Apple Pay button or contactless symbol at checkout. Trust me, it's giving work smarter, not harder. And that's exactly the energy we need. Pay the Apple way. Terms apply.
- [19:21]
B
All right. When I first started, I ain't gonna lie, I was getting in trouble a lot.
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A
Okay, okay.
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B
How old was you when we first like, as, like, as like known.
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A
When you started your artistry?
- [19:32]
B
Oh, we started artistry. I was about 14. That's dope. 14. So then like about 15, you know, you get to feeling yourself in school. 16. I'm getting. I was getting in trouble a lot. And when I. That's why when we first started, I was locked up and they was pushing because we already had the foundations. We already had the songs done. Versace and all these songs done. And we just started to get. It just started to happen. But I was in jail and like, so I didn't, I didn't take it serious. Cause I wasn't seeing no money from it. Like I said, I already had a kid when I was. I had a kid when I was 17.
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A
Yeah.
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B
So I'm already having a bill already. And like I'm not in school, I'm young. So I was just doing the wrong path. And I ain't take it so serious. It's like, I think I started getting serious after like Fight Night when we dropped Fight Night. Cause that was a big record for us. And it was like more than just a street record. It was something that was on the radio, sticking. We shot the big video, we shut down Peachtree Road in Atlanta. And then I started taking it serious.
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A
Time to be alive.
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B
And then the artist I am now is totally different. Cause I care about everything, everything. Detail. I'm super creative. I wanna make sure I'm getting a message across with everything I do. So it ain't just Something I'm just doing for no reason.
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A
And what is the message? Cause that's a good question.
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B
Like, this album's message is about me. Is Keyari my real name, who I am? Like, taking the offset mask off. Like, I'm regular too, bro. I might not do everything perfect. I ain't gonna do nothing. I ain't gonna do everything perfect. But, like, everything that happens with me is not gonna be golden. Like, I'm gonna have ups and downs. And so that's the message I'm getting across. Like, you could be like me. We the same. You just look at me as, like, an artist that maybe got money or, like, famous. And if I could not be famous, I wouldn't be.
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A
Wait a minute. What you mean by that?
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B
Cause it's too much. Like, it's just like, you wanna be.
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A
The artist, but you don't necessarily want the fame.
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B
I don't like the new fame. Let me say that. Like how? Like I was saying that people control everything. I feel like what people say matters. Like, you can't. And then you can't really express yourself. You gotta watch how you express yourself. Now, like, back in the day, artists, they could just say whatever they felt.
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A
Well, there's not an immediate person saying or questioning it back. You know, there's not like somebody that's, you know, looking into it or pulling it away and taking away the context. A lot of times we hear stuff out of context. Somebody might say something. They didn't hear the first sentence. They just got the first clip. And then now that's what you said.
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B
Right?
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A
And that does mean that your narrative gets out of your hands. You. You're no longer the. The process of controlling your narrative. And not because you're fake, but controlling your narrative because you care about what you have to say.
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B
Right.
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A
It becomes more difficult, for sure.
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B
Right. And another thing, too, with the new, I call it a new fame. Cause it's like, come on, New fame. It was mystery to the artist back in the day. Well, not even too far along. It was mystery to the artist. You didn't know. Now it's like people want you to show you everything. You doing, the steps, you're doing it, what got you there after the effect, then it's a number thing, then it's an opinion. Like, people just follow what they see. It's just like a bunch of followers. And there's no mystique to being an artist no more.
- [22:46]
A
So how do you create from that process? What then becomes your. You know, how does an artist not care or overly concern themselves with what people say or their critique on their personal life and still stay in that zone, in that flow.
- [23:01]
B
Confidence. Like everybody be saying. Like some folks be saying, like, I don't care. We all human. You care what somebody's saying about you. But it's like, I know I got good product at the end of the day. And I feel like good product always is more powerful than anything somebody's saying. Cause a hit is undeniable.
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A
Yeah, yeah.
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B
It's a lot of artists that ain't had no hit for 10 years, they come with something bomb. And then like everybody like, oh yeah, we cheering for them. Let's do it. It's just like that. So the product just need to be good.
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A
And now are you an independent artist or you sign with somebody?
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B
No, I'm still signed, but to. To Capital Records.
- [23:36]
A
Okay, to Capital.
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B
But it's just me.
- [23:38]
A
I'm curious.
- [23:38]
B
Motown. Sorry, Motown. They did a lot of merging and a lot of things and having Motown. But yeah, so you with Motown.
- [23:45]
A
What I'm curious of what has the difference you've seen as opposed to working with quality control and how they distributed the music and how was you going with. Through them as to what it is now? Just it being used straight to the corporation. Like, did you feel like there were any benefits?
- [24:01]
B
Super. I love. Yeah, the benefits. There's super. There's benefits to being locked in with my label. Like I don't know what people talking about with the label. Like you communicate with them and I can. You can talk directly to them. You gonna get the mission done. Cause it's like, it's like we all got. It's a team thing. So like, I feel like a lot of artists bash labels. Cause they don't be connected to the label. Like they being told, like, maybe they just talk to their manager and they agent. I'm gonna call Tom, Tom Marsh. I'm gonna call my boy up. Yo, I want some help with this, this, this, this, this or what's a better way for me to do this or on. In this, in. In this pocket? Or I could do better short term content instead of. I learned short term. Short term content is better than going to do $500,000 video in this time age. That's me connecting with people at my label and seeing data and seeing stuff like that that I never heard of.
- [24:47]
A
I mean, especially if you're just trying to do a single or pop a single off. It depends on what kind of, you know, artist that you trying to be.
- [24:53]
B
Right?
- [24:53]
A
And obviously you got the credentials to call up Tom. I'm sure Tom ain't picking up everybody.
- [24:57]
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure.
- [25:00]
A
You know what I mean? But that's dope to hear because I feel like a lot of times it's hard when you don't have a conduit. And so I was very curious, like working with. When you have that smaller production company, sometimes they're a bigger benefit than it is going straight to the label. But obviously you've made your.
- [25:15]
B
So you just use both of them. You use the label to give you the label, gonna give you the alley. You just gotta dunk it. You just gotta score. It's a team thing. It ain't no one side to it. Like, even if you is on your independent bag, like you still some type of way that these people can help you. It's still a machine.
- [25:30]
A
Yes. Yeah, I feel the same way because I'm independent. But I mean, I work with corporations. I believe in collaborating. You can't do everything on your own. You just gotta be smart about how you doing it and what your expectation is and know that you do gotta put your own money in at the end of the day.
- [25:44]
B
But you got a strong foundation too, though.
- [25:45]
A
Thank you.
- [25:46]
B
You comfort yourself. You put in a lot of work to be able to stand on your own. 10. A lot.
- [25:51]
A
You ain't lied a lot. All my life I had to fight. No. So Cardi gave birth to your sixth child back in September. Congratulations. Six kids, man. How is fatherhood going?
- [26:03]
B
Fatherhood is great. That seems the best thing.
- [26:05]
A
Six kids. I would love to have a lot of kids, too. You think you're done or you want more?
- [26:09]
B
I'm through. The legacy has been made. Six is cool.
- [26:13]
A
It definitely. I mean, six is incredible.
- [26:16]
B
I never thought I had six kids. Honestly, really thought it was gonna be like a little deuce. Three.
- [26:20]
A
Lot of lovemaking.
- [26:21]
B
Lotta love.
- [26:25]
A
Baby. This is Icy Palma. Yeah. The new Peloton cross training Tread plus is transforming my fitness game. And when I tell you I'm obsessed, I mean, I'm writing love letters obsessed as a busy mom who's usually choosing between a workout or a nap. And spoiler alert, the nap usually wins. I need equipment that works overtime. Like it's trying to make partner at a law firm. Enter Peloton iq. Basically your personal fitness bestie built right into the machine. It tracks progress, counts, reps, and corrects your form in real time. It's giving supportive friend who won't let you post unflattering angles on Instagram Energy And I live for it. This swivel screen situation, pure genius. One minute I'm running like I'm being chased by my deadlines. The next I've spun that screen around for a strength session or pilates flow. My living room is serving boutique fitness studio realness without the judgmental looks from the one instructor. You. You know, the one instructor. The personalization is next level, too. Peloton IQ creates your personal workout roadmap with weekly recommendations, while our incredible instructor lineup means there's always someone to match. Whatever energy you're bringing that day together, they keep you moving toward your next breakthrough. Whether that's crushing your first 5K or finally mastering those perf planks. It's like having a fitness matchmaker who actually understands the assignment. Let yourself run, lift, sculpt, push, and go explore the new peloton cross training tread +@1peloton.com Time to level up your fitness journey from trying my best to looking like that now. When you had your first child, you were 17. What type of dad were you then? And what type of dad are you now? I know you said there was a quote. You said I'm a cool dad. Not to play with. I lay the law, but I do it in my own way, you know? So what kind of vibe are you as a dad?
- [28:29]
B
I'm very understanding.
- [28:30]
A
Okay.
- [28:31]
B
But I don't play. When you wrong, you wrong, you wrong. You know what I mean? School first. You should. And I'm trying. I try to instill in my kids to find something that you like to do and do it to the fullest. Yeah. My kids don't play with me because I don't have to. Like, I don't even gotta yell or do nothing. Like, too aggressive. It's just like, I have conversations with my kids, no matter the age, let you know I'm your support. I got you. You call your daddy and I got you. I'm gonna pull right down for you. I got you.
- [28:57]
A
What advice you got for me? You know, I'm a new mom. You just met my son. Anything I should look forward to or look out for? Raising a little black boy.
- [29:03]
B
Raising a little black boy. You gotta be a little. You gotta be rough with him because it's real life. You know what I mean? When he turns 15, you know what I'm saying? 14, he's still a black boy. And like, like, it's wild out there for us black people still. I don't care what nobody say it is, he needs to understand how to deal with the police. When the police come up to him, he needs to understand, like. And then he's also a child that has. His mom has some paper. So it's like sometimes as a boy you gotta. It's rougher. You gotta be a little rougher. He should play sports. Yeah, you shouldn't baby him. Cause I know that's what's going. You're a first mama. You're a first time mama. So you gonna baby him at first. Once he get about 7, 8.
- [29:47]
A
You got to cool it down.
- [29:48]
B
Got to cool it down. Got to cool it down.
- [29:51]
A
How was your mom with y'?
- [29:52]
B
All?
- [29:52]
A
Do you feel like she did a really good balance with that?
- [29:54]
B
Yeah, my mama ain't play, period. She not playing. Okay, she ain't playing. She ain't playing radio. She gets very active. She's a very smart woman though, and very strong mama. Shout out to my mama. And she, she raised three of us on her own until she found her husband, you know what I mean? So it was three boys and my mama for the longest and like, she made it do what it do. We ain't miss no meal. You get struggles a little bit, you know what I mean? But she made it do what it do. Strong black woman.
- [30:19]
A
That's a blessing. Shout outs to moms all day.
- [30:21]
B
All deuce. Love you, girl.
- [30:22]
A
Now, I know you became a parent very early, but. And if you could think about it. Cause I mean, I'm sure some of it was just you growing out of your teen years. But I'm curious how a parent changed you, how you think it prepared you, you know what I'm saying? Even at that young age, at that.
- [30:34]
B
Young age, it changed. It changed everything. But that was doing it wrong. So. Which means not as like with my son. I was just trying to get me some money to provide, you know what I mean? So I was willing to do anything like it helped. It was like you're going survival mode by that kid.
- [30:51]
A
That's right.
- [30:52]
B
You know what I'm saying? You're going survival mode no matter what you gotta do, right or wrong. And being young, I was like the first one with a kid too around like everybody I went to school with. And it was super hard cuz I didn't know what I was doing. But I knew I wasn't going to be no deadbeat. I wasn't planning about that cuz. See, I ain't had my daddy, so I knew I wasn't f to do that. And then I'm a type. I was a kid that I ain't Never care. Like I ain't never. I ain't got no hate to my daddy though. Yeah, cuz I know how it be. Like my daddy was in the streets. I just know how stuff be. It ain't no excuse. I just know how it be. That's what I always said myself. I know how it be. And I knew what I wasn't going to be. So always locked in on the kids like that's first.
- [31:32]
A
Yeah. Just made you more responsible conscious and thinking about the future.
- [31:37]
B
Right.
- [31:37]
A
Hustle harder now Cardi. Your ex wife or. I don't even know if divorce is final but I know she filed for divorce in 2024. Where do y' all stand now? I mean is it finalized? A divorce?
- [31:49]
B
Uh, not yet.
- [31:50]
A
Okay, so it's not finalized. Do you want it to be finalized?
- [31:54]
B
I'm ready to be over with. For it to be over with.
- [31:56]
A
Yeah. Really?
- [31:57]
B
Just so like, just for both of us. Like I feel like that be a louder story than what we really love to do, which is music and art. I mean that's why I'm saying that. Not like nothing towards her. It's like it blinds the people to what we are to the people, which is our artists. It blinds them because if it was.
- [32:19]
A
A part of this, you know. Cause sometimes performance art can go far. So I didn't know if it was like a lead up to the two albums and we was gonna get a gag or what, you know, you don't know what is real anymore. Cuz a lot of times people be doing reality shows into the music marketing. So I wasn't sure.
- [32:34]
B
No, I'm a player. I would never do that. I would never play with my personal life to make a hit or make me have a moment in music. Nah, it's, it's, it's real. It's. It's real life, man. It's real life. It's a hard thing to do.
- [32:47]
A
I'm sorry to hear that.
- [32:48]
B
And then I don't un. My thing is with like I just feel like it shouldn't be the story for the both of us. That's why I'm ready for it, to get over it because like it'd be just a story for both of us. When I see posts, I must say.
- [33:04]
A
It'S a lot of social media stuff, a lot of this social media stuff. I'm sure for you. Again, I've never been in a high profile relationship and something like that, you know what I'm saying? Even with my, you know, significant other at the time, with my Son, it became a thing, and it was like, oh, my gosh, what the hell I'm gonna do? So I can only imagine the magnitude when you gu. Both are in the entertainment industry. Do you think that that has something to do with it? I know you can't just blame the. It ain't about blaming the public or something.
- [33:33]
B
No, no. Not blaming the public. No, no. It's just like being the face, like, Just like you saying, like, two of us being superstars, your business is always out.
- [33:41]
A
Yeah.
- [33:41]
B
You know what I'm saying? Like, if I could rewrite the book, I would have never been public. It would have never been public. You know what I mean? Or public like. Like it had just never been public. Because when it's public, it's opinions, then, like, they're watching everything. I was definitely not perfect in this situation. I mean, I made a lot of mistakes, a lot of things that I did wrong. She did a lot. She did things that was wrong. And it's like. But it's always on the front screen.
- [34:07]
A
Yeah. It's hard to move on.
- [34:08]
B
It's hard to move on from it. Exactly.
- [34:10]
A
It's hard to move on when people keep telling you and you, you know, this. All this type of stuff. I mean, is there anything that you wish you would have done differently or that you regret or that you. You know.
- [34:24]
B
I should respect her way more? You know, I mean, I made bad decisions as a man, like, stepping out. Like, gotta take that on the chin. Like, that's why when she left, I had to take that on the chin. Cause, like, I could have been way. We got so much our kids to live for. I was being selfish. You know what I mean? And I could say that as a man. I'm a grown man. You know what I mean? I could say that. That I wish it wasn't so much Internet stuff going on.
- [34:49]
A
Yeah.
- [34:50]
B
I got out of. I. I got. I done got out of pocket a couple times because, bro, it feel like you getting bullied. Like, I. I used to never say nothing.
- [34:58]
A
Yeah.
- [34:59]
B
You know what I'm saying?
- [34:59]
A
Yeah. I. Yeah.
- [35:01]
B
And then I seen recently some things. I tried to recently just. Just say something. Just like to try to defend myself.
- [35:07]
A
Yeah.
- [35:07]
B
Because the narrative be nasty sometimes on me, and it don't be that.
- [35:10]
A
But, you know, Cardi's a. She's always been a media personality. You know, she always been somebody to tell everything. So it does seem very natural coming from her. You know, we expect her to say stuff, but, you know, you never want people to be in a Bad way. So when I'm seeing all that type of stuff, I hate it for both of y'. All. You know, I want love to survive. And I really, you know, I, I, I, I loved it for you guys. So there was, you know, I hate to see it happen like that. But the truth of the matter is, is life goes on.
- [35:36]
B
Exactly. You know, living, you learn.
- [35:39]
A
Yeah. Everything on the Internet, it lasts. But it don't have to last forever for you.
- [35:42]
B
You.
- [35:43]
A
You know what I'm saying? It don't. Now, you talked about something else that I think is really important. About how you quit coding.
- [35:49]
B
Yes. Four years strong.
- [35:50]
A
I mean, that's incredible, man. Really. Like, seriously, let's all clap for that. Seriously. Seriously.
- [35:55]
B
Had to put that cup down, man.
- [35:57]
A
So that's a lot. That's a lot. It was, I can only imagine. And then you said something that I want to also say, is that a lot of people think people do drugs to be cool, but they do it because of pain.
- [36:08]
B
Yes.
- [36:09]
A
So for you, what was underneath that, like, when you actually sat with the pain that you were using the codeine to suppress or to medicate with? What did you find or what are you finding?
- [36:26]
B
It was like, remember I told you, like, after bat and bougie got like real serious for me, it became like a job. So it's more like you doing things like the cope the job. Cause the job is a lot. Traveling all the time, not being with your kids all the time. People saying this, that being in the group, going against the business side of it. It's just all that in one bottle. So I was taking it to the cup. And then you know what? You get tricked on a lot of artists. I feel like, be tricked on like, oh, I can't make music without the drugs. That's Cap. I believe that's Cap. For me personally, that's Cap. It's like, let's just give yourself an excuse. And then like, it's also addicting. So then it becomes an addiction versus you just doing it. You know what I mean? At first, you're just doing it. Okay. Experimenting, playing with it straight might be stressed. You get high a little bit, da, da da. But then it becomes an addiction. And then it starts to. Then like your loved ones started peeping. Like, my mama started telling me, hey, boy, I don't like you on this, what this is. And you sleep and you're aggravated and you're not kidding. You ain't being my son. You're arguing, arguing with. And then I had a wake up call. My Oldest son was like. He kept asking for, like, pineapple fanna, but he don't even really drink soda. He ain't asking me. And then one day, he came to the studio, like, why yours a different color than mine? It killed me. I'm like, oh, no, I gotta get off this. That's what touched me. I'm like, what? Cause it's like him paying attention. And he just kept asking, dad, can I get a fan of up? And I'm like, why? When you start drinking soda, he like, you drink it. And then one day, I was in the studio, and he was like, yours a different color than mine. Why? I was like, ma. Oh, I had to lie to him. Cause I ain't know what to say. I'm like, mine just. It's old. I'm about to throw it away. And I just grabbed it and walked off. When I went in my room, it's just like, I damn near cried. I'm like, damn. I felt bad as a father, like, for my son to be trying to. He don't even notice the drugs in here, though. He don't know. But in my head, it's like him even just saying he want the same soda I want. It's just like, oh, no, I'm influencing him. And it was a thing with my family. Like, my mama. My mama didn't like it. Nobody in my family liked it. And they just kept saying it, and it started to hurt. Cause I ain't no Jay or nothing. You know what I mean? And, like, I'm successful. I got money. And it's just when your mama calling you, like. And she like, you need to get off that stuff. And she said two, three times, it hurt for sure, right? Especially my mama. Cause my mama, like, my queen is real.
- [38:58]
A
In our generation, where we sit and think, you know, we think about. So when somebody is an addict or an addiction, we assume a particular look. We think about somebody that's on the corner, or O.J. that used to be down on 53rd. But no, no, that's actually not true. You know. You know, having an addiction or being a person that's addicted to something, it can come in all types of looks and shapes and sizes. And that's why sometimes it's hard for us to recognize it in ourselves or in our friendships. So it's a blessing that you have people that love you, man.
- [39:29]
B
That's what I say. I'm glad I got solid people around me. My mama gonna tell me, hey, buddy, you're that wrong every time you. I don't care about all that. Your home. People ain't telling you, but I got people all around. My team gonna tell me. My creative director tell me, hey, you tripping. So it's like I try to surround myself with people around me that's gonna going to put me in my place. Because sometimes, you know, you got the money, you living life, can't nobody tell you nothing.
- [39:53]
A
Yeah.
- [39:54]
B
Or you get to move in that way. Why you can't tell me now I'm the one. But I always get that wake up call from my, my, my. My core people, my family, which I'm thankful for having that.
- [40:02]
A
So this is the next evolution in your life, you know what I mean? And, you know, I guess you're now, you know, single man or soon to be out of this divorce, which, you know, I don't know good or bad, how you feel about that, but. But now what is this new theme of the next chapter of your life if you could put it into a few words?
- [40:21]
B
I kind of. All right, so what I was gonna do on this album, I'mma just keep it real. Like I was gon speak on certain things and live with certain narratives.
- [40:37]
A
Okay.
- [40:39]
B
Because that's what's gonna be the case anyways. So I'm just being raw with stuff, but it ain't so specific on my relationship.
- [40:49]
A
Okay.
- [40:49]
B
I'm touching on other things that need to be touched on too. You know what I'm saying? Like some things about the business, the group.
- [41:02]
A
Was that true to you and Sweetie?
- [41:04]
B
No, man. It was a rumor, man. And I feel like. I feel like it was something deeper than that for the split of me and bro. It was something deeper than that. You know what I mean? It was something deeper than that I don't really want to touch on, but it's something deeper than that. I think that was just like a. That was a thing that I. It was a bug that I heard. I think people was trying to tear my situation down in that situation.
- [41:31]
A
You think there were business people that were plotting on you, but both for sure. Yeah. And they were creating you guys, stopping you guys from being strong so that y' all couldn't go together against that.
- [41:40]
B
Exactly.
- [41:41]
A
Yeah.
- [41:41]
B
And. And then. Cause I would be seeing, like, I would be seeing headlines and. And I men, me, we. We men. So we don't play those games. We don't even know how to do that. And so it was just like. That was a weird thing though. That was. That was kind of. That was kind of crazy.
- [41:57]
A
I mean, the. The lengths that people go in our industry, to enmesh themselves in your personal life, to get certain outcomes in business. Business, Their lengths are great. People have put my mom against me in situations just to get me to record a song I didn't want to record. So I know all about that type of stuff, and that's what mom. Dudes, I know. You know, she had. You know, she was a little black lady. She didn't know what these folks was doing. She just wanted to help me, you know what I'm saying? But that's what people do.
- [42:23]
B
They playing it dirty, though.
- [42:24]
A
People play dirty. They try to do all that kind of stuff. So, you know, I can only imagine, you know what I'm saying, Which you guys had to endure. Sound like you ain't Jefferson.
- [42:32]
B
I'm talking stuff, but it ain't no lie. Like, I'm not dis.
- [42:36]
A
Shots fired. It's just.
- [42:38]
B
That's whack. I ain't doing that. I'mma give you me. I mean, this guy right here.
- [42:42]
A
Come on. Glasses came off.
- [42:43]
B
This beautiful guy right here. You know what I mean?
- [42:45]
A
Exclusive.
- [42:47]
B
Hello.
- [42:49]
A
Okay. I don't want to let you go, but I got to let you go. But before I let you go, I want to play a game with you. I play a game with all my guests. Okay.
- [42:56]
B
Come on, let's do it.
- [42:57]
A
So we going to play a game called sorry to this man. I'm going to play songs by artists I know you love, but the gag is you only get to hear one second of each track, and you gotta guess the song.
- [43:09]
B
One second. All right, Come on.
- [43:11]
A
Okay, let's start.
- [43:15]
B
Come on, man, this crazy. I can't get five.
- [43:19]
A
Give him just like, three.
- [43:23]
B
That's my boy, James. I feel good, James. Why I feel good. See the ad libs, that was so much. But if you do ad lils, I got it for sure.
- [43:31]
A
Okay, next one. No more than that.
- [43:39]
B
I need to know the s. The song. It's James Brown for sure. Get up off. No, no, that's not it. Hold on, hold on. Can you do the one second one more time, please?
- [43:49]
A
I got. You got to say sorry to this man. You don't know.
- [43:56]
B
Ah. Play the same one second. You play the new one second. You trying to get me? That ain't what you played at first.
- [44:04]
A
Play the first one, Sex Machine.
- [44:11]
B
Damn, I suck for that, bro.
- [44:13]
A
Okay, next one.
- [44:13]
B
I pulled a new. That one Twin.
- [44:15]
A
This one you're definitely going to know. I can feel it.
- [44:18]
B
Oh, that's. That. That's. That's. That's outcast. Song Snake on you. No, I'm.
- [44:23]
A
It is the album. That's the album.
- [44:27]
B
Bono. Bad day.
- [44:27]
A
Bingo.
- [44:28]
B
Come on now. I'm know about the cast. My favorite group in the world.
- [44:32]
A
Next one. This is a hard one. Yeah.
- [44:39]
B
I don't know that one.
- [44:41]
A
That's a hard one. That's 102,000. I swear. I really wanted to make rap.
- [44:45]
B
I don't think I even know that song.
- [44:47]
A
Yeah, that's a hard one. Okay, next one. One.
- [44:51]
B
Come on, y'. All.
- [44:53]
A
You know that one.
- [44:56]
B
It's Michael Jackson. Hold on, let me get the name right. I. I mess up. That's when he got the sparkles on. What's the name of that song?
- [45:07]
A
He said that's right.
- [45:10]
B
Quincy. R.P. quincy Jones. R.I.P. damn.
- [45:15]
A
You said it. You know it. He know.
- [45:16]
B
I want to make sure I say the right song, bro.
- [45:18]
A
Don't stop till you get enough.
- [45:19]
B
Don't stop till you get enough.
- [45:20]
A
But you said everything. You knew it. This is the last one.
- [45:25]
B
Michael Jack F. Don't get me for that, bro. Damn, girl.
- [45:33]
A
Come on.
- [45:33]
B
Vocals. No, but it's not it.
- [45:39]
A
That ain't it. Play it again.
- [45:40]
B
Play again.
- [45:40]
A
She played a weird partner.
- [45:42]
B
Thriller.
- [45:43]
A
Bingo.
- [45:43]
B
Come on.
- [45:44]
A
Come on.
- [45:44]
B
But that's not what you played at first, though.
- [45:46]
A
Yeah, it was something weird. Her cues are a little uncued. And that's it. Thank you so much.
- [45:56]
B
Thank you. Keke, man, this is. Let me say something. This is a great interview. You asked the right questions, but not in a lame, messed up way to put me in a Conan. I love you, sister.
- [46:06]
A
I love you, brother. Yes, baby, this is. This is Kiki. Baby, this is Kiki Palmer. Yeah, baby. This is Keke Palmer is hosted and executive produced by me, Keke Palmer. Lucas Siegel is our post producer. Our producers are Lauren Hampton and Molly nestor. Hilary Estee McLaughlin is our executive producer. Production services provided by Evolution Media Our original theme song was written and performed by me, Keke Palmer for Team Keke. My producer is Sharon Palmer for Wondery. Our managing producer is Olivia Fonti. Senior managing producer is Nick Ryan. And our executive producers are Emily Feldbrake, Erin O' Flaherty and Marshall Louie. On Boxing Day 2018, 20 year old Joy Morgan was last seen at her church, Israel United in Christ. Christ or iuic. I just went on my Snapchat and I just see her face plastered everywhere.
- [47:12]
B
This is the missing sister, the true.
- [47:14]
A
Story of a woman betrayed by those she trusted most. IUIC is my family and like the best family that I've ever had. But IUIC isn't like most churches.
- [47:26]
B
This is a devilish cult. You know when you get that feeling like you just I don't want to be here and I want to get, get out. It's like that feeling of, okay, I want to go hang out. I'm Charlie Brent Coast Cuff.
- [47:36]
A
And after years of investigating Joy's case, I need to know what really happened to Joy. Binge all episodes of the Missing Sister exclusively and ad free right now on Wondery Plus. Start your free trial of Wondery on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or in the Wondery app.
- [47:58]
B
It's your man, Nick Cannon, and I'm here to bring you my new podcast, Nick Cannon at Night. I've heard y' all been needing some advice in the love department, so who better to help than yours truly? Nah, I'm serious. Every week I'm bringing out some of my celebrity friends and the best experts in the business to answer your most intimate relationship questions. Having problems with your man? We got you catching feelings for your sneaky link. Let's make sure it's the real deal first. First, ready to bring toys into the bedroom? Let's talk about it. Consider this a non judgment zone to ask your questions when it comes to sex and modern dating in relationships, friendships, situationships and everything in between. It's gonna be sexy, freaky, messy. And you know what? You'll just have to watch the show. So don't be shy, join the conversation and head over to YouTube to watch Nick Cannon at night or subscribe on the Wondery app. Or wait. Wherever you get your podcast. Want to watch episodes early and ad free? Join Wondery plus right now.