Season 9: Best Of (Part 2)

Summary

Dumb Blonde Podcast: Season 9 - Best Of (Part 2) Summary

Release Date: July 21, 2025

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Overview

In the second part of Season 9's "Best Of" compilation, host Bunnie XO brings together memorable moments that encapsulate the essence of the "Dumb Blonde" podcast. This episode weaves through a tapestry of humorous anecdotes, personal revelations, and engaging conversations with special guests, offering listeners a blend of comedy, lifestyle insights, and heartfelt discussions about relationships and personal growth.

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Key Segments

1. Sponsor Messages and Advertisements

   The episode begins with promotional segments for Shopify and Mint Mobile, seamlessly integrated into the conversation. Bunnie and Mimi discuss the benefits of these services, highlighting how Shopify aids entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses and how Mint Mobile offers affordable wireless plans without compromising quality.

   • Notable Quote:
     Mimi [00:30]: "While you're planning beach trips, barbecues, and three-day weekends, your wireless bill should be the last thing holding you back."

2. Patreon Promotion

   Bunnie passionately encourages listeners to support the podcast on Patreon, emphasizing the exclusive content available to patrons, including additional shows like "Bunny XO Show," "Meet the D Fords," and "Propaganda."

   • Notable Quote:
     Bunnie [02:12]: "We have more shows that we're adding. And not to mention, we have the visuals of the podcast. Head over to www.patreon.com/backslash/Dumblon Podcast."

3. Personal Updates and Life Events

   The hosts dive into personal updates, sharing moments like Mimi's experience with egg hatching and the birth of their nephew, Bloom. The discussion is filled with genuine excitement and the unpredictability of live-streamed events.

   • Notable Quote:
     Bunnie [09:30]: "Look at this. Oh, my God. That shy. I love you."

4. Relationship Dynamics and Challenges

   A significant portion of the episode focuses on personal relationships, particularly Bunnie's recounting of a challenging dating experience. The conversation touches on themes of honesty, expectation management, and the complexities of modern dating.

   • Notable Quote:
     Bunnie [07:14]: "I literally didn't want children until feeling last year, you know, so you never know when you're going to want children."

5. Guest Interview: Fifi Dobson

   In a heartfelt interview, longtime friend Fifi Dobson joins the studio to discuss her journey in the music industry, her personal struggles, and her unapologetic authenticity. The conversation delves into her experiences with fame, mental health, and the balance between personal life and public persona.

   • Notable Quotes:
     Fifi Dobson [12:02]: "I was sewing my clothes and I was just more of a freestyle spirit."
     Bunny [34:00]: "Even when I was mad at you, you're always so sweet, and I'm never really mad at you."

6. Tech N9ne Guest Appearance

   Renowned artist Tech N9ne makes a guest appearance, sharing insights into his music career, the founding of his independent label, and his personal philosophies. The interaction between Bunnie and Tech N9ne is both informative and entertaining, offering listeners a glimpse into the workings of the music industry.

   • Notable Quote:
     Tech N9ne [68:33]: "I wanted to make Tech9 the emcee that can do anything."

7. Sensitive Topics Discussion

   The episode doesn't shy away from discussing sensitive and potentially triggering subjects. The hosts address topics such as religious trauma, adoption, and personal abuse, providing a platform for vulnerability and support.

   • Notable Quote:
     Bunny [20:40]: "Religion being pushed on you, especially as a child, developed my anxiety as an adult."

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Insights and Themes

• Authenticity and Vulnerability: The hosts and guests emphasize the importance of being true to oneself, sharing personal struggles to foster a sense of community and understanding among listeners.

• Empowerment through Entrepreneurship: Sponsored segments highlight the value of platforms like Shopify in empowering individuals to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, reinforcing the podcast's supportive ethos.

• Balancing Personal Life and Public Persona: The discussions delve into managing personal relationships and mental health while maintaining a public image, offering relatable content for listeners navigating similar challenges.

• Support Systems: The podcast underscores the significance of having a strong support network, whether through family, friends, or community platforms like Patreon.

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Conclusion

Season 9's "Best Of (Part 2)" episode of the "Dumb Blonde" podcast encapsulates the show's signature blend of humor, candid conversations, and meaningful insights. Through engaging discussions and heartfelt stories, Bunnie XO and her guests create an inviting space for listeners to laugh, relate, and reflect on the realness life presents. This episode serves as a testament to the podcast's commitment to tackling both lighthearted and profound topics with grace and authenticity.

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Note: All timestamps correspond to the episode's transcript provided.

Transcript

[Bunny]

Shopify helps you sell at every stage of your business. Like that. Let's put it online and see what happens.

[Mimi]

Stage and the site is live.

[Bunny]

That reopened a store and need a fast checkout. Stage thanks. You're all set that count it up and ship it around the globe. Stage this one's going to Thailand and that Wait, did we just hit a million orders? Stage Whatever your Stage Businesses that grow grow with Shopify. Sign up for your $1 a month [e-mail] Listen.

[Mimi]

You know what doesn't belong in your epic summer plans? Getting burned by your old wireless bill. While you're planning beach trips, barbecues and three day weekends, your wireless bill should be the last thing holding you back. That's why I made the switch to Mint Mobile. With Mint, you can get the coverage and speed you're used to, but for way less money. And for a limited time, Mint mobile is offering three months of unlimited premium wireless service for 15 buckaroonies a month.

[Bunny]

So I switched to Mint Mobile a little while ago and I honestly don't know why I didn't do it sooner. The service is just as good as what I had with my old provider.

[Mimi]

Sometimes better actually.

[Bunny]

And I'm saving a ridiculous amount of money.

[Mimi]

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[Bunny]

I need to ask you a question. I want to know why and the hell are you not on Patreon? I don't think you guys even realize how much content we have on Patreon. Let me break it down for you. We have the Bunny XO Show. We have Meet the D Fords. We have propaganda. We have more shows that we're adding. And not to mention, we have the visuals of the podcast. Head over to www.patreon.com backslash Dumblon Podcast.

[Mimi]

And sign up Bunny XO, Bunny EXO.

[Bunny]

Podcast, and Bunny EXO.

[Mimi]

Is this thing on?

[Bunny]

What's up, you sexy? We are back, baby. Back in action. And right now, Mimi has an egg cracking. We have a child being born. We have decided to name him Bloom because he's a late bloomer.

[Mimi]

He's the last of the eggs.

[Bunny]

If you guys have been following Mimi's tik tok, you would know that she has these eggs being born every day. It was her first batch.

[Jason]

I don't know why it won't screencast.

[Bunny]

We're pulling it up on the TV right now, slowly but surely. I don't want to miss my nephew's birth. Okay. I know.

[Jason]

I don't know what's happening. It won't let me c. It won't let me screen mirror. I know. It's gonna happen so fast.

[E]

Just.

[Jason]

We all can watch.

[Bunny]

Okay. We're all watching.

[Tanner]

He's going.

[Bunny]

He's a pecking away. Does he use his beak to do that or is.

[Jason]

Yeah, there's like, a calcium deposit on the tip of their beak that makes it a little bit stronger.

[Bunny]

Are their beaks soft when they're born?

[Jason]

I don't know why it won't work.

[Bunny]

That's all right. We can watch it while we record.

[Jason]

So he's. So when they make the first little hole, it's called a pip. And then you know that they've broken through the membrane and they've broken through the egg, and they can last. Like, a good. Like, one of mine pipped and didn't come out for 24 hours. This one pipped. Like, while we were at lunch, my phone was blowing up. Jason's like, get pipped, and then, like, now it's just starting to zipper. So zippering means that where pip that they come through. They're going to pip all the way around the entire egg until. And then they'll, like, stretch their little wings and body until the end pops up, and then they just flop out.

[Tanner]

Oh, I want to see the flop.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[Jason]

Literally the sweetest thing ever.

[Bunny]

We just went on a wild adventure.

[Mimi]

For the past few weeks. Shall we talk about it?

[Jason]

I feel like we left everyone hanging.

[Bunny]

We did. What did we say last time?

[Tanner]

He responded back.

[Bunny]

Okay, okay, okay. Yes, yes, yes. So. So the update that everybody has Been waiting for when he responded back. I can't remember verbatim what he said. Didn't I send you a text message of it, or. No, no, but I didn't. He said, who is this? And I said my name immediately. Yeah, immediately. He, like. He literally wasted no time. And then I made up, like, a fake name, and he. I was like, I met you at. Oh, my God, the chicken egg is right here. We get to watch it live. And then I said, I met you at a bar on Broadway or something like that. Plugged his.

[Tanner]

Like, the bar that we were supposed to have our date at.

[Bunny]

Yeah. And he's like, I don't remember you. And he's like. He's like, can you send a picture? And I was like. So I was like, haley, let's use one of Taylor's pictures, because Taylor's, like, our hot friend. If you guys want to go check her out. Her. What's her TikTok? I am Taylor. Or something like that hot little brunette. She's a musician, super cute, super cool. We called Taylor for the consent, and we're like, taylor, we're about to catfish somebody with your pictures. And she's like, go ahead, girls. So we found, like, a really cute picture of her, not that it was hard to find. And I was trying to send it over this burner app, but for some reason, it would send. But he said he never got it. So he's like, well, twice we tried. Yeah, twice. He's like, well, do you have an Instagram? And then I went completely silent because I was just like, what am I supposed to do?

[Jason]

Yeah. I mean, at that point, you can't.

[Bunny]

Send it, but, I mean, he was hook, line, and sinker. So this dude obviously talks.

[Tanner]

Oh, I would have remembered you or something like that.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[Jason]

I'm like, what?

[Bunny]

Yeah, like, this dude obviously is just a scumbag.

[Jason]

Yeah.

[Tanner]

Like, I don't know if he had a girlfriend.

[Bunny]

I don't know.

[Tanner]

There's a part of me that doesn't think that thinks he was single. I think he figured out. I think it was me not telling him who my client was for a podcast.

[Jason]

Him. Just doing a little research, and I.

[Tanner]

Feel like maybe he saw that TikTok of us saying we were gonna blast talk about the profiles on the podcast.

[Bunny]

I think she beckon. You give this dude way too much credit. He's just a loser. I don't.

[Tanner]

I also thought I saw him last night.

[Bunny]

You don't just engage with somebody and then cut them off like that for no reason. And gaslight them. Gas. Like, be like, you know what, I had a great time talking to you with you, but I just don't feel a connection. Like, let's just be cool, you know, not completely block you and like, blocking you just. Yeah. And gaslighting you. You don't want children. It's like, bro, we haven't even yet. What are you talking about?

[Tanner]

A first date. And you also didn't want children.

[Bunny]

I literally didn't want children until fudgeing last year, you know, so you never know when you're going to want children.

[Tanner]

It's the. It's the blocking.

[Jason]

Yeah, yeah, it was the blocking. Both phones.

[Bunny]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jason]

And not giving you. A lot of people were like, oh my God. Haley went full crazy by texting him on the other.

[Tanner]

No, I want to get in the last.

[Jason]

I feel like it wasn't as crazy because it's like he didn't give you a chance to even speak. Like that's. That's some whack ass. Like, you clearly are not a grownup if you cannot have a adult conversation and let someone speak their side.

[Bunny]

But then to try to pin it on her before he blocks her is where I'm like, that dude, he doesn't deserve any sort of leniency like that guy. So it's not the ending that you guys wanted, but we could have kept going with it if we really wanted to.

[Tanner]

Cuz his comments on that were crazy though.

[Jason]

Taylor circled back and she was just like, how to.

[Tanner]

Taylor was like, I need the updates.

[Bunny]

What?

[Jason]

Yeah, she commented on one of your videos and was like, should, like, should I go message him? Just be like, hey, long time no see.

[Tanner]

Yeah, we should have her with him.

[Bunny]

Yeah, sorry. I was texting you the other day and I got wrapped up, but I just wanted to say hi. I mean, I don't know, do you guys think we should pursue this and like, really set this dude up or just leave it alone?

[Jason]

I say we leave it. She'd already forgot about him.

[Bunny]

That I did. That clip went so viral that there's no way that dude doesn't know.

[Jason]

I had people calling me and was like, what happened?

[Tanner]

Someone asked me at the bar a couple nights ago. They were like, what did he say? And I was like, what? They're like, what did he say? Back to bunny. I was like, oh my God.

[Bunny]

Yeah. No, people were invested. I think it got like, what, 2 or 3 million views? Like it was a big.

[Tanner]

And you made a video and I made a video.

[Jason]

Yeah, we all made videos. Yeah, yeah. Mine got insane.

[Bunny]

Yeah. Well, there's the update for you guys, but if you guys think we should carry it on, let me know. Oh, my God. Perfect timing.

[Jason]

It's little wing just popped out.

[Bunny]

Oh, my goodness. Look at this. Oh, my God. That shy. I love you. Jaime said that's a sign. Oh, here comes Chachi. He loves a party now. He's. Oh, my gosh, look. Chachi shaking is so excited. Oh, my goodness.

[Jason]

It's going to kind of flop around for a little bit. The egg will hopefully fall off or it might drag the egg around.

[Bunny]

Poor guy. He's tired.

[Jason]

Yeah. So they do come out. They are so tired. Coming to say hi.

[Bunny]

Oh, okay. Can you see?

[Jason]

It's a little umbilical cord right there stuck to his butt. Oh, yeah, yeah. On the other side over there. So where they. Pip is where their head is. Oh, there's a little wing.

[Tanner]

Oh, he's trying to get out.

[Bunny]

Oh, my goodness. She's so excited right now. He doesn't even know. He's like, I'm ready to party and don't know what's going on.

[Jason]

Look, he's looking at it.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[Jason]

Were you watching it Judge? That was wild.

[Bunny]

And today I have my girl Tanner Adele in the house. Baby. Hello. Hi. I feel like this has been a long time coming. Coming for sure. Like, we've been talking about this for, I think, like, a year and a half.

[Phoebe]

It's been a while.

[Tech N9ne]

Yeah.

[Bunny]

You have been so busy, and I'm so proud of you, girl. We're gonna get into, like, the whole journey and everything, but I just wanted to tell you face to face. Like, I'm so excited for you.

[Phoebe]

Thank you.

[Bunny]

Couldn't happen to a better human. Like, I'm just so excited for you.

[Phoebe]

I appreciate that. It's, like, fun how mutual the feeling is and watching you just blossoming. I knew you before I knew Jelly Roll, but watching you guys, it's just. I mean, Happy New Year.

[Bunny]

Yeah. Happy New Year.

[Phoebe]

But, like, last year was really amazing for, I feel like, both of us.

[Bunny]

Yeah. Yeah. No, it was crazy. My husband's so funny. He's like, tell Danner. I tell Tanner I said, what up? And he's like, tell her to tell the Jelly roll story. I'm like, nobody wants to talk about you. Nobody wants. He.

[Phoebe]

He saved me, you know, He's. He's such a good guy, but we'll.

[Bunny]

Get into that later.

[Phoebe]

Is that what he calls it? I got to start calling it that.

[Bunny]

Yeah. I was like, nobody wants to talk about you. We talk about you all the time. He's like, stop bombarding my freaking interviews. D. I learned some really cool stuff about you that I got to research whenever I was looking you up that I didn't know. And I, I. You have, like, a really cool story that I, I, like, I always knew about the. The fashion, the hair, the makeup, the voice. You know, I knew about all that, but I didn't know, like, what made you you and where you came from. And I think that that would be really cool to kind of dive into with you. Yeah.

[Phoebe]

I mean, it's. I think it's a story that I've kind of. I've been careful to tell and telling little things here and there and kind of gauging the temperature of my audience and. And honestly, how safe it is, like, how willing I'm to be or how vulnerable I'm willing to be.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[Phoebe]

And I mean, what specifically are you talking about?

[Bunny]

Yeah, well, let's just take it all the way. So, first of all, I just want to let you know, my audience is so safe. They are the sweetest. Humans will just embrace you if they haven't or if they're already not buckle bunnies. You know what I'm saying? But here, people come here and they just tell their stories of, like, you know, everything that's happened to them up to where they are. And I kind of take people on this journey to paint the picture of, like, the person behind the music, you know, of course your music speaks for itself, because obviously, I mean, we just saw you on the halftime show with Beyonce, so obviously you're doing your thug thistle, you know, But I want people to connect with you on a personal level. So you were adopted as a child?

[Phoebe]

Yes.

[Bunny]

Can you take us on that journey and, like, kind of through your childhood?

[Phoebe]

It is a very long and windy road as to how I ended up here.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[Phoebe]

But, yes, I was adopted. I was a baby. I was, like, a day old. You know, it was an agreement that my parents already knew that I was going to be born sometime soon, so they were ready for it. But I am adopted. I have four siblings who are also all adopted. I'm the middle child.

[Bunny]

Are they all blood? Blood, yes.

[Phoebe]

All of us are biracial. None of us are, like, blood related at all. All from different families, but my parents couldn't have their own children. My mom had wanted to adopt for a really long time. She would say as a kid, like, she always said, I want to adopt. Her little brother's adopted. And so she had always wanted to adopt and then, you know, she's very religious. I was also raised Mormon. I was adopted into a Mormon family. And so she always says she just feels like God was telling her when it was time to adopt after she found out she wouldn't be able to have children. So I grew up in a really unique kind of household with just that little bit. But on top of all of that, I grew up kind of between two places. I kind of had two homes, and a lot of my. A lot of my friends in California had no idea that all of my family in my summertimes were spent in Wyoming. So my mom grew up with horses, and she did rodeo. She was a rodeo queen. And she would do a year of school in California in Santa Barbara, and then a year of school in Wyoming, where my grandma's from and where my grandpa's from. And flip flopped back and forth between school years as a kid. And she said that was really rough on her and didn't want it to be as intense for me and myself, siblings. So I grew up going from school year in California and all my, like, school friends to immediately going to Wyoming as soon as school was out and kind of living a completely different life out there. It was, you know, maybe around the time that I was 14 or 15 that I started realizing that I was very different from a lot of my friends. And. And I only had one friend that was adopted, and she was the same race as her parents. She was white. They were white. And I just realized there was a lot of things that I was kind of going through that I wasn't sure was totally normal.

[Bunny]

Did you ever get to meet your. Your biological parents?

[Phoebe]

So that's a whole. I'll. I'll tie that now into this whole of me getting here, I guess, too. So I. As a teenager, I was very different from my mom and dad are. My mom wears the pants in my family. Okay.

[Bunny]

She's very alpha.

[Phoebe]

Yes. My mom wears the pants, and she is like Ralph Lauren. I am like free people. We could not be any more different. She's very, like, by the book. I mean, she's extremely religious. And I.

[Mimi]

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[Bunny]

You guys know I've been wearing their gym clothes, but I especially love their sports bras.

[Mimi]

When I tell you they hold the girls in but they're soft and like, it feels like you're wearing nothing.

[Bunny]

Trust me, your girl wears these to work out and you guys have to try it.

[Mimi]

Give your summer closet an upgrade with quince. Go to quince.com bunny for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q-U I N C E.com Bunny B U N n I E to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quints.com bunny you know, Mimi and I talk about this all the time. When we first started Dumb Blonde, it was just an idea. We had no clue what we were doing, no guarantee anyone would listen, and definitely a lot of doubts in the back of our minds. But we knew we had stories to tell, people to reach, and a dream we weren't willing to let go of. Starting anything new is scary. You wonder, is anyone going to care? Can I actually pull this off? But that's the thing about entrepreneurship. Doubt comes with the territory. The key is pushing through it. And that's why I love what Shopify makes possible. Whether you're launching a podcast, merch line, a side hustle, or your own brand, they give you all the tools to turn an idea into a real working business. Easy to set up, easy to manage. And you don't have to be a tech genius to figure it out. If you've been sitting on a dream, this is your sign to start. Because if I can do it, so can you. And Shopify is right there to make it easier than you think. Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world and 10% of all e commerce in the US like mine. Join the Bunnie XO fam today. Your closet will thank you. Shop bunny xo.com for all my new merch. What If I can't design a website. Shopify's got you from the get go with beautiful ready to go templates to match your brand style. What if I need a hand? Get help with everyday tasks like enhancing your product images, writing product descriptions or generating discount codes with Shopify's AI tools created for e commerce. What if people haven't heard about my brand? Shopify helps you find your customers with easy to run email and social media campaigns. And what if I get stuck? Shopify is always around to share advice with their award winning 24. 7 customer service support. Turn those dreams into and give them the best shot at success with Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.com bunny shopify.com bunny shopify dot com bunny.

[Phoebe]

I wanted to just like not have to wear shoes to school and just wanted to sit on the beach and hang out with my friends and, and do you know fashion design? My grandma taught me how to sew at a really young age. So I was sewing my clothes and I was just more of a freestyle spirit. So we really, really like bumped heads as I was growing up.

[Bunny]

I grew up in a extremely religious household too. We were, we were Southern Pentecostal and it was like almost like a cult. And I had to wear like dresses down the ankles.

[Phoebe]

Like I did not know that about you.

[Bunny]

Oh yeah, yeah.

[Mimi]

Super, super religious.

[Bunny]

I went to private school and everything. How do you think I turned out the way I did? I mean, come on.

[Phoebe]

I mean, but I'm just.

[Bunny]

Yeah, but I'm just saying I relate to that because I don't think a lot of people realize how traumatizing. Yes. Religion being pushed on you, especially as a child, as that's what developed. My anxiety as an adult is because it was, I was told, you're going to hell. If you act like this, you're going to hell, you know, And I couldn't imagine, you know, all of that, all of those things that you're going through as a child, you know, you were adopted. You're trying to find your place in this world and trying to fit in and you don't feel like you fit in and then you have that religious trauma on top of it. It's pretty heavy, dude.

[Phoebe]

And it's, it's like I said, it wasn't till a little bit later that I realized it's a little bit different to be biracial and adopted, but then also into a Caucasian Mormon family, but also with four siblings who were also biracial. But Adopted, like, it was such a. Like. And obviously I was a teenager, so all of this at once just made me feel so displaced. And that was the first time that I reached out to a birth family member, my birth father.

[Bunny]

How did you find them? How were you able to find them?

[Phoebe]

I mean, I didn't have really any information about him until one year, it was my 16th birthday, and I got a present in the mail. I had been at, like, a summer camp or something, and my mom was like, there's something on your bed. Like, someone sent you something. And I opened it, and there was a little bracelet in it. And it just said, like, been thinking about you. Happy 16th birthday. Like, love, Gilbert. And I was like, who? Who is that? And kind of started. I mean, I ran outside, called my best friend, and I was like, I just got a weird package and a present. And I don't know, I think it's like, someone from my birth family. And it was. It wasn't just, like, freely talked about in our home.

[Bunny]

Yeah, that's what that was going to be. My next question. So your adoptive parents never really talked about your biological parents?

[Phoebe]

No.

[Bunny]

Okay.

[Phoebe]

Yeah, I. My. My little siblings had a little bit of contact with their, like, birth families, but, yeah, it was never really a conversation that I had. And although my gut kind of told me, like, is this wrong, like, or is this someone from my family? And I went back inside, and my mom was standing in the bedroom and was holding the note that had his name on it. And she was like, like, so we should talk.

[Bunny]

So, working with Wentworth and Bayless and where. How did you, like, get such notoriety? Because I feel like. And I know everybody says this about my husband, so I know it's not true, but I feel like you popped up on the scene all of a sudden, and it was just like, okay, who is this girl? I followed you. And I was just like, oh, my God, she's adorable. I love your aesthetic. I love how, like, original you are. Like, I love that because, you know, in a world full of people who are so unoriginal, it's. You can the ones that actually have their own shit stand out?

[Mimi]

Totally.

[Bunny]

And you totally were like that to me. How did this come about?

[Phoebe]

I mean, after I wrote with Andrew and Michael, I.

[Bunny]

Who.

[Phoebe]

I don't even know why I called them that, because I call them both.

[Bunny]

Bayless, so I don't know why their first name. You're good.

[Phoebe]

But after that, country girl commandments kind of got, like, sent around a little bit, and I. I had my publishing Deal in about six months after I moved to Nashville. And I feel like from there on, it was Tick Tock. It was just putting my original music on Tick Tock and people were like, we like this.

[Bunny]

Yeah. Tick Tock has such a stepping stone for people. I get so mad at people when they're like, oh, you're just. You're. You guys are just tick tockers. Like, when they say that to other people, and I'm like, it's exhausting. I'm like, yeah, that's what I'm saying. I'm like, do you understand how hard it is to keep people's attention day after day, time after time? Like, that's not easy. Not everybody can do that. Yeah. So was Buckle Bunny your first, like, song that took off?

[Phoebe]

No.

[Bunny]

Really? Which one was it?

[Phoebe]

Love you a little bit was the first song, and it was. It wasn't through Tick Tock really. Like, it did numbers on Tick Tock, but it, like, blew up on Twitter or.

[Bunny]

Oh, wow.

[Phoebe]

Yes.

[Bunny]

That's hard to do.

[Phoebe]

I know. And it was, like, positive. It, like, wasn't.

[Bunny]

That part scares me, literally.

[Phoebe]

Yeah, it was, like, really good.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[Phoebe]

That actually was my first kind of splash. And then by the time Buckle Bunny came around, it was like, oh, that's our girl that's in country that's doing that.

[Mimi]

Wow.

[Bunny]

Yeah. That's amazing.

[Phoebe]

Very cool.

[Bunny]

Yeah. Because I remember seeing Buckle Bunny come on, and I was just like, oh, my God, this is amazing. And I loved it and just.

[Phoebe]

I'm glad.

[Bunny]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I still bump it to, like, all the time. Thank you. It did definitely bring a fresh, you know, genre blending sound to country music. What inspired the mixtape concept and what message did you want to send with that?

[Phoebe]

So I wanted it to be. I still haven't had my debut album come out.

[Bunny]

Right.

[Phoebe]

I had Last Call, which is my first ep, and then my second EP is Buckle Bunny with a few singles in between. I called it a mixtape because I felt like I wanted it to be, like, every spot on the spectrum that I can shine, and I wanted it to all have kind of a country foundation, because that is who I am at the core. But then pinpointing things that I love in other genres and not even really while trying, just that those are my moods.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[Phoebe]

And I wanted it to truly feel like a mix, but also still cohesive, but something that didn't box me in.

[Bunny]

Right.

[Phoebe]

And I could go whatever direction I wanted after that.

[Bunny]

We are back, baby, the foursome. Because now Momo's here too.

[Jason]

Hey, Mo.

[Tech N9ne]

Hello.

[Bunny]

Over here in the corner. Yeah, she's like, let me be in the corner, dude. I've been working out so hard trying to get this IVF weight off. I literally came straight to the studio from the gym, and I'm still sweating with a full face of makeup on.

[Jason]

Can we talk about how, like, everything you prepared to be hard in this journey was the easiest parts for you, and everything that everyone said was going to be the easiest is, like, the hardest for you.

[Bunny]

So last time we had a podcast, I gave you guys an IVF update all the way up to the egg retrieval. I do have some news for you guys. After the egg retrieval. Okay. I just would like to let you guys know that it fucking sucked. I think I ended up with, like, a little bit of. Oh, like a mild case of it. And if. I'm sorry, but the women who get the severe cases of that. Holy freaking moly, what is that is. So if you. It's because you get over stimulated, your body, like, starts filling up with fluid, which is why my stomach was, like, out to here. No. And that can start going into your lungs, and, like, people have to have it drained and stuff, and it's so painful. Remember how I kept saying, I'm, like, in so much pain? And, like, just nothing was getting better.

[Mimi]

Better.

[Bunny]

I'm a little over two weeks out now, and I'm feeling so much better. I had my first period. Like, everybody said. They're like, oh, the stems is the hardest part, and blah, blah, blah, blah. And like, the Sims for me was so easy. And everybody's like, oh, the egg retrieval is a breeze. After two days, you're gonna be recovered and feeling great. No, no, no, sir. I was not. It took, like, day 11. I was concerned. I messaged my clinic, and I was like, hello? Not only have I gained fucking six pounds on this shit, when does that start coming off? And secondly, why am I in so much pain? And, like, I took pictures. I looked like I was four months pregnant. Like, Mimi's. Like, let me see. I'm like, no. I was like, I'm like, those are not circulating in the. In the atmosphere at all. I was like, this is not happening. But my first. My first period came. Everybody said, the first period is so bad. This one has been a breeze. I was working out by day two, you know, and my period. It's day four and my period's almost over.

[Jason]

Yeah.

[Bunny]

So I've dropped two of the six pounds, but I still have a little to go. But, man, hormones put some weight on you, man. I don't know how girls do back to back cycles.

[Jason]

No, they are.

[Bunny]

The women who do this IVF journey are a different breed.

[Jason]

They're strong.

[Mimi]

No.

[Jason]

Everything from physical to mental is insane.

[Bunny]

It's crazy. Like, these women are just straight up soldiers, man. And I get it. They're on a mission for a goal. But it. How bad do I want that goal, you know? Like, I don't know if I'm built like them. Maybe that's why I don't have kids, because I'm not built like them. You know, Mo loves a married man. That is her. Okay. But we're gonna. We're gonna break you that habit, though. Okay. Yeah.

[Jason]

We're leveling up.

[Bunny]

So Mo has agreed to go to therapy. Yeah. I told her I'm gonna pay for it. I just want you to go once a week and start working through all your.

[Jason]

Yes.

[Bunny]

So that you can stop meeting these.

[Mimi]

The same men in different bodies.

[Jason]

Yeah.

[Bunny]

Like, let's level up, bro. We are on the next wave of our life, and we don't have time for this. Life is peaceful and fun, and we just need to, you know, level up from here.

[Jason]

Me and Jason were just talking the other day how happy we are that you're back. Oh, no, I'm.

[Bunny]

Honestly, I've never been happier. I woken up less. Like, I'm actually waking up early. I don't feel stressed out. I'm not groggy. I want to. I need to do something.

[Jason]

Yes. I love it. I'm so happy for you.

[Bunny]

Like, wake up with energy. Jay said the same thing. Jay was like, I'm really happy Mo's back.

[Jason]

Yeah.

[Bunny]

And I'm still like, you know, I'm happy she's back, but is she staying? Well, I don't. I don't care. It's like, you're either gonna come or go, and that's up to you. I'm not here to control that situation. I learned with the last situation.

[Jason]

You're just gonna enjoy the time that she's here.

[Bunny]

Yeah, exactly.

[Jason]

Yeah. But legit. We're all so happy.

[Bunny]

Yeah, everybody's happy. Everybody. I mean, this is your family, Mo. You know, like I said, you guys been more family than anything. Yeah.

[Jason]

Yeah. I feel like we all found family in each other because we all have, like, different broken parts of our family. And, like, it's so cool to, like, we all were, like, a piece in each other.

[Mimi]

Yeah.

[Bunny]

We're all each other. I'll hold each other's hands. Okay. I love you guys. Want to sleep on an air mattress together.

[Jason]

I believe we have. We shared beds.

[Bunny]

We admit it. Today is really special for me because.

[Mimi]

The first guest that I ever had.

[Bunny]

On the podcast is now sitting on my couch in the new studio in season nine. My dear friend, Ms. Fifi Dobson.

[Fifi Dobson]

Oh, hey, girl.

[Bunny]

Dude, I'm so happy you're here.

[Fifi Dobson]

Me too. It's very, very exciting to be here and to see the studio.

[Bunny]

It's crazy, right? I can't believe you and I have known each other almost a decade now.

[Fifi Dobson]

It's wild.

[Bunny]

It's crazy.

[Fifi Dobson]

It's wild. Yeah, we've had a lot of fun times, a lot of, like, parties, you know?

[Bunny]

Yeah, it's been. It's been. It's been an interesting ride. But through it all, you. I think one of the one things that I love so much about you is just how sweet you are.

[Fifi Dobson]

Thanks, girl.

[Bunny]

Like, I really wish people knew your heart and just, like, what a sweet woman you are.

[Fifi Dobson]

Thank you.

[Bunny]

Even when I was mad at you, you're always so sweet, and I'm never really mad at you, but it was just like, you know, even when we've had disagreements, you're just always so sweet, and I just love that.

[Fifi Dobson]

I love you. I. I truly do. So, you know, I just. Just. I don't know. I just. I love being here, and your heart is so amazing as well, and you're a strong woman, so I love you.

[Bunny]

We're gonna go to dinner and catch up, too, but I want to know what's going on with you. Like, catch me up. We're good. So I'm gonna do this interview a little bit different, and I know that people who listen to me regularly are going to pick up on that, since Phoebe was on my podcast nine years ago almost. If you guys want to go back to that episode and find out about her background, her upbringing, and everything we talked about in that podcast, that would be season one, episode one, I believe. Right. M. And wow. But this one will be, like, kind of us just catching up and just more of, like, an interview style. So tell me what's been going on with you?

[Fifi Dobson]

Well, I took some time off and was just writing for other people, and then, you know, going through life and love and all the craziness. And then I decided to get back in the studio, and I released a record, not last September, but this September before that, called Emotion Sickness. And, yeah, I just. Just kind of took me time. Took me time. I needed a break. You know, I've been working since I was 17. I'm about to be 40 at the.

[Bunny]

End of the month and you still look so young. I'm so jealous. I'm looking at you, I'm like, she hasn't aged one fucking bit, dude.

[Fifi Dobson]

Thanks, girl. So, yeah, I just needed some time to, I don't know, get things together. I mean, in this industry, mental health is a really big thing, and.

[Bunny]

And taking a break is needed. Taking a break is so needed. I'm trying to teach my husband that because he's. Go, go, go, go, go. You know how Jay is. He's always been like that and even more so now. And I'm just like, you have to take time to, like, just.

[Mimi]

For you.

[Fifi Dobson]

You do.

[Bunny]

Or else it's just. It can cause wreak havoc.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah, you do. I needed time with even my pets, you know, because I was always on the road, and I just. I had lost two pets in the last. Like, I had a bunch. Like, I have, like, a. Like a coven of. Of little fur girls.

[Bunny]

Like, they're just the best. And I love that you said coven, because I use that word all the time. That's what I call us.

[Fifi Dobson]

Oh, really?

[Bunny]

Yeah, exactly.

[Fifi Dobson]

So, yeah, I lost two of them, and I was just like, man, I need to take time to spend time with them.

[Bunny]

Oh, my God. I couldn't imagine. This one is with me. He's been with me the past seven years, and I couldn't imagine losing a fur baby. Like. Like, no, it's the worst. We don't deserve animals. Like, their souls are so pure and so sweet.

[Fifi Dobson]

They're unconditional love. Like, they are the epitome.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[Fifi Dobson]

Of unconditional.

[Bunny]

They don't care if you're sleeping in a box. They are riding with you. Yeah.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah. It's pretty. It's pretty amazing. I mean, how much they love you.

[Bunny]

Your music has always been unapologetically you. Was there ever a time you felt pressured to be someone else in the industry?

[Fifi Dobson]

Oh, all the time. I mean, I still do at times, you know, where you're like, should I be doing this kind of TikTok or should I be doing. You know what I mean? Like, you still feel that pressure in just a different way. Yeah, but I never felt comfortable, you know, if I didn't have, like, my leather jacket or would you still have it on leather on or like, eyeliner or, like, just something that was kind of like my signature. Yeah. Yeah. I always felt like. Like I wasn't being myself if I tried something different.

[Bunny]

Where does. Where does your style stem from? Like, if you could, like, have Maybe like, three role models.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah, probably. Like, I have a few. Like, Joan Jett slash.

[Mimi]

Yes.

[Bunny]

I see it all as you're saying it. I'm like, yep, yep.

[Fifi Dobson]

And when I get, like, when I do glam, like, I always look at, like, old Kate Moss.

[Bunny]

You know, she was fire. Even Kate Moss.

[Fifi Dobson]

Now I know she's amazing.

[Bunny]

How do you not age on cocaine? I don't understand that.

[Fifi Dobson]

Right?

[Bunny]

I don't understand. I love Kate. She's a icon.

[Fifi Dobson]

I agree. She, like, even when she's hammered, I'm like, how do I get that look?

[Bunny]

Yeah, Literally, she. I just saw a video of her on Tick Tock outside of someplace falling over, and she did it so gracefully in a mini skirt and heels. Didn't show anything. If that was me, I'd have look like a freaking wombat. Just 10 people trying to pick me up. Like, I'd have had a broken hip. It would have been up. But I mean, she's literally almost 50 and still just.

[Fifi Dobson]

It's amazing.

[Bunny]

No, it's crazy.

[Fifi Dobson]

It's crazy. Like, I love the smudge liner.

[Bunny]

And you all, you've always done the smudge liner too.

[Fifi Dobson]

I have fun with it. I. It's like, I've been fortunate. The one thing that's been fortunate is, like, one of my friends always says, he's like. He's like, girl, you can look disheveled. That's your brand. I'm like, yeah, exactly.

[Bunny]

I love that, though. Disheveled, I love that. That's fucking hot, though.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah.

[Bunny]

Phoebe's bringing back the disheveled look. All right, so we're gonna take it back to the early days for a little bit.

[Fifi Dobson]

Okay.

[Bunny]

The 2000s were such an iconic time in music. When you look back at that era, what's a memory that instantly makes you smile?

[Mimi]

Not me realizing I've been settling for.

[Bunny]

Uncomfortable bras and underwear my whole life.

[Mimi]

Skims has changed that. Zero digging, zero rolling feels like a second skin. I literally forget I'm wearing it. If you're tired of choosing between cute and comfy, this is your sign. Let's be real. I used to hate bras and underwear. Bras dug in, straps slid down, Underwear rolled or showed through my clothes. I didn't realize how uncomfortable I was until I tried skims. The fits, everybody T shirt bra changed the game for me. It's soft, seamless, gives the perfect lift. And I literally forget I'm wearing it. No digging, no adjusting. It just fits. And the fits, everybody thong obsessed. It's invisible under. Everything stays in place and Feels like you're wearing nothing. I reach for skims because it's the one brand that's most comfy and cute. It solved problems I didn't even realize could be fixed. And yes, I'd 1000% recommend it to anybody. You guys already know I'm a skims girl for life. Shop my favorite bras and [e-mail]. after you place your order, select podcast in the survey and be sure to select Dumb Blonde Podcast and the drop down menu that follows.

[Fifi Dobson]

I loved hanging out with, like, the bands, you know, like when girls could rock out with the dudes. And I loved, you know, seeing Avril and, and Simple Plan and I don't know, there was something about that time that was just like pure. Yeah, yeah, sure.

[Bunny]

And it was rock and roll.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah.

[Bunny]

Bring it the back. I am tired of this mumble rap. I'm like, can we bring it back? Bring the band back, right? I'm so ready for it.

[Fifi Dobson]

It just felt so, I don't know, raw and, you know, and even for the girls at that time, it was like, for the females, we were just like it, you know, we didn't, we didn't care. We were in like Dickies and Converse and no makeup and it's still beautiful.

[Bunny]

Though, and holding your own next to these other, these men, you know?

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah, it was, it was. I wanted to be on tour with the dudes because I wanted to, like, make them freaked out that I could rock or, you know, rock circles around. And that was a big deal for me. I. I always love to, like, put me with the dudes, man. That meant a lot.

[Bunny]

Did you thrive on shock value as a youngster? Yeah, I think I did too.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah. Yeah. Like, I love to look at people, like, look in the eye and make them uncomfortable. That was like when I was a kid.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[Fifi Dobson]

And just like to see when they would turn their heads because they were uncomfortable with my stare.

[Bunny]

Yeah, that was fun. What's the one thing fans might not know about the making of Sunday Love or Joy?

[Fifi Dobson]

Well, Sunday Love was like my second album off the first one and like, I was really wanted to make. Wanted to make an authentic rock record. So we got like a bunch of amazing rockers like Nina Gordon From Rucasault and John5 and just like awesome rad artists. And it was weird making the album because I named it At Sunday Love because it was my mom's, like, my mom's stripper name. It was her name. Like, that's what she would go by and she told me about it. Years when I was younger and it stuck with me and I was like, well, I want to name this for her. So I did. And she was just amazing that way. Like, I don't know.

[Bunny]

So I love that. So mom was a. Mom was a stripper dancer.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah, she. And many other things. And we love that. Yeah.

[Bunny]

Shout out Mom.

[Tanner]

Yeah.

[Bunny]

That's so fitting for this podcast.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah, she's a single mom and just like made it work and.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[Fifi Dobson]

I don't know, I just loved even like if she just danced at home, like, just like being like, like, you know, just put on something. It was just grooving around like I always looked up to.

[Jason]

Yeah.

[Bunny]

Can we talk about you and Yellow.

[Fifi Dobson]

For a little bit?

[Bunny]

Yeah. Okay. How you guys have been together for how long now?

[Fifi Dobson]

Off and on. 15 years.

[Bunny]

Yeah, no, it's been crazy. Can you tell us a little bit about that ride, that journey?

[Fifi Dobson]

Hi. Well, I met him when I was 25, he was 30, and I think he just got signed to Interscope and. Or Shady. And no one ever tells you. Well, we met at the Fantasy Factory, Rob Dyrdek's spot.

[Bunny]

And that's some lore right there.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And no one ever tells you, like being with another artist is. It's a lot. It's a lot because they're dealing with their own things. And you know, he's a man in the industry, a good looking man and I'm, you know, a woman that at this point at 25, I'm like, I'm ready for something serious. Which was probably because I had started so young that I lived, you know, I'd lived this life in the industry and he was just starting, so he was getting his wiggles out when we started dating. So we went through.

[Bunny]

I mean, 15 years in this industry is. We gotta tip our hat to that because not a lot of people can do that. Jay and I are just barely creeping up on a decade and you know, we've been through shit too. But it's like you just hit the nail on the head because I just talked about this in a recent podcast where I said if you are with an artist, you have to be a really strong human. Like for one, there's just forget about all the traveling and the separation and all that stuff. It's the emotional side of it. There's a reason that you're an artist. So to have two artists in the same relationship has got to be so tricky to navigate because there's gotta be just a sea of emotions.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah. And. And working through like making sure. That we're not competing with each other. That's a big one.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[Fifi Dobson]

It's like being supportive. And, you know, I've was sidestage for many years to see a show and support that way, and you kind of have to put your own artist ego at the door, which is a big, big important thing to do.

[Bunny]

Have you ever felt like you guys were in competition at any time?

[Fifi Dobson]

Well, when we play NBA 2K20 before, at this point, 25.

[Bunny]

Yes.

[Fifi Dobson]

Someone's sleeping on the couch, which. But we're very different, which was. We've probably had moments where it was like someone has a. You know, I think the only time it kind of feels that way is if we're not close, you know, and. But when we're close and we're in tune, we don't feel that way. But it's. It's difficult. It's difficult.

[Bunny]

You know, the man loves you. I. I see him through all of it, and every time I see him and you're not by his side, he's not himself.

[Fifi Dobson]

That means a lot. I mean, it's. It's wild because I've been very private online, and he's a little bit more open about when he is going through whatever and. Or if we're not together. And I've had to see a lot of things that, you know, fans might be like, how can you get back with him? Or how can you do this? And. And the truth is, unless you're in it, you just don't know that.

[Bunny]

And the heart wants what the heart wants.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah.

[Bunny]

You know, you guys have something special. That's why I said, I think you guys have done numerous lifetimes together because you guys just have this. This moth to a flame type, like, draw to each other, and that's undeniable, you know, and no matter what you guys go through, it's just you guys are always going to circle back to each other.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah, it seems like it.

[Bunny]

Do you think you guys will ever get married, like, again? Are you guys, like. Did you guys ever fully divorce?

[Fifi Dobson]

No.

[Bunny]

Oh, okay. Okay. All right.

[Fifi Dobson]

No, I. I couldn't do it.

[Bunny]

Oh.

[Fifi Dobson]

I mean, we'd always threaten to do it and be like, oh, yeah.

[Phoebe]

Oh, send me the papers right now.

[Fifi Dobson]

And. And no one would do it, you know?

[Bunny]

Yeah. So that's just even more proof that you guys just literally are each other's persons.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah. Yeah. And he always makes jokes, too, because he's always like, what am I gonna do? Your name's on my face. Because, you know, it's like, Fifi. It's like, okay. Yeah.

[Bunny]

True.

[Fifi Dobson]

Yeah.

[Bunny]

That's your dude, man. You guys are super cute. And, I mean, you guys aesthetically are just a gorgeous couple.

[Fifi Dobson]

Thank you.

[Bunny]

Yeah, for sure.

[Fifi Dobson]

How do you, like, how do you navigate through, you know, you and Jelly and, like, you know.

[Bunny]

Well, I was actually gonna ask you guys how you guys navigate, so privately, because Jay and I have literally poured our entire relationship online. I mean, we've, since day one, have just been like, here we are. You know, and, like, just kind of like, we got outed in the beginning, so we had to out ourselves, you know, and it was like, since then, we don't really have anything. That's a secret. And I admire how you guys navigate because now that we're in the public eye a little bit more, too, like, how you guys are, it's like, there are some things I want to. For ourselves, you know, And I would love for you to give me any pointers on that, because the way we navigate is we just word vomit all over. I'm always. I always say, there's an annoying person that's online, and then there's the one that's, like, very crafty and, like, only appears when they need to. And I'm the annoying one that's online that tells everybody everything. And then Jay's the one who's like, like, yeah. This man has built an empire, pushed the boundaries of independent rap, and outworked nearly everybody in the game. Mr. Tech9 is in the house.

[E]

Happy to be here, mama.

[Bunny]

Dude, I'm so stoked you're here. I had a bucket list, and it was Dolly Parton, Joyce Meyers, and Tech9.

[Tech N9ne]

Whoa.

[Bunny]

I've done Dolly. Haven't done. Haven't done Joyce yet. And then I've finally got you here. So I'm just like, here we are. I know you're a busy man.

[E]

Oh, yeah. Gotta. Gotta keep it that way. You know what I mean? Time waits for no man ever. Yeah.

[Bunny]

My dad always says, rolling Stones gather no moss.

[E]

Oh, yeah.

[Bunny]

Yeah. So I've always lived my life by that, like. But I finally. And you know, now that I've gotten a little bit older, have learned how to kind of, like, slow it down a little bit.

[E]

But, yeah, we were just talking about vacationing. You know what I'm saying? Taking some time for yourself.

[Bunny]

Yeah, I'm gonna go to Monaco and see the Harry Bush ladies that you were telling me about.

[E]

They might not be alive now.

[Bunny]

You.

[E]

They were pretty old.

[Bunny]

Tech was telling me he just went to Monaco and I was like. Or he told me he went to, like, Ibiza or something. I was like, did they have any nude beaches? And he's like, no, but we did go to one in Monaco.

[E]

Yeah, we went to one in Monaco. And it's always really old people. Yeah, that. That are free.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[E]

You know, it's not like on the movies, you see. It's all young people, Perkins.

[Bunny]

The geezers have no shame. All right? And I think once you hit that age, you're allowed to just let it. You let your freak flag fly, and.

[E]

The dudes are never in. We always see the dudes from the back, you know? You know.

[Bunny]

Oh, man.

[E]

It's like a place, like, right on the nude beach where you can sit down and eat and drink. You know what I mean? People are like, walking by. You're like, what?

[Bunny]

Who the is eating on a nude beach?

[E]

Us. Yeah.

[Bunny]

You know what? I can't. I can't even talk because I used to go to swingers clubs in Vegas and eat the buffet there.

[E]

Well, let me tell you something about strip clubs. You know, strip club food.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[E]

I used to eat strip club food. You know, they have chefs in there making those steaks.

[Bunny]

Yeah. So I used to. I grew up in Vegas, so I used to work in the strip clubs in Vegas, and some of them would have five star restaurants. Have to wear, like, gowns to go sit with our guests in there.

[E]

Right.

[Bunny]

Food was fudgeing fire, dude.

[E]

It's an establishment.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[E]

They got to have the right food.

[Bunny]

I just feel like a nude beach, you know, with just all the. The bush flying around would be a little weird.

[E]

That's exactly what. See, Bush, bush.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[E]

No young folks. No people in shape. I'm talking. This is. This is my experience, what I've seen over the years.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[E]

And because I'm usually with people that say, hey, man, let's go to the new beach. I'm like, you don't want to see the new beach. Please, come on, let's go to the new beach. Okay, let's go.

[Bunny]

You know, he's like, you know, you don't got to twist my arm.

[E]

You don't want to do it. It's not what they think. The ones I've seen, I've seen. I've seen one. And what's over the. What's. What's. What's that place over there, Travis. Where? St. Thomas. And it starts with an M. And if.

[Bunny]

St. Martin.

[E]

St. Martin. There you go. I seen one in St. Martin.

[Bunny]

Oh, we're going. We were actually gonna go There for my birthday. See? We gotta go. The nude beach is calling me. So they have one in St. Martin.

[E]

Yeah, we. We call it. We. I'm black, they call it Saint Martin, you know.

[Bunny]

Okay, okay. Oh, I don't know. Is it Martin or Martin. I don't know.

[E]

It's not like Martin.

[Bunny]

Okay, I see I might be pronouncing it wrong.

[E]

We over in St. Martin.

[Bunny]

I'm not with the bougie, so I don't know. I've never been there, so it could be Saint Martin.

[E]

No, it's all good. A lot of people call it Saint Martin. We call it because Saint Martin. Sorry.

[Bunny]

So did you go to the nude beach there? I'm curious.

[E]

We were at the place, eating. That's off the beach.

[Bunny]

Okay. You're always eating at these nude beaches, Zach. I'm seeing a pattern here.

[E]

That's funny, I'm Scorpio. But it has nothing to do with that. It's usually people with me. I know it sounds like an excuse. You know, it's just me just zeroing in on the nude beaches.

[Bunny]

No, no, no.

[E]

People with me that I take on through with me.

[Bunny]

Can you. Okay, let's pause right there. So seventh grade. Something happens in seventh grade with the teacher. Can we go on that journey? Because that's about 12 years old too, right? 13.

[E]

Well, I was going on 13. As I said, I was fucking up. 13. 14. Yeah, she. I won't say no names. Yeah, she was young. She was 21. And whenever it all started, when I showed her a picture of my father as a cop, you know, saying I had a picture of him in his LAPD outfit. And after that, after class, whenever everybody's leaving out, I'll be in there. And she said, Aaron is so cute. Because my first name is Aaron, of course. Aaron Dante. Aaron is so cute. And she was. She was. She was beautiful, you know?

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[E]

And I was like, oh, thank you. But she used to do it every day. Aaron is so cute. Like, okay. You know, then I got to skipping lunch to go visit her while she's by herself, you know, And I'm just gonna leave it at that, you know, to be safe.

[Mimi]

Right.

[E]

But I was in love.

[Mimi]

Right.

[E]

Till she got married.

[Bunny]

But you guys ended up. And we can always cut this too, if you want to. But you guys ended up getting caught, right?

[E]

We got caught by a student walking by. She said she told my sixth hour teacher, no, it wasn't my six hour teacher. It was sixth hour. Upstairs, Ms. Glenn's room was like court, courtroom, class. So whenever something happened in school, they would have to come to court in her class in front of her big student body, you know?

[Mimi]

Right.

[E]

So they called me up to court class one day, not knowing what they want to talk to me about. I've never been to court class, you know, and Ms. Glenn, she's a black lady, she didn't want no fuck shit, you know what I'm saying? So you say, aaron, there's a student in here, the student was sitting right there that says, they walked by Ms. So and so's room and saw both of you kissing. And the whole crowd, the whole student body said, ooh. You know, I said, huh? Why would I be kissing a grown up? You know, I'm smart. You know what I'm saying? She's like, I saw you, Aaron. I saw you. I said, you didn't see me, I was in lunch. No, you were in there kissing. I said, it's her story against mine, you know what I mean? And. And they called us to the office and called the teacher to the office too.

[Bunny]

Yeah. And I was sweating, I bet.

[E]

Then they saying, they said her name. This. This is alarming. And she's like, I would never. With a student, you know. I remember her, you know, like pleading her case and being real serious, you know, and nothing happened. We didn't get in trouble because I didn't tell.

[Bunny]

But you guys were having. Were you guys having sex?

[E]

Yes.

[Bunny]

In the classroom?

[E]

No.

[Bunny]

Okay.

[E]

After school. That's another story, you know what I'm saying?

[Bunny]

On school campuses, though. No, no, no, no, no. Okay, okay.

[E]

Call home, see if you can help me after school. Can I help my teacher after school? And she'll bring me home, go to her house.

[Bunny]

It's so hard for me to wrap my brain around that because I know coming from a man's point of view, it's like, oh, you got to bag the teacher, the older chick. Like I said, I was in love, Right. But if we switched places and it was a man doing that to a little girl, you know, like, it's hard for me to kind of wrap my head around that and I don't not be mad at her for what happened to you.

[E]

Yeah, yeah. You know, know I appreciated it.

[Bunny]

Right.

[E]

She got married in my eighth grade year, and after that we didn't talk anymore, you know what I'm saying? After. You know what I'm saying? Because we did our thing before we got busted, you know what I mean?

[Bunny]

Right.

[E]

So we didn't talk anymore after being in the principal's office, you Know what I'm saying? Out of like.

[Bunny]

Well, because you guys were being watched, I'm sure, like heavily so.

[E]

I remember the last day of school in eighth grade. Walking by her room, her classroom, and I walk by, I could see her in my peripheral. She had been married already and everything changed. Her name. When I passed the room, I heard a voice say, hey. She's like, you're not gonna give me a hug? I'm not gonna see you again. You're going to the high school?

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[E]

When? Gave her a hug. Never seen her again.

[Bunny]

She never tried to reach out to you or anything after that?

[E]

No, I was, you know, I ran away like years after that, you know, I mean, from home and on a quest to become technina, you know.

[Bunny]

So let's. Let's dive into your love for horror.

[E]

Dark story. I didn't realize how dark it was, you know. So now it's dark to me. No, dark as.

[Bunny]

But you know what I think it is? This is why I say you have such a beautiful testimony. Because like, like you really are what you rap about. Rap about. And it's like a lot of people can't say that they are.

[E]

I wrap my life, you know what I'm saying? And I found that out early on. Quincy Jones, he told me, yeah, rap what you know, and people will forever feel you. And what I know better than anything is myself, you know?

[Bunny]

Yes.

[E]

And I wrote about myself and my stories and what people have in common and they don't really know is emotion, right. So I tapped into emotion. That's why. That's how I got fans, you know. All my stories are true.

[Bunny]

Yes, absolutely they are, you know what I'm saying? Except when you get to black in.

[E]

The sun and it turns into imagination, you know what I'm saying? Nipples and noodles and all that kind of shit trapped in Psycho's body. It has a bit of imagination in there, you know what I mean? Yes. But it comes from a place.

[Bunny]

Yes.

[E]

I don't blame my teacher for anything that's happened to me in my life because, right, I didn't look like. I didn't look at it as molesting because I was in love.

[Bunny]

Right.

[E]

You know what I'm saying? But in true it is.

[Bunny]

And her, she groomed you.

[E]

Yeah.

[Bunny]

You know, and I mean, I'm sorry, but a 21 year old looking at a 13, 14 year old like that is.

[E]

There's no. But I already came at 12 though, with Marlene.

[Bunny]

Right? No, and I get that and I.

[E]

Love that, you know what I'M saying.

[Bunny]

But I love that you didn't internalize it as being molested, but responsibly, I have to say, you know, like, if that was a man doing that to a little girl, we would all lose our minds.

[E]

You know, I heard stories later on that I wasn't the only one.

[Bunny]

See what I'm saying? It's predatory.

[E]

I heard some of my homies say, you know, so and so hit, too. I'm like, huh?

[Bunny]

What? She was just getting it in.

[E]

Yeah.

[Bunny]

The fact that they even still let her work at the school is just wild.

[E]

But like I said, she was 21.

[Bunny]

Yeah, well, but what I'm saying is, like, after she. You guys got caught and them still letting her work there, that would never fly. This. This.

[E]

Because it was. It was written off like, that student was just talking some, right?

[Bunny]

Yeah, absolutely.

[E]

And they didn't see that?

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[E]

They see me give her a hug or something.

[Bunny]

Yeah, for sure.

[E]

You know what I mean? I don't recall what we said, but, yeah, whatever we said, it was like.

[Bunny]

Okay, yeah, you know, well, let's switch gears to a lighter subject and let's talk.

[E]

It's cool. We can go dark as much as you want.

[Bunny]

We're. It's gonna. We're gonna go through phases. So let's talk about your love for horror. You got introduced to it by your mom.

[E]

My Christian mama.

[Bunny]

That blew my mind whenever I read that.

[E]

So cool. I miss her so much, man. She was so cool. Mari Sue Yates, before she became Marisu Yates Khalifa. You know, let me see. I was born in 71. She took me to go see Carrie in 76.

[Bunny]

Yes.

[E]

You know, Halloween. Halloween premiered in Kansas City in 78. I was there. She took me.

[Mimi]

Yes.

[E]

My Christian mama took me to. You know. Know Kansas City has haunted houses around late September, October, Halloween. We have Main Street Morgue. We have Dr. Deadly's. We used to have Dr. Deadly's Hunted Hospital. The Edge of Hell. We still got the Edge of Hell, the Beast, all these kind of houses for, you know, attractions for people who like the Darkness. You know, she took me to all that when I was young.

[Bunny]

That's amazing to me because I grew up strict Pentecostal, and we were not allowed to listen to secular music. Anything that had to do with Halloween could never partake in it. Like, so that was really cool of her to let you be able to experience some sort of, like.

[E]

I remember her dating my uncle Ike's friend, Daniel Whitney, and him being the one taking us to this haunted house, Main Street Morgue. And I remember us walking in. I was young, young man, you know what I'm saying? I. I keep on going back to five. A lot of shit happened when I was five, dude. You know what I'm saying? Really early on, I remember walking into Main Street Morgue, and when you come in, you turn right and you go up some stairs. They had a black light. I didn't know what a black light was when I was young. And I looked at their faces and their eyes were glowing and their face looked crazy. And it kind of scared me. But I appreciated it because I was already going to the movies and stuff like that, you know what I mean? On the scary tip, my mom showed me all the things that scared me as a kid, like clowns at the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus or the Ararat Shrine Circus. She took me to all that. I had a fear for clowns when I was younger.

[Bunny]

Do you think that's why you wore face paint later on in life? Yeah, because it was like embracing a fear.

[E]

Yeah, that's exactly what it was.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[E]

I became everything that Marty Suye's khalifa showed me. Her having epilepsy, you know, when she married Hassan, when she started having seizures, he put her in a psychiatric ward. And my Christian family hated him for it because we've dealt with it since she was 18 and she never had to go to a psychiatric ward. So he thought that was the best thing for her. Because after you have a grandma seizure, the after effects is you talking out of your mind, you know what I'm saying? So. So I used to have to come visit her there at Western Missouri when Menorah had one off. 63rd Research Psychiatric center, all of them in Kansas City. I went to go visit my mom.

[Bunny]

Wow.

[E]

And when they see me wearing hospital scrubs on stage, you know, I mean, all that, the clown, the hospital scrubs, the darkness, the lyrically Michael Myers and all that kind of shit is from Marty Suye's Khalifa. It created Tech9. Thank you, Mama. You know what I'm saying? Because it saved my life. Everything I built from her and her pain, I internalized that and turned it into tech 9, you know what I mean? And when people come to my house now and they see my clown shrine with all the Michael Myers stuff and all the, you know, I have Reagan, like a life size Reagan from the Exorcist right there. It says, sorry, we did. On her hand, she's holding a sign that says, sorry, we're dead. I have this in my house and people like, what's up with all this devil shit? I said, it ain't devil shit. My mom taught me early on when I was younger that these toys, these dark toys that you see, don't think of them any other kind of way than you think of your GI Joe toys or your Star wars toys or when you see Barbie and Ken. It's plastic and you can't give it any energy at all. And people believe that you can, that you'll have dark energy in your house. And when you look at my shrine, that's Marty Suye's Khalifa right there. And it reminds me, her birthday is October 26th. She's in that kind of fall kind of feel. So when the fall comes and Halloween, it just a reminder of my mom. I became the clown, painted my face. Early on in 90, 94, I painted my face for the first time. You know what I mean? I got my face painted, that is. And now when you see the clown with the red nose on a stage, you know, the mask I use now, you know, is just what that clown with that paint and that clown in my head has transformed into. And it gets worse and worse over the years, you know what I mean? Not within me, though. I just know what that darkness feels like of my mom being in a psychiatric ward and having the seizures and seeing her busting her head wide open from falling out on the floor and hitting her head on the bathroom. I mean, the bathtub, you know what I mean? I've seen the puddles of blood, her laying in them, getting beat up, all that stuff. I can. I. I know what that darkness is.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[E]

So I make the clown look like something hideous like that. You know what I mean?

[Bunny]

You turned your trauma into triumph.

[E]

Yes.

[Bunny]

Is pretty much what you did. I did the same thing, but in a different way. Not with the clowns and stuff like that, but it's like you. You alchemized your pain. And that's so beautiful that you, you know, were able to have that consciousness, to do that instead of letting it.

[E]

Consume you or drive me crazy.

[Bunny]

Right.

[E]

You know what I mean?

[Bunny]

But did you ever fear that you would end up in a place like your mom if you let the. If you let it.

[E]

No.

[Bunny]

Consume you?

[E]

I never felt like I would end up in a psychiatric ward because I've always been super cerebral.

[Bunny]

Right.

[E]

You know what I'm saying? Like a thinker, you know? And always I was so. I've always been so. So logical thoughts and stuff like that, that I always feared having an aneurysm or Something, you know?

[Bunny]

Yes.

[E]

Because it never stops, right? Sometimes I have to do mantras to go to sleep to make it stop, you know?

[Bunny]

Right.

[E]

But I never thought I would end up in a psychiatric ward. I wanted to be a psycho, a psychiatrist, to figure, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. I wanted to understand a lot of things, you know, I studied serial killers early on in school. You know, I bought books, you know, Manson and Ted Bundy and, you know, saying the.44 caliber killer, you know what I'm saying? It's. It's all these things I studied because my mom said I was her angel sitting down to help people, you know? So I wanted to find out about my opposition, which would be evil because I am angel, you know what I'm saying? What you. What I got right there, you know? And I never thought I would lose my mind. And I never lost my mind. I don't think I lost my mind. Travelers would know if I lost my mind.

[Bunny]

Not intentionally, maybe on a party night.

[E]

What'S going on in his brain. But I ain't never lost my mind.

[Bunny]

Right, Gotcha. So can we talk about. I read somewhere that you have an obsession with the number nine and the birth of Tech nine. Did that come from that?

[E]

When I got my name in 88 from the gangster named Black Walt, I didn't have a name when I wrote my first three verse rhyme, you know what I'm saying? The New Breed, I was my first rhyme. I was just going with my middle name. D O N T E Z Z. I didn't have nothing, you know. So he was in a group called Black Mafia. He had Mac 10, not Mac 10. Ice Cube. This is.

[Bunny]

Oh, I was like, I love Mac 10. That's my brother too.

[E]

This was a Mac 10 early on in Kansas City, you know, know, before Mac 10 came out, you know.

[Bunny]

Right, the OG yeah.

[E]

You know, we started calling Shorty Mac, you know what I'm saying? Later on in life, you know what I'm saying? But when I. When they heard me do New Breed, my three verse rhyme, my first three verse rhyme, they were like, man, we gotta find you a name, bro. Black Mafia, man. We. We already got one gun. Let me look in the Guns and Elmo books and try to find you another one, you know. And they looked at Uzi, you know, saying that he's like, nah, now you got little Uzi vert, you know. Yeah, yeah, 12 gauge.

[Bunny]

Because you spit like an Uzi though, huh?

[E]

Because like, you know, you're trying to find something, you know, 12 gauge. I'm like, no. And then 12 gauge and loaded gun, and I'm done by nothing. So shake that donkey button and big old legs. I ain't too hard to beg, you know? You know, people got that too, you know what I'm saying? We went AK47, we went through the whole book, and there was no. Nothing in there. We didn't find anything. But it was a picture of a tech 9 on the back. He's like, tech 9, he said, because the way you spit, you know, like. Like, okay. He said, that's gonna be your name till we find something else. But the way we spelled it, T, E, C, H was short for technique. And after I started studying numerology, I found out that nine was the number of completion. Nine months completes a pregnancy. They said cats have nine lives. After nine, there's nothing else like it. It's double and triple or whatever.

[Bunny]

Yes.

[E]

You know what I'm saying? I became the complete technique of rhyme tech 9. Technique number nine, you know what I'm saying? Everything to be able to. To. I'm rooted in rap, but be able to adjust to any musical situation. You know what I mean?

[Bunny]

And what your fan base shows that. Yes, your fan base. You have metal fans, you have Juggalo fans, you have hip hop heads.

[E]

Like, I mean, I got all of it.

[Bunny]

You've got it all?

[E]

Yeah, yeah.

[Bunny]

It covers every.

[E]

That's how I. That's how I wanted it to be. I wanted to make Tech9 the emcee that can do anything.

[Bunny]

So, Travis, I'm happy that you're here, and I. Like, we were just saying, I'm so honored that you guys are doing this, because I have so many questions, especially with you guys being, like, the biggest independent label pretty much in the world.

[E]

Yes, yes.

[Bunny]

You guys really built something from the ground up. What was you. You were already involved in music before you found tech because you were funding the fashion show.

[Tech N9ne]

Well, so I was actually involved in a clothing company, Paradise Originals. How we met. I wasn't really into the music business at all. As a matter of fact, I had no experience, no background at all. W. And so. But I. I. When I went to high school, I grew up in a. In a very diverse neighborhood. But more importantly, it was. My school was about 80% black, so I grew up around hip hop my entire life. I mean, from grade school, middle school, and then into high school, so I was always into hip hop. So whenever we wanted to do this fashion show, Tech had a buzz because of those songs that he talked about. Being on the radio, and I'm like, okay, yeah, let's do this. Let's. Let's. Let's find him. Let's get him in there and see if he'll do it. And. And he did, which was awesome. And. But afterwards, like, I. I knew of him and I knew of several of his songs, and I always heard about how he was about to be the next biggest rapper and. And everything else. And then after we did the fashion show, I really wanted to talk to him to understand what that journey was, because it wasn't. A lot of the things that I heard were going to happen, weren't happening. So I just wanted to understand why, like, okay, you know, what, what, what. What's your story? And. And he came and he was really, really, really open with me, and he told me every detail. He told me about the managers that he had, which. There was a lot of them, by the way. I think he had like five managers or something. I'm like, damn. And so. And then, you know, all the people that were involved, and at first I was like, okay. You know, he told me about the. The deal that he had with Quest and how that was through Warner Brothers and he had a publishing deal through Windswept, and. And it seemed pretty complicated. And at first I thought I could go in and say, you know, maybe I can give some advice. I was really good at business. I had a really successful furniture business at the time, successful with the clothing, successful with real estate. I was doing my thing, and. And I thought maybe I could offer some advice. And after I met with him, I realized advice isn't what he needed. He needed some money and he needed somebody that would go in there and kind of clean up a few things because it got. It got a little. It got a little to be a little bit too much. It was gridlock right amongst the label, and then the local label, Midwest side Records, and then Quest, and then Warner Brothers. And at that time, I'm like, dude, that's crazy, man. Good luck, cool story, good luck, and wish you the best. And. And. But I didn't think that I could offer any words that was going to change anything. And. But we stayed in touch. And. And then there was a time when he reached out to me and I got an opportunity to go down to. It was Icy Rock's house, and he played me a song because we were together at a restaurant when they were writing a song. This. This restaurant. What was it called? Hops songs. Yeah. And so. And, And I. I was intrigued by it and Then after it got done, I got an opportunity to go down there and listen to it. And that song was called this Ring.

[E]

Yes.

[Tech N9ne]

And. And I. I was blown away by it. They were. He was nice enough to let me have a copy of it. And I must have played that. That song a thousand times. In my. Dawn was like, over it. Like, she was like, what are you doing?

[Bunny]

Shout out Don we love.

[Tech N9ne]

And not only that, but it's like. Like. Like, wait a minute. He's trying to balance being tech 9 and being married. Are you trying to say something like. Like, why do you keep playing his damn song?

[Bunny]

And.

[Tech N9ne]

And it. It was. I couldn't leave it alone. And then that's when we ended up meeting again. And I'm like, hey, man, tell me what you want to do. I. I heard what everybody. Everybody else has in mind for you, but fuck all of that. Like, what do you want to do? And that's when he told me that he had a publishing company called E G N Arts. And I'm like, okay. And then I. Yeah, yeah. And then I was like. He goes, that's strange backwards. And I'm like, oh, okay. And I said, why is that? And he goes, well, because if I ever have an opportunity to do my own label, I want to call it Strange Music. And I'm like, oh. And then he told me about his love for Jim Morrison and the Doors and all of this stuff. And so I took a leap and said, okay, well, listen, man, I don't know the music business, but I'm a quick learn. And. And I have the means. The. You know, the. The financial means to. To help out. And I think I have, you know, a good business acumen, and. And I know how to move forward relatively quickly. So I said, if you want to truly do that, I'll. I'm in, man. 50. 50. And we'll go and we'll figure this thing out.

[Bunny]

So your first drug you ever tried was ecstasy?

[E]

Yes.

[Bunny]

Wow.

[E]

Yes.

[Bunny]

Most people, like, smoke weed.

[E]

I don't call weed drugs.

[Bunny]

Those. Right. Most of us do, but it is.

[E]

But it is classified as a drug. But to me, it's natural.

[Jason]

Yeah.

[E]

Just like most rooms. Sorry. And. But I'm talking about drugs.

[Bunny]

Yeah.

[E]

You know what I'm saying? Molly and ecstasy. Yes, I found that first. Yeah, I think. I think. I think the dancer was the first one to give it. My first one at a movie theater. She said, you're gonna take this pill. It's gonna take 30 minutes. You're gonna feel like you have to. Don't you know what I'm saying? Up the whole thing. Don't. I'm like.

[Bunny]

So you're not allowed to on ecstasy?

[E]

No. You ain't supposed to. Or mushrooms. You know what I'm saying? You're supposed to fill it and keep that in. You know what I'm saying? That's what I was.

[Bunny]

I never knew.

[E]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, you get that same all the time.

[Bunny]

You learn something new every day.

[E]

She did fart over there, you know.