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- [00:01]
Deontay
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- [01:48]
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- [02:18]
Deontay
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- [02:43]
Sponsor/Ad Voice
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- [02:44]
Deontay
Rules and restrictions apply. Your planet is now marked for death. Marvel Studios the Fantastic Four First Steps is now streaming on Disney. We will protect you as a family. Light em up, Johnny. Marvel's first family is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. That is fantastic. And critics say it's one of the best superhero movies of all time. Marvel Studios the Fantastic Four first steps now streaming on Disney. Rated PG 13. What time has it been? It's Clapper. Y. Woke up in the morning and to God be the glory? Thankful for another day to tell my story? Put my opinions in the universe and let them orbit? I'm from the dirty south with a dirty mouth Might need orbit? Miss things things on me like a nigga Norbit had to refuse them cuz my no rest Fusion she gorgeous as I doubt my son's and kiss my daughter forehead? Tell them we going to get this money to my pockets Morbid. Remember living in apartments now we playing mortgage. What's been on?
- [03:53]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Working.
- [03:54]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [03:54]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I've been good, though.
- [03:55]
Deontay
Yeah? Yeah.
- [03:56]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
How about you?
- [03:58]
Deontay
Adjusting more than anything. You know, it's all. It's all still fairly new, even though we've been doing it for a minute.
- [04:04]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Like the show?
- [04:06]
Deontay
No, just doing it full time.
- [04:08]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Okay.
- [04:10]
Deontay
I was still driving trucks like 10 months ago, so I quit full time. I did. I've been doing this full time since, like, April, May.
- [04:17]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's dope. Yeah.
- [04:18]
Deontay
So the reset from Christmas getting back to it, that shit been. It been nonstop. It's a blessing, though, you know what I'm saying? Like, to be able to do something you love to do, but it's also like, it pulled you in a lot of different directions.
- [04:33]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
So when did you see it, like, taking off?
- [04:40]
Deontay
I would say. For real. For real. It was June 2024, like, six months into us doing it. I started seeing, like, I ain't had no Twitter, so I started seeing that shit go viral, like, everywhere. Like, big pages were reposting it and, you know, one or two times it'd be like, okay, that's cool. But, like, when it started happening consistently, like, week to week, I'm going viral. I was like, we got something. And so we wasn't even doing guests at the time. We didn't start. We didn't do our first guests till December 2024. So we just did the year, basically the whole year, just solo ups. And that's our format, like just the solo part, that's where most people see the clips from. And then I would say once we started getting our first few guests, we had a video, one of the guests go crazy viral like everywhere. And I was like, okay, this shit, this legit. So I would say after that, yeah, I was only working for four more months. I had already seen it. Like, I could do this shit full time. My following everywhere started growing. Cause I ain't start to. I ain't had no Instagram until December 2024.
- [05:52]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Dang.
- [05:53]
Deontay
Yeah. So I got the first Instagram. My shit got hacked. I was shit. Back in the day, we was scamming on that motherfucker. Like, yeah, I had like 17k followers. I was I thinking I'm big shit. I had never had like, bro, the most I at that point, the most I had ever had like 2500. So I didn't wasn't posting content. I was just strictly TikTok and YouTube. And then my homeboy was like, he was like, bro, I got 250,000 followers on Instagram. All I do is repost the content from there over here. I was like, I'm finna run that. Soon as I started doing it, my shit went up. And I guess whatever account was connected to it from Facebook where was doing a little. Man, they whacked my out. I think the next week I was selling AMG Benzes and like, you know how that be like tap in with Charles, man, he's great. He'll get you a law for free type. And like, bro, what you got going on? Like, I don't know what you're talking about. I can't even get in that account. Every time I get in that, it's like, it's like eight accounts attached to that. They have. They had whacked my all the way out. But I think I started a new account. I told what was going on, started back posting over there. Within a month I had 30k. So I was like, we legit. We here to stay.
- [07:14]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, we good.
- [07:16]
Deontay
Yeah. And I think that damn. Now I think both my accounts tick tock and Instagram down to half a million. So shit, we got a million at least collectively. You know what I'm saying? Yup.
- [07:28]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's fire.
- [07:31]
Deontay
Of course, coming up. This is like the family business, but when did you feel like you was ready to kind of like really take the career seriously as far as just being independent? Well, not independent, but just like flying, like just going your own way.
- [07:48]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I always, I feel like been just Head, strong one. I think I got a lot to. A lot with wanting to see my vision through as close as possible to how I had it in my head, how I seen it in my head and out. To answer that question, I would say 14, 15 years old, when I actually started realizing how to tell exactly what I was feeling, how I was feeling, and say it in a song to where it can sound like, you know what? I want to listen to that again, though.
- [08:22]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [08:23]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
When I could, when I seen myself figuring that out and see how to really put my real life in the music and make it sound like I want to play it again. And then someone else here and they say, dang, I could relate to that. I've been going through the same thing. Or I understand that. I feel that. Dang. That y' all did something for me. That's when I knew, like, this is what I want to do.
- [08:45]
Deontay
Even as young as 15. Yeah. How does that. Of course we'll get into. We'll get into. I got a question in here about, like, coming up under. In the. In this, like, under the legacy of a legend. You understand what I'm saying? But I could just think about this at, like, 14, 15, 16. I was putting songs on, like, MySpace and shit.
- [09:08]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [09:08]
Deontay
And I remember one of my songs did real good. And, like, the next day was like, boy, that you dropped yesterday was hard. And I'm like, oh, this kind of fire. Like, I feel a little famous in this, but, you know, that shit just kind of come and go. But you. You kind of having a. Some leeway to get into the industry. Connections that's kind of built in, and it's like nepotism. But that ain't necessarily no bad thing. If you got the talent, you got the talent. You know what I mean? But what's that, like, when you starting to, like, figure out what you want to do in life and you still going to school and all the conversation that happened around it. Right.
- [09:44]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah. I could say I think school helped. School help 110%. I don't know, man. I guess just being around people and me showing my friends my music and me seeing what music they listening to, them putting me on some stuff. Me putting them on some stuff. Like, you don't know outkast, you don't know Dungeon Family, ugk. What you mean you don't listen to Jay Z and they telling me who they listening to? Like, all that stuff influenced the music 100% as far as, like, the. The industry situation. I didn't really.
- [10:26]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [10:26]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I'VE been around it, and I in this, like, some people, like, I call it uncle and auntie, and they really be in the music industry. Like, they may be had a radio. And I didn't know none of this, you know what I'm saying? Until I really started doing the groundwork myself. And I'm like, dang, I need to get in touch with someone who do this. Someone who do this. And then I find out, dang, oh, that's what he do. That's what she do.
- [10:49]
Deontay
That's hard.
- [10:50]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
So. But it's always been around me. And it helps more than hurt because, like, my pops done took care of a lot of people. Like, he cool with a lot of people, and he don't rub too many people the wrong way. So it helps that way. But it could hurt because it's like, people look at it like, you don't deserve this, like, you ain't work for this. But sometimes I gotta explain, like, this. Y' all not promise. Like, you can't pay to have people wanna buy a ticket, come out to your shows, like, listen to my album again and again and buy some merch. You can't pay for that. Like, you could pay for ads, billboards, and junk, but that junk don't work. If that was the case, these record labels with, they wouldn't be scrambling right now.
- [11:36]
Deontay
Yeah, Yeah. I mean, like, to your point, you could pay for the marketing, you could pay to get me seen, but you can't make people stay.
- [11:44]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Right.
- [11:44]
Deontay
You've been building, like, a real staying power with people. I would say. I noticed that early on. Like, a lot of the conversation for you was, like, trying to separate yourself from your dad's legacy and more. So, like, I'mma prove that I earned this and I deserve this. Not just, like, I'm riding a coattail type shit.
- [12:02]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Right?
- [12:02]
Deontay
Yeah. Early on, it seemed like you wanted to establish yourself more as a lyricist, which come with its own comparisons and things like that. But how is that as an artist? Like, it gotta be frustrating to always be compared to somebody else when you're trying to build your own identity. I guess I. E. It would be J. Cole. That's the comparison that people. The box that people wanna put you in, but how is it maneuvering through that? How do you just persevere through that? And, like, how does that affect you, how you do music?
- [12:38]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's a great question. That box, man, is. You say, I came in the game wanting to be a lyricist. That's true. But at the same time, I don't Want to be put in a box. Because it's like, I be writing songs, I be singing, I'll write for someone else. And it's like, it may not be something that when I think about, like, dang, this sound good. I like this. People around me like this. But it don't fit with the image that I got right now. That right there sound like a box. It sound like I'm in a box.
- [13:12]
Deontay
Absolutely.
- [13:12]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
So I gotta do this until I figure out when I could do this. I don't like that feeling. So I just be all over the place and it's easier to not think about it like that. Like the comparisons and stuff. Cause when you start thinking about that nitpicking and like, dang, did I sound like this person when I said this? And that kind of disrupt the creative process. So I really just create and look at it from a perspective as a compliment. And I don't think it come from nowhere. Like, J. Cole is someone that I listen to. And bros Penn is immaculate, along with Jay Z. Kendrick, my father. So. And I think people, when they listen to my music, they could hear. When I name these people, they could hear it. So I think that's completely natural and I understand it. And I choose to take it like a compliment so I don't get distracted and start overthinking into doing nothing, you know?
- [14:14]
Deontay
Yeah, yeah. I mean, the thing is too, it's like, shit. You comparing me to legends.
- [14:19]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Exactly.
- [14:20]
Deontay
You know what I mean? So that's a huge compliment. I had note about foreverlasting tape that you did just that, like, you got more into life as you living it, more storytelling, more conversations around love and relationships, which is showing, like your maturity as a man. I mean, of course, as a father, new father. And then just you navigating the space of not only the industry, but like just creating a legacy and an identity for yourself as an artist outside of what aforementioned, like, lyricist boxes that you've been put in. Was that like, was that purposeful or was this just like, I'm just in the creative process, I'm gonna put out what I like and that is what it is.
- [15:12]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Doug might be outside.
- [15:13]
Deontay
I don't know. You remember Doug.
- [15:18]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Was it on purpose? I would say yes and no. Like, it was on purpose towards the end. But when I'm creating music, recording music, I don't typically, like, have the project idea, the album name, the thing. I don't really do that. Cause that feel like a box. Like, now I gotta do this and I can't do nothing. Else until I finish this mission, you know?
- [15:45]
Deontay
Yeah, yeah.
- [15:45]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
So when I'm creating, I just really just go what I feel like. And then over time, I will have some favorite songs and then I'll begin to section them off in vibes. Like, this is these vibes. This is these vibes. It was no idea to create a certain vibe. It just happened like that. And then just listening to people, like, people would tell me, forever lasting. Forever lasting. Pooh Bear, dope writer, legendary. He told me, he said, yeah, man, that forever lasting. And we was talking for like two, three, four hours maybe. He was like, yeah, man. When you should make a whole. A whole project like that and just make it cohesive, one sound. Cause when people. When people feel like you, they come to your project for a certain sound and then you switch it up. It's kind of like, man, you just. It's a breakup in a relationship or something. Like, it just throw you off. So that was Pooh Bear saying that. Then people in interviews just saying, like, you need to. We want more of this. Then I said, you know what? I got a whole vibe of this. So then, now let me try to structure this and get it together and tell a complete story and add little details here and there. So at the end, it do be on purpose. But at the beginning, man, I'm just creating.
- [17:07]
Deontay
Yeah, it start kind of deconstructed and then you just form it as you go. Because foreverlasting, seti, Hendrix and DC on Fly.
- [17:19]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
It was random.
- [17:20]
Deontay
Too random.
- [17:21]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, we just linked up and DC just so happened to be there that night. We just made that.
- [17:27]
Deontay
Yeah, me and City been talking about him pulling up over here. Cause I fought with City music and just a whole movement. But I remember when the song dropped, this is like, what, the end? Tail end? 2024 initially, I think, or early.
- [17:42]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
So I think the end of 2023.
- [17:44]
Deontay
For real? I think so, man. I don't remember that. That time go flying, bruh.
- [17:48]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
It was February or something.
- [17:50]
Deontay
Yeah, yeah. The thing is, is like you found a track that's just timeless like that though. Because if somebody wasn't hip to you the way I've been hip for the last few years, shit, to them, that's a brand new track. You understand what I'm saying? But then to formulate the whole tape around it to theme it. You like to theme shit around Valentine's Day, whatever the case may be. But yeah, I really fucked with it in that sense too. Because that was when I was like, oh, he taking this shit in a different Direction. But it was good because the soundfire and then everything on the foreverlasting tape, I really lock in with especially waiting so long.
- [18:33]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [18:34]
Deontay
So this is like the struggle that I've kind of experienced where you a dad, you in a relationship, but you also. On this creative pursuit, which is always gonna pull you on the road, it's gonna pull you late nights in the studio, it's gonna pull you on things. And just you talking through that, it just showed, like, for me, how good you've gotten at storytelling and really being able to relay that message. But it also just is very reflective of how you living right now. And you make a lot of content around that song specifically. But just talk through the process of just being able to take those thoughts and put it in a song like that and have that impact the way they do. Cause it seems deeply personal to you, too.
- [19:19]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, man, that be the. You could know all the technical stuff and technical ways to write a song, but really saying exactly how you feel, putting it into words, making it sound, giving it a dope melody, merging with the. That's where the gift is at. And that's where it's like. I can't really take a lot of the credit. Cause, man, that junk, it just be. It just happens. I ain't gonna lie. It's like a flow or a zone to where it's like. It's a balance of thinking and not thinking. Cause if I think too much, I'm not gonna be the feeling not gonna be able to go through. And if I'm feeling too much, it might just be too vibed out. And it don't make too much sense. But stuff like that be a balance of thinking, not thinking, and just. I don't wanna say practice, but like, maybe muscle memory.
- [20:20]
Deontay
Yeah. For sure.
- [20:21]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Of me working before and all right now I got all the tools. I got all the words that I know I could use to express these types of feelings. And, man, I just gotta just really focus on letting it out. And a lot of times, stuff really just be falling in place. And I listen back to it and I be like, that's exactly how I felt.
- [20:45]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [20:46]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
And I hope that don't sound confusing, but the more you build that muscle, the easier it is for you to do it without thinking. And the less you could think about it, the more you could really get that feeling across.
- [21:01]
Deontay
Absolutely.
- [21:02]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
But that's one of my favorite songs as well.
- [21:05]
Deontay
Yeah, that's the standout to me. I mean, it's a short tape, too. It's seven tracks. But it's also like that one right there. I was like, damn, that nigga know something. Cause even now, you know, being a dad, it's like it require a lot of presence, but it also require a lot of provision.
- [21:26]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Lot of absence too though.
- [21:27]
Deontay
Yeah. Because in order to provide, sometimes you gotta go. And I experienced that before I ever got into media. I was doing music before and then I just got in the truck and like I needed some stability. The music shit wasn't clicking and I was like, I'm a pivot. And then I started a career as a truck driver. And that just take a lot of time over the road. You might be gone three weeks at a time, you know what I'm saying? And then you come back, you might be back two, three days, and then you right back to it.
- [21:54]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's tough.
- [21:55]
Deontay
Yeah. And it's a lot of just dealing with your kids on FaceTime, for real. And I got three kids, so even to speak to that last point, like that muscle that you talk about is like, you hear the beat and the words just come and then it's up to you to structure it around like what you want to talk about. But I think also on the other end of that, just to kind of get into the details of the song, it is like a struggle that you gotta kinda maintain that balance at all times. Cause you got. Your kids are a lot younger, huh? One, one. Yeah, yeah. So my oldest, 14, you know what I'm saying? Like he's spending he with his partner right now, you know what I'm saying? But it's also like pivotal at every stage though, because my youngest is seven. When I started driving trucks, she's damn near just started walking. So a lot of times I'm just on FaceTime. Woot, woot, woo. But even now I'm doing this creative pursuit. I gotta leave for LA on Monday, I'll be gone for a week. And it's like, it's again like you being provisionary, like you providing a lot, but like sometimes they require a lot of absence. How is that, especially now with such a young baby and in the thick of your like, creative career. How you been maintaining the balance with those things?
- [23:09]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I wanted to ask you before I forget, do you think they understand or like the older kids, do you think they understand?
- [23:16]
Deontay
Yeah, I talk to my kids the same way I talk to adults, right? Like with like, I talk to them as if they already have the understanding. Then when I notice the parts they don't understand, then we'll dive a little deeper. Into them for sure. But, you know, my son, my oldest son is extremely helpful because he understands so much. And because he is the oldest, he know how to talk to each kid as a way of relating. He the big bro. You know what I'm saying? So. So sometimes, like, you know, the baby will be like, ah, you gotta go to work again. Like, don't you like the hello Kitty shit? He just about like, my son. Like, you like that hello Kitty shit. This how he do it. It's like, all right, bet. But I think they understand. And I think also I have to rely on, like, I'm somebody else's child. So even when I didn't understand shit they was doing at 14, 15, at 25, 26, 27, I really locked in with it, like, damn, this why they said to do this or this what they meant when they did that. So I also gotta rely on the fact that these people gonna mature, too. So even if something I'm doing may cause some pain to them, like me leaving or whatever like that, I still gotta rely on the fact that theirs is gonna be. This is a full human, you know, they gonna mature. They gonna understand one day. And they also understand they can express themselves to me, and I'll just have to. I had to deal with those emotions the way they need to be dealt with because I can't take that experience away from him. You know what I'm saying? I think for me, my experience totally different than them. Like, my pops left. That nigga ain't come back. You know what I'm saying? I ain't seen him for a couple years, so it was like. That was jarring as hell to me. But when I got older and I got to talk to him, I really understood. So it helped me kind of let go of some of that shit. But I think, you know, as they grow, as they mature, they'll understand it more and more, Even if they don't understand it all the way right now, I just gotta rely on the fact that I know they gonna be the beneficiaries of all this hard work.
- [25:16]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
100%, yeah. Nah, that's dope.
- [25:19]
Deontay
You. I mean, you. You the child of a motherfucking starlight, you know?
- [25:23]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's why I asked.
- [25:25]
Deontay
Did you have moments when you was younger that you just didn't get? That you just understood more and more as you got older? Especially now, you in the same shoes?
- [25:32]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, I understood. I understood more and more, But I don't recall a time where I didn't understand. Actually, yeah, Pop's Working. And you know what? Maybe it's because of my mom. Like, my mom and my dad got a great relationship, so she never spoke in a way where we would look at my father in a bad, negative way. She's probably more than likely the one that explained it. Just like you said your older son explained it to your younger kids. She explains it. Dad working, he gonna be back. Soon as he get back, y' all finna go do something. Woo, woo, woo. So I would say it probably came from that. Cause I don't recall a time where I was ever like, dang, you gotta leave again. Why? I don't get it. I don't recall that.
- [26:24]
Deontay
I mean, it's kind of fire to, like, just in your. From your perspective, it's like, okay, my pop's gone. But then I turn on the TV on that motherfucker, so it's like he obviously working. You know what I'm saying? And I think that might be more of a relieving thing, but that's the shit that I experience with my kids now. It's like they'll go to school and be like, man, your daddy, like, they friends talking about me. So they like, oh, okay, when he leaving, the shit he doing is having an impact outside in the world, for real. So it's even bigger than just when I was driving trucks. A lot of times, they didn't really get it.
- [27:03]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Cause they, like, they see it.
- [27:04]
Deontay
They can't see it. You know what I'm saying? And then it's like, they'll see me come home in the trucking, like, yeah, that makes sense. But like, what the fuck?
- [27:11]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
They got lights on. The lights always on. The water always on. They don't really see it, I guess.
- [27:16]
Deontay
Yeah. Because it's never been a thing of, like. I ain't never been in a position where I just couldn't provide. I was, like, determined. So whether that meant I'm gonna get two jobs, whether that mean, like, even to the point, sometimes I was hustling on the side just. Cause it's like, all right, this is something I'm already familiar with. But I know these bills don't stop, you know what I'm saying? So I think I try to explain to them about privilege a lot. Because a lot of my. Know how a lot of my personality come from lack. You know what I'm saying? Shit. Like, if shit going on in the crib, like, you ain't got no cable, shit, I'mma be outside, bruh. It ain't nothing to watch on tv. Like, Shit, I'm not gonna watch the news n you know what I'm saying? I'm finna go outside. But I think this also like provided an outlet for me because I did watch late night TV a lot. Cause by the time I get home, it might be like 9, 10 o'. Clock. I know this Jimmy Fallon shit finna come on to David Letterman. Cause it's all on these basic cable channels and shit. That's what I'm doing now. That's how I feel about it now. That's how I kind of formed my show was after the late night shit I used to watch all the time. So it's like life got a funny way of just providing you certain experiences that you could use later on down the line. I don't know what those gonna be for my children, but I know my son, he 14, he just started making beats. And I'm like, shit, I know all these rap niggas now. I know all these producers, like, why you better get fired about 4 years time you graduate high school, we can put you in the game, you know what I'm saying? But like I told him, I was like, I ain't. I said, if you play me beats in their trash, I'm not letting nobody listen to them. Shit. You not finna ruin my reputation, N. You know what I'm saying? I got a reputation of having good taste. Nigga, you ain't finna ruin that.
- [29:06]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's real. You gotta be real with them too.
- [29:08]
Deontay
Absolutely. If I was real with me, is that where you. I know through listening to the music and following you, but for the audience, is that where you kind of get your knowledge of like, you know, Jay Z, Outkast, like especially Danger Fam and things like that? Because at your age. How old are you?
- [29:25]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I'm 24.
- [29:26]
Deontay
24?
- [29:26]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [29:27]
Deontay
You ain't supposed to know nothing about that. Yeah, that's supposed to be something I'm supposed to tell you. Like, boy, you don't know nothing about that.
- [29:31]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's exactly how it happened. No, pops, I mean, he, he asked me was I serious about music, you know what I mean? I really still don't know what's going on with music, but I'm like, shoot. Yeah, he like, who you listening to? And I just named a bunch of just stuff that rubbed him the wrong way. So he was like, nah, man, you gotta listen. Just like you said, you gotta listen to Outkast, check out Dungeon Family, UGK Chew, Jay Z. And I guess I was serious. Cause over time I started Actually, what was that album again? Who was that person? And then I started doing my research just because. And then it, like, it helped because I was able to. And this may got something you said you. You gained a lot of your experience or some. Or your knowledge from not having.
- [30:22]
Deontay
Right.
- [30:23]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I feel like that's definitely a way. But I look at it like, what is it? Like a fishbowl. A fishbowl effect where, like, the bigger the pond is, the bigger the fish could get.
- [30:36]
Deontay
Yeah, for sure.
- [30:36]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
All right. So I'm jumping all over the place, but you good, you good. So I was able to experience different things. Like, I went to a Outkast show when I didn't know Outkast, and I seen the show, seen the performance, seen how the crowd just was reacting off of them, and I was like, yo, I really missing out. I don't know what's going on here. And I need to know. Cause they was trying to tell me about it on the way there. I'm like, man, y' all sound like some uncs, some old heads, man. But when I got there, I was like, I see what's going on now. Yeah, I had to do my research. So he definitely put me on a lot of that. And, yeah, I would say, man, we. That's just a totally different perspective. And I remember, like, sometimes pops would just be saying something. It sound crazy. It could sound crazy to us or someone that don't got that same mindset. He used to say, shoot, stuff like, you don't got no cash on you. Now I got no cash on me. Saying, bruh, you need to always have at least a thousand dollars on you. I'm a kid. I'm supposed to always have a thousand dollars on me. I'm gonna get that. That's what I'm thinking in my head. But the fact that he said that, though, now I start thinking I need to at least have $1,000 on me. I don't know how, but I need to start figuring that out.
- [31:55]
Deontay
Yeah, Just as a standard.
- [31:57]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, exactly.
- [31:59]
Deontay
All niggas I know can always peel out some cash.
- [32:03]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, Me?
- [32:06]
Deontay
Do you have cash out, bro, you got cash out. You got Zelle? Like, I got the thousand. It ain't in cash like a motherfucker. But I also understand the benefit of it, too, because that's kind of their ethic. That's their culture, bro. But it set a standard for you. So my pop stand was like, this. One of the hardest working people I ever met, right? So I learned a lot of my work ethic. From him. Because even when I didn't understand what he was doing, he'll be like, shit, come to work with me. And then I go to work and I'm like, but I ain't trying to do this shit. But I'm not trying to do this. Cause you like, he always been in positions of power. So, like, I never seen my dad with a job where he wasn't a leader, or at least if not the top dude, the second to the top dude. And a lot of this has been on college campuses or in big grocery chains. So it's like, okay, I know I don't necessarily want to do that, but I've seen how he managed people and like, he not a micromanager. So it's like his thing was like, if you have a team, you gotta be able to trust that your team know to do their job even if you not there. Because if they can only do the job when you there, they can't really do the job. And you a shit manager, you know what I'm saying? Like, that mean people just do shit to appease you, but not to, like, they don't care about the work. He was like, you gotta find a way to make people care about what they doing. So when it came to me building my team around this, it's just little nuggets that he was always leaving with me where it's like, shit, now I know how to apply that. Like when I was working, driving trucks, I don't know how to. I can't apply that. I'm by myself all the time. But I think no matter what walk of life you come from, it's about seeing like, that you want more, right? In that case, like, you felt like you wasn't in the know. Like, when I'm watching Late Night, I was like, bro, how the fuck do I do that, right? You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm funny, I like music, I like comedy, I know about politics and shit. Like, I'm the only 12 year old. Like, what did y' all hear about what's going on in Syria?
- [34:09]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
They like, that's crazy, nigga. What?
- [34:11]
Deontay
We don't even know where Syria is. But I'm watching Late Night, so I'm getting like world news and a lot of like local national level news and just taking it outside. And it's like, okay, this always kind of like been sharpening my perspective. I just found my way to do it for myself, same way you did. Like, you found a way to get that same feeling you got from Being in the crowd to, like, having a crowd to participate with it.
- [34:34]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
100%.
- [34:35]
Deontay
Yeah, that shit hard. What was your favorite, like, point of discovery? The discovery, like, discovering new artists, discovering new music. Especially, like, when you go back, I made my son because he liked music so much. It's like, okay, once a month, I'm gonna just give you an album. Like, just go through it, Tell me what you think.
- [34:57]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [34:58]
Deontay
And I had gave him this scarf. I forget what Scarface album it was, but I was just like, play that. And he was like, man, this shit sound old, bruh. I was like, well, go on YouTube and find something new. And he found the Scarface tiny desk. And this man watched that tiny desk every day for, like, two weeks. He was like, bruh, this shit is so fire.
- [35:18]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [35:19]
Deontay
And I got like a 12. He 12, 12, 13. At the time that man come to me talking about, man, I ain't never seen a man cry till I seen a man die. I was like, make the fuck out of my face. But that shit hard, though. Cause he discovering shit. So I think for you, it's like, same thing. You discovering, like, something that it's not in the common knowledge of your peers, but this new for you, and it's like a whole new world to explore. How did that shape as. As an artist? Of course that's gonna, like, lend to the lyricism, but what did it teach you about, like, song structure, performance, all these different things?
- [35:51]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's a great question, man. Different layers, man. And then you start building. You start taking things from different people and putting it together and making your own situation. Like, you may. You may like the storytelling from this person, but, dang, if this storytelling was put together with these melodies or these hooks combined with the similes, metaphors, the triple entendre, you start putting it together like that, or this person's creativity, attention to detail, the projection in this person's voice. How do you feel? Like you just start building your own. Like your own monster.
- [36:39]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [36:40]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
So that's real. That's real important. But, yeah, man, I could say Andre 3000, I remember listening to him and just thinking, bro, it sound like these words is just falling in place. And he not even thinking. He not even trying. Like, I used to put some of his lyrics on the wall just. Cause I'm like, bro, it sound like these words was meant for him to say them like this. You know what I'm saying? Like, they made these words just for the junk to be said like this. And I don't know if I'm Explaining it well.
- [37:14]
Deontay
Nah, it's perfect, bro. I get exactly what you mean.
- [37:16]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
It sound like it was so. So, like, wasn't even thought about. Like they was just falling in place, bruh. And you forget he rhyming, but he's still telling a cohesive story. That's what it do. So the story is being told so good and it's rhyming. It just sound like that's supposed to be said like that.
- [37:38]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [37:38]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
So I remember feeling that or in that same thing from Kendrick, Jay Z. Cole, my father, et cetera, et cetera. So when I'm exposed to stuff like that, I start looking at the world differently. I start wanting to read more books. I didn't care about school. I ain't gonna lie until I started caring about music. So then I was like, hey, I wanna pay attention, I wanna be. I wanna know the. So when I hear Wayne, he talk about a lot of sports. Hey, now I want to know about some sports. I don't know what he meant when he said that person did that or the number. I know what he was talking about. So music has been the thing for me to dive into everything else and be great as just a man, a human being. And I think it all start with being exposed to different levels like that, like you said.
- [38:36]
Deontay
Yeah, the cultural, pop, cultural references, bruh, that's where you could really like, nerd out in your music shit. Because, man, if you not hip to what's going on, I think that's why people that love hip hop and especially black people just as a whole feel like the need to gatekeep around the shit sometime. Cause it's like, bruh, some specific pop, cultural references that if you just ain't experience it, you not in the know. You just not gonna understand this music. That don't make it bad. That just mean it's not for you. And Wayne do that really? Well, Kendrick. Kendrick got like crazy back where he just get into like pop culture and references and back like even early on, like cartoons and cereal and shit. It's just like, if you not hip to what he talking about, this song not even gonna make sense to you for sure. But for those who know, it's like, bro, this might be the greatest shit I ever heard. You know what I'm saying? And I think I listen to like, I try to listen. I swear, bro, I'm trying my hardest, bro, to listen to like some of the artists my son listen to. But I just be like, man, this shit sound like noise.
- [39:41]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Like, who?
- [39:44]
Deontay
Big Yavo. Yavo I think he from Dallas or something. That's the one he really on right now. You know what I'm talking about?
- [39:54]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I'm shout out to Big Yavo, though.
- [39:58]
Deontay
I'm gonna make sure that's his name. Hold on. Yeah, Bit Yabo. Yup. My son, bruh, he word for word with this nigga in the room. I'm like, let me see what he talking about. I'm just like, I get it. For like a 14 year old, I get it, it's turned. And he, you know that shit, that's some young nigga shit. Like I fuck with it, but like some shit he listens to. I be like the artist. Some of the artists I don't even know. I only ask. I just be like, you know what this ignore, bro. Yeah, my boy had to listen to good noise, you know what I'm saying?
- [40:30]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Good noise,
- [40:33]
Deontay
you know what I'm saying? But it's for him. So it's like. I think I remember when get rich to die try and drop and like, get rich to die trying to. This shit was a psyop, bro. I'm starting to come to put two and two together. Cause that shit dropped at the same time as Vice City. So I'm killing N and listening to a nigga talking about killing N. And my dad used to come run like, bro, turn this shit off, man. That's the same thing, same shit. Ja noes to him. He like, this nigga, all this talking about killing and guns and shit. You don't do none of that. Turn that shit off. I'm like, man, I'll turn this bitch down.
- [41:11]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Nah.
- [41:12]
Deontay
You know what I'm saying?
- [41:12]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's crazy.
- [41:13]
Deontay
Yeah, it's gonna happen every generation. I think for me it's just okay. If I'm trying to put you on, you could put me on to some stuff. Cause some of the shit he played for me, man, like some of the shit he sent me, I'll be like, nah, this shit hard. I ain't finna listen to an album of it, but for that one. But I'm also still in discovery. Like, I'm probably like six months in to the like, Marco, Marco plus wave.
- [41:38]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, Marco. Dope, bro.
- [41:40]
Deontay
I'm so locked in on that shit. Yeah, I was trying to tell everybody I know. I don't care who he is. Like, go lock in with the young nigga. Cause he. He got it.
- [41:47]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Marco Suave. Chris Patrick Ruben Finching Rayvon.
- [41:55]
Deontay
It's a wave for real in lyricism. I would say lyricism is at the Forefront of everything as far as people that's trying to usher in a new sound. But a lot of lyricists now have learned how to utilize melody and beat switching and different things like that, which Brad's just making for a lot of interesting music.
- [42:22]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Exactly.
- [42:23]
Deontay
Yeah, I know. The Foreverlasting tape is themed around, like, love, relationships. That's just a big part of what's going on in your life right now, huh?
- [42:32]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Right? Yeah, 100%. I ain't think too much about it, man. Like I said, I just created the music, and that was a vibe. And then just to continue to tell the story of the song forever lasting, boom. Let me finish painting this picture. Cause it started to feel like when I made the music and I sat back and looked at everything, it started to feel like an incomplete painting. I was just like, let me go ahead and finish it.
- [43:00]
Deontay
Let's talk about this. The content, that was the thing that got my attention probably about two to three years ago was how you was doing. Your content was very, like, simple. Like, I could use the iPhone. And it's a way you was making, like, mini music videos. And it seemed like it was extremely effective because not only have you continued doing it, but the quality, you've upgraded the quality around it, where it's like, no matter where you at, you making a mini music video, 100%, you, the creative mind behind that. That all come from you, I would
- [43:37]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
say, more than likely. Unless one of my guys just got a dope idea. And a lot of times when I don't even understand they idea, I'd be like, I trust you. Come on, let's do it. And it'll be dope. But I got a team. But I say a lot of times it's me, because when I don't know what to shoot or when there's no ideas, we just shoot what's going on. Like, if I'm recording, if I'm doing an interview right now, I need some content. I need some visuals. Y' all just shoot something. So. And I. I would say I learned to. To stop overthinking.
- [44:16]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [44:17]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Because you gonna figure it out as you go.
- [44:19]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [44:20]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Me expecting to. To have the answers before I start moving is crazy. You know? And then I only end up moving if I. If I think that way. So, yeah, man, it's a collective effort, but if we don't got no ideas, we still. The show must go on. You know what I'm saying?
- [44:39]
Deontay
Yeah, I think it's a. So there was a trend on TikTok that was blowing up a lot of songs, like three years ago, where every day nigga would just post the same part of the song. You know what I'm talking about? Like, it'd be specific artists, various creators. Various creators would just take whatever they feel like the best 15 seconds of they song is, and they'll post that shit three times a day. Oftentimes it's not even about them being creative. It was just like, they just keep posting it. And if the song was good enough, I guess people would catch onto it. I remember it was this one dude, that Tomioka song, I don't know, but he would just be running like this, and then he'll do that. And then the girls took it. These two girls took it to a whole nother level.
- [45:30]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
How about them? Yeah.
- [45:30]
Deontay
Yeah. You know what I'm saying? So it was like they was building they own creative universe around how to promote music, which gave it a fresh promotion. So to see the way that you did, it was like you took that same kind of, like, ethos around. I'mma continue to put this song in your face. But you was doing it in a way where it's like, it's always a different setting.
- [45:52]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [45:53]
Deontay
And it's always like. Yeah, it's just a fresh take on, like, the same thing, which is once you figure out which one work, you can just take that bit to the moon. But like I said, you've upgraded the quality even to a point where I see your dad now. Now that he rolling his album out, he taking that same content strategy on.
- [46:10]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [46:11]
Deontay
How does that feel for you as an artist in your own right? That kind of have you kind of building on a legacy of a legend. Building onto the legacy. Right. You coming okay.
- [46:25]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, yeah.
- [46:26]
Deontay
You coming behind him for sure, man.
- [46:27]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I don't be thinking about it for real.
- [46:29]
Deontay
For real. You know, we are.
- [46:32]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, yeah, for sure. It's. And I'm a perspective guy, man. But that perspective, that's like when they say, just keep climbing and don't look down or something like that. When you look down, I mean, you can look down, but it opens the door to. To more thoughts. Like, you start overthinking. Dang, I done went this far. Like, dang, what if I fall?
- [46:57]
Deontay
Like, leave too much room for doubt.
- [46:59]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Too wrong. Yeah. Too for doubt. Room for error. Come on. Just keep climbing. And it's like, I don't even feel like I made it far enough to. To want to look down. You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm just starting to climb. Like, I Just put one hand up. I ain't even nowhere yet what I'm looking down for. I'm still here. Yeah. But that's how I feel. And I think the love for the music really kind of just. It overshadows just all of that wanting to know where I'm at or how does it feel? Man, I'm just trying to be present, continue to do what I love and put out what I love to the people I feel like love what I love.
- [47:47]
Deontay
Absolutely.
- [47:48]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
So that's a great question though. But I really don't think about it too.
- [47:53]
Deontay
I mean, that's good to know too though, because it doesn't come across as if you're trying to prove anything, at least in that respect. More than anything, it's like you trying to establish yourself as your own artist.
- [48:06]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, that what I was just thinking. Definitely at the one time I was like, shoot, man, these. These folks gotta know my name. Yeah, definitely proving that I could. These folks could know my name on the street.
- [48:17]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [48:18]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Instead of that's ti son. Or that's such and such off the. What you call it?
- [48:22]
Deontay
Absolutely. I've been. I'm glad you came because, like, bro, even when I met you, I told you, like, bro, I've been locked in for a minute because I just seen it like, clearly you had your own identity. But also, I'm a lyricist. I love lyricist. So, like, early on, man, I was like, this nigga, hell got them bars, bro. That shit undeniable, bruh. So it do make me wanna ask, like, even though we know we wanna push and promote Foreverlasting right now, and I know it's a lot more content and things like that to come, but when we gonna get. You know what I'm saying? For the fans that love the lyricism.
- [49:01]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
When we gonna get in that, man, it's stuff like that that's helps drive the ship. I ain't gonna lie. Cause just like how you saying that what pushed it forever lasting was someone else saying the same thing about the foreverlasting vibe. So, man, I'm creating and it's there. It's just now that you said that we. I mean, you definitely steering the ship. I'm not saying I'm doing all of this. I don't take too much of the credit for sure. Like, I just be listening and like I said, creating and doing what I love. Like, I'm not gonna listen to someone and say, I'm finna switch up everything I'm finna do based on what they said. Nah, I'm Just hearing what you said while at the same time doing what I love. And if it. If it makes sense, boom, there it is. But that's. That's there, though.
- [49:54]
Deontay
Yeah, yeah, yeah, man. It's. It's a great tape though, bro. I would say it's timely too, because, yeah, it's like. It's like, you know, it's Valentine's. It's that season. It's that season of love. So it's like, shit, you know, send me a little. Send a song to one of my little. You know what I mean?
- [50:15]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
One of them. People want that. What you call it?
- [50:17]
Deontay
Yup. Yeah, Yup. It's a good vibe. You work with family a lot. I would see in the promotion. In the promotion that you've taken the creative content strategy of many music videos into kind of like short film. Like, many, many, many, many to do promotion with. When I see with King or with Sister and things like that, especially around the bank head, like managing Bankhead seafood and things like that. And the shit is funny. But it also kind of like show your range as a creative that even some of the acting chops, like, is that. Is that a thing for you as well that you want to explore, or is it just like, you know, this is like. Is it just all in the pursuit of being creative all the time?
- [50:59]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
100% creative? Yeah, man. This stuff is an art. And I feel like I haven't dove all the way into it because I didn't want to disrespect the art. Like, acting is a. Is a real art and. But I definitely. I see where I can, and I would love to express myself in the acting world. So, yeah, I do got that bug. But at the same time, I want to give it what I feel like it deserves.
- [51:29]
Deontay
Absolutely.
- [51:30]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
And the music right now is just.
- [51:32]
Deontay
That's everything.
- [51:33]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, the music is everything right now. But yeah, man, I'll act or I'll. And sometimes I'll like, I'm able to express myself. Like, I find little sections where I'm like, dang, I really just expressed myself a little bit when I was playing this character or acting out this scene. And that's where the art is.
- [51:56]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [51:56]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
So for sure, man.
- [51:58]
Deontay
I know it, bro. I know it all too well. Like, people see a glimpse of. Cause like, we have some very hilarious moments on our show, bro. But that's my dog. Like, my co host is like one of my best friends. So of course, our banter, you know, you can't. You ain't never gonna laugh harder than with Your best friend, bro.
- [52:18]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Right.
- [52:18]
Deontay
Especially like when we start, we done made inside jokes a part of the show where it's like, now it's just jokes between us and the audience.
- [52:24]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Right.
- [52:24]
Deontay
And people are like, man, you should do standup. And it's like, bro, that's a whole craft. Like, I would have to stop podcasting in order to give that the proper time and attention it would need for me to actually even have a solid five minutes.
- [52:40]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's real.
- [52:40]
Deontay
I think a lot of people think it's just like, I'm gonna just go, I'm funny with my friends, so I'm gonna go on stage and be funny. But like, Ferg, he a comedian. I see the time and effort he put into doing that. And then amongst a lot of other comedians, it's like, I take the same perspective. Like, I'm not gonna disrespect that as a crowd, but it doesn't mean that it's not a part of the creative expression. Right?
- [53:03]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Right.
- [53:04]
Deontay
If I was to do five minute little cameo on somebody, music video or a movie or something like that, that don't mean I'm finna go to acting school the next day. But I know that through creative expression, I could just get in that bag 100%. But if I wanted to pursue being like a leading actor, I would do all the things that they would've done. You know what I'm saying?
- [53:22]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
100%. And then you would have to spend less time doing what you're doing now.
- [53:25]
Deontay
Yeah, you gotta keep the main thing. The main thing. This my thing right now. So this what I focus on. Same thing. I be feeling conflicted when I'm interviewing artists. Cause it's like I already know what the perspective is, but it's like we having a conversation that's bigger than just us sitting in a room. But it is always interesting to me because it's very affirming for me as a creative too. Like, what you saying? I'm just keeping the main thing. The main thing and shit. That would I be preaching all the damn time. We had one of them, you know, like your team, they wanna have like a top of the year. What's the vision for 2026? I was like, man, what's the vision for the first quarter? Fuck all that. I'm not worried about no 20. I'm not worried about the whole year. We don't even know what the quarter gonna bring. This shit could bring so much more opportunity.
- [54:15]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's real.
- [54:15]
Deontay
But I was like, instead of us trying to pull like oh, what can we do over here? What can we do over there? It's like, let's just stay centered. Like this our shit, this working. If we give our time and attention, this gonna start lacking. If this start lacking, nobody gonna be interested in that. You know what I'm saying? So I think establishing myself in the media space, you establish yourself as an artist, it's like you kinda. It's all creative. So it all kind of like deal with the same obstacles, so to speak. But even back to like what I mentioned before, working with family, how has that been like helpful in. In that expression? Because it's. It's also like a place where you comfortable already.
- [54:57]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [54:58]
Deontay
So how has that been as far as like just creating like those little mini movies, those little mini dots. Even if it is for promotion, it's still an art to it.
- [55:05]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Man, I feel like we learning. Well, me, I feel like I'm learning stuff that I didn't even know about my family. Like King. King is a real deal character and he's really funny. And a lot of times like, because. Because a lot of times that stuff just be improv. Just what we would naturally just want to say. And bro really is funny, you know what I'm saying? And a lot of people, he had this image. I don't think it's like this no more. He had this image where he just wasn't being understood. He was. He was misunderstood 100%. And when I seen the first video that we did, we was just doing something just to do. I was selling my vinyls. That's what it was. So it started off with just promoting my vinyls. And then I started realizing and seeing people saying, nah, I like King. He's funny. This is actually a big brother, little brother dynamic. I got a little brother. This is how we talk. That's cool. So then I'm like, this is showing different layers of all of us. And I'm learning more about him. He probably learning more about me in the takes in the whole skit. So that's what I love. And I feel like the people love and it's keeping us out of a box, you know? So. Yeah, and it is easy because we family, but a lot of times when you put a camera on someone, they just don't know how to act.
- [56:48]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [56:49]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Like even though we family and we comfortable when the camera get in front of us, we still. That we don't. It don't get weird or nothing like that.
- [56:58]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [56:58]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
So I feel like, man, this what we here to do, you know?
- [57:02]
Deontay
To stay away from that. What you saying when they put the camera on us, we still ourselves.
- [57:09]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [57:10]
Deontay
That come from kind of having to navigate being in the spotlight, even since she was young, being around cameras a lot. It go from performing for the camera to, like, it's just there.
- [57:22]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Right.
- [57:23]
Deontay
But what effect does that have? I don't know the pros and cons of that. I didn't grow up like that. So what are some of the pros and cons to, like, growing up with that much attention while you still maturing? And it come with, like, to the point about carrying a lot of scrutiny. That is just not true.
- [57:41]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [57:42]
Deontay
And coming from a perspective that's a little skewed, how does that affect you? Whether good or bad, what are some of the pros and cons that you feel like you experienced growing up with such a visibility?
- [57:55]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Right. Man, I would say I wasn't the kid that felt like I had to switch it up. Like, oh, they watching me now. I got to switch it. I never was doing nothing. Crazy doing nothing. I was in the studio, bro.
- [58:10]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [58:10]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I went at parties. I went out, did no games, and then I was at the studio. So. But. But one thing, it definitely let me know, yeah, they are watching. And. And it's bigger than me. Like, it showed me that it's bigger than me. When I see myself or someone else close or in the family do something, and then they attach it to this person or that person, I'm like, oh, dang, this is bigger than me. Like, this is. That's how it is. Just in general, but for us, because there's so many eyes on us. Can't ignore that. That's the first thing I would say. And then just a lot of people, just me processing it. Just a lot of people walking up knowing my name, and I'm just like, I don't got no nickname or no rap name. It's like, everybody just know my name. So it's like, I don't know who's who. So then I started always been this way, but it started being, like, a conscious decision. Like, I don't know these people, but I'm treating everybody with the utmost respect. 110 every single time. Just. Just some people don't do that, so. Because I don't know who's who, I'm like, what's going on, man? How y' all doing? And I think that's why people say, like, oh, you humble or you really, man. I just don't be knowing. I don't be knowing.
- [59:49]
Deontay
And Your default is respect 100%. I think that they confuse that a lot with humility. The default being respect. Gonna get you so far though, because it's also kind of a reflection of how you treat yourself too. Yeah, I bruh. Going from driving trucks to like damn near everywhere you go, people like, boy, what's up deontay? Woo, woo, woo. It's like, shit. You know what I'm saying? It's heavy because it's like you can't go back. You can't go back to people not knowing you.
- [60:25]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Like, you can't fix something then.
- [60:27]
Deontay
Yeah. You can't go back to like, you could become like. I remember Dave Chappelle said this on Oprah. He said you can get infamous, but you can't get unfamous.
- [60:37]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's real.
- [60:38]
Deontay
Yeah. So it's like you could kind of fuck your reputation. Like you could make n. You could be known for niggas not liking you. But you can't go from like being a fixture to like just being back a private citizen. Like that shit just don't work like that. Are those. Have you ever had apprehension around that?
- [61:02]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's why I don't got my daughter in the spotlight. Just because I feel like, like you said, once they know you, they can't unknow you. And I was asked when I was young, I was asked. My pops asked me, do you want to do this? Do you want to be on this show? Do you want people to. And I had. I had to make a decision. I was like, shoot, yeah. But it was my decision though. I wanted to be my kids decisions to do that. And I'm gonna let them know. Okay. It's probably gonna come with this woo, woo, woo. And all of that, but I wanted to be a decision, so I definitely that be on my mind a lot for sure.
- [61:46]
Deontay
Yeah. That's why when you ask me like, how you been? I'm like adjusting. Yeah, that's what it's been more than anything. Cause you gotta do everything different, right? Like, I can't. Being under scrutiny is not something I'm new to, bro. Even before anybody knew who I was, I was always saying something that was like. It may not be the most popular perspective, but it's real to me. And I can give you two, three and four examples of how I arrived to this. So unless you could just like articulate the disagreement, we ain't really talking about nothing. But you just don't like what I said. And I could be fine with that. I always been that nigga in My friend groups and my family. I'm always the one that's gonna call some shit out. Like when I just don't feel like something, right? So scrutiny, it doesn't bother me. It's just like, when it's 10,000 N scrutinize you, it's like, God damn, bro. Like, it's been times where I, like, I just can't even be on TikTok. All y' all doing is talking about me right now. And it's like. It's about that one thing I said. And it's two perspectives that I gotta hold. Like, damn, this kind of sucks. Cause it's, like, ruining my. Like, I'm on TikTok to, like, decompress and, like, just be entertained to, like, the word of the rest of y'. All. So y' all fucking up my entertainment also, like, this is crazy marketing for me right now. Like, the marketing is. This free promotion is so crazy right now. Like, I hope I' ma miss the day y' all was talking about me like this. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, I always just try to hold that balance of, like, what's good for me and what's good for the business, right? Because I don't seek to get clicks. That's been like, my formula has never been. I'm gonna say this. Cause I know people gonna, like, never. Because I got it honest, bruh. You know what I'm saying? So when you get it honest, you just like, well, shit, bro, y' all nigga took the wrong way by doing gimmicks and shit like that. You doing gimmicks, you doing clickbait. Like, y' all nigga took the wrong way, bro. I got this shit by being myself. So when you get it honest, you really don't feel the need to do that. But it is an adjustment. Cause it's like, okay, I can't interact with this shit the same way. Like, it's going from. Okay. You know this. You put a fucking phone number out in the song. It's like, big mistake. You know what I'm saying? Like, I. Nah, it wasn't your personal number, though, was it?
- [64:13]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, that's my number. It wasn't a mistake, though.
- [64:17]
Deontay
It wasn't a mistake.
- [64:19]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Nah. It's not even, like, too much. It's not too much to handle for real?
- [64:23]
Deontay
Nah, bro, I might.
- [64:25]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, just.
- [64:27]
Deontay
That's crazy market.
- [64:28]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I.
- [64:29]
Deontay
So I'm speaking from my perspective, then, but for you, that's crazy. That's a. That was a good Move.
- [64:33]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I still answer to this day. People be calling me. For real.
- [64:38]
Deontay
That's hard, bro. And you just caught a little crazy resurgence too. So you never changed the number now?
- [64:43]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I don't plan on changing. I've never changed. I still got the same number since I first had a phone.
- [64:49]
Deontay
Man, you a cold nigga. Yeah, you called.
- [64:55]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
There ain't no reason for me to change it.
- [64:57]
Deontay
So when it first. When you first put it out there, like, how crazy was it, though?
- [65:02]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
It was crazy. It was crazy. But it's gonna sound even crazier that I didn't expect that. I didn't expect it. Yeah, I thought, like, the people that was listening to my music now, like the monthly listeners. Some people, Some people gonna call me. Nah, it hasn't. It started. My battery was dying. I had to buy multiple portable batteries. Shoot. I had to get a new phone, transfer this phone over here. Why people calling me Apple like, then. Then it was crazy. But it's like, it's not like I can't do what I need to do on my phone. Or it's like, ah, these people calling me. Nah, man, my people call me and they say some good stuff, so it's cool.
- [65:54]
Deontay
Yeah, I. Bro, salute, bro.
- [66:00]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
He said, like, you couldn't do that.
- [66:01]
Deontay
Hell no. The thing is, is my phone now even? Like, I got my DMD crazy. Like. Yeah, it's only certain people. Like, I gotta put you on a list to be able to get directly to me. I don't even do that. Like, you could double call and get to me. It don't even work like that neither. Like, somebody had shot me. Like, boy, you could just control everything. Like, everything can go to voicemail if you wanted to.
- [66:22]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Dang.
- [66:22]
Deontay
I was like, nigga, put me onto that right now.
- [66:25]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Cause I.
- [66:26]
Deontay
Well, but it's different. I take like, my kids, since it's three of them. Everybody gotta have individual time too. So we do family time, then we do individual time. And ain't nothing worse than like, your child talking and you could tell like, this a big thing for them and their phone keep ringing.
- [66:45]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, they.
- [66:46]
Deontay
Because they looking at the phone now like, you gonna answer the phone? Go ahead, answer the phone. It's like, damn. So I'm like, okay, we're gonna put fort knots on this.
- [66:57]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Like, nah, I see that. Yeah.
- [67:00]
Deontay
But I think on a creative pursuit, I mean, we two different N s and doing two different things. If that worked for you, should that work for you? Yeah, that's shit. That's love, nigga. You got a direct access to people that fuck with you?
- [67:13]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
For sure.
- [67:14]
Deontay
We do that shit once a month. We do it. The show has a Google number that people can call, leave voicemails. So we listen to voicemails, like, every episode except guest episodes. Would you be. If we was to play guest episodes and asking for advice, would that be something you would be interested in?
- [67:31]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [67:31]
Deontay
What is it? We ain't gonna do it today. I'm just asking. Cause I've been trying to gather some data on, like, whether that's a good thing to implement with the guests. Yeah.
- [67:38]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
You say people call and ask for advice.
- [67:40]
Deontay
So it's like we got number 657234X. So it's 657-234-3447. I say that shit every so much. But they'll call. It's just a voicemail number. So it go directly. It's just basically on D and D all the time. And they leave voicemails. They ask for, like, advice or, you know, they just show us love or whatever the case may be. For the most part, it's like an advice line type shit. Yeah. And then we do emails too. So, like, the end of every show, the last, like, 30 minutes is just us, like, talking to the fans.
- [68:11]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, I do that.
- [68:12]
Deontay
Yeah. Okay, cool. We ain't gonna.
- [68:14]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I think a lot of the times people call me asking for advice.
- [68:17]
Deontay
Okay, cool. I've been trying to figure out, like, whether we should implement it here. Because when I come here, it's just like a straight, all right, bet we gonna do that moving forward. I probably can get us one advice today, but. Cause through the email, but. Because I can turn that number on and off. We do lives once a month on the Patreon, and people call us directly and we just chop it up with them for, like, five, ten minutes. And for the most part, it's like, man, people just want to show you love, bruh. And it's like, for me, I really, like, sometimes certain albums that came out or like certain movies that came out was like, man, I wish I could just call this nigga and tell that n. This shit hard.
- [68:57]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [68:58]
Deontay
You know what I'm saying? So.
- [69:00]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
So that means a lot to them. It do to be able to do that.
- [69:02]
Deontay
Exactly. And it's like, it was an experience that I felt like, you know, if we got a subscription service, y' all get bonus content. But also, I think to be able to just call us like, that mean you gotta be super tapped in. But it also is like, it's a value thing. Like, I think it's valuable and it's like. It's valuable for me too. You know what I'm saying? Like, that shit feel good, bro, because you don't realize the impact you having, right? So when people can call you personally and tell you directly, shit is unmatched, bro.
- [69:31]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's why I said it's not. It wasn't a mistake.
- [69:33]
Deontay
I get it, I get it. Nah, full circle. I get it for sure. All right, well, every artist that come up here, I do this. Make a hit. Like, you gotta create a hit. So basically you get to choose a producer. First verse, hook, second verse.
- [69:53]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
What you mean producer? And then fill it up with different artists.
- [69:56]
Deontay
Yeah, so the producer, he produced the whole. He or she produced the whole track. Then you choose first verse, hook, second verse. Anybody dead or alive, it don't matter.
- [70:04]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Dang. Dead or alive. I gotta get Mike, man.
- [70:09]
Deontay
Mike on the hook.
- [70:10]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Mike on. He could just cough on there.
- [70:13]
Deontay
He said, I'm putting Mike on everything.
- [70:14]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
He could just sneeze on there. Michael Jackson.
- [70:18]
Deontay
You ain't lying though.
- [70:19]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Okay, let me see. Michael Jackson. I don't know what his position would be, though. He really could do backgrounds and it would still go crazy.
- [70:30]
Deontay
Mike could do the hook. Eric lives in the bridge. And you gonna hit. You could hit. You gotta hit. That's it.
- [70:35]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, yeah. Okay. You put anybody on him, gotta say Michael Jackson. I gotta say Quincy Jones producing it. Stevie Wonder, help writing. Dang. This is not a rap song.
- [70:53]
Deontay
It's any song. It's just a hit. It don't matter what it is.
- [70:57]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
And. You know what, man? Put Missy Elliott in her on that.
- [71:05]
Deontay
On that outro. Yeah, yeah. That's crazy.
- [71:08]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
So that Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Missy Elliott, just to put the spark on there. I don't know what that'll sound like,
- [71:17]
Deontay
but Shota, that should've be a benefit. Nigga, if a natural disaster happened, they gonna play that bitch. That what I'm saying. So anything. That shit gonna be a hit for 100 years, bro.
- [71:29]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [71:29]
Deontay
All right, so I always do one with you. So I like that. I like that direction, though.
- [71:33]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
You switch it up every time, though. Yeah, okay, cool.
- [71:35]
Deontay
Yeah, I be having fun. I love this shit.
- [71:37]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Okay.
- [71:38]
Deontay
I done went viral for making like whole concept albums. I made a concept album where the Alchemist just produced four southern lyricists. It was called Southern Alchemy. Shit was fired. What you mean you was on there?
- [71:50]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Was it AI or something?
- [71:51]
Deontay
Nah, nigga, I just wrote it out.
- [71:53]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's dope.
- [71:54]
Deontay
Old fashioned way. I just went up from the whiteboard and was like, we gonna do. I think, bro. I had a song that was Alchemist produced. It was gonna be Yond DRO and Sauce Walker just going back and forth like Stiles and Jada. I'm doing shit like that.
- [72:08]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Okay, I see what you talking about.
- [72:09]
Deontay
You see what I'm saying? I'm just making concept albums. It don't gotta come to fruition. It's just fun to think about. Cause I love this shit. Yeah. You know what I'm saying?
- [72:16]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's dope.
- [72:17]
Deontay
All right. I like it though. You went old school with a nigga. So this is what I'm gonna do for a produce. I'm gonna have. I'm gonna have. I'm gonna have. I'm gonna have Pharrell produce this motherfucker.
- [72:38]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Okay.
- [72:39]
Deontay
But no Neptunes. I'm gonna say Neptune.
- [72:42]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Okay?
- [72:43]
Deontay
We gonna go Neptune's and I'm gonna have Prince do the hook and the guitar. Okay, then we got first verse. First verse, I ain't gonna hold you. I'm going Patti LaBelle on the first verse, Patti. And that second verse, I'm going Teddy P. That's wild.
- [73:02]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah. You good at this, man. I'm good for sure.
- [73:06]
Deontay
I love this shit, bro. It's fun. I think oftentimes we don't, like, be imaginative enough. Everything gotta be like, my homeboy really trying to convince me to start using AI for organizing. He's like, just, you know, just organizing your thoughts or organizing your schedule and stuff like that. Because I'm like, man, I like analog shit. Like, I like just old fashioned writing shit on piece of paper, bruh. He has shown me some of the benefits, like when you're dealing with contracts and shit like that. But I'm like, shit, I got a lawyer. I paid a lawyer. Shit.
- [73:42]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
But the AI, like, so what I thought was when you said a concept album, you named all the people, I thought you had AI make the actual song. I wouldn't never do that with this person on this verse and see what it sound like.
- [73:56]
Deontay
I want AI to stay out of art. That'd be my biggest thing. So, like, I don't mind AI for admin. I don't mind AI for business. I don't mind robots for processes that can allow humans to have more time to be creative. I feel like that's when we at our strongest, is when we be creative. I don't like AI art, period. Not even for an album cover. Not even for a thumbnail, nigga. I don't fuck with it. Because, okay, like, AI could have never made, like, any of them Gucci man albums. The mixtape covers, the bird flu man.
- [74:31]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I think they could.
- [74:32]
Deontay
No, bruh. Take up it. Take just a nigga with a limited amount of resources.
- [74:37]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That don't. I don't mean no disrespect, but what I meant by that is you could tell AI exactly.
- [74:43]
Deontay
No, I know the processes. I'm just saying, like. Yeah, I get what you.
- [74:48]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's just like, okay, you touching. You got an iPad and you not touching it. You just talking to Siri, telling Siri what. How to design your junk.
- [74:57]
Deontay
Yeah, I don't fuck with it.
- [74:59]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I feel you.
- [75:00]
Deontay
I understand it. But I like, for artists, like, you know, I think the utopia of, like, this being idealistic. I think, like, anytime that we've. There's a movie called Zeitgeist where they just kind of reimagine Earth if it was like, without dictators and greed, like, without. Even though it's like a very real thing. But if it wasn't people that was just trying to monetize every aspect of our life. And it would mean people would be creating for what's best for everyone else, right? Not, like, for, like, monetary value. So it probably wouldn't be no cancer. Probably wouldn't be like. We wouldn't be arguing about, like, or voting whether marlin needed to expand. It would just expand because that's what's best for people, right? So the way that they imagined it is that people would participate in agriculture, but it wouldn't be at like a macro level. It wouldn't be like mass commercialized. It would be whatever, like whatever regional fruit, vegetable, whatever regional plants. That would be what was best for that region. That's what these people eat. And if we wanted to outsource it, we could, but it wouldn't be done at a mass level where we gotta use pesticides, where we gotta, you know, just like, try to speed up the process in every aspect. It would be more of a communal way of living. And then artists would thrive because you have nothing to do but create. And that's idealistic. It's not a reality that we live in at all. And artists still persevere and create. But that's why I have take the stance too. It's like, not only that, I mean, the amount of water it take to generate images and videos is crazy.
- [76:40]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
But my sister was trying to tell me about that in the family group chat that was going back and forth. I was in the gym. I ain't know what was Going on. But you the second person that said that.
- [76:50]
Deontay
Yeah, it's just. Well, so the thing is, is that the process of creating fresh water from salt water is like such an expensive process that it doesn't make sense. So we utilize fresh water for our own drinking water. And that's also the only type of water they can use to cool these computers. So the more data centers go up, the more of our drinking water is going to be like leveraged, which is going to eventually create like a water
- [77:21]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
debt
- [77:23]
Deontay
and so to speak. This is shit that scientists are saying and stuff too. But there's a lot of things that use a lot of water. Like the amount of water used to keep golf courses sustainable the way they are.
- [77:36]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Oh, dang.
- [77:37]
Deontay
Yeah, it's a lot of. You know what I'm saying? So like there's a lot of what would be considered water waste. They would say the biggest contributing factor right now is AI because it's the hottest thing going. So it's like, of course people wanna see what the long term effects is and water or. I don't think we can afford to be in a water deficit as humans. So that's where the issue comes in. And of course like with anything else is new. So we focus on what's the problems first and some people focus on what's the benefits. And I think naturally we just gotta figure out like what's a happy medium and is there an alternative to cooling these systems? Is there alternative besides fresh water? You know what I mean? Like that I'm sticking around though.
- [78:23]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [78:23]
Deontay
You know what I'm saying? I'm here for the plot because at the end of the day, it's so much money in it.
- [78:30]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
They need to put the coolant in there, man. Same thing they put in the car.
- [78:36]
Deontay
I think the thing is that what I know is that when there's an issue, there's always somebody looking to find a solution. That's like humanity at its peak is like everything that we know and love is a solution to something.
- [78:50]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [78:51]
Deontay
So they'll find a solution and then niggas will find a different reason to hate it. I just don't. I like, I'm a big appreciator of art, so I like let a nigga do that, you know what I mean?
- [79:01]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
It's always gonna be something. Unless we go to just everything just natural, it's gonna be something. Cause even I just was talking about the coolant. They gonna be like, okay, what we gotta do to make the coolant is gonna. I don't Know, it might put too much gas in the air.
- [79:16]
Deontay
It's gonna be something.
- [79:17]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Something.
- [79:17]
Deontay
It's gonna be something. I think, you know, we just gonna be here kicking it to this bitch burn up, bro. It just is what it is. That's my whole perspective on it. I find what advice before we get up out of here.
- [79:29]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Okay.
- [79:30]
Deontay
Yeah. Cause I got a whole email folder. These ho be loaded too. We got. I had Marco on our. You remember the rap session I told you about? We're doing like we're trying to. Not trying. We're bringing that rap city type feel back.
- [79:50]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, yeah.
- [79:51]
Deontay
But I just got some creative direction from a big creative director. Was like the concept of what you're doing work, but visually it ain't gonna hit. You need to. And I was like, damn, I needed to hear that. He's like, you need to make it your own. He was like this. He gave me like five other things that already look like that exist. And I was like, shit. I said, if you could come, if you could walk in here and see five things, I gotta do something different. But you know what I'm saying? Shit is a work in progress. All right. This is about a young lady who is 28 and socially anxious. So she said, what's up, Deontay Big Ice Cup Cat. I know you guys are doing well. Been watching y' all for a while now. Love y' all and the pod. Thank y' all for being a voice and an inspiration. Because of y', all, I figured that it was time to finally speak up and get some advice. 28 year old black female, and I'm struggling, trying to figure myself out. I'm shy in real life and around my people. Oh, no, no. She said, I'm shy in real life, but around my people, I'm the life of the party. Insane. And she has an aspiration to become a content creator. But she doesn't know where to start. Not even on the content part. Because I don't know what I want to do. It's more like the social aspect of it, maybe social anxiety. Maybe I even have low self esteem issues I need to work out. I really don't know because everyone I know says they can see me as someone who can and will be successful as a content creator. I'm asking for advice to get over this social anxiety thing I got going on. Should I go out more often? Do I think I'm ugly for real? Do I need therapy or are my friends just lying to me? I'm just asking for advice on attempting to get over social anxiety. Thank you again for everything you guys are doing and reading this. And I'm praying when y' all go on a Midwest tour, hopefully y' all can do Kansas or close to it. Hey, we coming to Kansas City when we do? Because I'm gonna sit down with the conductor. Yeah, man, Brad already chopped that up. I was like, nigga, when I go on tour, if you in Kansas City, we come pushing up. I want to go see the trains you used to conduct in a real way.
- [82:00]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's what. I don't want to get off topic. He used to conduct trains? Yeah.
- [82:05]
Deontay
Like, in real life, bruh. That's what.
- [82:07]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [82:09]
Deontay
No, he's a real train conductor. Nah, bro. Ain't it mo fire now it's even harder now. I be doing. I be. I be. You know what I mean? Told y' all I'd be nerding out. Nigga, I be wanting to know everything, bro. But. Okay, let's get this. Let's have this young lady get over her social anxiety. Cause she's saying she thinks she might
- [82:27]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
be ugly a little bit, right? Man, I think all the stuff that we zoom in at our life and think our flaws, it makes us unique. And so many people could relate that we can't even think of. Like, there's so many people that could relate, man. And it's like, you can't spend too much time trying to figure out how to fix stuff like that before you start moving, like. Because it may turn into what you need to get you to the next step. Like, some of the people we probably admire today, like, only they know that it's a flaw or it's a tick. Something that they did because of something. But we were inspired by that. Like, if Michael Jackson put the tape on his finger, I don't know why he did that. Maybe he was trying to cover up something. His fingernail. I don't know. I don't think he just did it for no reason. He probably thought, dang, I don't like something right here. I need to cover this up, and I need to just go on stage and keep doing what I'm doing. People started doing that. Bleached his skin. I don't know. There's so many conspiracy theories. Yeah.
- [83:41]
Deontay
They said that man had Vitiligo. For real.
- [83:43]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Say he had Vitiligo, man.
- [83:44]
Deontay
I ain't gonna lie. Michael Real, nigga, though, man. He see Michael, he be outside the Crips, nigga. Like, you see Michael Real, he in real sections, bro. Yeah,
- [83:56]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
but what I'm Saying is if. If we were to stop and try to figure that out before we start moving, we probably never would have. It never would have seen the light of day. So I don't. Me personally, I don't zoom in on all this stuff. I just keep moving and I let what I love to do overshadow all that other stuff.
- [84:19]
Deontay
Yeah, I think beauty in our society is more of a billboard than a standard. So I don't think anybody should ever get hung up on what they looks. Cause we see a million people every day. We see, I think on average, the average person see like 8 to 1200 people a day, depending on how you moving. Especially if you live somewhere like this. So think about this. Like, every person you ever had a conversation with wasn't the most attractive person or they weren't the ugliest person in the world neither. Sometimes the most attractive people have no personality. Like, it's all these different things that people, like, give gravity to. Like how you look is just how you look. It was a shake of the genetic dice. It really ain't got nothing to do with you. So I wouldn't even suggest necessarily therapy. I would suggest what they call that shit. It's a certain type of therapy where they put you around the thing that you scared of.
- [85:23]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
I don't know what that is, but just facing your fears.
- [85:25]
Deontay
Yeah, it's like a real facing your fears type vibe, bro. Just put the content out. I think more than anything, it's like you could sit here for another year and question whether you should do it or not. And guess what's gonna happen at the end of the year. You didn't put nothing out.
- [85:37]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
You gonna feel worse than you felt now.
- [85:40]
Deontay
Yeah, I think it's better to just go ahead, man. I go, I see old videos of me when I first started, bro. I was in that truck looking rough as hell, bro. Rough as hell. No haircut for a month, like putt chops, you know what I'm saying? All that. And I wouldn't never, I didn't never not make the content. I just kept putting it out. And the thing is, is that I can't really recall a time where anybody brought up my looks unless it was like I said something down light. They were like, fat ass, light skinned ass nigga. Or whatever came up and be like, old fat ass nigga. Like whatever nigga. Shit, I done said it now should I know what I look like? N. But I think the thing more than anything is like, we can't let personal appearance. Cause from what it's saying for her, it's like she gotta be comfortable to really fully be expressive.
- [86:25]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
But like that's not realistic.
- [86:28]
Deontay
Nah. Cause life is so filled with like uncomfortable situations. And I think when you can thrive while you uncomfortable, you unstoppable 100%. Like speak to how was it doing them early shows? Like, how was that? What's the nerves like around early?
- [86:45]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Was it music? Yeah, yeah.
- [86:47]
Deontay
Just performing.
- [86:49]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah. Just the most like stuff like this, like with all the lights and it's just quiet. Let's just say it's a in studio live performance. There's no crowd early. Like you said, all that stuff is the most uncomfortable stuff. But I feel like everything before that moment leading up to that moment was maybe practice or building that muscle to get you to be able to perform in this uncomfortable environment. It's like I can't expect for this to be a cakewalk and be comfortable all the way through. It's like certain things need to happen to be shown a certain. Like just how I take my craft. And this music is someone that's talented with the camera and know that this light need to be right here. This camera need to be this close to you. The room need to be completely quiet. Like that's what they into.
- [87:45]
Deontay
Yes. They like the production of it.
- [87:47]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Right. And when I'm taking care of what I'm taking care of with the music, they taking care of what they doing with the production. Put that together. That's when you create an even bigger picture. That's the art right there.
- [87:59]
Deontay
Yeah, that's the art.
- [88:00]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
So it's like you can't get too caught up in that and you're gonna be uncomfortable. Or just like the times where when you doing a photo shoot, sometimes the pose may be uncomfortable, but the dude telling you or the girl telling you. It looked good on camera though. It might look good on camera.
- [88:16]
Deontay
Yeah.
- [88:17]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
But it felt uncomfortable.
- [88:18]
Deontay
It felt uncomfortable.
- [88:19]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Sometimes it really do not look good though.
- [88:21]
Deontay
Yeah. You know, hey, and that's why you gotta make executive. You know what I'm saying? I don't think that anybody can
- [88:32]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
really
- [88:32]
Deontay
ever understand it until you in it. Like once you get over. First of all, it's just you and the camera. When you're doing content creation. Especially when you start out, it's just you and the camera. So you gonna be your biggest critic. Cause like for the most part, before you start getting views and clicks, you the only person that's seeing it for real. And if you really care about it, you done watch the shit 30 times.
- [88:54]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's real. Yep.
- [88:55]
Deontay
And every time you go check a comment you watching, at least listening to it again, you gonna find the flaws. And those are just whatever the mistakes may be, whatever the flaws you see in it, it's just things for you to fix the next time. But like, that one video, that first video you'll post is not gonna make you a career. It's just not. It may go viral, too.
- [89:14]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Zoomed in.
- [89:15]
Deontay
Even if the first video you post go viral, you still gotta keep doing it 100%. And it's also, you don't create a real unrealistic expectation. But. But what I'm gonna say is think about how if you nervous for a bunch of strangers, that you not even gonna be able to look in your eyes. Boy, when you go do them live shows, bruh, the nerves. It done been times I've been like, man, I'm not going out there, bro. And nigga like, bro, shut the fuck up, bro. Like, nigga, these people done paid to be here, bro. You been promoting this shit and all this, and you. What you mean you not going? I'm like, bro, I'm so nervous, bro. They like, fuck it, bro. You gonna have to do it nervous.
- [89:54]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Got to.
- [89:54]
Deontay
You gotta do it nervous. You gotta do it scared. And
- [89:59]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Ferg.
- [90:00]
Deontay
Ferg had. Did. He had hosted one of the show. I did it in Atlantucky. And I was like, damn. Like, we was waiting around. I was like, damn, this is like one of the first time I really ain't feeling nervous like that. And then I heard him go on stage, and I know that he introduced me, boy, that shit hit me like a wave. I was like, God, I don't know if I wanna do this shit. No, my man. But it's like, you do it scared. It might take you 10 minutes to get, like, over that.
- [90:26]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [90:27]
Deontay
But you watch it back on camera, you can't even tell you nervous.
- [90:31]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Can't even.
- [90:32]
Deontay
You can't even see it.
- [90:33]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
But. But you wanted to do it so bad. You. You. You was focused on the end goal. It was like, man, I want to do it more than I want to let this nervousness take me home or take me out of the game.
- [90:46]
Deontay
So what I imagine is like, everybody that's ever been in this position was nervous, too, 100%. And they did it like Michael Jackson did it. You know what? We don't never know. Michael Jackson might have just stood there and said nothing because he was nervous.
- [91:01]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Cause he was nervous. I heard the people was in his ear too, telling him, mike, come on start. Come on, get going.
- [91:07]
Deontay
And bro was just. Probably because this is a thing. It's daytime too. It's a million niggas out there, bruh. First of all, like, I like that you brought up Mike. Because ain't nobody never died from seeing nan. One of you niggas ever. Niggas seen Mike and die. Shot the world. What the fuck? He's the 10th wonder of the world. Like, 9th wonder of the world. For real. In a real way. He's the ninth wonder of the world.
- [91:30]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Walk outside, he would cause a disturbance. He couldn't even go outside, right.
- [91:35]
Deontay
He'll cause a riot in a real way.
- [91:37]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Couldn't go.
- [91:37]
Deontay
I never seen Asians, like, go crazy like that.
- [91:40]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Like, Asians.
- [91:41]
Deontay
Yeah. He did a show in Asia.
- [91:43]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Ain't he a weirdo?
- [91:45]
Deontay
I just said that. Cause I thought about, like, Godzilla. My bad. We do get. I do get ignorant a little bit towards the end. So we just gonna go ahead and wrap this shit up.
- [91:54]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
You crazy. You just zoned in on Asians.
- [91:59]
Deontay
Because I just thought about the visual. I seen the Asian lun. Like, she was like, ah. Like she was crying, screaming, laughing. She was experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. And I imagine this would happen to a nigga before they end up in the back of an ambulance. Cause it's like, I ain't. I. I don't want to. I. I personally, I don't know if I never want that level. I don't even think it's obtainable, to be honest. People see you way too much. Can you imagine Mike on Instagram? That should be stupid now.
- [92:33]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
It'll crash it, I think.
- [92:35]
Deontay
I think Mike J. I think if he in his prime, quantifiably, he could probably be the first nigga with a billion followers.
- [92:43]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Nah, he would have. He would have bought Instagram. He would have did that.
- [92:49]
Deontay
He would have bought it.
- [92:50]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
He would have seen it.
- [92:51]
Deontay
And then niggas would have been like, five years later, like, you know, they killed Mike. Cause he was trying to buy Instagram. Niggas do for sure, man. Brett don't mind it. Thank you, bro. Appreciate you pulling up on you.
- [93:00]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Appreciate the invitation, bro.
- [93:01]
Deontay
Yeah, man. It's a great conversation, bro. Is it anything, you know, this your camera right here. Anything you want to plug? Tell people where to follow you? I know you got candles.
- [93:11]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Oh, yeah. I was just definitely about to say, man, now I can't think of none, but I. Boom. Candles. Yeah, man, I got the candles. They everywhere. It's on my website. The money forever.com or you can go on my page, click the link in my bio, or just type in candles. You could comment candles. DM me candles. And I'm going to send you the direct link. Candles Out Music is out on all platforms. Check it out. Let me know what you like. If you run into the song with my number on it, it is my number. So call me. I may answer, man.
- [93:49]
Deontay
Do my man. Thank you. This is episode 100 and something. It'll say 100 something when it come out.
- [93:57]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Oh, for real?
- [93:58]
Deontay
No, I just don't know. Oh, dang, we got down. I don't know when this shit coming out.
- [94:04]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
That's creative, though. One hundred and something.
- [94:07]
Deontay
That's it. We'll see y' all folk next time, man. I don't never know how to end the show, bro.
- [94:13]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah, it is. And then we dab up. Yes, sir. Let's just rap.
- [94:21]
Deontay
I just want to rap.
- [94:29]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Yeah.
- [94:33]
Deontay
Hey, man. Yeah. They say without the proper labor, faith
- [94:40]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
don't stand a chance. I put my faith in faith and stand on fertile land I planted seeds Adeline deed turning the trees before rest
- [94:49]
Deontay
in peace teas get printed to me.
- [94:53]
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- [95:20]
Deontay
March is a time to celebrate women, especially with International Women's Day coming up. And I've really been thinking about how much women carry every single day. At work and relationships and families, in friendships, in leadership and caregiving and in community. There are so many roles, and a lot of the emotional weight women carry is invisible. So I want to take a second to celebrate Deanna, the mother of my kids, because without her, none of this would be possible. Without her, I wouldn't be able to go on tour. Without her, I would have never had the ears that I needed in order to start this podcast in the first place. Before y' all ever heard one episode of this podcast, she's heard these ideas, opinions, and theories 10,000 times over. And she sat there with me patiently, and she's raising three of my beautiful, beautiful children. So I want to thank her. She shows up for everyone, and sometimes I wonder who makes sure she's okay. And that's why I think it's important to say this out loud. Women deserve support too. Therapy can be a space to pause, to unpack expectations, to set healthy boundaries, to process pressure, to feel heard, to build balance. And honestly, that's something everyone deserves. BetterHelp has over 30,000 therapists and has served more than 6 million people globally. BetterHelp therapists are fully licensed in the US and work according to a strict code of conduct. They also do the matching work for you. You fill out a short questionnaire about your needs and preferences and with their 12 plus years of experience and industry leading match fulfillment rate, they typically get it right the first time. And if it's not the right fit, you can switch therapists at any time from their tailored recommendations. Your emotional well being matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off@betterhelp.com grits that's betterhelp.com grits Close your eyes. Exhale.
- [97:22]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
Feel your body relax and let go
- [97:24]
Deontay
of whatever you're carrying today.
- [97:27]
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- [97:35]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
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- [97:37]
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- [97:48]
Guest Artist (possibly Brad or a similar artist)
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- [97:49]
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