Lefty Gunplay talks Kendrick Lamar, Grammy win, rehab & building Black-Latino coalition

Summary

Podcast Summary: Joe and Jada — Lefty Gunplay Talks Kendrick Lamar, Grammy Win, Rehab & Building Black-Latino Coalition

Episode Overview
This episode of "Joe and Jada" features Grammy-winning rapper Lefty Gunplay, who joins hosts Fat Joe and Jadakiss in Los Angeles. The conversation dives deep into Lefty's journey from gang culture and incarceration to mainstream hip-hop success, his struggle and recovery from addiction, the significance of Black and Latino unity in hip-hop, and his ongoing mission to uplift his community and inspire a new generation.

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Main Themes

• Overcoming Adversity: Lefty's rise from Los Angeles gangs and drug addiction to Grammy recognition.
• Black & Latino Unity in Hip-Hop: The importance of bridging cultural divides, particularly in LA.
• Sobriety and Mental Health: Lefty’s road to recovery and the challenges of creativity without substances.
• Community Impact: Lefty's commitment to inspiring youth and giving back.
• Navigating the Music Industry: Signing deals, perception of success, and lessons on handling fame.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Grammy Win & Kendrick Lamar’s Impact

[03:23]–[06:10]

• Lefty reflects on his Grammy win and the powerful symbolism of sharing the stage with Kendrick Lamar.
• Quote:
  "He gave me a platform. And it's been something that's so hard to do in Los Angeles to break into the rap game as a Latino. ... Kendrick really, you know, black and brown, unity at its finest." — Lefty Gunplay [04:15]
• The hosts discuss the unique cultural dynamics in LA vs. New York, where Black and Latino communities have historically not been as closely connected as in NYC.

2. The West Coast Latino Experience & Unity in Rap

[06:10]–[08:45]

• Fat Joe shares a personal story highlighting differences in Black-Latino relations coast to coast, emphasizing the need for unity.
• Lefty openly affirms:
  "Stronger together. And you ain't gonna get nowhere in rap if you ain't cool with no blacks, you know, it's their culture, and they allow me to, you know, make money off this." — Lefty Gunplay [06:10]
• Lefty describes his upbringing, gang initiation, and decision to escape the cycle through music.

3. Addiction, Rehab, and Creativity

[08:31]–[10:57]

• Lefty shares his struggles with substance abuse stemming from an early age and gang lifestyle.
• Life-changing decision: Checking into rehab after advice from peers and support from Kendrick Lamar and Top Dawg. "I told him, you know what? Fuck it. I'm gonna go to rehab. And then I called Top Dog and Kendrick Lamar, and they said, that's the most gangster shit you ever said." — Lefty Gunplay [09:55]
• Challenges of writing music sober and stories of artists who broke the stigma around sobriety.

4. Music, Image, and Staying on the Right Path

[12:21]–[16:59]

• Discussion on the realities and risks of fame — including encounters with law enforcement because of Lefty’s face tattoos.
• Advice and anecdotes about keeping a tight, professional circle to avoid legal troubles.
• The struggle and importance of transitioning to legitimate income and celebrating honest success. "There's nothing like doing something legit. ...We all made money, you know, illegally. But legit feels good." — Fat Joe [22:07]

5. Giving Back: Family & Community

[22:52]–[23:38]

• Lefty speaks on providing for his mother and grandmother as markers of success.
• Fat Joe reflects on buying a house for his own mother, marking it as his greatest achievement.

6. Artistry: Process, Collaborations, and Upcoming Work

[31:25]–[33:28]

• Lefty describes his creative process—writing from scratch with top producers (Scott Storch, Roddy Ricch, Mike & Keys).
• Teases new album "Fountain Blue," named after the trailer park he grew up in.
• Quote:
  "That's the name of my trailer park. Kind of like 8 Mile." — Lefty Gunplay [42:22]
• Ongoing collaborations aiming to further bridge cultural divides and elevate the sound.

7. Personal History: Family, Forgiveness, and Finding Purpose

[33:36]–[36:00]

• Lefty reveals his mixed Mexican, Guatemalan, and white heritage, his father’s absence, and reconciliation.
• How lack of a father figure led him to the streets searching for belonging, later redirected toward music.

8. Navigating Success, Envy, and Authenticity

[36:00]–[38:50]

• Both Joe and Lefty discuss jealousy and “fake love” that comes with success in their neighborhoods.
• Emphasis on staying clean as essential to lasting success, citing examples of celebrities whose addictions derailed them.

9. Mentorship and Legacy

[41:51]–[42:56]

• Lefty shares advice from Danny Trejo on choosing the right path, crediting him with encouragement for ongoing recovery work.
• Expresses desire to “open the door for the Latinos,” support Black and Latino unity, and prioritize community uplift over ego.
• Quote:
  "I want to get back to the city and all the kids and make a difference out here." — Lefty Gunplay [42:35]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Fat Joe:
  "The biggest rapper on earth is going to be a Mexican American rapper that fucks with black people, fucks with everybody, and just makes music for everybody." [06:29]

• Lefty Gunplay:
  "I've been doing drugs since, like, I was 13. ...Ever since I got sober...I was blowing all this opportunity I got in a car crash. Got into a lot of trouble." [09:17] "The hardest thing about it is trying to write now sober." [10:27]

• Fat Joe:
  "If Fat Joe was to get high, I'd be dead broke right now. ...And the direct correlation between guys who make it and become successful and guys who don't is drugs." [37:48]

• Fat Joe, on giving back to family:
  "There was one thing, untouchable. It was called my mother's house...my house is mad big, right? ...But I remember every single time I pull up to my mother's house, I felt like that was the biggest house, the biggest shit I ever did in my life." [29:30]

• Lefty Gunplay:
  "For being one of the ones, open the door for the Latinos, you know, ...putting on the culture, Black and brown, unity. Hopefully I get my own Grammy in my own name and just keep giving back, you know, like Nip, you know, the way Nip did." [42:35]

---

Important Timestamps

• [03:23] — Introduction of Lefty Gunplay.
• [04:15] — Lefty on Kendrick’s platform and Black-Brown unity.
• [08:31] — Lefty discusses rehab and sobriety.
• [10:27] — Challenges of making music sober.
• [12:21]–[13:59] — Dangers of street and music life; discussions about gangs and policing.
• [22:52] — Speaking on family, buying his mom a car.
• [31:25]–[33:28] — Lefty’s creative process and upcoming album.
• [33:50] — Reconnecting (and forgiving) his father.
• [36:00] — Handling neighborhood jealousy and envy.
• [41:51] — Mentorship from Danny Trejo.
• [42:18] — Announcing the album "Fountain Blue."
• [42:35] — Lefty's desired legacy: opening doors and giving back.

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Conclusion

This episode stands out as a candid, energetic conversation about personal redemption, the cultural power and potential of Latino artists in hip-hop, and the challenges of outgrowing the streets without losing touch with one’s roots. Lefty Gunplay’s story is positioned as a source of hope—showing that even with a past marked by hardship, transformation and success are possible, particularly when artists leverage their influence for community uplift and unity.

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“Together, we're more powerful than anybody.”—Fat Joe [43:29]

Transcript

[A]

Fourteen years in prison for killing a young woman. A 15 year sentence for a crash that caused three deaths. Twelve and a half years for killing a child and critically injuring her mother. All true stories, all caused by marijuana. Impaired drivers. No matter what you tell yourself, if you feel different, you drive different. So if you're high, just don't drive. Brought to you by NHTSA and the Ad Council.

[B]

Hey, everyone, it's Emily Simpson and Shane Simpson from the Legally Brunette podcast.

[C]

Each week, we're bringing you true crime through a legal lens.

[B]

Whether you want all the facts on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie or you still need to wrap your head around the Diddy verdict, we're breaking it all down step by step.

[C]

And we're not just lawyers.

[D]

We're also husband and wife. It makes for some pretty entertaining episodes.

[B]

Listen to Legally brunette on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Then she says, have you seen a photo of my son?

[D]

And I'm like, who is this person?

[A]

Welcome to the Boys and Girls Podcast. Arranged marriage is basically a reality show,

[B]

and you're auditioning for your soulmate. And who's judging?

[A]

Only your entire family.

[B]

I sacrificed myself to this ancient tradition,

[A]

hoping to find love the right way. And instead, I found chaos, comedy, and a lot of cringe. Listen to boys and Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[C]

You know, Roald Dahl, he thought of Willy Wonka in the bfg, but did you know he was a spy? In the new podcast, the Secret World of Roald Dahl, I'll tell you that story and much, much more. What you probably won't believe it either,

[B]

was this before he wrote his stories.

[A]

It must have been.

[B]

Okay, I don't think that's true.

[C]

I'm telling you, the guy was a spy. Listen to the Secret World of Roald Dahl on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[D]

I was talking to all of them, and I told him, you know what? Fuck it, I'm gonna go to rehab. And then I called Top Dog and Kendrick Lamar, and they said, that's the most gangster shit you.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. What up, y'?

[C]

All?

[A]

This is Joe Crack the Dawn.

[E]

It's your boy Jada. Know what it is?

[A]

Came with the outfit change. They tell. His All Star 2026.

[E]

No might pop out through the curtain, you know what I mean? It's the Joe and Jada Show. Every show legendary, every show iconic. When you think of today's guest, you Think of somebody who's able to overcome adversity, somebody who's about changing their life. You know what I mean? Getting to the bag, getting the mental health together, doing the right thing, getting the music popping. Grammy winner. You all have been nominated, but not. It's hard to win one of them things.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

Ladies and gentlemen, make some noise for Lefty Gunplay.

[D]

Thank you for having me. Sup, my brother, Man.

[A]

Brother, it's an honor to have you, man. We in la.

[D]

Yes, sir.

[A]

And we said, they don't get no more. Ladies, the Gunplay, Lefty right now at this moment. And my brother game. And so we touched Sawyer.

[D]

We not.

[A]

You know, this is the Joe and Jada Show. We about the culture, and we said, let's bring our brother on. What's crazy is I didn't see the Grammys. My wife saw that. She called me. She was like, yo, this Latino guy screaming Latino on the Grammys?

[D]

Yeah, he want.

[A]

This is my wife calling me, telling me that you won the Grammy. So you win the Grammy. What's so important about you saying, yo, Kendrick, put a latito on?

[D]

I just want the homies to understand it. He gave me a platform. And it's been something that's so hard to do in Los Angeles to, you know, break into the rap game as a Latino. And, you know, Kendrick really, you know, black and brown, unity at his finest right there. It don't get no bigger than that. And I appreciate him for giving me that platform. I got the ball and I'm running with it. I ain't looking back.

[A]

That's right. You know, one of the living legends.

[D]

So many kids that look like me in the hood, you know, and just. I'm glad to represent the people in the right way.

[A]

There's one of the Latino legends from out here one time, I don't want to say his name because he's beyond a legend, but he come and I take him to the Bronx to hang out with me. You know, we in the Bronx, so it's very different. But this is what I want to talk to you about so people can visualize and understand what's going on. Very different in the west coast, unfortunately, between the Latinos and blacks. Like in New York, everybody's a mixed, baby. Everybody's black and Puerto Rican. And so he comes with us, and I'm just showing him a good time. We had Jimmy's Bronx Cafe, and he asks me, yo, you fuck with the black people? And I looked at him like, because I might as well be black. I Don't know how to explain it to you any other way. So I looked at him, I said, yo, what you mean? He said, out west, we don't fuck with the black dude. I said, well, I can't fuck with you no more, my man. Cause that's not what we on here. Right? And I didn't even understand that's flojo time or some shit like that.

[D]

I think I know who you're talking about.

[A]

Well, it don't matter. Yeah, he's a legend. But he told me, yo, we don't fuck with the black dudes. I said, well, I can't fuck with you. That was the last time I ever rocked with him, even though he is a legend and he's a pioneer and somebody who started it. But that's when I started to realize that there's parts of the country that Latinos and blacks ain't connected like that. Yeah, you know, and so that's what you meant when you went up there. You said, yo, this brother gave me a chance. Let's unify.

[D]

Yeah. Stronger together. And you ain't gonna get nowhere and rap if you ain't cool with no blacks, you know, it's their culture, you know, and they allow me to, you know, make money off this. And more homies are following in my footsteps, you know, And I appreciate everything Kendrick Lamar did for me. He changed my life.

[A]

You know, I always said that the biggest rapper on earth is going to be a Mexican rapper if he finds a way to let. I always tell you that.

[D]

Steve.

[A]

Steve Lobel's here. The biggest rapper on earth is going to be a Mexican American rapper that fucks with black people, fucks with everybody, and just makes music for everybody. He's going to have the whole world. Yeah, in the sense you leading that in the footsteps. And we already got that, you know, Big Pun. His song was more than that means Latinos and blacks together. So I've always been about that. You paid the way. Good looking, brother. Tell me about the Mexican experience in la.

[D]

Ball Park. A lot of gang. Gang. You know, I got drunk into my neighborhood when I was 13 years old. Juvenile hall, prison. Live a real life, you know, really about that life. And I was sitting in Pelican Bay and I'm like, man, you know, it's just a revolving cycle. I was in Cork and Shoe, Pelican Bay, Sioux. And I seen Ogz, he's a rapper out here. I said, I could do that. And I said, man, I'm gonna break the cycle. I'm gonna be A rapper. Fuck it, you know? And then the rest was history. I manifested everything. I seen it in my head. I ran with it, you know, but just, you know, real Latino neighborhood. La Puente, Ballpark, West Covina, El Monte, you know, just ain't nothing coming out of there. Just gang banging, you know, try to make a change.

[A]

Do you see that? You influencing the young Mexicans to start rapping and start trying to definitely change and be positive?

[D]

Yeah, definitely, man. Follow your dreams. Anything's possible.

[A]

That's real talk.

[E]

Not only did you win a Grammy, you won it after getting released from prison.

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

How does that feel?

[A]

What kind of space did it make you wanna.

[D]

Man, it's a dream come true. It's a trip. It still hasn't really hit me yet.

[A]

Nah, it's amazing. You look great that night, too. Boy, you threw that shit on. It is threw that shit on, boy.

[D]

Yeah, I appreciate y', all, man. Yeah, I've been. In the last six months, I've been in rehab. Shout out to the Haven Detox Frank Sit in Carrillo. I've been right there getting my mind right, you know, last six months.

[A]

How hard is that, right? Like, how long you was on drugs? And I'm glad you're not ashamed of that. Cause that's how you really inspire it. Yeah, as fuck music. Fuck all that. That's your real purpose, to turn that shit around. Somebody like Jelly Roll, you see how he ain't scared to say, yo, I was fucked up. I was using drugs. And he inspired so many people. And now he the biggest in the game. You gotta realize more people relate to that. Like, I lost the brother to drugs. He wouldn't get off drugs. When did you start? How did that come about? And when did you finally say, yo, I'm a. I gotta stop doing this,

[D]

man, I've been doing drugs since, like, I was 13. Just in that gang culture. It's just something that's always around in county, in prison. And I became dependent on it. And, you know, ever since I got sober. But I was blowing everything. I was blowing all this opportunity I got in a car crash. Got into a lot of trouble.

[A]

What kind of drugs?

[D]

Everything. Everything. Crystal, heroin, coke.

[A]

What's more addictive?

[D]

Crystal, heroin, heroin, liquor. Balance it out. I was just blowing all my opportunity. Everybody's all like, man, you got a once in a lifetime opportunity. You throwing it away. I was at a chingy concert. It was a Chingy E Daru concert. And I was talking to all of them. And I told him, you know what? Fuck It. I'm gonna go to rehab. And then I called Top Dog and Kendrick Lamar and they said, that's the most gangster shit you ever said, you know? So I flew out to rehab in Miami, you know, Stopped cold turkey, knowing that I was Grammy nominated. Popped up like the boogeyman. Everybody tripped out. Nobody thought I could change my ways, but I did.

[A]

A day at a time, brother.

[D]

I'm yelling.

[E]

You wish for that.

[D]

The hardest thing about it is trying to write now sober. Like, I'm very trying to. I'm.

[A]

I made all my hits sober. All the lean backs, making reigns, all the way ups. Any fucking hit you ever heard in your life sober. Don't let nobody tell you you gotta be high to write. Not true.

[D]

If you can do it, I can do it. Yes.

[A]

You got this. That's what I'm saying. That's exactly what I'm saying.

[E]

It's gonna take a minute, but then

[D]

once you get it.

[A]

Yeah.

[E]

You know what I mean?

[A]

It's the truth.

[D]

Sitting here with you guys. I was just bumping that New York last night.

[A]

Oh, no, that's love.

[E]

Yeah, that's love right there.

[D]

I told you on west side, Terror Squad, man.

[A]

Terror Squad came a change, man. Get him a change. That motherfucker. If you saying that, then you bought that life, nigga. Cause we bought that life. Shout out. Steve will tell you. Shout out. I think of you. Cause you Mexican. I think of hip hop, you know. Of course, Cypress Hills inspired me and Pun. Yeah. They the first ones to inspire us on a major level.

[E]

Shout out to Cyprus.

[A]

We will Send all them. Mr. Cartoon.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Do you know Mr. Cartoon?

[D]

Legendary. Yup, yup.

[A]

Shout out to Mr. Cartoon. What a fucking legend. Mr. Cartoon. Hell, yeah. West side, you know, me personally, every time I came to la, you know, I was more towards Inglewood.

[D]

Shout out.

[A]

You know, Mac 10, I do believe, and this is something that everybody could argue with me. But we had something to do with the East Coast, west coast connection connecting. Cause it was at the time Biggie Pac died, it was a couple of more New York and West coast beefs going on. And me and Mac Tim met each other and we became brothers. I came out here and shot a movie with him called Thicker Than Water in Inglewood.

[D]

Okay.

[A]

And then he came to my hood. And what's crazy is I never knew there was Bloods in New York when I grew up. It wasn't Bloods, it wasn't Crips, it wasn't none of that. He came to my projects, and when I tell you all them kids started running outside with the red suits on and hats, and they was like, yo, og, og. That's when I knew we had Bloods in New York. I didn't even know it. And I was in the street, so I brought him to my projects, and everybody running out the building like, yo, G, O, G, O, G. I was like, oh, we got Bloods. New York.

[D]

Yeah, I've been in New York. It's a trip. The trenches out there just projects. They tell me whatever you do, tell

[A]

us the difference between that. Don't walk between LA and here, man.

[D]

Out here, every. Every block's a game, you know, Pretty much every block's gang. You be somewhere nice right here, you make a right, you know, you beat me some Crips and blood, some estates, you know, I'm a Suleno, so I'm a Southsider out here. I represent. But yeah, New York, they. They drove me around the projects and shit. Towers don't walk up in here at midnight, Lefty. I said, for sure.

[A]

You know, looking out was so fucked up that if you was on drugs, you would walk up in there anytime to get the drugs. Yeah. So when you on drugs, you in the most dangerous neighborhood. You don't give a fuck. You gotta get the shit. You're right. It's the same thing with places like, oh, Miami, too. Miami, you could be a South Beach. You make a left turn, you in fucking Pompano. Pompano, you in Pompano. But that's when you in Liberty City. All that shit all over town.

[D]

Yeah, Liberty City.

[A]

Yeah. I live. My last crib was 50,000amonth, a penthouse. I went walking two blocks. I was in Overtown, nigga. They was out in the middle of the street. It's so crazy how you got places that look like paradise, but you make the wrong turn, you. Hell, yeah.

[D]

Hell, yeah. I feel that. Plus, I'm out of Burlington States right now, in Texas and Cali. So I've been doing the right thing, trying to stay focused, you know, fighting a gun, charging, fighting some in Texas. I learned my lesson. I don't mess around in Texas no more. You know what I'm saying?

[A]

Shout out to my brother, Baby Bash and Frankie J. You heard of these guys?

[D]

I know Baby Bash. I met him personally.

[A]

Sugar, how he gets so fly, Sugar, he gets so. Those are my guys. And every time I went to Texas, man, they showed me the best time in the world. These are beautiful guys. Yeah, and they Mexican, man. They put down for the Mexicans. Legendary, those guys. But Texas is weird because you got a gun charge, but I don't think you need a license for a gun charge. So is it because you're a felon?

[D]

Yeah. Fresh out of prison.

[A]

When they said that, you was like, yo, everybody can have a gun. And then they like, not you, my man. You.

[D]

Yeah, snatch me a V.

[A]

At this point, I don't think you thinking 9 to 5, right? You thinking rap.

[D]

You thinking, yeah, rap.

[A]

Rap entrepreneur. Get money, get this, get that.

[D]

So invest.

[A]

Did you think about taking your tattoos off your face at all?

[D]

Never.

[A]

Never.

[D]

I represent.

[A]

But that's why they stopped you in Texas.

[D]

Yeah. It's the story of my life, though.

[A]

What, bro? You ever thought about. You ever thought about a cop? We so criminal minded. We never think about the other side. The other side. Driving in Texas. He seen him. That's how he knew he had the gun. He seen the tattoos. He said, hold up, this nigga from the other side of town. Let me pull. Yo, my man, what you got there? Right? So it's part of your image. It's part of everything.

[D]

It's a disadvantage every day.

[A]

Yeah, legit. You gotta get him real security and then a couple of dollars.

[D]

Yeah, we got real security.

[A]

The real guys with the real guns and lead. You okay? No, my guys shoot your face off. Okay, thank you, Steve. Shoot you, but that's how you gotta move, you know? You have security, you got legit security. Be legit that way. Because if you bring the crew, they thinking they impressing you. They shoot the place up. Come play lefty on the news. It happened to me. One million times I've been to jail because of this rap shit. D1. I've been in jail maybe 30 times for shit I didn't even do. They was just, like, bringing all the homies. Fat Joe, Fat Joe. I ain't really ain't me.

[E]

When you bring the entourage and something happens.

[A]

Yeah, it's all left, you know, no

[E]

matter how you cut.

[A]

How about you don't even bring the entourage? You're in the wrong. But you in the soul house, and you run out of here, they'd be like, lucky lefty beat everybody up in here. Yo, this, this. You're always gonna get the blame. Guess what? We was talking about a story behind the scenes. You know, we had Shamgaard and Jalen Rose. You heard?

[D]

Also Jalen Rose last night. Mm. He was with Jalen last night.

[A]

Yeah. So I asked my man Shamgaard, right? There's a guy, you know, I used to coach basketball in the Rucker. One of the big. The best coaches ever. Actually, the best coach of all time.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Six chips. And I get to talking to Shamgarter and I bring up a player. So there was a player who was in high school that was going to the NBA from New York City. Who. I don't know if I should say that right now, because I don't want to feel kind of like he's in. I don't know. I'll say his name. Richie Parker.

[D]

Oh, Rich Parker.

[A]

Rich Parker. One of the best basketball players out of New York. She's supposed to go to the. To the NBA. There was no question, no doubt that he was going. Some girl allegedly got raped by some guys he knew. And because he was the star of the basketball team, allegedly, she accused him almost like some Tupac shit. Tupac ain't raped that girl. But some guys, they might have did something too much. And then he caught the blame. So this is what I mean, that, you know, people could do shit. And it's always our fault if we're famous and we on the forefront. And one day it's crazy, because how about. I never met a better gentleman in the street basketball league or in the park than Richie Parker. I never met a nicer guy in my life. And his mother was a fan. She come to all the Rocker games. And I remember one day, I sat next to her, I said, your mama. I said, how you doing this? That I'm so watching the game. And she just looked up and she was like, we supposed to be bitch. I said, her mama, she said, we supposed to be bitch. Bitch. He ain't do that. We would have been in that. Could you imagine? We'd have been in masses. We'd have been with. Yo, that shit hurt me when that lady.

[D]

Yeah, I thought that.

[A]

You know what I'm saying? Yeah. And so, you know, that's why it's so important that we gotta move.

[D]

Militant life happens.

[E]

I wasn't signing with otr.

[D]

Oh, man, I signed with them my first week out of prison. You know, they gave me the money. And in the beginning, I thought they were stupid giving me that money because.

[A]

Oh, you ain't the only one. Yeah, we all felt like that.

[D]

Yeah. Like, shit, I'm about to go back to the pen. And then I took that money, and next thing you know, I'm right here. Grammy nominated one of Grammy blowing up. You know, through the roof. So I'm getting my contract situated right now. But, yeah, it's bigger things ahead.

[A]

You know, what happened when I signed a Terror Squad deal? With Atlantic Record, I tell you, it was $10 million. We negotiated all night, y'.

[C]

All.

[A]

Steve, why you lie laughing? Cause we negotiated all night. They wouldn't let me leave. It was like, you can't leave. Leo Cohen's outside. Every other record label exec is dying for Fat Joe to come outside. Cause I had just put out Big Pun. He's going double platinum. They like, yo, this nigga got the Latino explosion. Yeah, we gotta sign whatever Spanish got. Like. It was like that. So they wouldn't let me leave. We wind up getting $10 million.

[D]

Showed it.

[A]

I felt like I stuck that nigga up like, you ain't never seen your life. I was like, yo, me and Raul was up in there. I thought we stuck him up. The man gave us that money and jumped on a subway train like nothing. He walked in the subway. I'm like, yo, this gave us this paper. Walked on the subway 12 midnight. But I know the feeling because you've been doing shit so much for a dollar.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Or two dollars. Give you a real check. You feel like, who did we rob? Like, what do we gotta do? What's going on? Cause ain't nobody giving us no shit for nothing. Legitly in the hood.

[D]

I was riding around the hood with, like, 200 bands in a duffel bag. Straight 50 Cent moment. Went to the car place, looking in the Maybach cash. First week out, pushing the Maybach in the hood. Straight out the trailer park.

[E]

Yeah, that's gangster.

[A]

We gotta clap it up for that. You know, that's what we all. We all about. Big life. Yeah, we all about celebrating life. We all about. Let me tell you something.

[D]

Ain't nothing like that feeling when you get that first whip from rapping and you on the freeway and you just by yourself. Like, man, this is my scene. Like,

[A]

you know, for me, that was like, when I caught that vaccine for Covid. I was stuck in that house for a year and a half. And when they gave me that vaccine, I was like, looks like we made it. I thought I was going to die. Niggas was dying in the hood so much. When they gave me that vaccine, I ran over there so fast, I had my hand out the sunroof. Like, looks like we made it. But I know the feeling. And there's nothing like doing something legit. Yeah, there's nothing. We all made money, you know, illegally. But legit feels good. There's nothing like it feels good. And you in your car and you feel like, damn. And that's what life's about.

[D]

Breaking off my mom and my grandma.

[A]

You what?

[D]

Breaking out my mom. First thing I do is buy her a car. Yup.

[A]

Let me tell you, the next thing. You gonna buy your mother a house.

[D]

Yeah, that's coming.

[A]

That's where it's at. Yo. Today's show is brought to you by our presented sponsor, Hard Rock BET Florida Sportsbook.

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[C]

You know Roald Dahl, the writer who thought up Willy Wonka, Matilda, and the bfg. But did you know he was also a spy?

[B]

Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been.

[C]

Our new podcast series, the Secret World of Roald Dahl is a wild journey through the hidden chapters of his extraordinary, controversial life. His job was literally to seduce the wives of powerful Americans.

[A]

What?

[C]

And he was really good at it. You probably won't believe it either.

[B]

Okay, I don't think that's true.

[C]

I'm telling you, the guy was a spy. Did you know Dahl got cozy with the Roosevelts, played poker with Harry Truman, and had a long affair with a congresswoman? And then he took his talents to Hollywood, where he worked alongside Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock before writing a hit James Bond film. How did this secret agent wind up as the most successful children's author ever? And what darkness from his covert past seeped into the stories we read as kids? The true story is stranger than anything he ever wrote. Listen to the Secret World of Roald Dahl on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[A]

Segregation in the day, integration at night.

[B]

When segregation was the law. One mysterious picture. Black club owner had his own rules.

[A]

We didn't worry about what went on outside. It was like stepping in another world.

[B]

Inside Charlie's Place, black and white people danced together. But not everyone was happy about it.

[A]

You saw the kkk.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

They was dressed up in their uniform.

[D]

The KKK set out to raid Charlie, take him away from here.

[A]

Charlie was an example of power.

[E]

They had to crush him.

[B]

From Atlas Obscura, Rococo Punch and visit Myrtle beach comes Charlie's place, a story that was nearly lost to time. Until now. Listen to Charlie's place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Usually on this podcast, We'll Kill youl We talk about the diseases, infections, and biological threats that can make us really sick. But right now we're doing something a little different. We're stepping back and looking at what the human body needs to keep going. When you consider what we know about sleep in humans, there's one rule that comes out we are predictably unpredictable sleepers. We're talking about why sleep works the way it does, why our bodies don't follow neat rules, and why. Why modern life makes rest so hard to come by. The second half of our series takes us to the digestive system with a multi part series on what happens after we eat. Okay, I just have to say that all of my favorite words apparently are digestive words. Sphincter, peristalsis, duodenum. It's fascinating, it's funny, and it matters so much more than you think. Episodes of our new series run from January 20 through February 17, with new episodes every, every Tuesday on the Exactly Right Network. Listen to this podcast will kill you as part of the Exactly Right Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[A]

Yeah, let me tell you something. I did a lot of things I just told you. And I'm not bragging about a $10 million check. I used to fly private planes like it was a tax. Like I used to be like, we want Puerto Rican food, let's go to Puerto Rico. Like it was a joke. I'm just spending all kind of money. 40 niggas with me, lobsters and steaks. Buying 30 niggas, trucks, cash, this, this. I did all that when I caught the tax problem. And I had to sell everything and I had to do whatever I had to do. I had to give the government back millions of dollars and pay my lawyer. There was one thing, untouchable. It was called my mother's house. I would have sold every piece of jewelry, every art, every house, every sneaker, everything. You ever seen the fucking toothpaste to pay them back. Don't talk about my mother's house. And my mother's house wasn't even that special, guys. It was a nice little regular house that I bought for my mother and my father. But I remember every single time I pull up to my mother's house, I felt like even to this day, my house is mad big, right? And I used to pull up to my mother's house just last year cause she passed away. And I felt like that was the biggest house, the biggest shit I ever did in my life. I would sit in front of the house and Be like, wow, my mom's got a house. You know what I'm saying? That's the biggest. Praise God. You bought your mother and father some. Yeah, I just bought him a condo. He screamed at you for buying it for him. He's his accountant. His father's crazy you for buying it, but okay. Thanks for the key, son. Yeah, it's all love. You know what I'm saying? Lefty, I see you in the studio. Yeah, Crazy Bone.

[D]

I was just with Game last night.

[E]

No doubt.

[A]

Shout Out.

[E]

What's your process like in the studio?

[D]

I like to write from scratch. Like to hear the beat right from scratch. I be in the studio with Mike and Keys. Fresh Scott Storch. Problem?

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

Just write from scratch. Write my story. What can we expect? So, man, I'm dropping soon. I got enough songs for an album. We're gonna go to New York and

[A]

press you right now. Nobody gonna give you that shit like Scott Storch. Nobody. Not for what you want. Not for that. Lady. That's still Dre.

[D]

He remained me the big all that.

[A]

His. This is how we do. Scott Storch did that?

[D]

Yeah. He remained me the big Eagles beat.

[A]

He did all that, huh? Yeah, he's a genius. That nigga gave you that. Oh, if you got that, Scott, store's gonna be right in the pocket for you. I'm telling you. That's. That's.

[D]

We got studio time with him tomorrow.

[A]

Oh, that's a no brainer. That's. That's right there. He gonna give you that.

[D]

Yeah, they just hit me from the studio. Was Roddy Ricz and Scott Storage.

[A]

Roddy Ricch is a motherfucking beast.

[D]

Yeah, Roddy caught me. He's all like, man, he's doing it for the culture, bro. Like, you gotta link up. I'm like, for sure.

[A]

Roddy Ricz don't do that.

[E]

Roddy Ricc hit them shits out the park.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, Roddy Ricc, he's. He's a fucking incredible guy. He's a genius, man. You know, Shout Out Roddy Rich. So that should be great. You, him and Scott Storch. I see you. You put Storch with Roddy Ricch. I seen him in the studio with him the other day. That's great, man. Yeah, that gonna make them gangster. They gonna hop to that, boy. Like, he gonna give you that.

[D]

That documentary.

[A]

Listen, he said all that. Nobody's gonna get you that. Nobody gonna.

[D]

Tomorrow we got hit boys, Scott Stores, Bank Rogatti, or like four producers in one studio. That's fire yeah.

[A]

Not an expectation you gonna give me that fucking. That is black psycho maniac.

[D]

My mom's Latina. My mom's Mexican. Guatemalan. My dad's white. But he left me when I was 2. He moved to Florida. And recently I was in Florida the other day, and he came and come visiting me, and I didn't even recognize him, you know, But.

[A]

So you think after you got successful, we came to visit you?

[D]

Yeah, because ever since I've been successful, I've been out of jail, so I've always been in jail my whole life.

[A]

Did you forgive him for leaving you at 2 years old?

[D]

Yeah, I passed it up, you know. Yeah.

[A]

I feel like every boy, every man needs their dad. Like anybody who tells you that you don't need the dad, huh? What about the girls? Yeah, the girls too. But what I'm saying is you need a father figure man to straighten you out, to make you go the right path, to be there for you when you need a man in your life.

[D]

That's why I joined the hood, because I didn't have one. I looked at the homies for that good job, you know, that shit felt good getting in front of homies. So that's why I was putting in so much work, you know, Good job, good job, good job. You know, chasing a father figure, that's what led me in the gang banging so much. And I realized, you know, I gotta do something different.

[A]

Are they happy for you or homies? The homies.

[D]

In the beginning, it's like my second day out of prison, the homie gave me a strap, Boom, you know, gave me some money. And he's like, come on, let's ride. I'm like, I'm gonna stay right here. You what? I said I'm stay home real quick. I was too embarrassed to tell him that I'm gonna be a rapper, you know? And then, like a week out, I told my homie, I'm gonna be a rapper. He's like, you gonna be a rapper? I'm like, yeah, I'm gonna be a rapper. He's like, man, you fucking tripping, bro. You a loke in the hood, you know, you one of the ones. And I was from my hood, but I followed my dream. And then once it worked out, they seen it, you know, and now they embrace it, you know? I feel like I'm the first Latino they really opened the door to for Latinos out here in LA to think that rapping is cool and I do it my own way. Like, I don't use the N word. Like, you know, just out of. Out of respect, you know, for the culture and, you know, I'm paving my own way, you know, respect that.

[A]

You know, what's crazy is I started rapping. I got a famous album. I sold 2 million. 2 million records with it. It's called Jealous One, Still Envy. And I was out here, probably with Steve Lobel. We started a promo tour. This was Flo Jo, my first record. And we did Arsenio hall, okay? Arsenio hall was the biggest shit in America. Shout out to Stretch Armstrong. He invited me there. Arsenio hall was like, yo, we got Fat Joe in the house. So I went up there and I performed. I quit the whole promo tour to get back to my block because Arsenio was the biggest. Just to be with my boys and be like, yo, I did it. So I remember I went back to New York. The very next day, I pull up to my block in the cab, and it's five of my best friends that I grew up since kindergarten. I'm looking this way, and I jump out the car, yo, and I'm jumping up and down. And when they turned around, three of them had a jealous face. The other two were jumping up and down like me. And three of them was looking like, fuck out of here. That's the first time I ever experienced jealousy. And that's where the name of that album, Jealous Ones, Envy, a Jealous One. Still, Envy came from. Because this game, it come with a lot of envy.

[D]

That hood shit gonna get secured. And I know that, you know, I realize that. So you gotta find a balance between it. But I see through all the fake love, you know, now, since I'm successful, there's some of them that are happy of me. And there's some of them I know they be talking shit, you know, beside

[A]

you showing with success. My thing is, who cares, right? God chose you. You sober. You can see. Yeah, if Fat Joe was to get high, I'd be dead broke right now. I'm not kidding you. I'm not lying. And the direct correlation between guys who make it and become successful and guys who don't is drugs. And that's the difference. So when I look at Netflix and I see a new documentary by Eddie Murphy and starts in a $90 million mansion, and he's sitting in there with shit to the sky and this and this and that. You look at him and say, y', all, I never got high. They was sniffing coke in front of me. They was doing whatever. I ain't do that. That's why he's in a $90 million mansion. And then when you see motherfuckers, you be like, damn, man, this guy was the greatest. This guy was the best. This guy, he ain't got shit.

[E]

Not how you started, how you finish, how you finish.

[A]

Yeah, but what I'm trying to tell you is this. We got a guy. We got one of my idols, right? In salsa music, I think the best salsa singer of all time is called Hector Lavo. Hector Lavo, the cantante. They made a movie about him called a cantante. JLo and Mark Anthony. Mark Anthony, who probably is the second greatest salsa singer ever of history. I might say the first.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

One day I happened to bump into him and the man said, yo, he was going to. He was doing the movie. Hector Lavo was still alive. So he went to his apartment in Spanish Harlem and said that. The man was like, yo, I had it all. Apartments with three floors, gold plaques on the wall, Cadillacs, this, this, that. Look at me, I don't have nothing. Marc Anthony was telling me this story with tears in his eyes. He's like, yo, this was my idol and he was fucked up. And he was telling me that he used to be that nigga. He used to have that house that he used to have that. But when he got on them heavy drugs, it was over.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

So just know that anybody. I'm gonna keep it a buck and I could get backlash for it. All I want. Don't let a woman gas you into using drugs again. Just don't. Cause you're some of the greatest. Scott Storch lost $90 million because a girl who's the most famous girl in the world he was fucking with, brought a girl with him, another famous girl, and said, yo, we gonna Minaj. Who but sniff this.

[D]

Who?

[A]

I can't. But Scott Store said he took that sniff and it his whole life up. He lost $90 million with that.

[E]

He got it back, though.

[A]

Same thing.

[D]

No,

[A]

same thing with. He got about six. What's the Baldwin brother that this whole up? I think he's Haley Bieber's father.

[D]

Alec Bones.

[A]

No, Alec Baldwin. He shot the guy that. That's another ball with the handsome one. He used to hang out with us in the Bronx, the Jimmy's. This guy went on cnn, you could Google it, and said he was with Madonna. I'll give you that one because he said it.

[E]

I don't want that.

[A]

Stephen Baldwin,

[D]

huh?

[A]

Used to come to Jimmy's. Used to be Jimmy's with us every week. Star fly nigger. Original Jimmy's Bronx Cafe in the South Bronx for him. He obviously was busy. Yeah. Around that time. I don't know. But he was. Yeah. Steve, he got the same name. He's invited, he tells a story. He was hanging out with Madonna. Same thing. She told him, you want to take this cocaine and. To his whole life. And that all the Baldwin brothers. He's supposed to.

[E]

You sure about that?

[A]

It's on cnn. Google.

[E]

I just got to protect you.

[D]

I was with Danny Trejo yesterday. No, two days ago. Danny Trejo.

[A]

And he's a fucking legend.

[D]

He a gangster. He was telling me, like, you got the world in your hands. You know what's going to happen if you go this way, and you know what's going to happen if you go this way. So I don't want to be riding you in Pelican Bay, you know, so I've been going to recovery meetings with him, you know, putting in work for the community, trying to get back. Yeah. Beautiful.

[A]

What's the name of your album you work at? You got a name yet?

[D]

Fountain Blue.

[A]

Fountain Blue. Why? Why? Fountain Blue.

[D]

That's the name of my trailer park. Kind of like 8 mile.

[E]

No doubt.

[D]

You know what I'm saying?

[A]

That's fire. You put the world onto it.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

What's the one thing you want people

[E]

to remember and know Lefty Gunplay for?

[D]

For being one of the ones, open the door for the Latinos, you know, putting on the culture, Black and brown, unity. Hopefully I get my own Grammy and my own name and just keep giving back, you know, like Nip, you know, the way Nip did. I really want to get back to the people, you know, I think. I don't think I'm better than nobody, you know, I want to get back to the city and all the kids and make a difference out here.

[E]

Make some noise for that.

[A]

Just know that this ain't that.

[E]

That ain't this. It's cracking Kiss. Make some noise for Lefty Gunplay, baby.

[A]

Appreciate you.

[E]

Any new music on all platforms, get it. Anything he does, make sure you support him.

[A]

Breaking boundaries in that space, baby. We out there doing the right thing. We gotta support him.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

All of la. Whole world, it can happen. Unified, black and brown. I've been preaching this since day one. Together, we're more powerful than anybody.

[E]

Let's get some sneakers now.