Podcast Summary: "Flip Ya Life with Shabazz the OG"

Keep It Positive, Sweetie
Host: Krystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Shabazz the OG
Date: April 16, 2024

Episode Overview

This uplifting and candid episode brings Shabazz the OG—entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and author of "Flip Yup Life"—to the mic. Host Krystal Renee Hayslett digs into Shabazz’s transformative journey from the Philly streets and early music industry days to becoming a beacon of positivity, authenticity, and streetwise mentorship. The episode explores themes of family, faith, personal growth, and finding purpose, delivering hard-won wisdom with humor and warmth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Foundation: Long-standing Friendship and Support

• Krystal and Shabazz reflect on their 17-year bond, revealing how Shabazz supported Krystal through difficult transitions, like her move to Atlanta and pursuit of music.
  • “I'm proud of you lots. Like, beyond, like, proud is an understatement. Proud is cliche…” — Shabazz the OG [01:07]
• Importance of having day-one supporters:
  • Krystal recounts how Shabazz was always in her corner:
    • “You have been there from the beginning. In 2007, we met... you all rallied behind me and was like, 'Chris, whatever you want to do, we got you.’” [03:02]

2. Early Life, Music, and Navigating Philadelphia

• Shabazz’s start as a teenage rapper and radio intern:
  • Describes jump-starting his music career at William Penn High, rapping on Philly’s Power 99 FM, and learning the ropes from radio legend Lady B.
    • “I used to rap on the radio every Sunday towards the end of her show. And that's how I got started.” —Shabazz the OG [08:13]
• Meeting hip-hop notables and learning to network:
  • Early networking brought him into proximity with LL Cool J, MC Lyte, Run DMC, and more.
  • "I learned how to network from being around so many celebrities at a young age." [08:41]
• Transition into radio promotion and party promotion:
  • First projects: working Floetry, The Isley Brothers, and party promotions with stars in the early 2000s.
  • "...the more people I met, the bigger the network grew." [11:41]
• On maintaining integrity in the business:
  • "To survive...with a good name, a clean face. Everything else can come and go, but once your name is destroyed...it's done." [12:58]

3. Growing Up Between Cultures & the Streets

• Roots in Georgia and Philadelphia—navigating two worlds:
  • Shabazz details moving between the South and Philly, experiencing bullying, and eventually toughening up to survive.
  • "Unfortunately, those same streets that were mean to me became appealing to me, you know, and it turned me into something that I wasn't..." [15:13]
• Impact of a strict religious upbringing (Jehovah’s Witness):
  • Felt stifled by prohibitions on sports, relationships, and normal teen activities.
  • “Kids ... they're people with personalities, they're people with feelings, they're people with ideas. ...who I was at my core didn't correlate with the Jehovah Witness religion.” [18:24]
  • Transitioned to Islam at age 22, connecting more authentically with its principles of discipline and accountability:
    • "Islam is what gave me a conscience. Islam established my conscious awareness of how you treat people..." [25:12]

4. The Cost of the Streets: Incarceration and Redemption

• Multiple arrests and lessons learned:
  • Shares a progression from childhood mischief to repeated gun charges and prison in New Jersey.
  • First lockup at 12, culminating in several major cases by the early ‘90s.
  • "They gave me three years off the rip...so they gave me Jersey, gave me three years, and I went to prison." [32:50]
  • Details harsh realities of prison life and how cycles repeat even if you know better.
• Last arrest and turning point (2006):
  • The system's indifference and personal resolve drove him to leave the streets behind:
    • "I just decided I was just going, you know, do what it took, but do other things that it took. ...I just wasn't gonna keep playing with these people." [36:11]

5. Pursuing Purpose: From Motivator to Influencer

• From music industry to mentorship and public speaking:
  • Shabazz now visits prisons, schools, universities, speaking candidly and connecting deeply with both adults and youth.
  • "I have a way with words, and I have a way with communicating ... to make everybody feel like they matter, despite the circumstances." [38:45]
  • Cites a moving experience with a 9-year-old girl impacted by his talk:
    • “Everything you said today changed my whole life. I'm like, wow, nine.” [39:20]
• Becoming a positive force on social media:
  • Credits Meek Mill for his first Instagram viral repost; shares gradual evolution from streetwise humor to guidance and responsibility as his audience grew.
  • "At that time, what I was doing and the way I was doing it was different and refreshing...Meek was the first person to repost..." [40:32]
  • “A 17-year-old kid from Illinois reached out to me in my DM...and all the advice that he can get, he gets it from me.” [42:50]
• Emphasizing authenticity over clout:
  • “I could still be raw, I could still be uncut. But I don't have to be abrasive. ...I'm glad I learned it myself.” [44:57]

6. Building Community & Giving Advice

• Krystal shares how Shabazz is her go-to confidant:
  • “You are the one that I call to this day about anything. And you always pick anything. Anything.” — Krystal [47:48]
• Advice segment—Finding faith through struggle:
  • Shabazz responds to a listener’s letter about finding purpose amid adversity.
    • “Be patient, but still have movement. ...Don't reject your reality chasing what may be someone else's fantasy.” [54:17–56:07]
    • “Sometimes our success is we are able to pay the bills. We did wake up today... Sometimes, people have these issues, you know, with their parents, with their siblings. ...You have a right to not intertwine yourself in negativity.” [56:14; 57:01]
    • “Our lives are testaments of what being faithful brings. …This is why I stick to motivation, because that's my job.” [59:28]

7. Authorship & the Book "Flip Yup Life"

• Origin and evolution of the book:
  • Began the manuscript while in prison in 1998, revisited it later with a new perspective.
  • "If I would have did it in 98, it would have been a bunch of glorified street shit. And I didn't want that." [49:57]
  • The book’s foundation is lessons learned the hard way—via real experiences, not just platitudes.
  • Incorporates guidance on co-parenting, handling authority, and personal accountability.
    • “...the book, again, is a compilation of my experiences from not listening to some of the things that I talk about on social media.” [51:12]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On learning the hard way:
  • “The foundation of the book is based on what my mother said about being hard headed. 'You're gonna learn everything the hard way because you don't listen.'” —Shabazz the OG [50:06]
• On authenticity:
  • “He didn't Google this stuff he's telling us—he went through this stuff. He really lived this.” —Shabazz the OG [51:56]
• On encouragement and gratitude:
  • “Take your pluses, sweetheart, and put your pluses on the table...because if you concentrate on what you're good at and what you're blessed at…what you don't have won't even matter.” —Shabazz [60:37]
• On positive influence:
  • “I'm beyond how many followers, I'm beyond, you know, a blue check—because it's too late. The people know now.”—Shabazz [46:28]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Shabazz’s introduction, relationship with Krystal: [00:09–03:41]
• Early musical journey/internship: [04:55–08:13]
• Networking and music business climb: [08:35–11:41]
• Maintaining integrity in entertainment: [12:51–13:09]
• Life in Philadelphia, struggles as a young man: [13:09–18:24]
• Religious upbringing, conversion to Islam: [18:24–25:15]
• Incarceration stories and impact: [26:18–36:11]
• Giving back—speaking to youth, prison work: [37:00–39:59]
• Becoming a social influencer, Meek Mill story: [40:18–44:56]
• Listener letter & advice on finding purpose: [54:17–61:02]
• About his book, "Flip Yup Life": [48:51–52:13]

Tone and Style

The episode mixes unfiltered storytelling with humor, faith, and straight-talking advice. Shabazz’s style is deeply authentic—he’s unafraid to be vulnerable but always seeks to uplift, inspire, and “keep it positive, sweetie.” Krystal’s warmth anchors the conversation, inviting both tough truths and laughter.

Closing Takeaways

• Be proud of sustained growth and the journey, not just success.
• Faith, self-accountability, and authentic connections are crucial for transformation.
• Positivity is a choice, even when the struggle is real.

“Keep it accountable, sweetie.” — Shabazz the OG [62:45]

Shabazz’s lived wisdom and streetwise transparency make this a must-listen for anyone seeking hope, direction, or just a real conversation about flipping your life.

Find Shabazz:

• Instagram: @shabazztheog
• Podcast: Flip Yup Life (TMT Digital Network)

Find Krystal:

• Instagram: @lovecrystalrenee

Final Encouragement:
Keep it 100, keep it accountable, and as always… keep it positive, sweetie!