Checking In With Bryson Tiller

Summary

Podcast Summary: New Rory & MAL – Checking In With Bryson Tiller

Date: August 21, 2025
Hosts: Rory, Mal (co-hosts not distinctly specified in transcript)
Guest: Bryson Tiller

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Overview

This episode welcomes R&B singer, songwriter, and rapper Bryson Tiller, reflecting on his journey from SoundCloud uploads while working at Papa John’s to stardom, the pressures of following up a classic debut, and his current mindset as an artist and creator. Bryson opens up about fame, musical legacy, label pressure, the impact of social media, his evolving relationship with artistry vs. songwriting, his foray into video game design, and what the future holds.

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Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bryson’s Early Days & Breakthrough

• Uploading “Don’t” While Working a 9-to-5:
  • Bryson recalls uploading “Don’t” to SoundCloud while working a day job and being shocked by its viral success.
  • “Every day I went to work and I would check my locker... I would run on my phone... refresh. Ten thousand... a thousand more plays than I had before... I was like, yo, what is going on?” (05:10)
• Lack of Confidence & Quitting His Job:
  • He almost deleted “Don’t” out of embarrassment, but a friend convinced him to re-upload.
  • After Timbaland encouraged him, Bryson quit his job, only to later realize there was no clear plan (“My boy Rich was like, yo, Timlin said he never told you to quit your job... I was sick, dawg.” [10:21]).
• Organic Growth vs. Social Media Pressure:
  • “These labels and these people, they always want you to get on social media… But I just genuinely believe that, like, if the music is good, it's gonna catch.” (11:42)

2. Dealing With Fame and Artistic Identity

• Reluctance About Spotlight:
  • Bryson repeatedly states he’d prefer to be a songwriter/producer than a superstar:
    • “If you could take away all my fame right now, nobody recognize me, like, I'll be so okay with that.” (21:03)
    • “I really only do it to feed my family… If I could, you know, just write for another artist... I'd stop being an artist right away.” (27:10)
• Struggles With Confidence and Criticism:
  • Reveals vulnerability in being in the public eye, stemming from high school insecurities.
  • “Cause every time I release some stuff, it eats away at me… I just don't like being talked about, to be honest with you. I don't like being in the public.” (27:55)
• Context for "Flop" Album:
  • Candidly discusses his own disappointment in his second album, despite its platinum success.
  • “It ended up being my worst album to date.” (18:11)
  • “That was me on that album… still tall, can dunk, but you were really into it.” (57:27)

3. Creative Evolution & Social Media

• Mixtapes, Gatekeeping, and Tapping Into Fans:
  • Tiller’s “Slum Tiller” mixtapes were about creative fun, frustration with label bureaucracy, and sometimes fans gatekeeping his releases.
  • On TikTok virality:
    • “Power of social media... If I never did that TikTok, nobody would probably still know that song even exists.” (14:13)
• Approach to Social Media:
  • Recently tried playful engagement, but doesn’t want to “sell music” or fit into influencer culture.

4. Industry Collaborations and Relationships

• Rejected OVO Signing (Drake):
  • Cites lack of communication as reason for not signing with Drake’s label.
  • “He just never hit back... at that moment, I got a kid... so I had to go with the most sure shot.” (18:26, 19:04)
• Behind-the-Scenes With Drake & Chris Brown:
  • Limited direct contact with Drake after initial discussions; prefers the role of writer over performer.
  • On his relationship with Chris Brown:
    • “Man, I've learned so much from Chris just being on this tour… he gives it 150%... he doesn’t have bad shows.” (51:12)

5. Musical Impact, Influence & Style

• The Legacy of Trap Soul and Its Descendants:
  • Hosts credit Bryson for pioneering the “Trap Soul” genre; discuss its impact on new, younger artists and the evolution of the “sexy drill” sound.
  • Bryson prefers not to call followers “sons,” instead respecting them as inspired artists:
    • “A thief steals, but a genius borrows. I really respect artists that can figure out a way to borrow from my sound and make it their own.” (38:33)
• Technical Growth as An Artist:
  • Asserts he’s now a much better rapper and artist, wanting people to move beyond “Trap Soul” as his defining moment.
  • “I don't think people really understand my capabilities as an artist. Even as a rapper, like I'm just a much better rapper than I was on Trap Soul.” (15:30)

6. Process, Seasonality and Double Albums

• Artistic Intent and Album Sequencing:
  • “Solace” was made for fall; Bryson intentionally delayed its release so “Vices”—with a summer vibe—could drop first.
  • “Who wants to hear this shit? In the summertime?... As soon as I finished Solace, they wanted to put it out, but I was like, nah, let's wait, because I made it for the fall.” (41:11)
• Collaborations and Picking Features:
  • Chooses collaborators based on mutual respect, not hype:
    • “I decided to rock with people that... been wanting to work with me, respect me.” (43:09)
• His “R&B with Women” Collaboration Idea:
  • Considers doing a collaborative R&B project with female artists, referencing “Could’ve Been” and “Insecure” as standouts.

7. Songwriting and the Alpha Male Problem in Music

• Wants to be a “trusted pen” (like Pooh Bear or Pharrell), but finds male artists too competitive.
• Finds women more collaborative:
  • “The girls, they always like, yo, let's work... That's why I have more features with women than I do with guys.” (63:42)

8. The Pressure of Following a Classic

• Heavy pressure to repeat the magic of “Trap Soul”; the impact of public expectation and the desire to create without worrying about legacy.
• “Every time I release a project... it's an energy pool... Trap Soul being my first album, and me just wanting to be good... seeing so many people say I was bad, just went into the craziest depression.” (57:35)

9. Music Industry as a Game and Future Aspirations

• Developing a Video Game – "Brutal Industry":
  • Focuses on the music industry, mixing anime and fighting genres.
  • “It's about the music industry... you are the protagonist... you get to experience things you will experience in the music industry. It's a fighting game.” (55:38)
• Use of AI in Creativity:
  • Mixed feelings about AI music creation. Uses AI as a creative tool but is skeptical of entire catalogs being fed to train virtual artists.
  • “When you use AI as a tool, I feel like that's when it's best... using it to write a song, that's crazy.” (68:11)

10. Personal Fulfillment and Current State

• On Happiness and Looking Ahead:
  • “I'm so happy, man. It's one of the best years of my life… My life is so good right now.” (69:51)
  • Maintains that if another field (like game design) allows him to provide for his family, he’d walk away from music’s spotlight.
• On His Legacy:
  • Grateful for the support, but not attached to fame.
  • Emphasizes moments over chasing classic albums or critical praise.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On his early SoundCloud success:
  “I genuinely thought somebody was, like, pulling a prank on me... This one had 10,000 plays. Just like, yo, this is crazy. Something's happening, you know?” (05:10)

• On quitting his job for music:
  “So, yeah, I went down there and... he wasn't really rocking with [the songs]... he gave me a little bit of cash... And then I was like, how does this work? Am I signed right now?” (09:56)

• On the OVO situation:
  “If I'm being so blunt, honest. The only reason I didn't sign is just because, like, bro didn't hit me back one time and I was just like...” (18:26)

• On preferring writing to fame:
  “If you could take away all my fame right now, nobody recognize me, like, I'll be so okay with that.” (21:03)

• On double albums and seasons:
  “Solace was always like a fall album to me... on Solace, I was really talking about my feelings and things I was going through, and I was just like, who wants to hear this shit? In the summertime?” (41:11)

• On using AI:
  “When you use AI as a tool, I feel like that's when it's the best... using it to write a full song, that's crazy.” (68:11)

• On collaborating with women:
  “The girls, they always like, yo, let's work... That's why I have more features with women than I do with guys.” (63:42)

• On artistic pressure:
  “Every time I release a project... it's an energy pool. Trap Soul being my first album, me just wanting to be good, and people think I was good... seeing so many people say that I was bad... I went into the craziest depression.” (57:35)

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Key Timestamps

• [03:42] – Bryson joins the show
• [05:10] – The “Don’t” story and viral beginnings
• [08:21] – Quitting his job and first industry interactions
• [11:42] – Thoughts on social media and organic growth
• [14:13] – The power and pitfalls of TikTok and gatekeeping fans
• [18:26] – Drake, OVO, and major label bidding
• [21:03] – Preferring writing to fame
• [27:10] – How public scrutiny affects his creative choices
• [41:11] – Sequencing albums based on seasons
• [55:34] – Details on his video game project
• [68:11] – AI in music and creative work
• [69:51] – Bryson on happiness & his outlook

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Final Thoughts

Bryson Tiller offers rare honesty about creative insecurity, the weight of public expectation, and the tradeoffs of fame versus artistry. His humility about past “failures” and focus on doing what fulfills him—whether making music or developing games—brings refreshing clarity in an industry obsessed with legacy and visibility. The episode also showcases the evolving role of genre, internet virality, and collaboration in contemporary R&B/hip-hop.

If you’re interested in the trials of modern musicianship, hip-hop/R&B’s evolution, or just want to hear an introspective artist speak on success and struggle, this episode is essential listening.

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Transcript

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[Bryson Tiller]

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[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

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[Bryson Tiller]

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[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

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[Bryson Tiller]

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[Bryson Tiller]

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[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

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[Bryson Tiller]

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[Bryson Tiller]

The volume, no worry. And now.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

All right, Rory. We are back with a new episode, and today we are joined by somebody who is a legend in every sense of the word. His story is very unique in how we came to know this artist. Been fan. Been a fan of his for years. We've been supporting him on our platform for years. And, Rory, you would be proud of me because you say I don't just reach out to anybody I don't like. So I took it upon myself last night. First time ever, first time ever in history, and it worked. I was listening to his new album, and I was like, damn, this shit is dope. I was like, let me see. When he could come on the show and reached out, he hit right back, said, y' all pull up tomorrow. So he's here today with us, the legendary singer, rapper, songwriter, Louisville's finest, Penn Griffey. Bryson Tiller is with us today.

We don't have a live studio audience, so we can just.

[Bryson Tiller]

They're clapping at home.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

They're clapping at home, man. Don't worry about that.

Just feel like that intro needs claps.

Yeah, yeah, definitely. Bryson, how you feeling, man?

[Bryson Tiller]

Amazing.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

First of all, thank you for. For responding to. You know, I just cold DMed you yesterday. Literally, this is the real story, Rory. Cold DM yesterday was listening to the project, and I'm like, nah. Bryson going crazy. I don't know if he has a bad album in the discography. He needs to come to the studio. We gotta keep.

[Bryson Tiller]

I definitely do. Think you do. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Which one? Which one is it?

[Bryson Tiller]

My second album, for sure. Yeah. Really? Yeah, yeah. And there's a couple little moments on there, but for the most part, it was. Yeah, it was.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

You wasn't really feeling that one.

[Bryson Tiller]

A lot of people wasn't really feeling that one. You know what I mean? But, you know, for me, definitely not, because, you know, I was not confident as much as I normally would be, you know?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

But let's go to the beginning. So your story with Don't. And I think I heard you say this before, you were still working a regular job when you put that song on SoundCloud, I was still. When it's blowing up, taking off, what is that moment like? Like, when you put a song out, you're not really sure what the reception is gonna be, and then, boom, it takes off and now you're here in New York on tour with Chris Brown. Like, what is that moment, though, back in 2014, when you upload the SoundCloud and then everything just goes from there.

[Bryson Tiller]

Man, I always go back to that moment. I genuinely thought somebody was, like, pulling a prank on me or something. Cause I, like, put it on SoundCloud and I know you can, like, pay for plays and whatnot. I thought somebody was, like, pranking me. Every day I went to, like, work, and I would check my locker. I would run on my phone whenever the bed was like, break. I was working at Boba John's warehouse.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Okay?

[Bryson Tiller]

It's like, break. And we went to break. Running my phone, check my SoundCloud refresh. Ten thousand. A thousand more plays than I had before. You know what I mean? Earlier that morning, I was like, yo, what is going on? My songs was, like, fluctuating between like, 1500, 2000 plays. I was like, yo, that was good for me. You know what I mean? But this one had 10,000 plays. Just like, yo, this is crazy. Something's happening, you know? So I always think about that moment right there. Me just checking my locker and pulling my phone.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

But that. That. That song so don't takes off.

That was when you didn't even want to upload, if I remember you saying.

[Bryson Tiller]

Correct. Yeah, yeah. Cause I had uploaded it once, and I just. I hadn't done music in so long from that point because I. I just stopped because I was having a daughter. And I was like, bro, I'm not trying to be somebody out here looking like, I gotta get a real job. Yeah. Like, I was like, let me get a real job, like, and stop trying to make it or whatever. And, yeah, my daughter. That was just not enough for me to be honest. Like, I was like, bro, I'm broke. And, yeah, I uploaded it. And I was a little embarrassed about it. Cause I was like, I don't know. I just always get like that with music. Anytime I release anything, that's like, one of my biggest issues. Like, I'm always like, I'm better than this. So I just delete it. You know what I'm saying? And somebody called me right up, My boy Stephon. And he was like, yo, why you delete that? You know, you gotta post that back up on SoundCloud. Like, he just told me some girls was listening to it. It was vibe with. That was all I needed to hear. I was like, yo, that's why I do it right there.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah, the ladies like it. Like, all right, let me. Let Me upload this again?

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah. For real? Like, so I did, and it was.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Just organic through SoundCloud of how it caught.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, organic through SoundCloud. I mean. Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Who were some of the first people reaching out to you once it did start to spread?

[Bryson Tiller]

First people to reach out. Timbaland. My dog Rich used to be a barber for a long time, and he was cutting up everybody. And, you know, I met Timbaland here in New York, like, maybe a year before that.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Okay.

[Bryson Tiller]

And I wasn't even supposed to be in the studio. He was working on Magna Car, the Holy Grail. I remember my boy Rich had, like, snuck a picture with me and Timbaland, you know what I mean? Wasn't supposed to. I, like, posted on my Facebook, and I was like, yo, I ain't saying now, my time or a year from now, even two years from now, but just know. Yeah, you know what I mean? Something's happening, but nothing was happening at all.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

He didn't even know I was there.

[Bryson Tiller]

He didn't even. Like, he heard the music, but he didn't like it. He was like, whatever.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

So wait, he didn't like your music at that time? No, this was before. Don't. Before any of that. I, like, switched up my whole sound. Like, I was like, I'm. I'm about to be more grown with it. And. And then I finally uploaded that song, and I got a call from Rich, and he's like, yo, Timbo won't holler at you. I was in a movie theater. I just had. I got off an argument with my girl at the time, and I was down bad.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Well, you won the argument.

[Bryson Tiller]

Huh?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

You won the argument. Y' all gotta hang up. Timberland called.

Timberland's on the other line. I'll call you back.

[Bryson Tiller]

Back. So then he was like, yo, quit. You know, yo, quit your job. Whatever. Well, actually, I told him I was like, yo, I can't come to Miami because I gotta work. He said, this is work. And I was like, well, what you saying? You saying, like, I quit my job or something? He was like, yeah. And I was like, all right, bet. So I literally went to my job. I couldn't wait. Flew back. I was in Philly, actually. Flew back to Louisville. Drove the whole way. First we was taking turns on the way to Philly. This way. I drove all the way back by myself.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Wait, wait, wait, wait. So you driving from Philly to Louisville knowing that Timbaland just told you yo quit your job?

[Bryson Tiller]

Yep.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

How fast was you driving? Cause I know that gotta Be like, I gotta get to Louisville right now.

[Bryson Tiller]

I was speeding, dog. Like, I was really trying to get back. My car was fucked up. I didn't even care. But I just had to get back so I could go to my job and be like, yo, I'm waiting. And I went to go tell him, say, yo, the Timbaland wants to work with me. I think they really thought I was talking about, like, the Boot company or something. I was like. I was like, yo. They was like, all right, man.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Well, yeah, man, but where it is, that's hilarious.

[Bryson Tiller]

So I was like. I was like, all right, cool. So, yeah, I went down there and, you know, I recorded, like, maybe three or four songs from Trap Soul. And, you know, this ain't the, like, slight timing or nothing at all, but, like, he wasn't really. He really wasn't really rocking with him too much like that. And he was like, yo, we need more songs. Like, don't. And I was just like, but I already got. Don't. I already got that. You know what I mean? And this is like, I said, these are songs that made Trap Soul that I was playing on. And then which ones didn't he? Like, sorry, Not Sorry, Been that Way.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Was that, like, the third single?

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was a couple of them that he wasn't really rocking with. And then I got back home, and then, like, he gave me, like, a little bit of cash whenever I got back home. And, you know, that cash was running, running out. And I was like, dang. So, like, how does this work? Am I, like, signed right now? So I called him up. I was like, yo, so, like, when am I gonna get my next payment? You know?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

You told me to quit my job.

Papa John's, they pay me every two weeks.

Yeah, yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

And then they was like, oh. And my boy Rich was like, yo, Timlin said he never told you to quit your job. And I was like, nah. God.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Hey, Tim. What you doing, dog? What's up, man?

[Bryson Tiller]

What you doing? I was sick, dawg. I was sick. Cause, like, my girl at the time was already looking at me crazy. Cause, like, I quit my job. You know what I mean? And that was how we was taking care of our kids. So I was like, I had to figure something out. My dog Gerald actually is the one who helped me end up getting my daughter's, like, Christmas presents or whatnot. But anyways, at that point, that was when I realized I was like, all right, I gotta. I just gotta keep going. And I had a manager at the time who told me to quit my job. He was like, telling me beforehand to quit my job before Timlin. But, you know, I ain't really wanna. I ain't know that dude like that. And I was like, bro, I ain't quit my job. Cause you telling me. But Timlin said, it's a different story.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

It's a different story coming from Timlin.

[Bryson Tiller]

But at that point, I was like, hey, yo, you kinda gotta. You told me to quit my job, so you kinda gotta take on this responsibility, bro. Like, what we gonna do? Like, I'm gonna just make music. Let's figure it out. And I came up here to New York, a recorded exchange, like a couple other joints, right my wrongs, like, from. From Trap. So I just basically started making Trapso. And then next thing you know is like, every week something was happening. Every week something amazing was happening. I just couldn't believe. It was like. It was like a wildfire. And that's like. Yeah, that's what I. You know, these labels and these people, they always want you to get on social media and do the dances and do everything to promote your music. But I just genuinely believe that, like, if the music is good, it's gonna catch. You know what I mean?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

That's one thing I did notice about you. You don't really play the social media game like that.

[Bryson Tiller]

I don't, man. Lately I've been kind of fucking around with it just because I'm like, I'm just be me at the end of the day, and I'm gonna just do some goofy shit.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

But, like, I don't do it to, like, sell music. You know what I mean? I don't really do it for that reason. I really just. At the end of the day, what I realized is, like, you know, you know, Instagram's crazy now. Cause, like, you gotta pay to reach your followers, which is the people that follow you already. Y crazy. It makes no sense to me. So I'm just like, that's so wild. Like, there's people that genuinely just don't know that I ever released music. So I'm like, damn, this look like I gotta figure something out to, like, tell people. So that'll be the only reason I want to. But after I really started thinking about, I was like, bro, I'm not doing this, man. The music's good. It's good.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I hear it.

[Bryson Tiller]

If y' all don't hear it, who cares, right? You know what I'm saying? But there was one moment where I realized that, like, this could really. This could really help because there was like a moment when I was working on the Bryson Tiller album was my self titled. And I got so tired of working on it. Cause I was like, bro, I just wanna go have some fun and make music. So I went to Miami.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

That's a place to have fun.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, I went to Miami. I actually live in Miami, but I went back. I was in LA recording this album or whatever, okay. But I was like, I'm going back to Miami. I'm about to make a mixtape. I'm putting on SoundCloud. Like the old days, you know what I mean? Cause that's all I give a fuck about. And I started making this mixtape series called Slum Tiller. And I made Volume one. And it was fun. Cause I was like, yo, I didn't have to think about labels, clearances or nothing. It's just music. And you know, some fans be pissed cause they like, yo, you too big to be dropping on sound. I'm just like, bro, y' all don't even be hearing this shit anyway. So it's just like, who cares? At the end of the day, I just want to give y' all music. Y' all be complaining that I don't release music. Blah, blah, blah. Here it is. I don't feel like waiting on a label. I don't feel like waiting on none of that clearance bullshit. Yeah, whatever.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

So by the way, the Dillo record with Sean is like one of my favorite joints.

[Bryson Tiller]

Oh, that was Volume three.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

Yeah, that joint is crazy.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah. So I did Volume two and that was where Whatever She Wants was on, but nobody had ever heard it. And I saw some people on TikTok talking about like, yo, somebod posters, like, yo, Rap Tiller brought us back, blah, blah, blah. And it was like, yo, we gotta gatekeep this. Don't say nothing. I was like. I was like, is this why nobody's hearing my music?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah. Gatekeeper.

Sometimes fans can be your worst enemies. When they get in that mold of, like, we don't want anyone else to hear, like, this is our thing. Like, I have to feed my kids wild.

[Bryson Tiller]

I don't like that at all. So anyways, I posted a tick tock and that just blew up. And everybody was like, oh, Bryce still got a new song coming out. And then there's people in the comments like, nah, actually it's already out.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah, but.

[Bryson Tiller]

But it took off. It was like one of the biggest rap songs that year. And then that's when I really realized the power of social media. Cause if I never did that TikTok. Nobody would probably still know that song even exists. It would just be one of those cult classics or those little. You know what I mean?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

It's crazy. Cause last year, at the end of the year, we do our year end wrap up and we go to our phones to see what we listen to the most. And now I'm a fan of yours. I say that with all respect, but I did not expect you to be one of my most listened to.

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

Artists like, no, it's kind of gay, right?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I played that album and. And I was surprised because we sat here and I was like Bryce and Tiller like the album. I was like, calypso is hard. I didn't know. I listened to this this much. That to me is one of your best albums.

[Bryson Tiller]

Thank you, bro.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah, like that, that project, Whatever she wants. I like that record because it sounds like you was like writing it in real time. Like it wasn't even finished. Cause you like mumbling or some of it. You go into the hook, the Calypso rack. It's a bunch of joints on there. But to me that's one of your, I think, most well rounded as far as production.

[Bryson Tiller]

Thank you.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

And just music. And I feel like you experimented with your sound a little bit on there. It was still trap soul, but it wasn't as trap soul.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, nah, 100%. I was definitely the goal.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

And then your Christmas album that nobody talks about.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, yeah, that was. Yeah. I would say with the Bryson Tiller album, like the goal for that for me was like, you know, a lot of people just be talking about trap soul. Trap soul. And I appreciate it. You know what I mean? I'll never like try to take nothing away from it, but I'm like, I don't think people really understand my capabilities as an artist. I mean, even as a rapper, like I'm just a much better rapper than I was on Trap Soul. Like way better. And I mean, you can go back and listen, just compare my new raps to the rap like me on Mini Kelly with Rick Ross to 10, 9, 14 on Trap Soul and just listen to how much better of a rapper I am.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I think you got Ross in that record. I can confidently say no. I really. Even though Ross gave you like 80.

[Bryson Tiller]

Bars, which I have snapped for one. But let me say this, there's a couple different types of listeners, right? There's people who like really like really listen like to HOV and who can dissect lyrics and understand certain. And then there's the people who are just like, what is he saying? You know what I mean? Like. But Rick Ross is very clear, and you understand everything he's saying, you know, versus me. I'm, like, very, like, you know, dicey with it.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

But you were saying on there. I don't know if I believe you went to the strip club with the shiesty on, because that sounds dangerous.

[Bryson Tiller]

No, no, no.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

That was you down.

[Bryson Tiller]

At least that was actually in reference to the Whatever She Wants video in that whole moment. Like, I was writing that song about, like, the reaction that somebody had to the video because it was like, what are you doing? Blah, blah, blah. And I was just like, yo. Like, in that moment, I was so, like, kind of ashamed of myself, like, for even doing that. So I was just like, fuck it. I'm about to just. I just felt like spider man with the black mask on. You know what I mean? Black spider man. And I just was like, fuck it. I'm gonna be a different person. So that was. I was referring to that. But, you know, I was also saying on the song, like, yo, look, what I learned from that song actually, was to just be earnest and just be honest and just be true. Because that was the one. One of the few songs on. On. On the Bryson Till album that I wrote, actually.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Okay.

[Bryson Tiller]

And it was the biggest song. It's still the biggest song. It's the only reason that people even. I mean, I won't say it's the only reason, but, you know, it's the biggest song on the album. So what I learned from that was that, like, I was like, you know what? I'm gonna just write all my. My shit, my next. My next album. You know what I mean? That was how I started. I wrote all the trap soul. I wr. But the Bryson Till album was the first album where I was like, you know what? I'm just. I'm gonna let other people tell me what they think I should do. You know what I mean? I felt like that's what I should have did with my second album because there was so many people that was inspired by what I was doing, and they wanted to, like, either emulate my sound and be like, yo, what you think about this? And I should have just. I wish I went that route.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

To, like, work with different people. But, like, I was so hung up. That was the era when everybody was like, oh, double platinum with no features. I was so caught up on that.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

You know? And I did go platinum with no features again on the second album, but it ended up being my worst album to Date.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

So talk about the. Because when don't came out and Trap Soul, there was talks of Drake reaching out, wanting to sign you to ovo.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yep.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

What was that conversation like? And why did you choose not to sign?

[Bryson Tiller]

I mean, if I'm being so blunt, honest. The only reason I didn't sign is just because, like, bro didn't hit me back one time and I was just like, this is in the moment where my label was, like, they was hounding me, they was flying me. They was trying to get me away from Drake. I was like, yo, OVO is really in my blood, for real. Like, I really have studied his catalog. You know what I mean? There's a couple people that I like, really consider, like, huge strands of my musical DNA, and Drake is one of them. But, yeah, label was trying to get me away from him. They was flying me. He was in Coachella or whatever. They said, we gotta get Bryson outta la. I'm not knowing none of this is going on. We gotta get him outta la. Now I'm in Miami and then I'm like, whatever. I'm still wanting to sign the Ovia. I'm just trying to finish Trap, So whatever. Then they fly me to New York and then I get there and they was like, yeah, we're here to sign the rca. And I was, like, pissed about it. So I remember, like, I, like, went through. I tried to go back to some of those old Drake songs when he was on the verge of probably going through bidding wars and shit. And I think I listened to the calm and he was talking, and that was this one that I was just like, dang. So I sent him one last text just to see, like, yo, man, like, I don't know what to do, blah, blah, blah. And he just. He never hit back. And I know he's just a busy, super busy dude, so not saying he didn't want me to sign or whatever, but, like, at that moment, like, you know, I got a kid and I got people back home that's like, looking at me like, is he gonna do it? Is he gonna make it? So I was just like, I had to go with what was like, the most sure shot. And people still to this day be like, oh, I feel like you'd be a bigger artist if you signed OVO and blah, blah, blah. And then there's other people that be like, you wouldn't be as big of a.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

It's always that. There's always that side of it. Yeah, exactly that.

Yeah, I feel the latter. I feel the latter. I think Just where Drake was in his career, he was so focused on him still being. He was still going up at that time to focus, to be, like, a label owner at that time.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I think that's why Weeknd didn't sign either. Like, yeah, no, you're. Your OVO is a Drake focused thing. Like, if Marty's here, cool. But I feel like I could be just as big as you, so why would I sign to you?

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah. I'll be honest. I definitely didn't feel that way because I'm like, I don't. You know, I don't really. I don't. I'm not really in it to be, like, a superstar, you know, I'm being honest with you. Like, I loved, you know, making people happy with music and giving them moments and stuff. But, like, as far as, like, being on stage and being the most famous dude and, like, everybody recognizes I just don't care about that type of shit, you know? So, like, when people would say, like, oh, he gonna put you on the shelf and you gonna be on the sweatshop, I was like, cool. I'm cool with that. I was like, dog, I know how to write. Yeah, yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I gotta make a. I would love to write.

[Bryson Tiller]

Take care. Yeah, yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I gotta create.

[Bryson Tiller]

I'll write anything that he asked me to do. Like, and be just as rich. I don't. Like, if you could take away all my fame right now, nobody recognize me. Like, I'll be so okay with that.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

That's the cheat code. When you can still do what you love, make music, and nobody knows you. Making a shit ton of money, you can travel, you can do what you want, and you can go anywhere. Nobody knows you. That's the cheat code in life. Like, we all. Well, some people want to be famous, but most people want to be successful and be able to live their life comfortably. But he did pull you out on the set at wireless?

[Bryson Tiller]

Yep.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

The response was crazy. What's the conversations like now with Drake? Seeing where you are, obviously, with your career and the music you put out, knowing that that moment happened. Cause he didn't hit back. Like, what are those conversations? Like, behind the scenes? Like, damn, we could have made it happen. But, you know, things went another way.

[Bryson Tiller]

We don't really talk, to be honest. Like, we had, like, a brief conversation before Wireless at, like, this little. Little party, whatever, some restaurant or whatever. But, you know, it's a setting. It's a bunch of. I ain't want to talk his ear off about all that shit. So I'm just like, you know, whatever. But it was a good conversation. I was just telling him how I didn't really want to be an artist like that. And then he would just kind of tell me why he felt like I should be an artist. And, you know, I didn't really get to go into detail of why I really didn't want to be an artist.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

But, like, why don't you want to be an artist?

[Bryson Tiller]

I just feel like I just be a better writer. I just think I. I don't know. Like, I look at songs like, you know, like orphans or something. Like, I feel like that I just want them to go to the best home, you know, maybe they shouldn't be here at the orphanage with me. You know what I mean? Like, not getting as much love because it's like I don't promote my shit. You know what I'm saying? They just be sitting and I just feel like the songs could be way better with other artists, whether it be Chris Brown or Drake or whoever. Want me to write for him. Like, I would much rather do that.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

That's interesting.

Yeah, I can definitely see that perspective. So it was kind of like a catch 22 when you got on Wild Thoughts.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Because that. That record was ever. Obviously it's Brianna, too.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

So. And I remember you saying you didn't like your verse on that.

[Bryson Tiller]

So here's what happened. So you need to have more confidence. It's not that.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah, he.

[Bryson Tiller]

This.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Don't know how dope he is, man. This thing is crazy, man.

[Bryson Tiller]

Here's what, right? So, like, I got the song. It was Party Next Door, the version that I had.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Okay.

[Bryson Tiller]

I wasn't allowed to have the Rihanna version. Understood. You know, it's like, you know, like a sensitive.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

So I was just like, all right, cool. So I wrote on the Party Next Door version, and I told Khaled, I was like, yo, should we pitch this up? You know what I mean? Because she's going to be singing another octave. I don't want to record my verse. So anyways, that was what happened. Like, I'm sure you heard the story of Khaled jumping over the gate or something like that. Trying to get. Maybe you never heard that story. It was a story that was going viral a couple years ago, like, trying to jump over a gate, like, trying to get the vocal. He's like, yo, he was telling the story, actually himself.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

And I was just like, yo. It was just. I was going through a lot of at the moment. Love you, Khaled. You know what I mean? Just so, you know, anyways, what happened was like the reason why I was already going through all that with the, you know, just the Internet was grilling me for my second album. All this trash, trash, trash. He fell off all types of platinum, but he fell off and all that. And then next thing you know, like being on the song Rihanna, that's like a different level of star power.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Oh, yeah, that's. That's like so, like.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, so I was used to getting hate at this point, like from just random Twitter accounts and people, whatever. But I saw 50 verified motherfuckers doing the same shit to me that day. When that came out, they was like, oh, man, he should have been off this. I was like, yo, you verified, bro.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Before you could buy a check too.

[Bryson Tiller]

Like, yeah, that was before. These are real people. I was like, yo, what have I done? I was so embarrassed, bro. I was like, yo, I don't remember.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

The backlash on that record came out about his verse.

[Bryson Tiller]

Nobody ever sees it with me.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Somehow in our own bubble where we see our mentions and see a lot of shit that other people don't see. But I remember everyone just loving that record.

[Bryson Tiller]

Absolutely.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Around that time when I came in, I was like, I didn't know that that peaked at number two. I thought that was the number one record for sure.

[Bryson Tiller]

I didn't even know it was number two. That's crazy.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I thought that shit was number one that you couldn't go. You going Target, cvs, the airport, anywhere you went, that fucking record was playing. The fact that that only peaked at number two is like, I mean, that's not a knock. That's not incredible. But was.

It definitely felt like hell or something.

Yeah, that definitely felt like a number one record. Like, that's absolutely crazy. So at wireless. Cause I love the response that you got when you came out on this set. For you to say you don't really see yourself as an artist. But then you go on stage at a festival as big as wireless and cd, the reception and the love that all of these people are giving you, how do you fight that? Like, when you get off stage, you go back to your room and you like, I'd rather just write. Like, there's people that obviously love you as an artist.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

How do you deal with that back and forth of emotions, of, do I really want to be an artist forward facing people know me, or do I just want to write these songs and work with these other artists and get these records out? Like, how do you deal with that? Because in talking to you, I really Feel like you really, you know, that you're talented, but in your mind, you probably feel like, yo, I really don't wanna do this. Like, I'd rather just write these songs, so. But to see that love when you hit the stage and that reception, how do you deal with that? How do you go through those talks with yourself?

[Bryson Tiller]

I love the fans. I really do. And I really appreciate when they treat me like I'm somebody. Like, you know, the people that I looked up to growing up, when they treat me like that, that's always dope, man. Sometimes it's not like that. Sometimes I go out there and they'll just be like, nigga, when you getting off the stage? You know, like, I've gotten that. But. And I'd be like, yo, trust me, I don't want to be here either. It's okay.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

We're on the same page.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, exactly. Like, don't worry, I'll be off as soon as I can. But anyways, he's all told.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Chris Brown right there.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, but nah, I just. I really only do it to. To feed my family and take care of people, bro. You know, like, being an artist right now, and it took me a long time to really get my money right and figure out and how now I'm straight and my family's straight. Before, for a minute, I was, like, really struggling there, like, trying to get it back and figure out what the hell I was gonna do. But, like, you know, if I could, you know, somebody called me, if Drake called me tomorrow and said, hey, bro, like, just write for me. For the rest of, you know, whatever, whoever. Chris, yo, just write for me or all these people, like, I would stop being an artist right away. You know what I mean? Like, I'm working on the game right now. I've been studying game design for, like five years. And, you know, granted, I'm not doing it really for the money, but, like, the moment I have some success in something else that can feed my family the same way I'm feeding my family right now and take care of the people. I'm done being an artist, you know, just because, like, why, you know? Cause every time I release some stuff, it eats away at me. Like, it's a huge energy pool. No matter if it's just receive what. I just don't like being talked about, to be honest with you. I don't like being in the public.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Even if it's good, Even if it's.

[Bryson Tiller]

Good, I don't care. Because it's like, you know, it's balanced like, if people are talking good about something, you know, it's always going to be like, people that are talking bad, they want to be different.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Absolutely.

[Bryson Tiller]

So it's just like, oh, well, not. So I just. I'd rather not be talked about.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Where do you think that comes from?

[Bryson Tiller]

Huh?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Where do you think that comes from? That mentality?

[Bryson Tiller]

Maybe. Maybe never being good enough in high school. Like, I was really a nerd in high school. Like, I ain't really talk to nobody. All I did was walk around, listen to music every day and, you know, I was a kid that dressed different and whatnot.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

It paid off, though.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

It did kind of like make the dad hat a thing.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, I mean. Yeah, I don't know. The fans, they definitely, you know, when they show me love, it definitely makes me want to go out there and do it for them. You know, I really appreciate when they pulling up and lining up just to see me and, you know, checking out my music and stuff. But, like, I don't know, like I said, I just feel like a lot of the music that I write would just be so much better for other artists.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Who's the artist that. Aside from the obvious, but who's some of the artists that you're dying to work with? Like, I really want to get in the studio and write with this artist.

[Bryson Tiller]

To write for em.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

We know Drake, you know, Chris Brown.

[Bryson Tiller]

In write for him. I mean, to be honest, like, because I studied Drake and Chris Brown for so long, and Wayne, like, obviously I would want to write for any of those people, even though they don't necessarily. I won't say need it or nothing like that, but I would really write for whoever. Like, I would have loved to just, like, play music for people like Pharrell. When you people pull up on Pharrell, he's like, got a bunch of songs he plays. He, like, finds for the artist. See if they, like rock with a pooh Bear. Another example, like, he got a bunch of songs that he can just, like, hear somebody's album be like, yo, I got something like this. What do you think about this? Or just write on something and, like, they. People trust him. They trust his. His ear, his pen. And I want to be somebody that's trusted like that. But I always get looked at as, like, an artist. And, you know, I feel like me being an artist has made, you know, a lot of these guys. There's a lot of alpha males in the music industry. Like, a lot of them are very competitive. You know what I mean?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

A lot of Fake alpha males.

A lot of fake ego. Yeah. It's just.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, well, I've experienced it a lot. You know what I mean? It's just, like, people look at you and treat you like a threat and, like, the way I've been, you know, I know I pop my shit a lot in these songs, but that's just because I have to. But also, you know, like, I come in peace. Like, I'm not really here to, like, take nobody's spot or one up. Nobody will be bigger than somebody.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

You know what I mean? But, like, when they start to, like, treat me like, you know, like, they bigger than me or, like, I should, like, bow down to them, it's just like, that's a problem. Yeah. Now I got a problem with that, bro. Because, like, you're not even really that talented. You know what I mean?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

It's always that, like, you not even that dope. Relax, fam.

[Bryson Tiller]

Like, I'm smoking. Like, nah, for real. That I be wanting to chill. Cause it's like, yo, we strong. I think we stronger together.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Absolutely.

[Bryson Tiller]

You know what I mean? Like, all of us artists. Like, I see so many artists beefing with each other, and I know, like, that's the sport and people love it. You know what I mean?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

The competitive edge and, you know, to kind of be better.

[Bryson Tiller]

I get it, man. But, like, I don't know. Yeah, so that's the one. Another reason why I hate being an artist. Cause it's like, I gotta deal with that shit.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah. The egos can't get in contact with certain people. Like, every time I stream, they, like, collab with this person, collab with that person, collab with this person. And, like, I'm like, yo, I've tried. I've tried to collab with all those people. People. And all of them just don't hit me back. Or, like, who don't? I ain't gonna say no names, but there's a lot of people that, like, the most common people you will say that people want to hear.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I hope it's not one that I'm dumb. Like, I would love. Let's just.

[Bryson Tiller]

Let's just not even say the name. Let's just let all the viewers out there just think about who it is.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I mean, if you actively get into just songwriting, I feel like that may still be something you have to run into, though, because you do have to reach out to people and be like, yo, I have a bunch of references. I got a bunch of stuff I'd like to write for you.

[Bryson Tiller]

But that's the thing.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I don't really.

[Bryson Tiller]

I want people like Pooh Bear. People reach out to Pooh Bear. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's what I want to be. And granted, I'm not nowhere near as, you know, where Pooh Bear, Pooh Bear has done a lot. That's my big brother and I learned a lot from him. But like, you know, I would rather people just be like, damn. You know what? I kind of want to hear what Bryson has in mind for this. I want to know what Bryson would think about this project that I'm working on. You know, like the same way I would call. But I get a lot of people are like really protective of their creative energy and I definitely don't want to, you know, muddy up the waters and whatnot. So.

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[Bryson Tiller]

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[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

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[Bryson Tiller]

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[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

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[Bryson Tiller]

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[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Trap soul, now, it's a. It's. It's you. Obviously, you know, that's your. I want to say your sound that you created. Yeah, definitely coined the genre. You coined the genre. And I feel like Bryson Tiller has a lot of kids out here now as a result of the sound trap. So we were just talking about the album the other day. Rory was talking about the sexy Drill and how that. That's like a hot sound. You even have some of that on a new project. And it's really just the drums. That's all the drill shit is as far as I'm concerned. But how do you feel seeing, you know, younger guys who might be, you know, I guess, quote unquote, the Y N street kids, but now they're making that type of music where the girls are dancing and they're having fun at these parties, knowing that that's a direct extension of trap soul.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Like, as. Bryson, how do you feel hearing these songs? Like, okay, I like what they did. I like how they took that and put their spin on it and having fun in their own way. But. But realistically, trap solos would birth that.

[Bryson Tiller]

I mean, it's debatable for a lot of people. I feel like there's a great quote out there that says, a thief steals, but a genius borrows. And I really respect artists that can figure out a way to borrow from my sound and make it their own. I actually got into an argument. Well, not really arguing, but my homies was in the club. My dog Prem, shout out. Prem, shout out. Chubbs, Movio. He's in a little spot. And they was like, yo, so and so is your son. And I was like, yo, I don't really like that.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Did they?

[Bryson Tiller]

Huh? No, no, no. That was like, so and so's your son. I was just like, yo, I don't really like that. Because, like. But they didn't mean it that way. They meant it more like, yo, like, he's inspired by you. And. And I was just like, yeah, but every time you hear some. Somebody's my son in music is always, like, a negative connotation. Like, it's always anytime. Think about it. Anytime you've ever heard anybody say somebody is my son in the song, they always put when.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

When you word it like that. That they're my son.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yes.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

But like, how Maul said, you have a lot of kids out here. I don't think that's offensive. Like, I. I think just a lot of people were inspired by a genre that you created, more or less. But, yeah, that's my son. I could see. Definitely disrespectful, for sure. But, I mean, what made you want to hop on the Sexy Drill stuff? For this project?

[Bryson Tiller]

For this project. I got a couple more coming out, but my dog Velis, really just the people I'll be working with. You know, he from out here, so, you know, he. He had that beat, and I loved it. And I'm on couture, Chris. So I was like, yo, that was, like, sampling Ain't no Way by Chris Brown. I was like, yo, this is perfect. And that was actually the song that, like, kicked off my rap album. I was like, yo, I'm about to, like, make some rap music. Like, really just cater to women and people that love women. You know what I'm saying? So. But anyways, yeah, no, a lot of Sexy Drill vibes, and, you know, I really just. I like working on everything. My dog Charlie, he makes every type of beat, and we just try to make anything. To be honest.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I mean, I feel like the way they chop the samples in Sexy Drill now is how. How y' all chopped the sample on exchange. Now it's just Drill behind it. That's why I feel like that's not your son, but your kids. Yeah, with the Sexy Drill.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, for sure.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

What made you drop the second disc first?

Solids and fixes. Fixes. I mean, vices. Solids and vices. I'm sorry.

[Bryson Tiller]

So the reason why was just because Solace was always like a fall album to me. And.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Hold up. I like that already. What I like as an artist that he recognized. Seasons need to change for this type of music. A lot of people don't pay. And that's a real thing. The seasons in music is a very real thing that I don't think a lot of people pay attention to.

[Bryson Tiller]

I think about that stuff. Cause, you know, on Solace, I was really talking about my feelings and things I was going through, and I was just like, who wants to hear this shit? In the summertime, you know what I mean? Like, maybe there's some people out there that want to be sad in the summertime, but me, I'm trying to have a. I don't.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I'll be sad any season.

[Bryson Tiller]

I'm ready to go have. I'm ready to go have a good time. You know what I mean? Like, I'm trying to be out. I'm trying to be played in the cars, like, loud. Like, not just the sad people. Like, I'm trying to be in the mix of, like, girls getting ready to go out to the club. You know what I mean? Like, so I was like, you know. You know, this album was the. Soon as I finished Solace, you know, they wanted to put it out, but I was like, nah, let's wait, because I, like, made it for the fall. I was like, yo, I'm about to just make a rap album. I'm tired of talking about my feelings anyway. Let's just. I'm just gonna have some fun summer vibes. Good vibes. Let's put that out and let's make a double album. And, you know.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah, so now you on Vices. We talked about when he came out, and it was like, yeah, you know, Bryson's putting out a project double disc, I think, one he's gonna be rapping on. And I was like, all right, is it rapping, like, straight rapping, or is it Bryson rapping, where he's melodic? So they was like, nah, I think he rapping. I was like, I love Bryson, man, but I hope it's not just straight rappers rap. So I listened to the. The. The album Last two Days, and I'm like, okay, this is. This is Bryson. This is what he's always done. People was on Twitter like, oh, you owe Bryson apology. I'm like. But I didn't say nothing negative. I was saying I hope he's given us the melodic Bryson like the Rambo and. Yeah, yeah, that type of. And it's incredible. But the features, though, how did some of those features. Because I was not expecting a Bryson till Plies T Pain.

[Bryson Tiller]

That goes back to what I was telling y' all earlier. Like, you know, when people like, I'll collaborate with this person. I can't get none of those people on the phone. You know what I mean? So I like, with this project, who.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

You can't get on the phone.

[Bryson Tiller]

I. Bro, I ain't saying no names.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Get on the phone. All of them, I don't believe.

[Bryson Tiller]

So anyways, I decided to rock with people. That. That. With Me that been wanting to work with me, respect my. Respect me, you know, I'm not asking nobody to bow down to me by no means, but just like, people who just see, like a mutual. Yeah, like, I see these people as my equals. Like, I. Plaza's an equal. I don't see him as somebody who. You know what I mean, T Pain, all these people, like. So I'm just like, yo, let's just make music, bro.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

And I like the way you use T Pain in that. It was like he's in the background vocals. It's not really a verse. It's like, yo. Because I think Peas was. He was like, yo, is that T. Pain? And I was like, that's definitely T. Pain vocals. That was like a dope way to kind of like, put T Pain on it. But that's one of my favorite joints on there. But the last record you was talking, that was the record I think you used to get your shit off. Is it finished?

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, I think so.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Finished line in particular, remember, they gave the cold the shoulder throwing them jokes and stones just for rocking them ovos. But, you know, that shit was bogus. Yeah, explain that bar.

[Bryson Tiller]

You know, there was a moment where I got some Jordans from Drake.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Okay.

[Bryson Tiller]

And you know, there was this people talking shit about me for, like, rocking the Jordans. Like, oh, you know, he ain't signed to ovo. He don't wanna be, basically. And I'm just like, you know, like.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Cause you had the sneakers on.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah. Cause I had the sneakers. And I was just happy. And I was just like. But no, no, no. There was also rumors that I was going around lying, saying that I signed the OVO just to, like, get my pub deal up and whatnot. And, you know, I wasn't really fucking with that. Cause I'm just like, bro, if I wanted to say I signed the ovo, you know, I would have signed. I would have signed obo.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah, you would have signed.

[Bryson Tiller]

And I wanted to sign the ovo. I would. They signed the ovo if Drake called me. You know what I mean? Like, if it makes sense, of course. But like, you know, like, yeah, so it was just people and then people on the Internet, like, you know, just like trolling and shit. Like, ah. You know, want to be OVO about all this shit. Just. Cause like, you know, that's the. That's the. I love Drake. I love ovo. I love what they.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

There's a real relationship there.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, yeah. Like, I really, really, really love that guy. So, you know, I just felt like that shit was corny. Whoever had anything to say?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

No, you had. You had that. You used that record to definitely get some shit off that. That record was. Sounded like it was directed toward a lot of things you read, a lot of things you hear people saying online on podcasts or whatever about Bryson. Talk to me about Solace, though. The Fall vibe, like, is that more Bryson R and B, that feel?

[Bryson Tiller]

It definitely is. It's more like just, like I said, some feelings. And with this one, I kind of went into. Started off as, like, really just therapy because I was, like, just really going through it, and I was like, man, I just need to, like, get the shit off my brain, things that I'm thinking about, like. Cause I was actually doing therapy, and it was so freeing to talk about things. And I was like, you know, maybe I should just try this in music a little bit and just say something. Be vulnerable. So it started, and then it just ended up became. It just became a project. It was gonna be a mixtape. I was Gonna put on SoundCloud like I always do, but I was like, yo, I can't call this a mixtape. I gotta make it an album. And, yeah, it's more like, you know, like the. It's just fall vibes. R and B. It's a little bit more serious than Vices. Vices is more, like, fun.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

And, you know, Solace, the title. I was just really trying to find comfort in my sadness and the shit that I was through. And, you know, funny enough, it's like the solace and the vices, it's like I was really, like, chasing my vices when I was making Solace. Like, you know, I was like, yes, I was doing a lot of shit that I probably shouldn't, like smoking, drinking, all the shenanigans you could think of, like, just doing all that shit. And I actually dreaded going to the studio, like, to make these songs, you know, I love the songs, but, like, it was hard for me to sit there and record and talk about my feelings. And I was wondering. I was trying to figure out why I felt that way. So whenever I went into the Vices album, I was like, yo, I'm about to just make an album called the Vices, and I'm about to just get rid of my vices completely. And I recorded the Vices in, like, two weeks. You know what I mean? So, like, I knocked that shit out. And I had so much fun doing it. Like, I had to find a new focus because, like, you know what I'm saying? You know how it is. So I was like, yeah, completely sober. And I'm still sober right now, so it's been great.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Fire.

Do you think you create better when you're in love?

[Bryson Tiller]

Going through, you know, that's the. That's a common misconcept. People always think they, like. Yo, even when me and my girl first got together, they was like, break his heart so we can get another album.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I do remember that on the Internet. I remember it was like a vacation pick or something. I do remember that going viral. Like, everyone was livid that you were in love. Big ass smile on his face.

Yo, people are crazy, man. You can't even be on vacation. Like, Bryson can't chill.

[Bryson Tiller]

It's wild. It was wild. But like, honestly, like, I got some dope in love songs, man. Like, some real dope in love songs. Like, even on Shit Prize is one of them on the BTA album. Bryson Tiller album. But also, you know, my Serenity album had a lot of that. But I'm always gonna talk about shit that I go through. I don't need to be heartbroken. Like, I wasn't heartbroken when I made Trap Soul, you know what I'm saying? Like, this is just life, bro. You know, Like, I love my girl and then sometimes I hate my girl. You know what I'm saying? Sometimes we want to tear each other's heads off, bro. Just like. It just is what it is. Like, I wouldn't say go. Yeah, no, that was. That was.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I will say J, our other co host, we. I think it was 2023 with Keanu LA's album.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Your verse on Gone, I think was verse of the year.

[Bryson Tiller]

Oh, damn. I appreciate that.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

But like, me and Damaris know that word. That's our favorite verse.

[Bryson Tiller]

Damn, that's dope.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

That was the nicest. That was the most polite way to tear up your girlfriend I've ever heard. It was such a fast.

So poetic.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

What was it like releasing that? Cause I mean, it was very, very personal.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah. The crazy thing is I wasn't even supposed to rap on a. Like, I lost my voice right before. I remember. Cause I just got outside. My dog Velas roll outside. He sent me outside, and Keanu wanted me to jump on the song. I tried to go record outside. Voice went completely gone. I got a version out there somewhere that's like, horrible, but. And I was like told Keanu was like, yo, I'm gonna have to rap because, like, I can't sing right now. Literally can't. So you or I kind of but anyways, when it came out, I don't know. I never. I never. I don't know. That's. I never know what's going to happen after I release these songs. I just kind of just write it. And, you know, honestly, I just hope people think it's fake sometimes. Like. Or. Or just like. You just never know.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

N. That one felt way, way too hard. Like.

[Bryson Tiller]

Somebody else. Somebody else could have wrote it.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I mean, authentic JD Wrote Conf Confessions Fair. So, yeah, I mean, you know, you. It's possible you can put that emotion into it and then not be your emotion.

Nah. But that felt like the long blue paragraph that you send to your like. Like, she says one thing and then you break down every single fact. And then you just wait for the. You just see the typing thing and then it stops. It's like, yeah, that's how that verse felt. Felt to me.

So now you're on tour with one of the biggest artists that we've ever had. And it's just crazy because Bryson's sitting there like, I don't even want to be on this stage. But he's on arguably the biggest stage right now with Chris Brown. What is it like? One just, you know, being around an artist like Chris, seeing his work ethic and then seeing how he goes out there every night and just puts on the show for hours of just, you know, performing and production and hit records. What is that like for you to just be able to watch that and see that unfold?

[Bryson Tiller]

Man, I've learned so much from Chris just being on this show. I mean, on this tour, you know, he's such a great human, and Bro's just like. He really loves this shit. For real. Every time I see him go up there and do it, like, he gives it 150%. Like, I be waiting. I'd be like, what day is he gonna, like, have a bad show? Like, yeah, don't have bad shows. He goes, maybe sometimes the audio's a little fucked up and he can't hear his stuff.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

That's out of his control.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, it's out of his control. But when he gets on that stage, he does his thing. You know, for me, sometimes I get out there and I'm just like. The crowd's just kind of, like, dead. Like, you know, they just, like, not giving a fuck. And I'm just like, oh, shit. I'm a little nervous now. You know what I mean? My bad.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Cause it's tough. They did is, you know, obviously Chris is, but it's like Bryson has His fans and his following as well, and hit records. But in the scope of, you know, everybody's here. Like, this is Chris Brown.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

This is like opening for, you know, the generation's Michael Jackson.

[Bryson Tiller]

Like, exactly. And I see this, like, I be telling them on stage every night, like, yo, I'm really. I'm really a team breezy vet, for real. Like, you know, I be seeing new fans in there and they be looking at me with the stank fan. I'll be like, yo, like, I've been around for a long time. You know what I mean? Like, I've been studying this man. I really know his shit. And then I play some shit that they've never heard before.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

But, yeah. Nah, still, though, like, I stated that I say that this is the best tour that I've been on. You know what I mean? And I haven't been on my own sold out headline tours, been on the weekend tour. Love that. But, like, this one is just the best, man. Everybody on his team, his staff, everybody's cool as hell. No problems, no issues, just good vibes, you know what I mean? Yeah, Just great energy. Everybody's smiling, everybody's happy, you know? And yeah, bro, he's just an inspiring guy to be around. And he's giving me a lot of. A lot of gems that I just never knew. And this is helping me be better.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Have you. Have you told Crystal, like, yo, man, I don't really want to be an artist? Like, yes, right?

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, yeah, I know.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

He looking at you like, what the fuck?

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, he said the same Drake said to me.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I still can't believe Bryce. Like, oh, you know, whatever.

But you're talking about Chris Brown, who puts out 45 records a year. Like, he loves this.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Speaking of tours, I think the most women I've ever seen in Webster hall in my entire life was your first New York trap soul show. I believe it was Webster Hall.

[Bryson Tiller]

That might have been Webs.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Or was it Highline? I. I forgot which one it was. But I had never seen more women in my entire life. That was like one of those moments. Like, I saw Kendrick at sobs and I was like, oh, this is like a thing. He's going to be a thing.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I have not been to a show show that crazy in that size venue, like, since literally, it may have. I may have been the only dude in there. I had never seen that many women in my.

No, that's the first time I met Bryson years ago. Might have been like 2015, maybe 2016 at the Fillmore, I think, in Detroit. And we walked in there, shout out to Black Mike. I pull up and, you know, I'm like, the. The album's going crazy. The record's going crazy. So we like, side stage. And I look out into the audience, and I'm from the bottom of the Fillmore to the top. It was nothing but women. And I was like, this is the craziest shit I've ever. Like, I've never looked in the audience and seen all women before. Like, it didn't make any sense. I'm like, so then Mike was like, yo, bro, it's been like this. And shout out today. They was open on that tour. He was like, yo, every night, this is what this shit looks like. And I'm like. And then, you know, still Bryce is the same guy backstage just like, yeah, man, let's just go do this, man. It's like, nigga, you got about. You know how many women are sitting out there waiting for you to hit this stage? Like, this is the crazy shit. But to see it go from that to now, being on tour with Chris, I mean, I think it's just a testament to your craft, man, and your skill set of just being a dope, you know, having a dope pen and putting out dope projects. Incredible songs that I think every woman at some point has posted on their social media. A Bryson Tiller record. But coming out of this now, the whole Chris Brown tour, what's next for Bryson? Like, I know the album Solace is coming out in the fall.

Video games and writing video games.

[Bryson Tiller]

Like, I gotta shift my focus back to that. It's a lot of work, man, and I just. It's my first ever game, and I just wanna make it.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

So what is the game? What is the premise of the game? Like, what type of game is a game?

[Bryson Tiller]

Is called Brutal Industry. It's about the music industry. Okay, okay. So, yeah, basically, you know, the protagonist. You are the protagonist in the game, and you get to experience the things that you will experience in the music industry.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

So is it like GTA Music industry version?

[Bryson Tiller]

No, it's a fighting game. It's a fighting game.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

So I can go in there and slap the shit out of Executive.

[Bryson Tiller]

I can't say too much, but just know that, like, you know, it was.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Like Def Jam Vendetta.

[Bryson Tiller]

But, yeah, I can't say it too much, but, yeah, that's interesting.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

That's a great concept.

Yeah, that's fire.

[Bryson Tiller]

I just, you know, I put a lot of my. My. My real pain and suffering into It. You know what I mean? Things that, you know, I went through, and I just. I kind of just fuck with the player a little bit, you know? So I'm really excited about it. I'm doing a lot of voice acting in it. Just, you know, there's anime. It's a game, It's a video game. There's music attached to it.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Okay.

[Bryson Tiller]

I got a lot of dope plans that I'm excited, and I just want to, like, really lock in on it. But I do have another album called Serenity that I started on in 2018. But, like, I realized that I wasn't. I wasn't. I was like, how can I make an album called Serenity? And I don't feel that. And that was after my depression. That was after my. My. My second album flopped. And I was like, yo, let me. Let me just.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Why do you keep calling out a flop?

[Bryson Tiller]

It was. I mean, it was technically, it was a. I don't know. It was just technically a flop. You know, who's the technicality?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Like, it's a platinum fucking album.

[Bryson Tiller]

Go ask Twitter right now.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Fuck Twitt.

Perception wise, I guess, based off the monster that Trapped Soul was.

I mean, I follow up of that, you can't say a flop.

[Bryson Tiller]

You know, honestly, it just wasn't me, bro. Like, if I'm being honest, it's like, you remember, ironically, the Titan Space Jam, right? The OG Space Jam. You remember when, like, the magic came out of the ball?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

That was me on that album. You know what I mean? So it's like, I'm still. You know what? I'm still tall. Basketball could dunk. Probably dunk.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

But you were really into it.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah. You know, and that's just like. Because when Trap Soul came, I always tell people this and people always forget. But, like, that, like, every time I release a produce, it don't matter. Every time I release a project and people are talking about me, it's an energy pool. But that being my Trap Soul being my first album, and me really just wanted to be good. Like, and people think I was good. And then seeing so many people say that I was bad, like, with Trap Soul. Like, I'm talking about first couple weeks when it came out. I'm not talking about right now. I'm not talking about two years after, when people start saying using the word classic and shit. Like, there's some people still out there that don't even enjoy that album or probably never even heard of Trap Soul. Well, I mean, obviously, y'. All. Y'. All. Cause y' all listen to R and B and rap, but there are people who don't know who I am.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Oh, no, for sure. There's nobody that's gonna hear that album say, that's not a great album. Like, I don't think there will be.

[Bryson Tiller]

Some people that say that.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Well, there are people that will hear.

[Bryson Tiller]

That album and say, yeah, that says, not my.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Them don't matter, man. It's taste levels, it's different. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's just not for everybody.

[Bryson Tiller]

I know now that they don't matter. You know what I mean? But, like, at that moment when I was 22 years old and coming to music industry and really just trying to prove something to my hometown, that I was going to be like, that I had them and I had them on my back and my family, that we's good.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

I feel like all the power. All the power got stripped away. Okay. Like, right when that dropped, you know, And I was just. I went into the craziest depression and, you know. Yeah. And they wanted to follow up right away, like, yo, we need another album. It's just like that. The pressure of that money was looking a little.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

It started feeling like work.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah. It was just like. I don't know.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah. It's not feeling like work. It's like, that's. That's common, though. You understand that?

No, for sure did. Do you understand Frank Ocean a little bit more now, in hindsight?

[Bryson Tiller]

What do you mean by that?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Somebody that had, like, a definitive, crazy first album after the mixtape and then disappeared. Then we got blonde and then really disappeared. Like, he doesn't fall into the pressure same way Lauren Hill after Miseducation.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Just did Unplugged after that. Do you understand that path a little bit more?

[Bryson Tiller]

Absolutely. I think, you know, sometimes I'd be feeling like, for Frank, it was like a creative decision, but, you know, maybe. Maybe it is because, like, the pressures. I mean, we would probably never know, you know, but. Cause a lot of people don't even want to, like, reveal that to the world and be like, yo, the pressures of that made me feel like. I don't know. And Blind was amazing. Like I said, some people would say Blonde is better than Channel Orange, but.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

You know, best written R and B album of era, in my opinion.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah. Frank Olsh is my favorite artist. Period. Period. But I was just gonna say that, like, I think what fucks with a lot of people? And I was talking to somebody else about this who also has a classic under our belt, you know, we was just kinda like, yo, when people are just like, hey, just go make this again. You know, that's like the worst thing to tell to an artist. And it's just like, I don't even understand why people want that so bad. Like, not want that album again. Like, it's just like you already have the album to listen to. Like, I always tell people like, yo, Apple Music and Spotify is the best way to time travel, bro. But people don't realize that. It's really just because of the moments that they had, who they was dating at the time, what they was going through. Like, it's nostalgia, you know, it's like if somebody. That's why when you hear Christmas albums, for the most part it's all renditions of songs that they already love, you know, because nobody's really that bold enough to make a completely original Christmas album because a lot of people will probably bash it right away. It's just like, ah, it don't really make me feel the way Frank Sinatra made me feel. Just like, duh, you know what I mean?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

It's not supposed to.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, any Christmas movie you hear they're gonna put the classics in there.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Ye.

[Bryson Tiller]

Anyway, so nostalgia is super important. And I just think it's heavy to sit there and try to tell an artist to just go do this again. You know what I mean? It's like, dog, I don't know. I'm a real genuine fan of people and things and things that I really love. So it's like, I get that. I always use GT Rockstar Games as an example. They got GTA 6 coming out, but if they wanted to be like, yo, you know what we gonna do GTA 6? We gonna wait a little bit. We actually gonna do Bully Bully too. I'm cool with that because I love what they do. I love everything they do. I really support them. And it's like, I hope I'm alive to see GTA 6, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know, all of us, you know, and I hope that it comes out next year, but if it didn't, I wouldn't be mad at them, you know what I'm saying? And like, they don't never have to top anything that they've done in the past. For me, I just want them to keep creating.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Do you feel like that's one of the pressures? Pressures that as an artist, like the fans and people are always comparing you to your last project or your best project, your best song, you feel like you gotta match that or surpass that every time.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah. Honestly, I don't even give a fuck now, bro. I just. I'm just making it. And it's just like at this moment, all I care about is moments, bro. Like.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

You know what I realized with the last album is just like you said, Calypso, There's a lot of people that don't even know Calypso. I don't even know it exists. So, like. But they know whatever she want. You know what I'm saying?

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

All you need is one. One. Really? Anytime, all you need is one. Then you can go on tour, perform all the previous hits that you had before, and that's it. Just get back to it. And like, all I care about is, like, those moments. I'm not chasing the classic. I'm not chasing having, you know, a critical claim. I just don't care about none of that. Like, I'm just making music. If y' all fuck with it, y' all do, y' all don't. Whatever, bro. I really don't care. Like, have you ever thought about.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Like a full length project? Cause you have incredible songs. Like, Coulda Been with her.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Insecure with Jasmine.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Like, those are classic records. You ever thought about kind of like a more full length project with the women in R and B?

[Bryson Tiller]

Like, of my own.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

I never really thought about that. That don't sound like a bad idea.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Cause I think it's always easier to win, work with women sometimes, as opposed to, like, there's no ego.

[Bryson Tiller]

That's exactly goes back to what I was saying. There's a whole lot of alpha males.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

They so stuck on, like, how can I be better than.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Bryson Tiller]

And I'm like, bro, let's just be better together.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah, yeah.

Can actually collaborate.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, let's just collaborate. But the girls, they always like, yo, let's work. Yeah. You know what I mean? And it's like. And I love that. That's why I have more features with women than I do with guys. Because it's like they always be on that, all of them, every time. So, you know. Yeah, that's something. That don't sound like a bad idea, man.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Like, I mean, it could have been an insecure. I mean, that's two of the greatest R and B collab records that I think we've had in the past however many years. Like, timeless sound, timeless records. You can hear those records today, and it sounds like it just came out last week. Like, it's. It's not dated. I just feel like some of your Best work is with. Is with the female artists.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I don't know. Just something to think about.

[Bryson Tiller]

No, I just don't want you. Definitely.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I just don't want you to disappear and never put out music again. That's all I'm trying to tell you. He wants to disappear so bad.

What's, what's your relationship like with Jack Harlow? I know he shouted you out before. You guys from the same city? Do you guys have a strong relationship or just different eras, Age gap?

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, probably aged. I don't really speak to him like that.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

What's. What's the music scene like in Louisville?

[Bryson Tiller]

Like that. We got ESTG doing this thing. I need to tap. I need to tap in more. There's a lot of people that are dope. Like Mars. Yeah, super dope. I definitely got to tap back in. But there's people who are just like, on the come up on the rise, just doing their thing. Yeah. I haven't been out there in so long in Louisville. It's been a minute.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

It now, being that you worked with Timberland, what do you think about this AI artist that he's doing right now?

[Bryson Tiller]

I. I'm not. I, I'm not mad at it, to be honest. Me, personally, I'm furious. Huh.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

I'm furious.

[Bryson Tiller]

I. I understand, I understand. But, like, when you start thinking about, like, okay, you used these artists who, like, you know, real artists to like, train your music, then that's why I'm like, a little bit like, I don't.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Know that I'm about to say, as soon as Timberland say, chat gbt, write me a Bryson Tiller esque record and it's a hit. You gonna have a problem with that?

[Bryson Tiller]

Well, I mean, but you just said earlier that people are writing Bryson Tiller.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Esque for sure, 1000%.

But they're actually writing people.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Like, even when, even if somebody's biting, they're still. They're still writing it. Like, and you would also be inspired to get that. But when you have to clear a song, I have to copyright it. Artist has to get paid. Even if it is a penny on the dollar with Spotify, it still legally has to get cleared. They're taking an entire music catalog with no permission to train a new artist like that. Everyone should be paid.

Yeah.

Like, everyone should get a check. If you're taking Spotify and putting it inside a fake human, like.

[Bryson Tiller]

I don't know, man. It's hard because it's like, this might be a hot take, but, like, I don't Know, I feel like that's kind of what we all are as humans. Like, I'm using. I'm using so many different artists to.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Train myself, of course, but you're doing it, you are physically doing it. There is feeling to it and you can be inspired and make it your own. Just literally taking data and then spitting out data. That just sounds like music to me is thievery.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah, I, I trust me, I see it from both sides, man. Like, I can see how it could be up for real. Like, like I said, using especially like these unknown artists that have never, you know, like, that's like, that would be infuriating. Yeah, like, because like, people that are really just trying to get known and popping, like, they just want to be a part of this. But you training this thing to be better than me, like, I don't know.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

And it's scary.

I'm not anti AI. Like, I think there's great things in pro tools now you can do with AI. Like, I think it can definitely assist a real musician, but to just openly say, yo, we're taking everyone's catalog so we can make the best mega artist is like, yeah, the fuck are we doing?

It's scary.

Have you been using the AI with the video game developing?

[Bryson Tiller]

And it's funny you said that. Cause I was going to do a segue. Like, that's kind of like a little bit tied into the plot of a brutal industry for sure. There's a lot of sci fi in it as well. But yeah, no, I have used a little bit. Not for the artist, but, you know, definitely just to help. When you use AI as a tool, I feel like that's when it's the best. You know what I mean? Like, for me, I have so many ideas that I don't know how to pull out of my own head because my vision might be clouded just from like what I was going through that day or whatever. So, like, I'll have to like, really talk about certain Things and then ChatGPT or whatever I use will help me, like, pull it out of my mind so I could write efficiently, you know what I'm saying? Even with shit songs, sometimes, like, I'll be like, damn, you know, like when I was writing Mini Kelly, I don't know, with the Rick Ross shit, I was like, you know, I think people should use shit like as a tool. I'm just like, damn, I wanna rhyme something with this word. But I need it to be only things that are expensive and luxurious. So what words do and then they'll give me like 15 words and then I'll look at those words and be like, that one works. Because. Because I want to use that to get to the next bar where I'm talking about something. You know what I'm saying? So it's like a tool. Yeah, you should use it like that, but like, using it to write a song, that's crazy.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

That's absolutely.

[Bryson Tiller]

Writing a full song.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

It's like n. If you want to do like a. A podcast level, Ma and I will. Will sign our likeness over and we could fight the artists.

[Bryson Tiller]

Like, in this pod studio, there is a podcast level.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

We use the set. Like, we can use mic stands. We beat everybody up.

[Bryson Tiller]

We could do. Do.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

We could do it. Definitely. Let me know.

Imagine an artist coming here.

Just.

Just drop kick us.

[Bryson Tiller]

Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Like these cameras.

[Bryson Tiller]

I'm going send y' all one. I hope y' all a copy of it. I hope y' all just. Oh, hell yeah, have it in here. It's going to be on arcade cabinets, so.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Oh, okay.

Definitely.

That's fire.

100%. We.

That's amazing, man.

Before we let you go, with everything going on right now, you know, album out vices is crazy. Can't wait to hear Solace on tour with Chris Brown. Sold out stadiums every. Every night. Is Bryson Tiller happy?

[Bryson Tiller]

I'm so happy, man. It's one of the best years of my life, though. I can't even lie to you. Like, it's. My life is so good right now. I'm just like, okay, hold up, you know, like, so where's some.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Got it. Some badass. Yeah, we programmed like that. Like, when is going good? We like, all right. Something about to happen. Yeah, some bad about to happen, man. Like, why are we like that?

[Bryson Tiller]

I know, right? But it's just. I don't know. I guess that's just life, man. Life is so. So Life is mysterious like that.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

But I'm glad you enjoying it. I'm glad you're happy. Rory and myself, we've supported you for years. Continue to support you. Love everything you doing. Looking forward to whatever you got coming. Games next Serenity album. Solace album. Stick around, though, man. We need that music, man. Don't just fade into the bushes like Homer Simpson. Don't do that.

[Bryson Tiller]

I can't make no promises.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Yeah.

Or just as long as I don't.

[Bryson Tiller]

Like, hit the lottery or something. No, if you hit the.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Then by all means. I'm like, you know what it man, he out of here. He going, man. Bryson, thank you, man. We appreciate you. When you put out Serenity. Please come back. Kick it with us, man. Anytime you're in the city, you want to come by, you got a home here with us, man.

[Bryson Tiller]

Thank you guys.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Man, I'm that He's just Ginger. That's Pin Griffey. Bryson Tiller.

[Bryson Tiller]

No worrying now.

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[Bryson Tiller]

To you, my darling. No, to you.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

The Roses were living the dream.

[Bryson Tiller]

More champagne for me, please. Until it all came crashing down. He got fired.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Buy it from the director of Meet the Parents.

[Bryson Tiller]

You're a failure.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Women don't like that.

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[Bryson Tiller]

29, I just want the house. We want everything. Wow.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

Stop and see the Roses.

[Bryson Tiller]

These people.

[Co-host (possibly Rory or another host)]

The Roses.

[Bryson Tiller]

Rated R under 17. 9 minute without parent. In theaters everywhere. August 29th. This is an I Heart podcast.