Episode 365 | I’m a Dog, I’m a Mutt

Summary

Podcast Summary: New Rory & Mal – Episode 365 | I’m a Dog, I’m a Mutt

Release Date: April 25, 2025

In Episode 365 of New Rory & Mal, titled "I’m a Dog, I’m a Mutt," hosts Rory and Mal dive deep into a mix of candid conversations, societal observations, and an exclusive interview with rising R&B star Leon Thomas. This episode seamlessly blends humor with serious discussions, providing listeners with both entertainment and insightful commentary.

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1. Bottled Water Debate

The episode kicks off with Rory and Mal engaging in a spirited discussion about the state of bottled water in America. The conversation is sparked by alarming statistics about bottled water consumption:

• Leon Thomas cites, "65 or 68% of bottled water is actually just tap water" ([02:14]).
• Rory expresses skepticism, stating, "I feel like that's low. I feel like 90%. It's a lot of water. It's all markets and plastic" ([02:18]).

The duo debates the environmental impact and the authenticity of bottled water brands, ultimately ranking their least favorites:

1. Dasani – Leon unequivocally brands it as the worst.
2. Aquafina – Both agree on its dubious quality.
3. Evian (plastic bottle) – Rory criticizes its packaging, though he concedes its glass bottle variant.
4. Propel & Crystal Geyser – Criticized for their lack of distinction and quality issues.
5. Poland Spring – While accessible and affordable, its quality is questioned compared to other brands.

A notable moment includes Leon's humorous yet sharp remark: "Any water in a glass bottle cold. I can get enticed to go in a white van and get kidnaped" ([02:58]).

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2. Controversy Surrounding Shannon Sharpe

Transitioning from lighter topics, Rory and Mal address the allegations of sexual assault against NFL legend Shannon Sharpe. This segment is both intense and informative, exploring the implications of these serious claims on Sharpe's career and public image.

Key Points Discussed:

• Nature of the Allegations: It’s alleged that Sharpe engaged in non-consensual sexual activities with a 19-year-old woman, raising significant ethical and legal concerns ([07:07]-[08:44]).

• Legal Representation: The discussion critiques Sharpe’s lawyer, Tony Busby, labeling him a "clown lawyer" and questioning his credibility and methods ([08:44]-[10:50]).

• Age Gap and Consent: The hosts dissect the problematic age difference between Sharpe and the accuser, emphasizing the ethical issues even if the relationship was consensual ([12:42]-[15:17]).

• Impact on Sharpe’s Career: They speculate on how these allegations could tarnish Sharpe's media presence and business negotiations, though acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the outcome ([16:51]-[19:12]).

• Public Perception and Media Influence: Rory notes a shift in how allegations are perceived in the modern era, suggesting that public accusations may not carry the same weight they once did ([17:31]-[19:00]).

Notable Quotes:

• Rory: "I'm not here to say anyone's innocent or guilty. I want to see just do through everything" ([10:41]).

• Leon Thomas: "Any water in a glass bottle cold. I can get enticed to go in a white van and get kidnaped" ([02:58]).

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3. Exclusive Interview with Leon Thomas

The highlight of the episode is an in-depth interview with Leon Thomas, a talented songwriter and rising R&B artist. Leon discusses his journey in the music industry, his latest album "Mutt," and the intricacies of modern music production and promotion.

Topics Covered:

• Album "Mutt": Leon shares insights into his creative process, emphasizing the importance of live instrumentation and vulnerability in his music. He describes "Mutt" as a blend of catchy hooks and deep emotional content ([56:42]-[58:48]).

• Music Promotion in the Streaming Era: He advocates for continuous promotion post-release, highlighting how remixing and creating additional content can keep a track relevant on platforms like TikTok ([57:02]-[58:28]).

• Collaborations and Inspirations: Leon talks about working with industry legends like Mariah Carey and future collaborations with artists like John Mayer and Charlie Puth. He underscores the value of mentorship and paying it forward within the music community ([62:23]-[69:19]).

• Navigating Fame: Discussing the transition from being known for a hit single to establishing a solid artist identity, Leon emphasizes the balance between maintaining authenticity and adapting to industry demands ([61:56]-[66:32]).

• R&B Identity: The conversation delves into the evolving identity of R&B, debating its boundaries and how artists like Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey have shaped the genre's landscape ([44:00]-[81:16]).

Notable Quotes:

• Leon Thomas: "My whole argument was, it's the title track and it's upbeat. And I think we only have two months to roll this out. This is a great opportunity to pull people's eyes back into the other copyrights." ([56:42]).

• Elliot Wilson (Leon’s collaborator): "The truth is, if she is telling the truth, I'm so upset that she got the lawyer that she got, because that was your biggest mistake that you could have done." ([19:35]).

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4. Listener Voicemails: Navigating Relationships and Financial Struggles

In the "Voicemails" segment, a listener named Josh reaches out with a personal dilemma about accepting financial help from his girlfriend after facing financial setbacks. The hosts offer a blend of humor and practical advice on maintaining masculinity and relationship dynamics in times of need.

Listener's Concern:

• Situation: A 26-year-old man, the primary provider for his family, faces financial strain after losing money in investments. His girlfriend offers financial assistance, which he finds hard to accept due to societal pressures to remain the sole provider.

Advice Given:

• Rory: "Know your worth, King. Let her give you that money. You don't pay her back. It's a soft era." ([90:21]).

• Elliot: "She sees everything you're going through, and you're probably venting to her. It's not a bad thing." ([91:26]).

• Leon Thomas: "You take that money from your girl, man, she gone, bro." ([90:29]).

• Josh: Emphasizes the importance of not equating financial assistance with diminished masculinity and encourages balancing current struggles with future financial planning ([91:16]-[93:56]).

Notable Interaction:

The conversation takes a humorous yet heartfelt turn as the hosts debate the implications of accepting help, blending serious advice with light-hearted banter about relationships and societal expectations ([93:05]-[94:56]).

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5. Conclusion and Upcoming Guest Tease

As the episode nears its end, Rory and Mal briefly touch upon upcoming segments and tease future content, maintaining the podcast’s dynamic and engaging tone. They wrap up the episode by reaffirming their support for both their guests and listeners, ensuring a well-rounded and thoughtful conclusion.

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Final Thoughts:

Episode 365 of New Rory & Mal masterfully balances lighthearted debates with profound discussions, encapsulating the essence of contemporary podcasting. Whether dissecting the bottled water industry, navigating the fallout of high-profile allegations, or exploring the depths of musical artistry with Leon Thomas, Rory and Mal deliver content that is both entertaining and enlightening. This episode serves as a compelling listen for anyone interested in genuine conversations about everyday issues, celebrity culture, and the evolving landscape of the music industry.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Leon Thomas ([02:14]): "65 or 68% of bottled water is actually just tap water."

• Rory ([02:18]): "I feel like that's low. I feel like 90%. It's a lot of water. It's all markets and plastic."

• Rory ([10:41]): "I'm not here to say anyone's innocent or guilty. I want to see just do through everything."

• Leon Thomas ([19:35]): "But you y'all in this story are doing what the patriarchy has told you is acceptable and is not."

• Rory ([90:21]): "Know your worth, King. Let her give you that money. You don't pay her back. It's a soft era."

• Elliot ([91:26]): "She sees everything you're going through, and you're probably venting to her. I don't know if you're taking therapy for everything that you're going through."

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This comprehensive summary captures the essence of Episode 365, providing a clear and engaging overview for both seasoned listeners and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Rory]

Oh, tasty high note. Oh, hi. Don't mind me. I'm practicing my new baritone sax. I just heard PayPal's paying for people's stuff every day for 100 days and there's 10 million up for grabs. All you have to do is use PayPal checkout online. So there's never been a better time to buy a few things off the old wish list, like this leaf blower. PayPal could pay for your purchase. The Great PayPal Checkout no purchase necessary ends July 18th. The official [e-mail] the Great PayPal Checkout terms participating merchants only must use PayPal Checkout online coverage of up to $100 in eligible purchases per cart.

[Damaris]

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[Rory]

I've never felt like this before. It's like you just get me. I feel like my true self with you. Does that sound crazy? And it doesn't hurt that you're gorgeous? Okay, that's it. I'm taking you home with me. I mean, you can't find shoes this good just anywhere. Find a shoe for every you from brands you love like Birkenstock, Nike, Adidas and more at your DSW store store.

[Leon Thomas]

Or dsw.com this is Reshaan McDonald from Money Making Conversations Masterclass. How can you free your team from time consuming office tasks? Amazon Business empowers leaders to not only streamline purchasing, but better support their teams. Smart business buying tools enable buyers to find and purchase items fast so they can focus on strategy and growth. It's time to free up your teams and and focus on your future. Learn more about the technology, insights and Support [e-mail].

[Rory]

The volume no Warrior now you said what? 68% of t of bottled water is tap water?

[Leon Thomas]

65 or 68% of bottled water is actually just tap water.

[Rory]

I feel like that's low. I feel like 90%. It's a lot of water. It's all market and plastic.

[Leon Thomas]

Good bottle, good glass. Like a good glass bottle with a tint on it.

[Rory]

I haven't really seen many like water ads on podcasts. So I feel like we're not ruining advertisers here. What's. What's your top five worst waters of all time? Dasani number one. I think that's across the board.

[Leon Thomas]

We need number one.

[Josh]

Aquafina.

[Leon Thomas]

Aquafina is number two.

[Rory]

I think Evian could be a number two.

[Leon Thomas]

No.

[Rory]

If you don't get Evian in that glass bottle that only the Montreal does. Any water and glass is awful.

[Leon Thomas]

Any water in a glass bottle cold. I. You can get me to go in a white van and kidnap me.

[Rory]

Yeah, for sure.

[Leon Thomas]

That's.

[Rory]

We have candy in here.

[Leon Thomas]

100.

[Rory]

The coldness tastes. Takes away water.

[Leon Thomas]

I'm good. I'm sold.

[Rory]

Evian in a plastic bottle I think is number two. I actually think it could rival Dasani for how bad Evian water?

[Josh]

Nah. Propel.

[Rory]

I don't even know if propel. I don't know if my streets have taken me there.

[Leon Thomas]

Sipping on a propel is. Wow.

[Rory]

What is the propel logo?

[Leon Thomas]

It's just like a pushing p. I don't know.

[Rory]

It's a Phillies logo.

[Leon Thomas]

I don't know.

[Josh]

Crystal Geyser. Nasty.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah. Crystal Geysers. Crystal guys are so whack. The label don't even stay on until you get home. The label fall right off in the.

[Rory]

Bag from the supermarket the moment you purchase it.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah. I don't even look how type of water this is.

[Rory]

Liquid death. It's okay if it's cold. I guess I'll take that over most of like the Poland Springs of the world.

[Leon Thomas]

Oh yeah.

[Rory]

Poland Spring is only great because it's $1 and you could just get the out the store.

[Leon Thomas]

Poland Spring is the most accessible water.

[Josh]

Poland Spring is good as shit.

[Leon Thomas]

I don't know about that shit. Like when you put as shit on there.

[Josh]

Okay. I really enjoy Poland Spring water.

[Rory]

I buy Poland Spring all day. But if you go through, leave everything at warm temperature. If it goes against like Deer Park. What was the one you just said?

[Leon Thomas]

Arrowhead.

[Rory]

Arrowhead. Every. Every one of its peers and competitors, Poland Spring is light years above that at room temperature.

[Leon Thomas]

Arrowhead water is the water that I think they take each night at the end of the carnival. Whoever didn't buy the goldfish, they take that water and put it the sports.

[Rory]

That's the sportsmanship award at camp.

[Leon Thomas]

They take that water. If whoever didn't buy that goldfish, they take that water and put it in an arrowhead bottle.

[Rory]

So, you know, we've all been like flexing for 20 years. That new York City has the best tap water. I found out recently that we have been.

[Leon Thomas]

That's a lot.

[Rory]

We have been lying about that for two decades.

[Leon Thomas]

Y'all.

[Josh]

Water is terrible.

[Rory]

That used to be, like, a thing. Like, yeah, we have the best water.

[Leon Thomas]

Better water than New York City.

[Rory]

We're like. We're like, in the hundreds. Really? I thought we were number one my entire life up until two weeks ago.

[Josh]

When y'all used to say that. I like. Because up in Syracuse, we have a spring near us. Like, over in Skinny.

[Rory]

No, but we get it from the Hudson up there. That's why we thought it was the best.

[Josh]

Is trash. I think it's y'all. I don't know.

[Leon Thomas]

Alabama got better water than us. I'm not jacking that. I'm not jacking. Alabama has better tap water.

[Josh]

I'm jacking.

[Leon Thomas]

No way.

[Josh]

I feel like it's your pipes. I feel like y'all pipes is just mold.

[Leon Thomas]

No way. That. But that builds character. You need the. You need the minerals on the pipe.

[Rory]

No, that's what, like, fights the diseases and.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, you need the minerals on the pipe. Absolutely.

[Rory]

New York, they got 19. Yo, my whole life. My whole life, I thought New York City had the best tap water of all time. That was, like, a stat people would bring up.

[Josh]

That is disgusting.

[Leon Thomas]

Y'all are crazy. New York tap water is great.

[Josh]

It's terrible. It's terrible.

[Leon Thomas]

No way.

[Elliot]

It's terrible.

[Leon Thomas]

Jersey tap water.

[Rory]

Jersey got octane in it.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah. Drink your Jersey tap water. You might as well go to the. The. To the quick. Quick. Check in 93. Put 20 on 93. Just put the nozzle in your mouth.

[Rory]

That burned. Yeah.

[Leon Thomas]

Jersey tap water is crazy.

[Rory]

Like, the first time I took ever. Clear shot.

[Leon Thomas]

Yes. Jersey tap at Jersey tap water. Tastes like a dry cleaners. Anyway, we're back.

[Rory]

No, honestly, the first time, when I got to St. Peter's my freshman year, I started breaking out, like, way more. Yeah.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Rory]

That water was, like, bad.

[Leon Thomas]

Bad. Sorry. It built character. It made you the man you are today.

[Rory]

Nah, it didn't. It didn't change anything. It just made my skin fucked up. It didn't. I'm not a better person because of it. No, but it wasn't a trial and tribulation.

[Leon Thomas]

You're a man's man because of the Jersey tap water. It's all good.

[Rory]

Anyways. Where are we supposed to start here today? Do we get right. Right into it?

[Leon Thomas]

Let's get right into the shits, man.

[Rory]

Our label mate. Slash maybe not label mate because I don't know anyone's negotiation.

[Leon Thomas]

You'll be out of a job soon.

[Rory]

Don't. All right, See, that's why we'll be out of one.

[Leon Thomas]

That's why I don't rock with y'all. Cause when I be ready to go there, y'all leave me. Al.

[Rory]

Gosh, Close your ears. I'm. Nah, I'm with you. I don't think this is going to affect him the way you think it is, though.

[Leon Thomas]

No, listen, all jokes aside, so we talked about Shannon Sharp, our. I don't know if he's any more of our label mate, but a guy that we.

[Rory]

We. We respect our murder into our Rough Riders.

[Leon Thomas]

No, we appreciate what Shannon has done done in the space. Me as somebody who grew up watching Shannon Sharp play football and.

[Rory]

Which we didn't bring up in tight ends on the other conversation.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Rory]

Which was offensive. I apologize, Shannon.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, apology. Shannon. We didn't bring you up in the conversation we had earlier, but none non Shannon Sharp, hall of Fame tight end. I'm old enough to remember Shannon Sharp as a player when he first came to the league. Well, maybe not when he first came in, but while he was in his earlier playing days.

[Rory]

First video game I had was game day 98, where the Denver Broncos were the best.

[Leon Thomas]

There you go.

[Rory]

Terrell Davis.

[Leon Thomas]

And I remember when it was circle, circle, circle, circle. Shannon Shaw was the butt of jokes when it came to his speech, being able to talk. He had a, you know, it was kind of, you know, heavy, heavy, thick country accent. Wasn't the most articulate person. And to see where he is now in his career, being one of the biggest voices, biggest figures in media, you know, it's just a testament to the work that Shannon Sharpe has put in after his career and playing in the NFL. And, you know, the things that he's doing in this space, which is tremendous work, amazing work. We support him, we salute him. But he's obviously coming to a point in his career where things are a little, you know, not so proud. Not just not a proud moment for Shannon. Right now. He's facing allegations of, you know, sexual assault. The clown lawyer. I still think he's a clown lawyer. I don't give a fuck. Tony Busby is representing a woman who says that Shannon Sharp sexually assaulted her. So text messages have been released, audio recordings have been released.

[Rory]

Pretty articulate.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah. You know, choke out, you. I knew what he said then. It was very articulate when he said that. But what does this mean for Shannon Shaw? Obviously, this is a stain on his jacket. This is something that, you know, we didn't expect to hear come out about Shannon Sharp. And he's been. Let's be very clear. He's been very adamant that this is 1, 1000% a shakedown, that there is nothing here. He didn't, you know, he's not in. No violation. No, he didn't violate any woman. That's not who he is. You know, he's been very vocal and very adamant, not running from that. But Shannon, you know, when you. It comes out again, and I don't know if this is true or not. It is alleged that Shannon Sharpe offered $10 million. And to me, when you offer that type of money so that things are kind of quiet and don't come out and don't hit the. Hit the, you know, social media, don't hit the net that says that you are trying to cover something up. You are trying to prevent something. If you're innocent, you know, I don't care what comes out. They try to shake you down. We don't offer no money. Obviously, Jay Z just went through that with the same lawyer. He didn't offer any money. Case got dismissed, thrown out. I believe that there's legal action being taken against the same lawyer, Tony Busby, now, as a result of that. So. Yeah. So, you know, what does this mean for Shannon Sharpe? Is it gonna affect his career? I don't know. I don't know if you know, what is being alleged is true. It's still very early. More details will come out. Shannon has been very vocal. He is not running from it. He's not hiding from it. Said he's willing to put out a sex tape if he had it. He told them. He told Tony Busby and the alleged victim to put out the sex tape. Show what it is that you wanna show. So he's not hiding from it. He's not running from it. I don't know what that means for Shannon. I do know that was.

[Rory]

Who is guiding for. All right, I'm sorry to interrupt you. You're giving a great breakdown of what's going on, but you really are. I just. Who is guiding Shannon Sharp right now?

[Leon Thomas]

Nobody. He is. He's guiding himself.

[Rory]

All right, the $10 million initially was like, that feels weird because. Which we've said a million times. If somebody's accusing me of anything and I didn't do that, I'll get on the stand. I'm refusing, like, no matter what, I would do anything to prove that. But I also don't know what it's like to be in $100 million negotiation and if $10 million out of that 100 million, that could compromise this 100 million the out of here. Maybe I'd sacrifice 10 million. So I get that part. But Shannon, with this sex tape, I'm still on the side that this looks weird. Mainly based off the lawyer, which I guess is a little up, but I'm just going off evidence. You saying I'll leak a consensual sex tape does not prove the innocence of some non consensual shit. Just because y'all fucked once consensually doesn't mean that there could have been a time that way. So even though I feel Shannon on everything that he's doing, attack it head on. I get it. Let's get. Let's get to the shits. Who would ever advise you to say some dumb shit like that?

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, this girl is how old?

[Josh]

21, if I'm not mistaken. Now they met when she was 19.

[Leon Thomas]

They met when she was 19. Let's say safe assumption they had sex when she was 19. Shannon Sharper is 56, 54, I believe maybe somewhere around there. 54, 55. Shannon, this is not a woman that you should be involved with in any 56 years old. This is not a woman that you should be involved with at all. Let's just put that out there. You're just in a way, a whole different league, way too grown, way too for a 19 year old. What does a 50, 54. When you met her, I guess. What does a 54 year old and a 19 year old even talk about?

[Rory]

Big black babies.

[Leon Thomas]

It's just, you know, you started off, you know, behind the eight ball. You should have had no dealings with this young lady at all. So I'll start there and you know, that's. To me, that's just enough of it. It's like how. How does Shannon Sharp even get to a point where he's having a sexual relationship with a 19 year old girl?

[Rory]

I. We've had this conversation on the pod plenty of times outside of the Shannon Sharp situation of from our Patreon episodes of just having this, this wild age gap thing. But let's not act like that's not a regular thing in the United States, like in the world, period. This is regular. I don't really care about Shannon Sharp's like moral compass as a human being because I don't know him or care too much. If you want to do that, I think it's fucking weird. But I'm more concerned on what the actual case would be if it's consensual with a 19 year old in 56. I think it's weird as fuck, but it's well past any legal thing that we could even bring up. Even like the people of the wack 100s that find every state that has a 16 year old legal shit, which I find odd. That girl was 19 years old. He's 56 years old. I think it's odd and gross. And I could never even imagine any of my relatives, male to female, that would ever do some weirdo shit like that. But that's not my business. I can just think you're odd. Now, legally. Where does that leave it? That's more of my thing. Who needs to mentor Shannon Sharp? He's 56 years old. Both you and I are younger than him. Of course he knows it's odd. We don't need to tell him it's weird. He felt weird doing it.

[Leon Thomas]

You think so?

[Josh]

I don't think he felt weird.

[Leon Thomas]

I don't think he felt weird doing it.

[Josh]

I don't think he felt weird.

[Rory]

I know when he got out of his. Got out of his horny mind state of, of allowing that girl to say those certain things. Cuz, you know, like you said, there was responses back that weren't in that, that paperwork. I'm sure once he nutted he felt odd.

[Josh]

He been.

[Rory]

I'm sure he has three kids that some I think are older than that girl.

[Leon Thomas]

Years.

[Rory]

I'm sure he fell out.

[Leon Thomas]

It's been two years though. Yeah. That they've had. They've had a relationship.

[Elliot]

Yeah.

[Rory]

Listen, I've been beaten off for 15 years. Sometimes I feel weird after. I'm sure he has a clear conscience. Sometimes it goes, what the fuck am I?

[Elliot]

Yeah.

[Leon Thomas]

I just don't. I just don't think that, you know, it's. He has children that are much older than her.

[Rory]

You don't think he looks at his kids and then looks at his phone on certain holidays and goes, what the am I doing?

[Leon Thomas]

It's again, we don't need to sit here.

[Rory]

And Monique already tore his ass up on his own show and told him what to do.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Rory]

So I don't know if we need to sit here and do that with Shannon.

[Leon Thomas]

I'm not, I'm not here. I'm not. I'm just, I'm just putting out what it is dealing with a woman that young.

[Rory]

Gross.

[Leon Thomas]

You're three times her age. What did, what. Where did you think this was going to end?

[Josh]

That's my thing. I don't give a who. You. You want to be weird. You want to be weird, but I'm not going to have sympathy for you because this is what happens. Yeah, this is what happens. You with a teenage only fans model. This is what happens. Guilty or not guilty. This is what your dumb ass got to deal with. That's stupid.

[Leon Thomas]

I agree. I think that it was just a lapse of judgment for somebody who, you know, for the most part I think is pretty intelligent, pretty classy guy. I don't. I don't see Shannon as not being a classy guy. But I think this, you know, obviously when the cameras shut off and people go home and they have their personal lives, I think people are into some things that are just a little inappropriate and there's doing inappropriate things sometimes. This is where it leads you. It leads you to these types of situations and these types of circumstances where you now have to face the public and talk about, you know, your personal business in the bedroom and behind your own closed doors because again, the relationship was inappropriate to start with. So now we're here and Shannon Sharpe is facing a lot of heat. I don't know what that means for him professionally and his career as a media personality for his businesses and his platforms that he has grown. He is in the middle of a huge negotiation right now with a media company. I don't know what that means for any of that. My guess is it is affecting it.

[Rory]

It's affecting it. But I think it'll be okay. I really do think we'll see granted on the side of last episode. I'm not here to say anyone's innocent or guilty. I want to see just do through everything if he did that put them under the prison. But I don't. I feel like a lot of this. Can we speak candidly? I feel like in the last few years a lot of these accusations have really came in and went and as has not affected people the way it used to. I'm not saying what's fair, what's not. I'm just speaking real on what I've observed. These accusations don't do what they used to do. No, they don't. And I think in some cases.

[Leon Thomas]

But why do you think that?

[Rory]

Some. Some cases I think it's really fucked up. Like I don't even want to put on like a. Because she's 19. Only fans model like that. I'm sure that happens to those girls often. But the smear campaign will be hey, they're an only fans motto. So of course she wanted It. Or like, anything like that. Yeah, it's an easy smear campaign, which is. Is fucked up and unfair and untrue. But to your point, there's also the side of, what do you think that girl wanted? And when she didn't get it, she found Tony Busby. Like, both of these things are true. And I think the court of public opinion can never decide that. And I don't think the court of public opinion cares that much to even sit through this whole trial. Yeah, we're here for. For headlines, and that's it. And then we'll go back to our lives. And then if Shannon Sharp says something that's controversial or intriguing or has another good interview, everyone's gonna go, all right, well, I'm back with Shannon. What even happened with that case? That's how this shit goes.

[Leon Thomas]

Like, I don't know.

[Rory]

It's gonna affect his money for sure. Because no matter what, when scandals happen, bullshit happens. We know that any corporation is going to use that against any creator. But I don't know if it's really gonna affect his bottom line to his career as a media personality.

[Leon Thomas]

I mean, I would hope not. But again, we don't know. We don't know the details of everything that is happening. We don't know what the lawyers are ready to present. And again, we weren't in, you know, Shannon Sharpe's bedroom. We don't know.

[Rory]

Nor do I want to be.

[Leon Thomas]

Nor do I want to be. But, you know, here we are, you know, as all being a part of media, and this obviously came across the desk, and we have to talk about it, because, again, this is Shannon Sharpe, one of the biggest figures that we have. So.

[Josh]

And if this girl is telling the truth, because I'm not just automatically doubting that she is. If she is telling the truth, I'm so upset that she got the lawyer that she got, because that was your biggest mistake that you could have done.

[Rory]

Okay. Again, also, I'll put. Let's take this situation out. That's also where it gets fucked up. Because if this girl has no resources, no nothing, even though, I mean, Shannon Sharp was sending her, what, 50, like, wow, 25,000.

[Josh]

A cheat.

[Rory]

Yeah. Listen, Brandi, I'm sorry. I should. We should have given you more money for a lawyer. She got bread for Busby. There's a lot of girls that don't have resources when some shit happens like that. And they'll find the fucking bullshit ambulance chaser that says, yo, I've represented this group of people against this case, and women that have no experience in that world, will be like, okay, okay, Antonio. If that's even your real name. Yeah, I'm still on that. I'm sorry, I'm repeating myself. Busby is not his last name. Ain't no fucking way I know who sent him.

[Josh]

Oh, my God.

[Rory]

But, yeah, I mean, as much as I'm on that side, like, everything in me is saying, you got Tony Busby. You're. This is some bullshit, some shakedown nonsense. But I also don't want to put it to girls that don't have resources and there are only ambulance chasers that will listen to them. Tony Busby being a fucking ambulance chaser. Remember that first press release with the ho shit everyone on Twitter. Oh, look at Tony Busby's resume. He's the most tried lawyer in all of federal history and won the most cases. Though he photoshopped that. That was not true. He has no experience. He's an ambulance chaser. But to some women, that's the only lawyer that will speak to them. So you can't really put it on people that don't have any experience, myself included, when it comes to, like, legality and law. Like, I thank God for Brandi because she's taught me so much in the music business with lawyer that I would never know if I didn't have her. Thank God Brandy's an amazing person and not Tony Busby. But, yeah, sometimes that's the only lawyer that will listen to you.

[Josh]

Yeah, especially with stuff like this where a lawyer often won't take on cases like this because there's no evidence. Like, when it comes to freaky, I.

[Rory]

Want to make that very clear. This is separate.

[Josh]

When it comes to freaky shit, it's very hard to prove that you didn't. It's very hard to prove consent in someone else's bedroom when you weren't there. Unless it is on camera or unless there is, like, physical damage from the assault. It's tough. So a lot of. And then you're going against somebody who has money. A lot of lawyers won't take that. Won't take that on.

[Rory]

Did you guys ever watch the Breakfast Club interview with Stephen A. Smith? I'm actually shocked this clip has not, like, made its rounds on the Internet. I hope our listeners in Reddit and Twitter community find this. I think Charlamagne was the one that asked Stephen A. Smith about having women sent to him because Stephen A. Is very vocal that he's single and, like, he's just focused on his work. He can't get me in A scandal. I'm not tied to nobody. I'm not cheating on nobody. I. I do what I do when I'm not working. And that's put him in situations where he's felt women have been sent to him from certain people with certain agendas to get him jammed up. In no way am I saying this is the case right now. Just bringing up that thought because they're both in media, and Stephen A. We've known, have gone through countless negotiations. We saw him get a deal that he got fucked over, and he's making, like, $8 million on ESPN seven days a week. Finally got his worth. But before that, he was like, no, I peeped when they were sending women to me. I could tell that this. This wasn't. That somebody sent you to me over. This feels like you're about to yell rape in the hotel room.

[Leon Thomas]

I mean, I'm just always on the side of your moral compass, and having discernment will save you from a lot of.

[Josh]

And having discernment more than anything.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah. And it's just, you know, and discipline. And discipline.

[Rory]

Even if you have these horny thoughts, but still, like, control them.

[Leon Thomas]

But this is. This is why. This is why it's. This is so confusing to me, because you look at somebody like Shannon Sharp, who is, you know, has accomplished things athletically that not many people will have accomplished. That takes a certain level of, you know, discipline, keep your body in shape, you know, play at a high level for so many years. You know, hall of Famer. And then, like I said, when you first came into the league, you had, if you want to call it a speech impediment. He wasn't the greatest, most articulate person when he first came in, but dedicated himself to learning how to speak and learning how to articulate. And now he's one of the biggest figures in media. So clearly, he's a guy that has discipline and is able to focus. Right? Is able to focus and able to execute and, you know, was able to afford himself a great lifestyle through his dedication to his craft and to his work. How do you have such a lapse in judgment when it comes to. Sexually, romantically? That's the part that I am. Because that's not. You know, if somebody is a very clean cut, very sharp, you see them at work, desk area, everything is clean. And then you go to their crib, and they're a fucking hoarder. You're gonna be like, this doesn't check out. This is not the person I know.

[Rory]

Okay. I vividly remember this conversation the year was 2010. I was at Def Jam. And I'm aware that, you know, Club Shay. Shay is based off cognac and he has other vices, but an exec that was like, not shot money. Another one that I'm not going to name that was kind of mentoring me, was speaking about another executive that was super clean cut, super disciplined, super everything. And we were smoking in the office and that executive walked by and he said, I think he has some weird sexual deviant shit. Everyone on earth has to have a vice. If you're this disciplined in something, there has to be a place that you get this shit off somewhere. And if you don't go out, you don't do any type of drug, any type of alcohol. That's cool. You're not even gluttony like you. You're ordering salads even on days that we ordering just like pizza and shit. He gotta have something. It's gotta be some. Everyone has a vice. Everyone has to get that out in some type of way. So I. Yeah, it's a stereotype of the way I view a lot of.

[Leon Thomas]

Like, white is his vice. Yeah, okay. That's what's up. I mean, what you want me to.

[Rory]

But you don't think someone like. All right, you've seen like, American Psycho? Yeah, I mean, of course, that's the extreme version of that, but. And I'm not calling Janet Sharp anything close to. I want to make that very fucking clear. Peach, please don't listen that way or you don't know, of course. But a lot of the cleanest cut people are the most deviant human beings. They don't get their shit out with just smoking weed.

[Leon Thomas]

Right?

[Rory]

They don't just have a glass of wine after work or. Or eat a fucking pizza after work. They find they get they shit off. And it's in a very calculated, disciplined, and nasty way.

[Leon Thomas]

American Psycho, I mean, you know, he.

[Rory]

Was ironing the fucking body bags that he was putting the in. Like that shit translates over the man's man now. He might have been the first metrosexual.

[Leon Thomas]

Either way, man. You know, I hope. I hope that these are just allegations against Shannon Sharp. And if they're not, fuck them. Oh, oh, yeah, on that. That's never anybody that sexually assaults, sexually abuses anybody.

[Rory]

And if she lying her.

[Leon Thomas]

Oh, she's lying. Absolutely her.

[Josh]

And for people who are into BDSM or if you're planning on trying BDSM with a partner, this may seem extreme now, but write some shit out. Get some shit in writing. Get Safe words out in writing. Get all of this down so that can't nobody jam you up. If you're doing brat fetishes or. Or things where someone's in control of you or you in control of somebody, you don't want somebody coming back and saying, oh, you forced yourself on me when you thought that that was the type of play that y'all were into sexually. There are articles you can read about how to handle that stuff legally. But please, please, please protect yourself. Like, I'm all for being freaked out. Y'all know I rarely kink shame. But you gotta be fucking careful, because if you don't, you gotta know when somebody is antagonizing you or when somebody really wants you to force themselves on you. Like, you have to. You gotta know all of that stuff. Like, all of that is very important. So being freaked out is cool. I'm all, we're being freaked out. But please, please, set some boundaries. And if you. If you don't know that person like that, get that shit in writing.

[Leon Thomas]

Let me tell you, especially if you.

[Rory]

Make me make part of the role. Play a mediator with a contract.

[Josh]

Yeah, yeah.

[Leon Thomas]

No, let me tell you something. If me and Rory sit down and they start throwing $100 million across the table, I'm going to be. It's going to be casting couch on my phone for every girl I interact with. Give us your name, your age.

[Josh]

No, for real.

[Leon Thomas]

We getting all that on video. I'm not fucking 100 million. I'm not fudgeing up that for. No, ain't no that good in the world. Shannon is tripping if he did that. 19. What? What are you doing? How did y'all meet?

[Elliot]

You know, where.

[Rory]

Where you think he at?

[Leon Thomas]

Tell me where do you. Where did he meet this girl?

[Josh]

Internet.

[Leon Thomas]

Shannon Sharp ain't supposed to be meeting no women on the Internet.

[Rory]

Where he going to meet him?

[Leon Thomas]

Shannon Sharp is 57 years old.

[Rory]

Where. You've seen how that girl that's going.

[Josh]

To let you choke her and. And say, put this big black baby in me. Where are you going to meet that Shannon?

[Leon Thomas]

Shop is worth a. You think that Shannon Sharp can't meet a grown woman that will let him freak. Freak him out.

[Josh]

Grown women. The clip just happened with Monique where Monique says, you need to lead them young girls alone. He like, why Monique?

[Leon Thomas]

That's what I'm saying.

[Rory]

He.

[Leon Thomas]

He's tripping. But young girls, cool. I'm not talking about as young as this girl, though. 19. If she was 28, 29. All right, you know What? I mean, like, get your off. 19. Come on, fam. She's one year removed from high school. You bugging the.

[Rory]

That's not even the freaks you want.

[Leon Thomas]

You bugging the out.

[Josh]

She ain't even been freaking out.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, you're like.

[Rory]

You're not even been around long enough to be freaky.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, I got sneakers older than that. I got the original 90s. Yeah, like, my. My. My lime green air mattress is older than her. Like, what are we talking about? Like, you really met this girl?

[Josh]

She's 21 now, but they're saying that he met her when she.

[Leon Thomas]

Man, 21 is still too young. I still. I got hat. 21 years old. But what are we talking about here, man? Like, Shannon Sharp is. He's the out of. He's all the way out of pocket with this. This is crazy. And not saying you can't date younger girls, but 19, 20, 21, you playing yourself. You absolutely playing yourself doing that at 54 years old.

[Josh]

It's bad bitches. That's 30 and freaky. I don't understand bad bitches. That's 30 Bernice Bergos in her 40s. I just.

[Rory]

Bernice is 45 with grandkids.

[Leon Thomas]

What are we talking about here?

[Rory]

We don't know if, like, she's a freak.

[Josh]

I mean, but just beauty going up and looking good. And that's 50 year old.

[Rory]

I just said Tracee Ellis Ross at this time for a younger man.

[Leon Thomas]

Nia Long. Is she still available?

[Rory]

Like, none of you make a great couple.

[Leon Thomas]

Who?

[Rory]

You and Neil?

[Leon Thomas]

Me and Nia?

[Rory]

Yeah, set it up, Rory.

[Leon Thomas]

The fuck don't just say it.

[Rory]

Oh, let me just text her. Because me and Neil Long text.

[Leon Thomas]

I'm just saying, like. Yeah, but like, we're saying if I'm sharing an asshole line, I'm blowing up. That would have been the only thing that came out on me. They're like, yo, this been in the long. DMs going crazy. Yes. With some 19 year old and said I'm a choke you. Like, that ain't gonna never happen. Shannon Sharp is bugging for this. I'm sorry, I. With Shannon.

[Josh]

The alleged rape, if I'm not mistaken, Josh, correct me if I'm wrong, is that they were having penis to vagina.

[Leon Thomas]

He put it in.

[Josh]

Put it in her ass, even though she put it in her butt. Hey, people, if you went penis to.

[Rory]

Vagina to try to be politically correct and then went put it in her ass.

[Josh]

Yeah, but to be. Hey, for you, for young men that are coming up out here, because there are some young men that listen to our podcast, and I think it's very important for them to be informed. That is rape. That is race.

[Rory]

Yes. You should not try to put it in a girl's ass if that was not told to be done already.

[Josh]

That is rape, period. No matter if you are having penis to vagina sex, that is rape. The moment she says no, China sex, that is rape. Can y'all not laugh or being.

[Rory]

I'm laughing because you did it in the political way that I was happy you were doing. And he was like, yeah, I just put in a butt.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, yeah. You know what I'm saying?

[Rory]

Take the penis and enter the rectum. Like, you didn't even go that route. He was like, yeah, just don't put in her ass. Yeah, no, no. I agree, though. You should not. Can I.

[Leon Thomas]

Can we. Can we keep it real? Can we keep it real for, like, just the last, like, 30 seconds of this? Let's keep it real. Fridays Shannon did that. Oh, my God. That man. He. He got a little too. I mean, he went a little too far. Yeah, they was having wild sex, you know what I'm saying? And he probably was like.

[Rory]

His thumb was in there.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, he probably was like. He thought she wanted it. You know what I mean? And, you know, he heard her, you know what I'm saying? She. Two days later, she was still sore. She's like, nah, this gotta pay for this. I. I believe that Shannon just went a little too far. I believe. I believe he actually did put it in her butt. She did. She didn't want it. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't know if I'm not gonna say. He held it down and made her take it. He probably just tried to get it in there real quick. And she probably was like, nah, you.

[Rory]

If her text message is correct. I mean, because clearly in tech, she doesn't hold anything back. If she said no when he tried to put in her butt, like, then you just go back to the vagina. Oh. She also said, happen in consensual sex, and if she's not with it, you just go back to the vagina. You don't keep going.

[Leon Thomas]

Horses don't stop. They keep going.

[Rory]

Cut that what she said.

[Leon Thomas]

I played with the Broncos.

[Josh]

I beg you to get it in my butt. Also, if you have sex with somebody without putting a condom on, they telling you to put a condom on. You don't put a condom on. Also rape that. I want every form of it.

[Rory]

No, no, I'm with You.

[Elliot]

That's awesome.

[Rory]

Yeah. No, I agree.

[Josh]

Great. So she said, I begged you to put a condom on and not put it in my ass, and you didn't listen. I don't care about. Yeah, but also.

[Rory]

Also. But. All right, I. I hear you. And this is why sexting is a problem.

[Josh]

Yeah.

[Rory]

Because have you ever sexed with somebody and they not that person? So if you telling me to put a big black baby in me and then I show up with no condom, you could not victim blaming. Because at no point does that mean I'm entitled to fuck you without a condom. I'm just saying you may confuse people when they show up. See, I'm gonna get. All right, never mind. I can see Molly inside of a smile. All I'm saying, I think sexting should stop because I think people just beginning.

[Leon Thomas]

Never stop if it's.

[Rory]

If it's somebody you've been. Yeah. Cause we could.

[Leon Thomas]

And if it's somebody you want to he her.

[Josh]

He been her.

[Rory]

All right, well, let's be truthful in our sex thing.

[Leon Thomas]

All I know is when. Whenever a girl texts you, I don't know how to process this, you in trouble. Whenever a girl say, I don't know how to process this, it's like, oh, she ready to find somebody to help her.

[Rory]

What's funny is that stress for me.

[Leon Thomas]

Due to our due process. Mr. Shannon Sharp, we are calling you to the Supreme Court.

[Rory]

I actually just felt blessed because I felt that nervous shit when you just said, I need to process this when I didn't take the chicken out of the freezer, man, to me, that terrified me. I can only imagine with. Did I accidentally put it in your butt?

[Leon Thomas]

Oh, my God. That's what Shannon should have did. He should have wrapped it up. Josh is doing this little thing he likes to do. Shannon should have wrapped it up.

[Rory]

How do we. How do we.

[Josh]

Poor Leon.

[Rory]

How do we transition into our guest that is about to be here? Well, should it be a cold cut? Like, how do we get the energy into.

[Leon Thomas]

I mean.

[Rory]

Well, this was wild.

[Leon Thomas]

The good thing about our guest that's coming on is he.

[Rory]

I'm being stared at.

[Leon Thomas]

He is a. He's a great, great talent, Great, great singer, great songwriter, and he's coming by to have a great conversation with us so we can get right into that and have some fun. But. But again, Shannon, prayers to you. Prayers to the alleged victim. Hopefully, you know, everybody is on the right side of history here, and everybody's, you know, they will come in court and due process like Damaris Said we will figure out more about what happened and what didn't happen. So, you know, hate to see Shannon go through this, but discernment, discipline, moral morals, moral compass. Where does that lie?

[Josh]

Sex contracts.

[Leon Thomas]

Sex contracts. If you that you know, somebody as famous and as big a figure as Shannon Sharpe is, that might be a necessity. You might have to start doing that as well. Anything to protect yourself and to keep you away from things like this. But let's get into our guests. Let's have some fun and let's talk some shit.

[Rory]

This episode is sponsored by Roe Mall. Rose Sparks are a 2 in 1 prescription treatment for guys who want more controlled erections. I know that word makes you uncomfortable, but, you know, sometimes when it's time, you gotta act. You had no idea it was even coming.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, Rory, sometimes you need that push sometimes, you know, you need to get the blood flowing.

[Rory]

Yeah.

[Leon Thomas]

Need to get the juices going. Roll will help you grow.

[Rory]

They call me Rory in the streets. That's what everyone calls me.

[Leon Thomas]

And you can't spell Roll without Rory.

[Rory]

That's a fact.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Rory]

Every. Every time they see me out, they know what time it is.

[Leon Thomas]

True, Rory. And Rose stays active in your system for 36 hours.

[Rory]

Important.

[Leon Thomas]

So sometimes you can go double overtime, triple overtime, depending on how you feeling. Yeah.

[Rory]

And I mean, it doesn't make you hard, like right away and just walking around still.

[Leon Thomas]

No, no, no.

[Rory]

It only works when you're starting to feel aroused. So even if you want to plan your date around that entire thing, take it early. Let it just get right in that blood.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah. Find the right window.

[Rory]

Yeah. Then when it's time, roll. No. Ro connects guys with a medical provider, 100 online, so you don't have to waste time in waiting rooms. Because that's always awkward too, when you go and have to tell the doctor what you're really here for.

[Leon Thomas]

Like, everybody knows.

[Rory]

Yeah, they can see it in your face.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, they can see it.

[Rory]

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[Damaris]

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[Rory]

And we are back with probably the most important guest I think of 2025 so far. I don't know if it'll be topped either for what I think this gentleman is about to do despite what he's already done. But we are here with one of the most talented songwriters, musicians and artists that I've ever had the privilege. I want to make that very privilege to work with in my entire life. We are here with the great, great, great Nickelodeon star post, Leon Thomas. This is our live studio audience.

[Elliot]

It was good. That was an amazing interview. Intro, man, that was fly.

[Leon Thomas]

Hold on. Because my, my, my, my obsessive compulsive OCD is.

[Rory]

Oh, yeah, well, let's move that. Keep it rolling.

[Elliot]

Oh, I like that, man. It's about the details.

[Rory]

I don't know how bad was like.

[Leon Thomas]

This in my sneakers.

[Rory]

The is that I'll try to redo the intro. We are here is here with Leon.

[Leon Thomas]

We here with Leon Thomas. Man, first of all, bro, now that you're here, congrats on what I think is a classic album.

[Rory]

I agree.

[Leon Thomas]

Absolutely had, in my opinion. Well, me and Rory both agree.

[Rory]

The only thing we agreed on our 2024 wrap up was that Mutt was.

[Leon Thomas]

The R and B album of the year. Without. Without a doubt, man.

[Elliot]

Thank you so much.

[Leon Thomas]

It's a pleasure to meet you and tell you that to your face. That was a phenomenal project. Rory was the first person to tell me to listen to it. I think he may have told me like, yo, did you listen to it yet? I'm like, I didn't listen to it yet. And I'm here to say, Leon, I haven't stopped listening to it.

[Elliot]

That's fire.

[Rory]

What's funny? I told you before. So when Leon and I had a session to do. Who are you, anyways? Roy Leon Thomas. Out right now. Check out all streaming platforms. Same session. He played me what became Mutt. And when I came back to you and Damaris, I think because I've gassed a few albums before coming out of sessions, you guys didn't fully understand what I was getting at.

[Leon Thomas]

I thought it was studio, but I.

[Rory]

Was like, nah, nah. I'm telling you, this Leon's about to put out is crazy because you played me maybe 90. Yeah, yeah. I think you were trying to get some mixing, like in the next week.

[Elliot]

Yeah, yeah. We were at the tail end of it. And I just remember being kind of nervous because it was. It was like, you, Elliot Wilson in a row.

[Rory]

I'm like, wale randomly ran in.

[Elliot]

Yeah, if y'all hate this, like, oh.

[Leon Thomas]

Man, it's gonna rain.

[Elliot]

Ring bells. But I'm glad it worked out, you know?

[Leon Thomas]

No, that album is incredible. I was in Virginia for Thanksgiving and I played it like I was riding around with my sister and I played it in the car. And every week she calls me and was like, yo, this album is crazy. So she still listening to it, like, no, it's a phenomenal album, but I want to go to. Cause you're from Brooklyn originally, right?

[Elliot]

Yeah, yeah, I'm from Park Slope.

[Rory]

Okay.

[Elliot]

Yeah. I grew up in Park Slope and I moved to LA when I was, like, 16.

[Leon Thomas]

Okay. What high school you went to?

[Elliot]

So I went to International studies.

[Leon Thomas]

Okay.

[Elliot]

Nobody knows my school because it's shared by another school called Global Studies.

[Leon Thomas]

Okay.

[Elliot]

And it was voted the worst high school in Brooklyn, I think, like, five years ago.

[Rory]

Boys and girls and shit. Yeah.

[Leon Thomas]

You know how crazy that is to be voted worst high school?

[Elliot]

I know. It was. Yeah, yeah. It was a little rough. But I'm glad I had that experience too. Cause it gave me balance.

[Leon Thomas]

Okay.

[Elliot]

Especially going out to la. You know, you're dealing with a lot of trust fund kids and this and that and the other. It was good to kind of have that grounded aspect to me, you know?

[Rory]

Do you think, like, I feel like New York City, I mean, does. Does Maxwell claim Brooklyn?

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah. Hell yeah.

[Elliot]

Okay.

[Rory]

But I feel like the R B, like, outside of, like, maybe what they were doing in Harlem in, like, the 80s, traditional R B, I feel like New York City has kind of not had an identity for. And then I feel like Virginia gets our identity when it comes to production just because of what Teddy Riley did when he moved down there. Like New York. Of course we have rap. I mean, that goes without saying. But R B, I felt like we have never really put a. A staple in.

[Elliot]

Well, I mean, like Lauryn Hill and like Fuji's, you know, Jersey, but. Yeah, I mean, Jersey. Oh, that is Jersey. Damn. I don't know. I'm the only one.

[Leon Thomas]

Leon. That's it.

[Rory]

But I mean, like, I feel R B never, like, doesn't really have the where you from? Type of like when you hear rb, like, they're from there. Like.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, you don't need to raise or bravado, I guess. Yeah. When you R and B, you don't have to wave your city flag.

[Rory]

I mean, when Life Jennings came out, I was like, where is he from? Yeah, cuz this sounds like the craziest hood I've ever heard in my life. That's what I want, his ass. But I don't know. R B never really feel. I feel like has an identity of where you're from. Like, even Beyonce into like her latter part of her career, I felt like owned Texas even more. That's like starting to happen, I think now.

[Elliot]

I mean. Yeah, it's getting pretty real with the Cowboy Carter stuff. And, you know, she's definitely showing her roots. But I'm glad that I can definitely lock in and let people know I'm from New York. I'm very proud of it. It's a big part of even why I'm multifaceted. Because, I mean, I think growing up in Brooklyn, especially in Park Slope, Prospect park is where all the skaters would do they thing. So I'm over there listening to rock and then I'm going to school, you know, at International Studies, right near the Gowanus projects. And I'm hearing like all this hip hop, you know, it's like. It's so much just. It's just a real melting power. Yeah, yeah, There's a lot of noise and you gotta make something out of that, you know? And then I think for R and B, I can say for New York, Alicia Keys. Let's not forget Alicia Keys.

[Leon Thomas]

Let's not forget Alicia Keys.

[Elliot]

And there's more. Like I'm just blanking on them.

[Rory]

But yeah, yeah, no, Alicia, definitely. Everything Alicia did coming out was like, that girl's from New York City. So, yeah, I do take back some of my statements. Alicia Keys, like, she got Broadway play.

[Elliot]

Hell's Kitchen going crazy right now.

[Rory]

Talk building now.

[Elliot]

Yeah.

[Leon Thomas]

Where's Mariah Carey from?

[Elliot]

I think she's from New York too. I actually Randomly had a session with Mariah Carey.

[Leon Thomas]

All right, Leon, hold. Stop.

[Elliot]

I'm not going to lie, bro.

[Leon Thomas]

Wait, wait.

[Rory]

We went from her?

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah. You don't just throw that out there. I randomly had a surprise session with Mariah. Like, how does that.

[Elliot]

It's really cool.

[Leon Thomas]

How does that happen?

[Elliot]

I mean, I didn't sign an NDA, so I guess I'm cool to talk about it. We were just getting creative. Like, I don't know if she has any plans of dropping anything, but it was really cool. Through my production partner, Chris Riddick Ties. He hit me up. He was like, you trying to do a session with Mariah? I'm like, yeah, who is it?

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Elliot]

And it was so cool vibing with her. We really, like. We're just sitting there writing records. Records and vibing out. You know, she's a. She's an absolute legend. That was fun.

[Leon Thomas]

Oh, absolutely.

[Rory]

I mean, if you didn't sign NDA, you have a very unique process, which I will not. I didn't sign an NDA, but I won't give your process away. It was the most unique thing I'd ever seen before.

[Elliot]

I was like, it was a little.

[Rory]

Different beside myself of how you work, because I've never seen anyone work that way.

[Leon Thomas]

She's from Huntington, New York.

[Elliot]

Okay. Well, yeah. Yeah.

[Rory]

What. What is Mariah's process like in a studio? Is she more like start with a melody, then put words to it?

[Elliot]

We were like. We were writing. I kind of like to call it choir style, rather than, like, being isolated in the booth, like, going, like, part for part. We're all out in the control room, just kind of shooting ideas till something comes, you know? And I think that's more fun. It's more collaborative, especially when you're working with other co writers. The new school way, though, is everybody goes into the booth and lays melodies, and it just takes forever. Choir style. You get a chance to kind of just put it together. And I think you can also understand if the hook is gonna be catchy enough for a group of people to sing. You know what I mean?

[Rory]

I get it for sure.

[Leon Thomas]

How has it been meeting some of your.

[Rory]

Well, before you get there. Cause I do have a real question about Mariah.

[Josh]

Oh, you know, mine was coming.

[Rory]

It's April 23rd. Right. So that gives enough time to get something clear. Did you write any Christmas music?

[Elliot]

No.

[Rory]

To make sure. Generational wealth. Leon, think about your children.

[Leon Thomas]

Think about your kids.

[Rory]

Why are you not singing about Santa Claus in those sessions?

[Elliot]

I'm gonna be honest. Like, even Outside of the Mariah session, I've been thinking like yeah, I need to really, you know, just pick up the Christmas pen. Like you know, it's time to. It's time to get right. This is like an every year bag, you know.

[Rory]

Okay. So this just reminded me. Damn, you just remind me off Christmas.

[Elliot]

Right.

[Rory]

We can cut this if we need to. Valley of Emotional Oranges who you know sent me a video of you and her doing a Christmas song when you guys were like that's facts. 18, 17 years old. And it was quite possibly the greatest, I mean funniest Christmas video I've ever seen.

[Elliot]

A good 5D camera shaking footage on Venice singing about Christmas like insane work. When we dropped Valley's my dog is. That's legitly my favorite. Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. It's so cool to see her reinvent herself in such a beautiful way. And I run into her all the time. It's like none but love.

[Rory]

Yeah, no, she sent me that the day our record dropped. And I was like, no, I meant to send it to you.

[Elliot]

It's all good. I try to like erase all Christmas records. I've tried to do an effect.

[Rory]

No, cuz it looked like the whole label was like Venice and put them in sweaters. Yeah.

[Elliot]

I'm shout out to Rajam man, you know it's funny. Benji just hit me up not too long ago. Yeah, yeah. I really love Benji. We were just trying stuff, you know, independent just do it I think.

[Rory]

What was that rastrum like years like? Because I guess for fans that don't know that was one of the bigger independent to then major labels.

[Elliot]

Yeah.

[Rory]

Does he still work with Wiz?

[Elliot]

And I'm not quite sure what their relationship is like but to be honest, at that time everything was really cool. And I was around Wiz a bunch.

[Rory]

Around the Taylor gang guys as well. Right.

[Elliot]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Mac Miller was assigned to Rostrum and Arthur Pitt shout out to you Arthur. He was one of the lead executives like you know, running me around everybody. He introduced me to Rob Markman and just like real important, you know, figures. And the way that they worked was just really very run and gun. You know, let's like really put the work in. Let's not spend a bunch of money yet until it's like making a bunch of money. And I respect that. Cause now that I'm at a major label, I still move like an independent artist in that way. Like I'm not blowing a bunch of money on studio time or even just doing like Crazy Wild $300,000 music videos. I'm kind of big on just let's build this piece by piece, you know. And that definitely came from Benji.

[Leon Thomas]

How has it been? Cause back to Mariah thing, how has it been for you meeting some of your heroes and inspirations in music? Has it been an enjoying thing or hasn't it? Disappointed?

[Elliot]

I mean. Well, a little bit of both. But I think for the most part it's just very surreal. You gotta kind of suppress your inner 13 year old self, you know, for that day that you're doing a session. But I think once you get past that, you have to go over the creative anxiety that comes from like this could be life changing. And I think once you get over that hump, you're just creating with another human, you know what I mean? Yeah, but those first two bumps in the road are not easy, you know?

[Rory]

Yeah. I mean I think even going from like the tv, I guess, child's actor. I don't know if you did Rostrum, which was the culture at the time.

[Elliot]

Yeah.

[Rory]

To then I feel like you kind of got, it wasn't a bad thing, but you became the Snooze guy, which I felt was like weird. That was the way I feel. Like people started to discover you and.

[Elliot]

Listen, it's like the Internet and even just how people consume music right now. They're just trying to find a common denominator, you know, like, and Snooze was a huge record. So all of it was positive from my perspective because I knew what I had in my back pocket. I knew like the tools I was working with. Like, it's not like I, I, I did that record and then it was like, okay, now let me start trying to be an artist. I, I been getting ready, waiting for a moment like this to really use it as a platform, you know?

[Rory]

Yeah. Because I think you had the best example of having that stereotype of this is that guy, yo, you heard about him, yo, he did snooze to now Mutt being the best of 2024. That transition though doesn't really happen for a lot of artists. Yeah, a lot of people just get put in the writer producer category when they're great or like we were just talking about Esther Dean when the Keri Hilson thing came up. We just going through, we were going through just great writers that were also great artists, but they never got, they never got to break through. How do you think you did break through that? Because some of the greatest writers never did that.

[Elliot]

Well, I think a lot of those artists who were also songwriters and producers aren't necessarily operating with the team perspective. So me signing with Todd Dollar Sign and the cross pollinization of me being just like in a cultural moment, I think was really helpful for just like a lot of people's perspectives as they started really hearing me. And then I think being a producer and really seeing the whole artist journey of building a brand, I kind of started recognizing things that I didn't like and that I was gonna do different. And for me, consistency was everything. I shot nine visualizers for Mutt. So all day on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube shorts, wherever, push some ad dollars into it. I had little 40 second commercials for my music outside of all of the amazing press I've been doing with Biz3 my publicist. So I think it's just understanding that, all right, I need these cultural elements in conjunction with solid marketing around it. That's the piece brand identity, the red dreads. Okay. The look, the vibe had to all match what I was trying to kind of sell with the music. And sometimes a lot of songwriters and producers who are stepping into don't necessarily come to it with that same perspective. But Victoria Monet, she really overstood. Like, she like.

[Rory]

Yeah, Jaguar went insane.

[Elliot]

She went insane. So there's like, I feel like we're evolving and learning over time. I really respect that.

[Rory]

And I think that's great with you guys having the tools because I always think the actual songwriters and vocalists make the best artists. So having the tools and the knowledge to do rather than I just have to do Mariah Carey session and give my best records away to whoever is the bigger artist in the room.

[Elliot]

Right.

[Rory]

I'm glad. Like, if you go through Victoria's catalog and see what she's wrote, if she.

[Elliot]

She's been a part of some amazing.

[Rory]

Records, five years later, she's now able to put shit out by herself where she can keep a lot of the records that she's writing instead of give them away.

[Elliot]

I mean, it's. The industry changed too. Like at the time when Victoria was really trying to do the whole artist thing, in the beginning, it was just kind of tough. Like executives sometimes need to be in the same mindset of this is really possible and this can work. And I'm glad that the New School execs are becoming more lenient and open to the idea. I mean, they were very hard to please around that time. Like 2010.

[Rory]

Yeah, for sure. Cause they were still. They were coming out of radio, still trying to understand the Internet. So they.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Elliot]

It was just a whole different time structure. Yeah. Stakes were real high.

[Rory]

And plus, yeah, they weren't risking budgets on stuff that was unproven at that moment. And they were terrified to lose their job. Like, that's really all it was.

[Elliot]

Exactly.

[Rory]

You said nine visualizers for Mutt. I do want to ask about Mutt. This song, you had regular version, Freddie Gibbs, and then the CB remix as well.

[Elliot]

Yeah.

[Rory]

I just went to find a 21 Savage song that I love off his last album. There's the sped up version. There's the chopped and screwed version. There's the deluxe. There's the regular. I had to scroll through seven of the same album to get to that. Can you speak to the importance of remixing the remix of the remix in the streaming era?

[Elliot]

I just think content is king, and if you can find a way to reach different audiences with the same copyright, it'll feed the original version and potentially become something brand new for the song. You know, Analee Choppa is like an interesting example of that, of him, like, remixing a song 3, 4 times until he found himself in a position that this is a whole brand new thing. And I think that's kind of smart. I feel like when artists raise their hands in this generation that's just overly cluttered with songs, content, and things going on, I think it's important to find a new way to really brush off a song that could genuinely go crazy. And I'm so thankful that right now we're at 16 on a hot 100. That's a big deal. Top 20 is a big deal, man. So I think a lot of that is due to us not giving up on the record after, like, two months or three months. You know, Like, I think you.

[Rory]

You guys have been the perfect example of post promo being way more important than the rollout in this day and age.

[Elliot]

Yeah.

[Rory]

Because Mutt is, you know, coming up close to a year, sort of.

[Elliot]

Yeah, yeah.

[Rory]

And now it's. It's really climbing up every single day.

[Elliot]

Yeah, yeah.

[Rory]

That really kind of speaks to, I think, the new wave that any creatives or artists that are listening, like, post promo is way fucking more important. The rollout is cool, whatever. If you want to create this, build up this moment to that day. And then it's like, all right, cool.

[Elliot]

Yeah. There's a viral clip of Tyler, the creator, talking about that. He was like, I hate that the new artists feel like they're too cool for school to actually promote their music. I'm still promoting my album from last year, and that Actually inspired me. Cause I was like, you know, he's right. Sometimes you might hit him with the out now. Like a little this or that a video. You're like, well, it didn't work.

[Rory]

Like, oh, but even like dollars wise, I mean, no, you want a major, but people that are independent. Yeah, maybe we should start moving the money to after the release than before the release. Use our connections for playl to get shit at least posted the correct way. But the money needs to be spent after. Yeah, let's see what works and then put our dollars into that shit.

[Leon Thomas]

At any point when you wrote Mutt, like, I don't know how long you had it, but if you had it for a while, did you ever consider like, this person would sound great on this? Like, or was it always just something that was.

[Elliot]

That was me. That was me. I knew that one was for me, period. And then also it's like, I think a lot of artists were too afraid to record that song at that time. Like, there was no example of something else that was successful with that sound for me. I even remember the label wanted to go with Far Fetched first. And they were kind of fighting me on dropping Mutt first. But my whole argument was, it's the title track and it's upbeat. And I think we only have two months to roll this out. This is a great opportunity to pull people's eyes back into the other copyrights. We can just use this as a commercial. And it worked.

[Leon Thomas]

How important do you think that is for artists? Cause you make a good point. Sometimes the label will hear the album, you turn in and be like, no, this is the one we wanna go with. But how important is it for you as an artist to stand on your square when you feel that strong about a record like Mutt and be like, no, this is the one we going with?

[Elliot]

I feel like it's balanced, man. I mean, first off, I don't know everything, you know what I'm saying? I'm 31, I'm still figuring things out. I make plenty of mistakes. I just personally feel like my music should reflect where I'm at, what I'm. And I feel like that's how you're gonna get the best out of me. From a marketing perspective too, when I'm able to really identify with the messaging, with the feeling that it's given from a cultural perspective. So, I mean, I do my best to just at least plead the case so that it makes sense to everybody involved. And I'm really lucky to have partners that believe in me. And trust my word and my, you know, in my taste.

[Rory]

Do you still feel like you're. You're a dog and a mutt?

[Elliot]

No.

[Rory]

That was last year, right? That was last year.

[Elliot]

Yeah. I feel like that was.

[Rory]

That was two years ago.

[Elliot]

Change, you know.

[Rory]

You know, you let me go through that.

[Elliot]

I had to go through.

[Rory]

Leon went through that. So hopefully you don't have to go through that.

[Elliot]

But then, you know, if you really listen to the record, it's. It's two sided.

[Rory]

Yeah.

[Elliot]

The hook, to me, I just said that because I felt like it was just really clever, you know, Let me take your time. What's the rush? I was like, maybe I'm a dog, I'm a mud. You just think about the visual aspect of it. It's like immediately you can see what's going on. Right. But in the verses, I'm talking about being vulnerable. You can break my heart if you want to. You know, like, I have trouble trusting, you know, all these pretty faces doing this and that. It's like there's so many aspects of me kind of showcasing exactly where I'm at right now too. It's just hard to like focus. The reason why I may be quote, unquote, mutt is cause it's like. Well, it's just hard to focus with all of this, you know, these filters, you know, these fake conversations.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah. You posted the video when I think you were at a sound check for a show.

[Elliot]

Yeah.

[Leon Thomas]

When you got the Chris vocals back.

[Elliot]

Yeah.

[Leon Thomas]

How is that? I mean, we. We obviously give Chris his flowers. He's arguably one of the greatest artists.

[Elliot]

Amazing.

[Leon Thomas]

One of the greatest entertainers. How is that to have somebody like Chris hear your record and then I don't know how it happened. How did that happen? How did the, the Chris verse come about? Did you reach out to him? Did he reach out to you?

[Elliot]

My team actually reached out to him because I was scared to text the dude. To be real, we met probably like a year and some change before that. And he had heard my album Electric Dusk and resonated with some of the songs and was just really nice to me when we were outside. Always cool if you had a table. Yo, pop through vibe out, here's a drink, chill. And I really respect people like that. And then the way that he even operated with this feature, he wasn't gatekeeping. And a lot of R and B artists get intimidated or feel weird about, you know, helping somebody else up out on their journey up. And he's just been so gracious and cool with this. Entire process only took him, like, a couple weeks to record the feature, and he really wanted to make sure it was right. You know, I respect artists like that, and I'm really hoping that I can, even later on down my journey, be the same kind of artist to be like, you know what? Yo, come on up. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Here's how you do it. Try this, don't try. You know? You know what I mean? Like, give, give back, pay it forward.

[Rory]

You know, how's the transition been? I mean, you know, obviously been very prevalent behind the scenes. And Lecture Dust was, I think, number one on my list for. That was 2023 or 2023. I think it was my number one R and B album. But still, I feel like the shift of notoriety has been this year. How you been dealing with that outside of just Chris Brown? Want to hop on?

[Elliot]

It's awesome, man. I mean, are you walking different?

[Leon Thomas]

Is your walk different?

[Elliot]

Yeah, I'm feeling good, man. This is like.

[Leon Thomas]

Oh, I know you feel a lot. I know. That's what I'm waiting for.

[Elliot]

Korean facials.

[Leon Thomas]

There you go. There you go. Yeah. But to be sparkling water. I know.

[Rory]

This is somebody that is lying right now. You hate that. You don't like this attention.

[Leon Thomas]

I could tell it's gonna be a long journey. Is crazy that.

[Rory]

No, is that really part of your personality to like, really be in the forefront like that?

[Elliot]

I mean, like, right now, I'm doing club appearances. Like, it's getting wild.

[Leon Thomas]

You know what I'm saying?

[Rory]

What? You ask them to put on the sign when they come with the bottles.

[Elliot]

So sometimes we play into the record, you know, like, you know, mud stuff. Leon Thomas is here. I don't know. I never am the one who actually.

[Rory]

Thomas know.

[Elliot]

Put on my sign. I barely even know. Bottles are coming out, trying to leave. Yo, I got social anxiety. No.

[Josh]

You'Re a Leo. You like the attention.

[Elliot]

I like the spotlight. Yeah. She called me out.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah. No, it's. It's just fun to watch, like, you know, artists like yourself have that moment where it's like. Like you have a Chris Brown feature.

[Elliot]

Yeah.

[Leon Thomas]

You know what I'm saying? Like, that's like, life changes now. Like, things are totally different. More people are. There's more eyes on you, more ears on you. But obviously, if they're, you know, they listen to the album, they know that. Okay, this is somebody that's gonna be here for a while because you're an artist. It's not just a TikTok 20 seconds in a song that people fell in Love with type of thing. Like this is a full artist that people.

[Elliot]

Yeah, it's really cool, man. I mean, I'm glad that my team forced me to do the tiny desk stuff. Cause I was scared. I was like, man, I felt like it was early and I was like, man, I want to make sure I kill it.

[Leon Thomas]

You know what I mean? But that's what makes you feel like that though. Like it was too soon for that. That's dope.

[Elliot]

I was like, I really wanted to kill it. Cause I mean, that's like one of my favorite platforms to watch when it comes to live performance. Cause artists can't hide from like autotune or reverb or any like, you know.

[Leon Thomas]

Fixes, you know, like there's no acoustic.

[Elliot]

Stuff, yo, but like no acoustic events. So you really gotta be raw what you doing and like go in. And I'm glad they really, really got me right with that because I'm definitely a perfectionist. I wanna make sure I'm really always coming through with my best foot forward. But that was a great way for people to understand just the storytelling aspect of my records. You can kinda hear the enunciation a little bit better, less effects, whatever else. And it's cool to see people digging from overseas and domestic, you know.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, yeah. You was in the UK for a few days.

[Elliot]

Yeah, yeah, I went to the UK for week.

[Leon Thomas]

There some pro show love over in the uk.

[Elliot]

They show some love. I know y'all know too.

[Rory]

Yeah, they show a lot of love.

[Elliot]

Yeah. Passport Stand thought it was fun.

[Josh]

Speaking of Tik Tok. Right. Because as I'm looking at where Mut is on the charts right now, because I'm on Tik Tok so much and I'm not really. Sometimes I don't really tap in with the charts. Mutt from Tik Tok. I don't know if you're aware of this. It was. Seemed like it was a number one record because there was at one point like a good three months in my life where you couldn't scroll on Tik Tok without hearing Mutt it. That's wild background song. I always wondered if you guys are privy to that, but I know that TikTok is sometimes considered a younger platform.

[Elliot]

Well, no, my algorithm's so different on TikTok. It's like cooking videos.

[Rory]

Well, usually we're a very artist friendly platform. We usually shit. We usually blame the label and blame the team. Yeah, I actually think that your team was correct for sure on that timing with Tiny Desk.

[Elliot]

Oh yeah.

[Rory]

Like I thought that was perfect. You got. That was good timing.

[Elliot]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And this is why I listen. Like, yeah, we'll have situations where I feel like one thing will work and. But I love to listen too. Cause I, you know, I don't know everything.

[Rory]

Are you nervous for the follow up? Cause while this isn't your first album, this was, I feel like the one that put you on the map. And it's not the sophomore slump or that's something I feel like is in the back of a lot of artists head trying to follow up something that they're getting their first identity to the master.

[Leon Thomas]

For you, the bar is like.

[Elliot]

I mean, we got like a deluxe coming with more records. The way I really look at all of this right now, sonically, I've been this entire time spoon feeding more and more of the real side of me musically, which is very, very, very live, you know, so I've already known like that this even from Mutt, we had live drums on it, live bass, live strings, like a lot of elements that were very classic, you know, but it was still spoon feeding where I'm headed with this whole thing. And I'm not afraid of that evolution, you know, And I really hope that everybody can go on that ride with me without getting upset about what they think I should be doing, because I'm an artist and I'm gonna be myself regardless.

[Leon Thomas]

You know, who are some of the artists that you're looking forward to working with in the future? Like, you have your whiteboard. You're like, I have to get a record with.

[Elliot]

It's a wild list. So John Mayer. I want to work with Charlie Puth. I know it sounds wild, but I think we'll make something amazing. And he's doing a lot of stuff on analog right now, and we've been talking about it, and then I really want to work with her. I want to do some cool live stuff.

[Rory]

I think it's crazy y'all have not worked together yet.

[Elliot]

Yeah, well, we grew up together working on records before she even changed her name from Gabby Wilson to her. We were cooking up joints. And she's always been really supportive of me.

[Rory]

Gabby's the best.

[Elliot]

Yeah. But I really look at collaboration, especially with my friends. Like, yo, it'll happen in this right time.

[Josh]

Yeah, yeah.

[Rory]

Not to force it.

[Leon Thomas]

It's dope. But I mean, like, somebody like Gabby and yourself coming up to where you know she is, and obviously you are now that has to be dope to kind of like bump into each other again and be like, damn, so Much has happened. Life has changed so much.

[Elliot]

Yeah, I don't like making my friends feel uncomfortable. Cause everybody's trying to just balance out team's expectations, fans expectations. And yeah, we may know each other, but like, at the time when I probably could have been trying to get records from her, like, it's, you know, I was like, we don't want to do it.

[Rory]

Yeah, of course.

[Elliot]

I really respect the grind and the hustle. I know the game. Yeah. We'll link back up on the strike.

[Rory]

How did so rather be alone will be part of the deluxe for Mutt or that system. Okay. Do you think you'll be able to be on DDG stream after. After that?

[Elliot]

I mean, I'm still cool with DDG.

[Rory]

They laughed. @ least your publicist thought it was funny.

[Elliot]

It's a good question, but like, it's a great record. I don't. I don't know. Yeah, I don't know how everybody's feeling, but I love He's My Homie Dog.

[Rory]

DDG is incredible.

[Elliot]

We've been cool for a real long time and. And I feel like their situation is still amicable too, so.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Rory]

Parents.

[Elliot]

Yeah. Yeah. It's just, you know how it's flowing.

[Rory]

How did that record come about?

[Elliot]

She just popped by the studio. It was really just out of the blue. A friend of mine invited her by and we were listening to songs. She was like, oh, I really like that one. I was like, say less. Opened up a verse, get on in.

[Leon Thomas]

Oh, do you.

[Rory]

It's crazy, this recording equipment work.

[Leon Thomas]

It's crazy that we're in the studio right now and you like this record.

[Elliot]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Rory]

I feel like her and her sister are so fucking talented. I kind of want them to like this selfish shit. I want them to like, stop working on their solo careers.

[Elliot]

Oh, wow.

[Rory]

Like, I would love. You don't want a Chloe and Haley album like now.

[Josh]

Oh, together? Yes, definitely.

[Elliot]

Well, yeah, I mean, I think both can happen simultaneously. You know, I think they're like.

[Rory]

Them together is a different type of vibe.

[Elliot]

But you got to understand too. It's like they grew up doing a lot of records together. And I'm so glad that they both have been able to experience just lots life as adults in. In a different lens, you know, I mean, I'm talking since like 12 years old. I was seeing videos of them, you know, doing their thing. So I respect the fact that they allow themselves time to just vibe out. And I know they're sisters, so like this. There's always a back pocket album ready to go. You know what I'm saying? You know, Thanksgiving, they got a little record ready to, you know.

[Leon Thomas]

Absolutely.

[Rory]

Beyonce. Just letting them grow up and find their own way.

[Elliot]

I mean, what a great mentor to have. Like, she really gets it. And she also understands what it's like to have sisters and do your own thing and still be able to, like, come back together when the time is right.

[Rory]

Yeah.

[Elliot]

You know.

[Leon Thomas]

All right, so, Leon, we've been seeing this whole shit on social media with all the Mount Rushmores.

[Elliot]

Oh, yeah.

[Leon Thomas]

So we want to. While we have you, we want to do a male R&B Mount Rushmore. We're going to do an old school one.

[Elliot]

Okay.

[Leon Thomas]

And a new school. School one.

[Elliot]

All right, but, like, define new school. Like, after the 2000s or, like, what does that mean?

[Rory]

Like, right now, I would say. I would say the 70s to the 90s, and then 2000 to now.

[Elliot]

Okay, perfect.

[Rory]

Because I'm.

[Elliot]

Yeah, all right.

[Rory]

I'm close, right? That's close enough.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Josh]

That's to split it enough.

[Rory]

Yeah, yeah. It's sick in my head to realize that that could split it up, that the 70s to the 90s is just as much. I'm. I'm turning 35 in two weeks.

[Elliot]

So I'm going through it right now. What do they have up there? They got babies.

[Leon Thomas]

So this person has Luther Van, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Babyface.

[Elliot]

Okay, cool.

[Josh]

Who would you take out or replace?

[Elliot]

Who would I take out or replace? All right, guys.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, we trying to make a clip.

[Rory]

Leon.

[Leon Thomas]

Leon said Babyface is trash.

[Elliot]

Oh, come on.

[Leon Thomas]

No, no, we ain't putting that energy on it, but. Nah, give us Leon's.

[Elliot]

Who do you feel is much more my top four? Cause if it's old school, all right, it's gonna be Marvin, Stevie, Prince, and Michael, hands down.

[Leon Thomas]

I'm not mad at that.

[Elliot]

And then New School, Usher, the beginning, Chris Brown, Tyrese D'Angelo.

[Rory]

First of all, I don't like you do that. Cause Tyrese deserves his flowers. So I don't even like that.

[Leon Thomas]

That was me.

[Rory]

D'Angelo. D'Angelo.

[Leon Thomas]

I was offering his name.

[Rory]

Who?

[Elliot]

Yeah, no, tyrese is amazing. D'Angelo. And then also, you know what? I gotta give it to Neo. I mean, I'm talking like, a whole decade of hits.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, so you said Usher.

[Elliot]

Usher. Chris.

[Leon Thomas]

Chris D'Angelo.

[Elliot]

Neo.

[Leon Thomas]

Neo. Okay.

[Elliot]

That's where I'm at.

[Rory]

All right, what's funny? I want to argue these all the time. I can't argue that. And I kind of can't argue that old School one that they put up in as well. Who are you taking out out of Luther, Marvin Gay, Stevie Wonder, Baby Face, who replaces that?

[Leon Thomas]

I'm taking Baby Face out and putting Michael or, or Prince there for sure.

[Rory]

But all right, this is R and B, R and B, R. I'm not saying that Michael Jackson, of course they're R and B. They supersede any genre like that.

[Leon Thomas]

Okay, so put them.

[Rory]

Prince is a rock star too. Like.

[Elliot]

Yeah, but like it was his ability to mesh genres was. But even like the early Prince, it was like really, really heavily.

[Rory]

Like I favorite Prince over Michael. And I would never say that Prince is a R B artist at all. Like he makes amazing R B music, but most of his music to me would be more rock, alternative, pop. Like that's Prince to me. Like you'll get a why don't you call me anymore type vibe. That's Prince can smoke R B when he wants to. Yeah, but he's not an R B artist to me. Prince superseded music, period.

[Elliot]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Rory]

But then again, you can make the case that ushers R and B, but Ushers also very pop.

[Elliot]

Right.

[Rory]

So I. I don't. That's why these are tough.

[Elliot]

I don't know.

[Rory]

That's why the only. The rapper ones make sense for me.

[Elliot]

Yeah, yeah. Like R B. I mean, four slots is tough too. It's like. It's like really hard to pick four. Four is crazy.

[Rory]

But we argued before with the Mount Rushmore that it's maybe not the best, but Mount Rushmore is the forefathers. That's the initial. That's part of. I think this would be the forefathers of everything we've heard from R and B. No.

[Elliot]

Yeah, yeah.

[Rory]

I mean Stevie went into pop a little bit as well. Like I don't think you get Michael the way you get Michael without Stevie.

[Elliot]

Right.

[Leon Thomas]

I don't know, man. Just Baby Face being there is just pissing me off.

[Rory]

He's architect a whole era of R and B.

[Elliot]

Hold up, hold up. Let me listen.

[Leon Thomas]

I. I don't want that. I don't want that. I don't want that. I don't want that to come across the wrong way. Baby Face is a legend. He's a.

[Elliot]

He's a bro. Like.

[Leon Thomas]

But to see a Mount Rushmore of.

[Elliot]

R, B N, you got to have.

[Leon Thomas]

Not see Michael Jackson.

[Elliot]

Oh no. Yeah. I mean, not.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, this like what are we talking about?

[Elliot]

I don't. Cuz I feel like lists like this are always crazy to me.

[Leon Thomas]

Well, it's meant to engage Meant to get people under the comments, get them arguing. But it's like this.

[Elliot]

Like, these lists always kill because I'm like, what are we doing?

[Rory]

Thriller and Bad? How much percentage do you think is R B and how much percentage do you think is pop out of Thriller and Bad? Both. Both albums.

[Leon Thomas]

But see, but you. But you going. You going to. That those albums to win. It was more of a pop vibe. Like, why not go off the Wall?

[Rory]

Okay.

[Leon Thomas]

Like, we can't.

[Rory]

How much percentage off the wall do you think is. Well, I didn't choose off the Wall because I think off the wall is way more R and B.

[Leon Thomas]

That's what I'm saying. So that. And then you got to go to Jackson five. Five.

[Elliot]

Thriller.

[Rory]

Yeah.

[Elliot]

Jones production. Like, there's so many R and B elements throughout all of Thunders.

[Rory]

I just love, like, as much as a R and B nerd as I am, I love pop music and do think it deserves its own category. Like within thr.

[Elliot]

I mean, he was king.

[Rory]

Pop music is incredible.

[Elliot]

No, no.

[Josh]

And I think a lot of people, especially in the army world, think pop is a. A diss. And it's not.

[Leon Thomas]

I love, like, it's not 10 that that artist is really popular.

[Elliot]

It's just like, interesting.

[Rory]

Even if you heard the Sense, like on Thriller, let's say Michael Jackson was just somebody you met. They gave you the D, the Michael gave you his demo on the right. The side of the street, and you popped in Thriller, you would say this is an R and B song. No, no. Even though it took over, everything Michael does is pop. Because Michael Jackson's Michael Jackson, Thriller and Go. That's.

[Leon Thomas]

But why are you going to Thriller? Why are you going skipping everything else before.

[Rory]

Two out of the three albums, to me, are pop of the main Michael Jackson era. Off the Wall, Bad, Thriller.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, but you. Okay, but I think that's pop dangerous. But the thing that I think you're doing.

[Rory]

I love the Free Willy soundtrack.

[Leon Thomas]

No, but you're going. You're forgetting.

[Elliot]

Definitely had plenty of Free Willy moments on there.

[Rory]

Hell yeah.

[Elliot]

I just think even our whole definition of R and B is skewed because it's like whole perspective. The definition of R and B back in the day just meant black music.

[Leon Thomas]

Right.

[Elliot]

Like, straight up. Like, it was literally just a way to like, separate the charts, white and black. This is segregation in real time. So my whole thing is like, even as artists like a prince may have nodes of rock and roll, which is, you know, also like a great black art form, it's like you know, I think it's important that we allow these artists to still exist in that R and B conversation, because, I mean, I think at the time, it didn't matter what they did. They were gonna be right there on those charts regardless.

[Rory]

And while I agree with that, I feel like taking someone like Babyface off that to put Prince would be unfair to Babyface and what he did for the traditional R and B sense. I hear you. Like, don't box an artist in. Like, they're still one of the. Michael, to me, is still one of the greatest R and B artists of all time.

[Elliot]

No, that's true.

[Rory]

But to take away somebody that just dedicated their life just to traditional R and B, I. I think it's unfair to take them off that Mount Rushmore when Mike was doing things that I personally.

[Elliot]

Yeah, I personally like the. The. The list that they had. It makes a lot of sense to me. Yeah, but, like, having no mic is kind of interesting. I don't know. They put Mike on the list, which makes no sense.

[Leon Thomas]

New Mike is new school now. See what I'm saying?

[Elliot]

That's kind of.

[Josh]

That makes no sense.

[Leon Thomas]

He's been making music.

[Rory]

I agree with that. Neo deserves to be up here, and Neo deserves all his flowers. It's just wild to see Neo and Mike, like, next to each other. It's not the same era at all.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Elliot]

I don't know, man. I don't know. I don't know. This is.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, Mike is. Mike is. You got to put Mike on that first list.

[Elliot]

This is tricky.

[Rory]

Damn.

[Josh]

Well, if we taking Mike off this one, like, who we putting up there, like, Marcus Houston?

[Leon Thomas]

We not imx. Listen, listen. That was a very. That was a very dope time. Im. Those are legends.

[Rory]

I think Leon nailed it. I think D'Angelo is the one that's right there.

[Elliot]

My whole thing is that on the original. The.

[H]

The.

[Elliot]

The. The classic one, you have, like, somebody like Stevie who bends genres and is, like, hyper musical. You gotta have that in the mix when you talk about R and B, because in every generation, you have somebody who's hyper musical who's doing, like, things that are, you know.

[Josh]

So you saying take Mike off and put you. That's what you saying.

[Leon Thomas]

Ah, come on now.

[Rory]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Not what I'm saying. Still be humble.

[Elliot]

What are y'all doing?

[Leon Thomas]

That is not what I'm saying. I'm just.

[Josh]

I'm just trying to read between the.

[Elliot]

Lines where to list that.

[Leon Thomas]

Yo, that is. That is not what I'm saying at all, like, what?

[Rory]

Not.

[Elliot]

Oh, man.

[Rory]

Not to get too nerdy, but we've had this pop vers R and B conversation for the last 10 years on podcast. No, but arguing with people of, like, what defines pop and what defines R and B, you are a true, true man. Do you think there are pop synths that make music pop?

[Elliot]

Yeah, and I also think it's like, the song structure too. There's like, certain melody cadences that kind of lend more towards, like, the pop genre. You know, Pop music has always been interesting, especially when I was, like, first becoming a songwriter and a producer. That was like the Dr. Luke era of, like, you know, you know, like Teo Cruz, like, stuff like that coming out. And I think it was kind of tough to write those songs. But the biggest part of all of them was a hook that was really catchy and memorable. I feel like sometimes in R and B, you can have a run on sentence in the hook and just make sure you kind of come back around with the concept at the end of it, you know, if you think about, like, traditional Usher records, sometimes he would have wordy hooks. But a lot of those big, like, pop records are fairly simple and repetitive, you know?

[Rory]

Yeah, I hear that. Again, we're not trying to get any crazy titles on our YouTube videos with clips, but what's the wildest session that you've ever been a part of? Hmm.

[Elliot]

I've been in some fun ones, I think. Like, when I was in my producer hip hop era, I went to Meek Mill session.

[Leon Thomas]

And that's just funny already. Awesome.

[Elliot]

Like, so much fun first off. Cause he, like, he can freestyle a whole song. So I'm playing beats and he's like, nah, nah, nah. And then once he finally picked one, you know, he went into the booth and just like, recorded it right then and there. No punching. It was just like, hook ready, boom, good to go. That same session, James Harden came through. It was like a party at the same time as a session. And it was cool because I was playing beats. I almost felt like I was DJing the whole thing. Okay, we have, like, Meek Mill, like, coming up with the craziest bars, like, on the spot. Like, I don't know. For me, that was probably one of my craziest sessions.

[Rory]

I did want to also take this time to give Ty Dolla his flowers. He's to me, one of the most genius writers, period, of my generation, at least.

[Elliot]

What.

[Rory]

What are sessions with Ty? Like, what is Ty's process like? I've never really come across somebody that can work that quickly and come up with that much stuff. That is so genius. I've watched him, like, literally just mutter out genius and then just walk away.

[Elliot]

Yeah. Eight songs in the night. I've seen them do whole albums and then be like, all right, let's do another one. Like, I'm like, all right, that's cool. That's chill. You just went and got that mix. That's not coming out.

[Leon Thomas]

All right, cool, cool, cool.

[Elliot]

Yeah.

[Rory]

10 records I thought was the one.

[Leon Thomas]

You just went, got that mix, but it's not coming out.

[Rory]

I.

[Elliot]

It.

[Leon Thomas]

It is what it is.

[Elliot]

No, he. To me, people don't understand how genius he is. I mean, even when it comes to production, like, the way that he'll executive produce certain records and the ideas that he'll come up with and how he can finish a song, to me really showcases just the heart of his genius, man. I'm so blessed to be signed to him because I've been a fly on the wall to some amazing records, bro. Really seeing it come together in real time has been just. Yeah, a lot of studying for me. I'm walking away with some gems.

[Rory]

And is Ty more, like, hands on on? I mean, not to say it would be your mentor, per se, but are you more just watching, or is he really trying to mold and shape what you're doing?

[Elliot]

I think Ty is a force in nature, so his. His biggest gift is just allowing me to be in his world, you know? And then the conversations that we have are very candid and real. If he does disagree with something or if he really feels strongly about something as an executive. I mean, me being signed to his label, I feel like we can have those candid conversations without it ever feeling like boss energy. It's just my homie being like, yo, let's try this, yo. You should really try. Da da, da, da da. We always joke back in the day, he was saying, man, you need to do an afrobeat record. Cause for me, I was like, well, I want to kind of establish my R and B sound first, okay? And it was funny. Cause it was the first time him being an executive heard himself being, like, an executive.

[Rory]

What are the kids listening to? Go make one of those.

[Elliot]

Go make one of those, kid. But what's really cool, though, is that he's not wrong. And now I'm really excited to collaborate with Tems and Tyler for sure. All of. And Rema. You know what I'm saying? Like, all these. All these amazing artists are, like, open to me. And, you know, he's. He's always been, like, the spark to, like, exploring more things in that. In that space.

[Rory]

Right before we get to voicemails, which is a segment where our fans, like, call in and either tell us a story, ask for advice. It's always cool. We haven't heard them yet, so, you know, it'll be in. In real time. But before we get that, like, what's your tour swag like? Because you're. Your show for this Mutt tour was on every single person I follow on Instagram from every city went to that shit. Every time I opened my phone, it was you with a guitar, which made me so fucking happy.

[Elliot]

That's dope.

[Rory]

I'm kind of curious what your tour swag is like.

[Elliot]

I mean, it was genuinely a lot of hard work. I was very tired. So, like, you know, doing radio promo in the morning and then also doing, like, club appearances after the shows, like, I really didn't have time to be, like, super wild rock star energy. I was really just trying to make sure I was on time for the radio shit in the morning. Cause I'm really trying to, like, promote this and make genuine relationships with the, you know, programming directors. And it's just like, I feel like fun is down the way. You know what I mean?

[Rory]

No, for the appearances, man, you gotta find a friend that looks like you get the cap.

[Elliot]

Is that how Jeremiah did it for years, to meet him, like, immediately, like.

[Rory]

Oh, you remember when Jeremiah's brother came out?

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, absolutely, I remember that.

[Rory]

I feel like Party Next Door has done it.

[Elliot]

That's.

[Rory]

That's the thing, man.

[Elliot]

I don't know, man. No, I'm definitely pulling some back vocals.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Rory]

Throw the hood on.

[Elliot]

But. But you know what? At that time, it was really helpful to my. To my bottom line. So, yeah.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Elliot]

You know, I mean, hopefully I won't have to do it and it'll just be more so of something that we schedule. And to be honest, I like that intimate experience too. Just being able to sing the records, really see people's vibes as the rooms get bigger. I won't necessarily have those same opportunities.

[Leon Thomas]

I would love to hear a record or a few records with you and the Dream.

[Elliot]

That would be amazing.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Elliot]

I actually just did something with Tricky Stewart's artist, and that would be really cool. You know, fire, get the game back together. Tricky and Dreams.

[Leon Thomas]

See what I'm doing. I'm waiting for that. I'm waiting for that. Yeah.

[Elliot]

I feel like we can do something cool.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah. All right, so we got some voicemails. We gonna Listen to some voicemails from some of the listeners, and they call in, they ask for some advice for some things. So we gonna have you give some advice with us to some of our listeners, I bet.

[Elliot]

Let's see.

[Leon Thomas]

You've got mail.

[H]

What's good, Rory?

[Leon Thomas]

Mom.

[H]

The Maris really love y'all. Shout out everything y'all do. Really appreciate the pod. I just had a question about a situation that I'm in and kind of how y'all would handle it if y'all were in my shoes. So. I'm 26. You know, I've been a provider for my family for a long time. My mom is disabled. She can't work. My daughter is seven. And me and my girl have been together for a long time. And I kind of handle all the bills. I handle everything. Everything. My girl's money is her money. But I recently encountered a little bit of a hard time where, you know, I've lost some money, you know, investing and stuff like that, and I've needed my girl to kind of help me a little bit. Well, she's offered to help me a little bit. And, you know, for me personally, it's kind of felt weird always being a provider, you know, of my life, having everyone rely on me, you know, accepting money from, you know, I don't like accepting money from anyone, but especially from my girl, so. So, you know, if she wants to give me that money, she doesn't want me to pay her back. She doesn't want anything. You know, she's kind of comfortable helping me. But, you know, as a man, I feel like part of me just, you know, doesn't like that, you know, just doesn't feel comfortable doing that. So, you know, if you. I wanted to know if y'all ever needed your girl to ever hold you down, would you take that money and would you kind of pay her back even if she didn't want you to, just on principle of being a man? And also, if y'all. You know, if y'all want to send some Zell, some cash apps over. Jesus Christ, you know, turning down a.

[Rory]

Donation, I'm your girl now. Just kidding, but all right, well, first of all, know your worth, King. That's right. Let her give you that money. You don't pay her back. Know your worth. It's soft, man. Era. That's where we at now.

[Josh]

Soft dick era.

[Leon Thomas]

I'm gonna tell you like this, fam. You take that money from your girl, man, you. She gone, bro.

[Josh]

That's not. Oh, my God. That is not true.

[Elliot]

The truth Is the truth is she sees everything you're going through, and you're probably venting to her. I don't know if you're taking therapy for everything that you're going through. There's a lot of free options out there. But you're venting to her, and she wants to help, and I don't think that's a bad thing. But I think it's gonna be very important for you to balance what you're doing right now with what you're gonna have to to be able to provide moving forward. Cause it sounds like you're providing for a lot of people, people that you care about, that you love. You should definitely get into a developmental process of like, maybe getting a gig that makes a little bit more. My boy went through that and he just graduated school and got a new gig and is making a lot more money and is able to kind of help out the whole family unit a little bit better. And it's an important thing to maybe think about.

[Leon Thomas]

That sounds great. And that was very.

[Rory]

Leon's. Right?

[Leon Thomas]

That was very eloquently. Sounds great.

[Rory]

Once you get back.

[Leon Thomas]

That's on a deluxe, actually.

[Rory]

When you get back on your feet, which I know you will, you'll get there. Right? I'm trying to get off his energy here.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Rory]

She's going to bring up in an argument.

[Leon Thomas]

Oh, that she gave you money. Thousand percent.

[Josh]

Not true.

[Leon Thomas]

The first time y'all get a tea how we feel. This is what we see. This is what happened.

[Rory]

She's probably an amazing woman, but I haven't been there.

[Elliot]

My bad.

[Rory]

Two years. Oh, no. I've never had a woman give me a fucking thing. But I know women two years down the line.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah.

[Rory]

She bringing that up in an argument.

[Josh]

That's not true. That's not always true.

[Elliot]

All right.

[Rory]

When your broke ass in 2025 and.

[Leon Thomas]

Your crippled mother, she.

[Rory]

They going to throw the man of the house.

[Leon Thomas]

They going to throw the crippled mother, the crippled mother going to get a shot, that is. And you couldn't pay the bills for your crippled mother.

[Rory]

Walk for her.

[Leon Thomas]

And I had to help you bring your mother down the stairs and get her in the car.

[Josh]

First of all, you said your daughter 7. You and your girl been together for a long time. Time. She's seeing you struggle. You can't pour from an empty cup. You can't take care of everybody until you're fully on your feet. That's your partner. Let your partner help you. And if you do have a partner who you even think would throw that Back in your face, then you have the wrong partner. You don't need to be with her. But from what you are telling us, it doesn't sound like your girl's that type of person. You just. It's really just your what the patriarchy has told you is and is not acceptable. That's your partner. You've taken care of her. You're not up or make being less of a man by allowing her to help you, which is actually helping y'all. Like, let her help you.

[Damaris]

You'll get back on your.

[Rory]

Nobody called him less, man. We've all been jammed up. I'm not on that type of time whatsoever. I'm just saying she's going to throw.

[Elliot]

That back in his face.

[Rory]

That's all I'm saying.

[Elliot]

He's feeling bad about that man.

[Rory]

Yeah, I understand. As a man, it's tough when you not to provide. I get all that, but I'm just telling you, don't listen to Royal Ma.

[Josh]

They date the worst kind of woman in the world. Don't listen to them.

[Leon Thomas]

I'm being all right.

[Rory]

Hey.

[Leon Thomas]

Hey. What's his name? Did he give us his name? Just Josh. No, he didn't say his name. All right, well, if you call us back in three months and let us know where you and your girl stand after letting her help you with some bills, can't wait to throw it back in his face.

[Josh]

They live together.

[Leon Thomas]

Not for long.

[Josh]

That all right, y'all.

[Leon Thomas]

Why y'all acting like I. We sit here all the time and go through the, like, damn. Like, damn. That's what she did to him. It happens.

[Josh]

Yes.

[Leon Thomas]

Yes.

[Rory]

All right. What do you think she's saying in her group chat?

[Josh]

I don't think she's telling her group chat that her man is having money problems. She probably got one home girl she's talking to about it. But if she's offering to pay the money. Money and saying, you don't have to pay me back, she don't care about that. A girl.

[Leon Thomas]

Since when has a woman ever said, yo, here with some money, and said, you ain't got to pay me back.

[Josh]

And I've done it. I've been in a relationship with somebody who came upon hard times and I had to pass them some money. Yo, don't worry about that. You take care of me.

[Leon Thomas]

And then what happen?

[Josh]

I never. I would never throw that in there.

[Leon Thomas]

I'm just saying. But then what happened? Y'all not together no more, right?

[Josh]

Yeah, for other reasons. That has nothing to do with money.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, I know.

[Rory]

Whatever, Mom.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, I know. Oh, man, we got another one.

[Rory]

Okay, okay.

[Josh]

No, got you.

[Leon Thomas]

It wasn't a factor in the breakup. Okay. All right, cool. Well, Leon, we appreciate you stopping by.

[Elliot]

I appreciate y'all brothers for real, man.

[Leon Thomas]

Again, continued success. Looking forward to the new project, new music. Thank you for. For that phenomenal album last year, man. It's been a pleasure to watch your. Your, you know, your career take off and watching you, you know, perform in these venues and seeing people. People sing your songs. And it's a lot of ladies at these shows, man, and I'ma just need two passes I got, you know, at your earliest convenience.

[Elliot]

Yeah, that's easy.

[Leon Thomas]

For whatever show he's in.

[Rory]

He's in Delaware. That's not. That's not far down.

[Leon Thomas]

I can't do.

[Rory]

That's right down. 95.

[Leon Thomas]

I'm a little too old for the college.

[Rory]

We could go.

[Leon Thomas]

Yeah, I'm a little too old for that. That was Leon Thomas. Thank you for that.

[Rory]

You could plug our record, too. You don't have to just plug mine.

[Leon Thomas]

Oh, no. Shout out to y'all record, too, man.

[Rory]

Shout out to y'all record.

[Leon Thomas]

Phenomenal joint. Phenomenal joint. A lot of people was a lot of host. No, no, listen. A lot of people, you know, the sound and the tempo was kind of throwing people off, and they.

[Rory]

I mean, that's what we. Why we wanted to make that record.

[Leon Thomas]

But as soon as Rory let me hear, I was like, n. This is fire. So shout out to y'all for putting together that joint, too. That was Leon Thomas. I'm that. He's just Ginger. Peace.

[Josh]

Hey, Jenice Torres here, and I'm Austin Hankowitz. We're the hosts of Mind the Business Small Business Success Stories, produced by Ruby Studio and Intuit QuickBooks. Catch up on seasons one and two and join us for a brand new season of the podcast as we talk to small business owners about how they manage and grow their businesses with the help of platforms like Intuit QuickBooks.

[Rory]

Listen to mind the Business small business success Stories on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Oh, tasty high note. Oh, hi. Don't mind me. I'm practicing my new baritone sax. I just heard PayPal's paying for people's stuff every day for 100 days, and there's 10 million up for grabs. All you have to do is use PayPal checkout online. So there's never been a better time to buy a few things off the old wish list, like this leaf blower PayPal could pay for your purch. The Great PayPal Checkout no purchase necessary. Ends July 18th. See official [e-mail] TheGreatPayPalCheckout Terms Participating merchants only must use PayPal Checkout online coverage of up to $100 in eligible purchases per cart. You know, some people say that Odoo business management software is like fertilizer, the way it promotes growth and all. But other people say Odoo is like a magic beanstalk because it grows with.

[Leon Thomas]

Your company and is also magically affordable.

[Rory]

And there's some people who would even say Odoo's individual software programs come together to build the perfect sweet like building blocks. Well, Odoo is all of these things. Fertilizer, magic beanstalk building blocks for business. So sign up [e-mail] O d o o.com Are you still quoting 30 year old movies? Have you said cool beans in the past 90 days? Do you think Discover isn't widely accepted? If this sounds like you, you're stuck in the past. Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide, and every time you make a purchase with your card, you automatically earn cash back. Welcome to the now it pays to Discover. Learn [e-mail] credit card based on the February 2024 Nielsen report.