Episode 504 | Akon

Summary

New Rory & MAL — Episode 504 | Akon

Released: June 9, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode brings in the legendary Akon for an in-depth and candid conversation with Rory & MAL. The hosts dive into Akon's prolific music career—not only as a solo artist and hitmaker but as an architect behind the scenes, launching careers (notably T-Pain and Lady Gaga) and building the Convict Music brand. The episode explores Akon's business mind, his philosophy on artist development and branding, the state of R&B, the impact of AI in music creation, his early days with the Fugees, wild stories from Jersey City, touring with Ne-Yo, and more. The conversation is peppered with their trademark humor, insightful industry analysis, and notable quotes throughout.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Knicks, Trump, and the NYC Vibe (02:45–10:12)

• The opening segment covers excitement about the Knicks Finals game and speculation about Donald Trump attending, security measures around Madison Square Garden, and resulting gripes about how celebrity/political appearances disrupt city energy.
  • "I do hate this move by Trump. Nothing to do with politics. I just think it fucks with the energy of the city." — Rory (06:11)
• Chat about ticket prices and the “capitalist crowd” attending, riffing on New York’s political dichotomies and star-watch culture.
• Some lighthearted predictions and musings about Knicks fans, the spurred team, and NYC personalities.

2. Griselda, Rap Media & Going Viral (10:33–19:09)

• Discussion about the internet reaction to Conway’s freestyle, Maul’s breakdown of Griselda bars, and accusations of podcast “clout-chasing.”
  • "Maul was the first person in media to even talk about Griselda … The biggest supporter of Griselda in media history would be Maul." — Rory (11:23)
  • "I could say some shit right now … and it would shake the entire industry up. If I really wanted to go viral. But I'm not trying to do that." — Maul (13:49)
• Both hosts emphasize intent versus impact in media, standing by their track record of genuine support.
• Debate about “trying to go viral” in contemporary rap media, with Maul asserting, “I'm not that guy. I'm not trying to go viral.” (15:34)

3. Event Recaps: Burgers & Bottles, DC Plans (21:25–26:05)

• Recounting the Burgers and Bottles event—shoutouts to the organizers, reflections on navigating big events, family, and community.
• Planning for the upcoming DC edition of the event with playful banter about who provides security, who gets wristbands, and what to expect in DC’s vibrant scene.
  • "Yo, the hoes be in DC." — Baby D (24:54)
• Conversations about live shows, audience energy, and memorable podcast moments in DC.

4. Rap Topics: Jadakiss & 38 Spesh (32:09–34:16)

• They react to social media clips of Jadakiss responding in the studio, speculate about a song with 38 Spesh, and riff on the challenges (and fun) of bar-heavy rap names.
  • "Having your name be 38 Spesh and Jadakiss having that to work off—how many 38 Spesh entendres you think Jada can come up with?" — Rory (33:02)

5. Hip-Hop Nostalgia: XXL’s 2004 Sex Survey (39:35–50:13)

• The hosts stumble upon a viral, “wild” 2004 XXL magazine sex survey featuring explicit questions and even wilder rapper responses.
  • "How do you decide who you have anal sex with?” …“Well, let's start with consent.” — Rory (40:09)
  • “Wayne said … every real nigga fucked a main girl in the ass. That became a trend in New Orleans… That is a sick ass response.” — Maul (41:14)
• They read hilarious, candid, and (often) problematic quotes from rappers like Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, Jadakiss, T.I., N.O.R.E., and Mr. Cheeks.
• Nostalgia for old magazine journalism, wild era for rap media, and breakdown of the culture’s shift since then.

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[MAIN INTERVIEW] The Akon Conversation

(56:20–end)

Introduction (56:20–56:46)

• Akon is welcomed with high praise for his impact as artist, songwriter/producer, label owner, and “changer of R&B.”
  • "Changed R and B, changed the hook. Game changer." — Rory (56:46)

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1. Convict Music & Philosophy of Branding

(57:02–60:44)

• Akon reflects on why Convict isn’t mentioned as often as other iconic sub-labels, despite breaking major acts (T-Pain, Lady Gaga, Wizkid, etc.).
• Key Insight: He intentionally kept the brand off certain artists to let them grow independently, explaining:
  • "Oftentimes when you hug something over an artist … it's hard for them to break off to do their own thing … When we did Konvict originally, it needed to be exactly what it was. But it also was a freestanding brand for anybody … without me shutting it down." — Akon (58:01)
• He reveals that Lady Gaga's association with Convict was purposely kept discreet:
  • "Had I branded her convict, she wouldn't have got that big." — Akon (59:08)
• On thinking long-term for artists’ growth:
  • "Sometimes you gotta understand your business can grow without it being like ... it's really about thinking about the long run." — Akon (60:06)

2. Auto-Tune, T-Pain & Industry Change

(60:44–63:28)

• Discusses early skepticism around T-Pain and auto-tune, and how the sound became industry standard:
  • "I mean, was winning. Is winning what? … look what it influenced." — Akon (61:12)
  • Describes discovering T-Pain via his locked up remix (“I’m Fucked Up”) and quickly signing him:
  • "At that moment I felt like, okay, I need to sign him asap. Because I would rather he be a part of the team than meet somebody having to compete against." — Akon (62:21)

3. Early Days with the Fugees, Jersey City Stories

(63:28–65:53)

• Talks about his music beginning in the “refugee camp,” Fugees’ influence, and his journey from cutting hair in a barbershop to being introduced to Wyclef Jean.
• Jersey City nostalgia:
  • "Jersey City is just dust … The nickname Dirty Jersey came from Jersey." — Akon (65:10)

4. Tour Life with Ne-Yo & Modern Relationships

(66:12–70:20)

• Fun anecdotes about touring with Ne-Yo and his public polyamorous relationship:
  • "[Ne-Yo’s] relationship with them … they're like his friends … it actually is a friendship amongst them." — Akon (67:29)
• Discussion about open relationships, social stigma, and the reality that “friendship” is central to non-traditional unions:
  • "The thing is, people highlight the sex part so much, they forget about all the other … advantages of just having real people love." — Akon (68:50)
• Rory recounts trying a throuple (“I bowed out … five days, couldn't do it”). (69:34)

5. State & Evolution of R&B

(70:20–73:01)

• Akon addresses commentary on R&B “falling off” or “turning dark”:
  • "R and B is still R and B. It's just the energy of the topics … changes because the generation changes … the sound will change according to the mood and the topics will change according to the behavior." — Akon (70:39)
• Rory raises the point that Akon and his generation shifted R&B away from strictly “love songs”:
  • "I know for sure when I came out, it shifted it for sure from a topic perspective because nobody really thought that reality music or topics would work in R and B melodies." — Akon (72:01)
• Akon notes his music was often classified as “hip-hop” simply due to the industry’s lack of a genre for what he was doing, despite never rapping (73:01).

6. Catalog Ownership, AI & The Future of Music

(74:25–79:02)

• Strong advice on holding onto publishing; sees catalogs becoming even more valuable as AI and tech evolve:
  • "If you actually have your catalog to hold on to it really, it's going to be worth so much more later. That's why they buying it out now … The catalog is going to be a multi, multi, multi-billion dollar business. Because all catalog has to be attached to the technology, especially the AI.” — Akon (74:34)
• Akon is bullish on AI: sees it as a creative tool, not a threat, and is unbothered by the rise of computer-generated music (“I love AI, to be honest. But that's because I'm a writer and a producer.”) (77:31)
• Believes AI can help hit creation but distinguishes between authentic artistic soul and technical perfection:
  • "AI can't give us Soul Survivor." — Maul (82:03)
  • "For someone like me, I would use it as a tool to make greater music … if people just want to stay so authentic, they might lose the beauty in AI." — Akon (82:05)

7. Industry Realities, Saha the Prince, and Michael Jackson

(87:36–95:48)

• Talks about Saha the Prince’s genius and his journey from Convict to G.O.O.D. Music:
  • "He was too brilliant for Convict from a perspective of a writer ... he's the biggest threat in hip hop, bro. I promise you." — Akon (88:24, 92:23)
• On Michael Jackson’s legacy and biopic:
  • "Somebody as big as Mike … what Mike did for black people globally—knowing we could never repay him. He's the reason why everybody in Asia want a black man.” — Akon (93:16)
• Appreciates that the new Michael Jackson movie avoided focusing on negative, unproven allegations and hopes for a miniseries that covers more of Jacko’s humanity.

8. Tour Promo & Farewell

(95:49–96:32)

• Akon gives details on where to catch him and Ne-Yo live, shares socials, and gets love from the hosts for his continued impact.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• "Had I branded [Lady Gaga] convict, she wouldn't have got that big." — Akon (59:08)
• "I mean, was winning. Is winning what? … look what it influenced." — Akon on T-Pain/Auto-tune (61:12)
• "We're treated like royalty because of Michael Jackson ... he's the reason why everybody in Asia want a black man." — Akon (93:16)
• "If you actually have your catalog … hold on to it. It's going to be worth so much more later. That's why they buying it out now." — Akon (74:34)
• "I love AI, to be honest. But that's because I'm a writer and a producer. So I can use it as a tool to enhance my skill." — Akon (77:31)
• "R and B is still R and B. It's just the energy of the topics … changes because the generation changes." — Akon (70:39)
• "[Saha the Prince's] the biggest threat in hip hop, bro. I promise you." — Akon (92:23)
• Maul: "AI can't give us Soul Survivor." (82:03)

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Key Timestamps

• 02:45–10:12 — Knicks finals, Trump courtside, city energy
• 10:33–19:09 — Griselda, “going viral” and real rap journalism
• 21:25–26:05 — Event recaps (Burgers & Bottles), DC plans
• 32:09–34:16 — Jadakiss, 38 Spesh segment
• 39:35–50:13 — The 2004 XXL Sex Survey segment (notorious rap stories)
• 56:20–96:18 — Complete Akon interview

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Tone & Language

The episode is classic New Rory & MAL: irreverent, honest, and insightful, with plenty of industry knowledge, playful jokes, and a laid-back, conversational flow. Akon is open, self-assured, measured, and drops gems while matching the show’s informal and friendly vibe.

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For Listeners Who Missed It

If you’re interested in music history, the evolution of artist-label relationships, AI’s impact on the industry, or just want classic, entertaining rap and R&B stories from a true legend, this episode is a must-listen. Akon pulls back the curtain with nuance and candor, and Rory & MAL create a space that blends laughs, celebration, and real talk on music's past, present, and future.

Transcript

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[B]

Is that like your own. Is that your own air voice?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

He does do that, huh?

[B]

Whenever we get on air he turns it to like that's like your welcome back. That's your broadcast.

[C]

That's my radio.

[B]

That's your Broadcast cadence right there. Pretty much broadcast to the people. Rory.

[C]

Mo. I went to college for a communications degree that I didn't do.

[B]

Of course.

[C]

Of course.

[B]

Of course you did.

[C]

Now I'm a trained journalist in this game.

[A]

You are.

[B]

You are.

[D]

You're a journalist.

[C]

I'm official. Yes, but what's up, man? Nicks, by the time you're hearing this, you know the results of game three. So I'm excited that we're gonna get this sweep.

[B]

The city is buzzing.

[C]

Donnie, shut the. Shut the city down.

[B]

The Don.

[C]

Let's.

[B]

Let's trump.

[C]

Let's make predictions. Even though they know the outcome as they're listening to this. Let's make predictions. Is Trump going to be courtside or in the suite?

[B]

He's absolutely going to be courtside. Trump has always been courtside whenever he's going to game. He hasn't been in a while, but

[C]

has he been to a Nick game since he's been president?

[B]

No.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

No, he hasn't been, I think, almost 10 years. So that's right around the time he was president. What, almost A little over eight years ago. I.

[C]

My first guess was sweet. But he has been ringside at wrestling and MMA fighting.

[B]

Ringside. Ufc. Yep.

[C]

So, I mean, I could see it, but I feel like if they put him on the jumbotron, it's going to be a lot of booze and. Oh, yeah, he's way too insecure for that. So. I don't know, maybe you'll just see his silhouette in a. In a suite.

[B]

I think it's gonna be a heavy capital capitalist crowd at the Guard tonight. Seven thousand tickets cost a lot of money to get. I could promise you. Those people don't like paying taxes.

[C]

Yeah, but a lot in New York City, a lot of those capitalists, they're like closet Republicans. Because in New York you have to be like front facing Democrat for the most part.

[B]

The better question is, do we think any of the players will shake his hand?

[C]

No. Mitchell Robinson, he's from the south, is. Wait, Mitch is a big MAGA guy. I never knew that.

[A]

That makes sense.

[B]

Every player.

[C]

It does kind of check out.

[B]

Every player in the NBA is a big Republican. What are we talking about?

[A]

You could be a Republican and not a Trump fan.

[B]

I don't know. I don't know if that's. I don't know anymore these days. Damaris, I think he's like. He's. He's like gang. Gang for the Republicans. He's like head. Head Republican.

[C]

No, there's definitely a split in The Republican Party right now.

[B]

Yeah, for sure. It's always a split somewhere. But.

[C]

Well, I mean, they were. They were a unit. That's why they kept smoking the left, because the left was so divided now. Now they. They in the. The thick of it.

[B]

Big Don, he got New York City in a frenzy right now. You can't go nowhere near Madison Square Garden if you ain't got a ticket. You can't bring no bag, baby. D, you couldn't get it. No. You couldn't get close to Madison Garden with that bag. You'd be walking around with it. Tackle your ass so fast.

[A]

Hey, man, you know. And you know I got it on me.

[C]

So they put these gates all the way around the Garden, and my guess is if Dolan had his way, he would keep these up 365 days. I think Dolan's been wanting to do this forever and is going to try to find a way to keep him there.

[B]

Why?

[C]

Because he's Dolan. Listen, just because the Knicks are doing good and we finally have a squad, and it looks like the front office gives a fuck about us. Let's not remember who Dolan is at his core. Nobody likes Dolan. True.

[D]

He.

[C]

He hates us. So, yes, I think he would absolutely love to have a gate around Madison Square.

[B]

Dolan, mad day in the final.

[D]

I gotta go.

[C]

But, like, no political shit whatsoever. I do hate this move by. By Trump. Nothing to do with politics. I just think it fucks with the energy of the city. I mean, even when the Knicks are away, everyone's around the Garden watching the game like it's a. It fucks with the vibe. It's gonna take three hours to get in the arena.

[B]

You wouldn't have said that if Obama was going. You would have been in here, hype trying to get his playlist. You'd have been trying to make playlist, trying to get your song on his playlist. You'd have been doing all types of shit.

[C]

No, no. Deadass. Really. It's not a political thing. Obama, Bush, anyone that would make this about them when we're finally in the finals. No, I wouldn't.

[A]

Most.

[C]

I would not like that.

[A]

The Obamas have said plenty of times that they would avoid going to certain things that they would have loved to attend because it's going to make it uncomfortable for everybody to fuck.

[C]

Yeah. And it's not like MetLife, where there's space. Like, we're talking about midtown Manhattan when the Knicks have not been in the finals and God knows how long. No, no, I don't want the most famous president of all time to be courtside.

[A]

You fucking up like restaurants and all the like.

[B]

Obama is going to like NBA games.

[C]

Yeah, but it's not the Finals. First, first finals game in Knicks decades.

[B]

The president is a New Yorker. He's from your borough.

[C]

I'm not saying he can't be a Knicks fan.

[A]

He's fine. And it's. Yeah, it's not to be a Knicks fan, but I feel like as the president, the things you should be doing should be for the good of the people. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices. Like that comes with not even just being president. With any big, big celebrity, there's certain things that they just can't do that they would love to because it's gonna cause a frenzy and make it uncomfortable for the general public. The general public already can't afford the fucking tickets because of the economic system, whatever. But then now they can't even do what they've been doing with the energy, their watch parties outside. They can't even do that because I want to go to the game like you're the fucking president. Like just say, say home. It's okay.

[C]

If he was a real selfish, if he was a real Knicks fan, he would have went to the San Antonio game and that up like that. Oh yeah, don't us up.

[D]

That would have been lit.

[C]

If you a Knicks fan, go to game one or two and with them leave us alone. Part of the entire Knicks aura is the fans and you're ruining the fan experience inside and outside. That's all.

[A]

Yeah, I get being a fan, but it's selfish. It sucks sometimes when you gotta sacrifice, but sometimes you gotta sacrifice. You should.

[C]

And I think it's gonna with the players a little bit. I'm sure their families are gonna have a tough time coming in. Like it just. You have to. They have to be there eight hours. I'm sure they're already there. Trump's already there. So it's like, yeah, I think it fucks with their pregame stuff.

[A]

And it's two hours. Like when I saw that it said, oh, come two hours before tip off. Like that's old.

[B]

Like you should have did that anyway. But if Trump was going or not, the first finals game in the garden in 27 years, you should probably get there two hours before start.

[C]

That's just, I mean, I mean it's the Finals. I hear you.

[B]

That should have been mandatory anyway. Trump or not, you shouldn't be getting there. Tip off is 8:40. You should not be arriving to the garden at 8 o' clock trying to get in. Like, no.

[C]

And we. We do need to get to the bottom of which one of you New Yorkers gave Webina the key to the. The Secret Garden in what park is that? Gramercy. He's in there doing sketches. And which one of y' all tried to make it comfortable for. For women? Yana. In our city? Like, we need to fight. We need to find that New Yorker.

[B]

Say his name.

[C]

And Webina. Is that not his name?

[B]

No.

[C]

What's his name?

[A]

Yama.

[C]

Web. I don't know.

[A]

I say y.

[C]

My man Vic. How about that? How do you say his name?

[B]

Wen Ban Yama.

[C]

Okay, well, that guy. Yeah, I don't want to see him sketching.

[B]

Oh, Wimy.

[C]

Yeah, Wimy. I'll go with that.

[A]

Being that tall and being cute and having dimples is just like, where the. Did they make you in a lab.

[C]

And a talented artist. He's French. French people love to draw.

[A]

Is not real. Like,

[C]

he's not real. I can't wait for us to just win this finals because I do like that spurs team a lot, and I do want to root for them, just not now. Yeah, I think. I think they're a great team. I can't wait to see.

[B]

They'll have some years. They'll have some years to get a ring, but not this year.

[C]

I like all their guards. Like, if we weren't in the finals, that would be a team I would definitely support. But you guys know the results now, which is we're up 3. 0.

[B]

And also, we're sponsored by Boost Mobile. Unlimited talk, text and data.

[C]

Only people that are gonna have service in the Garden.

[B]

That's a fact.

[C]

Can we legally say that?

[B]

No.

[C]

Mal, you seem to get the. The Internet moving over the weekend.

[B]

Did I?

[C]

I was talking with Peach, but podcasting and social media has gone completely off the rails. I can't believe that. I'm still surprised at the things that go viral and the reaction that people do have. I shouldn't be shocked anymore, but it still shocks me with certain stuff.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Conway put out a freestyle where he did not only suggest, he said that he went to a dinner with Hov and Hov told him, hey, you and Benny should get a piece of Griselda. Which did not happen. And then Maul repeated what Conway had already rapped, and it put the Internet upside down. For some weird reason, I even called mall to try to make sense of it, because I thought maybe I missed something.

[B]

I don't know, man. I don't know anymore.

[C]

Westside Gun replied, everybody wants to go viral so bad shit is disgusting. Laugh emoji. This podcast has always been a huge Westside Gun supporter. I fuck with Wes. I. I just don't really. He knows Maul, and Maul was the first person in media to even talk about Griselda. Not only for west, but when they launched Benny's career. Maul was the first one. Conway Maul was the first one. I think the biggest supporter of Griselda in media history would be Maul. So for Wes to even think that Maul would just try to go viral and disgusting, I thought was a little off putting. And I know Wes. I wouldn't say, like, we're friends per se, but I've known Wes for a long time. We've had a lot of conversations. I think Wes is a good dude.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And I'm always here to support Wes. I just found that odd because he knows who you are for the last decade and how much support you've given that whole crew. Like, what type of. What's disgusting about breaking down the bars that Conway set?

[B]

I don't know, man. I don't know anymore. But, I mean, everybody in this room that knows me, y' all know when you say viral, I don't even know what goes viral. Y' all call me and tell me when shit is going viral. So me trying to go viral or wanting to go viral is. That's not in my thoughts at all. Now, we say sometimes and we like, okay, yeah, that, you know, people might enjoy that conversation, but to say that everybody want to go viral, talking about me wanting to go viral, like, come on, man. Like, I think people that know me. Well, I know that people that know me know better than that. I'm never trying to go viral. Like, but, I mean, I get it. I understand. Wes felt away about the clip. I was just going through bars, just like we go through anybody else's bars when they say certain things that might perk our ears up, like, who was he talking. We spent the last two and a half years combing through every fucking freestyle and record and all kind of shit. So, you know, naturally, if my guy Conway puts out something and he's speaking about certain things, we gonna talk about it. So, you know, I can understand, you know, Wes feeling some type of way about, you know, talking about it or breaking it down, but.

[C]

And you added context to something everyone else was talking about, especially Griselda fans. And it's information that you've known and never said until they said it. So it's like, it's not like they didn't say anything. Like, you came out and said some. Like, you've known and never said it because they didn't say it.

[B]

That was the thing. That was the only issue I had with that. Like, you know how much I know that I don't speak about. Like, if I really wanted to go viral, like, I could say some right now, walk off this camera. This will be the end of the episode, and it will shake the entire industry up. If really want to go viral. I'm not trying to do that. Like, I don't. And this is always. It always goes back to this. I don't care about what niggas got going on enough to be trying to go viral. Like, I don't care about what niggas is doing. Like, but if you put something out there, I have a platform. I'm gonna talk about it. We gonna go through what the bars and what you're saying and what it's about. Like. Like, we always have. But, I mean, Wes know, man. West knows nothing but love and support for me. And I spoke to Benny. I spoke to Conway over the weekend, and, you know, they. They both know where I stand. And me and Conway had a. A very. A very good conversation. It was very. A lot of. A lot of laughs.

[A]

Can you tell us what he said so that we could go viral?

[B]

If I were to tell you what he said, we would definitely go. But, no, I'm. I'm not. I'm not that guy. I'm not doing that, man. I'm not trying to. I'm not trying to. You know, people in the comments. Mall's a messy. I'm a messy. Like, if niggas knew what I knew and how long I knew, like. And I'm not speaking like, niggas would salute me a little more like, damn, you held that down. Yeah, but, I mean, I get it. I understand Wes is. You know, I get what he's saying, but he. Wes, cut it out. I'm never trying to go viral. That's not me. I don't even be on social media enough to try to go viral. Yes. If my platform for clip goes viral, so be it. We sit here all the time. We don't know what's gonna go viral.

[A]

As a producer, I try to get you to say things all the time for the good of the show, and you don't. You keep your mouth shut on a lot, even when we try to drag it out of you.

[C]

So that's.

[B]

Yeah, man. I'm not that guy, man, I'm not trying to go viral. I don't mean. Sometimes I might say shit, and it goes viral, so be it. I wasn't trying to go viral, though, like. But, you know, it is what it is. But I spoke to. Spoke to Benny, spoke to Conway. They know what it is. You know, they know it's all love and nothing but respect. And I'm definitely not trying to put a wedge in between Griselda or anything like that. I'm speaking about bars.

[C]

Cove already did that.

[B]

I'm speaking about bars that Conway put out there dissecting the bars, talking about the bars. That's all that was. But I'm hearing that, you know, things are in a better space for the fellas for Griselda these days, so looking forward to them getting in the studio, possibly putting out some music together and getting that feel back. But yeah, man, you know, it is what it is, but definitely not trying to go viral. Wes, cut it out, man.

[C]

I even saw. I saw a Twitter account, like, Twitter accounts that I fuck with that I don't know these people, but I fuck with their accounts. They post cool music shit, saying nobody knew who Conway was talking about to Moss. I said that. All right. We're in the matrix at this point. Everybody knew Conway was talking about Griselda. Who didn't know that was about Wes and Benny? I don't know who else has he had a business relationship with that's also his brother because he said his brother

[B]

not only that and had at a meeting with Jay.

[C]

Like, who else could that have been?

[B]

I. I don't know, man. But you know, it is what it is.

[C]

But I hope you and Wes end up talking. I know he's overseas doing shows, but just because I. I know y' all relationship over the years, and I hope

[B]

you guys, man, like, Wes is my man. He know what it is, man. Wes know I ain't trying to. He know I'm the last trying to go viral. Like, I'm not doing that. But, you know, I get it. You know, he. The clip went viral and, you know, he felt some type of way about it, and I get that. But Wes know what it is with me. He knows nothing but love and support and. And I'm trying. I want them to do, you know, major. And I've been supporting Griselda pause longer and. And louder and stronger than a lot of niggas in this space. So definitely not trying to cause a division, only trying to shed light on what's going on and. And hopefully you Know those guys is, you know, they family, so there's always gonna be love between them. But hopefully the business relationship is in a better space, which I think it is.

[C]

And I want to make clear I don't think this, but one could make a case that Wes tries to go viral on Twitter.

[D]

Oh.

[C]

Oh.

[B]

I mean, Wes will let you know. He. He west will let you know that in his tweets.

[C]

And by the way, there's also nothing wrong with trying to go viral. Does and should have a negative connotation because usually people do it for clown shit. But there is also you still do have to market your music and your albums, and Wes does an incredible job of that. But he's trying to go viral. I'm not saying in a bad way. He's trying to sell music and he wants to get as many eyes as possible. And what works is sometimes saying some shit that people are going to disagree with.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Or. Or talking yourself up as you should. What should feel like. He's. He's one of the greatest marketers, put together one of the greatest companies in modern rap. Like, he should feel that way. And he says it a lot on Twitter and it goes viral because it pisses some people off. And he goes back and forth with fans all the time. Like one can make a case. That's all I'm saying. And it's love to Wes, it's love to Benny, it's love to Conway, Love

[B]

to my guys, man. Those is my. Those are my guys, man. They know that, man. And I'm. I'm glad I got the chance to speak to Benny and Conway over the weekend. Like, just to let them, you know, them know. But they. They knew what it was and where I stand with them. Like, they know it's nothing but support for me.

[C]

So it's fine, man. We went through with Paul Rosenberg too. Be so confused when people hate us when we're the number one supporters of Griselda.

[B]

Me trying to go viral, baby D, me.

[A]

You should have told them. I go viral talking about Pepsi.

[C]

I go viral.

[A]

Fake flirting with my co workers. I do this viral. I don't gotta talk about you to go viral.

[C]

You talking about. Yeah, Mo. It's a brand name. It' like Pepsi. Yeah, it's a brand name. You wearing a Blue Magic now.

[B]

I'm wearing Blue Magic. It's hilarious. You wearing Blue magic.

[A]

I asked Ma 50 times for that tracksuit and he won't give it to me.

[B]

Baby, this, this. You will have Super Hill drag if you put this on.

[A]

You not that much taller than me.

[B]

All right, here we go. All right.

[A]

How tall are you?

[B]

Mom, you want to stand next to me on camera so everybody can see?

[A]

No, not with what I got on today. But how tall are you?

[D]

Why?

[B]

Why? What you got on today, Baby D,

[A]

how tall are you?

[C]

That's more than 59.

[A]

You thought that that was so funny.

[C]

No, I thought your reaction was funny. I didn't think.

[A]

Oh, my. More the five. Nine. That's your boy. But I'm t. That's your boy.

[C]

I'm a volume shooter, man. I don't care if y' all laugh, I laugh, and that's all it matter.

[A]

But us. Funny to you, right?

[C]

Yeah, exactly. I entertain myself. That's.

[B]

Sometimes you need to do that, bro. Entertain yourself.

[A]

What you do this weekend? Yo, it was a bad standing on the corner right here when I came down.

[B]

She was selling it. She was selling it. Was it for sale?

[A]

No.

[C]

Oh, I think for sale. On a Monday at noon, it's always no outside.

[A]

It was a Saturday. It was a Saturday at like, 10:30 now. Probably like 12 in the morning.

[C]

What you doing over here on Saturday?

[A]

I was on a city bike.

[C]

So you stopped by the office?

[A]

I was drunk. City biking. No, I had to pee.

[C]

I.

[B]

Stop it.

[C]

I think you just admitted to a crime. I don't think you're allowed to.

[A]

You can't drunk city bike. I don't.

[C]

I don't think so. No.

[D]

You can't at noon.

[C]

It's also crazy.

[B]

You can't drink and bike a.m. 12am oh, okay. Oh, at night.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You definitely came in here and was shaking ass.

[A]

No, I had to pee.

[B]

Yeah, no, you shaking ass.

[A]

I was. Well, yeah, I mean, but we had toilet tissue, so I didn't have to, like, shake the droplets off. Like, I could just wipe. Yeah, but no, I came here. I was. I had my little brother in town for, you know, his first burgers and bottles. It was his birthday, so we were drunk city biking because he'd never been in New York before. And I was like, I have to pee. So we stop at office.

[C]

Got you. Well, we need the full shout out to burgers and bottles. It looked crazy. 7,000 people shout out to burgers and bottles.

[B]

7,000 people. That's when I wasn't one of them. Yo, who's head of ma. Who's head of. Who's head of security at Burgers and Bottles?

[A]

Not today, please.

[B]

I need to talk to somebody. I gotta holler at somebody over burgers?

[A]

You know, every time we go somewhere, you Be knowing the security guards.

[B]

Yeah, but I need to talk to whoever is at Burgers and Bottles. I need to know why they didn't have my laminate on my wristband in the front. Waiting for you.

[A]

I was waiting for you.

[C]

You didn't come. Who's the head of talent?

[B]

Yeah, who do we call? Who got the earpiece in the air at the front? That's what I need to talk to next time. 7,000 people and we not in the building.

[C]

Was. Was Jim Jones there? Did I say yes?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Crazy, yo, you had Jim there.

[C]

Y' all probably got Jim a car, too.

[A]

Y' all probably.

[C]

That's crazy.

[B]

Y' all send Jim a car service. That's all right. All right.

[C]

And just left me and mall at home.

[B]

Hey, yo, Burgers and Bottles. Y' all like how y' all be having, like, safe events and shit? Y' all want to keep having Satan events? You like how she go on without a hitch? You don't make me put a hitch in the next.

[A]

Yo, what the hell is wrong with y'?

[B]

All? Shout out to them, man. That's big. 7,000 people. That's. That's fire.

[C]

No, that's incredible. Salute to them for sure. And salute to everyone. That was part of our friend Sinead's tribute as well. I thought that was really, really nice. And I was very happy that Burgers and Bottles did that. But the event looked great. You have fun?

[A]

I did. I had. I had a good time. I was. I was tired, man, but I had a good time. My little. I had my baby sister with me. I had, like. Damn it. My older sister was there. Like, I had my entire family and friends with everyone was there.

[C]

Did you feel like you had to, like, make sure they were okay? That's what I hate sometimes.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

That's why I didn't bring you what

[C]

you need to make sure I'm okay.

[A]

Yeah, like. You know what I'm saying? You gotta entertain. Like, you gotta make sure.

[C]

Are you good?

[A]

You okay? You comfortable and you having fun?

[B]

That's king of. That's the king of the palooza right there. It would have been an honor for him to walk through the streets of Burgers and bottles, you know what I'm saying? You know, he used to shut it down, that king at palooza. You know that?

[A]

Oh, he real comfy. He comfy.

[B]

You know those. Come on. You know he still got his festival legs. Man, don't do that. That.

[C]

That's my. That's my Palooza laminate right there. It's hanging right There in the raft. It's the rafters.

[B]

The doorknob.

[C]

Yeah, I would have been fight. Listen, if you just put me in a place where I can sit in the corner and people watch them, I'm fine.

[A]

Okay, I'll remember that for next time. But, yeah, I had a ball the whole time.

[B]

When and where's the next one?

[A]

This same weekend next year.

[B]

Wait, the next. The next burgers and bottle is next year?

[C]

New York.

[A]

Yeah, they do one. One New York one.

[B]

No. When and where is the next burgers and bo.

[A]

Oh, dc. When DC Next. Next month, if I'm not mistaken.

[B]

We in there. We in there.

[C]

I'm going to that one before the

[B]

New York in there. D.C. burgers and bottles. I'm in there.

[C]

You know what venue they're doing?

[A]

Let me check. Trump might go and everybody up.

[C]

Was Eric Adams actually there? That was a fake tweet.

[A]

No, they might. He might have actually been there. I ain't even going to. Too much lie to you. D.C. tickets, July 25th.

[B]

Oh, all right. Where's it at, though?

[A]

They probably won't announce it until.

[B]

Yeah, they probably. We in there, Rory.

[C]

Because if they doing 7,000 in New York, they could do 4,000 in D.C. easy.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Oh, yeah, That'll be fun.

[B]

Yeah, we out there.

[A]

It's on sale right now, so they're only 33 right now, so there will

[B]

be no section sold.

[A]

Yeah, they don't do.

[C]

They don't.

[B]

We with baby D. You can't spell baby D without spelling dc. Baby D. Come on, now.

[A]

Damn. Check.

[B]

You're supposed to be. Come on, man.

[A]

Yo, the hoes being DC and the.

[B]

I'm trying to tell. But you not. You not following my lead. Yeah, you're not picking down what I'm.

[C]

Come on.

[B]

You're not picking up what I'm putting down. Baby D. Yeah, we in D.C. come on. We out.

[C]

A lot of beautiful women. Government jobs, chocolate city. You go into their health insurance.

[A]

I was talking about the men. It'd be some fine men in D.C.

[B]

but that's not what I was talking about.

[C]

You said find hoes. We weren't.

[A]

Did y' all notice that a lot of D.C. men be a little.

[B]

I mean, they play basketball.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

No. What does that mean?

[A]

Like, you know, like balling? Like. No, gay.

[D]

Like, girl.

[C]

Oh.

[B]

Oh, no. I don't know. I was. I didn't know what that meant. Baby. My bad.

[C]

I see. I'm not answering that because all Cameron did was be an actor in a movie. He got shot in D.C. over it. So, yeah, I'm never saying a bad word. Really. D.C. men. Allegedly. He said it, I didn't.

[A]

What did he say?

[B]

The clip is online.

[A]

Yeah, okay.

[C]

Just don't play Alpo and. And go to dc.

[D]

Yeah, just Google.

[B]

Just Google it, baby. Yeah, that's dope, though, man. Shout out to burgers and bottles. D.C. we might just see that, bro.

[C]

We might have to DC Ready for it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, we might have to. Dcb, Mitch. DC dcb.

[C]

Maybe I could do a live show

[A]

there around the same time.

[B]

Huh?

[A]

Maybe I could do a live show

[B]

there around the same time around burgers and bottles.

[C]

I mean, do y' all want to

[A]

do live shows again or y' all

[B]

still at some point?

[C]

Yeah, for sure. No, it's really just on me and Amara. Blame. Blame my daughter. Don't blame anyone else.

[B]

No, don't blame you. Not blame me.

[C]

Like, find Amara's at on Instagram and flood her comments and tell her she's a piece of shit.

[B]

Yeah, eventually we'll go back out and see the people.

[C]

Our last DC show was one of my favorites by far.

[B]

Yeah, was that when they fought?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Love that show.

[A]

Look at what you love.

[B]

I mean, you know, it gets the people going.

[C]

It was. It was just a really good show, but it was. No, I did not expect somebody to fight at a podcast show. Yeah, like, what you beefing about everything. And then we just went back to regular schedule.

[B]

Alcohol drinking, man. You know how I go.

[C]

I forget. Was it security versus the. I forgot. I even forgot what happened.

[B]

It was. It was. It was. Didn't that guy go on, like, Twitter after.

[C]

Yeah, he went on. He DM me, too, of wanting to call into the pod to give his side of the story, like, oh, so you want insurance companies to really go after me? You just want me and more to get sued. Got you.

[B]

Shout out to dc, man. One of my favorite cities.

[C]

Yeah, well, no, I would definitely be. Be down there.

[D]

No worry about Mo.

[C]

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[B]

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[C]

June is black Music Month, and on the

[B]

Drink Champs podcast, we're speaking with the

[C]

hottest names in the culture, like Swae Lee.

[B]

Do you realize how legendary you are? I appreciate that.

[C]

I'd be seeing it, but I'm like,

[A]

man, I still got like, so much more to do.

[C]

Like Prince, he dropped like 30 albums. We dropped like five right now.

[D]

That's the rate we got to be going.

[B]

Yeah, that's a good attitude. You'll also hear stories from industry legends

[C]

and hip hop Fans. Pioneers like Fab 5 Freddy.

[B]

I directed one of Nas's early videos. Which one?

[D]

One Love.

[B]

Wow. Yes.

[D]

I literally filmed in his apartment in Queensbridge. His moms was still up in that apartment. Nas was just beginning to take off.

[C]

His pops used to live near me in Harlem.

[D]

His dad introduced him to a whole lot of, you know, conscious stuff, and he made a young prodigy.

[C]

No matter the era, Drink Champs brings you the biggest names and the most unfiltered conversations.

[B]

Listen to Drink Champs from the Black

[C]

Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app,

[B]

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[C]

This is Michael Rapoport and my podcast, the I Am Rappaport Stereo podcast, is unlike any one you've ever heard. We're a variety show, and if you're looking for strong opinions, funny opinions about sports, entertainment, politics, pop culture, and whatever else catches my attention, then subscribe now. This kid, Jafar Jackson, is as good as Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury. And it's as good as Timothee Shamalay as Bob Dylan. And I say that with love and

[B]

respect for both of those actors.

[D]

And I don't know how many Oscar nominations they give out.

[C]

If it's 5, 6 for best actor, 150%. This kid Jafar Jackson should absolutely, positively get nominated for his portrayal as Michael Jackson. Listen to I Am rapoport on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[D]

I Am Rappaport Podcast. Happy Pride from the outspoken Podcast Network. All month long and all year round, we're celebrating being loud, proud, and always original. It's me, Brandon Kyle Goodman, host of the podcast tell Me Something Messy. Check out my show for unfiltered takes on dating, relationships, and adulting. The more you get comfortable with someone,

[C]

the more their real self comes out. They're Gonna be gross.

[D]

What's the grossest thing about a man burping?

[C]

Shut it down.

[D]

Listen to High Key for the best pop culture takes. And there are no girls on the Internet. For all your tech news for your favorite celebrity Kikis, check out outlaws with T.S. madison. Wait, so Luke was the star?

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

And Vader was turned by Ruth Paul.

[B]

Yeah, well, somebody turned into some old, old, old witch.

[D]

Learn to love yourself unapologetically with BFF Black Fat Femme and start your day with intention with waking up with Ryan. Coming in July. Celebrate Pride with the outspoken Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Open your free iHeartRadio app, search Pride and listen now.

[B]

What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas and I'm C.J.

[C]

toledano. And our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds.

[B]

Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luka and Austin finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luka and Austin Reaves, I gotta manipulate the game.

[C]

We get a player's perspective on the

[B]

challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's gonna be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really

[D]

guard guys like Nas Reed, he has

[B]

to guard Julius Randle and then he has to to give us everything he gives us on a night to night basis on offense.

[C]

And when it's friends stop by like Quinton Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too.

[B]

Steve Nash would get that thing, that man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers while he got the ball. Like you go through a training camp with that Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Oh yeah. Get your ass up and down the

[D]

court and you gonna get the ball.

[B]

So listen to Point game on the iHeartRadio app.

[C]

App, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. But staying on rap, I did see that Kiss sort of responded to 38 special. Not only our clip obviously, but Bag Fuel as well, saying he's getting in the studio. Is that to reply or to give the verse that he owes 38 special?

[B]

Nah, I think, I think he going made good on his.

[C]

You know, he said, I'm about to go in the lab, do some samurai sorting, try to be a father and a businessman, but they want to bring me out my element.

[B]

Listen, man, I'm always here for a new Kiss first. So if Kiss say he going in the studio. I'm happy for it.

[A]

Same.

[B]

Give us something for. Give us some. Give us some bars for the summer. Kiss, man. Give us some bars, man. Give us some Slick talk.

[C]

I love 38 special, but having your name be 38 special and Jadicus having that to work off. How many 38 special entendres do you think Jadakiss can come up with?

[B]

38?

[C]

38, probably.

[B]

Probably 38 of them. Yeah.

[C]

Like, there's just certain names that I don't know if you. Like, if you get in a rap battle, like, shout out to Math Hoffer, one of my favorite battlers. I think Math is incredible. And why I think he's also incredible is because he has to deal with having the name Math and how much you can do with that name and still try to win. Like, that's how dope Math is. Your name is Math. Yeah, they're still coming up with new Math on tandres he's been battling for 20 years.

[B]

Hey, special

[C]

has a lot of room to say a lot of.

[B]

All right, now your verse. You better make sure your verse is.

[C]

Listen, man, 38's not to be played with either.

[B]

Because Kiss, I mean. Yeah, but Kiss, now Kiss probably got a little extra fire up under him, like. All right, you wanted this verse. All right, so now I'm gonna smoke you in your own joint. I'm gonna have a better verse than what you're gonna do. And I'm sure Special be completely fine with that.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Getting out rapped by Jadakiss on your record. Nothing wrong with that. I'll take it.

[C]

Yeah, I don't think anyone's on anyone that gets outrapped by Kid.

[B]

No, it's totally fine.

[C]

Not really on your jacket.

[B]

It's totally fine.

[C]

Yeah, but again, most people will Special no slouch.

[B]

No, not at all. Not at all. I do want to hear.

[C]

Technically, he's outrapped Jadakiss before on the same song. Yeah, but it's do over now.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Ball up top.

[B]

My ball.

[A]

I'm trying to think of any entendres I could use with a name like Rory.

[B]

Rory. I'm sorry, Rory.

[A]

No, like, what? Rory Ryan with Story.

[C]

Yeah, there's a lot of Ori stuff.

[B]

Yeah, of course.

[A]

Bore me.

[B]

There you go. Now you using it. Now you here, baby. D.C. you see how fast shit just start going?

[D]

Yeah, yo.

[B]

Yeah, bore me.

[A]

I was just thinking, if I was a battle rapper, like, damn. Like, what would be my entendres with you n names? Cause Mal means bad in Spanish and

[B]

you Puerto Rican, so what that mean? You got entendres for me? You ready?

[A]

I was just. I'm just, you know, just thinking off the top of the head. My bad.

[C]

Yo, Damaris come in here with a battle rap all in Spanish. Like, remember with the Democratic debates, and then they would just randomly start breaking out into Spanish? Her coming in here and battling that way would be the funniest thing ever. Is this a child? I mean, you've been ducking me, so.

[A]

But Ma won't rap. Mall refuses to rap, so it's not fun.

[B]

Yeah, I ain't rapping. I ain't even trying.

[A]

He won't even try.

[C]

No, but I wouldn't get too confident. Tamaris, there's a lot you could do with Baby D. Like what? See, look at you, already trying to. Nah, let me cook. We'll come back when it's time. Yo, your last name? I can already think of four.

[A]

You cannot think of nothing that rhymes with Gisco.

[C]

I already beat you with a. With a comb and hair reference in the first battle. Yeah, don't even

[A]

pee.

[C]

Don't have comb in your name.

[B]

That's all. Don't start talking about black women in their head. Please don't. Whatever you do, don't. Don't you start.

[A]

Peach looked at me and said, oh,

[B]

don't you start, yo.

[C]

Anyways, while we are on rap topics over the weekend, Mass Appeal hit me

[B]

and shout out to Mass Appeal.

[C]

Always shout out to Mass people. And asked me if we wanted to give away some Nas tickets. He will be in Queens for the World Cup. It's like, you know, what do they call those things? The launch concerts or whatever it is. He will be in queens on Friday, June 12, and they gave me six tickets. So two pairs of three, so you can bring someone with you. And we were trying to think of a cool way to give away these tickets.

[B]

Two pairs of three or three pairs of three.

[C]

So there'll be three winners, and each winner will get two tickets.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

And that was three pairs of two. Dyslexic.

[B]

You're dyslexic.

[C]

Okay, got you. It's fine.

[B]

Three sets of two.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

That's why I'm gonna lose this rap battle.

[B]

Three. Three pairs.

[C]

But I was trying to think of a cool way that we could give away these tickets to our listeners. How do you feel? Like if they go to our ig, we make this a clip on Instagram and they can comment below with a bar that sounds like something Nas would say. Isn't really a Nas lyric, but they could give us a Nas bar. And we pick the three best based

[B]

around the World Cup. It has to be like a World Cup.

[C]

I like that, too. A NAS World cup reference could be really cool. And we'll pick our three favorite, and then you'll get two tickets to see Nas, and we'll be out there as well, so you can come kick it with us. But shout out to Mass Appeal for giving us those tickets. I'm excited to see who can come up with some bars.

[B]

Yeah, everybody claim they got bars and they raped. See your best bars in the comments.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

Yeah, because there's something with the World is yours and World Cup. There's something there. I can't find it yet.

[B]

It'll come right there. Like, somebody has to find it's right there.

[C]

But. But shout out to Mass Appeal. Shout out to Nas anytime We can. We can give away tickets to our listeners. I'm always here for that. Do we ever get an update of when we gave away tickets to that? Not. Not Nas. Um, Kanye and Drake show. Didn't those two people go on a date?

[B]

No, we. We spoke to them. We spoke to her after. We spoke to her after that.

[C]

Remind me, how did that date go? She was fine too, right?

[B]

Yeah, it was cool. Like, they had a good time, but then they didn't really, like, hang out or nothing after that, though. She said it was cool. They had a good time. Yeah.

[C]

You swooped in.

[B]

Me how? Soup in. Like me. I mean, you think I went to LA outside the concert, like, yo, come with me now.

[A]

Come with me now.

[B]

Date's over. Show's over.

[A]

That's his. You know, that's his. That's his ball. His bag.

[B]

So me. That's my bag.

[A]

No, he's trying to put it on you. That's his bag.

[C]

Okay, wait, what's my bag?

[B]

To interrupt their date to cut throat.

[A]

If you would have been in la, you damn sure would have interrupted their date.

[C]

I would have picked seats between the two of them. Like, how would I have done that?

[A]

You could have been sitting on the side interjecting like, yo. Like, so I see chemistry.

[C]

Okay?

[A]

I see y'. All.

[C]

That's a good wingman.

[B]

No, no, that's not. That's a horrible wingman. Mind your business. Shut up and leave. Give me the tickets and leave. Rory gave you the tickets and act like he's still on a date with y'.

[D]

All.

[B]

Like, go home.

[C]

I was tight. When I watched the stream, I was like, we should have kept Those tickets for ourselves.

[B]

Yeah, show was great.

[C]

Did you see the 2004 double XL sex survey that went viral over the weekend from 2004? Somebody found. Yeah, it was a screenshot of an article that XXL did. And I don't know who found this, who screenshotted it, but it just randomly went viral. From 04 over the weekend, XXL was asking rappers, how do you decide who you'll have anal sex with? Which, by the way, out the gate is a very strange question and worded very weird from a journalistic standpoint.

[B]

What?

[C]

How do you decide who you have anal sex with? Well, let's start with consent if they're into it. If I find out Elliot Wilson was behind this, we're calling him next episode. If this was an Elliot article at Double XL asking rappers how to have anal sex, I'm gonna kill Elliot for the next month. It might be. This was one of the funniest things ever. I don't know how I missed this because I read Double XL religiously. No, we're gonna go through some of these responses.

[B]

Hold on.

[C]

No, this is dua.

[B]

Wayne's response is fucking insane.

[A]

What did he say? What did Lil Wayne say?

[B]

Wayne said, oh, go to the left. Yeah. Wayne says, oh, when I'm from in New Orleans, my pop's baby, the Birdman set a trend. He said on his song, a long time ago, seven, eight years ago, every real nigga fucked a main girl in the ass. That became a trend in New Orleans. If you had a main girl, you had to. Or she wasn't your main girl. In reference to that, let's just say I've had a lot of mean girls thus far. That is a sick ass.

[C]

You. The word thus in that is funny.

[A]

That's sick. When they. Cause, you know, they called them to, like, get these answers over the phone like that.

[B]

Being a phoner is crazy. How do you decide who you have anal sex with? I would have hung up.

[C]

The funniest retweet I saw of that was they asked about anal sex. And the first person Wayne thought of was, baby. I was like, yo, that's fucked up.

[B]

I see. I like, see 50, I'm from the 50 Club. See, 50 says I ain't really in all that. We could be really, really freaky without that. She could just use that to go to the bathroom.

[A]

Young buck said, I mean, if you find a female who would do it,

[C]

yo, I love the 50s. She could use that to go to the bathroom. Yeah, that's how. That's how the Works.

[B]

Yeah. Look at Kiss Kiss said, I'm against anal sex. That's not my cup of tea. I don't pump on that block.

[C]

TI Said, man, nah, nah. I don't usually do dirty work. I have before, but that's not something I like to do.

[A]

Pastor Troy said, God damn, nigga. We ain't in jail. We ain't got to. Yo, God damn, nigga.

[C]

We ain't in jail. Proof didn't give a fuck. Proof says I don't. I don't fuck with that too much. I did it once with my baby mother, though. That shit is not good for your soul. Yo, Mass A Killer had by far the funniest response, in my opinion.

[B]

No, Busy Bone had the funniest response. I don't think you do decide if you're going to do some shit like that, then it's just going to happen. Depends on how freaky she is, how she grew up as a kid. Yeah, she grew up as a kid. Determines if she want anal sex. Yeah, like, how did you grow up to decide if you want to have.

[C]

Therapist could probably find a link to something.

[A]

Bro, please read Master.

[C]

No Master Killer said, making the brown eye blue. I ain't even.

[B]

I ain't even into that. Yes. Yeah, these is crazy, yo.

[C]

No, Nori has the sickest one by far. Everyone has funny shit. Whatever. Nori just went straight. I would stick it in JLo's butthole in a New York second. No disrespect to JLo because I have a lot of respect for her, but she's just awesome.

[B]

Yeah, she's just.

[A]

Where did that have to.

[C]

I can hear Nori saying that too. Like, I can hear his voice saying that. I would stick it in JLo's butto in a New York second. No disrespect, though.

[B]

Look at Bleak. Nah, I ain't into that. Too many diseases that way. Oh, my God, man.

[A]

Sick, bro. Yeah, they was just writing about anything back in the day.

[B]

Look at Mr. Cheeks and this. I mean, of course they had to ask Mr. Cheeks for sure. He said, anal sex happens, you know, with. With a condom on. You snatch that up immediately. Anal is crazy. This is a sick ass question to ask rappers.

[A]

Jake is saying, I don't pump on that block. Like, just going back to that. That's insane.

[C]

Don't pump on that block. I don't do that. That reminds me of yuck Poo Poo makes the sex nasty.

[A]

Who. Why do they talk like that?

[C]

I just want, like, did they ask them any other questions or did this journalist literally call all these rappers, say, I have one Que. Can I take 30 seconds of your time?

[A]

Yeah, I think that's a really way.

[C]

How do you do anal sex? And then Banks is just like, I don't do that. And then they hung up.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, that's how you got it. Like, I don't do that.

[C]

Click. A big gip had. Had, like, a full dissertation. He said, I don't have no anal sex.

[B]

Yo, what was that question?

[A]

Go back, go back.

[B]

Yo, do you have a big old dick?

[C]

Yo, Elliot Wilson, you have to come to the podium.

[B]

Yo, this. Who said that?

[C]

First of all, 50 Cent. I said, I have a young, energetic, throbbing love muscle, the Magic stick.

[A]

Oh, Prodigy is the one that said, it's all right. It's medium. You know what?

[C]

Self awareness, man.

[A]

Yeah, I believe him. And that's what's up.

[B]

Who is.

[C]

I'm sure it's funny.

[B]

Who's asking these questions, though?

[C]

Like, is this Photoshop? This is crazy.

[B]

Like, I don't ever remember seeing this in.

[C]

I don't even. Magazine double xl.

[B]

I do not remember seeing this. And back then, that's all we. We was doing, was reading magazines. I don't remember this at all.

[C]

Are white folks freakier?

[A]

If somebody got that old edition, like, let us borrow it, send it to the office.

[B]

That is crazy.

[C]

No, this is really, really nice. Well, yeah, please check out that. That 2004 double XL.

[B]

Don't check it out. It's okay.

[C]

Ropes and handcuffs. Asking Prodigy. Ropes and Handcuffs, to me is the funniest. Like, did a. Did a man do this?

[B]

This is when they were just trying to, like, have that type of sex talk with rappers and see, they get a peek of how they are in the bedroom. Like, I understand where they was going, but these questions are crazy.

[C]

All right, the question is ropes or handcuffs. Lloyd Banks says, I'd say the Boston Crab. I got my own little lock. I don't need nothing else to help me hold them down.

[B]

Putting a girl in a Boston Crab.

[C]

He rapped about it.

[B]

Yeah, I know.

[C]

That's his. Oh, man.

[B]

Yeah, this.

[C]

This is nuts.

[B]

Okay, that's a good question. Ask a rapper, have you ever paid for sex? See, that makes more sense to ask a rapper that, which is kind of

[C]

crazy, because rappers don't need to pay for sex. And I could comfortably say, I think probably every rapper has paid for sex.

[A]

I thought you said you paid him to leave. Not to come fair.

[B]

Nah, that's love. Saying that line, Baby D. That. That. That never happened. Come on, man, you pay them to leave. So you're gonna tell you what your wifey. Shut up. You a trick.

[C]

I mean, it is more convenient, though. Is it that they. Somebody that you don't want around, you just want to them? Yeah, if you could just have them leave. That's you're paying for convenience.

[B]

Mad girls that they don't want around them and girls just leave without. Oh, for sure.

[C]

No, I agree. I don't think rappers need to, but

[B]

yeah, they want to. That's what a trick does. A trick wants to pay for sex.

[C]

That's odd.

[A]

And we love them.

[B]

Listen, I ain't mad. Get you. Get your. Get your bag. But we got to call it what it is too. At the same time.

[C]

What does it take for you to call someone a second time? Asking gangster rappers. This is hilarious to me.

[B]

Yeah, they was just trying to get me.

[A]

What does it take for you to call somebody the second time? Like, you call it on the first time, they'll answer like, change his diaper.

[B]

What do you mean? Like, call back to, like, call back to back.

[A]

Like, you call and they don't answer, so you call again. Like, what do they have to do to make you that crazy and dedicated to.

[B]

That's crazy to call it crazy. But, you know, I mean, that's pretty normal, though. If I call you, you don't answer. But now I'll text and be like, yo, I called just in case you don't. You know what I'm saying? And if you don't call me back, like, the night is over. I'm a text. I might not call again. I'm texting like, yo, you all right? Because at that point, it's like, you know me. Like, I'm just making sure you good. It's not like calling a woman back to back is not crazy, right? If it's a girl you deal with like that. Nah, I think that you can. You could call. If she don't answer text, then if she don't answer the text or the call, then I think you just start to get a little concerned after a while. Like, yo, you good. Like, but yeah, there's nothing wrong with calling a girl twice. Yeah, call. Because if I'm calling you, I'll I. There's a reason I'm calling you. Like, I enjoy speaking to you. Like, but if you don't answer my call and don't answer the text, then now I'm concerned about it. Just make sure you're good.

[A]

What if you FaceTime or she call you back, like, regular like, you FaceTime her, she'll answer.

[B]

Oh, women have done that. No, they've done that. They're like, yo, I look crazy right now. Bonnet on. I got my mask on. My collagen mask on. This, that, and the third. Like, that's cool. I sound like I didn't need to FaceTime you, but I. You know, to me that's a cooler way of having a conversation with somebody.

[C]

Double XL asks there's no better love than TI Says. Excuse me, I thought this was a sex issue, not the Valentine's Day issue. What does love have to do with that? There's no better love than a threesome. That's more like it. Corrupt says, there's no better love than Megan. Good.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Wayne says, my love. Nasty love. Okay.

[A]

I hear that.

[C]

Proof said head on a boat. He brings up a good point.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

TI Saying, ain't no better love than a threesome. After what they was saying, him and Tiny was all of Atlanta. That check out, boy, you gotta go back and visit archive.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[C]

Banks just said money in head.

[B]

Listen, man, get right to it. I can't read that font, but yeah, no, this.

[C]

This whole article was hilarious. This was July 2004 double XL magazine. Let's see if we can order a copy of that. They still do that, right? No, you can't buy magazines.

[B]

Not from 22 years ago. I don't think so.

[A]

You can do a newspapers collector. Yeah, you have to find a collector

[C]

because I feel like you could buy pretty much any, like, New York Times paper. You should. I mean, you have to pay a lot for them to print it, but you can order.

[B]

Really? Yeah. I didn't know that.

[C]

Yeah, you could definitely do that. I'm sure Double XL probably has something where you. Where you could order. It just probably cost a lot because they're just doing a one off.

[B]

Yeah. Collector probably has any wants to charge for you. I get it.

[C]

Yeah. But no, that's hilarious. All right, we're going to take a quick, quick break and then we are going to have a guest that I've been wanting to have on here for. For quite some time. We're going to speak to the legendary Akon. I. I want. I want residency to a city, man. That's why I have. I want a dual passport.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, yeah, I want to be. I want to be a resident.

[B]

See if you. See if we can make that happen.

[C]

Yeah, for sure. Mall Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock. BET Florida's sportsbook. It is NBA Finals time. The pressure is not only on the players, but to all New Yorkers, this is our time. Will we end the 53 year drought and bring a title to the city? Who knows? But you can bet on it. You can use Hard Rock Bet to turn your picks into a payday, because once the final buzzer sounds, it's over for hoops until next season, which is always depressing. So shoot your shot while you can. Same game parlays are the best way to get in on the action. Big team superstars, clutch performances, so many storylines to bet on right now, especially with Jalen Brunson on the court.

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[C]

June is Black Music Month, and on

[B]

the Drink Champs podcast, we're speaking with

[C]

the hottest names in the culture, like Swae Lee.

[B]

Do you realize how legendary you are?

[C]

I appreciate that I'd be seeing it,

[A]

but I'm like, man, I still got

[C]

like, so much more to do. Like Prince, he dropped like 30 albums.

[B]

We dropped like five.

[C]

Right now.

[D]

That's the rate we got to be going.

[B]

Yeah, that's a good attitude. You'll also hear stories from industry legends

[C]

and hip hop pioneers like Fab five Freddy.

[B]

I directed one of Nas's early videos. Which one?

[D]

One Love.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Yes.

[D]

I literally filmed in his apartment in Queensbridge. His mom's was still up in that apartment. Nas was just beginning to take off.

[C]

His pops used to live near me in Harlem.

[D]

His dad introduced him to a whole lot of, you know, consciousness, his stuff. And he made a young prodigy.

[B]

No matter the era.

[C]

Drink Champs brings you the biggest names

[B]

and the most unfiltered conversations. Listen to Drink Champs from the Black

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[B]

Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[C]

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[D]

And I don't know how many Oscar

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I don't know if it's 5, 6 for best actor. 150%. This kid Jafar Jackson should absolutely, positively get nominated for his portrayal as Michael Jackson. Listen to I Am rappaport on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

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What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas and I'm C.J.

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toledano. And our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds.

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We get a player's perspective on the

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So listen to Point game on the

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iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you you get your podcasts.

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[B]

All right, Rory. We are back for a quick break. Now. We are joined by legend. Yeah, a legend in every sense of the word. Singer, songwriter, producer, philanthropist. I mean, it's many titles that this guest has, but we both are excited to have him. Cause it's somebody that we've supported for years and wanted to sit down and have a conversation with. So today he is in the studio. We are joined by the legendary Akon, ladies and gentlemen.

[D]

Yes, sir.

[C]

Changed R and B. Changed the hook. Game changer. I could say that you completely changed R and B as a solo artist, but also as. As a label owner. I feel like that's what's up.

[B]

We don't talk about that part enough, though. The label part.

[C]

We've had a lot of artists slash execs on this show and we have a lot of debates about sub labels with death row, bad boy, this and that. Why do you think Konvik doesn't get brought up the way it should? Between you having T Pain, Lady Gaga, Red Cafe, you had Wizkid early. Convict should be, in my opinion, in that conversation. As far as a sub label, Cardinal, Official, like, why do you think that it's not brought up the way it should be brought up?

[D]

I guess it would depend on the context in which they're bringing it up. You know, when I created Convict, it was more of an outlet.

[C]

Okay.

[D]

You know what I mean? Opportunity that was given to people that didn't have the access to the game. Right. Give them the open door. Because Convict was open for everybody.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

There's mad artists now that are convict artists that I don't brand as Convict because it helps to keep their brand. Cause they're built to be in a position where they can be a franchise of their own.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

You know what I mean? Oftentimes when you hug something over an artist, when you hug them to the point where the brand is so strong, it's hard for them to break off to do their own thing. You know, certain people represent the brand from a perspective of that brand being able to kind of, you know, peel off to create other opportunities. Right. So when we did Konvik originally, it needed to be exactly what it was. But it also was a freestanding brand for Anybody to be able to associate themselves with it without me shutting it down.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

Because it was. At one point, I'm sure you probably knew everybody was claiming convict and you like, well, who's convict? Who ain't?

[C]

Yeah, right. I mean, I feel like. I felt like at one point you're almost producer tag was convict music at the top of every record.

[D]

Right, Right. You know what I mean?

[C]

So when did that shift, do you think happened with your mind state of not adding that to everything?

[D]

No, I kind of realized, well, I understood the art of branding and I knew that everybody just couldn't be branded convict. Something's gotta be off of it. Like, even with Lady Gaga, she was never branded convict. Like, nobody knew I was a part of that until it was way to the point where it was too late to stop it.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

You know what I'm saying?

[C]

As a nerd, I didn't know till

[D]

way later, had I branded her convict, she wouldn't have got that big.

[B]

Why do you feel that way, though?

[D]

It just. It's like she's a pop artist and a white pop artist.

[B]

Right.

[D]

Convict was so urban and it was so street at that time to try to push that, like, prime example, Kobe o' Donne is the same thing.

[B]

Right.

[D]

I didn't brand him convict. He just like, people ain't even know, you know what I mean? So it's like, it's certain things that I just felt like wasn't like, convict wouldn't have helped it. It would actually would have held it down a little bit.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

But you know, not a lot of executives think like that though, right? Like, they don't have that wherewithal to be like, yo, let's not put the brand on this artist so heavy because it might stifle their trajectory and, you know, people might not understand it.

[D]

Right.

[B]

So to have that, you know, I mean, like, sense and then have that discernment of like, yo, let's not push that on artists. I mean, that's dope. Cause that doesn't happen very often.

[D]

Yeah. I mean. Cause they're only thinking about how they're gonna grow their business.

[B]

Right.

[D]

But sometimes you gotta understand your business can grow without it being like. Like, it's really about thinking about the long run, like the long determinated factor. You know what I mean? Like, prime example, when I had Rich Homie Quan, K Camp, Young Thug, they were all brands of their own. It wasn't necessary to brand that convict at that time, because we were just a platform being utilized to build that brand. You Know what I mean? But again, it probably would have made a difference. But from what perspective? And how long would it have lasted? You know what I'm saying?

[C]

Yeah. Did you get a lot of flack? I mean, obviously now Auto Tune is the standard. And not to say that T Pain was the first one to use autotune, but he used it in such a unique way that I feel once you go through Pain to Kanye and now you get the sound that is today, did you get a lot of flack? Because, I mean, you are a great vocalist and a purist, in my opinion. Like, from the Fugees onto your solo career, did you get a lot of shit for T Pain when he first came out?

[D]

No, not really. I mean, I don't think they would have told me anything about it. I mean, I heard a lot of slack. Yeah, but in the end, I mean, was winning. Is winning what? And then what you got to think, regardless of the slack, look what it. Like how. Look what it influenced, like, people. To me, if the slack came, it was just. It was out of jealousy. It had nothing to do with anything else. Because when you come in, you can't shut down what everybody doing.

[B]

Right? Right.

[D]

Like, come on. If everybody picked it up, like, literally. Literally everybody, the whole industry.

[C]

Jay Z couldn't even kill it, like,

[D]

to the point was industry standard. Like, how do you shut that down? I mean, you can't. You know what I'm saying?

[C]

I mean, so what did you hear early on? Because Payne was using Auto Tune the way he was when you first heard, like, the demo and everything. Right?

[D]

That came after.

[C]

That came after. Okay, so what was the first introduction to T Pain that you had?

[D]

He had a mixtape.

[C]

Okay.

[D]

He had a mixtape, and he had a rendition of my record locked up on it.

[C]

Okay.

[D]

But his was called I'm Fucked Up.

[C]

Got it. Okay.

[D]

So he was talking struggles.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, actually, I remember that.

[D]

And I was like, ah, we got something here. This is it.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[D]

This boy Monsters, like, to the point where I felt like that could have been my record.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

You know what I mean? So that's when I knew that was it. And I was like. At that moment, I felt like, okay, I need to sign him asap. Because I would rather he be a part of the team than meet somebody having to compete against.

[C]

That's. That's.

[D]

You know what I'm saying?

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

What were some of those, like, early Fugee days? Like, going from Jersey City to New York and being around for that time? Cause I don't think A lot of people know how involved you were with the Fugees.

[D]

Yeah, like, that was my original camp.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

You know, I broke off to go to build my own camp at Convict. But as you notice, Refugee and Convict is a slight similarity as far as the captivity of what it is to be an outsider, a foreigner, somebody locked up in chains. So Convict was an extension of refugee camp, you know what I mean? So Refugee camp was my original. That's where I started doing music as a writer, as a producer, as an artist. But those days, man, at the Book of Basement was serious but fun. It wasn't something that we took so seriously. Cause at that point, I still didn't know that music was gonna be something I kind of moved on as a career with. You know what I mean?

[B]

When you were in the room with the Fugees, like, together, you didn't think that that was like, okay, Nah, shit.

[C]

I mean, Lauren was probably high school, right?

[D]

Yeah, I was hustling. I was making more money on the street, so it was like it was a hobby. I didn't see where the money was at, really.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

You know what I mean? And then when the Fugees got their record deal at a record called Boofboth, they was constantly doing shows. Then you start to see, okay. Ooh, they actually make us money. Right? Like, okay, maybe it is the money to be made.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

You know? You know what I'm saying, Cliff? Like, sit down somewhere, focus, because this could be it. Like, you got too much talent to be on these streets. Like, he would always tell me that, man, in my mind, I'm like, yeah, but I'm getting the block right now. Like, I want to wait. Y' all cool. Y' all getting money. Like, I need that, but I need that.

[C]

How you can you get tapped in with them? Cause Clef is a little older than.

[D]

I used to work at a barbershop.

[C]

Okay?

[D]

That Same Barbershop on 18th Ave. Like, that's where all the dope dealers hung out, like, the hustlers hung out. I was in there cutting hair. You know what I'm saying? So that environment was naturally just a natural hustle environment. But for the most part, you know, he used to come into the shop all the time and get his haircut. And then John, the owner of the club, I mean, the barbershop was like, yo, Khan, you need to hook up with them. Like, you know, he's a Haitian kid. He. They actually got a record deal. They got a studio around the corner. And I know you do music. I should Connect. So when Clef came in, he connected us, and then there was no turning back from there.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, we had.

[B]

That's crazy.

[C]

We had Albial on the show this week who's a great, great Jersey City rapper, and he was telling us some very funny dust head stories of Jersey City. Because Jersey City, which I've lived in Jersey City since 2008, is the dust head capital of the environment.

[D]

Listen, the nickname Dirty Jersey came from Jersey.

[C]

Do you have. Do you have any. Any fun dust head stories? I feel like anyone that's lived in Jersey City has dust head stories, I

[D]

think, like, yeah, like, Jersey City is just dust.

[B]

It's crazy.

[D]

It's crazy.

[C]

Like, bruh, I bought a house there, man.

[D]

I was raised there, so I get it. Yeah, no, it's a good amount environment. But if you notice, nobody from Jersey City really stays in Jersey City. Like, that's a fact.

[B]

Right.

[D]

Unless you're up on a hill and you. Yeah, like, that's just where you at.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Well, it's also way different than when you grew up. It's gentrified, crazy build up, like General Square. You wouldn't even recognize.

[D]

I didn't. I was like, damn. Like.

[B]

You know what I'm saying?

[D]

Like, I'm mad. I sold my house because I would have came up.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

You know what I'm saying?

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Like, man.

[B]

But yeah, the neighborhood changed a little bit.

[D]

No, it changed a lot.

[B]

Yeah, a little bit.

[D]

For sure. But back then, man, listen. Yeah, it was.

[C]

No, the dust has still there, though.

[B]

Just.

[C]

Just because they got high rises doesn't

[B]

mean Starbucks on the corner. Don't mean they're not there. They still around.

[D]

Yeah, they just got older.

[B]

Yeah, exactly.

[D]

Less active.

[C]

Know you in the middle of the tour right now with Neo.

[B]

Shout out to Neo.

[C]

Always shout out to Neo.

[D]

That's my dog.

[C]

I have to ask, but what. What's. What's tour life like with Neo and his three girlfriends?

[D]

Oh, no, it's cool. Like, we go bowling on off days.

[C]

Okay.

[D]

We hang out. You know, we go to dinners, movies and.

[C]

So that wouldn't be called a double date. What would that be?

[D]

No, I mean, we just out going out. It ain't. It's past dating stages.

[B]

Yeah. At this point.

[D]

Yeah, we pass.

[B]

But how does that conversation go? Yo, Neo, what you and your ladies doing? I'm gonna come kick it with y'. All.

[D]

No, actually, it's not even that. It's like, okay, cool. What we doing? Y' all going to bowling. All right, we'll meet y' all there. When I get there, he there with his girls.

[B]

Okay. Yeah.

[D]

Like, it's not like, yo, keep the girls home. It's a boys night.

[B]

Nah, nah, no.

[D]

Are you bringing the Shreks? Nah, it's not just.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[D]

Wherever you go, they going. It's not even a question. Just know that when you invite him, you inviting them.

[C]

Yeah. So plus four all the time.

[B]

That just seems like such.

[C]

Because we've been on tour together, and when I've been in relationships, Maul has to also deal with me and my relationship as well, which can be a lot when you're touring with somebody.

[B]

Yeah. Adding three, because the conversation has to change when the ladies.

[D]

No, but they. No, but no, that's what I'm saying. Like, what's interesting is what I've noticed, like, his relationship with them. They're like his friends.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Like, they have real conversation. Like how we have.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Like, he could talk about bitches with them there, and they gonna talk about bitches, too. Like, this is a real friendship. It's not like, where the relationship makes it so, like, uncomfortable to where he got it awkward.

[B]

It's not awkward.

[D]

Yeah, like, bitches come around. He free. Like, you holler at them when they holla at him.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[D]

It's like, that's what made it special. And I think that's why it actually can work, because it actually is a friendship amongst them. It ain't no tense thing where. Okay, who, like. Okay, he hugs. Oh, you hugging her a little too long. I need to hug or you need to. It ain't none of that.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Okay.

[C]

No, I mean, like, on paper, that, to me, is how the human brain works as far as monogamy and not like. I just don't think I could. Yeah. I think open relationships and having multiple wives make sense. I think it does make sense. I just couldn't do it because my pace, like, my patience is very thin. It's tough with one girl, let alone having to deal with three personalities.

[D]

I think I just don't protect yourself because you online. That's what's going on. Stop that bullshit.

[C]

I'm fine with having a bisexual wife.

[D]

That's the same thing.

[C]

They staying. I don't know about that.

[D]

Again, it's a friendship. Like, people.

[C]

Oh, for sure.

[D]

I think that's the part. Everybody get it wrong. Like, these are real. Like, these are your best friends. The thing is, people highlight the sex part so much.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

To where they forget about all the other.

[B]

You know, like, when we not having sex.

[C]

Oh, I'm not the same.

[D]

People forget about the advantages of just having real people love. Like, I think that's the part that people don't focus on.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

They focus on the part.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

And then that. That will make it completely awkward.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Fair. I. But it's the nonsense.

[D]

It's already a public conversation. It's like, okay, wait a minute.

[C]

Like. Yeah.

[D]

You know what I mean?

[C]

And I. I think it's. It's more common than people. It's just because it's Neo, and Neo's famous. But I think it's a little more common at. In 2026 than people.

[D]

I mean, Neo didn't discover that.

[C]

No, no.

[D]

I mean, he just grew the courage to actually do it.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Publicly.

[C]

I did a throuple for one week and I bowed out,

[B]

actually.

[C]

No, I take it back.

[B]

Not built for me.

[C]

I take it back. It was five days. It wasn't seven.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I bowed out. I couldn't do it.

[D]

Yeah. I mean, this is the thing. Once you confident in what y' all got, it don't matter what the world think at that point. So once y' all know that, that's all. I mean, that's when it's strong.

[C]

They started fighting, and it wasn't like I had an issue with either of them. They started fighting, and I was like, I'm cool.

[D]

If I might ask, what was they fighting about?

[C]

It had to do with the three of us going to a wedding together.

[D]

Okay.

[C]

And one of them feeling uncomfortable because of Western standards that it would be looked at. Crazy. And then they started fighting. And when you look at your phone and there's 50 text messages when you're trying to record a. A podcast episode, I said, this is happening on day four.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[D]

Yeah. If the understanding is not there, it's not. It's going to be a bad day.

[B]

It's a headache, man.

[D]

Yeah, it's a headache.

[B]

It's a headache.

[C]

Where. Where are you at with R and B?

[B]

Now?

[C]

I know traditional R and B is. I don't want to say take taking a back seat because you do have great artists like Coco Jones and, you know, a lot of people making traditional R and B. That is great. But the consensus to a lot of people is R and B has turned into dark tones. And it's not even about love anymore.

[D]

Like, where it's still R and B. R and B is still R and B. It's just the energy of the topics of what they're talking about changes because the generation change and see it differently. Like R B has always been the same. It just. The sound will change according to the mood and then the topics will change according to the behaviors. So if the next generation grow up and it's no more heterosexual, guess what R B gonna be about. Exactly.

[B]

I don't think I want to hear that.

[D]

But. But I'm just giving you an idea. Like it's gonna change. What was the answer according to where that is? You don't know what that sound like. Yeah, I'm cool.

[B]

I'm cool.

[D]

I'm going to country music guitar to answer your question.

[C]

I don't mind. Forrest Gump by Frank Ocean.

[B]

Nah, I'm cool.

[D]

R and B has changed. It's just the topic matter has. And the behavior of how men look at women. Okay. You know what I'm saying?

[C]

And not. Not in the non heterosexual part. But do you think like artists like you, Life Jennings, artists from that era did change that? Because I felt like you guys in that era were some of the first people to make non love R B songs. Like you're locked up is your shit. That put you on the map, right? That you weren't always doing love songs whatsoever.

[D]

No, no.

[C]

And Life Jennings too. I mean, his first album is a classic to me.

[D]

Right.

[C]

Do you guys think you had that shift?

[D]

I know for sure when I came out, it shifted it for sure from a topic perspective because nobody really thought that reality music or topics would work in R and B melodies. Right. Cause everybody at that time was rapping and it was hard. Or you were singing and you were singing about love. So coming out singing about what rappers were rapping about was a little cliche at the time. And that's why it was kind of hard to figure out. How do we market it? What genre is it? Is it R and B? Is it hip hop? You know what I mean, in my case, because it was a little different. Is it reggae? Yeah, you know what I mean? But when Style P jumped on it, it gave it a genre when it didn't have one. Even though it wasn't given one. It was just. It was placed in the genre because even to this day, I've never rapped a day in my life. Never sang, I mean, never rapped from a perspective of a hip hop artist. But I'm classified as a hip hop artist because that was the only genre that they can identify with.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

You know what I mean?

[B]

But when does that change though?

[D]

It doesn't. Once you, once you known as something, they keep you there. Like even now I do more pop records than I do even urban records, but I'm still classified as hip hop.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah. But I think maybe. Do you think that has to also do with how present you were with hooks? Like even. Like Nate Dogg, for example, is R B, but we would consider Nate Dogg hip hop.

[D]

Exactly.

[C]

So.

[D]

Because the impact was just so large that you can't really. And then I did so many features with hip hop artists.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

So many to the point where it was like cemented in there. So even if I wanted to escape it, it's impossible.

[C]

Yeah. What. What was your favorite hook that you've ever done?

[D]

Just a few of them.

[C]

As far as hip hop records go, it's a few.

[D]

Few. One of my favorites though is Soul Survivor, I would say.

[B]

Yeah. When that. When that dropped with Jeezy.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

That was like the Paid in Full video.

[C]

It was not. It stopped the world at that point.

[D]

Yeah. Well, actually another one of my favorite ones, but didn't go as big as I would have expected. It up was Change Up.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Change up to me was a bit. To me, that was the follow up to Soul Survival.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

When you're talking about that type, you know the one with Fab.

[B]

No, for sure.

[D]

Right. But it didn't. It didn't. It didn't do as well as I thought that it would have did. Like from a global perspective, it was more of an east coast thing.

[B]

How do you feel about everyone? Because obviously being an executive and having an amazing catalog, everyone's selling their catalogs.

[D]

Right.

[B]

How do you feel about that?

[D]

Well, I mean, it depends if you got a plan, you know, like gathering all the information that I gather now. I would tell you, if you actually have your catalog to hold on to it really, it's going to be worth so much more later. That's why they buying it out now. They buying it out now because the way the technology is moving, it's going to catalog going to be a multi, multi, multi billion dollar business. Because all catalog got to be attached to the technology, especially the AI when the AI come on board, all those AI voices, all those, you know, like, even when you look at how AI is actually creating music, it's all creating it from the existing catalog that's being owned.

[B]

For sure.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Right.

[C]

Well, I mean, yeah, that's why we now know why everyone was selling their catalogs.

[D]

Right.

[C]

Six, seven years ago during COVID Right.

[D]

It was for two reasons at that time. It was for the metaverse, but the metaverse made a shift and it's now

[C]

AI and Zuckerberg completely fucked it up.

[D]

Well, he tried to create an environment where he owned it.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

And it kind of made a shift because nobody trusted it. Yeah, right. But AI now is something that everybody could be a part of. They just don't understand it well enough, you know. But from the most part, moving forward in where the future's going with AI, if you got your catalog, you think you've made a lot of money selling it. Wait, how much money you see how much they gonna make? Like monetizing it. No worrying now.

[C]

More. I know you see that the beard is shining. It looks immaculate. I've got that basking lather on. Man. The beard softener has, has changed everything.

[B]

So hype. You got a product that you could really use.

[C]

Because a lot of beard oils and beer products I've used like dried out my hair and my skin so I got flakes on my shirt. I look nuts. No woman wants to, you know, put her fingers through my beard. The softener has, has changed everything. It works perfect on my face.

[B]

You remember, you should put lotion. You used to put regular body lotion in your business.

[C]

100. I thought coconut oil was going to do it. And I go out, get a sunburn, couldn't even walk around. But no basking. Lather has been great for me. Natural beard growth oil for fuller, thicker facial hair. It has a blend of vital nutrients to help nourish and increase blood circulation to hair follicles and promotes softening beard hair and dandruff reduction. And it works for all hair types.

[B]

Also, Rory. It is black owned and family operated. We love that. Shayna and her mother researched and formulated their own scalp and hair oil to stimulate growth and retain length. Explore viral best sellers and products of healthier hair of all types from Bask and lather. Go to baskandlatherco.com and use code rorymal for 20 off. That's 20 off at Bask and Lather. C o.com code Rory and Maul. Do you agree with AI? Like, do you. How do you feel about the AI use of music?

[D]

I love it. I love AI, to be honest. But that's because I'm a writer and a producer. So I can use it as a tool to enhance my, my skill. Now if you are, if you're not quite like a creator, it can scare you, you know what I'm saying? Because you don't know exactly how it benefits or how for the most part, it can take your job.

[B]

That's what I was going to say. You don't feel like that's a threat to the song.

[D]

Nah. I'm a creator myself.

[B]

Right.

[D]

If anything, it can help me. But if you're not really a creator and that thing actually creates better, of course you're not gonna want it, but.

[C]

All right, so. But where do you draw the line with it? As a creator? Like, I love AI and the fact that. That I can use it in pro Tools and stem out a two track when I could never do that before, I think that's incredible.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

But I'm still drawing the line that I'm never having AI write a song for me.

[D]

But that's.

[C]

But that's a preference, you know, that's. Yeah, I'm just saying where you personally draw the line.

[D]

I would use. I would use AI to help me write more songs.

[C]

Okay.

[D]

I would. I would use AI when I got a writer's block and can't come up with nothing. I will use AI when I'm tapped in a certain beat and I need to take it to the next level, but can't figure out which direction to go. AI will give me five different versions of my own beat on which direction to go. You know what I'm saying?

[C]

I think of. As a fan, I'm fine with you doing that because you're alleged your records. Like, yeah, like, you using AI doesn't bother me whatsoever as a nerd fan because, yeah, look at your track record when AI never existed.

[D]

Right?

[C]

But if somebody at 21 years old starts using AI and gets the same achievements as you, I'm looking at them with an asterisk like, well, I mean, but why?

[D]

Why would it matter? Like, the question is, whatever those, you know, ideas that he might have punched into the computer came out because don't think like, I think sometimes you get people discount the brilliance in AI Me, at the end of the day, I just want to love what I'm listening to. I don't care how it's made or who made it. Right. I just know what I love because there's some AI artists that I've been listening to on Apple that I'm like, this shit is incredible.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

And I'm still tripping off how a computer did that, but I'm also thinking about, okay, what was the prompts that was put in there to get that? Because I know AI left and right. Like, I'm very tech savvy, but I'm like, what? What prompts did that nigga use?

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Or did she use to get that? Yeah, I need to figure that out. So now I'm back In the creative mode. Again, because AI only does what you tell it to do, but then it also puts in its own data and organization from within the information that has already been gathered to make it. To take it to the next level. Right. So even if you had no production history or experience ever, and you made something on AI or AI made something for you, that was incredible, I would thank you because it's great music. Like, honestly, to be honest. Let's just be real fake. I personally like the AI music better than I like a lot of the new artists coming out.

[B]

Oh, no, that's a fact.

[C]

I don't listen, so I don't think

[D]

I'm just being real.

[C]

Well, can I get some examples? Because I'm sure that AI songs that I've listened to and I didn't know it was AI. Right, sure. That's happening.

[B]

And that's another thing with records leaking and artists like, yo, is this the artist or is this like some AI version of the artist?

[D]

But time will tell you. Time will tell. Like, you gotta think like prime example with Nili Vanilli, right? We thought that that was the brightest duo group alive until we realized they was lip syncing.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

What exposed them? Time. All these guys can come up here and be on social media lip singing like a. Like they AI.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

But they gotta go live. And guess what happens if they never go live? Okay, I know that's AI because there's no way you sing that good and I ain't seen you live.

[B]

Right?

[D]

And when the ones that do determine if they gonna try to replicate the AI, when they go live, you will know then too.

[B]

Yeah, that's true.

[C]

Yeah. You know what I mean? I hear that. And to your point, time will tell. I'm sure. There is a lot of AI songs that I love now because, bro, I want to say I romanticize music in the fact that there's really no warmth with AI. Of course, if the. The product is good, it's good. But, like, I don't think AI could make Locked Up People the way it did because you're actually coming from the air. I could hear, right?

[D]

It's human.

[C]

I could feel what you were saying.

[B]

AI can't give us soul Survivor.

[C]

Yeah. Like, that's something you gotta live.

[D]

But that's what I'm saying. That's why I said for someone like me, I would use it as a tool to make greater music. Right now, if it's people that don't have the experience, the know how, but they just walking into it and they Trip on a hit, then as long as it's a hit, I'm thankful for it. Because there's not enough hits out there right now.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Like, honestly, I feel like it could be a lot more hits if some of the, like, seasonal artists, producers, and writers actually used AI, to be honest. But somebody. Some people just want to stay so authentic to it, to the point where they lose the beauty and the brilliance in AI.

[C]

Yeah. To me, it's just how you use it.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

It's such a gray area that it's a tool.

[D]

It's a tool. That's a tool. If you use it as a tool, everybody will be happy. Because the younger generation, artists I want. They need to use it because this is driving. Some of that shit is horrible, bro.

[B]

A lot of it is horrible. So there's no these new. No. No younger artists that you actually enjoy?

[D]

No, there's something that's really dope.

[B]

Like, who.

[D]

I don't. I just don't want to. Because then if I don't mention other ones, they gonna think I'm thinking. Yeah. I don't want to put. I don't want to put myself in a position where I feel like I'm a judge of, you know, it's art. So what? I may not like other people like, so I can't judge it from my opinion. I just know that this is what I like. And there's some things that I don't like, but for the most part, I don't deem no music bad. I just know that I don't like it.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Not saying that.

[B]

Nah, this is bad music, Akon. We not doing that. There's some terrible music.

[D]

No, no, but what I'm saying is it's like art, right? When you go into an art. That's art museum, you see some stuff where they just. You could tell the nigga just took the paint and just said, yeah. And they like, oh, this is amazing.

[B]

$12 million.

[D]

Incredible. 12 million. You're like, where? Like, this ain't do. Took him two minutes, just get some paint, and then he created a story, you know, my mind was all over.

[C]

Yeah, yeah. Art is marketing. It's all marketing.

[D]

Right? But some people really believe that shit and really, like, hold it on. So I don't want to, you know, bust anybody's, you know, idea of what they may deem to be great. I just know at the end of the day, there's a certain. And a certain pedestal of music of how I knew music to speak, like, to speak to me that the Music today don't speak to me.

[C]

Yeah, I get that.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I mean I was, I was having a similar conversation with Guru, who's definitely anti AI, but. And I am as well. But I was given the other perspective of like yo, when people brought in NPCs and ASR and programming drums, that was frowned upon at one point. Like everything with technology is. Has been frowned upon. It's every time auto tune frowned upon. Now it's a stand. Like everything starts to get. But it's. Sampling was frowned upon.

[D]

Yeah, you gotta just allow things to be able to grow. It's not like let's prime example. Like whenever I look at those kind of situations, it takes me back to. I'm gonna take it back to the very like just the nakedness of it all. When you look at progression and you look at evolution, you gotta embrace it. Because when you do embrace it, you realize the beauty in it. Right. When you don't embrace it, you. You find yourself behind and it's painful because what you're frowning upon, you know, in your heart is good, but you can't admit it. Cause it's just like it ain't real though. Yeah, I get that. But is it good? Right?

[C]

Fair.

[D]

You know what I'm saying? Is it good? Yes or no? Like let's prime example. Let's say someone that's very natural and they just want to just do everything the natural way without using no technology and they want to live life and eat everything organic and you know, she has, she gets pregnant and want to have the baby naturally. Don't use no medication, no epidural, no, none of that. Yeah, you're going to get what you want, but it's going to be painful or life could be a lot more easier and it's easy. And you can continue to do and live that way throughout or every time you go through labor, you got to go through the most extraordinary pain that you ever lived in your life. But if you can prevent it, why not that prevented? Yeah, it's like that we're creating with AI it just makes life so much easier. And the things that will take me three or four hours to do, I could do in three or four minutes.

[B]

Yeah, but doesn't that take away some of the.

[C]

Again, I think it's fine with, with people like Akon because they. Their track record without it is fine for sure.

[B]

I'm talking about the up and coming people.

[C]

Like people like you wouldn't be this dope if it wasn't for this. And you're Right.

[D]

And you're right. But then again, who's to say what is dope? Because everybody got their different meaning of dope. Like, that's where it goes to the point of.

[B]

Yeah, but some is a nine and some is a four, though.

[D]

But also, music is also a matter of opinion, bro. Let me explain something. I got stuff that's played to me and when I be like, that ain't really me. Yeah, well, it's. I mean, if you like it, you like it, but I just don't think it's dope.

[B]

Old.

[D]

Yeah, they'd be like, you old. You don't know what's going on.

[B]

It always. It always go to that.

[D]

It goes to now.

[B]

Oh, no. Yeah, you. You are.

[D]

No, I'm not old. I just know what I seem good and what I think is trash.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Nah, that's it. Yeah. You don't know what you're talking about, man. That's beyond yourself.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. It always go to y'.

[C]

All.

[B]

Y' all old, man. You washed up. You don't know what's going on.

[A]

Right?

[D]

I know what I like.

[B]

Good to me.

[D]

I know what I like.

[B]

Yeah. I know what I like.

[D]

No matter how old I get, right?

[B]

No. Matter of fact, the older you get, you know more what you like. This is what I'm only doing this. That's it.

[D]

100%.

[C]

I know you and your brother were. Were early on Sahai and working with Sahai.

[D]

Yeah. That is a genius.

[C]

We love. I mean, Saha is one of the greatest. Greatest ever. Did you hear his good old days record that he just put out the six minute joint? Talking when?

[D]

Recently?

[C]

Yeah, was about a month ago. Just telling the whole. It's incredible record. Just talking about the whole good music situation. He addresses with every single artist. Kanye, obviously as well. How did that shift even happen where he was convict and then ended up with good music and Kanye? Because your brother was really close with Ye at one point.

[D]

It goes back to things that we choose to brand and things that we feel has its own life. Like, psy was brilliant.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

But me, in my mind, he was too brilliant for Convict from a perspective of a writer.

[C]

Yeah, we knew.

[D]

At least I knew for sure. And I knew Boone did too, because he helped to organize his positioning to be a writer. I always felt that he was a better writer than he would be a producer. I mean, an artist. But he was a better rapper than the average artist.

[C]

Yeah, Way better rapper.

[D]

That's a big difference. It's just the time when we were coming up, you had to have some kind of gimmick look vibe that matched what you were doing to complete the whole artistry. And with Psy, it was like trying to find out what that was because he was so brilliant from a rapper perspective. The question is, how do we market him, though? How do we package it for people to get that? And at the time when we were coming up, that was a big thing. So when we moved to try to push stuff, and I know for sure when I used to shop his music, that was always the hook, like, okay, but what's the image? Like, what is that? And I could never answer that question.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

You know what I'm saying? But one thing I did know, the nigga could rap his ass off. And I couldn't find nobody that could outwrap him. In my mind, that is the image still.

[C]

No, that's when you listen to good old days.

[D]

My mind, that is his image. But it just unfortunate that we couldn't find the right system that believed in him as much as we did. So. So the writing aspect became what opened the door. So he just started writing for everybody. But then when we locked him in with good music, it's like, ye wouldn't let him go nowhere else. And I was cool with that. Boo was cool with that. He was cool with that. Cause he felt like, okay, I can grow here. But eventually we was expecting, okay, now eventually being locked in that system, he can eventually one day put out his shit and it'd be pushed. Right. Because he's under an umbrella that's actually known for hip hop.

[B]

Right.

[D]

Ye was a backpack rapper. Like, he was known for that. So this is the perfect place for him to be able to grow as a rapper I know him to be. And years and years will come, and I'm like, n. Where's the record?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[D]

But then I also realized that that nigga's the biggest threat in hip hop.

[C]

Too fair.

[D]

The moment that happens.

[B]

Speak to that, though.

[D]

The moment that happens.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Now he has to keep all that to himself. It's hard to spread like that kind of talent everywhere and still be sustainable as an artist. There comes a time where you gotta say, okay, I wrote for everybody. Now I gotta just focus on me.

[C]

Yeah, it's tough to do sicko mode. And then it's like, all right, now I gotta do my a hundred percent. Yeah.

[D]

You know what I'm saying? And Saha is not a. He's not the kind of guy you want to allow to not be there to sustain your career when it's at his height.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Nah, but when you say he's the biggest threat.

[D]

He's a monster. That nigga's a beast, bro.

[B]

So I'm happy you saying that, because me and Rory have these conversations privately and say the same thing. Like, he's his pen. And his skill set to me is he's a genius. Yeah.

[C]

100.

[D]

He's the genius.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

No, without question.

[B]

I'm glad. I'm glad to hear you say that, bro, because we feel the same way about Saha. And I have plenty of text messages

[D]

where I, like, believe me, I always wanted to just beat down the door, grab him and be gone. But Boo would be like, nah.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Cause you know me.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[D]

I'm not. I can't let that sit there that long.

[B]

Right? I'm ready to go. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[D]

Like, he. He was one of them ones that I was going to just put the house on, right?

[B]

Right?

[D]

Like, nah, nah, chill, man. It's gonna me up. I'm like, let's, nigga. Let's like, yeah, like, I'm ready. I'm ready to start fighting for it. You know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying? But that was Boo's baby at the point. I can't. I can only move. But so far without, you know, make it look like me and my brothers at odds on stuff. Yeah, right, Because I know Boo got a vision of what he wanted it to be. I just felt like it could be bigger. Well, it be as big also as a artist and not just the ghostwriter.

[C]

Yeah, no, I hear that. I mean, even Saha's genius outside of

[B]

writing, I love that.

[C]

His simplicity in writing, too. Writing for Travis, I might take all my exes, put him in a group like, simplicity. Shit, he smokes.

[D]

The nigga's the biggest threat in hip hop, bro. I promise you.

[C]

Yeah, no, I, I.

[B]

We feel the same way.

[C]

Different.

[D]

He's. He's an alien.

[C]

Yeah. Before we let you go, I was listening. I think it was Juan Epstein and Cardinal were. He was saying how much of a fan Michael Jackson was of you, how much Michael loved you. Did you see the Michael Jackson movie?

[D]

Yeah, I saw it.

[C]

What were your thoughts? I liked it.

[D]

I liked the movie.

[C]

Okay.

[D]

I like that they actually.

[B]

You hear that, Rory?

[C]

Okay.

[D]

No, I liked it because. Just let me explain something. Somebody as big as Mike and his legacy and how he created, bro, what Mike did for black people globally, knowing we could never repay him. He's the reason why everybody in Asia Want a black man.

[B]

Akon, I wasn't expecting you to tie that in. I thought we was getting ready to get.

[C]

I was waiting to get my talking to and everything. I didn't know we were going to take a sharp left. He was staring at my eyes. I was like, all right, my wife is about to get a lesson.

[B]

He said, they want a black man.

[D]

We treat it like royalty because of

[C]

m. Because of Michael Jackson.

[B]

Mike.

[D]

Nah, nah. But Mike, bro, his contribution to our art just as a people is like, my biggest fear was them trying to highlight all that negative shit that I know to be fact or false accusations on a lot of that shit. So I didn't want that to be his legacy. Right. So when I saw the movie to where they sprinkled on him as a human being, it felt good to watch that, to be honest.

[C]

Yeah. I'm with you on the side of not highlighting stuff that I truly believe was completely false on Mike. I just thought there could have been more of a human script amongst the family, more or less. Like, I think they focused on the performances, which they smoked.

[D]

Right.

[C]

They did incredible with that. But I've seen those performances for real, right? So that's the thing. It's like, I can. I could watch this on YouTube right now in fucking 4K, right? I wanted more of the human side,

[B]

but there's another part coming, though.

[D]

But that's what I'm saying.

[C]

I didn't want to get a negative shit. I just want to see more of the human side.

[D]

No, no.

[C]

For sure, Mike. That was my biggest critique.

[D]

Well, I mean, the thing is, so for something like that, the choice should have been, okay, let's do a miniseries. Cause Mike, that's what we both say.

[B]

His story,

[C]

Season one needs to be Gary in the end. Like, you can't even leave Gary before

[D]

100, you know what I'm saying? But I think this is the beginning of what they plan to do. The way I look at it, if I'm not mistaken, if they looking from a business perspective, this movie will trigger these conversations to create, whether it's a Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Apple Music type of storyline. That is multiple seasons. Multiple.

[B]

It has to happen.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

His story is just so.

[B]

I mean, it's too much.

[D]

Yeah. It's nothing.

[B]

You can. We need seasons. Yes, we need seasons.

[C]

What was that even, like, the day you found out Michael Jackson was a fan of you?

[D]

Nah, I mean, I couldn't believe it. Like, honestly, I really couldn't. But honestly, that was the day when I realized, okay, I'm special as you probably Michael Jackson.

[B]

Yeah, Mike think I'm good.

[D]

I'm somebody special.

[B]

I'm somebody it. I'm said I'm dope. What y' all talking about? I'm dope. That's the fact.

[D]

I'm special, bro.

[B]

Aon, let them know where they could catch you in Neo at, man.

[D]

Man, we. Man, go on my aon.comakon@. I mean, at a con on all my socials. Our schedule is right there. Top of the line.

[B]

Yeah, I'm coming out to catch y'.

[C]

All.

[B]

I was coming to London. I was. I was gonna go to London to see y' all out there, but I couldn't make that one crazy. Yeah, I heard. I heard great things. Things I heard London was incredible.

[C]

Him and Neos. Yeah.

[D]

No, the show is crazy.

[B]

Yeah, we're gonna. We're gonna catch y'.

[D]

All.

[B]

Definitely catch a show. My brother, we thank you for coming through.

[D]

Nah, thank you.

[B]

Pleasure to finally have you in the studio. Anytime you back in the city, you

[D]

want to come through, man, you already

[B]

know the door's open for you, man. We appreciate everything you've given us over the years, and good luck on the road. You and Neo tear that shit up. That's Akon. I'm that nigga. He's just ginger. We'll talk to y' all soon. Peace.

[A]

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