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A
When that fight happened with those four guys, one of the people that was walking was one of the managers for Snoop who had come to visit Keys because Keys had worked nights and had done some things with him, and he saw the whole thing go down within a minute. It went from him and two dudes, like, barking at each other to 200 crips going. And I was just like. I told him the situation, and he looked at me and he's like, you can always be my bodyguard.
B
So today we're going to talk working security, bodyguarding. I have a little bit of experience with that. I bounced at a bar for about a year. Okay, so I really wanted to hear some of your.
A
Where did you work in the bar? Were you inside or you were in the door?
B
I was in the courtyard. There's like a back courtyard area where
A
they would, like, hang out. Yeah. Like music and drink, and then you kind of like you're in the corner.
B
Yeah, I'd stand up on. There was benches right around the fences, and so I'd usually run that.
A
But yeah.
B
And I wanted to kind of hear some. Some war stories from your bodyguarding days, how you got in with Snoop, but kind of like that total area of your life.
A
I think bouncing is the standard. Get business done with the new American Express Graphite business cash unlimited card with unlimited 2% cash back on all eligible purchases. Unlimited 5% cash back on flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express. Travel online and a flexible spending capacity that can grow with your business. You'll have the confidence to keep building. Apply today and earn a welcome offer of $1,500 cash back after you spend $50,000 in qualifying purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership terms. Apply. Learn more at GO MX Graphite. Lost big guy athlete job. Like, I think everyone kind of goes there to kind of regroup, whether it's football, wrestling, or just in general. If you're a big guy, you get a job at a nightclub, I guess, kind of. It's the one thing where it's literally about how you look. But when I was. I think the first time I ever did, like, security at a club or anything like that, I think the first time I ever did it, I was, like, 16, and they put me on the inside, and I was just in the corner sitting on a stool by the. By the stage. And it was very uneventful, boring. I think I fell asleep twice, like, standing up, like. Well, you know, kept looking for stuff to lean on. Was so boring. The music sucked. I Didn't think anyone was a good dancer.
B
Just watching people have fun, too.
A
Yeah. And everyone was older, so it wasn't even like, oh, look at that pretty lady. It was just kind of like. I don't know, it was some kind of like, party or whatever. But then. Then I went to college and then my. While I was in school, there was a Beach Boys concert coming to, like. Wouldn't it be nice, Carnina? Yeah. Those guys. Well, is that them? Yeah, maybe. I don't know. But they were the original. Most of the original cast was there. And then the one young guy who plays the drums for him, I guess that's the guy from the TV series. Oh, man. With Bob Saget or whatever. What was the one where they, like, there was like the three dudes and they all lived in one guy's house. We had all the kids.
B
Oh, Two and a Half Men.
A
No, no, no. Before that. Full House. Yeah, Full House. Yeah. Yeah. I guess the. The good looking guy on Full House was the drummer for. Oh, the Beach Boys for a while. Yeah, it was like a weird. Yeah. Anyway.
B
Oh, John Stamos.
A
Yeah, yeah. And they asked. They were looking for a couple guys and they asked me and a couple of lines to be bodyguards for them for the night for their little concert or whatever. So I, like, had to stand next to him all night. I didn't say a word. I was like, wow, this is boring. But it was like 150 bucks, so. Which is a lot of cash when you're in college. So it wasn't something that I ever was like, I want to be a bodyguard. It just kind of was like, it was an easy job to pick up just because I looked the part. But right when I got out of college, I had not quite graduated yet, and I was trying to get on some workouts for the league and stuff. And I went back home for the summer to train with some buddies in California. And during the day we trained and hung out, but at night we needed to make some money because I wasn't. It wasn't like I was being sponsored or anything like that. And so, Buddy, a guy that I heard of was this guy named Cornelius Harold, which his nickname was Big Corn. And he ran all the security in. In Hollywood. Like, he was. He had like two major clubs. And it was Cornelius, a guy named Al, who was like the brains that did all the booking and the money stuff. And then Michael Clark Duncan was one of the head bouncers that they worked with. Now, of course, everyone knows Michael Clark from the Green Mile. And, you know, his acting career. But before that, he was one of the big time doormen and he always wear these tight pinstripe suits and. But he was like the doorman at the Roxbury. And like all the. The famous clubs or whatever, that pretty much was them. Al Cornelius and a couple other guys. And they were. They also moonlighted. They played on a semi pro football team called the California Dolphins, which was a loaded semi pro football team because it was all these guys with NFL experience and this. This crew of guys that had been together for a long time. Guys played for the 49ers. That was big Dana, Big Rob. Everyone had nicknames and except me, because I don't like nicknames. I hated nicknames. Especially big guy nicknames because they're always boring. Like Big Guy, Tiny. That's. Which is ironic because one of the. My closest friends, Big, he literally goes, big, Tiny. Francis Winston, we call him Tiny for short. And he's about 7ft, but we look like we could be brothers, so we always call each other brother. And he had a pretty good career outside of Bodyguard and stuff, which he still does to this day. But he started doing commercials and acting. And it's funny because we ended up doing a TV series together called Glow. The wrestling. The critically acclaimed Netflix series. Yes. But it was all this group of these large dudes who were doing other things that kind of. And they all worked for corn and said they had a lock on all the clubs. So I'm out there and they're going to pay me to pay on this semi pro football team for the summer while I'm trying to figure out, like, am I going to work out here or there. So I figured it'd be better to be active than not doing anything while you're trying to figure it out. And they would practice and then they would go to the club afterwards. So first time I met him, he was like, hey, you looking for work I could use? It was me and my. I had a buddy who I played tackle with. He played tackle with me in school. We were from California, so we were working out on this team. And he just was like, hey, you want to come work at the club tonight? And I was like, yeah, cool. And it was like a job, like a real job. And he's like, yeah, it's 125 bucks a night, which was phenomenal. And it's four nights a week. So I'm like, this is great. Know this is awesome. Plus tips or whatever. And so we started working at the Roxbury. I Think it was on Tuesday nights. It was Tuesday nights and then was there for a while, and it was like, no big deal. Like a couple scurfs, Nothing. Like, I grab a guy, walk him out, you know, it wasn't that. And I was the younger. I was the youngest guy, the baby of the group. And so they would, you know, tease me a lot because all the guys are older and they've seen some. And they're all big, strong guys. And. And they start calling me Big Sexy. Because the ladies started going, oh, who's that? You know, handsome, cute. And it would be like this one Big Rob, who had a little bit of a stutter. He would always with me, like, when I show up, he's like, oh, it's big. And it would. And I'd be like, smell of. And it's. My biggest problem is, like, I've always had this quick mouth and wit, right? So when someone would try to talk shit to me, I'd always fire back. But this was a good job. So when he said it, I used to let it go. And I was like, all right, man. Yeah, okay. All right, all right. And, you know, it'd be the same thing. Like, here's big. Here's big. And one night I was like, sing that shit, man. Don't you motherfucker with a stutter sing. And like, you know, he just. The room just stopped. Everyone started dying, laughing. And Big Rob was. At the time, he was probably. Probably. I think he benched like, six. He was. Looked like Larry Allen. He was just. Just massive, like six, three. Just massive human being. And. And then his cohort was Big Dana, who was famous for exhibit. The Pimp My Ride show. He did the lights Big Dana. Okay, so. So those guys. All these guys are infamously known in the entertainment world. They're all. They bodyguard for everyone. They know everyone. They run clubs. So I'm working with them. We're at the Roxbury. And then there's a big event coming to the Roxbury. It's a big west coast hip hop night. Cube's gonna be there. Snoop Death Row is gonna be there. And at the time, there was the Suge Knight Feud and like, all this shit, like, in la, Dre. And it was a lot of shit going on. And then you had the West Coast, east coast rivalry thing. And. And east coast radios weren't playing west coast music, and west coast music wasn't playing East Coast.
B
What year would this have been? Like.
A
97, 98. Okay, maybe 90. Something like that. Like late 90s yeah, okay. Early. Getting into the early 2000s, but it was definitely late 90s. And MTV was there. Snoop was. His album was just blowing up. And so we're. We got the thing now we get there, and it's more than normal. Usually it'd be like six guys around that club, the Roxbury, plus they had their, like, little regular security guards. Because one of the biggest things is the difference between a bouncer and a security guard. That's one thing you have. Nothing will piss off a bouncer faster if you call them a security guard. Security guards make, you know, 6 to 12 bucks an hour, and their job is to report they were a little uniform. This is security on it. Bouncers and coolers, you know, they're making 150 bucks a night, plus tips. So it's. And they don't. They don't have the same rules that a security guard has in terms of whatever. Plus, we usually all worked under the table. So that's another thing. No taxes, stats of limitations ran out. So I'm good. But. So there's this big night at the Roxbury, literally, and every rapper that has a top 10 album is there. And so we're like, security's high. Also, there was another problem. So that night, because of Snoop and Cube and all the guys were going to be there, there was all these Crips on the Roxbury is. It was like three stories. It was like, you go in, there's a second story, and there's a top story.
B
Was it like how it was in the movie?
A
Yeah.
B
Like, was that the same location?
A
The same exact one they shot it at? That one? Yeah.
B
Oh, wow.
A
Okay. And I was on the second floor, the second floor bar with Cornelius, who was one of the coolest human beings on the planet, and just everything just cool. He played at Long Beach University. He was a really good tackle. He was. George Allen was his head coach and had some opportunities in the league and stuff. He worked. He had a day job. Like, he was like the guy that if you had got out of sports and didn't know what to do, Corn was a good guy to learn underneath him, because he was about like, hey, you got to pay your bills. It doesn't matter what you do. Just do something. So he didn't have the pride issues that a lot of ex athletes have when they're. Well, I'm not doing that. You know, I'm not doing it. He was like, I got kids to feed, you know? And it was. It was a good. I understand now. I didn't understand then because I was young, but I understand now as a father, what he meant by that. But so it was a big deal. And Alan, all the top guys were there. Were there. And they were like, you're gonna be on the second floor. But the way it works is when you come into this building, it's like a castle. You go in the first level, it's like a dance floor.
B
And it's all.
A
And then you go up the steps, and there's two sides to each. But that's where, like, the kitchen, the restaurant. And, like, it was like a bar. And then you get to the third floor where it's like a dance club and it's all dancing and stuff like that.
B
And you could see from the top floor, like, down into.
A
You can sometimes. Yeah, you can. Yeah. It depends on where you're at, but yeah. Okay. And so we're in there, we're setting it up, and then it's. The line is crazy. And I'm not allowed to. I'm not allowed to work the front because in a very short time, like, I would. You know, guys would lie and I'd mess with them or tease them or whatever. So they didn't. They. They like you. You around with people in the front too much. So I was. Plus, fortunately, unfortunately, I was kind of known for being able to snatch guys up in a quick, effective manner. And they didn't think a lot of people should spend time looking at my face. So. And I had this. Because I'd put them out or throw them out. So they were like, that's. Just leave him, and that's what he does. Like. And. And I was fine with that. And we were setting up shop now on the first. On the second floor, where I was at for some reason in the corner before they got in there, before anything started was six to seven or eight. We'll call it eight. Eight guys in all red. They were Bloods sitting at the bar, drinking and just kind of hanging out. And they got. I guess they came because the Roxbury is a restaurant. During. It's like a sushi restaurant during the day. It's changed probably nine different restaurants. But during the day, it's a restaurant. So I think they hung in there because they knew what the night was. And so instead of, you know. Know, they just kind of. And no one said. They just slipped through the cracks or whatever. The entire group coming in were all Crips. I mean, just crypt out. Snoop was there. You know, they were just crypt out and didn't I didn't think much about it. They were all on the first floor. They went up to the third floor, but no one hung out in the. The little middle floor. And it's packed. And it's like everybody was everyone, Hollywood, MTV's there. They're doing like, the red carpet. Everyone's taking their pictures coming in, and it's like the who's who. And I had. I wasn't a fan of Snoop's music. I loved Ice Cube's music, but I wasn't really a fan of Dre and Snoop that much. And. And so, you know, seeing them walk in, it really wasn't. I didn't put too much on. I think Pac made an appearance and was like, all this, the West Coast, East Coast. And it's probably, I'd say, like around 12:45, 1 o', clock, is it. It's packed, music's playing. Everything's going. All the. All the Crips ended up on this side of the second floor. Then there's like a couple doors, and you walk where you go up and down the stairs, and then the other doors, for some reason stay closed. And there wasn't that many people on the. This side of the bar except that group of guys and a few girls and like, just like, people who were just there. Like, it was like. It was a quiet, like, people going there and smoke. And lo and behold, apparently the group of Red Eight Bloods decided to. They were going to walk around the club.
B
Let's take a look.
A
And I'm. I'm there. And it's. It's me, Big Sean, who I mentioned earlier, who's I played ball with in Nebraska, and he lived in California, and he was. And Sean's not a little guy. Sean's like. He was like six, nine. I'm six, seven and a half Korn, six' six. And Corn's got the two young big guys with him on the in between, right? So something goes on where they got to get through us to get all hell breaks loose. Once, like, literally, the guy in the red walks in, sits down at the bar and be like, I'd like to get a drink. And Holy, there's a lot of blue in here. And he had a few drinks in him, and he was like, blood something. And the Crips were like, what? And it would, like, spread within a minute. It went from him and two dudes, like, barking at each other to 200 crips going, there's. There's what? There's what? You know, And I think he's calling him a crab. I think that's the worst thing you call a crip back then. A bunch of crabs. And then Bloods were slobs, I believe. So all that shit's flying around, and the dudes come running out of the. Out of the bar. The seven red bloods come running, and they run right past us. Go back in the bar, and they literally are, like, hiding under tables while word spreads. Quick. I'm talking. Coming up the steps, coming down the steps. And here we are. We're standing there, and they're coming this way, this way, this way. There's the two doors, and we're standing there, and I've only. This is maybe our second week of bouncing. And it's. It's about. And there's no one else coming. It's. And Corn is standing here. I'm in the middle, and it's Cornelius, and it's Big Sean. And they're coming, and he's like, they do not get past us. They do not get in there, because if they get in there, they're gonna kill those guys, you know? So we're. They're. This ain't happening. And I looked at him. I was like, got you. Looked over at Big Sean, and Big Sean wore big glasses. His big, tall, lovable man. Sean, if you're out there. And Sean looked at us both and said, this don't pay enough. I'm going home, you guys. And he just walked out. Really? I don't need this.
B
Yeah.
A
And the biggest dude. And he part. Here's the cold part. They parted like the sea for him. Just. I looked at Corn, and Corn looked at me, and he was like, stay arm, Norm. Stay arm to arm. And just, you know. And then he's like that, back to back, up against the door. And they started coming. It was funny because it was at that moment I realized that when they were coming towards us, we. They weren't as big as I had originally imagined them. When they were. When you hear them coming through the door and kicking the doors open, then they show up, and it was literally like, guy, throw a punch, grab it, throw it away. You know, like, toss a guy. And we're. We're holding them off. We're holding them off. And then we started back, and then we realized that they really didn't want to fight monstrous men. They just wanted to jump the little other little tiny guys, right? So we backed him up. And then, you know, one guy, I'll never forget the fact he came. He, like, moved everybody out of the way, because he was the. And he's like, oh. And he turned around, and as he went to swing, I just caught him like. Like, what the. Are you like a child? Like, man, get the. And I just. The way I did it, they were like, oh. And then he got upset and he pushed one of his own. And then they started fighting in front of us, to which then Korn was like. Went to step forward to break it up. And I was like, let them handle their own shit, you know? And then they end up dragging him out. But we. We held him off. So at that moment, I didn't think anything of it. But at that moment, after that night, I went from the new guy to the guy, like, he's one of us. He can roll with us. So Sean still got to work. He just didn't get to work. The big events, you know, every once in a while they'd be like, hey, you want to do something? And he was like, nope, I'm good. He actually. He got a job at Del Taco where he ran the nights. No, but he. Yeah, but hey, he was like, I. I have nothing but for respect for someone who's like, I don't need this.
B
Right?
A
Because you really, if you think about it, a hundred bucks, 125 bucks, you don't know. I mean, the pat downs or whatever, but glass is a boss, spoon is a. You know. Yeah. And I was just. I think at that point in my life, I just was just so reckless and careless. I just was any. I had a chip on my shoulder, any chance to be in a fight. And bouncing for me was kind of like. It was almost. It's not you fighting, you're defending something. So it's like you not picking on somebody or starting. So. But after that, it changed for me then I was getting called for jobs like. Like. Like, hey, man, we got an open spot here. You got a guy here, this, that, whatever. And then I started getting people coming up to asking me, do I have a crew? Do I have this? And then word spreads pretty. It was a couple other bar fights where some. And again, a lot of these dudes, when they. It's a win, win situation. And this is something. If you're bouncing clubs and stuff, you need to know the guy starting with you. It's a win win for him, no matter what goes down. Because he's usually smaller, he's drunk. So if he goes up and he's a giant killer with the bouncer and starts with the bouncer, let's say the bouncer folds him up like a lawn chair and bounces him out. That's what's supposed to happen, right? And he's gonna say, I was drunk. The guy was four times my size. I was never afraid. And his woman will still be like, well, that's my brave man now. It's never like, hey, dumbass, you got your. It's always there, always a thing. The bouncer ends the guy. There's no glory for you because that's what you're supposed to do, right? So when a guy picks you out in the bar, he. He knows that he can be as much as a jackass as he wants to be, because there's no consequences for him being a jackass other than the fact, like, I don't take from nobody dog, you know? And then even when you bounce him out, because 90 of the time it's there, it's like peacock. It's like their peacock. And it's all display.
B
It's like Jake Paul Anthony Joshua.
A
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
B
It's like, it's a win. Win for Jake Paul.
A
Yeah, he gets like.
B
He gets knocked out. He's like, yeah, I was.
A
He got knocked out by one of the most dominant heavyweight champions in our era, right? Yeah.
B
And let's say he wins. It's like, I just beat one of the best.
A
So this guy, you. And as a bodyguard and a bouncer, you need to go into that every night to realize that, like, you're gonna get tested because it's a worst, best case, worst case scenario for them. So I start getting to do all this stuff. And then we used to call them, like the big jobs. Like a guy named by the name of Larry Pollock, who owned all the Saddle Ranch restaurants. He always had a pretty big security team and he had a big. Saddle Ranch was the happening in. In the Hollywood Van Nuys Valley area of California. I'm talking 5,000 people on a weekend would be there. It's. And it's like a western bar. It's a chop house. Girls dancing on the. On the bars. You know, 1300 people dancing in all the. It's like a giant saloon, a big stage where people do karaoke and stuff. Like it's a real concert when you're. It's a big. And so again, Cornelius, Big, Tiny, myself. And then that's when I met this guy named Big Keys. And Keys was. Is the reason why I ended up with Snoop. But we started all working there and it was like an all star cast and it was the Wild West.
B
So you all moved there together.
A
It Was like, Hollywood was like, you were in Hollywood Strip and then there was Van Nuys. You worked Hollywood during the week, okay, Saturday nights. And then all of a sudden the Saddle Ranch opened up. And they would. If you were a top guy, you'd be working, you know, five nights a week. Because even if it's slow, they need at least two of us there because it's so big.
B
So you're like independent contractors, basically.
A
Independent contractors. You just kind of move around. And there was so much, There was so much money to be made in the bodyguarding and bouncing industry at that time because it wasn't social media and all that wasn't considered it. You had to be out there. You couldn't just shoot from your home. Cool shit and people follow. You had to be in the clubs, you had to be in the scene in LA to get discovered. Rap deal, new actors, like. And I was doing parties and I had Larry Pollock. I was working for him. Then there was a guy named TK who, word on the street was he was Jerry Buss's nephew, but he was a big time choreographer. And he started doing clubs with my best friend Rico, which I'll get into a lot. Once I got to Saddle Ranch, we started working at Saddle Ranch. We worked the door. I always liked being inside because the door, I always would. It's just too much fun with idiots and it's just too much fun. And I would always get in trouble. Plus, I had a real problem with a guy with no ID trying to slip me a hundred bucks to get in. Because I'll be like, yeah, the 100 bucks is nice, but I know this mother is going to be an idiot because he doesn't, you know, he's going to be. So I would be like, yeah, a thousand. If you, if you're willing to spend a thousand bucks to get in a club, you're going to act, right? Yeah. You know, and these guys, whenever they name the price, I'm like, that's their limit from keeping them from being. So whatever it is times five. That's. That was my thing. And no one liked that. Except for the couple times it worked when the guy was like, yeah, I'll pay 5. Yeah, yeah, you name it, you know, but so I wasn't. I would. Didn't do that very much. But while on my first day at the Saddle Ranch and they picked me a corner and I was like, I'll post here. And like, we were also tall. We were all above the crowd. So they're like, what do you guys use for headsets. And like, no, no, no. It's all eye contact because we're seeing each other also. That's how we make sure that no one's talking to chicks. Because how are you doing your job if your head's down all night? So. And while I was there, I meet my first night there, this little tiny guy. I guess I didn't say little tiny. That was kind of up, but shorter, little smaller guy in. In shape. His name was Rico and he was Larry's cooler, which basically means he was like Dalton from whatchamacallit Roadhouse. The. The original, not that fake with Connor. Actually, I was supposed to audition. I refused to audition for that. That was when audition. I was like, no, I'm good. I refuse to be a part of. You can't redo roadhouse. Even though it's the worst. I. Worst depiction of bouncing ever. But doesn't matter. There was never a head cooler that had that much hairspray and body oil on. I'm just throwing. At least not in the clubs I worked. I'm sure there'd be other clubs there, but. And our connection was. I know he was walking around, he had a wrestle, a WWF old school trucker hat on. And I was like, you wrestling fan? And he's like, I'm the wrestling fan. And I was like, yeah, I don't think you are. And he's like, what's the first match in WrestleMania? I was like, are you serious right now? The executioner in Tito Santana. He's like, okay, all right. Who was supposed to be in WrestleMania? Didn't. I said, Dr. D. Davis Schultze got fired because he slapped the shadow reporter. Are we done here? And he was like. And then we just bonded. And it was literally the. The difference between us. But we were very effective together because I see things he didn't see and he saw things that I didn't see. Also, when I'm dealing with people, the small guy, the shorter guy, he can get. He can flank them because they don't pay attention to him. No one looks at him until it's too late. And he was into a lot of submission stuff.
B
You said he trained jiu jitsu?
A
Yeah, yeah. So he would use a lot of rear naked chokes. And he showed me a. A couple. And I had this cool knack because of my bicep. When I got a guy, I could just get my bicep under his chin and just squeeze with one hand and he'd go to sleep. So when you put a guy out and it's nice because they kind of reboot. They go through a thing, but when they wake up, they're never aggressive. Like, they're always like, hey, what's. You know. Again, do not put people asleep. Did not know the ramifications or repercussions that can happen from doing that. We were just. These are fights in la, guys could have knives. You didn't have time to around. So. So we. But we started hanging and banging. We would train, lift during the day and. And we'd go bounce clubs at night. And I was doing less stuff with football and I was making so much money with bouncing. And I got a teaching job and football kind of. Kind of went on a hiatus. I ended up playing arena ball, but it was a pretty good break in there. And we just kind of hit it off. And then we kind of took over Saddle Ranch, just kind of from the ground up. We ended up being the top two guys there. Keith was there, Cornelius and them. It didn't last long. They went back into the, like, the Hollywood clubs where they didn't have to deal with an owner because they were the show. Because working for Saddle Ranch, you had to be on a paycheck and they didn't want all that shit. So they started work. They went back to other clubs, so I would hop in between. But at this time, I was only doing big events. I had graduated from. Oh, is. There's this thing. Oh, you got to get. You got to get. What was I nickname back then? I hate nicknames. But for a while it was Sandman, because I was putting people to sleep. And then it was Big Yellow, which I really didn't like. And then for a while I was just. Just call me G. Just. Just G is fine, you know, just. And I hated Big Sexy. But we start working together, training together, doing our thing, and him and I start getting individual bodyguard accounts and stuff like that. And then one night, and I talked to you before. Saddle Ranch is where Tommy Dreamer discovered me. So for wrestling and stuff. But one night we had Petey Pablo performing there and he had that spin it like a helicopter song that was so big and a couple of things. It was a big night. And Tracy Morgan was also there. He was. It was like a karaoke night with a special guest, and it was Petey Pablo. So all the regular people understand when you do karaoke at Saddle Ranch at this time, you're performing in front of a thousand people, like you are in concert.
B
It better be good.
A
And everybody there was like legit singers and shit. Just like they Were like. Well, they were all goofy as, but like, they could sing, but they thought it was California. So everybody's so much more than what they really are. You know what I'm saying? Like, every guy walks in, like, he's like. He's a number one pop star. You know, you think Prince is. I'm like, bro, Carl, relax. You know, you can carry a tune, Carl, but like, rel with the. You know, but. And then Tracy Morgan would come out, he'd sing a song.
B
That's awesome.
A
Yeah. And he would always end up with his shirt off.
B
Yeah.
A
And he was always depressed and sad and hammered. And I remember I had to walk him off the stage because he. Because of who he was, thought he would be allowed more than the allotted amount of songs he was allowed to sing, which is one. You get one song because the longest
B
the song, like, you can do, you
A
do the whole performance. Okay. But the list, it's like a four hour wait just to get on the list. Like, you don't know if you're going to get on. Each night, people show up six hours before the club to sign to get on the list. Because it was just. People were getting discovered at Sal. You know, guys were like, oh, hey. And it's universal. Like, you know, the big amusement parks right next to it. So there's a lot of going on. Tracy's bombing. He's terrible. He's off. Absolutely terrible. And I. Every time. Didn't people liking it, though? Like, they're laughing, but then they're like, this dude's. He's going through some. Like, he was not in a good place. Like, he was not in a good place. And I had to walk. Take him off the stage every night. But it was a. It was kind of like, all right, come on. Yeah, yeah, we know. We know. You're on Saturday Night Live. Yep. Okay, let's get down. Yeah. And he would always do the same thing. He'd always look at me and he'd always say something profound and be like, you know why you're here protecting us? She's at home alone. Like, you take care of us, but who's taking care of you? And I'm just like, oh, wow, that's up. I didn't look at it that way. Yeah, my. My girl is at home alone. And I'm more. I'm like. And then I thought, well, where's. Everyone's all home alone with somebody. I work nights. You know, that's just what I'm doing. But it, like, hit. And then he would Always tell me, hey, I'm gonna take you on tour with me. You know what I'm saying? Are we on tour? Like, I had a big comedy tour coming up and you're gonna be with me. And I'm like, yeah, I got you. And I had to walk his ass all the way to his. Put him in his thing and a fight breaks out. And it was one of the biggest brawls that we've ever seen. It's always. So we had two different groups. We had everyday regular Californians were just having a good time. And then every once in a while you would have some gang members trying to buy Giant tables and bottle service. And then you had a lot of the people coming in from Glendale that were. There was this big rivalry between Armenians and Hispanics at the time because the Hispanics were saying Armenians were trying to pretend to be them acting all gang. It was this whole all deal. Anyways, the two big groups are there having dinner. Everyone's trying to show who's the baddest, and a huge fight breaks out. And it wasn't one of those kind of fights you could break up. You had to end it. And so first guy, I think, threw him over the thing and grabbed this. And we're just tossing guys and hemming them up and. And all kinds of shit. And we finally. Then they're afraid of the bouncing crew because now you got, you know, six to eight monsters and a little guy running around choking people out. So shit's like the leader of your group disappears everything, you know. And I ended up. I got cornered, trying to help. I forget. I don't remember what it was, but anyways, I. This lady was. Was yelling and I walked over like, hey, are you okay? And she was like, these guys are calling me fat. And like. Well, I mean, like, sometimes you're like, what do you. Okay. And the guys had Giant. We used to serve in Saddle Ranch. They serve these drinks called Adios. Okay. And it's. It's basically like a Bugs Bunny cartoon where you mix the thing and the spoon disappears. Yeah, I called it Giant. It was like liquid coverage. Guys would drink this stuff and they were bulletproof in their minds. So the. The fight's going out and we get it put down. And then Big Keys is. It's that we finally clear everything out. And I. I was on one side and we all got spread out, which is a problem when you're dealing with. Because no longer. There's no longer group. And I got away with trying to help that woman. And there was four Dudes come around the corner and they all had wine craft bottles in their hands, the ones we served that drink in. Now there. It's a thick plastic, but doesn't feel good if it goes across your head. Spoiler alert. So I'm sitting there in these four guys, and they're like, you're a long way from home. They're talking all this because the club, you know, I was about a good 100 yards from the club trying to help this lady get to her car because she was, you know, being harassed or whatever. And I. I'm like, I need the bottles, fellas. You can't take the crafts. And they're like, you know, and they were talking, and then a crowd forms, and it's all Hispanic crowd, basically. And there's. And I'm like. And these dudes are like, now they. They think they're with them. And I'm looking, and I don't see any other. The bouncer. I don't see any absolute bouncer. And I was like, well, I'm about to get lynched here, you know, because I'm. I'm surrounded. And I just. And something just came over to me. And this is why I probably ended up retiring from bouncing in Bodyguard. I just, like, it's better to be hit first. I mean, to hit first than be hit. Clearly, this is not going to end the way I want it to, but if I can make an example out of one of them, it may be two of them are a little questionable as far as courage goes. So while they were talking, it's like, Chael.
B
Chael signing. It's like, I can't let you get close.
A
Yes.
B
That's the strategy.
A
Yeah. So my thing, while they were talking and talking shit and saying all this stuff, and I could tell they were trying to build up, like, you know, saying shit like, you think that Make a move, bro? Like, you ain't gonna do shit, bro. Security guard. And I was like, shouldn't have called me that.
B
Oh, yeah, yeah.
A
And I said a bunch of other shit. And. And I just was like, the one who was talking the most. I just got a smirk and I was like, I. And I punched him. They thought I was gonna say something. And I just hit him and I hit him with everything I had. Bam. And his feet came up and he was. Great shot. He didn't see it coming. But the two guys next to him, reaction was so. I knew those weren't a problem anymore. And I just lynched at them and they jumped back. And then the guy Who? The one guy that hit me with the bottle at that point. He hit me right on the ear with the. The winecraft thing. And it was like crack. And I just happened to grab him. The one guy hadn't Was still down. The other two guys weren't sure. So I front face locked, choked him out because I could keep. And I'm keeping the one guy at bay. And so I got two down. The other two, one. I think this is such a. As I remember it, they kind of looked at each other like, we'll go, like, at the. Like. Like same time.
B
Yeah.
A
But the other guy didn't go, oh,
B
it's like we'll both jump at the same.
A
They kind of look like, yeah, like, there's the cliff. The other guy was like. And the other guy just ran in. And I just was like, are you serious? And I just clipped him. Like, boom. And so I got three down. The other one's standing there.
B
Go get him, Ray.
A
And he runs into the crowd. He just tries to, like, run into the crowd. And one guy started getting up, and I was like, oh, shit. And I threw him into a trash can. There was those aluminum trash can. I just ran him into it. I was like, you know, because I'm like, I'm expecting the. I'm thinking, I'm going to get mauled. There's no way I'm. I'm good for maybe five or six, but, you know, there's. There's at least 60 people surrounding us here in this fight thing. And they got pissed because he had talked so much shit in Spanish and said so much shit, and he ran. And they're like, you're a coward. You made us look bad. They start beating the. Out of him. Oh, in. And I was. At first, I went to help, like, and I just casually just kind of walked back and was like, hey, you guys got it from here. Like, you're good, holmes. You're good. I'm like, all right, fellas. And I get back to the bar. I did not realize at this point, I don't have big ears. Okay. My ear is the size of my hand. Purple just from the.
B
Oh, my gosh.
A
The. From the shot and adrenaline. And I came. When I came walking back, I just remember going, gah. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. And I was like, what? Because you don't know that your earlobe is full of holding blood from where you got. And there's a huge. I mean, once I took my hat off and looked at it. I looked like I had, like, a Little brother growing out the side of my head. It was brutal. But I was like, yeah, man, I can't. I gotta get out of this game. But I was making so much money. But anyways, while all that was happening, when that fight happened with those four guys, the one of the people that was walking was one of the managers for Snoop who had come to visit Keys because Keys had worked nights and had done some things with him, and he saw the whole thing go down. And they went to Keys like, hey, we want that big on our team. Like, how do we get him? And then Keys like, hey, there's a spot opened up on. On Snoop Squad. They want to bring you on. And I was like, cool. Like, what are we talking about? And at the time, I worked during the day, so they were like, it's nights. All I have is nights right now. I'm like, oh, that's perfect. So I had to make a decision because the nights were falling on because Keys nights off was what I would have to work. And his nights off were at Saddle Ranch. So it was like one of those things where you have to make a choice. And I was like, yeah, I'll just work nights for Snoop because I'm gonna end up getting shot, because I'm getting. It's getting to the point where I'm in a fight every week there, and it's not. You're embarrassing guys and you're having fun and you're a badass, but you don't realize that one day you're walking at the mall and you don't remember all the people. And I've probably. At this point, I've probably thrown out within two summers, probably over a thousand people. So you're starting to get to the point where you're getting a wreck. People in the. In the community are like, oh, that's that asshole that knocked out my buddy. Or, you know, so it was just one of those things where I was, like, working through a lot of my stuff, but, like, the frustration of not having an opportunity to keep playing ball and stuff and. And still having that aggressive mentality was. Was, I think, the reason why I was so good at it, but also the same reason why I was so bad at it. Because it was a lot of times it probably didn't need to go as far as it needed to go, but it was just one of those. This is not where I wanted to be in life. I would spend more time making up reasons why I was there. Oh, man, you know, bum knee. Waiting for it to heal out. I'M just hanging out with my buddies. Or I was always the boss. I'm just making sure my employee like the. That you would say. And I think that was probably the why. I don't look back on bodyguarding and bouncing so positively. I don't talk about it much because I wasn't where I wanted to be in life. And that was just kind of a. And you see a lot of guys, there's bouncing and bodyguard horror stories because you age out. And there's nothing sadder than seeing an aging out bouncer. What? I mean, like, say, my age right now, 50. I'm 53. If I was still working in a club with the gray beard and just kind of stand there, it's no longer like, oh, man, that's an awesome bouncer. It's. Wow, you really threw your life away, man. Like, how much they paying you? And, you know, and. And it's. It's not a. It's not a. And you're watching again. You said it great. You said you're watching everyone else have a good time. So I'm making a decision now. I'm teaching during the day, I'm bouncing clubs at night. I'm a normal civilian.
B
And we'll go into teaching in another.
A
Yeah, another one. Yeah. But Keys and I working together, and we have. There's. There's this guy, and he's a tough. I met the toughest man I've met in my life, and he was one of the most racist bastards ever, but it's the only person who's ever called me the N word. And I literally was like, you win, bro. Like, so it's one of those. It's a slow ass. It's like a Wednesday night. There's like a hundred people scattered. Everyone's having dinner. It's like date night. It's. It's a. It's an easy night. You can sit down. We don't have to do much. You know, they're cutting waitresses and bartenders because it's super slow. There's a guy, he's probably. He's like, probably about your size, but older. He's older guy. He's like, maybe in his. It's so hard to tell, but he's like, maybe late 40s or something like that. And he really shouldn't have been at a club on a Wednesday night, you know? But anyways. And he had too much to drink, couldn't pay his tab. And then of course, they insulted him. Like, sir, your card's declined. The card is declined. And he took his beer and he threw it on the bartender and, like,
B
the bottle or he, like, threw the drink.
A
His beer in the bartender's face, and. And he said some racial epitaph to her. And so Keys went to walk him out, and he was like, get your black hands off of me. Like, he. He went full. He went. He went full. He was clammed out. And I kept walking over with a smirk because they're like, oh, here comes Tyra. Tyrus is gonna him up. So I came walking over and I was like, I'm sorry. I couldn't help it over here. Do you have a problem with this man's pigment? I'm a lighter version. Would you like me to throw you out? Would that make you feel better? But we also have a Swedish guy on deck. Like, what. What is your preferred race to be throwing out on your ass, bro? Because we got it. And he was like, don't talk to me. I'm tired of you. And he called us jigaboos. And I was like. And Key and I both snapped. We both grabbed him at the same time. So apparently jigaboo is the magic word. So the end bombs. We didn't want to kill him, but when he called us jigaboos, because that means he thought about it. That's not a term. That. That's old school. He pulled that one out of the. See, you didn't even know what that meant because it's just not a used term. So when I heard it, I was like. He got in my head. So I snatch him by the arm. Keys grabs him by the arm. And we're having a tug of war with this guy. I'm like, give him to me. Give. More like, because both of us beating him up is. He went. He makes his point. Everything he's saying is true, you know? And I'm like, no, I got it. I'm gonna walk him out. And Keys are like, no, no, I beg to differ. I'm gonna walk him out. And it started very polite like that. And we each had a pitch, and we're pulling him back and forth. He's trying to struggle. But again, if. If you've ever seen Snoop Google Keys, Keys is. Is. I'm a mountain of a man, and Keys is a mountain of a man. So we're going back and forth, and the guy, he's not stopping. He's like, man, I gotta throw this shirt out now. I got your black. And you, you mutt. Like, Jesus. I mean, he just didn't care, right? And. And we're pulling. And final. Keys got upset, and we pulled at the same time, and there's this horrific snap. It's the loudest sound you've ever heard. And you're like. And I just let go, like. And Keys let go. And when I let go, the. His bone was sticking out of his arm. I. We had snapped his arm, pulling him back and forth. And he was like, oh. And he's. And I was like. I tried to get as far away as I could, like, hands up, like, oh, shit. And I looked at Keys. I'm like, you broke him. And he's like, you. You broke him. And the guy's sitting there, and he's about 25ft from us now, and his arms dangling. And I looked at him, and I was. And I said something to him, and he was like, I'm still standing. You. You. And I looked at Keys, and Keys looked at me, and I was like, he wins. He wins. Like, no, no, no, you win, bro. You can have it. We ripped his arm out of socket.
B
He was on drugs or something.
A
I had never seen that kind of pain tolerance in my entire life. And I knew he could have it. First of all, besides the fact that his bone is sticking out of his skin. And I'm terrible because I'm thinking, oh, we're going to get. I'm thinking I'm going to get fired or sued or some shit. And I'm not bouncing. Ain't paying that good. But I just remember. And he's walking, and, I mean, his arm is just. And he has to stop, like, every second, like. And he look back, like. And he was. Keep. And I was just like, his commitment. You just can't. You know it. Keys is like. And we started laughing. I was like that. Hey, it is what. Like, that dude was that. I said, that's the toughest son of a. I've ever met in my life. I. I will never fight him again. Anything he says, he can have it, you know, because. And he just kept. And he just kept walking. Every 10 steps, hit, stop, and keep going. And I mean, it was just. There was so many nights like that, that. Where we just became. We just didn't. It was. I look back at some of the stuff that we did, and there's so many stories, and it would take forever, but, like, within me. After that, we became safari hunters. So when a guy would act up, like, hey, look, we can't pull on guys anymore. Like, we had a meeting, like, listen, the whole. You. I. We got to stop doing that. And we got to stop. Like, you got to stop putting guys asleep. Like we got to start being. We'll just hold them and let. Because the sheriffs are also out there. We need to let the sheriffs do arrest. We need to stop the wild, wild west shit because someone's going to get hurt or their arm is going to get ripped out of their socket. And so for a long time we were behaving that way. But people can really get under your skin and same thing. It's great. It's like my Lex. I was supposed to be my last week that week. And they're like, hey, can you do one more week? So I do one more week. Like I can't get in trouble. Can't have any. And same thing. End of the night, another slow ass Wednesday. And the guy comes up, he starts shit. I don't know why. They always started shit with big keys. If you ever see a picture, we got to post a picture of him. He's so big. You just think to leave him alone. Think Mark Henry, but a foot and a half taller. Just a massive, massive brother. But he had. He has a very. If you talk to him on the phone, the voice doesn't match the body. So we used to make. He kind of sounds like Mickey Mouse a little bit like, hey, guys, like, what are we gonna do tonight? You know. And I was like, hey, Keys, you know. And I love him. Keys, you know I love you, but your voice is a little. You're a little high. No one's gonna say shit to him. Cause he's got a. You know. But like between him and then Tiny sounded like he always used, you know, so when. No, you don't know what I'm saying. Like how you and I are talking. Imagine if you put, you know, where the period is. So like, yo, we went to the bar, you know, and then, you know, we grabbed this guy, you know, and he would use, you know. And it was ridiculous. It would drive me insane. I would count it in my head like, bro, that's 45, you knows. And you only said two sentences. Like, he just. Very weird group.
B
That's how. You know you spend a lot of time with someone when you get all their quirks. Everything is just like bugging you.
A
So I've been spending too much time, you know. And he would put it on and he'd be like, yo, dog, you know, I'd be like, I don't know. I'm waiting for you to tell me. And the key's like, why are you upset? Because your Voice is like, I can't do this shit anymore, man. Like, and this guy got. Again, these little guys get in your. Underneath your. And they forget because they start winning the argument. And he kept saying, hit me. Hit me. Like, make my day. Hit me. And he's like. He's trying to, like, I'll sue you for all you're worth. And he's like, hit me, hit me, hit me. And finally, I forget what Keys did, but what ended up happening was he. Keys pushed him back. And when he pushed him back, he. Because he got real close to him, and Keys pushed. It wasn't even aggressive. It was just kind of like a swat. And a fly pushes him back. And the dude takes eight steps back and falls in the universal fountain. And he's soaking wet. And he gets up and he's screaming and crying, and I run over. I was like, I saw everything. I saw everything. This man pushed you. I saw that. I'm you. You're getting written up. Keys was my boss, but I was having fun with it. I said, inside. Inside, sir, would you like to make a report? And the guy was like, yeah, as a matter of fact, yes, I do. And Keith was looking at me like, what the are you doing, man? Like, you're taking this dude's side. Other bouncers. I said, what exactly happened? And I said, he grabbed me and he shoved me in the water. I said, take me over to the fountain. Is this the area where the. Where it occurred? And he's like, yeah, he pushed me. See the water everywhere? And I said, how did he push you? Was it, like, four? Or did he grab you and, like, launch you? Or was it like, a shove back? And he was like, a shove back. I was like, okay, all right. And you're okay? He's like, yeah, I'm okay. I'm like, are you sure you're okay? He's like, yeah, I'm sure. Are you absolutely positive that you're okay? He's like, yes. I'm like, awesome. I was like, because what should have happened. The fact that he pushed you forward is absolutely unacceptable. And I'm going to work with him on that. And we're going to send him home without pay for tonight because what he should have done. And then I grabbed him by the back of his pants in his shirt is throw you this way. And I threw him back into the fountain, and we had the greatest laugh ever. I thought it was the great. And. But here's the cold part again. You think you're winning. He turned this into a Glorious dive. So when I threw him, he, like, dove through and, like, hit the fountain and then came up like a swan. And the thing. It stood up and was like, you. And I was like, he won. I. I lost again. But I just remember laughing so hard at myself going, man, I really wasted all that time to embarrass this guy, and now he thinks he's the greatest swimmer ever because he turned into a dive. That's when I was like, I need to get out of this game because I am having too much fun with the wrong people for all the stuff. And there was so many fights, so many different things. Someday someone's gonna come back, and it's not like the Wild west with, like, I've been training for six months, and I want you and me to fight. They're gonna shoot your ass. And I started thinking long and hard about that a lot as, like, yo, I keep dealing with these people, and I have my own shit, but I've never been embarrassed and humiliated in front of my peer group. You know, where do you. And when you bounce a guy, you dump him off or you do all these things to him. And like I said, Tommy Dreamer was like, oh, man, the way you do it, it should be on tv. And he was right. It shouldn't have been. Because I'm lucky that I didn't end up with a bullet in my head or a bullet in my back, because there were so many people. I never knew who I was, and I was working out my bullshit, feeling better. Like, trouncing guys again. Nobody ever got it that wasn't asking for it. Like, it was never a dick. Like, you had to do something to earn getting. But I just started doing it creatively because I wasn't happy where I was in my life in terms of, like, I'm teaching. I'm a substitute teacher or a teacher during the day, and I'm working clubs at night. But the amount of shit that I saw when I was bouncing, I think also prepared me for handling fame because everyone that I saw did not handle it well.
B
Like, what about with Snoop?
A
Like, okay, how did you take that
B
lesson into working with Snoop?
A
Once I got Snoop was completely different than anything his. It's very similar, like President Trump, where people have all these assumptions about him. Like, when I first worked for Snoop, I don't think he said two words to me the whole time, just other than, like, just an acknowledgment. Right. It wasn't. Someone tried to get backstage because Big Papa, his uncle, ran the security at the Time. And it was, you just stand here, you don't say. And so I didn't, I didn't want him, I didn't ask him, I didn't say hello, I didn't say a word to Snoop. And, and I could see in the group that was kind of a problem. Everybody was, not everybody, but there were certain guys on the bodyguard team and the management team around him that very much wanted everyone to know they work for Snoop, which is a problem if you're a bodyguard. They shouldn't know who you work for and you shouldn't talk about your client. And I always, I hate, I don't talk a lot about bodyguarding specifics because I'm being paid to protect them in their life, which means that I would not be privy to anything that's going on in their world had I'm being paid to protect them. So I have a real problem with bodyguards doing tell alls. And it's like you, you know, you agreed to do it, you signed on to do it. And you shouldn't be talking about it like you got well paid. You shouldn't be talking about things you saw. If you saw something bad happening in that moment, call the police or quit. But don't accept the paycheck, support it. And then 10 years later because you want some money, start burying the guy. I was lucky because Snoop was nothing like that. Like everything that you thought, I thought he was like, you know, the, the clubs and that was not who he was. All he ever wanted to do was play his video, his Madden coach youth football, and hang out with his, his childhood friends like he was as much as a homebody ever, you know, it just, and, but that first time, I was just in the background. I was not a main player. I was just the night shift. I would take him from the, I would follow him in the car, in my car, make the exchange with the, the bodyguards waiting for him at the, at the concert. And then my night was done. So it was very like, very simple. I ended up leaving for my first time in the wwe. And then when I got let go, I came back. And during that time there had been a lot of changes and shifts and there was a spot opened up for the day shift with him and Keys was now the head, was the head of Snoop security. And so I called him up, I said, hey, I just got fired, I'm looking for a gig. He's like, yeah, we got you. You can take the kids to school in the morning. And at that point, when I started being around Snoop, during the day, again, wasn't really interested in building a friendship with him. He was a. It was a job. I looked at it like a job. He was. And he didn't strike me as a guy who needed a new friend. Like, he had his corset. So it's a fine line when you're bodyguarding because you are seeing them every day. It's. It's so easy to forget that it's a job because there's not a lot of moments where you actually are the bodyguard, you're the butler. And sometimes if you're with them long enough, you're their psychiatrist. You probably fix your handyman. You know, there's a. You're a spiritual advisor. There's a lot of things that, that go outside the realm of just protection, which then leads you to get very comfortable. And then one day something tops off and you're not ready because you, you know, you're hanging out with your buddy. So I was always try to keep it as professional as I could because for one, I wanted. If this was going to be what I was going to do, I wanted to be a top guy. And you can't be a top guy being everybody's buddy. So. But with him, it was very. Schedule was everything I got. I hit it off with Kevin Barkey, who's his manager, and him and I, we just hit it off. We had a lot of things. We both love wrestling, baseball, sports. Snoop loved sports. That was kind of like the one thing that kind of connected those. He was a Laker fan, I was a Celtic fan. If he talks about basketball, I can answer it, you know, like what? And so it just kind of built up to where. Unknowing. I. I was always trying to just maintain professionalism. That was. Didn't matter what it was. I just. That was my thing. I saw what happened when I let myself get a little too comfortable bouncing and a lot of fights, a lot of stupid that I'm lucky I was able to walk away from. But with him, it was learning how to be professional bodyguard. Because with Snoop, you'd only make a mistake once and you wouldn't be there anymore. You know, guys get comfortable. I remember one guy, we were about four. I was working. Sometimes I had to work the night shifts too, like, and be sitting. Because you sit in your car and he's in his house or his man cave, and about 4 in the morning, and I watch one of the bodyguards get out of the car. When a bodyguard gets out of the car, I'm thinking he's being summons or called. And the way that at that time, he would have called me first and be like, hey, tell big boy to go to this place or that place or whatever. So I see this guy get out, and so I hop out of my truck, like, what the going on? Like, because there's no reason for us to get out. And Snoop should be asleep. And I see him going to the man cave where Snoop would sleep. Will actually play his video games, or he'd be up with his coaches. With his coaches meetings or whatever. And I see him go in there, and I'm like. So I walk in behind him, and then I see him walk out, and I see he had a camera around his neck. And I was like. And I looked at Snoop, and Snoop was just kind of like half asleep. Like, I was like, did he just come in and take a picture with you? And he's like, yeah. He said he wanted a picture for his buddies. He put his arm around me and took a picture. I was like, all right, boss, I'll take care of it. Then I had to go get the picture, make him delete it, and then, like, go home. You're fired. So there was that level of, like, do not get it twisted. You know, this is. He's earned the right to have this life, not you. And that's always kind of been my thing. But it just. With that always being that way made us closer because it was like, gee's professional. He's gonna do what I ask him to do. And so. And then I started working with the management. Like, hey, our biggest problem was getting Snoop on time to shit. So we would always lie about what time his event was. So if he was scheduled at 12, we would say it was 11, and then he would get there at 11:30, and he'd be 30 minutes early. But then he'd be pissed off that he was there early, but he was on time. So afterwards he'd be like, all right, good shit, man. But, like, it was those kind of like, just maintain professionalism. And we got like. I said it wasn't a lot of crazy shit, but, like, I had the Russian rapper in. In Russia that I bounced down some stairs, and then there was some other guys. There was a couple times where there somebody had to around and find out, but it was mo. It was always somebody trying to get to Snoop. I think that was the toughest part about being his bodyguard, was nothing that he did because he's a very, very simple man in terms of, like, he just kind of wants to be Left, listen to his music, play his video. Like, he's very. Like, he knows who he is. And which is. When you have a client, you really hope you have that, because you don't want to have a client who's still trying to figure it out, because figuring it out is dragging you through all kinds of shit or. Or worse, you have a. A client who needs to have, like, nine other separate lives and all that. And you got to remember what lie is said to what per. Because you're the bodyguard. And if the. If the wife asked you where he was last night, you know, and so you just don't want to get yourself in those situations. And was never was in any situations like that with Snoop. And at one point, it was down to just basically me and Keys. So we were everywhere that he was at. But it was always about family first and which people, when they ask about Snoop stories, they always get kind of pissed because they're like, well, what about this? Or how much we never smoke with him. Why would I. I was on the clock. That's stupid. Like, if I'm smoking weed and if I'm high as a bodyguard and he's high, what possibly good will come from that? Like, people, they get very caught up in want because Snoop is. He's a household name. Like, he is. He's one of those. He's one of those American pariahs. Like, he's famous. Whether. No matter what he does, he will always be Snoop Dogg. Like Willie Nelson. Like, there's just certain guys so working for him, you can. You can get caught up in that shit. But you need to understand, it's not you. It will never be you. No one's coming to a Snoop concert to see me standing on stage. No one's. No one's watching his reality TV show to see what quippy thing I'm going to say, you know, like, it's not your life. And I. And I think because I wanted a life of my own, of merit, of something of substance so bad that I respected that a lot about him. And. But I never wanted to infringe on that. And that's a fine line when you're bodyguarding is like, you get. Because you play with the kids, you're there for Christmas, you're there for the birthdays, you become a pseudo part of the family. But you need to understand, at any time, you're going to have to throw out a family member, or you're going to have to be the guy that says, no, boss, you can't do that. Like you're gonna, it might even cost you a job at some. And at some point they're gonna let you go. It's not like, you know, they're not gonna, they're going to get a younger guy in there or whatever, or things don't work out, whatever the case may be. When it's over and you're not an employee anymore, it's usually done. And so for a lot of guys who get let it become personal, then that's where all that venom comes from. When you see guys who. Former bodyguard and they all talk because they, they thought that life was for them too. And it's not your life you're being paid to watch. You're basically being paid to. You're a babysitter. Keep them safe without being noticed. That's the best bodyguard in the world is the one you don't see. If you hear us talking all the time. And we're in everything. We're not. How are we doing our job? So there was a lot of things with Snoop that I, that professionalism that really helped me get established there because I was never interested in being a groupie or. It's not even a, it's not even a bad thing. It's just. I just didn't want any personal connections because I knew that this wasn't where I wanted to be. This was like a in between job, you know what I'm saying? Like, I didn't want to be a bodyguard the rest of my life, you know, at all. I had no. I never wanted to be a bodyguard. Never was something I was interested in playing. I won't even play a bodyguard in a movie. Like, it's just not. It was not my thing. But that was something that I was good at. That worst case scenario I could do. It was like your plan B job. And but there was a lot of. We did. I mean, we travel. I traveled the world with Snoop. Oh my God. We went everywhere, every corner, every place we had. And there was fun moments and there's fun stories, but they were always fun with me doing bodyguard stuff. Like we went to Amsterdam and I wanted. We were in Amsterdam and everyone goes to Amsterdam for one thing, the coffee shops. But Snoop was on, he was on tour. And I got my first break. It was like we had like a six hour break and at this time it was just me and keys. So like somebody had to be up while the other one slept. Like you, you sleep. I'll do that. Like we'd switch days off and then eventually they were, they Ended up flying two other guys in. So we get a little bit of a break. So Lou and the other guy came in. Oh, it was Winston. Tiny came in. So now we had four on tour. So there was a. When you got down. Now you get eight hours off when you get a time off. And Kevin Barkey, who's the manager, and I were pretty close, and he was like, yo, let's go to the coffee shop. And I was like, all right, cool. Let's go. So we went to the coffee shop, and I didn't really, like, the weed. Just was too strong over there. I was just. I wasn't a big smoker anyways. I did it occasionally, but we're there when in Rome, you know, and they were like, try the moon pie. It's apple. And I was like, awesome. Not again. Was not understanding edibles and all that. Didn't. Because I didn't really smoke that much, rarely. And we're in there and order the moon pie. And moon pie was delicious. So I had two. Not knowing that it was moon weed. The moon was not the apple. It was not a moon apple. And then once you. It hits you, you're like, oh, let me try this. Let me try this. So I'm the highest in my entire life. It's uncomfortable. I'm afraid of my shadow. Like, I'm like, this was such a bad idea. Well, Snoop and them come into the same place that we were at having our break. And I couldn't stop laughing at him because he was so skinny. And it didn't hit me because I was like, hey, hey, remember when you did that movie, Baby boy? Were you, like, the bad guy? And you had a slingshot on? You know, the wife beat her slingshot. And you were threatening that girl. I was like, bruh, I don't. I would put my money on her. Like, she has you by at least 25 pounds. Like, you know, like. And I'm like. And he's standing there like, are you talking to. Like that, you know? And I'm like, like, bro, you ever. You ever work out or anything? Like, you're just skinny. Jesus, Kevin, let's go. Kevin was like, what? Like. And I was like, get to the door. I want to hang out with these guys. Let's go. Let's go hit a bar. Let's have fun. Like, there's a singing karaoke. Let's go, let's go. And Kevin's like, yeah, I'm good. I'm good, bro. I'm just gonna stay here because it's My job, you know, when I left, didn't think any of it. And there was like, the reality TV show producers were like, oh, there's a bar where they sing rock and roll music and have piano duels. So I went over there. I'm having a blast. I get back to my room, and Keys is, like, waiting for me outside my room going, what did you do? And I was like, what? I went to a bar. I had a good time. Oh, I brought you a moon pie. And he was like, oh, thanks. And I didn't tell him that. It was like, oh, what a great prank. He's like, I gotta get your flight. I was like, for what? He's like, you're fired. I was like, what? He's like, snoop fires you? What? You. You said he was skinny and anorexic or some. And I was like, when did I do that? And he was like, at the bar. I was like, oh, I didn't even remember. I was like, wait, for real? I'm fired? He's like, yeah. He said, fire. Get you a flight. Get you out of here. And I was like, all right, cool. He's like, but, hey, I'm gonna go to my. I can't. I'm gonna go to my room and get. I gotta get the information. I gotta call managers and everything. I'm sorry, man. I wish things would have worked out differently. But, you know. And I was like, cool. My room was directly across from Snoop's, so I had my door open, and I started packing my shit. And I had to keep my door in case someone tried to bug him. So I'm still on the clock till I'm not right. He opens the door and he's like, hey, can you get me some food? And I was like, no, I'm packing, but I'm getting ready to go. He's like, where the hell are you going? I was like, you fired me? He's like, what? When? I said, at the. At the coffee shop. And he's like, we were at a coffee shop together. And I was like, were we? And he's like, cuz, just give me my damn food. Fire. You always joking around. You play around too much. Keys comes back like, oh, I'm having a heart. I said, I got to get him food and shit, bro. He's like, what? I said, he doesn't know what I'm you're talking about. He's like, hold on. He's like, don't move. And he goes to the door, and he goes. Closes the door behind me. Between you and me. I think he was kind of wanting me to go. Maybe it was the little jokes about his voice, but. Yeah. And he comes out and he has this look on his face, and he's like, get his chicken and his drink. And I was like, you sure? He's like, yeah, I'm sure. I'm gonna go take a break. You go ahead. And I went. And I love you, Keys, but. And then I went back to the thing, and I was like, but I had. I always think it was funny because he was so high, he forgot he fired me. Yeah. I didn't remember he fired me. And then the two of us are trying to figure out who fired me. Yeah, but that was like, that. I mean, there was some other stuff, but, like, for the most part, that's how it was with him. And then once we started coaching football again, accident. I'm just trying to do my job, and I see the kids with bad footwork. No one's given the offensive line the respect they deserve. They're putting all the kids that aren't athletes on the line. And I'm standing there, and then the guy who's teaching them is A one. He's a defensive guy, kmac. And I was like, oh, man, these guys feet are up. Their hands are like. They're hitting with their shoulders. And I'm like, What is this, 1960? So I was just. I finally said, hey, man, sorry, boss. Can I just. Dude, put your feet like this and make a diamond. You know, just. And he was. And he. Oh, you think you know so much. I'm like, yeah, a little bit. And it comes online a little bit. Yeah. And they're like, well, you coach him then, you know. And I was like, I'm working. And it was like, no, go ahead, man. And he's like, just pick five guys and we'll. I'll embarrass you. You know, I'll give you an hour with him. So I went and worked out with them. We came back, we mopped the floor with him. First down, first down in the. In the thing. And so it was like. Next day, there was an extra bodyguard on staff when we were going to football practice. And I was like, we gotta. What's. We got an event afterwards? He's like, no, no, you got a coach. So SN was like, yeah, you're my O line coach. When. Whenever we're here, you worry about the O line. And I have another guy for bodyguarding. So I started. We started coaching that. And then we had. We had to end up with undefeated season. We won championship, and I won coach of the year that year. Snoop wins it every year, but he. I think he rigged the election, so. Yeah, but it was. It was just a cool. It was just a cool thing. And then it just. Bodyguarding for him, it was like, I did more stuff with his family. I was in, like, his daughter's birthday at Roaring Rapids and the water parks. Like, I was doing those things. Boss lady when she had special errands, like, I became the family bodyguard. I was in charge of, like, making sure the kids are doing their homework and stuff like that. And it was very rewarding, and I was very happy and comfortable, and it was a respectable job to be Snoop's bodyguard. And it just. It still wasn't enough. Like, I just wasn't happy. I didn't want to stand behind. I just didn't. I looked at it like I was standing by behind another man. I just didn't want to do that. This is the one big guy who didn't want to be the sidekick. And I look back on it because if I wouldn't have took chances on myself being Snoop's bodyguard, you know, and all the things that come with it is a respectable career. But for some reason, I had this calling in my head that just wouldn't stop. Like, I just couldn't. I was like, never. I. No matter what, I'm getting to do everything. Snoop is one of the most gracious bosses ever. And finally. And of course, you know, when I went back to wrestling and they asked me to come back, and I. I remember knocking on his door, and he was like, what's up, cuz? And I was just, like. I told him the situation, and he looked at me and he's like, you can always be my bodyguard. He's like, you're. You're. You're good at it. I enjoy it. You. He's like, but you're entertaining as when you do it. And that's the problem, because I make jokes when I don't let people in. And him and the wife are laughing, and everyone's like, you're always entertaining. Everybody get paid for it, man. He's like, you can always bodyguard. He's like, but you can't always wrestle, and you can't always. These opportunities in life. You. You got to bet on yourself. He's like, I would be an idiot to tell you to go, but you need to go try this. If it doesn't work out, bro, give me a call like you did last time, but go. And. And he Just said, but do me a favor, don't come back. You know what I'm saying? Like, if you come back, you never met your potential. And it was no different than he was talking to one of the kids on the team. And I took that pep talk and I didn't have to come back. And it was, you know, and we've stayed in touch. And the Celtic, he's a Laker fan, I'm a Celtic fan, so it's always going to be a love hate relationship. But bodyguarding for him was. It taught me more about myself, like, what I wanted in life. And seeing a guy who had it all, seeing the he went through, seeing how many knives were in his back, how many lifetime friends were really just seeing how much they could take out the tilt. Like, the amount of stress to just maintain that lifestyle is something that, like, I was like, oh, that's not. I don't want that. But I also, at the same time, don't like you just learn to keep. Keep your crew small and. And don't take life too seriously. And I think that's what. What the best thing about Bodyguard for Snoop was is I learned a lot about myself through watching him, how he conducted himself. And a lot of people don't realize how much of a smart businessman he is or how much of a family man he is because they only see the Persona because he protects it. And so that's what I learned. The biggest thing, his protection. And I do the same thing.
B
That's my story, Part four. Not my story. Tyrus story. Not Harry's story. Next we're gonna go into teaching.
A
We probably should have went teaching first to teach you how to do an intro. Or was it exito? Exito, Exit, Outro, Exit.
B
Well, these. My stories are kind of like a Tarantino movie. They're not like chronological.
A
Yes.
B
Just where we're going in, picking things out and saying, oh, we'll jump into this story, jump into that story. So next we're gonna go.
A
So we're jumping out of this one because this one's done.
B
Yes.
A
And then we're going to jump into another one. Another story coming soon. Yep. To a streamer near you.
B
Thank you for watching my story, Part four.
A
Yeah. Thank you for watching him. His story, not it's my story in his words. Yeah. Thank you. Yep. By the book.
Host: Tyrus | Guest/Co-host: (unlisted) | Date: April 16, 2026
Main Theme: Tyrus recounts his journey from bouncer and bodyguard in Hollywood to working security for Snoop Dogg, sharing wild stories from L.A. nightlife and insights on the bodyguard lifestyle, personal identity, and lessons learned along the way.
This episode dives deep into Tyrus’ wild and formative years working as a bouncer and then as Snoop Dogg's bodyguard. Through vivid anecdotes, he explores LA's club scene of the late '90s and early 2000s, the dangers and absurdities of nightlife security, and the challenges of transitioning from bodyguarding to pursuing larger ambitions. Tyrus pairs self-deprecating humor with raw honesty about violence, loyalty, pride, and what he learned about fame, professionalism, and himself from watching Snoop up close.
Famous Club Stories:
Bar Fights & Power Dynamics:
Getting Noticed by Snoop’s Team:
On Club Mayhem:
On the Absurdity of Bouncing:
On Professionalism as Snoop’s Bodyguard:
On Snoop as a Person:
Turning Point Pep Talk:
Tyrus’ stories (told with biting humor and a clear-eyed view for the high and low points) underscore not only the chaos and danger of the bouncing/bodyguard profession, but also its impermanence. He tracks how it shaped his sense of self, his approach to fame, and his determination not to be defined by standing behind someone else.
Whether you come for the war stories or the life wisdom, this episode is packed with energy, laughs, and real talk—plus a behind-the-scenes peek at Snoop Dogg few get to see.