Capone-N-Noreaga | ROC Solid w/ Memphis Bleek

Summary

ROC Solid w/ Memphis Bleek

Episode: Capone-N-Noreaga | April 14, 2026

Overview

This episode brings legendary Queens duo Capone-N-Noreaga (CNN) together with host Memphis Bleek for a raw, unfiltered conversation about their beginnings, impact on hip-hop, group dynamics, classic albums, business lessons, and evolution into other ventures like reggaeton and podcasting. The energy is nostalgic, deeply honest, and filed with hip-hop history and humor—perfect for fans as well as newcomers interested in rap culture’s roots and growth.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins of Capone-N-Noreaga

[03:30–08:00]

• CNN's origins trace back to neighboring Queens hoods—Nore (Queensbridge) and Capone (Left Rack).
• The two connected thanks to mutual friends and neighborhood ties, even as their paths diverged (with both doing time incarcerated at different points).
• Neighborhood identity: "Left rack is dead in the middle" of Queens—a point of friendly debate over neighborhood boundaries.
  • Memphis Bleek: “Queensbridge is on one side...left rack separates the two sides of Queens.” [05:40]
  • Noreiega: Reflects on never seeing certain areas, keeping neighborhood loyalty tight.

2. Building a Unique Group Identity

[15:35–18:32]

• Unlike most groups from the same projects, CNN stood out by bridging two different neighborhoods in Queens.
• "We put all different teams in its proper place...We found that niche." - Noriega [18:03]
• Their signature: bringing "army fatigue" style to hip-hop visuals and culture.

3. The War Report: Classic Debut & Early Struggles

[10:20–14:10, 20:13–22:01]

• Naming tracks after world hotspots was inspired by Wu-Tang’s uniqueness; at first, they hadn’t even visited the places they rapped about.
• "Our first album, the War Report, we was naming all these places we've never been to...then we started getting calls from there." - Noreiega [10:20]
• The War Report wasn’t an instant commercial success, especially with Capone incarcerated during much of its release.
  • "There wasn't no success at War Report at first." - Alex English [20:20]
• Yet the album became a cult classic, especially after records like "LA LA" stood as anthems defending New York rap.
  • Memphis recalls being inspired by hearing the project in the park daily.

4. Classic Records, Competition, and Crossover Moments

[24:58–27:36]

• Stories of legendary club nights (“Put It in Your Mouth” at The Tunnel) and wild performances showcasing how CNN built their rep.
• Reflections on meeting, collaborating, and sometimes competing with artists from other New York duos and collectives (Mobb Deep, EPMD, Wu-Tang, etc.)

5. Navigating Jail, Releases & Solo Success

[28:42–41:54]

• Capone’s stints in jail deeply influenced the group dynamic.
• Noreiega recalls holding down the brand and describes the reality of missing label money and opportunities, but feeling included through artwork and calls:

  “The label did make me feel like I still got my books now with his artwork, my artwork...” – Noriega [39:36]

• Nore’s early solo moves included a pivotal call from Nas and a breakthrough recording trip to LA (featuring Dr. Dre, Nature, and others).

6. Solo Moves, "Super Thug" & Working with Pharrell

[46:13–51:50]

• Noreiega recounts first meeting Pharrell and recording "Super Thug," walking listeners through the energy and gamble of trusting a weird-sounding hook:

  “He was like, and you gonna laugh to the bank.” – Pharrell to Nore, on leaving the “what what what” in [49:54]

• Coincidence and timing led to genre-shaping hits and new phases of their careers.

7. Business Lessons, Integrity, and Legendary Management

[58:24–63:14]

• The impact of manager Chris Lighty: teaching that “all money ain’t good money”—lessons on integrity and picking the right deals.

  “You didn't turn down money. I just picked up my integrity.” – Alex English [60:13]

• Reflections on Violator as the pre-Roc Nation artist empowerment platform.

8. Evolution: From Hip-Hop to Reggaeton to Podcasting

[63:35–76:01]

• Noreiega’s reggaeton move was initially misunderstood, but he pushed forward, citing his pride in Latin roots and his cousin Big Pun’s cultural expansion.
• Drink Champs: Born of late-night studio sessions, a radio show stint, and ultimately a pioneering podcast (10 years strong), offering unfiltered, celebratory hip-hop conversations.

  “If you try something and you fail...you might can take that same product, package it different, rend it.” – Alex English [75:14]

9. Fashion, Family, and Staying Real

[76:20–78:43]

• Capone details the roots of his lifelong fashion sense, inherited from his mom and dad, rooted in Queens visual pride—now extended into his Costa Collection brand.

10. Group Dynamics, Conflicts, & Enduring Brotherhood

[55:48–57:59]

• Even through feuds and solo runs, real brotherhood held them together, sometimes literally (“his kids are my blood” – Noriega [55:58]).
• Having two managers and business interests, plus competitive work, keeps things complex.

11. Reflections on Legacy and The Future

[82:11–88:00]

• Both see CNN history as foundational to New York's rap culture, with The War Report revered for its raw authenticity:

  “I don't believe we exaggerated on most of those bars...” – Alex English [85:23]

• The duo teases new music—including a confirmed Dr. Dre beat for War Report 2.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On group origins & street networks:
  “My next door neighbor was the same age as him, became his best friend.” – Noriega [04:47]
• On their distinct duo identity:
  “We from two different places in the same borough. Had brought each distinct...to the game.” – Noriega [18:03]
• On the War Report’s impact:
  “I learned about the Middle east from the War Report. I didn’t know about Iraq, all these places, until listening to War Report.” – Memphis Bleek [12:30]
• On “Super Thug” and trusting instinct:
  “All we need is the hook and we done...and Pharrell was like, you’re gonna laugh to the bank.” – Noreiega [49:54]
• On business guidance from Chris Lighty:
  “I didn’t turn down money. I just picked up my integrity.” – Alex English [60:13]
• On group endurance:
  “His kids is my blood...I can’t do that. If I need a blood transfusion, his kids can literally give me blood.” – Noriega [55:58]
• On legacy:
  “I remember at times I couldn’t listen to the War Report because it was just so much pain.” – Alex English [85:23]
• On the future:
  “We in the studio right now...War Report 2...that was a Dr. Dre beat.” – Alex English [87:13–87:21]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Origins/Queens dynamics: [03:30–08:00]
• Impact of War Report & Naming Venues: [10:20–14:10]
• New York groups & CNN’s Distinctive Role: [15:35–18:32]
• War Report’s Initial Reception/Classic Status: [20:13–22:01]
• Incarceration and Group Functionality: [28:42–41:54]
• Solo Moves, “Super Thug” Creation: [46:13–51:50]
• Chris Lighty & Industry Advice: [58:24–63:14]
• Reggaeton & Cultural Expansion: [63:35–66:45]
• Drink Champs Podcast Origin & Growth: [72:25–76:01]
• Fashion roots & Brand: [76:20–78:43]
• Brotherhood, Breakups, & Reunions: [55:48–57:59]
• Future/New Album Tease: [87:13–88:00]

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Conclusion & New Developments

• CNN cemented their bond through music, turbulence, and family—redefining what it means to “stay solid.”
• Their honesty about jail, business ethics, creative risks, and the grind paints a nuanced picture of hip-hop and life after.
• The group confirms they are currently back in the studio—War Report 2 is on the way, with Dr. Dre on production.
• The episode ends with mutual respect, gratitude from Bleek, and a strong reminder of CNN’s enduring cultural influence.

---

For hip-hop heads and new listeners alike, this episode is essential—equal parts nostalgia, game, and blueprint.

Transcript

[Sam J]

This is an iHeart podcast, guaranteed human on the Look Back at it podcast from 1979.

[Alex English]

That was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me.

[Sam J]

I'm Sam J.

[Alex English]

And I'm Alex English.

[Sam J]

Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it with our friends, fellow comedians and favorite authors like Mark Lamont hill.

[Alex English]

On the 80s, 84 was a wild. I mean, it was a wild, wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Memphis Bleak]

Hey, what's good, y'?

[Alex English]

All?

[Kear Gaines]

You're listening to learn the Hard way with your favorite therapist and host kid games. This space is about black men's experiences. Having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit of armor? It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability, that does not mean that you need to listen to learn the hard way on the iHear radio app. So Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Stephanie Young]

In 2023, Bachelor star Clayton Eckerd was accused of fathering twins, but the pregnancy appeared to be a hoax. You doctored this particular test twice, Ms. Owens? Correct.

[Sam J]

I doctored the test once.

[Stephanie Young]

It took an army of Internet detectives to uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing.

[Memphis Bleak]

Greg Gillespie and Michael Mancini.

[Stephanie Young]

My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is lovetrapped.

[Noriega]

Laura Scottsdale Police.

[Stephanie Young]

As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences. Listen to LoveTrapped podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alex English]

If you're into tech, you'll love this. TikTok is a live lab where users post instant reviews of the latest trends. Download TikTok and check it out.

[Memphis Bleak]

Foreign.

[Sam J]

Hey, y', all, it's Lauren LaRosa with the latest with Lauren LaRosa on Black Effect. And I cannot wait to see you guys at the fourth annual Black Effect Podcast Festival. We are coming back to Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, April 25th at Pullman Yard. And it's hosted by me alongside DJ Envy and Charlamagne. Tha God. We got Drink Chants with Noriega and DJ efn. We got Keep It Positive, Sweetie with my girl Crystal Renee Hayslet. We got Reality with the King with my Guide and my brother, Carlos King. And y' all know he does reality commentary like nobody can. Now, we also have Don't Call Me White Girl, the podcast I Love Mona, and Club 520 podcast, along with the Grits and Eggs podcast. So this lineup, stacked, baby. You're also going to want to check out the panels that we have lined up, too, featuring Kev on Stage, Tika Sumpter, and John Hope Bryant, just to name a few. Of course, it's way bigger than podcast. We're bringing the Black Effect Marketplace with black owned businesses, plus the food truck court to keep you fed while you visit us. Okay, listen, you don't want to miss this. Tap in and grab your ticket [e-mail] podcast festival.

[Memphis Bleak]

What up, y'?

[Noriega]

All?

[Memphis Bleak]

This your main man, Memphis Bleak, right here. Welcome to Rock Solid, a production of iHeartRadio and the Black Effect Network in partnership with my guides over at Drink Champs.

[Alex English]

You should know by now.

[Memphis Bleak]

You should know by now. Hey, y', all, you already know what it is. Yours truly, M. Greasy Mythble, back with another exclusive of Rock Solid. And today, I got a special, special group here. You know Nori, my bro, Poem, my man. But them together? Nah, I'm a fan. Let's welcome Capone and Noriega to the motherfucking building. What up, my G's? Yo, man, listen, before we jump into this shit, I'm a fan, so this is an honor to have y' all two together sitting here. Cause this nigga, you know, he be acting like he solo, so I know how it is, my G. I be trying to tell him we a part group, so he be trying to leave me, so I know how I feel. When y' all was doing this rap shit, you know what I'm saying? But I'mma let you tell me later, you know what I'm saying? Cause as the part grew, my man be leaving me, you know what I'm saying? Yeah.

[Noriega]

He be taking the plane without you, huh?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, he be out. He be running the marathons, you know what I'm saying? But, yo, I want to go back to the beginning, my G. Because it's Queensbridge. It's left rack. I want to know, how did that even. How did y' all even link up to even form the group, you know what I'm saying?

[Noriega]

Yeah, I mean, you know, one thing we have is people in common that. That play intricate parts in our life. So one thing about my bro is that I had him by a couple of years, so that actually worked out in our Favor. Because when I graduated from junior high school, he wound up going to that junior high school. And my next door neighbor was the same age as him. It became his best friend.

[Memphis Bleak]

It became my next door neighbor.

[Noriega]

But now I'm already in high school.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. Damn. I ain't know you told her.

[Alex English]

Let's go.

[Noriega]

So my neighbor told him about me, like, yo, I want you to be my man. But I wind up going to jail. And eventually he wind up going to jail.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's crazy. Damn. That's crazy. I met Spoffing. Yeah, that's ill, man. That's dope.

[Noriega]

Shout out to Maldonado. That's the one.

[Memphis Bleak]

You know what I mean? That's ill. A lot of people made

[Noriega]

it work for us.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, but Queensbridge is on one side of Queensland. Left rack is in the middle. I feel like left rack separates the two sides of Queens. Cause you got south side of Queens, and then it's the Queensberry side. And left rack is dead in the middle. So what was that like for you?

[Alex English]

You can't just say that.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, I'd be in the middle. Cause it's the bqe. I can leave my crib, and you jump right there.

[Alex English]

You just skipped over a whole bunch of neighborhoods. What I'm saying, everybody from Queens would be like, you just let him say that. Like,

[Memphis Bleak]

break the Queens room.

[Alex English]

Listen, listen, I know how the Internet works. Would be like, yo, wait a minute. You just, you know, let him skip over Elmhurst. You'll let him skip over Garoni, or let him skip over, you know, Jamaica, Jackson Heights, Flushing.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, listen, Jamaica is part of south side to me. I always. I always consider Jamaica, Jamaica, Queens, part of south side Queens.

[Noriega]

To me, Flushing and all that is not part of left and right.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm gonna keep it 100. I never been to Elmhurst.

[Alex English]

Y se el. Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

I never been to Elmhurst.

[Alex English]

Drove through Elmhurst. Drove through.

[Memphis Bleak]

I want to pull up. Pull up. I'm talking about where I hung out.

[Alex English]

That's what's messed up. That's what's messed up. To get to the LaGuardia, you probably drove through every neighborhood. Fly the Kennedy, you definitely drove through every neighborhood. Y' all just looked at it one side as just one side.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's how Brooklyn you know. Brooklyn, it's like Harlem. I ain't going to lie. All that Bronx and Harlem, I don't separate. I share all numbers.

[Alex English]

When y' all go to a different hood, they'll be like, welcome to Williamsburg. Like, it will actually announce it.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, it ain't no welcome to Bed Stuy. Welcome to Crown Heights.

[Alex English]

It will be soon.

[Memphis Bleak]

Welcome to Flatbush. And so welcome to Coney Island. We got.

[Noriega]

Welcome to Queens. That's.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's what I'm saying. But that, like. All right, so look, you know what? I. From the Green Rock on down.

[Alex English]

The Green Rock. That's Farmers Boulevard.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes. That's Jamaica, Queens.

[Alex English]

Well, you said the Green Rock. It's the Red, right? It's red, right?

[Noriega]

And black.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. Red, Green. Yeah. The Black.

[Alex English]

You get away with that. They like yo.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo.

[Alex English]

Good. Chill. It's the Marcus Garvey Red, black and green.

[Memphis Bleak]

Green, yes. The rock.

[Alex English]

Yeah. But thank you for knowing.

[Memphis Bleak]

I had a chick over there, so I used to have to go over there. That's how I knew where I was at, because I used to be like,

[Noriega]

oh, tell me a pinpoint.

[Memphis Bleak]

That was a meeting spot. Meet me by the rock.

[Alex English]

Yo.

[Memphis Bleak]

Dead ass, though, like so. But like I was saying, my question growing up in LeFrag, how was that, my G? Cause Queensbridge produced a ton of legends coming from left rack. You was the first. I believe the only.

[Alex English]

I don't know. So you got see who else? Kenny Anderson.

[Memphis Bleak]

Come on, I'm talking rappers, man. Kenny Anderson played ball. Akanelli. Akanelli from Laugh Rack.

[Alex English]

I ain't know that. I ain't know.

[Memphis Bleak]

I love this. I ain't know Akanelli from. I know Akanelli from Booby Trap. I know. I can only even come from Movie Track. Not left.

[Alex English]

Right.

[Memphis Bleak]

I know. Yeah, man.

[Alex English]

Rock solid, like. Okay, all right, cool. Rock solid.

[Memphis Bleak]

But you know what other I did? Nah, but it's a lot of who feel like that.

[Alex English]

Yeah. No, I don't. Me, too. Me, too.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, I played in with Kenny Anderson.

[Alex English]

Soul sister is supposed to be from left rack.

[Noriega]

Sinquist and Finesse.

[Alex English]

Listen, they are. He's never claimed us. The word is coogee. Rap is from left rack.

[Noriega]

Ain't Horace Brown from left rack?

[Alex English]

I'm not sure. No. I think he lived in left rack. I'm not sure if he was from there. Yeah, yeah. No, no, I know. Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

Jay had a song with Horace Brown.

[Alex English]

Yeah, Kenny Anderson, wasn't it?

[Memphis Bleak]

I played in the Kenny Anderson tournament. But, yes, I did.

[Alex English]

Cal bound me.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, I need my cousin. Yo, my cousin's Jamel Skimmer.

[Alex English]

On who?

[Memphis Bleak]

Grandma? I'm telling you. I'm telling you. My mel. My cousins. He'll tell you. We used to ball out there on Mommy. Yeah, I'm telling you, we used to ball. I wasn't shit I ain't gonna be like, yo, I'm with the Kenny Henderson League. It got busy. I got cut the scissors, but I played.

[Alex English]

Hell, yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

Come on, you gotta be in the hood to know about the Kenny Henderson tournament. That's what I'm saying. Come on. Y' all hood. That taught me about Amsterdam.

[Alex English]

Yeah, yeah. The countries.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. All the buildings.

[Alex English]

You know what's crazy? Yeah, you know what's crazy? You know that You. You said that, like, when I. Like, we. We had. We used to have even a tour called World Domination. The World Tour. What we didn't know was, like, you know, our first album, the War Report, we was naming all these places that we've never been to. Right? Come on. You know, you never. What the are you talking about? Like, Bosnia and all this. And, like, we would get calls from these places. Like, I remember, we was. We was. We was entertaining, going to Desert Storm. But this. This wasn't what. This wasn't what the US Cuz I later. Later on went with the. With the US and performed and, you know, and did something for. I'll tell you later, but I remember them sending a letter to Penalty breaks. I'm not sure if we were locked up. And it was like, yo, if they go. Oh, I believe he was home. If they go and they get kidnapped, they on their own. Oh, yeah, this is. No, this was. I forget what it was. And, like, we negotiated. Yeah, we negotiated the deal and whatever. Like, they must have had our phones tapped or whatever. And it was like, yo, straight up warned us. Was like, yo, if y' all go over there, something happened. Don't holler at us like, yeah, like that.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, it was.

[Noriega]

It was mixing, like Arab and Nazis.

[Alex English]

Cuz Wuang. Wuang had came out. Look, you got to realize it was two different things. Wuang had came out. You know, they were. They were talking kung fu 5%. And you know what I mean? So we were like, all right, cool. We 5% too.

[Memphis Bleak]

But let's.

[Alex English]

Let's think of something else we like, all right, cool. Let's do Middle East. You know what I'm saying? Really know.

[Memphis Bleak]

I never.

[Alex English]

So we were just trying to be, like, different. So then we started learning about it, and we were like, oh, this is foul. Yeah, like, not the culture I'm talking about, like, the water.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. What's going on?

[Alex English]

Yeah, look at this, like, right now. Look what's going on right now. It really came back. Our album makes more sense now, bro. It did back then.

[Memphis Bleak]

I learned about the Middle east from the War Report. You know what I'm saying? I didn't know about Iraq, all these places, until listening to the War Report. Man, shout out my man shoot black. You know what I mean? Locked up. I don't know if he gonna ever hear this, but he put me on to Capone and Noriega. He had the War Report. We in the park doing what we do and that N played that album and that shit never stopped playing to this day. Like, that was my next question. Like, I just wanted to know, when y' all was recording the War Report, did you think in y' all mind y' all was making such a historical classic occult phenomenon that it turned out to be. Did you even think that was possible?

[Noriega]

I mean, I'm gonna speak solely for me. I learned because I was around music a little before that. So I seen what due diligence was. I seen how Nas was working. I seen how Marvin's being. And I seen. And when we got our videos, we was a movie like, you know what I'm saying? Like in Islam got like, you know, like, little bit paper. But one thing I learned is that while we was recording the album, we was making this because we made la. That gave us the kick that put us above a lot of people.

[Memphis Bleak]

You think so? I think, Tio, that was the kick. That was the kick. That was the kick.

[Noriega]

But that was, you know, it gave us the head. So it wasn't like we was making history. We made a mark. I felt like we made a mark. Cause I think Tupac dissed us. Tupac dissed us. Other niggas. Fuck y', all, too.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's crazy.

[Alex English]

I wanted him to say my name, though, like we both did. Yeah, he was like, tell them other niggas. I'm like, I don't wanna be the other nigg.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, you never want to be the other niggas.

[Noriega]

But at that point, we had some stain, though. We had a little bit.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's crazy to hear you say that. LA LA was the record you felt that took y' all to enter me. T O N. Wow.

[Alex English]

T O N Y came out after, though.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. After

[Noriega]

ll, we got Tony record because of it. Like, Big fell in love with us because he just didn't want to smoke behind.

[Memphis Bleak]

I ain't gonna lie. Y' all was the only who jumped, who stood up for New York. You know what I'm saying? Y' all held it down. Cause Snoop did come through and crush a building or two. And sat on the Statue of Liberty. He violated. Yeah, he violated.

[Alex English]

That was a city bank building, right?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. He had dads in corrupt crib walking on 40 dudas. It was on some shit. Y' all niggas held it down.

[Noriega]

That became my brother.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, that's family. Dpg, Snoop. That's family. I love them niggas, man. That's so crazy how. You know, it's just crazy how we was young back then and didn't know, man. You know what I mean? Them being from where they from. We from wherever they was our enemies. Exactly. And look, they turned out to be our brothers. That's insane, man. That's dope, man.

[Noriega]

Dad's got an album, that's our brothers. But, you know, that's what it was. We felt. That's what I felt like. We made a mark, you know when people start like, who them guys going back at la? Cause there was nobody there.

[Alex English]

Nobody.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like you kind of briefly answered this, but as a group, there's many groups out of New York that's legendary. You got Dodge Effects, you know what I mean? You got Smith and Wesson. You got Mobb Deep, of course. Like, and then this component, Noriega.

[Alex English]

Like apmd.

[Memphis Bleak]

Epmd. I can't forget apmd. Come on, man. They set it off like. You know what I mean? They set it off, off like. Helter Skelter was dope.

[Noriega]

I mean, we, we, we.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, it was a lot of the be nuts. Yeah. But I'm talking about two, you name it. Camp Low was dope, too. Yeah, Camp Low was dope. Yeah. It was two of them. Nah. Lucini falling from the. Yeah, the Fnickers, Shaq Foo.

[Alex English]

Why keep these people with Foo?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, the Foo. Snickers.

[Alex English]

Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

Only the Woo came out and changed the game with 37 members. Yeah. Like, it was the Woo. At first it was two. Yep. Brand newbie. It was like four.

[Noriega]

Because they. It was actually the flavor.

[Memphis Bleak]

You got Tribe Called Quest.

[Alex English]

Nah, Tribe Called Quest is definitely more than a two.

[Memphis Bleak]

Just what I'm saying. And then they replaced members for like a few albums and brought them back.

[Alex English]

I thought he was naming two man groups. I think he was naming two.

[Memphis Bleak]

I was just naming groups. But then you went. You just went crazy with that. All the groups. At first I was just named the two man groups.

[Alex English]

Who did a name that wasn't two man group?

[Noriega]

Huh?

[Alex English]

Who did I name that wasn't a two man group?

[Memphis Bleak]

Who did you say that wasn't a two man group?

[Noriega]

But at the end of the day,

[Memphis Bleak]

Helter Skelter was two man group. Helter Skelton was two men. Sean Price, Rest in Peace. Sean Price, Helter Skelter, Sean Price and Ross. Sean Price was the whole surround, yo. Listen. No, that was. That was. They was Fab five. Yeah. And listen, I almost got. Sean Price is my. Is family. That's my cuz that told me to my face. Yo, it's only. I'm the nicest Sean you ever gonna meet. Like, I don't care what homie tell you. I'm better than him. I'm the nicest Sean. Like, So look, what I was saying is, like, as a duo, like, what do you think out of these groups, we just named a ton of them. What y' all think y' all brought to the game different than everybody else?

[Noriega]

I think we just bought the fact that everybody that we named was from, like, the same hood. They was from the same area. We from two different places in the same borough. Had brought each distinct. Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

To the game.

[Noriega]

You know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying? So it's like, you know, we. We put all different teams in his proper place.

[Memphis Bleak]

You feel me?

[Noriega]

We put. We put.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, I definitely did.

[Noriega]

You know what I'm saying?

[Alex English]

We. We found.

[Noriega]

We found that niche.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Noriega]

You know, fatigues, as I. I might have been there.

[Alex English]

Show blast.

[Noriega]

That's what we brought to the game. Some people brought this to the game. Some people bought that to the game. But we bought army fatigue to the game.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Noriega]

He's like, yo, this is the reason why I moved.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, yeah, no, he had all of these. Rest in peace, young Dolph. All of these army fatigue.

[Alex English]

Drake told me some like that.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, look at y' all legends. Dolph, Drake, you know what I mean? Y' all interviews I had on the

[Alex English]

green chats, because I looked at him in his face, and I was like, yo, you know, most. Most rappers die in their own city. And he looked at me back in my face and was like, yo, not me. You know what I mean? Like, he was like, not me. And I was just like, I wish I would elaborate on them, but, you know, you know, it was like I was sipping, and he was, you know, sipping what he said. And I felt like, you know, like sometimes the OGs look down on them. Like, I didn't want to feel like that. That old dude dude is looking down, and he start thinking I'm judging him. So I didn't know how to do that. But, boy, after that, when I found out that he passed away, I really wish I was like. I really wish I was willing to Be embarrassed. Like, just in case he was like, yo, G, back up, or something like that. So I wanted him to know, like, yo, bro, I know you know, change and, you know, like, that this happened to. And they were good people. Act like every, you know, person that all foul people don't die. It's like. No, it's a lot of good people that die.

[Memphis Bleak]

Hell, yeah.

[Alex English]

You know. Yeah. For not paying attention to the environment. Like I always say, read the room. You know what I'm saying? You gotta know the. Definitely my bad. Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

Nah, but definitely, man. Like, after the success of War Report, how did things change? You know what I mean, from there?

[Alex English]

I gotta say this. There wasn't no success at War Report at first.

[Memphis Bleak]

My dude, you lying.

[Alex English]

He was in jail.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact. Yo, Poem, man. Poem phone home. Watch it up.

[Noriega]

I'm gonna tell you, but for me, I might have had a bigger report release.

[Alex English]

Now, listen. Now, listen to me. When that shit dropped, I was. I was baking like a biscuit. Like, no one said that was a classic. What does a classic mean? Back then. Yeah, everybody had a fucking classic. Yeah, like a classic now is so round. It's like. Like is looking at it like, oh, a classic. Like, oh, like back then. Mal Deep is a classic. Is a classic. DMX is a classic. What the. But, but y'. All.

[Memphis Bleak]

Y' all album is before. Hov. Y' all was out before.

[Alex English]

Yeah, wait up, wait up. We 97. He's 96. Yeah, we 97.

[Memphis Bleak]

War report came out 97. I swore it was the. The same year. I thought it was a couple months before, and then we dropped. It just probably was the wave y' all was on from the LA to T O N Y.

[Noriega]

Our first, very first show was with old, But I mean, in January. Damage.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, off the stage. I ain't gonna lie.

[Alex English]

I forgot that part.

[Memphis Bleak]

I gotta shout out Akanelli, man.

[Alex English]

Oh, yeah, Akanelli. That's what I'm saying.

[Memphis Bleak]

I know he was from Left Rack. I know he from Booty Traps.

[Alex English]

Yeah, Booty Trap.

[Memphis Bleak]

He from Booty Traps.

[Alex English]

You know, I had a whole career as the ball. Nah. I know one of the first people on Interscope Records.

[Noriega]

Yo, listen, A basket on.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, the first who show me. Women love this, right?

[Alex English]

Oh, yeah.

[Sam J]

Do you remember when Diana Ross double tapped little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush

[Noriega]

didn't like black people?

[Sam J]

I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do? A little king. Well, you can find out on the Look Back at It podcast. I'm Sam J.

[Alex English]

And I'm Alex English.

[Sam J]

Each episode we pick a hair, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it, including

[Alex English]

a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just cause of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but yeah, yeah, literally. But just so y' all know, I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes, I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to Look Back at it on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kear Gaines]

Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host and your favorite therapist, Kear Gaines. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we done enough.

[Memphis Bleak]

Because people, scoreboard wise, life becomes about wins and losses.

[Kear Gaines]

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. Cause you find it important to be a good person while you're here on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid?

[Alex English]

Because that's two different intentions, bro.

[Kear Gaines]

Absolutely.

[Alex English]

And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

[Kear Gaines]

Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free iHeartRadio app search learn the Hard Way and Listen now.

[Stephanie Young]

In 2023, former Bachelor star Clayton Eckerd found himself at the center of a paternity scandal. The family court hearings that followed reveale glaring inconsistencies in her story. This began a years long court battle to prove the truth. You doctored this particular test twice, Ms. Owens?

[Sam J]

Correct. I doctored the test once.

[Stephanie Young]

It took an army of Internet detectives to crack the case.

[Alex English]

I wanted people to be able to

[Stephanie Young]

see what their tax dollars were being

[Noriega]

used for sunlight's the greatest disinfectant.

[Stephanie Young]

They would uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing.

[Noriega]

Greg Gillespie had.

[Alex English]

And Michael Maranchini.

[Stephanie Young]

My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trap.

[Noriega]

Laura Scottsdale Police.

[Stephanie Young]

As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences.

[Alex English]

Ladies and gentlemen, breaking news at a Maricopa county as Laura Owens has been indicted on fraud charges. This isn't over until justice is served in Arizona.

[Stephanie Young]

Listen to the Love Trapped podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Clifford Taylor IV]

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what y' all say. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor iv. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, the Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And for more behind the scenes, follow Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, my nigga, we did the tunnel, right? And put it in your mouth came on. Mind you, I'm 15 years old. This is the era of kissing in the hallway to your breath state. This is that era where you ain't getting in the crib, nigga. And every woman in the club singing this. Put it in your mouth, right? I I, yo, bro, my whole life changed that night.

[Alex English]

I walked for an hour and a half, basically four records. And nobody really realized that, like, he could just, he could sit there, he could have a chicks have a banana show. And I know that sounds crazy, guys, they have women's. That woman's like doing like a banana to the dip. Then he'll have dances come out and then, then he'd be like, then he and he'll sit and rewind and he's sitting there. You still went to the show. You not realizing, like he's, he's like, this is a real showman. Like he's a real. Actually knows how to do that. Like. Like, if I was to put together a show, I gotta get. How we get Ox to put that in.

[Memphis Bleak]

I gotta get ock up here.

[Noriega]

He could do with two records.

[Memphis Bleak]

Cuz. I. I used to be with us in the crib on State Strip, State Street, Oc I. We had a whole. We was the underground mall. Yeah, we was underground. Like a trunk full of records, you

[Alex English]

know, I don't know. I don't know where you dropping this. You know my mind. Rascast said, me too. Well, David Bang got on our show and said that Rascast used to live with him. So we asked Rascast and he goes, yeah, he goes, I also used to live with home with him. And he's like, what?

[Memphis Bleak]

Rascast was down with us?

[Alex English]

Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

I didn't know that. Yeah, no, he not capping. No, he not capping. Rascast was all the way in the crew. I used to hang with Raz every day. That took. Took me to some chick crib in the lower. Bro, this bitch had like 15 cats. I was like, yo, bro, I gotta get outta here. I can't do it, bro. We gotta get outta here. Word. Raz, my dog. That's my G man. Word up.

[Noriega]

I'd be surprised we were with a man.

[Memphis Bleak]

So after war report, unfortunately, Pong, you go in, you back locked up. Cause here come the noi.

[Alex English]

He got locked up up like prior to us actually even heading in the album. Yeah, yeah. So he was locked up already.

[Memphis Bleak]

So wait how long you did because. So the N album came out.

[Alex English]

That's two different. That's two weird things.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, two different bids.

[Noriega]

No, no, that same bid.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, same bid.

[Noriega]

Just long time, two hours them out on that T almost free. If I didn't get my time back that I would have missed another flat album. But because they took on my good time, right? Neil Levine was. Was best friends with the ex commissioner of New York State. So I got my good time taken because the deputy of the jail daughter was writing me. So they.

[Memphis Bleak]

He told me, pimping in jail.

[Noriega]

No Neil le got my good time back. Shout out to Neil. He holl at the ex deputy.

[Memphis Bleak]

They didn't.

[Noriega]

They didn't even give me no paperwork. And not the same file. 60 days. What all these, like, I'll come home. They thought I was going to come Home for another year.

[Memphis Bleak]

Hit me with another year, how that felt, you know what I mean? Being in a group and then your partner locked up. You know, you got the Budget label looking at you.

[Alex English]

Oh, no, no, he skipping the whole thing.

[Memphis Bleak]

Come on, tell me. I'm skipping queens. I'm skipping the albums.

[Alex English]

No, no, the Warrior Court. All right, Warrior Court drops. We get that.

[Memphis Bleak]

Four. Four.

[Alex English]

Four and a half fights or four fights. You know what that means?

[Memphis Bleak]

I just told Dave Mays he only gave me three and a half. You never gave him four. Yo, told him that four meant something.

[Alex English]

Yo, Apple mic means that four meant something.

[Memphis Bleak]

Word up.

[Alex English]

Stomach dropped. And I got three and a half. I ain't come outside for like a month and a half. Swear to God. Word that. Three and a half hours.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, chill.

[Alex English]

Cause I kept getting four. Yeah. So it was like. It was for me, but like I said, like the reward for drop. People would drive by, and I went back to selling crack. So I was just like, all right. I didn't know nothing else. I was on the blocks. You know what I'm saying? I was on the block. People dropping by, they playing the War Report. And I'm like, all right, cool. And that was. You know, I gotta give him his props again. He looked at me, he was like, yo, you don't see this shit. And I was thinking it was just people from the hood. He's like, no, you're like a monument right now. These people are driving by just to see you. And I felt like. Then I felt like the Statue of Liberty. Oh, like, you know, they're not getting out. They're just like in the drive by, like, oh, this is. You know what I mean? Like, I didn't know how to book a show. I didn't know how to do nothing.

[Memphis Bleak]

Damn.

[Alex English]

And then somebody. My family was like, hey, man, somebody's doing shows as y'. All.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, chill, yo, it was a fake seeing that.

[Alex English]

Yeah, yeah, it was.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, ig.

[Alex English]

Nobody could be like, yeah, think about it. You and slime and slime.

[Memphis Bleak]

Damn. Yeah. We could have got that bag. I could have been. No, you could have been po.

[Alex English]

Come on. They could have did that with anybody, though. Like, before you had a major tv. Yeah, like before you. Bloom. Bloom, if you had a buzz, like, you.

[Memphis Bleak]

Could you.

[Alex English]

Could you. I'm sure there's. There's been bleaks. There's myth bleaks out there.

[Memphis Bleak]

Trust me. Yeah, of course.

[Alex English]

Right now. Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm telling you, I hope he rapping right.

[Alex English]

No, no, no. You can't impersonate a person. Well, you can impersonate a person. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

They had a drink impersonation party.

[Alex English]

You can't impersonate that performance.

[Noriega]

No, no, no, no, you can't do that.

[Alex English]

But you can impersonate. Impersonate.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Alex English]

But then that's when I was like, all right, cool. Let me think of the business. And that's when I didn't know what to do. Like, I didn't know what to do. So that's when. You know what I mean? I got the call. Was it. I believe it was Nas. And he was like, yo, I'll be fly down to Miami on such and such. Gonna hit you the info, whatever day it was black call, Amazing. Like, I don't know the next thing to do. And then like, that call, like, whatever Instagram was back then. Like, I saw.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, it wasn't no MySpace, none of that. That shit was the block phone. The big the.

[Alex English]

That you like this. And the pictures was floating around the

[Memphis Bleak]

Polaroid you had to shake.

[Alex English]

Like, I was supposed to be there. And I'm like, all right, cool. And then. And then. Then I never got the call and I knew they was out there and I. I just. Just didn't say nothing. And then Jonathan called me. He's like, yo, can you get to LA on Wednesday? And I'm like, yeah, whatever, of course I can. Slime, hurrying, slime, Hurry, hurry. I know how to do it.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm like.

[Alex English]

I'm like, yo, listen, listen. This is Western Union days. So I got my little workers. I'm like, yo, watch the union. But right now I got 500.

[Memphis Bleak]

And these are days you can walk in the airport and buy a flight cash.

[Alex English]

I had to fly. I had to have that part. I'm talking about.

[Memphis Bleak]

This is.

[Alex English]

This is me going to la.

[Memphis Bleak]

That was your budget?

[Alex English]

Yeah, this is my budget right now. I didn't get there on Wednesday or Tuesday, whatever it was, because you know how it is. We get them cheap flights. If you go on Monday, the Friday is cheaper for some reason because they gonna get you for staying longer anyway. Because they don't get you the hotel. Different hotels in cahoots, right? I didn't know that then. So I'm like, this it? So, boom, they go downstairs and they go into the studio.

[Noriega]

Got another way to go.

[Alex English]

I'm just sitting there by that class, like, yo, I'm no tripping you. I'm like, yo, they go into the studio. My studio is not till, you know, back Wednesday or whatever, but checked in. Like, yo, y', all don't want to know Henny. It was like, another ladies, niggas, they can't say no to Henny. They both was like, all right, cool. I'm calculating. You ever seen happen?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, that's what you made me think about when you said, I got five of it that big. I didn't even. We stole some bread at that time,

[Alex English]

maybe was like $14 a shot that you buy almost a half a bottle. You buy half a bottle of E and J for that. You know what I mean? So I'm sitting there. We in la. I'm sitting there, I'm like, yo, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I remember Jungle was like, I'm about to do the privilege.

[Sam J]

Oh, my eye.

[Alex English]

That 14 with 30. And I'm. I'm so calculating all together. And then it was just the right move. And they was like, yo, you want to come out the studio right now? I was like, yo, you know I'm supposed to go Wednesday. He's like that. But just come with us. You just come hang with us. I'm like, all right, cool. That's the word I needed. That's all I needed. You ever seen the Michael Jordan?

[Memphis Bleak]

That's all I need. That's right.

[Alex English]

So I was like, all right, cool. And I. To make a long story short, you know, nature. I don't know if you ever worked with nature.

[Memphis Bleak]

Nature, Marcy, that's my guy, man. Come on, man.

[Alex English]

Well, nature. Nature's one of the greatest artists of all time, but nature takes his time with the pen. So I don't know if Dre was frustrated or he was just like, you know, he turned and he looked at me. He was like, aren't You Nicaragua? Slide 4.

[Kear Gaines]

Me?

[Alex English]

Nicaragua.

[Memphis Bleak]

You know what I'm saying? Yes, I am. You already know that's me in the flesh.

[Alex English]

Yeah, yeah, I'm nigga, yeah. And he said, you got something. And that's why I started that shit on. Nori know this.

[Memphis Bleak]

Nori know that's right. Nori so crack. But Nori buck that. Nori know that. But Nori know that. Nori so crack.

[Noriega]

All right.

[Alex English]

Make you favorite still on gang signs. Like, I'm silent. Why do you think I said that? Cause Dr. Dre's right there. We fucking in LA. We doing gang signs.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Alex English]

But look, I'm just like. Like, yo, my dude, I. I just. That's why I always love nature. Because he could have hated. Like, this is my session. Like, listen, once. Listen, I'm a dolo. Did I mention I'm Dolo. I'm by myself. Yeah, there's no budget.

[Memphis Bleak]

Of course not.

[Alex English]

There's no budget with nothing else but go in there and smash. And I kid you not. That's why anybody out there like that one opportunity, and I did that, and I knew that record was ill. I think the whole record. Like, the whole record. And I ain't gonna lie, Nature, I never got to the bottom of this. I know he went, you know, I need to be on that. Rightfully so, though.

[Memphis Bleak]

Rightfully so.

[Alex English]

That's my brother, Nature. Yeah. But then that record dropped, and then we did. We did Blood Money. It wasn't blood money at the time. No. Part two. Talking about. With me, Nas and Nature, not the original blood money. So we did that. That. And he let me come home with those records. And. But then pun came up. I did that. And that's the piece. Now you go to nre. But I'll tell you the truth. The one that was ill was, I'm

[Memphis Bleak]

leaving because I'm leaving.

[Alex English]

I was like, a war report was right here. But it needed something to remind them, like, what that meant to people. And when I'm leaving King, then the War report sales is going up. Boom. And it's like, oh, okay, all right, cool. And then they're like, yo, can you hold it down by yourself?

[Memphis Bleak]

That's what I was about to ask you, man. How you felt? You know what I mean? Cause I know you couldn't see the success back then. It was no social media. It was no. Unless y' all had TVs, you wasn't watching videos. But you would get the calls, call home and hear about all this. Like, how was that to you being locked up?

[Noriega]

Like, damn. One thing I can say, they try to include it in everything.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Noriega]

Send me this artwork on a. On a black and white book that you write your rhymes in on the front of the book. We want you to see his artwork. I was a part of everything, man.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's what.

[Noriega]

So that's what they. The label did make me feel like I still got my books now with his artwork, my artwork. T1 watched it. That I had to prove legendary Stick. Is that all the artwork I had, though, too?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Noriega]

So the only way where I was able to pull it, they had to stick it on the front of a composition notebook. And that's how I proved artwork. So they made. They gave me every opportunity to feel involved. That's what's the dope. You know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak]

And I was able to.

[Noriega]

To Call a label. Free will only collect.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Noriega]

Like 20 times, 30 times a day.

[Memphis Bleak]

Of course they had that bag. They accept it.

[Noriega]

They accepted it.

[Memphis Bleak]

They don't care. They accept it. That's right.

[Noriega]

You know, for me, it was like, okay, but they give me the money. You feel me? They did all that to me.

[Memphis Bleak]

They put. No, they ain't put your advance on the books.

[Alex English]

Nah.

[Noriega]

Because there was no money yet.

[Memphis Bleak]

There was no money yet.

[Noriega]

The money ain't coming to, like, what he. What I'm getting up to. The money ain't come until I'm leaving.

[Alex English]

Yeah. That's what I'm trying to say. Like, it made. Yeah, it made.

[Memphis Bleak]

So listen.

[Alex English]

No, I did know that.

[Memphis Bleak]

Cause coming to age, I went back to the block.

[Alex English]

Yeah. I went back.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, I know.

[Noriega]

This is what changed everything.

[Alex English]

Yeah.

[Noriega]

The Nore album. Right.

[Alex English]

It changed my life.

[Noriega]

You know why? Because I got locked up on a War Report album. And when the War Report album came out, they still didn't believe it was me because they didn't see none of my videos.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Noriega]

They didn't see me. They still like, that's not you. That's not.

[Alex English]

Wait, in the can you say yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, yeah.

[Noriega]

In the can. Because this is all I got, Right?

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Alex English]

White cracker.

[Noriega]

Cos telling me that ain't you. They're still kicking me in my ass.

[Memphis Bleak]

Get the fuck out of me.

[Noriega]

Dropped and MTV came into jail to see me. And at that point, it was only me and Tupac who had two MTV interviews. Only other person who had an MTV interview at the time. And we looked the same. We both had the same glass of. We embodied that jail greens with the look.

[Memphis Bleak]

It was only two people. Me and two people, man. That's dope. My. Jeez, that's crazy.

[Alex English]

I changed my life.

[Memphis Bleak]

Life and then N O R E. Right before we get into that album.

[Noriega]

Hold on.

[Memphis Bleak]

You got to remember how I'mma remember.

[Alex English]

We stayed. We stayed. Like, I got every executive

[Memphis Bleak]

in the

[Alex English]

world to try to like, to come with me at that time. And we stayed where the War Report originally stayed when we dropped that at the same independent label, Penalty Records. So, yeah. Neil Levine.

[Memphis Bleak]

Didn't Jay do a deal at Penalty? Yeah, I believe he did.

[Alex English]

I don't remember. I know.

[Memphis Bleak]

I think in my lifetime dropped that.

[Alex English]

Oh, yeah?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Alex English]

I think.

[Noriega]

Yeah.

[Alex English]

Single deal.

[Memphis Bleak]

I had that sticker.

[Noriega]

That's why we did our first show with J. Yeah. That's why we did our first show with J. Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

And my lifetime single dropped on that.

[Noriega]

That Was a. You know, they used to do showcase shows then. Yeah, if they were showcases, they was actually shows.

[Memphis Bleak]

Shout out. Maria Davis, man. Maria Davis. She used to let me. Yo, listen today. Back then, I used to be like, yo, she looked out. But today she was foul.

[Alex English]

She was foul.

[Memphis Bleak]

She made Jay pay a band to get me in the club. Cause remember, I was underage, so every time I had to go perform, Jay used to have to pay $1,000 to get me in and then give me 1,000 to throw. And mind you, I'm fucked up. So he giving me the thousand to throw. I used to be looking at it

[Alex English]

like,

[Memphis Bleak]

what he mean, though? This one show, my man caught it. Cause he gave me the raw knot in the rubber band. So I look at him like, oh, my man in the crowd, he caught it. We went. I never told told Jay that. He gonna know. Now we bust that up, though, with the tall beads. You told me throw it. We threw it, baby. Nah, but yo, but then my G, like, out of all that y' all naming legendary shit that took place, like, you getting calls from Nas, you flying to LA with nature, with fucking Dr. Dre jumping on the. What album was that?

[Alex English]

Firm album.

[Memphis Bleak]

The Firm album and the classic in itself with Foxy.

[Alex English]

Who knew what. Foxy's coming outside.

[Memphis Bleak]

You know what I'm.

[Alex English]

Man, who blew that up?

[Memphis Bleak]

Leak. Come on, chill, Chill. We ain't going to do that. We ain't going to do that. This not the show for that. Me and you by ourselves. I need. I need to walk by ourselves. We going to talk our. Chill.

[Alex English]

Supposed to keep that a secret.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. No posting, man.

[Alex English]

No posting, man. This is. This is how. Like, when I. When I. When I hear my secret, I'm like. I shut the up.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, you don't.

[Alex English]

No, listen.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, you don't. Because you got me a beef with Sauce.

[Alex English]

No, no, that's not a secret. Hold on, hold on.

[Memphis Bleak]

That wasn't.

[Alex English]

Hold on, hold on. I'll get to that. Listen, If a person tell me. Yo, yo, listen. Between me and you.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, yeah. I didn't say that.

[Alex English]

I'm talking about the secret. So I'm jogging the other day, and some random dude comes up to me and was like. He's like, hey, Lauren. I was like, hey, what's up, man? He goes, hey, did you hear? And I'm like, what? And he goes, foxy's coming out, man. And I'm like. And I'm looking like, what the. And I'm like, yo, is this a spot? I was like, really?

[Memphis Bleak]

I Didn't hear that at all.

[Alex English]

And I'm sticking back. I'm like, who the hell blew that up? This is. It's out there.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, they wowed out.

[Alex English]

It's out there, man.

[Memphis Bleak]

Damn. I hope. I hope the plans stay the same. Cause you know the big homie.

[Alex English]

Yeah. You don't want to get that.

[Memphis Bleak]

Pull that red corner.

[Alex English]

They don't want that.

[Memphis Bleak]

The detour switch.

[Alex English]

Everybody, for the record, everybody want to see Foxy Brown, man. Yeah, everybody want to see.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact. That's a fact.

[Alex English]

The rumor was there's going to be Foxy and squashing it with Kim. Like, I don't know.

[Memphis Bleak]

Somebody ran that rumor.

[Alex English]

Like, somebody. I didn't hear that.

[Memphis Bleak]

I don't think that's.

[Alex English]

I heard it. I didn't hear that.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. And then Kim put up cap. Yeah, she put a big cap, too. Rest in peace. Big cap. But she put a big cap.

[Alex English]

All right, big captain.

[Memphis Bleak]

But listen, let's get back to what I was saying. Legendary. Cause here come N O R E. Right? But you found. For real.

[Alex English]

I ain't find them.

[Memphis Bleak]

You found them.

[Alex English]

No, I mean, like, he was. He wasn't lost. I'm with you. I.

[Memphis Bleak]

He owns some jellies. Who's found them?

[Alex English]

You foul dumb, you know, to tell you youth. And like, he. I think he told me, now he hates it. But he's like. He said, yo, I was really that cocky back then. And. Yeah, he's cocky, but he had the right to.

[Memphis Bleak]

He had me.

[Alex English]

No, no, no, no, no. But he was young, so when I first met him, he was like, man, anybody who listens to me is gonna get their number one. And I was just looking at him like. And I got the number one one record on Hot 97. Now, for me, I'm also cocky. Right, because you got the number one record on Hot 97.

[Memphis Bleak]

That means some. That's right. That's right.

[Alex English]

But remember, there's no power 105. So basically, I shouldn't have said I had the number one record on 197. I should have said I had the number one record in New York. Yeah, Right. So he's like, man, whoever listens to me is going to go number one and do it on. And then I was like, all right, cool. And I remember he's like, he played one beat, man. That's what's dope played. The other beat was dope. He was like, this third beat. Don't listen to it till you get to Miami. And I remember my homies behind me like, he mean, we listen to this as soon as we get in the car.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact. He talk about we playing this shit

[Alex English]

right now for some reason. It's Walkman days. I was like, nah. And I went to the front and I kept listening to the. To the first beat and the second beat. And I went to the Kent Hotel. And I remember.

[Memphis Bleak]

I remember the Kent.

[Alex English]

Kent still is.

[Memphis Bleak]

Them had the TV the size of a BlackBerry.

[Alex English]

So listen, let me tell you something. So I'm sitting there and the girls is talking to me. I'm sitting there trying to. My room not ready. So I'm sitting there writing the line with the other two beats that he talked. And the girl is talking to me like, room. And it's the first time, like, when she. When she said something to me, I was like, oh, you think? Oh, you think I'm one of those paying. Oh, hold up. I was like, oh, no, no, no, no, no. And I went upstairs and I took it. Took off my Walkman. The. The place had a CD player. Yeah, you know, like. Like the clock radios.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Alex English]

So I took the CD player out my Walkman and I was like, finally, like. And that said, man, well, nor. And I was like, guys, I'm inside for the whole night. You guys can go downstairs. The people hit me like it, man. You know, I pay. I'm like, yo, chill, man. Y' all go have your fun. I. I heard that. I stood there. I wrote that that whole night. And I'll tell you what. I laid that whole Super Thug is one track. Damn. This one track. I laid that whole. You know what what what is? That's how I counted bars. What what what what what what? 1 what what what what what what? 2 what what what What what what what? That's crazy. And Pharrell, like a genius. He is. I laid the whole ship like that. So when I laid it and then I put super. The what? So I must have went to get some pluck U. You remember Pluck you.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right. Shit was lit back then.

[Alex English]

Remember?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, that was the chick fil a back then. That was chick fil A back then.

[Alex English]

So I got that, and I came back, and Pharrell was like, yo. Because I was like, yo, all we need is the hook. And we done. And I had. Did that with a lot of other producers before. Like, the what was. And he was like, the only one that he erased by one and just let the what was stay. And I was like, you know, they gonna laugh at me. He was like, and you gonna laugh to the bank.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Alex English]

I was like, he's right. Yeah, he's right. Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

So you ain't think that was going to be the phenomenon it is once he mixed it.

[Alex English]

Like, this is. This is the rough draft. I'm saying I'm doing something that I did on all of my solo albums, cuz. I, you know, like, you know, like, you know, I had him to help me. Paul had to lay eight. I knew I had to lay.

[Clifford Taylor IV]

All right.

[Alex English]

His eight. All right, cool. I could just compare it to my eight, you know what I'm saying? Like, I had engineers. Like, I was really on my own in the Terry Church truth, you know, I. I give Trash his respect. Like, when I asked if he let go, he like, hey, I. You know, cuz, I don't want, you know, me and him is. Is cool. But he almost laughed at me. He was like, huh, sure, go like. And I was like, yeah, he kind of, like, laughed at me. Like, God bless. Because me and Trash is, Is, is. Is. Is cool. But this is just my perspective. And I'm not trying to disrespect your perspective, but this is how like. Like, that's how that phone call was. I remember I was down on Junction Boulevard and I was using the pay phone. Nigga didn't even have a cell phone. You know what I mean? Yeah, I was like that. He was like, you want to leave me? And I was just like. That, like, fueled me too. That was like, oh, like niggas don't believe like niggas own thing. And it's like. And then I remember he was like, yo, well, where does. Where does. Oh, sorry he didn't call you pawn. He was like, where's kiam stand? And I was like, man, I had already speaking to you. I just didn't tell you he was going to break. Break out. But I was speaking to you. And we speaking all the time. But I ain't say that. And then when he. I was like, yo, well, it's up to him at the end, he listen, a lot of people will held a person. He. He was like, all right, cool. I just wish to tell you the truth, and this is something I probably never said. I wish he would have helped me because I. I needed that. I needed. I wish he would have helped and just been like, you do you, though? Because I needed that guidance. You know what I'm saying? So when I did have that guidance, that's where Chris Lighty came in. Boom.

[Memphis Bleak]

Rest in peace, Chris Lighty.

[Alex English]

Rest in peace, Chris.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm saying, you got legendary, legendary story, my G. Like, Chris Lighty, man, is us.

[Alex English]

When he came home, Lighty gave me a million.

[Memphis Bleak]

When I came home, man. That's what's up, man. Chris Lighty legendary story in itself, man. The Lighty brothers made legendary moves in this game. But like, yo, damn, man. Rest in peace, Irv Gotti, because I remember. So Super Thug took was bombing in New York. Flex going crazy.

[Alex English]

I need to be like, the comedians that bombing in New York.

[Memphis Bleak]

Nah, no, they know this shit was nigga going off. And I remember, see, he ain't here to save this fight for himself. But that nigga was like, man, what's Super Thug about a cocker spaniel. He talking about he got a cocker spaniel. What's Super Thug about that. Come on, man, we better get to work. Yo, it's crazy.

[Alex English]

Me and Ja when he didn't connect with each other. But me and Irv, in the very beginning, we was crashing all the time.

[Memphis Bleak]

No way.

[Alex English]

Listen, I remember I had the brand new 500 bins. When the bins body, like, changed, right? This nigga sees me. Damn. I keep saying, nigga. He sees me. He walks out of Def Jam and he calls right in front of me, yo, I thought you told me the Benz ain't coming out for another six months. He's like, it ain't. He's like, I'm looking at someone right now. Like, he's hating on me in my face. Like, I'm looking. He's like, yo, it's an artist that has a. How does an artist have it? I'm looking like, you know what? Go ahead, man. I open my doors up and shit. Like, go back at him. I was like, you know what? I'm rubbing it in. Fucking. I was like, yo, go ahead.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, yeah.

[Alex English]

Do you smell that leather?

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right. That's right.

[Alex English]

I'm like, this cow is the geek, man. Like, I mean, smoking wagon ragoon leather. I mean, and then it was crazy. Then years later, we got cool. But at first, like, yeah, I did not like her. I don't think he likes me neither.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, that's crazy.

[Alex English]

It was a respect thing, too.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, yeah, no, definitely. It's competition. New York was on that pon. You continue to drop music independently as well, man. What was that like for you working? You know?

[Noriega]

For me, that was just work. You know what I'm saying? It was dope to just. Just keep on working, you know what I'm saying? I had her first solo album did a 205. I just had my record from one of that album go viral.

[Memphis Bleak]

You know what I'm saying?

[Noriega]

And she was big, you know that's right. So, you know, we continue to work. We continue to work out for years, you know what I'm saying? Me doing solo projects, I never wanted to be a solo artist. So for me, when it was time for me to be a solo artist, it was. He just came home. So I had a. Had a situation with Faith Newman, you know what I'm saying? And she was trying to give me a situation with and Big L, Big Al situation.

[Memphis Bleak]

Rest in peace. Legendary, man. Y' all boys was active. Nas, y' all boys was active.

[Noriega]

They don't give us no stretch this shoe, sir.

[Memphis Bleak]

Faith a legend, too. You kidding me, man?

[Alex English]

Talking about the Faith. That's the one who put on Nas. Yeah, yeah. Faith Newman. Not Faith. Not Faith.

[Memphis Bleak]

She attention, too. I don't know Faith Newman. I'm a young boy.

[Alex English]

Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

I don't know Faith Newman. I was young, you know what I mean?

[Alex English]

I ain't.

[Noriega]

You go look at the fugees. Big ammo. Put numerous. Countless people on.

[Memphis Bleak]

Damn, she legendary. You fucking kidding me, man? Like, y' all careers include separation, you know what I mean? Solo success, reunions. What kept the connection between y' all so strong? Cause a lot of groups break up, you know what I mean? Y' all broke up, but never really broke up.

[Alex English]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Noriega]

Every brothers have fights. All brothers have fights, you know what I'm saying? Whether you from the same mother, from the same pop, where you from, different body. You know how they go.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Noriega]

Every, every, every family have feuds, but with us, what makes us do is that his kids is my blood, like, so he has something to stick to. Some people don't have nothing to stick to. They just lose touch and they just let it go. I can't do that.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Noriega]

Because if I need a blood transfusion, his kids can literally give me blood.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Noriega]

That's my blood fed. So that makes us a little bit, a lot. His mother, black man, you better talk to that.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right. You know what I'm saying?

[Noriega]

So it just made us have to. To stick along. And we genuinely love each other no matter how much we fight. We met each other when we was kids and we knew each other for. For all our kids, all our ups and downs, all our guests and our friends, families, all that we knew each other for.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's real shit. That's Real shit, man.

[Noriega]

Fuck what we sold, what we did. You know, I seen all those kids born. He seen my kids born.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right, man.

[Noriega]

Except one already.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's dope. Cause a lot of groups separate, man. Labels, groups, all that, man. But a lot of New York groups I respect. Y' all all stuck together, man, like, for the most part. You know what I mean? Like, look, Smith and Wesson.

[Alex English]

Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

Mobb D Deep. Rest in Peace, Prodigy. They were still dropping projects together, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know what I mean? Help the Skelton Rest in Peace, Sean Price.

[Alex English]

It's crazy because a lot of people think like a two man group is, like, easy. Yeah. And it's just as hard as Wu Tang.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. Cause when niggas be lazy, he got

[Alex English]

his own manager, I got our own manager, he got his own management team. You know what I mean? Like, you know what I'm saying? Like Light until, like Chris Lighty. But then, you know, he. He can go do what he want, I can go do what I want. And then there's people speaking for us, so it'd be the same. Like, you know, we went on tour with Raekwon and I was sitting there just watching Wu Tang businesses. I was like, oh. Like, I was like. I was like, oh, I thought we could go through, like. Yeah, yeah.

[Noriega]

It's just business, you know, Just being in the business. Growing. Yeah. Grow and understand that. So. So I'm gonna keep it real. A lot of people don't even know what a one off is. And we was fortunate our whole careers to have one offs. So we don't owe no fucking Lonnie Skills, right?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. Nah, you goods.

[Noriega]

There's certain artists right now that still stuck recouping. They didn't get no money off of record shows.

[Memphis Bleak]

They still recouping. Yeah, but they ain't recoup yet. That's a fact. That's what I was gonna ask y' all too, man. Like, Lighty being such a legend, that secondary manager, you know, putting a lot of people in position. What's some of the gems you would say?

[Alex English]

You would.

[Noriega]

You.

[Memphis Bleak]

You would share with someone that you like. You something you learned from Chris Light.

[Alex English]

He didn't say no to a lot. You know, we young. He young from the hood. Like, uhhuh. When I got. He was like, yo, I'm gonna get you a certain amount, right? And you know, Chris Lighty ain't no go on tour type of dude. He went on tour with me and then they gave me mike lighting and Then, you know, we, like, pause like we trained. And when I mean trap, I train. Like, you showed him the ropes. But one of the illest things, getting back to your question, it's like, you know, action. I learned all money ain't good money through him, you know what I'm saying? Like, Yogi offered deal. I'm like, yo, off a. I'm in. I'm in Delaware already. Why not go over to Maryland and get this other bag? And like, I don't know where that bag is coming from. You know what I mean? Like, they want to send their first half in cash instead of red alerts with me. You're not in the streets no more. And I'm like, man, I had to understand that, you know what I'm saying? Like, all money ain't good money. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, how a dude gonna diss your man and then you. You take him, you know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak]

You take money. You know what I mean?

[Alex English]

Like, how are you gonna. You know, I mean, you know what I'm saying? So, like, like. And you know, you young. That's hard to like you. You're essentially saying turning down money, but then you like, yo, you know what? I didn't turn down money. I just picked up my integrity.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Alex English]

You know what I'm saying? So, like, now I know that, you

[Memphis Bleak]

know, but back then it was like, yo, you bugging.

[Alex English]

Listen, I'm thinking, he's bug. Are you a good manager? And that's the crazy was. He was somehow like, if. If he turned down something like me and Pon or something like that, like, he would replace it with something. Like, I remember, like, he turned down something, but then he replaced us with Johnny Blaze or something. Like, turn down this clothing was like, yo, they just. They just whatever, Whatever.

[Noriega]

Thing was echo.

[Alex English]

Nah, it wasn't echo. No, it was. It was like some, Some. Some. Some. Some other. And he was like, all right, cool. But I got this. So it wasn't like. But sometimes it was. Sometimes it was like, yo, you dead. It's not getting no jelly beans first. Dude with jelly beans, like, do camouflage jelly beans. Come on. He's like, you don't see it? He's like, no. He's like, like, no, he's going to act true.

[Noriega]

Like, he made sure you got your money, man. Like, when. When I came home, he said, don't worry about nothing. What you wanted? I said, yeah, I want a cherry red b. Cherry red Lex. I said, I want 10,000 cash I told listening to all that. And then it was Chris Lighty and him who executed it.

[Memphis Bleak]

Wow.

[Noriega]

Then I couldn't even cap the pen. I'm the delexus. I had to give it back and settle. He just take the money. They gave it to you. They could.

[Memphis Bleak]

What?

[Noriega]

But he also made everything they gave me. When I came home and write him, damn, like, Chris was in play. So I respected him because he didn't have to have faith in me. He. I wasn't around him.

[Memphis Bleak]

He.

[Noriega]

He didn't have nothing to go off of.

[Alex English]

But him violated was like the illness, man. Like, God bless me, because, you know, Rock Nation. But let me just tell you something. The first Rock Nation was violated. Violet.

[Memphis Bleak]

God bless.

[Alex English]

Listen. God bless, listen. There's no shots, you know, we know how you. But what Roc Nation is doing, like, how they. Like taking care of the artists. Like, God bless me. Like, when you see Mona Scott be so successful and you see like, Yandy and like, you know, Claudine, Joseph, all them. That's all from a father. Like how.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's crazy.

[Alex English]

Like, how all.

[Memphis Bleak]

Rockefeller.

[Alex English]

Rockefeller is like. You know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak]

So, see, the Sher, Bryans, Glenn, Robin, it comes from G. Robinson. Yeah, yeah.

[Alex English]

Comes from something else. And now when you see Roc Nation, I'm like, absolutely. They, like, took it like, you know, God bless. You know, Chris not being here, there was a wide open spot because. And then, like, you know, just think about it, man. A person, people of that magnitude. Like, Joe told me a story one time where it's like he called or he was closing a deal and dad got on the phone. I was like, boom, boom, boom. You know. Now you closing it for this, just for her getting on the phone. And it was like, like, that's like powerful, you know what I'm saying? That's like a powerful thing, like they're scared to do. Because, I mean, they're scared of them. They're scared to do bad business with them because they're scared of them. And that's dope.

[Memphis Bleak]

Hell, yeah.

[Alex English]

That's a different type of.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a different type of power.

[Alex English]

Yeah, it's a different type of power.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm trying to get some of that power.

[Alex English]

Yeah, that's right.

[Memphis Bleak]

You know what I'm saying?

[Alex English]

Yeah, that's right. But, yo, that's right.

[Memphis Bleak]

Then you, like, the music is one thing. You learned to pivot, you know what I'm saying? Cause a lot of us from New York, we got older, you know what I'm saying? And we couldn't do the same things we was doing when we was younger. You pivot into the podcast space. Drink champs.

[Alex English]

I did reggaeton first.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, but we like.

[Alex English]

Oh, you don't want to talk about that.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, you want to get into reggae

[Alex English]

D. Yeah, it was. It was a rock. Cause you just skipping over. I was rem.

[Memphis Bleak]

I a know how much time we got. I know this is cnn. This not Nori. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah.

[Alex English]

The podcast is going to skip to the podcast.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, no, no, no, no. Nope, nope. Let's go to reggaeton now. Let's get to my man Don Omar. All of them reggae ton. Let's go, let's go. So listen, how did that come. Cause wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Let me ask the question in my way. Fuck the journalism way. You was black then all of a sudden, I'm sasa Ramon. What?

[Alex English]

The very first vibe you ever heard me on is Jose Luis cat. Like, who. Who the you think that that is? Like, I'm straight up. Told him straight up the whole time. I told him I was too proud to be bing. Like, they just didn't listen. You know what I'm saying? They ain't listen. So when it came my time, I went to Puerto Rico. I had. It was. It was. Got their own show at this time. So, I mean, sto. Got their own show, and he turned it down. I went out there and I was like. I performed. I. I heard that, and I was just like, oh, shit. And I went and I tell you this, like, Ponan Noriega doing, like, not Nori myself, but, like, performance. Poden Noriega records. Like, people get stabbed. Like. Like, so I'm used to that. Like, at one point, I was like, yo, my nick is. I don't think I'm kelty. Like, I don't think. I don't think it's good. Yeah. Like, nobody, like, in the bathroom. Like, no. Like. Like, maybe we didn't see it. Like. Like, I used to feel like that, like someone had to get stabbed. Like, like, if. Bang, bang, come on. And nobody don't get hit.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, I mean, listen. Nobody don't get hit, to tell you the truth.

[Alex English]

I swear to God. I swear to God. Pharrell cannot deny this. Yeah, my very first time, Pharrell gave me a compliment. He was like, yo, they're throwing chairs to super thug. Like, that was his. That was his. That was his level, like, level of success, too. If they wilding. So this was that shit at that time. You know what I'm Saying so for me to go from that. And I was like, yo, I looked at my cousins is in Puerto Rico, and I was like, nobody's gonna fight. And they were like, what? Looking at me like, man, if I picked up, man, you get the comment? And then I came to and I tried to, like, tell people about it. No one care. Look at, look at the halftime show. The halftime show.

[Memphis Bleak]

Shout out. Yeah, man.

[Alex English]

Like that. He literally took my idea of having all the flags. You know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak]

Bad Bunny took your style.

[Alex English]

No, don't say that. Look at all the flags. Yeah, you know, all the flags. That's every club or have all the flags. He did that same thing. And I'm saying, that's dope.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, he represented. He held it down. But you New York Queens. Yeah, I respect all the reggae. Don't.

[Alex English]

Right?

[Memphis Bleak]

But you flipped it. Niggas said, you know, usually niggas get, you know, a bagel with cream cheese. You like, I got the cream cheese with bagel on it. How you saying,

[Alex English]

yo?

[Memphis Bleak]

Only trying to do. They can say, I got the cream cheese with bangle on. It was like, whoa.

[Alex English]

You know the truth. We told truth. Yo, we pressed that record up, like, right, listen. We had a record called. It was called Don't Want Reggae. Don't. Don't Reggae Don't. That was the hook. Don't Want Reggae shit is a smash, everyone. No, no, not that. No. This is a whole. Another record. This is a whole nother record record. So the people come to collect the record. I got like an hour and I'm listening. That's. That's. That was the hook. Don't want to make it. Don't. I was like, nah, that's not it. I went. And in the sky was already on. No, I believe this guy was already in the way. And I just sat. Looked at the wrong. Said, listen to me. I want to take Big Pun's chorus and expand it. Remember, Big P said, holy crap.

[Memphis Bleak]

More than that.

[Alex English]

That's it. That's limited. And by the way, he's not him. Depending on who you ask, he might or might not be talking about black girls because they call Latinas morenas. You know what I'm saying? So, like, so like, I, I, I'm. I'm in the culture.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Alex English]

You know what I'm saying? So I had to know. And I said, you know what? You know what? Let me take my brother's, you know, from, from Heaven's Idea and expand it more, because this is what he really Tried to make, you know what I mean? This is what he really would have, cuz, you know, Although he's proud to be boldy, if he would have got to travel that whole world, like how he was supposed to, like, you know what I'm saying? They couldn't. There wasn't no Private Jacks back there. Listen, he had a double joint.

[Memphis Bleak]

I respect pun. I love him. I seen a lot. That was my first time ever seeing that. We was going to Cancun.

[Alex English]

Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

We was all on the plane.

[Alex English]

I got all three seats all the time.

[Memphis Bleak]

Got all three seats and they strapped from one side to the other. And I walked by and I was

[Alex English]

just like, yeah, I ain't gonna lie. I think they had a special buckle for that, like. Yeah, I think so.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, and then it's so sad that he was like, yo, I'm trying to get in shape. I'm losing weight.

[Alex English]

Yeah, no, he was. Yeah, he went to a. Listen, he ain't went to a platform listen, I'll tell the story. Maybe too much, but people love it. So back then, you could hear the Raider station. I believe he's in South Carolina or North Carolina, right? And so I was on one radio station and he heard me. So he. He's like, yo, you know, I'm here. You know what I'm saying? He ain't call it the fat for him. He called it something else. And I was like, all right, cool. You know, partner's a funny dude. So I came to pick him up. This is fantastic. You remember the Fantastics?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Alex English]

So he's like, yo. He's like, take me to kfc. So I'm like, what? Like, yo, we need kfc. He's like, father, I got this. Oh, yeah. All you gotta do is take the skin off and it's coverage. Grilled chicken, yo.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, I love him for that.

[Alex English]

Remember? He don't got no. He don't got no. You know what I mean? So. So I. I said, I take care of it. Bucking the chicken. I don't even pay attention if he's ripping his skin off or not. Because at this point, he just got me beat, right? So he's like, yo, listen, we gonna stop at the gas station. I'm gonna get some beer. So I'm like, like, what do you mean? Why you bed. Like, what?

[Memphis Bleak]

What do you mean?

[Alex English]

He's like, man, I got this. It's gonna be light. Yo. Yo, let him relax. I want to call myself naive, but to tell you the truth, when I realized how stupid I was, that was stupid. So his was crazy.

[Memphis Bleak]

I got light beer.

[Alex English]

His was crazy. His was crazy, right? Susan will drop him off. Like, he must have walked through there. Cause he hasn't drank in so long. He must have.

[Memphis Bleak]

They smelled it. Yeah, it should come out your pores.

[Alex English]

The guy is like, yo, don't you ever come here again. Right? So now this is. This is.

[Memphis Bleak]

Man, they banned you from the fat phone?

[Alex English]

No, because I was at the side. I had to sign. I had to sign. So basically I was responsible. I didn't notice. I'm fucking 20 fucking like, I didn't notice. He got on board me. So his was crazy. Years later, this is years, years later, guy comes up to me. He's like. He's just looking at me and I'm like. I'm used to being stared at sometimes. So I'm just like, all right, cool, maybe. All right. So I'm looking. He's like, I know you. I was like, yeah, of course. A lot of people do. He was like, you the guy who came and picked up Christopher? This is when I knew. I was like, he didn't call Pun. Pun. So he clearly only knew me from picking up Pun. And they were laughing. Cause they didn't really know who Pun was. Or maybe they did. You know, it wasn't Instagram back then, but then. And I saw the guy who saw me, and I actually know the guy.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's crazy, man. Yo, but like I was saying too, man. Here come drink, champ.

[Alex English]

Yep, okay.

[Memphis Bleak]

One of the leading podcast voices in hip hop, you know what I mean? Y' all set the trend. 10 year anniversary. What was that like? What made you even think, yo, I can do this.

[Alex English]

You talk about me, right? Yeah, well, we had. Did a radio show, me and efn. I moved out here. EFN is a wild boy. He used to be a wild boy. He's very. He's a very good dude now. Yeah. For me to be. Bring me ecstasy, all type of shit.

[Memphis Bleak]

Chill, chill, chill.

[Alex English]

Or type of chill.

[Memphis Bleak]

Not my man, Mr. Conservative.

[Alex English]

Now, I don't think he ever brung it himself, but he had it delivered around him. Yeah, so some real cool. You know what I mean? So I'm just playing, but I'm not. But he was the dj, know. And when I moved down here, that was like my. My crew. So I had moved close, closer studio to. To the studio. And then I started using the studio. And then he would use. He would play poker and I would stay up all night. You know what I'm saying? Like, and we Were like, whoever up at night. You're a drink champ. So we started running with that and then we did a radio show with this guy named Leo G. And that's what. Remember Leo G? Yeah. And that's when Serious Satellite and X. X, it was XM Radio. Serious Sound. Like that's where they merged. And I believe we had to like, could have went there. We had to be in New York once a a week. And it was just like, I was so beat. I was just like, yo, man, I can't go once a week, like right now. I can't travel like right now. It's crazy that I said that back then. Yeah. Like right now when I travel, I need two days off, man. When I come home, you I'll be telling you, I know it's a hard person. Listen, I be like, yo, I don't get it no more. This come back from Italy and be outside the next day like, yo, yo, what? Like you don't need. You don't need a half a day off, bro. I go to la, I be up when I come back, bro. Because that time difference messed me up. But yeah, what's the point?

[Memphis Bleak]

Drink champs.

[Alex English]

Yeah, Drink champs. So. So I was like, nah. And then this dude from. It's crazy because they don't exist no more. Dude from CBS Radio, he had had a old dat. He said old dad or something. He played it for us and he played it. He was like, yo, would y' all be able to do this again? So if you look at that show, it's the same exact show. Like, that's what I'm trying to tell you. You like, if you try something and you fail. Yeah. You might can take that same product, package it different rend it.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Alex English]

I'm not saying we failed. It's just that it didn't work because it didn't get to the potential that it was because of the merger. But we didn't change nothing. Like literally we're saying the same. Like when you hear me say Military Crazy Rule podcast, I'm still stuck in that old show. I'm supposed to say, this is Drink Champs happy hour, you know what I'm saying? Like, it could be stuck in the old show. So we wounded it. We had CBS and we hit like we hit what we wanted to hit. And we've been it, you know, pretty much ever since. 10 years. We're gonna do another 10. Not years, excuse me, but another 10. We got something really planned. Very nice. We're gonna do to celebrate the 10 year anniversary as well, but we're gonna

[Memphis Bleak]

do it our way.

[Alex English]

Like, yeah, like, you know, like, you know, I'm. You know, I might like some luxury if it might be some normal, but us together is like the medium ground, you know what I'm saying? So that's what, that's what we want to like cater to, like, you know what I'm saying? The people that can relate to us,

[Memphis Bleak]

you know, like Paul, like you state, you know what I mean? Grounded roots to home. Queensbridge did a lot for your neighborhood, your community and all that. I had a question I always wanted to ask you. Cause growing up, the videos you did get in the magazines I did see you in, you was always a fly like you are today. My man got the drippy ass, you know what I'm saying? Like, did you ever think about going into fashion?

[Alex English]

I saw my.

[Noriega]

I got out right now.

[Memphis Bleak]

This is what I'm talking about. Talk about it, you know what I'm saying? What a segue,

[Noriega]

you know? You know, my brand is a costume collection, you know, that's my brand. You know, I've been, I've been a fashion. You know, my mom, she's fashioned, you know. You know, the dopest thing was about my bro. He got to meet my mother while she was alive. She used to always kidding by them drinking dress anybody. My mother dressed me from a baby.

[Memphis Bleak]

Penny loaders with tube socks, real hood word out with no pennies in them.

[Noriega]

Was always like. I was always a kid about like, if you go to my projects, that's what they gonna say. That's what I was looking for. Yeah, my dad, he had me in Dabadan jackets and all that. Dan in the 80s with Dapper Dan after said I knew Da Dan all my life. Cuz Da Dan was making jackets.

[Memphis Bleak]

Pop was outside, he was getting Dabad jackets. Yeah, he was outside talking about my dad.

[Noriega]

My dad probably more famous than me

[Alex English]

and my dad more par.

[Memphis Bleak]

Damn, that's crazy. For real.

[Noriega]

Because my dad then followed every generation. I've been out the hood for 40 years.

[Memphis Bleak]

N. You feel me?

[Noriega]

My dad been in the hood for 40 years.

[Memphis Bleak]

Damn. That's. That's legendary, man. That's legendary. You feel me?

[Noriega]

Every artist, every, everybody is right up to my dad. So, you know, and my dad, that's what he's known for being a fly ass drop cars. He had the Beamers, the Benders, the.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh yeah, Pops was outside for sure. For sure.

[Noriega]

Like that's where I come from. So fashion, my cast, you know, I'm at a Costa girl

[Memphis Bleak]

that's right. Make sure they go, I need some drip. Cause that suit right there. Yeah, I need some drip. That's sure. I definitely rock it.

[Noriega]

That's what. That's what we do.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like watching your bro go from music to this journalism man. Now, like, how has that been from you? And did you ever feel like it was something you can get into too? Or you just was like, nah, you.

[Noriega]

So from the beginning, I remember that time when it was just a thorough. Like he was in Miami and we had a party at the. At the wall. Was at the Wall. Wake up. The Wall.

[Alex English]

Yeah.

[Noriega]

He was like, yo, I'm taking him through this podcast. And then he did an episode and then I think the next episode was probably me and Gunplay.

[Memphis Bleak]

Shout out gunplay. A dog am somewhere around there.

[Noriega]

But, you know, at the end of the day, I knew that, that that was something he was passionate about. You know, I seen a lot of things he do where, you know, was ago. He throw it, he. He get into it. Then it's like on to the next, you know. But this, I. I felt like, you know, like he seen something that the world didn't see. Meaning that park had out at that time.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, they wasn't. No, it wasn't.

[Noriega]

But it was only.

[Memphis Bleak]

It was only a few. Yeah, it was only audio. Yeah.

[Noriega]

So you got to realize it was only audio. So the first Drink Champ episodes was only audio. So when it turned to video, like, what was that when like co hit.

[Alex English]

We. We. We. We filmed them shits.

[Noriega]

No, I'm not saying you didn't film it. I'm saying it had no filming platform.

[Alex English]

Podcast n. Like. Like in the beginning. That's why I told A lot of people know that like, they front and now because they caught up. Like, what? A lot of people, they were just giving the audio and they were. And. And if the video did come, they was giving it away for free.

[Noriega]

So I don't want. That was a cbs.

[Alex English]

I don't want to. Yeah, I don't want to offend nobody. Like, so if that wasn't you, I'm not talking about you.

[Memphis Bleak]

You know this. It's a very sensitive world we live

[Noriega]

in, you know, like. Like that's definitely a place where you at?

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm surprised he ain't dragged you in. He dragged me in.

[Alex English]

You know what?

[Noriega]

You know what?

[Memphis Bleak]

He dragged me in at the end.

[Noriega]

You know, he be telling your big guest hoes, but, you know.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, I ain't think I had it, bro. Him and Sonny jumped me. You know what I'M saying they made me do this shit. I be getting. They be. Sonny be sending threats. Yeah, they. They think I'm being nice journalist. They don't know. Sonny be threatening me behind the scenes. Blink, you better shoot up.

[Noriega]

One thing I can say, Sunny Patrick

[Memphis Bleak]

N. That's my guy, man. Love Sonny, man. It's my dude. He part of D mafia. You know what I'm saying? All the way. He might be the leader.

[Alex English]

Word up.

[Memphis Bleak]

He might be the leader. Word up.

[Noriega]

Thousand bottles of pain Thousand bottles. Everything he got.

[Alex English]

Yeah, we was. We was messing with. Oh, it was like Sonny ate. Because we know we had a joke on the show. Sonny, you not Ace approved. So we had, like, play it out with us. He was like, is Sonny Ace approved? And he goes, no, no, sir. He's like. He's good with the D. Walks away. You can tell her the whole face. We told him to see you tell the whole face. Like, is he really all right?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. It's crazy, man. Like, looking back on everything y' all accomplish collectively, individually, you know what I mean? Legendary status, man, in my eyes. And I'm pretty sure a million people, probably 10 million people, feel just like I feel. How do you feel? Y' all music represent the era of New York today.

[Alex English]

Yeah, let us go.

[Noriega]

I mean, you know, I look at it like we had every opportunity to make us reparable for New York today. Meaning we had the supreme deal. You know what I'm saying? Things different. Things different. But everything was so New York.

[Memphis Bleak]

It was part of everything that's right.

[Noriega]

That needed to be sold. New York, they have. They have vloggers and everything. So our music is. Is part of that timeless New York culture where you get them maybe 10 albums. And they put in that bubble. So, you know, in that.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right, man. Like, when people talk about Queens, hip hop, so many now, we ain't gonna forget. All the artists in Queens might not know the neighborhoods they from, but we can't forget. Cause y' all got a lot of LLs. Run DMC screwball.

[Noriega]

You start thinking about,

[Memphis Bleak]

come on. Then we gonna be here for two hours, naming all up. Like, seriously. But it's a lot of legends, you know what I mean? When people talk about Queen's hip hop history, what do you believe CNN fit in there?

[Alex English]

I believe we survived in that. In that era where, first of all, you have to be nice to have. Get a record deal certain. You have to be, like, you had to. You had to be consistent. They can have a record deal. You had to, like, you Know, swallow your pride to a certain, certain degree. And. And then when you got there, like, you had to, like, get there, you know what I'm saying? So, like, I'm like, when, like, like, I, I, I, I, I, I, I live where, you know, people came up to me and was like, yo, the War Report got me through my bed. And that is like, good and bad at the same time. Because it's like, man, I wish you wasn't doing that. Like, you know what I mean? Like, what I mean by that was like, being incarcerated.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Alex English]

And I get it. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, man, that's just, you know, that's what Illmatic did for me. You know what I'm saying? Like, so, like, like, and that is happening to this day, you know what I'm saying? UPS worker would come out, you know. Yes, they still around, you know what I'm saying? Not just Amazon, you know, but UPS worker would come out and be like, yo, man, when I was young, yo, man, you raised me. And, like, you know what I mean? I was in the United Lounge the other day. I'm sitting there and I can't. I can't pay for my. I can't. I can't tip. I can't do nothing. And the guy's like, yo, man, I'm sorry. Put my car down for you. What? He's like, yeah, like, he's like, yo, man, the War Report raised me. And I'm like, all right, cool. You know, I'm not gonna argue with you. Let's keep the party going.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right. You know what I'm saying?

[Alex English]

So it's like, you know, like, we touch people. You know what I'm saying? You touched people with that shit. Like, you know what I mean? Like, Like, I remember at times I couldn't listen to the War Report because it was just so much pain. Like, I don't believe we exaggerated like, on most of those bars. I don't believe we even knew how to. We just knew how to write what we was going through. That's why we were going through war with the War Report. And it's crazy because he was in his crib when he had green leather couches, Man, I thought he was so rich, you know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak]

Pops was with Daddy dad, drop tops, you know what I mean?

[Alex English]

He had a wash it and dry it.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, that was big deal. That was big deal.

[Alex English]

I like, yo, his career was different.

[Memphis Bleak]

Big deal. Word up.

[Alex English]

Watching cnn and as it said, the World Report. And I Don't remember if he was already called CNN or if we, like. I was like, the World Report. I was like, the World Report. It was like, the world. And then that was it. Our song started being, like, aimed towards that. You know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak]

Legendary.

[Noriega]

That's what the actual all going on.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's legendary, man. I got a legendary, you know, me and you got a legendary freestyle on Tim Westwood out there in London. You know what I mean? You was holding me down, you know what I'm saying? You know what I mean? I should have known I could look at that video and should have known right there. Cause you was amping the bars like I was murdering it. Those was major water gun bars, and you was amping it. So I should have known you would have amped me to do something later.

[Alex English]

I was like, yes. Let's go, Pete. Let's go.

[Memphis Bleak]

Nah. What. So what's next for my guys, man? I don't want to say it. I'd rather y' all say what's next.

[Alex English]

We in the studio right now. Our first time in the studio in a long time.

[Memphis Bleak]

Right?

[Alex English]

You know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak]

Cause we need that war where. It's the War Report, too. That's what we going with.

[Alex English]

He ain't even know it. He ain't even know it. But, yeah, that. That was a Dr. Dre beat. I ain't tell nobody I shut the up, you know what I'm saying? I shut the up to go about it like it's a Dr. Dre beat. So I set the up.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, you gotta tell so they can go about it.

[Alex English]

We killed it. We killed it. Now you know. Now you know. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. I was like, yeah. Saying like. Because if you do that, that's how you lead in the witness. You know what I'm saying? Like, all right, cool. Nah, nah, nah. We killed that on our own now, you know, Finally. This is Dr. B. He's still gonna prove it, though.

[Memphis Bleak]

Y' all played two joints. To me, that sounds hazardous.

[Alex English]

And one is Dr. Dre.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, God damn them. Sound like what we needed. What I missed from my guys, man. Y' all think it still sound like. Like y' all in the hallway, you know what I'm saying?

[Alex English]

Word up.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right, man. And I respect that, man. I love to see y' all together healthy, getting money, taking care of the family, traveling the world.

[Alex English]

I'll tell you one thing. I want you. I remember we was on a tour one time, and it was crazy. Cause CNN, like, they scared of that crowd. So we get 6:00 clock show, and then we'll have like an 8:00 clock after party. And then when I started doing reggae, though, I would have a 10 o' clock after party. I was like, yo, we could. We could like, really do three different things.

[Memphis Bleak]

You good, My G? I just wanted to say, man, I appreciate y' all for pulling up, man. It's an honor. I'm a fan. And now I'm family. You know what I'm saying? Now we're family. It's rock solid. Drink champs for life. You know what it is, is, man, cnn. We here. I'm. I can't wait to hear more records, cuz. The two records I heard Phenomenal got

[Noriega]

a album on Sunday.

[Memphis Bleak]

True. That's a fact. He said he got something for me right now. We going to see if he cap it. If it's a flag on a play

[Alex English]

for you, I played it for you. The hit different. Yeah, but that's a Nori record. Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

All right, we in there. Let's get it, man. Appreciate my G's, man. Love, bro. Let's go. You know it, my brother, man. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows at. And you can follow me on any social media platform under the name Memphis Bleak. You see anybody frauding Flag Em?

[Sam J]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.