DJ Clue | ROC Solid w/ Memphis Bleek

Summary

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ROC Solid Podcast: DJ Clue | ROC Solid w/ Memphis Bleek

Release Date: June 16, 2026
Host: Memphis Bleek
Guest: DJ Clue

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Episode Overview

This episode of ROC Solid delivers an in-depth, candid conversation between Memphis Bleek and legendary mixtape DJ and producer DJ Clue. The two dive into untold Roc-A-Fella stories, the realities of the mixtape and radio game in ‘90s and ‘00s New York, and Clue’s influence on music, business moves, and hip-hop culture. The episode is a nostalgic yet forward-looking reflection on legacy, changing industry dynamics, and the unique brotherhood within the Roc-A-Fella family.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Early Days & Breaking Into the Game

Timestamps: 02:32–06:34

• Bleek thanks Clue for providing his first opportunity to record outside Jay-Z's direct oversight with the track “Thugged Out Shit.”

  “Thugd out shit was the first record without the tutelage...when I went to the studio with you and Duro, it was just us...I appreciate that opportunity.” – Memphis Bleek (02:58)

• Clue’s beginnings:

  • Started rapping as “MC Drama” before gravitating to DJing, inspired by his uncle.
  • Started making his own mixtapes after being unsatisfied with other tapes, selling out quickly at shops across boroughs.

• Seminal Street Moments:

  • Tales of learning street smarts in New York—getting through tough train rides and selling mixtapes in Brooklyn and beyond.

“I was stealing my parents' car at nine.” – DJ Clue (05:06)
“Had to learn…the train's not the way to go. I watched a whole train of people get robbed. They robbed everyone in the car except me.” – DJ Clue (06:38)

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2. DJ Clue’s Impact on the Mixtape Industry

Timestamps: 06:55–13:45

• Revolution of the mixtape game:
  • Mixtapes as street anthems and cultural moments.
  • Clue’s tapes became THE New York sound, creating anticipation for Friday night drops.
  • Drove “album rollout culture,” influencing how labels approached release strategies.

“The demand was so crazy, man…when I was dropping, I felt like everybody would stop what they doing…they wanted that Clue tape for sure.” – DJ Clue (12:45) “Albums used to drop on Tuesdays…I made sure I dropped on Fridays.” – DJ Clue (13:28)

• On mixtape exclusivity and artist connections:
  • Frequently got music directly from artists and labels, not by “stealing” from studios as rumors suggested.
  • Built a reputation for releasing exclusives and breaking new artists.

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3. Joining Roc-A-Fella & The Evolution to Mainstream

Timestamps: 14:01–16:28

• The Street Signing Story:
  • Bleek recounts how Clue signed with Jay-Z and Dame Dash literally “in the street, like a drug deal,” while Sony tried to match.
  • Clue chose Roc-A-Fella out of loyalty, despite a richer Sony offer.

“I was like, listen, I'm a man of my word. So I told Dame, I'm an honor. It ain’t about the money.” – DJ Clue (14:39)

• Ambitions Beyond Mixtapes:
  • Pursued radio, albums (“The Professional”), and eventually production as part of his progressive “bucket list.”

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4. Hot 97, Freestyles, and the Golden Era

Timestamps: 16:09–18:48

• Monday night mixtapes on Hot 97 became appointment radio for freestyle debuts and NYC exclusives.
• Freestyles from Jay, Sauce Money, the Lox, and DMX became legendary—“like getting the call for a DJ Khaled album today.”

“People come out to freestyle…every Monday night from 10 to 12, the whole city was tuned in, see who was going freestyle, see what exclusive records I had.” – DJ Clue (16:12)

• Nostalgic stories about tour life, slap-boxing backstage, and DMX “releasing pit bulls during soundcheck” give personal color to the tour grind.

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5. The Backstage Incident & Roc Tour Stories

Timestamps: 16:28–19:16

• Clarifies rumors: A supposed confrontation between Clue and Beanie Sigel was actually a drunken, playful moment backstage.
• Reflects on the “backstage” tour camaraderie, ritual pranks, and the legendary vibe of those Roc and Ruff Ryders tours.

“The crazy part is…someone said that Bleek said I pulled a weapon out on Beans or something like that…not true.” – DJ Clue (17:21)

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6. Building Artists: Fabolous, DMX, and Desert Storm

Timestamps: 22:33–27:03

• Highlights Clue's pivotal role in launching careers—Fabolous, DMX, the Lox, Foxy Brown—all first given shine on Clue tapes.
• Unique story: DMX's “Get At Me Dog” started as a Clue mixtape freestyle.
• Discusses the Desert Storm crew and the overlooked “movement” that helped shape NYC rap.

“The impact of the Clue tape was crazy…Desert Storm movement…had a wave, and I feel like y’all don’t get enough credit.” – Memphis Bleek (24:35)

• Addresses a longstanding rumor that Clue didn't support Bleek on radio because of an alleged bet with Dame Dash—Clue denies this was ever serious.

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7. Hip-Hop’s Digital Decline & Legacy Concerns

Timestamps: 29:32–34:16

• Clue’s tweet: “Hip hop is really doomed” reflects concern about the quality and artistry in today’s “microwave music” era.
• Critiques: Over-sampling of recent songs, lack of lyrical content, and the effect of easy streaming.
• Debates the respect and importance of physical album purchases vs streaming numbers.

“It’s different when you have to go to the store and buy a Memphis Bleek album…a different type of love and respect for the culture.” – DJ Clue (32:41)

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8. The Legacy and Value of DJs

Timestamps: 34:36–36:48

• Bemoans the lost art of the DJ:
  • “If you didn’t have a right DJ, your show was whack, your set was whack, your party was whack.”
  • Radio and TV remain crucial—streaming is not the same.

“Radio and TV still the biggest platforms...if you can get your record played in New York City on the radio, that’s a big deal.” – DJ Clue (35:22)

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9. Clue’s Pride: Production Credits & Hits

Timestamps: 39:52–44:35

• Most proud of moving into production:
  • Mariah Carey’s "Heartbreaker" and its remix, We Belong Together remix (with the Lox), Lil Mo’s "Superwoman," Fabolous' "So Into You," “Can’t Let You Go,” and "Make Me Better" featuring Ne-Yo.
• Gives the behind-the-scenes stories of getting "Make Me Better" from Eve and Timberland.

“If you can play a record 20 years after you did it and it still rocks…you did your thing.” – DJ Clue (41:00)

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10. What’s Next for DJ Clue?

Timestamps: 44:35–46:09

• Recent show in France for Supreme; Clue is engaged in global DJing, the spirits industry (Bel Air, Vion, Deacon, McQueen), and the "Bag Fuel" podcast.
• Reveals his introduction of Rick Ross to the Bel Air deal.
• Brief discussion of personal and business growth, evolving beyond just DJing.

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11. Jay-Z, Roc Family, and Final Reflections

Timestamps: 46:09–end

• Warm stories about Jay-Z’s sense of humor, their earliest grind making demos in Clue’s mom’s basement, minivan promo tours, and the “moment they realized they’d arrived.”
• Legendary memory: Jay’s in-store appearance in Virginia, wild fan reactions, and the limo being left dented from overzealous crowd love.

“Congratulations Hov, man…from where we started from to where the whole team has got to is crazy.” – DJ Clue (46:51)

• Both close on love and brotherhood, reaffirming there’s no beef and reflecting on how deeply intertwined their journeys have been.

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Notable Quotes

• “Yo, bro, your tape was like…that’s like HOV and Drake hit you and be like, ‘Yo, we just recorded a record, but we need you on the third verse.’” – Memphis Bleek (12:16)
• “At the end of the day…I mean, it was a lot. It was definitely safes full of money, for sure.” – DJ Clue, on mixtape earnings (08:36)
• “Shit, just the obvious…I mean, we did a lot of legendary shit, man. We made the mixtape a global thing.” – DJ Clue, on his legacy (39:52)
• “If you can play a record 20 years after you did it and it still rocks…you did your job.” – DJ Clue (41:00)
• “Radio and TV…still the biggest platforms. They pay the most. Don’t get it twisted.” – DJ Clue (35:22)

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Memorable Moments

• Bleek and Clue’s playful banter about rumored Roc-A-Fella bets and “missing support” on radio, reflecting genuine brotherhood.
• Hilarious and wild tour recollections: DMX’s unleashed pit bulls, slap-boxing, and post-show pranks.
• The affirmation of New York radio’s unmatched power in the hip-hop landscape.

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Segment Highlights & Timestamps

• Clue on growing up and DJ origins: 04:21–06:34
• Mixtape breakthrough moments: 06:55–08:20
• Impact of Clue tapes on careers: 09:00–13:45
• Signing with Roc-A-Fella: 14:01–16:28
• Golden era of Hot 97: 16:09–18:48
• Tour stories and Backstage incident: 16:50–19:16
• Fabolous, DMX, Desert Storm: 22:33–27:03
• Industry change & digital age critique: 29:32–34:16
• DJ’s role and legacy: 34:36–36:48
• Proudest productions: 40:49–44:35
• Jay-Z 30th anniversary story: 46:09–48:49

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Takeaway

This episode is a celebration of DJ Clue's seminal influence on hip-hop, mixtape culture, and radio, as well as a tribute to the Roc-A-Fella legacy and family bond. Through humor, humility, and real talk, Memphis Bleek and DJ Clue shine a light on the culture’s past, present, and hopeful future—delivering the kind of raw, untold history that makes ROC Solid essential listening for hip-hop heads.

Transcript

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

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[DJ Clue]

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[DJ Clue]

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[DJ Clue]

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[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yeah, y', all. You already know what it is. Back with another exclusive. Yours truly, M. Greasy Mythble here with rock solid podcast live at the Vault. And this. This one is a real special special edition episode for me. For y'.

[DJ Clue]

All.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

I got one of my guys, my bro. This a Rockefeller affiliate. My first record I ever recorded without Jay being in the studio with me. He gave me that opportunity with Thugged out shit. We gonna get into all that. It's my guy. Let's welcome Clue to the motherfucking building.

[DJ Clue]

You been good?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Hell, yeah, man. Same grind, different town. What's up, man?

[DJ Clue]

What's up? Chilling, man. Working man, you know, getting to it.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Word up. Long time. Yo, before we get into the history, I always wanted to say to you, yo, I thank you. Number one. Cause Thugd out shit was the first record without the tutelage. Like, I felt like it's all right coming to age. No, N still had the training wheels on, you know what I'm saying? When I went to the studio with you and Duro, it was just us, right? You know what I'm saying? And I appreciate that opportunity. Then we turned around, y' all highway robbed me for mine, right?

[DJ Clue]

How? How?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

I don't even know. It just ended up on your album.

[DJ Clue]

That was a Dame Dash, Jay Z thing, man. Nothing do with that, yo.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

You can't even put. Yo, when you search my right on Memphis Bleak, my catalog on any platform, it just come up. The remix to get the original, you have to put DJ Clue.

[DJ Clue]

Oh, man. Crazy. Crazy.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

You probably ain't know that, yo. Word, but I. Those two of my biggest records, man. And I appreciate that, bro. Like your platform, you helped a lot of out. And I want to say thank you. None of these other artists ever said thank you. I will say that. But, yo, let's go back. I want to know, you know, like I said, I'm a fan, bro. First take me back to Queens, man. Like, what made. What was the spark that made you like it? I'm a dj, nigga. I could do this shit.

[Interviewer / Moderator]

Well.

[DJ Clue]

Well, first I was rapping a little bit first, you know what I'm saying?

[Nicotine Warning Announcer]

You kidding me?

[DJ Clue]

Nah, dead ass.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yo, what was your rap name?

[DJ Clue]

MC Drama.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yo, chill, DJ Drama. It's on verses. Let's go.

[DJ Clue]

Nah, you know what I'm saying? That was it. And then from there, like, my uncle. My uncle and them used to always dj. Like when I was, like, super small around the house, they used to have, like, house parties and shit. That's when N had house parties and shit. So my uncle used to dj. So I seen that from an early age. And then when I started first, like, kind of like driving. I was driving when I was young.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Tell them people. Tell them, nigga. Had them whipped, you know what I'm saying?

[DJ Clue]

When people think I'm lying, when I say I was driving when I was nine, they think I'm lying, bro. I was stealing the car at 9.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Oh, all right. Stealing cars at 9.

[DJ Clue]

No, no, no. I was stealing my parents car at 9.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Even better. You wasn't going to jail, you know what I'm saying? Nah, that's dope.

[DJ Clue]

So when I was driving, I used to always want music and shit. So I used to go to Jamaica Ave and get mixtapes, but it always used to be like a couple joints in there I liked and I was like, yo, if I do my own tape, it's gonna be lit, you know what I mean? So I started fucking around with the mixtape shit and shit. The rest is history.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

You changed the game with the mixtapes, man. Like in them early days, New York scene, like the music scene back then, you know, I got in, in the late 90s. You got in the early 90s, you know what I'm saying? So what was the music scene like then for you?

[DJ Clue]

I mean, listen, that's when like. And no pun intended, that's when I feel like the music was coming of age, you know what I'm saying? So like hip hop started getting played on the radio, you know, all the time. Because it wasn't like that before, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, so when hip hop was getting, you know, more popular and more lit, you know what I'm saying? It was fire.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's a fact. Do you remember, was it a first tape or moment party or anything when you was like, oh, shit, like my name. They know me now in the city.

[DJ Clue]

I dropped a mixtape with. This is when I was going to school. I was going to school in downtown Brooklyn at the time. I was going to New York Tech.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Oh, shit.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah, I was going to New York Tech.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

So they had you trooping it and with the goons. That was DCEP Central.

[DJ Clue]

I was about to say. Dodging the DCEP Central.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yeah, that was DCEP Central.

[DJ Clue]

I used to take the train sometimes. Had to learn the hard way that the train's not the way to go. Word, you know what I'm saying? I watched a whole. And I don't know why they skipped me, but I watched a whole train of people get robbed. They robbed everyone in the car except me.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yo, I'm telling you, it used to be like that. Especially the last car to the train. You had to be. You had to be certified to ride the last car to the train. Any train that a train, G train, Fl, 1, 2, 4, didn't matter.

[DJ Clue]

Az.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yeah, yeah, you better. Better be certified. I remember when I found the S train, I thought I found some. No one Knew about the shuttle that took you straight to Prospect Park. I was like, oh, this is lit right here. The little shuttle. Word. So, yeah, like I said, like, was it a moment? Like, it was like, oh, Rob.

[DJ Clue]

So, yeah, like I was saying, I went to beach street on Fulton.

[Oregon Wildfire PSA Announcer]

Yeah.

[DJ Clue]

And I had. On my mixtape, I had the. And this is when Wu Tang was on fire. I had the Method man remix to All I Need. And I had Live Nigga Rap with Nas and Mobb Deep. So, like, this is when you know you couldn't even download music yet.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's right.

[DJ Clue]

These was exclusive. So I bought a couple mixtapes in there, and then they sold out mad quick. Cause I put them in there on consignment. Cause they ain't really know me in Brooklyn yet. So they call me like, yo, we need some. I'm like, y' all sold out already? So that happened for, like, two weeks straight. Like, I just kept selling more and more. So I had to keep giving them more mixtapes. And then they had stores in the Bronx and in Queens. So that's how the ripple effect happened.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Like, is it true? Cause they say, you know, there's always been rumors. You know, New York City, we the city of rumors, baby. There's a lot of shit you hear. I wanna know, is it true? They said you the first mixtape DJ to put an M in the crib off a mixtape. Is that true?

[DJ Clue]

At the end of the day, I don't know how much it was. I mean, it was a lot. It was definitely. It was definitely safes full of money, for sure.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Back in the day, that's like, N was singing blocks or bricks on a block, and you was just mixtape game. My question, I wanted to always ask, like, was it ever a struggle to get music from labels? Nah, the artist.

[DJ Clue]

I mean, the labels used to give me music. The artists used to give me music. And then, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know, people used to just have, like, you know, exclusives, and they would just give them to me.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's a fact.

[DJ Clue]

People used to always say, I used to, oh, yo, Clue, go to the studio and steal. Never stole a song in my life.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

I was gonna ask you that. Did you have ever had to take a record out the stew? Cause I remember when the Clue tapes, when, bro, when I got in the music game, N knew if you wasn't 1 through 10, it was a problem. Like, that meant the. If you was number one. First of all, I think Jadakiss and the Locks, they had to pay for that slide Every Clue tape, them niggas is number one or number two. Like how. Even though they was murdering.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah. I mean, I was mad that. It's all right. It's all right. Had to really start on the B side of the tape because the tape was really already done, and it was the only place I could actually put it on the tape. So what happened was Irv Gotti calls me, and I'm telling him. He's like, yo, when you doing your tape? I'm like, yo, I'm really done. Like, what you got? He's like, y' all got this. This J record I need to put on there. You know what I'm saying? So I was like, yo. I was like. So he, like, came and met me in a snowstorm. Rest in peace, Earth. Gotti.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Rest in peace, Gotti.

[DJ Clue]

He came at me in a snowstorm and gave me the joint. And I had to, like, figure out. And this is, you know, you recording on DATs. So you had to figure out how to splice the song on there. Feel me? So I had to. I had to figure out a place where I could actually add the song.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

I remember. You probably don't remember this. I'mma bring you back in the day. This might have been Jay and Sauce Money first freestyle on your mixtape.

[DJ Clue]

Oh, yeah, I remember that for sure.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

You remember me being in the studio that day?

[DJ Clue]

Nah, I don't.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yeah, see, I was in the Student when Jay and Sauce rap. They was. I remember we was in the studio in Queens somewhere or in the city.

[DJ Clue]

It was in Manhattan.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

It was in Manhattan. I was a young nigga in there. And J and Source murdered the record. And Jay was like, go ahead.

[DJ Clue]

Bleak.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

I know you got something for it. And I'm looking. I'm looking at Clue. I'm just thinking of the impact.

[DJ Clue]

And I'm like, the crazy part is I had to. Cause I was recording the Locks freestyle for Chest for Chess. Jay was shooting a video with Foxy. I think it was for Al B. Yeah. So he had. So I had to stop the lock session and quickly have Jay and Source.

[Interviewer / Moderator]

Yes.

[DJ Clue]

Record they part. So the Locks were still writing at the time. So they was still. So I just gave them.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's crazy. I didn't even know they was in the studio there. Yeah. And Source and Jay murdered. This shit. So crazy. The way I'm looking at Jay, like, nah, I'm not rapping on that. Fuck no. And then I remember when the tape dropped and N in the hood was blasting that record, and I'm sitting There like I had the opportunity to be on. Yo, bro, that day fueled me to be like, yo, I'm never missing an opportunity like that again. I was a little nervous. Cause that's the presence you held in the street in New York, bro. Like your tape was like these young boys probably, you know, to them now today, that's probably what DJ Khaled getting on the DJ Khaled album. To them probably feel like if Khaled called me for a verse, yo, I'm that nigga. I made it. You know what I'm saying? Right, right, bro, you was equivalent to. That's like HOV and Drake hit you and be like, yo, we just recorded a record, but we need you on the third verse. You like, nigga, of course I got it. That's what a Clue tape was in New York.

[DJ Clue]

Sure. Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Like, so I was nervous, like, fuck, no, I ain't ready. I gotta go back and study some more. So did you ever feel like it was a time when you just knew, man, I run this shit?

[DJ Clue]

I mean, the demand was so crazy, man. So know what I'm saying? Like when I was dropping, I felt like everybody would stop what they doing and just. That's right. Zone in, like, you know what I mean? Cause especially if you dropping on like a Friday night, like when everyone's getting ready to go out and hop in they cars, like they wanted that Clue tape for sure.

[Transportation Safety PSA Announcer]

Do you?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

I feel like they don't give you the credit for the album rollouts. Now today you like, you changed the game with the way the Migda Wit, like you said if you dropped on that Friday, you had a problem when that Clue tape dropped.

[DJ Clue]

Nah, for sure.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

I feel like labels started catering to how you used to roll your tapes out.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah. Cause albums really used to drop on Tuesdays.

[Nicotine Warning Announcer]

Yep.

[DJ Clue]

You know what I'm saying? I made sure I dropped on Fridays,

[DirecTV Advertiser]

you know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

We give everybody the weekend to wild out all them cookouts, pool parties, everything the clubs is rocking. Tuesday, you still got work, school, nigga. Can't really dose that now. Niggas don't. You know, they could dose music whenever, but back then you had to. It was a schedule for that radio.

[DJ Clue]

Nah. Yeah, nah, for sure. So you have to be in tune and shit, man. So, I mean, it's a blessing, man, to even be able to, you know, still be in the game doing what I do at the level I do it at, you know what I'm saying? So still doing records, still doing radio, you know what I'M saying, so just blessing.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's a blessing. Yo, niggas don't know. I was there when you signed your deal with Jay and Dave, too. Y' all niggas did that shit in the middle street like a drug deal.

[DJ Clue]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Niggas pulled up in the middle of the street like a drug deal. Talking in between the cars. And Jay, I remember Dave saying, man, you go roll with us or what? And Clue was like, nah, man, I'm family. I'm with y'.

[Nicotine Warning Announcer]

All.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Jay was like, let me get this sign.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah, because that was the whole. The whole situation with. Because Sony was trying to. Sony and Steve Stout was trying to match the deal. So Dame and Jay and Biggs got pissed. They came with the. Steve's office. Yeah, this is before they was cool. They was.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

And.

[DJ Clue]

And they was like, yo, nah, he's signing with us. Because they. Because at the time, I think they was giving me, like, 50,000 more to sign to Sony. But I was like. I was like, listen, I'm a man of my word. So I told Dame, I'm like, listen, I'm an honor. I'm an honor. It ain't really about the money.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's right.

[DJ Clue]

You know what I'm saying? So I'm an honor. I'm a man of my word. If y'. All. If y' all is serious. Cause I felt like it was in limbo for a little minute. You know what I'm saying? I was like, if y' all serious, I'm with it. If not, I'm doing this other deal. So y' all let me know.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That was my neck. Did you feel like you had grew to a point where you had to become bigger than mixtapes? You wanted to take it to the mainstream?

[DJ Clue]

Nah, for sure. Cause, like, you know, it's like being an artist or being a creator, it's like you have, like, a bucket list. So it's like. You know what I'm saying? It's like, yo, mixtapes. So now, you know, you wanna be on the radio, then you wanna. Do you know what I'm saying? So it's like, you wanna level up. You don't wanna stay the same. So it was like, you know what I mean?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's a fact. So, like, then you crossed over. Like, you dropped the albums, my G. Like I said, that first album, the professional. I got the plaque in my crib, too. To this day, that's one of my first plaques. That Reasonable doubt coming to age them three plaques in the crib and never going nowhere. Cause those the ones that did it for me. So, like. But then after that, bro, you went to radio, and then, like, I feel like your era, that time when you was on Hot 97, that was the best time and music era of New York City that we had.

[DJ Clue]

I mean, the Monday night mixtape was legendary.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Like, that's what I'm saying.

[DJ Clue]

People come out to freestyle. Like, it was really like a mixtape show, but on the radio. So, like, every. Every Monday night from 10 to 12, everybody. The whole city was tuned in, see who was going freestyle, see what exclusive records I had. You know what I'm saying? So it was a time, man, for sure.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's right. And like, yo, I was just telling. Cause my dog, you know, when I told him I'm interviewing you, he was like, yo, you gonna bring up the backstage shit? And I'm like, what you mean? He's like, shit. With him and Beans. And I'm like, yo, you know what's crazy? You see how perception is in the world, bro, that people think Beans ran down on you. Niggas don't even know. That was a whole accident.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah, yeah. The crazy part is it was like, you know, saying, first of all, we was all drinking. We was all drunk crazy.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

And we was backstage slap boxing.

[DJ Clue]

Right, Right. Yeah, yeah.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

And we was playing.

[Interviewer / Moderator]

Yeah, yeah.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

And that's how that shabb. And I told my man, he like, yo, Bleak, you lying. No, as soon as I thought. Ran down, no clue, you know.

[DJ Clue]

You know, the crazy part is. The crazy part is someone said that Bleak said. Damn. Someone said that Bleak said I pulled a weapon out on Beans or something like that.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

No, no, that's what someone said.

[DJ Clue]

I was like, what?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

I said you pulled the weapon. I don't carry no weapon, my nigga.

[DJ Clue]

I mean, I do carry weapons now, but legally.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Ooh, talk that smoke. Who want that smoke? Pull up. I want Clue now, y'. All.

[DJ Clue]

I ain't on that, but. Nah, but people were saying that.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

I'm like, yo, you pulled out a weapon on them? No, it wasn't a weapon. I think what it was. You had the blackjack shit.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah, it had the blackjack.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

And Beans, you was like, yo, nigga, front on me in the club, I'mma hit him in his head. Beans was like, man, that shit don't work. And you like, what?

[IBM Advertiser]

Remember?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

And Beans was like, watch this happen show. I'mma show you how, nigga. And remember, we was playing. So not like we pulled out a weapon on Beans. And he went at. It was a whole member that tour Was the illest tour of life for me, bro.

[DJ Clue]

Like, nah, that's crazy.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Like, we had battles. Think we was kidnapping Rough Rider niggas. They was kidnapping us.

[DJ Clue]

That's when. Rest in peace dmx. DMX would come in the venue before sound like during soundcheck. And he would come in there with the pit bulls.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Crazy.

[DJ Clue]

And he would release the pit bulls off their leashes. And everybody would run in their room like, yo, this nigga's bugging.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Bugging N. Like, yo, we gotta get them niggas back. We gonna kidnap one of them, nigga. We had paintball competition. Like, that was ill. And like I said, it was a lot of misconceptions on that tape. Cause N thought Dane was barking on Lenny when he was on the bus going crazy. A lot of shit on that tape, boy. But what was that like for you? Like, have you been on tour before? Before backstage?

[DJ Clue]

Nah, that was my first time. It was crazy.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

So that was all I.

[DJ Clue]

That was. That was my first tour. My last tour. I mean, like, the only other tour I went on, I did Mariah Carey tour. I did, but I did like. I only wanted to do the major cities, certain cities, you know what I'm saying? So the other ones I had. That's when I had put. That's how sus1 actually got with Mariah. Cause I put him on the tour because I had, you know, I had radio and I had other stuff I was doing. So I put him on a tour when I wasn't there. He would be in my place. You know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

So shout outs to us one that's the fam Oregon.

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[Interviewer / Moderator]

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[DirecTV Advertiser]

Hey, it's Jacob Goldstein from Business History. In our new series American Genius, we tell the stories of three great writers who changed the way business works in America. Our first episode is about Benjamin Franklin, who among many other things was a best selling business writer. Take a listen. He's writing this much later in his life, consciously creating this image of himself. And I do want to emphasize how unusual this model is at the time. This self made man. Mythical. Because you don't want to be self made. It's low class to be self made. You know this idea that we have today is the opposite, right? And it comes from Franklin. Today there is the derisive term nepo baiting.

[DJ Clue]

Well, exactly right.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

And these days if you are a

[DJ Clue]

billionaire, you had better have a Benjamin Franklin story about starting in a garage, coming up with the idea from nothing.

[DirecTV Advertiser]

And here is Benjamin Franklin inventing it right before our eyes. This has been brought to you by Odoo. To listen to more of our American Genius series, listen to Business history. New episodes release every Wednesday on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Like let's talk about my guy Fab too man. Cause nah, for sure you don't. I feel like people look at you as a dj, mixtape dj, but they forget to give you your credit for producing. Cause you put out a lot of smoke in this. You got a lot of records out there that you produce for sure. And then come on man, you got one of the most lyrical artists out of New York City in the last 30, 40 years, bro. Like Fab is a problem, you know what I'm saying? And he saying for y' all both to still be at the top of your class right now is a test of time and respect. Like you gotta show you know what I mean? So what was that like for you? Looking at Fab back then as a young nigga from Brooklyn, did you see all of this happening?

[DJ Clue]

Well, I knew he had what it took because, I mean, obviously, I seen how all these other niggas was getting signed off of being on mixtapes, you know what I'm saying? Like, the first person, first place, they heard, like, Joel's. And, you know, Jim, like, Jim came in with records, and he was like, yo, I'm trying to do my own thing. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, whatever. And he had his records. He had Joel's records. You know what I'm saying? I seen them blow up. I mean, Don Poole put Foxy on the mixtape before. People knew, like, Irv. I remember Irv and D from Rough Riders. You know what I'm saying? Call me was like, yo. I was like, yo, I got this artist, you know, dmx. He coming home, like, two, three weeks. I want to put him on. I want to do a freestyle, put him on a mixtape. So I spoke to. I actually spoke to DMX when he was in jail. Like, he's like, yo, yo, when I come home. So I was like, all right, let's get it. So. So we did the. So when he came home, we did the Get At Me Dog freestyle with the Locks and dmx, and that actually ended up. It blew up so crazy. Ended up being his first single. He did the solo version and made that into a single.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's crazy. I ain't even realize that started on the Clue tape. That's why I'm telling you. The fucking impact of the Clue tape was crazy. My G. Like the Desert Storm movement, Duro, Skang, dollar Maury Cameron, they all like.

[DJ Clue]

You know what I'm saying? Like.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Like, yo, bro, y' all definitely had a wave. And I feel like y' all don't get enough credit as a movement in this game. Like, they try to. You know, people skip chapters in the book. I always feel like people never look at the beginning of the book. They want to skip to the end. So in that process of going to the end to see if everybody is successful, at the end of the story, they skip chapters and forget who was part of that success.

[DJ Clue]

Nah, for sure.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

You know what I'm saying? And Devin Storm, y' all niggas, man. You know, even though me and Fab never got a record, I still respect the nigga, but. And then you let me tell niggas, too. Cause you hit me the other day. You was like, yo, how you gonna tell niggas I don't fuck with you? Bleak, Let me tell you right now. Listen, ain't that you don't fuck with me. You my brother. I love you. I grew up with y' all niggas, bro. It's never no, like, yo, Clue don't fuck with me. Like, fuck that nigga. He a bitch ass nigga. It's like, I just always felt I never got the support from you on radio. But then I heard something. I'm not going to snitch on you and tell who told me this. But then it made sense when I heard this or why? Cause I was like, I was talking to somebody from your crew. I'm not gonna tell who. Cause I don't want you to go back and hang a nigga off the balcony. And I'm like, yo, why? Clue never showed me love like that. N like, yo, Bleak, you probably don't know, but back in the day, man, Dang made a bet with Clue. And I'm like, what?

[DJ Clue]

What bet?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

He said that. Dang bet you that me. Cause me and Fab albums dropped around the same time.

[DJ Clue]

Okay.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

And that he was saying that I was gonna outsell like you was you. Yo, Fab gonna sell more than Bleak. Dame like Bleak gonna sell more than Fab. And y' all bet. And he was like, yo, that's why. And I'm like, it makes sense if you got money on the line. N, like, put that record, Put that shit to.

[DJ Clue]

I promise you, niggas just be talking, bro. There's actually. We might have had, like, a playful bet, but I would never. I would never not play a record to, like, that. First of all, in my mind, a situation like that, it wouldn't even be fair because it's like, if I didn't help y' all the same, how would I even be able to know.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yeah.

[DJ Clue]

Who did what? Yeah, like, how would I be able to know, like, what the real is? I'd rather know what the real is and fail. So I can fix. So I can fix it. Rather than. You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, I ain't never on that. You know what I'm saying? Like, I remember Fab's debut album and J album dropped on the same day.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yeah. Nine, 11. Yeah, that's a fact.

[DJ Clue]

Word out. Cause I was telling people. I always tell people like, yo, like, there's a real good chance that I could have been on that first flight going to la. Because we would shoot anytime we would shoot a video on The West Coast. I would always fly out and I would always fly. I had my radio show on Monday, so I had to beat it from a radio show. And I would leave right after and hop on the first flight to LA to whatever video we shooting. Cause the album dropped on Tuesday and we always would shoot videos on Tuesdays. So the reason I stayed in New York and was home was because Fab's album was dropping. We was doing promo.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's crazy.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah, bro, Insane.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

The music business saved niggas lives, man. I tell people all the time, man. Major.

[DJ Clue]

I always tell people how like, you know, even like during the East Coast, west coast beef, when we used to have to go to la, I seen the shit. Kevin Lyles and Leroy, they used to always make sure we had 24 hours armed security with us all day in

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

front of the hotel.

[DJ Clue]

We had drivers 24 hours a day, all day.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

I remember, yo, that's why LA I gotta love and the hate for la. Because I remember when I first went to la, LA was like going overseas. We was like foreign objects to them. Where they was like, you from New York, I fucking love you. Then it became, you from New York. Hey, dog, get over here, cuh. It's like, who you with? Black?

[DJ Clue]

Like, oh, I remember in front of my hotel door, I had a fucking. I had a security guard with a shotgun in front of my door.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's how you know that. That's why I gotta love and hate. Cause at the end of the day, you gotta respect that could hold a city down to put anybody under pressure that get off that plane, you got security.

[DJ Clue]

We wasn't under pressure. It was just like, you know, just being better be safe than sorry.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

But that's still respect. I ain't never seen have security.

[DJ Clue]

Listen, you always got respect with someone else's territory. You go to somebody else's city, you always got respect.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

You better. But LA is a different level, bro. It's different. We be in a lot of cities, man. Yeah, some west coast is a different. Like you would be a sacked or a mendo nigga. Like, hey, cuz, my cousin in la, Lil Mall in them. Like you're like, what the fuck, man? I thought I just had beef and

[DJ Clue]

Watts and LA is one of them seasons because you can't like legally carry out this. So it's like. I mean, now they opened it up so you can but pause, know what I'm saying? But yeah, like, you know what I mean?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

He had to give us what? He had to give us what? Pause what? Word yo, so in my eyes, you probably feel the same way, though. The music industry changed dramatically. Like, how you feel about the direction, the digital access and everything. Like, how accessible music is today.

[DJ Clue]

I sent out a tweet, like, maybe like a month ago, a month change, and it said, hip hop is really doomed. That was what I sent out. And I said that because I feel like. I feel like if shit continues to go the way it's going now, it's gonna go backwards. Because I feel like a lot of the efforts not there. If you listen to some. A lot of the music, like before, a lot of the music was good. Like, the production was good. Now it's like, a lot of this shit sounds the same. These rappers, like. Some of the rappers, they just like, it's okay to sample a old song.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

You're supposed to make it better.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah, you can't sample the old song and fucking and use the same lyrics that someone else already used.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

But these songs don't even be old, bro. These songs be three, five years old. You be like, nigga, I just heard this record. Like, how you sampling this?

[DJ Clue]

I mean, listen, like I said when we was coming up, we sampled.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yeah.

[DJ Clue]

So you can't handle a sampling aspect, but if you're gonna do a song and at least make the song yours, like, don't use the same hooks and phrases that to. For your hook that the other people use. Like, that don't make no sense to me personally, you know? And then on top of that is not really. Is not really putting that lyrical pain down. It's like. It's like a lot of swag rap. I call. I call it swag rap because it's like, I feel like just talking about. Yeah, they swag and. And bitches and cars and, like, when niggas. When I hear niggas in the song say they got pushed to start, my nigga know how long I had fucking pushed the start. Call my nigga. Like, like, nigga, probably when they was being born.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

The old word, hell, push the star game by, like, 97.

[DJ Clue]

Is that 98. Like, is that really a punchline, my nigga? Like, no disrespect, but come on, man. Like.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Like, yo, I feel like these kids just don't think legacy rap. They think today because the money is great.

[DJ Clue]

Microwave. They microwave shit.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

But the money is great. Now, remember back then, it was really no money. It was no example of billionaires that you could like, oh, I could get this bag and be like them. So it was more of just trying to build your Legacy for us, I think, where it was like, yo, I'm just making the music I love and trying to carve something out. Maybe 20, 30 years from now, this should have. Remember, they don't have to wait that long. Today, 30 minutes from now, that shit downloaded 20 million times, streamed like and they getting the check. So it's like, yo bro, if I made 100,000 off this record in 30 minutes, oh, I'mma make 30 more records in 30 minutes just like that. So you can't be mad at that fact either. But it's not sustainable.

[DJ Clue]

And a lot of, I always say, like a lot of the streaming shit, first of all, they got the, you know, they got the phone forms going shit and the fake streams like in the box and this and that. Third, it's different when you have to go to the store and buy a Memphis Beat album. You had to take your hard earned money and put $8 on the counter to get this album or whatever. 13 or $12, whatever it was. It's a different type of love and respect for the culture. When you gotta go in the store and put your heart. Now you put $12, now you could listen to everybody albums before you had to go in the store and buy that and physically put that money on counter going platinum. Like that is a different level.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yeah, no, that's super different. Think about it. I think what is it? You need a record to be listened to 1100 times to be considered a purchase. Insane, my Nigga. You got 1100 times to be one.

[DJ Clue]

I don't know who made that math

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

up, yo, straight up. That's crazy. Do you feel like mixtapes help create the rollout back then for artists? That that's an element that's missing to me.

[DJ Clue]

Oh, nah, for sure. Like I remember like they used to call me to do. They used to call them sampler tapes. So they would like put like. Yes, they would put like four snippets from the album and then whatever the symbol and whatever the single was. Like, I did Usher's first sampler tape. They had coin for that. I did TI's first sampler tape. Obviously like, you know a couple artists here and there, Nori and Fab. So we did like, like that was like a thing back then to help promote the albums.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

I feel like that's definitely missing. If a lot of these guys got into the mixtape vibe, then they would have to dig, pause deeper in their bag for the album. Because you couldn't drop a mixtape and then drop the album sound the same.

[DJ Clue]

Right, right.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

You Gotta go.

[Oregon Wildfire PSA Announcer]

Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

A level up or a level down. Wherever the your music gonna take you.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah, for sure.

[Interviewer / Moderator]

Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Like today's rappers. Cause back in the day, when I came up, the appreciation for a dj, I felt like if you didn't have a right dj, your show was whack. Your set was whack, your party was whack. I feel like these kids today, like you said, is just microwave music. Do you feel like the appreciation for DJs is a lost art in this game now?

[DJ Clue]

I mean, I feel like, you know, a lot of they try to say, like, I heard rumors like, yo, radio don't matter and it's all about streaming and fuck the radio. But, yo, like, it's like if you don't. If you don't get your song on radio to do good and you don't get the visuals on tv. Like, TV and radio is like, still the biggest platform. That's right. They pay the most.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Don't get it twisted.

[DJ Clue]

They still the biggest platforms. So it's like when I had people say that, I'm like, yo, it's just, you know, ignorance being passed around. Like, it's obviously, it's a business. And they put. And they put that out there. That old streaming is streaming. That streaming is cool, but it ain't the same effect. It ain't the same. It ain't the same respect, like, you know what I mean? Like, if you can get your record played in New York City on the radio, that's a big deal. Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

You know, Trust me, it's not easy. I'm from New York. These DJ niggas did not play me. I'mma tell y' all every time. Jay, that song 99 Problems. Come on. Radio don't play my song if I don't play they show. He really meant they don't play bleak song if I don't play they show. I' ma rewrite it, y'. All. We gonna get the real version on how it's supposed to happen.

[DJ Clue]

You gonna get Jay back in the studio.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Hell, yo, I tried, bro. I sent this nigga records that n hit me one day and was like, yo, bleak. I'm not. No, this is a really good record, but I'm not rapping on it. I'm cool. I'm not rapping no more. I'm chilling. I don't got nothing to say. Maybe you could do it.

[DJ Clue]

I mean, I be trying. I sent him some joints, too. I sent him some fire, too. That I thought with his vibe, but he just.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

If I thought the clips was gonna get him out. I tried to get him out the crib.

[DJ Clue]

I told him just, yo. I said, yo, you ain't gotta do an album.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Just do like verses, one verse, one verse. But it gotta be on one of my joints, one of my songs, nobody else song. And we could put it on Clue tape though.

[DJ Clue]

Word, Word, yo.

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[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

iheartradio so yeah, when people hear DJ Clue, what you want them to associate your name with the contributions you put gave to the game?

[DJ Clue]

I mean, shit, just the obvious, man. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know, I mean, we did a lot of legendary shit, man. So I feel like, you know what I mean? Like, I feel like we made the mixtape a global thing. Cause it was like, you know what I'm saying? The first platinum mixtape album, you know what I'm saying? I feel like it set the tone.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's right. This nigga won the mixtape awards like 15 years in a row.

[DJ Clue]

They had to actually, like, you know what I'm saying, like, make it seem like my shit wasn't doing what we were doing to actually let other DJs through the gate. So I mean, I ain't mad at that though. Like, you know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

You paved the way, man, and that's a big deal, my G. Beyond the tapes and the radio, what you most proud of creating or building in this?

[DJ Clue]

Well, for one, you know, like the production side of it. Cause I think I felt like the production side was like. Was like a level up, you know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Tell them, talk about it.

[DJ Clue]

One of the product records.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Tell them, man. Cause I know some.

[DJ Clue]

Oh well, like the Mariah Carey joints, like Heartbreaker, Heartbreaker remix, Talk about it, We Belong Together remix with the locks, you know what I'm saying? I had a lot of joints. Superwoman, Lil Mo, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, just a lot of records that I did, like, you know what I'm saying? That still, like, you know, if you could play a record 20 years after you did it and it still rocked and still you did your job. Yeah, you did your thing, like, you

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

know what I'm saying?

[DJ Clue]

So, like, you know, when I still hear records on the radio that like, they play so into you with Fab and Tamiya a lot. So, like, when I still hear them records on the radio, I'm like, damn,

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

that shit still come on, you know, I'm in Florida. That shit come on. Like, it just dropped, right, right? And you know, that's that type of. That's that type of beat drive, you know what I mean? That come on.

[DJ Clue]

Like, it just dropped even, like, even like with the. With can't Let yout Go with Fab. Like, I had just pulled the studio because I needed a joint. And I'm like. And, you know. You know how you got to pull up on just. I just pulled the studio. And that's actually when I met eBay that day. EBay was playing the guitar and just had the drugs playing, and he wasn't done. I'm like, n. I'm taking this. I just. I. I really, like, just took the idea. I took the files. Like, I took the guitar and I took the drum shit and actually took it to the studio. And me and Duro put it together and, like. And, like, you know, formatted it and, you know, saying. And Justin, gimme no credit, but just need my credit, yo. So, you know, actually formatted this shit and put it together to make it sound like a real song. And then I brought it back to Justin. He added a little more, you know, what I'm saying stuff to it.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

And that's crazy.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah, man. It was one of them things, like, even, like. But I was talking to my boy Freedom yesterday, because we was at. We went to dinner yesterday, and we was just talking about music and even make me better. So the story with that would make me better. So we had met with Tata. Tata had the beat with Neo on the hook. I'm like, yeah, we need to get fab on that. So, boom, we get Fab on it. Shit's fire. So now I gotta call Timberland to buy the beat. Because first of all, you know, Timbo back then was charging a 180. Yeah, 5180. But I was like, nah, tell my man, he gonna take. He gonna look out. So he was like, so you know, he charges something regular. He ain't charged us no nothing crazy. But the beat. He told me the beat was sold, so he sold the beat to Eve. So, you know, me and E was mad cool. Cause we was on tour together. And, you know, like, you know, back then, like, we was just starting. So, you know, remember Rockefeller or with Def Jam, you couldn't even fly first class until you went platinum.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's right. Couldn't get that nice hotel either until you was platinum.

[DJ Clue]

So me and Eve, we was on tour. We was flying coach together. Like me and her going back to the east coast, whatever. So we was, man, cool. So I called her, and I'm like, yo, I need to holler at you when you gonna be in town? So I took her to dinner. We was talking, you know, chopping it up. I'm like, yo, I got this song. You got the beat. I need the beat. And she was like. She was like, what song is it? I told the timber beat. She was like, damn. She's like, word. I'm like, yeah. She's like, yo, play it for me. So I played it for her, and she was like, yo, this shit's fire. You can have it. I bet. That's crazy.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's dope. Shout out Eve. She is one of the peoples, man. Eve, a real one. So, like, what the next chapter for Clue look like, man? What's next after all said and done? My guy moving to Italy.

[DJ Clue]

Nah, I just came back. I just came back from doing. I did a. I did a party in France, man. It's good to go back there to France. Did a party for Supreme. You know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

We need that. We need that plug. Plug us.

[DJ Clue]

I got you. I got you. They gave. They gave. They gave me carte blanche. Went shopping out there at the store.

[Nicotine Warning Announcer]

Me.

[DJ Clue]

You know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

You got to see the line at the Supreme Store in Miami. I still can't get in the store. Crazy. That might be down the block. That's why I'm like, I need to plug, man.

[DJ Clue]

I could tap in. It's easy. Pause. Word.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yo, yo.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah, not so. Like, man, like, you're just trying to, you know, saying, you know, I got the. I got the podcast as well with my boy Esso, and Heineken Bag Fuel got that. Of course, you know, saying. Me and Rose got to move him with the Bel Air.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

That's right.

[Interviewer / Moderator]

You know what I'm saying?

[DJ Clue]

We got.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Oh, you involved with the Bel Air, too? I ain't know that.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah, bro.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

You know, I see silence snipers out here.

[DJ Clue]

I introduced Ross to the situation, man, so, like, you know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Silence snipers out here. Watch it. Watch it. They on the roof.

[DJ Clue]

So now. So now we got the. We got. We got Bel Air. We got Vion, which is the cognac, you know what I'm saying? We got Deacon, which is the whiskey, and we got, you know, the McQueen violet fog with just a gin. So we got. We moving around.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

You in the spirits game for real?

[DJ Clue]

Yeah, we moving, man.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Hey, that my clue. Minati ain't around, man. Well, I appreciate you pulling up my guy, man. Word up, man.

[DJ Clue]

This is.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

This is a. This means a lot to me.

[DJ Clue]

Me and Memphis beat don't have no beef.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Hell no, man. Never did.

[DJ Clue]

My niggas say that.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

But I got one question before we go. Cause, you know J30, baby. What's what. What you want to say to J30, man? It's 30 years of this.

[DJ Clue]

Yo, J, yo, First of all, Jay is. People don't know. He really is a funny ass nigga.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

He's funny bro project, baby. I try to.

[DJ Clue]

He the only nigga who will say no mean no and start laughing and let look at you in your face while you smoking and laugh and tell

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

you damn, you mad. I said no.

[DJ Clue]

Like, yeah, he a funny nigga. He like, nah. He be like. And he be like, he'll say no. And you think he's joking. Be dead ass serious. He like nah. He'll give you the nah.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yeah, man. 30 years reason.

[DJ Clue]

Congratulations Hov, man. You know what I'm saying? 30 years. Like just to know from. I be telling like from where we started from to where the whole team has got to is crazy. Like from like. I remember Irv bought Jay to my mom's crib in Queens. We made the mixtape at the basement so he could practice for his first show, bro.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yo, chill word.

[DJ Clue]

Chill, chill chill word. And then from that to going on promo tour in a minivan.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yo, I remember.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah, it's crazy, bro.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

16 passenger vans and them turtle tops was in there for real. Stealing pillows out the hotel to be comfy. The next morning we was riding.

[DJ Clue]

Was you in Virginia when we went to the. We did the in store in the

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

limo and they brought. They. They didn't, bro.

[DJ Clue]

So yeah, so let me tell you. Let me tell y' all this story.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

I was there.

[DJ Clue]

So. So we go to Virginia when Jay was dropped his first album. He on a promo or whatever. Whatever. And we go to do in store at this store and back then used to ride the limo.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

It was a long King of New York limo.

[DJ Clue]

So. So we went to the limo for him to go to the in store. Yep, we leaving in store. They surround the whole car. They like when we was leaving, they was Jay Z, Jay Z. Pounding on

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

the car boobs out, putting them on the window.

[DJ Clue]

Remember, bro, by the time we get back to the hotel and we get out and the. And the. The dude who owns the limo get out. Look at the car. There's about 90 dents in this car

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

over his limo up.

[DJ Clue]

Like it was not one part of the car that didn't have a dent in it.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Straight up.

[DJ Clue]

Someone gotta pay for my car.

[DirecTV Disclaimer Speaker]

Yeah.

[DJ Clue]

Like I don't know who, but that shit was finished.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

I think that was the. If I'm not mistaken, I think that was the first day I realized like oh, shit.

[DJ Clue]

It was real.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yeah, this shit really real. Like, we here now. We arrived. Like, that's crazy. I forgot you was there for that

[DJ Clue]

clue, you know what I mean? Yeah, for sure.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Niggas was in these streets mobbing, man. Like I said, man, I appreciate you coming through. I'mma definitely pull up to the podcast. We sure talk about these spirits. Cause you know this.

[DJ Clue]

Yeah, yeah, I already know the vibe.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Whatever you need.

[DJ Clue]

What you need, Dudes, listen, dude, listen. You know, Brett do say is the family. That's. That's like fair. That's like. That's like. Nah, this is this. This is like. You know what I'm saying? This is like cousins. All right.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

Yeah, yeah, that's right. You know what it is, man? It's rock solid. It's DJ Clue. Best mixtape DJ in the world. And if you ain't tap in, you better, motherfucker, tap in. Rock solid. We here.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

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?

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[Memphis Bleak (Interviewer)]

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[Podcast Host / Narrator]

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