Jim Jones (Part 2) | ROC Solid w/ Memphis Bleek

Summary

ROC Solid w/ Memphis Bleek – Jim Jones (Part 2)

Date: October 12, 2025
Podcast: ROC Solid
Host: Memphis Bleek
Guest: Jim Jones

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Episode Overview

This episode of ROC Solid brings together two veterans of the hip-hop game—Memphis Bleek and Jim Jones—for a deep, raw, and personal conversation. They dive into untold Roc-A-Fella stories, the evolution of hip-hop, hard lessons from the road, the realities of music business, loyalty, competition, and personal growth. It's artist-to-artist, unfiltered and real, with both legends reflecting on their journeys, correcting misconceptions, and sharing wisdom for the next generation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kanye West’s Rise & Early Roc-A-Fella Days

• Kanye’s Beginnings: The guys recount their first impressions of Kanye, the producer who insisted "I rap, J." At first, no one took his rapping seriously, but his persistence and raw talent impressed the crew.
  • "Kanye used to come in the room rapping to us... all of us looking at that like, damn, son, got some—what?" — Memphis Bleek [04:23]
• Clowning to Respect: They share stories of clowning Kanye until he proved himself, including freestyling at parties—actions which finally got him recognized beyond just beats.
  • "He would get on the table in the middle of the spot... start freestyling, going crazy. And that's when I think niggas started paying him attention." — Memphis Bleek [05:01]
• Kanye’s First Credits: Revealed his first production was for Mase's group album, not his solo project. [07:12]

2. The Reality of Hustle and Survival in Hip-Hop

• Studio Beat Politics: The urban legend about Cam’ron taking the “Oh Boy” beat is addressed. Bleek clears the air: if Jay really wanted a beat, he’d have locked it in on the spot—no hard feelings, no drama.
  • "Jay didn't let beats sit. If he really fucked with it, he finished that shit right there." — Memphis Bleek [07:42]
• Tunnel Nightclub Tales: The infamous NYC club is depicted as a place of real danger and lessons—bulletproof vests, brawls, and street-level survival instincts.
  • "I went to give one of the twins a hug in the tunnel, and he had a vest on... I looked at that nigga and was like, I don’t think my beef that serious." — Memphis Bleek [08:42]
  • "That was the best lesson I learned in my life in the tunnel." — Jim Jones [11:39]

3. Life on the Road: Tales from the Grind

• Sketchy Promoters & Streets: Both share stories of being robbed, carjacked, or in life-threatening situations in cities from Miami to Chicago to Detroit. The road isn’t all glamorous—a recurring theme.
  • "As a rapper moving around this country, if you not tied in... be careful." — Jim Jones [13:58]
  • "I remember we got left at Club 112 in Atlanta... had to hitchhike with some girls from the club back to the hotel." — Memphis Bleek [16:58]
  • "I end up jumping out the window, bro." — Jim Jones recounts a risky weed run in Detroit [18:02]
• Fake Shows, Stand-Ins, and Getting the Bag: Sometimes the grind gets so tough, you have a homie put on your durag and perform as you to get paid.
  • "I had a act like he was me on stand. I’m backstage watching him, he on stage... lip syncing." — Memphis Bleek [21:49]

4. Roc-A-Fella/Diplomats Tension and Breakup Myths

• Tour Exclusion & Rumors: Jim and Bleek clear rumors about the Roc breakup being due to tour snubs—sharing the truth that internal fires were burning way before that.
  • "Nothing to do with the Brock breaking up anyway, period." — Jim Jones [27:21]
  • "We may have definitely helped speed things up." — Jim Jones [27:36]
• Dame Dash and Harlem Bonds: Jones describes how Dame aligned with Harlem’s Diplomats, but wishes Dame had introduced them more as family to strengthen the crew.
  • "He should have introduced us a different way to make it stronger and made it family, because that’s how it was in the baseline when we first... we was all fam, bro." — Jim Jones [29:50]

5. Pride, Competition, and Early Roc Encounters

• Anecdotes from the Beginning: Jim shares tense early encounters with Roc-A-Fella—such as Mase asking Jay for cab fare, and realizing how pride and appearance mattered as much as talent.
  • "Whether we getting money or tough or bugging, we supposed to look like we doing something, leave out of here with our dignity." — Jim Jones [35:17]
• Jewelry as Status Symbol: Mase vs. Jay in a platinum chain showdown, showing the hunger and competitiveness of young artists.
  • "I’m just showing like the—that we were doing when we were younger, leading up to where we at now... we got to show this that we getting money." — Jim Jones [38:52]

6. Business Lessons, Trust, and Losing Out

• Verbal vs. Paper Contracts: The musicians reflect on how their trust and lack of business savvy let others profit off their work, and why they now value transparency and education in the industry.
  • "I’m dame in the situation that never got writing credits on none of the albums. I’m dame in the situation that got cheated out of so much thousands..." — Jim Jones [46:03]
  • "Don’t pay somebody to read something for you. Pay somebody to teach you what’s gotta be read for you." — Memphis Bleek [72:27]
• Giving Back & Breaking the Cycle: Jim refuses to exploit his artists, determined not to repeat mistakes made against him.
  • "How I treat artists that I deal with... I don’t even take money from my artist deals." — Jim Jones [50:29]

7. Growth, Healing and Unification

• Roc Nation Alignment: Jim opens up about the process and emotional journey of joining Roc Nation, marking a new chapter after former tensions—and what it represented for his legacy and opportunities.
  • "I spent more on a jet to go meet Jay in LA than I made at Rockefeller at Roc Nation." — Jim Jones [60:31]
  • "The moment people see I was able to do that, it would lift the sanction for so many doors moving forward." — Jim Jones [60:29]
• Turning Beefs into Wins: In a memorable moment, Jim tells how he turned Jay-Z's "Ballin" diss into a win by flipping the narrative, celebrating the publicity.
  • "I forced Jay to say my name like four times in his record. Never said nobody else’s name but mine on his records." — Jim Jones [62:03]
  • "You was popping bottles the day he dropped the Ballin' diss... like we won." — Memphis Bleek [62:09]

8. Legacy and Family

• Building Beyond Music: Jim breaks down his venture “the compound”—a content creation facility encompassing music, media, and more, designed to serve his community's future.
  • "This is my final destination for my hip-hop journey, and also moving forward, is my liaison to the rest of the world." — Jim Jones [77:53]
• Bleek’s Expanding Ventures: Bleek details his entrepreneurial moves—restaurants, weed business, barber shop—and stresses diversifying beyond rap.
  • "People need to know what you got going on... look at Bleek and don’t understand the business he’s doing." — Jim Jones [80:12]

9. Santana, Lost Potential, and Renewal

• Check-in on Juelz Santana: Jim speaks about his relationship with Santana and plans to help him launch a show about intervention and healing.
  • "Him going through his battles... and to see him gaining control, focusing up... Wells has been damn near millionaire as a teenager." — Jim Jones [65:42]
  • "He’s always been my favorite rapper. I think that if we’d got it in the right way... Santana could have been just as influential as Jay." — Jim Jones [69:56]
• Youth, Pressure & Industry Traps: They acknowledge the overwhelming difficulties of being artists from a young age, facing temptations and business pitfalls.

10. Wisdom, Survival & Future Outlook

• Spirituality & Survival: Jim reflects on escaping countless dangers, attributing survival to the grace of God and lived wisdom.
  • "There’s no way I escaped the...that I escaped to be here today. I promise you." — Jim Jones [75:46]
• Documenting Life Lessons: Plans for future books, movies, and content that tell the real stories—warts and all.
• Artist Empowerment: Both stress the need for artists to control their business, educate themselves, and "never take it for granted."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the grind:
  "Every time I get on the plane, I just prepare for a mission...until you get to that bag—you’re like, I got the bag, I’m getting the fuck out of here." — Jim Jones [21:59]

• On the myth of artists getting taken care of:
  "Ain’t nobody taking care of niggas over here, baby. Nah, you good... We live, we getting money." — Memphis Bleek [81:01]

• On love and loyalty:
  "If I say I love you, it’s up forever." — Jim Jones [64:46]

• On humility and wins:
  "That show right there was so powerful that they was going to play the diss record as much as they was going to...I said, wrap that up as a remix. Let’s go." — Jim Jones [62:16]

• On teaching the next generation:
  "Don’t pay somebody to read something for you. Pay somebody to teach you what’s gotta be read for you." — Memphis Bleek [72:27]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Kanye & early Roc stories: [03:01]–[07:12]
• Beat politics/Cam’ron & “Oh Boy”: [07:14]–[08:03]
• Tunnel nightclub stories: [08:35]–[11:43]
• Deadly situations on tour road: [12:49]–[18:02]
• Fake shows & grinds for the bag: [21:01]–[21:49]
• Roc-A-Fella/Dipset tour rumors & breakup: [27:03]–[31:16]
• Early encounters with Roc-A-Fella (pride, competition): [33:01]–[39:32]
• Cheated in business & learning publishing: [46:03]–[47:44]
• Jim joining Roc Nation & meaning: [57:46]–[60:28]
• Flipping Jay-Z “Ballin” diss: [62:03]–[63:17]
• Jim’s “compounds” and Bleek’s businesses: [76:39]–[80:13]
• Juelz Santana, responsibility, and healing: [65:28]–[71:14]
• Artist business wisdom: [72:27]–[73:58]

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Final Reflections

This episode stands out for its honest, streetwise storytelling and unspoken codes of loyalty. Both Bleek and Jim Jones openly address old rumors, personal missteps, and hard-won wisdom with humor, humility, and a sense of duty to hip-hop's future. It’s not just a retrospective—it’s a blueprint for navigating a world where talent, trust, and survival are never guaranteed.

Memorable Ending: "Let’s put this fucking pain out here, man... You my brother. Continue success, continue health, and continue winning, my brother. Love, artist to artist. Roc solid." — Memphis Bleek [82:12]

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For hip-hop aficionados and newcomers alike, this episode is a masterclass in authenticity, endurance, and the unbreakable bonds forged in music and hustle.

Transcript

[Jim Jones]

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[Memphis Bleak]

Ah, come on.

[Commercial Announcer / Cindy Crawford]

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[Jim Jones]

This thing is ancient.

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[Memphis Bleak]

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This thing moves.

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[Jim Jones]

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[Commercial Announcer / Mint Mobile]

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[Jim Jones]

Two.

[Commercial Announcer / Mint Mobile]

Seriously, it's $15 a month.

[Commercial Announcer / Lenovo]

Three.

[Commercial Announcer / Mint Mobile]

No big contracts.

[Commercial Announcer / Cindy Crawford]

Four.

[Commercial Announcer / Lenovo]

I use it.

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Five, my mom uses it.

[Jim Jones]

Are you.

[Commercial Announcer / Mint Mobile]

Are you playing me off? That's what's happening, right? Okay, give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront.

[Commercial Announcer / Cindy Crawford]

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[Memphis Bleak]

What up, y'?

[Jim Jones]

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 guys over at Drink Champs. Big whipping. Yeah, Memphis, I'm back at it. Niggas Notice the difference. Just more grown. Prezi, no stones. Yeah, yeah, Y', all, you already know what it is. Back with another exclusive episode of Rock Solid. And like I always tell you, you see anybody on this platform is one of two things, and this gentleman right here is both. He's solid, and he was part of the rock. I want to welcome my brother Jim Jones to the building, and we here at Artist to Artist. Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

Holla. How you feel about Yay? Nah.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yikes.

[Jim Jones]

Because, you know, we really. We really know.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, that's.

[Jim Jones]

You know what I mean? So it's like, it.

[Memphis Bleak]

To me, I feel like Yay never had a real time to really digest him on the passing, you know, of his loved ones. And I feel like, you know, people mourn in different ways. So to me, I feel like ye just. He hurt, bro. He hurt. And when you hurt, you gonna attack, man. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, let's go back.

[Jim Jones]

And the whole building was laughing at him.

[Memphis Bleak]

This is what I'm saying, that he been hurt. He's been a hurt.

[Jim Jones]

When Yay first came around, they got this little producer in there. He playing his music and was clowning.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, listen, this is how I first met Yay.

[Jim Jones]

Through Guru.

[Memphis Bleak]

Guru came through me. And being sitting there looking for beats, he like, yo, I know two producers. Like, they regular. Like, I go calling the producers, just Blaze and Kanye west, okay? So now Kanye come. He playing the beats. You know, he making hits. Hit after hit after hit after hit. And then he on that, yo, but I rap, J. I don't want to hear no raps. What you mean you rap? Play the beat, fam. We don't want to hear no rap.

[Jim Jones]

This is a time where people got to know was not jacking. No, he was just talking about they rap. You make beasts do that?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, that's it. Like, no, I don't want to hear no raps. And Kanye used to come in the room rapping to us. And I used to be looking. We all used to be like, damn, son, got some. What? I remember he rapped in the B room to us. And I remember all of us looking at that like, cuz the same beast.

[Jim Jones]

He was playing, he was rapping over.

[Memphis Bleak]

Me like, yo, he got some.

[Jim Jones]

It wasn't a joke no more. Stop clowning him like, yo.

[Memphis Bleak]

And then he started. What really got caught. Dame and J and M. Attention, I believe, from my perspective, was Jay used to have. Remember, Jay always threw parties. Dame and them threw parties. They always hosted big, elaborate events, all type of parties. And Kanye would get on the table in the middle of the spot With a suit on, with the mic and start freestyling, going crazy. And the whole crowd in front of him going, like. And that's when I think niggas started paying them attention.

[Jim Jones]

Like, I know. I know Biggs used to take a real close leg into that Kanye. He really fought for him.

[Memphis Bleak]

Biggs knew. Biggs knew. Biggs was the quiet one fighting for Kanye. But Kanye was off the rocker, man. I remember. Yo, bro, I remember being outside in front of Baseline, right? I had the little 550 bids, the coupe. I'm pulling up this. When the G Wagon's full first came out, this box. This got the truck in front of the. The. The studio, in front of the baseline, backing the. The. The G Wagon off the truck. They pulling the plastic off this like it's a new shirt, new outfit. He let all that happen. I'm standing there watching after they finish the truck pull off, leave the car stand there that look at me and say, yo, you think this a girl car? Yeah, I like this.

[Jim Jones]

Like, what?

[Memphis Bleak]

You ain't think about that in the.

[Jim Jones]

Showroom, before it got delivered, he ripped the plastic.

[Memphis Bleak]

He like, yo, Blink, they don't think this is a girl car. He's like, for some reason, it parked right here. It just looked like it's supposed to be for a female. That's when I knew that just an aesthetic.

[Jim Jones]

When I first met him, he just was, like, different. Like, he just was. It was just something different about him. I ain't know about the music or nothing. I ain't really pay attention to the. To the music part, the music that he was playing. Everybody in. In offices connected. When he had the accident, then all the other music started making sense.

[Commercial Announcer / Lenovo]

Yup.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, that's a fact. Yo, that's crazy. I didn't even think about that, because after the wire, it made everything fall into place.

[Jim Jones]

His life started.

[Memphis Bleak]

He was destined to do this, though. Nobody wouldn't have stopped them. No, nothing. Nobody. And you know what's so ill that we're not talking to him? His first beat was for Mace. His first production was on Mace album. Probably not his album.

[Jim Jones]

The. The. The.

[Memphis Bleak]

The Group album. They did the compilation. I think it was.

[Jim Jones]

I want to ask you something, because I. I would never know. And you. You ain't gotta say, but what's up? When Cam took the old boy beat.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, you know, yo, I don't know why this rumor go around. Like, I had the tape and.

[Jim Jones]

Oh, accident, I'm saying.

[Memphis Bleak]

All right.

[Jim Jones]

Was Jay really pissed off about that? Because we never know. We Never know. But we do know.

[Memphis Bleak]

I don't. I don't think Jay, like, put it like this. In my opinion of working with Jay and being in the studio with him all the time. Jay didn't let beat sit. If he really fucked with it, he finished that shit right there.

[Jim Jones]

So it wasn't really.

[Memphis Bleak]

I don't think so, bro.

[Jim Jones]

I mean, that makes sense.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. I think they capping with that, bro. Like, it's even with the Whoa beat. They like, yeah, Bleak had the Whoa beat first. Yeah. And I pick. What you think of that, Black Rob? Rest in peace. Pick Whoa. I didn't hear Whoa.

[Jim Jones]

He did. He heard whoa.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's like me putting a something against Ratman. Cause think the twins did mine, right? I'm pretty sure Red man heard that beat way before I did. So is he bugging because he twins, man.

[Jim Jones]

Twins. Twins been here for a minute.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact, bro. Them talk about the tunnel.

[Jim Jones]

No, bro, bro, bro. They was coming in ugly Brooklyn in the twins. Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

I remember. This is a young. This is when I first started realizing the streets is realer than I thought it was. I went to give one of the twins a hug in the tunnel, and the had on the vest. Yo, my. I'm like, yo, you got a bulletproof vest on in the club? He like, yeah, man, you gotta be prepared. Nigga might walk by, try to poke you up. I looked at that nigga and was like, I don't think my beef that serious. Yo, bro, yo, the tunnel was real.

[Jim Jones]

I remember walking through the tunnel with. And me lighting my man chill. One day, Garbage said that my man light through the Brooklyn side because you know, the tunnel. Yeah, you had be Queens. You had the Brooklyn.

[Memphis Bleak]

Brooklyn, Harlem.

[Jim Jones]

Harlem. A lot of pitcher stands against the wall.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes.

[Jim Jones]

So we, you know, we banging. So we walk. We want to walk through everywhere, bro. We came through. By the time we got through the Brooklyn side, I looked at my man average jacket that had a split down the whole middle. A try to bust his whole yo back open with it.

[Memphis Bleak]

Brooklyn for sure, bro.

[Jim Jones]

The tunnel. That's not the twins. The twins was in there, though.

[Memphis Bleak]

Twins. They was in there and they used to move militant. I used to look at these, like when y' all produced how y' all outside. Awesome, G. All the time. They only ever played me in my whole career of knowing them. They only ever played me that beat. They never played me another.

[Jim Jones]

They just did. Or they always been. Whatever. It was for sure. But they never played a real lesson in the tunnel. The tunnel taught me My first how to conduct myself as a rapper. Lesson or this gonna get real funky. God bless Nut. Familiar with nut?

[Memphis Bleak]

No, no, no.

[Jim Jones]

From the Gardens in Brooklyn. Got killed years ago. And like that, I don't think I know get money. He with honing them and all that. But we didn't know that. We get in the tunnel, he looked like Tupac. And like that, we get me in the tunnel. Me and Cam. My man saw we in the tunnel. Duskin roll up to his Versace vessel enough. Forget him. Whole head looking like pop. He say some right, but you know I'm always on point. He more was trying to tell Cam like, yo, you know, you. You know who I am and like that. But not like front cool. Yeah, Cam kind of took it off. By the time that time, I already know what it is. I step in front of Cam, you heard? Yeah, you know how I do me. My step in front of Cam, like, what's up? That said, what's up? Took two steps back and peeled up the Versace vest. He had two Glocks, almost faint.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, word up.

[Jim Jones]

Oh, and God bless. Hey, that was this and then and that was the same night. Shout outs to Mu when they was going crazy. One of them held me down tremendously. Ain't gonna say no names. We gotta break up on the old. But he had two guns on him too. I'm like, what the is this a two gun party with two guns?

[Memphis Bleak]

Word up.

[Jim Jones]

Yeah, that was. That was the best lesson I learned in my life in the tunnel.

[Memphis Bleak]

It was my, my time of learning a lesson like that. Speaking of some. I've been through some similar just like that. My first time going to Chicago, that's when they was on that. Yo, your hat this way or your hat this way? This is when me and TI Was on that hard body walking around like this. Yeah, we them, we was in McDonald's. I'm like this. Ordering with Bobby Dash, my man bi. All of us, nigga. Pulled out the big roscoe in the middle of McDonald's. My nigga. Yo, yo, fix your motherfucking hat. I said, huh? He said, yo, fix that motherfucking hat. I said.

[Jim Jones]

My nigga, what's good?

[Memphis Bleak]

What happened? What'd I do? Tighten up real quick and got the drop. Like what I do. Make it like, I'm like, yo, fam, I'm not from here. That like, well, that's gang here, left or rats, different gangs. You ain't from here. Don't wear no hat. I did the whole show in Chicago with the Bean out Left or right.

[Jim Jones]

We just going natural today. So as a rapper coming from New York, you know, we go to every state feeling like we that shit.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Jim Jones]

I remember we go to Miami. Shout out to my in Miami. I don't know if you remember, one of the radio stations is smack dead in the hood.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, oh, yeah. Hell yeah. In the middle of North Miami radio.

[Jim Jones]

Promo, I believe, like with Cam one time, long time back. So we in a radio station. The rest of won't go to McDonald's. Cool. Everybody go to McDonald's. These get carjacked for everything, yo. Carjacked, robbed everything. Playing that New York tough shit went crazy on some in the McDonald's. They said, yo, this is Miami. We not know about Miami in 99. We don't know how these is moving. Oh, like we don't know. These really playing with big. We from New York.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, yeah. Them playing with choppers.

[Jim Jones]

But we don't know it's different gun laws down there. We think everything came in there and backed out all type of on me. Y' all did the van up everything. The whole everything, bro.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, that's crazy. You gotta be like, yeah, no.

[Jim Jones]

As a. As a rapper moving around this country, if you not tied in and know some good, be careful.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Jim Jones]

Not playing in these other areas.

[Memphis Bleak]

They are with the same shits we with, bro.

[Jim Jones]

I promise you.

[Memphis Bleak]

And what these artists need to understand, like, think about it. Yeah, you tough in your neighborhood, you tough in your city, bro. When these promoters book you, they not flying out 20 niggas. They paying for you. You the DJ and one of your.

[Jim Jones]

Man, you everywhere you go. And tougher, you going to be going up against a reflection. Imagine how tough you think you is. Your reflection feel like that too with another channel. So it's not going to go down.

[Memphis Bleak]

As easy as you think. Yo, you ever. You ever speaking of like that, you ever got booked in the city, pulled up to the spot, it was like, man, I think I'm ready to get these the money back, bro. They bugging right now. I don't think I need to go in.

[Jim Jones]

I didn't. Got booked in cities with the driver was having a shootout and we didn't stole the whole limousine and left the driver there.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, mama.

[Jim Jones]

You can ask my man Black. I be like Tennessee somewhere. The driver got a cowboy hat on.

[Memphis Bleak]

Said the driver got his smoke in the parking lot.

[Jim Jones]

The driver backs out to Jackie and starts going.

[Memphis Bleak]

He like.

[Jim Jones]

He out in front of the car. I'm there.

[Memphis Bleak]

Black, we out of here. Hell yeah.

[Jim Jones]

Through the limo. The little he flies through that tucks and rolls and flips into the driver's seat to take the whole limo. We.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, no, bro, I ain't been do.

[Jim Jones]

No like wild stories, bro. I had to took a. A few cars from a few different drivers and.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, bro, nah, we got left. I remember we got left. I said Club 112 in Atlanta, we got left like after the show. You know how the promoter pay for the ride. Yeah. Club.

[Jim Jones]

First of all, let's shout out to.

[Memphis Bleak]

Atlanta for club straight up.

[Jim Jones]

I don't think you understand when he what Club 112, what that means.

[Memphis Bleak]

That was legendary.

[Jim Jones]

You youngsters or people that never really had. You never had a chance to understand. Club 112 was a. Was a club in Atlanta during the 90s vibes. And the club ain't get started getting popping till about six in the morning. I'm lying, I'm flying. The line is on full speed at six in the morning, wrapped around that parking lot.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, stupid.

[Jim Jones]

I never forget. I never forget 112, bro.

[Memphis Bleak]

Word up.

[Jim Jones]

I never. Bottles of champagne with $60 in there. I never forget that, bro.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's when Orlando was in there.

[Jim Jones]

Like $60. Let's get 10 bottles. We in here, yo, going down south again.

[Memphis Bleak]

The bottle prices, you definitely like, oh, we gonna shut it down. They gonna think we the new millionaires in town.

[Jim Jones]

We were looking like me before we.

[Memphis Bleak]

Even knew me was, yo, that's a fact, yo. The first time traveling out as, as a New Yorker going down south. Don't remember. The bottles up here was always 350, 500 off the rip. You went down south, you see that price?

[Jim Jones]

Oh my gosh, 80 bucks. Serious.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, big ten of those round us up.

[Jim Jones]

Good night.

[Memphis Bleak]

Now that's a fact. We got left at Club112 one time with the promoters. My G took all that, our bags, my DJ equipment, all that. We had to hide, hitchhike with some girls from the club back to the hotel. My word, bro.

[Jim Jones]

I was so loose on the road. I remember going to Detroit one time.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, Detroit, man. Shout out Detroit. My word up.

[Jim Jones]

I go on Detroit. We on the road, we trying to find some weed. Never forget it. And I end up finding some people that said he got some weed. I don't know what the fuck made me get in this car with them. Now they take me to a project and I never forget it because the projects right across the street from the project was a strip club called 007. And I only remember it. Because it said 007 stuck in my head. So it's like. And I never forget it. I go upstairs to the second floor, and I'm in this apartment. And now starting to dawn on me.

[Memphis Bleak]

What the am I doing here?

[Jim Jones]

Where the am I? Are you bugging? You really serious, bro? You really end up jumping out the window, bro.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, no way.

[Jim Jones]

Yo mamas. I end up jumping out the window. They keep talking about now. They coming back with the weed right now. Come back with the weed right now. I was by the kitchen, and I'm jumping out the window.

[Memphis Bleak]

Everything I love, bro.

[Jim Jones]

Bro. I've been through some on the road, bro. I remember Zeke was talking about a show we did in Chicago. I see. He did, like, you know, because he'd be going crazy on the story. So it was a show in Chicago. We did. I remember. I never forget it. Cam was sick, you heard, and we was kind of popped.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, this show.

[Jim Jones]

We needed to get that bad.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

We drove from New York to Chicago. I never did it. Cam was sick for damn near half the ride.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's like nine hours we get there before the show.

[Jim Jones]

Cam sick. Like, I don't think we're gonna be able to do it. I'm still living in the projects, and I'm like, do it. I can't go. I'm. I me in my mind, like, I. I gotta go. I can't go back home with no money.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, yeah. That's a fact.

[Jim Jones]

I said, I'm. We. I said, we gonna be taking this money. I said, I don't care.

[Memphis Bleak]

You rob the promoter.

[Jim Jones]

I said, man, sit back and let me do what I need to do.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo.

[Jim Jones]

And I was listening to Zeke story. Zeke didn't have. Zeke was. This is something I did totally on my own. Zeke was somewhere else, bro. I saw these. Stay right there. Never forget. Y' all stay in this car. I went to the Shooter venue in Chicago. Spoke to the Motor. Yeah, I'm Jim. I'm coming to get the back end. He like, all right. We're camping. Like, he parked down the block. Let me get the back end counted up, and I'm gonna go get. He like, no. You know, he could pull up in the parking lot. Like, that's not how we do things, bro.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

He gave me the back end. Now these on me. I end up getting slippery. Slip away.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, you heard, slip away.

[Jim Jones]

Get low. Get low. You heard. Cam and them figured out, come pick me. I fall back in the car, and this. So. So this is how to show you we were still new on the road and not thinking about. You heard us think about the back. So we get low.

[Commercial Announcer / Cindy Crawford]

Cool.

[Jim Jones]

We got that part. But we end up going to the hotel that they booked for us. Exactly not you understand what I'm saying? Just being young and dumb. Like, yo, they got the hotel book for us to go.

[Memphis Bleak]

Then they gonna pull up.

[Jim Jones]

Them end up pull up. So we come out the hotel room, out the hotel. One of the like, yo, what's up with you today? I'm like, what yo, yo, let me get. Yo, come with us. Trying to act like you gonna put me in the car. Oh, now I'm getting funky. Wow. We start fighting. Come on, Zeke. Start finding a big get with him. Boosh punch, lights out this big. I'm like, oh yeah, it's late.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

Back out the head and put it right to my head. I'm like, oh, I'm about to die. Yo, can't come out the hotel looking. You know, he not. She not scrapping. We ain't allowing the scrap. Not Sammy, he wasn't scrapping. He just. They got the hammer to my head. Zeke like no.

[Memphis Bleak]

Pull out a badge. I was like, oh, chill. He was the law, yo, chill.

[Jim Jones]

I was crazy.

[Memphis Bleak]

I did some like, now we ain't.

[Jim Jones]

Robbed the place separated us. I had to pay. So the funny part was now I'm the that from I'm ramming this, heading to the to the car. Douche, douche, douche. I got mad dents in the car, you heard. So now I gotta pay the car.

[Memphis Bleak]

To yo, you gotta pay the car to get fixed.

[Jim Jones]

The that own the car comes out now police is like, nah, you got damage. I start backing out.

[Memphis Bleak]

The money that I just took from the promoter, from the promoter. Now you gotta pay for this.

[Jim Jones]

I still end up going back.

[Memphis Bleak]

You heard like, yo, bro, now you ever did a fake show? I had one of my homies perform like they was me. Cause I was sick at a show.

[Jim Jones]

Nah, you different.

[Memphis Bleak]

And I had one of the homies put the durag on, hit the stage like he was me. Word up. Never took. He never took the hood off. Shout out my man B. I we had to get that back.

[Jim Jones]

I with you, B. That's what I'm trying to say. I'm a like bi what put me to put the put the durag on me. I'm be light skinned bleak tonight. I'm coming out wrong with these. My mom ride money right ready for war.

[Memphis Bleak]

I had a act like he was me on stand. I'm backstage looking at him, he on stage like this, giving pounds in the front, lip syncing the records.

[Jim Jones]

People don't know. They think the road just about fun it is yo, word up. We go through so much on that road to get to that bag. You don't know what going. Every time I get on the plane, I just prepare for a mission. That's a fact. It's never gonna go the way you want, yo at all until you get to that bag. You're like I got the bag, I'm getting the out of here. Now I'm going home.

[Memphis Bleak]

Ah, come on.

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[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, going overseas, like, it's so weird. Like, my time going overseas, like those trips like that. I remember I was in Denmark and I was this when MySpace was out. Met some on my space show. I need that butt. I pull up. I give y' all tickets to the show. I'm out here with Jay, whatever them pull up. And homie was like, yo, my mom's own, like, you know, like a Caribbean food restaurant. So I'm like, all right. I start going through the hotel. John Manelli taking his order. Colleen, what you want? I get the J and Jay like, yo, where you getting this food from? So I'm like, yo, I met some on my space. His mom's on the restaurant. I'm gonna go get the weed with him, pick up the food and come back. So hope like, yo, you gonna get in the car with some you met on MySpace in Denmark and come back with food. He's like, yo, are you crazy? I'm like, yo, Jay, listen, I understand this. We've been through a lot of. But my. If you heard the Denmark got me, I deserve to be got. All right, just wait right here. I'm bringing the food back.

[Jim Jones]

My yo, like, straight up do some.

[Memphis Bleak]

Strange things in the world when it come down to that road. You gotta make your moves and get what you need. Get what you want. Especially when you. That smoker.

[Jim Jones]

Y' all made that. That movie that was, what, state property? No, the tour movie that was doing.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, Hard Knock Life, my G. Oh, my God. Yo, God, yo, you know what?

[Jim Jones]

We're speaking of tours. I'm gonna say this. Before it was all over, I remember being a meeting with every Rockefeller artist. They had the promo posters, league beans. We going on the biggest Rockefeller tour today. They already gave us the money we was making. Every night line up. We having a tour meeting and all that. Bro, I was so heartbroken when they was like, we wait going on that tour.

[Memphis Bleak]

You know, for years.

[Jim Jones]

Oh, my God, what is up?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, bro, you know, for years they tried to say that that's the reason why the Rock broke up. Like, y' all was mad at us because y' all wasn't going on the tour. And I'm like, never. I didn't even know nothing about. They were supposed to or what the fuck. I can't make no decisions on the tour.

[Jim Jones]

Nothing to do with the Brock breaking up.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, word up. They was trying to put that we.

[Jim Jones]

Had nothing to do with the Brock breaking up anyway, period. We are after the fact of anything had to do with Rockefeller. We.

[Memphis Bleak]

I ain't gonna say y' all had something to do with it, which I sped it up.

[Jim Jones]

I mean, I can't say. I would say we definitely sped it up.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, we sped it up.

[Jim Jones]

We just put in an awkward position.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, definitely. But y'. All. And you know, one thing I respect about the. I never took personal even to this day, my G, y' all came into a crew that was already built as the new guys on the block. Y' all gotta ride for each other. Ain't. It ain't no time to be like, yo, yay, they bugging. I'm a ride with them right here. That's. That's disloyalty. If anyone would have did that today, they'll be calling them, yo. He wasn't loyal. He wowed out. So at that time, all of y' all did what was supposed to be done. I would have did the same thing, my G, if it was me.

[Jim Jones]

Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

And that's a fact.

[Jim Jones]

And you totally right. Yeah. We. We may have definitely help speed things up.

[Memphis Bleak]

And it's because y' all got too late.

[Jim Jones]

But we had nothing to do with it.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, No, I didn't start it.

[Jim Jones]

And I feel like people start using everything else. But what was the real reason why we broke up? We sped it up.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. No, I don't. It was already fire brewing. It was already burning me.

[Jim Jones]

Like, people just be trying to do different things.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah. They always try to blame.

[Jim Jones]

Nigga. We the artists.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes. But, you know, when the. My first official feeling of that this was over was on that plane ride back from London with the state property, Nori and Damon, we had that argument on that plane.

[Jim Jones]

I wasn't there.

[Memphis Bleak]

I know y' all wasn't even there.

[Jim Jones]

That was none of that.

[Memphis Bleak]

I feel like that's what lit the match. And me knowing that it was crumbling, like. And it wasn't y'. All. It was just that I felt my opinion again. I don't know if this is how everybody else felt but me. I felt like when y' all came dame Used y' all as a crutch, 100%. But he straight up.

[Jim Jones]

He didn't use us right when we came. He felt like he got some niggas that got his back.

[Memphis Bleak]

And I don't need these niggas now.

[Jim Jones]

And when it shouldn't. Not even I don't need these niggas. But he felt like, I got my niggas.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

I got niggas that know me. We from Harlem. Yeah. Doing this. Harlem. All right. We could do this. When it shouldn't have been like that.

[Memphis Bleak]

No.

[Jim Jones]

He should have introduced us a different way to make it stronger and made it family, because that's how it was in the baseline when we first we.

[Memphis Bleak]

Was all fam, bro.

[Jim Jones]

Everybody was. It was like, all on. It was all on the table.

[Memphis Bleak]

Don't even know. Zeke pulling up. The rock solid. Zeke pulling up. We had that relationship. We got stories to talk about, too. You know what I'm saying? Like.

[Jim Jones]

That'S just crazy to look back about all the different variables. I can't say this, though. I would say out of everything on our behalf, when Cam made that announcement that he was going to be the vice president and it wasn't solidified yet, and Dane was like, give me a minute.

[Memphis Bleak]

Let me. Yeah, let me. Let me talk about it.

[Jim Jones]

Yeah. Just what we. Of course, if you are part. If I say I'm gonna do something in the Diplomats, I'm telling you about it. Give me a second. I'm about to put it into play.

[Memphis Bleak]

It's gonna happen, but give me a minute. Let me make it happen, though. You heard he did jump the gun.

[Jim Jones]

With that jump the gun. And ain't in my mind. I'm riding whatever, but I'm a mind. I'm like, God damn, we never gonna get a break in this situation. It's definitely over after this one. It's like. And we took it at a. At a place of rubbing it in niggas faces, as opposed to being humble with it and being helpful and, like, we're gonna spread this around like, you dig? Like, yeah. It just felt. Just felt crazy at that time, looking back and like that. Because we didn't have no idea about the beans part. We didn't have no idea about the whole. I didn't know about the big play. Like, it was just not this Cam.

[Memphis Bleak]

It was gonna be beans.

[Jim Jones]

It's gonna be a representation. Yes. The strong crews that's in there, give them a chance. I didn't know that and like that. And I was like, yo, so it's Just crazy looking back and like that of all the things that built up to who we are now, there's a lot, a lot of history. Like. And that's why I really want to have this conversation. Because Rockefeller and Diplomats are very important to the culture.

[Memphis Bleak]

Definitely, bro. Like, you kidding me? We fucking like. I feel like we carved the way for the new hustlers. And y' all took that hustle and took it further and made the hustler fashionable. I definitely agree with that. Because nobody on Rockefeller was. We didn't even care about drip. We cared about spitting.

[Jim Jones]

I'm gonna say something. I'm gonna tell you a story. I'm gonna tell you a story. I'm just saying it. It.

[Memphis Bleak]

Word up. We were some fly bum ass niggas.

[Jim Jones]

I don't care if. Care if I tell it or not. And I'm gonna tell you how envy or admiration runs deep. Because sometimes admiration can turn into envy.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes. That's what I'm trying to say, Maya. So much that it starts to please. Deep. Yeah. Pause.

[Jim Jones]

1995. I would say maybe 95, maybe 90. Beginning of 96. Whatever it was. And I'm telling you from my perspective. Because I'm always been a little bit different. Because I didn't have no basketball talents. I wasn't catered to. I'm just a project that was a little bit strong. Had a golf fair family that know.

[Memphis Bleak]

How to make moves.

[Jim Jones]

Cool.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

You get the Rockefeller office. Me, Cam and Mace.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, Mace was with y'.

[Jim Jones]

All. I'm about to tell you the whole story. That's crazy. The real story. I'm gonna tell you the part where don't never. Cause I ain't got time to lie about my history.

[Memphis Bleak]

Nah, you shouldn't, man. It's who made us. That's what made us who we are. That's right, man.

[Jim Jones]

Bigger. Some of us did it smaller. But we were all into different things. Cool. And my pride ran a little bit different. You heard we get to Rockefeller office. This is when they had the shit on John J Street. Whatever.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, yeah. Yep, yep. That was by the word trace in there.

[Jim Jones]

Great rugs.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, shit was bad. Yeah, shit was bad.

[Jim Jones]

We get in.

[Commercial Announcer / Lenovo]

Cool.

[Jim Jones]

It's big for us at the time. You know, they rapping. They on freestyles. They trying to find their way. They going there and they to try to get a deal with Jay and Damon. All of them, right.

[Memphis Bleak]

Wow.

[Jim Jones]

Cold going there. You know, Cam got a real relationship with Dame from the block level right now. We all from the hood you heard he may have seen some dealings that Damon J was doing besides music and like that, you know, I mean, like it's a. It's an ill circle and like we're not gonna talk about what's outside is the truth.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

No stories being told. He's God sent for some of the biggest people you ever seen in your life, you heard? And he don't talk about it. That's why I love him. Cool. We get in there, it don't work out.

[Memphis Bleak]

It's my.

[Jim Jones]

Everybody got attitude, Chip on the face and they. And, and. And you know, they're going back and forth. Little caddy. But we younger than them. They a little bit older than us and like that, you know. I mean, I don't. I was 95. You might be 19, 18.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

You dig? So cool. And I never forget this. It didn't go the way you want. I know a little upset going back and forth, but not like that. But like, you know, I mean how it is. And on the way out, Mace asked the Jay for some cab money. Back uptown. I was, yo, chill. Well, I'm telling you some real. I'm only telling you because I never forgot that because I'm not that type of. I would have rather walk up there, that's a fact. Before I ask these in here for any type of cab money. And I know these guys getting real money. And we supposed to look like we doing something.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Jim Jones]

Whether we getting money or whether we tough or whether we bugging. We supposed to look like we doing something. Leave out of here with our dignity. And that's pride.

[Memphis Bleak]

And that's more important than that.

[Jim Jones]

Money for a cab ride up saying J dubbed him. I got no cab money for you. I was like, that's a fact. And then I'm still in the background.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

I don't even know who I am this point. Rod do know me.

[Memphis Bleak]

Rod shout out.

[Jim Jones]

You grew up in the same building. All my life, you heard, damn.

[Memphis Bleak]

I a know that that's crazy.

[Jim Jones]

I know Rod do since I was six years age.

[Memphis Bleak]

Damn. That's same with games.

[Jim Jones]

I know James since I was 6. Moved to our buildings when he was 13. He came after the.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

Heard. So after that they dubbed him on the cab money. In my mind I'm like, we look like suckers walking out of here. That's just how I'm thinking, bro. Like, yo, this, he made us. And then you got bigs, you know, I mean, I'm from. I'll be outside. So I know who. Who and how is going. Look now, you got these looking at us like little. These don't even have cab money to get back uptown.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

And I'm hearing stories about Tata. Big bank rolls in his pocket, like going to the restaurant.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm here. All types of stuff. So now we're going in there, you heard?

[Jim Jones]

And we ain't on our best. Not saying we don't hustle, not saying don't get money.

[Memphis Bleak]

But we ain't on our best.

[Jim Jones]

It wasn't our best day.

[Memphis Bleak]

Me, he was never supposed to do that.

[Jim Jones]

Crush my heart, then these do. Weak. Rip up the car, spit on the floor in the hallway.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo.

[Jim Jones]

You heard. You know, I'm observing everything.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

But in my mind, I'm so smart that I know this is one of my ways I might be able to escape from this madness.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

So not my permission to say anything. My position is. But whatever's going to happen, going to happen. These niggas say something and they even gonna have to beat us or we gonna beat them.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

Always been my position. I'm just telling you one of the illust stories I've seen. So when we go back to the beginning and the competitive spirit that led all the way up to Rockefeller, that.

[Memphis Bleak]

Could have been from that.

[Jim Jones]

From things like that always. Damn.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's.

[Jim Jones]

I remember another one. It's Crazy Cam album.

[Memphis Bleak]

Which one? Confession.

[Jim Jones]

First album.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, Confession.

[Jim Jones]

Jay came there. Flash said some. Like, I ain't hit lobby for a spot.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, he told me that.

[Jim Jones]

That's crazy. I can't put in his rhyme. He said some fly, right. Jay was already up. But the admiration still. We just fresh out the project. We used to listen to all the J. We got all album loops, right? So it was just like. It was like things like that. When it was like, show you the competition. Now Mace is signed. Mace walking there, he got two chains on a platinum chain and a white gold chain. Platinum first started.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

Jay there, he got a small platinum chain on with the platinum rollies. So Mace busted. Now it's like winning. I'm up hot. Yeah, he was on fire. He's swinging his around big Cuban platinum. You talking about platinum? Yeah, they got the platinum. I'm just watching these. I'm just like, wow, this came in in five day. Only on the jury. But I'm not understanding the dynamic of what's really going on. Yeah, you heard. I'm face value with what I see.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes.

[Jim Jones]

From nowhere. But just doing Music. And I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm measuring this by what I see. Face value. Mace going up, you buying. I've never seen before. But now when you bring it in the building, you standing next to Jay.

[Memphis Bleak]

He like.

[Jim Jones]

He looking good. Thought that was a championship. I'm just showing like the. That we were doing when we were younger, leading up to where we at now? Because we were very prideful and very competitive. So now at that moment was like a lot of that was like, we got to show this that we getting money.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

Remember we didn't with Dame at all for a while. Remember we signed the U.N. yes. We was on some you. Damn.

[Memphis Bleak]

Damn. I ain't know that.

[Jim Jones]

What One day we was at Sony. I'mma tell you how the tables turn. We had Sony. We doing a performance for Cam's album. Remember, you had to do all type of shows.

[Memphis Bleak]

I had to practice with rehearsal.

[Jim Jones]

Had a song called you on there. We had the Sony studios. Dame walk in. We start doing the you song. We like this. The Dame. We got all the Brooklyn in there. You know, Cam never been around. He said, got gangsters. So now UN got him. You feel like he got the gangsters with him. Whatever. Whatever we hit in the Dame with this. You, you, you. We like this.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

Brooklyn, we in the Dame.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like y' all talking to me.

[Jim Jones]

But Dame is cold. You know, he was. Oh, he always could fight. I ain't never lied.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, he always talked that.

[Jim Jones]

Yeah, I seen him chip up back.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Jim Jones]

He never was no punk, but he like, he stayed there, let us do all that. He did some flashing. Yo, let me speak to you. I just want two minutes of your time. Put us in the corner. It was like, don't let these Brooklyn get in between that. You really with. I know what your is doing. I understand the whole thing, but don't do it this way. It's gonna cause a nasty outcome. You heard like, I'm up.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

You heard like, yeah, you just signed to some other from Brooklyn that you don't know about. And you playing with niggas that really got it. You heard that conversation right there. Broke the barrier for us to getting back in with Dame. That conversation led to him end up being able to sign, being able to have Dame manage him. Cause after that conversation, Undertainment UN lost his whole label deal for the $64 million. I mean, I'm there in real time. Nobody could tell me nothing about the this. I'm there in real time wherever Cam was. I was.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

Wasn't no conversation. Nothing that you heard like un loses that we got to go back to Sony is in a disarray. They saying Sony is the worst label out they ain't gonna do for us. It's over. Cam calls Dane I'm gonna need you to manage me. Let me figure this out. Dan was like yo we gotta get you out the Sony deal toughest that ever did was come through with a bunch of and pull a 52 fake out on forcing their hand to sign them out of that contract deal inside that Sony building. But none of them wasn't going to do nothing. Wow.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm telling you.

[Jim Jones]

I know none of them was tough. He bring up to you just a bunch of regular blood.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

You can see me your know you wasn't gonna do nothing. You ain't nobody touched nothing wrinkle a shirt. But he got him sign him out the contract. After he signed him out the contract I ended up leading dame to be able to let me see what we doing with this rockefellers. And it goes into the movie paid in full Rockefeller deal turns our whole life around. In 01 I believe it was damn. Then from 01 we started the engine back up. We was able to come back in with the diplomats start putting the diplomats because we was out the game.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, y' all was in Ohio for a minute.

[Jim Jones]

I was in Ohio.

[Memphis Bleak]

The cam was in Ohio.

[Jim Jones]

Let's don't do that. Them was visiting tourists in Ohio. Shout out to Z. I got niggas that's doing life right now. Papa Joe certified millionaire from from Ohio. We want to talk about that was getting it in Ohio. Don't play with us bro. Shouts to chubs. You heard Shout outs to milk even though not on the same page. Shout out to real that really put on in Ohio. These are real Ohio legends. Million dollar. Let's get that. Let's not get that. You heard. Yeah, you heard. Petty hustling had nothing to do with what these was doing. You did not change the climate at all in Ohio. Ohio is a multi million dollar hustler state. It always has been.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Jim Jones]

And these that was good in Ohio was reason you'll be able to even sing the song RIP Chubby baby I love you to death. You know I'm still holding you down while you gone everything family and all. That's how tough I am. I never let take nothing away from you at all. Not with no lies, no nothing bro at all. Ohio was chubby town period. That's where it started from. And Chubby had more loyalty than most. I watched Chubby put it all on the line on the love for in this dipset. Chubby saved Dipset. They want to get crazy. You heard Chubby saved Dipset. That bag wouldn't have came if it wasn't for Chubby allowing to even come nowhere near them. Bro, don't play with us, bro. And I wasn't in Ohio. I was here in these New York streets doing what I had to do.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Jim Jones]

These talking about shout out to Chubby, baby. I don't mean to get hot, but that get me mad.

[Memphis Bleak]

I know the real passionate, bro. That's right. You passionate about it. When it's real. When it's real.

[Jim Jones]

This is what it do back real million dollar. You heard? Seen it with my own two eyes. But now back to what we was talking about. All right. Sorry about that.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, no, no, dude.

[Jim Jones]

I can't let none slide when it comes to lies. I'm not about that. I'm a truth teller.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

So when you see somebody oppose these words I tell. Then you have to figure out what they talking about. Because I know what I'm telling. I ain't got no lie. I don't got to lie about my truth. I wear everything on my sleeve. I. I tell you about my losses because my wins are even better.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Jim Jones]

You heard.

[Memphis Bleak]

And you winning now, bro. You winning. You should. My opinion. My advice to you, bro, don't let none of this shit get to you.

[Jim Jones]

You don't. But I'm a very, very emotional person.

[Memphis Bleak]

You're cancer. You're cancer like me, man. You're a cancer. I'm the same way. But I definitely, definitely. I don't let none of this. Do you like put it like this?

[Jim Jones]

Personal. The truth.

[Memphis Bleak]

But the truth don't need to be defended. The lie do all the time. Remember that, bro.

[Jim Jones]

But if people don't know the truth.

[Memphis Bleak]

It'S gonna come eventually. It's gonna reveal itself, bro. Remember that I used to say. No, it happens in real life.

[Jim Jones]

You need to tell the truth. Sometimes the lie will take the place of a truth. And by the time they find out the truth, the lie already won.

[Memphis Bleak]

Not. And this entertainment, you a hundred thousand percent right.

[Jim Jones]

We're not.

[Memphis Bleak]

Because in this entertainment, the lies more entertaining than the truth. Like I love that Charlemagne say that, bro. That's one of the illest statements to me in this. That the lies more entertaining. Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

If you say you don't lie.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact. You're a liar if you don't say.

[Jim Jones]

To the truth of my story. I don't have no lies in me.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right. Nah man, you like Nori said something to me and it didn't hit me until I started doing rock solid. That yo, the man next to the man is more important than the man today. And if you really think about it, we are everybody oh everybody that they came in with whether they the big homie, the og, your bro, whatever, they all falling back. Who on the front line? Me, you, Yayo. You know what I mean? Like the. The man like even split star he rap. He just sent me a joint. I got like. I'm like I got you bro. You know what I'm saying?

[Jim Jones]

Like the difference is is.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm a partner. That's what I'm saying. That's what I said.

[Jim Jones]

It's a difference. I'm dame in a situation that never was on paper.

[Memphis Bleak]

So did that's why you've been saying back door.

[Jim Jones]

I'm damning the situation that never got writing credits on none of the albums. I'm damning the situation that got cheated out of so much thousands of dollars as I start to learn the game. But they say the game is to be sold.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

That's why I'm telling how to get busy in this.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right. I'm forever platform is for that's right.

[Jim Jones]

Never hiding nothing because they hid it from me and they stole from me.

[Memphis Bleak]

I just told I hate the term gatekeeper cause the whole protector the gate.

[Jim Jones]

Is soft my back retroactive out your out your shirt wrinkle your up bad.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo know that get wedgies hung upside down bro. Dude you ain't even got.

[Jim Jones]

I'm just saying like you dig like the things that I've been up against when people look at my story and like that I'm only telling you because you you've been in this dynamic.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

Understand the position. But my position was a little bit different. I'm dame in my position when it comes to that.

[Memphis Bleak]

I didn't understand I was. See, I didn't know that. I didn't know that that you was helping with the songs, the producing everything and they just never put it on paper. That's like I have a lot of verbal contracts because I have a lot of brothers and I would never break it. I feel like a verbal contract with my bros is more important than a contract with these companies and we riding.

[Jim Jones]

Together that's it everything you don't know about?

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

You wrote on my album.

[Memphis Bleak]

I had to throw you that bag.

[Jim Jones]

It's not coming out my pocket.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's it.

[Jim Jones]

You need to put your name on there.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a hundred percent fact.

[Jim Jones]

Let me get you your publishing. Do you got a publishing deal? Let me show you what publishing is.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's 100% fact.

[Jim Jones]

Teaching you all of this when you get signed to a major label.

[Memphis Bleak]

Y think about this. I tell people all the time J wrote coming to age one and two but you know who get the publishing for it?

[Jim Jones]

Me.

[Memphis Bleak]

Cuz he still gave me the publishing.

[Jim Jones]

And that's fire.

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[Memphis Bleak]

Cmnobile.com I feel exactly what you because I would hate for a to be the opposite way. I was putting in the work and you took it from me to me.

[Jim Jones]

I turned around and. And you couldn't understand how I treat artists that I deal with. I don't even take money from my artist deals. And you can ask them that. You can ask any one of them do I take anything from them because I've been so shell shocked and how treated me. I would hate to feel like I'm treating somebody the way people treated me.

[Memphis Bleak]

Nah, that's a fact. And I'm the same way. Word up. And you got bro, you got all the new artists uptown. You're doing speak on the new artists, man. You got Dice Peso, all of them. I with Dice.

[Jim Jones]

Dice pirates in the building. Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

Dice be spitting my word out, yo. I always used to say the big is nice. Cause they funny and nice. Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

Now them is that.

[Memphis Bleak]

Word up.

[Jim Jones]

A few artists though. Shouts to Lexi.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

Shouts to Taylor. Shouts to the UDAs. I'm here working, man.

[Memphis Bleak]

You working, bro.

[Jim Jones]

I'm blessed to be in this position. I'm. I'm grateful to be here through everything we talked about. Let's not forget these are things that we're talking about are things from the past.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

I don't want nobody to take to personalize none of this type of. I'm just telling you a dope story. Maybe one day I write a book from my perspective of the things that I've been through in this industry and like that. But I take everything from with a grain of salt, man. I don't take nothing I'm saying too serious. Take from it.

[Memphis Bleak]

See what you.

[Jim Jones]

What you could take from it to. To use it in the future saying.

[Memphis Bleak]

That'S why bro, it's dope. You doing this artist to artist, man. This is fire, bro.

[Jim Jones]

Because you got a lot of game.

[Memphis Bleak]

You've been through a lot and you Inspired a lot. You, you. You inspired the whole generation, my G. And they need to hear the truth. They want to hear the story, you know what I mean? Like, sometimes through the music, we put our stories in it, but we flowing. Some might not understand the story, they just understand the rhythm. But this platform right here, what you created the compound, you created the artist, you created fashion house, you created my G. Yeah, nothing. Look at it like this. Might have cheated you then, but all they could do now is treat you. They can't cheat you again. You know what I'm saying? So it's a lesson that turned into a blessing for you, bro. And you gotta. You gotta be appreciative to that, man. The. The back in the days, you know, don't let. That's why I say don't let it get you. Cause you winning. Any would give they left arm to do what you doing right now. My, you kidding me? Half these you talk about want to be you still. That's why they up. That's why they don't want to have that conversation with you. Because they can't look the man that they wanted to be, that you became in the face. You ever thought about it that way? Like, it's hard to face yourself in the mirror when you ain't become that man you wanted to be and your homie became him, right? You gotta think about it that way, too. It's flip sides, two sides to every coin, bro. And you, bro, you weathered the storm, you successful, your family healthy. Mom's doing good, looking good, Kids is healthy and beautiful. Your son graduated college, if I'm not mistaken. Right?

[Jim Jones]

College. But he graduated high school.

[Memphis Bleak]

He.

[Jim Jones]

He's helping me build this whole building. See?

[Memphis Bleak]

Come on, bro.

[Jim Jones]

You sit here working every day with me doing that thing that needs to be done.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's the legacy you created, bro. And that's what it's about, Jim. Don't ever lose track on that. You stay focused and continue this, bro. Look, you got a whole team here. My. I just started my. I ain't got a photographer. You got like 10 of them. Loan me two.

[Jim Jones]

No, man, it's good, though. It's different. So. I mean, being in this podcast space is different. And I wouldn't say, like, the way things are going is pushing a lot of us there, but it's pushing a lot of us there.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right, man.

[Jim Jones]

Stay relevant in this game. And because it is, it's an an extension of music. As much as I may have clowned it, much as I may had said something about it. Because it wasn't my time.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

Do things at my space and that. You dig. But I can tell you this. It has opened my mind up so much more.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes.

[Jim Jones]

From the first time that I've did this part, because it's a whole different lay of business.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, it's crazy.

[Jim Jones]

Like, I can't implement the same energy that I did with music. Yes.

[Memphis Bleak]

Into this.

[Jim Jones]

It is creativity you could put into this. Like.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

I don't think it's no different.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, it ain't. Only difference I think it is with this is that you got to Show More Personality.

[Jim Jones]

100%.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's it. Now, you have to be truthful, like you said.

[Jim Jones]

And that's what I was telling. So for right now, I'm the only interviewing people that I. I got history with.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

That I admire. And I know that other than that.

[Memphis Bleak]

That'S how I was doing the same.

[Jim Jones]

I can't do. It'd be a time for that.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes.

[Jim Jones]

Because that's business. It's gonna come with a bag, whatever.

[Memphis Bleak]

Once you get more comfortable, then you're.

[Jim Jones]

Gonna have let me have my fun.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

With me being a fan.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes, sir.

[Jim Jones]

Of certain people that I've seen. Yes. The. The brothers that I with in this.

[Memphis Bleak]

Let me just.

[Jim Jones]

Let me get that all out. You heard.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

And then we could dive into the.

[Memphis Bleak]

Rest of the other. You know what I mean? That was one of the things I was telling Nori when I first said. I'm like, yo, bro, I'm not a journalist. My. I don't want to sit here and ask these, what, Bill, what was your thought price process making the album? I don't even listen to some of these albums. I can't ask him that, man. He like, yo, bro, it ain't about that. Talk to your homies, talk to your don't know the relationships you got. They don't know the brotherhood you have with a lot of people.

[Jim Jones]

And.

[Memphis Bleak]

And I ain't going to lie, bro. When I first did this shit, I wrote a list down. I have it on my phone, the rock solid list on who I wanted to interview. And I had you and Cam up there, but I put a. Like a check, like a star next to it. Like, I don't know if it's going to happen. And it happened. Like, it's been years since we really sat down and kicked it like bros. And I'm happy that this platform created, bro.

[Jim Jones]

So when you heard that Roc Nation was about to do a deal to Managing Jim Jones. What the did you say to yourself?

[Memphis Bleak]

I called Vic Medina. I was like, yo, is this real? He was like, nah, it's real, bro. He was like, me and OG Juan, man. He was like, yo, trust me. Jim ain't on that, man. His family. It's love, man. We trying to get money niggas off that bullshit. You can ask Vic what I said. I said, man, Jim always been my bro. Always been about money. I'm happy, yo. I've been happy. I wasn't hating. That wasn't nothing. That was like, yo, they bugging. Why they doing that? I just looked at it as is growing, bro. It's time, man. If we gonna get the bag. Only way we could get it is by unifying you. Not you can't get the bank. It's not gonna give you all the money by yourself. They want to see you got the whole working machine behind you. And then they go and fund. Any idea you want. Just coming in here by yourself, talking about, yeah, I'm ready to build this building over here. They like, where the gc, where the plumber? Where the. You know what I mean? If you don't.

[Jim Jones]

That whole year since the conversation that me and Vic had at the gym when I seen him, to actually going to the meeting. And then before that, the place where I was in life was a very scary place. Kind of just came back from Miami. I'm not really doing music, but the lifestyle I live, I gotta make some real money.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

Led me to do a lot of things I may not. May not have been beneficial to me, if you dig. So I was like, damn. And I seen Vic one day in the gym, and we're just talking and, like, that time to speak to OG Like, y' all can get you a man down there. He's just saying it like. Like matters factly. Like, it wasn't, like, no big conversation about. I mean, love you. Then, like. And I'm like, make it happen. Fuck it. Where I was, I was like, yo, bro, you gotta stop. Let everything go. Cause these niggas ain't here right now paying your bills. You in a rut with your house. Like, it's just a lot going on. Do yourself a favor and try some shit.

[Memphis Bleak]

Try something different. And you knew, like, I even wanted to show you that I was with you when you did the deal. Cause there was no way to get with you when you first did the management deal. Until you did the weed launch. You know what I mean? Remember, you had your first party in la. I was there. My G, she was crazy. I pulled right up like this. I remember your face when you saw me. You was like, oh.

[Jim Jones]

Everybody is cool, Tata. But it's like seeing you was like, oh, nah, this shit is for real. That's right. It felt good because it was. It felt good for the fact that I know that I. I was able to clean my face. When I spoke to OG1, I came down there and called Jay. He like, nah, Jay, like, everything lit.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right. Let's roll.

[Jim Jones]

And you. You know, for so much that I've did in this industry, 9, most of the I did was for the cause.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

For myself.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes.

[Jim Jones]

But I know that I did a lot of that. I closed a lot of doors. I did some weeks. Yo, that whack shits a lot of people like. And not to say it like that, like, I'm. I'm out there thugging and like, what's this like? But I know that Jay was so powerful that the moment people see I was able to do that, that it would lift the sanction for so many doors for me moving forward.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Jim Jones]

And that's what I. I need it.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

I didn't need nothing. I spent more on a jet to go meet Jay in LA than I made at Rockefeller at Rock Nation.

[Memphis Bleak]

Wow.

[Jim Jones]

I'm telling you that.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, I believe it.

[Jim Jones]

80 grand on. On a G5 Global to go there round trip. I never made 80 grand with rock Nation. Not to say I couldn't.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, but.

[Jim Jones]

But I'm a hustler. I just start going, oh, yeah, Rock Nation.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm out.

[Jim Jones]

I don't need nothing.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

You heard, like, I never had a meeting with dez. And you know, if you in the.

[Memphis Bleak]

Right position, you gotta sit down.

[Jim Jones]

Crazy.

[Memphis Bleak]

Word up.

[Jim Jones]

They tied me in on some mob and hove. That's it.

[Memphis Bleak]

But if you was through one, then you are through dads 100.

[Jim Jones]

But straight up mean that.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, but you needed to talk.

[Jim Jones]

Too many people that. She's the talk. But I knew what that was.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes.

[Jim Jones]

I just want to make sure they knew that. Nigga, I'm on a different level. And where I'm moving is. Is way different. Yo, bro, I just need a clean face, bro. And I got. I don't need no money. Nothing from nobody.

[Memphis Bleak]

I don't even like bringing up bad shit. But I knew you was different when you flipped the ball in controversy with Jay. I think about it, half these rappers don't even wanted me. It's a Million diss songs about me. I can't listen to them motherfuckers, let alone promote it. Like, yeah, nigga, we winning. You said my name.

[Jim Jones]

We up.

[Memphis Bleak]

You about the only nigga who flipped.

[Jim Jones]

That to a W. No, I forced Jay to say my name like four times in this record. Never said nobody else's name is as mine's on his records.

[Memphis Bleak]

You was popping bottles the day he dropped the ball in this. That Jill was like, we won.

[Jim Jones]

We are the happiest nigga in the world.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, I love that because that show remix. Yo, nigga, that show right there was.

[Jim Jones]

So powerful that they was going to play the diss record as much as they was going to.

[Memphis Bleak]

And that's your beat. It's just.

[Jim Jones]

I said, that's my.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

We getting the spins for that.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

I said wrap that up as a remix. Let's go. I'm playing at the show too.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact. Yo, you flipped it.

[Jim Jones]

And.

[Memphis Bleak]

And. And that right there shows humility and integrity and your strength, bro.

[Jim Jones]

There's not too many like us.

[Memphis Bleak]

Nah. Like, Jay respects that type of shit. Yes, man. Cause niggas, you're all of us when we seen it. Niggas, I'm pretty sure. My opinion. I'm pretty sure niggas was like, are you serious? Who the. This did.

[Jim Jones]

You gotta. You gotta laugh like, yo, bro, he.

[Memphis Bleak]

Used it to make it a W.

[Jim Jones]

By G, a super W, a super.

[Memphis Bleak]

W to the point. Don't even bring it up. Think every rapper got no. They have beef with this person and then they go back to the. Don't even play that no more.

[Jim Jones]

It's just.

[Memphis Bleak]

Jay had the remix. Yes, that's it.

[Jim Jones]

James got the ball of remix.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's it.

[Jim Jones]

The ball.

[Memphis Bleak]

And this is the ball remix. A hundred percent, bro. So just like that. You gotta know that you special and you different, bro. This game is designed. Like I said, Jim, you've been winning for years, bro. And to come from not rapping to doing what you doing now, bro, I bet you I got about 15 that'll sit there and be like, yo, teach me how to rap, Jim. Show me. Let me imma do that same you just did. Just show me how to rap real quick. Because, bro, it's not. This is not possible. This is not. This don't happen for everybody.

[Jim Jones]

You're right.

[Memphis Bleak]

You know what I'm saying? My. Like, there's who've been rapping their whole life who never sink the. You saw or achieved the success you achieved. You Know what I mean? Like, this is real, bro. And don't never take it for granted, my G. Like, I know you emotional. We both cancers, but you a cancer.

[Jim Jones]

Hell yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

My Hell yeah.

[Jim Jones]

Now I see so loyal to ho.

[Memphis Bleak]

Word up.

[Jim Jones]

I understand. Totally, totally understand.

[Memphis Bleak]

He lucky to have yes, my brother. Hell yeah, man.

[Jim Jones]

You lucky to have a like Bleak in your corner. He's a cancer, man.

[Memphis Bleak]

I can't tell you how different we love different bro.

[Jim Jones]

Not perfect, but we go ride. If. If I say I love you, it's up forever.

[Memphis Bleak]

Forever.

[Jim Jones]

Amen. That's glad he understood what he got. Cause I try to tell. Keep me close.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, but the conversation I had with with Bro, right, We spoke on camera. He spoke his piece. He said what he said. But off camera, the things he said to me, I just want to say to you, I ain't going to say because that's for y' all to speak. So I ain't gonna be like, yo, this said that. This said that. I just know the door ain't closed, bro.

[Jim Jones]

I mean, I don't really worried about the door, cuz.

[Memphis Bleak]

I got y' all brothers. My. And that love you my, like, 100%.

[Jim Jones]

And I got love. I got love for that man, too.

[Memphis Bleak]

But right, you focus.

[Jim Jones]

I got to do what I got to do.

[Memphis Bleak]

What's up with. What's up with Santana, my G?

[Jim Jones]

Santana. Good. Spoke to him the other two days ago. He want me. He want to start doing. He want to start doing a show here about intervention. And I think that's very special.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Jim Jones]

It is. Because him going through his bats with his own personal things and like that, as we all may have seen or, you know, I mean, and to see him gaining control and focus, focusing up like, people got to realize you. Wells has been damn near millionaires as a teenager.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Jim Jones]

You don't see that happen too often.

[Memphis Bleak]

People don't know. I met Juels. He was in a group with Bath.

[Jim Jones]

Gate, and that was the. And they was trying to sign the Rockefeller word up. Did some deals with them. And I was like.

[Memphis Bleak]

He was like, 14, my G. Cause I was doing memph. Bleak is at this time.

[Jim Jones]

When he was 16, he was a millionaire by the time he was 18.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact. Yep.

[Jim Jones]

Going crazy, going on tour. You understand? So people don't understand the dynamic of how much pressure it is to be that young with that much of money and obsessive game.

[Memphis Bleak]

You did bleed you dry. Don't even give you dry. Give you time and think we're looking.

[Jim Jones]

For vices every day. Because every day is a party in this. If you don't focus up, that's a fact.

[Memphis Bleak]

You just partying life away.

[Jim Jones]

So when you start so young and you're so impressionable, by the time you.

[Memphis Bleak]

Get to an age where you. Where it's time to focus, it's not.

[Jim Jones]

As easy as it was. And if you don't have the right people in your corner guiding you from such a young age, it could be detrimental. And that's why I love baby bro because he always been a warrior. You heard he's always been a warrior. No matter what he's figured out how to take care of himself. He's been way stronger than I could ever be.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's what's up man.

[Jim Jones]

And through all people see, they don't see that man still take care of his family, still paid them bills. He was locked up and he paid all his bills. You think that is easy to be in federal confinement and don't have no records on the radio and you're a platinum artist and you still got to feed your family. You heard.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's what you imagine how that phone.

[Jim Jones]

Call is when you got to make sure that money is there and you're dealing with that be playing with you because they out in the street and freedom and you in there trying to protect your family and feed them. Them.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

They don't never tell you about that type of. That a lot of people got to go through. But, but for him, he's a champion. Like a super champion. He's been one of the people that people adored and he's. He's been dealt a curveball and as, as, as, as much as I would say I have nothing to do with it. I have all to do with it.

[Memphis Bleak]

But I'm.

[Jim Jones]

I'm being accountable because of how loyal I am to what I was doing.

[Memphis Bleak]

But I look at it as when everything went left with dipset you, you took them more under the. The little brother role.

[Jim Jones]

At that point I had to. It was way too late for the advantage. That was chicken of them already. But that remember I'm not signed to nothing. I can't dictate. I'm not on nobody's paper. I ain't the. I'm a so called CEO you heard like that's not my position. But shout out to jewels I love him.

[Memphis Bleak]

That was the bro, man, you know.

[Jim Jones]

That anything that you need that I've always been there and I'm going to do anything that you need moving forward. And we're going to get this intervention show together. It's going to be one of the illest shows that anybody has ever seen. You heard?

[Memphis Bleak]

You know.

[Jim Jones]

And he got some music. He was just playing me some the other day. I don't know if I got this record with you. I don't even want. I'm not gonna rule for him.

[Memphis Bleak]

But boy, he got some shit that's going on right now.

[Jim Jones]

Present day.

[Memphis Bleak]

That he going to up with Word, man. Like even through our few. Right. Like, Santana used to be in the studio with us in Brielle with Bathgate. Hard. Like he used to be around all the time. Like. And one thing I always respect is Santana. Like, even when we had our drama. If you ever really pay attention. Santana never said my name.

[Jim Jones]

He. He didn't.

[Memphis Bleak]

He didn't.

[Jim Jones]

He didn't. He didn't. It wasn't about him. Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like.

[Jim Jones]

And he tried to play his part as much as he could.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

Without feeling like he was doing some he didn't want to do. You understand what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes. Because boys respected him for that.

[Jim Jones]

He had relationships with these people before he had relationships with us.

[Memphis Bleak]

And he definitely used to say that and like that.

[Jim Jones]

You dig? And then it is so crazy how in my heart Santana could have been just as influential as Jay. And I always say that he's always been my favorite rapper. And I think that if we'd have got it in the right way and had to. And I say that all the time. And this is why I be like. It's a lot for me also. But we're gonna sit down and have a talk too. For the people. And it's gonna be the most illest conversations that everybody anybody has heard in this whole hip hop culture.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right. Cause you know him better than anybody.

[Jim Jones]

Bone Chilling. To see a multi platinum artist go through his history of how this game can take you up and take you down. Like he got a cold story, bro. One of the youngest artists had his in. In the biggest artists.

[Memphis Bleak]

You did.

[Jim Jones]

Like, they don't talk about these child prodigies that get handled the way they get handled and like that. And it's hard. But I'm willing to show my half of it.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

Cause I ain't innocent. I played a hand in it. You heard. Because of what we were doing.

[Memphis Bleak]

Chasing. He was chasing the wind, man.

[Jim Jones]

Business. But it was the business of how they teach us how to do business. I wouldn't fault this on cam. You heard. I can't Place that blame on them. I faulted on how the game was taught to us.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes, the game is. It didn't understand.

[Jim Jones]

What I'm talking about is that people tell you like, nah, you gotta get this percentage. Now take this from them. Take this from them. Like these was raping all this whole bro like. And I've been watching this and I'm like, God damn. And you only know what you know until somebody sees you something different until it blows up in your face. And if it didn't blow up in our face, then I don't think that it would ever come to this place where we at right now, where there's a possibility or where he can get back to what he lost.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, that's a fact, bro. This game is crooked, bro. Like it's a lot of you. Then they don't teach you coming into it. They don't tell you, they don't prepare you for.

[Jim Jones]

I don't own my masses, nor can I get my masses back. Let me sign a life contract, lifetime contract where Koch owns my masses for the lifetime of my life. But that's what I'm trying to tell you about dealing with that you trust, you heard? So you got to be careful out here, bro. Accountable for your own mistakes and trusting people too much. Yeah. So I can't blame nobody but my yourself at the end of the day. That's why you never hear me mention it, never hear me be a sour about it. Because it's all on me at the end of the day. And I knew I should be way smarter than that.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, no, I, I, me personally, that's why dame always gonna have a special place in my heart, bro. Cause I had a up contract as a young and he made the call and fixed it, got my lawyer, right? And that he told me something, man, that I, I try to tell these kids, man, don't pay somebody to read something for you. Pay somebody to teach you what's gotta be read for you. You know what I mean? So you understand that shit. Like, because like you we could pay lawyers and they gonna read, they just gonna do what they do for they, for they. You know what I mean? They fee you giving them they 750 a contract. They like. Yeah, it says this sign up, it says that it's good to go get my 5%. Yeah, it's good to go. Don't worry about it. It's 650 on the table. They don't care. So that's why when he told me pay somebody to teach you, not just read for you, it was like, damn, that makes sense. So it is cool.

[Jim Jones]

You got a great person in your corner. So it's like, for me, I took the same. Yeah, I took. I. I did the deal with the same lawyer you had.

[Memphis Bleak]

So how the.

[Jim Jones]

How the. You got your masters? I don't got mines.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Jim Jones]

I did everything you did. I found jelly. But it's cool because I learned how to follow my own way.

[Memphis Bleak]

You could ever get them, like, I.

[Jim Jones]

Mean, maybe it'd be my lawyer be fighting.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

I'm just telling you right now, as it stands contractually, that's what it states. Not saying I can't never get it back. Not saying that I'm not fighting to get it back.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes. Yes, applicably.

[Jim Jones]

Is that how that works? Did I say the word right?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, accurately.

[Jim Jones]

Because, you know, they be with me with these words.

[Memphis Bleak]

Vocabulary.

[Jim Jones]

Linebacker.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm with fab.

[Jim Jones]

I'm with F. But yeah, man, you funny, man.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's why I don't like drinking. Who told me to drink today? Hey, yeah, yo, that word you said. That word is lineage. Said what I said, I don't know. I think you said line back on some. Yo, my.

[Jim Jones]

I was all, that's a small Alec in me, man. I swear, I'm swear I'll be smart, but I ain't smart. Jack all trade. Do you know what a jack all trade is?

[Memphis Bleak]

Hell yeah. You like chameleon. Do anything. Do everything. I'm doing perfect too.

[Jim Jones]

It's the definition of a jack of all trades. So you know it. I'm the master of none, but I'm better than the master of.

[Memphis Bleak]

Ah, see? Learn of none, but I'm better than the master of one. I like that. See, I ain't know the true definition, but I knew the master of Jack of all trades. I felt like you can do everything.

[Jim Jones]

I don't know, but I'm better than you at what you know how to do.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, I like that. That's what.

[Jim Jones]

Exactly.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's that. That's that. Yo, I bust your ass in 2cat, 2k. But I never even played it yet.

[Jim Jones]

Wrong with you.

[Memphis Bleak]

I understand life and that work.

[Jim Jones]

Yes. I've been blessed with that a lot in my life. So I'm. I'm grateful to be able to bounce back from so many situations and like that and. But in life, this is already written.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm really convinced for fact, man. We just live it, man. We just. We just go.

[Jim Jones]

And. And that's where my faith comes into.

[Memphis Bleak]

Because definitely I always there's no way.

[Jim Jones]

You're bleak, I'm telling you. And not too sensationalized. Glamorized. There's no way escape the. That I escaped to be here today. I promise you that, bro.

[Memphis Bleak]

Not everybody. No, no.

[Jim Jones]

I promise you that, bro.

[Memphis Bleak]

I know I got in the streets. They not sitting here like you. You kidding me?

[Jim Jones]

It's. It's. It's scary.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Jim Jones]

The amount of that I got, I got to escape by the grace of God. And I had to learn that it was the grace of God.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

Because this is almost amazing why I'm here.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's why you definitely why you never thought about doing the movie on your life. Like, it come up. Yo.

[Jim Jones]

Ready? Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like I got more life. I'm still living life.

[Jim Jones]

Like, this is just one movie. Once I stop this, the music part of my life, we'll write that movie you heard and talk about that journey. But the journey that I'm going on is a whole. A whole nother movie in itself.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact. No, man, that's. That's what's up, man. What's next for my guy Jim? What's the compound? Gel? I got to do the tour. I got to do the tour. The compound.

[Jim Jones]

Put the tour part of the. Of the joint and walk you all through this.

[Memphis Bleak]

Word up.

[Jim Jones]

This. This is what it's here for. So it's a. I'm building a multi purpose content creation facility for media, broadcast, fashion and music. Music on all levels. So on the property itself, we have sound stages, we have recording studios, we have photo studios, we have dance studios, places to do podcasting, places to do gaming in. We had like. It's just a lot going on. So I'm trying to encompass a one stop stop and shop for anybody. That's entertainment. So you can come here if you do movies, television, music, fashion, creating centers of photography. Photography, like. And then we have storefronts that we build. So we have a bar, sports bar that's built right now. We like 98 done with the sports bar.

[Memphis Bleak]

What's the name of the bar?

[Jim Jones]

I don't even know what June name the ball. I know it's done. It might be Junes and like that. We got. We building a gym there, we building beauty suites there, bodega on. On the storefronts. I'm building a little shopping center inside. Like I'm. I'm doing something.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, you on it. Yeah, you on it.

[Jim Jones]

This, this is my final destination for my hip hop journey. And also moving forward is my liaison to the Rest of the world or whatever I may conquer.

[Memphis Bleak]

Nah, that's a that like talking about that. You say, I heard you flip the question back to me before you like, yo, what's next for you? Same thing, bro. Build, expand, diversify the portfolio. You know what I mean? Like, just do different outside of music, outside of entertainment. Like, that's why I started with the Doucet, you know what I mean?

[Jim Jones]

You know, I mean, I just always think about marketing and you being so Doucet and like that, right? So it's like, where is Bleak's xo Doucet? Or where is Bleak's cognac at? That's made by Doucet?

[Memphis Bleak]

No, no, I don't want to compete.

[Jim Jones]

It ain't a compete. It is.

[Memphis Bleak]

It is. If I make a cognac, then it's going to compete with the baby here.

[Jim Jones]

If Doucet makes the cognac, that's business. Coca Cola makes a bunch of different.

[Memphis Bleak]

You know what I would make, though? You've been overseas, right? And you know how when you go in the store, they have the mixtures already made in the store.

[Jim Jones]

Maybe don't be cogn his vodka.

[Memphis Bleak]

I wanted to do a wine. I wanted to do a wine, cuz I drink wine. Me and my wife, we be on that wine vibe. Alcohol definitely need to implement. And that's what led me right now. That's what led me into the other. Like I do. Like that's what made me and my partner, Fred C. We opened up the Italian restaurant out there in Vegas.

[Jim Jones]

I heard you do this. I heard you talk about the story about. Is it Vegas or something?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, yeah, it's Vegas. Yeah, we got still up right now. Yeah, Roma Kitchen.

[Jim Jones]

What's the name of it?

[Memphis Bleak]

We got Roma Kitchen out there in Vegas. We just opened up a bar called a Tuscan Cove Patio and grill out there in Vegas.

[Jim Jones]

So I ain't got to pay for none of that.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, man, come on, man. Bring the fam, baby. It's good. Don't worry. Pasta on the mobsters. Well, heard up, you know what I mean? We just opened up a barber shop in Jers. No, we got the weed in Vegas and in Maryland. My right. Exotics. I'm just trying.

[Jim Jones]

People need to know what you need, what you got going on, cuz? People. Well, a lot of you know me from the hood, so people.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

Look at Bleak and don't understand the business he's doing. They always look at Jay like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's why that's why you got niggas like yay, yo talking about, yeah, Jay don't take care of nigga. I don't need Jay to go on tour, yo.

[Jim Jones]

Smoke hard coke. You heard?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, chill. Yo, chill, chill.

[Jim Jones]

You look like you need to be taken care of, nigga. You look like you need to go to the dentist. You need to look like you need to brush your teeth. You look like you need hygiene, nigga. You look like you need help. Tell your man 50 single house or something.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, you do need that 2 ounces. That's why he looks.

[Jim Jones]

I got a G for every bump in your face.

[Memphis Bleak]

I promise you that. That's.

[Jim Jones]

I promise you that.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's why he worrying about me.

[Jim Jones]

You broke. You know I got it. What's up? Ain't nobody the both sides. Hey, yo. Hey, Flea. We're the both sides.

[Memphis Bleak]

Let me finish that off. Ain't nobody taking care of niggas over here, baby. Nah, you good. My. I love it, deserve it. They need to hear this, man. Cause they bugging out here, all these worrying about who taking care who we take care of. We ain't no who take care of who. You know who doing it. We live, we getting money.

[Jim Jones]

We take care of everybody. We take care of each other.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact, my G. But linking back up with you, Jim, we missed out on a lot of opportunity, bro. But we ain't gonna miss it out going forward. We need to put some pain together, bro.

[Jim Jones]

Don't lie.

[Memphis Bleak]

No, man.

[Jim Jones]

Everybody.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Jim Jones]

Like, you can't rush the process.

[Memphis Bleak]

No.

[Jim Jones]

It's gonna happen when it's supposed to happen. And if it don't happen, it wasn't never meant to happen. You should. You should feel no way about that neither.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact. That's why we sitting here, bro. You know, real always make the circle around the block. Always gonna spin back around and double back.

[Jim Jones]

No.

[Memphis Bleak]

So we here. And with that being said, Jim, I don't want this to be our last link up. We fam, bro. We been fam since the 90s. Fucking going on 30 years, my nigga. Let's put this fucking pain out here, man.

[Jim Jones]

Let's make some big pain.

[Memphis Bleak]

You feel me, my brother? I fucking love you, my nigga. You my brother, my nigga. Continue success, continue health, and continue winning, my brother. Love artist to artist. Rock solid.

[Jim Jones]

Rock solid. Stop playing with us.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, we here, baby. 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 them. Ah, come on.

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[Memphis Bleak]

Whoa.

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[Memphis Bleak]

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[Memphis Bleak]

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[Jim Jones]

What kind of man would let this.

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Happen to his family?

[Memphis Bleak]

Inspired by shocking actual events, I'm working.

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[Memphis Bleak]

Starring Academy Award winner Patricia Arquette and Jason Clark.

[Jim Jones]

It's only cheating if you get get caught. Hulu Original Series Murdoch Death in The Family premieres October 15th on Hulu and.

[Memphis Bleak]

Hulu on Disney plus for bundle subscribers. Terms apply.

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[Commercial Announcer / Cindy Crawford]

This is an I Heart Podcast.