ROC Solid w/ Memphis Bleek

Guest: Lil Cease

Date: August 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of ROC Solid, hosted by Memphis Bleek, features an in-depth, unfiltered conversation with Brooklyn rap legend Lil Cease. Together, they reminisce about hip-hop’s golden era, share untold stories about The Notorious B.I.G., Junior MAFIA, Lil’ Kim, Roc-A-Fella, and discuss their own journeys, influences, and personal evolution. The episode is a raw and honest exploration of brotherhood, legacy, music industry realities, and what it means to grow up in and with hip-hop.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Holding Down Biggie’s Legacy and Family

• Cease’s responsibility to Biggie’s children:
  • Cease describes stepping into a mentor/uncle role for Biggie’s kids as “mandatory” after Big’s death.

    “Where we come from, it’s kind of like mandatory...I want to keep that attachment to Big: this is what he left here.” (Cease, 04:50)

• Bleek admits he never met Biggie’s kids and praises Cease’s loyalty.

  “You like the big unk. You know that they need the guidance...I respect how you hold that down.” (Memphis Bleek, 04:29)

2. Brooklyn in the 90s: Come-Up Stories

• Recollections of the old days, from Marcy Day in ‘95 to the way everyone hustled, hung out, and moved in packs—before cell phones, cloud, or social media.

  “You stinging crack rock or you got a wicked jump shot...there was nothing else.” (Cease, 06:54)

• The shock and impact of sudden success when Biggie got signed.

  “We didn’t expect that, bro...Once he got a record deal, it was like, alright, smooth, this shit dope, it’s taking us out the streets.” (Cease, 06:45–07:39)

3. Biggie’s Leadership, Junior MAFIA’s Structure, and the “Blueprint”

• Big’s vision: getting the crew on through his record deal.

  “If I can get right, I’ma try to get everybody else in position. And he literally did that.” (Cease, 10:15)

• Cease never initially wanted to be a rapper; Big pushed him into it and wrote his early verses.

  “You never even wanted to be a rapper?” (Memphis Bleek, 10:57)
  “Nah, I was cool with just hanging, bro...Big just like, fuck it, yo. I'ma write for him.” (Cease, 10:59–12:17)

• Junior MAFIA as a template for future rap crews:

  “A lot of rap crews…are structured the way Big structured Junior Mafia.” (Memphis Bleek, 12:20)

4. Brooklyn Bonds: Jay-Z, Biggie, and Roc-A-Fella Connections

• Deep stories of Jay-Z and Biggie’s friendship, their competitive spirit, and studio memories.

  “Jay and Big relationship was different...they pushed each other.” (Memphis Bleek, 16:33–16:37)

• Unfiltered anecdotes about running with legends and being on the bubble of success before fame (e.g., house parties with Super Cat, Shabba, Land Cruisers in Jersey, and the life-changing inspiration seeing others “get on”).

  “Living in the crib with elevators in it...Going back to Marcy after this. Something ain't right.” (Memphis Bleek, 15:14)

5. Untold Studio Stories and Hip-Hop Urban Legends

• The story behind the skit on “I Love the Dough”:

  “Everybody thinks that was me. That's not me, bro, you lying. That's Angeletti, that's D Dot.” (Cease, 17:33)

• “Crush On You” authorship myth:

  “I don’t know who wrote it. Till somebody say something...I ain’t write it. I ain’t started writing rhymes till 1999.” (Cease, 46:23)

6. Cease’s Solo Journey—Why Only One Album?

• Big was orchestrating Cease’s career; after Big’s passing, Cease felt exposed and less motivated.

  “When Big was here, Big was like jotting on me...I was a straight entertainment movie.” (Cease, 20:15)

• Tried to honor Big’s legacy, but group and industry drama held him back from a sophomore album.

  “After I did my album, it’s just a lot of things that happened us amongst the family....life was still...” (Cease, 29:56–30:16)

• The pressure of living with a legendary crew’s legacy and the fine line between staying relevant and overstaying in the game.

  “These new, young—look at what J. Cole did. I moved out the way from Cole willingly.” (Memphis Bleek, 40:04)

7. East Coast-West Coast & Media Myths

• Before the drama with Tupac:

  “It was like fam...Pac respected Big. Big respected him. Outside forces came in and fucked up that whole situation for sure.” (Cease, 54:18–55:31)

• The media, not artists, fueled the so-called “war.”

  “I blame...the media...the magazines. They pushed that.” (Memphis Bleek, 55:31)

8. The Evolution of Hip-Hop and Performance

• Comparing 90s touring to today’s artists, the evolution of live performance standards, and the role of authenticity.

  “Now...some of these guys still performing with...go to iTunes, play it, and I’ma perform it.” (Memphis Bleek, 84:33) “Our culture from the 90s is elevated...Covid really rejuvenated like music.” (Cease, 86:37)

9. Reflections on Loss, Growth & Staying Solid

• Raw honesty about confronting career “what ifs”:

  “I just wish I would have focused more on music, you know what I’m saying?” (Cease, 52:37)

• Brotherhood over business:

  “When C’s want to fuck with us, he gonna come back around. He know the door always open, bro.” (Memphis Bleek, 35:54)

10. Current Moves & What’s Next

• Upcoming documentary:

  “I’m working on this documentary called From a Young G’s Perspective...from the day I got introduced into music, into where I’m at now.” (Cease, 81:00)

• Next album:

  “I got...The Heart of the City. You know, Big was the King of New York, and he always called me his heart. So I'm the heart of the city.” (Cease, 81:39)

• Live shows overseas and the Frank White Experience, possibly a live album.

  “I was like, come on, man. I’mma see if I get y’all overseas. And they bit. We went over there for a whole month...” (Cease, 83:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Brooklyn’s rawness:

  “Once you go outside, the world is as small as a dog.” (Memphis Bleek, 13:42)

• On authenticity:

  “Integrity and authenticity is always gonna last. Because when lies run out, the rhymes run out.” (Memphis Bleek, 29:27)

• On Biggie’s impact & rap skills:

  "He was like, my most well rounded rapper...he was in every space." (Cease, 76:55–78:25)

• On the old vs. new music industry:

  “If it's getting you out the neighborhood and feeding your family...I don't care what you doing. You ain't robbing nobody...just do your thing, eat.” (Cease, 45:37)

• On the best double albums:

  “It’s only two double albums that don’t feel like too much...Life After Death and All Eyez On Me.” (Memphis Bleek, 71:34)

• On loss:

  “Nothing touched me like B.I., bro...I cried like that was my brother or something, because y’all were my brothers.” (Memphis Bleek, 34:50)

• On age and outgrowing the game:

  “You know what old means to me? Outliving dummies.” (Cease, 92:33)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:50] — Cease on stepping up for Biggie’s family
• [06:45] — Surreal come-up: from the block to Soundtrack Studios
• [10:15] — Biggie’s leadership and blueprint for Junior MAFIA
• [12:20] — The “template” for rap crews today
• [17:33] — The “I Love the Dough” skit urban legend
• [28:07] — Cease writes his first rhyme for Kelly Price feature
• [29:27] — On authenticity: “Integrity...will always last.”
• [54:18] — Before the drama: Tupac & Biggie were ‘fam’
• [55:31] — The media’s role in the East-West Coast narrative
• [81:00] — Upcoming documentary ‘From a Young G’s Perspective’
• [81:39] — New album ‘Heart of the City’ announced
• [83:32] — Touring with the Frank White Band overseas
• [86:37] — Music industry renewed after COVID

Closing Thoughts and Tone

The episode is unfiltered—loyal, nostalgic, honest, and laced with survivor wisdom and classic jokes. Both Bleek and Cease keep it 100% Roc solid, moving between laughter, realness, and hard-earned lessons. The stories told, especially about the early days, the legends, and the business, are reminders of hip-hop’s heart and brotherhood. The message is clear: stay authentic, support your people, respect the grind, and know when to evolve.

For listeners new and old, this episode offers a masterclass in hip-hop history, culture, and personal growth—straight from those who lived it.