ROC Solid w/ Memphis Bleek – Episode: Wais P | October 28, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

In this episode of ROC Solid, Memphis Bleek sits down with longtime friend and collaborator Wais P (also appearing as Wise P), tracing their brotherhood back to the golden era of Brooklyn hip-hop. More than reminiscing, they get candid about their early days, the complexities of Roc-A-Fella family dynamics, industry lessons, surviving setbacks, and evolving in a new era of music. Listeners get a rare look at untold stories, the making of classic records, the pitfalls of the business, and the enduring respect among hip-hop’s real spitters.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Origins and Brotherhood

• Early Studio Days & Battling
  • Reminisce on first encounters—competing as Brooklyn crews, battling on 560 State Street, and forming The Rangers.
  • “That’s when I had Lil TI... we was in the group called the Crooklyn Bandits.” – Memphis Bleek (04:17)
  • The mutual admiration for each other's wordplay and unique approach: ”You was always like the wizard of the bars to me... you just always had the different side of life bars.” – Bleek (04:50)

The Roc-A-Fella Camaraderie & Creative Process

• Shared Writing and Creative Assistance
  • Bleek acknowledges the collaborative nature of their sessions, how lines and hooks were shared to elevate each other.
  • “Niggas always saying, yo, Bleek, your hardest verse is ‘Celebration.’…you definitely helped me make that verse salute come to life.” – Bleek (07:28)
  • The culture of passing inspiration: “If you stuck and the n*** see the vision for you, we helped each other.” (07:14)
• Missed Opportunity for Unity
  • Both wish the early camaraderie lasted: “Can you imagine?...It would have been just such a monstrosity.” – Wise P (08:32)
  • Motivated by wanting to make “the big homie proud”—referring to Jay-Z.

Key Sessions & Industry Relationships

• Stories Behind Classic Records
  • The infamous session for “If I Die, Don’t Cry”: Swizz Beatz’s presence, early Ja Rule collabs, studio life with legends.
  • “Swiss Beats in there. I never forget it.” – Wise P (10:38)
  • Ja Rule’s generosity: “Ja was making so much money at that moment. He...just gave it all to his moms. He didn’t even need it, man.” – Wise P (14:21)
• Behind-the-Scenes Industry Moves
  • The struggle with Def Jam timing, label politics, and why The Rangers’ album never dropped despite their buzz.
  • Loyalty and business clashes, especially between managers and execs: “Bihai didn’t really...vibe with Dame...out of loyalty ‘cause I loved Hai, I’m with you, bro.” – Wise P (31:20, 31:27)

Brooklyn, Family & Community

• The Value of Mentorship
  • Wise P discusses helping new talent, specifically D Guap from Miami, and feeling a responsibility to guide the next generation. (48:28)
  • The regret that their era got so focused on “the bag” that they didn’t sufficiently teach or mentor those coming up next.
  • Classic Brooklyn anecdotes: hustling for “used jumpers,” memorable tour stories, the pivotal role of manager Bhi.

Life Lessons & Regrets

• Reflection on Youth and Success
  • Both acknowledge how fast money and lack of mentors led to mistakes: “The game ain’t fair.” – Bleek (24:38)
  • Wise P’s biggest regret: taking the game lightly, chasing fast life over legacy. “I thought I was bigger than what I was.” – Wise P (43:10)
  • Realizing the importance of business savvy early: “He was the first one talking about buying properties. He helped raise me.” – Wise P on Bhi (35:13)

The State of Hip-Hop: Past and Present

• Current Work and the Modern Scene
  • Wise P continues releasing music, collaborating with Fredro Star, Statik Selektah, and mentoring the next wave.
  • On the freedom of 2020s hip-hop: “Now you could just rap… you don’t gotta look for that hit.” – Wise P (57:03)
  • Bleek details jealousy at how artists like J. Cole could choose their single – a freedom absent in their come-up (58:03).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Artistic Brotherhood

• “Only Jay, you, and Beans ever gave me a bar.” – Memphis Bleek (41:10)
• “The fans know what they know. But the spitters, when they see you, they go, ‘You that guy.’” – Wise P (84:08)

On Industry Realities

• “If you can’t win with the hottest record label, what can we do for you?” – Label exec to Wise P, as told by Wise P (39:34)
• "You supposed to show these kids how to get money… Today, bro, it’s a million ways to get money. And you don’t have to be illegal." – Bleek (50:28)

On Regret

• “I should have been more around you, Veto… I should have never let anything get in between that.” – Wise P (43:20)

On Surviving Brooklyn & Tour Life

• The “crazy tour” stories: Japanese girls with 100 cats (16:39), dodging Chicago hat politics (75:08), and club nights in a white mink.
• “You just made me feel like the n** in Last Dragon, straight up looking at that n*** like, ‘Teach me some moves.’”* – Bleek, recalling being out-rapped by Sauce Money (86:27)

On Hip-Hop Legacy

• “When it comes down to Crown Heights, they had y’all. It’s not many groups out of Brooklyn, and y'all one of them groups that I felt could have been bigger.” – Bleek (23:44)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Studio Battles & Origins: [03:06]-[06:00]
• Celebration Verse & Roc-a-Fella Camaraderie: [07:28]-[08:46]
• "If I Die, Don’t Cry" Session & Swizz Beatz Memory: [09:02]-[12:00]
• Ja Rule Collab Story: [13:03]-[14:42]
• Mentorship & Regret for Next Generation: [48:28]-[51:50]
• Why The Rangers’ Album Never Dropped (Label Politics): [30:34]-[33:34]
• Brooklyn Legacy & Mentors: [34:59]-[36:35]
• Advice and Business Wisdom: [35:15]-[36:19]
• On Modern Hip-Hop & J. Cole Story: [57:24]-[59:50]
• Tour Life Stories (Chicago gun incident, Africa trips): [75:08]-[77:12], [68:34]-[71:25]
• Favorite Cities to Perform: [76:48]-[77:25]
• Wise P’s Top 5 Spitters: [77:35]-[79:41]

Wise P's Top 5 All Time Hip-Hop Lyricists

1. Jay-Z (Veto/Hov)
2. Rakim
3. Pharoahe Monch
4. Black Thought
5. Sean Price (78:16 – 79:41)

The Culture & Lasting Brotherhood

The episode finishes with heartfelt appreciation for the rare, unbreakable bond between real spitters—a recurring affirmation of respect and kinship. Despite industry politics, missed opportunities, and varied life paths, Bleek and Wise P stand as proof that authenticity, loyalty, and lyrical prowess endure:

“You always stay true to your thing. How many groups break up, you and Half still bros to this day… You kept the culture and hip hop alive.” – Memphis Bleek (83:00 – 84:11)

Stay solid. Stay ROC.