ROC Solid w/ Memphis Bleek – Zab Judah

Episode Date: February 3, 2026
Podcast Network: The Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeartPodcasts
Guest: Zab Judah

Episode Overview

This episode features legendary boxer Zab Judah in a wide-ranging, animated conversation with host Memphis Bleek. The two Brooklyn natives reminisce about their respective upbringings, the intersection of hip-hop and boxing, career highs and lows, business hustles, and the enduring culture of Brooklyn. The episode captures Zab's quick wit and deep insight, offering both boxing aficionados and hip-hop fans plenty of stories and untold moments from ROC history and beyond.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Growing Up in Brownsville & The Making of a Champ

• Life in the 1980s Brownsville: Zab describes coming of age during a rough era, witnessing the crack epidemic and rapid changes in his neighborhood.
  • “I seen the epidemic. I seen crack come, tear everything up… Thank God for my mother and father, kept us in boxing. I started at five…” (05:25)
• Building Discipline Young: Zab’s father, himself a fighter, introduced him to boxing at 5, shaping Zab’s discipline and outlook from a young age.
• Amateur to Pro: With an amateur record of 115-5 and representing in the 1996 Olympics, Zab quickly transitioned to pro, becoming world champ by 20.
  • “By 20 years old, I was the champ of the world. So I’m only telling you all these numbers… so you can understand the timeline.” (07:39)

2. ROC-A-Fella Ties, Style, and Boxing Swag

• First Athlete in ROC: Zab clarifies he was ROC before there was Roc Nation or Rockawear, even modeling for the brand at launch.
  • “There was only Roc-A-Fella. There was nothing else… Wasn’t even Rockawear yet.” (08:54)
• Hip-Hop & Boxer Swag: Memphis Bleek credits Zab as the blueprint for merging street, hip-hop, and ring swagger, likening his impact to Allen Iverson’s on basketball.
  • “I felt like you was the first boxer that really represented what we represent, like an artist.” (10:06)
• Zab admits he didn’t realize at the time how much he was crossing boundaries between sports and music, but looking back, he sees how much this mattered to fans.

3. Mentality, Preparation, and Career Lessons

• Facing All Challengers:
  • “You one of the only who never duck no smoke… you fought them all. Line them up.” (14:05)
  • Zab attributes this to a Brooklyn upbringing: “You might fight him today, him tomorrow… that’s kind of crazy right there.” (14:33)
• Defining Fights: Zab discusses pivotal bouts (Mickey Ward, Cory Spinks)—the pain, the business, and lessons learned.
  • Mickey Ward body shot: “I almost… I thought it was over …I told my dad ‘he broke my ribs’… he said ‘use the other side!’” (15:33)
• On Don King: They discuss Don King’s reputation, hustle, and how opportunity sometimes outweighed immediate money in boxing.
  • “I made a lot of bread…he introduced me to a great lifestyle…he had old-fashioned business mentality—that ‘three for me, one for you’...” (23:46)

4. Brooklyn Roots & Hip-Hop Integration

• ROC & Dipset Connections: Zab shares how being “outside” led to relationships with the whole ROC family, Dipset in Harlem, Foxy, Kim, and more.
• Backroom Deals & 40/40 Club Memories:
  • “A lot of money talk in that backroom, man…” (11:35)
• Classic NYC Childhoods: Bleek and Zab reminisce about Brownsville, learning toughness in the street, and street games like Skelly and Suicide.
• Legendary ROC Stories:
  • The Change Clothes video shoot and Dame Dash incident (35:11).
  • “He said he gonna drop me, right? You ain’t sign me, right. But it’s my company. And I’m like, what?” (37:01)
  • “Dame ain’t no sucker… you gotta approach Dame with that caution.” (37:51)

5. Handling Loss, Longevity, and Mindset

• Dealing with Losses:
  • “I was just numb to the fact that, yo, I’m great. So even when the loss came, I still say, that’s not a loss, that’s a lesson.” (32:48)
  • “Go look at my losses, y’all… I’m bodying it…” (33:04)
• Never Ducking Smoke:
  • “We can’t beat everybody but we definitely ain’t gonna run from nobody.” (33:15)
  • “You beat me, you gotta fight the Judah brothers. It’s ten of us—beat all of us.” (33:41)

6. Business Moves & Life After Boxing

• Early Financial Lessons: Thanks to his father, Zab says he learned to manage winnings and parlay success beyond the ring.
  • “I thank God for my father… knowing how to shake and bake from the 70s...” (25:24)
• Post-Boxing Hustle: Zab discusses his wife’s Undisputed Toys line and a new cigar bar in Woodland Hills.
  • “Sticks Cigar Bar… private cigar bar… come in, let’s make it big.” (57:22)
• Coaching & Mentorship: Zab helps develop talents like Devin Haney, proud to watch the next generation thrive, and praises Bill Haney’s fatherly mentorship.
  • “When you are part of something like that, you gotta feel proud.” (47:33)

7. On Legacy, Fame, and Giving Back

• Public vs. Private Recognition:
  • “Far as what the boxing community gives me…that really doesn’t worry me. When I come outside and talk to the people on the ground, they tell me different.” (49:53)
  • “What does the name Zab Judah mean to you?”—“Exactly what you just said…coming from you.” (54:33)
• Reflections on Impact:
  • Zab often reflects privately on his career, but says he focuses on new goals instead of looking back.
  • “If you sit in that place and get comfortable, that’s gonna go to your brain. I can’t even look at what I did with boxing…” (52:40)
• “I love everybody…even if I don’t know you, I love you. Even if you didn’t like me, I love you.” (57:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On first-round knockouts:
  “Before you make it to your seat, I bet you…you was turning back around—it was over." — Zab (04:01)
• On fighting Floyd Mayweather:
  “You the only … who put that pain on Floyd…and you know, the whole hood, everybody know that.” — Bleek (26:31)
• Mike Tyson’s wisdom on money & friendship:
  “Mike said, ‘You know what? Y’all gonna fight. It’s the money, brother. They gonna give you so much money, you gonna look at him like he the devil… But that’s what you supposed to do.’” — Zab (28:09)
• On learning from Don King:
  “He was good at like, he’ll call you and buy you something... you get the Rolls [Royce], pull up to your house… You not thinking about who’s paying for this?” — Zab (17:27)
• Brooklyn toughness:
  “We can’t beat everybody but we definitely ain’t gonna run from nobody.” — Bleek (33:15)
• On legacy:
  “Legend, bro. When you think of Brooklyn and fighting, it’s Mike Tyson and Zab Judah, and that’s it.” — Bleek (54:31)
  “Exactly what you just said... that’s what it means.” — Zab (54:33)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:09] Zab arrives, shares Atlantic City fight story and ROC ring walk with Bleek and Jay-Z.
• [05:12] Growing up in Brownsville and discovering boxing.
• [07:39] Becoming champ at age 20; rapid career ascent.
• [10:05] Hip-hop/boxing crossover, Brooklyn swag, artist energy in the ring.
• [15:02] Defining fights—Mickey Ward and Cory Spinks stories.
• [17:11] Working with Don King—money, business, and hustle lessons.
• [26:31] Mayweather fight; only boxers to ever “rattle the tank”.
• [35:11] Change Clothes video shoot, Dame Dash altercation.
• [46:34] Mentoring Devin Haney and legacy in the gym.
• [53:06] Reflections on career; thoughts on exhibitions.
• [57:22] Ventures: Undisputed Toys and Sticks Cigar Bar.

Conclusion

Packed with personal anecdotes, Brooklyn pride, insights on boxing, business, and the unique bridge between sports and hip-hop, this episode cements Zab Judah as both a street legend and a culture-setter. For aspiring athletes, hip-hop heads, and anyone who loves New York stories, it’s ROC solid—straight from those who lived it.

"Stay solid. Stay ROC."

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