The Breakfast Club: Best of Full Interview – 803 Fresh Talks "Boots On The Ground," The Rise Of Southern Soul + More

Original air date: December 31, 2025
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Guests: 803 Fresh, Young Guy

Episode Overview

This episode of The Breakfast Club dives into the vibrant Southern soul music scene with special guests 803 Fresh and Young Guy. The conversation centers around the meteoric rise of 803 Fresh’s hit song “Boots on the Ground,” the growing influence of Southern soul and line dance in Black culture, and both artists' personal journeys in music. It's an insightful look at how grassroots music movements gain national momentum, rooted in community and real-life experiences.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Viral Success of "Boots On The Ground"

• DJ Envy introduces 803 Fresh and Young Guy, noting the widespread popularity of "Boots on the Ground"—especially across HBCUs and Southern events (04:45–05:09).
• 803 Fresh drops the release date:
  “December 24th. That was like my Christmas gift to everybody.” (05:12)
• Charlamagne points out the movement's roots beyond just the song, referencing line dances' longstanding impact in the South (05:19–05:24).

Quote:
"The unity in it... Got the two year old, you got the 82 year old... That's what makes it more genuine for me, man."
—803 Fresh (06:11)

2. Origins and Meaning of Southern Soul

• 803 Fresh unpacks Southern soul as an authentic blend of gospel, blues, and soul, specific to the South (07:34–08:07).
• He shares how Southern soul offered him purpose and healing, and resonated even with family members who hadn’t related to his rap music (08:09–08:42).

Quote:
"Southern soul is a mixture of... gospel, blues, soul, all mixed together... It's feel good music. When you hear it, it’s that music that touch your bones."
—803 Fresh (07:36)

3. Personal Journeys: Music, Struggles & Breakthrough

• Both guests trace their musical roots back to small-town upbringings and church choirs, later diversifying into various genres (06:56–07:34, 12:12–13:20).
• Young Guy highlights the challenge of making it in music from places with few resources and no established music industry infrastructure, contrasting Mississippi and South Carolina with Atlanta’s vibrant scene (13:20–14:34).

Quote:
"You gotta have a little bit more muscle behind you just to get out there, you know, from the South."
—Young Guy (14:29)

4. Boots On The Ground: Inspiration & The Culture of Line Dance

• The origin story: 803 Fresh explains "Boots on the Ground" wasn't even intended as a line dance song—it was inspired by seeing women with fans at trail rides and merging that with party/arrival energy (15:39–16:16).
• They discuss trail rides as crucial communal events — combining ATVs, horses, and, of course, line dancing (16:16–16:47).
• The phenomenon of fans as both functional (to stay cool!) and as dance props is examined, showing how songs can latch onto cultural symbols (25:27–26:13).

Quote:
"Boosts on the Ground was not intended to be a line dance song. It was just blessed to be that way."
—803 Fresh (25:20)

Memorable Moment:
803 Fresh and the crew struggle to learn and perform the dance live: "Oh, this too hard for me."
—803 Fresh (32:22)

5. Independence & Community Impact

• 803 Fresh explains how he and his team are staying independent, learning as they go, and building from the ground up (11:38–12:09).
• The hit sparked an entrepreneurial wave—merch, fans, and shirts—empowering others in the community to earn as well (30:11–30:33).

Quote:
"I'm inadvertently employing people that I don't have to hire... Everybody's selling Boots on the Ground shirts. Everybody's selling fans... So I just feel like I'm an employer."
—803 Fresh (30:11)

6. Relevance, Representation, and Movement

• 803 Fresh states his mission to bring Southern soul from the “chitlin’ circuit” to mainstream visibility, acting as a torchbearer for the genre (27:01–28:05).
• Charlamagne reframes this as the “heart and soul of Black America,” emphasizing how this grassroots music resonates with real-life experiences (28:49–29:06).

Quote:
"We don't advocate for violence, man. We advocate for unity... real life relatable stuff, bro. It ain't fabricated... That's why everybody's been gravitating towards it.”
—803 Fresh (29:06)

7. Looking Forward: Versatility and Staying True

• Discussion on not wanting to be boxed in as just a line dance artist; 803 Fresh teases more versatile projects to come (16:51–17:46; 26:35–26:56).
• They acknowledge the challenge and privilege of representing their communities, hoping to open doors for others (27:01–28:43).

Notable Quotes

• Charlamagne Tha God:
  "Really, what I call it is the heart and soul of black America... that's what the majority of black people in America are in the South." (28:49)

• 803 Fresh:
  "I just want to be a good advocate... When I bring my boots on the ground, I want to bring them as well." (28:05)

• Young Guy:
  "It's a big thing in the black culture... We just trying to shine light on (line dance) so people can experience." (18:38)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction and background: 04:34–06:31
• Origins in music & Southern soul: 06:56–08:42
• How "Boots on the Ground" went viral: 09:19–10:16
• The Chitlin Circuit & representation: 27:01–28:43
• Trail ride and “fan” culture: 15:39–16:47, 25:27–26:13
• Live dance lesson & laughter: 30:33–34:09
• Closing remarks and social handles: 34:25–35:14

Episode Highlights & Memorable Moments

• The organic way "Boots on the Ground" became a viral line dance hit, chosen by fans, not forced by the artist.
• 803 Fresh and Young Guy sharing how Southern soul offered a path “out of the struggle” and into community pride.
• The relatable struggle of learning viral dances on the spot — even for the hosts!
• Discussion of how fan-driven songs are empowering Black entrepreneurship and small-town pride.
• Insightful debate about how to balance personal success with the responsibility — and weight — of representing one’s people and genre.

Where To Find the Artists

• 803 Fresh:
  "Just type in 803 Fresh. You can get my music from Apple Music, Spotify, your local bootleg man, flea market. I definitely appreciate y’all." (34:28)

• Young Guy:
  "Follow me on all platform, man. Young guy. I'm pretty much the same on everything. Check me out on all music streaming platforms." (34:57)

This episode is a feel-good, in-depth look at a Southern genre and the real lives it’s changing—proving grassroots, community-driven music can still win big in the digital age.