FULL SHOW: Kimora Lee Fires Back At Russell Simmons, Taylor Swift Gives $197M In Tour Bonuses, Mathew Knowles Feeling Overlooked + T.I. & Jermaine Johnson Interview

Summary

The Breakfast Club – Episode Summary

Date: December 15, 2025
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Special Guests: T.I. (rapper/comedian), Jermaine Johnson (SC gubernatorial candidate)

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Overview

This lively episode dives into trending news, social topics, sports, and celebrity culture. Highlights include the ongoing Kimora Lee vs. Russell Simmons feud, Taylor Swift’s record-breaking holiday bonuses for her tour crew, an in-depth conversation with T.I. about comedy, music, and resilience, and South Carolina state representative Jermaine Johnson discussing his historic run for governor. The hosts blend real talk, sharp humor, and authentic moments, making for an action-packed show.

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Major Discussion Segments & Key Insights

1. Top News and Mass Shooting Coverage

[06:12–13:16]

• Brown University Shooting:
  Mimi Brown reports a mass shooting on Brown University campus left 2 dead, 9 injured. Initial suspect was released; investigation restarts. Firsthand account from a student reveals the chaos.

  “We heard commotion outside the door… next thing, a gunman walked in… I genuinely thought like, okay, this is the end…” — Joseph Doro [09:19]

• Australia Attack:
  Mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney (“strictest gun laws in the world”), 15 dead, 40+ injured during a Hanukkah celebration. Despite tough laws, violence still occurred, prompting discussion on gun control.

• Hosts’ takes:
  Charlamagne comments on American gun violence being routine:

  “Instead of saying as American as apple pie, we should say as American as mass shootings.” — Charlamagne [10:24]
  Callers and hosts debate the persistent gun problem, legal ownership vs. gun show loopholes, and need for better mental health screens.

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2. Lighthearted Listener Calls & Pop Culture Banter

[13:25–19:58]

• Call-ins: Listeners air their gripes—car trouble, unusual potato salad ingredients (“Do white folk really put raisins in their potato salad?”), and birthday shoutouts.

• Hosts’ reaction: Blend of playful roasting and commiseration.

  “Now is the worst time to be having car problems because that’s more money you gotta spend that you probably ain’t got.” — Charlamagne [15:48]

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3. Celebrity News with Lauren LaRosa — “The Latest”

[20:00–28:39, 61:48–69:24, 88:35–98:03]

a) Kimora Lee vs. Russell Simmons

[20:00–28:39]

• Kimora claims to be a “primary parent” and implies limited relationship/co-parenting with Russell Simmons. Russell strikes back online:

  “I gave you $50,000 a month for 20 years… Until one day you stole my stock. I have been fighting for my kids’ love and my bread ever since…” — Russell Simmons, via Lauren LaRosa [23:00]

• Lauren clarifies confusion about Kimora’s former partners and court-ordered support, citing sources close to Kimora.
• Hosts point out the grown age of the daughters, underlying family drama, and the reality show’s role in stoking publicity.

b) Taylor Swift’s $197 Million in Tour Bonuses

[61:48–64:39]

• Swift shocked her crew by distributing nearly $200M in bonuses, including handwritten notes to crew, dancers, truck drivers, wardrobe, and more.

  “Every single person on the crew, I’ve handwritten them a note… it feels like Christmas morning when you finally get to say thank you.” — Taylor Swift (playback clip) [62:30]

• Hosts and guests react in disbelief at the sum:

  “197 million?” — DJ Envy [62:01]
  Discussion of generosity, crew size, and the impact in the industry.

c) Matthew Knowles on Managing Destiny's Child

[64:53–69:24]

• Matthew Knowles laments not receiving due credit for his role managing Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child, attributing it to being a Black father.

  “If I was a white manager… Oh, you’d be considered the number one manager ever.” — Matthew Knowles (audio clip) [65:29]

• Hosts compare media treatment of other Black music managers and parents (Joe Jackson, Usher’s mother, Mona Scott-Young), and debate how the industry credits Black managers.

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4. Sports Talk and NFL Rundown

[05:46–06:49, 29:02–29:42]

• Recaps of NFL games, playful jabs at losing teams, Charlamagne roasts the Cowboys (“You don’t have any expectations… below mediocrity.” [04:05]).
• Ravens vs. Bengals gets a spotlight (to Just Hilarious’ delight).
• Chiefs miss playoffs after 11 years, Mahomes suffers ACL tear.
• Sports talk is interspersed throughout as a palate cleanser from heavier topics.

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5. Main Guest Interview: T.I.

[36:55–56:16]

a) On His Comedy Special ("Cheaper Than Therapy")

• T.I. discusses his comedy journey—why he started, battling haters, his approach to honest storytelling, and self-financed streaming release (“TipAintFunny.com”).

  “At first it was a side quest, but the haters made me take it seriously… the more they said ‘don’t,’ the more I did.” — T.I. [45:49]

• Topics in his special: marriage, fatherhood, fame, and mental health.

  “I’m definitely talking about being a father… marriage, my experiences with my wife…” — T.I. [43:45]

b) Resilience, Humility, and Hip Hop Legacy

• T.I. reflects on public controversy, the burden of being seen as a provider:

  “I poured a lot of myself… into presenting myself as a man of respect… So for that to be [questioned], I had to remind myself there are more important things than other people’s opinions.” [51:12]

• Mount Rushmore of the South debate: T.I. insists on humility but reminds listeners of his catalog:

  “Number one movie and number one album at the same goddamn time… God’s been good to me… Can’t nobody f*** with me.” — T.I. [54:23, 55:16]

• Stories of giving back (e.g., helping Michael Vick financially the day Vick was released from prison—even as T.I. himself was about to turn himself in). [56:18–58:21]

  “Even though I was turning myself in, I was at a point where… I was having it. So I was like, man, send me your [wiring] instructions…” — T.I. [58:21]

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6. Interview: Jermaine Johnson (SC Gubernatorial Candidate)

[69:53–87:27]

• First Black state representative for his district, running for governor.
• Priorities: solving violent crime, fixing infrastructure, mental health, economic empowerment, and educational reform.
• Personal story of overcoming adversity (homelessness, sports scholarships, doctorate degree).

  “I went to seven different high schools… had a 0.8 GPA my freshman year… lived in motels… but kids know it’s possible.” — Jermaine Johnson [72:59]

• Mental health cited as the #1 need by communities statewide:

  “Every last county said mental health. That’s the root of so many problems.” [75:03]

• Stresses the role of trade schools, real-world job skills; shares support from Andrew Yang and his Lower Richland Tech program success.
• On working with Trump: “If it’s not good for South Carolina, I’m not supporting it. I’m truly South Carolina first.” [78:35]

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7. Additional Entertainment/Pop Culture Headlines

[88:35–98:03]

• Ray J suing Kardashians: Stands by RICO claims, blames ChatGPT for fueling suspicions. [91:04]
• Trey Songz: Arrested for allegedly punching a club employee after being told club was closing; attorney claims he’s been targeted for his celebrity status. [92:20]
• Kanye West Documentary: Clips show Kanye clashing with Swizz Beatz and Kris Jenner; Kanye discusses feeling emasculated and overmedicated, sparking debate amongst hosts about responsibility and support.

  “Y’all demasculated me and made me feel like a piece of s***… I’d rather be dead than to be on medication.” — Kanye West (clip) [95:37]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On mass shootings:
  • “As American as mass shootings.” — Charlamagne Tha God [10:24]
• On co-parenting drama:
  • “I gave you $50,000 a month for 20 years… Until one day you stole my stock.” — Russell Simmons (read by Lauren LaRosa) [23:00]
• On Taylor Swift’s generosity:
  • “Every single person on the crew, I’ve handwritten them a note… It feels like Christmas morning when you finally get to say thank you.” — Taylor Swift [62:30]
• T.I. on comedy:
  • “I gotta thank the haters for that… If people weren’t telling me how much they didn’t want me to do it, I wouldn’t have taken it so seriously.” [45:49]
  • “You can’t f*** with me… Line me up with whoever you got.” — T.I. (on versus/legacy) [55:16]
• Jermaine Johnson, on overcoming adversity:
  • “I went to seven different high schools… lived in motels… but kids know it’s possible.” [72:59]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [06:12] – Mass shooting news begins
• [13:25] – Listener call-in segment
• [20:00] – Kimora Lee & Russell Simmons feud
• [29:02] – Sports/NFL talk
• [36:55] – T.I. interview starts
• [61:48] – Taylor Swift $197M bonuses
• [64:53] – Matthew Knowles interview audio/discussion
• [69:53] – Jermaine Johnson interview
• [88:35] – Latest news (Ray J, Trey Songz, Kanye doc)
• [98:03] – Show wind-down; DC toy drive; TI special reminder

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Final Thoughts

This episode blends headline news, social commentary, and celebrity interviews in classic 'Breakfast Club' fashion—mixing entertainment with raw, often unfiltered, discussions about culture, family, mental health, social responsibility, and legacy. Both T.I. and Jermaine Johnson embody resilience in the face of adversity, while the hosts keep it real and relatable. The show’s energy and insight remind listeners why it remains a major voice in the national conversation.

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For more, catch The Breakfast Club weekdays on iHeartRadio.

Transcript

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. A season filled with family dinners, laughter and holiday shopping. But even in the middle of all of that joy, everyone needs a moment to slow down. The little pause between the music, the memories and the madness. And nothing makes that break better than an ice cold Coca Cola. It's that quick refresh that turns the holiday rush into calm, making the moment feel just right. It's the breath between the laughter and the late night rapping sessions. Because the best part of the holidays isn't having it all together, it's enjoying it while it's happening. Enjoy your Coca Cola refresh your holidays.

[T.I.]

You've been working in the garage with.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Your dad every week, Monday to Sunday, trying to get the old school up and running. Today, after all the hard work, y' all finally finished it.

[T.I.]

Even better. Your dad says all yours, son. Yep, same car that belonged to your grandpa that your dad helped him fix. It's yours. To really keep the tradition going, you need to get State Farm Insurance. Just like them.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Generation to generation. Remember to choose the agents that your family counted on. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[T.I.]

So you're telling me that the AI.

[Jermaine Johnson]

That'S meant to make everyone's job easier.

[T.I.]

To manage just adds more to manage?

[Jermaine Johnson]

On top of the thousands of apps the IT department already manages, funny how that works.

[T.I.]

Any business can add AI.

[Jermaine Johnson]

IBM helps you scale and manage AI to change how you do business.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Let's create Smile to Business IBM.

[Sophie Cunningham]

This is Sophie Cunningham from Show Me Something. Do you know the symptoms of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA in adults with obesity? They may be happening to you without you knowing. If anyone has ever said you snore loudly, or if you spend your days fighting off excessive tiredness, irritability and concentration issues, it may be due to osa. OSA is a serious condition where your airway partially or completely collapses during sleep, which may cause breathing interruptions and oxygen deprivation. Learn more at don'tsleep on OSA.com this information is provided by Lilly, a medicine company.

[Lauren LaRosa]

10 athletes will face the toughest job.

[Mimi Brown]

Interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking points. You are the fittest of the fit.

[T.I.]

Only one of you will leave here.

[Lauren LaRosa]

With an IFIT contract worth $250,000.

[Mimi Brown]

This is where mindset comes in.

[Sophie Cunningham]

Someone will be eliminated.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Pressure is coming down.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Trainer Games on Prime Video January 8th watch the trailer on trainergames.com wake you up.

[DJ Envy]

Wake that ass up.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Program your Alarm to Power 105.1 on iHeartRadio.

[DJ Envy]

Good morning, USA yo, yo, yo, yo.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo.

[DJ Envy]

Jazz. Hilarious.

[Just Hilarious]

Wake that ass up.

[DJ Envy]

Charlemagne.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The God piece to the planet. It's Monday. How y' all feel out there? I feel blessed. Black and highly favored. Happy to be here another day to serve our beautiful listeners. Good morning.

[DJ Envy]

Good morning.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Listen, it's the holiday season, man. We right in the middle of it. Okay. I was gonna come in here because this is our last week.

[DJ Envy]

Yes, it is.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Before vacation. I was gonna come in here this week and just give minimal effort, but in light of a lot of circumstances happening. Okay. I think we all need to look alive.

[DJ Envy]

That's right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We are alive.

[DJ Envy]

Just look alive.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Just look alive, damn it.

[T.I.]

Yes. Okay.

[DJ Envy]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right.

[DJ Envy]

I was here about 40 minutes early this morning. Oh, yes, I was. Yes, I was.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You wanna be on your P's and Q's.

[DJ Envy]

P's and Q's.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

O on.

[DJ Envy]

I just make sure.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Just in case.

[DJ Envy]

Just in case.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Just in case.

[DJ Envy]

And I. I gave up football.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I've been. Gave up football. I went to sleep. I went to sleep at. I think I might have went to sleep before halftime last night.

[DJ Envy]

Not pleasurable for me anymore.

[Just Hilarious]

My Ravens won. My Ravens won. They beat the Bengals the first time we lost to them. They. They couldn't score yesterday. So.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

By the way, though, I'm a Dallas. You know, being a Dallas Cowboy fan, you don't have any expectations for anything. You know what I mean? So it's just like when I was. When I was saying we suck and we not going to the super bowl this year, we started to win a couple of games. As soon as I fixed my mouth to say we going to the super bowl, we done lost the last two. So, you know, I'm just back where I always am, okay. You know, below mediocrity.

[DJ Envy]

Well, I didn't say we were going to win, and I didn't say we were going to lose. But we've been losing.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It is what it is.

[DJ Envy]

We've been losing.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We've been losing it is what it is.

[DJ Envy]

All right, well, let's get the show cracking. TI Will be joining us this morning.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And I need y' all to know. Okay. We spoke to TI On Friday, right?

[DJ Envy]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So this is before that video went viral.

[DJ Envy]

Of his hair.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Of his hair. But I want y' all to know that's A.I. okay. All right. That's not. That's not real.

[DJ Envy]

As soon as I seen it go viral, we did the interview.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That video was manipulated.

[Just Hilarious]

That is life. No, that is life.

[DJ Envy]

It's okay. No.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And it's not real. It's not. No, the video is not real. It's not. I mean, it's a real video. Right, but it was manipulated.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You walk around with a big ball.

[DJ Envy]

Spot on the back of your head and the dreads just barely hanging. You say that's like Jaheim do it.

[Just Hilarious]

It's not AI when he do it.

[DJ Envy]

I mean, but it's life.

[Just Hilarious]

Sometimes people don't want to let go.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, but that's not. It was.

[DJ Envy]

It was. It was AI. It was a. But we'll talk to TI In a little bit. And also the governor of South Carolina. He's running for the governor of South Carolina. The brother Jermaine. I'm trying to put in there.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right?

[DJ Envy]

I'm trying to be positive.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Jermaine Johnson.

[DJ Envy]

Yes. He's running.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He'll be here this morning.

[DJ Envy]

All right, well, let's get the show cracking. We got some ti. Can we start off with some ti since we were talking about him? You got to find something.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You got to find about that.

[DJ Envy]

You got what you know.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But this is your fault. You called it audible. I did call tight this morning.

[DJ Envy]

Supposed to be tight, but we said TI. So I said, let's start off with some ti. Cuz he was probably going to play some R B music. And I was like, let's wake the world up. Let's not put him to sleep.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Is whatever you like in there. Play whatever you like. There you go. Play whatever you like. Right? There you go. There you go. There you go.

[DJ Envy]

It's the Breakfast Club.

[T.I.]

Good morning, y'. All.

[DJ Envy]

Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Jess. Hilarious Charlemagne, the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Let's get in some front page news.

[T.I.]

Now.

[DJ Envy]

We're gonna start off with some NFL. I don't know why, but my Giants lost. Right, Commander?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You don't know why they lost? They suck.

[DJ Envy]

No, I mean why I'm doing NFL scores. All right. The Commanders beat the Giants 29, 21. The Bills beat the Patriots 35, 31. The charges beat the Chief 16, 13 sent the Chiefs home. This is the first time in 11 years the Chiefs won't make it to the next round. All right, they're Jaguar Jaguars beat the Jets 48. 20. Seahawks beat the Colts, 49ers beat the Titans. The Vikings beat the Cowboys. How you feel?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't.

[DJ Envy]

Okay. Broncos beat The Packers Rams beat the Lions. All right, now in Monday Night Football, the Dolphins take on the Steelers at 8:15. What's up, Mimi?

[Mimi Brown]

Good morning, Envy. Josh, Alain, how y' all doing this?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Good morning, Mimi.

[Just Hilarious]

Good morning, girl.

[Mimi Brown]

Good morning.

[Sophie Cunningham]

All right.

[Mimi Brown]

Well, we begin this morning with breaking news out of Providence, Rhode island, where a mass shooting on the campus of Brown University has taken a major turn overnight. So here's what we know so far. Authorities say two students were killed and nine others were injured Saturday afternoon when a gunman opened fire inside the engineering building. Now, the shooting happened just after 4pm as students were on campus studying for final exams. Terrified students were seen running from gunfire while others barricaded themselves inside of classrooms. Police say dozens of officers, they rushed to the scene excited, escorting students to safety and locking down the campus for hours. Now, initially, authorities say they had detained a person of interest and that individual was taken into custody early Sunday morning at a Hotel about 20 miles from campus. And officials said two weapons were recovered. But late Sunday night, investigators announced a dramatic shift in the case. At a press conference that began just before 11pm Rhode island and Providence officials said they are releasing the person of interest and resuming their search for a suspect, acknowledging the investigation is now essentially starting over. Let's listen.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Certainly there was some degree of evidence.

[T.I.]

That pointed to this individual, but that evidence needed to be corroborated and confirmed.

[Jermaine Johnson]

And over the last 24 hours leading.

[T.I.]

Into just, just very, very recently, that evidence now points in a different direction. So what that means is that this.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Person of interest needs to be and should be released. I think what is really unfortunate that this person's name was leaked to the public.

[T.I.]

It's hard to put that back in the bottle.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Okay. So we're going to proceed very carefully here.

[T.I.]

There is too much at stake for.

[Jermaine Johnson]

The victims of this horrific crime and their families to take chances with respect to this, to this investigation.

[DJ Envy]

Wow.

[Mimi Brown]

Yeah. And authorities, they say that there is no indication of an immediate threat to the public, but they emphasize that the investigation remains active and ongoing. Meanwhile, students and staff, they are still processing what happened. Joseph Doro, a teaching assistant, says he was leading an economic study session when he heard screaming and gunfire. He describes the moment the gunman walked into the room. Let's listen to that.

[DJ Envy]

We heard commotion outside the door of what sounded like students screaming and like the sound of gunshots. Around five seconds or so later, we see a gunman walk in on the left hand side. He entered the room. I was standing in the front. So as soon as he Walked in, he immediately saw me and I immediately saw him. Then I look to my right and I see a bunch of students running down the stairs, running out the door, jumping on the ground, just whatever, whatever it takes to stay alive. The gun was so big and long that I genuinely thought like, okay, this is the end of the road for me. I texted my parents, oh my goodness, he's in the room. God, I'm so scared.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Not a damn thing we can say this morning that we haven't already said in regards to mass shootings. Like, America needs common sense gun laws and we'll never get any common sense gun laws as long as these gun lobbyists have these politicians in their pockets. We know it's too many guns in America, too many high powered guns in America. But nothing is ever going to change in this country. It's just not. Yeah, I hate to be the Debbie Down.

[DJ Envy]

I wish I could say something, I could change that, but you're absolutely right there. There's nothing that's going to change that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Instead of saying as American as apple pie, we should say as American is mass shootings.

[DJ Envy]

I, I wouldn't want to say that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But it's the truth.

[DJ Envy]

It is.

[Mimi Brown]

Well, officials say they do not have any new images of that suspect beyond a short video that was released Saturday showing a person walking away from the area. They are asking the public for any information to come forward as they continue their search for a suspect. And Brown University, they've canceled all remaining classes, final exams, projects for the semester, citing concern for the safety and well being of their students, safety and their staff and faculty. And as you guys mentioned, you know America. This shooting, though this mass shooting problem is taking place overseas as we continue the violence. It was not limited just to the US this weekend was marked by a mass shooting even in Australia. Authorities there say at least 15 people were killed, 40 others were injured at a mass shooting at Bondi beach in Sydney, which is apparently one of the most well known and heavily visited spaces in the country. Police say the attack had happened during a gathering marking the first night of Hanukkah. Officials have described it as a terrorist attack designed to target Jewish people. Investigators say the suspect, they were a father and son duo, ages 50, 50 and 24 years old.

[T.I.]

Jesus.

[Mimi Brown]

They shot and killed an older man at the seat. The police shot and killed the older man at the scene. Now the younger suspect, he was taken into custody with critical injuries and remains hospitalized. Now authorities say those weapons that they use, they were legally obtained and they're now reviewing how they were able to get those firearms and how they were used in the attack. And the victims, they range in age from 12 to 87 years old. Among those killed, a rabbi, which he was a father of five, a 12 year old girl, and a Holocaust survivor, so.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And Australia has some of the strictest gun laws in the world.

[Mimi Brown]

They do, yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

This just proves when someone makes up their mind to do some bs, they gonna go do some bs.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah.

[Mimi Brown]

Yes, yes. They're now looking into how to make those even stricter. Charlemagne. But yes, they do. You're absolutely right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Well, that's good. At least they're looking to make them stricter. We don't even do that in this country. We just keep it moving like nothing is ever going to change in America because nobody has any interest in changing it. Like these mass shootings are just a casualty of the right to bear arms to some people.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah. But the problem is, is, is, you know, as a father or as a student, you think the safest place for you is school.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Right?

[DJ Envy]

You think it's college. It's. It's a university, it's a school. You'll be safe there. You're with other kids, just trying to learn, just trying to make it to the next level. And then when you go to school, you have an incident like this happen. And I'm not talking about the Australia incident, talking about the other one, but. And it's not like, it's not like you say I send my kid to a private school. It happens to a private school. You can't say I send my kid to hbcu. It's happening at hbcu, so it's, it's so goddamn scary.

[T.I.]

Right?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But even think about it, in Australia, that happened at a beach.

[T.I.]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Just, you know me, you just going to have a good day at the beach and then what?

[Mimi Brown]

Yeah.

[T.I.]

All right.

[Mimi Brown]

Crazy.

[Just Hilarious]

All right.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Yeah.

[Mimi Brown]

Well, coming up at 7, a major deadline is quickly approaching for the Trump administration. We'll explain what's due at the end of the week and why people are watching very closely.

[DJ Envy]

All right, everybody else, get it off your chest. 800-585-1051. We open up the phone lines. Whatever's bothering you, whatever you're going through, you can talk about this morning. It could be positive, negative. Whatever it is, get it off your chest. 800-585-1051 is the breakfast Club.

[T.I.]

Good morning.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yo, Charlemagne.

[Just Hilarious]

Envy.

[DJ Envy]

What up?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Are we live?

[Jermaine Johnson]

This is your time to get it off your chest.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I got an indoor pool.

[Jermaine Johnson]

We want to hear from you on The Breakfast Club.

[DJ Envy]

We can get on the phone right.

[T.I.]

Now, he'll tell you what it is.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Hello?

[DJ Envy]

Who's this?

[Just Hilarious]

Hello.

[Caller]

This is James going from North Carolina.

[T.I.]

Hey, what's going on, y'? All?

[Caller]

What's going on?

[DJ Envy]

What's up, brother? Get it off your chest.

[Caller]

Yeah, well, really, this is just a question, man. This was haunting me all over the weekend. But do white folk really put raisins in their potato salad? Or is that just something us black folks say?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's a good question. I think. I think they do. I never had no white people potato salad. I don't know, but I've seen.

[T.I.]

Me neither.

[Caller]

That's what I'm wondering now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I've seen it, though. I've seen potato salad with raisins in it and little carrot shreds, but I don't know who made it.

[Caller]

Oh, okay. I. I was just curious, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, all the things on your.

[DJ Envy]

Mind, James, that's the one thing you think about.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

This is a great thing for James to be thinking about, James. I think you're right, cuz. I've been to a lot of corporate potlucks, and now that I think about it, the potato salad that the white people make do be having raisins in it with the little carrot shreds.

[DJ Envy]

There you go.

[Caller]

Oh, okay. That's gross, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why? You want to try it?

[T.I.]

Nah, man. No.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay. Okay.

[DJ Envy]

Thank you. Thank you, James.

[Caller]

All right. Have a good one.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You, too, sir.

[DJ Envy]

Hello? Who's this? Aaron. What up? Get it off your chest.

[Caller]

Oh, man. Yo, want to go to work today? Try to start my car. That John would not start up, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Well, that's why you got to warm it up. You know, you're supposed to warm it up. You don't just get in it. Yeah. You gotta warm up.

[Caller]

See, what happened was I started up early, so I couldn't warm it up. Went outside, so if my check engine light was on, turned it off, trying to bring it back up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No.

[Just Hilarious]

Damn.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Damn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What is it, though? Low on oil. Like, what's going on?

[DJ Envy]

You don't know?

[Caller]

Nah, I checked the oil last week, and I just filled it up with gas.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Hey, man, when you. When you break for vacation?

[T.I.]

Yeah.

[Caller]

I don't get those.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, okay. Because I was just saying, you know, it's the holidays. Your car is like, you know, you don't want to quit. But I will.

[DJ Envy]

But you should. You should go back.

[Caller]

Maybe he took a little short vacation.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yep.

[DJ Envy]

You should go back out and try. You know, sometimes you just got to let the car sit For a little bit and restart it. One more one.

[Caller]

I did that, too. Envy. I did that, too.

[DJ Envy]

God damn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Now is the worst time to be having cars. Now is the worst time to having car problems because that's more money that you got to spend that you probably ain't got.

[Caller]

You know my bank account.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No, I don't. I'm just saying it's the holiday season.

[Caller]

It's rough because you. You're 100, right?

[T.I.]

That's what I'm saying.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes. It's the holiday season. I know.

[DJ Envy]

We're sorry for you, Aaron.

[Caller]

Yeah, man. Oh, man. I appreciate that, though.

[Jermaine Johnson]

I love y'.

[T.I.]

All.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Love you, too, King.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Doing what y' all do, man.

[T.I.]

Bless.

[DJ Envy]

Hello?

[T.I.]

Who's this? Good morning, Mr. Shay.

[DJ Envy]

Shay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's up, P. Shay.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Good morning. Today is my 34th birthday.

[DJ Envy]

Happy birthday.

[Caller]

Thank you.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Thank you. I woke up feeling really good, really peaceful, really excited for this new chapter. This one is the call Stress of Positive energy. And I have a question for Jess.

[Just Hilarious]

What's up, girl?

[Lauren LaRosa]

When are the next time you're going.

[DJ Envy]

To be performing in New York?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Because I always miss you and I want to come see you.

[Just Hilarious]

I'm trying to put together a deal now for Brooklyn or somewhere like that. Everybody keeps telling me about these venues or whatever.

[Jermaine Johnson]

It's.

[Just Hilarious]

I'm mad since Caroline's closed. Like, that was my favorite spot in New York, but now I gotta find another venue.

[T.I.]

You.

[Just Hilarious]

That I can make a good deal with.

[DJ Envy]

You killed salsa configo in the Bronx, though. You killed that. When I went. When I went to see a couple.

[Just Hilarious]

I love it, but everybody don't like coming to the Bronx.

[DJ Envy]

And I understand. I understand why.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I live in Brooklyn. So I'm the Bron.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's like the whole.

[Just Hilarious]

See what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

If you don't live in the Bronx, you know, going there once a year is pretty much enough. Anything else is risking it.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Exactly.

[Just Hilarious]

I got you, though, girl. I got you.

[DJ Envy]

Thank you, Shay. Happy birthday.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay, thank you. Have a good day, everyone.

[DJ Envy]

Get it off your chest. 800-585-1051. If you need to vent, call us up right now. It's the Breakfast Club.

[T.I.]

Good morning. I'm darling. I'm telling. Hey, what you doing, man? I'm dialing.

[DJ Envy]

I'm calling you.

[Jermaine Johnson]

This is your time to get it off your chest, whether you're mad or blessed.

[DJ Envy]

800-585-1051.

[Jermaine Johnson]

We want to hear from you on the Breakfast Club. Hello?

[DJ Envy]

Who's this?

[Caller]

Yo, it's Sonny Francis. What's Going on envy.

[DJ Envy]

Sonny, what's up? Where you calling from?

[Caller]

Calling from Northern Cali.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Northern Cali.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's up, brother?

[Caller]

Reading California, man.

[Jermaine Johnson]

All right.

[DJ Envy]

Up and up early listening to us on the app, huh?

[Caller]

Every day.

[DJ Envy]

Appreciate it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Thank you, brother.

[DJ Envy]

What's up, brother? Get it off your chest.

[Caller]

Yeah. You know, what with this gun thing and everything that's going on, honestly, like, I have. I'm a legal gun owner, and I don't even need the guns that I got. So Charlotte's right, and everybody's right on this. They need to do something, you know, to get stuff under control a little bit. Might want to, like, you know, check people's mental health status and some things like that before they be given all these guns out. Because I don't think Everybody needs, like, 100 guns. I think that's ridiculous. You know, couple of guns to protect your family or something. I totally understand.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, I'm with you, Sonny. Not only that, I mean, you are a legal gun owner, so, you know, you have to put down a couple of names of people who are supposed to say that you're. You're cool to have a gun. I always wonder if they actually call those individuals and really, really ask them your history and say, you know, because you got to put down, what, three people that are not your family members to see if you. If you should be able to have a gun, if your mental is allowed to have a gun. And I always wonder if they actually call those people, you know.

[Caller]

Yeah, no, I wanted that, too. Exactly. Or whatever. And they should do that. Matter of fact, they should probably do more than that. Just to kind of look in your background and just see, you know, are you. Have you done a bunch of crazy Ish to people, you know, and stuff like that. You shouldn't be having, you know, no guns. I mean, you can go hurt somebody with a knife or something anyway. You don't even need a gun.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, listen, I'm 2A all day, but I agree with you. We definitely need universal background check checks that cover, like, all gun sales, you know, from online purchases, the gun shows, you know, just to prevent crazy people from grabbing guns.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, because the crazy thing is, like, to purchase a gun, you just got to be of age of 21, never had a violent felony, and you need three people. I think it's two or three people that can vouch for you to say that you're okay to have correct address.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Like, you can't.

[DJ Envy]

It's.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's. At least in New Jersey, it's very hard to Purchase a firearm. And I'm 2A all day, by the way.

[T.I.]

Yeah. So.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But I do believe in common sense. Gun laws.

[DJ Envy]

Get it off your chest. 800-585-1051. We got the latest for Lauren coming up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Good morning, LL Cool Bay.

[Sophie Cunningham]

Hey.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes, we do. So there's been a lot of back and forth with Kimora Lee Simmons and Russell Simmons over the weekend, but I spoke to source close and I'm going to clear up some things this morning.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I need to know this.

[Lauren LaRosa]

If I say, if I, if I could say it, I would have said it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Was it Kimora.

[Lauren LaRosa]

We're going to talk about it in the latest.

[DJ Envy]

All right, we'll get to it when we come back. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning.

[Just Hilarious]

Lauren becoming a straight face.

[DJ Envy]

She gets into somebody that knows somebody gets the details.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She be having the latest on just.

[Jermaine Johnson]

The Latest with Lauren LaRosa.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Sometimes you have facts, sometimes you have details. Sometimes she have a little bit of everything.

[T.I.]

What was the latest on the Breakfast Club?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Now just because it's the last week before vacation, Lauren, doesn't mean you give minimal effort.

[T.I.]

That's right. Full effort. All right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Full effort. You need to be on your p's and q's.

[DJ Envy]

That's right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Full out every day. All right.

[DJ Envy]

Six, seven.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Well, first, before we get into the hour, I did want to shout out everybody who came out over the weekend to the Power Sessions, the concert that we did here in New York. Sold out concert. We had such a great time. Lola Brook performed Zetty Will Zetti will have them girls going crazy in there. G Herbo Mariah, the scientist, Cash Cobain. So just wanted to shout them out, shout out everybody who came through. And we were live on the Breakfast Club's Twitch account. So you can go watch the behind the scenes as much as the show as we could get. And we're also posting clips to Social so, you know, didn't want to take that little moment for us cuz we were sold out.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Did you show people doing cocaine behind the scenes?

[Lauren LaRosa]

No, I didn't. I left the cocaine, cocaine off. You know, I leave that off and I let people know I'm like to when I walk up, you know, I respect the people in their privacy. All right, well, speaking of people, Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons are at it again right now. So Kimora Lee Simmons has been promoting her reality show that is on E. Currently and she spoke to People magazine exclusively and in the interview she Says that she doesn't really have a relationship with the fathers of her children. She then goes on to say, usually I would say that I co parent okay, but the kids are with me full time. I'm pretty much a primary parent. It's difficult, but I don't know sometimes what other people are thinking. Guys are weird. She says she's thankful for her family and people that, you know, help her. If I wasn't this person, I don't know if we would have made it or if we would be okay. It's been a very, it's been very important to me to be strong, self reliant and constantly be growing. So of course this picked up because she, she shares children with Russell Simmons, Ming lee who was 25, and Aoki Lee, who is 23. She also has other children. She has a son named Kenzo who's 16 with actor. I'm gonna mess his name up. Digimon Hanusu, we know you talking about. Yes. And a son, Wolfley, who is 10. And then she has, you know, a child that she adopted who was 16 and a bonus son who' so her, her kids are older. You know what I'm saying?

[DJ Envy]

The actor that you missed.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Name?

[DJ Envy]

I haven't seen him in a long time. I haven't seen him in no movies. I haven't. Have y' all seen him?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Well, he was sentenced to two years in prison earlier this year after pleading guilty to bribery and money laundering charges. So if you were looking for him, that's where he be.

[DJ Envy]

That's, that's the reason why.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes, but, you know, this picked up in the news, of course, because everyone knows, or we thought we knew, the relationship with her and Russell Simmons. And we've seen some of that kind of play out over the years as they've been through different things. But Russell Simmons actually responded to in a thread and he said, I gave you $50,000 a month for 20 years. I was your best only friend. I'm the godfather to your three kids, to your other three kids. Until one day you stole my stock. I have been fighting for my kids love and my bread ever since you threatened that if I sued you, I would never speak to my kids again. There are two sides to every story.

[T.I.]

Hold on.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We need to correct something. Tim Leistner is one of Kimora Lee Sim's baby daddies. He's the one that's in prison for two years. Not the actor that you're talking about. Not the brother.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Are you sure?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm positive. I just looked it Up Because I was like, that didn't sound right at all.

[DJ Envy]

I'm like, geez, we just put that brother in jail.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What? Tim. Tim Leisner.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'll go back and look at what the People article mentioned, because I got.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

This from the People article, but get Lawrence. Hey, you're ready. You got one. You need to sacrifice one. We got it.

[T.I.]

No, you don't.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You ain't sacrificed for me.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Just want corporate to know if we need to sacrifice one.

[Caller]

Got one.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right. We don't want to, but that was crazy.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay, I'll come back with that corrected.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But, oh, no, I think you need to look that one up now before you even finish the story. I'm telling you right now because you just put somebody in jail. But I was that person's people. I'd be like, oh, you're correct.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You're correct. I'm sorry. Yes, let me correct that. So she says a son, Kenzo, who's 16 with actor Dot Jaman Hanusu, and son wolf, who was 10 with former investment banker Tim Leisner, who was sentenced to two years in prison earlier this year after pleading guilty to bribery and money money laundering charges.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Sorry to the brother. What's his name?

[Lauren LaRosa]

His name is pronoun Digimon. I'm sorry, because I can't pronounce.

[Just Hilarious]

Your name is like the Pokemon. Just say Hanusu.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I. I don't think that's correct either, but yes, yes, correcting that now. Apologies for that, but yes. So Russell Simmons responded on his own because, you know, people were picking this up as if he's just, you know, this absentee father. And he's saying that that is not true and that, you know, the only reason why there has been an issue. He's throwing it on Kamora's side. Now, I spoke to a close. A source, close to Kamora, who says whatever money he's referencing has. He has given her was court ordered child support for almost a year. For almost over a year or a decade? For almost over a decade ago. It wasn't a gift. It's all public info. So is the actual amount and the number of years he paid, both of which he was overstated. Anyone could do the research in the math. Now they're speaking to the threat of the you won't see your kids if you sue me. That they. That he alleged. And from what I'm told, she said that this was erratic behavior that he was displaying because they. We were seeing things back and forth with him and his daughter. You guys remember that like the Video and all that stuff. So she was talking about erratic behavior, from what the source is telling me, and alleged abuse. And what they said to him, from what I'm told is that because of this his family would alienate. Alienate from him and his friends. And the source claims this is what happens. And the source also claims no one is keeping anyone from anyone. His daughters are grown adults, 25 and 23 years old. One of them has actually been to Bali. And I'm told that Komorely Simmons has had to go. No contact with him. And it's been that way for five years or more.

[Just Hilarious]

So that's what I was ready to say. I was ready to make the point of like them girls grown, you know, so I'm not gonna say it can't be Kimora keeping them, but you know, I mean, they grown, they do what they want. You know what I mean? Now they're not young.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah. I'm just confused by, at this point, like because the kids are so much older, like why haven't they kind of figured it out where like they could just not even have to mention each other or you know what I mean? Like, I mean, I guess they always come up in each other's past because of how big the relationship was. But I was just like, dang, we back here again.

[DJ Envy]

She has a reality show and I'm sure they asked her about it. But the thing is, it's like, you know, every family is different. Like, you know, sometimes some. Something will bother a kid or bother a father, bother a child and they just got to get it together. We've all been in situations where you ain't talk to your moms or talk to your child in a week or so because they mad about something. I, I've been there with Logan. Me and Logan is the best of friends. But sometimes he say some hard headed ish and we won't speak for a little bit. But it is what it is. Same thing with my parents. Every time I, I want to speak to my mom and pops for a little bit.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah. But that doesn't spill over onto the Internet. And because these kids are older, you gotta, I mean they live in their own lives now. All this always will come back to them. That's what I'm saying. I think I thought that at least at this point because they seemed like they were friend. They were friends at one point. Then they were doing the businesses together. Then the whole Celsius stock thing happened. So here we are now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But you see, you see one, I don't know, I don't even know the daughter's name. But you see one of them in Bali. Yeah, with Russell. I've seen pictures of them this year.

[DJ Envy]

That's right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's the family.

[DJ Envy]

It's family dynamic and some things that shouldn't be put online and they are. But yeah, that's the family dynamic.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We shouldn't even know nothing about none of this. Now I'm with you.

[DJ Envy]

I'm with you.

[Just Hilarious]

But they live their life on tv, you know, up to a point before, Because I used to watch it and.

[Lauren LaRosa]

That'S what I'm saying on that show.

[Just Hilarious]

They were younger when, when this happened. But they did have like a reality show.

[Lauren LaRosa]

They did. Well, she has another one now that is currently out. They're actually almost to the finale season of the show. It's on E. And it's called Kimora Back in the Fab Lane. It comes on at 10 o' clock.

[Just Hilarious]

On E. But congratulations on her new reality show.

[DJ Envy]

That's crazy that nobody talk about the show until this because I didn't hear anything about this show.

[Lauren LaRosa]

That's what she's out promoting. That's why she's been in, in, in the, the news so much or the media so much because she's out promoting this show and people are asking her about things, you know, in her life and all the stuff that we're, we're seeing play out. So in the next hour we'll be talking about speaking of family, we'll be talking about some things that you could do for your family during the holidays or your co workers because Taylor Swift is dropping some money in holiday bonuses.

[DJ Envy]

All right, we'll get to that next. Everybody else, we got front page news and break down what's going on in the news world. NCI will be joining us, so don't go anywhere. It's the Breakfast Club.

[T.I.]

Good morning. Morning, everybody.

[DJ Envy]

It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne, the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Let's get back in some front page news. Start off with some sports. Now yesterday the Chiefs have been sent home after 11 years. 11 years straight they made it to the playoffs. Well, not this year.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Patrick Mahomes toys. ACL too, I believe. Yeah, he was something. What do you tell you? Right? I know. He tore something.

[DJ Envy]

He tore something. He was helped off the field.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It was his acl.

[DJ Envy]

It was his acl. Jaguars. Jaguars beat the Jets. The Commanders beat the Giants. The Bills beat the Patriots. The Texans beat the Cardinals. Seahawks beat the Colts. 49ers beat the Titans. The Vikings beat the Cowboys, Broncos beat the Packers, Rams beat the Lions, Jaguars. I said the Jaguars be the Jets. And Monday Night Football.

[Just Hilarious]

The Ravens beat the Bengals. You didn't say that.

[DJ Envy]

I meant to say that. Yeah, I meant to say that. I didn't know there was Raven fans in the building. I meant to say that. I'm sorry. All right. Now Monday Night Football, the Dolphins take on the Steelers at 8:15. What's up, Mimi?

[Mimi Brown]

Good morning, Envy. Josh Charlamagne, how y' all doing this morning?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Peace. Mimi.

[Mimi Brown]

Morning. All right, so we start this hour with a key deadline coming up this Friday when the Justice Department is required to turn over the remaining Jeffrey Epstein files to Congress. Now, under the Epstein Files Transparency act, the Justice Department must release its remaining records by December 19th. On Friday, last Friday, House Democrats, they released new photos of the Epstein estate showing President Donald Trump alongside other high profile figures including Bill Clinton, Stephen Bannon and Bill Gates, among others. Now, those images, they are part of a much larger collection of about 95,000 photos obtained by the House Oversight Committee. Now, none of the individuals shown in those photos have been accused of any wrongdoing. But the DOJ deadline is just days away and public perception is now very front and center. A new Reuters Ipsos poll found that only about 16% of Americans believe Trump didn't know about the Epstein's his alleged crimes, while roughly 60% believe he likely knew something. Even among Republicans opinions, they're very divided. Now, when asked about the photos, Trump downplayed their significance in the Oval Office. Let's listen to what he had to say.

[T.I.]

I haven't seen it, but I mean, everybody knew this man. He was all over Palm Beach. He has photos with everybody. I mean, almost there are hundreds and hundreds of people that have photos with him. So that's no big deal. I know nothing about it.

[Caller]

What is?

[Mimi Brown]

So Congressman Robert Garcia, he's a top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, he said that the committee has reviewed roughly about 25,000 photos of the 95,000 that they have so far. He said it's going to take weeks or even maybe even months to review some of those photos and properly redact some of those images. Republicans, meanwhile, they are accusing Democrats of chasing headlines. In a statement, they said the Democrats are releasing a handful of selectively censored and cherry picked photos. But with that Friday deadline now approaching, the issue will remain front and center. As lawmakers, the public, and even both parties, they wait to see what additional information will be released next.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Lord have mercy. That just means they come in with something crazy to distract us this week. Okay? Brace yourselves, people.

[T.I.]

All right.

[Mimi Brown]

That's very, very true.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Jesus Christ.

[Mimi Brown]

Yeah, very, very true. And now to another story we've been following. The. The inmate who was the, the last inmate who was captured after that dramatic escape from a new or Derrick Groves. Now, he escaped earlier this year. He sparked that massive manhunt. He's now been sentenced in connection with a deadly shooting that happened during Mardi Gras back in 2018. So a judge sentenced Groves to two life sentences plus two additional 50 year sentences for the killings of 26 year old Jamar Robinson and 21 year old Byron Jackson. Now, prosecutors say this, this, this crime, it left a deep scar in the ninth ward. And he spoke directly about Groves during the sentencing. Let's listen.

[DJ Envy]

Derek Groves is a sociopath. As Groves is getting sentenced, he's laughing, he's making faces at the victim's family, he's trying to talk to his family. I mean, this is just a truly despicable human being.

[Just Hilarious]

And that's the sad part, right? Because I end up saying that on social media. And it was people in the comments talking about like, like, free him, free him. You know, after they even announced that he had like killed two people back in 2018. That's what he was originally locked up for. But it was so many people rallying for him to be free in the comments.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, he's free. It's free him until, you know, he, he out killing somebody that you love.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, stupid.

[Mimi Brown]

Exactly. So even with this sentence, though, the case is still not fully over. He still faces separate charges related to that jail escape, which should be. He should be sentenced for that in May. And then he.

[Just Hilarious]

How much more time can he get though?

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Now.

[DJ Envy]

We waste, we wasted taxpayers.

[Mimi Brown]

Taxpayer money. You're absolutely right. But he also apparently has two open manslaughter cases that are also still pending.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Did you say he got afterlife?

[DJ Envy]

Yo, that's what I feel he pretty much got.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I always feel like the justice system might know something that we don't know. Like he might die, wake up, back in prison again. You know, die, wake up, back in prison again. I told you, you got two life sentences.

[T.I.]

Okay?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That means reincarnation too.

[Just Hilarious]

Jesus.

[Mimi Brown]

Plus 50 years. Plus two, 50 years. Sometimes those life sentences.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What if you die and wake up in a zoo as a cat? Well, they don't have cats in the zoo. What are you keeping in the zoo? I'm just saying that's jail.

[Mimi Brown]

Yeah, it's crazy. So that is happening in May and those manslaughter charges, we're not sure when that's happening, but that, that jail escape sentencing will be happening in May. So we'll, we'll follow that when that happens. And after a heavy start to the morning, let's shift gears just a little bit to something a little lighter, something a lot of people are quietly dealing with around the holidays. Reconsidering old relationships. Now, relationships experts say this is a time of year where it has people doing a lot of reflecting. Something about December, the lights going up, the year winding down, the sense of transition makes people start looking backwards. And that's often when old names start, start popping back up on those phones. People say that they are hearing from exes, former situationships, or someone who ghosted them months ago with a low key check in, like a hope you're doing well, thinking of you, or a happy holidays text. And so for the person on the receiving end, those messages, they said that they can land very differently. Curiosity for some, confusion for others, or a quick reminder of why the relationship didn't work in the first place. But experts say these holiday messages, they aren't always about rekindling. Sometimes it's just about what's familiar. Sometimes it's timing, and sometimes it's just to see if the door is still open. So as Christmas gets closer, those messages tend to pick up, according to experts. So here's the question this morning, you guys. So is a holiday check in from an ex? Is that a red flag or is that just harmless holiday cheer?

[Just Hilarious]

That literally just means it's the holidays, it's lonely. And I'm gonna call the person that I already got history with to come and spend a night. I mean, new year, ain't nobody worrying about after the new year, ain't nobody about to worry about that. It's just, we wind it down. Nobody wants to be alone on Christmas. And instead of going to find somebody new, you can call somebody who already had history with whether it's toxic or not. But after the New Year's, you ain't gonna hear from them.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Listen, man, I just want to remind y' all that there are 16 days left in this year. 2025 is the year of the snake. Okay? So you got 16 days left to shed anything that no longer supports your well being. Okay? That includes exes. All right?

[Mimi Brown]

In the Texas. Yep, absolutely. I agree. Charlamagne. So that is what is coming around. Apparently within the next 16 days, someone may be getting those texts. So watch out for those.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Well, all right, y'.

[Jermaine Johnson]

All.

[Mimi Brown]

That Is your front page news. I'm Mimi Brown. Follow me at Mimi Brown tv. For more stories, follow the Black Information Network, Download the free iHeartRadio app app. Or visit binnews.com peace. Thank you.

[DJ Envy]

All right, when we come back, TI will be joining us. He's doing a comedy special, Cheaper Than Therapy. It comes out on the 24th of this month. And we're gonna talk to him next, so don't go anywhere. It's the Breakfast Club.

[T.I.]

Good morning.

[DJ Envy]

Good morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne, the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Lorna laros is here. Nyla is here. We got a special guest in the.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Building, the legendary Tip.

[T.I.]

What's happening?

[DJ Envy]

Tip it up.

[T.I.]

What's happening?

[DJ Envy]

Man, you just came in here and said you wouldn't be working if you had a job.

[T.I.]

If I live up here, I can handle job. I can handle job. Ain't no way in the hell, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

This is.

[T.I.]

Quit your job with them, man. You walk outside like, man, hell no. God, no business.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

If you would have grew up in New York, you wouldn't have been a D boy.

[T.I.]

I wouldn't. Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

For a period of time.

[T.I.]

For a period of time, you know what I'm saying? I would have been a seasonal trapper, you know?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Exactly.

[T.I.]

Okay. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. How you doing, brother?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

How's everything?

[T.I.]

I'm cooling, man. I'm cool. And I can't. If you notice, I came up here by myself this time.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, you did.

[T.I.]

I came by myself this time because last time we had a bit of.

[Jermaine Johnson]

A. Oh, I remember.

[T.I.]

We had a bit of a kerfuffle, you know what I'm saying? I came up here dolo.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That wasn't your fault, though. And you. And you bought everybody, you know, the peacemaker, career wise.

[Jermaine Johnson]

I wasn't where. I wasn't where I wanted to be.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What is this? What's up with your man, man?

[Jermaine Johnson]

Hey, you finna get slapped. I mean, we cool. But I slapped out you by laughing. Oh, man, I'm just. I'm just telling you now what you want to do.

[DJ Envy]

You ain't going to slap me.

[Jermaine Johnson]

What you want to do? You going to hurt yourself. Don't let him take you out of your.

[T.I.]

So, come on, man. Hey, listen. Hey, listen. Hey, both of y'.

[DJ Envy]

All.

[T.I.]

All y'. All, everybody came in with me. Hey, look, hey, look. Remember who you came in and remember what we doing here, man. Come on, man. Let get together, bro.

[Caller]

All right.

[T.I.]

Those my brothers, man. Two of the most loyal and the Most masterful at their craft. So they're both very passionate about what they do. Both very stand up and respectable and you know what I'm saying? Sometime, man, lines cross.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't think DRO is getting the credit he deserved for the year that he's had. There's been a resurgence of young DRO even on social media. People like, man, young DRO can rap.

[T.I.]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Sober DRO is a different. It's a different monster. And he definitely, man, he had a resurgence and turned his life around and has a discipline about himself now that is much different than before, you know what I mean? And yeah, you're right. He having a phenomenal year. He tore it down on that Metro boom project you did. You know, he and I also, you know, had a very a time on the TM88 project, so you know what I'm saying? And we got the PSC project coming, man. We gonna put that at New Year's Eve. Oh, yeah, we're doing a gangster grill with drama gonna drop on New Year's Eve.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[T.I.]

We drop it with the ball. You hear me?

[DJ Envy]

Okay, I do. Gotta ask, since y' all thought about rapping, what you gotta ask about one of your partners, Nav?

[T.I.]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Was talking. Yeah, yeah, he talked about KRS1.

[T.I.]

I spoke to now.

[DJ Envy]

Rakim.

[T.I.]

I spoke to now. I spoke to now. I spoke to now. I told him he can't do. I said, man, you can't it do that, bro. You can't do that. That's, that's, that's egregiously unfair. You know what I'm saying?

[DJ Envy]

Break it down.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why?

[T.I.]

And he, and he, and he said, he said, man, I don't care about that. You know what I'm saying? I said, man, nah, but you can't do that. And I just keep saying it and you know, we gonna have a, we're actually gonna do it expeditiously about it because I think he need to be like, walked through, like, historically why it matters so much, you know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

His favorite rapper is Jay Z though.

[T.I.]

Yeah, I mean, that's fine. Yeah, I mean that's fine. But that, but, but that still doesn't, it doesn't take away or justify the blatant disregard for, you know, the predecessors and especially like the God mc, man. You know what I'm saying? Like, even Kia, like, you know, people are like, man, do you understand? This is where it started. He like, man, I don't care where it started. I care about what I like, but that's fine.

[DJ Envy]

You know, he can have his own what he likes. That's cool. But he just gotta remember where they started from where Jay Z got his. From where these people.

[T.I.]

See, I think what we. What we fail to realize is in the age of Internet, people are just not careful with what they say anymore. And I think that's something that people of our generation just got to get used to.

[Just Hilarious]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

21. Savage was talking about that on the Big bank interview, the Internet. And he actually brought you up. He said that during your era, y' all didn't have to really deal with the Internet trying to tell people who y' all were and just, like, saying crazy things. So it's a little different for people now.

[T.I.]

Well, see, it wasn't the Internet. We had, you know, Wendy Williams and Charlemagne, you know what I'm saying? We had our set of challenges, you know, our share of, you know, our share of obstacles to overcome. It just. It's just like the success of that. People seeing how successful you can become doing that. It just made everybody say, I'm doing that too. I'm gonna take it a step forward, mother. I say, I. I say this. I. You know what I mean? And they just. They forget about all. All those. All those ran. See, people stop getting hit in the face. You see what I'm saying? Like, people stop getting hit in the.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Face because you can't hit them where you want to hit them at, man.

[T.I.]

You catch people everywhere, man. You know what I'm saying? We all sharing this big ball of dirt together. You never know when you catch somebody, man, you like. Oh, that. Go shout it right there. You know what I mean? And I think that's okay. I think we should normalize getting hit in the face again.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes. Because I feel not shooting.

[T.I.]

You know what I mean?

[DJ Envy]

Don't shoot them.

[T.I.]

Don't kill them. Pow.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Because that's what I respect. I respect it more when a person says whatever they want to say to the person. And if the person gets hit in the face, they still stand on what they that, right?

[T.I.]

Cause you get hit in the face and you still say it. I still feel I don't care now.

[DJ Envy]

I don't care.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's it.

[T.I.]

You hit hard. But still.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Hey, how do you. You here for comedy, right?

[T.I.]

I got a special coming out. I got a special coming out, man, on Christmas Eve, man. It's called Cheaper than Therapy. So while I'm up here, you know what I'm saying? I got to handle my business, too.

[Just Hilarious]

Right.

[T.I.]

But, yeah, so cheaper than therapy, everybody. Man, you can get that on Tip Ain't Funny dot com. You know, just log on to Tip Ain't Funny dot Com. And, you know, I'm saying, for. For the. The nominal fee of 6.99, you'll be able to watch my comedy special while you at home get rapping gifts, getting tired of your kids complaining about how my money you didn't have to spend, but you did. You know what I'm saying? You know, just entertain yourself, man. Now all the comedians who hate to see me in comedy and who don't like, I gave. I created a community for you all, A community where the haters can congregate and you can. You can all get together and talk about how funny I'm.

[Lauren LaRosa]

What are you talking about in the special?

[T.I.]

What am I talking, man? A few different things, man. I'm definitely talking about, you know, marriage, you know, you know, my. My experiences with my wife. Definitely talking about being a father.

[DJ Envy]

Did you run that by your wife first? Did you say, babe, I'm gonna talk about this, or did she hear it when she got there?

[T.I.]

Absolutely not. Absolutely not. But, you know, why would I do. Why would I go and do that?

[DJ Envy]

Because I. I don't know if you want that smoke later on, but you go to.

[T.I.]

You run things by your way. Wife.

[DJ Envy]

If I'm going talk about it.

[T.I.]

Yeah, you do.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

If it's not the nicest thing.

[Jermaine Johnson]

I think so.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You.

[T.I.]

What you mean not the nicest?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's because he got in trouble back in the day for not running something.

[T.I.]

He got hit in his face. You see how important get hit in the face is?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He would have rather got hit the way I got hit.

[Jermaine Johnson]

The way he got hit.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He got hit the way it was like. I'm just saying. Traumatized, shaking.

[T.I.]

She hit you in the. She hit you in the wallet. She hit you in the head.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You talked about it in your book. You might as well talk about it.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, yeah, no, no. You know, I stepped outside the marriage. Yeah. That's what I'm going. That's what I'm saying.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And then you got on air.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, you want to hear the whole story?

[T.I.]

So, yeah, let's hear the whole story.

[DJ Envy]

My wife was going through.

[T.I.]

I stepped down.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Yeah, yeah.

[T.I.]

And I was hurt.

[DJ Envy]

And your brother over there, Charlamagne, was like, you hurt? You should call up live on the radio and apologize. And I was at my lowest moment.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Right.

[DJ Envy]

And I thought my brother was picking me up, so I did it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, I didn't really Know what was going on.

[T.I.]

Nah, you didn't understand. Now, hey, look, you don't understand. Charlamagne thinking ratings. That man was thinking business was like, yeah, you know what, you should call up right now.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Call her right now.

[Sophie Cunningham]

Say it.

[DJ Envy]

I didn't have nothing to say, you know, but sorry. So I'm trying to just say words. Charlamagne behind me, like, go, go. You got this, bro.

[T.I.]

Yeah, yeah. Like a friend. Just like a friend. Just like a.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

At what point did you realize comedy wasn't just a side quest for you, but something you wanted to take seriously?

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, we gotta say, we gotta drop.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

A bomb for him.

[DJ Envy]

Because at one time they thought you gonna go this far with comedy. They thought it was gonna be like a little hobby that you did for a couple of months and then get out of it.

[T.I.]

But yeah, I gotta thank the haters for that because I honestly would not have taken it so seriously, you know what I'm saying? The people weren't telling me how much they didn't want me to do it, you know what I'm saying? I'm real hard headed, stuck in my ways like that, you know what I'm saying? It's kind of like, like it kind of. It put me in the mind of the King of the south moment, you know what I mean? You know, when I came out, I was saying king of the south and you know, it was just something I said in a rhyme, you know what I'm saying? I was really just popping it and, you know, people are up and on. Ah, you can't, you can't, you can't. The hell I can't. You know, I felt the need to defend my right to portray it and also to justify my reason for saying it.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Right?

[T.I.]

And that's the same way I felt. I felt with Kyle.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That was another conversation that came up recently. Was that on Manny and Juvenile's podcast with dc? I think it was DC Chico. I don't know if Carlos was there, but it was the Mount Rushmore of the South.

[DJ Envy]

What about it?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't think you could have it without you being on there.

[T.I.]

Well, I appreciate that, man. I really do, man. You see, prison has taught me some things, you know what I'm saying? It just taught me that it's just so many more important things than just stuff about other people's opinion. And I'm happy to just even be here, be alive, be free, let alone be successful and still relevant and still having your name mentioned along amongst the greats, bruh. But that, that, that just Ain't important to me.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Starface and T.I. gotta be on there for me, though.

[T.I.]

Yeah. Scarface. Scarface is all around, you know, top five to me. You know what I'm saying?

[DJ Envy]

And outcast.

[T.I.]

Yeah, yeah. 3, 000 as well.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's where it gets difficult when you start talking about the groups, because they. They definitely.

[T.I.]

I think Outcast. I think Outcast should occupy one spot.

[DJ Envy]

I think so, too.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[T.I.]

You know what I'm saying? I think Outcast. I feel the same about Goody Mob.

[Mimi Brown]

Yeah.

[T.I.]

You know what I'm saying? I feel like they and Wu Tang, you know what I'm saying? And Mobb Deep, you know what I mean? I feel like the groups, the iconic groups, they should occupy one spot. You dig what I'm saying? But it's so many dope individuals that came out in the era that we grew up in, and so many dope individuals is coming out now. So do you mix the two?

[Lauren LaRosa]

And it's like how you talk about it, too. Like how you talk about it too, because, like, Gucci, Jeezy, people will argue. Like, do you put both of those.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

On without tip, though?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah, but that's what I'm saying. It's like different conversations of, like, who goes on.

[T.I.]

You can't say you don't get them without.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It depends on who.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, when you have the Mount Rushmore, to me, it's the person who laid the foundation for whatever it is you do. When you talk about trap music. Music, Yesy.

[Lauren LaRosa]

On a Mount Rushmore.

[T.I.]

I didn't say that. See how.

[DJ Envy]

You see how she did?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

See what she did? You see what she did?

[T.I.]

That. That would.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That.

[T.I.]

That would. That investigator kind of. Oh, so you say you was out there.

[DJ Envy]

You said you was out there at the corner.

[T.I.]

You said around what time? You say. You say who? You say, you say Charlemagne with you. What you say you had a bag and what.

[DJ Envy]

What.

[T.I.]

What was in the bag? Nah, for real, though. But now I ain't say that. What I said was. He said that.

[Lauren LaRosa]

You don't get.

[T.I.]

You don't get Gucci and Jeezy without tip. I think you'd still got him. I don't know if it would have been as kind of consolidated and you know what I'm saying? And if it would have been received the same way you feel what I'm saying, But you still get them, and they still could. They had their own story. They story didn't come from me. They story came from them. I think the way the rest of the world outside of our City received a story, you know, became a little more acceptable because it had already been a door that was open, you dig?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

A big dog dope boys in the trap.

[T.I.]

Come on, man. I appreciate it, I appreciate it.

[DJ Envy]

See, I try to keep away from.

[T.I.]

Being self gratuitous, you know what I'm saying? I try to, you know what I'm saying? I mean, because as big as trap music here right now, you know what I'm saying? I didn't do that by myself, you know what I'm saying? It's songs that I probably wouldn't have never made, you did. And it's other people that have stories and have tastes in their beat selection, in their cadences, you know, in their collaborations with other artists that has push trap music. That's taking it from where I, where I brought it to and expanded it and you know, and diversified it. And so it has evolved to a place right now where I couldn't imagined it being. So I can't take credit for the whole thing. I just, I'm just happy that I, I was able to plant a seed for something that grew to be what it is today.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You laid the foundation when it comes to comedy, right? A lot of people chase it for validation. What were you chasing when you first stepped on stage?

[T.I.]

Therapy. Yeah, therapy, man, you know what I'm saying? I was going through some. I was going through not just a difficult time, but a time that I wasn't used to, you know what I'm saying? I would be in like. Like I'm gonna have things said about me that I never imagined having said in public about me before. And people were like really like serious about it, you know what I'm saying? And that was something I, I, you know, that, that weighed on me, you know what I'm saying, for a while, you know, you get no apology.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Nobody ever says, you know what?

[T.I.]

I don't want them. I mean, just keep that same energy, keep on pushing, you know what I mean? It's cool, you know, that's a great way to exit my life. I love it, you know what I mean? I need to make room for the new.

[DJ Envy]

And how was the most difficult part about it, right? Was the most difficult part not seeing those individuals, hearing friends and family talk about it, or your kids. What was the most difficult, I think.

[T.I.]

The most difficult part about it was, you know, I've experienced tragedy, I guess, for the most part on my own, you know what I'm saying? Like where I had to go through it by myself. And when you going through Something by yourself. You know, of course, it's difficult for the lonely part of being by yourself, but it's also easier because you only have to worry about what you do, how you feel and what you think and what. You know what I'm saying? So experiencing it as a family was different for me. You feel me? Cause that's the kind of thing that I always felt like, you know, I bear the brunt of all that for them. You feel me? So, you know what I'm saying? That was the difficult part. But. But I think outside of that, bruh, it was just, man, like, you know, I poured a lot of myself, my time, effort, energy, attention into presenting myself as a man of respect, you know what I'm saying? As a provider, protector, you know what I'm saying? As someone who can be held in high regard in the community as a certain type of person. And so for that to be like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Call that now then what we say, you know what I'm saying? I'm like, oh, man, for real, yo, that's wild. So, you know, and then I had to remind myself that, you know, it's more important things out there than other people's opinion. You know, my truth will never. Would never step down. So their fantasy can live.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Absolutely.

[T.I.]

Yeah. I mean, so there's. But. But. But comedy helped me, you know what I'm saying? Take it a lot less serious. Got you. And kept me from trolling on the Internet.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I was arguing. What was we arguing about with TI Cause, you know, I always say, t. I need A versus King of the south just so people can be reminded. Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And it was TI RH Because I. I don't.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I think there's a generation that either forgets or doesn't realize how big T.I. the rapper was.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Marco.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Plus, it was Marco.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah. He said J. Cole was the King of the South.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Pissed me off so bad.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And, you know, Charlamagne goes off about T. I wish.

[T.I.]

I wish. Thank you. Thank you. But I wish I care. I be trying to make myself care, and I can't, man. I just know it's so many more important things, bro. I don't care, man. What I did is done. You feel me? It done.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It was like he was standing on his business about J. Cole and the conversation. By the end, he was like, well, you know what? I am from Atlanta, and I this and I that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

How you Atlanta and a rapper and don't know how. TI Was like tip.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But also his age as well, too.

[T.I.]

At the same time, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But he Said you was his favorite rapper, which didn't make no sense to me. He was like, but nah, it's one of my favorite rappers.

[T.I.]

Okay, so, but, but so people probably they, they, they as they consume. J. Cole probably is what he has been consuming the most as of recent. So you know what I'm saying? That's you what. What you are consuming presently is what's gonna have the most impact on your decisions, on your opinions. So that probably what that is. It ain't. You know, and both. It ain't got to be wrong. You know, if that's who the king of the south is to him, then enjoy that kingdom.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, but even levels of celebrity, right? Number one movie and number one album at the same goddamn time.

[T.I.]

I mean, bruh, come on, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's different.

[T.I.]

God has been good to me.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Absolutely.

[T.I.]

You feel what I'm saying? God has been good to me, man. I'm still cold as on the mic and I still. We don't and to be honest with you, I'm a just. Cause I don't want to. I don't want to negate any of these facts. Can't nobody with me. I'm gonna just let you know that now. You understand? Go in the booth with anybody. Walk out with the better verse. I go to. I go head to head with drove. So I go against anybody. I don't give a damn who you got. Bring them on. They can't with me. Live performance. Can't with me. Hit for hit song for you. They can't with me. You know what I mean? There might be somebody that certain people like better. That's your opinion. Okay? But bottom line, you can't with with me and anybody think I'm anybody who think. You know what I'm saying? That. That. That what I'm saying is some line me up with whoever you got.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Anybody.

[T.I.]

I don't give a damn who it is.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

20 for 20. I don't give a.

[T.I.]

Help the bear. You hear me? I don't give a damn who it is, man. I don't give a damn who it is.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He came so humble.

[DJ Envy]

He was like, yeah, I'm just.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I don't care.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Let me just say.

[DJ Envy]

What the hell bringing this Y can't tie my shoes. I just going to say that.

[T.I.]

But now I'm just saying, man, like I'm humble, you know, and God bless everybody. But you can't with me. You can't go in street even God know that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Clubs, introspective records, features. I'm. It's.

[T.I.]

Come on I appreciate that. Thank you. And humility is the key, you know what I'm saying? I've learned that, you know, being humble, it going to take you where way farther than being arrogant. But let the facts be known that can't nobody with me.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I got a couple more questions. It's the holiday season, right? And everybody know you got that back. So I know.

[T.I.]

That's what we need to pa. You.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Know what I'm saying?

[T.I.]

We need the powers like that, you know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But you've been getting it for a long time. So people reach out to you, right? So I know you got to be selective. Is a story I always hear about you that I think is an amazing story. But I just wonder what made you do it. When Michael Vick reached out to you and he reached out to you and they said he just. He just, you know. You called him just to check in?

[T.I.]

Nah, he was just getting out that day.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, just saying it was the funny.

[T.I.]

Day he got out.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[T.I.]

So I would hit. I hit him. You know what I'm saying? See what was up with him? The part of this story that's more interesting, what they don't realize is that was the day I was turning myself in. In. Yeah, I was turning myself in that day. So, yeah, I, you know, he was coming out, I was going in. So I, you know, I was hitting him just to see what was up, how he was doing. And this is funny. It's a comedian in the HAHA mafia that. He had his name Fat Man Deezy. Funny here, but he. He got a joke like, you know what I'm saying? Just say hello. Don't ask people how they doing. Cause somebody gonna tell you how they doing. That's right. So I learned that that day. So, you know what I'm saying? So I called, I said, man, what's up, man? How you doing? How you doing? He said, man, matter of fact, man, I'm just getting that, man. I'm, you know, I'm. I'm down bad. You know what I'm saying? I could use some, you know. Well, he ain't ask for nothing. He was just saying how his situation was, you know, financially stressful. And so I was like. And I just happened to have been. Even though I was turning myself in, I was at a point where coming off a paper tr. And, you know, I would have. I was having it. And I was like, man, you know what, bro? Send me your instructions. And I, you know, your wiring instructions.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

75 grand.

[T.I.]

He told y' all That, I don't know.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I saw it online. I don't know.

[T.I.]

Numbers are not important, you know what I'm saying? The gesture is what's important. Golly. Nah, man. But yeah, yeah, yeah, I think that was. It was something like that. I thought it was 50, but if it was 75, so be it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What made you do it?

[T.I.]

Just because I just. Man, a lot of time when I'm going through stuff, I take my mind off of what I'm going through by trying to help somebody else, you know what I'm saying? So. Yeah, but, but, but Vic, man, Vic was. We were tight, like, you know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We.

[Jermaine Johnson]

We.

[T.I.]

We were running the city at our time.

[DJ Envy]

He was.

[T.I.]

You know what I mean? It was. I was cool with the. The. The. The hottest quarterback in the NFL. Like we were partners, you know what I mean? He come to my house, I go to his house. Like we were really homeboy. We go out together, hang out, you know, do stuff he wasn't supposed to be doing while he was playing ball together, you know what I'm saying? So when he went through that, I just felt bad to see him going through it. And then I started going through it. So you know what I'm saying? When I spoke to him, I just was happy he was coming home. And, you know, I just wanted to help.

[DJ Envy]

Well, T, I got six kids, man. One in college. You do? Very expensive, man.

[T.I.]

It is.

[DJ Envy]

Ask me how I'm doing.

[T.I.]

How you doing?

[DJ Envy]

I'm not doing that great, man.

[T.I.]

You're not?

[DJ Envy]

You wanna help a brother out?

[Mimi Brown]

Gotta. Whatever.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Help you out with what?

[T.I.]

Some advice. I got great advice.

[DJ Envy]

Listen.

[T.I.]

And see that why I feel like. And you know what? We should stop. We should stop talking about how much money people got. It should be illegal to say how much money somebody has ass online and. And like publicly stated. You know what I mean?

[Lauren LaRosa]

You just gotta check from om.

[T.I.]

See that what I'm saying. That's what it should be. It should be. It should be done differently, you know what I'm saying? You could say that something was won. You could say that. You know, it is said that what.

[DJ Envy]

They stopped right now.

[T.I.]

But what they start. What they should start publicizing is bills. They should start publicizing the bills.

[DJ Envy]

We appreciate you for joining us. The new comedy special comes out on the 20th.

[T.I.]

Yeah, man. Cheaper Than Therapy.

[DJ Envy]

New Gangsta Grills. Mixtape.

[T.I.]

Yeah. PSC, man. Still in the streets, Filling the streets.

[DJ Envy]

And ladies and gentlemen, it's Tip Tip.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Ain't Funny Dot com.

[DJ Envy]

That's right. Make sure you order the special tip Ain't funny dot com. It's the Breakfast Club Gamor.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You gonna catch how hell with TI in the verses. I'm just trying to tell y' all now, I don't care who it is.

[DJ Envy]

I would love to see that, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

TI Actually needs the verses because y' all need a reminder. All right? Y' all need to remind them the catalog of one Clifford Iris.

[DJ Envy]

You know, one thing okay, T. I did say in that interview is he said he heard that Jay Z and Lil Wayne were gonna do A versus. Oh. So I wonder how accurate that is. I just wonder how accurate that is. If he heard it, he heard it from somebody.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'd rather see T.I. versus Lil Wayne. Jay Z versus NASA. I don't want to see no Jay.

[Just Hilarious]

Wayne make a lot more.

[DJ Envy]

I'm surprised. I don't even think Jay would get on that stage. I just don't see. Like, that doesn't seem like something Jay would do.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Well, I just wrote the question down so we can.

[Just Hilarious]

There's two different errors, right?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What question?

[Just Hilarious]

Two different errors.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Are there. Is there verses for real?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's who Two different errors?

[DJ Envy]

J Way?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No. Hell no. I mean, Lil Wayne been around since 1997.

[T.I.]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't think people understand, but he.

[DJ Envy]

Was just so young for a long time.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

There's been a lot of different variations of Lil Wayne. That's right. Okay.

[DJ Envy]

All right, well, let's get to the latest.

[Just Hilarious]

Lauren becoming a straight F. She gets.

[DJ Envy]

Him from somebody that knows somebody.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She gets the details.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm the home girl. That a little bit about everything.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She be having the latest on the.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Latest with Lauren LaRosa.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Sometimes we have facts. Sometimes you have details. Sometimes you have a little bit everything. Who is the latest on the Breakfast Club?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay, guys, so Taylor Swift. She did some gifting, and this is something that she does. She's done before. She did it a few years ago, but she gifted her team, reportedly, over $197 million in holiday bonuses.

[DJ Envy]

197 million?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah. So this is the team that works on. So it's. It's a big team. So this goes from everybody that contributed to the concert. So production staff, assistants to carpenters, dancers, band members. So she released a clip on Friday from a documentary series that she does. It's called the End of an Era. And this was the second episode, and she is recording as she's giving out the bonuses. Let's take a listen. Bonus day is so important because setting a precedent with the ERAS tour is.

[T.I.]

Really important to me.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Because people who work on the road, if the tour grosses more, they get more of a bonus.

[Mimi Brown]

And these people just work so hard.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And they are the best at what they do. So every single person on the crew, I've handwritten them a note. It took me a couple weeks, but it's fun to write the notes. It's like fun to think about everybody's lives that they're gonna go back to and the time off they're gonna have. And you know, the kids they haven't seen because they've been away for months and making that worthwhile for them. It feels like Christmas morning when you finally get to say thank you. Everybody has the same message on their card. So I was hoping you could open it.

[Jermaine Johnson]

My full gratitude doesn't come from a thing, but here's. Wow.

[T.I.]

All this just to say things, Love.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why they believe it's emotional.

[Just Hilarious]

Oh my God, do you need a.

[DJ Envy]

Hung and pop out?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Cuz he was talking about the money number. So let's be clear.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So how much did each person get?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Okay, so I don't. They bleeped it out. So we don't know exactly, but back. Okay, so the Arist tour has been happening for a few years, right? So this is a different leg of the tour. So In August of 2023, she wrapped the first, the first North American leg of the tour. And back then People confirmed People magazine that she had given out more than $55 million in bonuses. And now this is the second leg of this tour. And this doesn't even just include the people I mentioned. It also includes like the people who are doing wardrobe, physical therapists, even the truck drivers who are driving things around for like the production of this.

[DJ Envy]

So if there's a hundred people on this tour, she gave about 1.9 million to each person.

[Lauren LaRosa]

There's way more than 100 people is what I'm trying to tell you. You is a huge production and it's been over the different legs and over amount of years.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So basically the tour exceeded expectations. They made more money than they thought they would make. Giving people bonuses, that's a beautiful thing.

[T.I.]

It's a great.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

She hiring?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Where you going, Envy?

[T.I.]

I'm just asking.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You never know. He's preparing.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Stop talking like that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You never know.

[Just Hilarious]

He got a wedding to pay for. He got a wedding to pay for.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And I want to correct his name too.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Jamon Rivers just had to come back and play football. This man got 10 kids. He had to come back and play football. Anybody got time to be on the Sidelines. Okay. Because they ain't got no job.

[DJ Envy]

That's right out there.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It is. It's very tough out there. But shout out to Taylor Swift for taking care of her people, because a lot of those people get overlooked. Now in other conversations about performances and shows. You guys know the Boys Mind tour wrapped over the weekend.

[DJ Envy]

Bonuses, too.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I know that. I don't know what they gave out in bonuses, but I was. I'm bringing that in because Matthew Knowles sat down for a conversation, and in this conversation, he talks about being overlooked and he says that he thinks he's overlooked as, you know, Beyonce's manager and Destiny's child manager because he's a black father. Let's take a listen.

[T.I.]

Beyonce was the number one female artist of the decade from 2000 to 2009.

[DJ Envy]

Don't take my word. Just go research it.

[T.I.]

Guess who was the number one female.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Group in the world?

[Jermaine Johnson]

Destiny.

[T.I.]

Destiny's child.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The man you own.

[T.I.]

But the other part of that, if I was a white manager. Oh, you'd be considered the number one manager ever.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So I never get that respect.

[T.I.]

That's deserved. Why.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Why do you think that is? Because he's black?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Or is it because you're her daddy, too?

[Jermaine Johnson]

You're black. And what about all the other fathers? They don't give a lot of fathers credit, bro, for. For what they've done, but they give him credit. I said for a father and being black. Because even if you look at Brandy's mother, like, we all know that she was the beast behind the scenes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

They never talk about her.

[T.I.]

Husher's mother, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and.

[DJ Envy]

NSYNC manager was black.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Jay Wright.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes.

[Jermaine Johnson]

I didn't know. Yeah. Jay Wright is black.

[DJ Envy]

You don't get credit, you know?

[Jermaine Johnson]

Yeah, sure.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Like that. How you think Joe Jackson feel?

[Just Hilarious]

Yeah, y. I was literally about to say that. And I never heard of Jessica Simpson's father.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't know who the hell Jessica Simpson daddy is. I don't know what Heine was talking about.

[Lauren LaRosa]

That was a Heineken. That was the backfield, guys. That was the interview that they did. I didn't mention that in the beginning. Apologies. But I feel like Joe Jackson gets. Gets mentioned all the time. Not in a good way, but he still gets mentioned.

[DJ Envy]

Not for the success that his kids have had. Was always for being too stern, too be too strict and all that.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I mean, it's sad, but I. I mean, at least he's being mentioned. It started making me think about people because, like, to what?

[Just Hilarious]

I mean, I'm with. I'm with you.

[DJ Envy]

I'm with you.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm like.

[Just Hilarious]

Like, I've always heard about Joe Jackson, and I did not hear myself. My personal ears have not always heard bad things about him. How would you hear about him until the movie came? I mean, like, he had them boys. Like, he's responsible for how disciplined they are and how they're structured and everything. I get it. But I've heard about things. I've heard good and bad things about.

[DJ Envy]

Joe took their childhood away.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We salute to Matthew knows what he accomplished with Destiny's Child. Child is fantastic. But Joe Jackson gave us the Jackson 5 that which led to Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Tito Jackson. Yep. God bless the day.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But I also started thinking about other managers that don't get me mentioned that are just black, but black men and women. Because he mentioned Usher. Usher's mama, she did like, a whole series with OWN talking about how she was so instrumental in his career in the beginning and just being one of the first people to get, like, an office in a studio and a music studio all in one. I feel like Mona Scott Young doesn't get mentioned a lot, too, with different artists that she worked with last Missy Elliott bust around. She works with Tyrese right now.

[Just Hilarious]

Like, she used to be a manager.

[DJ Envy]

She Violated.

[T.I.]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

She owned Violated with Chris Lighty, who was part of LL Cool J50 at one point.

[Just Hilarious]

Never heard that.

[DJ Envy]

She did the whole. She started loving hip hop.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah.

[Just Hilarious]

Well, I mean, yeah, that's what I know. That's all. That's the only way I know.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I feel like a lot of people know her for that, but they don't connect the dots of, like, the big music executive career she had before coming older, but y' all are older, but y' all are also entrenched in, like, entertainment.

[DJ Envy]

And all you got to do is read, you know, the concert power sessions. You look at the bottom of. You see a name on it.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I know that. Okay. But a lot of people don't shout out to. I think it's Monami. Shout out to Monami Productions. I know that, but a lot of people don't. They don't mention it when they bring her up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Also, too, we're acting like the manager role is a role that gets a lot of credit, period. Like, man, managers are usually the unsung heroes.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But now they're becoming more like. Scooter Braun is a fame. A lot of people know his name.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Name.

[DJ Envy]

But Scooter's done a lot of out outside of management, though.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But I mean, but still, people know Scooter Bron's name and he's not a artist. He doesn't get on stage and perform.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But I also still think a lot of that is inside baseball as well. If you have the average person, who the hell Scooter Braun is? They probably.

[Just Hilarious]

Yeah. I mean, I'm tired of being the one that don't look like they don't know nothing. But yeah, I've heard Scooter Braun, but don't know who he is.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Exactly.

[Just Hilarious]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Well, they got some credit today. Shout out to Matthew knows and all the work he that he has put in now in the next hour because we didn't get to here and some of the things we were talking about. Speaking of Brandy, Monica, Ray J is standing on his RICO claims against the Kardashians and he's blaming chat GPT. So we will talk all about that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Jesus Christ.

[DJ Envy]

All right, thank you, Lauren. Charlemagne, who you giving that donkey to?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

4 after the hour, man. There is a young man named K on Baxter. I think Lauren LaRosa knows him. He's from Delaware. You know any backs is from Delaware.

[DJ Envy]

She definitely do that.

[T.I.]

I don't know.

[DJ Envy]

By the way, this.

[Lauren LaRosa]

No, it's not. We don't all know each other.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We'll see when we come back.

[DJ Envy]

We'll get to that. Next. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne, the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Lauren the Rose is here as well. We got a special guest in the building.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, indeed.

[DJ Envy]

He's running for governor of South Carolina. Ladies and gentlemen, Jermaine Johnson.

[T.I.]

Welcome, brother.

[Jermaine Johnson]

What's going on, man?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Appreciate y' all for having me this morning.

[DJ Envy]

How you feeling?

[Jermaine Johnson]

I'm feeling good this morning, man. It feels real good. You know, we got an opportunity to do some history making in South Carolina.

[DJ Envy]

Com, man.

[Jermaine Johnson]

More you be in more you can be in gusto.

[DJ Envy]

See, they said he speaks Spanish. I don't speak Spanish.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't like when you do that. You Dominican. He's Dominican, but don't never want to claim it. Just break it out whenever you want to.

[DJ Envy]

N. They say he's fluent in Spanish. I'm trying to test him.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So I be d.

[Jermaine Johnson]

I heard that's your favorite Christmas song, bro.

[Lauren LaRosa]

No, don't stress.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why do you want running for governor of South Carolina? What a beautiful state.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Yeah, well, well, South Carolina deserves a change. It's time for a new beginning for South Carolina. We've seen some crazy stuff happening in the state. We know South Carolina has over 600 unsolved murders just since 2020 alone. We have the highest percentage of bridges and disrepair in the entire country. Our roads are the top two worst in the entire country and most dangerous in the entire country. But yet we have leaders in South Carolina that want to look at other states and look at other countries and talk trash about the them when really South Carolina needs all the assistance that it can get right about now. And we have a governor that decided to send our national guardsmen to Washington, D.C. because Donald Trump told him to do so. You know, it's time for somebody who really wants to just focus on the issues that are happening to everyday South Carolinians.

[DJ Envy]

I mean, you know, talk about. Pause. Overachiever. I mean, how do you have the time? I mean, you talk about you have a pilot license, your motorcycle club, member of Phi Beta Sigma, your professor, your business school. On a business school board of Benedict College, which is hbcu. There's so many things that you do.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So first black state representative to represent this district.

[DJ Envy]

Absolute fluid in Spanish. So, like, when do you have the time?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Why you forget the University of Delaware?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What happened?

[DJ Envy]

I didn't want to say that one. You received the University of Delaware's Biden Award.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Yes.

[DJ Envy]

We don't come. We don't talk about Delaware. But you're doing so much. So when do you have the time, brother?

[Jermaine Johnson]

Oh, man, listen, I'm blessed with a beautiful wife, man, who's sitting in here in the studio with me right now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The key, very important. A black woman, okay?

[DJ Envy]

That's the key.

[Jermaine Johnson]

And my. My wife, she's, you know, very successful in her own right. She's a pharmacist as well. So she's a doctor. So I'm a doctor of business administration. I've just been a blessing of vision to have the support of my family to allow me to do the things that I need to do. She's not. Not a selfish individual. So she just supports me when I have to go out here in the community and just make the changes I need to make.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Did you guys meet at Benedict?

[Jermaine Johnson]

Did you say no? So we went to College of Charleston. Shout out to College of Charleston. Yeah. So I played basketball at the College of Charleston. Charleston. Same. The same time that Stephen Curry was at Davidson and let Steph know right now that we beat them. That's why he ended up going to the NBA that year. And we put him out the tournament, you know, and I was part of that team down there at College of Charleston. But that's where we met. At. And we've been together ever since.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I was gonna say, you are the second Democrat to launch a campaign for governor. Talk to us about just the feats and the things that are about to be ahead of you. Like, what are you nervous about? What are you excited about about the MC history?

[Jermaine Johnson]

Well, I'm not really nervous about anything. The people all across South Carolina, they want to see something different. They've been excited ever since I decided to announce my run for governor because they know I've been the one who's been fighting on their behalf for years now. I think most of y' all probably saw that DEI speech that I did that has been seen BY over about 7 million people at this point. People all across this country decided to reach out to me and say, jermaine, we would love for you to run for higher office, to do some things. So. So the people of South Carolina are just ready for something different. I will be the second black nominee in the history of South Carolina. That is a. That's a big deal right now. And even if, you know, by. Even if I don't win, some young boy or some young girl will look at me and say, man, I can now be that guy. I can. I. Like, it's possible I can grow up to be him when I, you know, when I get up there. So. You know, I went to seven different high schools. I had a, you know, I had a point, a gpa. My freshman year of high school school. I was homeless most of my upbringing. I lived in motels. You had a 0.8, man. Yeah, yeah, I lived in motels. I lived in a Evergreen Motel, a Travel Lodge Inn and all these different places, and slept on friends couches and things like that. But yet I still was able to graduate, still was able to go to college, still was able to get my doctorate, still was able to be a professional athlete. You know, a whole bunch of stuff. So kids know, it's possible.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, you mentioned the highways in South Carolina. Anybody that's been to South Carolina, you just see how much is growing, right? Like, I mean, traffic is crazy in Charleston. Traffic is crazy in places like Mount's Corner. There's state have the profit, proper infrastructure to accommodate the. The growing population?

[Jermaine Johnson]

Heck, no, man. And I know you've seen it yourself, man. I mean, listen, anybody who was driven between South Carolina and North Carolina, you can literally see the line in the road about how bad it is. Like, you can feel the. The. You can feel how bad it is. And because people are dying every single day, this is why our. Our insurance is so high. Like, car insurance continues to go up. And it's partly because of how bad our infrastructure is, and we're not truly addressing these issues. People are dying every single day on these roads, man. And until we start to take this thing serious, you know, I don't know what. I don't know what's gonna happen.

[DJ Envy]

I was gonna ask, you know, you talk about the murders, you talk about the roads. What's the first thing you want to do when you get in office?

[Jermaine Johnson]

Well, the biggest thing that I'm all about is mental health. I traveled the state about a year and a half ago with a bunch of former gang members, Bloods and Crips and gds, and we went to different communities where they felt disenfranchised. And we asked them, well, how can we solve the issues in your communities? And these are places that were not in my district. I went all over the state. I went to about 30 different counties, and every last county said mental health. Every last one said mental health. Mental health. Because of these kids are out here, you know, we have a bunch of people who are running around with undiagnosed mental health concerns. And then they're raising kids now also with undiagnosed mental health concerns. And then we also have given them access to guns by the Constitution, carry and all those different types of things. So it's caused so many problems. Well, I want to make sure that police officers actually have the support in terms of. Of having a mental health provider on, you know, on the staff with them. I want to make sure that the schools have mental health workers in every single district in the state. I want to make sure people have that work.

[DJ Envy]

Now, Andrew Yang is also a supporter.

[Jermaine Johnson]

That's my guy.

[DJ Envy]

How did you and Andrew Yang get up?

[Jermaine Johnson]

Oh, man. So in 2019, when. When I was looking at who I was going to support for. For president, United States, I was actually a Cory Booker supporter. Shout out to Cory Booker. But what Cory Booker was talking about wasn't really, in my opinion, talking about solutions. And then I. I came across the Asian guy talking about he wanted to give everybody a thousand dollars a month. And when I thought about, I said, Man, $1,000 a month would have really changed my life. Like, it would have kept me out. Out of those hoods. It would have kept me out of living in those motels. That would have really changed everything about me. And when I met him, it was like he was talking about AI and all these other things that literally we are seeing every single Day now, like everything he said he was right about everything. And that's what led me to him. And I said, man, let me go ahead and help you. And we've been friends ever since.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You talk a lot about economic empowerment. What's the specific plan to bring, like real investment, real jobs, jobs, you know, real entrepreneurship into rural counties, you know, in South Carolina.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Well, one of the things that I've already done is in my district, I created something the Lower Rich and Tech Academy. And what that does is it teaches low coding and no coding technologies to the people in the rural community and allows them to start their own entrepreneurial businesses in those areas. So in east over South Carolina, we have started at least 40 different small businesses right there in that room area. And these are majority black and brown people that started these different businesses down there. I want to take that entire program across the state. I also want to work on this, my South Carolina Resiliency Act. So what that's going to do is going to mandate South Carolina to be able to produce or manufacture at least 25% of the resources that we need in South Carolina. Right now, South Carolina only produces 11% of the food that we consume every single year. 11% is not enough. So we have to import all of our food from other states, from other countries. I want to say, listen, let's produce our own stuff. What that's going to do is that's going to help out our rule our rural communities as well as our farmers to put them back to work, allow them to expand the farms and say, listen, we're going to, we're going to get our own produce from the people who are right here in South Carolina.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

When did you learn to start projecting your voice every time you talk? I want to do push ups or something.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Listen, well, I actually, I got a degree in communications, but my thing was Little boy. Yeah, they always said I was loud, man. I've always been a loud speaker. They've always confused me with saying, hey, man, you talk a lot. Like, no, I don't talk a lot. I just talk loud, you know, and I want to be heard. I need to be heard when I'm speaking up for people.

[DJ Envy]

So people always ask if you do become governor. Well, we said, when you do become governor, how would be work? How would you work with Donald Trump?

[Jermaine Johnson]

Oh, man, listen, man, you gonna bring that man up up ahead, man. Listen, so my, my thing is, and what I've told everybody, I don't care who's in the White House, I don't care if It's Republican. I don't care if it's a Democrat in the House. If it's not good for South Carolina, I'm not supporting it. I'm truly South Carolina first. We have these crazy people who are running for office to call themselves Trump conservatives. I was like, what the hell is a Trump conservative, man? Like, you know, you let one man define what a conservative is and that's the problem. So if Donald Trump wants to do good for South Carolina, I will gladly work with him. If he wants to do bad, I'll gladly stand against them. And I've been the independent thinker. I don't care, you know, what party you decide to be with. If it's not good for the people of South Carolina, I'm to not going subordinate.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's your plan? The overhaul? Education. So students graduate in South Carolina either career ready, college ready, are business ready? Because, you know, we, we lag behind national averages, man.

[Jermaine Johnson]

We're 43rd, 43rd in the country.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Lord have mercy.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Yeah, it's bad, man. And we haven't, we haven't done anything about it. So, you know, places like Greenville are receiving more funds than places like Denmark. Right. So we have an issue where we're not funding these schools adequately. So I want to do a full on public education audit. What I want to do is I want to compare the rural schools that are well performing with the rural schools that are poor performing and the urban schools with the, you know, the urban schools that are well performing with the urban schools that are poor performing. I want to look at the administration and overhead and to see if there's any wasteful spending with the administration. And I also want to look at teacher pay. I want to look at all that and compare them all across the entire state and create this after this entire audit. I want to get all the information together, together and then make best practices from there. So to make sure that we have all the information we need to make the best decision. Right now, we're not doing anything. We're just looking at social issues. We're more concerned with banning books in South Carolina. We are the number one state of ban books. South Carolina is. We want to look at all the crazy stuff going on. Instead of actually investing, we want to take away public school money and give it to private damn schools, man. I mean, that is a problem right there. And in these private schools, if you want to send your kid to this private school school, they literally can say, your kid can't come to the private school, but my kid can come but your tax dollar is gonna pay for my kid to go to the private school that your kid can't even get to. And that's a problem in South Carolina. So we have to truly look at public education to make sure we're fixing and addressing these issues.

[DJ Envy]

What's the one thing the governor is doing wrong? The governor right now. What's one thing that he's doing wrong? If you could pick out all the things, one thing that really irks you.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Kissing Donald Trump's butt. I mean, I mean, just to be honest, he sent 200 of our National Guards men to Washington, D.C. and when he sent them up there, what they're doing is they're literally on the side of the road picking up trash in D.C. right now. Well, if those 200 National Guardsmen didn't have anything to do, well, how come they're not in South Carolina helping to solve those 600 unsolved murders that I talked about? Like, they could. They could have easily been put to work doing something better for the people of South Carolina. But no, every time Donald Trump calls, he answers. And that's the problem that we have. We need to be addressing these issues that are in South Carolina.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Carolina. But when the President calls, aren't you supposed to answer them?

[Jermaine Johnson]

You're supposed to answer, but you don't got to, like, do everything that this man say every time he say send you. I mean, and he did it during hurricane season. I mean, I mean, come on, man. Like, we're sitting in a situation where it could be seriously dangerous putting more South Carolinians at risk because you want to appease one man. That's the problem.

[Just Hilarious]

What would be the consequence saying no to him?

[Jermaine Johnson]

You're just not going to be best friends with them anymore. I mean, I'm.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He can stop federal funding.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Get your resources for, like, when there's, like, emergencies in South Carolina or even funding for, like, the schools and the stuff that you're talking about right now.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Yeah, I mean, he could talk about. He could talk about all different types of federal funding issues, but we're seeing federal funding cuts already. So, I mean, it doesn't really matter. He's going to cut us anyways if he doesn't like us, you know, and he might threaten. Once I become governor, he might threaten to cut funding in anyways just because I'm a black Democrat.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You'd be a di. You know what I'm saying?

[Jermaine Johnson]

I'll be a D. I'll be a di.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Right.

[Jermaine Johnson]

But I would say, listen, call me probably dei. I Definitely earned it. All right. So I mean, that's the type of person I am. So.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay, okay.

[Lauren LaRosa]

How do you make sure that like when you go in and do all the testing in those schools and you, you know, raise those numbers to get the funding and stuff, that the teachers are still really connected to the students? Because I've been like, I went to an inner city school and when we got more, better numbers, score numbers, test numbers, more money, the teachers they brought in were so disconnected from us. Like it changed the environment of the school and it was, it's like it caused more students to not come back to the school. And I think that happens a lot, especially in the inner city school. So how do you like do good in those schools but also make sure that the teachers are still like invested in the students?

[Jermaine Johnson]

Right. Well, the thing is you, you have to make sure that you are connected with the school. So one thing that I've done, even as a state representative, I decided to go and become a substitute teacher. So I, I went into the public schools to go.

[Lauren LaRosa]

That is crazy.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Yeah, man, it is. I do a lot. But I wanted to go in there because I wanted the teachers to one know that I cared. I wanted the kids to be able to see me and say, man, like that's a state representative, he's a politician, but yet he's still like, he's one of us. And I can be him and I can see him and I can touch him, you know. So I went in there to really assess the situation and I think you lead by example. And I don't plan to stop any of the work that I'm doing once I become governor. I plan to continue on going into these schools. I plan to continue on going in there and, and advocating for them. I even filed a bill that would mandate that the members of the General assembly would have to do at least five days a year of volunteering or substitute teaching in the public schools because I need them to see it. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Now we always, always talk about trade schools, right? I'm salute to Lincoln Tech. I'm an ambassador for Lincoln Tech. I love trade schools. But you really love trade schools. Explain why, why you think trade schools are so necessary.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Well, I mean, listen, we, we put too much emphasis on his four year institutions. I think if you're not an athlete, athlete or you're not going to be a lawyer or a doctor, you should be looking at trade schools. And we, we have allowed people to really just keep overselling these four year institutions all the time. And trade schools, we have a lack of workers right now. We have a lack of electricians. We have a lack of plumbers, we have a lack of engineers. You know, my son right now is going to Midlands Technical College to get his mechatronics degree right now because Scout Motors needs more workers that's. That's coming to South Carolina. Michelin said about 65% of their workfor retiring over the next few years. We have a lack of these, these industrial workers. And I think we need to put an emphasis. I mean, people could come out of these school, these trade schools, making $85,000 after two years. I mean, they'll be 19 years old, man. Like, you got to think about that, you know, helping these kids to learn how to invest in their futures.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I got cousins, man, in Monks corner, who were doing H vac soon as they got out of high school. They ain't missed a meal in 25 years.

[Jermaine Johnson]

That's right. That's right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And I love the conversations you're having because you're talking about economic empowerment, you're talking about mental health. You know, something else you were talking about trade schools. Like, all of that stuff to me is just about affordability and how to keep people safe. Why is that so hard for politicians? Life ain't complicated. People just want some more money in their pocket and they want to feel.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Safe because they allow Fox News and CNN to be the driving talking point. And I think that's the problem. We do the same thing in South Carolina. The Republicans, they quote Fox News, Democrats quote cnn, you know, and I think we need to get away from that. I think we need to get back to addressing the issues. I mean, I'm all about affordability. People are hungry, man. Like, people are starving out here. We don't even have a minimum wage in South Carolina. Like, people always say, let's, let's raise minimum wage. We don't have one. We have to establish a minimum wage before we can raise the dang minimum wage, you know, So I mean, it's issue like that. And minimum wage is 725. Who was living off of 725? You know, I mean, we have these issues all over the place. And I don't know why people want to hit on these big social issues and talk about abortion every single year and talk about, you know, guns every single year. I mean, man, people just. People want the same thing. They want food, they want safety, they want good schools, they want good roads, they want good jobs.

[DJ Envy]

All right, well, he's running for governor of South Carolina. Make sure. You get out there and vote and support him if they want to donate. How can I donate, man?

[Jermaine Johnson]

Listen, I need everybody to go to johnsonforsc.com J-O-H-N-S-O-N-F-O-R-S c.com. we gotta raise money, y'. All. You know. Y' all know that as a black guy running for governor of South Carolina, being the second. I'll be the second nominee in the history of South Carolina, we need to raise as much money as possible. I mean, honestly, y' all got over 6 million viewers right now, right? The Breakfast Club. My bad. See? 8.

[Mimi Brown]

There you go.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Saying, if all 8 million people just gave a dollar, we would have more than enough money to become governor of South Carolina. But listen, what we. We need $5, $10, $20. This is a real grassroots movement, and we want to go grassroots to grassroots funded.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And that's just for radio. That don't count. Like the YouTube and the podcast.

[Jermaine Johnson]

We'll get. We'll get them.

[T.I.]

We'll get them a lot of.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Give a dollar, man.

[DJ Envy]

Get.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Get them all to give a dollar or get them all to give $20. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[DJ Envy]

It's the breakfast 12.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Good morning.

[DJ Envy]

What the hell?

[T.I.]

There's a guy on the chat.

[Just Hilarious]

You gotta stop this.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You got you. If you're a man, you should not have a homeboy whose nickname is Belly Button.

[DJ Envy]

No, there's a guy on the chat. The guy's chat's name is DJ Envy's Belly Button. I just said, what's up, Belly Button?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's up, Belly Button? If you picked up the phone, somebody called calling me. Yeah, somebody calling me. And I heard a man say, yo. And MB Said, what's up, Belly Button?

[DJ Envy]

There's a guy on the chat.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Logan. Oh, my goodness. Put. Put your daddy on his back later today.

[DJ Envy]

Pause. Man, what's wrong with you?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know what I mean, Logan.

[DJ Envy]

All right, let's get to the latest with Lauren. She gets him from somebody that knows somebody.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Details.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm the home girl that knows a little bit of. About everything.

[Mimi Brown]

And everybody.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She be having the latest on.

[T.I.]

The.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Latest with Lauren LaRosa.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Sometimes you have facts. Sometimes you have details. Sometimes she have a little bit of everything.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Well, it's the latest on the Breakfast Club.

[Sophie Cunningham]

What?

[Lauren LaRosa]

I know you. We got a lot to get through today.

[DJ Envy]

Let's go.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Let's go.

[DJ Envy]

Don't mind.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes. So before we get to the Ray J. Story that I teased in the last hour, I did want to take a second to send A rest in peace to Rob Renner and his wife Michelle. So this story is still developing. Some of the details are still not confirmed. But what is confirmed is that Rob Renner and his wife Michelle were found dead in their homes in LA with their throats slit. And it's alleged by their daughter that found them that it is a family member that is responsible. And this is reportedly all coming after an argument that happened in their home on Sunday.

[DJ Envy]

Tell them who Rob Renner is. A lot of people might not know.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So Rob Renner is a famous Hollywood director, producer and actor. His wife Michelle, Michelle was also a photographer. They met on the set of When Harry Met Sally which he directed. He also directed Princess Bride, A Few Good Men. He's known actor wise as Mike from All in a Family, which was normal Lears TV sitcom.

[DJ Envy]

So he's from the Bronx too. Bronx, New York.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah, I believe she's from. His wife was from New York as well too. But yeah, one of their daughters found them dead in their home and she's the person that told police that it was probably that it was a family member that she believed in that family member, their son. Yes, I was getting to that. So the daughter. So per reports the daughter. We don't know if the daughter said the son, but People magazine has it confirmed on a few sources that that it may be their son. And police have said that the son is being questions, questioned, but there has been no arrest made at the time. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Condolences to his family.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes. Now switching, switching gears back to Ray J on the Hollywood News. So you guys remember that the whole RICO conversation with Ray J and the Kardash. So rico, rico. So Ray J just responded via court docs to their claims of wanting to get rid of his lawsuits. And he's standing on, you know, the fact that he believes that there was something going on at a time with the rico, which is what made him come out and say the things that he says. He's saying. Ray J says in the docs to me, Kim and Chris have repeatedly engaged in criminal enterprise and racketeering activity, violating RICO over and over again. I have no doubt about that. He continued used to compare them to Diddy, who we know was also prosecuted for rico. And then he mentions that he went to chat GPT for help and claims that the chatbot entrenched his beliefs that Kim and Chris were racketeers because of information that came up when he talked to chat GPT. So there's that update for Ray J.

[DJ Envy]

Okay.

[Mimi Brown]

Yeah.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Now as we continue on down in the news, more trouble things. Or maybe not. Trey Songz. So singer Trey Songz was arrested for assault after allegedly punching a New York nightclub employee in the face early earlier this month. The punching in the face was earlier this month, but he was in court yesterday, Sunday. And this all happened allegedly after the club employee told him that the. The club was closing. So he was partying at a spot called Drama Nightclub. And according to reports, the nightclub employee came over and told him around like 4:25 that the club was closing, and they alleged that he got a raid. So yesterday he was in court for the assault, and then he was arraigned on mischief in the second degree for a separate unrelated injury incident at another spot in New York called Mirror later in that morning. And I did receive a statement from Trey Song's council, his attorney, Mitchell Schuster, who says Trey Song was charged in connection with the incident that occurred last week. He is cooperating fully and looks forward to the facts coming to light. Separately, last night, Trey was confronted by individuals and they allege that they instigated a confrontation. So this is something separate. And attempted to surround him. They say his security got involved. And they mentioned. Mentioned that they believe he's a public figure that is being treated as a target for an instigation in pursuit of headlines or financial gains. And they are confident that the facts will speak for themselves.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, the worst thing about these Trey Song stories nowadays? You don't ever hear Trey songs and headlines anymore for any type of music. When the last time Trey songs put out some music.

[Lauren LaRosa]

He had a song with Ray J.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He did?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes. He had a song with Ray J.

[DJ Envy]

Definitely don't remember that song.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I remember it because they did this on the radar and Ray J was just in the back dancing, and it was pretty entertaining. I'm gonna look up the song.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So it's. It's hard to, you know, focus on anything else except for his legal troubles all the time, because he don't give us nothing else to focus on.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah, the song was. It's called Litigant.

[DJ Envy]

I don't remember that song.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Yeah.

[Just Hilarious]

I was gonna say God damn.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, we need to see talk about Trey's music. Like, Trey's a talented artist and we haven't heard music and album in a long time.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Long time.

[DJ Envy]

No, all we hearing is bs.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yeah, man.

[Just Hilarious]

I'm listening to him. I still listen to Trey. That's crazy.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Oh, Trey. Trey, right. Yeah, me too. Well, speaking of other artists who get in the headlines because of, you know, the things surrounding them outside of Their music. Kanye West. So there was a documentary in Whose Name that released in theaters a while back, but has now been available, made available on streaming. I watched it last night on Amazon.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And the 50 Cent do that one, too.

[Lauren LaRosa]

No, there's a 18. He was. There's a director who was. Started this, like, years ago when he was 18 years old. And, yeah, there's a whole storyline behind him. So it wasn't 50 cent, but one. One of the things that I thought was interesting in this doc, people used to always talk about how Kanye west didn't have any people around him when he was going through all these things to kind of pull him up. There was a moment in this documentary where Swizz Beats actually tried to have a conversation with Kanye about the whole MAGA situation before he, you know, famously went on SNL and spiraled out. Let's take a listen.

[T.I.]

We both know that that man is undoing for our country. I ain't talking about that, man. I'm talking about what it meant.

[DJ Envy]

But why is that so fresh? You got his hat on, though.

[T.I.]

No, it's my hat.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I made this version.

[T.I.]

It's a different shape. I understand you made the version. The shape and the crap. But the crap this man is. Is.

[Just Hilarious]

Is.

[T.I.]

Is very racist. And there's people that's being killed. I don't care about racism. Who more racist than white people? Black people.

[DJ Envy]

But you can't do that to the culture.

[T.I.]

And I can't tell you what to do.

[Caller]

Yeah, you can.

[T.I.]

I can't tell you what to do. And this. This year's session.

[DJ Envy]

This year's session.

[T.I.]

But we having brother to I with you, you know what I'm saying?

[DJ Envy]

Like, that be hurting me a little bit, and it hurt everybody around you.

[T.I.]

And they just not.

[Just Hilarious]

Not.

[T.I.]

They just not up enough to tell you and keep my thoughts in here. The hat is like this. Everything someone else want to say, black, white, like that. It must, like, not be going.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Is this doc authorized by Kanye? Like, did they want these conversations out?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Like, yes. So this is a. The. The. The director of it is a guy who was following Kanye around for some years, and then they decided to bring it over into theaters, and now it's hit. But I will say, in watching this doc, and people have their different take on Kanye and the things he's done or whatever, it made me really feel like I hope that he's taking care of himself in a real way, because you got to really see moments where, like, he's literally, like, skitting out sometimes on, like, just Family members like that are trying to help him, like Kris Jenner was trying to help him at one point, Kim Kardashian is calling him when he leaves the White House, and she's like, please stop. Like, I'm begging you. And she's tried to stand by him for some time, but. I want to take a listen. There was a moment. Moment. Because there's a conversation around the Kardashians and whether or not they put him in the best position. There was a moment between Kris Jenner and Kanye west where he talks about feeling emasculated as a man. Let's take a listen.

[DJ Envy]

Y' all demasculated me and made me.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Feel like a piece of.

[DJ Envy]

The only way it got away with it is because I was medicated.

[T.I.]

God would rather be dead, not in jail, because I want.

[DJ Envy]

I'd rather be dead than to be on medication.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No one from the family has taken.

[DJ Envy]

Any responsibility for my hospital visit.

[Jermaine Johnson]

But if we want to go online.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That'S 50% of what people say, at least. Or maybe.

[Just Hilarious]

Am I lying?

[Mimi Brown]

It doesn't matter.

[T.I.]

Am I lying? It do matter. It does matter. It does matter. It does matter.

[Mimi Brown]

It matters to us and you.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It doesn't matter what the Internet says. It matters what we think.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yay.

[T.I.]

So what do you think? Did you have an effect on my mental health?

[Sophie Cunningham]

Yes. Yes.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm saying yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'll say this. When he's screaming like that, he emasculates himself because he sounded like a little child having a tantrum.

[T.I.]

You know, I mean, yeah, but.

[Just Hilarious]

Yeah, but it's like when you mad and when. Like, I don't know, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Like, can't nobody emasculate you, though. You either a man or you're not. Like, I don't like when people say that. This person emascul escalated me. Like, no, nobody can do that to you. But. But Kanye hasn't had a quiet year, and I really dope he is. I really hope he's been getting the healing that he deserves.

[DJ Envy]

I. I will say this, though. Salute to Swiss Beats. Swiss Beats has those brothers conversations with a lot of people in the industry. A lot of times behind the scenes, he's the one person you can call all the time, and he'll have a conversation. He'll stop what he's doing to have a conversation, making sure you're okay. And also, I hate to give BAE credit, but BAE probably over here was probably one of the first person to talk that told Kanye west to his face that the team around Charlamagne, Charlamagne that told him that the people around you are not telling you what's right and what's wrong and that he might need to leave the people around him because they're just yes men. And he said that to Kanye's f went Kanye's face when we. I think that the first or second.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Interview with Kanye, that was the first time he came up here.

[Just Hilarious]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

So.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But we had several conversations. But that was like after that, over the years.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, that was the first one. You seen it early. And I hate to give Bay his credit.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Did Swiss tell you not to get a nose job? Cuz he should have talked you out of that. He should have said look at. But he should because I already know what you planning for the holidays.

[DJ Envy]

I cleaned the polyps out my nose. That's all I did. There was no nose job. There was no cutting. There was no racing.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I would tell you it save you money right now because you just never know. Don't spend no money on the nose job right now.

[Just Hilarious]

Stop emasculating this, man.

[Lauren LaRosa]

They gonna show up looking at him.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Like he a nose guy right now. You never know.

[Lauren LaRosa]

All right, as we rap, Envy, I know you're going down to Atlanta for the Jingle Ball, right?

[DJ Envy]

Yes.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Jingle Ball. I saw Jermaine Dupri posting some of the people that he might pull up up with. Ludicrous. Brad J. Money. Yeah. Like there's a lot of names. And he's. And I talked to Louis V. Louis V. Said it's looking guaranteed. And he asked what they going to give him more time because his set's going to need it. I was told that it's looking like they won't give him what he need. He's a headliner.

[DJ Envy]

J.D. the mayor of Atlanta. He gets whatever he wants. If you haven't got your tickets, it's almost sold out. It's Jingle Ball Atlanta. I'm flying down there. It's going to be Little John and friends, Jermaine Dupre and friends. Nelly, Kehlani.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Nelly celebrated what, like over two decades of country grammar, too, during the show.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah. So it's a lot of artists performing. Get your tickets. And the mix is up next. We're gonna start off with some TI all right. It's the Breakfast Club.

[T.I.]

Good morning.

[DJ Envy]

Morning, everybody.

[Just Hilarious]

It's DJ Envy.

[T.I.]

Just hilarious.

[DJ Envy]

Charlemagne, the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. We gotta salute to TI for joining us, man. I always love having conversations with T.I.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, man, that's one. I have seven favorite rappers of all time, and T.I. is definitely one of them. But, you know, he's also just a good human.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah. Salute to TI and don't forget to check out his comedy special, Cheaper Than Therapy. It comes out on the 24th. You could actually. It's not coming out on Netflix. He has his own streaming site that he's doing it on. And it's TIA Ain't Funny Dot com. Is that it?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes, yes.

[DJ Envy]

TI Ain't Funny Dot com pre order it. Now, make sure you support the brother, TI and also running for governor of South Carolina, Jermaine Johnson. Salute to him for joining us this morning as well.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, indeed.

[Just Hilarious]

Man, that man do everything in mechanics. He was a flight attendant. Changes up, man.

[DJ Envy]

He's a pilot.

[Sophie Cunningham]

Pilot.

[Just Hilarious]

Like, yo, he do everything.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah. And how was your show this weekend, Jess?

[Just Hilarious]

Oh, it was dope. It was, though we the. My staff are still counting the toys, but the last time I checked, we had over a thousand toys.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wow.

[Just Hilarious]

And we have all the families that we're going to be distributing the toys to December 22nd. It was really dope. And this was the first of many more toy drives to come in the future. The More Love Foundation Foundation. Man, they showed up and showed out. So I love you, Baltimore. This weekend, D.C. y' all are getting me for four days. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the D.C. improv. So far, we got five shows. We probably get up to like eight or nine because them tickets are flying. I ain't even get to do no promo. You know what happened when the tickets from Baltimore were all reserved because that was a free show? Everybody else just started buying tickets for D.C. because it was. It was sold out so quick. So I can't wait to get to dc, y'.

[Caller]

All.

[Jermaine Johnson]

All right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, and I want to tell everybody, too, man. TI TI came here on Friday. So he came here before the video came out that was showing him with a bald spot. So that's why we didn't talk about it in the interview.

[Lauren LaRosa]

But you said that was AI, though.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm telling you, it's not real. Like, the video was manipulated. Like. Like, if there's a brother in the video who died a year ago, God bless that brother. You know what I'm saying? But I'm telling you, like, that video, it was definitely, definitely manipulated in some way, shape or form.

[DJ Envy]

So it was an old video?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, it's an old video. I don't know, but I don't. I don't know. I don't know what they were trying to say. I don't know if they were trying to say it was a new video or what?

[Just Hilarious]

I don't know, but I just thought it was resurfaced.

[T.I.]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

I don't think nobody said it was.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

New, but when I was talking to TI this weekend, you know, he was like, my head, my head the fullest. But it ain't that.

[Just Hilarious]

But I ain't out here like that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's what he said.

[DJ Envy]

All right, now we got a positive note.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We do have a positive note, man. I want everybody out there to remember that. I think it's what, 16, is it? 16 days left until the new year. 16 days left until the new year. But I've been telling y' all over the past week or so, 2025 is the year of the snake and it's a nine year. So you got 16 days to shed what no longer serves you and enter a new era of yourself. So if you're feeling, you know, like things are breaking apart right now, that's beautiful. Okay. It's normal to feel like you're breaking apart when you're outgrowing something. Trust the process and surrender. It's the destruction of the old which is making space for the new. Okay, Have a great day.

[T.I.]

Breakfast club.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wake you up.

[DJ Envy]

Wake that ass up.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Program your Alarm to power 105.1 on iHeartradio.

[Lauren LaRosa]

The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. A season filled with family dinners, laughter and holiday shopping. But even in the middle of all of that joy, everyone needs a moment to slow down. The little pause between the music, the memories and the madness. And nothing makes that break better than an ice cold Coca Cola. It's that quick refresh that turns the holiday rush into calm, making the moment feel just right. It's the breath between the laughter and the late night rapping sessions. Because the best part of the holidays isn't having it all together. It's enjoying it while it's happy. Enjoy your Coca Cola. Refresh your holidays.

[DJ Envy]

Amazon five Star Theater presents real customer reviews performed by Ed Helms. Tonight's review, Tactical jacket. I was living a simple life.

[T.I.]

Didn't get out much. Then I bought this jacket and everything changed.

[DJ Envy]

Women came flocking to me from lands domestic and foreign.

[T.I.]

On the 245 day sailboat voyage home, I was attacked by a shark. I knew it was the jacket he.

[DJ Envy]

Was after giving up the jacket in exchange for my life.

[T.I.]

5 stars Amazon Customer 69 Shop the perfect gift this holiday on Amazon.

[Sophie Cunningham]

This is Sophie Cunningham from Show me something. Do you know the symptoms of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea or osa in adults with obesity, they may be happening to you without you knowing. If anyone has ever said you snored loudly, or if you spend your days fighting off excessive tiredness, irritability and concentration issues, it may be due to osa. OSA is a serious condition where your airway partially or completely collapses during sleep, which may cause breathing interruptions and oxygen deprivation. Learn more at. Don't sleep on osa.com this information is provided by Lilly, a medicine company company.

[DJ Envy]

This is Julian Edelman from Dudes on.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Dudes with Gronk and Jewels Sunday mornings I've got my game day ritual, Coffee.

[T.I.]

Lucky socks and now new Morning Uncrustable Sandwiches.

[Jermaine Johnson]

It's all about that 12 gram protein boost with the new Uncrustables Bright Eyed Berry or Up and apple flavors.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Bright Eye Berries got a fight.

[DJ Envy]

Tasty receiver Energy up an apple.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Your classic do it all tight end.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Soft, pillowy, packed with protein and easy.

[DJ Envy]

Enough for Gronk to grab from the freezer.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Whether you're on the couch, driving to the tailgate or heading to the locker room, new Morning Uncrustable Sandwiches are the MVP of snacks.

[DJ Envy]

Your new Sunday kickoff ritual starts here. Here with new Morning Uncrustable sandwiches packed.

[T.I.]

With 12 grams of protein.

[DJ Envy]

Janice Torres here and I'm Austin Hankwitz. We host the podcast Mind the Business Small Business Success Stories produced by Ruby Studio in partnership with Intuit QuickBooks.

[Lauren LaRosa]

We're back for season four to talk to some incredible small business owners.

[Jermaine Johnson]

The big thing about working at tech is that it's ever evolving, ever changing. Everyone a rookie.

[Lauren LaRosa]

That's how fast the industry is changing.

[Jermaine Johnson]

So what I'm really excited about is to be part of that change.

[DJ Envy]

So listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple.

[Jermaine Johnson]

Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.