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Charlamagne Tha God
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. You all know this time of year is my reset season. New energy, new plans, new ways to grow my brand. And if you're trying to start 2026 ahead of the game, like really ahead, now is the time to get moving. For me, Shopify has been a platform that keeps my whole merch business tight. As a creator, as a businesswoman, I need my tools to work hard. And Shopify is like having a chief of staff, a personal assistant, and a co founder all in one. And look, I always tell other women building their own brands, especially small, independent black creators, don't overcomplicate it. Shopify takes the guesswork out of everything. So let's be real. It's time to stop thinking and start doing. And there is no better way to do that than Shopify. Use our link shopify.com b e n now to start getting serious about building your future.
DJ Envy
Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club.
Charlamagne Tha God
Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Lola Rose is here as well. We got a special guest in the building.
DJ Envy
Yes, indeed.
Charlamagne Tha God
We got Billy Gang Cushington. Welcome, brother.
Belly Gang Cushington
Good morning.
Charlamagne Tha God
How you feeling, man?
Belly Gang Cushington
Good, man. I'm blessed. I'm at Breakfast Club.
DJ Envy
That would your name come from, brother?
Belly Gang Cushington
Man, back when I was doing the wrong thing, I don't like when people, like, make their own names up. You know what I'm saying? But they were just like, that boy got cushed by the son, Cushington. Then, like, I started getting fat, so they were calling me Belly Gang, started rapping. I couldn't really think of that. I just put it together.
DJ Envy
Belly Gang, Cushington.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yep, that makes sense.
Charlamagne Tha God
And you from Atlanta?
Belly Gang Cushington
Yep.
Charlamagne Tha God
So how did you get into music since you were doing the Cushington thing? What made you say, you know what? Let me put this to the side and take music serious and start rapping.
Belly Gang Cushington
Take music serious. Catching Casey. I had a son. He autistic. Like, now I gotta be there for my son, you know what I'm saying? My mama left me. My dad ain't really nothing. So, like, I gotta beat up for him. Yeah.
Charlamagne Tha God
So that would make you take it serious? Let me take this serious. Get out the streets. Cause I can't get locked up.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yes, sir.
Charlamagne Tha God
And when did it finally connect to you? When did you know that this was the thing that was gonna make you where you needed to be to take care of your son? When was it real for you?
Belly Gang Cushington
I met my manager Monday. Like he understood how to make the dots connect in my head.
Charlamagne Tha God
His name is Monday. Not he met him on Monday.
Belly Gang Cushington
His name is Monday. I know that.
DJ Envy
I just met the bro.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, but he understood how to make the dots connect in my head. Like, bro, you know you can pay your rent out there, like you ain't gotta worry about getting rich. Like, just worry about not having to work, you know what I'm saying? Or get money like that. So that when I knew, like, oh, okay, you know what I'm saying? He talking about streaming all that.
DJ Envy
You from Atlanta, right?
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah.
Lola Rose
Okay, now were you scared at first? Because it was like you going from something that you knew, you knew how to make money off the.
Belly Gang Cushington
You know, it's a different from like you just a dirty running around with a gun, you know what I mean? Like, I actually was like raising a family out there. Like actually like bought houses and all that, you know what I'm saying? So it was real hard. Like, that was the hardest thing I ever had to do, like leave the street.
DJ Envy
I wonder what. Yeah, I hear people say that. What was so hard about it? Because you know the end result, right? The result is jail or death. So what was so hard about it?
Belly Gang Cushington
They really like, you gotta think, bro, you wake up. No, I'm missing a twenty thousand dollar play right now. That's going through your head no matter what you do. Like a headache, like waking up every day, like that's a 20 I just passed or 30, 40. Very hard.
Lola Rose
You've always felt like that was worth the worry of going to jail or dying or, you know.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, I knew it was bad though when like I was getting locked up and it was just regular, like I ain't even kill, like it would come with it, like, you know what I'm saying? Nah, they're getting bad. Like. Yeah.
DJ Envy
So who made you believe that you could actually turn this into a whole career?
Belly Gang Cushington
For real? For real. Monday. Okay.
DJ Envy
I mean, because it's one thing for somebody to tell you, but to actually instill that confidence in you, like, you.
Belly Gang Cushington
Know what I mean? I always had the confidence. I could tell, like I could rap. Like I knew, like when I get around my peers who rap like they weren't really, they weren't really like coming across like mine. So like, so that was trash. Basically you saying, nah, it's like people were reacting to me more, you know what I'm saying? So I knew like, man, I might go crazy if I take it serious, you know what I'm saying? But I couldn't get the Business, right? Like, I ain't understand, like, marketing or nothing like that, you know what I'm saying? I just knew, like, drop a song, it didn't blow up, all right? You know what I'm saying?
DJ Envy
You remember the first time you, you wrote something?
Belly Gang Cushington
Yo, it was a studio on Camelton. My buddy, who J Pad actually had, wrote me something. I kept telling him, like, write me a song. He like, nah, bro. Like, you got Walt. You got to talk, bro. Just put it down on wax, you know what I'm saying? I think I wrote a song like True Religion or something like that.
DJ Envy
That's the name of the song. Your music does feel rooted in real life hustle. So I be wondering, like, what parts of your story do you feel people still don't fully understand.
Belly Gang Cushington
Man. Really? I paint them pictures so good. Like, they really understand. Like, I got so many different type of supporters. Like, some of them be rocking with the deep stuff, some of them be rocking with the bounce that ass like your friend, do you know what I'm saying?
DJ Envy
That's my shit. By the way.
Charlamagne Tha God
I only like one line.
DJ Envy
I mean, that's a catchy line, but I like the whole song. That.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, he being able.
Lola Rose
Plopping his ass. Bouncing his ass.
DJ Envy
I don't bounce no ass. He never did. No. Anyway, brother, what do you. What was we talking about?
Charlamagne Tha God
You know, we're being your mix. Your mix.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah.
Charlamagne Tha God
So being mixed, it. Was it difficult for you because people like, ah, nah, we're not with him. He's. He's too. He looks white or he looks light skinned or he looks. This was that difficult for you for sure.
Belly Gang Cushington
But I understand marketing, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, I knew the shop value was there. So it just like, okay, cool, go crazy. I ain't answered, you know what I'm saying? Because it's just like in real life, like this, the Internet, bro, this ain't real. I don't been in a, a cell block. I don't been in other people hood across the country, trapping. Like, I ain't answering nothing. I'm pulling up on me. So I ain't gonna get on the Internet and explain myself, figure it out.
DJ Envy
Did you ever think he was light skinned?
Belly Gang Cushington
Did I ever think I'm light skinned? Yeah. Nah, I'm mixed.
DJ Envy
Yeah, I'm talking because you said light skin. That's why I was like, what? I didn't know.
Charlamagne Tha God
No, I think you meant. Cause you mixed like two. I saw you say when you sat down with Big bank in Big Facts podcast that when you were younger, you felt like. Or it was like you were too black for the white kids, too white for the black kids. I think that's what Envy was trying to.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, I definitely felt like that, like, you know what I'm saying? But like, I only were raised by my black side, so I definitely, like, it was definitely weird with the white kids, you know what I'm saying? Cause they're like them folk looking at me like, what you doing? Like, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, but the black folk just were like in my area. Like they knew, you know what I'm saying? So I was used to that. Like, I was spoiled with that. But like, when I go to other hoods and stuff like that, play football, like, they used to be like white boy, woo woo. You know what I'm saying?
Lola Rose
And did it bother you then, like younger coming up?
Belly Gang Cushington
It kind of probably did, but I think everybody got something they different about that bothered them, you know what I'm saying?
DJ Envy
What about when you were selling kush by the ton? Like, did you ever be on the phone with somebody and they like, all right, whoop de whoop. Then you pull up and they like, yo, hey.
Lola Rose
Until you hear him talk. Oh, okay.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yo, that crazy. Yeah, that had. That happened a lot of times.
Charlamagne Tha God
How you get through that? Like, what do you do to show them, like, yo, I'm not undercover. Like, I'm.
DJ Envy
So they start talking.
Belly Gang Cushington
I mean, you know, you know, word mouth get around in that field. So, yeah, you know what I'm saying? People like start knowing as I. You know what I'm saying?
Charlamagne Tha God
You said you understood the shock value. I know people didn't. They didn't know your race at first. So when they would hear you say the N word, there was a lot of backlash for that.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah.
Charlamagne Tha God
And that's what you're talking about when you say you understood the shock value. You kind of like, didn't respond, but.
Belly Gang Cushington
Leaned into that, yo, I mean, did the thing. Like, I ain't looking at it like that. Like Drake mix, he said, you know what I'm saying? So it just like that. Just what it is. Like, I ain't really care to explain or care to like, do too much. Like, I mean, it's just me.
DJ Envy
I always think you should just say half of it when you mix just be like, nigg. But what's up? My dad.
Belly Gang Cushington
You know. You know what crazy. I don't even really like, just sit back and be like, I'm f to say this word. Like this just my Lingo, like, when I be rapping, like, I be talking like, this is what it is.
Lola Rose
Like, you've been talking like that almost your whole life.
Belly Gang Cushington
So it's like, yeah, my whole life. My dad called me that. You know what I'm saying?
DJ Envy
I know this is you, and I know this is who you are. Because I, like, I know people that have known you for a while, and he's like, nah, that's really, really who he is. But do you ever feel like, you know, when you say you were raised by your black side, you leaning into stereotypes?
Belly Gang Cushington
Am I leaning into a black stereotype? Hell, no. I'm just being me, you know what I'm saying? Being authentic me.
DJ Envy
What would you say to the people who say that, though? Like, they be like, okay, he says he's raised by his black side, so he wears the jewelry and he got the tats. And, you know, he talks a certain.
Belly Gang Cushington
Way in my culture. Like, this is my code. I don't even talk a certain way. This is how I come out. It's my culture. You know what I'm saying? Then I'm dominating this culture. For real. We being honest before this, before rap, you know what I'm saying? Touching all the pretty female, getting all the money, you know what I'm saying? Getting back to the community. I'm saying. So I don't really, you know what? I don't say none of them. I just get the money and keep moving. For real.
Lola Rose
Yeah.
Charlamagne Tha God
What about to the people who would have. Would take issue with hearing I leaned into that, like, shock value of people thinking I'm white and I'm saying the N word because that's such a, like, sacred conversation for some people.
Belly Gang Cushington
Nah, I ain't lean into it. I just didn't answer it. Just like. Just like the girl in my intro on the album, like, please tell us what you. I don't owe you no explanation. Like, where are you? You a person on the Internet, just typing.
DJ Envy
You said you had to, like, you know, learn, I guess, the. The business of music. What lessons did you have to learn the hard way about, like, ownership and leverage?
Belly Gang Cushington
I ain't really. I kind of were bliss with a good lawyer early because he liked my music. And then, like, just being a hustler, period. Like, I'm a tilt. So if I just jump into anything, I do nothing, you know what I'm saying, until I figure it out. So I ain't really been through that yet. I sure I am gonna go through that, but, like, I ain't been through none that I feel like, damn, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, maybe. Maybe being in a. In a distro, and then it wasn't really what I thought it would. Probably the worst thing.
DJ Envy
You independent, right?
Belly Gang Cushington
Yo, I'm with LVR End, though.
DJ Envy
Okay. Okay.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, yeah. My family, like, we're going crazy.
DJ Envy
Do you see yourself staying independent long term? Are you. Are you open to, like, some strategic partnerships?
Belly Gang Cushington
I want to be big, but, you know, the game. The game changing right now. I don't know. You know what I'm saying? Might not need that in a minute. You know what I'm saying? Yo, we going big J. S, though. You know what I'm saying?
Lola Rose
I love that you actually opened up for Wayne on his tour last year.
Belly Gang Cushington
Went on tour. Wayne?
Lola Rose
Yeah. How was that when you got that call? Like, what was that?
Belly Gang Cushington
I ain't believe it at all. We was already doing, like, five, six shows a week. So, like, I was just like, nah, Wayne ain't calling me. What he need me for this Lil Wayne. So I still didn't believe me. And they were having a conversation for, like, over a month. I ain't believe it till I seen the email. Like, the he, the dates, what time you gotta be here? It's crazy.
Lola Rose
Yeah, Monday probably like, nigga, you still don't believe, nigga?
Belly Gang Cushington
Like, come on. He ain't believe either, bro.
DJ Envy
But when they come, when y' all got the call, he ain't believe.
Belly Gang Cushington
Damn. I thought it was just probably, like, some age and shit, or just, like, I ain't think, like, they hit me up.
Charlamagne Tha God
So you said when you had your son, it changed you a lot.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah.
Charlamagne Tha God
And one of your songs on the album, you talk about your son being autistic. You feel like that could be karma for being in the streets.
Belly Gang Cushington
Break that down, man. I really feel that. You know what I'm saying? Really? Man, My daddy, like, used to tell me, like, you know, you do wrong, that come back on your kids. Like, you know what I'm saying? I don't know if that's some folktale shit or what, but, like, I think, like, you know, waking up every day doing the wrong thing. Like, you never know, maybe God wanted to slow me down, sit me down. You know what I'm saying? It definitely did, though. It turned my hustle up, though, legally, back then, like, had turned my hustle up. But I became, like, I understood morals and values and you know what I mean? Like, yo, people different. Like, it's crazy. Cause, like, I grew up different. My son now, he Growing up different.
DJ Envy
That's interesting, though, because the reality is your son ended up being your biggest blessing because you said that, you know, finding out he was autistic ended up being your biggest motivation.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, for sure.
DJ Envy
I can't say that was a wrong thing. You know what I mean?
Belly Gang Cushington
Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo. I do know he gonna have not a hard life. Cause of my situation now, but I do know, like, all the autistic parents out there, like, they feel the same way I do. I see the interviews, I talk to them in memes and stuff. Like. Cause he like, damn. Like, my son like this. I really don't never want to leave him. Like, I don't know if somebody gonna kill for him. Like, I do. Like, I was locked up with a. I was locked up one time, and like, it was a guy, like, he was just locked and, like, I could tell he was slick, like, you know what I'm saying? A little different. So, like, I'm like, I ain't wrong with him. Like, and we. We seen. We checked his paperwork and he was enough for like, I think, like, burglary or something. But, like, all he did was, like, walked on a lady porch and drunk some lemonade and left. And they locked him up. You know, sometimes they'll hit you with a bigger charge, you know what I'm saying? He had never been locked up before. And I was talking to him, and he was just like, yeah. I was like, how you don't get no stole like on there? He was just like, nah. Like, he ended up telling me he get a check, he live at a boarding house, and then come to find out like he was autistic. It's like, bro. Like, he was like 50. Damn. Yeah, this like, bro, this lady getting hit. Check probably. You know what I'm saying? Like, he. And he was locked up on a $200 bond for burglary. Yeah, yeah.
Charlamagne Tha God
Being in the streets and then having your son who is autistic, which takes a lot more patience and like, you know what. What did you have to tap into the most to make sure that you were present enough for him physically. But mentally.
Belly Gang Cushington
Man, it was hard. I ain't gonna lie. Like, the crying, you know what I'm saying? Like, he can't talk. When he got older, then what's so crazy? Like, he started to talk regularly, and then it just stopped, you know what I'm saying? So I don't know. I've been seeing a lot of, like, kids his age born around them years, like, go through that. So. Yeah, But I, I, I really just had to be like, look, man, do what it is. You know what I'm saying? Like. And then at a certain point, I wanted to be there, like, every day, all day, you know what I'm saying? And make sure. Cause, like, who else gonna do it? My baby mama. She a good mama, but, like, who gonna do the man part?
DJ Envy
You would never leave your child, though, based off what, you know, how your situation was, yo.
Belly Gang Cushington
For sure.
DJ Envy
I heard. Sorry, Mama.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, for sure. Like, for sure. I would never leave him because of that. Yeah.
DJ Envy
You resent your mom for leaving?
Belly Gang Cushington
I did. You know what I'm saying? Here, go yk, Right here. Hey, hey, call her back.
Charlamagne Tha God
He can only call if you gonna sing your line.
Lola Rose
Do your thing.
Charlamagne Tha God
You gotta sing it and dance. How you be dancing when he's not here?
Lola Rose
Girl, what's up? Yeah, Milk the Zetty.
Charlamagne Tha God
He acted so shy in front of company. This is crazy.
Lola Rose
What's up?
DJ Envy
You on drugs? No, actually, he looking for gay yk. What you looking for? I'm geeked up. Looking for an eater. What up, yk?
Belly Gang Cushington
Hey, y'. All. Hey.
DJ Envy
When you coming to see us, man?
Lola Rose
When you need me to.
DJ Envy
Whenever you ready, that's on you.
Lola Rose
I'm ready right now.
DJ Envy
You dropping a project this year?
Lola Rose
I am, but I got my first headline sold out show today, so. Congratulations, baby.
Belly Gang Cushington
Thank y'. All.
DJ Envy
When you drop, whatever you drop and pull up on us, I'm gonna drop.
Lola Rose
Tomorrow a single first period. Okay. I dropped that in, like, two weeks.
DJ Envy
Come on up.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah, you got to.
Lola Rose
Okay, I'm gonna call y'.
Belly Gang Cushington
All.
DJ Envy
Right. Baby Belly gang. The plug. He's still the plug.
Belly Gang Cushington
Damn it. Don't put that on, Man.
Lola Rose
Okay, so when you. You were growing up, right? Who did you look to? Like, who were your. Some of your favorite rappers? Who was your inspiration?
Belly Gang Cushington
Man, I took it, like, to the trap store, obviously. Like Rocco Jeezy, Ti Gucci, you know what I'm saying? Then like, future, you know what I mean? All the trap.
Lola Rose
Yeah, They've been comparing, comparing you to Jeezy, though. You haven't met him.
Belly Gang Cushington
Nah, I think. I think they doing that just cause I wear dickies and talk about selling bricks. Like, I don't even sound like Jeezy, nothing. Like. Like, just because I put the diggers on and talk drug talk. That's why I think. And they see the movement. I go out a hundred deep stuff like that. Yeah.
DJ Envy
Got so cool.
Charlamagne Tha God
How you and YK got so cool.
Belly Gang Cushington
Or the song or from the song. Yeah, but it crazy. Like, the first day we met, we just clicked. Like somebody. Like, we've been to each other for 20 years.
Lola Rose
Oh, yeah. She from Atlanta, too.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, it crazy. Like, she was right up the street from our hood. I ain't even know.
DJ Envy
Yeah, I seen Killer Mike co signed you, too.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah? Yeah.
DJ Envy
What did that mean for you?
Belly Gang Cushington
That was big. It was so early on. Probably had like 10, 000 followers. His own curator. Cuz Lightyear had heard me. I had wrote a song. Lord prepared me. I wrote that. So, like, he heard. He like, but I might like that. He want to get on. Then he got on it. He like, matter of fact, I want it for my album. That was big. Like me, I had never did. No. I had no accolades in rap at the time. Just saw somebody walking past the studio hearing my song, like, so. That's hard. That's dope.
DJ Envy
What have you learned from Mike? You know Mike, always dropping some jewel, man.
Belly Gang Cushington
How to win a Grammy? Nah, nah, just that. Just that, you know, it ain't gotta be all about gangster, you know what I'm saying? You could take a look at politics, you know what I mean? You could take a look at what's really going on and speak on that, too.
DJ Envy
That's a good segue. Cause what version of yourself did you have to kill in order to grow into the artist you are now?
Belly Gang Cushington
Probably the hot head. You know what I'm saying? Like, just reacting off. Soon as I feel something, like when I first came in the game, it was like, how this shit go with anything I do. Then I realized, like, you cannot bring that over here to this. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Had to kill that hot head stuff for sure. Damn.
Lola Rose
I'm looking at your stats and I see. All right, so, 78. You got your fan base black. 5% of y' all is Hispanic.
DJ Envy
I'm black.
Belly Gang Cushington
Asian.
Lola Rose
I'm fully black.
Charlamagne Tha God
Don't do that.
Lola Rose
8.4 Asian and then 8.4 white people. You got some little Asians up in there?
Charlamagne Tha God
Well, Mexicans. Mexicans on there.
Shut up.
DJ Envy
That's Hispanic, right?
Lola Rose
Yeah, Hispanic is. Yeah, I'm black.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah.
Lola Rose
Anyway, did they shot.
Belly Gang Cushington
Do it.
DJ Envy
Do a shot.
Belly Gang Cushington
How many girls on there?
Lola Rose
Oh, yeah, you got 45% females and then 54% male.
Belly Gang Cushington
Oh, that's cool.
Lola Rose
Yeah, that's what's up.
Belly Gang Cushington
That's. That's.
Lola Rose
That's up there. Are you shocked to know you got any Asian fans?
Belly Gang Cushington
Asian? Yeah, yeah.
Lola Rose
You shot for real?
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, a little bit. It'd be like clothing lines. In Japan and start hitting me up, though. So, yeah, I knew they were playing the music out there. Yeah.
DJ Envy
Now that you've been in the industry a little bit, what's something about the industry you wish artists talked about more.
Belly Gang Cushington
Honestly being theyself, what really going on? I see a lot of folk trying to follow the leader. For real. Just be yourself. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, we gotta push that. You need kids and everything because, like, everybody can't be no rapper. Everybody can't be no. You know what I'm saying? Somebody might need to be a manager. Somebody might need to be a computer tech guy. Them people cool, too.
Charlamagne Tha God
How. How has it been meeting, like, you know, people that you might have looked up to or listened to a music? Like, I saw you linked up with Drake.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Charlamagne Tha God
How's that been?
Belly Gang Cushington
That was big. Like, they hit me, like, when we pull up. Pulled up. He just out the gate, like, gave my flowers. Like, I was supposed to be getting your flower, like. Yeah. Nah, that was big, though. I don't really want to meet nobody else, though. Why? Cause it ain't always like, the. Like, when I met Drake, future them, like, well cool. Ooh. Like, you know what I'm saying? They really rock with me. Like, thug, he really rock with me. You know what I'm saying?
Charlamagne Tha God
But, like, you must have met somebody.
Belly Gang Cushington
That wasn't the same. Yeah, met a couple from the crib.
DJ Envy
From the crib or like, out of state?
Belly Gang Cushington
Out of state. Oh, yeah.
DJ Envy
Were they not familiar? Are they working?
Belly Gang Cushington
I just can feel that, like, right. Him. For real? Like, energy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.
DJ Envy
But people might get that from you, though. Only because you come from the streets and, you know, you had to move a certain way kind of for survival.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yo, you all know this time of year is my recess season. New energy, new plans, new ways to grow my brand. And if you're trying to start 2026 ahead of the game, like, really ahead, now is the time to get moving. For me, Shopify has been the platform that keeps my whole merch business tight. As a creator, as a businesswoman, I need my tools to work hard. And Shopify is like having a chief of staff, a personal assistant, and a co founder all in one. And look, I always tell other women building their own brands, especially small, independent black creators, don't overcomplicate it. Whether you're running a side hustle or you're trying to run a full storefront, selling to your community or around the world, Shopify takes the guesswork out of Everything. Shopify also. Like, my favorite thing about it is they teach you as you grow, you can look up anything, get information on anything, and it's simple. They give you, like, easy one, two, three steps. I used to juggle 10 different logins and apps. Now one platform I manage my store, sell online, sell, sell on social, even tag products right from my phone, wherever I am. And Shopify Sidekick. Listen, you keep hearing all about AI. Let me tell y' all this AI is a lifesaver. It gives me reports, content, ideas, helps me edit images. It's literally like having a smart assistant in my back pocket guiding me to my next move. So let's be real. It's time to stop thinking and start doing. And there is no better way to do that than Shopify. Use our link shopify.comb e-n now to start getting serious about building your future.
DJ Envy
Right? Like, even when you said you used to react than everything, that probably saved you a lot of times in the street.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yo, yo, yo.
DJ Envy
But now you're not there. No. So somebody might be looking, trying to figure out your disposition, but you, you know.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, no, I think that my fault for like, listening to somebody music, thinking they was. You know what I'm saying? That's my fault.
Lola Rose
Oh, I got you. I see what you're saying. Yeah.
Charlamagne Tha God
Did that disappointment. I mean, you said you don't want to meet anybody, but what else did that disappointment bring for you outside of just not wanting to meet people? Like, how has it jaded your experiences as artists?
Belly Gang Cushington
Probably made me become more vulnerable. Like, more letting them see exactly why I know my album. Real vulnerable. But this next one finna be overly vulnerable. Like, let them know, like, this all the way me. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, for sure.
DJ Envy
Did you ever struggle with your identity as a mixed kid growing up?
Belly Gang Cushington
What you mean just in general?
DJ Envy
Like, did you ever even want to see what the other side was doing?
Belly Gang Cushington
For real? For real. Nah, nah, nah. Okay.
Charlamagne Tha God
Or did you have a choice?
Belly Gang Cushington
I should have had my baby pictures on file. Nah, I thought I was like Lil Bow Wow, little Romeo or something.
DJ Envy
Early on, but even.
Lola Rose
But never like Macaulay Culkin or nothing.
Charlamagne Tha God
It was just straight. Just.
Belly Gang Cushington
Oh, Home Alone.
Lola Rose
Nah, nah, you wasn't.
DJ Envy
Okay, so you never even knew your other side of the family?
Belly Gang Cushington
For real? I never. I met my mama one time.
DJ Envy
That's crazy.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, I met her one time. Like, I. That's it.
Charlamagne Tha God
I saw you say you were raised with so much, like, love and just whatever. You didn't even know that there was a difference until you had to know.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, like, I ain't even know. Like, I ain't even miss that. Mama's like, you know what I'm saying? My cousin raised me, like, call her mom. Like her mama. I called her mom before she died. Like, it's like Grandma Nana cooked chicken every Wednesday for the congregation. Like, they coming to preach in the basement. Like, I gotta help her cook the chicken with a suit on in the hood, you know what I'm saying? Like, so, like, I ain't really know. Like, grew up ghetto families, for real. Like, my other grandma, my dad and mama, she stayed up here. Oh, I forgot where she stayed at. But, like, she. I went to 106 apart all that when I was like, 9, free and AJ put me on stage and everything.
DJ Envy
The rapper dance.
Belly Gang Cushington
I was just. Yeah. As a kid. I like, nine years old.
DJ Envy
Oh, gotcha.
Charlamagne Tha God
They just need a kid as a prop.
Could you imagine him trying to pick on him? He gonna be. I'm getting my cousin. Go get your little white cousin, then.
Come back with the.
That had to happen before.
Belly Gang Cushington
Nah, that's another thing. I got brothers and sisters too. Like, my big brother, he. He the worst. So, like, you know what I'm saying? It was like that for sure.
DJ Envy
So when you look at, like, like a racist white person, what goes through your mind? Like, what do you be thinking?
Belly Gang Cushington
I mean, I don't understand why them days are over, you know what I'm saying? I don't understand why they like that. Any racist person, for real. You know what I'm saying? But at least you telling me you racist and that's what you is, you know what I'm saying? You ain't undercover with it, you know what I mean? I think I get. I think. I think my type of people get it the worst. Cause, like, you know, like, I don't have, like, white people, like, and black people, like, older. Like, real older. Be like, you a mixed breed. Like that ain't. It's nothing you could do. Like. Yeah. You ever had.
Lola Rose
Has you ever have an encounter with a white person that look at you like.
Belly Gang Cushington
Like you. Yeah. Like you sleep.
Lola Rose
So you want to be black so bad.
Belly Gang Cushington
Like, type wiggy and all that.
Lola Rose
Yeah, yeah.
Belly Gang Cushington
I mean, like, growing up, like, my demeanor always kind of been like this, so I ain't really never dealt with stuff personally, you know what I'm saying? But I don't encounter stuff like that for sure. And I'm sure, like, even in that game, like, you probably got, like, gatekeepers like looking at like, man, you trying too hard. But it cool though. Just work hard and show em I don't ran across a couple of them too.
DJ Envy
You never had the code switch to get your homies out of a jam, you know what I'm saying?
Belly Gang Cushington
Real quick, like, you know what crazy. We were looking at my records. You know every jail put me in as black.
DJ Envy
For real.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah. Like I never told. I done wrote white on there before, like thinking they gonna help me still put me in it black.
Charlamagne Tha God
When you met Drake, the caption was rich mixed kids convos in the back of the area, right? I know area is the strip club. Yeah. So was that just like a fly caption or were y' all really having conversations about navigating this industry as a mixed kid? Cause he gets a lot of like slack for like going in and out of.
Belly Gang Cushington
Nah, we ain't speak on being mixed. But like we was two rich mixed kids.
Charlamagne Tha God
It was just in the back of.
Belly Gang Cushington
The ear to not having a conversation.
DJ Envy
They were the strip club.
Charlamagne Tha God
You think they were gonna be like.
I asked was it just a fly conversation? You just never know they be on Drake.
Belly Gang Cushington
Nah, we weren't talking about no mix though. We just two mixed kids.
Lola Rose
I don't know why this just came through fan mail. Gonna say tell them do a white voice.
Belly Gang Cushington
Do a white voice.
Lola Rose
Yeah, they crazy.
Belly Gang Cushington
Hi, I'm a suburban kid. I know you done use.
DJ Envy
You done use that. You done use that privilege at least once to help the homies get out of jam, man. Could how you had to.
Belly Gang Cushington
I ain't never tried it or. Yeah, I'mma try that. You a gotta try that. I'mma try.
DJ Envy
Hi, this is Billy Gain Kush. How are you doing today? He's already out.
Belly Gang Cushington
He's good. He going back. I be getting pulled over now. Like they already know who I am in Atlanta.
Charlamagne Tha God
In Atlanta.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah.
DJ Envy
I wanted to meet with. I wanted to meet you and talk to you for a little bit before I said this, but Drew definitely was acting like you in his schedule.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yo, he claimed he went though.
DJ Envy
No, no, no, no. Now that I met you, I'm like, he definitely was acting like belly gang cushy. I wasn't familiar familiar with you when he did the sketch. So to me it was just that.
Belly Gang Cushington
Really, like, I ain't gonna lie there. Like when he did that though, like, that really skyrocketed me. For sure. Yeah, for sure.
Charlamagne Tha God
What was the first like, oh, this is skyrocketing. Was it a phone call for opportunity? Like, whoop, signal to skyrocketing oh, no.
Belly Gang Cushington
You think it was a Drew Ski?
Charlamagne Tha God
Like, no, no, I'm saying from Drew Ski. Like you said, he skyrocketed. You what came from.
Belly Gang Cushington
No, I'm talking about that skit.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah. So, like, did your numbers go up on social media? Did people.
Belly Gang Cushington
My followers just going crazy out of nowhere. Like, we was on the road. We was on the road. Like, why my follower going crazy then? Like, he seen the Drew. I'm like, oh, he def. I ain't even watched the whole skit, though. I ain't see the end where he went home to the white family. Like, hell no.
DJ Envy
That ain't me at all.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, but I know, like, he definitely seen. And at the time, I think that was Drew biggest skit he had. Like, yeah, that was close.
DJ Envy
And he from Atlanta, so he definitely.
Belly Gang Cushington
N. Drew was already. He was already following me and everything. Oh, he had already followed me and everything.
DJ Envy
Been studying you just to do a skit.
Belly Gang Cushington
So I had put the laughing face in, like, the comment kind of got a lot of likes. And. But then I. I posted a picture on, like, black as he get or something like that. He DM me like, bro, I just want to let you know a thousand percent one talking about you. I'm like, all right, cool.
Charlamagne Tha God
Them laughing emojis.
DJ Envy
Y' all need to do a part two where y' all meet each other.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, he brought me out at the could have been fist. Like, man folk went crazy. Then, like, when I went and sat down, like, he was making belly gang cush jokes the whole time. Like, yo, Drew Ski, like, that's a big brand for him to just not even know me and, like, just really pass all that motion to me like, y' all fuck Drew Ski.
Lola Rose
That's dope.
Charlamagne Tha God
What's the life change of all of this been like for you? Cause I saw a Billboard article that lists you as one of the top 10 songs played in the strip clubs in Atlanta. Like, over Young Thug, Jeezy, Young Nudie. Like, you know what I mean? Like, what's that life change? Been like, big superstar now.
Belly Gang Cushington
Oh, no. It kind of feel like. I don't know. It kind of feel like. I guess like my past life kind of feel like, shit, I don't know. Sometimes walking it in this lit ass spot, jumping these lit ass cars and just be like, man, this shit be gone tomorrow. Like, I just work hard every day, all day. Like, in my spot, I got. When you walk in, I got all my mug shots on the wall. Remind me, like, don't ever go back yeah, in my house. Oh, got you. Yeah. Yeah.
DJ Envy
What does the belly gang movement mean? Beyond music? Like, what's the philosophy of the belly gang move?
Belly Gang Cushington
Ain't, man. No gang or nothing. It just music. It's all music. I do not.
DJ Envy
Gang, gang.
Lola Rose
Gang, bang, bang.
Charlamagne Tha God
What's the, like, deeper meaning of the movement? Because you get very vulnerable in your music and you inspire people.
Belly Gang Cushington
Like, I mean, that name, just a name for real, like. Like, you know what I'm saying? But my personal movement, I think, just showing these kids, like, morals, values. Like, ain't got to kill nobody, you know what I'm saying? But get the money. Like, let's get the money. Let's have fun. You know what I'm saying? You ain't gotta sell no drugs either.
DJ Envy
Has success changed your circle or just.
Belly Gang Cushington
Exposed Changed it for sure. I seen some. I think I forgot who said it, but, like, they were like, I don't think money changed you or change the people around you. That's right. You know what crazy, like, my manager told me, I used to tell him, like, right, Ben had the motion. Like, Ben had the money. Like, nah, that fame gonna change this shit. Like, he was totally right. Like, that fame make them folk act crazy. Like, it crazy. Like, I'm overly humble. Like, that fame, it changed a lot of folk. It really changed everybody, for real, to be honest.
DJ Envy
In what way? What's a noticeable way?
Belly Gang Cushington
Just like the girl I had, you know what I'm saying? You know, asking for more money, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Not really caring about my day. It. And then, like, you know, it'll be like, I can't even have a conversation no more where, like, man, I'm tired of work. Or. It just like, anytime they talk to me, it's the soft story first, like. And they just like, God damn. Now I gotta go talk to somebody who ain't trying to do all that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
DJ Envy
Have you learned to say no?
Belly Gang Cushington
Hell, yeah, for sure. Learning not to say nothing at all back real talk. Cause you know what crazy, like, people literally not care that you got a child. They'll not care that you work every day, all day. Man, I been woke. I just went to sleep last night for the first time in two days. I'm finna be woke for two more days in, like, three, four different cities. Like, they don't care. Stop what you doing and fix my problems. Like, nah, that ain't gonna work. Damn.
DJ Envy
You do give back a lot, though. From what I. From what I've seen on your instagram.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, for sure, for sure. Yeah, Yeah. I give back a lot. For real, actually, but I think, like, that's needed when I do it. You know what I'm saying? I'm talking about, like, the personals, like, you know what I'm saying? Nah, we ain't doing that.
DJ Envy
Do you create music more off emotion or intention?
Belly Gang Cushington
I think both. Like, friend do. I kind of, like, sat back and wrote that for Sexy Red. I was like, ranked, thinking, like, I'm gonna get it Sexy Red. But, like, in my mind, I was just thinking, like, girls don't never just go to the club and twerk by theyself. She gonna stand by the bar drinking a drink, but if she with her friend, they gonna twerk together. Like I said, like, your friend do something like that. I guess that was more so our emotion. I had just noticed that before I did the song. Okay.
Lola Rose
Yo, what's going on? Yo, what's going on?
Belly Gang Cushington
Oh, that's the merch right there. Oh.
Charlamagne Tha God
That'S the 100 tease. You just sold out of those, right? Yo, Charlemagne was like. But he was very.
DJ Envy
They pulled it out so slow. I'm like, what the going on? Open it up and make sure.
Belly Gang Cushington
You can't open them, though. They gonna be worth. You know what I'm saying?
Charlamagne Tha God
You gonna give us one? Okay.
Lola Rose
Oh, thank you. Thanks for my break, man.
Belly Gang Cushington
But you.
Charlamagne Tha God
So you sold out of those teas, right?
Belly Gang Cushington
Sold out. Like, first week when we first dropped, read up again. Sold out again. Sold out again. Now. It just became, like, I guess like a novelty idol because the idea went so crazy. But, yeah, I love it.
DJ Envy
Who idea was it?
Lola Rose
It was yours.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, that was mine. I got a team. We come up with idea, but this all me.
Lola Rose
Yeah, I like that.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah.
DJ Envy
Are you more focused now on building a brand or, like, perfecting the art of music, or do you see them as inseparable?
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, they inseparable. You gotta do both. You know what I'm saying right now? Focus on music all the way. I think the brand building last year was pretty good. I mean, but this year, like, focus on the music all the way. I keep coming with them hits. Absolutely.
DJ Envy
Has it been hard to be consistent?
Belly Gang Cushington
It been hard, like, find time to record, yo, but I'm always in my phone, like, writing down ideas like that.
DJ Envy
So what's. What's been harder? Getting in the door or staying consistent now that you. You in the door?
Belly Gang Cushington
Getting in the door. Okay. Yeah. I work 24 7. I don't take off. I don't do. If you see Me in the strip club. That's cause I got booked. I don't take off, like, at all.
Charlamagne Tha God
So when you are off, you stay in the studio with your son, I'm assuming.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, I'm with my son. Studio. Got to find time for the vibes, you know what I'm saying? But usually I just bring him to work with me. Got you.
Lola Rose
Does he like the music, my son?
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah. Do he vibe? I don't know. He don't talk.
Lola Rose
No, I know. But you know something like, damn vibe.
Belly Gang Cushington
My cousin who I called my mom, she sent me a video the other day. She claimed he was humming Friend dude when it came on the radio. That was she claimed.
Charlamagne Tha God
But you never know.
Belly Gang Cushington
He don't really express himself, like, at all. You know what I'm saying?
Lola Rose
But they feel waves too. Like they feel the vibe. So I was just wondering if he bob his head to the music or.
Belly Gang Cushington
I wrote the whole album, though, like, with him in the car. Just me and him in the car.
Lola Rose
Yeah.
DJ Envy
Do you miss the girl that you broke up with?
Belly Gang Cushington
I guess, yeah. I miss all. I miss. I miss all my girls.
DJ Envy
I miss all my girls.
Belly Gang Cushington
Let me sign my vibe.
DJ Envy
Word. Could you ever see yourself with a white vibe?
Belly Gang Cushington
I like all girls, all colors.
Charlamagne Tha God
Good answer.
Belly Gang Cushington
I like all girls, all colors.
Charlamagne Tha God
He know them numbers are high.
DJ Envy
He know them numbers.
Charlamagne Tha God
That chart doesn't.
He said 54% of women, 45% of me. I love all the worlds Asian.
Lola Rose
So like a Megan, a Katie, Hispanic. You know, like one of those that would get you, like. Oh, yeah, like a go Daria.
Belly Gang Cushington
I like Kim Kardashian, Mama. Oh. Take on a date.
Lola Rose
Okay. Had to get past Corey.
DJ Envy
Why not? I can't wait to talk to you in the future. Because, you know the funny thing about talking to guys when they, like, kind of like fresh out the street, it feels like you interrogating them a little bit when they answer. Like, they getting interrogated. Like, you know, we see that with Jeezy.
Belly Gang Cushington
Y' all question.
DJ Envy
But in a very you got to talk to my lawyer kind of way.
Charlamagne Tha God
When you ask him about the movement. Oh, my God. He was like, no, no, this ain't.
DJ Envy
No gang at all.
Lola Rose
And then they pull out bricks.
Charlamagne Tha God
Charlamagne got scared. You seen that, baby? Never.
DJ Envy
I've seen some wild. You can't do that in here. No. Think he doing it. I've been around long enough. I think new artists fresh out the street do some wild shit, do crazy stuff. I don't know.
Charlamagne Tha God
Just careless.
DJ Envy
I don't. It's not him. It's the people that was with him in the back.
Charlamagne Tha God
Not Monday.
Belly Gang Cushington
Monday.
Charlamagne Tha God
Told him to not be careless.
DJ Envy
I don't know. I just saw what I saw. Them pulling out the bag.
Belly Gang Cushington
He got scared.
Lola Rose
So this is my last question. What's next for Belly Gang? Cushionson, you spoke about wanting to do big music beyond trap music, like with Adele.
Belly Gang Cushington
And so, yo. Now working on second album. I think the second album, the most important album in somebody career. I'm saying that first one, you can get lucky, but that second one, like, show you if you're gonna be here forever, that pressure gotta come with depression. For sure.
Lola Rose
Yeah.
Belly Gang Cushington
I'm just working on the music right now. You know what I'm saying? I'm turning down shows and all that right now. Focus. Yeah.
DJ Envy
For somebody listening to this right now, like, what's one song and your catalog that you think best represents who Belly Gang Cushington really is?
Belly Gang Cushington
Introduction to everything. It show how the fans perceive me. It show how I perceive them. It show how I perceive my past life and the new life.
Charlamagne Tha God
Let's get into a joint off the album. Not friendu. Cause we play that already. What else would you want to hear of the album?
Belly Gang Cushington
Birds like Popeye. For sure. They were going way. You can't even pull up to no red light in Atlanta without hearing it right now.
Charlamagne Tha God
That's a tribute to the young with the scooter, right?
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, it's on his beat.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah.
Belly Gang Cushington
Okay, well, let's get into that.
DJ Envy
Megan a reach out yet for that? Megan the Style? You know, she just opened up the Popeye franchises.
Belly Gang Cushington
For real? Yeah.
Charlamagne Tha God
She got one in Miami.
Belly Gang Cushington
I could.
DJ Envy
No, I could actually do that.
Charlamagne Tha God
Definitely.
Belly Gang Cushington
For sure. Yeah, absolutely. We gave out. We gave out. How many turkeys we gave out from Popeye? 150 Turkey from Popeye. Popeye turkeys and all that.
DJ Envy
That Popey turkey slap. It look a little crazy. It look a little crazy, but it.
Belly Gang Cushington
I ain't even. They're crazy.
DJ Envy
What?
Belly Gang Cushington
Damn. Yeah.
DJ Envy
That Popeye turkey is pretty. All right.
Charlamagne Tha God
Seasoning.
DJ Envy
Yes.
Charlamagne Tha God
He's on point.
DJ Envy
Yeah, right.
Belly Gang Cushington
That's what's up.
Charlamagne Tha God
Well, Belly Gang cushion, we appreciate you for joining us. Don't be a stranger. Make sure you come back up here.
Belly Gang Cushington
Yeah, for sure.
Lola Rose
Yes.
Belly Gang Cushington
I don't walk past the room, like, 10 times. Like, I can't wait. I get in, bro.
Charlamagne Tha God
But there you have it. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning.
DJ Envy
Every day I wake up, wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club.
Belly Gang Cushington
Y' all finish or y' all done?
DJ Envy
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Charlamagne Tha God
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
Date: January 20, 2026
Podcast: The Breakfast Club
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God, Lola Rose
Guest: Belly Gang Cushington
In this candid and energetic interview, Atlanta rapper Belly Gang Cushington opens up to The Breakfast Club about his journey from the streets to rap success, the realities of his mixed-race identity, fatherhood—especially parenting an autistic son—industry lessons, and the value of authenticity in music and life. The conversation is full of humor, wisdom, and memorable personal moments, with plenty of genuine exchanges.
On leaving street life:
“That was the hardest thing I ever had to do, like leave the street.” (02:50)
“You wake up. No, I'm missing a twenty thousand dollar play right now. That's going through your head...” (03:16)
On authenticity:
“I just get the money and keep moving. For real.” (09:21)
“Being authentic me.” (09:04)
On being mixed and public reaction:
“Like, I only were raised by my black side, so...it was definitely weird with the white kids... but the black folk just were like in my area. Like, they knew, you know what I'm saying?” (06:39)
On motivation from fatherhood:
“My son ended up being my biggest blessing because...finding out he was autistic ended up being your biggest motivation.” (DJ Envy, 12:59)
On art versus business:
“I just knew, like, drop a song, it didn't blow up, all right, you know what I'm saying?” (04:36)
On fame and circles:
“That fame make them folk act crazy. It really changed everybody, for real.” (31:53)
On second chances and new music:
“I think the second album, the most important album in somebody career...that pressure gotta come with depression. For sure.” (39:13)
This interview with Belly Gang Cushington is a heartfelt, energetic, and wide-ranging conversation. It highlights his commitment to authenticity, growth through vulnerability, and the importance of staying rooted in family and values as he navigates fame. The episode delivers both levity and substance—making it a strong, inspiring listen for anyone interested in the real-life stories behind today’s rising hip-hop voices.