← The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club
INTERVIEW: Mario Talks Growth, Going Song For Song With Ray J, Interracial Relationship, New Album + More
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This is an Iheart podcast. Black Friday's here and the Home Depot's got the best prices of the year. You can get up to 40% off select Smart devices like the Ring Floodlight camera, which is perfect for keeping your home safe during the holidays. Don't sleep. Upgrade your home into the smartest holiday home this season. Whether you're hosting family or throwing an annual holiday party, the Home Depot has savings on top brands and exclusive deals all in one place. It's your one stop shop for an entirely connecting home. So start shopping now@homedepot.com 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 and 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. A decade ago, I was on the trail of one of the country's most elusive serial killers. But it wasn't until 2023 when he was finally caught. The answers were there, hidden in plain sight. So why did it take so long to catch him? Josh I'm Josh Zieman and this is Monster Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer, the investigation into the most notorious killer in New York since the Son of Sam. Available now listen for free on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. I knew it was a bomb the second that it exploded. I felt it rip through me. In season two of Rip Current, we ask who tried to kill Judy Berry and why? They were climbing trees and they were sabotaging logging equipment in the wood. She received death threats before the bombing. She received more threats after the bombing. I think that this is a deliberate attempt to sabotage our movement. Episodes of Rip Current Season 2 are available now. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Short on time, but big on true crime. On a recent episode of the podcast Hunting for Answers, I highlighted the story of 19 year old Lashay Dungy. But she never knocked on that door. She never made it inside. And that text message would be the last time anyone would ever hear from her. Listen to Hunting for answers from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hold up. Every day, I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club. Y' all finish or y' all done? Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlamagne, the guy. We are the breakfast club. Lauren LaRose is here as well. We got a special guest in the building. Yes, indeed. Mario. Yes, sir. What's up? What's up? What's happening? How you feeling, man? How you doing? You already know. Yeah, yeah, I'm good, bro. I'm good. Feeling good. Back on the road, Back on tour. Yeah, on tour right now. Mood swings, you know what I'm saying? The new EP out on tour, it's been amazing. I want to tell you. I want to start right now. You shook that man's hand. That man fronted on you the other day. Oh, he did. Fronted on you the other day. What did I say? What did he say? What'd he say, Jess? That Ray J can beat him in a verse. Yes, you did. That's what I did. You said, ray J can beat me in a verse. I mean, you know, he had to. You know, he had to be on the other side. I ain't talking about singing. I'm not talking about, like, this is a. I'm not talking about singing vocally. Yes. Music. Yeah, I think. You think What? Nigga lost his mind? You ain't let him on that stage the other night. Cause you knew what was gonna happen at the Wally. Yeah, Ray J. You said, I didn't let him on stage. Ray wanted to do the versus right there. You could ask Ray J what happened backstage. I was like, yo, let's do it. Let's make it happen. He was like, nigga, shrink me. Just. Just. I don't care what you do. Just. I. Let's just make it happen. I'm like, I didn't even know he was going to be there. I said, I bet. I got you. They didn't let him on stage. It wasn't me. That's not Ray J's story. Ray J's story was I wanted to do the verses right then and there. So Mario was like, nah. Out of all people, you trust Ray J's story? Damn. Crazy. Crazy. You told him you trust Ray J's story? Out of all people, why would you say, I don't know? I don't. I didn't know what was happening back there. Like, it was a plan, and then it did happen. So, you know well, you know, we gonna run into each other again. Sleep on you, though. I know. Yo, why they keep sleeping on you? Tell them why they keep sleeping on me. I don't know. Vocally, I. Hold on. You said, hold on. We gotta go back. Yes, he did. Hold on, bro. He said, what is. He said what? He says, ray J. Oh, that's crazy. Ray J got three in a possible. I don't think you can with. He got crazy five, about 10, six. Yeah, that's. That's kind of crazy, bro. This is the same thing with one, though. He said one song for one song, and he said new music, cuz he can only do one song. Damn, that really, like, really, like, people be like, all right, that was a strong. Because versus you got. It's like, it got to be strong. You got to have some strong. It's not, you know, that's. It's not a joke if you're going with the right. If you're going up against the right person, you got to have strong, right? Because people. People. You don't know how they going to be feeling that day. They might love the song one day. One day it might be like, that's better. People aren't consistent. But he could do one wish three times. Because technically he won't do it three times. He definitely could, but he only got one wish. And then. But. But he could do it 3. Then you got sexy. Can I. No, for sure he got some. He got. Wait a minute, bro. He got a couple records, bro. Sure, bro. And then what? But like, yeah, they not timeless classic records that make you feel some. Like, it's just a different. Y' all just stop taking me out of these conversations, bro. Honestly, that's. Y' all gotta stop taking me out of these conversations. You know what I'm saying? I get passionate about it and I love all my peers, bro. Like, you know what I'm saying? The Internet is the Internet, like, whatever. But like, y' all gotta put me in different conversations. But I get that, you know, during my hiatus, like, I've had to prove, like, remind people that, yo, like, I really. God, put me in this. Because the gift is really there. My persistence and my ability to continue to push and continue to put out music is still there. My passion's still there. I'm still hungry, you know, I take it serious, you know? But I think some people are like, Internet, have fun on the Internet. And then some people really take it serious. I'm one of those that take it serious. I think people forget because of your Hiatus, right? And the reason I say that. Cause I forgot. And we went on tour. We went on, like, an R and B tour. And I DJ for Mario during that tour. Facts. And when you understand when we're playing six songs and those. That 15,000 arena is singing them six songs only because we only got 15 minutes, we would play more music. But, yeah, go ahead, continue. But the six songs, you understand is like, oh, I get it now. That's why when you said it the other day, I'm like, nah. When we did our makeup the other day when Envy was playing, I'm like, oh, yeah, I forgot that one. Oh, yeah, I did forget that one. Yeah, yeah. Night happens. I think it's natural, you know, I saw your interview with Mike Epps the other day. I was like, yo, it was a great interview because he. He made some good points about people forget. You know, you gotta remind people. And I think that it's just the way of the Internet as well as just like this. This new world of, like, everybody's receiving stuff so fast, and it's like, if you don't put music out for six months, nigga, you. Where you been at? You know what I'm saying? But for us as artists, a six months, that's a small campaign it might take. Especially in R and B, it might take six months for people to even know you got a joint that's less. That's heating up, you know? But that's just a part of the process. You've been in the game since you were a teenager. What's something the grown version of you had to unlearn from the young version of you? A lot of things, bro. But I would start with, you know, not falling in love with my creation. Meaning, you know, when you. When you create music and you put it out to the world, you gotta let it go. You know, you gotta let the people that connect with the music and connect with what you're doing connect with it. And you gotta keep creating. Like, keep creating. Don't pigeonhole yourself to, oh, you gotta make another hit like, let me love you, you gotta make it. It's really just about evolving, bro. Cause there's so many other things that happen in life as to why the music sound the way it does now, Right? Mood swings is a completely different vibe from glad you Came, which I released just a year ago. Completely different energy work with completely different people that my. My creativity is in a different place. So really just being free in the creative process, because we're in a world now where it's about exploring. I was talking to an exec yesterday, and we were talking about, you know, how different the game is even for labels. Like, labels now have to play a different game. If they're not in the game of having a movie, syncs their song, sing the movies, their songs, you know, as many places as possible that they. They not gonna have the lion's share sometimes, you know, so it's like you have to tech even, like, you know, investing in different things. Even though Dr. Dre and them, they already did that, right? They was like, yo, we gonna show y' all how to get this music money, but we gonna show y' all how to also have some headphones and some speakers and do it. So it's just about being as versatile mentally as possible so that all these other opportunities can attract you. That's where I'm at now. Who are you, like, picking up the phone and calling when you're going through the process of, like, I gotta re. Remind people, or I'm trying to make this sound different than that and not chase that record. But ego wise, like, there has to be a part of Mario that's like, this has to be big because I'm Mario. Like, who coaches you through those battles? Coaches me or just somebody? Honestly, God, I'm gonna be honest with you because, you know, I think a lot of people that surround me every day, they just believe in me. You know, they tell me real shit, but they believe in me. And it's like they understand how strong I am mentally. But there's no person that I call to ask advice about those types of things because I think that my journey is my journey, and I just have to trust God, and I gotta trust the people that I entrust creatively, right? So when I went in the studio to start Mood Swings, me and my boy Draymond, who I met through one of my managers, AK with 365, we've been knowing each other for years. Like, he did a bunch of future records, but he never hopped into his R and B back, but he's always wanted to. I said, yo, let's, like, I want to hop into this darker, moodier part of me as an RB artist that's, like, moody and still musical and R and B, but just, like, more authentic. And so he was like, yo, let's get in the studio. Let's go. And it was like working with a friend and somebody that you go over their house, they come over your house. You know their kids, you know their family. But y' all both really young. Goats. It's different than working with somebody that's like, I'm a fan of your music. I've always want to work with you, but I don't know where you live. I don't know, you know, what you into. It's a different thing. The foundation is there. So that to me, and I trust the team that I work with, and we just make the music that we love. We go in the studio. We might go in the studio and play verses with ourselves. Like, yo, you play your. Your favorite five records ever, and I'm gonna play mine against yours. And that inspires to get the studio session started. But you won't do that with Ray J, though. I'm trying to. Rayday don't want no smoke with me on any level. He know that's why he gotta always. He. You know, he's a major troller, though. It's like, how do you. How do you. How do you execute a major troller? Even if you execute him, he gonna come back from the dead. When did you realize that and not take it personal? Huh? When did you realize that and not take it personal? Real nigga shit. Because it's different from, like. And I had other people that, like, hit me. Really got on some. Really. Some sissy shit. But, like, Ray J, we talk. You feel me? So it's like, he could say some wild shit, and I might say some wild shit the next day, but it's like, he's a major troller, so he gonna go deep into quicksand, whereas I got other shit going. I'm on tour right now. You know what I'm saying? I ain't gonna go that deep in the quicksand. But, yeah, it's whatever. Omarion was mad, too. He was pissed off. They didn't seem trouble. He seemed like he was hurt, you know? It's crazy. Can I be honest? Yes. The honesty is this. No, no, no. For sure. The honesty is that all we were doing is having conversations about things y' all have, but nobody don't really talk about it all the way. We was just having a conversation. It's the same shit everybody do. People in the comments actually went crazy on everybody I spoke about or answered the question about than I did. Like, you giving niggas too much grace. And it's like, damn, is it that serious? Why is it that serious? Cause you an artist. Yeah. That can actually sing, and you're talented, and I'm sure they look. They like, damn. I think Mario dope as shit, but he don't feel the same way as Poppy. That's crazy. I feel like everybody got strengths and weaknesses. And, like, if somebody. If somebody can dance, they ass off. And they ask somebody a question like, yo, who the who? Out of these people? I'm gonna ask who can dance or who can't. Let's just say O is on there. He was like, yo, can Mario dance? And he was like, ah, hit or miss. I would laugh. I would laugh. I would be like, damn, he right. I'm singing, though. Cause that's the craft. But dancing, they know him for dancing, right? They know that's his craft. I get what he's saying. Right? I get it. So that's, you know, it's just take too serious, bro. So y' all haven't spoken since he said he's not going to do no more songs with you or any collabs with you? I seen him at the Ebony event, and we were sitting at the same table. Yeah, that's what. I was literally right next to y'. All. Well, I don't know when he did. When what? When it was recorded and all that. So the time. So. Okay. Ebony power 100. No, after that. I didn't see him after that EBONY thing. I didn't see him. Yeah, okay. Cuz. I'm like, he ain't say nothing to me about it. That's right. Yeah, y' all never. If I really feel some type of. Listen, everything I love. If I really feel some type of way about something somebody said, I'm gonna pull him to the side something. I might not say it in front of everybody. I'm gonna figure out a way to get it off my chest. I didn't know. I had no idea he felt some type of way about that. You know what I'm saying? I've had days where I've been hit or miss, nigga. On stage. I don't always hit every note the same every night. Like, n. Let's be real. We just gotta be real, have fun, and not take it too serious, bro. Listen, we young, black. We got opportunity. We still here, bro. 24 years later, like, we still here. It's a blessing, bro. What do you feel like, Mark? Mood swings, Right? So you up and down on that? Is this, like, mood swings? Love, Angry. It's a mixture of, like, love, you know, it's really a conversation. It's a conversation for you. When I started Mood Swings, it was just about 90s R&B vibes. And when I think of the word mood swings, I think of 90s R&B I think about 2000s R&B, and I'm like, yo, how do we take that feeling and, like, update it? And this was, like, the approach. And then I would have, like, a couple different. Draymond executive produced it worked with a lot of great producers on here. But, yeah, the conversations are different. And also the textures of what I singing is different. Like, I got a song called Fortune Cookie in there that I've never spoken like this before, but the actual texture of the way I'm using my voice. Song called Moan. Same way I'm giving you different moves of who I am as an R and B artist. How I think about intimacy, how I think about love, and just, you know, just talking my shit honestly. Yeah, check it out. Inspired. Fortune Cookie. Damn it, man. Yo. With Asian woman. That is crazy. It wasn't an Asian woman. It's just. It's just women in general. I think women are like fortune cookies, bro. Like, you know, it's like, you never know what you gonna get if you really dive in and really get to know a woman on those more intimate levels, you know? And it's something that I've always prided myself on when getting to know somebody. I'm in a relationship now, and I'm still learning my girl. I'm still learning, like, how to unlock certain parts of her and, you know, how to make her feel safe in moments where I'm not around. And, like, there's so many elements to having a relationship with a woman, whether you just a friend or whether you in something deep like I am, it's just. You never know what you gonna get. You gotta crack open a Fortune cookie. Obviously, the record goes a little deeper into some, like, more intimate shit. But, like, yeah, how does your girlfriend deal with all of the. Like, being Mario's girlfriend, Everything's public. Like, when you posted her, there's, like, such a big response because they're like, she's not a black woman. Like, how does she deal with seeing stuff like that? I think that she. She's a very, like, analytical person. Like me. Like, she dives into things to understand the psychology behind it. And, like. Like, what does it really mean? She understood to a certain degree, but she's also human, you know? So we've had conversations. She's like, I clapped back at people before. She clapped back at a couple of people. I'm like, yo, just don't even. Don't let it. You know? And then once that first initial one happens, she was like, oh, okay, I get it now. And I told her you know, it's one of those things where people. Until they understand that you got something real, people hate you before they love you. You know what I'm saying? Sometimes. And that they don't even have to know you, right? But then there's a lot of support I don't want. And I think sometimes the Internet, like, the dark and the ugly shit get more highlighted than the love, right? Even with me sometimes I see all these love you. Nah, I love what you doing. We know you love black women. We know you don't got nothing. And then that one or two comments, that's like, dark. You like, ugh, nigga. You know what I'm saying? And that's just human nature, right? So we just working through it together. It's my first, like, real public relationship in this way. Whereas, though, like, the picture, we were going on vacation for my birthday, and we had took some pictures and she posted a picture of her pregnant on her page before I did. But her page was probably like, babe. Nobody's gonna say, I'm like, babe, go ahead, right? Next thing you know is, you know. So I was trying to tell her, like, you know, but I was. I'm not ashamed of it. So I was like, yo, go ahead, do your thing. And so it was beautiful. Like, I'm really proud that I'm able to say, out of all the men in my family, especially on my mom's side, like, that I can give my son something that I didn't have. You know, when he touches. When he incarnates on this planet, he's gonna have a different life than I had. And I'm proud of that, you know, and the growing pains of being an artist who's now more open with his life. I should have did this seven years ago, 10 years ago, but now I'm being more open. So this is the part. This is the part of it. You gotta go through it. I'm ready. Come on, jump me in. Congratulations. Put me in. Congratulations to you. Hold on real quick. Yo, I wanna give you your flowers. I'm so proud of you, Jess. I'm so proud of you. You know, where we come from, you know, you're raising a young king. You got another baby that you just had. You're married now, right? Yes, I am. You get married now, like, you doing your thing. And I'm proud of you. You know what I'm saying? I love you and I'm proud of you. I love you too. You know what I'm saying? Just wanted to say that. Yeah, for sure. Where do you feel Mario the man has grown the most compared to Mario the artist? That's a great question. Thank you. I think that I've been able to shadow work myself on a more honest and authentic level than I have before because. Not just because I'm about to be a father, but because I see the world around me changing in ways that I'm like when things get out of control. If you can't always control how your environment is going to. What is going to happen in the environments around you, because when you're an artist, things happen around you. You have to be exposed. If you want to have success, you got to be out here, right? And so it's really important for me to have control of myself on. On. On a deeper level, in control of my emotions and control of my. How I view the world, how I view people, how I view my relationships with people. Getting better at relationship building because I wasn't good. Good at that as a young kid and as a young adult. And so just really doing that shadow work, bro, and also becoming a better friend to people that I consider important in my life instead of being, like, closed off or being like, okay, I can't trust nobody. Like, I'm not opening up to no, like, having a little bit more grace and understanding that, bro. With greatness comes the opportunity for leadership. And with the opportunity for leadership, you're able to actually see the world from a different space when you take on that role of being vulnerable and being a leader, which means coming up with solutions, right? And it could be anything. It could be in work, it could be in your personal life, it could be for your family. It could be for free. And I think that that's something that God blessed me with experiences to get through so that I can help people come up with solutions, you know? And it could be small things, bro. Somebody could call me one day and be like, yo, I'm going through this. You know what I'm saying? I just made my first, you know, $20,000, bro. My first 100. Like, how should I. It's like those small things. I fucked up money before. I know how to. I could give you advice on that. If I can't give you advice on something, I know somebody who can. Just being more open and vulnerable about life, man, and knowing that everybody's not out to hurt you, you know? And that comes from growth and doing shadow work. When you first did your shadow work, did your shadow self scare you? It scared me when I felt like people weren't respecting the work That I was doing myself. And that triggered me. It was like, what the fuck is the purpose of doing it if nobody cares and they still gonna judge you? They still. And I realized like, yo, bro, it doesn't matter if people don't see the work that you're doing. You can't change their perspective. You can't change how people see things, because they can only understand things on the level that they're experiencing. Right? I was reading this book called. The author's name is called Power versus Force. Know if you read that, but it's really good. And it basically talks about life by way of calibration. Like, it's from zero to 600, right? So you can have a conversation with your homie about running down on somebody that might be calibrated at like a 10 or 20, but then you can have a conversation about growth and health and building, community building that's calibrated at like a 450, 500. And it just talks about how these things affect your body, how it affects your mind. And I got it from this chiropractor, but he doesn't do regular chiropractor work. He does, like, spiritual chiropractic work. Whereas, though he finds where your traumas are, you know, where you're lying to yourself, where you're not being honest. When the first time I work with him, he brought me, he does it, like, in his backyard. He lives in la. And then he was like. He said, hold both your arms out. He's like, I'm ask you a question. And you could choose to tell me the truth or tell me a lie. The one where I lied on him, my arm got weak. Like, it literally, I'm not. Ain't bushing. It was like, if it was like. And I knew I was lying. And then the one where I told the truth, it was like my arm was steady, it was strong. And I was like, damn, that's crazy. You don't think that, like, your body and your mind and how everything worked. Like, the truth, even if it's ugly, is more powerful than a lie. And I mean, you could take that in so many different ways. But I would like to think that I want to live in a. In a space where I can live as much truth as possible. And the lies aren't as. That I tell myself, absolutely. You know what I'm saying? So I don't know. All of that stuff is just a part of my journey now. You talked about the hiatus. You want to try it? Try it. Here you go. You know him Better than I do. Try it. You talk about the hiatus, right? For most that don't know during that time, which was a long time, what was Mario doing during that time? Yeah, man, You know, I was exploring. I was exploring so many things in life, like just really trying to understand what it was all. What the purpose was, you know, what's the purpose of relationships? What's the purpose of family? What's the purpose of me being an artist? What's the purpose of it all? Why am I here? You know, what is religion? What is all these things? You know, what is fear? What is trauma? What is, you know, why do people choose addiction over going to get help and really fighting through it? Because it's such a strong, like, it's such a strong intention. Like when people are addicted to something, like they will go through anything to get that fix, you know, how do you transmute that into something towards something you want to build for yourself in life, how you transmute that to your family, your love, all that. So really just started studying and understanding like human behavior, right? I started there and like, you know, wanting to understand, you know, what was hell, what is heaven, you know, what is all of this? Because I got thrown in at such a young age that I wasn't able to process the death of my grandmother. I wasn't able to process being adopted. I wasn't able to process, now you're an artist, now you moving around, now you in this world. I wasn't able to process that and enjoy the process. Like maybe a lot of other younger artists, I don't know their process, but sometimes they looked happier, right? So I think that at that time of like, after Let Me Love youe, after going on tour with Destiny's Child, after all these things, it was like, bro, I moved back home. And then I went through another dark moment and I was like, yo, I gotta get out of here left. That's when my process of like getting through everything started, like processing it, putting it all on the table, being confused, being hurt, being in the dark, not having nobody around me. And it just brought me closer to myself and brought me closer to God. And that's when I started to realize that life and cycles and time and space and all of it is. It's all happening all at once, right? And you know, you really just gotta like pull everything, pour all the fragments back in and then balance it out. Release, which like releasing, truly releasing it. For me, it was a 26 day fast where I released so much, you know, I cried on nights I had Cold sweats on nights. I was seeing things, hearing things. I was really, like, traveling through these different portals of everything that I've been hiding from. And that's what kind of brought me back. And then after that, so I had met this doctor named Dhuti and Cali, handmade these organ cleansing tablets, and I was taking those, and I was doing. During this time, it was a popular fast, but most people were doing it for, like, three to five days. I did it for 26 days. Cayenne, you know, honey, lemon. What else was in there? Ginger. Ginger. And, yeah, it was a lot back, but I took it further. I was like, yo, once I got to, like, my second. My first week, I was like, nah, this is. I feel too. The first week, after the first five days, those. The next few days, you feel great. Then you feel like shit for, like, three days. Then you feel empty. Now your. Your skin is tingling and you hearing, like, things at the highest capacity. And you're the light. You could see things clear. Like, it's just everything. I wasn't asleep. I was only asleep for, like, three hours, four hours. Couldn't sleep longer. I had so much energy. And so then I was like, okay, who's the person? Like, what. How does food affect you? Then I started studying what I was feeling. I was like, how does food affect your mind? How does food affect your energy? How does it affect your sleep? And I was realizing, like, damn, we overeat in this country. It's a fact. And, like, I'm like, yo, we really. We eat emotionally. We eat when we feel, you know, out of a breakup. We eat when we horny, and we don't get no. We eat like, you know, so consumption, right? And so then I started really diving into, like, why physical, mental, and spiritual consumption all leads to your decisions. All leads to what you're attracting in your life, how you attract things, and it affects everything in your life. So I went down that road for years of just, like, being. Becoming a mystic and studying different things and not being afraid to be judged by people. During that time, if you were practicing and working with crystals, I was doing this in 2011, 12, when it wasn't cool, you know, And I just wasn't talking about it. I didn't share it, because my journey was different. And, yeah, so I did that for years, bro. And then I decided, I'm like, okay, I'm ready to start making music again. Like, I think I'm ready to start. And the first record I released out of that, I think was somebody else with Nicki, that is my shit. Yeah, it was like that one and fatal distraction. Fatal, yeah. Fatal distraction, Yep. That makes so much sense because the shadow work gives you greater self awareness because it helps you understand a lot of your blind spots that you might not even have been aware of, man. It's a real thing. It's so true, bro. And it's like you gotta. It's almost like you gotta forgive yourself because you. Sometimes we can do the work, but then we still haven't really forgiven ourselves. We still haven't really been like, yo, tell your younger self I love you. You know, forgive yourself for the people that may have hurt you. I'm still working through it, bro. They don't stop, bro. The truth is, it never stops because we live in a space where we're constantly reminded of our past. You know what I'm saying? That's the first thing that came to mind when I heard you talk about all this work you were doing. Because I watched you on Cam's podcast, Funky Friday, and hearing you talk about a lot of things I didn't know, like your mom and your adoption. And I'm like, you never had the time to kind of make amends with all that stuff because you were famous at 14. Yes. So what was Mario saying to, or I guess 12, 11 year old Mario during a time where you got away from everybody? Like, how are you dealing with your younger self? I didn't know how to speak to my younger self then, so I wasn't really speaking to my younger self at the time. I was more so processing what I was trying to understand and, like, doing the work of at least getting to a point where I could actually look at it and see it from a different perspective in terms of, like, the science of it and the actual work of it. Like, why do I make these decisions? Why do people make this decision? Where am I lacking at for me not to be able to be happy today? What is this thing I'm holding onto? Right? So I had to work through that first. I think that talking to my younger self is going to happen more even when my son is here. Right. Being able to understand, give him the thing. I think he's gonna help my healing. I'm not putting it on him to help me, but I think being a dad will also help me work through my issues with my younger self. If that makes sense. That makes all the sense in the world, man. It's like, man, God is so amazing because you've done the work, you're doing the work, but God didn't even allow you to have your first child until you was a much more healed, clear version of yourself, man, that's crazy, bro. It's. I consciously, obviously, just like I didn't want a child yet, and I'm. And I did certain things to make sure I didn't have a child yet. But what you're saying is so true. And, you know, it's. One day the story can. The plot thickens there. But, like, that's one of the things me and my girl talk about all the time. Like, yo, like, I knew I loved her and I knew I felt safe for her. I knew we knew each other for a long time. We knew a lot of things about each other, but it was all God when it came to her actually conceiving. Like, it was all God, bro. And it's like I feel this energy already. Like, we both pray, pray about it a lot. It's. It's amazing, bro. It's amazing. I'm excited about it. You know, how has healing shaped the man you are now? Gave me more confidence. It gave me more confidence. Being an artist that, you know, took time away and making a resurgence during this digital crusade, you know, gave me so much confidence in who I am as a person. I don't think that there's anything that could happen in these phones or online that could change or make me want to be anything other than myself and have my foundation be strong for the things that really matter. And I think that that is why God put me through all of these different obstacles, is there's so. There's a bigger call on my life that I'm tapping into that's so multidimensional in terms of, like, even the things that I'm into now and the things that I'm attracting and the people, for example, you know, investing in Redemption bank, who is. What a matchup we got, y'. All. This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance echo drum beat. Everybody showing that school pride. Game like this, yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. Yeah, that tastes always hits the right note. Just like the band at halftime. And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere. And in ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo no matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going. A decade ago, I was on the trail of one of the country's most elusive serial killers. But it wasn't until 2023 when he was finally caught. The answers were there, hidden in plain sight. So why did it take so long to catch him? I'm Josh Zieman, and this is Monster Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer, the investigation into the most notorious killer in New York since the Son of Sam. Available now listen for free on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. May 24, 1990, a pipe bomb explodes in the front seat of environmental activist Judy Berry's. I knew it was a bomb the second that it exploded. I felt it rip through me with just a force more powerful and terrible than anything that I could describe. In season two of Rip Current, we ask who tried to kill Judy Berry and why she received death threats before the bombing. She received more threats after the bombing. The men and women who were hurt had planned to lead a summer of militant protest against logging practices in Northern California. California. They were climbing trees and they were sabotaging logging equipment in the woods. The timber industry, I mean, it was the number one industry in the area. But more that it was the culture, it was the way of life. I think that this is a deliberate attempt to sabotage our movement. Episodes of rip current season two are available now listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there. I'm Kyle McLaughlin. You might know me as that guy from Twin Peaks, Sex and the City, or just the Internet's dad. I have a new podcast called what Are We Even Doing? Where I embark on a noble quest to understand the brilliant chaos of youth culture. Daddy's looking good. Each week I invite someone fascinating to join me. Actors, musicians, creatives, highly evolved digital life forms. And we talk about what they love. Sometimes I'll drizzle honey in there too if I'm feeling sexy in the morning. What keeps them going? And you're maybe my biggest competition on social media. Like when a kid says bra to me and how they're navigating this high speed roller coaster we call reality. In Australia, you're looking out for snakes, spiders and boys, right? Hey, he's no Trey McDougal. Chill. This is like the comments section of my Instagram. Join me and my delightful guests every Thursday and let's get weird together in a good way. Listen to what are we even doing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. With savings over $390 this shopping season, VRVO helps you swap gift wrap time for quality time with those you love most. From snow on the roof to sand between your toes. We have all the vacation rental options covered. Go to VRBO now and book a last minute week long stay. Save over $390 this holiday season and book your next vacation rental home on VRBO. Average savings $396. Select homes only, which was founded by Bernice King and Ashley Bell. And they're great people who have a great vision for our community, but just, you know, financial literacy in general. I've been learning so much and just really wanting to be a part of changing the narrative for us. You know, as, you know, there's so much work to be done. You know, you've been in a room with a lot of people who understand what needs to be done and so just wanting to be a part of something bigger. So God's been preparing me for that. Right. So that's what I was saying when we had these conversations about music. I'm like, yo, it's so funny because I'm like, my day to day life is not. Is so far from that in terms of the conversation and people I talk to. But I get it. It's just we having fun, whatever, whatever. But yeah, it's a lot of work and I think God's just been preparing me for it all. Yeah. So look, yo, this tool. Yeah, yeah. Tour, yo. Yeah. You gonna add a comedy component, yo. To it. Listen, we could put something together. Yeah. Cause you. I know we was talking about during the pandemic. We was talking about some stuff. Yeah. And you had a great idea, yo. And I wish I would have like hone in on it. Like, I wish I would have jumped on it. You had an idea to do like, I think it was like comedy virtually, like where people. Cause it was something. It was something. I thought it was so smart. And then I see somebody else doing it. I'm like, damn, yo, Mario put me, tried to put me on today, like five fucking years ago. Yeah, yeah. Nah, you good. Listen, just you naturally listen. Like Mike was saying, like, it's some people who wake up and just. Funny, bro. Like, you different. Yeah, you different. Like, you know how many days, like I'm having fucked up days and all your pages come on and that just changed my whole, my whole shit. Like you different. Like you're, you're literally one of. I think you're one of the young goats. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, keep doing that shit. Like, I know you hustling Thoughts, but, like, tap in, like you really wanted them. For real. Yeah. Like now think about all the people who had good days and you clowned them and then they ended up having a bad day. Think about that. It's a part of it, though. I just want you to think about all aspects, exploration. I feel like true comedy comes from truth, though. Like, real comedy comes from truth. It does. And depending on where you from. Yo, people don't understand the Baltimore. They just think we just straight all aggressive. Nah, for sure. You know what I'm saying? We be saying shit that they think about. And I think that that's like. That's the thing, you know, we gonna always get the. You know, the backlash for it. But we say shit that people. That's why it was so many people that got mad at you and came ask you them questions. Yeah, man. Yeah. That interview was interesting, man. It was interesting. But did you have fun, though? Not all the way. Honestly, it was cool. But then it just got to the point where, like, when he wasn't being real about shit, then it wasn't fun no more. Now, now I'm like, you not being even. You talking so much about your own life and shit, and I felt we can. Right. But it was just. Everybody saw it. It was just moments where I was like, yo, you not being real. I'm like, all right, cool. I see what this is. Let me just. Let's see. But this your show, so. Yeah, yeah. I'm like, all right, listen. Which one I fuck with Cam, though. Hold on real quick. Jeff said that you can't remember all the moments. There was too many, just real. Just say one time, your accent be going in and out. Your Baltimore accent. I say that you talking to me about the Ebony 500. It's cool. Nah, nah, it do. It do sometimes get mad and then I forget what I asked you about. And he was like. And I was like, oh, yeah, he from there, cuz. I haven't heard it yet, this interview. That's why you've been listening. I've been living. I've been living in LA for like 15 years now. So it shit just. But if I go home for two weeks. You said when he get mad. Yeah, it's crazy when he get upset about something that he's trying to get you mad. This good luck. You do not get Mario. You definitely don't at all. So question. Right when they got mad at you for kicking the cameraman off stage. Yeah, yeah. I thought that was kind of crazy because that's your time to Perform. You don't know who this dude is on stage? I think that it was just people not used to seeing me like that, bro. Like, mad. Yeah. Like, you. So it's like, I try not to get mad, bro. Because when I get mad, I get mad. You know what I'm saying? And then it's like, I'm like, it takes a lot to get me mad, right? So when I get there, hopefully I don't want it to be seen ever. Like, I don't want people to see that side of me, like. And it's not like I'm not human. I just. It can get taken out of context, which it did, Right? So I'm gonna tell the story officially here on Breakfast Club. Yes. They hit us for this fair. I'm like, okay, it's close to la. We'll take the sprint up. Go up there, do it, knock it out. We come back to the crib, right? Cool. Family already say, ooh. All right, cool, Lloyd. Couple of artists. All right, bet. Let's do it. I get to my shows, usually, if it's shows with other people, I get there like. Like, when we doing a drink, probably get there, like, 10, 15 minutes before. Because I don't like sitting in the dressing room. I get antsy, like, man. So no one told me that a cameraman was going to be on stage at all. So when I go on stage, I'm performing, and I keep seeing a figure around me. The stage is pretty big, but I keep seeing a figure. I'm like, okay. Then when I saw him for the first time, I'm like, damn. Did he jump up from. Because he didn't have a camera, bro. He had an iPhone on a joint. Go look at the video. So I'm like, he must have jumped from out of the crowd or whatever. He over there. But then he got comfortable, and on the stage, they had too many speakers. They had more speakers. Cause usually every artist get to say what they want their stage to be like. They left the other artist speakers on the stage, so it was more speakers than it was supposed to be. So I'm looking for where he about to go. And I tripped one time over court. I ain't say nothing. I'm like, man, shit crazy. I gotta watch out. Then as I'm walking back to the right side of the stage, he's all the way downstage, like, near the speaker. Like, you. You should be, like, further back, like, you feel me. And then that moment's like, yo, you gotta get the off the stage, bro. Right? You didn't already trip. I'm like, you gotta get the off. Like, it wasn't even like, I hate you get off the. Like, it was just like, get the off. I just. Right. You feel me? It was like that. You even apologize shortly after. And it was like, oh, that was a half ass apology. But I didn't even realize he went on tour. What do you mean he went on. He went on a press tour about it. So like, oh, wow. I was like, I'm like, bro, you know, let me just do. But yeah, that's what happened. He was. But he was supposed to be there, apparently. And then, you know. But it really was just. I didn't know he had an iPhone. Damn, man. Should be happening. Are we getting any visuals? Yeah, yeah. So I'm about to put a video out for home in like a week period. Yeah, yeah. Home is coming. The visual for home is coming. And it's fire. It's fire. It's. You know, it's 90s R&B. I'm giving y' all real R and B on this project, so. And more to come as well. Moose swings two more music. Definitely tapping back into the movie space as well. I'm building a lot of things behind the scenes with New Citizen and the investment side, the creative side, hopefully signing some artists. I got my eyes on a few. I wanna say it. Cause last time I did, somebody signed them, but it's just like, yeah. Huh? Who was it? It was this kid. His name is Chozen. I forgot his last name. His name is Chozen. But he's super soulful. I'll show him to you off of the joint. But he got signed by Quality Control, you know what I'm saying? And we was talking, but he already been signed by, so. But yeah, super talented, but really looking for, like, raw talent, man, that I can help evolve through this industry, you know, and understand that, like, outside of music, there's so many other opportunities. Right. So generational wealth, like, that's really what the whole new citizen for me represents, you know? So. Yeah. Have you taken your girl to Baltimore? And she. Where is she from? She's been in Baltimore like three. She went with me on Thanksgiving one year. We went to Baltimore. We went to Philly. Family in Philly. Baltimore. She from. She's Mexican. Okay. She's from Sacramento. Wait, hold on. As well. Yeah. Thank you. But he black and Mexican. I. I think straight Mexican. All right. Can I ask y' all a question? What's up? Y. Does it matter? Nope. It don't matter. Yo, you see how it matter? You know what I'm saying? No, I just wanted to know how matter that your girlfriend is Mexican. Yeah, like, doesn't matter. Oh, no, it don't matter to me. It might matter. And Dr. Umar, she not that kind. She. She legal. Yeah, man. Everybody legal, bro. Everybody good. I think love is love. Love is love. Love is definitely love. But. But I. I do like the see black men with black women, though. But that. That's. That's just because that's what I feel. Nah, for sure. I love to see all of it. I love to see all. But I want you to be in love if you love her. Love is, man. I wouldn't be. I wouldn't be here if I didn't love her. I wouldn't. We wouldn't be here if we didn't love each other. Procreating like this. Exactly 1,000%. Like, we having a beautiful experience right now. The only, you know, the hardest part, obviously, is always the traveling, right? Being away from home, checking in, being like, damn, if I'm on stage and something's happening, I will not. I can't get the crap. You know what I'm saying? It's hard. This. This has been. This has been hard because it's like things were already in motion. These toys were already playing, you know? But I get off tour in December and I'll be home for all the holidays. I don't think you owe anybody an explanation, though. I think that's right. I was tricky. It's like, why are you explaining who you love? You know, it's not so much explaining who I love is. It's. It's the. The. The narrative of, oh, Mario doesn't like black women. That I have an issue with. And where this narrative was created from, that's the thing about the Internet. It's like, you can't just leave that, you know, out in the air. That's crazy. You know what I'm saying? So I'd rather confront it so people understand that it's a lie and it's not true, versus not saying anything about it, which I've done in a couple interviews since that interview, you know? But the way he asked it was. So he set me up. What was the question? The question set me up. Like, what's your relationship with black women? Right. No, that wasn't the first question. What was the first question? No, that was like the. He was like, do you have a problem with black women? Yes. That's a wild question. But hold on, wait. The way you answered It. That's a wild question, the way you answered it that we played that clip here. The way you answered it, I don't think it didn't make it any worse, but I think it made people try to find another reason why you don't like black people. They gotta understand psychologically, these podcasts and people. When people are listening, everybody doesn't have the same way they receive things. And we're dealing with. Y' all know what we dealing with. Brian gotta say it. You know, we dealing with. In the coming. You know, and so it's like, yes, of course. Like, I come from. I'm a black man who comes from a black city, who comes from the. The. The. The. The struggles of black people in this country. So I come from what my core. A lot of my core fans come from. So, of course, it's like, if someone says something like, do you have a problem? People who never even heard that question will be like, wait, you got a problem? You got a problem here? Right? So of course I gotta say, you know what I'm saying? I'm defending that. But then you bring in to say that I love black women and black women are the most beautiful creatures on this planet, and so why do you hate him? No, he talking about. What did you talk about, bro? Clown. But that's what I want to say. I feel like it made people do. What he doing right now. Hey, bro, I. Hey, look, for everybody who hates Charlemagne. Hey, listen, let me stay. But where did y' all meet? What did y. Me. We met. I met. I met her in Florida, like, years ago when I was living in Miami. We met, and her mom was living at the time we. Yeah, we met. She was like. We met. We've known each other for, like, for, like, nine years, you know what I'm saying? So we've seen each other through relationship. We've been friends for so long. Yeah, it's about your experience. When you talked about your experience. I had a problem with people having a problem with that. Like, you just talked about. You went into it more. You were saying because. Yeah, the question was asked. Oh, why don't you. Why do you have a problem with black women? You're like, nah, it's not. I don't have a problem with black women. You talked about your experience with the black woman who was, you know, who raised you. Yeah, we got to that. The questions, it was just outrageous. Like, I don't even know. I don't know where these allegations began. These questions begin. That's. That's the Point. I don't. Let's just set this straight. I don't know where they begin. And they're not. I don't hold those. Yeah. Like, that's for like clickbait and all that. But when we got around to speaking about my experience that they. That came out of me saying, how could I have like hate? Like, it's not right. It's not hate. Yes. I haven't had a beautiful experience as far as like the. My story, you know, but that doesn't lead to hate, bro. That doesn't lead to hate. You know, it's so interesting. You're right about the questions because I, you know, I've been interviewing you for years. I've never heard that before. But so when you hear a question like that, you think to yourself, what did I do? Yeah, I'm gonna go do some research. Right. Oh, he has a problem with it. So, you know, but I think it's just, it's a matter of people getting to know me more. Yeah. You know, and I'm like, okay, this is why interviews are important. This is why. And then when you get to a certain level, you don't want to do interview no more. Cool. Because now they just talking about your music, but you have to have something in place of that for them to talk about. Right. So, yeah, I get it. You answered the question I was gonna ask. I was gonna ask, do you think doing the interviews is even helpful? Because you explain and then they find another reason to. Then I will say this. I think that there's always different perspectives based on how you enter the conversation. This is a different podcast, this is a different platform. Different minds, you know, different energy. Like everything is different. I don't mind. I'm an open book at this point. I don't mind having conversations. You know, I understand now how to navigate it better, but you know, you gotta go through the mud sometimes. I understand. Like, all right, cool. We gotta make sure we stay and stand on solid ground. What about when you talk about your girl being pregnant and you can't be there all the time cause you want tour and things like that and you're a first time dad and it's like, wow, right? So you only. This is the first time you're ever going through this. Are these the times where you like say like, damn, you wish your mom was here. Oh my God. Or you like, damn, I wish I could just ask her what the hell I could do for this. I wish my mom was here for a lot of things. I wish my mom Was here because she's one of the realest people I've ever known. You know, mother was. She's one of those people, like, anything that she wanted, she could have had. She had a scholarship, playing tennis. She was the number one tennis player in Maryland. You know, when she was young, she had a chemist. She was a major in chemistry, bachelor's in chemistry. She loved God, you know, and she was a hustler, so she could have transmitted that energy into anything. I think that we would have made a great partnership in business, because I'm. I feel like I'm more thorough than I've ever been. I don't have any plans on not expand. Like, I'm. I'm expanding in other ways. And I think that she could have been right here with me. And, of course, having another grandmother for my child and having her be a part of my life that's missing here in spirit, but of course I would want that. Yeah. But, you know, my. My girl's mom is an incredible abuela. So far, you know, she's been there. She's home right now and making sure she's straight. She's excited about it. You know, God, don't make no mistakes in terms of, like, you know, what is meant for you and how when you pray for things and you prepare for things, how God shows up. I think we're blessed, you know, but. Yeah, I would love that. After doing the work on yourself that you've done, finding so many personal answers, did that cause you to have more questions for your mom that you probably didn't get to ask? I've asked a lot of questions. You know, I think the thing that I've. The thing that I've been sending her love for lately. Cause, you know, is me forgiving her. Because spiritually, no one ever really dies. Right? The energy doesn't die, is just transmuted. So it's like sending her forgiveness and support, you know, for whatever her soul may be still struggling with or whatever her next journey is. I think that that's, you know, that's what I do now. That's what I focus on now, you know, is that forgiveness for her forgiving myself and just sending her so much support and love. Because there's been moments where during my spiritual journey when she would come visit me and, you know, anybody who understands the spiritual realm, there's been blockages. Like, just when I'm able to. Like we're able to. There's something that comes in between and blocks it. I've had that happen a lot of times. So I'm like, okay, so I have. There's still something I have to work on. So the more and more I work on it, the closer and closer I feel that these other entities and things can't even block it in the spiritual realm. Yeah, because there's. It's so much power. Because she has things that she tells me that I need to know. And when those blockages are there, I can't get those. And so it's a real thing. And it happens in real life too. You know, with family, there's entities that are built out of trauma, and they become their own entities in your life. And if you don't work through those things, you can't heal with your dad or your mom or your sister or your wife or your whatever, you know what I'm saying? So that's a real thing. And I think it doesn't change in the spiritual realm. Do you believe, you know, after doing all this work on yourself, do you believe your life's purpose is bigger than music 1,000%? Absolutely, bro. Absolutely. I think that there's a spiritual side of it. There's a community building side of it. When I say that, I mean using my relationships to help build our communities. You know, I've been building myself back up over these past few years, but now I'm like, branching out to be like, okay, how can I use my relationships to make sure in this new world that's happening, you know, my people, my community, you know, we just have a. You know, we're put in a position where people understand our power and understand our unity in a different way. And it's. It's going to take a lot of work, but that's like where my head is at. But also just owning things and being able to be creative. Like, I'm working on a museum right now that I don't know exactly where I'm gonna put it yet, but it's gonna be everything sound. I can't say the whole concept because there's a lot of rich people out there that can make this shit happen, but like. But yeah, it's gonna be incredible. And then just a lot of other things, man. And I feel like it's showing not only my fans and people who've been watching my career for a long time that, yo, you can be whoever you want to be. And we have always been some of the most creative beings on this planet. And creating things that's never been created before, this is what I want to do. That's my goal. And it Goes for everything from music to tech, business, you know, social experiences, restaurants, all types of things. You know, there's a lot of things happening, you know, and even writing, being an author, I have like three books that I've written but that I haven't put out yet because I don't know, every time there's a new version of me, I'm like, fuck, gotta go back and change. Yeah. I'm like, y' all gotta go back and change. Have you ever experienced that? Like, you put out books like, what? How does that work for you? I can do that with everybody. Single book that I've written. Yeah. Go back and change. Certain. Yeah. You know, my. The first book was, you know, up to a certain point in my life. So it was these lessons that I learned. Yeah. My second book, I was completely empty because I had started doing the work on myself and started to go into therapy and stuff. So everything I thought I knew, I was like, yo, I really don't know nothing. I was just. I learned a whole bunch of stuff. And then my third book, you know, it really came to me. After a plant based experience, you know, with ayahuasca, I went on the ayahuasca journey. Beautiful. And the same thing came up for me that came up for you. It's like, yo, stop lying to yourself and stop volunteering those lies to other people. So it's like, yo, every. Every book has been a different version of me. Yeah. So that's where I'm at now. It's just like, okay, which, which there's all these, like, versions. All of them have truth. Right. But which ones connect the dots to where I am right now? So that's kind of where I'm at with that. But yeah, that's just. I'm just. Bro, I'm just ready to continue to grow. You know, music is my passion. But, you know, with that comes all these other things. Moratorium. Bigger, bigger shows and bigger opportunities and just, you know, just growing. Me and my team growing. What's the message you think men need to hear today that we don't talk about enough? I don't think men applaud the better things about each other enough. It's like, you know, if you see your homie like that, been struggling with something for years and he. He's getting over it, or he's trying to get over it. Applaud that. You know, I mean, show him some love. Show him. You see that? Like, yo, that shit cool, bro. That shit, that's. I'm inspired. You know what I'M saying, I think escapism, escaping our traumas with drugs and. And, you know, maybe nightlife or whatever, you know, I mean, everybody like to have fun, but, you know, just really, like, taking, like, the time to really take your future serious, you know, sit down for a minute. Like, maybe save some bread. Like, sit back. You know what I mean? Look at your life. Look at the people in your life and really analyze, like, okay, if something's calling me to grow, are these people around me going to help me grow? All their part of that. Do they want to grow, like. Cause we get comfortable with our relationships. And I realized this because I've had so many different people come in and out of my life and at different parts of who I am in my life, you know, different parts of my journey. And sometimes we get scared to let people go. Yeah. And not let them go. As in, like, oh, I don't fuck with you, but just let them go. As in, like, yo, I need this next few months to myself, bro. Or sis, you know, I gotta level up in life. There's some things that God is putting on me, you know, and hopefully I can help you with that, you know, But I just need some time. And it's not personal. Not everybody gonna take that well. But sometimes we gotta do that, man. And then circle the block and be like, yo, I see things from a different perspective. I don't think we talk about that enough in terms of it being something real that can really change your life. There's a few things, man. I mean, that's. Yeah, that's just to name a few. Word. Yeah. This real quick. This ain't even no question. Yo, I've always wanted to tell you, you snapped on the cry with. Thank you. Appreciate it, man. What? Yep. That's crazy. You'd be snapping on these features, y'. All. I'm just. Thank you. I appreciate it. I might put a whole project out with features, you know, I mean, just for fun. For sure. Just snap with that. My. Yeah, you never heard that joint with the Newborn. Who is. Ray J is a streamer at this point. He needs to just. Ray J's coming up this week. Charlamagne invited him. What would you say to Ray J? What would I say to him? Yeah, what would you say to Ray J that we could play. I already told him, man, stop. Stop his car before his brakes break. You know what I'm saying? Like, break it. You know what I mean? But I told y' all before, he. Ray J, you know, he. He. Is he a troller? He gonna troll, but he know what time it is, man. He know. He said one wish was bigger than let me love you. But anyway, listen, I'm on tour right now. Nothing but us tour. Right? You know what I'm saying? We outside New York was amazing. The energy in New York, you know, we got, like, I think, like, eight or ten more dates. Project Moose Swings is out right now. Yeah, we. We outside, man. I was in new. This is the thing that's all about to say. You got to put me in different conversations, like, right. I was on Brandy show, like, two weeks ago. We did last weekend what we do. Before that, we was. We did Jonas Brothers, Wale, Joni's brother Wale. Like, you know, it's just any stage. I'm on too many stages for Ray J to even. He can't. Come on. He know what's up. Big shit. Big Mario. Not the little one. Not Luigi brother. Like, stop playing. Let's play a join off that. Wait, I got a question. Yeah, mood swings. Honest question. Go. Go stream that. You just did it here, and it made me think of it. When you came out at the Brandi and Monica show. You think Brandi, but not Monica. It wasn't even. Nah, it wasn't even that type of thing. People tried to make it a thing on X. And then just right now, Brandi and I'm like, was that like, nah, Shout out to Monica, bro. There's nothing. It's. I came out on Brandi set. You know what I'm saying? So I was just giving her, like, yeah, it was not. First of all, Monica's amazing. I love Monica. Like, me and, like, every time, like. Like, it's something dope on her. Like, she always comment on her. I comment like, it's all love. Like, that's gang. So, like. Yeah, I think these narratives get crazy. Yeah. And in the moment, like, when you on stage in a moment, sometimes you just, like, trying to remember everything and be present, like, you know what I'm saying? But, yeah, it's nothing. I'm happy to see both of them on tour. Even when I posted, when I was on the stage, I congratulated both of them. Like, I gave them both flowers. Yeah. So people just be taking shit out of proportion, man. Stop. Let's get to. Stop trying to make me an R and B villain, man. Right? Y' all don't want to embrace it. Too late now. Embrace it. Too late now. Yeah, embrace it. That one was unfair, though, because. Yeah. Yeah. I love them both, by the way. That's the scary thing about the shadow side, though, when you feel comfortable over there. Nah, I'm not trying to embrace that, bro. I got a kid on the way, bro. Me. I'm gonna tell me embracing that is different, bro, from. It's not. I don't need, like, I don't need drugs to be dark. I don't need, like. I don't want to be dark. I don't want to go there. I don't want to go there no more. I don't want to go there because I can't. What if I like it? That's what I'm saying. It's a little. That's the scary part. When you. Man, I feel good. Y. If I like it. And then it's. Now I gotta create this whole other thing around me, and it's like, nah, bro, listen. I got too many blessings in my life right now. Too many things that I'm creating great partners that are just, like, wanting to invest in things I'm doing. I got too much. This is too much to lose. Yeah. I'm happy for you, brother. I appreciate you. I really enjoyed this conversation. Let's do it. Hearing you do the work is good, man. What you wanna hear? Hell, yeah. What we missing? Yeah, we out. We outside. I just wanna make sure I ain't missing nothing. Moo swings out right now, you know, Everybody having moose swings right now, you know, and it's. Hey, invite the mood swings. Balance it out. Enjoy it, you know, let's get back to love. Let's keep R and B alive, bro. Listen, R and B is such an important genre, you know? It allows us to explore love. It allows us to explore intimacy. It allows us to have fun. We can have different conversations in it. It's just. It's just an all encompassing genre. I wouldn't want to pick any other genre. Moose ring's out right now. I don't even know what to play about. We could play home. We could play. Have y' all heard the EP yet? No. All right, cool. When y' all get a chance, press play. When you get back to the crib. Got you. Do that thing. What you want? Here, yo, Play. All right, cool, cool. Let's hear nobody but us. Nobody but us. Yeah. Yeah. Let's go. It's the Breakfast Club. Is Mario. Hold up. Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club. You all finished or y' all done? This is an I Heart podcast.