The Breakfast Club BEST OF - KING OF THE SOUTH - Jeezy, Lil Jon, Jermaine Dupri + More

Summary

The Breakfast Club “BEST OF - KING OF THE SOUTH” (Jeezy, Lil Jon, Jermaine Dupri + More) – Podcast Summary
December 22, 2025 | iHeartPodcasts
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Featured Guests: Jeezy, Lil Jon, Jermaine Dupri
Special Appearances: Callers, Lauren LaRosa

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Overview

This “Best Of” episode of The Breakfast Club pays homage to the cultural and musical force of the American South, focusing especially on the evolution of Southern hip-hop and its icons. The show features wide-ranging and personal interviews with Jeezy (on the 20th anniversary of Thug Motivation 101), Lil Jon (crunk pioneer and meditation advocate), and breakthrough producer Jermaine Dupri—plus commentary on Atlanta’s legendary music scene, the culture of strip clubs, legacy, mental health, and authenticity both in life and in music.

The tone is celebratory, candid, and insightful, with each guest offering stories of struggle, reflection, and triumph. The episode is peppered with memorable quotes, plenty of humor, and deep dives into the realities behind Southern rap’s rise to cultural dominance.

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Episode Structure & Key Segments

1. Fan Call-Ins and “Get It Off Your Chest” [04:33–14:13]
2. Interview: Jeezy (20th Anniversary of Thug Motivation 101) [14:13–36:44]
3. Interview: Lil Jon (Evolution of Crunk & Personal Transformation) [36:44–66:45]
4. Donkey of the Day (Charlamagne Tha God) [66:46–73:38]
5. Interview: Jermaine Dupri (Atlanta’s Music Infrastructure & Legacy) [73:41–101:53]
6. Final Reflections and Closing [102:09–102:30]

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1. Listener Call-Ins: “Get It Off Your Chest”

[04:33–14:13]

The hosts open the lines for fans to share what's on their minds, resulting in a mix of humor and honesty on topics including weed prices, gifting culture, media agendas, and holidays.

Highlights:

• One caller complains about high marijuana prices and taxes in Detroit, leading to banter on weed as essential medicine and jokes about putting money on someone's dispensary “books.”

  • “My rent is paid, everything else is paid, but my marijuana, I can always need more.” – [Jermaine Dupri impersonation, 07:02]

• Another caller critiques the show for “pushing an agenda,” especially around Christmas and historical accuracy.

  • “Jesus’s birthday ain’t on the 25th. Stop killing our people with this bad information.” – [Caller, 11:00]
  • Charlamagne retorts: “I like the energy of the season...I like when people are...positive. I actually said we shouldn’t even recognize Thanksgiving.” – [13:36]

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2. Jeezy Interview: The Legacy of Thug Motivation 101

[14:13–36:44]

a. Reflections on 20 Years of “Thug Motivation 101”

• Jeezy revisits his mindset during the making of the album:
  • “I was just trying to stay alive and free, and I just wanted to be heard...I had this one opportunity.” – [20:17]
• Discusses the resonance of his hit “Soul Survivor” with his present life:
  • “Now ‘Soul Survivor’ really resonates with me. It makes sense, you know what I'm saying? 'Cause I'm a soul survivor.” – [16:32]

b. The Symphony Tour & Celebration

• Jeezy describes taking a symphony orchestra on tour:
  • “I think I'm the first one to ever take a symphony around the world, to do a tour...to celebrate my first debut album.” – [18:13]

c. Life After the Storm: Personal Peace, Divorce, and Growth

• Speaks openly about the stress of fame, survivor’s remorse, and a hard-won sense of peace:

  • “A lot of people don’t survive the war, baby...my life is about peace, joy and freedom.” – [18:11]
  • “I love my freedom and ownership is everything. Especially when you're talking art, you're talking culture, you're talking your mind.” – [24:41]

• On moving forward post-divorce, co-parenting, and addressing public rumor:

  • “I just want peace. I just want joy, and I just want freedom. I love my freedom.” – [24:02]
  • “I know who I am and nobody else can tell me different, as long as I stayed on the path of integrity.” – [25:17]

d. On Motivation & Giving Back

• Mentoring young entrepreneurs and building legacy projects is key:
  • “It’s more important for me to reach forward...shout out to the Urban League of Atlanta…for my Young CEO program.” – [34:03]
  • On gratitude to Charlamagne for helping with his bestselling book: “Shout out to Charlamagne for my New York Times bestselling book, ‘Adversity for Sale’.” – [35:53]

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3. Lil Jon: Crunk, Mindfulness, and Legacy

[36:44–66:45]

a. From Party King to Crunk Pioneer

• Lil Jon shares Atlanta club stories, his discovery by Jermaine Dupri, and the genesis of “Who You Wit.”

  • “We were the sound of the rowdy guys in the back of the club...it was an outlet of energy for Black youth.” – [45:40]

• Debates the origin of “crunk” and its musical influences (Master P, Three 6 Mafia, Memphis):

  • “Master P changed the landscape of the South...but we are influenced, but it's all different sounds, but it all intertwines...” – [50:04]

b. Cultural Breakthroughs

• Recounts crunk’s crossover to mainstream:
  • “The moment crunk had officially crossed...was getting on a double decker bus in Times Square on TRL doing ‘What You Gon’ Do.’” – [51:08]
  • “‘Lovers and Friends’ went number one without a video...the song was just that big.” – [53:48]

c. Unexpected Journey: Meditation & Mental Health

• Describes turning 50, divorce, and channeling pain into a meditation album:
  • “I need to kind of put myself first...” – [54:02]
  • “Everything that got me here I was supposed to do...all the music I’ve given people gave people positivity.” – [61:12]
• Speaks on therapy, mindfulness, and encouraging Black men to cry and address trauma:
  • “We need to cry more. When you get more in tune to your higher self...you can let the energy flow...I push all brothers: we don't have to suffer in silence.” – [63:20]
  • “EMDR is amazing because it taps into your subconscious...I was able to go to my childhood self and say, ‘it’s okay.’” – [65:48]

d. Legacy, Loneliness & Giving Back

• On the reality of fame:

  • “They just see the private jets...they don’t realize sometimes you can’t go nowhere because people bugging you...it’s a lot of pressure.” – [64:23]

• On his true legacy:

  • “My legacy is going to be all about positivity...crunk was positive, it was a positive release; now in my latter years, it’s meditation, mindfulness.” – [65:14]

• Praised by Charlamagne:

  • “You bought people so much joy—in this next chapter of your life where you are helping people heal, I think it’s going to be your best work yet.” – [66:31]

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4. Donkey of the Day: “Dine & Dash Couple”

[66:46–73:38]

Charlamagne delivers a comedic roast of a couple charged with dining and dashing from five restaurants, spinning it into a larger commentary on relationships, food crime, and the perils of becoming infamous for the wrong reasons.

Notable Quotes:

• “This is gluttony to the highest degree. If you can put this much energy into a crime of food consumption...you can put that same energy into unbigging your back.” – [71:16]

• The hosts riff on possible movie plotlines based on the couple’s antics, blending humor and critique in classic “Donkey of the Day” fashion.

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5. Jermaine Dupri: Atlanta, Strip Clubs, & Musical Legacy

[73:41–102:00]

a. Atlanta’s Unique Music Culture & Evaluation of Strip Clubs

• Discusses the unique infrastructure and influence of Atlanta’s strip clubs, especially Magic City:
  • “You can go in Magic with all your jewelry on, be standing next to the biggest criminal, but whatever would happen elsewhere ain’t gonna happen there. That’s...why Magic stands out.” – [78:28]
• Explains the laws that made Atlanta’s strip club scene possible and why the culture flourished.

b. Magic City Docu-Series & Black Business Resilience

• Explains the concept behind creating a series around Magic City and the importance of telling stories about Black-owned enterprises that fueled hip-hop’s rise.
  • “It's important for Black establishments to show it's a 40-year-old Black establishment...that’s American dream...a Black American dream we don't ever really talk about.” – [77:00]

c. Monetary Flexes & Music Scenes

• Stories of artists spending huge amounts in the club, referencing Chris Brown & BMF:
  • “They spent $200,000 in Magic City. Chris by himself had $100,000. That’s what I'm saying...you get to $200,000 fast.” – [83:19]

d. Iconic Collaborations and Candid Studio Moments

• Reflects on working with Mariah Carey, The Emancipation of Mimi, and the push for honest feedback in the studio.

  • “If you don’t like me for saying what’s real, then why are we in the room together?” – [89:08]

• On the creative process and pressure of producing for superstars:

  • “When I go in the studio, I don’t get caught up in what’s happening in their life...I just gotta be brutally honest with artists.” – [87:49]

• Notes on making Black audiences love Mariah:

  • “I think I might have made more Black people like her...but she’s still Mariah Carey.” – [93:56]

e. Atlanta’s Media & Hip-Hop Coverage

• Critiques the lack of Atlanta-centric media personalities who serve as cultural gatekeepers:

  • “Every time somebody from Atlanta popped, they had to come to New York...we ain't had nobody that you have to talk to.” – [97:57]

• Shoutout to Big Bank and the city’s need for more in-depth local media.

f. Work/Life Balance & Sacrifice

• On personal sacrifices made for career:
  • “Life. I don’t really have no life. I just be making music...All you care about is putting out records.” – [94:19]

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6. Closing Reflection

[102:09]

Charlamagne ends with a powerful note on resilience:

“Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt, you fall, but you keep going. That's resilience. Have a great day.” – [102:09]

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Notable Quotes (with Speaker & Timestamp)

• “My rent is paid, everything else is paid, but my marijuana, I can always need more.”
  — Caller, impersonating [07:02]

• “Now ‘Soul Survivor’ really resonates with me. It makes sense...I’m a soul survivor.”
  — Jeezy [16:32]

• “I love my freedom and ownership is everything...when you’re talking art, culture, your mind. This is the season of me.”
  — Jeezy [24:41]

• “We were the sound of the rowdy guys in the back of the club...crunk was an outlet of energy for Black youth.”
  — Lil Jon [45:40]

• “EMDR is amazing...I was able to go to my childhood self and say, ‘It’s okay. You’re loved, you’re appreciated.’”
  — Lil Jon [65:48]

• “You can go in Magic [City] with all your jewelry on, be the biggest star, and stand next to the biggest criminal...it’s the safest club in Atlanta.”
  — Jermaine Dupri [78:28]

• “Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt, you fall, but you keep going. That’s resilience.”
  — Charlamagne Tha God [102:09]

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Episode Flow and Takeaways

• Cultural exploration: The episode paints Atlanta as a crucible for Hip-Hop innovation, community, and reinvention.
• Intertwined personal and professional stories: Each guest weaves triumph and turbulence, discussing music alongside issues of ownership, authenticity, health, mental wellness, and freedom.
• Legacy & empowerment: Consistent advocacy for self-ownership, positivity, community impact, and the importance of investing in the next generation.

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Recommended Listening Segments

• Caller banter & weed gifting: [04:33–08:31]
• Jeezy on “Soul Survivor” and peace: [16:32–24:02]
• Lil Jon on crunk’s origins & club stories: [45:40–51:47]
• Lil Jon on therapy & black men’s mental health: [63:20–65:14]
• Jermaine Dupri on Atlanta’s strip club laws/infrastructure: [75:20–78:28]
• Producing Mariah Carey & honest artistry: [87:08–89:08]

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This episode is a vibrant, vulnerable, and unfiltered look at Hip-Hop’s Southern legends. It weaves together the history of a movement, candid life lessons, and the soul of an entire region. Whether you’re a fan of the music, the culture, or the personalities, these voices will leave you inspired and entertained.

Transcript

[DJ Envy]

This is an Iheart podcast.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Guaranteed human peace of the planet. Charlamagne tha God here. And the end of the year is the time to set the foundation for next year. New ideas, new product drops, new goals. And when I'm building anything meaningful, I need the right tools. That's why I always tell folks, especially black entrepreneurs and small black owned businesses, Shopify is the move. We use it at the Black Effect Podcast network. And I've seen firsthand how it helps creators and business owners grow with confidence. Okay, Shopify is like having a whole team behind you. Your chief of staff, your personal assistant, your co founder, all in one platform. Wherever your people are, Shopify makes sure your business can meet them where they're at. So if you're ready to take the next step in your life, whether it's merch products or anything in between, get on shopify.com ben and make it happen. It is time to stop putting off your future and start your new role as your own boss.

[DJ Envy]

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

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

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[DJ Envy]

Hey, what up, y'?

All?

It's DJ Envy. And the holidays are here. The time of year that's all about connecting with loved ones in person or over the phone. In fact, hearing someone's voice can emote a similar emotional response as a hug. And while most of us can hop on a video chat to really bring that connection to life Using tech isn't easy for everyone, and especially some of the older folk in our lives. AT&T has been doing something special here to help. They offer digital literacy workshops that help older adults learn how to use technology to do things most of us take for granted, like video conferencing and sharing photos. Take Nancy Shand. She joined one of AT&T's workshops to learn how to video chat for the first time this holiday season, Nancy won't just be hearing about family gatherings, she'll be a part of them, sharing stories, opening presents, and making memories all through a screen. Nobody should have to go through the holiday season alone, so be sure to connect and stay connected to your loved ones this holiday season.

Connecting changes everything.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice / Carolyn (patient testimonial)]

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[Charlamagne tha God]

Wake you up.

[Lil Jon]

Wake you up.

[DJ Envy]

Wake that ass up.

[Jeezy]

Program your alarm to power 105.1 on iheartradio.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Hot fire that's it.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Important mainstream Keep it real y' all.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

One of the biggest things in America.

[DJ Envy]

Culture They not like us Think everybody.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Should go on the Breakfast Club want.

[Charlamagne tha God]

To shake it up they not like us what the up Breakfast Club DJ.

[Lil Jon]

Envy the Family Guy Jess Hilarious.

[DJ Envy]

I'm the wild card Keep the real.

[Charlamagne tha God]

And Charlamagne the God I'm a lovable.

[Lil Jon]

App Oil clown yo.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

I'm loving that energy up there right now.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Sometimes you gotta Pop out the show today. Now let's begin.

[Jeezy]

This is your time to get it off your chest.

[DJ Envy]

800. 5, 8, 5.

[Jermaine Dupri]

10, 5 1.

[Jeezy]

We want to hear from you on the Breakfast Club.

[DJ Envy]

Hello.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Who's this?

[DJ Envy]

Sean D from the D. What's up, brother? Get it off your chest, man.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

What's going on, Trump? I a had y' all going on leave. Cause y' all gave him the donkey of the day. Dizzy.

[Charlamagne tha God]

No, it's this thing called Christmas and New Year's, brother. Come on now.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Okay, you can protect him all you want. Charlamagne.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Would y' all want us to work through the holidays? We can't. We can't get a little vacay?

[DJ Envy]

A little break?

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Nah, nah. Nope. Ain't no break.

[DJ Envy]

We got kids.

[Charlamagne tha God]

We got kids and we got. We got brains. We need a mental break, bro.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Yeah, I can understand. Through the way of the world.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yes, sir. Thank you.

[DJ Envy]

We appreciate it. Hello.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Who's this?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Renee.

[DJ Envy]

Renee. Get it off your chest. Hey, girl.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Okay, listen.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Good morning, everybody.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

First of all, good morning.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I went to the dispensary yesterday, right? I'm tired of the taxes on the dispensary. Marijuana. And I got a medical card. Some BS, you know what I'm saying? It already cost 325 for an ounce. And then you gonna hit me with a 14 tax?

[Charlamagne tha God]

How much it cost for a house?

[Jermaine Dupri]

325.

[Charlamagne tha God]

God damn.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Jesus.

[Lil Jon]

No, see, listen.

[Jermaine Dupri]

That's my medicine. I need that to survive.

[Charlamagne tha God]

No, I'm with you, but 325 for hours, that sounds pretty steep.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I'm telling you, that's why you can't.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Wait.

[Jeezy]

Where you at?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Where you from? Where's the dispensary in River Rouge? In Detroit.

[Lil Jon]

Oh, Detroit.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, you're in Detroit.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Oh, okay.

[DJ Envy]

Okay.

I guess things are high up there.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Cause I ain't never had325.325 for an ounce is crazy.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah, that's nuts. I mean, I paid higher than that. I mean, it's quality. Because the simple fact is marijuana keeps stupid people tolerable. You know who we got? Administration. So, you know all that BS that Donald Trump keeps spitting out? I need to medicate.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Come on.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Now, then. Okay, then I gotta get something else off my chest. Yes, ma'.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Am.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Knowing I'm a weed smoker, my friends want to give me makeup and stuff like that. I can buy that for myself. I don't wear makeup. I tell them to put some money on my books at the dispensary.

[DJ Envy]

That's right.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I mean, it is what it is. I love that.

[DJ Envy]

I love you for that. That is dope.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I mean, because of the simple fact, if I tell people like this, my rent is paid, everything else is paid but my marijuana, I can always need more. You know what?

[DJ Envy]

That's not a bad idea. That they definitely should do that. Where people could actually put money on your marijuana books. Where people can get weed. I'm not mad at that.

[Jermaine Dupri]

If y' all go to Bo's dispensary, they will actually let you do that.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Wow.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Anybody that knows me, don't give me no perfume.

[Lil Jon]

Just give me.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Buy me some weed. I need some quality Kush.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah. Especially if it's $350 an ounce. Somebody need to help with that? That. You got to put that on layaway. You. You pay that all at once?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah, I go about three, four, five times a week.

[DJ Envy]

But go, go.

[Charlamagne tha God]

First of all, what do you do for a living that you spending 1500 a week on weed?

[Lil Jon]

Listen, listen.

[Jermaine Dupri]

We can't talk about that.

[Lil Jon]

On. On. On.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Oh, my gosh.

[Lil Jon]

Other than that. Hold on.

[Jermaine Dupri]

One other thing. I got one other thing to say. If Donald Trump makes marijuana federal, we'll forget about that Epstein shit. I agree with y'.

[Lil Jon]

All.

[Jermaine Dupri]

All right.

[DJ Envy]

Goodbye, mama.

[Charlamagne tha God]

No, for real. That's the. If he do that, I'm telling you, everybody will forget. Legalize marijuana federally and pardon everybody that got them marijuana charges federally. Anybody that's locked up for a federal marijuana case, let them out. Oh, man. People will forget that in a heartbeat. You hear me?

[DJ Envy]

And salute to all the dispensaries in Detroit that got us on. I know House of Mary Jane and House of Dank, they always got us on in the morning. So salute to.

[Lil Jon]

All right.

[DJ Envy]

Get it off your chest. 800-585-1051. If you need the event, hit us up now. It's the Breakfast Club.

[Lil Jon]

Good morning, Ray.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Ray, Ray.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Yo, Charlamagne, Envy, what up?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Are we live?

[Jeezy]

This is your time to get it off your chest.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I got an indoor pool, a outdoor pool.

[Jeezy]

We want to hear from you on the Breakfast Club.

[Lil Jon]

We can get on the phone right now here.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Tell you what it is. Good morning. Who's this?

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Shaman.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Peace, Shimon. Get it off your chest.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Hey, bro, I wanted to say, like, when y' all was. When the government shut down. Like, he wasn't giving up. He was saying he was gonna give, but he wasn't never coming back. Saying he gave. You know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne tha God]

He.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

He gave and then gave the who. He was gonna. He was gonna Give, took maturity.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Oh, gotcha.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

You know, every day he said that, but in my heart I don't feel.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

Like he did it.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

And then for you, bro, like every day you were saying you was giving and I was just like, I feel like you one of them guys that give us something like for the cameras, you know what I'm saying? Like every day, bro, you use. I give to this and this, and I give to this and this, bro. How about you just, you know, why?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Do you know why I did that? Would you like, would you like to ask me why?

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Yeah, go ahead, bro.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Because the food banks wanted to be amplified. That was the whole point of that. That's why we bought, you know, especially here in New York City, that's why we bought the two people who were two of the people who run Food Bank NYC up here. They wanted to be amplified. And because of that amplification, you know, at least me personally, I was able to provide like 700, 800, 000 meals for people. But they've had, Yeah, I ain't saying they've had record breaking numbers at the food banks because of people amplifying, you know, what they were doing. And it wasn't just me. You got people like Tracy Morgan. Who else is out there?

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Yeah, I ain't saying they, I ain't saying they amplify. I ain't saying don't amplify it, but I'm saying you always had to say, you, you do this, you do this. And then let me say this, bro, I'm from. My name, I'm from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but I live in Georgia now, but. And shout out to Jess. I think that bro, y' all amplify. You amplify. I mean, you put stuff out there and don't, don't tell the other side or don't have a the other side story, you know what I'm saying? Like just. I said all that to say this just when I think it was Dame Dash that came up there. You knew how to sit back and just lay low, you know what I'm saying? And not say too much of nothing. But that's what envy and that's what Charlemagne. That's what y' all need to learn how to do, bro, when y' all don't really know what y' all talking about, you know what I'm saying?

[DJ Envy]

Damn.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Because like, like they said, y' all push an agenda out there to the people, man. And that don't be cool when y' all pushing the wrong agenda. And a real quick example is Jesus birthday ain't on the 25th. And y' all push that Christmas stuff. Like, that's the. Like that's, like. That's the truth. Don't. Stop killing our people with this bad information. You know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Can I say something else to you?

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Yeah, go ahead, bro.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I just let you. I just let you say a bunch of wrong stuff and didn't. Didn't say anything, okay?

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

No, you didn't, bro.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

I promise you.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

You didn't.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I just let you talk. What you mean?

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

No, but. But see, that's what I'm saying. It's a joke, because, like I said, you. You'll push your agenda, bro, and don't know the truth of it, bro. Or you do. That's what made me feel like y' all a part of the agenda, too, for the most part. And again, that's why I like Jess, because she stay quiet on certain things and it keeps her out of it. But, bro, don't push the. Don't push agendas if you don't really know, you know what I'm saying?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Like.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Like I said when I. When you cut me off, tell me about Jesus and show me in the Bible where the 25th is his birthday.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I never said that. I never said that. I thought this was Jesus birthday. What I said was being that y' all recognize this is Jesus's birthday. Y' all don't even let Jesus headline his own birthday. The day. The day that y' all say is Jesus's birthday. The day that y' all say y' all should recognize Jesus birthday. Y' all don't even let him headline it. Y' all let Frosty the Snowman headline it. Santa Claus.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Yeah, but still pushing the agenda. You're still pushing the agenda, bro. You're still pushing it. Just like Jesus ain't white, but you used to. But they still got this picture up in all these churches of them being white.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Can I ask you.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

You know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Can I ask you another question? Magic question?

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Go ahead, man.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What do you like?

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

I like my family. I like my wife. I like living.

[Charlamagne tha God]

But they don't like you. I see them on Facebook all the time. They don't like you. They say you come. They say you come to the dinner table and you always coming in with all of these conspiracy theories and, you know, causing arguments with people.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

I bet you can't show me. I bet you can't show me.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What?

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Jesus is white, but he posted everywhere around the world as he white. And in the Bible, it clearly say he black.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I don't think Jesus white either.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Yeah, but I'm saying you pushed an agenda.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I don't think he white. I agree with you.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Yeah, but I'm saying. I'm saying this, bro. When I say the agenda, I ain't saying you push the agenda right now that Jesus is white. But when you talk about Christmas and celebrating these holidays, that's satanic and it ain't good. Like. And you transform them to. You know, that's the good thing. That's a good thing. Let's celebrate Thanksgiving to be thankful.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Sir, I grew up. Sir, I grew up with Jehovah Witness. I didn't even grow up celebrating holidays. Holidays. What I like.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

And that's sad, bro. That you. You the way you are then, bro.

[Charlamagne tha God]

No, what I like is. What I like is the season. I like the energy of the season. I like when people are.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Yeah, you like Thanksgiving, but the Native. I mean, the Native Americans got massacre. Massacre for Thanksgiving. And you celebrate it and you like.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I don't like things. I actually said we shouldn't even recognize Thanksgiving, right? What are you talking about?

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Okay, you got me on that one. You got me on that one.

[Charlamagne tha God]

But have a nice day, sir. We appreciate your call. That's exactly what get it off your chest is for. Okay, 1-800-585-1051 is the Breakfast Club.

[DJ Envy]

Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne, the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in the building.

[Charlamagne tha God]

One of the best to ever do it.

[DJ Envy]

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Thug Motivation 101, ladies and gentlemen, Jeezy.

[Jeezy]

What up, though?

[Lil Jon]

What up, though?

[Jeezy]

What's happening? Good morning.

[DJ Envy]

How you feeling, brother?

[Jeezy]

Man, Damn. Great, man. Better than most, you know what I mean?

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Right?

[DJ Envy]

I was talking to somebody yesterday. This is the other day, and he was like, yeah, I'm on my way to Jeezy House. I'm like, for what? He was like, I'm opening up for Jeezy. I said, what you mean, open it up? There's, like, jeezy DJ as a hobby.

[Jeezy]

You can do it to have fun.

[DJ Envy]

I said, shut up. He was like, yes. You started DJing?

[Jeezy]

Yeah, you know, I used to DJ back in the day when I was, you know, young in the hood, you.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

Know what I'm saying?

[Jeezy]

I hustled up on the DJ set, and I was just going to the hood, just DJ on people's porches. That was kind of my thing. But that's how I got into music, you know what I'm saying? So for me, it's just like. It's like a passion time. But, you know, like the great Andre 3000 said, if. If you can't find the vibe, you got to create it. So I just invite dope people over to my crib, you know what I'm saying? Curate it. You know, we might do some. Some red wine and Popeye's chicken, and I might throw on the set, and we just get it cracking.

[DJ Envy]

That was like he was DJing for real.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's interesting. So that's how you've been feeling? Like you haven't been finding a vibe lately. So you've been trying to create one?

[Jeezy]

Well, you know, I know I like to travel a lot, you know what I'm saying? And I like to live, but also I like to, you know, like, turn people on to what I've learned when I've been around the world. So it's just like different types of music, different types of curation. So it's just dope to have people come up to your house that you trust and just vibe. You know, people get tired of going out, cameras everywhere. You know, some very distinguished black people in Atlanta, and they like to really live. So I just, like, come over to my crib, man. We just hang out, you know what I'm saying? It's dope, though.

[DJ Envy]

What type of vibes, though? Is it like.

Like, is it all rap?

[Jeezy]

No, no, no, no.

[Jermaine Dupri]

That's what I thought I said.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Was he playing?

[DJ Envy]

They was like. No, it was like he played everything.

[Jeezy]

Yeah, house music, old school. Yeah, it's vibe, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, I got. So. I got a little soul. I got a little something. You should come, Nick. All y' all invited, you know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne tha God]

She gonna tell about everybody in the house, Whoever in the house. I tell you, I promise you, she gonna come to the radio and tell everybody. 20 year anniversary of one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. Y what does it feel like mentally to have to revisit that era?

[Jeezy]

To be honest with you, it feels like that album was supposed to happen. And even 20 years later, just the obstacles that I had to go through to get this tour going and everything, it just feels like deja vu. But the consequences are not dire. They just real life things, and you gotta show your adversity and. And it feels like I was just talking to somebody about this the other day. It's just like, now Soul Survivor really resonates with me. It makes sense, you know what I'm saying? Cause I'm a soul survivor and I'm listening to the words. I'm like, oh, this is me. This is who I am. You know, when I wrote it, it was a record. Now this is my life. And it's just like to be 20. Cause you gotta think like you think about Pac and Big. You know, what would they. What would they have done? 20 years in the game, you know what I'm saying? You celebrating all eyes on me, life after death, 20 years later, you know, I don't know. Pac might have been DJing his basement. I don't know. But I'm living life and. And I'm going through, you know, one of those stages where, you know, you get to watch the game now. I watch the streets, you know what I'm saying? I'm in this world, but I'm not of it. You know what I'm saying? So I get to watch it, but at the same time, I already put my work in, so I get to sit back. But I'm dealing with real stuff now. Running companies and doing deals and, you know, empowering other people. So it's now I gotta really practice my skills of leadership. But with my catalog behind me. Cause I can stand on that because it's solid. You know what I'm saying? So I'm not, you know, I'm Frankie Beverly and Mays out here. I could keep going if I wanted to, but I don't got to.

[DJ Envy]

Do you have survivor's remorse at all?

[Jeezy]

Cause I used to.

[DJ Envy]

You have so many people that you.

[Jeezy]

Ran into, partners and people that you. Yeah, I used to. But everybody know me. They know I'm solid, you know what I'm saying? But at the same time, my life is about peace, joy and freedom. And I ain't. I'm saying that to say a lot of people don't survive the war, baby. You know what I'm saying? It's like, I ain't got no reason to go back. Ain't nothing to prove, you know what I'm saying? I'm just trying to live my life, make sure my people straight, you know, put as many people as I could put on and keep, you know, just. You know, just inspiring and involving my culture, which is why I'm even doing this symphony tour, which is crazy, because I think I'm the first one to ever take a symphony around the world, to do a tour, you know what I mean? To celebrate, you know, my first debut album, which is about three, four times platinum. I ain't checked last time, but, Oh.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I can't wait to put on motivation. One on one. Come on, now.

[Jeezy]

And it's crazy because it's like, you know, the only time I remember putting on a suit is for a funeral or a wedding. It's a celebration. And it's not just about. So it's not just about, you know, the music. It's about everybody who came along on this journey with me that'll celebrate. Think about where you was 20 years ago, you know what I'm saying? Where you were 20 years ago, and where y' all at now? This is a celebration of that, because that music reminds you of that time you was out there grinding. But look what you grinding, too. So this is a reason for everybody to put on a suit in a nice black dress and come out and celebrate. And I do want to say this. This is not. No, this is not the opera. You know what I'm saying? You're not gonna sit down and cross your legs. This is a party. You know what I'm saying? At the same time, you know, shout out to Adam Blackstone, you know, he. He helped me produce it. D. Hodges is. He wrote the music. He's actually conducting it. Those brothers are crazy. I bought DJ Drama with me, so, you know, it's a party. I got DJ Ace with me. It's a celebration.

[DJ Envy]

When you were making this album 20 years ago, right, were you just making songs or were you thinking the future? Were you thinking catalog?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Cause you look at a lot of.

[DJ Envy]

People in the industry, and their catalog is not strong, right? Their first album, the catalog is not strong. They can't go on tour. Were you thinking about that when you was writing this first album, or was it just. I'm just trying to get out the hood. I'm just.

[Jeezy]

I was just trying to stay alive and free, and I just wanted to be heard. And the reason why that album is so solid is because I put everything in there. You know, I didn't have another shot. You know what I'm saying? It wasn't like no label was looking for me, you know what I'm saying? I had spent all this money to build this buzz, and I had this one opportunity. You gotta think, like, I lost my voice. I tore my vocal cords, you know, Bells, Paul, like, all these things happen at one time, and I'm just, like. I was humbled. And the album got leaked four weeks before it came out. Think about that. I was up against all that, and I'm still, like, praying, you know what I'm saying? And it happened. So when I look back 20 years ago, like, I didn't realize what I was doing, but I know to change the trajectory of my family and. And our generational wealth and getting my family in a better place, that this is all I had, you know what I'm saying? So I put everything in there. I'm Trapper die in this. Yeah, Everything. By the way, I probably, you know, was riding around, you know, still getting.

[DJ Envy]

It during that time.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

Right.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's interesting.

[Jeezy]

Statue of Liberty is up. So I want to put that out there.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You know, it's interesting what you said about the record Soul Survival, because at that point in your life, you had survived to a certain extent, but you didn't. You didn't feel that way.

[Jeezy]

No, I mean, you got to think about it. I didn't really even start celebrating life until the recession. Yeah, I was. I was out of it, bro. I was drinking, smoking, living. I' ma just hold. No. You know what I'm saying? Because I didn't know then I woke up one day, it's like, damn, I'm still free, you know.

[DJ Envy]

So you do it at any moment.

[Lil Jon]

It could go down.

[Jeezy]

Yeah. And ain't nothing like that. That's some type of stress you don't even want, you know what I'm saying? Because it's just. It's every day, it never stops. And you're always on edge. You living from, you know, you living from a survival mindset, you know what I'm saying? And, you know, when I woke up on that day, when I started to work on the recession, that's when I realized what abundance was, you know what I'm saying? I'm saying, because now I'm like, I'm a superstar, you know, I was telling the other day, man, I got in the gym, got myself together. My first show in Boston for the recession tour, you know, I hit the stage and I'm telling the security guard, hey, yo, they throwing stuff at me. We gotta get out here and get down. He like, sir, no, they're panties.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Oh, damn.

[Jeezy]

I'm a sex symbol now. I like this. You know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne tha God]

So crusty and hard was in panties that you didn't realize throwing hard objects.

[Jeezy]

You know, bras and stuff. But I'm like, yo, this is. This is different. Because you got to think when I was doing shows, when thug motivation came out, all the gangsters was in the front, you know what I'm saying? All the. All the hustlers, it wasn't no women. I didn't have any women fans. You know, shout out to the women fans out there. You know what I'm saying?

[DJ Envy]

I'm shocked that you didn't know that you were such a sex symbol.

I'm really sitting here, like, how did you not.

[Jeezy]

I mean, you know, like, in the. You know, like. I didn't know that then. You know what I'm saying? Because you got to think, like, back then, what I was doing, you know, I was. I'm five eight. I was 260, skin bad. I wasn't drinking water. My diet was Waffle House and Cristal, you know what I'm saying? I'm partying all day because I didn't know if I was gonna be home.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You built like a snowman.

[Lil Jon]

For real.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah.

[Jeezy]

I was in it.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Big snow, you know.

[DJ Envy]

Now.

[Jeezy]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Not get it now. I mean, even on the intellectual level, like, I know that I can sit down and spar with the best of them. I mean, I know that for a fact.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Oh, yeah. We saw you with Neil Lungs.

[Jeezy]

Yeah. Shout out to Nia. Shout out to Nia.

[DJ Envy]

And then I was even saying a.

Lot of women in the comments saying.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Oh, after the divorce, man, he looked even better.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

Oh, wow.

[Jeezy]

I received that.

[DJ Envy]

I was saying that. But I know that that was, like, an intense time, you know, last year, you going through all of that, even with, you know, the custody battle that.

You did win and everything.

Where are things with you and your ex now?

[Jeezy]

Peace. Yeah, peace, man. I just. I'm all about understanding. I'm all about what's best for everybody. The greater, you know, the greater good. And it just, like. I'm just telling you, like, my life, I tell myself this every day. Like, man, this is amazing. I don't got no enemies. I ain't got no issues. I don't want no enemies. I don't want no issues. I just want peace. I just want joy, and I just want freedom. I love my freedom.

[Lil Jon]

Yeah.

[Jeezy]

You know what I'm saying? Like, I love it. Like, you just talk about, I came up here independently. I just called like, I'm coming to the Breakfast Club, you know what I'm saying? Like, I ain't gotta check in. I ain't gotta. You know, I ain't gotta talk to no label. I ain't gotta do shout out to Def Jam. Love, y'.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

All.

[Jeezy]

But it's just, like, freedom and ownership is everything, you know what I'm saying? Especially when you're talking art, you talking culture, you're talking your mind, you know what I'm saying? Like, I've worked hard my whole life. This is like, this is the season of me, you know what I'm saying? I'm putting myself first at all costs, you know what I'm saying? And it's just like, my piece is everything. Everybody that know me know that. You know what I'm saying? They call me like, yeah, bro, I love you, but don't call me with nothing crazy, you know what I'm saying?

[DJ Envy]

I wanted to ask, you know, how was that? Because you're very private, very private person.

[Lil Jon]

But that was so public.

[Jeezy]

Did that irk you at all?

[DJ Envy]

Like, everybody in your business talking about you?

[Jeezy]

Well, I had to come to the realization that I know who I am and that nobody else can't tell me different. So as long as I stayed on the path of integrity and staying true to myself, it wasn't nothing really to worry about. Because anybody that know me, like, I mean, I even heard y' all was up here, like, nah, I know. Jeezy, you know that. But that's. That's because my reputation exceeds me. I'm like, I ain't on. I ain't on nothing. You know what I'm saying? Unless I need to be.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You know what I'm saying?

[Jeezy]

And I'm not.

[DJ Envy]

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 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 in 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 on social, even tag products right from my phone, wherever I am. And Shopify Sidekick. Listen, you keep hearing all about A.I. let me tell y' all, this A.I. 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.com b e n now to start getting serious about building your future.

Hey, what up, y'? All? It's DJ Envy. And the holidays are here. The time of year that's all about connecting with loved ones in person or over the phone. In fact, hearing someone's voice can evoke a similar emotional response as a hug. And while most of us can hop on a video chat to really bring that connection to life, using tech isn't easy for everyone, especially some of the older folk in our lives. AT&T has been doing something special here to help. They offer digital literacy workshops that help older adults learn how to use technology to do things most of us take for granted, like video conferencing and sharing photos. Take Nancy Shand. She joined one of AT&T's workshops to learn how to video chat for the first time this holiday season. Nancy won't just be hearing about family gatherings, she'll be a part of them. Sharing stories, opening presents, and making memories all through a screen. Nobody should have to go through the holiday season alone. So be sure to connect and stay connected to your loved ones this holiday season.

Connecting changes everything.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice / Carolyn (patient testimonial)]

@&T. Whoo.

[Jeezy]

What a vibe we've got, y'.

[DJ Envy]

All.

[Jeezy]

As always, it's classic HBCU energy. Nonstop action, the band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chants, echoing, drums beating everybody showing that school pride. Moments like this. Yeah, they call for an ice cold Coca Cola. Crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Mmm.

[Jeezy]

Yeah, that taste always hit the right note. Just like the band at halftime. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere. And an ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo. No matter the place, no matter the moment, everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

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[DJ Envy]

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[Jeezy]

So it's just like it comes with the territory, you know what I'm saying? He. He who wears a crown. It's just like, you know, people talked about Jesus, you know what I'm saying? They're gonna talk about everybody. Everybody's not gonna like you. Now. If I'm a good person to you and you don't like me, then there's a problem, something. But if you don't like me because of what you heard or what you think, then I ain't none of my spiritual business. I can't do nothing about that, you know what I'm saying? I can't even convince you because your mind is made up. However, if you know me and we had some type of interaction, I Haven't done anything wrong to you, then that says more about you than me. Because now you judge and now you judge me. There's no judgment here because I'm not perfect by far. But if I haven't done anything to you, then you can't take that position because, you know, the people around me got real love for me and my friends and my circle. Like, I never felt any type of just. But the people who wasn't for me, of course. And that, I mean, that did me a solid. Now I ain't gotta even worry about cutting you off.

[DJ Envy]

Put yourself on right?

[Jeezy]

You know what I'm saying?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Would you ever get married again?

[State Farm Ad Voice]

Woo.

[Jeezy]

Hit me up. I'm gonna be all the way honest. I love my freedom and it has nothing to do. And it has nothing to do with anything in the past.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jeezy]

I just love my freedom. I got you. You know what I'm saying? Like, I love it, you know, I think life partners are amazing, you know, I would think so.

[Charlamagne tha God]

How did you feel when the Internet said you was trying to holl at Neil Long by any means necessary.

[Jeezy]

They weren't lying.

[Jermaine Dupri]

It was not lying, right?

[Charlamagne tha God]

He said, don't cheat.

[Jeezy]

What I went was real men. I never cheated. Not like that. No, I don't cheat.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What do you mean, not like that?

[Jeezy]

I'm saying, like, that's low hanging fruit. If I'm locked in, I'm locked in. We ain't got to be married. Like, I'm just not a cheater. That's like, I'm not gonna cheat my friends. You know what I'm saying? I'm not, I'm not. That ain't in my blood.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's real.

[Jeezy]

But, but you say I was trying to holler. Yeah, I was, you know, but I had to be respectful because I was still, you know, finalizing, you know what I'm saying? So it was hard. It was tough staying focused.

[DJ Envy]

They're gonna link you with everybody now, right? They gonna link you with everybody. With Cynthia Bailey the other day when you did that.

[Jeezy]

No, they wouldn't do that. They would do that. They sure did. We love Cynthia, man. Shout out to Cynthia. That's her home girl. You know what I'm saying? N N n now, now the other one. Yeah, I just said the other one.

[DJ Envy]

You spin the block on that real quick.

[Jeezy]

On who?

[Charlamagne tha God]

I mean on the other one.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Oh, absolutely.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Everything is finalized.

[Jeezy]

We're press fog. I'm going hit the park button, you.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Know what I'm saying?

[Jeezy]

I'm not gonna play about that, that.

[Charlamagne tha God]

So you said we might see her at some of these shows.

[Jeezy]

I mean, listen, I know she has a beautiful black dress. She's definitely invited.

[Lil Jon]

There you go.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I do want to know what, what's the Deep album cut that you really enjoy performing off? Doug, Motivation 101, man.

[Jeezy]

I mean, listen, bro, I can't get past intro, you know what I'm saying? You got to wait till you hear this with the, with the symphony, you know what I'm saying? With the symphony. And I need everybody to know I'm coming through your city, I'm coming through your town. It's gonna be amazing. One night only. And you gotta pull up and going back to your other question about me reaching back out, I think it's more important for me to reach forward. So shout out to Lisk, who I just partnered with for my non profit space. And shout out to the Urban League of Atlanta, who I reached out with for my Young CEO program. Because it's like, what is lisc?

[Charlamagne tha God]

I know you do that with the Street Dreams Foundation.

[Jeezy]

Yeah, Lisk is. So we got two things going right now. We definitely got the prostate cancer campaign going on. Cause I had a couple of friends that go through that. So we locked in there. But it's definitely for entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs, you know, tech spaces just. You have it like we showing them, them how to set up their lives so that they can win. And same thing with the Urban League of, of of Atlanta. Same thing. And we got the young CEO program. You can go on my Instagram, check it out. You know anybody from the age of. What's it, what's the age? 17 to 24. And we send it up, we putting them with mentors, all that. And, and by the way, like this is who I am. Like I love this. And somebody asked me, how do you do both? They all the same, you know what I'm saying? We still motivate. It's all the same to me. You know, it just. We get to jump on the stage, but then we get to go help some people with prostate cancer. We get to jump on the stage and we get to go help mentor some kids. You know, I love it.

[Charlamagne tha God]

And you saving people. You know, people can live a much longer life if they just go.

[Jeezy]

And I know I said this last time, but I gotta say it again. Cause you saved me, brother. Shout out to Charlamagne for my New York Times bestselling book, Adversity for Sale. Because I ran into a situation where I had a issue with the publishing company and I called Charlemagne's like, who published your book? And he put me with somebody and we went on to sell a New York Times bestseller.

[DJ Envy]

Congratulations.

[Jeezy]

Yeah. So thank you.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Thank you for all the years of motivation with the music.

[Lil Jon]

That's right.

[Jeezy]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

We appreciate you for joining us.

[Jeezy]

I appreciate you guys. Shout out to the Breakfast Club. Shout out to you all. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Well, there you have it.

[Jeezy]

Yes, sir, it's Jeezy.

[DJ Envy]

It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning everybody.

It's DJ Envy.

Just hilarious. Charlamagne, the guy. We are the Breakfast club club. Lauren LaRosa is here as well. And we got a special guest in.

[Charlamagne tha God]

The building, a icon guy. I thought he was up here. This is his first time up here, which is crazy.

[Lil Jon]

Yeah, that's a, that's only seen you on the road.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, I know, but I, I thought you've been up here. Ladies and gentlemen, Little John.

[Lil Jon]

Little John.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What's up, legend?

[Lil Jon]

Hey, man. Thank you all for having me.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Good morning.

[DJ Envy]

It's about time.

[Lil Jon]

Come on in, everybody. We don't say good morning enough to our fellow brothers and sisters. That is true. That's right. I was a victim, victim of that until I started to change my mindset. Sometimes I would come down, get in the car, going, you know, on the road, I didn't say good morning. And once I started to change my mindset, I realized that's a good way to start your day in a gesture to someone, whoever you're riding with, you know, the driver, whoever, and then ask.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Them how they feeling.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Lil Jon]

Sometimes that's also the case. Sometimes just say, how is your day going? Or, you know, the same. I found myself sometimes I'm a, I'm a, I'm really in tune to my spiritual side. I've been for a long time. Sometimes I might just be, I remember being in the club and I might walk by a random person and I can feel their energy and I'll be like, let me just give you a hug. Oh, wow. And sometimes that just changes somebody's life.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Absolutely.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What about the, what about when you were the person that might have been creating the energy though? Like if you felt like some aggressive angriness from this person but it was your fault because. No, your set that you just did.

[Lil Jon]

Well, you know, I, I, I'm going to tell you. One time I was in South Carolina in a hole in the wall club and it was supposed to be a night where cash money was supposed to be there and they called me cuz cash money couldn't come. So these folks in South Carolina was mad than a mother, and we was not cash money. Little John Eastside boys show up.

[DJ Envy]

Damn.

[Lil Jon]

And so I understand it's a hostile situation, but I said. I looked out on that crowd, and I said, the biggest dude in this crowd, I'm about to make him my best friend. And I made him my best friend during the, like, playing to him, giving him drinks and hyping him up. And then he turned. Like, it turned the whole crowd around. And then they were fans of us after that. Absolutely. But it was. It was a way. You can always change the energy of a situation if you approach with a calm manner. That's why good security don't go and, like, try to fight somebody. They try to diffuse the situation. That's the first rule, is diffuse it, not be the aggressor.

[DJ Envy]

Now, look, Little John, I want to go back, since this is your first time.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Hold on real quick, though. What is a Little John morning routine?

[Lil Jon]

Like, I knew you were gonna ask me that.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah. What is the Little John morning Review?

[Lil Jon]

So this morning, I woke up, had a little water, because, you know, I do my. I do this Korean facial stuff. So I do skin. You know, my skin is very important.

[DJ Envy]

Skin looks very good.

[Lil Jon]

How do my skin look, ladies?

[Charlamagne tha God]

It looks really good.

[Lil Jon]

One. One rule for that is positivity, Positive energy, positive thoughts. Because if you're a negative person, all this negativity, it's gonna wear the flesh down. So get up in the morning, do my skincare routine, brush my teeth, all that good stuff.

[Jeezy]

Stuff.

[Lil Jon]

I'm always in my mind saying affirmations for the day, even before I go to bed in my dreams. Like, last night, I was like, it's gonna be a great interview.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

It's gonna.

[Lil Jon]

This is.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I look at this as one of.

[Lil Jon]

The biggest interviews I've ever done in my life because it's a lot to talk about. Charlamagne, you. You seen me grow from. I think we. One time we talked, you were like. You came to the radio station in. In South Carolina one time. That was early on. He wasn't even on air yet. That.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Right.

[Lil Jon]

Were you. Were you on there?

[Charlamagne tha God]

I think it was a phone. Or you called in. You had just put out. I think you had just put out BIA. BIA.

[Lil Jon]

Wow. So that's 20 years ago.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah. So we were talking about you having the. The Confederate flag in the. In the video.

[Lil Jon]

Okay.

[Charlamagne tha God]

About that.

[Lil Jon]

So that's. You know, you've seen the growth, and it's. I think it's important because. Yeah, you've seen the growth. You've seen it from a different angle. You've seen it from a different angle. You've seen it from a different angle. And. And, you know, you guys move the needle of culture, and you had everybody and their grandmama on this show. So I think it's one of the most important and, you know, best interviews I think I'm gonna have because. Because of all of that.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Let's claim it.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah.

I want to go back. I want to start from the beginning. These are the interviews I love because for some reason, I thought you've been up here before. So I want to start when you first got in the music industry, right?

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Let's start with. You started working for Jermaine Dupree.

[Jeezy]

Yeah.

[Lil Jon]

Yep. 93.

[DJ Envy]

Start from there. So how did you hook up with Jermaine Dupri, and what did you do for Jermaine Dupri?

[Lil Jon]

So I used to be in Atlanta in the 90s. I was like, the hottest DJ in the city. I was the man. I did all the parties, and I would see Jermaine all the time at the clubs. And then I did this one club called the Phoenix Nightclub, which was the hottest nightclub in Atlanta at the time. We brought Biggie, we bought Biggie. I got Biggie and Craig Mack together when they did the Big Mac tour. Wow. So I got them. I worked on the radio station, but I wasn't the pd. And you know how back then you had to go through the PD because you wanted to get the spins for your artists? So Diddy, you know, we. He let us get Biggie and Craig because he thought I was like, the pd. And he get there and the club is slammed like a million people, and he's like, yo, what the heck? Yo, we need some more money because this thing is packed. And then he found out that I wasn't the pd. Oh, damn. And so he was extra pissed. And then he even tried to get the rep that worked for BMG at the time fired because she got. Because we got Craig and Biggie for free.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Wow. So, yeah, that was normal back then when artists were on promote, all like.

[Lil Jon]

Yeah, but you had. You wanted to go through the station so you can make sure you get the spin. Look. And we wasn't that, but we were high promoters. So I was doing all the hot parties and I would just see Jermaine all the time. But, like, even if I wasn't DJing, I was everywhere. Like, I had a thing where I was. I wanted to be from. I called it from Bankhead to Buckhead I was from the bougie spots to the. The most hood you can get in Atlanta. So I was literally everywhere. And Jermaine came to me. So he hired me in 1993. I started working at so so Deaf and I was hired to do A and R and street promotions because I was everywhere, right? So he wanted. He wanted someone that had respect in the city, that could go anywhere, and someone like me that I was always out. So that was represent Social Death from Bankhead. Like I said to Buckhead.

[DJ Envy]

And what artist did you have being an A R for Social Death at that time?

[Lil Jon]

I. I had. I put together all of the Social Death Base All Stars. And at night, I think the whole.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Community very slept on era of it.

[Lil Jon]

Atlanta. Yeah. And that changed. That changed music too. Like it gave us a whole genre that had never been created, like, had never been done before. And that all started because in Atlanta we used to do like, it was DJ Jelly, Shout Out, DJ Jelly, Shout out, the J Team, DJ Smurf and all of those guys. They would take like slow jam acapellas. Like say one famous mix was can you stand the rain New edition? And put it over a bass beat. So they used to do all of these mixes like that. They would just do a whole mixtape. It'll be all bass beats and then these R B acapellas. And so I was like, we love this so much in the city. Let's take that and make a. A record from that. Nobody made an actual song. So I came up with that concept and I went to my boy, DJ Cool Collie, AKA Rodney. And then at the same time I met Carl Mo. He used to call the phone at so so deaf and. And play his tracks on the phone. Interesting story about that. So one day I'm like, these tracks is dope. So I called him to the. To the office and he comes up there with a freaking keyboard and plays the keyboard. Like just playing the keyboard. Not like no CDs, no cassette tape, just playing the keyboard. I'm like, this is crazy. So I ended up using him and we did My Boo. And so yeah, I did all of the Social Death Base All Stars. And then out of that we had Playa Poncho. He got signed and we did a couple records with Player Poncho. And Player Poncho is actually how I met the Eastside Boys. Because Player Poncho would always, when he would go out, he would have a whole like 2010, 20 guys with him. And the Eastside Boys was always with him. Even if it Was just like two or three guys with him. And so me and the Eastside Boys, just one day we were in the club and we just started chanting this Chant, who you with? Who you with? Get cross. Who you with? And then everybody in the club start chanting. And then I look at Big Sam, I'm like, we need to turn this into a song. And so I know I have access to people with labels and stuff. So I called somebody I knew, actually I called Cool Ace, this guy named Cool Ace. And Cool Ace connected me with this guy named Carlos Glover. And we ended up going in the studio and we made the song who youo With. And that started everything for Lil Jon as an artist.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I'm glad you mentioned Sam and Bo too, because people always seem to forget about the east side Boys.

[Lil Jon]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What did they bring to the table? What made Lil Jon and the east side Boys such an amazing group?

[Lil Jon]

We were the sound of the rowdy guys in the back of the club. That's what we were. We was the. That was turned up in the back that you just be looking back like, make sure they ain't coming over here with that bull. So we were that. And what people don't understand about crunk music, I know some people are like, why was. Why did it do what it do? Why did it spread? Why did it become big? Because it was an outlet of energy for black youth.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yes.

[Lil Jon]

When you went to the club, you had a hard ass week. You had a hard life. Whatever the was going on in your life. You hear that, that crunk music and you get in that damn mosh pit and you let all of that out and you feel amazing. Yeah. You know what I mean? So that's why crunk music was able to. To reach so many people. That's why I still like going. Like I see you talking about all the time about Knuckles. You buck as a Negro spiritual. And it is like it touches your soul in a certain way. And I think we do. And like crunk music. Tap into music to their ancestors because they were chanting and so on and so forth.

[DJ Envy]

What did you do when you were banned from clubs? I remember in college there was some clubs that were like, you cannot play none of that in this club.

[Lil Jon]

Yeah, put your hood up and all that stuff. We just kept going because when you. When you tell somebody, you can't have it. They wanted more, you know, I've seen people. I was in Louisiana one time, we did a show and they got so turned up, they start fighting the police in the club.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Amazing times. Times, man.

[Lil Jon]

Yeah, it was crazy. I think it's just a testament to like we just brought something different, you know. And like the kids now think they are turning up, but they have no idea what a real turnt up time was from the 2000s.

[Charlamagne tha God]

And get crunk was such a great record because I didn't think you could get crunker than Kings of Crunk, you know, I'm not even joking. I didn't think you could get crunking that. But as soon as you hear who am I? Bohegan Being me. My. You like God.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Lil Jon]

Killed that. Salute Bohen out there.

[Charlamagne tha God]

How did you. How did you even have the mindset to take that to another level? How did you take that energy to another level?

[Lil Jon]

That beat was produced by Lil J, who produced Buck.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Wow.

[Lil Jon]

So it was time to, you know, come and work on the album. And you know, everybody down with Being Me. Of course, people that don't know Crime Mob, part of that was through Being Me. So we are part of putting them out there. So of course I call all of the squad, you know, Trioville helped me write some of the songs. And yeah, Lil Jay sent me. I think he sent me some beats. And that was one of the beats. And I was like, this is insane.

[DJ Envy]

Wow.

[Lil Jon]

I thought it was one of the correctest beats ever too.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Absolutely.

[Lil Jon]

I think my favorite beats that I've produced or co produced or been on is Get Crunk and what you gonna do. And what you're gonna do is you need beat. I was in New York when I did that beat. I remember I was on TBT and Steve Gottlieb and shout out to Brian Leach. My boy Brian Leach, he was the A R at the time. He was like, yo, you gotta go in and knock out this song for this. I think it was like a Christmas album or something. Christmas Crunk album that Steve Gottlieb wanted to put out. And I'm like, he can't put no album out called Crump without me. So I'm like this guy. And so I was in the new. I was in New York and Brian was like, you got to go in and record this song. So I was angry when I made that beat. I'm never mad when I make tracks. But that's one of the only beats I've ever made when I was angry. And that's why I sound so aggressive, because I was mad that I had to go in the studio and record this. I wanted to just go out. Like, I was like, I ain't. I'm going. Going to the club. He was like, no, you got to go and do this song. And so that's my anger coming out through the drum machine.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Did you ever trademark the word crunk?

[Lil Jon]

I can't remember. Probably did all my ad libs.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I know that because you're the face of crunk. But to me, I would have to give. I would say three Six Mafia are probably the.

[Lil Jon]

So that's another argument going around. It's an argument that says Memphis started crunk. Here's. Here's my. Here's what I will say. We be in Atlanta. You couldn't be Atlanta in the 90s and not be listening to 8ball MJG. You couldn't be riding around not listening to Master P. Master P. Master P changed the landscape of the South. The south, period.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

That's right.

[Lil Jon]

He was the first one that really got us rowdy. I would say it was Master P, but we was listening to Ballingy. And of course Three six Mafia came around.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You think he got his rowdy before three six?

[Lil Jon]

I think for bout it, bout it.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Bout it, bout it. Yeah. But tear the club up. I bet you I won't hit him.

[Lil Jon]

The club was 97. What year did Bouti bout it come out?

[DJ Envy]

I was in college. Had to be 95.

[Lil Jon]

I think it was like 95.

[DJ Envy]

95.

[Lil Jon]

I remember what happened was in the club in Atlanta, it was playing bass music. And then when Master P came, that was over.

[DJ Envy]

Bowdy Bouti, that was 95. Definitely. I was a freshman in college.

[Lil Jon]

That was the record in the hood was getting no limit tattoos.

[DJ Envy]

1995.

95.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah.

[Lil Jon]

Exactly a part of the album. True. That's what changed it for us. So I will say Memphis is part of the influence. But it started for us with Master Pete. Master that body bout it just changed everything. But we are influenced, but it's all different sounds, but it all intertwines and works together.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What moment made you realize crunk had officially crossed from sovereign energy to a global move?

[Lil Jon]

Coming up, doing mtv. They let me get in Times Square on a double decker bus with little scrappy on TRL doing what you gonna do, bruh?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Mtv.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I. I was gonna say mtv too, because I remember watching the Video Music Awards. I forgot what year it was. They played Get Low going in the commercial break.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Oh.

[Charlamagne tha God]

And the audience went crazy. And Justin Timberlake was wilding. And I just remember thinking to myself, oh, Get Low is out of here.

[Lil Jon]

Yeah. And then we end up performing Get Low at the MTV Video Music Awards. Get Low. Yeah. Lean back. That Was a pretty insane year for me.

[DJ Envy]

Can you tell us the origin story of Lovers and Friends?

[Lil Jon]

So in Atlanta, we go to strip club for everything. So we always in. You know, I was in the strip club one day, and the DJ played the Michael Sterling Lovers and Friends. And I was like, huh, that could be pretty cool for Usher to do. So let's back up. So this is before Usher's album is done. I give Usher the Michael Sterling on the cd. Like, check this out. We should do this over this. Don't listen to it. He don't listen to it. So we on my album. So I'm like, I'm gonna take that Lovers and friends idea and do it for my album. So I do the beat over, and I let Usher know, yo, I got this joint for us. Like, come, you know, let's do it. So he flies in, he records it, and he's out. And after he does his part, so I'm just like, wow, smash. So I call Luda. I'm like, bro, we got another one. Like, I need you on this asap. Send it to Luda. He did his part, and then I go in last because I'm not the rapper. And so I was like, I need to take my time to make sure my verse is as catchy as possible because I can't compete against ludicrous.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Ludicrous.

[Lil Jon]

And then it's Usher, like, come on. So I was like, let me take something from this record. We had a record called. It's a record we did with ubi.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I forgot the name of it.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Nothing's free.

[Lil Jon]

Nothing's Free?

[Charlamagne tha God]

How you forget that? That's a classic.

[Lil Jon]

Nothing's Free. So we did Nothing Free, like, in the 90s. And so I was like, that shout a part was really catchy on that song, but it was regional. Nobody really heard it out of the south mouth. So I was like, let me take that same little thing and put that in Lovers and friends. And that will be the little catch for my verse to make it catchier. And little did I know that that was gonna be, like, people's favorite verses because it's so simple. It's so simple and it's catchy. And yeah, that's one. That song went number one without a video because it was the labels and superstar this and superstar that and da da da da da.

[DJ Envy]

But.

[Lil Jon]

But number one song, rap song of the year without a video in the 2000s is impossible.

[DJ Envy]

What made you do the meditation album? So that's totally far the other end of the spectrum.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Lil Jon]

Turning 50 turned 50. Lot of things started to happen in my life. First thing it hit me was like I asked myself, what makes you happy? And I said, damn. Making sure everybody else good. But that's not what makes me, like, what makes me happy. I couldn't really tell myself. And so I was like, you know what? I need to kind of put myself first.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

What a matchup we got, y'.

[Lil Jon]

All. This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

The band is rocking and the crowd lit chant.

[Lil Jon]

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 taste 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.

[Jermaine Dupri]

And in ice cream, cold Coca Cola.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

That's a winning combo.

[Lil Jon]

No matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

So grab a Coca Cola and keep.

[Lil Jon]

That HBCU pride going.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

You've been working in the garage with your dad every week, Monday to Sunday, trying to get the old school up and running. Today, after all the hard work, y' all finally finished it. So you have that feeling of a comfort. You did it. Then your dad throws you the keys. He says those three magic words, all your son. Yep. Same car that belonged to your grandpa and that your dad helped him fix. It's yours. Three generations right there, keeping the tradition alive. But if you ask dad to really keep the tradition going, you need to get insurance. And you already know you need to get State Farm, because your agent, well, he gets tradition too. His dad was an agent, his grandpa too. So he gets you. Generation to generation, remember to choose the agents that your family counted on. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[DJ Envy]

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 in 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 1, 2, 3 steps. I used to juggle 10 different logins and apps. Now one platform I manage my store, sell online, 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.com B E N Now to start getting serious about building your future.

[Lil Jon]

I'm Carolyn.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice / Carolyn (patient testimonial)]

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[Jermaine Dupri]

This is where mindset comes in.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice / Carolyn (patient testimonial)]

Someone will be eliminated.

[DJ Envy]

Pressure is coming down.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Trainer Games on Prime Video January 8th Watch the trailer on trainergames.com like I'm.

[Lil Jon]

Not happy in this marriage. It's like, so say I wanted to divorce also around the same time, me and my, my good friend Doug Davis, we talk like every year because he calls and gives me because he's, he's like a couple months younger than me. So he's like, oh, you're old man. So we're talking and he was telling me he wanted to introduce me to somebody that was in this space. And I was like, oh, that's interesting because I've been listening to like all of this like Binaural beats to sleep and relax and ocean and rain and all of this type of stuff. So me and this guy, Kabir, his name's Kabir Sego, we connected. And so I'm going through the divorce and like, like, I didn't like where my mental state was at because I'm angry. I'm like, ah, why can't she just do this and that? So I'm like mad and I don't like, that's not me. I'm a positive at all times person. I don't think negatively. So I started to like meditate every day. I started to say affirmations every day. And it helped me to be in a better mental state as well as having good people in my corner, like my queen, her name is Jamila. She was there for me at that time and she would give me like, also like just positive. She would just keep me, try to keep me in a positive mindset. And she had been through a rough divorce too, so she can give me some insight and just, you know, help me keep my head up. So we went in, we recorded these albums and you know, this time of my life is feeling like I'm doing what God intended me to do. But what's amazing is everything that got me here I was supposed to do, right? And even like all of the music that I've given people gave people positivity. So it's always been positivity, but it, it's meaning more now when someone tells me, I never meditated, you help me meditate. I was having trouble getting over this grief of a lot, you know, losing someone. Your meditation about grief helped me. I'm inspired to. You know how many people have called me about getting in the gym? Yeah, it's insane. Like celebrities, all kind of people are like, you inspired me to get healthy. So I feel now like I'm doing what God intended me to do. It took me a long time to get here, but this is. It's just the time it's supposed to be and crazy. I was thinking about this the other day. I met Mr. Farrakhan at the Source Awards one time, and he basically told me. He said, you got power. You got a voice. And he basically was kind of trying to tell me, like, use it. And it like, that stuck with me. Like, I'm like, okay, but now I'm using my voice and my power in a good way to push positivity into the world.

[DJ Envy]

So that is what makes you happy.

[Lil Jon]

That's what make. That's what, you know. Yeah, but it makes me happy that.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Okay, just to be.

[Lil Jon]

Just to do good, you know? Just to do good. Because all that comes back and when you like. A guy came to me. I did the cola guard thing, right? A guy came to me in the club one night in the club and was like, I did that cola guard test because of you. And I. It came back positive. And he did. He. He didn't have. Have colon cancer, but he had polyps. So just stuff like that. It just makes me feel like I'm doing good in the world.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Hiring people.

[Lil Jon]

And being a good role model to my son. I have a daughter now, you know, she's 10 months old.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Congratulations.

[Lil Jon]

I look at life, like, with health, like, I gotta be here for her.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

You know what I'm saying?

[Lil Jon]

I gotta be here for her first day of school. I gotta be here for her high school graduation, walk her down the aisle. So health is even more important to me. It was something I was doing to just, you know, live a long, full life. But even more so now I have even more motivation because of my daughter and her mother. I gotta be here for them.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

So it's crazy to see you cry, because a lot of people never even thought you had eyes.

[Lil Jon]

No. You know what, black man? We need to cry more.

[DJ Envy]

I agree. Absolutely.

[Charlamagne tha God]

We need to cry.

[Lil Jon]

When you get more in tune to your higher self and you stop vibrating at these low frequencies, you can let yourself, let the energy flow, because we should. We don't have to be tough all the time. And you're an advocate for therapy. I push all brothers. We don't have to suffer in silence. We suffer in freaking silence. Call your homie sometimes and just be like, you good? How you doing? Not just period, but how you mentally doing, bro? Because that one little conversation could make him not go do some stupid or take his life or whatever, you know? So I started doing therapy. I pushed anything. Any knowledge that I got, I try to share with everybody because we got.

[Jermaine Dupri]

To help each other.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's right.

[Lil Jon]

We all.

[Jermaine Dupri]

We got.

[Lil Jon]

That's right.

[DJ Envy]

Sure.

[Lil Jon]

No, y' all got me up here. Crying.

[DJ Envy]

Was gonna be a good day. Great interview. You might have needed to release.

Really good.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Do you think people truly understand the loneliness that can come with success and entertainment?

[Lil Jon]

No. Because they just see the private jets and the trips and all that. They don't realize, you know, sometimes you can't go nowhere because people bugging you. You can't spend time with your loved ones without people bugging you. Or the. The you. I gotta make another hit record. Or, you know, I mean, like. Or even when you start to go down, you're not as hot as you were. People not picking up the phone and all that. Yeah, it's a lot of. Most people couldn't deal with this life. They could not deal with it because it's too much pressure. Then people on the Internet with all their opinions and all of this and that, and it's a lot of pressure that you cannot be built weak to be an entertainment industry.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

When you. When you. My last question. When you think about legacy now, how much of it is about peace and purpose, rather than, I guess, the plaques in the parties, all that.

[Lil Jon]

I think my legacy is going to be all about positivity, because every step of the way it's been crunk was positive. It was a positive release. Now in my latter years, it's meditation, mindfulness. Get therapy, fellas. I'm gonna tell everybody out there, get therapy.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's right.

[Lil Jon]

Get a therapy. If you're going through it, you. You should not be left to your own devices to deal with some serious issues. Sometimes you need to talk to someone that's a qualified person. And I did emdr. Did you ever do emdr?

[Charlamagne tha God]

I never did emdr.

[Lil Jon]

EMDR is amazing because it taps into your subconscious. When I did emdr, stuff came out that I didn't even really didn't know was there. So it can tap to the. It can find the root of why you got that trauma. I was able to go to my childhood self and say, it's okay. Wow. I'm here. It's fine. Yeah, you're. You're loved, you're appreciated, you know, all of that. And it helped me to get past whatever that was. And the more you do it, the more stuff comes to you, and you just realize, this is why I'm the way I am. I can now get past this, and I could change these habits, you know, and I can be living. I can live a better life.

[DJ Envy]

Wow, man.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Little John, you are an icon living. You wanted to greatest producers of all Time. You bought people so much joy in this next chapter of your life where you are helping people heal. I think it's going to be your best work yet, my brother think so too.

[Lil Jon]

I do too.

[Jeezy]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Breakfast Club, good morning.

[Charlamagne tha God]

It's time for Donkey of the K.

[Jeezy]

I ain't trying to be donkey today no more.

[Charlamagne tha God]

They should be embarrassed by what they already did. I'm not making these people do these things called Donkey of the day. And it really caught me off guard.

[Lil Jon]

Damn Charlemagne.

[DJ Envy]

Who got the donkey of the day?

[Jermaine Dupri]

The today.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Well, just hilarious. Donkey of the day goes to an and Bernard Mcdono. Okay? They are 39 and 41 years old and I am reluctantly giving them donkey of the day this morning because truthfully, this is one of the most romantic stories I have ever heard. See, when you're in a relationship, you are always looking for new things to do, okay? New things to try with your significant other. You have to keep things interesting in the relationship. And these two absolutely did that. Let me read the headline for you. The headline is Dine and dash couple busted for hitting five restaurants for twelve hundred dollars in free meals. I repeat, Dine and Dash couple busted for hitting five restaurants for twelve hundred dollars in free meals. See, what had happened was Ann and Bernard have been accused of dining at five different restaurants all within a 30 mile radius of each other and leaving without paying their tab. Before you ask, from the pictures I see, yes, they are big backs, okay? Wide bodied individuals, all right? One of them so big that if she wore yellow, kids would run after her thinking they missed the school bus. Respectfully, okay? Now these folks just weren't going to different restaurants, you know, to get an item here or there. You know, you may order some chicken from kfc, but then, you know, get your sides from Popeyes. No, these individuals who are so big they could sit on Walmart and make the prices go down, we're eating full blown meals at these establishments, okay? This is the epitome of big back activity. See, God can't bless what you pretend to be, so you need to be yourself. And if you are yourself, a blessing as big as Anne's back is on its way to you. Now, let's be clear. This is gluttony to the highest degree. Because the couple used to go to these restaurants and they would go with a party of six. They would order and eat large meals which often cost upward of $400. They would eat quickly and then four members of the party would exit, leaving and behind, and Anne would be with a little Small child, like a four year old child. They would leave Anne behind to pay the bill and would act like she was paying the bill. Okay, with a card. Then the card would get declined. Then she would say she needed to get another card from the car. She'd walk to the car. They'd ask the little boy to stay and wait for her in the restaurant. And then when the woman would get to the car, after about 10, 15 seconds, the little boy would run out to the car. Man, the clumps is wilding. Okay, what I don't understand is if you can put this much energy into a crime of food consumption, how come you can't put that same energy into unbigging your back? And furthermore, if you can put this much energy into being a snack scammer, how come you can't put just as much energy into getting a job so you don't have to steal from people? Now, the owners of these restaurants would call police, but police would tell them this isn't an emergency, and all they could do was report the incident. This is disgusting. You call the police to report a herd of humans coming into your establishment and stealing and nobody does anything. But imagine the urgency that would happen if they called and said their restaurant just got invaded by a herd of buffalo. Every single law enforcement division would show up and animal control to get this herd of buffalo under control. So the same sense of urgency should be applied to a herd of humans who are as big as buffalo. Now, what's even sadder is an owner of the restaurant said they sent CCTV recordings. I guess those are the camera recordings from the restaurant. They would send the recordings from the restaurant. They would send photos. They even sent the registration plate number of the car. And the response from law enforcement was, this vehicle is connected to many people. Well, go investigate all the many people then. Now we can take that for what it is and say, hey, the vehicle is connected to many people. Or we can say one of these individuals is so big that they get mistaken for many. When 50 Cent said many men wish death upon him, we knew that meant a lot. So you know how big one person gotta be for you to refer to them as many. To be fair, though, the whole party, not big backs. Just like two of them. And they white, so they look like Twitter eggs from 2014. But let's think about the bright side of this. I know a good romantic comedy when I hear one. Just call Alvin Gray right now.

[Lil Jon]

Now.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Okay. Call Alvin Gray. We about to go into production on loving big backs coming to to be Real soon. Opening scene. Opening scene. We gonna show them getting baptized at Sea World. Oh, you know what, though? Oh, wait a minute. I got a better name for this romantic comedy. We can change Anne's name to Stella and call it How Stella Got Her Big Back. That's it. That's it right there. Please, please give ann and Bernard McDonald's the biggest he haw. And let's not forget what they did is wrong. And that's why they were arrested and charged with five counts of fat fraud and charged with four counts of theft. Jesus.

[DJ Envy]

Well, rightfully so. They should have been.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's right.

[DJ Envy]

It's a fat fraud. Yes. Yo, Jesus.

[Charlamagne tha God]

But I know they didn't put regular handcuffs on them either, but that's a whole different story.

[DJ Envy]

How Anne got her big Back.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yes. We just gotta. We gotta change her name to Stella, though. We changed her name to Stella for the movie. How Stella Got Her Big Back.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Oh, my God.

[Lil Jon]

Oh, boy.

[Charlamagne tha God]

All right, what do we call Alvin Gray?

[DJ Envy]

I'm gonna call him. I'm gonna call him out. Although Alvin.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Great.

[DJ Envy]

Do have a movie called Check, Please, where they run out on.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Got to Watch.

[DJ Envy]

It's on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Tubi.

[Charlamagne tha God]

It is.

[DJ Envy]

Y' all ever believe nothing I say?

[Jeezy]

Oh, Lord.

[DJ Envy]

It's called Check, Please. And they do. That's a movie about guys running out on the check. But it's funny. It's. It's like.

[Jermaine Dupri]

It's a.

[DJ Envy]

It's a storyline behind it. Everything.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Man, you is not lying. I just looked it up, man. Man, hold on, man. Hold on. Alvin Gray got the rapper who got shot in the hill, the nurse that saw the baby on the highway. And Check, Please. Yeah. Oh, oh, I gotta hold now. This one I got to watch. He got one called Black Water. Sasquatch. Oh, my God.

[DJ Envy]

That's the number one. No, that's the one. You gotta say Blackwater Sasquatch is really good.

[Charlamagne tha God]

It's about Bigfoot.

[Lil Jon]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

I ain't gonna tell you what is going on here. Yeah, but it's good, though. It's black, though. It's like a black film.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I'm watching that. That's gonna get me to Tubi. I'm watching that today, and it's free. Oh, my goodness.

[DJ Envy]

Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne, the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in the building.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yes, indeed.

[Lil Jon]

J.D.

[DJ Envy]

Jermaine Dupree.

[Jermaine Dupri]

What's happening?

[DJ Envy]

How you feeling?

[Charlamagne tha God]

He looking at the wall.

[DJ Envy]

We ain't got JD on the wall.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I don't know I don't know. Yeah, I don't think. I don't think I made the wall. That's all right.

[DJ Envy]

We ain't got JD on the wall.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah, y' all ain't got me up there.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Well, no, see, the wall represents, like, iconic Breakfast Club moments. Not that you haven't given us great interviews.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I haven't had it.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You know what I'm saying?

[Jermaine Dupri]

You have had some. You know, I'm out of that. I'm out of that conversation.

[Charlamagne tha God]

But you have always coming in and giving. Giving us great conversation. Man. I've been enjoying the match Magic City docu series.

[Lil Jon]

Thank you.

[Charlamagne tha God]

And it got me to thinking about, like, just Atlanta. Like, in Atlanta's had a lot of different runs as far as music is concerned. But what is Atlanta culture exactly? Is it.

[Jeezy]

This.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Is it the script clubs?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah. 100. That. That's one of the things skating. Just a bunch of different things, like the bass music and a bunch of different things. But we haven't. We've never really highlighted these things the way I guess I'm trying to do and make sure that people understand that that's what it is. Because, like, people think, like, even with the strip club situation, it was me and whoever else was promoting this from a long time ago, just black people trying to promote strip clubs. And you learn from the documentary that this. This was a law that was passed in the city and might be more states in the, you know, south, that nudity was something that they opened the floodgates and made it a business.

[Lil Jon]

Right?

[Jermaine Dupri]

So even me growing up, I never realized why it was so many strip clubs in Atlanta. It was a strip club damn near every corner or in every hood in Atlanta. And I never understood. I just thought we was just a strip club place. But when you look at this documentary, you start going outside and looking at all the other places, like in Florida and all these other places, you're like, oh, it's a law that was passed, right? And I used to come to, like, New York when we used to do things in. And wherever I go to other cities and be like, man, why these cities ain't popping like Atlanta with the strip clubs? And the law is a real law that gave us the entryway to just have this going. So there. That's a. That's an Atlanta thing, you know?

[DJ Envy]

Is Magic City the. The biggest strip club and the most recognized strip club in the U.S. nah, I think.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I mean, I think it's been. It's been a couple, you know, over the years. I think Magic is In the top, top three, of course, but like booby trapping Miami. King of diamonds. King of Diamonds. When I mean, you know, Miami's always had, you know, I mean they've always had these trip clubs. Turnover V Live. V Live. I think that's Houston. So I think Houston, there's a couple of places that's got. But I don't think Houston can get naked though. That's the thing. It's like we talking about new as far as strip clubs. It's Miami and Miami, I think they do topless in Houston.

[DJ Envy]

But yeah, Atlanta was nudity.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Nudity, yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

So what made you want to Atlanta need that infrastructure now? Because that's what. When I think about Magic City, I know people look at it as just a T ball, but when I'm watching the daca, even just growing up, I think of it as infrastructure. This is one place where people went to break records.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I mean, I, that's, that's the thing, like I was gonna answer your question. The reason why I wanted to do it is because, you know, we don't talk about the places that actually helped us get to where we are. You know what I mean? That part of hip hop stopped a long time ago. Like when you watch like Wild Style, right? When there's a person that's not from New York, I watch Wild Style. You could see like how Grandmaster cast them, what they was doing to become and made what made hip hop turn into what it was here in New York in, in the later years of hip hop, what shows or anything show kids how we got, you know, I mean, how we got to where we are. And I think that, that, you know, it's important for black establishments to show like it's a 40 year old black establishment. The owner went to jail, they tried to sell his property, he took it back over and now it's back popping in that he got a TV show. Like that's American dream, you know what I mean? Like, regardless of whatever good or bad, it's a black American dream that we don't ever really be talking about.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Because Atlanta need that infrastructure now.

[Lil Jon]

Huh?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Does it need it now?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah, 100%. I mean we need it more than any. Everybody. I mean not just Atlanta, like a bunch of cities need to. It's probably a bunch of other cities that's got like 40 to 50 year old black establishments that I don't, that I don't even know about.

[DJ Envy]

What do you think ruined strip clubs? Cause at one time there was a strip club in every city. They were always big There was 15 in Atlanta. There was 10 in New York. What do you think ruined the strip club safety?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Right? I think that's why Magic stands out so much. Because you can go in Magic with all your jury on, you can go on Magic and be the biggest star in the world and be standing next to the biggest criminal in the world, but whatever would happen somewhere else ain't getting ready to happen in Magic. And I say that proudly because even me, I go to Magic without security. Like, because the security in there gonna take care of me. Like, they, like if they was working for me. And I feel like it's the safest club in Atlanta. So I feel like that. I feel like the safety of strip clubs and how Magic ran the club, strip club etiquette, I think that is, that. That's what killed strip clubs for the most part now.

[DJ Envy]

Also, I noticed, you know, growing up when we used to go to strip clubs, you go with a couple dollars, right? And you would. You would be fine all night. That's totally changed.

[Jermaine Dupri]

That's just your mental.

[DJ Envy]

Okay.

[Lil Jon]

Right.

[Jermaine Dupri]

That's just people's mental space, right? If Magic City's, like, overly crowded, I'll go stand by the bar and I might spend 5, 100 to $1,000, you know? And by the way, J.D.

[DJ Envy]

That'S still a lot of money. I was talking about $100, J.D.

[Lil Jon]

Okay, I'm saying $1,000 at the bar.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I'm just saying. Let me put this in perspective. What a vibe we've got, y'.

[Lil Jon]

All.

[Jeezy]

As always, it's classic HBCU energy. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance echoing drums beating everybody. Showing that school pride. Moments like this, yeah, they call for an ice cold Coca Cola. Crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

Mmm.

[Jeezy]

Yeah, that taste always hit the right note. Just like the band at halftime. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere, and an ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo. No matter the place, no matter the moment. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

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[Jermaine Dupri]

On a new crib.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

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[Jermaine Dupri]

This is where mindset comes in.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice / Carolyn (patient testimonial)]

Someone will be eliminated.

[DJ Envy]

Pressure is coming down.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Trainer games on Prime Video January 8th. Watch the trailer on trainergames.com Season 2.

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[DJ Envy]

Are running it back to with even.

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[DJ Envy]

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[Jermaine Dupri]

This isn't your regular season.

[Charlamagne tha God]

This is unrivaled where the Pace is.

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[DJ Envy]

Max.

[Jermaine Dupri]

The other night, when Chris Brown was in Atlanta, they spent $200,000 in Magic City. So my little 500 to a thousand over there in that corner is like a hundred dollars, man.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Because I hear when people say those numbers, and I'm like, I don't believe that.

[Jermaine Dupri]

No, I swear to God.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Two hundred thousand.

[Jermaine Dupri]

God. A hundred went to Chris, right?

[DJ Envy]

I've seen people order 100,000 singles.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah, I mean, 100 went to Chris. Without a Doubt. Out and Magic. In Magic, they go. When you. When you order the money, they bring a Magic City bag for you. Backpack.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I got one of those.

[Jermaine Dupri]

So the backpack had 100 in it. Jada Waiter, y' all know she got about a dub, right? I think maybe more P from QC. I think he ordered 40 right then. And that, you know, that's. That's 160 right there. You know what I'm saying? Chris by himself had 100. That's what I'm saying. So if you start splitting it up, up, I think Bow wow probably got 10 or 15, 20. You were 200 fast.

[Charlamagne tha God]

So when you was in the back in the day with bmf, how much did you see them spend?

[Jermaine Dupri]

That one on my album. I have a conversation with Meech, and he says he spent 600,0001 night.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's insanity.

[Lil Jon]

That's crazy.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What's the most you spent? And now you was in there with Janet. What did you spend?

[Jermaine Dupri]

I mean, I. I had a. I had a limit. Like, when everybody heard me say I spent $10,000, that was my limit. So once I got to that 10, and I wasn't trying, but by the way, I'm not in there trying to compete. I always felt like, you know, at one point in time when BMF came or when BMF grew, because I've been in the club with Meech for a long time before BMF was a crew like that. And we used to be at the gentleman's club back in. When you watched the episode where Magic supposedly was burnt down or whatever, and everybody went to the gentleman's club. That's back in the period of time when I actually met Meech. And Meech didn't have the crew, the crew of people with him. And we was in the gentleman's club. And in the gentleman's club, it was like, what he saying? We wasn't really Throwing the money. We was just like giving the girls the money, right? And that's. That's where the whole confusion about who started throwing the money came from. Because I start. I started doing this in Money in a thing video. And I know people want to say they did it and did it. Will you find a video that came out before money anything where you see rappers throwing money like this, right? And that. I never had a. Like, it wasn't about me trying to challenge nobody. It got. It got to be like, when meeting them crew came and it was like, oh, damn, they throwing more money. We gotta throw. It became like a money war. I was never. I was never part of that.

[Charlamagne tha God]

When I think about Mariah Carey getting, you know, the accolades she got the other night at the vma, I don't know if that happens without you. And what I mean by that is Mariah had a fantastic career, but that album was like a comeback album that kind of solidified her forever.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I was talking to her about this yesterday and I was saying, like, it would have happened without me. But Mariah is. Listen, Mariah is such a New York hip hop person that she wants to gravitate towards this, right? As opposed to, like, promoting the Boyz II Men record, which was no song, her first song of the decade, right? Like, she ain't even performed that song the other night. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, she got records that's bigger than the records. I did that. She just like, yeah, you know, we can. Ready to do this tonight. This is what we gonna do.

[Jeezy]

I.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Listen, I love it because I'm a part of it. But don't get it twisted. These songs is, you know, I mean, she got records that she could do. That's like Hero, you know, I mean, these songs, that's huge. That made her. Mariah has sold 30 million records before I even worked with her. You know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Like, that charm bracelet and then that. What was that. What was that movie called? I don't even remember. It was a bad. It was dark.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah, but one. One black eye can't kill you.

[Charlamagne tha God]

No, that's true. But then you came back with Emancipation of Mimi, and that's. That's a nuclear bomb. I mean, that's not a normal album.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I mean. Yeah, I just, I. I always look at that like I'm really. I can't take credit for Mariah.

[Lil Jon]

She's.

[Jermaine Dupri]

She's who she is. And she was who she was before. I. I'm. You know, I'm. I'm Just happy that she let me be a part of the ride.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I think that puts more pressure on you, though. And what I mean by that is when you're tasked with going in there with an iconic person already and creating something that gets them, you know, back seen the way that they were seen before their, you know, last flop, that says a lot that you was able to accomplish that then.

[Jermaine Dupri]

It put pressure on me.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I would think so back then.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Nah. Cause I don't think about it, like, you know, like, the thing about it is, when I go in the studio, people, I don't be like, I don't get caught up in what's happening in their life, life. And I think that that was what was going on in her life outside of the studio. I go in the studio and I'm like, I say this all the time when I. When I work with Aretha Franklin. She made me realize, like, listen, if you gonna be in here working and I'm gonna pay you, and we gonna let you get this credit, you better say what the. You gotta say if I sound bad, if I don't even sound halfway good. She was like, tell me to do it again. And I'm like, I can't tell Aretha Franklin nothing like this Aretha Franklin. But the way she was talking to me was like, I flew you here to Detroit to cut my vocals. So what you gonna do? You gonna sit in here and just watch me or. If you. If that's. I'm going home. That's what she told me. She says, literally, I'm going home. That's what you're gonna do. And that's when I sat there for a minute. I'm like, you know what? I gotta do this. I just gotta be brutally honest with artists. And when it came to Emancipation of Mimi, we belong together. We made the song. Like, listen, Mariah, if you don't hit the note at this, at the end of the record, the record ain't gonna be what people want the record to be. They want you to. That's. That's what they want. We gotta give them what they want. And it was like, nobody else wanted to say this. I had to say it, and I had to be like, you know, if you don't like me for saying what is real, then why are we in the room together?

[DJ Envy]

What was one artist that didn't like you being brutally honest? I was like, nah, this is not for me.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Nobody. I don't think nobody. I mean, I think everybody wants. Want. They don't want to address it, but when it's right, they like, oh, okay. You know. But a lot of them, like, you know, Bow, I didn't like. Oh, I think they like me.

[DJ Envy]

Like, you wrestle with him every time.

[Jeezy]

You'Re in the studio.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's what it's about.

[Jermaine Dupri]

But I'm saying Usher didn't like you make me wanna. And you have to sit there and be like, man, that's crazy.

[Lil Jon]

Why? What are you.

[Jermaine Dupri]

What are you listening to that make you not like this song?

[Charlamagne tha God]

What was it about the emancipation of Mimi that got her back to where she needed to be? Was it the freedom that maybe you provided? Because I saw the Brat telling this story about how Tommy Mottola got guns pulled on you because you let Mariah go to Burger.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I didn't let them do nothing. They pulled off and went on their own. But, yeah, so tell the story.

[DJ Envy]

Because I don't know the story.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Okay. So the first time I started working with Mariah, I decided to do Always Be My Baby remix, right? So I brought Escape and the Brat Brat to her house that was out in upstate with her and Tommy. And this was the first time me. I started bringing my people around Mariah and I brought Brat. Her and Brat kicked it. They hit it off and she convinced Brat or either Brat convinced her. Let's take a trip in the car, just me and you and go to McDonald's or some old.

[DJ Envy]

So they left together.

[Jermaine Dupri]

No security left the ground without me knowing. And showed up in the studio like, what? What's going on? I'm like, I seen what was running around, like, and. And it always looking at me like, jd, this show, this your person. She done ran off with Mariah. And I'm like, what the. Like, that was a crazy moment. This is my first time being there. This is my first time at her house. And I bring some over. This is just by the store. You bring some over to the house.

[Jeezy]

House.

[Jermaine Dupri]

And this. What happened? And I'm in the house like this, like, I'm just trying to make a record, man. What the is going on?

[DJ Envy]

So you call Brad, like, where you at?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah, I called her. She's like, we just getting some fries. And I'm like, what?

[DJ Envy]

Why?

[Lil Jon]

Why?

[Jermaine Dupri]

And she was saying that Mariah. Just like at that period in time, Mariah was. You know, this was a different type of success life at this point.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Real celebrity.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah. She wasn't the artist that could go outside and go to McDonald's or. She wasn't even doing that. Like, she was sheltered in a house and she. She just wanted to get out. And brat was her.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Her.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Her person that was ready to go escape and do it.

[DJ Envy]

That's great.

[Charlamagne tha God]

So was it that level of freedom you provided her? That's what it's because that the album's called the Emancipation.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah.

[Lil Jon]

No, I just.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I just think. I think I make Mariah comfortable.

[Lil Jon]

Right?

[Jermaine Dupri]

And I don't. I don't. I don't fake with her about the music that we should make. And I think that's what makes her feel free, you know, Free. Because I'm telling her, I'm telling anybody, if you sing, make singing records, man, like, hey, like, I get it, you want to rap, and I'm a rapper at heart, but I learned how to make music, and I learned through the success that I've had that these people want these records to sound like the records that they know the audience don't change.

[Lil Jon]

Right.

[Jermaine Dupri]

So I just have to keep beating that in people's minds and letting them know, like, listen, you might want to change your up, but the person that's listening, they want the new Mariah record to sound like the Mariah record that they heard before.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah.

[Jermaine Dupri]

And that's always a hard fight with artists.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Did you ever take her to Magic City?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah. No, no, no, no.

[Charlamagne tha God]

She won't.

[Jermaine Dupri]

She won't. She probably won't go. That's ain't. That ain't her thing. Her bag.

[DJ Envy]

Now back to Usher. You said Usher didn't like, make. Make me wanna.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah, why not?

[DJ Envy]

What was the problem with that?

[Jermaine Dupri]

I don't know.

[DJ Envy]

And how'd you get him? How'd you force him to finally do it?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Well, I mean, I had to force him, but he also. He just let me know. It wasn't like. That wasn't what he felt he should be coming with. At this point in time, Usher was still not sure where his career was gonna go, so he still cut the song, luckily. But if we was in that space right now, he not gonna cut the song right now. He ain't gonna be like, I don't. With that song right now.

[DJ Envy]

He don't care if he don't like it now I'm not.

[Jermaine Dupri]

It's not even gonna get cut even now.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Like, right now I would trust you to.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Nah, right. He gonna be like, that's right now. I'll be like, yo, Usher, please cut this song. Usher, turn his phone off.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Like, when your name is mentioned 50 years from now, what's the one record or one artist? You want to define your legacy?

[Jermaine Dupri]

I don't know who the artist is. Somebody Great. I mean, I think, you know, I think like, watching Mariah get Vanguard Award and her performing in that piece, two of records that I did, I think that means. That means a lot. You know what I mean? Like, almost like you saying it's like my records are loud enough to make people damn near believe that I had something to do with her success.

[Lil Jon]

Yes.

[Jermaine Dupri]

To me, that's a mean accomplishment because I didn't have anything to do with her becoming who she is.

[Charlamagne tha God]

No, that's not true. That's not true. I mean, because it's a second wave.

[Lil Jon]

Yeah.

[Jermaine Dupri]

But I'm saying, I think. I think I might have made more black people like her. Yes, but she's still Mariah Carey.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah, but it says something you, to me, I mean, best album.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I get it.

[Charlamagne tha God]

And that's Patient Mimi is Mariah Carey's best album.

[Lil Jon]

Absolutely.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's probably the definitive album of her whole career. That's her Thriller. It just is.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I don't know.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

I don't know.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What's the hardest personal sacrifice you've made for your career?

[Jermaine Dupri]

Life. I don't really have no life. I just be making music. You know what I mean? And I have people that tell me this all the time, like, J.D. you know, you don't really. You, my baby. Mothers be saying. It's like, you know, you. Your life is the music. All you do is care about the music. All you care about is putting out records. All you care about is doing what you're doing every day. And that's the truth. It is.

[Lil Jon]

Is.

[Jermaine Dupri]

That's what it is. I don't care about nothing else.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You don't enjoy the money. You don't go on vacation.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I mean that. Come along with it. But ain't. That's not. That's not a chase for me. Like, my chase is to be, you know, like what they said on the Billboard. I get number one. I. I feel like. I feel like I finally did something by getting number one on that list.

[DJ Envy]

But then it's never enough. Because you want more.

[Jermaine Dupri]

No. Now it's like. But it's. But it's also like fighting. It's like boxing. You gotta. You gotta. Can. Can you stay in that space? Right. You know what I'm saying? It's like watching Floyd and Tyson talk about they gonna fight. It's like Floyd retired, but he still want to be the. He want to be the best. You know what I'm saying? It's like. I'm not saying I'm retired. I'm out here. So I. I Just know that, you know, like, I also know that it's space in hip hop and R B that hasn't been touched. What I'm doing, going from 92 and being, becoming the number one producer, the 21st century in 2025 ain't been seen ever. Ever, right? So if you start doing that ain't never been seen, you don't have no reason. I don't have no reason to stop. I just gotta, you know, pray to God it don't stop, you know, I mean, it's funny.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I wonder if hip hop had limits. Jermaine Dupree. And what I mean by that is when people start talking about your who's the greatest producers of all time, they'll start, you know, naming a bunch of people who do a lot of the hip hop records, right? But you got to just say Jermaine is a musician. If you, if you said Jermaine is just a musical producer, then I think the conversation is a little bit different.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah. You know what I mean? I mean, I don't. It's. It's hard, man, because I feel like I switch from people, I switch up on people so much. When I'm in R B mode, I'm not talking about no rep, right? I remember one time I came up here and I was so R B'd out and I wouldn't. I'm waving the flag for R B and I ain't talking about nothing rap. I think that confuses the podcast and the guys that usually talk to me about, they like, wait a minute, I thought this was money. Anything you was, you know, I mean, Magic City, this over here. Tell me you want to make division records. You know what I mean? I think that, that, that throws the whole thing off because I do switch. I mean, that's how I have. That's the only way I can do it. That's the only way I can make it. It is to get away from, you know, from one thing for a minute and go into that space and be 100 in that space.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Is there a media bias even towards the South? Because I think about that with the producers and the artists, because there's some artists from the south who should be getting mentioned as top lyricists all the time and some producers from the south who should be getting mentioned as top producers.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I just think that. And I want, I want to get. I want to send Bank a shout out because I feel like his interview with fantastic pushes.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Brilliant.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Finally somebody in Atlanta to the forefront of hip hop media in the city of Atlanta. And I think it's taken 30 years for somebody in the city of Atlanta to be the person that you have to sit down and talk to. If you. That guy in hip hop and he just made himself that person. If you actually.

[Lil Jon]

He killed it.

[Charlamagne tha God]

He killed it, man. I'm glad you said that, because I said it on the air. Regional identity matters in Media 100 and everything. And Atlanta's been the hip hop capital for so long, but have. Have never had that media personality, Gray street and all, but they've never had that person, you gotta go.

[Jermaine Dupri]

And I think that's the problem. It's like every time somebody from Atlanta that's popped, they always had to come to New York. And no disrespect, but I've been saying it should been somebody that did what he did with Future Ludacris when TI Got out of jail. We don't have so many artists that have so many stories, but they missed the opportunity. Like what just happened with Doug, because we don't have that person in the city. And that just. That goes to the culture like people should. Like, I just saw the magazine out there with you on the front cover of Variety. I've never seen that before.

[Lil Jon]

Right.

[Jermaine Dupri]

In Atlanta. I don't think young people read and see things like that to push them to say, you know what I want to do with Charlemagne doing, man, I want to do what Envy doing. He got cautious. Like, they don't see that enough to distract them. All they see is JD Throwing money and this throwing money. I'm gonna be a rapper. Nah, you ain't got to be no rapper. You know what I mean? Bank getting ready to hit the bank.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Absolutely.

[Jermaine Dupri]

You know what I'm saying? Based on what he just did, that one interview, as far as I'm concerned, if he do what he got to do and he keep it at that level and the way he talked to him, it makes you gonna have people that really want to sit down and like, let you interview him same way you did.

[Charlamagne tha God]

And Big Facts has already been that platform to me.

[Lil Jon]

Yeah, right.

[Charlamagne tha God]

And then now to see bank doing the perspective with Banks.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Yeah, I agree with you, but it took 30 years. That's what I'm saying. It took 30 years for somebody to say, this what we need. I'm gonna do it like this, right? And I'm so. I'm really happy to see that. I feel like that's going to turn. That's going to change the city, because that's going people. Somebody gonna see that and they gonna create another One, right? And at that point, that world will open up. Because when I came here, I think the beginning of me talking about Magic City, I was like, yo, everybody in New York got a podcast. I mean, everywhere I went, everybody got podcasts. Clue them. Got one across the street in a little bar. Fat Joe, everybody. Fat Joe. I was going to all of them. I mean, Carmelo, no matter. In Brooklyn, it's a podcast everywhere. And I was just like, this ain't this. This bug ain't hit Atlanta yet.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Nah, they got them in Atlanta because you got big facts. You got bang think. Got 85 south shows in Atlanta. You got four mind podcasts based out of Atlanta. That's four.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Y' all got about 20 out there. You know, I mean, you know, I mean, it's just. And they moving. Y' all got. Y' all got 20 out here. That's moving. I'm just saying, these guys that you like, the 85 South Show, I think that's probably the closest next. But after that, it ain't no real. Like, ain't nobody you gotta talk to.

[Charlamagne tha God]

All mine is big. You should sit down.

[Jermaine Dupri]

But you ain't gotta talk to him. That's all I'm saying. I'm just talking about as far as, like, like, if you one of these people, I feel like we don't have. We ain't had nobody that you have to talk to. Like, if they was like, call me Carla Wreck coming, they like Joe Jermaine, who you want to have a in depth conversation with your name, your name gonna come up. And then who's the competitor to Charlemagne in Atlanta?

[DJ Envy]

From Atlanta, too.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You know, they're from Houston, but they're based in Atlanta. Based in Atlanta, Right.

[Jermaine Dupri]

So I just feel like. I feel like bank put himself in the category I agree to get.

[Lil Jon]

He did.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Jermaine Dupri]

You know, know the. The Gucci mans, all of these people that we want to hear.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Gunna should be calling bank right now. Yeah, Gunna should be calling bank. Like, yo, I need to come sit down with you and. And just to read. Not saying reply, but yeah, you know.

[Jermaine Dupri]

I mean, but it ain't even.

[DJ Envy]

Like, you never heard his side. We've never heard him talk.

[Jermaine Dupri]

It's just like I said, he just made it where like, Oprah Winfrey. Like, you want to watch it, you want to hear it. And he's not going to hold back on the questions. And he's creditable in that category to where you can't run no on him.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

That's right.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Because he gonna let you know you running some bullshit.

[Charlamagne tha God]

But I love.

[Lil Jon]

He was.

[DJ Envy]

He wasn't afraid to push back.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Nah. But I mean, but he don't have.

[Lil Jon]

No.

[Jermaine Dupri]

That's him. You know what I'm saying? He wanted.

[Lil Jon]

He.

[Jermaine Dupri]

The guy that told me, when I said, he's like, jd, we thought you.

[Lil Jon]

You want.

[Jermaine Dupri]

You want to be from New York. That's who told me that. Right? I'm like, nah, I wasn't trying to be from New York. I'm trying to just push my music. And I just feel like, like I said, I applaud him on that interview. He did it.

[DJ Envy]

Well, jd, I know you gotta run. Well, jd. Jermaine Dupree, make sure you check out the Magic City Doc, and of course, the album. We appreciate you always for joining us.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Thank you.

[DJ Envy]

It's the Breakfast Club. Is JD Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlamagne, the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Charlamagne, you got a positive note.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I do have a positive note, man. I want to talk to you about resilience this morning, okay? Resilience is very different than being numb, okay? Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt, you fall, but you keep going. That's resilience. Have a great day. Breakfast Club. Wake you up.

[DJ Envy]

Wake that ass up.

[Jeezy]

Program your Alarm to power 105.1 on iHeartRadio.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

What a matchup we got, y'.

[Lil Jon]

All. This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

The band is rocking and the crowd lit.

[Lil Jon]

Chance echo drum beat, everybody. Showing that school pride. Game like this, yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola.

[Jermaine Dupri]

Ah.

[Lil Jon]

Crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. Yeah, that taste 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, adding ice cold Coca Cola.

[Caller or Guest (various callers)]

That's a winning combo.

[Lil Jon]

No matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

So grab a Coca Cola and keep.

[Lil Jon]

That HBCU pride going.

[State Farm Ad Voice]

You've been working in the garage with your dad every week, Monday to Sunday, trying to get the old school up and running. Today, after all the hard work, y' all finally finished it. Even better. Your dad says all yours, son. Yep. Same car that belongs to your grandpa that your dad helped him fix. It's yours. To really keep the tradition going, you need to get State Farm Insurance. Just like them. Generation to generation. Remember to choose the agents that your family counted on. Like a good neighbor. State Farm is there.

[DJ Envy]

Hey, what up, y'?

[Jermaine Dupri]

All?

[DJ Envy]

It's DJ Envy and the holidays are here, the time of year that's all about connecting with loved ones in person or over the phone. In fact, hearing someone's voice can evoke a similar emotional response as a hug. And while most of us can hop on a video chat to really bring that connection to life, using tech isn't easy for everyone, especially some of the older folk in our lives. AT&T has been doing something special here to help. They offer digital literacy workshops that help older adults learn how to use technology to do things most of us take for granted, like video conferencing and sharing photos. Take Nancy Shand. She joined one of AT&T's workshops to learn how to video chat for the first time this holiday season. Nancy won't just be hearing about family gatherings, she'll be a part of them, sharing stories, opening presents and making memories all through a screen. Nobody should have to go through the holiday season alone, so be sure to connect and stay connected to your loved ones this holiday season.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice / Carolyn (patient testimonial)]

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[Jermaine Dupri]

This is where mindset comes in.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice / Carolyn (patient testimonial)]

Someone will be eliminated pressure is coming down.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Trainer Games on Prime Video January eigth. Watch the trailer on trainergames.

[DJ Envy]

Com this is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.