The Commercial Break – TCB Infomercial: Nicky Jam

Podcast Hosts: Brian Greene & Chrissy Hoadley
Guest: Nicky Jam, reggaeton superstar
Release Date: September 10, 2024

Episode Overview

This TCB Infomercial episode features international reggaeton superstar Nicky Jam in a candid, hilarious, and moving conversation with hosts Brian and Chrissy. The episode covers Nicky’s extraordinary journey from his early life in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico, his struggles with addiction, the rebirth of his career in Colombia, the honest truth behind his recent “retirement” rumors, and the upcoming album "Insomnia". Peppered with comedic asides, real talk about fame, family, trauma, recovery, and the healing (and unifying) power of music, it’s both an uplifting and brutally honest interview that showcases Nicky Jam’s humility, humor, and humanity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How Music and Reggaeton Entered Brian’s Life

• [02:06–11:11]

• Brian shares a personal story of traveling through Spain with his now-wife’s Venezuelan family, his first exposure to reggaeton, and how Nicky Jam’s music unified two very different families on their wedding dance floor.
• The “La Ora Loca” (the crazy hour) was a highlight:
  • “It was so much fun. You do the conga line. You know, everybody's dancing, and it doesn't matter who you are, your butt needs to be on the dance floor.” — Brian Greene [08:45]
• “Music is the international language of love, really.” — Chrissy Hoadley [10:10]
• Sets the emotional stage for how much Nicky’s music means in people’s lives, including Brian’s own.

2. Introducing Nicky Jam & His Humble Roots

• [12:36–14:27]

• The hosts gush about having Nicky on the show, with jokes about “insta respect” at Venezuelan family gatherings.
• Nicky quickly sets the tone by crediting his father for his humility, stressing:
  • “You can't really learn to be humble. It’s just what you are. If you're humble, you're humble. If not, you're not.” — Nicky Jam [14:00]

3. The Power of Vulnerability & Telling the Whole Story

• [15:27–18:08]

• Nicky opens up about embracing struggle as a source of strength, not shame.
• “Some people think that they know about you, but they don't really know about you....I'm not just the superstar with the Lamborghini...I came from starving. I came from packing groceries so I could...make $20 a day...I come from nothing.” — Nicky Jam [16:31–17:32]
• He underscores the importance of sharing the whole, unvarnished truth of his journey, including drug-addicted parents and growing up during the crack epidemic in Lawrence, MA.

4. The Move to Puerto Rico & Birth of a Reggaeton Star

• [18:53–24:16]

• Father flees pending charges and moves the family to Puerto Rico, which Nicky credits as life-changing.
• First taste of fame: discovered as a kid “freestyling with the groceries”—literally rapping about chicken, tomatoes, and ham for tips as he bagged groceries.
• “I came [to be] like a small celebrity. It was like, yo, you heard this kid, that he be, you know, rapping about the food." — Nicky Jam [20:56]
• The story of signing a predatory record contract as a 12-year-old and becoming a mixtape legend despite the setbacks.

5. Downward Spiral & Hitting Rock Bottom

• [25:41–34:10]

• Reflects on fast fame, rebellion, absence of his mother, life in the streets, and beginning of drug addiction.
• “I was a young kid, so I did a lot of bad things...I didn't care about living. Like, I didn't give a [expletive] about living. I would do anything.” — Nicky Jam [25:41]
• Partnership (and divergence) with Daddy Yankee: “Daddy Yankee tried everything in his power to make me a better person. But...you have a whole bunch of street kids next to you giving you the wrong message. There's no way you're going to listen to just one person… Sometimes you just gotta hit bottom.” — Nicky Jam [29:26–30:03]

6. The Remarkable Colombian Rebirth

• [34:11–41:29]

• Broke and barely holding on, Nicky takes a random booking for a show in Colombia, acting as his own manager.
  • “They were like, well, we want to do a show with Nicky Jam. I'm like, well, let me put my manager through—and I just changed my voice.” — Nicky Jam [31:14]
• Unexpectedly discovers his music is legendary in Colombia. The outpouring of love at a show for 50,000 people gives him a “phoenix” moment:
  • “When I come out and I feel all that love...I was singing my songs, and people—It was overwhelming.” — Nicky Jam [33:32]
• Stays in the country, loses 70 pounds, focuses on music—his track “El Perdón” (The Forgiveness) becomes a viral hit, igniting his comeback.

7. Lasting Struggles, Fame’s Double-Edged Sword, and Relentless Generosity

• [41:30–45:29]

• On fame: “When this fame pops up, you start enjoying it...there's nothing better than having, like, privacy...When you become that...[famous], that goes away...But do I enjoy being famous? Of course…I go out and I don't have a Mika line in a restaurant.” — Nicky Jam [42:16–42:51]
• On wealth: “Everybody looks at you like a money symbol.”
• On generosity: “If I have 20 friends, we all got motorcycles...I’m the type of guy that I would read DMs where people from Venezuela will tell me, Nicky, I don't have a fridge—and I will send money to that person to get a fridge...” [44:10-44:28]

8. Album “Insomnia,” Retirement Rumors & The Truth About Recovery

• [45:29–54:49]

• Nicky describes the darkness that inspired Insomnia, confronting both substance abuse and depression:
  • “The problem with alcohol is it's so legal that...you don't even think that you're doing drugs. And it's everywhere you go.” — Nicky Jam [46:09]
  • “So dark of a place that I even thought about retiring...But I'm not really retired. That was just me...depressed, and that's what alcohol does.” [47:44–48:14]
• Newsflash: “I am not retiring. So that's one thing. And this is the first place I'm saying this.” — Nicky Jam [52:02]
• On honest storytelling in music:
  • “That's what music is for. It doesn't all have to be 'I love you, you love me'...I think it's one of the best albums that I’ve done because I sat down with this album with so much passion...” — Nicky Jam [52:56–53:25]
• On mental health, trauma, and why weed is helpful:
  • “I struggle every single day...I smoke weed now because of anxiety...I was going through alcohol a lot until the other day. I ain’t lying. I’m being 100 with you.” — Nicky Jam [51:32–51:44]
• “If you see where I'm from…and the people that got shot in the situation that I live, you would say, oh, this guy’s okay. He should have been worse.” [50:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On being humble:

  • “You can't really learn to be humble. It's just what you are. If you're humble, you're humble. If not, you're not.” — Nicky Jam [14:00]

• On sharing struggles:

  • “So life is too short to be an asshole.” — Nicky Jam [15:24]

• On being discovered:

  • "I used to freestyle with the groceries that I had...I would just freestyle about the food." — Nicky Jam [20:46]

• On rock bottom and self-awareness:

  • “You gotta hit bottom so you can learn, you know, and thank God...I became the human being that I am today...everything I am today.” — Nicky Jam [30:03]

• On generosity:

  • “Millions of dollars that I've spent...helping people. And I have, like. I'm the type of guy that if I have 20 friends, we all got motorcycles and we all go out on motorcycles. I'm not gonna leave one. None of my friends without motorcycles.” — Nicky Jam [44:10-44:27]

• On the new album:

  • “This album is called Insomnia because it represents all these dark moments in me. But still the music is amazing. Because the reality of everything is, sometimes being in the worst situations comes the best music.” — Nicky Jam [52:02–52:30]

• Breaking news:

  • “I am not retiring. So that's, that's one thing. And this is the first place I'm saying this.” — Nicky Jam [52:02]
  • Brian: “News flash, which we never get. Breaking news first. News flash. He's not retiring.” [56:01]

Important Timestamps

• [02:06] – Brian’s introduction to reggaeton & family story
• [13:34] – Nicky on humility, learning from his father
• [16:31] – Sharing about addiction, starting from nothing
• [18:53] – Why Nicky moved to Puerto Rico, early break
• [20:46] – Grocery store freestyling, early fame
• [25:41] – Street life, beginnings of drug problems
• [29:26] – Daddy Yankee’s attempts to help
• [33:32] – Rebirth in Colombia, “Phoenix moment”
• [44:10] – On his generosity, helping strangers
• [46:06] – Alcohol struggles, descent into darkness
• [52:02] – Nicky sets retirement rumors straight
• [54:25] – Brian thanks Nicky for uniting families with music

Closing Thoughts

Brian and Chrissy express awe at Nicky’s honesty and generosity:

• “How honest could someone be? I mean, yeah, I was struggling with alcohol there for a minute, and out of it came this album and news flash, which we never get. Breaking news first. News flash. He’s not retiring.” — Brian [56:01]
• “You may not be into reggaeton...but Nicky Jam is a fascinating human being. And I think my personal opinion is he is really changing the narrative by sharing his story.” — Brian [57:06]

The episode closes on a heartfelt note, crediting the healing, uniting power of music, and the importance of men sharing their emotional struggles. They urge listeners to check out Nicky Jam’s new album, reassure fans he’s not retiring, and give thanks for a genuinely illuminating conversation.

Recommended Next Steps:

• Listen to Nicky's new album Insomnia for the raw, personal stories referenced
• Follow @nickyjam on Instagram to support him
• Check out The Commercial Break’s social channels for more episodes and live show info