Kountry Wayne Has A DEEP Convo With Lecrae

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Deep End With Lecrae

Episode: Kountry Wayne Has A DEEP Convo With Lecrae
Date: February 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Lecrae sits down with comedian, entrepreneur, and viral sensation Kountry Wayne for a raw, honest, and at-times hilarious conversation about faith, trauma, redemption, family, and success. They dive deep into Wayne's upbringing in rural Georgia, his journey through the drug game, the pain of losing his mother, what kept him grounded, and how he turned his gifts (and mistakes) into a remarkable career. The two reflect on what it really looks like to depend on God when you've "gone off the deep end," challenging the myth of perfect Christians and instead modeling honest vulnerability and resilience.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Growing Up, Family and the Streets

• Early Life in Millen, GA:
  Wayne was raised with drug dealers and party people. His mother was well-known locally; his father and uncles were involved in the drug game.

  • "My mama was like the pretty girl in the street, popular. My daddy and his family, my uncles, was dope boy. I was born into that." (06:28 | Country Wayne)

• No "Choice" In the Streets:
  "You kind of just already knew I was gonna do it. Everybody knew that. Cause I like money." (06:59 | Country Wayne)

  • Anecdote of his father telling him not to sell drugs while counting drug money—a clear contradiction Wayne points out (07:04).

2. Faith as a Foundation

• Discovering God Personally (Not through Family):
  "We used to go to church a little bit, my grandma kingdom hall, but… I was like, my mom can't have God. We too broke every generation. I started looking for something else." (04:54 | Country Wayne)

• Reading the Bible:
  At 24, Wayne picked up the Bible and read it nine times, searching for understanding and truth on his own terms, not through religious rituals.

  • "When I got older, I started reading the Bible… and I just read it every day. I was on the search for him myself." (05:21 | Country Wayne)

• Identity in Faith:
  Throughout his hustling days, Wayne says he always knew he was "God's," didn't let circumstances shake his core.

  • "I never let what I was doing take my faith of who I was. If God is who he say he is, I'm gonna be all right. So I laugh through it." (03:49 | Country Wayne)

3. Comedy as Coping & Calling

• Birth of Comedy:
  Even while deeply immersed in street life, Wayne's sense of humor set him apart—he got away with more because no one suspected him.

  • "Police in the other town…I got away a lot because they didn't think I was selling drugs really. I had the Donald Duck hat from Walmart…was always the happy go lucky kid." (09:15 | Country Wayne)

• From Hustler to Entertainer:
  The street hustle fostered his business acumen—it was about money and escape, not violence or status.

4. Deciding to Leave the Streets

• Gradual Exit, Driven by Opportunity:
  Wayne didn't leave hustling until it was viable. "I ain't quit the right way…I ain't quit that money till some other money came…God know me, boy…I wasn't one of the ones I quit and…slept on the sofa…" (17:28 | Country Wayne)
• "Day Before the Feds Came:"
  Wayne recounts quitting the drug game one day before his father was arrested.
  • "I quit the day before the feds came…I had a quarter brick left and I gave it all the way…The next day, the feds came…They said, 'We looking for your dad.' I said, 'Thank you Jesus.'" (18:41–20:03 | Country Wayne)

5. Entrepreneurship, Success, & Staying Grounded

• Social Media and Building an Empire:
  Wayne was an early adopter of monetizing skits, even before platforms paid. He took risks, invested his own money, and paved the way for other comedians.

  • "I had to figure it out piece by piece…If these skits were this big to make me tour, I need to make money off this too." (57:57 | Country Wayne)

• Spreading Wealth, Staying Humble:
  Wayne supports a huge extended family, deliberately spreads his wealth to keep grounded.

  • "Man, I take care of everybody in my family…Even if you full, it's some empty bellies around you." (22:11 | Country Wayne)

• Not Chasing Validation:
  Despite criticism or negative headlines, Wayne shrugs off public opinion by focusing on what's true and lasting.

  • "When something ain't true, it don't really bother you." (46:23 | Country Wayne)

6. Vulnerabilities, Vices & Fatherhood

• Open About His Flaws:
  Wayne is candid about his struggles: ten children, several baby mamas, failed marriage, and his vice for women.

  • "I already was on the women. So I'm like, that's your drug. I can't do all of them…We all got vices." (31:23 | Country Wayne)

  • "That was…Women was just the thing…I could have made better decisions, man, if I would…had all my kids by one woman…That would have been…peace." (32:52 | Country Wayne)

• Commitment & Regret:
  He acknowledges a desire for marriage and partnership, but says his ambition sometimes took priority.

7. Fatherhood and Responsibility

• Unexpected Fatherhood:
  Wayne describes the anxiety and fear of early fatherhood ("there's not one child I ever planned, man…Plan B owe me money" — 41:43).
  • Despite the challenges, he sees purpose and redemption in his story:
    • "Them girls that I had a child with…was from our hometown…their kids saved their life." (43:21 | Country Wayne)
• Present Father:
  Deeply involved in his kids' lives: "Me and my kids…We're close, man…We play waffle ball…All the girls…We really…close." (45:32 | Country Wayne)

8. Faith-Filled Branding & the Comedy Game

• Wearing Faith Boldly:
  Wayne embraces the image and responsibility of "Jesus Poppin'" openly, stating he's not chasing brand endorsements above his values.

  • "Whatever endorsements I lose with his name, I don't care. I know who was with me dead. There’s no brand like Jesus. He’s too popular." (26:46 | Country Wayne)

• "Hidden" by the Industry:
  Wayne believes the "enemy" tries not to let his story be too visible due to its positive, faith-filled impact.

  • "What I did on social media, man, is ridiculous…The only thing the devil do now is try his best not to get me seen. And that's it." (25:35 | Country Wayne)

• Addressing Haters and the Comedy Scene:
  On critics who question his comedy credits or Netflix special:

  • "Most comedians don't got an hour…To get a special you gotta have an hour, 45 minutes…You could trick somebody…go on stage and be funny for 20 minutes…Go kill him 45 to an hour." (54:49 | Country Wayne)

9. Loss, Trauma & Greatest Lessons

• Impact of Losing His Mother:
  This event, at age 11, was the deepest wound shaping Wayne’s outlook on life, ambition, and faith.

  • "When my mama passed, it's like everything else became fake. None of this is real. To this day…it would be like…even this money…But I wouldn't have gave away my mama. That hurt more than anything." (63:07 | Country Wayne)

• Regret & Turning Point:
  Biggest regret: Not doing his "schoolwork" and the things he was supposed to, as this might have shielded him from negative paths.

  • Turning point: Mother's death and recognizing only God could fill that void (62:06–63:07).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Not Letting Circumstances Define You:
  "I laugh through the fire…To this day, I'ma find something to laugh about."
  —Country Wayne (03:49)

• On Money & Integrity:
  "The guy at the dollar store is making more money than me…If I get caught and get five years…he can spend time with his kids. I always was thinking deep like that."
  —Country Wayne (12:41)

• On Success & Humility:
  "God is bigger and he got a bigger purpose…I don’t know what real success is…it got to be tied to him."
  —Country Wayne (16:39)

• On Industry "Hiding" Him:
  "Only thing the devil do now is try to keep me hidden. You don't see me ever get an award…But everybody know who the one."
  —Country Wayne (25:47)

• On Vice:
  "We all got vices…but hey, you gotta choose your sins, or your sins gonna choose you."
  —Country Wayne (31:23)

• On Vulnerability with God:
  "I'm a big baby when it comes to God…that's the only person I beg and do all that to."
  —Country Wayne (29:47)

• On Changing Lives:
  "God meet you where you at…that's why we all privileged."
  —Country Wayne (43:41)

• On Wisdom vs Knowledge:
  "Knowledge could be learned, but wisdom is from God…knowledge is dangerous sometimes. If you get knowledge before you get wisdom, you'll be using everything that you know that's good."
  —Country Wayne (59:47)

• On Losing His Mother:
  "When my mama passed, it's like everything else became fake…None of this is real…But Jesus, it's like the joy that he know, the joy I get from, man, it got to be a place one day…"
  —Country Wayne (63:07)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Upbringing & Family: 03:46–07:31
• Comedy & Coping: 07:31–09:49
• Leaving the Streets: 11:12–20:03
• Entrepreneurship & Money: 22:10–24:45, 57:57–59:35
• Faith & "Jesus Poppin'": 25:00–27:51
• Struggles & Vulnerability: 29:23–32:15
• Fatherhood, Many Kids: 41:28–45:51
• Negative Headlines & Criticism: 46:23–49:25
• Comedy Industry Dynamics: 53:14–57:37
• Wisdom vs Knowledge: 59:35–61:24
• Regret & Turning Point: 62:06–63:07

---

Conclusion

This episode is a raw window into the complexity of Kountry Wayne’s journey: chaotic family history, the lure and cost of the streets, personal vices, business hustle, and a foundation of faith that keeps him going. Through tears and laughs, Wayne and Lecrae model how resilience, honesty, and faith can heal even the deepest wounds, and how your past doesn’t dictate your future.

If you're looking for a blueprint on surviving and thriving after going "off the deep end," and for permission to admit you're not perfect—but still in God's hands—this episode is unmissable.

Transcript

[Redfin Narrator]

There's a difference between liking a house and actually getting it. Redfin is built to make up that difference and close the gap between finding and owning the home for you. Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agents, so when you find a home you love, you're not a step behind when it comes to making an offer. That means less watching great homes disappear and more focus on the one you'll call home. Redfin helps turn saved listings into real addresses. Get [e-mail] own the dream hey, it's

[Ryan Seacrest]

Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. You don't want to miss the annual beauty event. For big savings on all your favorite beauty products. Now through April 28, spend 25 on participating products and save $5. Shop in store or online for items like Billy Women's Razors, Billy Body Buffer or Body Wash Native Hand Soap, Neutrogena Makeup Remover Talents and Q Tips. And save $5 when you spend $25. Offer ends April 28. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Lecrae]

I know people with four kids, and they like, man, this is too much. You got 10 of them.

[Country Wayne]

There's not one child I ever planned. Plan B. Owe me some money.

[Lecrae]

At what number was you? Like, I'm doing a lot over here.

[Country Wayne]

One.

[Lecrae]

You went nine? More?

[Country Wayne]

Yeah, man, I ain't tried to.

[Lecrae]

This dude is wild.

[Country Wayne]

I think some little girls was pregnant before I met them. I think God put them babies in their stomach. Ain't no way I'm looking at ovulation charts. It didn't matter when it came to the women, man. I really could have made better decisions.

[Lecrae]

So is it a commitment issue, or is it the women issue?

[Country Wayne]

This gonna sound crazy to people, man.

[Lecrae]

People know you as funny country, Wayne. But your story, man, you done lost your mom as a kid. Your pops, your uncles, dope boys, run ins with the law. Baby mama drama. How are you? Who you are, bro?

[Country Wayne]

Man, you know, it's a simple answer. It's Jesus. The reason why I picked up the Bible. Cause I was at a peak in that time. I had a good bit of money, had the girls, had the cars. I'm up, but I'm up in the wrong way.

[Lecrae]

He's your protector. He's your provider. He's taking care of you. But what about in the hard times? What's the stuff that people don't get to see about?

[Country Wayne]

Wayne, this is the deep end with Lecrae.

[Lecrae]

All right, ladies and gentlemen, I'm excited because you Know, Today we got Mr. Jesus popping himself. You know what I'm saying? Billions of streams online. NETFLIX COMEDY Special Best selling author

[Country Wayne]

your

[Lecrae]

mama's mama's mama's favorite comedian, your sister's uncle's cousin's favorite man. The man has done some amazing things outside of being funny, outside of being a great comedian. He's an innovator, he's an entrepreneur. He's a businessman. And, you know, and he a God lover. So, you know, we had to have him on the deep end. Welcome, everybody. My brother, Country Wayne in the place to be.

[Country Wayne]

Man, Man, I think you Lecrae. I really appreciate being here, man.

[Lecrae]

Nah, I'm honored, bro. So I want to, like, it's funny because people know you as, like, funny Country Wayne. You know what I'm saying? But your story, when I listen to your story, I'm like, man, this man's story is way more serious than. Than how he portray his life or come off. And I'm curious, like, did the story build the comedy? Did the story, like, is it a way you cope with it or what is the deal? Cause when I look at your history, I'm like, man, you done lost your mom as a kid, your pops and your uncles, dope boys. You turn into a dope boy, run ins with the law, baby mama drama, all you know, all of this type of stuff. How are you who you are, bro? Like, what?

[Country Wayne]

What the heck?

[Lecrae]

You know what I'm saying, man?

[Country Wayne]

You know, the simple answer is Jesus, okay? That's a simple answer. Okay? Those who don't understand that I never let what I was doing take my faith of who I was. I knew. I knew when I was in the streets and my mom and them and all that, I'm like, man, you just. In the financial situation, I always looked at it like that. So I never let it take who I was. I was really in it. All of that just to get some money and losing the mama and all that, it's just understanding what that life bring. So I was like, you know what? This ain't got nothing to do with my faith. If God is who he say he is, I'm gonna be all right. So I laugh through it, okay? I just laugh through the fire. And I always. With that person, to this day, I'm gonna find something to laugh about.

[Lecrae]

But you, you, you. Yo, your background, you come from, what is it? Millen, Georgia.

[Country Wayne]

Millen Georgia.

[Lecrae]

Yep. Millen Georgia. But your moms, your pops were them people. Like, they was known.

[Country Wayne]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

So you come from a family where People known, like in the streets, they known they name ring bells. Like, was they. Who was dragging you to church? Where did God come in the mix

[Country Wayne]

when you know we really ain't. We went to church a little bit. Nobody really was dragging me to church a little. My. My grandma used to try to make us go to the kingdom hall. Okay. But, man, I just. I was like. At first, I was like, my mom can't have God. We too broke every generation. Like, my grandma was broke, my mom was broke. I'm like, man, let me try this out. So I'm like, man, this church, whatever y' all are doing, can't be working.

[Lecrae]

Okay?

[Country Wayne]

So, you know, I just always had faith. I used to have talks with God to myself. I be like, that God that they were talking about, I was talking to him. And then when I got older, man, I started reading the Bible, like at age 24. And I read it nine times. I read it every day, and I just. I picked it up from the beginning and I just read through and I just start off. I don't remember no what book. This book. Matthew 20. Only thing I know is the stories. Yeah. And I just found. I just. I was on the search for him myself.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Country Wayne]

Yeah. Because I was like, I knew he was real because he was. He was too popular. Like, Jesus too popular, man. So he. He had to be something. He can't be no made up character. And then when I said his name, I felt his power. So I'm like, okay, he real. And. But I was like, I ain't see, my mama don't really put in no work besides church. Yeah. So I like that that's what they was missing. Cause she used to go to church.

[Lecrae]

Talk to me a little bit about that. Like your mom and your pops. Like, what. What was that like? Cause, you know, give us the backstory. Like, how did you.

[Country Wayne]

Did.

[Lecrae]

All you ever knew was them being in the drug game or how did that. Did you wake up one day or did they. Did you see them go into it?

[Country Wayne]

No, I woke up. That's what it was. My mama was like the pretty girl in the street, popular. And my. They was party. She was a party girl. And my daddy and his family, my uncles, was dope boy. So I. I was born into watching the big, not big foes of money and all of that and the girls and the flashy cars. So I was. I was born into that. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

Did you have a choice? Did you want to jump into the game? Or was it kind of like, hey, boy, come over here I'm gonna show you how to ready rock. I'll show you how to re. Rock this up or. How did it go?

[Country Wayne]

Man, you kind of just already knew I was gonna do it. Everybody knew that.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Country Wayne]

Cause I like money. So that was. And my daddy told me one day he had a knock. He had just hit a leak for like $4,000. He was counting the money. He said, y' all better not ever sell drugs. And I'm looking at that money like, man, you doing some bad advertisement right now. Cause if you don't want me to sell, you better. What you just made. You just made what it takes somebody to go to work a whole month or two months. So now I already knew. I already knew I was going to be in the streets. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

So when did you know you was funny?

[Country Wayne]

I knew that since a child. Okay. I felt like, you know, when you do. When you. When you something for real, you don't never try to protect it. Like, you don't never try to, like, go back and forth with somebody whether you're funny or not. I remember one time, me and my brother was in the same class in fourth grade. We got the same daddy, so we close in age. And they said, who's the funniest? And I remember they chose him, but he was more silly. And I remember saying to myself, man, ain't nobody funnier than me. But I never even showed them I was funny. But I knew in my heart I was like. I always knew I had the ability to go on a run and make people laugh and keep tagging it. I could tell somebody up if I wanted to. So that was the one thing I was for sure in. More than anything I knew I was. That was funny.

[Lecrae]

Okay? So the reason why I like your story is because a lot of times when you think of dudes in the streets or dudes selling drugs, you think of, like, some tough gangster type of dude. You know what I mean? I grew up around gangsters, thugs, you know what I'm saying? The whole nine. But I still allegedly sold my little stuff from time to time. But I wasn't no tough dude. I wasn't no. I'm about to bust you upside your head. Hey, where this at? Where this at? I was just trying to get a little money on the side, you know what I mean? Like, the picture that. Because I knew a lot of guys like that. A lot of guys was just trying to get some. Some money. Everybody wasn't no tough guy, you know what I mean? But it's interesting. I. I don't know anybody who was like a. A funny kind of like smiley dude who was still like in the kitchen whipping it up and cooking and the whole nine. So like, was that a. Was that weird to people or was it just. That's just what it was, yeah.

[Country Wayne]

It was so weird that the police in the other town, I got away a lot because they didn't think I was selling drugs really. When they used to hear stuff about me selling drugs, they just couldn't believe it. I had the Donald Duck hat from Walmart, man. So, you know, I'm wearing Donald Duck hats, buzz Bunny shirts, you know what I'm saying? When that was popular one time, I was always the happy go lucky kid.

[Lecrae]

Okay?

[Country Wayne]

So it was like. But my intentions were never to be no gangster or nothing like that. I just wanted some money. So that was my real attention. So I wasn't trying to be. Yeah, I was never violent, man. I just wanted some money.

[Lecrae]

You were never scared, like the violence was gonna come get you though?

[Country Wayne]

Yeah, shoot. I don't have a lot of situations, man. I used to be paranoid. I remember one night, man, I had made like probably about $4,000, four or five thousand. And I remember I got so paranoid. I was staying the projects and the mother of my kids house, she want my. She wasn't that yet, but I was. I got paranoid. I was like, man, they finna come take this. I remember going to the gas station and looking around and thought somebody come out. My pockets was budging. So I had a lot of situations. Yeah, Yeah, I was. Yeah, I was scared.

[Lecrae]

And what was you gonna do?

[Country Wayne]

Give it to him? Shoot. I practiced. They said, hell, everybody practiced shooting people. I practice taking it off. Every once in a while I go in the mirror and look, see how fast I can get it off me. I'm not. Hey, man, I'm not about to dive with no Goddard. If you got a gun, it's yours.

[Lecrae]

Okay, I feel you. Yeah, I feel you. I mean, there was times in my mind where I was like, man, I know what I'm gonna do. But then I got robbed and I was like, I just gave it up. Like, here you go, here you go,

[Country Wayne]

here you go, it's yours. I just tried to stay out of those situations.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, so was there a time like when you was like, all right, I gotta get out of the game and give, like start taking life a little more seriously or figure something else out. And if that was the. Was God a part of the equation? Was comedy? Like, what happened when you said, I gotta Switch this up.

[Country Wayne]

I was trying to get out the whole time. The whole time I was hustling. I was trying to be a rapper.

[Lecrae]

Oh, okay.

[Country Wayne]

You know what I'm saying? Put my money into the rap game, shoot my own video. I was throwing parties down my way and all that.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

And then I just picked up that Bible. When I picked up that Bible, the reason why I picked up the Bible. Cause I was at a peak in that town. I was at a place where I was like, I had some money, had a good bit of money, had the girls, I had the cars. And I was like, I'm up, but I'm up in the wrong way. I was like, this, the negative. And I remember my niece had a Bible up there on the TV stand. And something told me, just go get that word. And I ended. Because everybody talk about the Bible, but they never told me how to read it. They always talking about this verse and that verse. So I said, what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna pick it up from the beginning. And I went and reading that Bible that night. LeBron was in the championship. They won a championship that year. Matter of fact. As a matter of fact. And I was reading that Bible and I was like, it was coming to me different. The Samson store. I went to my. Hey, man. I'm like, hey, a lot of this stuff, it wasn't his faith, wasn't in his hair. His faith. I mean, it was his faith.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

I said, Cause if it was his hair, they wouldn't have let it grow back when they let it grow back. So I was just really picking up, going to my aunties and mama. I mean, grandma and them. But that word. When I picked that word up, I really was. You could feel God. It was like every move was a move.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

I was trying to get out the whole time. Like, that was my goal. That was my true intentions. I tell my dad sometimes I say, y' all went to prison. Cause y' all had other intentions in this game. Trying to enjoy. Like, I would never. When I was in the streets, I would never go on no dates. For real. I would never go out of town. Cause I feel like that was throwing it in God face. I'm already selling dope, but here I am riding around. You better have purpose with whatever you doing. So I just know I. Hey, if I ain't have purpose when I was in the street, I wouldn't do it like my baby mama, she was mad. Cause I wouldn't never go on no vacations like the other Dope boys. I'm like, why would I go on vacation with this illegal money? We're not smarter. Yeah, yeah. I'm like, we're not successful. The guy at the dollar store is actually making more money than me. Cause if I get caught and get five years, if he making 15,000 a year, you know what I'm saying, that's 75,000 up and he can spend time with his kids. I don't miss that. So now my kid, you know, But I was always thinking deep like that.

[Lecrae]

Yeah. So I want to take a break for a second because conversations like this one are reminding me of how real mental health actually is. And when you hear someone talk honestly about depression or suicidal ideation or anything along those lines, it's a reminder that faith doesn't cancel the need for for real care. And it's one of the reasons why I'm extremely grateful for Talk iatry and talk iatry's 100 online psychiatry practice that provides comprehensive evaluations, diagnosis, and even ongoing medical management for conditions like anxiety, depression, adhd, bipolar disorder, ocd, ptsd, insomnia, and more. Unlike therapy only apps Talk Iatry is psychiatry. So that means you're meeting with licensed medical providers who can actually diagnose what's going on and prescribe medication when it's appropriate. And the best part is that over 600 clinicians are in network with major insurancers. So you can use your insurance instead of paying out of pocket. And getting started is going to take a few minutes for you. You're going to complete a short assessment and then you can be seeing a psychiatrist in days, not months, over the 300,000 people have already found care through Talk Iatry. And if this episode hits close to home for you, I need you to head over to talkiotry.com Lecrae complete the short assessment and get matched with an in network psychiatrist in minutes. Okay, that's talkiatry.com Lecrae hey, it's Ryan

[Ryan Seacrest]

Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. You don't want to miss the annual beauty event. For big savings on all your favorite beauty products now through April 28, spend $25 on participating products and save $5. Shop in store or online for items like Billie women's razors, Billie body buffer or body Wash Native hand soap, Neutrogena makeup remover tablets, and Q Tips. And save $5 when you spend $25. Offer ends April 28. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Lecrae]

You what I what I When I listen to you talk, you know, even in hearing your interviews and just kind of how you built your empire. Like you was built different from the get go, you know what I'm saying? Did you know that when you was in the game? There was times in my life where I was like, I'll never forget a particular story where it was like my whole neighborhood was a particular gang, and the opposite gang came through shooting, they was like, hey, y' all gonna have to start shooting back. And all my little partners like, yeah. And I was like, no, I don't know. I don't think that's me. You know what I mean? So I'm just wondering, was you in your mind? Like, I think I gotta, I gotta. I know this ain't what I need to be doing or I'm better than this, you know what I'm saying?

[Country Wayne]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I always knew that. I knew that then. I knew that when I got into comedy game, I knew I had a purpose and I just knew it was always tied to God. Cause I'm like, man, God, the biggest. I'm nothing. So I just wanna be a part of buddy.

[Lecrae]

Oh, hey, that's a word right there.

[Country Wayne]

I told somebody today, man, I like, man, listen here. You know, I was talking to somebody yesterday and we was talking about money and all. I was like, bro, we as black people for sure. We definitely still broke. Even if I make 20 million in a year, man, that really ain't. Mark Zuckerberg. Don't just made that today. Yeah. So it's like, what keep me humble is like, man, man, God is bigger and he got a bigger purpose. So I don't know what real success is. It got to be tied to him.

[Lecrae]

Yeah. What do you think was happening in your heart during that transition period where it's like, was God like, hey, man, what gave you the confidence? What do you think gave you the confidence to say I'm done?

[Country Wayne]

Shoot, he showed me some fruit. I was famous already.

[Lecrae]

Okay, so you'd already built this up.

[Country Wayne]

Man, I ain't quit the right way. I ain't about to lie. I ain't quit that money till some other money came. Okay, so the same phone, I hit leaks on the same phone. I went viral. So I was going viral while I was selling dope, kid licks, other phone going viral. God know me, boy. I wasn't going to quit. He know his son. I wasn't one of the ones I quit. And I. I slept on the sofa in them nights in the car, man, I ain't sleeping no goddamn car, man. I been

[Lecrae]

so you was like, look, I, I. My mama said, don't quit one job till you get another one. Lord, you going to have to give me a way out if you want me to get about this.

[Country Wayne]

Hey, man, I wasn't quitting. Yeah, I was trying, I was about to quit. I had, I had two night, I had one night club and I opened up that second night club.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

So they both was open on every Saturday night. So I had, I like, okay, this one doing about 40amonth. But it wasn't profiting for it. I'm realistic. Like, it profiting like 18, 20, you know what I'm saying? So I had got to a point. But I ain't quit all the way until them shows was really coming in consistent. I like, oh, now, had you had

[Lecrae]

quit by the time your pops and them got arrested?

[Country Wayne]

Nah, I was on you wasn't. I quit. I quit the day before the feds came, okay?

[Lecrae]

That's right.

[Country Wayne]

The day before, the day before the feds. I had a quarter brick left and I gave it all the way. I had that and I gave, I mean, gave it all the way to everybody. Sold it to them. I say I gave it away, but I really sold it for cheap. Sold it for cheap.

[Lecrae]

I'm gonna give you a discount, bro.

[Country Wayne]

Bro, exactly.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

And remember, I had a half an ounce left and my brother Tay hit me up. He like, bro, you might well get that out of there too. Your house might well be clean. He just said that out of nowhere. And then all of a sudden, the next day, the Fed came. The next day, the fed came. My daddy. I shook my dad's hand that day. I said, hey, man, I see you on the other side. I said, I'm legit now. I'm going straight legit. I'm doing this company thing. The next day, the feds came and knocked on my door. I was on the way to a show in Brownswood, Georgia, Heard a knock at the door. Boom, boom, boom, boom. And it felt strange. And my brother Crenshaw went to the door. I said, they said, he said, it's the Fed. I mean, FBI. They got me. I said, man, I don't know who done told. I said, but at least I'm famous. I can have some Free Country Wave T shirts. As long as my kids, they would eat while I'm in there. I was at peace. I went to the door, I had my hands ready to get locked up. They said, you Dwayne Kohler? I said, yes. They Say, well, we looking for your dad, Vincent Coley. I said, thank you, Jesus.

[Lecrae]

Take my daddy.

[Country Wayne]

I ain't never been so happy to call somebody and tell me, you get locked up, buddy.

[Lecrae]

That is crazy.

[Country Wayne]

Yep.

[Lecrae]

That is crazy. So your pops gets locked up, you taking off. I know. I heard you went viral. And then a few months later, you

[Country Wayne]

like, Yeah, I was on fire. When he got locked up, I was on fire. Yeah, I was on. Ooh. I had killed the Internet bad. 2015. Yeah, it was like 2000. That 2015 run was enough to. Everybody still look at me as a comedian. But I ain't been funny for real since then until I brought back drill 2020. Okay. I went through phases on the Internet.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

But I killed two. It don't take you nothing to kill it. One year, I killed 2015 so bad that it allowed me to be country Wayne, a comedian in people's minds forever, especially South.

[Lecrae]

Yeah. Now, you had already had some money before, but you hadn't had fame.

[Country Wayne]

Nah, I had fame in my hometown.

[Lecrae]

Right. So what is this global fame doing to you inside? Like, how is that affecting your life?

[Country Wayne]

To be honest, I feel like God prepared me because I was always popular in my town. So a country people, it's hard to really shake us, for real, because it just. If I was popular down there, in your mind, you think you bigger than what you are anyway. Okay. Because if you popular in the country, you go to the city with confidence. Yeah, that. Why don't country boys will come. What's up, boy? Y'. All. So I was already so confident, so I felt like, oh, you know, I supposed to be famous. What y' all talking about? I never had that. I always was, like, at that level in my mind. Yeah. So this fame really ain't do nothing to me. It feel like home, everything feel like

[Lecrae]

it was just what it was.

[Country Wayne]

To this day, man, I be forgetting all the other stuff I done did. Cause I just stay grounded and realize when you realize you ain't got nothing, you just keep going. I think some people get complacent and be like, I got enough. But are you really got enough? See, I spread my money out so much, they keep me humble.

[Lecrae]

Wait, what you mean?

[Country Wayne]

Man, I take care of everybody in my family.

[Lecrae]

I'm talking about spread it out like

[Country Wayne]

my grandma get a chance. I probably, man, my grandma, my grandma, mama, dude, Jake. Three, four. Three three sisters. You know what I'm saying? We got two, three, three brothers that. Three brothers that work with me. You know what I'm saying? My Daddy, you know what I'm saying? The 10 kids, you know what I'm saying? That's 20, you know, the baby mamas, you know that, that's 25. And you know, even they some people in their family you talking about, you know, third. Oh, my other grandma, 31, then this other person, then this other person, then this other person, and then my 100 and something people who work with me. So it's like, I think when you get it and you spread it, it keep you grounded. Cause even if you full, it's some empty bellies around you. Yeah. So it's like, so this fame really ain't never do nothing to me. Cause I'm always feeling like, man, I'm feeling like I'm trying to get to try to get to it every day.

[Lecrae]

You are for real serial entrepreneur, you know, that's what I see. Like the dope game was just a way for you to use the skill that God had probably already given you.

[Country Wayne]

Yeah. The devil was trying to get me like he got my mama done. You know, I tell people, man, even when you read the Bible, I told my dad this the other day. I said, people reading the Bible the wrong way, they getting. And they getting to know God. But God is in us. You need to get to know the devil, you need to learn his play. Because like if you, if you to go to state wars, you're not watching film on yourself. You watch a film on the opponent. So you got to know how the devil moving. That's what people need. Local God gonna be there. So people need to know. I knew how the devil was moving. Yeah. So only thing I did, I say, you know what with God, that's the whole thing about the Bible and God. He say, if you get me, because this is Satan's world. He said, but if you get me even in this world. Yeah, yeah, you'll beat him. Yeah. And I just knew the way he was telling me the game God was giving me. Yeah. Dress a certain way. Cuz the police were so racist. So I like, I was one of us to go to the store and get the. It was the. I didn't even buy the polo. It was the polo shirts, but it wasn't the brand polo. It had a shark on. I forgot the name of it. Southern Tide, I think that was the name of it. I used to buy these college shirts and wear the little college hats and the, the sperries and stuff. So I was like, since they so judgmental of a certain kind of person, let me dress like the Other person.

[Lecrae]

Especially in that country town.

[Country Wayne]

Especially in that country town. So I use the game against it, but it was my entrepreneur's skills. Yeah. So it was like, man, the devil would try. The devil tried to. The whole game of life is about God gonna be with you. You know, are you gonna let the devil win?

[Lecrae]

What you think the devil is trying to do in this comedy game against you? Like, what is the things you gotta watch out for nowadays?

[Country Wayne]

Right now, he just tried to be his best to not make. God made it too far.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

So now he just tries his best not to let me be too c. He don't want my story to be told too much. Okay. It's like every time I'm on a podcast, whatever, it draws too many people in because they like all the black people. Like, man, hey, bro, how he doing that? And take care of the family. And still got. So it's getting people. And then I'm leading them back. Hey, Jesus. They be like, oh, but Wayne have been saying Jesus the whole time.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

So only thing the devil do now is try to keep me hidden. You don't see me ever get a award. You don't see my name on no list. And they put the list out. But everybody know who the one.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

Or the social. Everybody know who the one or. So what I did on social media, man, is. It's ridiculous, man. You talk about, man, he's going, shoot the numbers now is ridiculous. But the only thing that devil do now is try his best not to get me seen. And that's it. That's all. That's all he could do at this

[Lecrae]

point, do you feel like, you know, because the flip side of that is some people will say, the more I'm seen, the more arrogant I get, the more I feel like I'm God. And God is, you know, like, yeah, I get to you and I give you the credit later, but I need to shine. It seemed like you got bigger. And then you start wearing a Jesus popping chain and stuff. Like, what provoked all that? What made you start doing that, man?

[Country Wayne]

I knew I was gonna do it. I'm like, that's the goal. I'm like, I'm endorsed by Jesus. So I knew. I knew, man, when I get there, I was already saying his name then.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Country Wayne]

So it just made me sing. Because if you've been saying his name then. And it got me this far with no help. Yeah, I'm definitely gonna scream his name. Cause I'm like, whatever endorsements I lose with his name, I don't care Cuz I know who was with me dead. And I like, there's no brand like Jesus. He's too popular. There's no Netflix, Facebook, Nike, Coca Cola. Nobody is bigger than Jesus. His brand is the most hated and the most loved. I never seen somebody who I ain't never seen a picture of so popular. Michael Jackson left. He was a big artist and we don't say his name every day. But Jesus, man, they selling tickets to see him every Sunday. He ain't showed up, man, I ain't never seen nobody with a million concerts. Every Sunday, he I want to get to that point where I ain't got to show up. They pay to come talk. They, they pay to come talk to talk about him. I'm like, man, so whoever that was, that energy, Jesus, man, I'm like, man, I'm gonna keep screaming in the anchor, but it's working.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. You don't want to miss the annual beauty event. For big savings on all your favorite beauty products now through April 28, spend $25 on participating products and save $5. Shop in store or online for items like Billie women's razors, Billie body buffer or body Wash, native hand soap, Neutrogena makeup remover tablets and Q Tips. And save $5 when you spend $25. Offer ends April 28. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[LifeLock Narrator]

It's tax season, and by now I know we're all a bit tired of numbers. But here's an important one you need to $16 billion. That's how much money in refunds the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud. Here's another one in four honest, hard working, taxpaying Americans has been a victim of identity theft. But it's not all grim news. LifeLock monitors millions of data points per second for your personal information and and alerts you to threats you could easily miss on your own. If your identity is stolen, LifeLock's US based restoration specialist will fix it, backed by another good number, the million dollar protection package. In fact, restoration is guaranteed or your money back. Don't face identity theft and financial losses alone. There's strength in numbers with Lifelock Identity theft protection for tax season and beyond. Visit lifelock.com iheartra and save up to 40% your first year. That's 40% [e-mail] iheart terms apply.

[Lecrae]

What if, like, I get like Jesus in the sense of like, you know what I mean? Like, he's your protector. He's your provider. He taking care of you. But what about in the hard times? Like, what does that look like for you? To your low moments, you know what I'm saying? Where you feel like, man, everybody see me smiling, but I'm going through it right now. You know, what's the stuff that people don't get to see about Wayne?

[Country Wayne]

They don't get to see, man, how much I really depend on them. That's what they don't see. I'm a big baby. They don't never somebody. It was a critic that said that about my special. They said one thing they didn't like about my special. He felt like I was real cocky. He said the only time that I seen vulnerability in him is when he talked about God. So I got this big, bold. But everybody don't know how much I'm a baby when it comes to God. It's like I mess up and be like, man, hey, God, for real, man. I ain't gonna lie. That's the only person I beg and do all that, too. So they don't really know my hard times. Cause that's all we can run to. Yeah, it's so much stuff out here could get you sick. It's so much your money could leave. So it's so much stuff can happen. What they don't know is how much of a big baby I am to him. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

Yeah. It's funny, like, certain things that would break people. You know, I wonder about, like, you've navigated some stuff. And I'm like, that would break a lot. I know people with four kids, and they like, man, this is too much. You got 10 of them also. You know, I look at your life and your lifestyle, and most people would be like, man, you popping. You got this going on. You getting the money, you get in the cars, all this type of stuff. And you don't cuss in your specials. You don't drink, you don't smoke. Like, what? I heard you got drunk at 25, and then you was like, I'm done. What started that? How did that start happening?

[Country Wayne]

You see, the devil win the devil. All my family was on drugs. So if I was that stupid, I already go. I already was on the women. So I'm like, that's your drill. I can't do all of them. I like, I tell people, man, you can't do everything. We all got vices. But, hey, you gotta choose your sins, or your sins gonna choose you. And I know for sure, them drugs, yeah, it just it's just, you know, it's a lot of it. Just do things on. My family was smart. My dad was smart. My mom was smart. But them drugs were undefeated. Yeah. So I just knew how the devil move. I'm like, okay, at least if I stay off that. Yeah. That solved 90. 90 of my problems that I was gonna have. And, yeah, I just, you know, I just stayed away from them drugs.

[Lecrae]

What do you think it is with. With. With, you know. Cause when we hear about Wayne, we hear about women.

[Country Wayne]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

What do you think it is? Like, what do you think it is?

[Country Wayne]

Nah, not like God created the best creature in the world.

[Lecrae]

That's not what I mean.

[Country Wayne]

Okay. Oh, my bad. Lecrae. Forgot what podcast I was on, but I was gonna keep it real.

[Lecrae]

But I'm just saying, like, for you, you like, you good. But I'm saying for you, you like, nah, I ain't messing with them drugs. I'm done with that. I'm leaving that alone. Or I'm done with the liquor. I ain't touching that no more. When it comes to the women, it's like, I'm gonna chill on that. But then it be like, yeah, I ain't chill.

[Country Wayne]

Like, I should have chilled. Oh, no. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, I could have. When it came to the women, man, I really could have made better decisions to that. Because, to be honest, I love. Man, I love marriage now. I wish that on my kids, my sons, and they're better than me at that. Like, I can see that. They. Even when they think they being a player, they really be with the same girl. 90 something percent of the time. They don't make any mistakes or whatever. But it was nowhere like I was. And it was just like, man, that was. Women was just the thing that I was like, I ain't gonna lie. I even. Even if it was wrong, I made it right in my mind. I was like, man, God, I thought about it. I was like, man, God made such a beautiful specimen. I was like, it's nothing else got my attention. It was nothing else distracting me out there. Yeah, but those women. But those women, Then that's what I. But I could have made some better. I could have definitely made some better decisions, man, if I would, you know, if I would have had all my kids by one woman in the house and all that, I would have been fine. Yeah. And that would have been. That's how I feel. I could feel peace in that. I feel joy. I feel life going a little slower. Yeah. And. But I just feel like I had a Different purpose coming from where I come from. Yeah, I was wrong. But I still feel for me. Cause I'm like, man, come from where I come from. That wasn't what we was. That wasn't what we was talking about.

[Lecrae]

You're not supposed to be here.

[Country Wayne]

Yeah, I wasn't supposed to be here. So at the same time, you really living deep down like you don't supposed to. You don't know how far you're gonna make it anyway. You think you're going to jail. And at the same time, it's like, man, where I come from, man, I wasn't gonna marry none of those women. I ain't never met a woman yet that I was gonna marry. Because I know for sure I'm not God. And I ain't as patient as him. And I'm not sitting around this all day for this many years. And so I'm like, I'm not been. If God tell me to do it, okay.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

But, man, I tried it. I got married one time because I felt like the right thing to do. I tried it. I got married because I had made it. I was legit. And the girl I was with in the streets and all that, I was like. I was like, yeah, this the right thing to do.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

And when I got in that marriage, I realized I was the same person, though. I was like, I still don't want to be with nobody. There's a day like this. My goals, my dreams was bigger to me than that. Cause I wanted to take care of my family more than I wanted to be married. My whole goal, my first priority was to make sure my family's straight. It don't have to work for nobody.

[Lecrae]

And you didn't see this new person as a part of your family. You saw them as like a.

[Country Wayne]

No, she wasn't new. I had new for 10 years. Oh, okay. But I just knew that she wasn't gonna let me. She wasn't gonna be with that wholeheartedly.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Country Wayne]

Because even every woman I talk to now, they be like, he spent too much money. I'm giving too much. You know, I'm like, bro, I don't care what you say, man. If I go broke blessing my family, let it be. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

So you got your priorities already set.

[Country Wayne]

I got my approaches already said. And they have to be. And now that I'm vegan, I don't eat. I was evolving as I was going. I'm like a woman def. She bot gonna have to be vegan. Because when you eliminate your eating different now, you eliminate the dates. That's what happened to my ex. You weren't eating the same. So it's like, at the end of the day, I say that marriage life look good, and it does look good. But I'd be lying if I say I would have. If I had. If I had it done over, I would have did it different. I probably would have chose different

[Lecrae]

women,

[Country Wayne]

but I ain't gonna lie.

[Lecrae]

So is it a commitment issue or is it the women issue? Is it a certain type of woman that you like? I can't do that. Or is it a. I don't think I'm built like that. What you think it is?

[Country Wayne]

I tell my mind I'm built like that. I feel like I'm a husband.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Country Wayne]

But who's. No. I get in that situation, I'm gonna be like, well, this probably. It's probably not. It's probably not me.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Country Wayne]

But I tell myself that I'm built like that. I'm just waiting for it. Because it's like when you get so busy at this point, if I had somebody right now that I. That was. That was vegan like me.

[Lecrae]

We gonna get to that. Cause that's funny.

[Country Wayne]

Yeah. As a vegan like me and understand my dynamic and how I take care of my family and on the same mission with me like that. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

Then for sure.

[Country Wayne]

Oh, yeah. And I like. I'm probably gonna be like, benefit my business. Cause my last relationship, we kind of. Man, she wasn't in the skits. Cause my skits, I play this. I playing Wayne. So I can't be with a girl in the skits if she's not my girl.

[Lecrae]

Right.

[Country Wayne]

So it's like. So she wasn't getting in the skits quicker than I thought she was supposed to be. And I'm like, this ain't gonna work. Because this my business. This come first. Yeah. So I always sacrifice a relationship. I put my business first.

[Lecrae]

Do you wanna be 65, 70, and with somebody old man style, or you feel like, man, I'm just gonna probably still be cooking, still be working, still be grinding.

[Country Wayne]

I'm probably gonna be. I'm probably gonna have somebody.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Country Wayne]

Cause you want that partner. Cause ain't nothing like marriage, man. Ain't nothing like having that partner that you. Y' all on the same page, y'. All. Yeah, it's us. Even your arguments, you know, we're a team at the end of the day.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

So, you know, you. You definitely gonna. You're looking for that person. Right.

[Lecrae]

But right now, Wayne in his. In his own What I. Now, I know you vegan. That's vegans everywhere. I get it. But I heard that the Bible is what convinced you to be vegan. Is that true?

[Country Wayne]

No. Well, the story of Daniel kind of did. Because when they. Remember when they came to Daniel, and Daniel, like, he don't want to eat no meat. Okay, okay.

[Lecrae]

And they was like, so you just doing a long. A lifelong Daniel fast.

[Country Wayne]

Yeah. I kept seeing the results. Remember Daniel. This what got me with Daniel. When he told him, the guy said, look, man, I got to feed y'. All. Cause if not, boss gonna come and kill y' all if y'. All. If I get in trouble, if I find out y' all haven't been eating, but y' all supposed to eat. He said, how about this, man? Just let us eat it for, you know, the vegetables and water and this, and let everybody else eat what they eat. And if we end it, we could. Then everybody will get back on it. And he came back, and Daniel and his homeboys was glowing.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

So I was like, there's something to that. And then when they came and needed somebody to read the dream, Daniel didn't mind. So I was like, I got on a diet. I was more looking for what to do for you mentally.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Country Wayne]

And I started seeing results in my frequency of how I think. I'm like. I'm on stage. I'm thinking quick. I'm like, oh, Lord, I'm figuring out a lot. And I. So that's what it was for me.

[Lecrae]

Okay. That makes sense.

[Country Wayne]

And that probably just my belief. When you believe in something, it works. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

I respect it. I respect it. I mean, I could never be vegan. I like. I like chicken.

[Country Wayne]

I like it, man, that vegan food don't taste good as that chicken, man. When vegans be saying that, they be lying, man. I'll be thinking about. I'd be watching videos of lemon pepper chicken. I'd be on my phone, man. I got there that tenonism, man. I'd be. I'll be on the sideways. I'd be on my phone looking at it at oxtail shake. I'd be. I'll be. I be. Want some food. I want some food right now. I want some, man. Listen here. I want a ham, man.

[Lecrae]

Look, my homegirl is vegan. And it's so funny because she's always trying to like, ooh, try this. This gonna taste like this. I'm like, none of it don't taste this.

[Country Wayne]

Nah. It don't compare.

[Lecrae]

Nah, man.

[Country Wayne]

That tofu or that big wet Tofu do not taste like. No, Nothing. Nothing.

[Lecrae]

No Jackson Nothing.

[Country Wayne]

Like some chicken and a big steak. And that stuff tastes better. Okay. I'm just being real.

[Lecrae]

As long as you know that.

[Country Wayne]

Oh, I know it.

[Lecrae]

Long as you know that. When I saw you with my girl, Sherri shepherd, she asked you to name all the kids. Sherry. Shout out to Sherry. She asked you to name all your kids, name all their birthdays. I was impressed. I was like, 10 kids.

[Country Wayne]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

So, you know, now 10 kids probably is like, this is just life. This how it is. I got it covered. You know, I'm paying child support, whatever, taking care of my family. But early on, was it a struggle? Like, talk about what that looked like for you.

[Country Wayne]

Yeah, that was scary. Every child I had, I was like, oh, Lord Jesus, there's not one child I ever planned, man. Plan B. Owe me some money. This dude is.

[Lecrae]

Wow.

[Country Wayne]

I'm telling you, there's not one child. Every, man. When I first had Tony, I was in high school, I was like, man, oh, Lord Jesus. I went to the army. I went to basic training on the way to 12th grade. Then by the time we graduated, Tony's mom, she had another one on the way. So it was just scary. It was scary, man.

[Lecrae]

At what number was you like, Man, I. I'm. I'm doing a lot over here.

[Country Wayne]

One. I was at number one. You?

[Lecrae]

Nine. You went nine more?

[Country Wayne]

Hell, man, I ain't tried to.

[Lecrae]

You still, like, you don't feel like, man, let me go get snipped or something? You like, well, forget it, man.

[Country Wayne]

I think some little girls was pregnant before I met him. I think God put them babies in their stomach. Ain't no way I don't tried everything. I'm looking at ovulation charts. It ain't. It didn't matter. Yeah, baby, baby, baby. But what sound crazy, and this gonna sound crazy to people, man, them girls that I had a child with. Yeah. Especially the ones earlier, was from our hometown. And I tell them this all the time. And I never say this, because people go back and forth, and I don't feel like arguing, but I knew those girls and their kids saved their. Their life. I'm like, I always tell them, all my baby mamas from the area, I'm like, what would y' all have done? Y' all see where y' all sisters and friends and cousins are still there.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

So God sent somebody through to save y'. All. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

He said, God sent my seed.

[Country Wayne]

God sent my seed. Because if it wasn't for that seed, y' all Wouldn't have these, these houses in this field.

[Lecrae]

I do think God, you know, and I.

[Country Wayne]

And that was my. And I think I realized everybody. God meet you where you're at.

[Lecrae]

That's for sure.

[Country Wayne]

That's why we all privileged.

[Lecrae]

That's for sure.

[Country Wayne]

So I think nobody wouldn't, nobody wouldn't agree to that. But they, they understand what I'm saying.

[Lecrae]

Well, I feel like God don't want us to make bad decisions, but he can turn them bad decisions into blessings.

[Country Wayne]

Yeah.

[Lecrae]

You know what I'm saying?

[Country Wayne]

He did to David, you know?

[Lecrae]

Yeah, yeah.

[Country Wayne]

You know, Solomon.

[Lecrae]

Solomon.

[Country Wayne]

That's right. So God already knew. So. But David was still wrong. Yeah, yeah. David, you still wrong and it was on your heart to do that. But I use that. But that's why he say he favored David because David didn't care what people said. Yeah. See, that's the thing about everybody who really got in trouble in the Bible, like Saul. You think about Saul. Saul got in trouble because I think it was Samuel. He was supposed to wait on Samuel to sacrifice. But the people kept saying, man, it's going to. He want to move with the people. Yeah. And all of a sudden, guess what happened. That was his biggest mistake. Then Samuel had to go try to find David. Because what happens is, man, when God don't gave you a mission that's between you and God and you don't change his mission because of what people say. And that's the hardest thing to do.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

Everybody care what people say. And when you don't care, eventually they'll get it.

[Lecrae]

That's true.

[Country Wayne]

You know, if I would have made it, they would have called me stupid and everything. Autumn kids. But they see the way me and my kids are. We're close. Tony going. Going to college. Tamar out there in college. Taylor about to go to college. I had a child who had autism that broke out of that. I seen real miracles. All my children close. My. Kiyomi called me this morning. Kiyomi called me 31 times. About 3 year old, man. She's. But she's half white, so she feel like she. I got to answer you feel what I'm saying? She. She got that white privilege. She thinks she better than all the other kids. Oh my goodness. So.

[Lecrae]

So it sounds too like, man, you not just there financially, you even emotionally, you investing.

[Country Wayne]

Oh, yeah, I know. Me and my kids. Are they in the skits? We're close, man. Like we play waffle ball together, me and the boys, all the girls we got, you know, we really. I Built my house for them, you know what I'm saying? I got nine rooms there. Cause Keome wasn't born yet. But, man, we're real close.

[Lecrae]

That's crazy. You know, Salute to you for, like, really, like, trying to make a masterpiece out of a mess.

[Country Wayne]

Oh, for sure.

[Lecrae]

You know what I'm saying? And salute to you on that. What do you feel like? Cause you just saying, like, you can't care about what people think when the negative headlines pop up on you. And people got negative things. Say, I ain't gonna mention no names, but, you know, certain people, oh, he corny, but he, you know, da, da, da. Like, how do you navigate all of that?

[Country Wayne]

Because I just know it ain't true, man. I just don't. When something ain't true, it don't really bother you. If I respond, it's because. All right, yeah, that's enough. But when people do that, even that situation, man, I'm like, bro, just look at the numbers. It's a lot of black people rock with Country Wayne. Black people probably rock with Country Wayne more than any new comedian in the whole world. He is low key. The way black people rock with me is showing you that that's who they rock with. And they not gonna tell you that. I tell all of them. I say, man, listen here, bro. People never tell you who him. If they screaming your name too loud and you all in the other world, it's because you ain't. Because people are more comfortable dealing with something that don't give them that eerie feeling. That's why people listen to hip hop music and can have fun. But Anita Baker might come on. You know what I'm saying? So Lil Craig might come on. You gonna look at it different. So it's like Country Wayne name. People don't really play with it. Cause it's like, that's a different conversation. It makes it a little eerie feeling. Cause it's like, man, that joker ain't got one industry push and got it.

[Lecrae]

It got Tyler Perry vibes.

[Country Wayne]

Exactly.

[Lecrae]

You know what I'm saying?

[Country Wayne]

So everybody know, like, you know, that's a different so to say that I'm corny. I'm like, I'm the realest in the game. I'm the only one from the streets. Y' all was kid people who went viral besides me was. They got the other story. I ain't got no broke stories. I ain't got no stories, man. Like, yeah, to be honest, you know, when they do that, I'm like, I know who I am. So Much. And they know who I am. Yeah. And they. They know what's up. So I just like, man, they just. They just talking and get a reaction because they feel like I ain't gonna say nothing. That's why when I do say something, then everybody like, oh, yeah, when he said this. Nah, man, man, stop. Cause comedians know I call your phone first. Yeah. When people. Everybody who ever said something about me, I called them first before I said something.

[Lecrae]

Do you feel like you use it to your advantage? Like, when, you know your relationships with other comedians was all over the place and it was like, headline stuff? Did you feel like, I gotta fix this? Or did you feel like I'm gonna just figure out how to navigate? I seen you lean into it a little bit. Like, you was just like, hey, man.

[Country Wayne]

Yeah. Cause when I was talking, you know, so I was talking to old girl. I ain't gonna say old girl. I say her name. You know what I'm saying? I was talking to Jess. I lean into it. Cause I liked her. I don't care what the people saying. I'm like, man, they said stuff about her. I'm like, man, this is what I like right now. I don't care what y' all talking about. That's who Wayne is. So I didn't never. I never cared about the fame. And she'll tell you that. She'll tell you, Wayne, about that paper, man. Like, I'm about the business, all the fame stuff and this stuff. I ain't like that. Me and her, you know, that's. Unfortunately that. We even had to go on the Internet like that. But we comedians, you know what I'm saying? Yeah.

[Lecrae]

So what when you see, like.

[Country Wayne]

Cause you.

[Lecrae]

You open about your faith, you serious about Jesus, you ain't cussing in your standups. You ain't cussing, you know. You know, you got this image out

[Country Wayne]

here

[Lecrae]

where it's like the culture meets faith in some kind of ways. But when you see, like, Drew Ski, you know, do the skit. He did, like, how do you see that? Do you see it like, hey, that's funny. That's what it is. Like. Or did you see, like. Would you ever do something like that?

[Country Wayne]

Heck, no, I wouldn't do it. That ain't my thing, though. But, you know, I'm more of a creator. Like, Drew Ski is like a. Like, he's like. He imitate a lot. Okay? So he's like a. He's like a great imitator. He remind me of who the people that be doing that a lot. They know how to imitate people a lot.

[Lecrae]

Oh, like Jay Farrell?

[Country Wayne]

Yeah, yeah, Jay Farrell. So Drew Ski, he, he means no harm. He just like this, what he seen and, and to be honest, I'm, I'm an imitator too, but I come from the street, so I imitate what I've seen and done. That's the difference. I don't really imitate like that. He do it on a broader scale. Okay. You gotta think about the kid. He's still, man, Drew ski we about 30, but he's still a kid. You can feel the kid in him. He, he don't mean no harm. Only thing he think this funny. And I, and Drew Ski is naturally like that in person. And when people are who they are, his attentions are not bad because it's like Drew Ski just, he, he, he's like that behind closed doors and people are who they are. We forgot. Yeah, we forgive them. But at the end of the day, man, no, I wouldn't do that because the more knowledge you got, the more that you, you don't do certain stuff. Knowledge kind of like, ah, yeah, like some of the stuff I did back in the day, I want to do now.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

Okay. So he probably look at it ten years later, but right now, man, it is what it is.

[Lecrae]

What it is.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. You don't want to miss the annual beauty event for big savings on all your favorite beauty products. Now through April 28, spend $25 on participating products and save $5. Shop in store or online for items like Billie women's razors, Billy body buffer or body Wash Native hand soap, Neutrogena makeup remover tablets and Q Tips. And save $5 when you spend $25. Offer ends April 28. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[LifeLock Narrator]

It's tax season and by now I know we're all a bit tired of numbers. But here's an important one you need to $16 billion. That's how much money in refunds the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud. Here's another one in four honest, hard working, taxpaying Americans has been a victim of identity theft. But it's not all grim news. LifeLock monitors millions of data points per second for your personal information and alert you to threats you could easily miss on your own. If your identity is stolen, LifeLock's US based restoration specialists will fix it, backed by another good, the million dollar protection package. In fact, restoration is guaranteed or your money back. Don't face identity theft and financial losses alone. There's strength in numbers with Lifelock identity theft protection for tax season and beyond. Visit lifelock.com iheart and see save up to 40% your first year. That's 40% [e-mail] iheart terms apply.

[Lecrae]

So you said some of the stuff you did in the past, like, man, I wouldn't do. I wouldn't do that now. But some of that has branded you is there you are a different person now. You even said, like, man, I don't even be trying to be funny in my skits. And the whole nine. What do you think? What don't people understand about you? What do they. What is the misconception or the misunderstanding about country Wayne?

[Country Wayne]

Misunderstanding is that I'm just a comedian. I think that's what people was missing. At first they thought I was. They thought I was just one of the content creators because they never paid attention to my story. It was always different. That don't make me better. But it was like. And that Kudra Wayne wasn't never really did skits. It was already. It was always storytelling. You know, the stuff that everybody else even drip had a storyline. Yeah. It was plugged with the Carlos and I think people just put me in a group of everybody else. But it was always. It was always different. You know, just when I went on Shannon Sharpe, people understood oh he business. But everybody should have known I was the first one that. Well, all the other comedians were trying to figure out how to make money. I was on stand up already. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? I had already made a million dollars 2017. While the other Internet comedians. I'm the one open the door for them to get door deals.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

They were not getting door deals at company clubs. Kircher Wayne was the first Internet comedian to go to go do comedy clubs. And they gave me a door deal.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

Once I got the door deal, everybody came behind me.

[Lecrae]

Right.

[Country Wayne]

And. And this stuff documented. You can ask shout out to Tamara at Innovative and all them they know

[Lecrae]

there's been and you know, I see it, I salute it. I think, man, you are innovator. I think you're an entrepreneur. Like I said, give me Tyler Perry vibes. But then there's comedians. I wonder what do you say to the comedians who say, man, how he get a Netflix special or why he

[Country Wayne]

like, why is it?

[Lecrae]

You know what I mean? I've been doing this way longer. I got stand up, I got this. I got that.

[Country Wayne]

Like, man, most of the comedians don't got an hour. All the comedians who talking about most don't go. They'll do 20 minutes on a package show to get a special you gotta have. First of all, you gotta have an hour, 45 minutes to an hour time.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

How many comedians you see go out there and guess what? To be honest, that's why cat talk so much joke. Cause he know he won the gravels. Even Kevin Hart them because they'll throw an hour away. Shout out to Mike Ells. A lot of these comedians scared to throw that if they got one. They scared to throw it away because they going around doing the same jokes every year, which knocks down the audience of the comedy game because it hurt the comedy game. Because now everywhere you go, they like, man, these comedians did that for years. So all them comedians talking got the same jokes they had 10 years ago. I just did my Netflix special. Had to throw that material away. I got an Amazon special dropping March 23rd. I'm on the road now. Come to Cubs grinding. Get some new material. So they ain't got the work ethic. Nobody don't wanna. Man. They don't got an hour, 45 minutes. You see clips of you don't see. I'm the only one on the Internet. You know what I'm saying? If you seen a Netflix special with 45 minutes to an hour. So the rest of them who talk about even the ones back in the day, man, you don't got the material. You could trick somebody. Go on stage and be funny. 20 minutes, anybody be like, I'll kill them. I'm like, bro, go kill him. 45 to an hour.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

You know what I'm saying? You go in there, 20 minutes, you can talk to the crowd for 10. So it's like, they don't have the material. And they know it. That why everybody. That why Drew, he respect. He stay away from it.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

Drew Juice can stay away from it. That's why anybody who mentioned my name on the Internet, we all fun and game. But I'm like, bro, I got. And then they, like some people got an hour, but then you got to work on your popularity. Yeah. So it's a gr. It's a grind. I'm like, why would Netflix give you a special? That sounds crazy. You won't give you a special, but you want them to get it one. I paid for mine. Now the next one that was on a special, they gave me some chicken. Gave me a lot of it. But it's like, man, I paid for my. And I Own it. So the Netflix deal was a great deal, but they got to think who would give them a special. Yeah, well, if you had a million dollars, 2 million. Name a comedian that ain't already got a special that you really would take a risk to get one. They blow my money. Yeah. So it's like it be business, and they be taking it personal when these networks don't give them. I'm like, man, who give? You ain't giving yourself one.

[Lecrae]

You talk, you, you. It sounds to me too, like you. I mean, I know you was already entrepreneurial from the dope game moving forward, but you had to teach yourself. Did somebody put you up on game on how to run the business the way you doing it? Monetize on social media, or did you just have to figure it out piece by piece?

[Country Wayne]

I had to figure it out piece by piece, but I was looking for it the whole time. Okay. I was like, there's no way that I got to go on the road to make money all the time. If these skits were this big to make me tour, I need to make money off this too, eventually. And they didn't have the monetization like that until the pandemic. I heard about it. Facebook had just started like a year before that. So I was asking people, is it real? But I was looking for it the whole time because I'm like, if I'm an artist, I should never make more money touring than I'm making off of my actual thing that allowed me to tour. If I'm doing that, my business is lopsided.

[Lecrae]

So you like, where's the outlet that's going to allow me to make money?

[Country Wayne]

Yeah, I don't supposed to make money touring more money touring than I do social media, because social media allowed me to tour. That mean that's how much of an impact that was, that it got enough fruit to allow you to tour. And I think everybody had the game messed up. Everybody was looking at, oh, we able to tour. But if your chick, if your tour chick bigger than your music, I don't care if you're Taylor Swift, if she able to tour like that out that music, imagine how much money that music making. So I was always to the fact it go to taking care of a lot of people. It make you keep looking at, uh, this ain't enough. Something missing. 10 kids. 10 kids.

[Lecrae]

A lot of child support.

[Country Wayne]

So it made me. When you look at your family, man, when you thinking broad like that, you thinking of blessing a lot of people. It make your business go to another Level. Because not cause you smarter than everybody, but you got more people to feed and you want to do it.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, you got a lot of gems in your book. You said there's a difference between knowledge and wisdom. You know what I'm saying? Like, what does that mean to you? Unpack that a little bit.

[Country Wayne]

Like, knowledge could be learned, but wisdom is from God, you know? And all of it is from God because you go through experiences, but wisdom, man, it's at the right time. Cause you can have knowledge of something, but you won't know when to use it. So, like, comedy is timing. That beat is like, all I know that this is up. It's the time you be like, up. Like that. Up ain't sound right. Wisdom allow you to use it at the right time. Yeah, knowing something, just. Just knowing it. Like me, I always knew how to freestyle, but when I used to freestyle online, I used to act like I couldn't. I'd be like, you know that I'm chilling with the Dolls. Chilling good. The game the whole time. I can flow, you know that. On country, you know that. On me, you know that I got a division to see. You know where I be when you know that I'm buzzing, I'm getting into the money, you know it ain't nothing. I always knew I could float, but I didn't show I can flow because it wasn't time to show it. So wisdom knew I'm gonna act like I was corny. I act like I was couldn't rap, act like I couldn't dance a little bit. I said dance and kick the door. Cause I say I'm gonna release it at the right time. When my brand got to the point when I let everybody know that I was cool and I was a dope boy. But if I would have had wisdom, I would have showed everything I had at one time. You don't never supposed to show all your car. But wisdom would give you game that's good. And let you know when to use it. Cause we all could get knowledge. That's why knowledge is dangerous sometimes. Cause if you get knowledge before you get wisdom, you gonna be using everything that you know that's good.

[Lecrae]

Last question. You know, I just. I think of. You have experience losing family, you been in the dope game, you got out the dope game. You done ran clubs, 10 kids, five baby mamas gone viral, you know, dealt with all kinds of stuff. When you look back on it all, what's the biggest regret and what's the biggest. I would say what's the biggest regret. And what's the change that. That really took your life into a different direction.

[Country Wayne]

Biggest regret I ever had is not doing my. What I supposed to be doing. That was my schoolwork. I feel like I learned now if I would have been doing what I was supposed to be doing, I wouldn't have been doing a lot what I don't supposed to be doing. Sometimes the duties of homework and stuff would have saved me from the times I'm dealing with these girls and all that. I wish I would have just

[Lecrae]

did

[Country Wayne]

what I was supposed to do.

[Lecrae]

Yeah.

[Country Wayne]

You know what I mean?

[Lecrae]

And then what's the moment you feel like, man, this changed everything.

[Country Wayne]

Oh, my mom passed. Cause the worst had happened. The worst had happened. Man, when you lose your mama. When you lose your mama at 11 years old now, you just searching for something else to care about that much. So it's like, when my mama passed, it's like, dang, even if I go do everything right, right now, I can't get her back. So, like,

[Lecrae]

whew.

[Country Wayne]

I was like. That's when I knew, before I even read the Bible, that God, your righteousness mean nothing to God. Show faith in him. Cause that's the only thing gonna keep you righteous. Cause I could have been so mad that I could have forgot about God and could have been like. But it was when my mama passed, man, it's like everything else became fake. None of this is real. To this day. It would be like, oh, even this money. That's why I give it away. But I wouldn't have gave away my mama. That was the man that hurt more than anything. Nothing have matched that hurt. And ain't nothing match that. I haven't had nothing joyful equal to the hurt that was. But Jesus, it's like the joy that he know, the joy I get from, man, it got to be a place one day and hoping that other place. Cause it's like, ain't nothing I could get. Yeah. That can replace that, man. Yeah.

[Lecrae]

Now, I appreciate you sharing that, bro.

[Country Wayne]

Oh, yeah.

[Lecrae]

That mean a lot just for other people to you wrestling with that.

[Country Wayne]

So if you got your mom around, man, I don't care. Ain't no falling out your mama or your daddy, man. I tell everybody, you got a parent or whatever, whatever y' all went through, call them right now and tell them, look, man, it ain't worth it. Because if. If anybody in your life, if they die today and it's gonna affect you like that, man, call them today. And y' all try to work that out some kind of way.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, that's good, brother. Man. We appreciate you, man. Obviously, you on the road right now. You know what I'm saying? Working on material and the Amazon specials coming. Anything else you got coming that people need to know about?

[Country Wayne]

March 23rd, Amazon special. I got a movie with me and Coco Jones that I. Me, Coco Jones, the Real Divine, Tabitha Brown, J. Alonso. I put up the money myself. Lou, Shout Out My Boy. Lou, Shout Out My Boy Ben Dunn, he in there, too. Shout out the Girl charity. But I put up the money myself, and we in the process of selling it to the right distributors.

[Lecrae]

Okay.

[Country Wayne]

They ain't give me the offer I want, so it's a lot more going on with that. Yeah. So I'm probably be. It's a lot going on at the same time.

[Lecrae]

Yeah, we. We know you gonna figure it out.

[Country Wayne]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Lecrae]

We know you gonna figure it out, man. Country Wayne in the building, brother. We appreciate you.

[Country Wayne]

I appreciate you. Huh? Yeah. It's love.

[Lecrae]

It's love.

[Country Wayne]

This is the deep end with Le.