Podcast Summary

Podcast: Traditional Talk
Host: Aaron (Founder, Traditional Cannabis Company)
Guest: Moneybagg Yo (Grammy-nominated artist, entrepreneur)
Episode: Rolling Up Success: How Moneybagg Yo Balances Music, Business, and Personal Growth
Date: August 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This debut episode of Traditional Talk spotlights Grammy-nominated rapper and entrepreneur Moneybagg Yo. The conversation dives deep into cannabis and culture, charting Moneybagg Yo’s journey from his first experiences with weed to his current health focus, creative process, business moves, upcoming projects, and his perspective on federal legalization. Moneybagg Yo shares personal stories, industry insights, and candid reflections on growth, collaboration, and authenticity.

Key Topics & Insights

1. First Experiences with Cannabis

• Origin Story (01:32):

  • Moneybagg Yo reveals he first smoked weed in the seventh grade, taking it from his dad:

    “I stole it from my dad. We probably like, what, in middle school? Like seventh grade...We got to tweaking out like some crazy shit.” (01:32)

  • Early experiences involved low-quality “Reggie” weed ($5 joints):

    “It was just Reggie, like sticks, stems…not just regular weed. Wasn’t no cush...back then.” (01:54)

• Becoming a Stoner (02:26):

  • He became a regular user in 12th grade, sourcing from the neighborhood.

2. Weed Evolution & Preferences

• Transition to Better Strains (02:52):

  • Early days: just “kush,” before the current era of branded, named strains.

• Favorite Strain Now (03:25):

  • Endorses the host’s brand:

    “Traditional, for sure. That’s right, traditional.” (03:25)

• Consumption Habits (03:42):

  • Has recently toned down from 3-4 times daily for health:

    “I toned it down…just like a part of my lifestyle that I’m doing. That’s some healthy...just stand on the right.” (03:42)

• Preferred Smoking Method (05:34):

  • Opts for papers over blunts:

    “It’s more out of papers. For sure, for sure. Smooth, straight to the point…taste it way better…” (05:38)

• Most Famous Smoking Partner (05:56):

  • Snoop Dogg:

    “Snoop. You smoke, you gotta smoke with Snoop, man.” (05:56)

3. Physical & Mental Health Priorities

• Fitness Motivation (04:34):

  • Working out helped him “shake the drink” and up his stage energy:

    “I used to be on stage and I used to be slow…didn’t make sense to where I saw myself going…if I get myself right, I can get this opportunity, this endorsement…” (04:34)

• Nutrition and Reset (04:34):

  • Mentions B12 IV drips and a focus on overall health, not just physique.

4. Evolution as an Artist & Collaborator

• On Reinvention (06:40):

  • Stresses the need to regularly reinvent himself:

    “I feel like every so years you gotta reinvent yourself...I’m in that mode.” (06:40)

• Expanding His Audience (07:05):

  • Balancing core street fans with reaching new listeners via collaborations:

    “You gotta cater to everybody…I love y’all, but we need some more y’all.” (07:05)

• Morgan Wallen Collaboration (08:08):

  • Three-year friendship led to the hit; waited for the “right time” to release:

    “Timing is everything. What if I would have put it out last year? I don’t think it would have got the effect it got today.” (08:41)

  • Producer Turbo’s role and how the record came together (09:22).

• Versatility & Singing (11:49):

  • Teases his vocal abilities and upcoming music with melodic vibes.

5. Music as Personal Narrative

• Beginning as an Artist (14:46):

  • Inspired by people in his neighborhood making money cleanly through rap:

    “We selling dope…taking the chances in the streets…so risky. But this is a clean way of them people getting money…and all I gotta do is sound good…” (14:46)

  • Early feedback was on his unique voice, not just rhymes.

• Authenticity (16:45):

  • Stressing real-life experiences in his lyrics:

    “Everything I’m living, I’m rapping about it…everything I’m witnessing, I’m putting it down…” (14:46)

• Struggles & Resilience (16:57):

  • From “sleeping on the floor” to success:

    “I had to sleep on the floor. I was sleeping on the floor. Like, I had the hottest tape in the city, sleeping on the floor in the Mill Creek Apartments.” (16:57)

6. Business Insights & Brand Building

• Cannabis Business Learning (33:14):

  • Fascinated by the complexity of legal cannabis industry, interested in launching “Loaf” as a brand:

    “Not only did you pay attention the whole time and you listened…you were actually interested and really wanted to learn about the legal side of this industry…” (34:49, paraphrased)

• On Brand Power (41:05):

  • Understands the importance of genuine branding, marketing, and standing out:

    “If this what I’m gonna be doing, I gotta do it match. I gotta, this gotta match the music…how I market the music. I need to market my strand like that.” (41:05)

• Challenging Cannabis Economics (37:21):

  • Cites conversations with Berner (Cookies), referencing how legal weed margins are thin—money’s really in merch.

7. Addressing Legalization, Stigma & Social Justice

• Cannabis and Incarceration (26:57):

  • Strong words about unjust cannabis charges:

    “They should free everybody who got caught with [weed]...ain’t done nothing but try to get their people some money and take care of their family, man.” (27:24)

• War on Drugs Impact (26:57):

  • Recalls growing up around role models who were affected.

8. Personal Life & Privacy

• On Public Relationships (22:05):

  • Speaks genuinely about keeping his relationship with Ari private:

    “We want…to keep everything about the music right now…People get involved in my real life and they make opinions and assumptions…and it caused real problems inside the household.” (22:07)

• Comparisons:

  • Points to Jay-Z and Beyoncé as the model for handling their relationship’s privacy.

9. Reflections on Fame, Politics, and Advice

• Handling Success (17:49):

  • Acknowledges surprise at his rise, attribute it to faith and perseverance:

    “I didn’t think I was gonna be this big, but, I mean, hey, shout out to God. Shout out to Allah…confidence is the whole key of this…” (17:49)

• Election & Politics (27:47):

  • Reluctant to speak on politics, but expresses support for Trump:

    “Who would be the With Trump, though? But I ain’t trying to get into politics. I love Trump, though. I...With Trump, all right, but I ain’t trying to get into politics.” (27:54)

• Message to Aspiring Artists (29:27):

  “Just stay focused, man. Keep forcing it on them. Keep mashing, keep mashing. The gas don’t never let up…They ain’t like me at first…But it don’t matter…Just keep pushing, stay focused, keep hustling, reinvent yourself...” (29:27)

10. Looking Forward

• Upcoming Projects (42:43):

  • Two to three projects dropping soon:

    “All gas, no breaks. Two, three projects for sure.” (42:48)

• Potential Music Videos/Collaborations (30:32):

  • Teases possible visuals and more tracks with Morgan Wallen.

• Business Aspirations:

  • Excited about launching his own cannabis line and pushing the “Loaf” brand globally.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Cannabis & Inspiration:

  • “Smoking, I feel like help you think…keeps me calm in a lot of situations…But you gotta know how to do it to where you don’t overthink or panic...” — Moneybagg Yo (13:55)

• On Reinvention:

  • “I feel like every so years you gotta reinvent yourself. So I feel like I’m in that mode. I’m reinventing myself.” — Moneybagg Yo (06:40)

• On Success & Resilience:

  • “The hardest thing to do is to keep going. Cause you’re gonna get…obstacles…but can you keep going?” — Moneybagg Yo (19:00)

• On Social Justice:

  • “They should free everybody who got caught with [weed]…ain’t done nothing but try to get their people some money and take care of their family.” — Moneybagg Yo (27:24)

• On Role Models & Inspiration:

  • “Shout out to Joe. He believed in me before anybody believed in me…paying for my video when I couldn’t pay for videos and studio time…” — Moneybagg Yo (20:32)

• On Brand Strategy:

  • “If this what I’m gonna be doing, I gotta do it match. I gotta, this gotta match the music...I need to market my strand like that...” — Moneybagg Yo (41:05)

Timestamp Breakdown

| Segment | Timestamp | Summary | |-----------------------------------|-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | First time smoking weed | 01:32 | Stole Reggie from dad; wild early experience | | Becoming a regular smoker | 02:26 | 12th grade; sourced from hood | | Preferred weed & methods now | 03:25–05:38 | “Traditional” strain; prefers papers for smooth, clean taste | | Famous people smoked with | 05:56 | Snoop Dogg | | Music reinvention & Morgan Wallen | 06:40–11:09 | Collaboration origins; broadening audience; creative growth | | Personal health/fitness journey | 04:34 | Motivation to up performance through fitness, health | | Early days/struggle stories | 16:57 | Slept on floor; belief in self; staying focused | | Impact of war on drugs | 26:57–27:24 | Lost friends/family to harsh cannabis laws; strong views | | Relationships & privacy | 22:05 | Keeping things private with Ari, learning as a couple | | Advice to aspiring artists | 29:27 | “Stay focused…keep hustling…reinvent yourself…” | | Brand/business aspirations | 33:14–41:05 | Learning legal industry, launching “Loaf” as a brand | | Upcoming music/cannabis plans | 42:43 | Teases new projects, own strain, marketing focus |

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is friendly, conversational, and unscripted, characterized by genuine camaraderie between Aaron and Moneybagg Yo. The vibe stays positive yet real: honest talk about struggle, hustle, ambition, and the pressures and stigma around cannabis. Moneybagg Yo comes across as humble, driven, and business-minded, eager to keep learning and growing as both an artist and entrepreneur.

Conclusion

Moneybagg Yo lays bare his journey—from Memphis streets to global stages, from smoking Reggie to launching his own cannabis brand, from sleeping on floors to charting new paths in both music and business. He emphasizes self-reinvention, staying true, and lifting others up, all while pushing to normalize and legitimize cannabis. The episode sets the tone for Traditional Talk: unfiltered, personal, culture-shifting, and forward-looking.

“Just keep pushing, stay focused, keep hustling, reinvent yourself…and be true to you at the end of the day.”
— Moneybagg Yo (29:27)