1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: This podcast is sponsored by Better Help Online Therapy. I'm 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Michlene Maloof and I'm Nadi Adessi, licensed therapists and hosts 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 1: of Getting Better Stories of Mental Health. Join us for 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: discussions with Megan Trainer, Chris Bosh, Rebel Wilson, and more, 5 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: from discussing motherhood to immigrating to general mental health. Our 6 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: guests are awe inspiring. We all struggle with the same things, 7 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: so let's talk about it and de stigmatize them. Find 8 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 1: our new podcast, Getting Better Stories of Mental Health on 9 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: iHeart Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Still living in manually taking notes, 10 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:34,639 Speaker 1: there is a better way to start the new year 11 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: with auto dot ai automatically get meeting notes. Auto dot 12 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: ai works for virtual meetings like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and 13 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 1: Google Meet. Sign up on the web for free or 14 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: download in the app stores auto dot ai. That's O 15 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: T T E R. Dot Ai. At ADP, we work 16 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: with more than eight hundred and sixty thousand companies worldwide. 17 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: That gives us a pretty good idea of how to 18 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: help businesses grow stronger. Whether it's through data insights that 19 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: help you make informed decisions about bill thing, a team 20 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: that works better as a team, or by keeping you 21 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: ahead of thousands of changing regulations so you can keep 22 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: ahead of everything else like building up better team, grow 23 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:19,039 Speaker 1: stronger with a dp HR, talent, time and payroll. Welcome 24 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: to Money Making Conversation. I'm your host with Sean McDonald. 25 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: I recognized that we all have different definitions of success. 26 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: For some exercizable paycheck. Mine is helping people wake up 27 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 1: and inspiring them to accomplish their goals and live their 28 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: very best life. These are my passions and that's what 29 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 1: I'm going to do for you. I want you to 30 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: stop tripping over small challenges and prepare to rise above 31 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: the bigger obstacles that life will present to you. The 32 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversation interviews provide relatable information to the listener 33 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: by career and financial planning, entrepreneurship, motivation, leadership, overcoming the 34 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: arts and how to live it balance life. My next 35 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: guest landed at number seven on the top ten most 36 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: played Urban A c artists between the eight team, ranking 37 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: as the number one man independent Urban A c artists 38 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: of the year according to Media Base. While today's social 39 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: climate has now begun to influence some to get involved 40 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: for promoting change, his chairit of work has been serving 41 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: as an instrument of hope and empowerment since he founded 42 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: the Love Life Foundation, a foundation that focuses on improving 43 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 1: live through social, educational and wellness development within as well 44 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: as outside of Love Life. Rahein believes in fight for causes, 45 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: dealing with issues related to women's rights, domestic violence, HIV 46 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: age awareness, among others. He's both a talented artist as 47 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 1: well as an inspiration to people across the globe. Please 48 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:44,919 Speaker 1: working the money making conversation my man, Raheem devon that 49 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: I get it right, RhE I get it right. Well, 50 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: you know the beautiful part about you? And what right 51 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: right now? What's citing you in right now during the pandemic? 52 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: What's there? I mean, I'm in the d M area, 53 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: you know, Merlin area, absolutely absolutely well you know, I'm 54 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: a fan of what you are, what you represent. Always 55 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 1: been a believer of what you do on that stage. 56 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: Just starting that stage first, man, because your live performances, Man, 57 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: keep you keep your in the chair watching going he 58 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: hitting every note and then put your understory groove into 59 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 1: the beat. How the significance of the live performer and 60 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: talked to us about that, man, because that is always 61 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: to me been a signature of orahin. Yeah. I think 62 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: that that's one of the things that regardless of you know, 63 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: who the manager is at the time, what label you on, 64 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: you know, how successful or on the rise you are, 65 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: that that connection that you make um as a live 66 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: performer with the audience is just something that it's especially experience. 67 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: You know, it's a spiritual thing. It's a it's a 68 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: it's a connection. Um. You know that that if you 69 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: if you successfully make it and you connect with that 70 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: with that individual or those groups of individuals, um, they 71 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: become fans, they become you know, uh, supporters of your 72 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 1: movement hopefully you know uh exactly you know, and come 73 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: and coming from an independent background and grass rooms background, 74 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: that was something earlier that I just connected with and understood. 75 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 1: They're like, hey, like if you're gonna be if you know, 76 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: if you're pursuing this, then this is something that this 77 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: is this is the area where you need to really 78 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 1: like horn in or making records. That's cool. You go 79 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: find records, you can go create the wreckage, you can 80 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: go create um, the marketing, you can go create these things. 81 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 1: But that that connection again that you make with the 82 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: audience is a direct thing, you know, um doing them. 83 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 1: I've always been that guy who was doing like the 84 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 1: meeting greets and stuff, you know. So um, in terms 85 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,160 Speaker 1: of my background and starting out how I started out 86 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,919 Speaker 1: in the Youth Street area you know, no WESTBC and 87 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: doing the open mics, I learned earlier. I realized that 88 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 1: I needed to have a tangible item that you know, 89 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: that the ladies and andy fellers can take home with them, 90 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, and something they could play. Hey, 91 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: I like that tune? Where can I get it? You know, 92 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: this is before the digital age be able to just 93 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:20,839 Speaker 1: kind of pull it up on your phone or you know, 94 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 1: uploading to a digital platform where they can get you know, absorbed. 95 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 1: So that's just became part of my quote unquote hustle. 96 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: Like just it just became. It just became law that, hey, 97 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: was there's one person in the room or you got 98 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 1: fifty thou people in the you know in the arena, 99 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: that everybody deserves the same show, everybody deserves the same energy, 100 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: you know. And um, it's just that it's just the connection, man. 101 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: It's it's kind of for me. It's it's really becomes 102 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 1: second nature, the second nature thing. Um. But I never 103 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: really I tried that to never take it for granted 104 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 1: or at the same time it makes that makes sense. Well, 105 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: I never I never felt that. And knowing you, you 106 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: know I should run you whenever, Steve Harvey, I was 107 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: ever in d C. I I couldn't get you on 108 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: air enough. You know, come on, come on, man se 109 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: in with us, sitting in with us, man, because I 110 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: was just a firm belief of you. But you know you. 111 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 1: I made a note of your incredible live performing skills. 112 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 1: I'm speaking aroun how you on you know to the 113 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: DC area, but global talent, singer, performer, poet. I'd like 114 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:30,119 Speaker 1: to believe um the pandemic hit. You know, comedic friends 115 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: of mine couldn't tour, Musical friends of minds couldn't tour 116 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: because you make your money performing live. And how did that? 117 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: How did that handle? How did it affect you? And 118 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: then your bandmates? How did that? How did you how 119 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: did that? How does that situation played out when it 120 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: first shut down the country and playing out now, I'll 121 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 1: be honest with you, like I kind of you know, 122 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: you always heard the whispers of these times, you know 123 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: the times that we live in you know other it's 124 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 1: from the biblical standpoint or just a common sense standpoint. 125 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,359 Speaker 1: So for me personally, I hit the ground running. I 126 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: kind of I've always been, Um, I've been an independent 127 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: artist for the ten years. Man, make it look easy, 128 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: you know, if it's if it's if it's a situation 129 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: where I've had to spend my last to kind of 130 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: flip or to make to make it work. You know, Uh, 131 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: it's pretty much like my it's from conception, like the 132 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: music too, what happens on stage. Um, and having a 133 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 1: very small team and individuals that I trust they can 134 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: you know, that can help me bring my vision and 135 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: life of course, but you know when this happened, I 136 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: just really I started to kind of educating myself. Okay, 137 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: well what are the digital platforms? What how The first 138 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: thing I had to ask myself is how I'm prepared 139 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: to how I'm prepared? Am I for this moment right now? 140 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: Meaning like you know, if I if I could, if 141 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: I couldn't leave this house. You know, I got my 142 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 1: studio set up, I got my DSL lines who I had. 143 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 1: You know, that's technology that you know, uh the internet 144 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 1: uh provider can service provider can for vibe you know? Um, 145 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: so so I kind of like jumped into that, uh 146 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: into that arena, and you know, and I quickly realized, 147 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: like you need to upraise some things. You know, you've 148 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: been too dependent on certain things. And yeah, so I 149 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: so I really dug into with that. I mean, of course, 150 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: like definitely taking a huge uh financial hit on shows 151 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 1: and the concerts, um and the touring and stuff for 152 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: that nature. But I just I just really remain organic 153 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: and and and and and creating activities for myself. Um 154 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 1: the love the Love King Quarantine, I'll call it um. 155 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: And definitely for that for that first eight weeks, like 156 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: I mean, I put myself on the schedule and the 157 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 1: regiment and just you know and really connected with the 158 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: sayings and you know, around taking care of the day 159 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: to day things that you know, dealing with the fan 160 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:53,719 Speaker 1: and the adjustment of it all. And and it kind 161 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,559 Speaker 1: of gave me something that even now gives me something 162 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,599 Speaker 1: to uh to look forward to, you know and to 163 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: because you gotta keep that audience going. You gotta keep 164 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 1: you you gotta keep the connection going. It is a job, 165 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: you know, as much as I love what I do, 166 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 1: and you have to maintain you create this brand and 167 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: then out the blue they tell you you can't step 168 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 1: on stages anymore. Just the list of things that we 169 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: that we kind of restricted and constricted zoom. So I 170 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: had to I had to do, you know, creatives. I 171 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 1: think that that's where you know, the hustler comes in. 172 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: Um that the ambition of h and curiosity. You know, 173 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 1: it's it's a it's a it's a it's a trying time. 174 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:35,439 Speaker 1: But I try to find a good and everything. Absolutely, 175 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:38,439 Speaker 1: and yeah, all these programs are you know that program 176 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: protection pro payroll protection program did that? Was any of 177 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: that stuff an asset are available to an independent artist 178 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 1: like you who had a traveling band and made you 179 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 1: you know, you're living the v alive and all of 180 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 1: a sudden the American said shut down was any of those? Definitely? Definitely, 181 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 1: I mean being transparent. You know, I got some issues 182 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,719 Speaker 1: and I'm sorting out with you know, of course I 183 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: RS but it's it's it's definitely it's been beneficial. Um 184 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 1: but but but I also try to make sure that 185 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:16,079 Speaker 1: it's not something that I make myself like live. You know, 186 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 1: my friend, look look the country shot. Okay, you know 187 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: I told all my comedicy friends, so they got a 188 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:25,559 Speaker 1: six hundred dollar a week check. Go get it. Okay, 189 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: you gotta go get it. You gotta go get you, 190 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: gotta go get it. They make it available to you. 191 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:34,199 Speaker 1: But you know, I applied for the payroll protection program. Okay, yeah, 192 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 1: because because the second quarter were no income coming, they 193 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 1: cut down advertising, media, sales and everything. You couldn't do 194 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: live events, you couldn't even advertise because we're no advertised advertising. Okay, 195 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 1: so you know, as to shut down a lot of 196 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: major events and second and early third and so now 197 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 1: we're looking at the at the at the one as 198 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 1: a possibility. And then you hear about the Football's Pack 199 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: five and the Power five talking about they may shift 200 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 1: all their games to the spring. So it's so much uncertainty. 201 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 1: And then but Jen, you still have to be right, 202 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: You still have to be the poet. You still have 203 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: to you know, stand forward and stand straight and be 204 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: a leader during these pandemic times. And when I say that, 205 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: you you you know, this has been an amazing years 206 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: for as incredible deaths. I consider the death of the 207 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: sudden death of Kobe Bryant to be, you know, world shattering, 208 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:34,439 Speaker 1: and then the the the basic murder of George Floyd 209 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:37,319 Speaker 1: in front of the nation's eyes and eight minutes, ever 210 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 1: lower eight minutes. How has that? How has that affected 211 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: you as a musical artist, as a family man, you know, 212 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 1: a leader in this country and being a man of color. 213 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 1: It's just specially from mends. I mean, the good, the 214 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: good in it is that my my way, my mind 215 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:00,320 Speaker 1: works in the way I'm wired like it. You know, 216 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: every day I wake up trying to thinking, you know, 217 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: thuls being thankful, and I say, what are trying to 218 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: be alive with the time to being you know when 219 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: I say that, um, it's kind of like, you know 220 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: what a trying to be in love with the things 221 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: that you love, you know, whether that's my spiritual aspect um, 222 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: still being in tune with what your art. You know. 223 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: I heard some artists like the interviews or like saying 224 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: like like slat out, like they can't even create right now. 225 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: It's been a total you know what I mean. Like 226 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 1: I got retorts coming out my new single, which Marvin 227 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: used to say it's old, and Marvin Gaye is speaking 228 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: about everything that I've seen, you know, my my journey 229 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 1: you know, uh, after things that we see now, you know, 230 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 1: it's a lot going on, just just in my city. 231 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 1: You know, in d c um this past Saturday, they 232 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: had a drive block where almost thirty people were shot 233 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: as people dying like damnly, like you know what I mean, Um, 234 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 1: just just on top of everything else going on in 235 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:04,839 Speaker 1: the middle of a pandemic. Um, you know, understanding where 236 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 1: the economy is. It's kind of like it's like, wow, 237 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: these are the things that Marvin talked about, you know, 238 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: and it's amazing, amazing. Yeah, there's far too many of 239 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:21,959 Speaker 1: of you dying, you know. Yeah, yeah, and it's it's 240 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: but yeah, and it's deep because you know, I'm one 241 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: of those people that feel like history repeats it so 242 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: I just really repeat itself right before our eyes and 243 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: so so so you said you're single. Is it out now? Um? 244 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: Actually it actually drops on for this moment. Okay, okay, okay, 245 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 1: now let's go down that. Yeah, you gotta come to 246 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:46,680 Speaker 1: me now. Okay. Now, social media goes out. You know 247 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: I got a million social media followers. I'll drop it 248 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: on Friday, you know that Friday PM, and then I 249 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 1: put it in my newsletter that goes out on win 250 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: to the name three thousand followers. That sounds good. That 251 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 1: sounds so that's what the Independent's gotta do. Independence gotta 252 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,319 Speaker 1: gotta stay with the relationships they believe in them. Okay, 253 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 1: this is a reconnect you and I. Okay because you 254 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 1: know I love Missa Rahe Okaye, appreciate that. So let's 255 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 1: talk about that single. Let's talk about this single. You 256 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:18,599 Speaker 1: know you mentioned Marvin Gay, you meant you know, you 257 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: know that Mercy, Mercy? What's going on? Those those those 258 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: songs resonate today. There was about the Vietnam War that 259 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: he they're talking about. You still talking about the injustice 260 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: in the streets all that period you had John Carlos 261 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: and Tommy Smith. You know, just seeing now these marches 262 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: and then like you're talking about then then these out 263 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 1: of control levels of violence and just not just in 264 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: Chicago but happening all over this country. And guess who've 265 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: becoming the victim? African Americans? Yeah, you sit down, Rahin 266 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: what comes out of you? What what is the direction 267 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 1: of your What message are you trying to say in 268 00:14:56,640 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: your music? Now? Man? So you know, of course, like 269 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: with the Marvel used to say, record is coming, it's 270 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: it's it's it's it's more old to you know, speaking 271 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: on you know, whether you're talking about COVID nineteen, talk 272 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: about um, the climate of you know, where it is 273 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 1: to be a black man in this country after you know, 274 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 1: all out of all and women, the things that we've accomplished, 275 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: you know, on this planet in a very short amount 276 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: of time. You know that I've been here, that we've 277 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: been here, you know, and it's still see um how 278 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 1: prevalent um and detrimental um white supremacy is and also 279 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 1: a social classic supremacy. You know what I mean, um, 280 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: Because you know, like the Minister says fara times that 281 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 1: you know in previous um times that he's spoken is 282 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: that like you know, all black folks ain't good, all 283 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: white folks ain't bad. That's what I mean, you know 284 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: what I mean. So it's like when you really when 285 00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 1: you really, when you really pinpointed, you know, and I 286 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: just kind for like the world is in a place 287 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: where it boils down. You just have two sets of people. 288 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: You've got people that are loving. You've got people that 289 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: are uh carry that um that want to see change 290 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 1: and you know across the gamut you know, and and 291 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: and and do their part um. And then you have 292 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: people that are absolutely give zero you know, as you 293 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 1: I don't want to use fans union show, but they 294 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: really give zero percent concerned on to the things that 295 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: are going on. You know. And it's finally here, the 296 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: season of celebration. And no matter how you celebrate with 297 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 1: family and friends, whether you're preparing for reys, magos or 298 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 1: Karamu lighting the Manura, are going to midnight mass, Coals 299 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: has just what you need to make those traditions special. 300 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: Plus you'll find gifts for all your loved ones. 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So this season, give with all your heart 310 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 1: with great gifts from Coals or Coals dot Com. Whether 311 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:31,920 Speaker 1: your event needed one room or an entire conference center. 312 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 1: Hoppin has revolutionized the way people come together. With hoppin, 313 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 1: you can host a fully fledged digital meet up, complete 314 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: with one on one meetings, hands on sessions, and expo booths. 315 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: And because everything is hosted in a single, easy to 316 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 1: use platform, it can be as big or small as 317 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: you want, remain convenient for anyone who wants to attend, 318 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 1: and give you access to data you never would have 319 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 1: known otherwise. Visit hoppin dot com to learn more and 320 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 1: get started. Still living in and manually taking notes start 321 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 1: the new year with auto dot ai to generate automatic 322 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: notes for meetings, interviews, or lectures. With auto dot ai, 323 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:11,120 Speaker 1: you can search the meeting notes, insert images, play back 324 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,440 Speaker 1: the audio, and share them with your friends or coworkers. 325 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: You can capture action items, remember meeting details, and keep 326 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: everyone informed. Auto dot ai works for in person or 327 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: virtual meetings like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google meet. Sign 328 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 1: up for free at auto dot ai or download the 329 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 1: app for free auto dot ai. That's O T T 330 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 1: E R dot ai. When you say that, so you 331 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 1: know we're talking about the Love Life Foundation. That's when 332 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 1: they started, correct, Yeah, yeah, exactly. I had been called 333 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 1: on it do a number of different things, primarily in 334 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 1: the domestic violence chector in the past, feeding the homeless, UM, 335 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: any number of things that affect us as people of 336 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: black and brown colors, you know, first and foremost in 337 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 1: the in the cities. And I decided around fourteen and 338 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,880 Speaker 1: to start my start my foundation and love life down 339 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 1: station UM some of the most recent work. I mean, 340 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: when COVID broke out, UM, I had an opportunity to 341 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: to to un serve being a service to the to 342 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 1: first responders, UM, the nurses and the doctors, you know, 343 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:14,679 Speaker 1: providing home cooked meals for them, you know, as they 344 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 1: worked around the clock to fight COVID. So that was 345 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:19,680 Speaker 1: one of one of the campaigns that we did UM 346 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,479 Speaker 1: over the you know, the first UM nine weeks. Uh. 347 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 1: Then of course when you know, after the after the 348 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 1: murder uh um a brother, and and and and the 349 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 1: and the uprises that were taking place, we had to 350 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 1: kind of slow down on that because in certain places 351 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 1: just wasn't safe UM and and what was dope. I 352 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: mean we had women like on the front line and 353 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,199 Speaker 1: we're cooking the food, delivering it, you know, risking their 354 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: lights to deliver it. UM to the hospitals. Want to 355 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: give a big shout out to uh to Alma's Catering 356 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 1: and some of our other you know, partners with the 357 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: Love Life Foundation here in the city. But if it's Baltimore, DC, Virginia. 358 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 1: We over the last man ten weeks, we serviced um 359 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:04,359 Speaker 1: any number of like first responders, nurses, doctors, people at 360 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: the testing sites you know, as well as as well 361 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: as those are this place right now because it's you know, 362 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 1: we're doing food banks most recently, um as well, you know, 363 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 1: trying to just provide fresh fruits and vegetables for local 364 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:18,440 Speaker 1: families and stuff here with some of the farmers and 365 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 1: partner with them. So just local yeah, just local farmers 366 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: they want to lend a hand. Um. You know. Prior 367 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 1: to COVID, Uh, there was a school I adopted in 368 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 1: southeast where we have a program along with Marketer's Table, 369 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: my Foundation and a few other organizations on the ground 370 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,679 Speaker 1: where we provide fresh fruits and vegetables as well as 371 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:43,399 Speaker 1: uh uh you know, we have chefs come in and 372 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: show them how to how to make the smoothies and 373 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: just healthy options alternatives or the youth and for the families. Uh. 374 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 1: You know, I go to the school once a month, 375 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:54,879 Speaker 1: you know, when I'm in town and you know, you 376 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 1: get on the first name basis with the kids then 377 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: you know in Southeast and it's really cool experience. I 378 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:03,719 Speaker 1: things like that I missed, you know what I mean 379 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:06,879 Speaker 1: because of course you know, schools and shut down, um, 380 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: you know, even going back into the fall. And that's 381 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: that's the sad part about it because we know when 382 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:14,680 Speaker 1: I when I hear ab our online education and you 383 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: know who that's gonna affect. That's gonna be people of 384 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: color because hard man, we don't have the WiFi, we 385 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:25,360 Speaker 1: don't have the laptops of the tablets to be able 386 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 1: to if we do have it. You know, we don't 387 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 1: have the parental structure because our parents are probably going 388 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: to be work or their parents are probably gonna be 389 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: working during the day, so they don't have them away 390 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 1: come home fatigue. It's just it's just it's just a 391 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 1: not a winning situation that we have to stay on 392 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:44,639 Speaker 1: top of and like that. So when I hear you 393 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:47,360 Speaker 1: talk about your love life foundation, I have to go, man, 394 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: this is this is this is this is awesome. What 395 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 1: could I do to help you know you guys taking 396 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,920 Speaker 1: donations or what's going on there? Right? Oh? Definitely, yeah, 397 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: we constantly taking donations. UM. And like I said, with 398 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: the donations, we do a number things. UM the Text 399 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: School Scholarship Fund, which we assist on students and have 400 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 1: been assistant students for the last six years with paying 401 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,640 Speaker 1: for their books and supplies for the first year of college. UM, 402 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:14,959 Speaker 1: I have a heavy I'm heavily involved in fighting domestic violence. 403 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:19,159 Speaker 1: I'm heavily involved and uh, you know, to fight against 404 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: sex trafficking, you know, and because that's that's kind of 405 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 1: gets sex tracker, you know, domestic violence makes the headline. 406 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 1: The sex trafficking kind of kind of gets brushed aside 407 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,520 Speaker 1: because it's kind of like that bad word. You know. Yeah, 408 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 1: we know what's happening, but you know, we don't want 409 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,120 Speaker 1: to talk about it because you know, these are young 410 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 1: girls who disappear. Yeah, young girls and young men, you 411 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:46,879 Speaker 1: know what I mean, right, And and it's it's it's uh, 412 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's it's it's quietly a billion dollars business, 413 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. Just just know, no difference 414 00:22:56,359 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 1: than slavery or anything else, you know, And and it 415 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 1: just kind of continues to happen and go under the radar, 416 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 1: you know. And um, so we have to definitely, as 417 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,440 Speaker 1: you know, as individuals, as men, as black men, you know, 418 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 1: we have to you know, you have to do a 419 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 1: better job of but checking out women, I children, you know, um, 420 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 1: not only in this country but on the planet. Me personally, 421 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 1: I feel like black women is the most disrespecting on 422 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 1: the planet, like period. Uh, you know, and and and 423 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:28,119 Speaker 1: you know, so I've always um telling my best to 424 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:31,399 Speaker 1: do my part, you know lyrically on the record. You know, 425 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: that's a conscious decision to make a record like Woman, 426 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,160 Speaker 1: you know, when everybody else is going against the grain 427 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: and calling the women are different kind of other things. 428 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 1: And the records you know, you know, which is really 429 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 1: really really incredible. Now I'm shifting gears because I'm going 430 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 1: back to this song that's you're dropping on August eight, 431 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:52,160 Speaker 1: just to date, now, are you because I'm here all 432 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 1: this community involvement, I'm here all this time. I'm sure 433 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 1: you got pictures. I'm sure you got video. Is that 434 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 1: gonna be part of the video that's gonna drop within it? 435 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:02,920 Speaker 1: Or you got something else playing with that? Yeah? Yeah, 436 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 1: right now, I see that. You know, I'm like, if 437 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 1: you can't do it, just send me some photos. Brothers. 438 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 1: I can put something together for you. Oh no, I got, 439 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 1: I got, I got. I definitely had some stuff on 440 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 1: the way on the planet that's begun for that ironically, 441 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: you know, Uh, the March on Washington is on the right. Yeah. 442 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:24,800 Speaker 1: So I've been on the fence about getting footage and 443 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:27,200 Speaker 1: then putting out the video you know, in the in 444 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 1: the weeks to follow, which I may go that route. Um. Ironically, 445 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 1: I had a photo shooting some content stuff, um last 446 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: night that I was doing because I'm also a part 447 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 1: of the initiative for stop and frisk and some laws 448 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 1: that are being um you know, presented to Congress uh 449 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 1: in a few weeks and so I'm excited about that. 450 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 1: So we kind of killed two birds in one stone 451 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:51,119 Speaker 1: and got the content and the p S A s 452 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: for that and then to turn into a photo shoot 453 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,120 Speaker 1: for the album, which is tight or what the time 454 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:57,639 Speaker 1: to be in love and um, you know, wrapping up 455 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:00,439 Speaker 1: mixes and stuff like that. Just recorded a record, um, 456 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:04,560 Speaker 1: Lord help Me, which is what is inspired by old 457 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 1: Donny Hathaway record. Um that was titled the same and 458 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:10,159 Speaker 1: it's kind of like you know, just I mean, like 459 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: some of the lyrics help me like that, Lord Help me. 460 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:21,199 Speaker 1: Come on, I say, I say, I say, I've seen babies. 461 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: I've seen baby's gun down by draft by another hashtag, 462 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 1: seen another mama crop. It seems like everything the birth 463 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:36,199 Speaker 1: of a nation. You've been treated lesson day and denied reparations. 464 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 1: It makes me want to flip it trapping with my voter. 465 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:43,440 Speaker 1: Call it pol tricks disrespect up. I write with the 466 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 1: stop the friss and killed the black Man and their 467 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:49,639 Speaker 1: story six a sign of the times, the market of peace. 468 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 1: Until let's justice, There'll be no peace. Oh Lord Most 469 00:25:54,680 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: High help me, Oh love, Lord Lord. Oh it's that 470 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:03,359 Speaker 1: in the water and pull out the clouds. I know, 471 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 1: prosession and depression, undepluyets on the ride, but out for 472 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:15,359 Speaker 1: your presence. So I'm staying safeful. Yeah. So that's like 473 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:22,440 Speaker 1: the vibe whoa, come on, come on, It's like it's 474 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:24,680 Speaker 1: like a conversation with It's like a conversation with God. 475 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 1: You know what I mean, like, because you got to 476 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: have those right now, you know, you know that there's 477 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:33,120 Speaker 1: more importantly the beauty, the genius of you. I'm gonna 478 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: throw that into the conversation because I've always been a 479 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:39,160 Speaker 1: big fan. I sit back and I know I'm talented, 480 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:41,479 Speaker 1: and I look at other people that, well, I can 481 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:43,680 Speaker 1: never do you. I can never be raheem you know, 482 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:47,200 Speaker 1: I can never be a skilled guy who just just 483 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 1: just lyrically just threw it out there. Just open your 484 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:54,240 Speaker 1: soul on this show and expose those raw nerves that 485 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:57,960 Speaker 1: drive you, that that they emote from your spirit to say, 486 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:00,679 Speaker 1: you know, you can bring us to t years because 487 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 1: you're telling the truth. But then it's the business side. 488 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,359 Speaker 1: Now you got a new position as an a R director. 489 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: Correct at the labor talk about that, let's let's let's 490 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 1: do let's close out on the business side, because it 491 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 1: just a nice journey man. You know, I'll yourself right, 492 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 1: we're back in the saddle, man, don't you don't you 493 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:19,919 Speaker 1: don't you let this be no another ten years. Brother, man, 494 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:23,159 Speaker 1: you're gonna fight, You're gonna fight. No fight, no, no, no, no, 495 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:25,360 Speaker 1: I won't. I promise, I won't. I promise. I want. 496 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: I'm excited to reconnect with you. You know, yeah, so 497 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 1: so so Uh. It's just crazy, man, because it's come 498 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 1: full circle. And I think that that's something that people 499 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 1: gotta understand in business, that things do come from full circle. 500 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: And it's like you gotta remain humble, You gotta you 501 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 1: gotta take every experience as a learning experience so that 502 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 1: it's because it's preparing you for something. Now. Ironically, in 503 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:49,400 Speaker 1: two thousand and five, the first tour that I ever 504 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 1: did was with new edition thirty Cities broh Mic Knight, 505 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:54,720 Speaker 1: Um God Bless your Soul. Geraldvert was on a few 506 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 1: days as well. And and now and now I'm I'm 507 00:27:58,000 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 1: ahead of A and R the label which is as 508 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:03,560 Speaker 1: g I ls UM how to Connect based out of 509 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 1: Connecticut and back they you know, we're backed by Universal 510 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:08,879 Speaker 1: and they took an interest in me just as an 511 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:12,160 Speaker 1: artist and started out um on that on that vibe, 512 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 1: and it quickly kind of morph organically into other things, 513 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: you know, um be being ambitious and when to have 514 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 1: artists and careers and you know, artists that I was 515 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:26,320 Speaker 1: involved in, whether it was from a man managing standpoint 516 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:31,680 Speaker 1: or mentorship standpoint, I've always had had interest in and 517 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:35,280 Speaker 1: and being like behind the scenes on the music scenes 518 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: for the for with with the intention of like preserving 519 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 1: the culture for the type of music that I'm making. 520 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: And they're like that I enjoyed or that we enjoyed. 521 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 1: You know what I mean, so I've always fought for that, 522 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 1: and I figured, like what a better way to do that? 523 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 1: You know, sometimes you can't just point to yourself if 524 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 1: the blessing just comes from actually like pointing to other 525 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 1: people and being part of other projects and you know, 526 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 1: given it having the opinion, you know. Um and uh, 527 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 1: so you know they brought me on board. Um, you know, 528 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 1: shout out to my labelmates, Brian McKnight. Uh, Route trash 529 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 1: Van uh is that we got. We just signded route 530 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:12,280 Speaker 1: for over there. It's got a new single out just 531 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 1: doing extremely well. Um. We got Johnny Gill over there, 532 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:18,720 Speaker 1: who's on Rolph's new new new single. Uh. And it's 533 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 1: crazy again because when I talk about new audition, like 534 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 1: I said, these guys, you know, being on tour with 535 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 1: somebody for thirty cities, you become like family, that become 536 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:29,960 Speaker 1: like mentors. You learn, you learn a lot. You know, Um, 537 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:34,880 Speaker 1: Havan is over there as well, Vivian Green koame. We 538 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 1: got a lot of great music. Um, you know coming 539 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 1: come coming out, Gene over Nelly is over there as well. 540 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 1: So you know, somebody like him, somebody like him to 541 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: have like to be able to talk on you know, 542 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 1: jump on the horn, or it's on any given day 543 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:51,920 Speaker 1: we're on we're in a chex to chain text of 544 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: messages where it's like over Nelly, you know, got the 545 00:29:56,120 --> 00:30:03,400 Speaker 1: owner of the label. You don't see I dr Brian Yeah, yeah, yeah, 546 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:06,000 Speaker 1: so dope, yeah, don't don't you know, don't produces Tim 547 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: Kelly like you know. So it's it's it's, um, it's 548 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 1: very surreal for me. You know, it's a very new situation. 549 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 1: I'm learning. Um, you know, it's it's and it's about 550 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: building this company up and knowing that you know, I 551 00:30:18,920 --> 00:30:22,440 Speaker 1: have some long term equity in it, you know, and 552 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 1: that you know, prayerfully we looked back ten fitching years 553 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:27,560 Speaker 1: from now and say, wow, I was part of something 554 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 1: that was like it was dope. I learned. You know, 555 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:36,920 Speaker 1: it's retirement, think about retirement, you know what I mean. So, 556 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 1: and I never stopped making music, but it's just, you know, 557 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:42,520 Speaker 1: just just a different mindset. I appreciate you. I'm talking 558 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 1: to the number one male independent Urban A c artists 559 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 1: of the year in according to Media Base, Raheim von 560 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:53,000 Speaker 1: my Friend August eight. That's when the single drops. You 561 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:56,800 Speaker 1: gotta get that stuff to me before then and guess what. Yeah, 562 00:30:57,240 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 1: this relationship man just got reunited. Man. We're about to 563 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 1: make some history in the third fourth quarter. All right. 564 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 1: If you want to hear more of money Making Conversation interviews, 565 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:12,880 Speaker 1: please go to Money Making Conversation dot com. I'm ra 566 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 1: Sean McDonald. I'm your host. In this season of giving, 567 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:20,520 Speaker 1: Cools has gifts for all your loved ones. For those 568 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:24,040 Speaker 1: who like to keep it cozy, find fleeces, sweaters, loungeware, 569 00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:27,880 Speaker 1: blankets and throws. Or support minority owned or founded brands 570 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 1: by giving gifts from Human Nation and Shame Moisture. And 571 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:34,800 Speaker 1: in the spirit of giving, Coals Cares is donating eight 572 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:38,959 Speaker 1: million dollars to local nonprofits nationwide. 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