1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: Wake that answer up in the morning, The Breakfast Club. 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: Morning everybody. 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 2: It's DJ n V, Jess Hilarius, Charlamagne the guy. We 4 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 2: are the Breakfast Club. Laura la Ross is filling in 5 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 2: for Jess, and we got a special guest in the building. 6 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 2: We have Simon Amelia Jordan. Welcome back. 7 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 3: Oh, thank you so much. I'm so excited to be here. 8 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 3: I haven't been here in eight years. 9 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: Years long time. 10 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 4: I did The Breakfast Club's first photo. 11 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 5: Shoot one of our think that was our first official 12 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 5: photo shoot for a big brand. 13 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 4: It was Doctor j J and you dressed as the 14 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 4: movie The Breakfast That was a long time ago. 15 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: What made you feel like we were right for that? Like, 16 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 1: what was the vision for Doctor Jay's just in the moment? 17 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,240 Speaker 4: Oh, you know, well, I remember Angela. 18 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 3: When you just started the show twenty eleven. That's a 19 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 3: lot over a decade ago now. It was so exciting. 20 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 3: The show was so exciting, and we wanted to work 21 00:00:57,560 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 3: with you guys to model for the website. I mean, 22 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 3: you're obviously natural models. So and I forget the characters 23 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 3: that you took from the movie. 24 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 4: You were Judd Nelson. I felt, Yeah, I can't remember 25 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 4: the photos I. 26 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 3: Was looking for them online, but like that was a 27 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 3: time when everything wasn't online, so I think they've kind 28 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 3: of disappeared into the ether somewhere. 29 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 4: But it was a great photo. 30 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 1: Shoo you had on somewhere. I can't remember where did 31 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:22,759 Speaker 1: they go in. 32 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 3: The sauce or something. I think they went somewhere those photos, 33 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 3: but it was a. 34 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:28,119 Speaker 4: Great photo shoot. It was very cute. 35 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 6: How did you know early on though, that like the 36 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 6: show was going to be oh, you know what I mean, 37 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 6: like you came to get them, like, yeah, it was magic. 38 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 3: I mean they all were such individuals and had their 39 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 3: own flavor and brought something special to the mix. 40 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 4: New York was so excited at the time about the. 41 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 3: Show, so we knew that, like we wanted to get involved, 42 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 3: and for me as the content director Doctor Jay's, it 43 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 3: was a no brainer to get the brands that we 44 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 3: sold onto these guys. 45 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 4: Because they were about to be everywhere And. 46 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 2: Look at them now, you know, what is your thought 47 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 2: process or what do you think about these of stores 48 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: now because there's so many closing down since you were 49 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 2: with Doctor Jast, Like I said, they're closing a bunch 50 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 2: of stores. I think foot Action the athlete's foot is 51 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 2: about of here. There's so many stores now that are 52 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 2: not doing well, So what are your thoughts on that? 53 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 3: Well, everything's changed, right. I was at Doctorj's dot com 54 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 3: kind of at the height of like the quote unquote 55 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 3: urban fashion wave and being a kid from the other 56 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 3: side of the world, we used to wear fake versions 57 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 3: of the brands because they weren't available in Australia, and 58 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 3: that's why I reached out to doctor Jay's in the 59 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 3: first place, because everyone was rocking fake baby fat and 60 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 3: fake apple bottoms and I was like, no, I think 61 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 3: we need to step our game up. So I reached 62 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,239 Speaker 3: out to doctor Jay's to advertise in my magazine that 63 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 3: I had in Australia, which was the first on sale 64 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 3: hip hop and R and B magazine inspired by the 65 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 3: Source and inspired by Vibe, and so. 66 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,119 Speaker 4: We developed a relationship that way. 67 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 3: Then they hired me to come to New York and 68 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 3: work for them, and I saw the wave of those 69 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:03,799 Speaker 3: brands crashing and burning and now into a point where fashion. 70 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 4: Is all over the place. Right in terms of the 71 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 4: style that we wear. 72 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 3: Anything goes now there's no there's no and the style 73 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 3: used to reflect the streets. 74 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 4: Right and so that has all changed. 75 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 3: But it is a it's a it's a tough day, 76 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 3: everything shutting down, whether it's fashion. 77 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 4: Or even coming back to New York. 78 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 3: You used to be able to grab a bike at 79 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 3: any time of the night. But I think it was 80 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 3: like after ten pm and the restaurants I used to 81 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 3: go to it all shut down. So I think COVID 82 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:31,239 Speaker 3: had a lot to do with that too. 83 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: Perhaps if you warn some most. 84 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 3: Photographer, I'm an immigrant. We get the job done. What 85 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 3: can I say? 86 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 4: Author, Yes, like you, I'm trying to get on your level. 87 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, I've always I think I've got undiagnosed ADHD as 88 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 3: they say. I've always been driven by hip hop in 89 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 3: everything that I do, which hasn't been easy coming from 90 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 3: a country where hip hop isn't respect Did that much? 91 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 4: Tell us about that? 92 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 2: Tell us about growing up in Australia with hip hop? 93 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: How big was it easy? 94 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 4: It started way before Iggy? She says she wasn't a 95 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 4: part of the problem. Well, you know, it's funny. When 96 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:16,559 Speaker 4: I met Iggy. 97 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 3: I did Iggy's first on camera interview for Doctor J's 98 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 3: dot com, and I initially thought, I'm not gonna like 99 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 3: this girl because she kind of represents everything that I 100 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 3: have fought against my whole career. 101 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, a pretty white girl. 102 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 3: Coming in and like I wanted to know how genuine 103 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 3: she was and authentic to the roots of the art 104 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 3: form and paying respect towards black and brown founders. But 105 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 3: I felt very I've got this like Mama vibe, and 106 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 3: I felt very protective over her when I met her, 107 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 3: and then obviously her career skyrocketed and we didn't keep 108 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 3: in touch. 109 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 7: But I was about to say, like she was, she 110 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 7: she loved what she did, she loved and whatever the 111 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 7: feedback and response to that was is out of her control, right, 112 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 7: But she genuinely loved what she doing. 113 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 4: So growing up in Australia with hip hop is it's tough. 114 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 3: We have our incredible First Nations Aboriginal community who embraced 115 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 3: it from very early on. I'm Lebanese background, like a 116 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 3: lot of Arab Australians embraced it very early on, but 117 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 3: we never got the respect. It was very similar to 118 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 3: the States, but our minorities are even smaller. We're like 119 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 3: smaller minorities in a majority white country and so it 120 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 3: never got the respect that it deserves. It still doesn't 121 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 3: to this day get the respect that it deserves. 122 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 1: Even there, like they don't have their own scene there. 123 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 3: Well, funnily enough, it has a very small scene, but 124 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 3: it's run. 125 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 4: By white people still. 126 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 3: And coming back after living in New York for a 127 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 3: decade and achieving what I did and ended up at 128 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 3: the Source magazine becoming the content director when I came 129 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 3: home because I. 130 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 4: Got very sick. 131 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 3: I got Crohn's disease and got really sick trying to 132 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 3: keep up with the Joneses in New York for ten years. 133 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 3: So came home and everyone was like, Oh, you're going 134 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 3: to be the top of it when you get home. 135 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 3: You're gonna get every job. You'll beat the radio stations. 136 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 3: I still don't get. The doors are still closed to 137 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 3: me because the only hip hop and R and B 138 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 3: radio station in Australia has only two live shows and 139 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 3: both are hosted by blonde white women. 140 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 4: Wow. Yeah, so then you see it. No, that's up 141 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 4: to opinion. 142 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 3: But I will say, like, you know, not throwing affirmative 143 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 3: action or anything like that. 144 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 4: In the mix. Are they deserving is the question? Are 145 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:32,600 Speaker 4: they deserving? 146 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 3: Because like I said, our Aboriginal community, we have so 147 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 3: many talents that really should be. We've got a really 148 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 3: multicultural community there that isn't represented in the art form, 149 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 3: which is pretty insane. 150 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 4: So yeah, I felt more accepted here. 151 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 3: I felt more accepted when I got to New York. 152 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 3: I was like, these are my people. This is home 153 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 3: because I'm a hustler obviously, like you. 154 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 4: Said, I've got a million a million gigs. And that's 155 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:58,679 Speaker 4: what the story of the book is about. 156 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 3: It's about like ch seeing your dreams even though you 157 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 3: get all these doors closed in your face. It's my 158 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 3: love letter to this music genre that I think a 159 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 3: lot of people forget has changed the world, and it's 160 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 3: changed the world in so many ways. 161 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 4: And I've always been. 162 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 3: Very vocal about paying tribute to its black founders, and 163 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 3: a lot of people don't do that enough, I think. 164 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 4: So that book is the love letter to. 165 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: That fearest form hip hop brings people together. 166 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 4: Oh, in its purest form. 167 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 3: It has taught me and so many other kids around 168 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 3: the world to be proud of myself too. Like I 169 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 3: recognized the pro black consciousness when I was a kid 170 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 3: in the late eighties, and I'm like their self empowerment 171 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 3: made me feel pride in being Middle Eastern at a 172 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 3: time when stereotypes were rampant, and I was really being 173 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 3: taught by the movies I was watching in the media. 174 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 3: I was saying to hate myself and to think of 175 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 3: myself in a negative way. And I'm like, no, no, no, public, 176 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 3: you're telling me fight the power, you know. So I 177 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 3: can't even begin to describe what black people in the 178 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 3: United States have done for marginalized kids around the world 179 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 3: in terms of our own pride. 180 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 2: What did your family think about when you when you 181 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 2: found out this love for hip hop? Because even in 182 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 2: the States here when hip hop first came around, everybody 183 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 2: thought it was gonna. 184 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: Be fatty, They thought it was gonna be quick. They 185 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: thought it was just some hippie hopper. 186 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 2: What was your family like? 187 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 3: My family loved it like I was raised by a 188 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 3: single mother and she and by my grandmother too, so 189 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 3: very matriarchal family. And my mom loves hip hop like 190 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 3: my mom, I think reckon. My mom's a rebel, so 191 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 3: she recognized that kind of rebellious fight the power instinct 192 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 3: that it has. And I started rapping at nine. That's 193 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 3: the first chapter in the book. But I very quickly 194 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 3: realized that was not my role, and so. 195 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: Do you think he was. I was as. 196 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 5: Sure, I think I. 197 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 4: Should drop a mixtape. 198 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:00,079 Speaker 3: Well, that's another thing, Like women's empowerment has been in 199 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 3: a really big theme in my career. I did an 200 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 3: all female mixtape back around those days twenty eleven called 201 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 3: Woman on Top with really early verses from Iggy. Rhapsody 202 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 3: was on there, really early. I had a rebox sneaker 203 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:15,079 Speaker 3: come out in twenty twelve where we did this freestyle 204 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 3: thing and it's on YouTube, and like it's a really 205 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 3: young Rhapsody and who else was on their typ Phoenix 206 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 3: like all these female rappers Brianna Perry at the time. 207 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 4: And yeah remember Brianna, Yeah, and. 208 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 3: Like so many because to me, like and especially championing 209 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 3: black women for me was very important too. Like I'm 210 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 3: very respectful of the culture, and I know that I'm 211 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 3: a guest in the culture, but I also know that 212 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 3: I have something to contribute as an international kind of 213 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 3: representative of it too. 214 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 5: Yeah, what inspired you to go from doing like I 215 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,319 Speaker 5: guess hip hop journalism and writing a whole memoir. 216 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 3: Well, I've always been very careful about telling the stories 217 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 3: that I feel black journalists should tell. So I'm like 218 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 3: I can tell memoir because it's my story, right, So 219 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 3: I thought that would be a good place to start 220 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 3: on a book journey. And I had always thought about 221 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 3: writing my memoir, but I thought my story was so 222 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:15,199 Speaker 3: singular and very rare that it might not connect to 223 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 3: a lot of people. But as I was writing it, 224 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 3: I'm like, oh my god, there are a lot of 225 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 3: themes here that, especially for young women. I'm talking about 226 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 3: like racism, classism, sexism, being groomed as a teenager because 227 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:29,559 Speaker 3: I wanted to be on radio and I wanted to 228 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 3: be a journalist so badly, getting taken advantage of by 229 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 3: an older guy in the industry who was dangling carrots. 230 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 3: Like these things happened to. 231 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 4: Women in the industry. They're very prevalent. 232 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 3: And so as I'm telling this story, I'm like, wait 233 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 3: a minute, these themes are going to resonate. So I 234 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:49,080 Speaker 3: kept forging ahead. I entered a contest actually during COVID. 235 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 3: It's called the Ritual Prize for Writers, and I thought 236 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 3: I'm not going to win this because publishing, again, like 237 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 3: every other industry in Australia, is very white. They're not 238 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 3: going to understand the story. I ended up beating like 239 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 3: almost a thousand entries and I won the ritual prize 240 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 3: and then they offered me the book. Deal has shared Australia, 241 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:10,839 Speaker 3: and the book came out in Australia about a year 242 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 3: ago and it's just come out just this week in 243 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 3: the States. So I think there's a lot in there 244 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 3: for fans of hip hop and people that are living 245 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 3: between cultures to. 246 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 6: Relate to a lot of you mentioned the grooming. Yeah, 247 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 6: when did you realize that that wasn't what was supposed 248 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 6: to be happening. I think there's that moment where you're like, 249 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 6: this is not I don't have to do this. 250 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:35,359 Speaker 4: Absolutely. 251 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 3: I got myself in a very sticky situation as a 252 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:41,439 Speaker 3: teenage girl with an older man who I didn't pick 253 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 3: up on the signals, and I thought he was just 254 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 3: encouraging me to work in radio and train me. But 255 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:50,079 Speaker 3: I narrowly avoided a very serious situation there. I think 256 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:51,559 Speaker 3: that's why I was able to write about it. 257 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 4: In the book. 258 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 3: There was another situation when I was working at another 259 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 3: radio station here in New York and we had mystical 260 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 3: come in and it's funny, this is pre me too. 261 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 3: So this is a time when as women in hip hop, 262 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 3: we had so few opportunities to be on radio to 263 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 3: be the male's sidekick and shout out to DJ Green Lantern, 264 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,439 Speaker 3: who I was on the show with him, and he 265 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 3: said to me. 266 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 4: Like I don't want to talk. He's like, I want 267 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 4: to play the music. I'm going to let you host 268 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 4: the show. And I was like Invasion Radio, yeah, thank you. 269 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 3: I needs to put people on the spot and like yeah, 270 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 3: it was a great show, thank you. And so we 271 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 3: had this situation where you know, this guy at that point, mister. 272 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 4: Wold had like a rap sheet literally of. 273 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 3: Offenses, but in hip hop in those days, we didn't 274 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 3: really we knew, but we didn't know. It was like 275 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:41,959 Speaker 3: if you go back to people that were probably in 276 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 3: media during the Aliah R. Kelly days, they knew, but 277 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 3: they didn't want to talk about it. And so he 278 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 3: made some very vulgar comments to me when I was 279 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,559 Speaker 3: just sitting like this at the desk, and I felt 280 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 3: extremely uncomfortable, but I didn't want to make a scene. 281 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 3: I didn't want to be difficult. I didn't want to 282 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 3: throw him under the bus anymore. I felt very protective 283 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 3: of the talent that I interviewed to So you're grappling 284 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 3: with all of that. But then when I wrote the 285 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 3: book years later and I reflected on it, I thought, 286 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 3: I'm so proud of the young women today who, for 287 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 3: the most part, call things out straight away, and that's 288 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 3: because other women have paved the way for that. And 289 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:27,080 Speaker 3: I felt in that time I wasn't as vocal about 290 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 3: a situation that I should have been. So I think 291 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 3: we've come a long way from that, but these things 292 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 3: still happen. Right, women are being more vocal, but it 293 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 3: still happens. So I hope through the book, without being preachy, 294 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 3: young women can learn some lessons as they move ahead 295 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 3: in their careers. 296 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 5: Why the title tell her she's And then also every 297 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 5: chapter has a dream. 298 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 4: Yeah. 299 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 3: I realized when I was writing the book that dreaming 300 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:54,200 Speaker 3: was a very prevalent theme in my life. Like I 301 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 3: even went through my old magazines that I had issues 302 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 3: that I had edited, and I was speaking in the 303 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 3: editor's letter about chase this dream, that feel that felt 304 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 3: impossible as a kid from the other side of the 305 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 3: world to come to New York and work in hip hop. Yeah, 306 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 3: dreams have been really prevalent in my life. My mother 307 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 3: was a dreamer, is a dreamer. She wanted to be 308 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 3: in the circus. God bless her her whole life. But 309 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 3: my grandmother was very salt of the earth, you know. 310 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 3: She raised seven kids on her own. 311 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 4: Basically and worked three jobs. 312 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 3: And so I had the really kind of down to 313 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 3: earthness of my grandmother mixed with the dreaming of my mom, 314 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 3: and I think that made me able to achieve those dreams, right, 315 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 3: because you can't have dreams without work ethic. And also 316 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 3: in Australia, there's a very famous. 317 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 4: Movie called The Castle. 318 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 3: It's a very Australian movie, and there's a very famous 319 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 3: Australian saying, and it's tell him he's dreaming, which is like, 320 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 3: you know, tell him his dream and it's very it's 321 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 3: very awker Australian, which is like you're having yourself on right, 322 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 3: Like you can't be serious, It'll. 323 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 4: Never you're bugging. That's exactly what it is. That's right, 324 00:14:56,320 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 4: Thank you for the translation, you're bugging. And so female life, 325 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 4: I made it feminine. 326 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 3: So I made it tell her she's dreaming because my 327 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 3: whole career I've been told this will never happen, you know, like, 328 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 3: who are you to think that you're gonna get there? 329 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 3: And I grew up reading the source and I ended 330 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 3: up being the content director of my favorite magazine ever. 331 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 4: So I achieved those dreams and I'm very proud of that. 332 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 1: What's left? 333 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:22,280 Speaker 2: What are you still dreaming about? What do you still 334 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 2: want to accomplish? If anything at. 335 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 3: All, I am dreaming of moving into. I've shifted into 336 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 3: more of a mental role, so that's very important to me. 337 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 3: As we can see with the book. Ah, my heart 338 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 3: is kind of still in New York, which is tough. 339 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 3: I feel like I'm living in two places. 340 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 4: I feel like I. 341 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 3: Belong here career wise, but now I'm married and I 342 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 3: have a six year old, beautiful daughter. Shout out to 343 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 3: my beautiful family. I think they're listening online from Sydney. 344 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 4: I don't know what time it is right now the Australia. No, 345 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 4: my husband's from New York, but I met him in Australia. Wow. Yeah, 346 00:15:58,800 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 4: life is crazy. 347 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 3: I lived in Harlem for ten years. He's from Harlem, 348 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 3: and I met him when I moved back to Australia. 349 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 2: What the hell was he doing in Australia. 350 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 3: He had jobs there, like he used to play basketball. 351 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 3: But he lived in Australia for a long time. He'd 352 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 3: lived there like fifteen years when I met him, and 353 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 3: so yeah, life is you never know what's around the corner. 354 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 3: But for me, next, I'm kind of open to whatever 355 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 3: happens next. Like I'm consulting and mentoring and I'm writing more. 356 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 3: Actually have an essay coming out soon. Yeah, I'm writing 357 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 3: about hip hop and Palestine. 358 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 4: Yeah yeah, so. 359 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, I know we talk about it, Charlemagne and I, 360 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 3: which I appreciate how open minded you are about everything. 361 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 3: And I just want to give you a special shout 362 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 3: out on air for even allowing me to come up 363 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 3: because I disappeared from the scene for so many years. 364 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 3: And you know a lot of people forget people. They 365 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 3: leave the messages on read and you did it. 366 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 5: Yeah, thank you said, and your photos in the book man, 367 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 5: so like, yeah, your photos. 368 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 4: In the book. 369 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,680 Speaker 3: So yeah, I'm writing an essay and I'm very passionate 370 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 3: about hip hop started as an art form to be 371 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 3: the voice of the voiceless, right, the voice of the oppressed. 372 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 3: And I feel like there are a number of artists 373 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 3: that are speaking out and you've had them up on 374 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 3: this show, but I feel like we could be doing 375 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 3: a lot more. And hip hop's biggest stars are very 376 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 3: loudly silent. 377 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 4: So I'm trying to unpack that. 378 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 2: Yes, that's a conversation. We've had a lot of pay 379 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 2: that some of the biggest celebrities haven't said anything. Yes, 380 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 2: And you know, for some people, they don't get into politics, 381 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:37,720 Speaker 2: they don't know, they don't understand it. What's your thoughts 382 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:37,919 Speaker 2: on it? 383 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 3: I think art is political, and I think that when 384 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 3: we're watching a live stream genocide that it's not hard 385 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 3: to say I just want innocent people to stop being killed. 386 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 4: It's deeper than that, but on a very basic level. 387 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:55,959 Speaker 3: As an Arab woman, I feel like we're not humanized 388 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:58,919 Speaker 3: enough and I would like to see my people be humanized. 389 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 3: And I'm inspired by natur like Nat Turner's rebellion. Like 390 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 3: when I say I learned about black history through hip hop, 391 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:12,679 Speaker 3: I learned about black history. So I think that more people, 392 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 3: it wouldn't be happening if more people stood up and 393 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 3: said something. 394 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 4: And really, they're asking us to use our voices. That's 395 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:20,959 Speaker 4: all they're asking for. Please use your platform, Please use 396 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:21,439 Speaker 4: your voice. 397 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 3: So this essay it might ruffle a little feathers, but 398 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 3: you know, I feel like we get one life on 399 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 3: this earth, and if I don't use that to kind 400 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,919 Speaker 3: of I'm privileged, and I feel like I should use 401 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 3: that privilege for the greater good. 402 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:36,879 Speaker 1: What do you think about the language surrounding it? 403 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:39,719 Speaker 5: Right, because you hear politicians they all say the same thing, 404 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,639 Speaker 5: acknowledge what happened on October seventh, which we all can 405 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:46,439 Speaker 5: agree with, traversy, and then they say the hostages have 406 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 5: to come home and then it can be a ceasefire. 407 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 1: What do you think of that language. 408 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 3: I think that we have to acknowledge that before October seven, 409 00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:01,919 Speaker 3: there are thousands of Palestinian hostages that are in jail 410 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 3: under no charges at all, men, women, and children. Yes, 411 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 3: and that never gets spoken about. I think we have 412 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 3: to acknowledge that Gaza has no control by land, air 413 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 3: or sea. I think there are many factors that have 414 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 3: dehumanized this population for decades that we're not taking into. 415 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 4: Account prior to that operation on October seven. 416 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 3: And so I think when we speak about this issue, 417 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 3: and again I'm not Palestinian, I am Lebanese and Israel 418 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 3: is constantly at war with Southern Lebanon two, so I 419 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 3: do have a vested interest in this, but it's a 420 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 3: human issue and I just think that if you keep 421 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 3: sending bombs to a population. 422 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 4: How is it going to stop? 423 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:55,479 Speaker 3: Like, I just think the narrative doesn't make sense, and 424 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 3: we're being gas lit very much at the moment, and 425 00:19:57,880 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 3: I think people need to understand there are a lot 426 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 3: of peop people in pain right now. 427 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 2: So what do you think about what the US is 428 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 2: doing As far as saying, like Charlamage said, we want peace, 429 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 2: we despert sending millions and Surians to die. 430 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 3: I think it's I think it's I was really nervous 431 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 3: coming back to the States. But it's not just the US. 432 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 3: Australia is complicit to Europe is complicit. It's not just 433 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 3: the US, but the US is funding the arms that 434 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 3: are committing a genocide and so but I also say 435 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 3: on the flip side of that, I have to be 436 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 3: really clear. It's happening in Sudan at the hands of 437 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 3: Arabs to black people, right, So it's not just Israel 438 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:41,119 Speaker 3: that are committing an atrocity. They have the eyes because, 439 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,880 Speaker 3: as black poet June Jordan said, Palestine is the moral 440 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 3: litmus test of the world. And that's why I think 441 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 3: our eyes are on it. This is the Holy Land, right, 442 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 3: But it is happening in Sudan as well. We all 443 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 3: know it's happening in the Congo. If you do your 444 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 3: research for different they're like, it's supremacy in all its forms, 445 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 3: it's racism in all its forms. And I think that 446 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 3: sometimes Charlemagne and I have talked about the Lesser of 447 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 3: the evils as well, and a lot of people are 448 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:09,159 Speaker 3: hurting and they don't want to hear that lesser of 449 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 3: the evils talk, right, So to me, I don't have 450 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:15,679 Speaker 3: the answers, but I would just like my people to 451 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 3: be humanized at the moment so we can take a 452 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 3: step back and really look at what's happening. Because Palestine 453 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 3: was a land and it's getting smaller and smaller illegally 454 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 3: more of that land is being taken, and so to me, 455 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:30,960 Speaker 3: that that is the issue of our time. 456 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: One question, last question, Yes, you have a picture here 457 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: with Kalen. 458 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 2: Have your Kalent had a conversation because I know he's 459 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 2: been a big topic of people feel like he should 460 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 2: be speaking up more so have you had a comversation. 461 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 4: I'm writing about color It in the essay. That was 462 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:44,320 Speaker 4: my question. 463 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly, Yeah, I'm writing about Colet in the essay. 464 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 3: I'm writing about a couple others that go to the 465 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 3: Middle East to party, make money from other countries in 466 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 3: the Middle East. But when it's time to talk about 467 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:02,680 Speaker 3: our pain, radio silence. And I think that that's happened 468 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 3: with black people for decades now, right, they want our 469 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:08,120 Speaker 3: rhythm and not our blues. That's the same, and now 470 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,439 Speaker 3: we're feeling it. And so I acknowledge all that in 471 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 3: the essay, right, And I see Black people say to 472 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:15,919 Speaker 3: each other, why should we give a damn about them? 473 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 3: They've never given the damn about us? And I acknowledge 474 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:20,640 Speaker 3: that too, And I think we have to be very 475 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:24,159 Speaker 3: honest and have these honest conversations about everything, and we 476 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:28,160 Speaker 3: can't move forward until that. But to your point, yeah, 477 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 3: I have reached out to colored people and we've spoken 478 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:32,520 Speaker 3: very briefly. 479 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 4: I've been told that I'll put that. 480 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:37,679 Speaker 3: In the essay and you can read about it. But no, 481 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:40,919 Speaker 3: we haven't directly spoken. Everyone has their own journey. I 482 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 3: understand that. But as a Middle Eastern person, I know 483 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 3: our community are heartbroken at his silence. 484 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:48,879 Speaker 5: It's gonna be interesting to see what happens, you know, 485 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 5: especially in November with the election, especially in places like Michigan, 486 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 5: because yes, the reality is America is always going to 487 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 5: fund military. So it's just gonna be interesting to see 488 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 5: what happened. 489 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:04,120 Speaker 4: What do you think will happen in Michigan. 490 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 1: I really truly don't know. I really don't know. I 491 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:10,640 Speaker 1: really have no idea. 492 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:12,120 Speaker 5: Because even when I think about all the people who voted, 493 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 5: you know, uncommitted in the primary, it's a part of 494 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 5: me that's like, but if Trump, you're saying it's gonna 495 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 5: be worse. 496 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 4: I don't know what's worse than genocide. 497 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:23,120 Speaker 3: I do know what's worst, And I understand what you're 498 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 3: saying because I do understand that there are other there 499 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 3: are other issues, right, LGBTQ I rights, abortion, like, there 500 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 3: are huge issues on the table. 501 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:33,120 Speaker 1: Well that's what I mean when I say it worse, 502 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: I mean worse for Gaza. 503 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 4: Yeah, like, oh, there's no worse for Gaza right now. 504 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:40,119 Speaker 4: They can't be. They can't be, they can't be. Like 505 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 4: you said, if if what you said is true. 506 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 3: Then America unequivocally stands with Israel, which is what Kamala 507 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 3: Harris has said unequivocally, then how can they be worse? 508 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:49,920 Speaker 3: That change of power will be the exact same thing, 509 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:52,440 Speaker 3: so it's just done in different ways. 510 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 4: Probably, so I don't know what's gonna happen. I'm not American. 511 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,200 Speaker 3: I'm married to an American, my daughter is a Jeal citizen, 512 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 3: and I'm very vested in I have a you know, 513 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,359 Speaker 3: I love this country. It's given me so many opportunities. 514 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 3: But like it does break my heart. The foreign policy 515 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 3: of America obviously affects the world. America is still a superpower. 516 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 3: I don't know if it always will be, and I 517 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 3: don't know if Americans realize the shift in the view 518 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 3: of this country around globally, there has. 519 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:22,480 Speaker 4: Been a huge shift. 520 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 3: And so but people always say to me, oh, Americans, 521 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 3: they only care about America. They don't care about the 522 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 3: rest of the world. And I say, as someone who 523 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:33,159 Speaker 3: lived here for a decade, until you live here, you 524 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:35,359 Speaker 3: don't understand what they're dealing with on a day to 525 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 3: day basis. You have to give Americans some grace because 526 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:41,399 Speaker 3: there's so much that goes on here that to take on, 527 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 3: I mean, I've had conversations with friends to take on 528 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:49,159 Speaker 3: some other tragedy is a lot mentally, because dealing with 529 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:52,280 Speaker 3: things day to day here is crazy enough. So I 530 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:54,159 Speaker 3: get that, but it's good to kind of be aware 531 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:56,800 Speaker 3: of what's happening that affects because it's your tax dollars, right. 532 00:24:56,840 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 1: Absolutely. Yeah. The last chapter is don't you it's over 533 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:02,360 Speaker 1: break that death. 534 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:06,480 Speaker 3: Oh, the last chapters don't dream, It's over. It's basically 535 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 3: about like you said, every chapter had the word dream 536 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:12,680 Speaker 3: in it. It's about never giving up. Like I said, 537 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 3: my heart is still here in New York. I'm trying 538 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 3: to bring New York to Australia in a lot of 539 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:21,439 Speaker 3: ways in what I do. And it's it's easy to 540 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 3: say never give up when when you feel like the 541 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 3: light is never coming into the darkness. I got very 542 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 3: sick with the Crone's disease. I almost died when I 543 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 3: got home to Australia. My doctor was like, you are 544 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:33,199 Speaker 3: literally life or death. You are killing yourself to like 545 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:37,439 Speaker 3: survive in the music industry. Yeah, that's how much I 546 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 3: wanted to chase this dream and make it real. But 547 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:43,439 Speaker 3: then I realized, like, your dreams can change as you change. 548 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 3: And I think that's the lesson of the book, Like 549 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 3: you have these dreams that ignite your fire, but as 550 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:50,680 Speaker 3: life changes, the dreams change too. 551 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, and you love. 552 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:55,159 Speaker 1: That your dreams can change, your dream can change as 553 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 1: you change. 554 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:56,440 Speaker 3: Yeah. 555 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:01,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, And so now I feel like a new burst 556 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:02,399 Speaker 4: of energy with the book. 557 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:04,360 Speaker 3: And you never know, like I'm up on the breakfast 558 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:07,680 Speaker 3: club like it's all come full circle. And I met 559 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:10,440 Speaker 3: you guys when this was just starting. Life is crazy 560 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:11,920 Speaker 3: and it's so inspiring. 561 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 6: How did you do it? Because nowadays, like people are 562 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 6: so like it's our culture. Yes, you can't come in, 563 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 6: and there's all these think pieces on Twitter. Yeah, how 564 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 6: do you like, did you even deal with that when 565 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 6: you were first Night in Australia but just here in 566 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 6: New York being a hip hop journalist but not being 567 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 6: of the culture, right. 568 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 3: I didn't really feel that until I got to the 569 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 3: Source magazine because that's obviously a venerated hip hop institution. 570 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 3: And I had the conversation with the publisher, Londo McMillan 571 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,679 Speaker 3: when he hired me, and we spoke about that, and 572 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 3: he said, I'm actually hiring you because you are aware 573 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:46,200 Speaker 3: of your place. 574 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:46,640 Speaker 4: And who you are. 575 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 3: And he said, some of the staff have said, like, 576 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:52,159 Speaker 3: who is this girl, what's her pedigree? We don't know 577 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:54,399 Speaker 3: her background. They didn't know all the years that I 578 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 3: put into working within the art form, and so for 579 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 3: a little minute I felt imposter syndrome, but then I realized, Look, 580 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 3: I've never tried to be anybody but myself, and I've 581 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 3: always encouraged like I said, like especially young black women 582 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:16,399 Speaker 3: like Nihila Simone was my intern at the Source right now, 583 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:19,880 Speaker 3: That's what I'm saying. She's on tour with Rhapsody, who 584 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 3: I put in the freestyle session. 585 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:24,200 Speaker 4: So like, I've always known. 586 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:27,680 Speaker 3: My place, and I've always known that I really felt 587 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 3: like this culture was not and it is not respected 588 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 3: on the level that it should be globally and even 589 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 3: within the States probably, but like especially globally. 590 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 4: People will go to. 591 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 3: The concerts, they love the music, but when it's time 592 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 3: to show up at a protest, you know, they don't 593 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 3: want to get their hands dirty. And I'm like, no, no, no, no, no, Like, 594 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:49,280 Speaker 3: we can't let black people give us their gifts and 595 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 3: not pay that back in every way, and I've tried 596 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:56,480 Speaker 3: to do that. So yeah, things have shifted a little bit, 597 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:59,359 Speaker 3: and I think rightfully, so I think that conversation is 598 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:00,879 Speaker 3: very needed. 599 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,720 Speaker 4: But I have always tried to be as respectful as possible. 600 00:28:05,359 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 3: In what I do and just contribute because it's a 601 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:11,200 Speaker 3: global art form now. I mean it was unleashed into 602 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 3: the world from the seventies and I'm a child of that. 603 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:16,560 Speaker 3: So I think my duty is to learn the culture, 604 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:19,880 Speaker 3: learn the roots, and just stand as much as I can. 605 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:25,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, all right, well down under up to our music 606 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 2: helped one woman make big dreams come true. 607 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 1: Make sure right now. 608 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:31,719 Speaker 4: Thank you guys, thank you so much. 609 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: We appreciate you for joining us. 610 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:37,200 Speaker 4: Thank you, Virgo. It was my birthday last week. Thank 611 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 4: you and Emelia Jordan. It's the Breakfast Club. 612 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 1: Good morning, wake that answer up in the morning. Breakfast 613 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 1: Club