1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: The quest Left show is a production of iHeart Radio. Okay, 2 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: I was going to avoid this question, So here's the thing. 3 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: Like I initially, I initially had so many musical questions, 4 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 1: but because I didn't know you as a human being, 5 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,480 Speaker 1: I wanted to go through that route and just ask 6 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 1: about your life as a human and a creator. 7 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 2: But I'm going to close on. 8 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: This last question, which is, how does it feel well 9 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: to see something that you created, as in three words, 10 00:00:55,520 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: that suddenly becomes all my It's like you you named 11 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: this period like when we look at the time period 12 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: when we speak of, uh, the Jim Crow period, when 13 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: we speak of the civil rights period, when we speak 14 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:21,320 Speaker 1: of the reconstruction period, we will probably call the twenties. 15 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: I don't know, but I know the word woke is 16 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 1: going to to enter the lexicon when it comes to 17 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: like describing it. What point did you realize, Holy shit, 18 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: this like when I realized that, you know, white political 19 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 1: pundits were now using it, when our enemies were using 20 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: it especially I. 21 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 2: Kept saying, right. 22 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: But I kept saying, like God, I pray to Guy 23 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: that Georgia like trademark that word so that it stays 24 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 1: with her. When did you first coin the term was 25 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: it when you were doing Master Teacher or like how 26 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 1: did it? 27 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 2: How did it come to be? 28 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 3: It's so interesting, right because just even with Massive Teacher, right, 29 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 3: like that song, like that was a day before I 30 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 3: had a nervous breakdown, Like if I meant anything, I 31 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 3: said it that day, do you know what I'm saying? 32 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 3: So like if I meant anything, if I was like 33 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 3: about it, like so many times I be so cringey 34 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,640 Speaker 3: about that song because like of what would happen the 35 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 3: day after I made that song, you know, and it 36 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:39,639 Speaker 3: and I think that that's something so beautiful because it's 37 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 3: like when you mean something so much, anything can happen. 38 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 3: When you're actually cheating yourself, anything can happen. And so 39 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 3: the state of Walk came from me and Lakeisha Benjamin 40 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 3: being in New York in school trying to figure out 41 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 3: how we're gonna get it out through the music like 42 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 3: Cold Trane and and like you know, getting it out 43 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 3: through the music, finding language for what it is that 44 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 3: we're experiencing, you know. And at that time, Lakeisha Benjamin, I, 45 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 3: like you know, we were jam session mates, you know, 46 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 3: because I decided to drop out of the jazz program 47 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,919 Speaker 3: to just go learn by just being put in the blender, you. 48 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 4: Know, and. 49 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, but she graduated. 50 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 5: I ain't graduate. 51 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 3: So it was just like those things was just like 52 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 3: it was wild because there were certain things that the 53 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 3: composition teacher didn't know what to tell me what my 54 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 3: chords were, and it was all types of weird stuff 55 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 3: going on like that. I'm just sat in the stage 56 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 3: for coming from a community as you well know, like 57 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 3: being from Philly. You know what I'm saying, Gamble up, 58 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 3: somebody got a coofy on. Like it's like it's like 59 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 3: somebody got consciousness, you know what I'm saying. Oh, Jay's 60 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 3: got animal rights songs, they got chugarhoy, they got branded. 61 00:03:57,240 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 3: It's like they're going through the whole gamut of like 62 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 3: every walk. 63 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 4: A lot, you feel me. 64 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 3: So I'm just saying it like because you're on my side, 65 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 3: you feel me, decided to put you there. But like 66 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 3: coming from the Mert Park where it's like like coming 67 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 3: from the world stage, like my dad owned like a 68 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 3: coop for every day of the year. Jazz or it's 69 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 3: so called jazz right was never not an afrocentric expression 70 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 3: in my whole life. It was always an afrocentric expression. 71 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 3: It was always a diaspora, you know, a gem of 72 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 3: the diaspora. It was never a question of is jazz 73 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 3: even black. So when I go to school and they 74 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 3: go like, jazz isn't black at all, I have to 75 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 3: stand up and be like, sir, you lying. Children are 76 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 3: from Japan and different parts of the world because they 77 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 3: want to learn the truth. They're paying you to tell 78 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 3: the truth, and now you're not telling the truth, so and. 79 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 5: I have to tell you the truth. 80 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:52,679 Speaker 4: So it's like this was woke. 81 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 3: Okay, this was the same thing as not pledging allegiance 82 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 3: in school, you know, and like it was like the 83 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 3: build up of that time at the time going to 84 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 3: MARCHI again's occupation in Palestine as a child in elementary school, 85 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 3: junior hi, you know, all of that kind of stuff, 86 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 3: like being politically active since birth, right, going like, well, 87 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 3: how does this translate into tones? Right? So we're like 88 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 3: talking and talking for like a long conversation like this one, 89 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 3: but even longer. Yeah, like marathon conversation. I'm going to 90 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 3: see her tomorrow, but we're trying to get to the 91 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 3: bottom of it because it was like there is a 92 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 3: translation for this and so but we couldn't get down 93 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 3: to the bottom of it in the night, so Keisha, 94 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 3: of course would be the first one to fall asleep, 95 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 3: and then she'd be like, yo, I'm trying to stay woke. 96 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 5: But yeah, I'm trying to stay woke, but I'm I'm 97 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 5: passing out. I'm like, yo, I'll trying to stay woke. 98 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 3: And for me, I was in the thing just as 99 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 3: a visual I've been always been a visual artist. So 100 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 3: what I would do is is somebody said something cool 101 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 3: like it was like my it was like my visual 102 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 3: Prince Paul, the way I could take a snapshot out 103 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 3: of something I love so much, I write it on 104 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 3: my clothes, just as like it's like I write on 105 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 3: my clothes, or like if like my roommate say Dancy 106 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 3: Dancy and I wrote it. I wrote my clothes Dancy Dancy, 107 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 3: you know. And I remember she's like, heyo, you're making 108 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 3: me cringe with that shit stopped that ship. 109 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 5: I'm like no, no, like no, this is part of 110 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 5: my thoughts, Like shut up, you're right. 111 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 3: So it was like that's what it was. But I 112 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 3: remember very vividly I wrote stay Woke with a kiddie 113 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 3: marker on this old white t shirt, you know, and 114 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 3: it was just right there over my heart, and I 115 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 3: remember I wrote it as a reminder not to kill myself, 116 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 3: you know. I wrote it as a reminder to like 117 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 3: survive the day that, don't kill yourself yet you know, 118 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:00,919 Speaker 3: stay woke. Like yeah, it was definitely like during those moments, 119 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 3: like you know what I mean. And just the sheer 120 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 3: amount of volume in my lifetime of these black student 121 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 3: union programs having their fundraising T shirts be saying stay woke, 122 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 3: and it's like the NASA logo and they sample, like 123 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 3: they sample and logos and then say stay woke. The 124 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:24,679 Speaker 3: amount of stay woke shirts, like even before the politicians 125 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 3: did it, it was the student the students that did it, 126 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 3: the black students. That when I saw that coming back 127 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 3: at me, I said, whoa, it was real like there 128 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 3: had been a transmission made, you know. And that's where 129 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 3: I just have such a love for like being kind 130 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 3: of person what concepts me more than me than like 131 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 3: than exposure. You know, I care more about what people 132 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 3: care about themselves. I care more about what people think 133 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 3: about themselves than I do. What they think of me 134 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 3: or if they know me. I want to know that 135 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 3: if after I've been here on this planet, that they 136 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 3: people have strived to know theirself more that they know 137 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 3: who they are. They they value that they're special, that 138 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:16,679 Speaker 3: their uniqueness is intrinsic to the elevation of us coming 139 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 3: together as a whole in a permanent, conscious, every day, 140 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,679 Speaker 3: every moment kind of way. Well, if you don't love yourself, 141 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 3: you can't do that as a group, you know. So 142 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 3: I care more about that, you know. So in that 143 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 3: care when you see there's flashes of that kind of care, 144 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 3: that just like thing and it really happens that way. 145 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 3: It's wonderful. And then when people who are subscribed to 146 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 3: whiteness as a religious spirit, you know, with the religious 147 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 3: spirit of whiteness, when they say that they hate me, 148 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,839 Speaker 3: then I'm like, that means I'm doing everything right. 149 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 4: This is great. You know. 150 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 3: It's the new nigga where it's like they could say woke. 151 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 3: They call somebody woke and wokeism is killing America. I'm like, 152 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 3: this is one Like I love that like for me, 153 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,719 Speaker 3: because the deal is, you know what, for me, it 154 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 3: was too for real mirrors Like yo, I got songs 155 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 3: about Venezuela that's like, you know, seventeen years old, like 156 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 3: you know, I really do. So I went through a 157 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,719 Speaker 3: lot of intimidation under like behind the radar. I went 158 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 3: through a lot of different things like that, you know, 159 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:24,319 Speaker 3: but I still get small because I'm still alive. They 160 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 3: can't do nothing to me, you know. So it's like 161 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 3: going through those things, right when they say that, that 162 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:35,839 Speaker 3: verifies those things like yeah, yeah, you can't even hold 163 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,719 Speaker 3: that back. Oh I do scare you? 164 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 4: Yeah? 165 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 3: And and the part that's scaries that there's more of 166 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 3: me everywhere. There's more people who have taken creative licenses 167 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 3: to be all of who they are, you know, and 168 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 3: to not withhold their blackness for love, you know, not 169 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 3: with their self love right, the love of themselves so 170 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 3: that someone else can love them. Because now it's all 171 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 3: following apart. It's like, you know, if everybody focus on 172 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 3: loving themselves more than we wouldn't have this drama. People 173 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 3: wouldn't be hurting other people. You do your personal growth exercise, 174 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 3: you know, you figure out what's wrong with you. You 175 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 3: know what I'm saying, And sometimes you got to call 176 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 3: for help and get to figure out what's wrong with you. 177 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 3: But that's a way of loving yourself instead of hurting people. 178 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 3: And so I just always hope that for me, woke 179 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 3: mean to be undomesticated. You know, your awareness is undomesticated. 180 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 3: You know, there's something of a bit wild and feral 181 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 3: about you that hopes for good things. 182 00:10:55,520 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 6: So I heard this clip of Georgia Animaldreaux and you're 183 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 6: asking her about coining the term woke. Yeah, the turn 184 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 6: has become so synonymous with our age and just how 185 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 6: she feels about the scale that that's taken on and 186 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 6: the story of the the original Yeah. 187 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 1: I wasn't expecting that answer, and you know, because I'll 188 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: admit that. 189 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 2: Okay. 190 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: So oftentimes the gatekeeping issue of like this language. 191 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 2: Of black folks, like once it enters the. 192 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 4: Mainstream John for instance, Yeah, then. 193 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: Suddling, it's over, Like it's over, you know, close the 194 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 1: shop up. But now I feel like some sort of 195 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 1: like renewed sense of purpose of keeping it in with purpose, 196 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: you know, now that I know her definition of it, 197 00:11:56,040 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 1: of it all and of course at its ugliest, currently 198 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 1: being used as a way to weaponize or to describe, 199 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: you know, I. 200 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 2: Guess the coloquialism of just what we're supposed to. 201 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 1: You know, you hear woke politics or you know, but. 202 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 6: It's interesting too, because what when people are railing against 203 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 6: woke politics, they're like railing against humanism. Yeah, liket, they're 204 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 6: railing against caring about people who don't look like safe. 205 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:30,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a safe way. 206 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 6: It's the new inward right. I mean what in word 207 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 6: was for the nineties or whatever. Now it's like woke politics, 208 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 6: which you know. 209 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, but again hearing her describe what that means to 210 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:47,319 Speaker 1: her and how that like saved her life, like. 211 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 4: Kind of literally saved their life. 212 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 6: And I know Georgia personally, she talked in that clip 213 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 6: about running around in the Myrt Park. I used to 214 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 6: run around the Murt Park with her, Like we go 215 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 6: back years and years and years. And when she said 216 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 6: that about like she wrote that to like stay alive. 217 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 6: She wrote that to give her fuel to not kill herself. 218 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 6: Like I felt that so deeply because she's she's like 219 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,680 Speaker 6: that kind of person. Like you know, there are people 220 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 6: in life that are just fireballs, like they are just 221 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 6: made of energy from somewhere else and they don't belong 222 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:25,959 Speaker 6: here on this plane in this time. And a lot 223 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 6: of times, like people like that, with that purity of spirit, 224 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 6: they struggle to exist in this world. And it's amazing 225 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 6: that in her challenge to stay connected to people, she 226 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 6: comes up with a term like that, captures it and 227 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 6: gives it to the world. 228 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, I you know, she gets all the gratitude for 229 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: me for that. And again, normally slang, especially now might 230 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,679 Speaker 1: only slang used to last. 231 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:00,120 Speaker 2: For two years. 232 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 6: When's the last time you were at six seven? So well, 233 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 6: I watch a lot of NBA basketball. So whenever they 234 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 6: still doing that, whenever they cut to the to the 235 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:10,839 Speaker 6: little kids at the. 236 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 4: Game, they they don't like, they don't, they don't know. 237 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,439 Speaker 6: It's like how they used to floss dance ten years 238 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 6: ago just because they didn't know what else to do 239 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 6: with their bodies. It's like that kind of thing. Now 240 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 6: that's what they're It's a default. Got you Yeah, so 241 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 6: for you, what does the term mean now? 242 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 2: For you? Personally? 243 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 6: I only see people saying it now in a negative connotation. 244 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 6: I only see it on Twitter. I only see it 245 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 6: like or hear it when somebody who I don't agree 246 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 6: with is talking about politics or media like it's a 247 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 6: terrible sort of claiming that they've made of It reminds 248 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 6: me of like hotep, like that term used. 249 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 2: To miss Chicago. 250 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 6: I don't know if it's Chicago. I first started hearing 251 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 6: it in college. I went to Southern Illinois University, so 252 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 6: it was people from Chicago, people from Saint Louis, but 253 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 6: it was just a type of person like the hit. 254 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know what I'm saying. 255 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: But I remember Erica playing it for me maybe two 256 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 1: months before the album came out, And you know, there's 257 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: there's two parts of that song. It's a six to 258 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: seven maybe six or seven minute song, and initially when 259 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: she was playing it, like I was totally missing it 260 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: because the first half of the song is just chaotic 261 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: in its arrangement, like you know, Erica Georgia creative Partners 262 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 1: like that whole creative circle. 263 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 2: Yeah that that that that system. 264 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: And of course the second half, which is just Erica 265 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 1: James Poyson Blaw doing a slow down somba version of it, 266 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 1: That's when I really like locked into it, yeah, and 267 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 1: and then absorbed the song that way. It's you know, 268 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 1: Master Teacher used to always that was like my favorite 269 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 1: cut on that record. It's weird, like I don't think 270 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: anyone has We're not mating people credit that song or 271 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: Eric Abadu as the originator behind it. 272 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 6: I mean, but it's much like six seven in that way, 273 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 6: right where it's this cultural language that everybody's using, but 274 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 6: nobody even questions where it came from most of the time. 275 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 2: Well, I don't think people know. 276 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: I'm very slow in trying to not make it like 277 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 1: the self congratulatory thing. 278 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 4: All I do know is that. 279 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: You know, it had a life of its own, like 280 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 1: at the height of Okay players powers as far as 281 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: the boards are concerned, like it lived there. And then, 282 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: of course two thousand and six to two thousand and seven, 283 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight was around the time when people 284 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: started migrating from Okay Player and just going to Twitter, 285 00:16:56,400 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 1: which really starts the genesis of what we now turn. 286 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 2: Black Twitter or whatever. 287 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 1: And so yeah, once I saw used outside of the 288 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: Okay Player circle, that's when even I was amazed that, 289 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:14,879 Speaker 1: like the viralness of it, because I just thought it 290 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: was just inside speak that. 291 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 6: But then and then the Childish Gambino song, Yeah, yeah, 292 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 6: I mean, and that I think that really puts I. 293 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 2: Totally forgot about that part. 294 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,360 Speaker 6: Yes, yes, that put it in the stratosphere. And then 295 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 6: everybody was like whatever that moment was, everybody glombed on 296 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 6: to the term I feel like after. 297 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: That, right, oh yeah, well then it got nashed on 298 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: and then overused and whatnot. Do you find yourself using 299 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 1: it ever and just your everyday talking vernacular? 300 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:50,960 Speaker 6: But I'm not sure I ever did, though. Do you 301 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 6: feel like you have permission to use it or not? Well, 302 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 6: I feel like if I'm using it, then I'm using 303 00:17:56,560 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 6: it in that intentionally political way that sort of removed 304 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:04,359 Speaker 6: from the original meaning, Like like the original meaning was 305 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 6: just kind of like stay away, stay aware, yeah, stay aware, right, 306 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:11,199 Speaker 6: you know, But like now it's got all of this, 307 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 6: it's got different levels of culture all rolled into it now, 308 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:20,719 Speaker 6: so that when you say it, it now touches on 309 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:22,919 Speaker 6: the way that most people use it now, which is 310 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,680 Speaker 6: that negative connotation that political. So in this tug of war, 311 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 6: should we try to hang on with all of our 312 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 6: might or just like that's that's And that takes me 313 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:35,959 Speaker 6: back to the hotep thing where I remember I had 314 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:37,880 Speaker 6: an argument on Twitter with somebody. 315 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 2: Someone call you a hotel. 316 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 6: No, nobody eould call me a hotel. But I was 317 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:46,879 Speaker 6: arguing with somebody on Twitter. And this had to be 318 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 6: like twenty eleven, twenty twelve or something like that, when 319 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,919 Speaker 6: it was first being introduced to me that some people 320 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:57,639 Speaker 6: within our community that had values that I didn't align 321 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 6: with were calling themselves that like they were they were 322 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 6: claiming the negative common connotation of it and calling themselves that. 323 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:08,479 Speaker 2: Do you know the origins of it? 324 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 6: I don't know the actual I know how I first 325 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:13,199 Speaker 6: heard it, I don't know the actual origin. 326 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 2: The first time I heard it common rhyme on it. 327 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 4: On Ghetto Heaven, he said, hoole tep. 328 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: That's the first time I heard it used in the 329 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 1: second verse or the last verse of Ghetto Heaven. Actually, 330 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:37,960 Speaker 1: I thought he was just calling somebody a Hoe's Rasha's 331 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 1: world famous for subliminal dishes. 332 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 4: Back to this day, people don't know. 333 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 1: I still when I see like seven or eight figures, 334 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 1: if they don't respond negative to me, I'm like. 335 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:55,400 Speaker 6: Okay, you still have nothing. It went over your head, 336 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 6: Like twenty seven years later, you still haven't listened to. 337 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,160 Speaker 1: Like Wanted for Chocoal the album, been like, hey wait 338 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: a minute, but yeah, that's the first time I used it, 339 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:05,880 Speaker 1: and I. 340 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 6: And that was when that was when I was in 341 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,679 Speaker 6: undergrad and that's when people were using it very sincerely 342 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 6: as a way for like afrocentric people to communicate with 343 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 6: each other and like greet each other on the yard 344 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:20,120 Speaker 6: or at the coffee shop or at the open mic 345 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 6: like and it was it was like a term that 346 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 6: people were using to try to point back to, like 347 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:27,120 Speaker 6: our africanness. 348 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 4: Right, it was seen as like, oh, this is cool, like. 349 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 2: But then it almost leads into corniness. 350 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 6: And because and and it's funny because the negative aspect 351 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 6: of it, a negative way to look at it to me, 352 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 6: is crystallized in Fonte's verse on Yo Yo, right, and 353 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 6: he describes that that that coffee shop doing trying to 354 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 6: stop him from eating bacon or is talk down to 355 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,359 Speaker 6: him morally and ethically, but he's still all about the 356 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:56,160 Speaker 6: holes or whatever. 357 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 2: To me, it. 358 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 6: Literally ended to me like, oh he fined. He didn't 359 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 6: use the word, but he defined the whole TEP and 360 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 6: the whole TEPS politics and the things that were negative 361 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 6: around people using that term and what And it was 362 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 6: really what women were trying to call out about people 363 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 6: like that, right that they presented this sort of cultural uniform. 364 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 6: They was on some bullshit. 365 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:27,679 Speaker 1: So WHOTEP is quasi an afrocentric hypocrite? 366 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 4: Yes, yeah, it's afrocentric hypocrite. 367 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 6: It's like a wolf in Sheep's clothing in some senses like. 368 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: Like but not to be confused with well right now, 369 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 1: like we have our own level of podcast bros who 370 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: you know for the offering their word salad kind of. 371 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:54,159 Speaker 4: Gibbering manisphere right stuff. 372 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:58,199 Speaker 1: And but not coming in the name of a koofi 373 00:21:58,680 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: or that sort of thing. 374 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 2: Damn. I just remember Jim Jones coined the term koofy smack, 375 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:07,640 Speaker 2: So I actually had to look on. 376 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: Urban Dictionary to see what the proper so the original 377 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: meaning derived from ancient Egyptian word meaning to be at 378 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 1: peace or contentment, used as a greeting amongst. 379 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 2: Black people since the nineteen seventies. 380 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 1: Even then, when Tarik said it, because I'm not well 381 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:32,439 Speaker 1: versed in Marvel DC comics thing, I thought he was 382 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 1: just referring to some sort of character that I'd never 383 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 1: heard of. So to Wreek somewhere in between a pretentious, 384 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 1: a pretentious Afrocentric and the brainschild of the most dangerous 385 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 1: man in comedy. 386 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:53,680 Speaker 2: So there you go. 387 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 6: But I say I bring up Potep just to answer 388 00:22:56,680 --> 00:22:58,879 Speaker 6: your question because I was thinking about when I had 389 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 6: an argument on Twitter, I was I was offended that 390 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:06,119 Speaker 6: people were trying to use the negative aspect of potep 391 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 6: is like a term of endearment among themselves. Like basically 392 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 6: that was like the death knell of the original meaning. 393 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,399 Speaker 6: Was these people who were like, yes, I am like that, 394 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 6: call me hotel please, Like, oh, that's horrible. And I 395 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 6: think we lost that fight, and now I'm thinking we're woke. 396 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:25,359 Speaker 6: I don't I don't know if we need to fight 397 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:27,399 Speaker 6: for the term. I don't know if we need to 398 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,199 Speaker 6: fight for I don't know if that's where our effort 399 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:32,119 Speaker 6: is best used, because culture and language is going to 400 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:33,639 Speaker 6: do what culture and language. 401 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:36,680 Speaker 4: Does, So we should just let it go and see 402 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:37,159 Speaker 4: what happens. 403 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 2: I think, see if the body. 404 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 6: I think we always have to strive for new ways 405 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 6: to expressly by jack and sink. 406 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 2: Into the water or hang on to the door. 407 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 4: Yeah. 408 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, now that I truly know where. 409 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:57,880 Speaker 1: Georgia's heart is, i'd say, you know, I'm why should. 410 00:23:57,640 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 2: We let it go? 411 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:00,639 Speaker 4: Like, well, does she want to fight for it? 412 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 1: That's a good question, I'd I would wager that she's 413 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:09,480 Speaker 1: not concerned. Yeah, real artists aren't concerned of legacy things 414 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 1: or whatever. And I'm certain for her at least it's weird. Man, 415 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:18,119 Speaker 1: people always want a piece of legacy and importance, but 416 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:21,479 Speaker 1: once it gets defined, then it could be a burden. 417 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: Like I'm certain to this day, I'm almost certain that 418 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:29,639 Speaker 1: Illmatic as an album is more burdensome denias than it 419 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 1: is a celebration of. 420 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:33,880 Speaker 2: A beautiful work of art. 421 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:36,280 Speaker 1: So it's almost like once you put something in the 422 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 1: zegeist or whatever, like, it might make the individual that 423 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 1: achieved that thing feel otherwise burdened because they either have 424 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,680 Speaker 1: to live up to it or that's only the thing 425 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:52,400 Speaker 1: that they're going to be associated with. 426 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:53,920 Speaker 4: It's a literal cultural weight. 427 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, so to woke or not to woke. But I 428 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:00,640 Speaker 1: will say this much unlike the word death. Oh boy, 429 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 1: you remember when Rick Rubin had the funeral for the 430 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:03,680 Speaker 1: word deaf. 431 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:06,360 Speaker 4: No, I don't remember that at all. Wait you don't 432 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 4: remember this, No, I don't see. 433 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:11,360 Speaker 2: You have a little subtle. 434 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:14,040 Speaker 1: Ways of making me just want to Rick, because you 435 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:17,199 Speaker 1: do this age thing, what thing where it's like yeah, man, 436 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:19,679 Speaker 1: we're like like minded once and then I'll say like, 437 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: hey man, you remember da da da da da. 438 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:23,360 Speaker 2: And you're like, motherfucker. I wasn't of age yet. 439 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: I don't even know if I was of it. I 440 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 1: don't know what year this happened. My first record was 441 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: easy E all right, So that said Rick Ruben of course, 442 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:36,440 Speaker 1: pro prior to of Deaf Jam. He decided when he 443 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 1: left Deaf Jam in eighty seven eighty eight he started 444 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:46,400 Speaker 1: Deaf American eighty nine to ninety and literally held a 445 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: real funeral for the word death. 446 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:51,199 Speaker 6: That might have been a one time, a funeral for 447 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 6: a word actually worked. That might have been a one time. 448 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:58,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, But I sort of felt some sort of way 449 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:01,680 Speaker 1: because again, it's hip hop. 450 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 4: Slang, right, and who is he? 451 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:04,160 Speaker 2: All right? 452 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:06,199 Speaker 1: But when I looked at the funeral, like it was 453 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:08,639 Speaker 1: a bunch of rock cats, like some of his Slayer 454 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 1: friends some of the but like literally Rick Ruver is 455 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 1: sitting in front with I think he uh, you know, 456 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 1: like when you're mourning widow or whatever. Like yes, he 457 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 1: had a veil on and all those things. So it's 458 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 1: like cartoonishly over the top. So I didn't know how 459 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,640 Speaker 1: to feel about that. But yeah, so Deaf had a funeral, 460 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 1: an actual funeral. Look it up, kids, But yeah, stay woke, 461 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 1: stay woke. 462 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 2: There you go. Quest Love Show is a production I 463 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 2: Heeart Radio