 What's up y'all, it's your girl Rihanna Imani and you are tuned in to another talk of the town interview and who do we have in the building today? Gladiator, I'll be out, y'all know what's up, Jersey, what up though? Yes, we got I'll be out in the building, welcome home, thank you for coming, it's good to have you. I mean, you already, you hit the ground running. Yeah I swear. Hold for a minute, literally back with the jump off, you're doing your thing and we love to see it, how does it feel to be back home? It feel good, I'm loving it, I feel good that I'm back home, everybody that love me, they happy I'm back home, but I'm loving that like the feedback I'm getting from the world, you feel me, they fucking with me, you know what I'm saying? I mean that's nothing new because the numbers speak for itself, but I think you know just seeing the feedback that you've been getting, the love that you've been getting, like just the way that everybody's been receiving you since you've been back is like really something. I'm loving it. And I have to give you your flowers because not for nothing you've been working, but the fact that you have a project coming out, and you just got back, that is really crazy, free to roll, coming out, literally in a couple hours. Yeah, I mean sure. So we right in front of it y'all, so we gonna get into all of that, but for the people that have been living under rock that don't know who I'll be out is, let me know a little bit about you. Like I know you from Jersey City, but like just walk us through your story. I'm just a real nigga with a story that's trying to tell it, you feel me? I got, I've been do some shit in my life. Like I've been do real shit in my life and and I got a way of expressing it, do my music, so like coming up, coming up from where I'm from, marrying projects, that's one of the most dangerous projects in Jersey. Like, you know what I mean? And I'm one of them gods from there. I ain't just one of the motherfuckers that was peeking out the window. Like I'm really like a big opp out there. I'm really like the head honcho out there. Like, you know what I mean? King opp, if you will. King opp out there, you feel me? So like they like everybody know what I've been through, what I come from. You feel me? So I just, I'm just, I just came from the bottom with this shit. And and now I'm here. You feel me? Like, like it's so it's so like coming from where I'm from, nobody make it. I'm literally probably the first person to make it out from my out my city, out my projects in the first million in my projects. It's crazy. You feel me? Word up. So it's like, I don't, I be, I, every time I think about this shit, that's why I'm freezing up. Don't think I'm fucking up because I don't know what to say. I'd be freezing up because I get excited. It's like in my body. I'm like, oh, I can't believe when I say that shit, when I be like, I'm a millionaire, that shit feel crazy. Like this shit like what? Yeah. And I know you had to grind to get there. And that's really a big accomplishment, not only to be the first millionaire. I don't know if you are in your family, but that's already right. A big accomplishment in itself. But to be the first one from where you from, that's just as big. So how was this the vision? Like, did you see this for yourself? Hell, yeah, I seen this shit. You did? Hell, yeah, it was my time. I knew I'm like, yo, I got, I got a book that I carry around. It's in my book bag right there. And it's a book in there. And it says it like, it's like, it's like, it's basically speaking shit to existence. And they say, Motown millionaire, your first six months home, you feel me? So I already knew I was going to be a millionaire as soon as I came home. But it was like, your first six months home, you're going to be Motown. Wow. You feel me? So it's like, I manifest everything. That shit is real. You just got to say what you like words is serious. So if you put that shit in the atmosphere, the power of the tongue, it's crazy. You know what I mean? So you guys, you got to say what you mean and mean what you say because that shit is strong. So I know that you are the son of Albi Al. The Lord, the Lord, you feel me? Yes, for the Lord. I'm the gladiator. I hear that. And you see, we all get into the gladiator thing right after this. So do you feel like that kind of contributed to you wanting to get into music? Or was that something that naturally kind of like happened? How do you think that was their influence there at all? You know, it's scary about this shit because I was so young and my father was a rapper. But I didn't know my father because he died when I was so young. And for me to pick up on it, it was you could tell as genetic. Right. And that's what that's what I was wondering if that was. I know my pop is a rapper. I was a kid, but I always love hip hop. So I get it from him. You feel me? So my pops was a legend, an OG legend from my city or whatever. You feel me? He ran with Dougie, Fresh, Bismarck, Key and him. He ran with all of them guys. So yes, we like a slide. We know why you did your own work. You know my pop? My pops is a goat, man. My pops is a goat, man. I respect them, man. You know what I mean? I used to deal with a lot of hate from my pops because I'm just like, why you die on me? You feel me? Because it was rough going up without a father. You know what I mean? So I never really was like rocking with my like, but I know it ain't his fault now as I get older, but it was just still like, like why you leave me type shit? You feel me? That shit turned me into something like because I don't know if it made me stronger or it made me weak. Honestly, like I don't know not having a father made me strong or I don't know if it made me weak. But it's part of me like, I wish I had a pops. And you know what? I was going to ask you about that as well because I grew up without a father as well. And I know that like for a woman, a lot of times, you know, people are very quick to say like, oh, women without fathers, this, this and that. But I'm wondering like as a man growing up without a father and you know, you close to the streets, you know, how was that? Or do you feel like it affected the way that you grew up? Yeah, most definitely, man. Cause like not having a father that shit took a toll on me because I'm not used to it, but I always had an older brother and my older brother, he, he was on my body like he was my pops. Like he protected me like he my pops. And I having a father made him grow up fast. So he hit the streets way before me and he was just like in the streets and he was just like trying to keep me away from the streets. But I just had to get in the streets. Like he, he was in denial. My older brother was in denial that I was in the streets. Like, man, you know, your little brother, he just robbed like the whole block over there. Like my little brother ended that shit crazy. He just robbed him like, nah, I ain't through that shit. I told you my little brother ain't through that shit. I just shook that shit down though. I mean, I'm like, no, now do you feel like that though is like a product of your environment? Do you feel like if you were somewhere else that maybe like the way that you grew up would have been different? Or cause like, like marrying projects, Jersey City period. It raised gladiators, you know what I'm saying? Like, so you, you, you like say if it's a kid from the city that's in the youth house, he goes to the youth house all the time. Even if you not, you, if you've never been in the youth house, the way he talk about the youth house, it make you want to go to the youth house. That's crazy. So it's like, you want to put a record on you from the doors. Like, like, hold on. All my friends in the youth house, why ain't it is? So now you do some wild shit to go to the youth house and be smiling like, all right, send me to jail. It's crazy. Like that swear just like that. Like all, like all my little bros from my hood, like if somebody catch a body or something, one of my little bros want to catch the body and up his score. Like, nah, I want, I'm going to shoot him more times. Wow. So, so now, you know, from an older perspective, you know, and now you back home and everything, how do you feel like, or do you feel like there's any way to kind of change that narrative? Because as much as it's like, you know, I understand it, that's just the way the hood works, you know? But is there anything that you feel like is within your power to kind of speak to them or like to kind of, I know one thing about changing it is that you ain't going to be able to save everybody. Is this true? You know what I'm saying? But somebody going to catch the message. It's going to be somebody watching this interview and be like, like it's going to be people looking like, man, fuck him, man. Like whatever, he done made it, it ain't look back, but it's going to some people that's going to look at it like, damn, that's how you're supposed to do it. You know what I mean? It's inspiration. Because it's the, the plan is to make it out. Right. It's not to be strapped. Like you got to break the curse. You got to get out of there. So it's so many people that's going to be watching it, but it's going to be people that ain't going to get the message and the ones that do get the message, we connected, you know what I mean? The ones who don't get the message, it's going to be the lost ones. You feel me? I mean, I hear that. And now something that you said was success is nothing without pain first. You said that in one of your interviews and I'm interested in knowing like how, how did your pain help build up your success? What was it about that? Because like, I feel like if you, if you was born into royalty, if you was born in this, this living large, you know nothing about the struggle, you know nothing about the pain. You ain't never been through shit. Like a quick story, right? Um, I was locked up before when I was locked up for murder case or whatever, right? My last murder case. So I was locked up for that. I'm locked up with this guy. He never did a crime in his life, but he was on the same tail with us because he was locked up for a vehicle and homicide. So he ran some I over because he went to a game, he went to the jet's game and he was drinking in the bar and he gets in the car and he kills him. My white man never killed nobody. Never. He won't hurt nobody. He been living with it. He been married this high school sweetheart, all that shit, right? This is who he rocking with. So check it. He ends up leaving the bar drunk, ran some I over first crime he ever committed in his life. You could tell he got a place. What you doing in here? What you got before? So you, everybody finds out what he locked up, right? Now he never been through this type of shit before. So it's fucking him up. Now his wife, she leaves him. Now he, he, he was, oh, hey, 40 years old, he was 40 years old. Been with this girl for 20 years. He'd been one for the rest of his life. And she would, he, the door, she was the right one. But just because he went to jail, he had to put her do that shit. And now you see, like, damn, I'm about to spend the rest of my life with this girl. And she just left me, you know, you know, that's crazy. Sometimes you got to go do shit. You feel me? That's what I mess my message. Sometimes you got to go do shit and to realize you got, you know what I mean? See, I receive what you said 100%. I get the message. But do you really think it's that crazy? How much time was he facing? Do you know, do you remember? I think vehicular homicide because it was an accident murder. I think he's probably facing like 10. See, I get it. I will get your ass. Let's go. You see it. Me being married, I don't know, marry 10 years, 10 years. But it's like 10 years without what you since high school. Oh, you did say high school, sweetheart. I didn't just meet you. You did say high school, sweetheart. But that's a tough decision to make. I don't think that that's crazy. But he was if he would never drunk and got drunk and hit somebody. He was doing that girl for the rest of his life, taking that she the girl. 100% agree, understood. But I feel like, you know, you also have to think about how that's affecting her. You know, she's now a single mother unexpectedly for 10 years. Like there's there's only but so much contact you can have and support you can have with your husband. I mean, that's a lot. Shout out for everybody. He didn't get the 10 years he was facing 10 years. He ended up getting five with the 85. That's 50 months. OK, you see five. But she still like as a high. You see, yeah, she did leave him. I wonder if they back together. Listen, let me explain something to you about Jill, right? Let me explain something to you about Jill, right? Because I see where you're going with this. You like 10 years. You know what I'm saying? Ten years. Listen, one thing about Jill is that you got to have you got to have a friendship with a person in order to do the bit. You got to be my friend, be my dog, because I want you to be there for support. It's like if I'm on life support, you feel me? You're going to come see me while I'm in the hospital. I'm being a coma. You go. It's like you come in to see me. You come in to visit me. You know, I mean, bringing me flowers, whatever, whatever you feel me. Don't turn your don't you ain't going to turn your back on me. No. And this is why I'm saying that I used to fuck with a nigga that was in jail. So I get it. Do you get it? Listen, the Securus calls the putting money on I listen did all that. Ten years, though. Not ten years. And that's why I said you ain't got to be my girl. I'm not telling you don't fuck. I'm telling you be my dog for ten years. But that's you. But they was married. So she's not fucking. She's not like getting that support. She's not getting that kind for that to happen. Like without you even being able to prepare for that self discipline. That's a lot. No, it ain't even without the sex involved. I feel like that's a lot for you to one day wake up and you no longer have access to your husband. You have kids, right? You have bills. So you replace them and find somebody else. I'm sure it didn't happen right away. It was probably just something that she never had because at the end of the day, if I was still there, you would still love me. It's like I would have went the rest of my life thinking you the one for me where you really weren't. So do you feel like her not being with him makes her love him any less? Because you because if you can't you're not there with me at my lowest moments. You shouldn't be here with me at my brightest. Yes, that's very true. But I also feel like everybody's not built to like withstand that. That's that's a big change to me. That's why success is nothing without paying first. All right. You got to put a do this shit. You got to go do this shit. What? You got to put me through 10 years without you to know that I love you. That's what happened. If me and you rocking, imagine I was in a car with you. Why am I in a car with you in this and I hit somebody by mistake? You still got to go to jail for it. You're going to leave me. But you know I didn't mean to do it. Listen, listen, as much as I would want to and I would try to I wholeheartedly would try to 100 percent. But I just feel like after a certain point, 10 years is just a lie and a nigga. But even if it ain't. But and then it's one of those things because think about it too. Not even to cut you off. But you know, you live in your life, maybe after year five, you need somebody and you know, you still want to stay committed to your husband. I'm a firm believer before you leave me. So you never even know. Maybe she met somebody who was helped with help willing to help pay the bills, take care of the kids. And she was like, you know, before I start a whole new life, let me just and things where they are. Everybody can't take that. And this is not taken away from what you said because I get it. I said that in the song. I said it's hard being a real bitch. It was easy. Oh, damn. She not a real bitch. Hell no. She got to provoke that because you would just with me, living life with me. And then something happened where you can't. So it ain't about I what you going to have sex. You're going to fall for a nigga. It ain't about that. Pick that phone up. Holla at me. Be my friend. Be my dog. Yeah. Now, how you forget the friendship? We just got married. I really thought you was the love of my life. I was ready to spend the rest of my life with you. And some hiccup happened. And you ain't you mean to tell me just because I went to jail. You ain't going to rock with me. That's a big hiccup. All right. So your ass hits a mic too because you know females drive crazy. I'ma leave your ass too. It's just funny because it's media. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. You feel me? I mean, you know, as much as I would want my husband to stay with me, it's like I would be like, yo, fuck you like you not a real nigga if you can't stay with me. But I would understand. Because I'm not saying you supposed to understand. But it's just like, damn. I feel like a little three as my husband. OK. Maybe even five. A little three piece. OK. Yeah. I just feel like our kids are grown now. You know, everything changed. But you know, we're giving them too much airtime. So shout out to them. Man, free him, man. He home now. Free. Oh, OK. That's all I got to say. OK. He home now. But you know, you better not be back with her. I remember her naming anything. I ain't going to say it, though. I mean, if y'all are back since get your man back. I feel you. I don't know. I kind of see reason. She's no good. So how do you feel? Because in the vein of like, you know, success. I mean, pain be a necessary for success. How do you feel about the artists who kind of like fake their pain just to like put on and put out an image to make it seem like they kind of like went through shit? How do you feel about that? Oh, don't say who. I don't know. You don't know who? You never seen anybody like putting on. There's niggas that be talking about being from the trenches and having no money and being broken. They teachers told them that they wouldn't be shit. Mind you, they live in a nice ass house. It's a private school. Don't say, yeah, you know that. I pay attention to that. That's detail. You know that. I'm just out of your interview. We can name drop and I'll give for the same money. My name dropping up. But if you don't got no no opinion on that thing, you don't got no opinion. I'm just surprised that that's not something I'm saying. But if it is a fact, how I feel about that? It's just weird as hell. I guess it's faking to you. Make it right. That's what niggas do now. They but ain't no faking in my shit. You know what? And that's something like yesterday at your dinner. That was something that I could definitely tell about you just based on the way that you just got up there and you was talking and telling your story saying where you from what you about. There was no room. I felt like for there to be any cap anything that you're saying because it's just so matter of fact, the way that you talk, the way that you talk about yourself, your story, the people that you are around your come up. It's like there was literally no room for me to even be like this nigga not really about what he say he about. It was just like that just wasn't a thought in my mind. So I really wanted to know what your thoughts were on the niggas that be doing that. But since I just gave you my opinion, it's weird. Oh, shit. You it's a word. It's a world full of weirdos. We outnumbered. You know that it's weird. Oh, shit. So if you some weird eyes nigga acting like you from somewhere or acting like you've been do some shit and you ain't really been do some shit and you got a little platform and you lit now you're weird. Oh, you a fuck nigga. We ain't into that. We don't we don't real nigga time. You for me if you if you came from somewhere and you went from there. If you came from the burbs, rap that shit. So what fuck you talking about? It's it's a way it's rappers that rap like that and they from the burbs. Yeah, people that that that embrace that Drake Drake going around like he's some killer. I feel like Drake really didn't have a choice because he was on the grassy. We knew we knew. But he embraced who he is. Drake Drake Drake and his Drake. I respect Drake. Honestly, Drake don't be like oh, I'm some super killing ass nigga. But I'm right with these super killing ass niggas. They gonna kill me. No, I respect that. And you know what I respect it too. You know what I think that sometimes that's where it comes from. Like, I feel like you have niggas that grew up in the suburbs, but they be with the niggas that grew up in the trenches. So then they take on their story that if it's like they're a lot of motherfuckers, I think that's exactly what I take. I take I don't like that shit because it's like I know for a fact like I'm not one of niggas that was looking out my window. Like even if you grew up in the hood, you know, some people it's because you grew up in the hood. Don't mean you hood because it's a lot of motherfuckers that walk the other way. You know what I'm saying? So a lot of people just look out their window and see like you could live on a dangerous block, but that don't mean you really are out because you probably ain't with the shit. Right. Niggas get pasted to niggas all the time. Like he ain't from that block. He from that block but he ain't with the shit. Leave that nigga alone. But nigga like me, like I'm and I'm I'm hands on with this shit. Like like niggas know every time it was a war or some shit. Yeah. That was it. That was in the past. In the past. Yeah, I'm a tank man. I'm a tank man. But I'm just saying like they know Albie was hands on with this shit all the time. Front line. Every every every situation you feel me? I ain't never back down. So if you had like a choice between like going back and like redoing everything that you've done leading up to this point or just kind of like being in control of everywhere. Everything that happens to you moving forward. Which one would you choose? Then that's a good question. If I could control my past. It's like if you could go back and redo everything or if you could control what happens moving forward. Damn, my mind flowing right now is so much that I could say. So I'm gonna choose wisely. I'm gonna choose wisely. If I could if I could I would I would have listened to my brother. My brother passed and he always told me he always told me like niggas hate us, but niggas don't fuck with us. Don't fuck with them. And when I came home my last time I was fucking with motherfuckers that I know ain't fuck with me. But I was just like fucking. I'm gonna help you out too. Hoping that my loyalty, my honor, my real shit could rub off on you. And you could, you know what I mean? But I fucked up. That real shit don't rub off on you. I was hoping. I was my fault for thinking the motherfuckers real as me. You know what I'm saying? When niggas ain't as real as me, you feel me? You can't put niggas on that same pedestal. You can't expect. You oughta other than you can. You gotta treat everybody as a value get and take what they give to you. Yeah, no doubt. So but if you had to choose one though. So you so that's something that you would, you know, take from the past and carry with you now or you would fix. But if you had to pick one or the other, which are you saying you would rather go back? Yeah, I would definitely. I wish life had a rewind button. It's a lot of things I could fix. You know what I mean? Even though it made me who I am today. Right. I need to fix that back then. It's a lot of broken relationships that I wish I could have rekindled. A lot of conversations I had that I wish I could have had. Like one of my closest friends died and me and him wasn't talking. You feel me? While I was locked up, we could have squashed that shit. You feel me? And that shit fucked me up. Like, damn, like he dead now. You feel me? We can't even have that conversation that we needed to have. We dealing with pride. We couldn't even, and that shit fucked me up. What up? I'm sorry to hear that, but, you know, he's here with you and I'm sure that he knows. Most definitely. So on a lighter note, you know, you started making your music. Who were your like inspirations when you started making your music? When I started making my music. Inspiration. I always fucked with, always fucked with that gritty grimy shit like Styles P. Okay. I came up with that. I came up with the Styles P. I came up with the Wayne, the hot boy ever. And I'm like, I fucked with that. I fucked with Jeezy. I fucked with Beanie Seagal. Like them motherfuckers. Oh, you see these names we haven't really gotten on here. You feel me? Yeah, you know what I'm saying? Uh huh. So I always fucked with that. Like I come from that Lil Wayne drought era at motherfucking no silence. Lil Wayne, you feel me? I fucked with Wayne. He the goat. Okay. And like now who are you fucking with? Like from Jersey? Anybody? Nah. No? I ain't gonna do my state like that, though. But nigga's coming up. I gotta get into him and see what's going on. I been hearing motherfuckers. I been hearing motherfuckers going putting on. Shout out to everybody from Jersey that's putting on. But like, I fucked with everybody from Jersey. You know what I mean? But right now I ain't really, I've been focused on me. So I don't want to make it seem like oh a poll or something. You know I'm a king of Jersey so I can't be doing it like it ain't nothing. Like it ain't nothing going on in Jersey. It's a lot of shit going on in Jersey. It's just that I'm focused on me cause I realize if I don't put myself first it's never gonna work. You know what I'm saying? So, you know, of course when speaking about Jersey I know you have a few songs with like Sue Cerf. What's that relationship like? How did y'all start? He cool. He cool. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He cool. When I first came home, it's shit. 2015. When I first came home. When I first came home in 2015 or whatever it shit. You feel me? He had reached out to me and he was like, yo, let's get it. You feel me? I'm like, I bet. You know what I'm saying? But Austin is my brother though. You feel me? I fucked with Austin. Okay. Okay. See, this is not even me being mixedy but like, you know what's going on right now between him and Mr. Chicken with the whole voice of us. Ooh, wow. What you got going? Who is that? Okay, cool. Please don't even mention names that we don't know on my platform. We ain't sharing that. And who is he? We ain't sharing that. All right, whoa. Well, let's feel like this though. Niggas know what's up with me. Don't play with me in this interview. Don't play with me. I'll come out of retirement and do something to you. You know I'm rocking. Well, yeah, next question. All right, well, how do you feel about like having allies in the industry? Having friends in the industry. Is that something that you prioritize or do you just move the way you move and whatever happens, happens organically? I got some allies. I got some niggas that really fucked with me. Like, you know Kodak, me and Kodak like this. That's bro. You feel me? Me and ARRab. Everything ARRab got going on. ARRab. That's why I put them on my mixed tape cover. I have the Village Rapper I met. You feel me? No cap. Like that's it. How did I meet? Yo, he reached out to me. This how me and ARRab met. No cap, right? This how me and ARRab met. His, he got niggas down in PA doing life or whatever. So my shit is on my music is in the gels. Like I'm mainstream behind the wall. So somebody that's doing life down there where that's real close to ARRab, they called Tim and was like, nigga, you gotta work with that nigga. Oh wow. That nigga called my phone and it was like, yo, yo, I've been hearing about you but my man downstate right now, he got three life sentences. And he said, yo, me and you gotta work, bro. So I'm like, yeah. Word up. So what was you feeling like when you got that cool? I'm like, cause I fuck with ab. I'm like, he's coming like that. But I'm like, oh yeah. I'm like, yeah, niggas was telling me cause you know, you know, every time you drop music when you lit and people try to like compare you to people. So they, they like tag you in. Like, you and ab gotta do a song. So I'm like hearing about it. Like you feel me? So my fans wanted to see that shit anyway. So I'm like, I bet. So I'm like, I'm like, I said, I'm a type of person I need to, I need to build with you. I need to get around you and see if you really who you say you are. And so ab was like, yo, pull up on a block. I'm like, what you at? He's like, Philly, I'm out coming through. You feel me? Like, I bet. You coming to Philly? Yeah, nigga, I'm coming to Philly. Fuckin' told him I came on a block and I can show you the clip and the first clip and I was doing the clip and me and him when I was at Philly. He was like, nigga, you in South Philly. Niggas from South Philly don't even come to South Philly. You feel me? Word up, man. Yeah, I'm in here. And then what about Kodak? Cause I think Kodak reached out to you too, right? Yeah, Kodak reached out to me too. He was fucked on my music. They was watching my freestyle on Flex and Kodak reached out to me and was like, yo, nigga, we gotta get it. Like, you feel me? Yeah, cause you bodied that freestyle. You bodied. He was like, yo, we gotta get it. Bro, he like, yo, I seen that. She said, I seen that video. He was like, yo, when you come to, he thought I was from New York. He was like, I'm in New York. Where you at? Let's work. I'm like, bro, I'm from Jersey. He was like, he's like, where you at? I'm like, I'm in Atlanta. I was in the studio with WAP and I was leaving on the next day. I said, I'll come back in town next tomorrow. He was like, all right, bet. So I pulled up on him. You know what I mean? Me and my brother, we went to pull it up on him and it was love. We was going song for song. So I'm playing my music, he's playing his music and me and Kodak, besides the little commercial songs that he got, Kodak talked that shit. He talked that street shit. So he just talked, this is different language from what we got going on up top. So we just playing songs or street shit. He playing shit. I'm playing shit. We going song for song. Man, we got get it in. You feel me? So he was like, let's do it. We got to do a mixtape. You feel me? I'm like, I got a Super Saiyan mixtape coming up. He's like, I bet. So where you coming? I'm like, I'm on some Gohan and Goku shit, you heard? So that's why you went all armors with the dreds. We yell out with the dreds. That's all, that's all, that's Super Saiyan shit. That's me. That's like, me and him were talking. That's it. That's what I mean? So when he did all that shit, it was all like, like basically on some like free Albi Al type shit, you know? Word up. That's really fire, especially to have like co-signs like that in the industry. You know, something that I, it's like, it blows my mind about you because everybody that, and I told you this yesterday, everybody that I brought your name up to has said that they fuck with you. You have millions or millions or millions of views. You have so many comments just like with people expressing how much support you have and how much they love you and everything you have to co-sign. But it's like, what is keeping you or what do you think is keeping you from being mainstream? Cause it's like everything seems to be alive. I think I'm too gritty, man. I'm just a gangster. And these niggas ain't gangsters. Don't, these niggas ain't gangsters. Why are you yelling at me? I mean, you know, man, these niggas ain't gangsters, man. These niggas like, you know what I'm saying? Like they ain't, but certain niggas are though. Shout out to the gangsters that really on top right now and they moving like gangsters. I respect y'all, trust me. But they know how hard it was for them to make it to where they at by being gangsta. They was afraid of me. They was afraid, like, you know what I mean? They ain't know how to take me. You know, you see what my story when you Google me. You know I'm into, so they be nervous with that shit. But it's crazy because I don't know how to network. Okay. Networking is very important, man. Cause you gotta talk to these weird ass rappers. I don't, like these niggas are weird though. You get around him. How many rappers you've been around and you thought he was rah, rah, rah? You be like, these niggas are fucking weird though. Enough for me to know that what you're saying. You get what I'm saying? So I be like, oh, damn, I thought this guy was that. Then I get around. Like I pray to God when I meet my favorite rapper, he don't be a weirdo. You feel me? Don't be a weirdo. You gonna break my heart. You gonna kill my childhood. Who's that? Who's that? These don't be a weirdo. I was kidding, bro. If he be a weirdo, he's gonna destroy me. Like, he don't know to me, times I had to turn them on, we fried now. But you want to know. Coaching the machine, nigga. Time to come clean, nigga. Yo, I was weak. But you know what's interesting about what you just said? The fact that, you know, you said that people are scared of you and it's that gangster shit. Cause I feel like we're at a time right now where a lot of the music that's being glorified is that gangster shit. That don't mean that they're gangster. Like you just said. And that's what I was gonna ask you. Do you think that goes back to the whole like selling images? My fuck is just talented. Niggas not a big music now. Niggas ain't really tough. You know what I'm saying? But so do you. So that's what I'm saying. It's just interesting to me that, you know, it would be, it would take you away from being mainstream because you're really about it. I think I'm on my way to mainstream though. I was just never one in the world with Dottie. You feel me? And then I got more music coming behind that shit. You feel me? So like, I think it's my time. I think it's definitely my time to be mainstream. Like a lot of people, a lot of artists fucking with me. A lot of artists reaching out to me. You know what I mean? That's mainstream. That won't work with me. So it's gonna happen. I got no problem brushing shoulders and getting around these people, you know what I mean? I know you got a whole song called Don't Compare Me. I know you don't like to be compared, but if you had to describe your sound using an artist or if you can't find an artist using one of your songs or if you had to, you know what? I'm gonna switch it up a little bit. If you had to describe your sound to somebody who has never heard any of your music and doesn't have access to hear any of your music, how would you describe it? Don't say gangster. Nah, I ain't gonna say that. That's too easy. I'll describe my shit like the old, I'm the hardcore rapping Adele. Fuck your head over there, right? And explain why though. I'm gonna say Adele because every time you hear Adele sing you feel her. You do. You feel me? Every time you hear me rap, you feel me. So that's why I say Adele. I'm the hardcore Adele like, you know what I'm saying? Shout out to Adele. I don't wanna compare me to none of these other wear those because I done seen it happen. Don't compare me to that, you know what I'm saying? I sound cocky, I don't wanna sound cocky. I'm just don't. But yeah, I like Adele. I don't think you sound cocky at all, talk your shit cause Adele is that woman. We love Adele. I'm like the gangster Adele, yeah. Okay, so when it came to the music and being in the industry, who was the first person that really believed in you? Like the first person to give you a chance? Wharton Bird. Wharton Bird, he just got the priority records then. He the first person that believed in me. Wharton Bird in the industry. Like he was literally waiting for me to come home from jail for my last case. And he had like, y'all I want you in this, you know what I mean? That's how me and PNB rock. Start messing with each other and shit. Cause he had PNB, he wanted me around them niggas and then when A Boogie first took off, he wanted me around them niggas. You feel me? He always tried to keep me in a loop. Wharton Bird, the reason I got signed to Empire, he pitched me to Ghazi. You feel me? And was like, yo, out, yeah. You feel me? Wharton Bird, shout out to Wharton Bird, Jersey City, yeah. And you brought up Ghazi and I know that you were saying like the last time that you, I don't know if it was the last time you saw Ghazi, but when you flew out to go and meet him, when you came back home, that was when you got locked up. Is that something that like following that and now being home now, do you feel like that has created any hurdles? Do you feel like it was like, it was just a little pause and now you back the same way that you were when you met him the first time? It wasn't a little pause, it took a lot. You feel me? That's why I'm so much in a rush because I'm like, man, I'm going. I want every second back they took from me. You feel me? So, but I think I definitely picked up where I left off at, but then I jumped over that shit. Just by seeing my music go number one in the world, I'm like, yeah. Like it's up, it's going down. You feel me? So, we learned to do a little game real quick. Let's get it. And I want to see- Can I get some more Henny? Oh yeah, I want you to do it. Yeah, let me get some more Henny. That's my side bitch, Henny. I'm a Remy nigga. Well, we gonna play a game. I'm gonna see how crisp your memory is. I'm gonna ask you a few questions about what your favorite things were before you went in and after you went in, all right? And we gonna see what changed, if anything. All right. So, your favorite place to eat then? Is the char house. And now? Still a char house. Still a char house. Haven't been put on, but you put us on today. You definitely gotta go check it out. Yeah, that's in Jersey. Yeah, it's in Jersey and we hooking it, fire. What is it, steakhouse? Yeah. Oh, okay. It go crazy. How you eat your steak? Well done. Oh no. And you see, you said- Did you eat your steak, bloody? You said it so matter of factly that I'm actually very disappointed. How you eat your steak? Medium well, cause we not shaking the table. We not? You too in the, but who? No, you don't, maybe cause you strong. Maybe that's why. Cause I feel like I can't afford a steak of water shaking everything we don't need. Yes. It's still be bloody though. Don't knock it until you try it. It's a little pink, but it's not bloody. I didn't say rare. It's bloody. Whatever. Okay. Favorite upcoming artist then? Before I went in, my favorite upcoming artist can't even cat. Money man. Money man. Okay. Money man make you wanna go get it. That's bro. Okay. That's my dog too. Shout out to money man. Favorite upcoming artist now? Favorite upcoming artist now? All right. No, Peezy and Rio. Okay. Peezy and Rio. Okay, okay, shout out to them too. All right. Baddest girl on Instagram then? Then? I'ma get it true. I'ma say a regular girl that I, baddest girl on Instagram then? I say, Oh, Bernice, that's easy. Okay. Shout out to Bernice. That's a bad bitch. That's a bad bitch. That's a bad bitch. All right. And what about now? I like, I like, I like, I can't say a name. Cause when you say bitch's name, they be thinking like, oh, you want any body? So I can't, it'll fuck my little thing up. You know what I'm saying? I don't have money. You know what I'm saying? Do you have parties? I like Doja Cat. Oh, shout out to Doja Cat. That's, yeah, I mean, is that, that's not what she was gonna say, but we'll take it. I'ma say Doja Cat. Okay. But you see now you fucking me up cause I was gonna ask you about your celeb crush. Doja Cat. Yeah. Doja Cat has always been your celeb crush. Who's he? Celeb crush before? Before, or before? What's Tee? Megan Good. Okay. All the time. I mean, Inna Hershey broke up with Brog, right? Holla at my style. Himmys Holla at my style. You're shooting your shot at Megan Good. You're fucking against her. Fuck with her gangsta. And that will be a complete turnaround cause she's just a full pastor. So going from a gangsta to a gangsta is all of me. No, I'm just kidding. And Chib, Chib, Megan Good. If you watching this, he's shooting his shot. When he said fuck with a real nigga. For real, for real. All right. Your favorite clothing brand then? Nike Techs. Okay. You know who love that. You love that Nike Tech. You know what I'm talking about? What are you talking about? Ice face. She's like this. She's like Nike Tech. She's like, yeah, she cool, she cool. She cute or whatever. All right, so Nike Tech then, what about now? No, it wasn't Nike Techs then. Back then it was before I went to jail, I was fucking with the polo sweatsuits and Burberry. Okay, okay. And now it's the Nike Tech. All Nike Techs, all grommos. Okay, real comfy. All right, your craziest memory then? We's in a shootout, right? So that was him. Hey yo, these niggas had me, bro. Gang, right, boom. So we in the car, we done a project. Yeah, I thought it was a joke too. These whole ass niggas, they had us right on the G-Ride. So look. So look, I ain't gonna drop no niggas, I ain't gonna drop no dates. We in the G-Ride, these bitch ass niggas, they was scared, they had it on me, right, boom. So I'm backing out, I'm backing up the parking spot. So I'm backing up the parking spot, they start flipping on my shit. Brr, brr, brr, brr, brr, brr. I'm watching the niggas. My cousin, he diving in the car, like, oh, they going to pull up, pull up. I'm watching the niggas. He eating, you feel me? I'm looking at him like, you bitch ass niggas, like, you better not miss, you feel me? So he just up, he gone, he gone, he gone, boom. So I pulled up a little bit more, like, cause I was backing up, he caught me while I was backing up. You know, you got to be the little keg and you got to go. So I'm going like this, boom. But I'm looking at him, no cap, I'm looking at him like, you ass, he really missing. So I start pulling up a little bit, pfft, jumps out. We start going, ha, ha, ha, now they running. Yeah, that's where I go, you heard? That's a crazy memory. It's the theatrics. Long time ago, long, long time ago. Long, long, long, long time ago. Very long time ago, okay, and then now, cause I know we got, it's better days. What's the craziest memory? The craziest memory now. Yeah, the craziest memory now. Let me see, what was the craziest memory now? Oh, shit, I ain't going to talk about that. Me throwing up probably on a yacht. Then I threw up on a private jet. You threw up on a yacht? Yeah. It was bitches on air. It was bad bitches on air. Oh, no, I hate that for you. Nah, they was rubbing my back on everything. And it was like, you got to be okay. Yes, yeah, I'm like, I'm not, I'm not gonna be okay. I don't know how I feel about that. I don't know if I would have been one of the back rubbers. Yeah, I'm not really feeling that yacht shit no more. I thought it was cool. Oh, cause maybe it was like seasick. I was fucked up. That's yo, my video right now, King Coba, that shit, I was seasick. If you ever seen you see me on a yacht, I was seasick. Even though I was turning up, I was done. Like what you said before, fake it till you make it. I couldn't, I couldn't wait to get up that boat. They like, we got to shoot. I'm like, give me the fuck off this boat. Oh, no. Fuck this, oh shit. They like, look at the view, fuck this view. Fuck out of here. And you said that happened on the PJ too. Yeah, on the PJ too. So it's just emotion. My first time ever on the PJ, I threw up. Damn. I was like, cause I came home and I just ran to it. Like I didn't take no time. I didn't waste no time. I just like, yo, I'm going to get this shit. You feel me? So that's what happened. It was like, I was, I get car sick too. My motion sickness shit crazy, but it never been like that. It's just because I'm speeding. Yeah. I ain't taking no, I ain't taking no break yet. Alright, alright, your favorite verse. Let's see if you can remember your favorite verse then. He said, I don't give a fuck about none of y'all, not one of y'all. I give it to any one of y'all in front of y'all. Yeah. It's called made niggas. I'll be out freestyle. And it's not funny cause you said, he said, and I was going to ask it that he was you. And it was. That's the gladiator. Alright. And what's your favorite verse now? My favorite verse now. I'm from Marion. That's a city inside a city. See, we're the round town that niggas ain't fucking with me. That's your tricky. That's on that, that's on that free the real album man. I'm from Marion. That's my favorite song. Oh. I'm from Marion. Yeah. Alright. I'm from Marion. It's all from like, it's just giving you history from where I'm from. It's giving you, that song explains who I am today. You feel me? Cause I was somebody, I was somebody yesterday. But today I'm a different nigga like, and I'm looking at life different, everything. You feel me? You're a walking testimony and we'd love to see it. Thank you. Alright, so your favorite blog. Now, be mindful of what you say. My favorite blog? Your favorite blog then. My favorite blog then? Uh huh. I don't got no favorite blog then. No? Uh huh. So who's your favorite blog now? Y'all, fuck you. Y'all. Alright. What the fuck are you talking about? Okay. Y'all. I just had to make sure. Y'all heard it here first. I did talk to the town, heard it here. Alright, the craziest rumor about yourself. What was the craziest rumor you heard about yourself back then? Craziest rumor I've ever heard about myself is that I got it. That I only like black girls. Y'all, I swear to God. Everybody be like, yo, you only like black girls. You don't like Spanish girls. You don't like this, that, you know what I'm saying? Uh huh. But I ain't racist, I fuck bitches. All type of colors. I don't care. You feel me? If you pretty and you real, you solid, we can make something happen straight like that. But I'm taking real over bad any day. You feel me? I need a real bitch like, you feel me? What's a real bitch? A real, what, I'm a, y'all can't wait. Let me get my shit. Oh. But a real bitch is this, a real bitch is going to be there for you. A real bitch is everything to a street nigga that's just going to be there for you. Like she ain't going to pest you. Yeah, she going to pull you up when you slipping. She going to do all that shit for me. She going to like, it's balance. A real bitch is balance because you off balance as a nigga, period. But when that real bitch going to be on your ass like, oh, it's not going to be nagging. Nagging is something bad. But when she's just telling you like, yo, baby, like we need to go out, we got to go here. We got to do this. You feel me? We ain't do this in a while. Like a real bitch going to be on your body. A real bitch, like she really care about you. She going to tell you, protect yourself. A real bitch going to be there for you. If you fall, she going to be like, yo, nah. Like, and it's going to fuck up when you fall because she going to feel like she fell too. She feel everything you've gone through. That's a real bitch. You know what? I really fuck with that answer because I feel like a lot of, like, especially like rappers and stuff, I feel like they go after the bad bitches. But no offense to the bad bitches. Shout out to the bad bitches. We love them. We love y'all. But a lot of them be dense as fuck. And so the substance is not there. So it's like, I'm very happy that you said that because there's so much more that goes into. Nah, no cap because like I fuck a lot of bad bitches. You feel me? The thing with these bad bitches is this, yo. Like they don't got no person. You feel me? And it ain't no, like I was just locked up, right? And niggas be wanting to know, like, yo, Paul, what? Yo, what's up? Yo, you ever had sex? You had a look? Or, yo, itta da, this bad chick, da, da, da. Or beat me down about a bad chick. And I be like, I don't got no story to tell because it literally would be like, I pulled up, we went out for drinks and we did, we did. It's no chemistry. It's no conversation. They got no personality. Not all of them, but I'm saying like, if a girl ain't got no personality, no conversation, that shit is going to be that. It's just going to be sex. But you got, if you got, if you cool as hell, you do the one that's going to be rocking. If I could, if I could walk out the room and leave you in the room with my brothers and you in there laughing, joking, chilling with them. Yeah, she cool as hell. You feel me? I like a bitch like that. That's valid, that's valid. Okay, and we're going to end it off with the most memorable piece of advice that you got. And I know we touched on one already. I don't know if you want to reiterate that or if you got a new piece of advice that you got from your brother. So what's the most memorable piece of advice that you got then, or that you had then, if you can remember? The most peaceful advice I got back then that I didn't listen to though, but I should have listened to was, stop going in the hood so much. Your plan, your object is to make it out. My cousin used to call me every day. My cousin got 20 years, you feel me? And he used to call me every day and I'd be like, yo, I'm doing a project. Why are you down here? I'm like, this home nigga, ain't none down here, but the fuck, I make it out of here, but I'm back in town, I'm back when I'm in town. I'm down in the hood, fuck I'm in the house. Yeah, nigga, you better be in the house, fuck with your kids. So I never really like paid that no mind. So that's the peaceful advice I got from him that I didn't listen to, I'm taking he to it now because it's like, fuck the hood, bro. It's like, the hood is, of course you won't do for the hood and you gon' help niggas get out. But it's like hanging in there all the time, for what? You ain't none but a target. Even if you wish who I am and niggas know I'll be sharked up, but it's just like, then what? Now we gotta put some work in, now we gotta get lawyers, now we gotta fight a case. Man, we gotta avoid that shit by just being some, we could get a hotel suite and invite motherfuckers over. And that's that, bro. That's real. And what about now? What's the most memorable piece of advice that you've gotten recently? My old hat, my old hat on the max tail right now, it's named murder, he burned on me and shit. Before I left out the jail, he pulled me to the side when I was packing on my shit. He was like, bro, look niggas, you can't save everybody. Everybody can't go, take care of you and take care of the ones that's gonna really be, that you gon' notice, that's really gon' be rockin' with you. And he was like, yo, look niggas, you just did three years, they just shag you life. Go out there and take everything niggas owe you. And it's proven that I'm doin' that, you know what I'm talking about? Now, I don't know if you mind like, I'm of course not gonna get into nothin' too crazy, but I am curious about the time that you spent while you was locked up. That's cool for us to talk about together. All right, so I know that you was facing, you know, you was facing life at one point. I think I also read that you was facing 70 years at one point. What was goin' through your mind like while you were waitin' for your sentencing and just knowin' that you were gonna go back in? Like, what were your thoughts? What fucked me up was, when I got locked up, I didn't think it was that bad. I'm like, I mean, of course it's bad, but I'm like, I'll be back. Cause I was talkin' to Casinova before I got locked up and me and him was on FaceTime and I'm like, bro, I'll be back. And he like, eh, what happened? I'm like, I was on the run talkin' to him. I finished my mixtape king op on the run. So I'm talkin' to him, I'm like, yeah, this ain't a dirt like the song. I did Marriott on the run. I did King, I did so many songs on the run. So I'm talkin' to him and shit. I'm like, yo, I gotta go. He like, what? Like, what happened? I'm like, man, they tried me, bro. You know, I ain't goin' for that. Cause I'm, I got anxiety, bro. Like, you know how many rappers get killed? I ain't goin' out like that. I'm gonna get fucked. What's goin' on? Like, if I'm with security and they act like they gon' freeze up, I'ma snatch that shit off them. You feel me? Like, it's goin' down. That's some real shit. So, like, how I feel about this shit is like, I don't know, man. I'm just happy to be here, honestly, you know what I mean? I lost track of what the question was. What was goin' through your mind? Like, yeah. Oh, what that sound? What was goin' on through my mind? Like, I had to get back. You feel me? When I went to court and they was like, and my mother, everybody was in there and they was like, yo, life. I'm like, what? Fuck. I bet. When I see my mother and I'm crying, oh, that shit. I might get back. Everything was just fallin' apart, like, everything. Like, I was just a man. You feel me? I was just a man out there. Like, I was just that. See, that's why I feel like some niggas don't belong and going back to jail because nowadays, I don't know if, like, this was you, but niggas be havin' the phones. They be on TikTok. They be just coolin', chillin', livin' life. Fuckin' the CEOs. Like, it's just like. Jail be high sometimes, but it ain't high. It's never high. You feel me? But it's just like, like, even that shit, like, it's cool, you on FaceTime, you smilein'. You on a phone. That shit ain't nothin' because you gotta hang that bitch up and you can't do nothin'. Like, you can't hug your family. Yeah, you would call them. Man, my son was five, my son five years old. Every time my child took to my son while I was in jail, he walk away from the phone. It wasn't that he ain't love me. It was just like, his attention span, he a baby. So he like pops, I mean, like, you know what I mean? So it was like, I'm like, man, I gotta get home. So when I found the news I was coming home, I called that little nigga and I'm like, listen, I'm like, oh, guess what? He ain't even paying me no mind, he got his tablet. He ain't even looking at me. I'm like, I'm FaceTime and I'm like, oh, guess what? He like, what? I'm like, I'm coming home. He looked at me like, he was looking at me. When? All the time he was dissing me the whole time. He like, when? He paying attention now. He like, when? I said, I come home next week, y'all. He was like, yeah, I'm like, yeah. So his mother now, when the phone hang up, his mother texted me, she like, don't be playin' with my baby, is you really coming home? Bitch, I'm coming home. Oh, I love that. And it was over. That little boy can't eat, man, that's my mom. And what was that feeling like? That feeling was crazy because I didn't want to tell nobody. I just wanted to pop up, but the way my son was doing me, while I was locked up, it was bothering me. So I had to tell him. And then he told all his sisters, like, he'd be like, that he coming home. He said he coming home next week. Like, damn, I try to pop out. We buried up, buried up. So what was that like? So I know you just described what it was like with your son, but what about like with your friends, with the people, other people that were close to you? Like, how were those relationships while you were, were you going, did you see any changes in the way people was moving? Yeah, man, it's a lot of motherfuckers I ain't hear from. It's a lot of motherfuckers I did hear from that I didn't expect to hear from. That's always how it go. You feel me? And shout out to my fans, man, I got so much fan mail. Yo, like, my fans used to send me money. Like, I ain't want for nothin'. Like, I ain't want for nothin', like, for real. Like, people used to reach out to me, like, oh, you need money? And I'd be like, yo, send it to my brother because my co-defendant, that's my brother, you feel me? I might send it to my brother. So he was always straight to, you know what I mean? Like, I ain't never need nothin'. Like, I ain't like, my man Shorty, I was like, yo, don't send me, she probably send me money like twice. Cause I'm like, you good, just kick back and keep your legs closed, you feel me? I'll be back, you feel me? That's about it, you feel me? But like, I ain't really need no money. I ain't need no money. Just set them, visit us up and just be there, just pick that phone. So you had a girl while you was docked up. I didn't really have a girl, but I did have a girl. Like, in her mind, I'm her girl, she was my girl, but in my mind, not to say she wasn't like, you know what I mean? Like, I love her. I'm not trying to play her none. Let me explain this shit to you. In her mind, I was her nigger. In my mind, she was my friend because it was like, any second the judge could break us up. I was facing life. So if the judge is playing the gavel down and say, you got life, like, how you gonna be my girl? Right, so you wasn't attaching yourself just based on the fact that it wasn't certain? But I love her though, you feel me? She's solid, she a real one, you feel me? And she, like, when I came home, I made sure she straight. That's my dog, you feel me? We keep it like that. But like, and I'm talking about this shit on camera because it's like, I don't give a fuck. Like, you know what I mean? I ain't trying to press nobody or nothing. Her loyalty was like, it earned somewhere in my heart where it's like, no matter what, if we ever grow apart, you could always call my phone and be there for you. And go fuck with you, fucking with a nigger or nothing. Like, you feel me? Like, you gotta have a whole nigger. Like, I need help with this. Bang, I'm pulling up. Right, because she was there for you at your, like, one of your lowest points. You know what I mean? And I was just facing too much time to be like, oh, I got a girl. I can't, hell, no, I can't. In jail, you can't have that mindset like you got a girl because bitches getting hit. So wait, so, okay. So if you didn't have that mindset, you had like, was bitches sending you pictures and stuff? I'm staffing them. Yeah. Send that shit off, that's that shit. Bust that shit. Bunt, you got to tally it. Get me big, bitch. Get me big. They were sending it through the mail through J-Pay because I know you could upload pictures on J-Pay. Hell yeah, I'm like, get me big. I'm out of Koi right now. I had nothing on it. Yeah. Oh, you was on the phone. Yeah, word up. How was that even? This was fans, this was girls you already knew. Yeah, fans go crazy too. The fans go crazy. I couldn't imagine. So wait, so how does that translate now that you're home? Because I know you just love when they give that fresh home. I know that. Everybody's trying to get hit. But I'm easy on them. I ain't really, I ain't no pressure. I'm too busy for that. And it's like, you know what the funny part is? The bitches that weren't there for me trying to be there for me the most. And I don't even let them bitches get close to me. Like I had a bitch, I had a bitch. And she was cool to say I was really rocking one. She came out of nowhere and started holding me down. And then the bitch told me, God told her to leave me. Like, what the fuck, bitch? I'm blessed to. What you mean? God told you to leave me. God told you to leave me. So now I come home, bang, I'm back. She in my DM, like, you really ain't going to reach out? Bitch, you tell God, told you to leave me. Maybe it was temporary. Maybe he told her to leave me. All right, well, shit, bro, look. She was stuck around now. Look at me. Look at me. It's going down. High speed chase is up. You feel me? Crazy. We viral. She, what should I do? She was cute too, but like I said, I'm taking real over bad. Right, anything. So now like, what is it that you look for when like, because I know they throwing themselves at you and I know that you said that you would go off of it. But like, what is it that you would be looking for? Because you don't know a real bitch right away. It's a mirage, man. I don't believe in these bitches, bro. I don't believe in these bitches. Like, I don't be like, yo, all right. So I just try to keep it cool. Like I told you, God keep it friendly. Like be my dog. You be my dog. If you can't be my dog, you can't be my bitch. So how long do you wait it out? Like at what point does a girl go from being your dog to being your bitch or even to being a consideration? Everything is earned. You put that work in. You feel me? If I start fucking with you, you going to start realizing. You going to go from the hotels to the crib. So what you doing? My whole thing is like, what are you doing in like, in exchange for this? Where it's like, it's earned. Like what is, what are they getting back? Like we friends, cool. But it's like, what's even keeping me around? I don't realize a nigga breathing first of all. My conversation is going to keep you around. Okay. I got, I give great advice. I'm a good nigga you can rely on. I can rely on me. I'm a good nigga to have in your phone when you going to do some shit. You could be going to do shit with your family. You be going to do shit with your nigga. I miss a good nigga you can count on. You feel me? Like I'm telling you, you can hit my phone anytime. Like what's popping? You go up and you chop it up with me. Like yeah, it's time to third. This was going on. Like I'm bringing everything to the table. What you bringing to the table? You know what I mean? And then at the same time, I'm going to educate you. I'm going to put you on game. Okay. I'm going to let you know how to move out here. Like what the fuck you should do? What you into? Are you doing lashes? I bet I'm about to get you right. Look, this is how we going to do this shit. We bought a book of celebrity for your lashes. I'm going to pay for them. Hit the celebrity. But like, you're investing in business. Come on man. I love that. I'm playing with me. Like yeah. Shout out to you for that. Okay. Well, you let me know. See, I just wanted to know. I'm everything. I'm the catch. I swear I was literally just about to say it sounds like you would catch. I swear I was just about to say that. That's mad funny. Okay. So back to like what it was like in there. So I know that you were in there like mid pandemic. And while that was going on, you know, COVID was delaying a lot of cases. It was a lot of stuff going on. With like just the mistreatment of inmates and, you know, a lot of people getting sick in there. And like it was just a whole lot. So what was your experience, you know, having to go through your court cases and stuff and being in jail while or being in prison while? By far the worst shit I have experienced in my life. Like them three years was so hard. It flew past because of COVID. It was like, it was cool when COVID was dead. Like the best time to do jail time is football season because the weeks go by so fast. Because you always attest to playing football. You got Monday night football. You got Thursday night football. You got college football. You got Sunday football. So anybody in jail, they love football season. So when COVID was there and it was nothing, it was like, what are we doing in here? Like, and then you see if they letting people go home, but they ain't letting the serious cases go on. So it's like, are we stuck in here? Like fuck us. So what were you guys doing? We thinking it's the end of the world. Like every time you turn the news on, it's looking like a zombie apocalypse out that bitch. You know what I'm saying? So we in jail, like, what the fuck are we doing about us? It's all type of rumors. Like everybody let us go home, give us bracelets. Let me the fuck out of here. You see in Jersey, it ain't no bells. It's no bell in Jersey. So people that's watching wherever you from, that's why we were stuck in there. Ain't no bell in Jersey. I didn't know that. It's no bell reform. The judge tell you if your case serious, you ain't going home. Wow, that's true. Like what? So that's what I was up against. So I'm in that bitch during COVID and I'm stuck in there. And then I came and then I go to court and they like, yo, my case, my motion was set for March, 2020. The same motion that I beat and came home for was set for March, 2020. But what happened March, 2020 COVID? So my motion got pushed back for two years. For two years, all the way till they felt like, okay, these old motherfuckers ready to go to court. They not scared of COVID. They vaccinated. We're gonna let y'all in and do this court case and let y'all argue. So when we finally did the argument and let the shit go on the court, they opened the courthouses up. Look at me, I'm home. So what was you doing while that was, cause you said there was no football. Well, I mean, we all know there was no football there. Everything was kind of on pause. So what was you doing the past the time? I was jelling, I was jelling, fuck that. I was jelling. Define jelling. I was jelling. What is that? I was jelling. Yeah, writing music, fucking talking to girls on phone, visits. You feel me? Cooking in there. Listen, one thing I learned is that the niggas in jail be shuffling it up. Like I said, I used to fuck with the niggas in jail. And like, we'll be on the phone and I'll be like, yeah, what you doing? He's like, oh yeah, I'm about to make lasagna. What? Niggas used to really be shuffling it up in there. Joe, these niggas creative as hell. Oh, D. I'm telling you, I see a nigga make pizza in jail. See, y'all, I know I'll be hearing it. And I think that that's like, it's so creative. Love that. But it's just like so wild that it really be whole ass meals. I ain't one of niggas though. I'm not gonna make my own food for you. Yeah, because I was about to say, you literally just posted something like, Yeah, I'm not a cook for me, but I'm lazy as hell. So if I know somebody, like say, I'll be like, yo, you not a cook on the table. I go holla at you like, yo, what's up with you? I ain't got no food. I got some food. You go put this shit up. Oh, right, right, right. Like I don't never cook, I don't never cook unless I'm like really hungry. Cause I'm real lazy. I swear to God I hate cooking. For me, I don't got patience for that shit. But when I'm hungry, I'm gonna feed myself. You know what I mean? Hurry it up. But I always let somebody cook for me in jail. I always got a chef in that motherfucker. So like, what were you looking forward to when it came close to like your release date? What were the things that you were looking forward to doing? Yeah, I was just like, I was just excited as to get back to my kids and my family. And I just wanted to get in the studio. Right. That's it. You was writing while you was in there? Yeah. Yeah, I was on my shit sometimes though. Sometimes I used to be like feeling like a waste of talent. I wasn't right at all. But most of the time like, if somebody talk to me, like I had shit ready. Like my whole mixtape right now that just dropped, that shit or jail music. Like shit, I wrote while I was in jail. I was just finding beats to match to it. So who was you, were you listening to music while you was in there? Who you was listening to? Um, what the fuck am I listening to? I was listening to A by everybody that like, whenever I call somebody they put me on somebody. Like they just put me on like, every time somebody came out with a new wave, like they was like, yo, ESTG, he hot right now. I tap into him. I don't get it. Push ice to he hot right now. I bet. You know what I'm saying? Listen to him and see what he got going on. I was just tapping into everybody. That's one thing about me. I don't, I don't, if your shit hot, I'ma bang it shit. I don't get fucked. Like I'ma fuck with your shit. Word up. Okay. So, you know, as you transition, you know, back into everyday life, what do you feel like has been like the biggest hurdle for you as an artist who's just coming home? Trying to separate myself from the streets. It's real hard, man. Because like, I be chatting tunnel vision to this bag, but then at the same time, niggas be playing with me. Like, I be like, boy, you know how I get this. Let me just do me, man. Cause you don't want these problems. You know you don't. Know you don't. But niggas be doing shit for the grand, man. I feel like if you run to the grand with some smoke, you don't really want no smoke. Cause I ain't gonna never run to the grand with no smoke. If it's on, it's gone. It's on, it's on. It ain't gonna, I ain't gonna never, you, look at me, you never gonna see if anything you hear about LBF, it's gonna be no Instagram. Like, I bet, I watch you post, you can post. I'm coming though. You feel me? I mean, cause it's only but so much you can do from behind the screen. But niggas do all this Instagram shit though. That's what they do. That's the wave. Fuck you, they do. What you fuck? I ain't, you could say that to somebody and say the words to me. You all gotta go to Instagram. Right. So in those times, like what keeps you like, you know, what keeps you separated from the street? What is it that you have to like tell yourself with anything or what keeps you motivated to keep yourself out from going back? It's easy, it's easy. I just know that it's bigger than me. It ain't just about me no more. I mean, I'll be selfish to go back to the streets because I'm like so many people who just living off me right now. Like my mom's don't work no more. All my kids spoiled the shit. You feel me? Like, I mean, I ain't on child support cause my big mother's know what's up. You feel me? Like, so what keeps me away from the streets is the fact that I'm smart enough to know that I'm the bag. I'm the bag now. Before I was just like, man, fuck it. Why he said, why are we going? Ain't nothing to talk about, we going. But now we gotta be smart enough to know that, like yo, if you take this piece off the board, the whole fucking board gonna fall apart. Now I can't do that no more. I can't, it ain't worth it. Right. And I mean, greatness is definitely on its way. Cause like we said, tape dropping literally in hours. And you guys, you got Masi on it, you got Rowdy on there. Like it's really, I feel like about to be just a movie. How quick, like if you had to describe the album in three words, how would you describe it? Really shit ever. Oh, period. Fuck you, talk about. That was a good one. Yeah, that part, man. Really shit ever, everything I drop. Really shit ever. How did you get Masi and Rowdy on there? Nigga's fucking with the gangsta. Period. You know what's up, man. It's that simple, real recognized, real in any category. You know what I'm saying? Some niggas fuck with me, I'm fucking with them. And it's like that, it's like that, it's gonna stay like that. We going up from here. Okay, you got visuals. I know Tati got a visual. Yeah, I got a visual dropping at 12 o'clock tonight. King Coba, you feel me? I got another one dropping next week. We dropping eight weeks. Okay, okay, so you got this shit lined up. Your team is working. When I went to Rolling Loud, I saw your signs, literally everywhere, you got a big ass billboard, like everybody, everything is doing what it needs to do. Exactly. So I love that for you. Thank you. So like, let's just like, to end this off, you I'll be the gladiator. Yes, yes. Let us know what a gladiator is. What does that mean to you? It means every day to me, a gladiator, just a metaphor for life, you feel me? It means like you fight instead of death and whatever you up against, you feel me, you gon' die for your shit. Like whether it's success, whether it's like anything, like in the metaphor, another metaphor that I like to use is the fact that gladiator is a blood sport, you feel me? And the shit that I talk about is so graphic, but they love it, you know what I mean? So like, you honor me, you check, like you reward me for my pain, for my struggle. So you see me putting this work in and all this other shit, you give me my flowers for that shit. You know when a gladiator wins, they be throwing the flowers and shit. So that's what I mean. And you know what? I think it's so interesting about stuff like that because it's really up to interpretation. Like for me, I hear I'll be the gladiator. I know like gladiators, they're generally like slaves giving weapons to perform and entertain a crowd. I feel like for you, you're not a slave, but you were kind of, you know, in your system for a little while, you grew up in the trenches and you weren't giving a weapon, you were giving a mic. And now you're entertaining the people. So I feel like there's just so many ways that you can interpret that. That's why, and what you saying is what I always say. Oh, is that what you say? I don't even know. I just wanted to shorten it, you feel me? But like, that's exactly how I feel. It's like the way I perform, the way the shit I've been through. And it's like, that's what it turns out to. So what can we look forward to? We know we got the project. What else is coming? I'll be out. All pressure, man. You know, we got tours lined up. We about to start doing a lot of things, you feel me? So, you know what I mean? I got my documentary about to come out. We working on that by the finish that up. I got movie offers. People hit me off of movies and all that shit. I'll be out of actors. Yeah, but I gotta play. I gotta play a gangster. That's the only girl I'm not playing, you feel me? I don't know. You feel me? I can't play. Nothing else. Go shit, shit like that, you hear me? But what else we got going on? Me and all my merch going crazy, all that shit. But like, it is all pressure with this music shit. Like, I'm here to take this shit. I'm here to take this shit. I'm about to be one of them niggas, y'all man. Like I could have been embraced this shit, but now I'm really about to show y'all. Like, I'm here to stay, you feel me? Period. And is there anything else that you want to talk about? Touch on, set the record straight on before we end? Well, before we close that. Ooh. How are you? Uh-huh, uh-huh. We got a cake, so congratulations. Yes! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday, homie! I agree, yes. So, you know, you're out of Japan at 12, but also brief. Yes, this shit has been a year, literally. Wow. We celebrating. We got our honey. Congratulations. Cheers to us. Here we are. Uh-huh. That's fine, right there. That's love. Y'all about to make a real bitch call? Okay, bro. Well, thank you for coming. It's so good to have you here. Welcome home. Can't wait to see the, I mean, the feedback that you get from this tape. I know it's going to be lit. Man, I can't wait. Shout out to Sosu so that everybody can know where to find you. I'll be out 2-0-1, A-L-B-E-E, A-L-2-0-1. Fuck with me. You know what's up. I'm inspirational, bitch. Follow the gangsters, you feel me?