 Yo whiz man turn it down baby Live from Atlanta, Georgia. That's right, man. I put on for my city. Hey, I got one of the most amazing guests in the world today Man, this is one of my player partners my friends man. He's only one call away man. Yo, he just can't wait to be king He's the American dream. You know I'm saying you didn't seen him on the you he yo He's a ATL legend even though he ain't from ATL. He hails from Chicago. Yo I'm talking about my man Jason we What up Jack? From the shot Represent, represent man. Yo, I'm so happy to be here man. Man. I'm so happy you here, bro It's a it's an honor. It's been a long time come. We've been trying to make this happen I was like out of town for a minute then I came back But you know anytime you got something going on Jack, you know, I'm always gonna show up man So thank you for having me. Listen, let me tell you something man Your song one call away like you answer on the first ring for your dog What show you you was on a hot date With a young lady and everything and you you you you you was macking and talking to me at the same time and said No, diggity. No doubt Jack You got you got to keep it player. You got you got to keep it player No, I mean whenever I see your name pop up man Like I said always pick up the phone because first and foremost I respect you For the man that you are and of course for the for the entertainer that you are There's a lot of work that I want to do with you in the future, too So, you know, this is just all about friendship man and about a support one another's black man And you know trying to help each other out as we are going along on this journey Hey, man, let me let me give him a little background real quick man so let me let me tell you something about what Jason weaver means to me and At the time I think I'm probably was in the fifth grade and I was Living in a battered women's shelter with my mom and so you already know what that particular that means She was going to some domestic situations And it was a movie that came on with one of my childhood heroes and lifetime heroes That his his life story Michael Jackson and you play young Michael Jackson and I saw this Inside this battered women's shelter at ten years old and whatnot and nobody couldn't tell me that you wasn't Michael Jackson You know I'm saying then on top of that I went on to see you In the Lion King a couple of years later, you know when I joined club scouts, that's right, you know, and you know we were watching it on VHS at a club scout camp out and everything and I recognized the voice and every yo, it was instilled in my mind I was like Michael Jackson is a Lion King Then you know after that, you know, it's still It's still you know you you was not Brandy's little brother, but Brandy's big brother. Yep, Brandy's big brother in that show Yeah Yeah, and then you went on to do more things and then you did ATL and you know I'm saying you you have a host of Credits man credit after credit and you know You're not just a TV singer because most people they sing on TV, but they're not singers like like for instance I love Leon to deaf and he's played every body. Oh, yeah, body That's one of the greatest singers alive. You just choose them Mm-hmm, and um, you know not to say he can't hold a note, but he ain't put out no Al No, that's real But you got a band or something right? No, he actually I think Leon cuz cuz I follow him on Instagram shot He has a live band and I think he goes around New York City around Manhattan Yeah, and does shows and for what I heard they're really good He's amazing. Yeah, he sells and he might as well. Yeah, he might as well I mean, he's all around, you know renaissance man. He acts. I think at one point in time. He modeled You know, he sings I think he may even play. So now I'm in it. There are a lot of talented You know that's me, you know that's beans and people like that that they have multiple things that they can do So shout out to all the entertainers out there You know make it happen in that regard And then yeah, even my man that I'll play Joe Jackson. Oh Lawrence Hilton Jacobs Song he's so unsung bro. You see him in everything. He's great man Lawrence You know I'm saying or Larry as I call him man. He doesn't really get the credit I think that he that he rightfully deserves man Lawrence Hilton Jacobs has been you know on our TV screen It's like Cooley. Hi Cooley. I'm saying putting it down for the culture and On top of him, you know, just being a phenomenal actor and an absolute pleasure to work alongside with on that show He's a great person man. He would he really was there As a mentor served as a mentor to all of the young men that were on the Jackson's at that time Because we were all young including Terrence Howard. Terrence. I was just about to bring him up Terrence Howard was in that but at that time I think Terrence was like Maybe 20 21. Yeah, so all of us were like, you know kids Involved in this amazing project You know Larry was definitely there to to help God us along the way and provide insight encouragement You know motivation, man. It's say we're Angela Bassett man that that whole experience was just the shit Did you understand that though at the time when it was happening like who they were and how much it meant to like to the culture and Yeah, will you just will you just a good kid? Just being a good respectable kid. No, I've always been blessed man. I was a blessed child Okay, you know I'm saying say that in a real now That being said I was a regular kid like everybody else So there were there were moments of course when my mother had to check me, you know saying it put me in line You know with certain things as everybody did during the upbringing But I understood at a very early age when I really began to start working consistently as a professional That I was in a very unique position and so I never I never took that for granted and I never treated it like, you know, it was just something that was an everyday thing and You know the confirmation for that definitely was working on the Jackson's mini series. I mean You know the auditioning process to play Michael Was very strenuous and hectic in itself because there were kids auditioning literally from all over the world for that one role within that age group and then going through that process of casting and then You know being flown out to Los Angeles and having to audition in front of the directors and the writers and the producers and the Jackson family and then after that Then Michael getting like the last three, you know Select candidates that the family felt strongly about and casting and the producers Then those going to him and him ultimately having to make the final decision. I mean man by the time I got on set I knew that I was there for a reason That you know, I was I was following in my purpose I didn't call it then but I knew that I was there for a reason And so I really wanted to make sure that I took full advantage of the situation I wanted to make sure that I was on my P's and Q's at all times because I knew that there was always some other kid As somebody else waiting in the wings ready to replace me. So there was really no time to Play around and there was no time to focus on the pressure of it all the only thing you could focus on was executing And that's all we did literally seven days a week damn near for five months straight I mean seriously we rehearsed on our days off that was something that we willingly did Voluntarily did as cast members even you know after we would rehearse on Saturdays and after weeks long of shooting on Sundays We would still get together in a room similar to this one with a mirror and we would rehearse and prepare for Monday so it was not a fucking game at all and I think um You know, thankfully at the end of the day that work That work ethic that was you know placed into that That that amount of dedication and commitment to what we were there to do I think you know Translated over well on the screen and it was able to resonate and connect with the viewers and I think to this day It's one of the the reasons why that mini series is is Still respected and still appreciate and enjoy by families all over the world today even with it Hey, what's up? This is your boy Jack thriller man, and you know whenever I'm trying to rise to the occasion and really put my stamp on that trip I'm going with Bluetooth Bluetooth is a unique online service that delivers the same active ingredient as by Agra and Seattle but in a chewable tablet at a fraction of the car You know, Bluetooth makes it look like I'm running a train on a girl, but it's really just me by myself You know, it's the better version of myself and you know if you sign up today You know you can get 10% off with my promo code at blue chew comm slash Thriller, you know some of our license of medical providers. They're right on tap. It's easy. It's online It's discreet. Hey and Yo It's cool Bluetooth calm But yeah, it's amazing experience and that being said too and this this goes out to the Jackson family if y'all ever see this You know, thank y'all so much. Thank you to Mrs. Jackson. Thank you to Joe Jackson, you know, God rest his soul Thank you to Jermaine Margaret Maldonado his wife at the time Suzanne to pass And lastly and most importantly Michael, you know God rest his soul I really really appreciate him for giving a kid from Chicago a shot because he didn't have to do that It did not have to go down that way. There was so many other kids Who were going hard for that role, but he chose me and I appreciate him for doing that We'll talk though We'll talk though because that that's really I done films prior to that and I've been in television projects prior to that But that was the first project that you know really Gave me the opportunity to showcase all of the talent that I've been blessed with you know on a very big stage and That's what really, you know, I would say kickstarted my career to where I was I've been able to work consistently after that So yeah, I owe a lot to Michael and the Jackson family. I really really do first and foremost to God, of course Absolutely, but you know at the same time You know, my mother who was there who prepared me for the role to audition Then it ultimately the Jackson family and Suzanne to pass and mr. Gordy and everybody for supporting me throughout that whole situation Man, that's one of the most inspirational amazing story and it was definitely 30 years ago. It was 30. Yeah, okay 40 now Okay, yeah, I'm 43. Okay. Yeah, I was definitely 10. Yeah, and I was yeah, I was 13. Yeah Oh, oh, you're okay. I ain't trippin. Yeah, I was 13. Yeah, dig dig dig Um, you know, one of the things that stood out about that movie to win on your part Was when you did the national anthem and this ain't the first time we'll talk about this Tonight because you know music soul child coming a little bit later. Okay, and um, I Always wanted to sing the national anthem. Okay You know when you learn you had learned the national anthem on the airplane as Michael Jackson, you know And and I I never knew the national anthem. You never knew it I never knew it. I didn't know it till I had to do it the situation is and I put this on Instagram, too Okay, um Tank he was always at a charity basketball event and he was supposed to sing the national anthem But he I think he wanted to like, you know, I'm saying 10 grand or 20 grand or some shit to do it Okay, and then they was like man, is anybody else want to do this shit? I was like, I do you volunteer I volunteered to do it and I didn't even know I was hating that was that that was me hating. I Didn't know I was being a hater. I didn't think you would be in a hater You just stepped up to the plate man. I didn't want to do it. Somebody had to do it He needed the money. He wanted he wanted he wanted he wanted the money and I'm not mad at because that is tank He's a phenomenal vocalist if you're gonna get the national anthem from tank You're gonna get a fucking performance. You're gonna get a perform. So I get it But you stepped up to the plate. I was just bullshitting though. Did you fuck it up? Uh-huh and everything and I forgot a couple of parts But I did a couple of parts right on there. Okay critiqued me in the locker room after the game Oh, we did yeah, cuz somebody recorded it. They sent it to us Okay, and we watch it on the phone. It's on my Instagram and you could check it out But I'm telling you when it went when they when they called my name for real to come sing the shit Yeah, and next coming to sing the national anthem Jack thriller Oh, so you was bullshitting and then they really called you on your bluff me. It was a packed gym I'm mad. I'm missing a rose was in there all kind. Oh, yeah Oh, you was out there looking crazy crazy, but yo the fact that I was Jack thriller Yeah, and people were familiar with me. You were able it was able to gloss over it was able to go off Okay, okay, they didn't know that I was gonna sing that route and I hit some notes that they were impressed with Oh, really? Yeah, I hit some notes that they were impressed with cuz I hold a note Okay, I'm not a singer like Jason Weaver, but you can hold a note. I can hold a note matter of fact I'm actually working on a comedy album right now or becoming the album with a rail That's dope. You know what is funny? I think you had mentioned that to me the last time we hang out Yes, I gotta let you hear some songs. It's jamming. It's jamming for real. I'm the one Am I gonna get on it? You gonna let your boy? No, let's have some fun. I mean cuz no music music is a is a bigger music is a big deal for me Man, I come I come from a musical family here is the funny part about can you give me give me that musical family roll? Not real real talk sex on the air. So my my family now we hail from Chicago My my mother and my aunts my grandfather my grandmother They're all originally from here though from Atlanta. So they migrated up during the great migration because my grandfather was a pastor and They the church put him in charge of a church called first progressive on the south side of Chicago And my mother and my aunts grew up singing in the choir my my grandmother was the choir director the musical director And so my family grew up harmonizing singing gospel things like that eventually Chicago became kind of like a hub for Jingles in like I say like the late 70s and early 80s up until maybe like the mid 90s So like major advertising campaigns That were put together on Madison Avenue in New York the jingles in the commercials for those campaigns that were Brought up in New York and constructed in New York all of the creative end of those campaigns was done in Chicago So the majority of the time it'd be local talent from the city That was producing the jingles singing the jingles writing them, you know performing them as Musicians and as well as vocalists. And so that's how me and my family like came up. So myself My cousin tricky steward Multi-multi Grammy Award winning producer as a matter of fact congratulation tricky his latest hit break my soul with Beyonce That's his second That's his second one with Beyonce because he has single ladies with Beyonce as well And he also did Umbrella for Rihanna some of his most notable Hits that he's been a part of but he's been making hit records for like 25 years my cousin Ku Karell Also came up under that same system Accomplished multi Grammy Award winning music and vocal producer I was working on with Rihanna right now her new album works with Cher Jennifer Lopez the list goes on and on and on he worked on an avatar soundtrack I mean I come from a family of just extremely talented Individuals and I mean that's not only including, you know, my mother and my aunts accomplishments My mother Kitty Haywood her sister Anne Stewart My late aunt Vivian Harrell And my cousin Cynthia Harrell Back in the day were in a group called kitty in the Haywoods and was signed to mercury records and capital records They were discovered by Curtis Mayfield And as a matter of fact you can hear my mother and my aunts for people that don't know but I'm I'm shouting out my mother and my family because I love it so much and I'm so proud You know I'm saying like they if you listen to giving them something He can feel on the sparkle soundtrack or the wreath of Franklin. That is my mama and my aunts in the background They sang backgrounds on that whole soundtrack and that was entryway into the the music industry Yep, and so that's that's how we that's how I came up Was through them through the foundation, you know in the path that they lay about the Braxton's man The Braxton's I mean those are close family friend. I'm on the Braxton family since Oh When I was like 13 when my cousin tricky was working with the Braxton's they were sound signed to the face records That's how I know Tamar to Wanda Tracy. God rest her soul You know, that's how I know that that whole family is it because that whole a face Connection with my cousin moved down here with an artist that was signed to him by the name of Sam Salter Sam Salter God rest his soul. He just recently passed Sam Salter is dead Sam passed man Sam passed about Six or seven months ago in Los Angeles Yeah, yeah, Sam was a really good friend of mine very He was basically an extended member of our family. I I know Sam Since he first got his deal on the face records and when they all came down here to Atlanta, Georgia from Los Angeles and They were my cousin tricky and his partner at the time my other cousin Sean Hall Were working on sam's first album. Okay, and uh, yeah, and then You know after their relationship dissolved sam went back out to Los Angeles To continue working as a artist and a songwriter. We continued to you know, stay in contact even up until Maybe maybe like a year or so before he passed Because I hadn't been out To Los Angeles like that and that was like during COVID in the whole nine So everybody was just kind of you know, like at home So that that's when it Basically happened and I think that's why a lot of people weren't really aware Um of his passing except for like his devoted fans because you know, everybody was hunkered down and just trying to survive during the pandemic You know what I mean? But um rest in peace to sam salter for those people who may not be familiar with with the With the artists and with the man. He was a brilliant absolutely brilliant r&b artist Who was like really one of the first artists on the face records? Um who originally hail from Los Angeles, california, and he was he was something else He was a great guy on top of being a phenomenal artist. So rest in peace sam. Love you brother And uh, yeah, that's our history. Yo, jason, uh, you talked about something that I really want people to know That I ain't never heard you talk about before now before You played the legendary role of michael jackson with michael jackson and whatnot You did things before. Yeah. Can you tell them those things that you did before that? Yeah, sure. Um I my first feature film as a matter of fact was called the long walk home uh with star whoopee goldberg and sissy spacey and it was about uh two families during the uh Montgomery bus boycott or like, you know, kind of like the kickoff to the civil rights movement And I played whoopee goldberg's uh youngest son the character's name was uh franklin cotter And we shot in montgomery, alabama Uh, this was in 1989 It was my first film. Um, and I had the honor of working with whoopee ving reins Erica alexander who was on a living single um Sissy spacey legendary actress Uh, who else? Uh, so many people in after erica alexander. That's maxine, right? Yeah, she played my sister. I was so in love with maxine Oh, yeah Everybody would because I mean erica is a beautiful woman. So she's gorgeous. Yeah. Yeah in a phenomenal actress brilliant actress So I totally get it. Yeah, um, I think immediately after that I did a French film uh that we shot in missouri called miss missouri He's like a foreign film, but that really didn't get any kind of um, you you speak french? Hell no, I mean we we shot it in uh in english The star of the film was like this big time French movie star at the time he was like france's answer to like dustin hoffman At least that's how it was described to me at the time That's what we got amazing film Yeah, but but it was actually cool though because that gave me the opportunity To work with an actor from overseas and essentially work from a crew from overseas at a very young age So that you know, although it wasn't like a commercially successful film in that regard Um, it did help me as far as developing as a professional Because I was thrust in this environment where hardly anybody really spoke any english And we were there to like shoot a film together And so it kind of like prepared me to be able to adapt to whatever You know moving forward with different projects that I would work on It prepared me mentally to be able to adapt to whatever environment that I was in So that film was actually just an exercise in professionalism So looking back at retro spec. I'm glad I did that film because right after that I was blessed to work on um Not the mini series the women of booster place But there was a series adaptation to that mini series just called booster place That was done on abc And um, I was on that show. I was one of the series regulars uh on that show alongside with oprah We shot that in chicago on the west side at harpo studios um Had the honor and privilege of working alongside with her shout out to d. Leon richards Uh d. Leon richards went on that show and meet phenomenal gospel singer vocalist. She played my sister on the show um Yeah That experience of working with oprah Man, let me tell y'all some anybody out there aspiring actors actresses with whatever writers produce if you have the opportunity to work with open winery Do it. Sorry Do it Do that shit working with open winery was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life in my career You gotta explain this why Man because she gave you she gave us money. She gave you a call on the set Well, well, no, it wasn't just about the money, man I mean because we did get paid well. We were compensated well for what for the work we did But it was what she represents and even especially what she represented at that time mind you This is a hugely successful black woman who opens up a full studio on soundstage In the west loop of chicago which at that time was underdeveloped. It was like called the meatpack industry So there was nothing over there, but like butcher shops and like wholesale food markets And it was like a less than desirable area and when she came over there and built that studio Oprah in my opinion and I think many chicagos would agree with it is responsible For kickstart in the west loop of chicago, which is now One of the most like successful areas in the city filled with restaurants clubs Everything opera kicked that off. So to see a black woman Doing that owning her own studio right then and there she's shooting an opera show on one side Shooting bruster place on the other side All of these people revolving around her at her beck and call On top of that She's taking the time to communicate with us the black children that are on the set And I mean when I say communicating with this, I'm not just talking small talk I'm talking how you doing in school because our our Classroom was right next to the makeup room So before she would come in the makeup room She would come in the classroom and sit down and ask us and ask the teacher How we were doing in school and would ask us about our studies would ask us about things outside of being Entertainers it was real like dialogue that she was having with us to prepare us for the world As just young black children whether we decide to stay in the business or not It was a lot of insight It was a lot of wisdom that she shared with us that I still carry with me to this day that had absolutely nothing to do with acting um Even as far as understanding my knowledge of self as a black man The first time I in the only time I ever met alex haley was when open winfrey introduced me to him on the set man, he sat there Now that's a black flag, but let me let me tell you what she did Let me tell you what she did and I had no idea how significant that this was When I was when I was that age, right She brings alex haley in This is after work roots. Hell alex haley roots alex haley Autobiography of Malcolm X Okay, I own that book to this day. I own both of them like the phenomenal reads. He was a phenomenal man. Yes Anyway, this man she brings him to set after we wrap from work. She sets a chair In the middle of the set And everybody has like this semicircle formed around him She introduces him and she asks him. I want you Please explain to everyone here your life story share with them your life story Your experiences share here with all of these beautiful black people that you have here That's on this set. You know what it was like making roots It was for us to walk away with something other than just a paycheck And that's why I said if if any of you guys out there are ever fortunate enough To get the opportunity to work with open winfrey man Do it because you walk away with more than just You know the experience of trading lines with her on set and it's really like a life changing experience You know working with her it really is Now I was just about to ask you like who was some people that you Been on set with and then when you had when you put opa out there I thought it was the pinnacle But when you put alex haley out there that you know that that's like no it was it was incredible That's super ill. Oh, it's ill. I mean and you know Whoopie did that for me when I did That was ill. Oh, no, bro. I've had your life is kind of crazy Super crazy. Hey, man. God has been walking with me since I jumped out the world So you know that and you you like you you really acknowledge that? Oh every day and every opportunity I can get like I know I'm here because of God Jack I've I've been in some rooms And I've been around some people throughout the course of my life of my career where I've even sat there sometimes and been like, holy shit What is going on? What am I doing here right now? What keeps you so humble man? Like I you ain't you ain't never flexed on me now Not even the first time I ever met you. Well, you know what it is like like like I You always want to meet You know I'm saying somebody that you you super look up to and everything and I remember being super timid and super You know Insecure about coming up to you even though I go on stage in front of you know, I'm saying the hundreds of people that at the time At Uptown Comedy Club and blah blah blah I when I when I saw you outside of this Of shouty low album release party There's chill outside with thugs and There's a lot of gangsta shit going on there. There's a lot of gangsta shit going on. I'm like, man. Amen. I gotta go talk to this nigga I don't care if he diss me or not. No, and if he do diss me I'm not going to like you. Yo, I've had I've had people diss me and I didn't like them any less You know, because I understand that you can't I uh at a young age young age you can't expect you out of somebody else That's true, but here's what I'll say though Jack And in this for any entertainer out there if you are blessed to get to a point where You're recognized in the street or your work is recognized and respected And someone takes the time out to acknowledge you Man show that love back because first and foremost that person didn't have to come up and acknowledge you That person didn't have to take time to look at your work Um, it's a blessing what we're able to do You know, I I don't know the exact percentage or the statistic but to be a working successful actor I mean, that's a rarity man There are only so many people that get the opportunity to live in that kind of blessing And so when you recognize that when you realize that When you've seen so many people especially to As I have throughout the course of my what 30 plus years of being in this business Man, I've seen them go up and I've seen them go down I've seen them come I've seen them go and a lot of the times when you've seen that kind of movement in a person's career Is because at some point they lost touch with what they got involved in it for in the first place At some point in time In that journey they forgot what it was about and they made it all about them And when you get so caught up in ego, which is edging God out as far as I'm concerned when you get caught up in ego And it no longer becomes about the or it's no longer about the journey And you're the connection recognizing the blessing that you have coming from God And the importance of the the connection that you establish him with audience and fans As soon as you forget that That's when the blessing is taken away That's when it begins to slowly kind of disintegrate And you won't recognize it happening around you until you look around one day and go man. Holy shit And I've seen that happen a lot of times with a lot of different actors friends of mine peers um people that you thought would never Get to that point in their career where they would quote-unquote hit rock bottom But I've seen it happen and it's all because they forgot They forgot and the one thing that I try not to do is ever forget where I come from Where my blessings come from What I'm doing is for who I'm doing this for I never I try my best never to forget it and I I think that's one of the main reasons why I'm able to still Navigate and move around not only in this business, but in this life I'm still here 43 years old because of that not even anything having to do with success of being in business I'm still here alive Because I embrace that philosophy So when it comes to Even our interaction and other performers that I meet whether you're known recognizable Now whether you some cat up off the street That's just getting his feet wet and if you come up to me respectfully If you come up to me respectfully I will acknowledge you respectfully And that's just how I that's just how I keep it a stack as a man come to me with respect I'll treat you with respect And if you and if you have any questions And if I'm in a position at that time to answer whatever questions that you may have Or to provide any kind of insight or wisdom that I'm able to share if I'm able to do it at that time I'll do it with you because somebody did it for me. There were people that did it for me So no, I'm not on that shit. I'm not on that. This is this is something we're all in this together This business this life. We're all in this together We're here to enhance and help one another Through conversation through action But we all in this together and it's universal law and it all goes around in a circle And I think if you just keep that shit at the forefront of your mind Whether you're in the entertainment industry or you evolve in anything else anything else that you aspire to do and become You'll always be successful because your heart and your mind is in the right place and your spirit is in the right place So that's that's what I come from You did Sorry now and I don't mean to be so boring and I don't want this to sound like a sunday sermon. No So you want to turn up, you know what I'm saying? Like Are we turned up y'all Y'all enjoying this No, man, because you know Carlos man when I saw that episode with los man He he had me cracking up. That was a really entertaining episode. Shout out to Carlos too, man Hey, that was so funny. You seen I was just on the 85 south show. Uh, yes, that was funny too You saw we brought you up. He said it gotta have you on the show I would love to you coming on 85 south show, man. I would love to man. I'm such a big fan of those guys, man I look at you know all their content. Um I actually ran in the DC young fly, uh over there, um By us man, where is that? Um, what so on the west side west end Yeah, because uh my boy has a barber shop over there And I guess he comes through there every so often So when I was waiting to get in the chair to get my hair cut He comes walking in We hit it off. He DC is a great guy, man. That's super great guy. Super great guy. I mean that that whole crew I mean I I correspond with los every once in a while via dm Um, you know on social media. I think what those guys are doing all all of you guys. Let me say this. Um You know that even goes for Ronnie Jordan and all those guys and Tyler Cromwells and all those guys, man um What what you gentlemen are doing and even ladies that are involved in this with its podcasting or Having shows and platforms like this, man You guys are so appreciated for which all of what you all are doing and what you all are providing the platform that you're providing Because it's given us It's given us an opportunity as black performers And artists and actors and actresses. We're not able to get on the jimmy Kimmel's when we're not able to get on the Um, you know, what's the other guy's name? Stephen Colbert and all those Man, you guys are providing a platform for us So we can still connect with our people and with our audience and you're doing in a way where It doesn't fit the conventional mold. It's entertaining. It's funny And you and I I genuinely laugh when I look at all y'all on y'alls different shows and platforms And I just want to let you know and and all the rest of the guys out there are doing the same thing Man, I'm proud of y'all salute to y'all Thank you guys for supporting people like myself You know to where I could continue to go out here and you know Kind of share my stories and my experiences and what I'm doing in my career Man, like I said, it's just it's all a circle. So we all help one another man So I'm just I'm happy for y'all I'm happy for all of us just being in this moment and us realizing the power that we have As black people in this space creatively to where we can create our own opportunities and where we can help and uplift each other So Hey, man, I want to talk about your mama, man, um, like When I think about what everything that you said thus far Man, this ain't nothing that just start with what you want It had to be on the same token what she won. I I can hear the joe jackson inside of her. No, no, no I don't think I don't believe he was abusive like okay like Like hope you you played michael jackson a little right? So you the rumors that you probably heard Or the things that you know Might be a little bit more in touch and more realistic than the things that You know the the status quo of the general public You did I think michael jackson was probably getting some regular degular ass weapons And he thought he was so spoiled that he thought he was getting killed Well, I'll say this from and it's not just his account but it's from the account of the other family members He was a very strong and strict disciplinary. Let's let's just put it that way. Um Respectfully, I think you know Maybe what people have to factor in with that kind of thing is like this is in the 60s You know, joe was working at the steel mill gary indiana and he had some talented ass kids He was like, man, we need to get the fuck up out of here start singing I Just think joe we're just ready to go and live out that american dream now the way that he went about doing it um the way he was perceived or The picnic I think I think if you talk to and this is with all due respect for the family I won't get that deep into it. But I think if you ask them They would probably relay over to you that it probably could have been done a little bit differently I think they understand and respect and appreciate the fact that joe Challenged them to Right rise to the next level Um, but if if you ask some of them, I'm pretty pretty sure some of them would say well I appreciate what he what he did, but it probably could have been done differently Maybe and and I'm not speaking on behalf of the jackson family. That's just my perception. You know what I'm saying from what I'm I know exactly what you told me. You know what I mean? But I didn't have some of the best ass whoopings in the world. Me too. I don't have my ass I've been thrown through windows. Oh, I never had that shit. Yeah, I've been that that's abuse niggas You get thrown out of witness. Yes Once again at 10. I told you I saw you in the battle women's show. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah Yeah, I was I was fucked up when I saw the movie with you got you got you Yeah, that's serious. Yeah. Yeah, it didn't just stop at my mom. I was like he didn't stop it her. Oh, man It was for everybody. Oh, yeah, that's everybody. That's crazy. I'm sorry. You went through that too. That's that's horrible I suffer from a seizure every now and then but I'm straight um, but what I what I was saying was I If I had an opportunity to have that same thing and then pushed inside of a direction where I it was uh Magnifying my talent. Okay Well, see that that's what my mama did for me. That's what I'm talking about. That's what my mama did for me You're better than this. Come on. Let's get it right. No, no, no That that's that's what my mama did for me. Listen I I hear a lot of discipline in what you're saying when you were talking earlier Oh, discipline for sure because focus because you were saying that y'all did this even when you weren't getting paid Yeah, and you understood the assignment. No, absolutely And here's the thing and and I want to establish this So people will know and so there's clarity there I told my mother That I wanted to get involved in the entertainment industry I voluntarily came to her after watching et And looking at Drew Barrymore and all that was acting in that movie and I told I said mom I want I want to do that And it just so happened that my mother Was in a position where she was already an accomplished professional working within You know commercials in the jingle world and stuff like that in Chicago She had connections. She had relationships And so when I expressed that interest of wanting to get involved My mother then supported me By well, first of all, this is what she said to me. She said Well, if you're going to do it You're going to do it. It's going to require Discipline it's going to require focus It's going to require hard work. It's not just about Acting silly when you get in front of a camera This is a this is a job. This is a career You will be thrust into an environment where you're working with adults where you're working with professionals They won't tolerate a kid Being off the hinges, you know, like there was a whole week-long conversation That me and my mother had leading up to like my first commercial audition And the reason why we had that was That first and foremost, I didn't waste her time because she was working and paying bills and doing what she had to do to Take care of me as a single mother but at the same time I think she was cognizant aware of the fact that she didn't want my childhood to be altered Or for me to have some kind of negative experience being involved in the industry So she really wanted to make sure that I was sure That I knew what I was getting involved with and so, um There was a lot of conversation and even, um You know prior to going to auditions because me and my mother would be coming up From the south side and south suburbs of chicago Getting on the dan ryan expressway anybody from chicago know what the fuck i'm talking about with that You know the dan ryan expressway in the middle of rush hour to go downtown to audition for a role That's guaranteed you may not get Only for you to after your child doing that for a couple of hours getting back in traffic to head back to the south side Only to have to prepare get in a bed after making dinner. Then you have to prepare your child to do homework Then you have to get yourself together in order for you to go up and get get to work and do the same thing all over again That's what my mother did for me. There was a lot of sacrifice that that was put in There was a lot of hard work. There was a lot of dedication and commitment from her You know i'm saying 100 the the reason why i know how to prepare for an audition today How i know how to conduct myself on set How i know how to just be as a professional i learned all from her So she was working double time handling her shit And preparing me for mine So i owe everything to my mom everything And that's that's why you know when she when she asks for something I'll be like yeah, even if some of the shit i'll be like you don't need that But if she wanted she gonna get it because The reason why i got it is because she she prepared me to do it. She she put me in that space mentally You know i'm saying and spiritually to where i was i was able to go out there and get it and attract it into our lives So yeah, she you know whatever she won't love you mom I'm not getting the new Mercedes that you wanted We gonna have to wait for that one. We'll get something else from right now But because man, she know how to ball boy. She know how to ball. She know how to ball. Yeah, but I love it to death That's my dog 100. Yeah. Yeah, my mom feels terrible But not focusing on like my talent Because she she used to talk to me out of being an entertainer. Really? Yeah. Why? um because I was born blind in my left eye, so she just felt like You can't people ain't gonna they they're not gonna let you do this not gonna be easy for you. Yeah And so, you know it It made me want to work harder to Even try to not prove her wrong. I just could I wasn't good at nothing else I when I would go to school Kids thought I was funny. Mm-hmm. So when I was watching like In a living color or when I'm watching comic view or any of these shows death jam Or something like that and whatnot and blah blah blah I and I would be inspired by any murphy movies Wayne's brothers and all all these people that I'm cool with now. Yeah. Yeah You know, um, but isn't that something though? It's not if you don't mind me interjecting the saying is Everything happens for a reason And So when your mother when she was doing that back then in her mind, she was protecting She was trying to protect and that's probably what needed to happen at that time because as a kid But she was protecting me because she wanted to be a singer and she was too scared of the rejection She was getting because she wasn't good enough in her mind. She let people tell her she wasn't good enough She went to la My dad was an actor and people was telling him he wasn't good enough and they quit Again, but but protect that's protection No, listen No, this is what we want a trauma buddy find another trauma buddy. Well, yeah, I mean that that Listen, it's your life. So I can't I can't sit up here. You go ahead and diagnose No, no, no, I'm not gonna sit up here and try to dissect what has happened in your past experience But I just know a lot of the times when parents do that It does come from a place of trauma And the one thing that they don't want to do. I think it's probably put their child in that same In that same kind of situation thinking that their child will probably react the same way If not maybe worse, but her not knowing you built for this shit And at the end of the day you have shown through your determination You have shown the world And the universe that this is Who you are and what your purpose is because you hear right now The harking back on something that you said even when you first brought this up All of those people that you've watched throughout the course of your life and tv included myself We're all close friends now So all of that was meant to happen. I'm saying all that to say this Things don't necessarily happen and this is kind of cliche kind of uh quote now, but it but it's true Things don't necessarily always happen when you want them to They'll happen when it's time for them to happen in your life When preparedness meets opportunity And a lot of times even with me, I've had to come to accept that where I'd be like, well, man I'm in this moment right now deserving right now, but then something will happen And it may not work in my favor, but like Five or six years later something will happen. I look back in retrospect and be like Man, that wasn't meant for me That was meant for me to do the prime example and I'm going to share this quick story and I'll quit running my mouth No, you're amazing On the shy Yeah, what a lot of people don't know is is that I was cast originally as Ronnie in the shy Get out of here years ago before like when the shy was still just a pilot and Lena Waithe was still just You know a up-and-coming writer, you know and producer coming up Um, I'd audition for that for the role of Ronnie in the shy got it Shot the pilot in Chicago Waited six to seven months For show time to come back and say Well, we're gonna pick up the show But the original cast that we had with the show is not coming along with it. We're gonna recast it We're gonna retool it. We're bringing in new directors everything They had dismantled the shy as a show as it was back then and it built up a whole new show whole new cast Then I was like Oh, shit that had never happened to me before in my career ever I it it kind of knocked me off my square a little bit. It kind of fucked with my ego Made me a little bit insecure as an actor and here's what I will say too So nobody will think my sister Lena was on some bullshit with him. It wasn't that it wasn't her decision It was the network's decision They they had a vision for the show and being at Lena was still kind of young and still kind of green in in their eyes This was them, you know pulling You know pulling a move like no You're gonna do this our way right now and you know if it works and we can tell you to go on Then we'll listen to you a little bit more, right? So she called me And she said brother I know you've gotten the news because my manager at the time called me I'll never forget. I was sitting at a bar looking at college football I was at six feet under on 11th street. I will never fucking forget this day I was looking at a gamma game And my phone rang And it was my manager And so I answered the phone. I was like, hey, what's up? She said, hey Jason So listen, we just heard back from you know showtime So I got good news and I got bad news And I was like, okay. Well, give me the good news. She was like, well the good news is the show got picked up I was like, okay. That's great. She said, well the bad news is you're not going along for the ride Very casting the whole show And my stomach like k did it to my spine and I was just sitting here like Wow And I sat there for a moment. I let it sink in And this is a true story right here in the god and I heard In my spirit in here god telling me it ain't time yet And in my mind, I was like the fuck you mean it ain't time like Lord forgive me. I mean, you know the talk we had But I was like the fuck you mean like it's time now. I earned this role. I auditioned for it And I'm from the shot from Chicago. We just shot the pilot. I know I did my thing in a pilot Why not now? That was my question. Why not now? Fast forward had a conversation with Lena. She told me she said Brother, just let me do this The way and I hope she doesn't mind me sharing this conversation that the conversation that she and I had But this is real. It's a testament to her character action She said, brother, I know this doesn't feel right. I know it's not fair But I'm coming back for you Just let me do this show the way they want me to do it Let me build it up. I promise you. I don't know how I'm going to do it I don't know if it's even going to be this show or another show But when I get there, I'm coming back for you Fast forward Five years later, I get a call from my attorney Joshua Edwards He's like, hey, what's up, man? Just regular comments. He's like, hey, what's up, man? He's like, what's up? He said, yo, have you auditioned for the shy recently or something? He's like, no, not that I know him. He's like, why? He said, well, we just got an offer in not even You know, somebody asking if I was available audition, we got an offer in for this character For a shot That they want you to play It starts da da da da. You'll be in Chicago and it's a reoccurring role. It's a guest appearance, but Yeah, it's a straight up offer now. I shared that story With you and with everyone else here and everyone else who's watching this show. I shared that story To show you that it's about timing Everything is about timing that role of Ronnie That I originally got wasn't meant for me It was meant for that actor Confirmation for that is that character was killed off That character been gone A terrible death Terrible death terrible death was the stupidest death I've ever seen in my fucking life in tv terrible death. Now and here's the irony No, no, no, what the That's how y'all gonna do it. No, but but but no, Ronnie. I mean after Ronnie killed uh kooky. Yeah I mean that that had to happen, but the irony they could have made it a little bit more creative Well, you know what you tell leaner that I'm finna tell her that shit. No, I'm trying to I'm trying to get You tell her that leaner you in this nigga. Hey leaner. I'm this boy. He got suggestions. No, that was the shit That was the shit y'all killed y'all killed running the right way. He got notes. Yeah. Yeah, and I love slimming. Um, the other girl too Slamming the girl. Yeah, but no, here's the full circle moment that even that character that killed Ronnie Um bakari. Yes bakari went on my character's mentoring that kid now on the show So I'm just saying like yeah, you know, I just want people to take that into account As it relates to their lives and and how they move forward whether you're in the industry or not This is just this is applicable to life in general When it's your time it's your time Just continue to walk in your purpose feel feeling confident in knowing that one day it will happen And as you are waiting and you're in that holding pattern and you're seeing others go before you living out their moment be happy for them Because they've gone through probably the same thing you've gone through They're on their journey and they've dealt with their ups and downs and they've dealt with their rejection And they've dealt with their hardships. We all go through it So while you're waiting for your moment be patient And be confident in knowing that your time will come and be happy for others When their time comes and I guarantee you When your time comes you will step into your blessing and it will be yours And nobody will be able to take it away Because it's real And that's real shit That's real shit. I think a lot of people if they would Now if they would embrace that philosophy you would you would get a lot less haters out here, man Like niggas be hating because they don't see no light at the end of the tunnel Because in they mind they can't see no pot at the end of the rainbow no gold pot at the end of the rainbow So when they see you having yours That's when you get a hater. I don't think people are just Inherently just evil like that. I think it's just developed over time just from You know seeing things and other people's experiences and comparing them to yours and then all of a sudden You're looking like why ain't got shit and why he got it or why she got it That's why you have like that kind of that kind of energy that gets out there from time to time But i'm here to tell you and i'm and i'm specifically speaking to the young people out there Who are like trying to come up and and do their thing Be happy for others man And just wait your turn because it'll come and keep planting good seeds That good seed that you planted even if it's just like A positive gesture even if it's something small Let's open it up a door for somebody or giving somebody an inspiring word on the street Even when you feel you ain't got nothing to give I'm telling you man that energy transfers over that energy comes back around full circle And before you know it something will happen in your life and you'll be like damn Now to see that coming with a blessing and it's because you've sown Good into the world And that's when you'll receive it. So that that's just i'm telling you it works I live by it every day and not every day is fucking roses and peaches and cream But you know what when I have my moments Man it'd be some real shit where all I can do is get on my knees and thank god Moment moment moments that I've had man where I've been like I didn't see that coming Or where did that solution to that problem come from? How did that happen? It's all because along the way leading up to that moment some good seeds were like planting in the ground Then that's all you got to do man. That's all you got to do and i'm telling you when your time come It will happen. Look at jack Look at jack y'all real shit jack been doing this for a long time Jack is a funny motherfucker We all been knowing this for years. We've been seeing jack on the grind for years Whether it's on stage whether it's on wilding out. We've been watching him for years There's been other comedians that have come along and have maybe had a moment sooner than his whatever But let me tell you He's worked consistently He's kept his head down. He never complains He builds the relationships and now You've seen him expand and blow up having relationships with niggas. I can't even hardly get on the phone I can't get marlin wanes and charmway is on the phone and I did a movie with marlin As a matter of fact you put me in contact with marlin. I need to highlight But anyway, I'm saying all that to say this like now jack is in his moment, but it just it just took time It just took time. Yeah, hook me up man Marlin, why don't you answer the phone? No, bro. Like I've been calling you nigga And I know you got new shows and shit going on What's up player? Well, man, he just love you this thing. It just be Anything jack does this thing just Damn, they're falling out of the chair y'all niggas been on drink champs together and all that shit I did a fucking co-op brother's movie with this thing. It ain't talking Since we wrapped on set I ain't talking marlin wanes since we wrapped on set. He said man. It was nice working with you The fuck is that? nigga We're trying to get that wanes paper You feel me you feel me jack? Holy shit Oh, man, yo, yo jason man. I got so much more shit I want to ask and talk to you about man But see I can run my mouth though, man. That that'll be a whole four-hour conversation. I can come back another time, man I really would you would you come back? Of course Well jack, you're my friend man. So, you know and so listen, man So we feel we uh, I'm ready to write now. Okay some projects together man and uh Let's take it to the moon. Let's write. Let's write something and see if marlin will help us get over the finish line 100 you give him a call See if he'll do it if you call He 100% He owed me a couple for a couple different reasons. Oh, he does No, I'm just I'm just playing to a marlin marlin's actually a great guy at that. That's my dog I just always give him a hard time because I'll be like marlin. We're gonna work together. Y'all did a coins brother movie We did the lady killers together. Wow. Um my um the role the role that I played in that, um We mac funtus that was the character's name That was the character that got marlin's character In the casino I worked as a janitor And so I was the one that gave marlin's character a tour to casino to where he could map out the plans to where they could Rob the casino. Okay. So I only worked for one day. Um on that on that film But man, what a what an experience to work with marlin Um, that was the first time I got a chance to to really see him work as like a series actor a series That's me because prior to that You know, I just seen him on the way his brothers and You know, I think I saw him in requiem for a dream or something like that I mean, I knew he had chops, but that was the first time I'd had the opportunity Um to work opposite with him and kind of check his his method You know I'm saying and how he gets in the character. So that was that was dope. Um, and then working with joe and ethan calling that man Man, that's another ain't joe ethan if y'all happen to see jack show What's up, man? We're going to send it to him. Please send this to joe and ethan joe ethan I'm here, baby. And you know, I could get down. Come on, man Did did Jason man. Hey, thank you for coming through the new jack thriller city show man. This is the uh Now I know you could be on the album and you we've been writing some shit together We're gonna take it to the moon and whatnot. Yes, we are. Um, I'm excited about the future I'm excited about your future. I'm excited about mine I'm excited about the future of this city All the young talent that's down here I'm excited about us as black creators and other creators people of color Who are now telling their stories? Um, and who are unapologetically presenting their stories now as they should have but never got the opportunity to do it This is an exciting town. This is a renaissance. We're in the middle of right now A true black renaissance in the digital the digital age And we can get it and we can make the money we can monetize it Nobody has to take anything from us. All we got to do is just stick together and work hard That's it Man Jason daddy is in a nutshell right there. Dole in a nutshell. Hey man, we finna bring you back man that this This is it and it makes sense make it a part two Bring me on back jack. I love you I love I love what you're doing. Um You always got my support man You really really do because you one of the guys out here that has a good heart. You a genuine person Then everybody that you encounter You know, you always leave them with a with a warm impression And that says a lot about your spirit and about your character and who you are as a man So that's why I fuck with you dawg Thank you Hey with that being said hey yo dj wiz hey man go on here to take us out. Let's go You