WHO BUILT ATLANTA? | So So Def vs LaFace | Major Labels Dead? | Devyne Stephens

Added: 2026-05-15

[00:00:00]Warning, this episode is definitely not for sensitive audiences. We're diving into real topics involving real people and sharing opinions that some might find difficult. If you can't handle unfiltered honesty, this isn't the video for you. Seriously, we'll be okay if you skip this one.

[00:00:18]>> Um, and I I'm I'm pretty sure Jermaine Depri has no shortage of awards, right?

[00:00:23]I'm pretty sure he's got damn near every award there is to have. But what we talking about is the feeling that people have in Atlanta about Jermaine Depri. It is not the same feeling that people have about TI, right? TI people is warm, right? I mean, but you think about even with TI that he grew into that warm the first influenced by New York uh with the song he dropped with with >> he was not he was not heavily influenced. What he was was the label put that song on him. The label made him do that song.

[00:00:58]>> I remember the mini man song.

[00:01:00]>> I remember him promoting it >> and I ain't going to lie.

[00:01:02]>> LOOK, THEY WANTED THEY WANTED TO BRING OUT this show before. I said it. I do NOT LIKE THAT SONG. THE LABEL THE LABEL.

[00:01:10]I NEVER LIKE THAT.

[00:01:11]>> WHEN YOU GET into when you see this show, chime in and let the people know the label made him do that. I mean >> BK had this one.

[00:01:21]He he would and he's standing on so much business he would have never even recorded.

[00:01:25]>> WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? HE TRYING TO GET OUT.

[00:01:28]I DON'T CARE about >> back at you with another episode of a conversation with Moss being Don P. What up?

[00:01:47]>> What's up, ladies?

[00:01:48]>> What's going on? Good, man.

[00:01:49]>> We got a special guest with us today, dog.

[00:01:51]>> Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

[00:01:52]>> Yeah. Divine Steven Divine Steven Divine.

[00:01:58]>> That's right. Get it right. Get it right.

[00:02:01]>> Appreciate you coming and vote with us, man.

[00:02:06]>> So, man, how was your weekend, man?

[00:02:08]>> Man, you know, the weekend was good, man. Uh, you know, I was just trying to, you know, just process everything that happened, you know what I mean, last week, you know, with, uh, one of our, you know, greats, you know what I'm saying? Jermaine Depri, one >> our great.

[00:02:26]>> No, fact. I mean, he uh, you know, uh, yeah, I was just processing it. Uh, I do feel like, um, I actually respect the fact that he did, uh, you know, say something about what we was, you know, we were saying.

[00:02:41]>> He didn't, he didn't catch you out there and jab in the lip.

[00:02:43]>> Yeah. Yeah, he did.

[00:02:44]>> I thought I saw you little rising on. I thought he might have thought he might have caught you right before the show.

[00:02:50]>> It's a long story, but it's cool.

[00:02:54]>> You know, you know, I come from, you know, I cover the crook movement, you know, fight, you know, fight.

[00:02:58]>> Yeah. Yeah. A little fight move. But uh but yeah, but no, I um you know, I actually I actually like the way that he um that he responded. You know what I'm saying? Even though he even though he was wrong cuz we have done, you know, Chris Cross and we have >> Wait, wait, hold up. You said wrong.

[00:03:14]>> No, he was wrong with what he said as far as uh we didn't never do a show about Chris.

[00:03:19]>> Yeah, we're we're in Atlanta Page and we never show pay homage to Chris Cross and other people like that, which we absolutely >> have. Yeah. So that but that was the only thing. Other than that, I kind of enjoyed the fact that he did, you know, go and tell his story about the origin of of where he come from, how he came up. I actually found that fascinating. I I honestly think >> Well, do but do y'all really know the story though? Do you know the the Jermaine Dri story or are you picking it up at a certain age?

[00:03:48]>> Give Give it to Give it to us if we don't know.

[00:03:50]>> Well, well, no, because No, no, no.

[00:03:52]Because this is the problem right here, right?

[00:03:54]that cuz I got I feel like I got unjustly not not by Jermaine Depri.

[00:03:58]Jermaine Depri was cool, >> but I feel like I got unjustly reprimanded by my OG's, right? Like Beeh High was on Jermaine Depri to KICK DOWN HIS ANKLES PROBABLY HURT. HE KICKED DOWN more than any then you got Sky came in and told me, "Yeah, man. You owe Jermaine the Pria apology." I said, "I absolutely do not." Yeah. Then you had Wicked. Then you got Wicked on there talking about some Yeah, you know D might have just started listening to music when TI came. Man, hold on, bro.

[00:04:28]First of all, first of all, I know I know I'm young, >> but I'm not that young, [ __ ] I CAN'T, MAN. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE GODDAMN 19 I don't even whatever. I've been here since 198. Where are y'all picking this up?

[00:04:43]>> Man, I've been here since 1982, man. I love Jermaine Pri.

[00:04:47]I'M PICKING UP AT JERICHO.

[00:04:51]I'M PICKING UP I'M PICKING UP so death base all stars one.

[00:04:56]>> I go back little I go back a LITTLE CHRIS. NO CHRIS CROSS. I pick up Chris.

[00:05:00]>> So you're a little late in the game.

[00:05:02]>> CHRIS CROSS. I PICK UP CHRIS. AM I LATE?

[00:05:04]>> CHRIS IS LATE.

[00:05:05]>> I GOT TO GO DO HIS DADDY.

[00:05:06]>> NO, NO, NO. You got to go back. You got to go back. You got to go back to the Fresh Fest.

[00:05:10]>> Oh, see. You got to go back to when JD was setting Sparker skating ring on fire in Riverdale.

[00:05:17]>> That's how we connected.

[00:05:18]>> That was before he had a Jerry Curl.

[00:05:20]>> No, he was doing the Jerry Cur. But he he was on the Fresh Fest. You got to understand that's with Ron DMC. That's with Houdini. That's promoter. So you got to understand like having that type of exposure at the age of 12 and 14 and you start seeing how that formulated into business and how he created the whole diaspora.

[00:05:44]>> That's cool. Mhm.

[00:05:46]>> That paved the way.

[00:05:47]>> That's cool.

[00:05:48]>> For a lot of artists to come through.

[00:05:49]>> I agree with you.

[00:05:50]>> So I just want to make sure that you know when we speak on JD that we just kind of we we we use it in the right term because JD is known around the world for Atlanta. Absolutely. And and this the part that that that that why I feel like I was unjustly reprimanded, right? We was talking about one song. We was just laughing at one song. I never once said Jermaine Depri didn't knock down the dos. I never once said Jermaine Depri wasn't a goat. I never once said he was one of the founding fathers of of what in the reason. First of all, I'm I was signed to Lil John. If it's no Jermaine Depri, he's no Lil John. You see what I'm saying? So I know the history. I was talking about one song.

[00:06:30]>> Let's get into HOW DID THAT TURN INTO ME? HOW DID THAT turn into me?

[00:06:34]>> But a lot of artists a lot of artists first songs that came out was heavily influenced by New York rappers.

[00:06:43]>> True.

[00:06:44]>> The the the great ones, the ones that y'all think today.

[00:06:46]>> We not saying that. I I love New York rap.

[00:06:48]>> Right. So So when you start talking about some yo yo yo yo, that's just was a figure.

[00:06:53]>> What that what that was for him is >> I'm tell I'mma tell you what it is.

[00:06:57]>> That's hip hop. I'm I'm talking about his reaction. He has thin skin. JD, you have thin skin. You did not know what we was talking about. I appreciate you and I love you. What JD is going through right now is this.

[00:07:10]>> Somebody told me and it made a lot of sense to me and it made it it got through to what I wanted to say. JD is a hometown success, not a hometown hero.

[00:07:20]He wants to be a hometown hero now. So, what you're describing is all his successes and that's cool. and and there's nothing wrong with that. And we want me and Don what me and Don P was saying, we think he great for being a hometown success. But now when it comes to the people in the in the city, it's certain things that they don't like that HE'S DONE AND THAT'S ALL.

[00:07:41]>> And one thing I learned from this thing is that it is it is divided, bro. It's a bunch of people who love JD, but it's a bunch of people who don't like >> and it's our job as a media outlet to tell both sides.

[00:07:53]>> Yeah. Yeah. But I think you know that that right there that's a thin line from being a hero or uh being a success because to me it's like he embodied both and during a period of time name one producer that's done it for four decades. I'm not saying it didn't you.

[00:08:14]>> So, so my point is >> to even still be here, to even be able to create and still have hit records and hit artists that he's developing today, >> that is point blank might drop. I don't care who you're talking about, who the hero at, the family Atlanta.

[00:08:30]>> I don't care about none of that. I'm talking about global success.

[00:08:34]>> That's success. And we we giving him we g we giving him his flowers for his success. It seems like you guys, you guys in your generation, I'm telling cuz I'm feeling it right now from you.

[00:08:45]>> Y'all get so frustrated that y'all want y'all want the love, certain love along with the success. It might not always come that way.

[00:08:53]>> Yeah. Yeah. You're right. You're right.

[00:08:54]And and just like me, I don't think I get to just do >> uh you know, I I really think like Atlanta kind of like really missed my contribution to not just not just uh >> hiphop, but to the economy. Mhm. Yeah.

[00:09:10]Oh, that's big because And I agree with you on that, too, cuz you, like I said, but for a person with two left feet, you damn sure show taught me how to how to how to perform those on stage. I ain't going to cap. This man right here help me make a lot of show money. Not just me, but a whole bunch of other still to this day, Don is doing them steps. They still making money doing shows.

[00:09:31]>> That's a fact. That is a fact. So, I I agree with you on that. And I feel like that people have the right to to uh have their accolades um you know uh acknowledged.

[00:09:42]>> Um and I I'm I'm pretty sure Jermaine Depri has no shortage of awards, right?

[00:09:47]I'm pretty sure he's got damn near every award there is to have. But what we talking about is the feeling that people have in Atlanta about Jermaine Depri. It is not the same feeling that people have about TI. Right. TI people is warm, right? But even with TI that he grew into that warm the first heavily influenced by New York uh with the song he dropped with within >> he was not he was not heavily influenced. What he was was the label put that song on him. The label made him do that song man song.

[00:10:24]>> I remember him promoting it >> and I ain't going to lie BECAUSE LOOK THEY WANTED THEY WANTED TO BRING OUT NOTHING ON this show before. I said it.

[00:10:30]I do not like this. BUT THE LABEL THE LABEL I DEVIL LIKE WHEN YOU GET into when you see this show chime in and let the people know the label made him do that.

[00:10:40]>> I mean >> BK had this man he would and he's standing on so much business he would have never even recorded.

[00:10:49]>> WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? HE TRYING TO GET OUT.

[00:10:52]I DON'T CARE about trying to get out. If that's the case everybody trying to get out. You can go back to Outcast. They was trying to get out.

[00:10:59]I WANT TO DO THEM. THEY SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE FROM NEW YORK.

[00:11:02]>> That's New York. That's Lost Boys. Foo [ __ ] I mean, so everybody had a start and they kind of developed into that.

[00:11:09]And if JD want to pick up and do Atlanta right now, he can.

[00:11:12]>> He tried. He just he didn't do what he did TO MAGIC CITY. I LIKE THE new Atlanta song. I like the CEO one.

[00:11:19]>> Atlanta. I like that song.

[00:11:21]>> I like I like I like a lot of stuff on there. But that's a good example. That's a good example. My notice I get it.

[00:11:27]Atlanta influence everything, but it's way bigger than ATLANTA FOR SURE. YOU STARTED THAT [ __ ] NOW. I'M ABOUT TO GET ON YOU ABOUT that [ __ ] SO JD JUST BROUGHT OUT THAT ALBUM, RIGHT?

[00:11:37]>> YEAH. YEAH. YEAH.

[00:11:38]>> That [ __ ] it buzzed real good for a minute. That [ __ ] fell off the goddamn clip.

[00:11:43]>> You know why it fell off the cliff?

[00:11:45]>> It doesn't have a feel in it. So just because you go pick up [ __ ] that you should have picked up a long time ago and decide to make an Atlanta album, that don't mean it's got the feel in it.

[00:11:55]So if it ain't got the feel with IT, THE PEOPLE AIN'T GOING TO GO WITH IT THE WHOLE WAY.

[00:11:58]>> I MEAN I mean that's a that's a that's a that goes back to your point. Who knows from the executive side or who was involved or the record companies or distribution was kind of trying to coach him along on how on what records to make. So it could be all those same poss Jermaine Depri on what records to make on that [ __ ] >> No, it isn't. You I mean you get >> you think somebody on this one who who what what he did? I mean I mean >> he went in there by himself and made them records that what he wanted to make.

[00:12:26]>> It's people that came through his people that was was influencing. He was he was pulling from the city. He was getting the energy from >> cuz he was going back to what he always what I remember I just told you >> he wants to not be just a success. He wants to be the hometown hero. So what does a hometown hero go do wants to be do? They go get the people that are the hometown hero AND TRY TO MAKE AN ALBUM WITH HIM.

[00:12:48]>> SO So who's the hometown hero? HE THE GUYS HE WENT AND GOT >> SO SO so the guys he went and got the hometown heroes hold hometown hero got Detroit HOMETOWN HERO HE WENT HOMETOWN HERO WENT AND GOT THE HOME >> THAT FIZZLED up that's fizzled a little bit GOT THE HOMETOWN HERO that fizzled a little bit and IT FELL OFF.

[00:13:11]>> THAT'S COOL WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. YOU'RE MISSING WHAT I'm You're talking about success. YEAH, YOU STILL TALKING ABOUT SUCCESS. I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE. I'm trying to figure out the hero.

[00:13:21]>> I I'm telling you >> and these numbers.

[00:13:23]>> I'm telling you, it ain't about the numbers when it's a hero. That's what I KEEP TRYING TO TELL.

[00:13:26]>> BUT YOU JUST SAID IT WENT UP and went nowhere. You >> You know why it went up and went nowhere.

[00:13:30]>> What about the numbers?

[00:13:31]>> Because it's not a fear. Jermaine produced that, right? Jermaine, he didn't produce but he brought it together. So it's lack it's lackluster.

[00:13:39]You know what I'm saying?

[00:13:39]>> Which one you think Which one Which one you think has more of a more did better?

[00:13:43]the Metro Booming compilation or the Magic City compilation.

[00:13:47]>> I just think right now Metro Booming has his finger on the pulse of what's going on in this finger on the pulse of what's going on.

[00:13:55]Yeah. So, you So, my point is, so what you're saying that's a ANR decision. He went back and grabbed some nostalgia.

[00:14:04]>> There you go. NOW YOU KNOW, BUT but if you know if he could have mixed the two, maybe it wouldn't not He still in your eyes wouldn't have been a hometown hero, but he would have grabbed some.

[00:14:14]>> He's my He's a hero of mine. No, he's definitely because No, no, cuz I'm a I'm I'm a music lover. I've been in the game and I understand music. The [ __ ] that we we understand music. We've been doing it forever. But we're speaking about the people.

[00:14:26]>> We're talking about the people. Me and him speak for the people, too.

[00:14:29]>> Yeah. So So listen listen. This this is what this is what's happening. When you when you think of TI, it's a warm feeling. When you think of Jermaine Deree, it's a cold feeling, right? So >> I I still I you could say Ti Atlanta, TI this. But this new record made by Forel, they ain't made by no Atlanta.

[00:14:46]You can't talk about that record. That [ __ ] >> No, I ain't saying it ain't a monster. I ain't saying it ain't a monster. I'm just talking about the influence. I'm talking about where where he borrowing from.

[00:14:54]>> I don't I don't particularly like that song.

[00:14:56]>> Which one? Let them know.

[00:14:57]>> Yeah. I don't particularly like I don't like the beat. I don't like the beat. I DON'T LIKE THE SONG. WHAT? I I'M I'M TELLING you why I feel. Whoa.

[00:15:04]>> I mean, you got TI for for >> That's not It sounds like a beat. It sound like the beanie man.

[00:15:08]>> What's the T song that he used? Jay-Z hook. So, I mean, they have been heavily borrowing New York.

[00:15:14]>> What made what made TI the man when he came in was dope boys in the trap. When dope BOYS IN THE TRAP HIT, IT'S IT LIT THE CITY ON FIRE. AT THE END of the day, you can't you can't you can't trick the people. You can't trick the people into loving. I'm not knocking TI success. I'm just sitting here saying you you we talking about a hero >> and a success story. I'm saying I don't know about I'm trying to make sure I understand what a hero is.

[00:15:42]>> You know, you understood. We had this talk off camera. So now I'm trying to get you to say it to the people.

[00:15:49]>> So So we all know we all on the same page.

[00:15:52]>> So this we made an example off camera, right? We said we was talking about we was talking about that the heat. Yeah, >> we was talking about the heat. This is a great example of success and hero. So we was talking about in Miami and Miami culture in Miami basketball is um LeBron James considered a Miami hometown hero and like uh you know the heat the Heat culture.

[00:16:15]>> I would say I would say Dwayne Wade.

[00:16:17]>> He would say Dwayne Wade. So everybody know LeBron James a man. Just to make it even stronger, I said he can't he's not more of a heat man than uh Udonald's Hasslam.

[00:16:27]>> Yep.

[00:16:28]>> So Hlam is more of a Heatman than goddamn LeBron James. LeBron James.

[00:16:36]>> SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. SO JD is the LeBron James.

[00:16:42]>> Yeah, that's actually a good that's actually LeBron James or you can say Matt Ryan. To be honest, Matt Ryan took us through a whole Super Bowl, but Michael V get way more respect.

[00:16:52]>> But but actually JD don't want the Super Bowl was for he but what I'm what I'm saying is so so if that's a hero >> the hero is what the people the post of the people.

[00:17:04]>> Yeah. You can't you at the end of the day the people have to I'm going give you the people have to make that decision. We It ain't nothing we can say to make that decision. It ain't nothing.

[00:17:12]Jermaine Jermaine Depri has it's just he has to connect them like you said put the finger on the post of the people and then you once he do that then he'll you know I think he still get >> let's go let's go let's go here let's go here we talk about knowing the post of the people right >> so we all remember cuz we we was there when uh Lil John was uh JD's ANR >> right >> Lil John was right up under this nigga's nose bro >> THE NEXT BIGGEST [ __ ] EVER OUT SOMEBODY ELSE HAD TO BRING THAT and cultivate that [ __ ] >> You get what I'M SAYING? YOU GOT SEAN PAUL AND THEM YOUNG BLOODOODS.

[00:17:48]>> WHEN DID HE GO GET YOUNG BLOODOODS?

[00:17:50]THIRD ALBUM >> AFTER THEY DONE DONE WHAT THEY DID. SO LIKE WHAT I'M SAYING is he's good with copying other [ __ ] New York [ __ ] and [ __ ] >> Yeah. I I don't I don't I think we all copied at some point. Yeah, that's true.

[00:18:02]>> But but I don't I don't see it that way.

[00:18:04]I think I think he sometimes because he have so much access to the game and to the industry, he may see things early and not really have the time to kind of cultivate it. So you put people in play. So that's why >> I like that. I like that. He discovered >> Yeah. And I was a [ __ ] So So I rather be sometimes on the end of the discovery.

[00:18:30]>> Oh, absolutely. than actually spending all day all night.

[00:18:34]>> And to be honest, that's a real and that's a real [ __ ] to be honest.

[00:18:37]Somebody would do that. But >> that's a good businessman. That ain't no real [ __ ] No, but that's a good You get some [ __ ] that ain't no real [ __ ] A real [ __ ] is the one that sit [ __ ] that hold [ __ ] you you get some [ __ ] that'll hold [ __ ] back and [ __ ] >> When you when when you JD hot, you can't really hold it like that. You got to delegate. You got to put people in play.

[00:18:58]>> Yeah. And and what I'm what I'm saying to you, >> you sure godamn giving this this guy a whole lot of acts.

[00:19:03]>> You sure?

[00:19:08]>> So we we came up together. So at the end of the day, I've known him since me and him was at Jack the Rapper. So it's certain little staples things that Atlanta I know that kind of built these bricks for y'all to run with. Guess what, man? Me and then what? All that [ __ ] y'all talking when JD was doing me and Polo putting flies on [ __ ] cars for that [ __ ] and [ __ ] like that. So I get what you saying, MAN. AND THAT [ __ ] MISSED THEM [ __ ] >> NOW, I WILL tell you I will tell you this. To JD's defense, to JD's defense, he was born like kind of into the game already. I think a lot of the heroes got kind of have a struggle story. They have a struggle story. So, people can kind of relate to their struggle and people like when people like come from you.

[00:19:48]People don't really like people that's like born with a silver spool.

[00:19:52]So that has a lot to do with I don't think it's nothing against I don't think it's nothing against >> I like it's hard to be successful that long for people to actually they can miss when you done it for 40 years you we might miss your story right you know what I'm saying people love that [ __ ] speaking of speaking of Jermaine Depri right and and and just for the rapper boy around this we all love and respect Jermaine Depri and all the contribution I think this is great conversation for life we love you Yeah, we love CP for life.

[00:20:23]>> And be honest with you, I thought that was some real [ __ ] [ __ ] by coming and responding and actually saying my name, calling me out is wow.

[00:20:29]>> He ain't been called out in a minute.

[00:20:31]But >> look, that [ __ ] act like he know my name. Well, maybe he didn't know my name. He's like that other little [ __ ] on the show, which is cool. I BEAT THE OTHER on that other [ __ ] too, [ __ ] Can you come sit down with the other little [ __ ] for an interview? And I would love to interview. That's a real [ __ ] To be honest, we speak real [ __ ] on this show and the fact that I I already knew you Divine ain't playing no games. So listen, >> Jermaine did bring up a cool conversation.

[00:20:59]>> He said, and I quote, "Nigga, so so deaf, [ __ ] [ __ ] Leface came here, [ __ ] I've been here, [ __ ] So So deaf over the face."

[00:21:09]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:21:10]>> Now, >> all right.

[00:21:11]>> The question is, okay, >> who had more of an impact in Atlanta? So so death of the face records >> and see and see that's so here we go back to that story let divine >> so >> I feel like we can say the impact will be what you know but the impact sometime happens behind closed doors >> and it may be certain success stories that you not familiar with that plugged in certain things. So, how the face come here and get plugged in? Let's Let's figure that out. Like, how you just come set up shop on Atlanta soil?

[00:21:47]>> Let's not figure that out. You You got You got You got the You know, don't you?

[00:21:51]>> Of course I know.

[00:21:52]>> So, let's hear.

[00:21:53]>> So, that's the point I'm making to y'all. So, y'all some people know this information, some don't. And when Little Face got here, I'm the first artist they signed.

[00:22:01]>> Ah, interesting. Didn't know that.

[00:22:03]>> So, guess what? And it wasn't no they came to Atlanta with people from Los Angeles.

[00:22:10]>> They know nothing about the gram.

[00:22:13]>> So when they plugged in, they plugged in. Dallas Austin did my demo.

[00:22:17]>> Oh, I came I forgot TI and Ludicrous used to write the rhymes. But on those particular beats, Raheem the Dream wrote that.

[00:22:27]>> And then I performed at Fat Tuesday. met a young lady by the name of Kimley Smith who was >> which fat two is it? One down there underground.

[00:22:36]>> Nashville, you know.

[00:22:41]>> So then she was plugged into Pebbles.

[00:22:45]>> And so then we set it off for Pebbles and then Pebbles took us to LA and Baby Face. They weren't even here yet. They were still in Los Angeles.

[00:22:52]>> Gotcha.

[00:22:53]>> So then when they came here, they got all the sauce.

[00:22:56]>> All the sauce. I plugged it right on in.

[00:22:58]M >> this is before any of that you talking about. This is before the beginning of you talking JD. This is J D. This is another bad creation. Like y'all can't leave out Michael Bibons coming here plugging into Kevin Wells >> and another bad creation. But all that still was being developed >> at my place.

[00:23:27]>> Okay. So I develop boys the demen in my garage.

[00:23:30]>> Mhm.

[00:23:31]>> So what I'm saying to you, you you you got to look at these people that's coming here and we're opening the door for them to set up. So JD been here.

[00:23:42]>> I'm about to say tie that [ __ ] in JD. I just keep hearing you.

[00:23:45]>> No, you hearing me. You only hearing me cuz I'mma flip it back to JD. Okay.

[00:23:49]>> Cuz JD, >> it was another bad creation before it was >> crisscross. I got you. So I think y'all be y'all be skipping.

[00:23:58]>> I remember skipping the line.

[00:24:00]>> He was living right next to him.

[00:24:02]>> Not even getting Kevin Wells his props.

[00:24:05]>> Okay.

[00:24:05]>> So it's it's some more flowers that got to be dropping and not really giving Dallas Austin >> his props cuz you know of course when Dallas got his money >> he won the hometown hero.

[00:24:18]He's he's got you right.

[00:24:21]>> He's another one that money started doing illegal fishbone and everything else he wanted to experience in his life. But my point is if you take JD and you take Leface and you take before that, you take Kevin Wells and what they did.

[00:24:39]>> I'm in the midst of all of that creating that motion. Who you think all those people showed up to to see in high school?

[00:24:50]I'll wait. You already know your history. If you don't, go ask your parents >> who they showed up to see.

[00:24:59]>> Probably Silk.

[00:25:00]>> I'mma wait.

[00:25:01]>> Silk.

[00:25:02]>> I ain't no hometown hero.

[00:25:04]>> Well, [ __ ] Yeah, that's still even if you even if you know it, it's not going to make you a hometown hero regardless.

[00:25:11]Even knowledge doesn't make you a hometown hero. So, so yeah. So, but I'm used to show up >> Mhm.

[00:25:17]>> not just at Jellybean. They used to show up at the high schools. So, every talent show, we cultivated the talent. So, even when a little face got here, we was already competing at a high level.

[00:25:28]>> Gotcha.

[00:25:29]Gotcha.

[00:25:30]>> So, that's how you started seeing >> the movement. But by then, you got to think when it came down to fashion, it came down to style. You know, we rocking the perms. We I mean we was already in the in No, hold on. Don't laugh.

[00:25:43]>> No, I'm glad about them because I got to laugh about >> because I I'm proud. I I used to model for Broner Brothers, you know.

[00:25:51]>> So, the first thing you got inspired by by watching some black brothers, a black family >> become multi-millionaires right in the city that was known for imaging.

[00:26:02]>> Yeah, I [ __ ] with >> Okay. So, I got a chance to take that piece >> and apply it, okay, >> to the artistry.

[00:26:09]>> Okay. Right. So then you got to give a shout out to the people that um >> the original Soul Glow.

[00:26:14]>> Yeah. Yeah. So we ain't just giving it up to to the pimps and to the you know time heroes home.

[00:26:23]>> I got you. I got you. I got you. No, I got you. We ain't here for this. We here for the history.

[00:26:29]This is what this is what is for the history.

[00:26:33]>> We s listening. Yeah.

[00:26:35]>> So, you know, you know, it's the people at the beauty salon that came in to help >> Leface >> with the development of all the artists.

[00:26:44]>> Okay. So, now, so now I'm I'm going to stop you right there. So, now this where we have to get him right here, M.

[00:26:50]>> I just want him to bring it all the way in.

[00:26:54]>> I need to get him real quick. Let me let me get him real quick. Just real quick, just for a second.

[00:26:58]>> I don't want to get you, man.

[00:26:59]>> No. No. Not like you can never ste >> this is this is for sake of you know argument a debate show y'all doing an interview after this a debate show yeah yeah yeah so so I like all that right you piecing it all together this is the history >> you know that's just like when older players teach uh the younger basketball players how to play, right?

[00:27:30]>> Yeah.

[00:27:31]>> Just because Dr. J taught Jordan how to play, it does not make Dr. J better than Jordan.

[00:27:38]>> Just because the King Elijah teaches, you know, uh it's hard to find somebody better than Elijah, but you know what I'm saying.

[00:27:47]Just because somebody teaches that person don't mean that person can't grow to be better than >> Yeah, you're right. That's the reason why Michael Jordan don't call himself the goat.

[00:27:55]>> That's true. That's true. That's true.

[00:27:58]the people that and the shows that he's standing on that he would not say that he's >> and you know why he done call himself the goat.

[00:28:05]>> Why is that?

[00:28:05]>> Because the people claim him the goat.

[00:28:08]>> Yeah. Yeah. The people have claimed the hometown hero.

[00:28:12]>> Yeah. But if you travel outside you know 285.

[00:28:15]>> Yeah.

[00:28:15]>> You know it's people outside of 285 think JD is >> they I agree. Oh no for sure.

[00:28:21]>> They think we just make about ludicrous. Absolutely.

[00:28:26]>> Oh no. Ludicrous is definitely Atlanta hero. But my point is I'm saying ludicrous cuz they don't know.

[00:28:31]>> But to me, Ludicrous is the Atlanta hero. I never thought Ludicrous not to be in Atlanta. But you don't think so?

[00:28:37]>> He's definitely not.

[00:28:37]>> They don't love Lover is not an Atlanta hero.

[00:28:40]>> He's absolutely not an Atlanta hero.

[00:28:42]>> To me, he's an Atlanta success story.

[00:28:44]>> To me, he is. To me, Ludicrous is a is a me too. But that's not >> Who would you think the whole time hero ludicrous or 2J?

[00:28:52]>> Two chains. Easily.

[00:28:54]>> Two chain.

[00:28:55]>> Easily. But Ludicrous is more successful.

[00:28:57]>> Yes.

[00:28:57]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:28:58]>> Yes.

[00:28:58]>> There you go.

[00:28:59]>> That's all. Yeah.

[00:29:00]>> That's all. No, they're real.

[00:29:02]>> But it ain't no disrespect.

[00:29:03]>> IT AIN'T NO DISRESPECT.

[00:29:05]>> IT AIN'T NO DISRESPECT. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW.

[00:29:06]>> YEAH. NO DISRESPECT. YEAH. You say something like that, [ __ ] Like, MAN, [ __ ] YOU. [ __ ] YOU. YOU LIKE SAY THAT AGAIN. Say that again. Which one of them most successful?

[00:29:15]>> Uh, Ludicrous is most successful. Okay.

[00:29:18]Two chains on his Two Chain is a hometown hero.

[00:29:21]>> Two chains on his Say that [ __ ] THAT'S NOT A NO. I'M ABOUT TO SAY WITH A GIRL ABOUT HOLD ON. CALM DOWN. I GET FAST. I KNOW.

[00:29:33]I KNOW YOU GOING FAST. 1 2 3 4 I KNOW you relax. But two chain is a hometown hero and a successful business.

[00:29:43]Absolutely. I agree. I agree.

[00:29:45]>> I agree. What was the next one, man? WE GOT NO, BUT THAT'S WHAT I want. Divine.

[00:29:49]Yeah. Yeah. I want I want Divine.

[00:29:51]>> What is Sierra?

[00:29:52]>> Sierra. Yes.

[00:29:55]Say >> Monica's the hometown hero. S is the success story. That's all we say. BUT SIERRA IS ONE OF THE SUCCESS STORY.

[00:30:02]Monica is the hometown hero.

[00:30:03]>> I think Sierra's a bit of a hometown hero.

[00:30:06]>> I think Sierra's a hometown hero. [ __ ] [ __ ] with Sierra. No, I [ __ ] with SIERRA MIGHT BE. HOLD. HOLD UP. RUN THE TAPE.

[00:30:14]RUN THE TAPE. NO. RUN THE TAPE. HE GOT MAD AT ME. HE GOT MAD at me for saying that Sierra was more was was Atlanta. Uh uh MONICA I I STILL DON'T TRY TO TELL YOU >> I STILL I STILL SAY Monica is more Atlanta but both of them are goddamn you trying to like Sierra >> I thought Sierra I just think she come you just said that I started both of them I had Monica when she was 12 >> my boy let you KNOW >> to to your point is >> Monica is really more authentic and more relatable and more touchable. So, >> and Sierra is a little bit of a mystery >> in terms of >> That's all I'm saying. That's all WE I told you a story ABOUT ME AND MY PARTNER and Monica was sitting in the trap with me while my partner was COOKING DOPE. THAT'S WHY I SAY THAT'S WHY I SAY MONICA ONE OF THEM.

[00:31:13]>> I'LL GIVE YOU this one. Even when Monica was dating the um the street dude >> uh when he killed herself, I went and >> I showed up at the cemetery, >> you know, damn >> to to get her, >> Monica. One of them kind of >> Yeah, Monica real.

[00:31:27]>> But Sierra has more.

[00:31:29]>> But I'm glad we figured out the difference between a hometown success and a hometown hero. That That's all we were saying in general just about, you know, Jermaine or whoever else, you know.

[00:31:40]>> No, I get it. I get it. Well, you know, it's debatable and and it's and it's a good time.

[00:31:46]>> That's good, too.

[00:31:47]>> That's what we're here for.

[00:31:48]>> That's what we call Atlanta coach here.

[00:31:52]>> It's debatable.

[00:31:53]>> It's on you.

[00:31:53]>> It's a good debate. It's on me, man. It was a good one, though.

[00:31:56]>> We got to get JD, you know, we got to get JD on the couch. And, you know, >> I'm definitely going to get JD on the couch.

[00:32:02]>> Yeah. And then let JD and let JD really really explain it to you.

[00:32:05]>> Yeah.

[00:32:05]>> It's It's an incredible story.

[00:32:06]>> I would I would love I would love to hear JD's story. I would let him go on about it, too. I would love to have him on the sofa. Um, do you think do you feel like pre-organized noise days in Atlanta are overlooked?

[00:32:20]>> Was it overlooked?

[00:32:21]>> Yeah. Is it overlooked or pre-organized?

[00:32:24]>> So, when they was the you boys, when they were singing.

[00:32:25]>> So, let's say before organized noise.

[00:32:27]>> Well, we had uh >> they was a sing group >> before organized. Let's say before they popped up on the scene period.

[00:32:33]>> Talking about the music scene period.

[00:32:34]>> When they was guest, when they was taking my um video tapes and watching them.

[00:32:38]>> Yes. It's before organ organiz organized noise organized noise or we talking outcast.

[00:32:43]>> We're talking pre-organized pre-organized noise. They're not here before they got down. They're not here.

[00:32:47]So we think about they was in a dance group called G.

[00:32:50]>> That's cool. But we're not thinking about them before they showed up on the scene.

[00:32:53]>> Yeah. So we talking we talking what?

[00:32:56]Kilo Raheem Dave.

[00:32:57]>> Yeah. Do you think that that all that part of Atlanta is it forgotten and is it overlooked?

[00:33:06]>> No, I don't think so. I think Rico way passing in the funeral. I mean, just the way people um showed up for that, it it's a testimony, you know, it's a testament for um the groundwork that they they laid.

[00:33:20]>> Well, this is what I want to say cuz I don't think he understood the question.

[00:33:22]So, I'm going I'm I'm going to start off. So pre-organized noise I think >> when you say pre before before they ever showed up before people ever knew who they were before they >> so let me let me let me just start off and then y'all y'all can kind of piggy piggy back. So I just think that Atlanta scene and music was just young and it wasn't real big big far as nationwide yet.

[00:33:44]>> So that's why it hadn't blown up. I don't I think those artists were just as talented and I think Organized Noise just took it to another level and made it to where it was more nationwide.

[00:33:55]>> I don't know.

[00:33:56]>> I think they just had an outlet.

[00:33:58]>> I think a lot of a lot of um talented kids back in the day saying the same thing.

[00:34:02]>> Um would, you know, I think would have done the same thing if if they had the outlet.

[00:34:08]>> Yeah. I Yeah. And I don't think we forgot about them though cuz it's always a show I'm seeing with Kilo and Shad.

[00:34:16]and dream like they stay with even with the J >> tape days you got the J >> tape y >> but you know even on southside I think when I was coming up on the southside that was a DJ by the name of Smooth Matty Mack >> and then even um even on the in the East Point area that was DJ Fanso uh and um >> and Drock who rocked his mother used you know so >> it it's been moments in pockets but the only difference is when Leface came here they came here with major distribution.

[00:34:47]>> Mhm.

[00:34:48]>> And with Clive Davis backing it. So that's the >> I agree.

[00:34:52]>> Yeah, >> I agree. Circumstances.

[00:34:54]>> Yeah, they they was able to get it out to the people. That's all I'm saying. So I think those people I think we're saying the same thing. I think the earlier people were definitely just as talented, but they just didn't have enough to get to the rest of the world.

[00:35:06]That's all I'm saying.

[00:35:07]>> For for me, um Raheem the Dream was is is really like the staple of it all. M >> I mean cuz I got a chance to watch Raheem records work his records and I think people don't give uh King J his flowers or Quo Gold his flowers we just had Quo or my man um um >> Master Ace Cool Ace.

[00:35:36]>> Yeah. Michael is the man. Michael A is one of the most the greatest gifted performers I've ever seen in my life.

[00:35:44]>> Absolutely. Absolutely. So what I'm saying to you, right around that time, I think if they would have had the outlet >> they would have been just as big. I >> agree. That's real. I agree. I agree.

[00:35:55]>> So, and you want to add something to that? I'm about to ask you this. I was going to ask you. So, man, what do you what do you think that Atlanta dance culture meant to Atlanta, too?

[00:36:03]>> I mean, it meant everything. It's the post.

[00:36:05]>> It's the post. It's the movement. I agree.

[00:36:07]>> You know, wherever you go in the world, you know what I'm saying? From the biggest artists in the world, u from Michael Jackson all the way down, you know, whether it's pop culture, whether it's R&B culture, where it's hip-hop, we touched everything.

[00:36:22]>> No, I mean, it's global. It's global business.

[00:36:25]>> No facts.

[00:36:26]>> Yeah. I think I think you got to have the dance before you actually have You got to have the music, but the dance go.

[00:36:34]That's why I go back to tell you what who you thought these cats was coming to see.

[00:36:39]>> And I ain't talking about Otis. I'm talking about >> Well, this what I got to say. I'm not who they coming to see.

[00:36:46]>> It's always coming to see FDC.

[00:36:48]>> You got to think um when the when the first movies came out like Breaking >> All the movie like um Beat Street, all it was all about the day.

[00:36:58]>> We was watching that. We was watching that. But guess what?

[00:37:02]UFC breakers and all that was going on in Atlanta. That's why when we came, we changed the game.

[00:37:11]>> We weren't breaking. We went pop.

[00:37:13]>> Y'all had your own You had your own Everybody in America.

[00:37:18]>> And what we did, we just borrowed a little side to side from the hustle. We just ain't take it back into the front.

[00:37:25]We just would go this way.

[00:37:27]>> We'll go back that way.

[00:37:28]>> See, the hustle will take you back this way.

[00:37:30]>> Yeah. And it dip. Make you dip. We cut that out. Just got to go this way.

[00:37:41]>> Hey, I know this a little bit off topic real quick, but I I do want to ask you a quick question. I know you got an interview after this, but >> I don't know. Y'all might answer that, but I What do you think uh uh dance? How does dance fit into today's um music?

[00:37:56]>> It's still everything. Look at all the rappers. I mean, look at Tik Tok. I >> what you're about to say, man. If you put a dance to anything, that's what makes it go, man.

[00:38:05]>> But just think about think about all the rappers that came out of Atlanta and all the dance songs.

[00:38:11]>> I was just about to say bank rag everything. If you had a d if you had a dance, you go WITH A SONG WITH IT.

[00:38:20]Come on, man.

[00:38:22]>> Walk it out. I mean, >> walk it out. I mean, it just goes on and on. Yeah.

[00:38:25]>> And what I'm saying to you, without having that dance culture first, >> Absolutely.

[00:38:30]>> Absolutely.

[00:38:30]>> I don't even think the music >> would have been as big as it as it is today.

[00:38:36]>> Same way it is today.

[00:38:37]>> I think it goes the same way today. You got to think all the biggest songs that come off Tik Tok and Tik Tok and all that other [ __ ] It's a dance to go with that.

[00:38:46]>> Ray was just talking about that with the the flipper the flipper tea girl and that dude dude doing that dance.

[00:38:53]You can go back as far as the Drake where that dude was doing that little that little Drake dance that little >> All of them. Just think about all of them. They come with a routine.

[00:39:01]>> All of them.

[00:39:02]>> All of them come with a routine.

[00:39:03]>> It's been it's been instructional dances, you know, since the beginning of the time. I mean, just look at Southern Soul Music now.

[00:39:09]>> I mean, they don't even jump that off without having a line dance.

[00:39:13]>> Yeah.

[00:39:14]>> So, this this is this a shift right here. So, do you think that uh hip-hop legends can take the fall off publicly?

[00:39:22]Like when they kind of fall off uh you think uh they can handle it?

[00:39:27]>> Absolutely not.

[00:39:28]>> No, no, no. That's a tough That's a tough feat right there. I think >> absolutely not.

[00:39:32]>> I think that's the problem. You know, you got rock and roll people can continue to do it for years and years.

[00:39:38]>> And then, you know, our culture seem to want to put a expiration date.

[00:39:41]>> They do. And uh I think that's unfair because I think you should be able to do it as long as you can do it. If CL Davis 80-year-old still picking your songs, >> right?

[00:39:54]>> And I I say this all the time.

[00:39:57]>> Me as a a 48-year-old ex- rapper, >> I don't want to hear what these young [ __ ] rap about. I have I want to hear when Killer Mike just dropped his album, that's what I wanted to hear. There's a whole audience for [ __ ] my age and we buy out and we go to concerts.

[00:40:13]>> That's the beauty of it. So that's the reason why I think like >> even the more mature rappers or older rappers shouldn't give up because because right now it's really all about finding your audience. And if you find 200 people or 300 people that's into that, then you just service that. That's where the game is at.

[00:40:28]>> I I was just going to say it's it's easier now because of you got you got platforms now. You got it. It's easy.

[00:40:35]Well, well, I say I I will say that because you find your actual audience.

[00:40:38]>> Yeah, because you have more Well, you have more of a you have more of a platform now, right? So, I feel like it's no Well, maybe I should say it's >> I I kind of get what D can actually he can actually see if he put something on the internet. Yeah. Let's say [ __ ] in Australia like it see like like put like this back in the day like if if the older artist fell off, they that was it.

[00:41:00]>> They had nothing. Now if a artist fall off or even if they are from back in the day they can get online they can show people just like what you doing right now you could teach people on podcast see millions of people you know what I'm saying so we can re they can reach people now where whereas back then you couldn't it was it was like once it was over that [ __ ] was over you know what I'm saying but yeah yeah but now I feel like they can kind of >> but but go with it uh uh Divine I want to hear what you had to say on >> No no no I would just I mean I agree with Don Okay. All right. Okay.

[00:41:30]>> Yeah. Do do y'all think uh it's too many hip-hop legends uh turn into podcast?

[00:41:36]>> Well, I mean I mean I mean is it too many hip-hop legends turn to politics? I mean at the end of the day, I think you got to find your voice and wherever that voice is, you know, you got to still be able to express yourself.

[00:41:46]>> Yeah.

[00:41:46]>> Um and I think that's really what they doing. I mean this is a beautiful situation here.

[00:41:50]>> I mean uh for you still to get your voice heard.

[00:41:54]>> Um and your voice mattered. So, and and you guys got more information.

[00:42:00]>> I think I think it's only a natural progression if you guys, like you say, if you got something to offer to people >> that's outside of rap because you done lived a life. You done seen different things. Now, we can sit up here and talk about the old days. We can give you game on how to make it within the music industry cuz we done had two, three record deals with people. You know what I'm saying? You get what I'm saying? So, we can we should teach that. What I always tell young people, I'm like, "Bro, how many record deals [ __ ] been through?" Man, listen. Listen right.

[00:42:28]>> I DONE [ __ ] UP ALL THE MONEY AND DONE ALL THE STUPID [ __ ] like you.

[00:42:31]>> You know what I'm saying?

[00:42:32]>> They might have been the quietest I ever been on the show cuz Divine Stevenson dropping game.

[00:42:36]>> Come on, [ __ ] I forgot I had a question. This look like a [ __ ] >> Hey man, I don't know how much time we got trying to squeeze it in.

[00:42:44]>> 100%.

[00:42:45]>> Now I would Now I will tell you this. Um I think it's just the evolution just period, right? So, ever since the beginning of time, like when artists artists always transition, whether it's to movies, whether it's the sitcoms, whether it's to DJing, whether it's the radio, whether it's to uh just of late like reality shows. Yep. Reality shows and then now it's podcast. Yep. Docu series, podcast. Yeah. Short. So, I think it's always like you said, find find your voice and all that stuff cuz I I remember when the reality shows first came out >> and especially Love and Hip Hop. Every every rapper I talked to like, "Yeah, you know, I'm going be on Love Hip."

[00:43:22]Yeah, I'm be You know what I'm saying?

[00:43:24]Like everybody >> reality shows revitalized a lot of artist careers that wouldn't be here today.

[00:43:29]>> They did for a good way.

[00:43:33]Shout out to the people that had the courage to open up the doors and let you into their world.

[00:43:37]>> No. fact I I think in a good way because it helped people to uh feed their families. Um >> I think I think >> it helped people to start it helped people to start businesses now now the price of admission was a bit too high for me. I can't sell my life or you know I can't sell I I ain't want to you know I ain't want to sell my my soul you know kind of I ain't saying they sold it so but but I'm but I'm just saying I ain't want to you know what I'm saying? Like they had to go through some [ __ ] though.

[00:44:06]Man, the price is high for that [ __ ] >> Yeah, it's reality.

[00:44:09]>> Yeah. I mean, but but they but they like really like it's intense. [ __ ] that broke up with with their wives, they whole family split apart.

[00:44:16]>> They was going to do that either.

[00:44:17]>> They got reality. Yeah.

[00:44:21]This is what I was going to say. Why why I think it's a flip side to it, too.

[00:44:25]Even though they was able to feed their families and things like that, I think reality shows have ruined society because it gives us a black eye and people think that they can act like those people on reality show and that [ __ ] has ruined our children. Even though, you know what I'm saying, it's been able to feed some of our friends and family, some of those same people, I got to give them this, [ __ ] You have ruined society with that [ __ ] >> Oh, no, for sure.

[00:44:48]>> Yeah. I I just think change is inevitable. I think I think the world is changing and and people are changing and I think we know it's out with the old, in with the new and then we just we're going to keep evolving. We going to stay in tune and I think it's not necessarily black eye. I think it's just >> absolute black eye.

[00:45:07]>> I don't think I don't think it's a black eye because I mean a lot and then if we're going to do that then it's a whole lot of things prior to that with the information and and the things that's actually put out here is a black eye in the game too.

[00:45:19]You don't think you don't think that deep [ __ ] going on Zeus, punching each other in the face, throwing wine on each other. That's not a black.

[00:45:26]>> I think it's entertainment. I think it's entertainment. I think just because it's Zeus, but we've been watching Jerry Springer the whole time. And >> that's cool. I don't I don't care about their community. I'm talking but but we we we don't got rid of Senior Hall. But my point is what I'm saying to you, we >> Jerry Spring is still on.

[00:45:43]>> Well, I will I will I will tell I will tell you this with anything is going to be good and bad. What I feel like is we lose the balance, right? So all the black family shows where they gone >> went away and then they replaced it with ain't no different >> replaced it with this. If you if you on here, you saw it. We get it first. We ain't got to watch the news. It's coming on. You going to get it right there.

[00:46:04]>> So my point is it's evolving and it's how you get what happened.

[00:46:09]>> Well, what happened is we didn't support it. So when Blackish came out, did we support Blackish?

[00:46:13]>> Yes.

[00:46:13]>> It was SHOW THAT YOU KNOW WHY I GOT PORN? IT WAS SOME INSIDE [ __ ] MAN.

[00:46:18]>> OH, for real.

[00:46:19]>> Yes. It wasn't because it wasn't getting the ratings.

[00:46:21]>> Yeah. Yeah, man.

[00:46:25]>> Awesome.

[00:46:26]>> I mean, I guess I'm the only [ __ ] >> Love him.

[00:46:31]>> Yeah. You like you trash.

[00:46:35]>> I mean, but what I'm saying But what I'm saying is you can say it's a black eye, but at the end of the day, I I still think it's entertainment. And I think you still have a choice whether you want to watch that or >> No, you know better. Devon, a lot of [ __ ] is shoved down our face. If we look, if some if the powers that be on like let's say we got a TV and you got the TV and and they only feed one thing to the TV, >> we going to sit there and watch it no matter what it is.

[00:46:58]>> Yeah. I mean, but what I'm saying is you still have a choice.

[00:47:01]>> You still have a choice.

[00:47:02]>> Anybody Anybody I move on to the next, I move on to the next cuz I get cuz I go a little deeper than that. What I'm saying to you, we've been we've been fed a lot of things since birth.

[00:47:11]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Subconscious. some kinds been coming brainwashing us period. So it's a lot of things that we don't we you know we can't agree on or we can't even sit in a room >> to uh agree on to even push anything forward. So my point is I don't want to go that deep about something no Yeah. Yeah. Let me ask you this since we talk about in influence. Who y'all think are more influential now? Podcasters or rappers?

[00:47:41]>> Absolutely. podcasters.

[00:47:43]>> Yeah. I'mma tell you why. Not just because I'm a podcaster. Yeah. Because a rapper drops a song every so many days or every so many weeks and it comes out, it might pop and it goes down. Podcast, I'm in your face every week, my [ __ ] >> Yeah. I would say podcast, too. I just think this it's the wave. I think like you said, >> like the reality shows now >> things are evolving into something else.

[00:48:07]Now it's more people on the podcast.

[00:48:08]You're going to see more of this. you're going to see more people telling their story. Um, you know, even since >> this became the one-on-one interaction >> with your people. You know what I'm saying? You plug in and then you have this direct like everything is starting to be direct to consumer. So, you're going to see more and more of this. So I don't think even with a rapper >> if a rapper don't have a podcast and his rap music and a television show and a you are start agree that it's coming that way. You're exactly right. You're right. You're right.

[00:48:44]>> This this question is kind of uh well I ain't let you about say this question kind of goes to you uh Devon.

[00:48:50]>> Okay >> man. Is the major label dead?

[00:48:54]>> Nurs they not dead. A lot of them turned into like tech companies, but I don't think they I don't think they dead. I think >> I think how I always felt about a label, it's it's a it's a bank.

[00:49:07]>> I mean, I always grinded my music and everything from the ground up. So, I never really used them.

[00:49:14]>> I know. I know. I know. With the dream, that's why I say it's still a dream.

[00:49:16]It's still It still works or something.

[00:49:18]Yeah. It still works something cuz it's dead. It still works or something.

[00:49:22]>> Yeah. So, I don't I don't think they dead. I think they still have certain relationships that a indie artist don't have. I think they they have a plugin that I give you an example. Let's let's say even though they say radio may be dead or um but I still think radio builds superstars.

[00:49:41]>> Absolutely.

[00:49:41]>> And at the end of the day that company have a relationship with these streaming networks. They have a relationship with radio. Um we out here working one or two records. So we busting down and by the time we reup it's like it's almost like a stripper trying to recycle your ones so another dude can have so he can get the look. You know what I'm saying?

[00:50:01]After you just threw all your money. So you got to go back to the the label. The label can put 10 things in while you working your one thing.

[00:50:12]>> Yeah.

[00:50:13]>> So they already don't spent. They making money. They flipping. They they leveraging the whole nine. You can't even really compete with that if they decide to go on a project. So, let me ask you this.

[00:50:23]>> So, should kids still be trying to sign with labels? And is that still the dream for the children?

[00:50:27]>> So, let me ask you a question. I'mma flip this to you.

[00:50:29]>> When you was growing up, is some people good at selling candy or some people uh uh uh can't sell candy? Can [ __ ] some good [ __ ] selling dope and some [ __ ] can't sell dope? The [ __ ] that get the dope, he go to jail right away cuz they don't even know who >> somebody need that help. I got you.

[00:50:46]>> So, my point is >> and some people can get online like Soulja Boy and sell that [ __ ] Absolutely. It ain't one size fit all in the music business. I got you. I got you. Some people Some people not to run a company.

[00:50:56]>> No. Do most billionaires are not accountants.

[00:51:00]>> Mhm.

[00:51:00]>> So, it's just a different >> That makes sense. That depends on what type of artist you are.

[00:51:04]>> Yeah. I just game on that cuz you know what I tell [ __ ] all the time. [ __ ] you don't need no GODDAMN LABEL, MAN.

[00:51:09]THEY GOT ALL THIS [ __ ] BUT some [ __ ] can't sell themselves. You right. I know some [ __ ] like that.

[00:51:13]>> That's real.

[00:51:13]>> I know plenty dudes that really ain't hustlers. They ain't hustlers and they don't even know how to get out here to maneuver. You need that company >> and they talented as hell. So, but they need no doubt.

[00:51:22]>> And we're quick to say ownership. But you got a lot of people out here own 100% of zero.

[00:51:29]>> Nothing fail.

[00:51:30]>> So my point is how do you get in? I started mine with 14 cent.

[00:51:35]>> Mhm.

[00:51:36]>> So how you become a multi-millionaire with 14 cent.

[00:51:40]>> Got to start something.

[00:51:41]>> That means you got to know how to hustle.

[00:51:43]>> My grandma was the candy lady. My mama was the candle lady.

[00:51:46]>> I became the candy man. Yeah.

[00:51:49]>> So you guys know how to flip that thing all the way from Carboah home to boat rock all the way to the big rock.

[00:51:56]>> I like that.

[00:51:57]Got that pimp talk going over there.

[00:52:00]>> That's just what it is.

[00:52:01]>> No, that's real though.

[00:52:03]>> You want to say something on that?

[00:52:04]>> No, I mean no. That's why I always say I always say dope boys make the best uh the artists sometime because they you know they know how to hustle. You know what I'm saying?

[00:52:13]>> This next question for you too, Divine Man. And do you think uh arts development is dying or is it still needed?

[00:52:20]>> No, it's dead. It's dead.

[00:52:22]>> That's tough. I was hoping I was really hoping you weren't going to say that.

[00:52:26]>> No, it's dead. It's dead. I mean, we going to roll out of the bed and we going to be like, "Hey yo, so what's up?"

[00:52:33]>> I mean, if it's cold outside, >> that suck. That mean that mean we ain't going to have no entertainers, bro.

[00:52:38]Dude, >> nah, no, we not. There's the the days of a Michael Jackson is, you know, it's it's it's slim to none because >> that's why these shows >> because this space of entertainment that we live in, >> it's really a magical space.

[00:52:54]>> We don't took the magic out. You just talked about the reality, you talking about the podcast, you talking about all the things. So, right now, today the magic is gone.

[00:53:03]>> True.

[00:53:04]>> I'mma wake up and I'm going to get some views cuz I just blew snot up my nose.

[00:53:09]Right.

[00:53:09]>> And everybody like, "Oh, he nasty." You know, everybody chime in. Okay, now drop the song. Who nasty?

[00:53:17]>> Nasty.

[00:53:19]>> And we going up real.

[00:53:21]>> So it's dead.

[00:53:23]>> What you think, Die?

[00:53:24]>> Uh, I mean, damn. I was hoping he didn't say that. I was hoping he didn't mean because because I always tell people, bro, I always say, man, we will never have another Outcast >> ever.

[00:53:35]>> No.

[00:53:36]>> Because of the simple fact that it is or another future. You know how long that was baked?

[00:53:41]>> Oh yeah.

[00:53:41]>> Or another Ush. You know how long that was baked?

[00:53:44]>> Baked for a long time.

[00:53:45]>> You may have three projects that flop before you caught a single.

[00:53:48]>> Damn. You know, so what's the recipe for an artist? What's the recipe? A artist needs to be a star.

[00:53:56]>> That's a lot of components, man.

[00:53:57]>> I say that. It's a lot of components.

[00:53:59]Perfect. It's a perfect story.

[00:54:00]>> First of all, you need a team.

[00:54:02]>> Everybody out here thinking they they gunslinging it by themselves. You can't do nothing without a team. I don't care.

[00:54:07]gives you the voice. I don't care if you're the spokesperson for it, you still ain't going to be able to move without a team. If you don't learn anything from LeBron, James or Jay-Z, at least learn those two aspect on how to develop a team, cultivate a team, and keep the same cats >> with you.

[00:54:27]If you look at the most successful people, they got the same crew with them from the beginning. If you look at Luda, Shaka, you look at TI, it's the same JG.

[00:54:35]>> No, no, no. But it's okay to grow, right?

[00:54:37]>> I ain't saying you got to tell a million dollar home down to build a hood house.

[00:54:41]I'm What I'm saying is that's what these cats be doing.

[00:54:44]>> And what I'm saying to you, there's not a lot of people that's actually sticking together in the music space. Once you have success, yeah, you're supposed to grow, but at the end of the day, >> there's still a foundation that was built.

[00:54:56]>> And a lot of these cats are like Michael Jordan on the Washington Wizard versus Michael Jordan on the Chicago Bull.

[00:55:02]>> Good Lord have mercy.

[00:55:04]Michael Jordan, but you just had the team.

[00:55:06]>> Now, I will tell you the difference now though, Mo, >> I'm listening.

[00:55:09]>> Now is is relatability. Like, you have to be relatable now. When back in the day, you didn't have when back in the day, listen, back in the day.

[00:55:19]>> Back in the day, you didn't have to be relatable. Like, back in the day, it was like cool to be weird and cool to be standoffish. You know, this is what I say. Let me let me say this before y'all get into that.

[00:55:28]>> I think it's different for everybody.

[00:55:31]Everybody, that's what I want to tell you. Everybody has a different star in them in a different way. So what what how I become a star may not be the same path. What takes makes it makes you become a star. Like let's say Tyler the creator, he's a star in his own right, >> right?

[00:55:47]>> It's other people like me. I'm loud. I'm a fool. I'm a star in my own right. And and and the road that I take may not be the same road that you take to be a star.

[00:55:55]>> And see that's the beautiful thing about our era coming up. When you look at the Leface days, you go back and you say, "Okay, they gave you Outcast. They gave you TLC.

[00:56:08]>> They gave you Pink.

[00:56:09]>> They gave you Darnell Jones." None of that was alike.

[00:56:12]>> None of that [ __ ] was alike.

[00:56:15]>> None of them.

[00:56:15]>> And that's why you're That's why you making the comparison because they came through and these are individuals.

[00:56:23]>> Mhm.

[00:56:24]>> Success.

[00:56:25]>> And there's nothing I tell people >> and they dynasties. They still going.

[00:56:28]Nothing wrong with TLC. They still move on. They can still move on their own today. You take Outcast still can move on their own today. Pink still selling out. Usher selling out. And that's the difference >> in the artist development >> that's missing in today's med.

[00:56:45]>> Next question on you too, Don.

[00:56:46]>> Yeah. Uh, are they too many people claiming Atlanta and speaking on Atlanta that are not that are not >> Hold on. Get it all the way. Get hold on. Let them get all the way right Are there too many people speaking on Atlanta and claiming Atlanta that's not from Atlanta?

[00:57:01]>> No, I don't think so. I think I think right now there's a lot of people speaking on it. All different kind of, you know, it's just it's everything.

[00:57:12]It's a melting pot now. So, at the end of the day, the more people talk about it, the more the world gets it and keeps hearing it. I think if you condense that then you know then >> say all publicity >> if we don't let if we don't let any air out no air is coming in. So, at the end of the day, I think it's a great thing that people move here. They get to see our culture. We get to tell the story.

[00:57:32]We get to make some money in the process, but you just can't get lost in the process because probably in the next two, three years, you're going to see over about 5 million new people move to Atlanta. And they going to slowly be pushing. They're going to slowly be pushing.

[00:57:46]>> It's coming for sure. I agree with >> the all the natives to the outskirts.

[00:57:50]>> Oh, man. So when they start doing that then 10 years from now Atlanta won't look like >> well I think it is too many [ __ ] out here everybody talking we know we talk from the point of view that the city want to what the city [ __ ] want to talk hell yeah too many of y'all come here talking [ __ ] trying to be Atlanta talking about Atlanta and you ain't nothing from Atlanta Mike just want to say that >> I mean I mean you got a lot of people that come here you know and they set up job. But you know, I got one thing I can say about Atlanta >> is this probably the only place you could just really come plug in and it's not really governed.

[00:58:29]>> Yeah.

[00:58:29]>> Yeah. Like you could come here, man.

[00:58:32]Come on, man. You know, come on. You know, we just let you could >> listen. You could come through Hartsville or you could come through Amtrak or you could come through the toll. Either way you come, >> we open the doors and let everybody come here and get it off. So, so who actually gets the Atlanta pass and who are the tourists that just stay too long?

[00:58:51]>> Everybody get the Atlanta pass, >> man. Everybody get a pass.

[00:58:56]>> It ain't right. But everybody seem to get one.

[00:58:59]>> Welcome to Atlanta. That's the reason why Hartsville became, you know, the busiest airport in the world. About to tell right now. You tell y'all right now cuz everybody welcome.

[00:59:09]>> I'm going to tell you right now, our audience do not agree with y'all at all.

[00:59:12]No, we ain't saying that [ __ ] RIGHT? IT IS WHAT IT IS, >> [ __ ] According to a right or wrong.

[00:59:18]This is just what it is.

[00:59:19]>> It is what it is.

[00:59:20]>> Everybody's welcome to Atlanta.

[00:59:21]>> Well, I'm going tell you. Well, I'm going tell you who should get a pass.

[00:59:24]>> Well, I'm going to tell you >> who should get a pass then, D. I'mma tell you who shouldn't get a pass.

[00:59:30]>> Tell me that. Let me hear who get if you've been in this [ __ ] longer than goddamn 15 years and you still repping your goddamn old hood and your old them [ __ ] don't even know you no more in Chicago, [ __ ] You are Atlanta, [ __ ] Don't go to the house game with your goddamn Knicks jersey on and [ __ ] and you ain't been back to New York in 20 years. You don't even know. You don't even know nobody in New York no more.

[00:59:51]>> So So the brat the brat should finally start saying that she's from Atlanta.

[00:59:54]>> Yes, the brat is from Atlanta.

[00:59:58]>> The brat FROM ATLANTA THE SAME THING. But look SHE AIN'T NEVER MENTION SHE DON'T MENTION NOTHING BUT IF YOUR KIDS FROM THIS [ __ ] THAT'S IT.

[01:00:09]YOUR KIDS ARE HOMEGROWN. Don't be teaching your kids no [ __ ] from Cali. Oh yeah, this how we do it in Cal.

[01:00:15]Don't have your kid [ __ ] walking in Atlanta. YOUR KID FROM ATLANTA, [ __ ] >> [ __ ] you mean, [ __ ] This that [ __ ] life.

[01:00:23]>> That man that man say he going to preserve his LA roots.

[01:00:26]>> [ __ ] that. If you been in this [ __ ] you have lived here. You got there went to high school here and beyond, [ __ ] Your ass from Atlanta, [ __ ] [ __ ] take that goddamn Orioles jacket off, [ __ ] [ __ ] that [ __ ] [ __ ] All this goddamn trying to claim other places and you got all your [ __ ] from here. Everything.

[01:00:47]>> Yeah.

[01:00:48]>> Hell no. They don't get no G that they they [ __ ] >> that that sound like that might be your rant of day.

[01:00:56]>> But no, we going Let's get to the song of the day. Song of the day. Make it good. We got the B Stevens. Make it good. I'M GOING TO GO BACK OLD SCHOOL SINCE WE WE WAS TALKING about pre pre organized noise and we was talking about my man Raheem. I'm going go Raheem man.

[01:01:12]Eliminator eliminator eliminator.

[01:01:17]>> That's what I'mma go with, man. Raheem, man. Shout out to my boy Raheem.

[01:01:21]Eliminator, man. That's it. Salute. I [ __ ] with your rant of the day and we going to close out.

[01:01:26]>> All right. Uh my rant of the day uh is just a reoccurring thing that I've been seeing. Right.

[01:01:33]>> And and I'm glad I'm so happy you came today because >> this is how you have conversations about things that are in the community that we've been knowing and and and even if it's good or bad, right? You know what I'm saying? Cuz me and Mos Be sit up here and we'll say a hundred great things about somebody, right?

[01:01:52]>> We say they're the greatest of all time.

[01:01:54]Mhm.

[01:01:55]>> We say we don't like >> one thing.

[01:01:58]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[01:01:58]>> [ __ ] THEM [ __ ] THEY DON'T KNOW THIS [ __ ] [ __ ] YOU A GODDAMN [ __ ] don't know [ __ ] [ __ ] it's like they CHANGE THE NAME OF THE SHOW. Not just talking about Jermaine, but even even when we did with uh with with with like she's the greatest. She's the greatest.

[01:02:12]>> I'm like, she's my favorite female rapper in Atlanta. And I I went on her page the other day. She said, GET ON MY PAGE, GANG. I LIKE I LIKE YOU MY FAVORITE FEMALE IN ATLANTA. I THOUGHT I was cool.

[01:02:24]>> Yeah. But but but so we got to stop we got to stop uh we got to stop doing that, right? You know what I'm saying?

[01:02:30]It's all a conversation. Um you know what I'm saying? That need to be had. It it's stuff that people know that's an underlining things that's in the city and it might be a hard conversation, right? Just like this business. I seen something the other day on this podcast.

[01:02:43]I hate people do I hate people do that to me like this Atlanta culture [ __ ] Uh >> uh this podcast called Dynasty.

[01:02:50]>> Okay. And they said that uh Mr. Collins B stole everybody.

[01:02:56]>> Everybody everybody but but but the thing is it's not like it's not nothing new, right? So it's nothing to be like man [ __ ] that. It's like okay come on tell your story what happened with real because at the end of the day the underlying and goddamn [ __ ] in the city the whispers is and even they yin yang and all them that went on [ __ ] and I love this guy don't give please don't get god damn I can't get through another legend but I love your ass but I'm just I'm just >> he came he came and told story on check it out >> yeah check it out on on podcast but I'm just making an example you know what I'm saying it be underlining things that people have already said that you know that we just talk about and those are harder conversations than just goddamn this verse is great. Oh, this verse is great. Oh, that album was great. Oh, that verse was great. Like, [ __ ] >> y'all not going to get this on this.

[01:03:41]>> Y'all ain't going to get that. And to be honest with you, we when I got in this space, right, that's podcasting. I I don't I'm not one of them rappers that's broke and fell off it that needs a podcast, [ __ ] I'm rich, >> right, >> [ __ ] I'm a millionaire, [ __ ] I'm my own [ __ ] boss, [ __ ] I don't [ __ ] get paid from this. I don't get I ain't on nobody payroll. I ain't on JD payroll. I'm on the John payroll. Love John, [ __ ] Why the hell? I don't know.

[01:04:03]>> He about to be on my payroll.

[01:04:05]>> I was going to say when we when we finish, I need to manage the operation.

[01:04:12]>> I'm going to get the hats already. The >> money ain't flowing. Holl at me. We got to figure that out.

[01:04:17]>> But what I'm saying is, hey, I ain't on nobody [ __ ] payroll, right? What what what my goal was when cuz I I started Beehive is the reason why I'm even in this space cuz he you know, he like, "Man, you should do But anyway, the the I feel like as as a as a uh down south media, right?

[01:04:37]>> Yeah.

[01:04:38]>> And down south culture, it is time for us to mature.

[01:04:41]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[01:04:42]>> It's time for us to mature.

[01:04:43]>> Yeah.

[01:04:43]>> The the reason why artists go to New York and go to media and reason why the the all they media people get $10 million for podcast and getting 30 million and Joe Button worth damn near 100 million is because they are unapologetically truthful. Right? You'll hear Flex say, "Yo, that verse was whack." You know what I'm saying? But what that did was it it it made people start to trust them.

[01:05:07]>> So you trust the New York media. You can even take somebody like Charlemagne that's from Columbia, South Carolina. He had to go to New York to make his make his bones in the media space because that media space is mature. It is time for us to be mature. Stop getting mad if somebody say, "We like 10 of your albums, but we didn't like that last one." [ __ ] we like 10 of them. You might need to go look.

[01:05:29]>> You might need There you go. And then when you go to the comments, people have real like like we did a thing on Lotto, right?

[01:05:36]>> People got paragraphs, >> right?

[01:05:38]>> I didn't like Lotto because of this, this, I love Lotto cuz of this, this, and this. People really are invested in these artists and invested in these stories. And these are things that you need to know as an artist.

[01:05:49]>> That way you can goddamn you, >> you can fix whatever wrong and you can keep doing whatever's right. You know what I'm saying? So when I beautiful >> part about all that Don is that's why this podcast is so great.

[01:06:00]>> I appreciate it cuz I appreciate I appreciate especially coming from you but I appreciate >> people need to hear the truth >> and that's and that's all and when I got in this I wanted to bring something to the table. You know what I'm saying? I wanted to move the culture forward. I'm not just here to just goddamn be like everything sucks. But >> but but it's okay if something sucks.

[01:06:18]Fix it. You know what I'm saying? If I get a flat tire today I'm fix that mother. I'm not going to get rid of the car.

[01:06:22]>> Don't ever stop speaking your truth. No, that's real >> and that's just what it is.

[01:06:25]>> Yeah, that's real. We gonna end on that.

[01:06:27]Don P. Randle today. My boy Devon Ste.

[01:06:31]Hey, that's my dog right here. Boy, >> he had me doing the twostep. Why? Where is it, boy?

[01:06:36]>> Devon, you might need to go back in the studio with that [ __ ] That twostep look terrible.

[01:06:42]>> Hey, I'm a little out.

[01:06:45]>> This has been another episode of um a conversation with Moss and Don P. And we out.

[01:06:50]>> Yes, sir. We out here. That was good.

[01:06:52]>> That was good. I love we got most.