WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:00.720 Yo, what up? Man? 2 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:02.680 Is your boy a Connor? You're checking out the Cruise 3 00:00:02.680 --> 00:00:07.120 Show podcast? Make sure you subscribe, rate and ship. It's 4 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.919 worth it, I promise you. Let's go yo. 5 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:13.000 Hey, conn is back on the Cruise Show. Let's get away. 6 00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:15.839 So many hits, dog. Now let's play intro number two 7 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:19.679 because then there's a whole nother intro, so many songs. Acon, 8 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:22.359 congratulations on this career yours man. 9 00:00:22.359 --> 00:00:24.480 You always had the most craziest intros though. 10 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:27.480 Yeah, shout out to DJ Fuse for that. Yes, yes, 11 00:00:27.640 --> 00:00:29.280 sir smack, I see you. 12 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:32.799 Good to see you, man. 13 00:00:33.640 --> 00:00:35.039 She was running from the law. That's why he's in 14 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:35.320 the corner. 15 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:36.920 You feel me. 16 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:40.880 It's crazy, man. The catalog is wild, man, that's what's up. 17 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:41.039 Man. 18 00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:43.399 Yeah, every time I see Akon, I gotta take congratulations. 19 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:46.399 I got to do. There's always congratulations in order when 20 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:48.719 it comes to Acon. How you feeling, how's your spirit? Man? 21 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:51.479 I feel amazing, bro, Yeah, absolutely amazing. 22 00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:54.640 Feeling good man. You know you brought the team. 23 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:59.200 Man, she's looking that's the future, that's right, lay up next, 24 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:00.119 up next. 25 00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:02.439 I like that. You know. Akon is responsible for a 26 00:01:02.439 --> 00:01:05.319 few stars in this business. You know what I'm saying 27 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:09.879 your hand in that. Yeah, man, beautiful day sounds great. 28 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:12.959 Thank you mangratulations that good vibe that we are used 29 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:16.280 to getting from Akon, right, what's the energy that went 30 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:16.719 behind that? 31 00:01:17.159 --> 00:01:20.200 It was about just bringing just a positive vibration back 32 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:21.239 to the music business. 33 00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:21.719 You know. 34 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:23.760 When I came back from Africa and I came home, 35 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:26.719 it just felt so dark man. You know, I saw 36 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:29.200 a lot of the drill rappers dying, a lot of 37 00:01:29.239 --> 00:01:31.920 small young guys that's coming up before their career could 38 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:33.920 even get to a certain level that you know, the 39 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:37.519 obituaries beat you know, meet before their bios to an extent, 40 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:39.760 and it was like, man, this is crazy. But then 41 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:41.599 when I was just listening to I was looking for 42 00:01:41.640 --> 00:01:44.200 something to be more like, something that would motivate me 43 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:46.560 into it, and I just really didn't hear it, you know, 44 00:01:46.760 --> 00:01:48.319 So I was like, you know, I think this is 45 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:50.359 the time when the music just needs to shift into 46 00:01:50.359 --> 00:01:53.319 a more positive vibration, honestly. But what I did like 47 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:57.120 is how the West Coast shifted though. A lot happened 48 00:01:57.120 --> 00:01:58.879 on this side, A lot happened on this side, and 49 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:00.719 I love it because I know, notice that it's been 50 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:03.359 getting a lot like the West Coast really been supporting 51 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:05.920 West Coast music. Yeah, I noticed that since you guys 52 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:08.000 like it's been needed, Yeah, it's been needed. You know 53 00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:09.759 a lot of local artists are now getting heard and 54 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:13.479 played and actually getting recognized nationally and that and then 55 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:15.800 it's and it's good like it's it's club music, is 56 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:18.120 happy music. Like I was like, okay, I can rock 57 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:18.639 with this right here? 58 00:02:18.680 --> 00:02:21.319 Yeah, nah, akon. You know, I was fortunate enough to 59 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:24.759 see you come up in this business, right rolling in 60 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:27.879 a van with four other artists, five other artists doing radio, 61 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:31.360 you know, sleeping in the van, sleeping where you can 62 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:34.000 just to get put one get belly Dancer on the air. 63 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:36.919 You know, Man, I saw it, Man, I saw it right, 64 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:39.479 And that's the hard way, right, There's there's a different 65 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:42.759 way to go about getting I guess famous or noticed now. 66 00:02:42.759 --> 00:02:50.240 Right, another conversation, because I always believe that anything that 67 00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:53.840 you that's fast tracked don't last, right, So that's why 68 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:57.000 I'm still here today. Even though the technology has advanced, 69 00:02:57.039 --> 00:02:59.159 it don't change the blueprint on how you get things popping, 70 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:01.719 and you keep it fas like. Sustainability to me is 71 00:03:01.719 --> 00:03:03.560 the most important thing, right, you could put out a 72 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:04.919 record that'd be great for a week. But if you 73 00:03:04.919 --> 00:03:06.879 could put out a record that'd be great for ten years, 74 00:03:07.479 --> 00:03:10.560 one hundred years, a thousand years. It's a different conversation. 75 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:12.240 It's a different type of work that needs to be 76 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:13.919 put into you know what I'm saying. 77 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:16.479 And I think you've always had this mindset. You've had 78 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:18.960 it for a long time. You told T Pain, I 79 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:20.919 can't give you the biggest check, but I can give 80 00:03:20.919 --> 00:03:23.319 you a career, right, That's what you told Ta Pain, 81 00:03:23.719 --> 00:03:25.840 And that's exactly what you did. And he went with you, 82 00:03:25.879 --> 00:03:27.639 and he chose you over millions of dollars. 83 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:29.599 Yep, we sure did. Wow, you sure did. 84 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:32.120 What a moment, Yeah, man, and look at him now 85 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:35.759 killing it still legendary. T Pain is killing y'all. Legend 86 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:39.280 Thank you. What's your biggest song in your opinion? You 87 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:42.400 know there's obviously chart toppers, right obviously, Yeah, But if I. 88 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:44.599 Would say, out of all my records, the biggest one 89 00:03:44.599 --> 00:03:45.240 will probably be. 90 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:47.800 Mister Lonely, Mister Lonely. Yeah, we were listening to that. 91 00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:55.319 If you caught Jackie singing that, Mabe, was that a fast? 92 00:03:55.560 --> 00:03:57.800 The whole catalog was on black? Was that a fast? 93 00:03:57.800 --> 00:04:00.280 Song to make or was that a links? 94 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:00.719 No? 95 00:04:00.919 --> 00:04:02.840 Actually, all my songs were pretty quick, you know, because 96 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:05.159 they was all they was kind of written before I 97 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:07.159 even did it, because it was all more based on 98 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:10.599 the actual, uh situations I was dealing with. So most 99 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:12.800 songs that you deal with, that's based on your experience. 100 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:15.639 It's easier to write. It's really more about how do 101 00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:18.000 I want it to feel though when someone else kind 102 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:19.560 of listens to it, you know what I'm saying. Sure, 103 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:21.959 and that was the direction. But once I realized where 104 00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:24.000 I was going production wise, the song was done within 105 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:24.639 a few hours. 106 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:28.199 With all those hits, is there ever, Is there ever 107 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:30.360 or will there ever be an opportunity for you to 108 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:31.279 sell your catalog? 109 00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:35.519 Yeah? I think I think opportunities to sell is every day. Okay, 110 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:38.279 that's every day, you know what I'm saying. 111 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:40.079 Sale? 112 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:42.279 Yeah, like you at any moment, you just put a 113 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:43.920 sign up for sale, and I promise you there'll be 114 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:46.000 a lot of banks by it. Right. 115 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:47.639 Yeah. What do you think your catalog is worth if 116 00:04:47.639 --> 00:04:48.879 you had to put a number on it, if I 117 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:53.560 put a number on it, priceless, Yeah, for sure, I 118 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:56.720 get it out of Christ. We're talking a lot of money. Here. 119 00:04:56.879 --> 00:04:59.439 Yeah, yeah, I take a billion dollars a billion, I 120 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:01.600 would's make it happen about that. 121 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:06.079 Sure, I'll take a billion. Two let's myself in the mix. 122 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:11.319 Feel Me Beautiful Day is on all streaming platforms. What 123 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:14.120 a song? What's up? Jack? How does it feel to. 124 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:16.639 Be so timeless? Because I was just telling the guys 125 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:20.399 before that, my introduction to you is my getting. 126 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:23.920 Ready, her auntie fealing her makeup. 127 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:26.600 Afterwards so I could take it, and it was just like, 128 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:29.399 and now you being here, It's just like, so it's 129 00:05:29.480 --> 00:05:31.839 just generational. How does it feel to actually be an 130 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:32.680 artist that's like that? 131 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:35.680 Nah? Man, it's interesting. I forgot who I was talking 132 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:38.199 to about it. But when we did the Acon Superfan, 133 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:41.480 I was realizing that we actually had generational fans. So 134 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:44.319 you would have the mom who came with her daughter, 135 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:46.199 and then the daughter brought her baby. 136 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:48.040 Yeah, like we had. 137 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:51.120 Literally three generations of so a lot of the venues 138 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:53.560 that we chose, we literally could have flipped them four 139 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:56.360 or five, six times over because of that alone, but 140 00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:58.240 because of the super Fan too. We wanted to have 141 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:00.680 a one time, one only type experien is in that city. 142 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:05.240 We realize just how layered our fan base was in generation, 143 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:07.560 you know what I mean. So that's another thing that 144 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:10.000 also made me say, yo, yeah we got we have 145 00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:12.720 to come back, because yeah, they I mean it was 146 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:15.120 kids like six seven years old Numa songs. 147 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:17.240 Yeah, and you know what I mean, there's not a 148 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:20.079 lot of artists, I believe, right in my opinion, this 149 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:23.199 is cruise. There's not a lot of artists that hold 150 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:26.000 that weight, I think. Right, there's a lot of artists obviously, right, 151 00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:29.120 but it's a generational artist, right, right, right, I think 152 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:30.319 there's a handful of you'll. 153 00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:33.079 Yeah, it's a handful of using for sure. Straight up. 154 00:06:33.639 --> 00:06:36.680 I think that's to your benefit because once that younger 155 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:39.720 generation catches up, then that's why music becomes so cyclical, 156 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:42.000 right because then they hear that, they go, damn, that's 157 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:44.480 fresh to me. Let me make something like that, and 158 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:46.839 then that's when your legacy never. 159 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:47.720 Dies, right absolutely. 160 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:53.040 Man, it's like introducing our kids to the Beatles or 161 00:06:53.079 --> 00:06:53.720 whatever it is. 162 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:55.920 Yeah, they got to know about Earth Wind and fire Man. 163 00:06:55.959 --> 00:06:59.120 It's just kind of the way that is. You mentioned 164 00:06:59.160 --> 00:07:01.439 Mice Lonely being your favorite or your biggest song in 165 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:03.680 your mind. What do people yell at you when they 166 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:06.240 see you, like at the airport, or they yell a 167 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:07.639 song up. 168 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:12.399 So it's interesting because it depends on what city I'm 169 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:19.120 in and who's yelling. Right, So if it's somebody black, 170 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:24.800 they're gonna yell locked up a kind of young Jesus. 171 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:28.879 Those are two most famous from black people. Right, that's 172 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:31.680 just how I go. Right, if they're white, they're gonna 173 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:37.560 yell smack that I want to love you. It's interesting 174 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:40.639 that that's just how it's been that. No, it's and 175 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:41.360 it's the weirdest. 176 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:45.199 Is the weirdest thing, you know, hilarious. Yeah, each each song, 177 00:07:45.240 --> 00:07:46.920 I guess has its demographic, right. 178 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:51.360 No, it's so crazy, but interestingly enough because I know 179 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:54.360 the Hispanic market is so kind of separated. But before 180 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:57.959 when Baby I'm Back was out, anybody that I saw 181 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:00.319 was that was like Mexican was singing the Baby Back 182 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:04.959 record to me. Yeah, because of the Bash. And then 183 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:07.839 when I went more towards like the eastern Latin side, 184 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:10.439 like Puerto Rico area, day be singing the Dons I 185 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:12.360 could Doudeo record back to. So it was like it 186 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:15.439 was always something and it dependent on who it was singing. 187 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:18.240 But for the most part, between those two, the black 188 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:20.240 and white side. I get those all the time. 189 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:27.000 That makes too much sense, that crazy. Is there any 190 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:28.399 regrets when it comes to this. 191 00:08:28.360 --> 00:08:32.519 Career of yours? Oh no, no regrets, absolutely no, absolutely, 192 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:36.039 not else only lessons, right, No, not absolutely, that's absolutely 193 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:39.519 you know. I think with everybody, there's always certain decisions 194 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:41.799 you wish you could go turn back the hands of 195 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:45.440 time to actually make. But then I think about, Okay, 196 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:47.440 let's say I did make that decision thinking it would 197 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:49.960 have been a better decision. I'm already knowing had I 198 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:51.600 made that decision that I thought I should have made, 199 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:53.799 it would have been worse because I wouldn't be here 200 00:08:53.799 --> 00:08:54.480 today if I did. 201 00:08:54.759 --> 00:08:56.159 True, very true. 202 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:56.799 You know what I'm saying. 203 00:08:57.080 --> 00:08:58.240 Do you follow like an instinct? 204 00:08:58.840 --> 00:09:00.360 Instincts? Man? I amis you? 205 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:00.639 Now? 206 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:03.080 My instincts follow me everywhere I go. I don't care 207 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:05.519 how crazy it sound to everybody else. If my instinct 208 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:07.480 says moved this way, that's the way I'm moving. Because 209 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:09.639 every time I went against my instincts, I regretted it 210 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:10.679 every time. 211 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:12.240 It's a lesson every time. 212 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:14.440 Yeah, And it's kind of sad that more people don't 213 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:14.639 do that. 214 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:14.840 Right. 215 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:16.919 We live in such an analytical world. Like, it doesn't matter 216 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:19.879 if it's sports or it's music or social. Everybody's so 217 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:21.840 caught up in numbers. They don't trust their gut. Nom. 218 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:23.399 They don't trust their gut no more. And they so 219 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:25.639 worried about what other people are gonna think. Yeah, you 220 00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:27.120 know what I mean, And you don't even know. You 221 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:29.879 gotta like there's a there's an inner psyche within all 222 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:33.639 of us, right, that's why deja vu actually exists, some 223 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:35.159 ship that you done been through already, you know what 224 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:37.840 I mean. Right, But because you lose the spiritual side 225 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:40.720 of it, you don't you don't tap into it. So 226 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:43.559 when you're seeing, when you're feeling something, that's the spiritual 227 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:46.600 side talking to you. So when you ignore it, you 228 00:09:46.679 --> 00:09:48.720 always regret it, bro like all the time. 229 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:51.200 Yeah, man, you're a spiritual guy. Very Yeah. 230 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:53.919 You believe in a higher power, absolutely sure. You pray 231 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:57.879 every day, that's right, Yeah, that's right. Do you pray? 232 00:09:58.120 --> 00:10:00.399 Do you say do we say thank you? Do pray 233 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:03.679 for strength? What do we pray for? I pray for everything, 234 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:07.279 but most most about just appreciation. Because when I pray, 235 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:09.919 I don't really pray to ask I just pray. 236 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:11.080 To sustain yeah. 237 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:12.639 And I think that's the difference in a lot of 238 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:14.600 prayers because most people, when you pray and to ask 239 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:18.279 for certain things, it goes beyond the appreciation of the 240 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:22.320 blessings that's existing already. Is more about telling God what 241 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:25.639 you want versus thinking of what you already have you 242 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:26.159 know what I mean? 243 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:29.840 Yes, sir bars, I like that. Yo, Lady Gaga was 244 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:34.559 your artist? Yeah, and then uh and then she wasn't. Yeah, 245 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:38.279 how did that work out? You take contractor out or 246 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:41.200 the contract? That was it? She moved on? Yeah? Oh man, 247 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:44.519 well good for her, great for her. Yeah, right, it's 248 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:47.639 all good, Oh great, because we. 249 00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:50.960 Both won a big way, you know what I mean. 250 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:53.000 And I think it's like in any situation, you know 251 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:55.879 it's gonna it's gonna last until it ends. Sure, you know, 252 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:58.039 now you can continue to go further, or you can 253 00:10:58.120 --> 00:10:59.720 find a different direction in which you want to go. 254 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:01.320 But I think she was in that stage of her 255 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:02.960 career where she wanted to go in a direction where 256 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:04.639 she controlled the majority of what she wanted to do, 257 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:06.240 and I felt like it was it was a good 258 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:06.559 move her. 259 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:09.639 Yeah, man, did you see that talent when you had her? 260 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:11.799 When you first saw her. I mean, because her range 261 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:12.559 now is just stupid. 262 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:12.759 Right. 263 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:15.039 She started on the dance pop side, and I mean 264 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:17.360 she's doing stuff with Tony Bennett and just she's a 265 00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:17.879 class and. 266 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:21.080 Now she's in her joker, right, joker coming out the 267 00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:21.399 first time? 268 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:23.240 You say she was always she was always one of 269 00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:27.320 those special artistic people, right. So, And when I say artistic, 270 00:11:27.320 --> 00:11:29.639 I don't mean from a perspective of you know, the 271 00:11:29.720 --> 00:11:32.720 other artistic, but I mean like creatively, she was like 272 00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:36.200 always amazing, Like I always knew that music would be 273 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:38.799 just the beginning in the cornerstone of where she's gonna 274 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:39.080 end up. 275 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:42.840 Wow, you know what I'm saying. She was mult one absolutely. 276 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:45.559 You know. I met her and she asked me if 277 00:11:45.559 --> 00:11:46.759 I knew who you were, and I'm like, yeah, I 278 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:49.720 know who akon. When she was first starting out, I 279 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:52.200 was working at a station in Vegas Monday morning. I'm 280 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:55.559 doing mornings. She knocks on the window and it's said, 281 00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:57.639 I thought it was a winner, like picking up the prize, 282 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:01.679 And you know, she's like, I'm lady. G guy performed 283 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:04.039 at a pool party last night here in Vegas, and 284 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:07.440 I was wondering if you could interview me. I'm like, yeah, yeah, 285 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:09.120 for sure. And at that point I had heard of her, 286 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:11.519 but not much, right, so I let her in and 287 00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:14.960 I mean she she couldn't have been the coolest person ever, 288 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:18.080 you know what I mean? And she was extremely talented 289 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:20.639 and extremely hungry to get it. Yes, yeah, is that 290 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:21.879 what you look for an artist? Hunger? 291 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:22.879 That hunger is everything? 292 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:25.639 Yeah, in their eyes or do you hear it in 293 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:26.039 their voice? 294 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:28.720 No? You just you know in their actions, okay. And 295 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:31.759 you know a hungry artist by what they're willing to 296 00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:33.639 do and what they're not willing to do right, and 297 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:36.679 more than anything, they're consistency and doing it. Like me, 298 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:39.200 if I see an artist that's just constantly wanting to 299 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:41.559 go to work, everybody want to go to club, but 300 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:44.000 now they want to go to the studio, that's what 301 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:46.759 you want. That's what you want. Art is that work, 302 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:48.960 and their motivation is there just to make sure that 303 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:51.480 they're not only good, but their families taken care of. 304 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:54.200 When you got those two attributes, you got a superstar. 305 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:57.039 All they need now is a hit record and a support. Wow. 306 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:02.120 Yeah, one hit records don't necessarily turn into another, right right? 307 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:05.399 Once you hit that one hit record, now the work 308 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:06.320 really starts. 309 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:09.320 Exactly because that hit record opens a door for everything 310 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:11.960 you want to do, whether it's musically, whether it's from 311 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:14.519 an e commerce perspective, you got products you want to sell, 312 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:17.039 or just opening doors for different concepts and ideas to 313 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:18.840 help you grow who you are, you know what I mean. 314 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:20.799 So it's like you got to be able to find 315 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:23.000 artists that knows how to walk through them doors and 316 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:24.879 know what they want when they get there, because most 317 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:28.000 artists don't plan that far, and those are the ones 318 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:30.200 that don't last as long, you know what I mean, 319 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:32.240 because they looking at it for the time being, Oh, 320 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:34.519 this all waiting my record pop on my album drop. 321 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:36.360 Oh it's gonna be crazy all right, But then the 322 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:37.279 album drops? Now what? 323 00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:41.480 Wow? Exactly? Now what? Now? What? 324 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:44.519 Right? That's the scariest place to be. 325 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:47.799 Have you ever been approached by a major label to 326 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:51.159 be head of an R or to run the label? Yeah? 327 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:53.440 Many times. But I gave a job to Boo. 328 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:55.519 That's right. Yeah, Boo took that. 329 00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:58.240 He definitely ran ran with it. I could never do 330 00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:59.679 it because I could. I'm not a I'm not a 331 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:03.679 behind the desk guy. I'll go crazy. I gotta be 332 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:06.000 moving like I gotta go find I'm the guy that 333 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:12.120 eat what he killed, right, you know what I'm saying. Yeah, 334 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:13.879 I gotta go out there and hunt. I gotta figure 335 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:16.639 it out because I got more of an entrepreneur mentality. 336 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:19.879 I just don't believe that I can. I can bring 337 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:22.279 more for you going out there to bring it back 338 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:24.320 versus sitting there waiting for you to give me something 339 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.720 to Yeah. 340 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:29.879 Yeah, the world right period. 341 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:32.000 My landline is myself. 342 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:39.120 Headliners only tour. We Burn a Boy was like, so, 343 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:40.879 who who who Headliners? 344 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:44.080 I'm like, it's got to be we're both headliners. Yeah, 345 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:47.039 We're both headliners. And just so you know the what 346 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:49.559 I'm doing with that, Kevin Hart, by the way, is 347 00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:51.879 my partner on it. So we got the production company 348 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:55.000 together on Headliners only for the music aspect of what 349 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:57.279 he's doing in Headliners And the first one I was 350 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:59.879 shot was picked up by Netflix with him and Chris 351 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:02.919 Rock and it was based on comedy. The second one 352 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:04.440 is going to be done with me and burn a Boy, 353 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:07.279 which is based on music. The only difference is after it, 354 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:10.360 we actually have this huge concert which will be airing, 355 00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:12.000 So it's gonna be a concert film that's gonna air 356 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:15.360 in all the theaters in February. Yeah, so it's gonna 357 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.440 be it's gonna be super crazy. 358 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:19.799 That's crazy. Yeah, y'all got a special popcorn bucket for this. 359 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:27.320 I was gonna be playing popcorn candy, customized popcorn. 360 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:32.519 You know what about that? Yeah? Because that that Yeah, 361 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:34.480 that merch is crazy. 362 00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:41.759 The marketing for popcorn buckets now is like Disney. 363 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:43.120 That would be crazy. 364 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:50.080 Your idea. I'll make sure everybody New CRUs gave me 365 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:50.559 the idea. 366 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:58.039 I appreciate that. Appreciate that is the producer. I always wondered, like, yeah, 367 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:01.519 like why aren't like merch? You know, how can merchan? 368 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:04.320 Is it being sold outside of a movie for that movie? 369 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:06.159 Right? Nah, he's right. 370 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:06.919 They should. 371 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:10.159 Being an artist and for having a career as long 372 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:12.720 as you have, How do you remain so positive when 373 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:15.879 this industry can be so dark place? 374 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:17.480 Right? Well, I mean the thing is, you can't be 375 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:19.720 a part of the industry. The industry is just a vehicle, 376 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.639 you know what I mean. I think what happens is 377 00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:26.639 when people become superstars in their mind, they've already decided 378 00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:30.039 how they're gonna behave when they make it. The average person, 379 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:32.039 Oh man, when I be an artist. I'm gonna do this. 380 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:33.519 I'm aware of this is I'm gonna get this, I'm 381 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:35.840 gonna be ware here. So in their mind they already 382 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:38.559 have a dream of what that looks like to them, right, yes, 383 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:40.480 and then they finally make it and they become that. 384 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:45.639 So when you have to become something you're actually you're 385 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.639 getting out of who you are to become something that 386 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:48.679 you inspire to be. 387 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:49.200 Wow. 388 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:52.639 And the stereotype of someone that's famous or rich and 389 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:58.559 famous is this energy, this attitude, this certain crowds, specific 390 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:04.400 restaurant specific, you know, this car like It's just that 391 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:08.839 that's the part that that I never really me I 392 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:12.240 hate it, like with a passion. That's why I don't 393 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:15.039 hang around celebrities. I'm always little key. I'm around the 394 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:17.759 people that I rock with, business with or family. You know, 395 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:19.839 you don't really see me out there in the circuit 396 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:22.720 like that because it's that energy that it just looks 397 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:25.240 plastic to me, so fake. Wow, you know what I mean. 398 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:28.440 I can't be around along without feeling disrespected even though 399 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:37.200 they're not doing anything. Yeah, it's because they're not doing anything. Yeah, 400 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:39.039 It's like, bro, I know this is all a mass 401 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:41.160