The Slo-Mo Interview

WEBVTT
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Rare wave.
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Welcome to Roger Wave where we ride only the records of waves.
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I'm of course your host Justin, and today we have a very special guest, someone who is uh a phenomenal guy.
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I I like him, I like him dearly.
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I feel like that's not how you say like, I feel like you say love of dear.
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It's weird.
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Anyway, but before we welcome him, I gotta welcome our co-host, the man, the myth, the legend, someone who is a phenomenal person.
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Honestly, it's somebody who I'm not okay.
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Anyway, please welcome Greg New to the stage, guys.
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Dang it.
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Yeah.
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Ah, what's up?
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Good to be here again.
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Yeah.
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Wait, what?
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What did we name this thing, bro?
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You named it Steve.
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I remember Steve.
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I feel like it was more of like Jemima or something.
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Jemima, all right.
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Well, Jemima would have worked a little better, actually.
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Yeah, but we also, I think we also figured out that this is a man.
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I think this is more of a man.
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I don't I don't know.
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I'm not anyway.
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This is great.
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This is great.
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This is great, dude.
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I feel like my week's been good.
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How's your week been?
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It's been good, yeah.
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It's been crazy.
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Big day tomorrow.
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First day officially on the job by myself.
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Uh EMT, baby.
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Come on, son.
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Come on, raise the rule.
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Raise the rule.
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So uh, yeah, things have been crazy, to be honest.
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But it's it's a good crazy.
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So yeah, I'm excited to get started and do all that.
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That's good.
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Good crazy's good, man.
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I think um I feel like, yeah, life is crazy.
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Yeah, with everything going on, I don't want to get into it, so I'm just gonna not talk about it.
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But I will say this that's good.
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All this hard work's paying off.
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I feel like this year's going by so fast, we're already March.
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It's like, what are we doing?
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Yeah, that that scared me.
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I couldn't believe we're in March.
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I put February still the other day when I was signing like this document, and I was like, oh my gosh, we're in March.
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It's already almost like literally like a quarter through the year.
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That hurts.
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Uh yeah, I know.
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That's a bit insane.
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But it's true.
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So I don't know, just gotta give it your best.
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Don't waste time.
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That's what I'm working on right now.
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So dang well, heck yeah.
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I'm gonna introduce our guests.
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Yes.
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Let's do it.
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Uh, rare away people, for those of you that are just joining us, we make sure to have people that are um rare individuals, people that um are fun to be around.
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And we like to also hit our DEI mark.
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And so we wanted to make sure to bring a person of color, especially in the wake after Black History Month.
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So I thought it only proper to bring someone who's not black, but black adjacent.
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And um I think this person, as well as a man who is a man of many talents, he can rap, he can act, he can TikTok host, he's uh served our country, fought for it, and has been through many obstacles, trials, and tribulations, and still came out on top.
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Without further ado, please welcome to the stage railway podcast, Mr.
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Ron.
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What's your last name again?
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Gosman.
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Gosman, yes, I love it to be.
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For real, guys.
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But I love what we got going on here, man.
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Thank you for having me on.
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Thank you for the great introduction, too, and the chocolate chip cookies.
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What's going on over here?
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Can I get an introduction like that?
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Because you're not Hispanic.
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Actually, you are.
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You actually are.
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You are because you need to have that accent, man.
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You gotta have the accent and whatever.
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You could kind of say whatever you want because they think you're just crazy, you know?
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Yeah, yeah.
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But if you just talk normal, then you don't get many, many, much attention.
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I know.
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But I feel like your your the tone of your voice is fine.
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It's very like I'm not gay, but I'm just saying like your tone.
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You do have a rich, yeah, richness going there.
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Okay.
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It's like if Morgan Freeman was from you should read books, bro.
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You should like out, like you should do audio books, man.
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That would be so I would I would buy your voice in audio.
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Who, Greg?
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Yeah.
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Oh, really?
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Like, you know, like maybe the Titanic?
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My voice has always been low, man.
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My grandma used to always tell me she loved my voice because it was just like really, really good, rich voice.
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You know, there we go.
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In in Mexican, however, Spanish speak grandma say it, you know what I'm trying to translate for you guys.
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Like, say something that you would what?
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Like my abuelita.
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Yeah, my abuelita.
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I don't speak Spanish though.
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Oh, you don't?
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No.
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Really?
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No.
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I'm only half, bro.
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Dead in the dead in the half.
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Dead in the half.
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You know, I was one of those guys where like 50% my mom, I only know, and then like we don't have dads out here in LA.
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You guys know that.
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We don't have any dad.
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I do, but yeah.
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You do have a dad?
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Yeah, I have a dad.
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Do you have a dad too?
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I do have a dad.
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You guys you guys both have dads.
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That is amazing.
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Well, I had a dad, and then he left.
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Yeah.
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But then he wasn't actually my real dad.
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So even my fake dad left.
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Yeah, bro.
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I don't know, man.
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LA unified dog.
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How many milk runs is this gonna be?
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I'm like, man.
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I was around, you know, the the the when we were there was an actual milkman days.
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Yeah, yeah.
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I was around then.
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I'm older than Google.
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How old are you?
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Damn.
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Older than you gotta do the math, bro.
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I can't say it out loud.
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I'm entertaining here.
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My entertainer age or my actual age?
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You know, we'll leave it.
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But I will say this.
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Um uh you are uh wait, so what are you are you half Mexican and then half something?
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According to Ancestry, bro.
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What?
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Okay.
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I had to do Ancestry.
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You couldn't just ask your.
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Oh, I see what you're saying.
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Because my my dad was gone and then, you know, my mom passed.
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And my grandparents who knew the good info, right?
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The ones who cared, they didn't they didn't pass down the info.
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So I I I don't know.
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I'm just going off Ancestry, bro.
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I'm 50% Mexican.
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The other is just a bunch of other things.
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But how do you not know you're fully Mexican?
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Because it tells you, it says like Spain, indigenous, uh, southern don't mess with me and my southern Bantu peoples.
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Oh, that's right, bro.
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Bantu 2%.
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Sounds like that.
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You know what I'm saying?
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I'd actually be really curious.
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You know, I'm I'm all over the place.
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My mom's half Puerto Rican, half black, and my dad is like 100% European.
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So one of the My dad's as white as it gets.
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Oh, yeah, bro.
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I would I would don't do it.
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It'll ruin your life.
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Yeah, you'll be like, wait a minute, bro.
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I found out I had another brother.
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So I did the stupid thing where I was like, hey, mom, I just did ancestry.
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Is there anything you want to tell me?
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Oh she's like, talk to your dad.
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I was like, what?
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For real, for real, talk to my dad.
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And she's like, yeah, talk to your dad.
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And then my dad told me, and I was like, didn't make no sense, bro, bro.
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You guys were already divorced.
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Yeah.
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And you and you already had broken up.
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You were single.
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Yeah.
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Just tell me I had a little bro, man.
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I would have taught him basketball, little guy.
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It was I was one of those, one of those kids who like always knew I wanted to be in the military.
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Yeah.
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So like it was just a thing.
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Like you say, a calling.
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I understand that because when I was young, I was like, oh man, this looks like something dope I want to do.
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Right.
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So I was lucky enough to grow up in East LA, you know, whatever.
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It wasn't tough.
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It it was it was a rough area to grow up in, but it wasn't tough.
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Like, you know, we weren't brawling every day.
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Like, um, and then uh I played sports, you know, very active as a kid.
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And uh eventually I had a stepfather moved us out to San Gabriel Valley, and that's where I spent most of my time.
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That's where he taught me, like uh restaurant and things like that.
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Yeah, that's where I kind of got started in the restaurant field.
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And um, but man, I wasn't a very good kid as far as academics.
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So uh I really honed that into art arts, you know, art being artistic, drawing and um and writing poetry.
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Yeah.
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There wasn't something cool though at my age.
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You couldn't like I couldn't be like, hey brother, look at this poem.
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You know, he would be like, shut the one, no, I was I grew up in a time where you couldn't smile.
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Like if I smiled in any of my pictures prior to like I would say 15 years old, you know, the uh they'd call me everywhere.
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This is what like the 90s?
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It's like about no about 2000s.
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Okay, about 2000s, and um, yeah, I just grew up in a uh, you know, a lot of brothers, five brothers, one sister, you know.
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I kind of get to do whatever I want, be out in the streets, hang out with my homies.
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Um, I didn't have too many rules growing up, so you know, I was always I was always I think I think when you give give a kid a lot of rules, yeah, you know they're breaking them all.
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My mom didn't give me too many rules, so there was nothing I wanted to do.
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I could have drank, but I didn't really want to drink because I could have drank, you know.
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I didn't want to smoke because I could have smoked.
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It just didn't seem as fun to me.
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Right.
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But um Yeah, I grew up and then uh uh went to uh Roland.
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I ended up graduating from Roland High School in Roland Heights.
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So I went from East LA and kind of went all the way through the Sangaba Valley.
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Yeah, ended up in Roland Heights, and then uh did my military service, did some restaurant, and then continued the whole entire time in writing and writing, you know, poetry, poetry, poetry.
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After the military, I got involved into music, and that's when my career just kind of like like right away.
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Um the first time I went into the studio, I was um I was published on an album, yeah.
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Which is very rare for anybody.
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I mean, that was the first time ever in the studio.
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From there, I ended up doing a few big shows.
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I performed like the uh House of Blues, yeah, when they used to allow hip hop, the Greek, um, the uh Rose Bowl I performed at.
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So a lot of good venues, and uh I kind of always just stuck with music.
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But uh that's awesome.
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Yeah, my real passion is cooking, like you know.
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Yeah, like I could I can make anything, bro.
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Like I'm a pretty good chef.
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Yeah, um, but you know, my my my best, my number one thing that I do is uh being a single father, bro.
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Like oh my gosh, my daughter, hey Steve, come on fathers, man.
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I gotta tell you.
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And single, yeah, single, but like I was saying, bro.
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See, I think, man, being thick being single, bro, being single and having a 17-year-old, dude, that is that is that's tough, man.
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Yeah, what kind of dad are you like?
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What are you a strict dad?
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Are you like a chill dad?
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I'm like uh I'm a chill dad.
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I'm the chillest dad ever.
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Okay.
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But I think um, you know, I was in the Marine Corps.
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Oh, right, so so my daughter doesn't get too much of a leash.
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But but now with these kids these days is you know how parents always like to think that that they weren't they weren't just as bad as their kids are now?
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Yeah.
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Like, bro, my daughter, when she's like, Dad, I'm coming home.
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Is it okay if I come home late?
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She's talking about like 10 o'clock.
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Yeah, yeah.
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She's 17 years old, so I'm like, Yeah, you better not come back at 11, you know.
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But even if she came past 11, bro, what am I really saying?
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You know, she's not out till four in the morning.
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Yeah, but I'm a pretty chill dad.
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You know, I like, I like, I think in this day and age, people say don't parent or don't be best friends to your kids.
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Yeah.
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Dead that, man.
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Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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Bro, you better know everything your kid is doing.
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You better know every person she's talking to.
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Right.
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You're still not gonna know.
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But they have these apps, they got Snap, they got Instagram.
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Actually, kids don't even like Instagram anymore.
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Teenagers.
00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:48.000
They don't, they're kind of done with all like the social media in general, to be honest.
00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:52.320
But all of her friends, luckily, she's got like some really good friends, bro.
00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:56.000
God has blessed her with some amazing friends around her.
00:10:56.480 --> 00:11:02.639
Um and she's been able to like lean on them when when when whenever she doesn't whenever she can't come to me.
00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:11.360
Yeah, she has like other parents, you know what I mean, that she can go to little mother figures because you know, obviously her mom, her mom left her with me after COVID, bro.
00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:12.799
I was just like, what the hell?
00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:14.080
How do you leave your daughter?
00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:14.720
Wow.
00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:16.879
She moved to Idaho.
00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:19.840
So I just became a single father instantly, you know what I mean?
00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:20.240
Right.
00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:20.720
Wow.
00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:23.200
But mathematically, she was like 11 at the time.
00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:24.399
Yeah, something about eleven, yeah.
00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:26.399
Dang, bro, you did that right now?
00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:27.919
I couldn't do that, bro.
00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:30.159
Dang, that was the powers of Steve right there, man.
00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:30.720
Thank you, bro.
00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:31.039
Thank you.
00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:32.399
Something left at 11.
00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:33.360
Yeah, at 11.
00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:38.720
And then um Yeah, I was just like, dang, like, what what do I do now?
00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:39.039
Right.
00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:41.919
But the the only thing I could do is like, well, I know how to cook.
00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:42.320
Right.
00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:43.039
You know?
00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:44.960
Um, so we're always gonna eat.
00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:47.759
Uh I don't know how to be like a mother dad.
00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:48.159
Right.
00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:57.519
And I it really got me away from like trying to be like let go of the Marine Corps way of lifestyle, yeah, or maybe way of thinking, and trying to hone that in.
00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:00.799
Basically, my room was a Raiders before, and then it became Hello Kitty.
00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:01.039
Yeah.
00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:02.639
So that's what happened to me, bro.
00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:05.600
So uh that's what it's been like raising a daughter.
00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:26.080
But dude, she's she's gonna graduate next year, and then you know that's awesome, and I gotta tell you, like, and like I know we're joking about single parents, but the idea of working a job, providing for a kid, and also being kind of because I believe that you know both parents are that's an ideal situation, you know what I'm saying?
00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:35.120
So to have so many responsibilities on top of having the blessing of having a kid and and having and raising him well is like an that's an awesome achievement.
00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:36.320
Yeah, thank you, bro.
00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:37.360
I appreciate it.
00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:44.080
Yeah, I mean I'm I'm not in any rush for her to get any older though, you know what I mean?
00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:48.000
Because like, dude, she's gonna be in college in like a year or so, you know.
00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:48.879
How has that been?
00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:50.240
Is it you feel like it's gone fast?
00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:55.360
You feel like it's yeah, at times there was slow parts, so you're just like, oh my gosh, it's you're already at 17.
00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:55.840
It's crazy.
00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:59.679
I feel like I feel like as parents, you're gonna get trapped into your children at some age.
00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:02.399
At some age, they're gonna be trapped in your mind that you love them forever.
00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:03.120
Forever, right.
00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:05.120
And you're gonna try to love all the ages after that.
00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:08.399
But once that age, for me, it's like around like nine or eleven, yeah.
00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:15.679
When she was just like, like, um I don't know, just uh every time I picture her, I can't picture her face right now.
00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:17.360
I picture her then, you know what I mean?
00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:24.240
Yeah, but what it's been like to I would say that their their influences are tough, bro.
00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:28.080
Like there's different drugs out there, you know, there's different parties out there.
00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:30.399
But for me, it's been okay, man.
00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:30.720
Yeah.
00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:38.320
I love being a parent, you know, and so will anybody, but you really wanna you really wanna take care of those years when they're young.
00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:38.720
Right.
00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.559
Because that's when it goes fast.
00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:44.879
And like right now, I'm like, I can't believe she's already 17.
00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:46.960
I don't even remember what happened at 13.
00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:47.360
Right.
00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.480
13 is 17.
00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:49.600
What what have we been doing?
00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:52.480
You know, I don't I don't I can't picture those years in my mind.
00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:53.840
It's been so, so fast.
00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.240
Wow.
00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:57.840
I'm sure when she's like 20, I'll think about her in her teenage years, you know what I mean?
00:13:58.559 --> 00:13:58.960
I don't know.
00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:01.039
Yeah, but uh either way, it's fun, man.
00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:01.600
It's awesome.
00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:07.200
And uh being able to, you know, have a daughter that understands, hey, dad also is gone a lot.
00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:13.279
You know, I'm doing a lot of shows, you know, I'm doing we're doing a lot of um live filming, we're we're gone as a single parent.
00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:36.799
I'm like, man, I also every show I make every show I do, every every live stream I do, I'm taking that time away from my daughter too, you know, and so it's a little balance right now between her being 17, knowing like, man, just in about one one year or so, she might be like, hey dad, uh I'm going to Alabama or something, you know, I'm moving to Arizona with uh with going to college or something.
00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.440
So yeah.
00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:50.399
So I'm just trying to hone in and and and and and just really like figure out what I feel like when they turn 17, it's like you got one more year to teach them uh how to cook an egg.
00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:51.039
Right, right, right.
00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:52.720
How to how to how to patch a hole.
00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:59.279
Well, not that I patch many holes, but you know, like you know, it's like that last year of like, man, I didn't teach her how to do this.
00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.879
Oh shoot, does she know how to do this?
00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:02.879
Like, man, does she know about taxes?
00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:14.000
Does she know about like so you're you're kind of in one of those rush modes no matter no matter what, um, no matter what you've taught them, once they hit 17, you're like, dude, um, they're they're adults now.
00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:15.440
Like, what am I gonna do?
00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:25.840
So as men, I feel like, and that's cool, because I I think as men, we we don't have necessarily that like nurturing aspect, it doesn't really come as natural to us, I feel like.
00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:29.360
And especially when you're saying how you grew up, it's like you didn't smile for a long period.
00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:31.360
Like that's just not you what you were supposed to do.
00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:44.080
The question is as a father, I've heard that your capacity to love just completely evolves into something that you probably never would have experienced if you didn't have a kid.
00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:46.720
Like, is that something that rings true for you?
00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:48.080
Or yeah, yeah.
00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:50.399
So so I'll give you another example.
00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:52.720
It might it might pick up Steve.
00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:54.639
So I lost my son, right?
00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:56.240
Yeah, about 11 years ago.
00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:05.759
That love I had for him on day one, even when he was in his mother's stomach before he got diagnosed, it already started developing, right?
00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:12.960
And then when you see him and you hold them, and before once you get over the oh my god, that's where babies come from, they really pop out of there nine months ago.
00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:19.600
Once you get over that for your first child, you're gonna be like, dude, you're gonna remember that you're gonna be like, dude, nine months ago, I literally what the heck?
00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:22.480
And once you get over that, that bond starts, right?
00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:24.960
That that whole like this is my kid.
00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:32.879
And for my even for my son, who has been gone, you know, almost 10 years now, I still feel that same love.
00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:33.360
Yeah.
00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:40.000
That same amount of love, that same passion, that same energy towards him, of him, and because of him, you know.
00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:49.200
And it allows me to, as I grow up, it's it's really a way for me to my kids help me mature so I can be a little bit softer.
00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:49.759
Right.
00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:53.759
I remember coming back from the Marine Corps, I served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:55.200
I couldn't even cry.
00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.879
I wouldn't be able to cry.
00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:59.600
I was at my grandparents' funeral, I couldn't cry.
00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:04.319
You know, I was emotionally um like taken away by everything that I experienced.
00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:11.200
And having children allowed me to like want to revisit unhardening.
00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:15.200
You know, when I realized I was having a daughter, I didn't want to be hard anymore.
00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:17.440
I wanted to feel like what was going on.
00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:19.440
Yeah, I wanted to feel what she was feeling.
00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:24.319
There was one time my daughter was driving a uh riding a bike, we're riding bikes, and she hit a pole.
00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:33.039
And I instead of me being like the nurturing, like the the the daddy, I I was just like, man, why why why aren't you looking out?
00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.880
Why aren't you looking out for the wire?
00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:39.519
Yeah, you know, and she and then at that moment she says, Dad, I'm okay.
00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:40.880
And she was a little girl.
00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:54.559
And that's when I realized, man, I gotta get rid of this, yeah, this whole what like there's there's this devil dog way to we call it devil dogging you, like like telling you what to do and making you feel like you didn't know how to do any of it on your own.
00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:59.359
So, you know, coming out of the Marine Corps, having a platoon and being in charge of lives, right?
00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:04.400
I hope people give me passes on there, but the only pass I need is the one for my daughter, you know what I mean?
00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:06.000
As long as she understands, right?
00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:13.039
But yeah, man, that love for her, as much as it's molded, it's never it's never been unconditional.
00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:17.440
And I don't really get some parents who like leave their kids or don't want to be parents.
00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:23.440
Yeah, even if it's your intent to want to be a parent, and maybe, maybe for some reason you're struggling on your own.
00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:26.240
Yeah, but man, the court wants you to be a parent.
00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:29.440
You know that some of these dads they lose their full custody.
00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:31.920
It's hard to do that these days.
00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.759
Yeah, it's really hard, bro.
00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:36.799
The court wants you to be part of your kids' life.
00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:38.880
So I was like, I'll take her 50%.
00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:42.720
Yeah, you know, and then after that, I'm sure I'll take her 100% too.
00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.839
I don't know what I'm doing.
00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:52.400
Yeah, I ain't got no playbook, I ain't got no manual, and I don't think a man has any business raising a woman, a little girl on her own into a woman, you know.
00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:55.200
I don't think that, but hey, right, I'll do it.
00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:56.960
Right, I'll do it, you know.
00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:08.799
Yeah, and that's and that's honestly in my personal opinion, that's like that's just all God and like yeah, putting seasons because you probably could look back in your life and go, that shouldn't have even worked, but somehow it did.
00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:12.079
Yeah, you know, like because you referenced the rain, I want to get into that too.
00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:18.079
Like, at what point from you go from the San Gabriel Valley to in Iraq in Afghanistan?
00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:23.599
Dude, so manifesting that's my first time I've ever manifested something in my life.
00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:30.720
Yeah, I remember in East LA playing with the GI, those little green guys used to buy for like two bucks, all those little guys, right?
00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:35.599
And I remember being like, Man, I want I would play Army versus Marines.
00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.000
Right.
00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:37.599
So that was my first manifestation.
00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:40.480
One day I want to I want to be a Marine.
00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:50.160
And when you really tell God that, he it really, the the not only God hears you, the world hears you, and you hear yourself, right?
00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:56.720
Then when I was in school, about fifth grade, yeah, I was in, I was in uh I was in school, it was about fifth grade.
00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:59.039
I did a report on one of the seventh grade wonders of the world.
00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:02.319
I had no idea the hanging gardens of Babylon were gone.
00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:03.200
No idea.
00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:04.720
And you guys know how big the world is.
00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:04.960
Right.
00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:06.880
Babylon's pretty far from here now.
00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:12.880
You know, Iraq isn't 18 hours away if you left from Riverside, and I know, because that's where I left from.
00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:15.200
I left on an airplane from March Air Force Base.
00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:15.519
Yeah.
00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:24.160
So um we took a long flight over there, and when I when I did that report, being dyslexic, I didn't do many reports, I didn't do much homework.
00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:27.519
Yeah, you know, uh, I graduated to 1.9 though.
00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:29.759
But I still graduated, bro.
00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:31.200
I still graduated.
00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:33.039
Shout out to all you you can do it too.
00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:35.599
Bro, I was like, I graduated with a D average, my boy.
00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:36.240
How do you do that?
00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:36.880
I never mind.
00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:39.279
I'm not gonna tell anybody how to be bad in school, man.
00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.079
Stay in school.
00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:42.319
But so I manifested that as well.
00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:48.319
I did that report, I picked that as the seven great wonders of the world, and when I read about it, I loved it because it was like the greenery about it.
00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:50.240
Boom.
00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:57.200
I joined the Marine Corps, I do stellar exemplary at the Marine Corps, I get so many awards, and guess where I end up?
00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:03.599
The hanging gardens of Babylon ruins in Iraq in the Marine Corps during the war.
00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.079
Wow.
00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:06.960
I was I might literally every part of my dream.
00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:08.400
I wanted to be in a war.
00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:09.359
I wanted to.
00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:10.160
I was one of those guys.
00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:14.319
You know, you join the Marines because you there's one Marine out of every three high schools.
00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:16.000
You can't a little weird already.
00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:16.880
You don't want to join that.
00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:18.319
Yeah, I want to go first.
00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:26.160
Yeah, you know, so that was the first time I ever understood manifestation when I was in the Hang Gardens of Babylon.
00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:30.480
And I was like, bro, the world is too big for me to be right here.
00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.519
That's crazy, yeah.
00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:33.839
Right now, like and what year was that?
00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:35.440
That was oh three.
00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.799
No, it was 2002.
00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:37.839
Yeah, it was 03.
00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:38.480
It was 03.
00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.359
Okay, oh three.
00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:42.319
Because I got August 2003 is when I got out.
00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:45.359
They flew me from Iraq straight out of the war.
00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:47.200
And how many year years did you serve?
00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:47.759
Four.
00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:52.160
So you enlisted right before, oh not right before, but before 911.
00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:54.720
So I I enlisted in high school.
00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.279
Okay.
00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:59.759
Crazy reason why that makes sense is because when I got flown out of Iraq, George Bush.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.839
Said they call it a stop date.
00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:05.279
Well, it's a stop loss date, but I'll t for you guys, it's a stop date.
00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:10.160
Basically, if you joined after this date, you have to extend a year.
00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:10.559
Yeah.
00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:15.039
If you joined before this date, you gotta get kicked out of the Marine Corps.
00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:24.880
And for some reason in high school, when I joined, that recruiter, if he would have been walking there one week later and I would have met him one week later, I would have had to stay there another year.
00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:25.680
Oh wow.
00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:28.319
But since he since I joined in that one week.
00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.599
Like right on the cutoff.
00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:32.000
Seven days before the stop loss.
00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:32.480
Wow.
00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:37.759
So um I had the choice to either go home uh or go or leave the war or go home.
00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.160
Yeah.
00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:39.680
So I did what anybody would do.
00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:41.359
I left it to my platoon sergeant.
00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:41.759
Yeah.
00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:50.720
And um about three in the morning, I was on a chopper, on a convoy, going back to uh going back to Ireland from straight from um straight from Iraq.
00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:50.960
Yeah.
00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:53.359
I didn't even know they fly people out of the war.
00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:59.200
Like, bro, just imagine like, hey dog, we're taking you out of the war right now, like you know, and they just fly you out.
00:22:59.359 --> 00:22:59.519
Yeah.
00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:01.279
I was like, when how's that moment?
00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:03.599
Because it's the last four years in your life.
00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:06.400
It has to be like uh wow, all right.
00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:09.359
Bro, no one's ever asked me that actually.
00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:18.400
That moment, that moment I was disappointed instantly because I was leaving my platoon behind and my brothers.
00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.039
Right.
00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:26.240
And then but Sergeant Rod, he said, man, because I had just came from Afghanistan too, yeah, prior to Iraq.
00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:33.519
So he Sergeant Rodriguez told me he's like, hey man, you already, you already kind of did your time, you know, you kind of already did your thing.
00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.000
Yeah.
00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:36.240
So and I was a platoon sergeant too.
00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:40.079
I was uh I was only a corporal, but I was I I was a squad leader, I should say.
00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:40.319
Yeah.
00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:44.079
But my staff sergeant got relieved, meaning like fired.
00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:47.200
And um, so my sergeant became staff sergeant.
00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:47.359
Yeah.
00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:50.160
And then I became platoon leader.
00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:52.559
And um And how many guys are in a platoon?
00:23:53.359 --> 00:24:00.079
About anywhere from 18 to 24, 25 guys, just tense, depends on on what your mission is that day.
00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:00.400
Right.
00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:06.079
Sometimes well your whole your main you have your main platoon and then you have your squads, and you kind of get broken down into like little things.
00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:20.799
But yeah, yeah, I just couldn't believe that like my life actually manifested into something, and then that that that same skill of writing every single day ended up like helping me today with my music.
00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:21.200
Right.
00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:24.640
So I I write about I write about experiences in my music all the time.
00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:27.599
People don't really probably hear it because it's very hidden.
00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.160
Right, right.
00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:30.480
But it's always coming from that military perspective.
00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:32.160
So I like it, man.
00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:32.559
I like it.
00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:32.960
I like it.
00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:35.920
Um how were those um those four years?
00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:44.480
And how would you say maybe serving or even what you encountered and what you saw kind of shaped your your mindset to what it is today?
00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:50.720
Yeah, I would say those four years were definitely the the like the staple in my life.
00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.799
It's the one that I pivot off of.
00:24:53.680 --> 00:25:00.880
I don't my attitude, my personality, um, Justin knows all the messing around that I do, right?
00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:07.599
Bro, it all comes from military jargon, military like like leaders, people that I've messed around with.
00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:15.359
Um, I wasn't too influenced by gangs and living in East LA or in the hood or by, you know, the style was the style.
00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.799
I got my brothers hand-me-downs.
00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:20.559
I had to wear 501s and white t-shirts, you know what I mean?
00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:23.599
But it didn't really, never really resonate with me like that.
00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:40.400
You know, I have a lot of love for people that I grew up with and my culture, my community, but those four years were the transitional point where um I came out like a whole totally different person as far as like um what I think everybody should join the Marine Corps.
00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:43.039
Um, not the Marine Corps, but everybody should join the military a few years.
00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:50.480
Even if maybe it had a program where you do like two years active and one year reserve, I think it just squares people away, bro.
00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:50.799
Right.
00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:54.960
It just like kind of lines you up to like there's another whole world out there.
00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:55.279
Right.
00:25:55.440 --> 00:26:01.279
And it takes that snow globe away from from like, bro, people have never left the state.
00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:01.680
Right.
00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:03.839
I know people who've never left the country.
00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.240
Yeah.
00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:12.400
And I'm like, whoa, man, you have no idea what and I hate to be the one, oh, you don't know what life is like, but no, but some people generally don't know what life is like.
00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:17.599
Everybody's everybody needs a true seek under seek of understanding of what life is, right?
00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.000
Right.
00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:22.319
But that is that is variable based on you know your knowledge.
00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:26.559
I I think there's some, my daughter recalling it, there's some there's Disney moms out there.
00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.039
Yeah, yeah.
00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:28.000
You know what I mean?
00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:30.640
Where they still just want to go to Disneyland, bro.
00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:32.720
They don't want to marry you or date you, bro.
00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:35.440
But if you want to meet them at Disneyland, go ahead.
00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.079
You know what I mean?
00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:37.759
Like with the Mickey Mouse.
00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:41.759
Yeah, like they're still there's still 40-year-olds wearing Mickey Mouse ears, you know.
00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:44.640
So I guess how happy you want to be, but nuts on the Disney adults.
00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:46.880
Oh no, I love Disney single moms too.
00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:47.920
Yeah, Disney Disney moms.
00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.480
That's right.
00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:54.559
But what was what was your favorite thing to do?
00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:59.519
Like, because uh my two brothers are uh well, they're out of the military now, but they were both officers.
00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:04.079
One was stationed in uh Japan, and then the other one was stationed in uh North Carolina.
00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:06.799
So they wait, so they were one was a Marine.
00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.680
They're both Marines.
00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.400
Both Marines, right?
00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:10.160
North Carolina, but they were they were officers.
00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:11.039
So they went to officer.
00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:12.400
The other ones in North Carolina.
00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:16.240
Yeah, and you actually North Carolina was was a was the training bases right there.
00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:19.680
Yeah, I don't honestly don't have no idea what he did, but they were they were officers.
00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:28.720
So they they went to officer candidate school and then they yeah, but people also talk to me about that because I hear enlisted hate a lot of the officers because they're kind of stuck.
00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:34.160
I mean, bro, it's like saying you went to college or you from the streets.
00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:35.279
You know what I mean?
00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.480
Yeah, right.
00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:39.519
But bro, rounds down range, it didn't matter to me.
00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.079
Right, right, right.
00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:45.200
You know, you know who who you really don't like is is it's enlisted versus versus active duty.
00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:51.759
Oh so I mean officer, I mean I I was with the Marine Corps, I was with First LAR, which is a pretty elite unit in the Marine Corps.
00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:53.839
It's a light armor reconnaissance unit.
00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.160
Okay.
00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:55.920
So the funnest, I got the funnest parts.
00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:00.000
I got the cool training, I got cool little little missions, things like that.
00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:00.319
Right.
00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:04.799
But when it came to our officers, man, like Were you infantry?
00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:05.759
No, no, no.
00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:15.039
I was um so my I was with communications transportation, and I eventually went to I got picked to go to a unit called uh First Line Armor Reconnaissance.
00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:17.119
They're they're the the Highlanders is their name.
00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.559
They call them the Highlanders.
00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:22.799
Um it's uh it's right around right off of 41 area exit off the five.
00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:23.279
Okay.
00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:26.720
Um, but that unit was pretty cool.
00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:31.920
So the officers, the captain, I mean, the captain made me fight, bro, on a ship.
00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:46.640
Yeah, like we went to uh Puerto Vallarta on a on a cruise, yeah, and we took our whole unit, and the captain made me fight all uh against the Navy, the Navy because I said I was from East LA, I was Mexican, I was new to the unit, and I had to prove myself.
00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:49.039
Well, so it was kind of like an initial fashion kind of thing.
00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:51.359
I fought just some random dude, some random guy.
00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.720
I yeah, I knocked him out.
00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:57.680
Okay, yeah, oh yeah, bro.
00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:07.599
That dude, that would be like um like one of those old like like uh blood sport kind of movies of that and a flight club or something.
00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:14.079
A flight club, and it's literally I'm walking up the deck and I'm just like I'm like Did he give you any like dude with small gloves?
00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:21.200
So so walking up the deck, I literally came um right off the mess, right off the mess, the the mess line.
00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:24.319
And they're like, hey goozy, they're like that's what they call me, goozy.
00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:27.920
They're like, hey goozy, remember, remember you said you wanted to approve yourself?
00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:32.160
Yeah, that you remember we told you you're gonna need a uh you're gonna get a chance to prove yourself?
00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:34.240
Yeah, I was like, yeah, dog, yeah.
00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:35.440
He's like, yeah, right now.
00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.400
And I'm like, what?
00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.599
What what what's going on?
00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:40.400
And he's like, bro, we're doing smokers upstairs.
00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:43.680
And smokers is like Army, I mean it's Marine Corps versus Navy.
00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:43.920
Right.
00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:49.519
And it's just however you want to fight, you could either box, you could grapple, or you could just go all out.
00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:49.839
Right.
00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:54.160
And um, and so he's like, bro, you're gonna be boxing this dude in the Navy.
00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:59.119
Yeah, so man, I'm walking up there, they're putting gloves on me, and I'm like, what the heck?
00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:01.200
I'm like, damn, bro, I can't even stretch.
00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:05.279
They took the mouthpiece out of my homie, they rinse it off, they're like, boom.
00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:06.559
I'm like, damn, let's go.
00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:07.759
But we're Marines, bro.
00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:08.960
It's it's all crazy like that.
00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:16.319
There's a school circle, like probably around this fight, and then yeah, we start fighting, it ends very like within 20 seconds, it's over.
00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:16.960
Oh my god.
00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:18.640
And um, no offense to the Navy.
00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:21.440
I I don't see the I see the Marines beating him up.
00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:23.279
He was a he's a little Filipino guy.
00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:25.759
He was taller than me, but he was he was he was skinnier than.
00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:27.279
I was already skinny, bro.
00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.400
I was like 137.
00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:28.799
Dang.
00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:34.640
Yeah, in the Marine Corps, like when I was a sharp little tool, and I was like a killer, it's like 137, bro.
00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:37.599
Like not big at all, but I used to Yeah, you get speed.
00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.240
Yeah, bro.
00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:39.440
I used to abilities.
00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:42.160
You see MMA fighters now, they're all skinny, but they're strong, right?
00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.279
It's like the Ryan Garcia.
00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:47.920
Now, Ryan Garcia is way bigger than like he's more he's more bulky.
00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:52.799
I wasn't I didn't need to be bulky for the type of uh things that I did in the Marine Corps.
00:30:53.039 --> 00:31:00.240
Yeah, yeah, I was more lean, more cut, more uh more quick, yeah, more more like I don't know.
00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:02.720
I'm little, so I could fit in small spots.
00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.200
You know what I mean?
00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.000
There we go.
00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:05.519
But you know, yeah, I was cool, bro.
00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:07.680
I I got to be in the best Marine Corps unit.
00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:13.039
Yeah, I got to be in the war, I got to serve the war, I got to see my dream, and now go ahead.
00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.559
No, that was great.
00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:17.119
First of all, I just gotta say click give it up for that.
00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:17.839
That's awesome.
00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:21.759
Um and first of all, I don't even say I don't know if say this, but thank you so much for your service.
00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:22.559
Thank you, bro.
00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:24.559
What are your thoughts on when people are like, thank you for your service?
00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:32.559
Does it ever get like annoying or like so no, it's always appreciated.
00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.039
Okay.
00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:36.480
Um now that there's a war, right?
00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:39.039
Um, even my daughter's asking me about the war now.
00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:41.359
Like, everybody's curious about like what is war like?
00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:47.440
There's actually Marines who have there's military people who have separation anxiety from not being able to go to war.
00:31:47.599 --> 00:31:47.759
Right.
00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:49.119
Because they wanted it so bad.
00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:52.960
Think about the humility it takes to say, like, I don't know you guys.
00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:53.599
Yeah.
00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:57.279
But hey, if there's a war, I'll die for you.
00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.000
Right.
00:31:58.160 --> 00:32:03.599
That's like a lot, a lot of uh, a lot of gangsters, like there's always this like gangsters military gang.
00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:06.400
It's like, bro, like I don't have a gang.
00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:10.160
My enemies don't look like my neighbors, and you look like my neighbor.
00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:14.559
My neighbor my my enemies aren't down the block either, but hey, I'll die for all of you guys.
00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:15.039
Right.
00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:26.880
You know, I mean, even if that's such a humble you get four years of your life to that, like you you have given your life to do those things and to serve.
00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:31.440
But actually, it it ties into something I was talking to Justin about literally yesterday.
00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:36.160
And I was telling him, like, dude, it's a bit of a longer question where it goes in.
00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:37.279
I'm I love basketball.
00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:37.759
Yeah, yeah.
00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:50.880
And I I was watching this interview because I love sports talk, and it was this the most recent MVP player, he plays in the Thunder, and they're doing this interview, and he's talking like, yeah, I'll never ever repeat an outfit, like I just never do that.
00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:51.680
Like that'd be great.
00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:52.880
Oh, yeah, yeah, I saw that one.
00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:58.240
And then I was just I remember I looked at Jess, I'm like, dude, it's so nice that we have like relatable stars in today's world.
00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:58.640
Yeah.
00:32:58.799 --> 00:33:10.240
And I was like, dude, and I I love basketball, and I'm not saying there's anything morally wrong with what he said, but I was like, dude, it it's sad that this is kind of idolized when we worship these athletes.
00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:10.640
Yeah.
00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:12.640
Realistically, he's he's good at basketball.
00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:13.119
Yeah.
00:33:13.359 --> 00:33:14.480
Like, how far does that go?
00:33:14.720 --> 00:33:14.799
Yeah.
00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:18.160
Like, dude, there's environment, military, teachers.
00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:18.319
Yeah.
00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:21.920
Teachers are shaping the future of the next generation.
00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:26.160
And yeah, we prioritize it.
00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:28.640
It's we look more towards the spectacle.
00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:32.559
And like the heroes we worship, even like an instance, like Michael Jordan.
00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:33.599
Right.
00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:39.920
He was a great basketball player, hugely idolized and looked up to in today's culture.
00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:44.000
If you look at him as a person, it tends to fade away a bit.
00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:46.079
He was a big absentee father.
00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:48.559
He was a huge gambling addict.
00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:50.559
Yeah, they get write-offs for that kind of stuff.
00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:51.119
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:33:51.680 --> 00:34:01.519
And I just was like, dude, the people who we really look up to, like, really should be someone who stood for something, who fought for something, who served.
00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:07.200
And that was just a huge disconnect that I more like realized just from that one small interview.
00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:11.599
Those those segues, no, I think you're absolutely right, bro, because I saw that same one too.
00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:21.119
The the segue from being in the military, there's just no way to learn where to go and be a leader at anymore.
00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:22.559
You know?
00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:23.599
And you're right.
00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:27.360
I I think everybody who served in the military should be in office.
00:34:27.760 --> 00:34:28.400
You know what I mean?
00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:32.719
I'm like, how are you in office campaigning and you've never served in the military?
00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:33.039
Yeah.
00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.320
Because that's pretty tough.
00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:36.239
It's pretty you can serve in the Coast Guard.
00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:49.039
I'm not saying you gotta go to the Marine Corps, but just the act of service for me is like anybody who served, I'm like, man, bro, just because I served doesn't mean, man, that person who just served four years, eight years.
00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:52.239
I I know I know um I know someone's getting out of the Marine Corps right now.
00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:53.280
Eight years.
00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:56.159
She was an infantry artillery sergeant.
00:34:56.320 --> 00:35:02.239
She had our artillery unit, she did eight years in the military, but there's not a good segue.
00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:03.599
Where do we put her?
00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:03.920
Right.
00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:06.400
So everybody knows what kind of boss she is.
00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:06.880
Right.
00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:08.000
You know, there's nowhere.
00:35:08.159 --> 00:35:08.800
And that's so funny.
00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:10.239
You just get out.
00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:10.800
Right.
00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:18.000
And then you got you she thinks her life's starting over, but those military people don't realize, oh no, we're looking for you to be the leader.
00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:18.239
Right.
00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:20.400
We still need you to lead out here now.
00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:23.039
There's just no, there's no quick way to get there.
00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:30.000
There's no there's nobody out there saying, hey, all of you guys who have joined the military, come over here.
00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:30.320
Right.
00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:33.360
I got a position for you, I got a job for you already.
00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:35.599
I got a leadership position for you right now.
00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:38.000
Sorry to pay well.
00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:40.960
Um, one of the things I love.
00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:42.159
I have a friend, a close friend.
00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:44.000
I also worked in the restaurant industry for very long.
00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:44.960
Yeah, yeah, good.
00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:49.119
Um I I was a server at some fancy Beverly Hills restaurant.
00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:54.480
And there'd be interesting clientele, there'd be struggling days, you get snapped out or whatever.
00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:58.159
I really struggled because I'm a very loyal person by nature.
00:35:58.400 --> 00:36:01.840
I think a lot of it has to do with how I grew up, part of it's just instinct.
00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:10.000
But one thing I loved about one of my coworkers who'd been in the military for years, he had this loyalty like ingrained in him.
00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:10.480
Right.
00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:14.000
And he had, and I would mention it to him, he's like, Yeah, dude, no one's left behind.
00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:17.679
He'd always say that, and he's like, Yeah, that's that's what I learned my whole life.
00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:23.679
Because especially in today's world of business, it's business first before people.
00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:31.599
They'll walk all over you if it means they'll make more money, or they'll drop you without a second thought if it's better for the business.
00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:38.159
And I I love how oriented it is to people, and like that focus, no one left behind.
00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:43.760
And truly I loved working with the dude because it was so much bigger, the person.
00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:44.559
Anything could happen.
00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:45.920
He's like, No, no, no, make sure you're okay.
00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:48.079
He'd check up, nothing's bigger than the mission.
00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:48.559
Exactly.
00:36:48.719 --> 00:36:51.039
Everything became second to you.
00:36:51.760 --> 00:36:57.280
And I loved his um just his care, but also he he'd stand up for you.
00:36:57.360 --> 00:37:01.440
I guess we'd yell, he'd come up and be like, absolutely not, this, that, don't talk to him like that.
00:37:01.679 --> 00:37:05.840
And he was really there and he just had your back no matter what.
00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:06.320
Yeah.
00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:12.719
And that was such a refreshing um characterization that I also find very rare.
00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:22.719
Because I understand everyone, like, you know, do what's best for you, but few people go out of their way to also make sure and like really care for you because they're so concerned in themselves.
00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:28.239
There's just like an extra tenderness that they know how to deal to be to give, you know, selfishness.
00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:28.719
There you go.
00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:31.920
Because they're putting the greater good above their own good.
00:37:32.159 --> 00:37:32.559
Yeah.
00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:38.559
Like you gave years of your life to go serve in that war to protect for our freedom.
00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:41.679
So you reminded me of a story that I don't I don't ever tell.
00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:46.719
And I'll say it here because you're literally speaking on it right now, and it's not has nothing to do with me.
00:37:46.960 --> 00:38:02.639
Uh one day when I was there in Babylon, um there was a loud bang, and um what they did is they shot down one of our choppers, one of our uh cobras, got shot down, it landed in the Euphrates River, which you guys know, right?
00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:11.599
Um two Marines jumped in to try and save the Marines that were in the chopper from drowning.
00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:13.760
Everybody died.
00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:21.920
And I was like, I was like, wow, I can't I can't believe those Marines they did it.
00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:39.199
They did like we get these Marine Corps stories of like heroes ingrained in us that these acts of service that you're talking about that like have nothing to do with who you are, but just giving your life for someone else, like making that ultimate sacrifice, and that's why they say never leave anyone behind.
00:38:39.360 --> 00:38:44.480
And when those Marines got to do that, that was their privilege to do that.
00:38:44.719 --> 00:38:47.760
Yeah, they felt privileged to go do that, you know.
00:38:49.280 --> 00:38:54.000
We we didn't what we ended up doing is taking out our freezer.
00:38:54.480 --> 00:39:02.400
We took out all of our rations for for ever the whole, the whole, the whole, our whole everybody that came, we took over Saddam's palace.
00:39:02.719 --> 00:39:10.559
And everybody that came there with us, we emptied all of our meal rations out that we had stored and we put the bodies in there so we could bring them home.
00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:11.119
Wow.
00:39:11.360 --> 00:39:12.480
Because forget the food.
00:39:12.800 --> 00:39:13.360
Who cares?
00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:17.119
I don't eat for like four days, whatever, you know, I'll get some bread or something.
00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:17.599
Yeah.
00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:21.519
We put the bodies in in the freezer and and we send it back to the rear.
00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:23.199
Never leave them behind.
00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:24.719
Like, that's your guarantee, bro.
00:39:24.800 --> 00:39:26.079
I'm never gonna leave you behind.
00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:27.199
Yeah, yeah.
00:39:27.440 --> 00:39:31.360
It's really important for like military people to have their last wishes.
00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:31.840
Yeah.
00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:42.400
That's why I'm glad when people die, whether you're broke or poor, if you were a vet and something happened to you, you you get your you get at least your your your military taps, you know what I mean?
00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:43.679
That is so special.
00:39:43.840 --> 00:39:48.079
Yeah, it is my uncle, uh, who I'd only met a few times.
00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:49.679
Uh I went to his funeral.
00:39:49.840 --> 00:39:50.079
Yeah.
00:39:50.239 --> 00:39:53.440
He lived uh mostly in Puerto Rico and Florida.
00:39:53.760 --> 00:39:54.079
Gotcha.
00:39:54.400 --> 00:39:55.920
I went to his funeral, he'd served.
00:39:56.079 --> 00:39:58.000
And they came in and did the trunk call.
00:39:58.400 --> 00:39:59.280
Yeah, how did that feel?
00:39:59.440 --> 00:40:01.840
Like the first time that was the first time you you experienced it?
00:40:02.079 --> 00:40:04.880
It was the first time I'd experienced it, and they came, they folded the flag.
00:40:05.039 --> 00:40:05.199
Yeah.
00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:07.119
That gesture, it really meant so much.
00:40:07.280 --> 00:40:07.920
Feel some, huh?
00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:11.679
And they went to his wife, yeah, said a few words, handed her the flag.
00:40:11.840 --> 00:40:12.639
That means so much.
00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:13.280
It really did.
00:40:13.440 --> 00:40:14.880
And also there's like a pride.
00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:15.280
Yeah.
00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:15.679
Yeah.
00:40:15.840 --> 00:40:17.679
And it's like, because it's a brotherhood.
00:40:17.760 --> 00:40:22.400
And you're really signifying, you're also thinking, and it's it's the the last call.
00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:22.719
Yeah.
00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:23.760
It's so moving.
00:40:23.920 --> 00:40:24.400
It really was.
00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:25.679
And I No, go ahead.
00:40:25.840 --> 00:40:26.480
Joe, go ahead, go ahead.
00:40:26.559 --> 00:40:26.960
You're the same.
00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:36.320
No, I like I like how much people I like how people have a send-away, and then when you leave, it reminds people, wow, how heroic was this person.
00:40:36.400 --> 00:40:47.760
You know, no matter what they did, like I still have friends today that that tell me, hey, I remember when you were in the Marine Corps, bro, and how much you were you you inspired all of us when I was in high school.
00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:50.960
We couldn't believe what you were doing out there, you know, things like that.
00:40:51.119 --> 00:40:54.639
I'm like, man, I'd really be impacting a few people once in a while.
00:40:54.719 --> 00:40:55.840
Oh, dang, man, I love it.
00:40:56.000 --> 00:40:56.239
Come on.
00:40:56.559 --> 00:40:57.280
Yeah, come on now.
00:40:58.320 --> 00:41:01.679
But it's uh because I wanted to go back to the perspective.
00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:11.920
I think right now, not to get into it, but just overall arching idea of perspective and not understanding, like there's a world out there, bro.
00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:18.480
I think one thing that I can personally talk to from experience is one, I have two brothers who both served as officers.
00:41:18.639 --> 00:41:22.000
My grandfather fought in World War II in the Korean War.
00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:30.719
And so I was just raised around be grateful for what you have because what you have people died and fought for.
00:41:31.039 --> 00:41:36.239
This this United States of America isn't free because we just happened.
00:41:36.320 --> 00:41:39.039
People go out there, they fight, they do this and do that.
00:41:39.280 --> 00:41:43.039
Um and it's so interesting too because I think you're absolutely right.
00:41:43.119 --> 00:41:48.000
I think for the most part, historically speaking, our leaders were generally.
00:41:48.079 --> 00:41:49.679
I mean, our first president was a general.
00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:54.800
You had all these guys who served and they were people, and I think even before that, it was the guy who led the army.
00:41:55.119 --> 00:41:58.239
The leaders, the king, the leaders were the ones that kept those motherfuckers.
00:41:58.400 --> 00:41:58.880
You know what I'm saying?
00:41:59.039 --> 00:41:59.199
Yeah.
00:41:59.440 --> 00:42:05.119
Biden and Trump couldn't okay, I'm gonna get imagined in the front of the anyway.
00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:09.679
I'm just saying, and I'm not uh not to get politics, but I'm just saying six three Biden could have did it.
00:42:09.840 --> 00:42:09.920
Yeah.
00:42:10.239 --> 00:42:12.159
See when Biden got grew six inches.
00:42:12.320 --> 00:42:12.639
Yeah.
00:42:12.800 --> 00:42:14.400
But Biden, if Biden was on a horse.
00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:16.400
Oh my god.
00:42:16.639 --> 00:42:19.920
If Biden was on a horse, yeah, the backwards, you'd be like, what the horse?
00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:20.880
Yeah, bro.
00:42:21.360 --> 00:42:22.159
Couldn't get on the horse.
00:42:22.320 --> 00:42:22.400
Yeah.
00:42:23.360 --> 00:42:24.880
He couldn't even get on the bike, son.
00:42:25.199 --> 00:42:26.480
Alright, we might have to cut that out.
00:42:26.559 --> 00:42:52.239
Anyway, um, so yeah, but it it's just to me, that was just a little side note that I wanted to add, because it is insane to me to think that like I'll see people that I'm just like, you don't live uh in the way to where you're like grateful for what you have, because I could like if you've been to other countries, for example, I was just stuck talking to somebody about this the other day, where the only place I've really been to is like Albania outside, and Albania was in communism.
00:42:52.960 --> 00:42:54.000
That's a communist country?
00:42:54.239 --> 00:42:57.920
Well, they were, but they they've been out for 20, 30 years.
00:42:58.159 --> 00:43:00.880
But since they've been, they appreciate life more.
00:43:00.960 --> 00:43:07.199
There, you see more people like Albania has the most amount of coffee shops per capita, and people are using it.
00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:14.480
There are old dudes on the outside just hanging, having a good time, they're talking, they want to have conversations because they're like, oh my gosh, we have freedom.
00:43:14.639 --> 00:43:17.280
They want to learn about religion, culture, things like that.
00:43:17.440 --> 00:43:29.920
And I just think that America, we've been in such a um uh a free age um for so long that I feel like we I'm not saying we need something like communism, but I'm just saying like uh culture.
00:43:30.480 --> 00:43:31.280
Dude, a wake up call.
00:43:31.440 --> 00:43:32.480
Yeah, a wake up call.
00:43:32.559 --> 00:43:37.760
And I think that if look at and again, this isn't me, like I never would say that's a good thing.
00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:52.480
9-11 changed the attitude of America because once something huge happens, yeah, all those smaller things, like again what I referenced, like with all the issues in the world, you're talking about I'll never ever double wear an outfit.
00:43:52.960 --> 00:43:56.559
It's so out of touch, and you you stop and Yeah.
00:43:56.880 --> 00:43:59.519
Like that's that's what we're talking about right now with all the problems in the world.
00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:12.480
Like it it's just we prioritize um just spectacle over substance is how I put it yeah yeah for sure where if you actually go down to it something crazy happens you'll realize what's important real quick.
00:44:13.199 --> 00:44:17.519
When you're dying, yeah you don't a lot of things that you oh I want to go do this, I want to do that.
00:44:17.679 --> 00:44:18.559
That doesn't matter anymore.
00:44:18.800 --> 00:44:19.840
You want to be with your family.
00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:20.719
You know what I mean?
00:44:21.280 --> 00:44:26.159
Those priorities are so like shaded, we're just focusing on the wrong thing.
00:44:26.320 --> 00:44:39.920
Yeah, I wish there was a better connection between politicians and sports athletes who actually have uh influence, which it doesn't matter how you know, even your weakest NBA player has a huge influence on his community at home.
00:44:40.079 --> 00:44:42.960
Where he came from, that little little little town in in Wisconsin.
00:44:43.199 --> 00:44:43.440
Yeah, yeah.
00:44:43.679 --> 00:44:56.400
Like they have to but but why are I I've seen politicians um I've even seen it on TV where they're they're uh they're like acting like athletes don't have a real voice.
00:44:56.800 --> 00:45:03.519
And maybe they have an athletic voice, but it doesn't mean that you're in as an American, you you you have an American voice too.
00:45:03.920 --> 00:45:04.079
Right.
00:45:04.239 --> 00:45:12.880
You know, you could be a uh general, you can be a sergeant politician, work at McDonald's, work at Chipotle, um, or not have have anything, but you still have an American voice.
00:45:13.119 --> 00:45:13.440
Right.
00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:20.559
You know, and and I wish politicians do you really see politicians and athletes really like uh trying to?
00:45:20.800 --> 00:45:21.360
That's a good point, yeah.
00:45:21.519 --> 00:45:22.719
And and you don't, you don't.
00:45:22.800 --> 00:45:29.360
You you'll see actresses, you'll see actors um with politicians and things like that, but you'll never really see um athletes like that.
00:45:29.519 --> 00:45:32.639
But honestly, take your typical athlete.
00:45:32.880 --> 00:45:36.960
You know, you're we I I I know few people who are at athletes.
00:45:37.039 --> 00:45:44.880
I have I have people I know people who are playing at UC USC right now, and um as athletes, are you really growing up in politics?
00:45:45.199 --> 00:45:46.000
No, you're not.
00:45:46.320 --> 00:45:47.599
Your sports is your life, yeah.
00:45:47.760 --> 00:45:48.800
So everything.
00:45:49.039 --> 00:45:50.400
So it just gets kind of hard.
00:45:50.480 --> 00:45:52.719
Like calling Kaepernick, I feel bad for him.
00:45:52.800 --> 00:45:53.599
I mean, Jesus.
00:45:53.920 --> 00:45:55.039
I still think about that.
00:45:55.119 --> 00:46:02.159
Like, man, a guy put his knee down and lost his whole career, all of it, every little thing.
00:46:02.320 --> 00:46:07.280
It's like saying, I put my knee down and they kicked me out of the Marine Corps, and all those stories I just told go away.
00:46:07.440 --> 00:46:13.280
Uh you know, like now he tried to do in politics, but bro, you you were you you have to act, you can't do that.
00:46:13.360 --> 00:46:14.159
You know what I mean?
00:46:14.559 --> 00:46:24.960
So so once they once they mend that connection between athlete and politician in those local areas, you know, you ever see you ever see Lakers and Dodgers with our mayor in LA?
00:46:25.199 --> 00:46:25.920
Who's our mayor?
00:46:26.639 --> 00:46:27.199
Yeah, exactly.
00:46:27.280 --> 00:46:27.920
Like Jesus.
00:46:28.159 --> 00:46:29.679
I didn't know our mayor until the LA fires.
00:46:29.840 --> 00:46:30.719
Yeah, no, I still don't.
00:46:30.800 --> 00:46:31.440
Who is our mayor?
00:46:31.519 --> 00:46:31.920
Uh Karen?
00:46:32.159 --> 00:46:32.559
Karen Bass.
00:46:32.719 --> 00:46:34.079
Karen Bass's still a mayor, huh?
00:46:34.320 --> 00:46:39.760
Well, when do you ever see when do you ever see her with there's such a disconnect.
00:46:39.920 --> 00:46:40.159
Yeah.
00:46:40.320 --> 00:46:40.960
Oh, absolutely.
00:46:41.039 --> 00:46:44.000
Like the riots were going on and the Dodgers are are are playing.
00:46:44.079 --> 00:46:44.800
You know what I mean?
00:46:45.199 --> 00:46:50.639
You know, we got half the town, like, oh, I'm not going to the game, and half the town's like, let's go, Monkey.
00:46:50.800 --> 00:46:53.599
Let's go Shohei, let's go, Shohei.
00:46:54.159 --> 00:46:56.239
All the people that work, we're at Shohei's show.
00:46:56.639 --> 00:47:00.719
Dude, I gotta tell you, he's doing so many great things for the city of Japan.
00:47:00.800 --> 00:47:01.840
Or what what is he?
00:47:02.079 --> 00:47:02.719
Yeah, Japanese.
00:47:02.800 --> 00:47:02.880
Yeah.
00:47:03.119 --> 00:47:03.599
He's Japanese.
00:47:03.679 --> 00:47:04.000
Yeah, yeah.
00:47:04.079 --> 00:47:04.480
Okinawa.
00:47:05.360 --> 00:47:07.679
Um, so we talked about Marines, man.
00:47:07.840 --> 00:47:11.599
Uh the transition from Marine to musician.
00:47:11.840 --> 00:47:12.639
Mm, son.
00:47:12.800 --> 00:47:16.239
Talking about Marine to Marine Bongs and ready.
00:47:16.400 --> 00:47:17.039
Nice week.
00:47:17.199 --> 00:47:19.840
Now the transition from Marine.
00:47:20.960 --> 00:47:22.960
It's actually kind of sad, bro.
00:47:23.039 --> 00:47:30.000
Like another sad story, another look we'll say, like another another obstacle in our life that turns into triumph, right?
00:47:30.079 --> 00:47:32.159
Like my cousin was murdered.
00:47:32.320 --> 00:47:34.320
Oh, and I wrote a poem about it.
00:47:34.480 --> 00:47:34.719
Wow.
00:47:34.880 --> 00:47:37.840
And um, so I didn't really plan on getting in from military.
00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:41.199
When I got in the military, I wanted to be a head chef, and which I ended up doing.
00:47:41.280 --> 00:47:42.000
I was a head chef.
00:47:42.079 --> 00:47:43.280
I opened up restaurants for many years.
00:47:43.840 --> 00:47:44.800
Poetry as a kid as well.
00:47:44.880 --> 00:47:47.039
Yeah, so I'd always done poetry as a kid, right?
00:47:47.119 --> 00:47:48.239
I just didn't share much of it.
00:47:48.320 --> 00:47:58.000
But when my cousin got murdered, um I I shared it to my best friend, and he was like, Hey, he's like, bro, that's that's like if you took out this word and that, that's like some hip hop right there.
00:47:58.079 --> 00:47:58.719
Yeah.
00:47:59.119 --> 00:48:04.639
Then I called my other homie who was in music, and I was like, hey bro, I got this this verse I want to show you.
00:48:04.800 --> 00:48:05.119
Yeah.
00:48:05.360 --> 00:48:11.920
And then um, I would say within 30 days after that, I I was are I was shotgunned into music.
00:48:12.079 --> 00:48:12.320
Yeah.
00:48:12.559 --> 00:48:19.440
You know, um, luckily I'd volunteered with some veteran stuff, so that got me the the Rose Bowl, the Rose Bowl uh show.
00:48:19.920 --> 00:48:25.440
Um, so when I got to Rock the Rose Bowl, right after I got off stage, they signed me.
00:48:25.599 --> 00:48:25.760
Yeah.
00:48:26.000 --> 00:48:31.039
Yeah, because they didn't, they didn't what happened is the band that was on was a pretty legendary band.
00:48:31.199 --> 00:48:35.119
They sing Lowrider, Cisco Kid, all those old school like Latin songs.
00:48:35.280 --> 00:48:35.760
Right.
00:48:36.480 --> 00:48:40.239
Their mic dropped off, and we the whole Rose Bowl was there.
00:48:40.400 --> 00:48:40.639
Yeah.
00:48:40.800 --> 00:48:42.960
So they the band needs more than one mic.
00:48:43.119 --> 00:48:46.480
So the one mic that did work, the dude's like, hey, don't you rap?
00:48:46.719 --> 00:48:48.159
Yeah, I'm like, Yeah, I rap.
00:48:48.239 --> 00:48:52.159
He's like, Well, go up there, and like, because the MC was bombing, bro.
00:48:52.400 --> 00:48:54.000
He was going hip, hop.
00:48:54.159 --> 00:48:56.079
He didn't know what to do because it was just random.
00:48:56.239 --> 00:48:58.000
I was and I I was like, Alright, cool.
00:48:58.079 --> 00:48:59.760
So I remember I handed my daughter to him.
00:49:00.079 --> 00:49:00.800
What an opportunity.
00:49:00.880 --> 00:49:01.039
Yeah.
00:49:01.360 --> 00:49:01.920
Just out of nowhere.
00:49:02.079 --> 00:49:03.599
Yeah, I just volunteered as a veteran.
00:49:03.679 --> 00:49:06.800
I knew it was for veterans, and I was a veteran, so I just wanted to volunteer.
00:49:06.880 --> 00:49:09.199
And then they had put the veteran wall up.
00:49:09.519 --> 00:49:10.719
Have you guys seen the veteran wall?
00:49:10.800 --> 00:49:10.960
Oh.
00:49:11.119 --> 00:49:11.519
Yeah, bro.
00:49:11.599 --> 00:49:12.320
It's it's amazing.
00:49:12.400 --> 00:49:14.320
They they take it around tour, yeah.
00:49:14.480 --> 00:49:15.199
Okay, yeah.
00:49:15.440 --> 00:49:18.239
And um, and so they put that up and I volunteered.
00:49:18.559 --> 00:49:24.719
Ended up going on stage, and then before you know it, bro, I'm recording at uh Universal in like two weeks after that.
00:49:24.960 --> 00:49:29.519
So my transition, I would say, was like you're in music now.
00:49:29.679 --> 00:49:30.559
So what year is this?
00:49:30.719 --> 00:49:32.480
That was 2004.
00:49:32.639 --> 00:49:32.800
Okay.
00:49:32.960 --> 00:49:33.679
I think it was 2004.
00:49:33.760 --> 00:49:34.800
So this is like right after the morning.
00:49:34.960 --> 00:49:35.599
Right after the morning.
00:49:35.679 --> 00:49:37.679
I got August, I got August 2003.
00:49:37.840 --> 00:49:38.079
Okay.
00:49:38.239 --> 00:49:49.599
So I would say by then, by like a few more months later, I was already like not knowing that I was gonna have this huge musical career, which is now turned into I'm more of like, I'm more of like a performing artist.
00:49:49.760 --> 00:49:50.960
Yeah, I write a ton of songs.
00:49:51.039 --> 00:49:54.559
I have so many songs like in my computer, but I love to perform, man.
00:49:54.639 --> 00:49:56.079
I love to do the shows of it.
00:49:56.159 --> 00:50:03.440
I like, I love, I love for someone to leave and they're like, they're like, wow, that guy right there, like I I would see that again.
00:50:03.599 --> 00:50:03.760
Yeah.
00:50:03.920 --> 00:50:05.679
I would I would see that show again.
00:50:05.840 --> 00:50:08.239
I'm not out there just performing songs, you know.
00:50:08.480 --> 00:50:10.239
To me, it's like performing some hip-hop songs.
00:50:10.320 --> 00:50:14.079
Yeah, it's like, bro, now I want to make sure the MC element is in there.
00:50:14.159 --> 00:50:14.320
Right.
00:50:14.559 --> 00:50:16.960
I want to make sure everyone in the crowd can relate.
00:50:17.199 --> 00:50:23.440
I think I think it's the ultimate entertainer, that entertain inner entertainment going, I just want you to have I mean the same with the comedy.
00:50:23.599 --> 00:50:26.559
You show up, you have a drink in your hand, all right, we're gonna have a good night.
00:50:26.719 --> 00:50:29.840
We might forget about the the suckiness of the day, the week.
00:50:29.920 --> 00:50:30.960
Yeah, you just have a good time.
00:50:31.280 --> 00:50:32.400
Just that escape, huh?
00:50:32.480 --> 00:50:32.639
Yeah.
00:50:32.960 --> 00:50:37.519
In terms of uh artists, uh, one of my favorites is um J.
00:50:37.679 --> 00:50:38.000
Cole.
00:50:38.239 --> 00:50:38.400
Yeah.
00:50:38.639 --> 00:50:42.320
Just because as you were saying, he raps about such deep topics.
00:50:42.559 --> 00:50:42.880
Yeah, J.
00:50:43.039 --> 00:50:43.920
Cole was one of my favorites.
00:50:44.400 --> 00:50:50.239
Listening to his lyrics, uh really just I I love it.
00:50:50.719 --> 00:50:50.880
Yeah.
00:50:51.199 --> 00:50:52.800
I I could just really talk forever.
00:50:53.199 --> 00:51:01.119
Talk a little bit about having those meaningful lyrics as you were saying, and it's the story and really rapping about that meaningful thing.
00:51:01.280 --> 00:51:10.480
Because there's a lot of music that sometimes a little bit more about just more fun and all that, which is good, but I love kind of those those songs have always been more of my favorite.
00:51:10.639 --> 00:51:16.800
So I think I think the fact that I once I started getting into hip hop, all of my homies, it was like true hip-hop.
00:51:16.880 --> 00:51:17.039
Right.
00:51:17.199 --> 00:51:21.920
Like there's one mic, six people, who has the best verse, you're gonna go record.
00:51:22.000 --> 00:51:23.039
Everybody else better wait.
00:51:23.119 --> 00:51:24.480
Yeah, that was my kind of hip-hop.
00:51:24.559 --> 00:51:26.880
I had to freestyle, you know what I mean?
00:51:27.039 --> 00:51:28.000
I used to love J.
00:51:28.239 --> 00:51:32.719
Cole, and then when you back out of a rap battle, bro, I can't I can't get over.
00:51:32.960 --> 00:51:34.159
I still can't get over that, bro.
00:51:34.400 --> 00:51:34.639
Okay, yeah.
00:51:34.880 --> 00:51:36.320
Did you hear his his song?
00:51:36.480 --> 00:51:37.679
I did not hear his new album.
00:51:37.760 --> 00:51:40.320
If he had a song about it, yeah.
00:51:40.559 --> 00:51:41.039
He response.
00:51:42.239 --> 00:51:43.360
Bro, we're from LA, man.
00:51:43.599 --> 00:51:47.840
Once you said, once you said you're out, I I've never listened to J.
00:51:48.000 --> 00:51:48.800
Cole since, bro.
00:51:49.039 --> 00:51:52.079
But he kind of gave a free he kind of gave a forewarning about it.
00:51:52.880 --> 00:51:55.760
But he was talking about like, I'll never like be for the nigga for nothing.
00:51:55.840 --> 00:51:58.880
If I'll if I be a rapper's gonna be legit, it won't be for cloud.
00:51:59.119 --> 00:52:00.800
But this one was this one was lit.
00:52:01.039 --> 00:52:01.840
This one was legit.
00:52:02.800 --> 00:52:03.039
Okay.
00:52:03.360 --> 00:52:03.519
Yeah.
00:52:03.760 --> 00:52:04.719
You gotta promise me.
00:52:04.880 --> 00:52:08.480
Alright, he wrote this song specifically about him backing out.
00:52:08.719 --> 00:52:09.760
And by the way, we love J.
00:52:09.920 --> 00:52:10.079
Cole.
00:52:10.159 --> 00:52:10.400
Dang it.
00:52:10.719 --> 00:52:12.400
It's called Port Uh Port Antonio, I think.
00:52:12.719 --> 00:52:12.880
Yeah.
00:52:13.440 --> 00:52:14.159
Gotta listen to that.
00:52:14.400 --> 00:52:15.280
I'll listen to it.
00:52:15.599 --> 00:52:17.119
One of my favorite songs he's ever.
00:52:18.079 --> 00:52:20.559
I gotta consider that I'm also in music, right?
00:52:20.639 --> 00:52:22.719
So I'll listen to Port Antonio.
00:52:23.039 --> 00:52:31.280
So being in music, bro, if if when you're in music and you write music too, bro, you know how many people are in it.
00:52:31.599 --> 00:52:37.599
Bro, what once you once you're once you're gone, yeah, like bro, there's too many, there's too many new artists coming in.
00:52:37.679 --> 00:52:41.280
You know, I'm like, I'm like uh, I'm still on Scissor, you know what I mean?
00:52:41.360 --> 00:52:43.840
I think I still think Scissors album is way better.
00:52:44.000 --> 00:52:45.599
I'm still on SOS, my boy.
00:52:45.679 --> 00:52:46.159
You know what I mean?
00:52:46.880 --> 00:52:49.519
Um, um I used to be a big, big, big J.
00:52:49.679 --> 00:52:50.239
Cole fan.
00:52:50.320 --> 00:52:50.880
Thanks, Steve.
00:52:51.039 --> 00:52:52.320
Appreciate it, my boy.
00:52:52.559 --> 00:52:59.760
Um, but I would say for me, my creative hip hop is I'm writing too much music to listen to anybody.
00:53:00.159 --> 00:53:01.599
You know, I'm writing too many songs.
00:53:01.760 --> 00:53:02.480
I got a show.
00:53:02.639 --> 00:53:06.239
I just got booked this morning, bro, for the for J Electronica in Vegas.
00:53:06.320 --> 00:53:09.039
I'm gonna go back to Vegas and do another show.
00:53:09.360 --> 00:53:10.480
And then probably, yeah.
00:53:10.639 --> 00:53:15.119
And then and then they called me back for another show with um MC Magic and Baby Bash.
00:53:15.199 --> 00:53:15.360
Yeah.
00:53:15.599 --> 00:53:16.400
30 days later.
00:53:16.559 --> 00:53:19.360
So baby, slow-mo's got a lot of music.
00:53:19.599 --> 00:53:24.480
I got a lot of music coming up, but what you can expect from mine is that there's some hip-hop in there.
00:53:24.559 --> 00:53:30.639
There's some real, like, I have this one um song that kind of starts off slow, a little more artistic.
00:53:30.800 --> 00:53:34.159
But once you get into that verse, no one's rapping better than that, you know.
00:53:34.239 --> 00:53:34.400
Right.
00:53:34.559 --> 00:53:37.440
I said, like, um, Cry Lawn Maps, the streets.
00:53:37.679 --> 00:53:43.679
We push the tears down and force to pick between Montana tips or the grips we squeeze.
00:53:44.079 --> 00:53:51.039
So translation is like like um, you know, if you think about that, you you like which one you gonna pull?
00:53:51.199 --> 00:53:53.920
Which one you pulling that trigger or you pulling that spray cam, bro?
00:53:54.000 --> 00:53:56.960
Pick one because it's the kind of kind of life we live in out here.
00:53:57.039 --> 00:53:59.360
But who's your uh who's some of your influences?
00:54:00.000 --> 00:54:06.880
Oh man, uh Ludicrous, Ludif Master P and the All the No Limit.
00:54:06.960 --> 00:54:09.360
I would say Twister, you know.
00:54:09.519 --> 00:54:15.760
Um but other than hip-hop, bro, you're talking about my I grew up by my a single mom, you know.
00:54:15.840 --> 00:54:24.320
So I grew up with uh um Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Minnie Ripperton, you know, Edda James, people like that, you know.
00:54:24.480 --> 00:54:28.800
So Motown, um oldies, Jackson 5, temptations.
00:54:29.039 --> 00:54:32.320
So I got a little um a lot of my music too is is slowed down.
00:54:32.480 --> 00:54:33.760
I slowed down hip hop, you know.
00:54:33.840 --> 00:54:36.719
Yeah, but I always talk about God in all of my music.
00:54:36.800 --> 00:54:40.559
You'll hear a little bit of God, you'll hear a little militar military, you know.
00:54:40.639 --> 00:54:45.039
I talk about um I talk to the people in LA, you know.
00:54:45.199 --> 00:54:52.800
Um I there's a lot of like I said, I didn't join a gang, but you know, you either joined a gang or joined the military where I'm from.
00:54:52.880 --> 00:55:03.360
So a lot of my homies that do or are involved with that type of life, um, they do lean on me for for an out or for a a good a good different type of perspective in life.
00:55:03.440 --> 00:55:09.760
I've had people crying on my shoulders, so I um I always put that in my music to make sure there's a good perspective.
00:55:09.920 --> 00:55:17.039
I always tell my homeboys, anytime they come to me, I'm like, hey dog, make sure you celebrate your wins, bro, because I know you feel the losses.
00:55:17.519 --> 00:55:18.880
I know you felt every loss.
00:55:19.039 --> 00:55:19.280
Right.
00:55:19.440 --> 00:55:22.079
And how many, how long does those lap, those losses last?
00:55:22.239 --> 00:55:22.480
Right.
00:55:22.639 --> 00:55:24.480
Sometimes 45 days, right?
00:55:24.719 --> 00:55:25.039
Two weeks.
00:55:26.000 --> 00:55:32.159
You know, and then your win, your win, you you you you you gotta you gotta um your check came in$50 higher than you thought it was.
00:55:32.239 --> 00:55:33.119
That's a win right there.
00:55:33.199 --> 00:55:34.239
How long you celebrate that?
00:55:34.400 --> 00:55:34.639
Right.
00:55:34.880 --> 00:55:35.599
Two seconds.
00:55:35.760 --> 00:55:36.079
Yeah.
00:55:36.320 --> 00:55:41.280
You know, instead of really getting on your knees saying, God, I didn't expect this, but it's here for me now.
00:55:41.360 --> 00:55:41.519
Right.
00:55:41.679 --> 00:55:44.880
You know, like the more we can get to that, the better it's gonna be.
00:55:44.960 --> 00:55:47.599
I have one song, it's called Just Like.
00:55:48.079 --> 00:55:51.280
And really it's saying it's just like what I prayed for, man.
00:55:51.440 --> 00:55:53.360
It looks just like what I'm made for.
00:55:53.519 --> 00:55:53.679
Yeah.
00:55:53.920 --> 00:55:57.119
We pant the seed, it looks just like what I paid in full.
00:55:58.159 --> 00:56:00.239
Still pre-shake them when I'm crossing traffic.
00:56:00.320 --> 00:56:00.880
You know what I'm saying?
00:56:00.960 --> 00:56:02.719
I'm still gonna put that on the wall.
00:56:03.039 --> 00:56:16.480
But no matter what I've been through in my life, whether I'm talking about military dying, you know, my son dying in my hands, or my grandparents being killed, you know, like whatever it is, my life still looks just like I prayed for it.
00:56:16.639 --> 00:56:16.880
Wow.
00:56:17.039 --> 00:56:18.400
Still looks just like I'm made for.
00:56:18.639 --> 00:56:24.239
I'm still gonna, man, I it's still gonna look exactly like God's promise to me, you know.
00:56:24.400 --> 00:56:31.039
Yeah all of uh uh you know I promised future was my clothing brand, and it's it's really just talking about God's promise to you.
00:56:31.119 --> 00:56:35.599
Yeah, I'm promised a life of abundance and health, yeah, and wealth.
00:56:35.760 --> 00:56:45.679
Yeah, man, to me, my tummy's gonna be full, my pockets are gonna be fat, yeah, and I'm still gonna have the house, the car, the the girl and the woman, the daughter, the kids that I've always wanted.
00:56:45.760 --> 00:56:48.880
Yeah, it's still gonna look like that, no matter what I've been through.
00:56:49.199 --> 00:56:49.360
Yeah.
00:56:49.679 --> 00:56:51.280
With sorry, go ahead.
00:56:51.440 --> 00:56:56.719
Yeah, I was I was just thinking, because everything that you're saying, and also just thinking about like the time period of which you were starting out.
00:56:56.800 --> 00:57:00.159
You got out of the Marines 2003, started music in 2004.
00:57:00.400 --> 00:57:13.679
What's the difference between a dude coming out from where you grew up starting to hip-hop versus someone who's seen, oh, okay, I gotta I gotta maybe say that I'm I I have a struggle so that I can make it in hip-hop.
00:57:13.760 --> 00:57:16.239
Do you think there's ever like a fake flex now in hip-hop?
00:57:16.480 --> 00:57:16.639
Yeah.
00:57:16.880 --> 00:57:17.599
What are your thoughts on that?
00:57:17.679 --> 00:57:18.320
Okay, bro.
00:57:18.559 --> 00:57:22.400
I feel like there is, but that's just on backstage in every Hollywood show there is.
00:57:22.480 --> 00:57:26.159
If you don't know, if you probably see me backstage if you're in music at some point.
00:57:26.239 --> 00:57:32.159
If you're on the bigger shows, and I'll tell you what, man, there's a lot of fake flexing going on back there, bro.
00:57:32.400 --> 00:57:35.039
I've had, I know for sure I've had the largest.
00:57:35.199 --> 00:57:37.519
I won't, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not saying this to brag.
00:57:37.599 --> 00:57:39.840
I've had the lar the deepest pocket in the room.
00:57:40.000 --> 00:57:40.400
Yeah.
00:57:40.639 --> 00:57:43.360
And and it and it definitely didn't look like that in the room.
00:57:43.519 --> 00:57:44.159
You know what I mean?
00:57:44.320 --> 00:57:47.679
I'm like, man, there is a lot of fake flexing.
00:57:47.920 --> 00:57:50.800
But remember, we're not trying to be fake.
00:57:50.880 --> 00:57:53.119
We're artists, yeah, we're entertainers.
00:57:53.199 --> 00:57:53.440
Right.
00:57:53.599 --> 00:57:58.960
Just like when you go to a Las Vegas show and you see them wearing, you know, glamour and glitz.
00:57:59.039 --> 00:58:02.880
You think every every cocktail girl has real diamonds?
00:58:03.039 --> 00:58:03.920
Like, nah, they don't.
00:58:04.079 --> 00:58:11.119
But there is definitely there isn't a there is there is a segue though for anybody starting off.
00:58:11.280 --> 00:58:11.920
Right.
00:58:12.159 --> 00:58:24.559
And and the fact that there is so many tools digitally available for them to start creating, whether you're making beats, writing songs, whatever you're doing, man, just get creative and stay within your own realm.
00:58:24.639 --> 00:58:28.239
Don't feel like you need to write about gangsters, because not everyone's a gangster.
00:58:28.400 --> 00:58:29.760
And that's also something I noticed too.
00:58:29.840 --> 00:58:34.320
I feel like I think back because I also remember growing up and being like, man, like my dad's in the house.
00:58:34.400 --> 00:58:35.039
I can't be a rapper.
00:58:35.119 --> 00:58:35.760
You know what I'm talking about?
00:58:35.920 --> 00:58:36.559
Like, that's the thing.
00:58:36.719 --> 00:58:40.880
Like once I'd have, and then you have a Jack Harlow who's like, I'm vanilla baby, I'll choke you.
00:58:41.039 --> 00:58:41.519
I ain't no killer.
00:58:42.000 --> 00:58:47.679
So there it has, it has, but everyone has to be in the MM whether it came from Detroit or something, you know what I'm saying?
00:58:47.840 --> 00:58:56.320
Like Post Malone, he's he, man, he got he he went into music, got into rap, got out of rap, and then he used it, and now he's back to country.
00:58:56.400 --> 00:58:58.960
Now he's on podcasts and wearing camouflage.
00:58:59.039 --> 00:58:59.440
I'm like, bro.
00:58:59.840 --> 00:59:00.559
Talking about I don't know.
00:59:01.440 --> 00:59:03.360
He made White Iverson and got on out.
00:59:03.519 --> 00:59:04.480
You know what I'm saying, bro?
00:59:04.639 --> 00:59:13.280
But but that's that I like those songs, but I I wouldn't, I wouldn't, I hope Post Malone would have never tried to say he's a gangster, you know what I mean?
00:59:13.440 --> 00:59:15.119
Because then that'd be kind of weird.
00:59:15.199 --> 00:59:16.079
He's never done that.
00:59:16.159 --> 00:59:16.400
Yeah.
00:59:16.559 --> 00:59:18.239
So I'm glad that he's found his lane.
00:59:18.320 --> 00:59:20.239
And I've seen him live, he's amazing, guys.
00:59:20.400 --> 00:59:22.159
But he's my favorite artist.
00:59:22.400 --> 00:59:23.920
I'm really about the show.
00:59:24.079 --> 00:59:24.239
Right.
00:59:24.400 --> 00:59:30.960
If you could put on a show in front of me, and I tell a lot of artists that are coming up, baby, it's still about the music.
00:59:31.119 --> 00:59:35.760
I don't care how many shows you go, podcast, and how many things you do to promote yourself, bro.
00:59:35.840 --> 00:59:36.880
It's still about the music.
00:59:37.039 --> 00:59:37.280
Right.
00:59:37.440 --> 00:59:42.480
And once that music's out, if they go see you perform, yeah, and you can't hold that mic, right?
00:59:42.880 --> 00:59:45.119
Oh man, I feel bad for you, bro.
00:59:45.280 --> 00:59:45.440
Yeah.
00:59:45.679 --> 00:59:47.679
Because, you know, I'm gonna call it out first.
00:59:47.840 --> 00:59:50.320
You know, the fans are gonna call it out right away, you know.
00:59:50.400 --> 00:59:50.559
Yeah.
00:59:50.800 --> 00:59:53.440
I've had I've seen artists, hey, y'all ain't feeling me?
00:59:53.519 --> 00:59:54.639
Oh, y'all ain't lit.
00:59:54.800 --> 00:59:55.119
Yeah, yeah.
00:59:55.280 --> 00:59:55.920
Like, no.
00:59:56.079 --> 01:00:00.480
That's kind of like what a comedian bombs, and they're like, well, it was the crown, like, your joke suck, bro.
01:00:00.559 --> 01:00:02.639
Yeah, you try that anywhere, it's gonna suck.
01:00:02.800 --> 01:00:04.239
So, what's the future look like, bro?
01:00:04.320 --> 01:00:08.000
So you your music, you're doing music, uh, any acting or anything?
01:00:08.159 --> 01:00:08.719
Do you act?
01:00:08.880 --> 01:00:10.800
Bro, because I know you're in a you do skits and stuff.
01:00:11.360 --> 01:00:12.159
I do a lot of skits.
01:00:12.239 --> 01:00:13.440
People ask me to do skits.
01:00:13.519 --> 01:00:15.360
Uh, I've been trying to get into acting.
01:00:15.440 --> 01:00:18.239
Yeah, I just don't really know that avenue right now.
01:00:18.400 --> 01:00:27.119
I mean, even just being in a full-fledged entertainment, I've had, you know, now that I'm kind of like they know me as a as a performing artist.
01:00:27.280 --> 01:00:27.679
Right.
01:00:27.840 --> 01:00:33.440
Um, of course, my next my next one, I want to be like that old man, right, grumpier old men.
01:00:33.679 --> 01:00:34.960
I want to be that, those dudes.
01:00:35.039 --> 01:00:35.679
You know what I mean?
01:00:35.760 --> 01:00:36.960
Like sea bass.
01:00:37.039 --> 01:00:38.400
What do you mean, sea bass?
01:00:38.719 --> 01:00:40.960
We don't even need go fishing, you know what I'm saying?
01:00:41.039 --> 01:00:42.639
I want to be like one of those kind of guys.
01:00:42.800 --> 01:00:44.159
Obviously, I like comedy.
01:00:44.320 --> 01:00:47.599
I think that's why we're we're so cool, like when we hang out, man.
01:00:47.760 --> 01:00:49.280
Like, easy to get along with.
01:00:49.440 --> 01:00:57.199
But um I would I would say my music is at its baby infant steps.
01:00:57.360 --> 01:01:02.639
As much as I've done, as much as I've done for as long as I have, I'm still at the infancy of my music.
01:01:02.719 --> 01:01:03.039
Yeah.
01:01:03.280 --> 01:01:06.239
And um, so I really want to see what this album provides.
01:01:06.639 --> 01:01:08.639
The feedback I think has been amazing.
01:01:08.719 --> 01:01:10.800
I love that everyone has their favorite song already.
01:01:10.960 --> 01:01:11.199
Wow.
01:01:11.360 --> 01:01:13.440
So no one has the same favorite song.
01:01:13.679 --> 01:01:17.119
And I like that it's palatable, you know, people are able to listen to it.
01:01:17.679 --> 01:01:22.239
It's not, it's not really rap like that, it's not West Coast like that, you know.
01:01:22.480 --> 01:01:24.719
It's more like a chill lo-fi type vibe.
01:01:24.880 --> 01:01:31.599
So I think once that's out, I've been getting booked so frequently, you know, like and and what a blessing.
01:01:31.840 --> 01:01:32.480
You know what I mean?
01:01:32.800 --> 01:01:35.599
I've been getting booked like now two major shows a month.
01:01:35.760 --> 01:01:36.079
Right.
01:01:36.320 --> 01:01:40.960
So hopefully by the end of this year, I can have a better answer for you next time I get on here.
01:01:41.039 --> 01:01:45.280
Cause um, I'm really hoping that the music does what it needs to do.
01:01:45.440 --> 01:01:45.679
Right.
01:01:45.840 --> 01:01:48.800
Um, my music is infused with with God.
01:01:48.880 --> 01:01:49.760
It's influenced.
01:01:49.840 --> 01:01:51.280
I write every song for the crowd.
01:01:51.440 --> 01:01:51.679
Right.
01:01:51.840 --> 01:01:56.239
So there's no song I write that's for like for like my girlfriend or something like that.
01:01:56.480 --> 01:02:00.320
Everything is for even when I use words, it's more of like I want everybody.
01:02:01.599 --> 01:02:01.920
Yeah, yeah.
01:02:02.960 --> 01:02:07.360
So um I'm just hoping so far the algorithm's working, man.
01:02:07.519 --> 01:02:10.800
A lot of people are like, bro, I see you out there, but what are you doing?
01:02:10.880 --> 01:02:12.079
I'm like, you gotta come to the show.
01:02:12.159 --> 01:02:13.519
I'm selling 70 tickets now.
01:02:13.599 --> 01:02:16.480
Yeah, we're selling like 70 tickets, I think, last show.
01:02:16.639 --> 01:02:18.320
That's a lot of people, you know what I mean?
01:02:18.480 --> 01:02:22.639
Just for like a little opening act or whatever you want to consider me, performing act.
01:02:22.800 --> 01:02:31.440
Um, and then the promoters are all saying that, you know, uh the guys that we do music with, my whole camp, that we can be at any show.
01:02:31.519 --> 01:02:33.760
We can entertain anybody, and that's why they keep booking us.
01:02:33.840 --> 01:02:39.760
So I'm gonna keep rolling with that, bro, because you know, entertainment like ludicrous, that that'll find you when you get big enough.
01:02:39.840 --> 01:02:40.400
You know what I mean?
01:02:40.719 --> 01:02:42.559
I need that five million dollar paycheck.
01:02:42.639 --> 01:02:43.360
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:02:43.760 --> 01:02:45.199
That's all we're gonna use some of that.
01:02:45.360 --> 01:02:47.119
Yeah, any movies, anything like that.
01:02:47.280 --> 01:02:47.440
Yeah.
01:02:47.599 --> 01:02:48.400
Well, I love it, dude.
01:02:48.480 --> 01:02:49.760
Okay, so what what are your socials, bro?
01:02:50.000 --> 01:02:53.280
Give me your social is slow-mo underscore vision, yeah.
01:02:53.440 --> 01:02:56.000
S-L-O-M-O underscore vision.
01:02:56.320 --> 01:02:56.880
Heck yeah.
01:02:57.039 --> 01:02:58.880
And then uh my rap name, too.
01:02:58.960 --> 01:03:00.000
Don't find me on Spotify.
01:03:00.079 --> 01:03:04.800
Some guy has slow-mo, and he doesn't realize he's from the UK and all his music's coming to my account.
01:03:04.880 --> 01:03:05.360
Oh, yeah, yeah.
01:03:05.519 --> 01:03:07.280
And bro, I don't want the 20 bucks, bro.
01:03:07.440 --> 01:03:09.599
I just don't want people to think my music is yours.
01:03:09.760 --> 01:03:10.000
Yeah.
01:03:10.159 --> 01:03:13.920
This new album, Midnight, is gonna be um under Slow Mo Vision.
01:03:14.079 --> 01:03:14.719
Slow Mo Vin.
01:03:14.800 --> 01:03:14.880
Okay.
01:03:15.039 --> 01:03:15.360
Slow Mo.
01:03:15.679 --> 01:03:16.719
So just like my IG name.
01:03:16.960 --> 01:03:18.800
And you have a day for the release date yet?
01:03:18.880 --> 01:03:19.119
Yeah.
01:03:19.440 --> 01:03:25.840
Bro, before before this, before the show in Vegas, I need to have the album merchandise ready for that Vegas show.
01:03:26.239 --> 01:03:27.440
So that's when next month?
01:03:27.599 --> 01:03:30.320
Uh it's yeah, next month to yeah, next month.
01:03:30.400 --> 01:03:30.719
Shoot.
01:03:30.800 --> 01:03:31.679
So April 8th.
01:03:31.920 --> 01:03:32.400
April 8th.
01:03:32.639 --> 01:03:33.039
April 8th.
01:03:33.119 --> 01:03:34.320
So it's punch time, baby.
01:03:34.400 --> 01:03:35.039
You know what I'm saying?
01:03:35.199 --> 01:03:35.519
Yeah.
01:03:35.760 --> 01:03:37.280
You guys should come by, come to the studio.
01:03:38.079 --> 01:03:39.760
We we uh gotta make it one of your shows.
01:03:39.840 --> 01:03:43.119
Yeah, I'd love to definitely gotta come to the shows.
01:03:43.280 --> 01:03:48.400
And um, and then I gotta come, I gotta come to Justin's show too, see what she got going on, telling them jokes, baby.
01:03:48.639 --> 01:03:49.599
We'll drop some jokes, Jazz.
01:03:49.840 --> 01:03:51.440
But no, thank you guys for having me, man.
01:03:51.519 --> 01:03:52.320
I really appreciate it.
01:03:52.559 --> 01:03:53.199
It's been amazing.
01:03:53.440 --> 01:03:55.920
Thank you for telling me allowing me to share my story with folks.
01:03:56.719 --> 01:04:05.039
And hopefully somebody, somebody, uh, whether it was military, they're thinking about joining or becoming a music or whatever there is, hopefully somebody was influenced by it.
01:04:05.199 --> 01:04:12.719
Yeah, and I always I always like to end the show with like someone who's watching thinking about doing the military or thinking about music, what would you what would you say to them?
01:04:12.960 --> 01:04:23.920
I would say if you're if music is your dream and it's a real calling or whatever calling on your life is, like, stick to that and you're gonna eventually get paid for it a lot more money than you ever thought you would.
01:04:24.079 --> 01:04:40.639
And if you're if your dream is to join the military and you need that as a stepping stone, it is the perfect stepping stone to get yourself with some good benefits coming out, some good, uh, some good education, like not actual education, but like like different worldly type of education.
01:04:40.719 --> 01:04:40.880
Right.
01:04:41.119 --> 01:04:48.000
Um, working with people from all over the world, working with people from all over the US, different languages and cultures.
01:04:48.239 --> 01:04:50.239
It was the best thing I I've ever done, man.
01:04:50.320 --> 01:04:53.360
And I would never I would never take away my years of service.
01:04:53.519 --> 01:04:58.400
There was bad parts, there was good parts, but I think everybody should uh should stick to the callings.
01:04:58.480 --> 01:05:00.239
Those are two callings on my life, right?
01:05:00.559 --> 01:05:03.519
So, whatever the callings are on their life, man, stick to those.
01:05:03.760 --> 01:05:06.719
Stick to those and and then get paid a lot for it at some point.
01:05:06.960 --> 01:05:08.239
Become expert at it.
01:05:08.480 --> 01:05:08.800
There we go.
01:05:09.599 --> 01:05:10.800
Well, thank you for joining us, brother.
01:05:10.880 --> 01:05:12.159
I appreciate you hanging up, brother.
01:05:12.719 --> 01:05:16.159
Thank you so much for all the people that I that watched this episode of Rare Wave.
01:05:16.320 --> 01:05:17.840
And uh, we will see you guys next time.
01:05:18.000 --> 01:05:19.360
Yeah, friend father figures, bro.
01:05:19.440 --> 01:05:20.159
If you need memory.