WEBVTT
00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:20.960
Hi everyone, thanks for this episode Nicky in Science.
00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:23.120
On this episode, we have a powerhouse guest.
00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:26.480
We have the incredible Grammy Award winning multi-platform producer Dokish.
00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:35.520
Dokish has helped state modern hip-hop and is best known for MM's global hit We Made You, which crafted the award 100, top ten, and started worldwide.
00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:42.399
With over a two-decade amazing career, he's worked with legends like Willie Sunny Clan, Joe Bodden, KRS1, and many more.
00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:03.759
Welcome to the Multi-Talented Docus and thanks for coming on the podcast.
00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:05.040
Appreciate it, Nate.
00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:06.480
Thank you for having me on here.
00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:08.239
You're very welcome, my friend.
00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:10.159
Let's jump straight into it.
00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:11.040
Take us back.
00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:16.319
Tell us about your family, your life growing up, and um everything relating to that.
00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:20.879
Um it's it's it's it's it's a long, long story.
00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:27.120
But uh I basically uh um I grew up a little bit differently than most people.
00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:30.239
Um and uh I moved around a lot.
00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:33.280
I was born in uh Dallas, Texas, where a lot of people don't know.
00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:37.439
Um, but I was raised mostly on the East Coast and in the Northeast.
00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:50.959
Um and uh uh my family um history is like you know, the the the typical uh father leaves home, never comes back, uh goes out for a pack of cigarettes.
00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:55.280
But my mine was uh more chasing his uh his uh secretary.
00:01:55.439 --> 00:02:09.759
But um, and then so the man that actually uh took the place, um uh he was an African-American gentleman, so we grew up in a very uh interracial uh setting of a household.
00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:19.520
So um so I didn't grow up as a typical Irish boy who was surrounded by a bunch of mix and and and alcoholics and stuff like that.
00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:22.719
Um so it was uh it was definitely uh different.
00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:26.319
And it's funny because um growing up um I played sports.
00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:38.319
So like my whole uh life was all about um playing sports, being an athlete, you know, uh playing soccer, playing football, baseball, basketball, you name it, especially when Jordan came out.
00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:39.840
Everybody wanted to be like Jordan.
00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:46.800
So um, so you know, um I and then strangely enough, um I got sick a lot.
00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:49.199
So I had a lot of health issues growing up.
00:02:49.360 --> 00:03:03.520
Um, and they didn't uh I was hospitalized my sophomore year, and then I was hospitalized again my senior, but my sophomore year, um, they got scared and uh they wouldn't allow uh me to play sports anymore.
00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:15.520
So uh that turned into a lot of depression because my whole life was so set on sports, you know, going to college, playing it, you know, going, you know, hopefully go into the league and whatever sport.
00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:19.360
So who knew I had a hidden talent in music?
00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:30.000
Um and uh I found the outlet and started uh uh my boy Khaled, uh he goes by class from uh SUP out here in Hartford.
00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:36.080
He was making beats on the ASR 10, and I thought it was cool as hell, and I was like, you know, how you do that?
00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:38.639
But I I DJ'd in middle school.
00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:44.479
So I came up with you know some music background, but I didn't take it serious because I I took sports more serious.
00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:55.680
Um, but I used to DJ uh parties, uh uh seventh and eighth grade for high school kids, and uh that's how I I made a lot of my money was uh uh doing that.
00:03:55.840 --> 00:03:59.280
So I knew about blending, I knew how to cut and stuff like that.
00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:10.800
So um, so that part, plus my uncle, he was a drummer, so it helped, you know, the background of the foundation of making the beat, right?
00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:39.839
Um, and then that's how I got into the uh whole music stuff, and then uh by the time I was a senior uh in high school, um I got sent down to uh Virginia um and there was a uh record label that was under Missy Elliott and um uh uh Malik from M5 and he signed me and uh a couple members of my crew and uh and then we were on a label until the IRS came and uh shut it down.
00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:50.560
And then uh and then so I moved to New York City um and I lived in Brooklyn for a while, and I had a um I got my first production deal from there, and then everything else went from there.
00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:52.000
That's really fascinating.
00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:53.759
Wow, it's an incredible story.
00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:55.519
Yeah, it it's it's it's crazy.
00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:58.959
There's a lot of layers to it, but I'm trying to I'm trying to make it quick, you know what I mean?
00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:00.720
I get it, I get it.
00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:03.040
Um how did the name Donkeys come about?
00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:13.519
So it's funny because um my first name was Doctor Strange, and um and that was before like the Marvel movies and all that stuff was coming out.
00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:18.800
Um and so I thought it was cool because I always wanted to be a doctor growing up.
00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:26.560
So I was gonna play sports, but then my my overall goal was to go to school college and and uh uh become a doctor.
00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:29.279
So doctor has always been there, you know what I mean?
00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:31.839
Um and then because it was already a Dr.
00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:37.680
Dre and and it was um and then Strain Wonder came out from the uh Boot Can't Click.
00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:42.720
Back in my day, you couldn't have a name that was remotely close to anybody else's.
00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:44.000
You had to switch it up.
00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:46.560
So everybody liked Doc.
00:05:46.720 --> 00:06:04.800
Um, but we try to figure out like what um and then one day uh my boy Swift, who was part of uh my first rap group, which w which was DNA, Doc and Apollo, um he came up with Ish and uh was like what is it gonna, you know, what's it mean?
00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:13.040
And then because I was a rapper actually first and the producer, so like Doc was like the scientist, and Ish was the the artist, the rapper.
00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:14.959
So it was like split personalities.
00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:31.839
And my brother was like, Ish stands for intelligence surpasses hatred, because um my brother, um who was the the son of Herschel, who my mother was with, um coming from an interracial family, we were heavy on that, you know what I mean?
00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:34.720
So it was just crazy because I was like, yo, that's dope.
00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:36.480
And then we just rocked with it ever since.
00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:41.839
Like we joked around and be like, I'm so high, and and have other different nicknames for it.
00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:45.759
But um uh yeah, I was uh senior in high school when we came up with it.
00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:52.720
I tried to change it actually a few times to stuck it stuck with me, and I was uh I was Doc-ish forever.
00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:55.519
So, you know, I I like it now, you know what I mean?
00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:59.120
But you know, back then I was kind of like 50-50, you know.
00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:00.399
It's a tremendous thing.
00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:01.120
I love it.
00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:09.279
Tell me about your incredible organization, uh, In Your Head Academy, and how that came about and what it means to you personally and professionally.
00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:10.800
So that's a good question.
00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:18.079
So um In Your Head Academy uh started from In Your Head Productions, which was my production group.
00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:26.959
Um, and in 2007, I I finally figured out how to run after school programs and help kids.
00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:36.160
So for years, I was always helping out kids that had been convicted of violent crimes, um, kids that had been uh in gangs, locked up.
00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:40.240
Um and so we used music therapy.
00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:46.079
I thought it was cool if they learned, you know, production and and uh recording and engineering and stuff like that.
00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:51.519
Um and then it I didn't realize how therapeutic it was, not only for the kids, but for myself.
00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:59.920
And a lot of kids would, you know, tell their backstories or or or vent or handle their anger and frustration into something positive.
00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:05.920
And once I started um just running with it, we started having a lot of impact stories.
00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:10.079
A lot of kids that were in gangs were fighting literally before.
00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:15.600
Like I had one kid who literally got beat up by the other kid and we're in the same class together.
00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:18.480
Um and that was my first day with them.
00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:24.959
And so it was crazy because they understood and respected that my space was was like Switzerland.
00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:27.519
It was like whatever comes here is safe.
00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:29.839
What happens in the streets stays in the streets.
00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:37.759
So it was amazing because my first year um doing it, uh they became friends at the end.
00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:46.240
And it was an impactful moment, and the director was uh of DCF, she was crying at the at the ceremonies and stuff like that.
00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:48.399
And so I was like, I really want to do this.
00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:54.320
I never really could commit full time to it because of my music career.
00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:57.840
Um it's it's a lot, you know, you have to be there for the kids.
00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:01.039
Um, you can't say, oh no, I can't be there because I have to go on tour.
00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:06.799
No, I can't be there because uh such and such needs me down in New York or out in California or whatever.
00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:16.080
Um so years later, now, you know, in 2026, 2025, I filed for my 501c3 nonprofit.
00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:23.679
And now I, you know, now it's a nonprofit organization where not um just a couple of things.
00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:27.919
What we do is it's an after-school program that we run Monday through Friday.
00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:32.559
Um we feed, we've already fed 263 uh meals to the kids.
00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:34.240
Um, so we feed the kids.
00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:40.159
We have uh great relationships and partnerships with Jersey Mike and uh other local uh establishment.
00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:55.039
Um we do Thursdays um where it's like family night where um the uh I have a team mom, so all the parents and guardians, they they chip in and they'll cook for the kids on Thursday, so they have home cooked meals on Thursdays, which is which is dope.
00:09:55.279 --> 00:10:10.240
Um, but we run music production, we we run um two classes of music production because I didn't grow up with FL Studio, so I have a kid who's really nasty at FL Studio, teaching the younger generation who loves to use FL Studio, how to make beats with FL Studio.
00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:14.720
Um and I teach the MPC, the uh Ableton and whatnot.
00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:26.320
Uh we have a recording engineering class where we teach kids Pro Tools and learning how industry standard, how to record, how to engineer, how to mix and master with class for podcasting, um just like this.
00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:32.320
Um so that way the kids are able to to um speak and um and um have conversations.
00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:32.960
Oh, they love it.
00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:41.039
They you know they sit there, they put their phone and they got the app going and and and they talk about all kinds of crazy uh uh topics and whatnot.
00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:53.519
And it's a beautiful way for them to uh engage not only with each other but um with the with the community and and also with themselves in order to like get things off of their chests and talk about stuff that they don't normally talk about.
00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:57.600
And then we have a major esports program which is uh massive nowadays.
00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:07.519
It's uh I think it's like over 500 million now online on uh e it might be even higher on uh online now, eGaming, you know, esports.
00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:18.159
Um, and we have a pipeline out here in Connecticut, which is dope, um, with post university, where uh my uh CFO is gonna be the adjunct professor for the uh for the class.
00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:26.320
So the kids are gonna actually be able to get college credits in the class, other in high school before they go to college.
00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:27.440
So it's gonna be amazing.
00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:36.799
So like I'm really I'm really excited with that one because uh Valvelline Oil and a couple other um sponsors have come in to sponsor the team, which is amazing.
00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:45.440
Um and it gives the kids a lot of time to, you know, because everybody might be an athlete on the field, but they can play sports, you know.
00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:48.320
If you can touch a keyboard and stuff like that, you can play.
00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:50.159
So that I'm very excited about that.
00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:58.799
And then our last program uh for right now, um, besides photography, is we have um uh what's called makerspace, a steam program.
00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:01.759
So kids learn how to take apart cell phones.
00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:10.639
We have all these cell phones all over the place and iPads and PCs, and they learn how to um how these these pieces of equipment actually work.
00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:14.960
They take them apart, they figure out how how to fix their phones and put them back together.
00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:18.720
They even created an in your head repair shop, so it's it's really dope.
00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:20.000
So and we run it.
00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:25.440
Um we just started, we got our first building uh December, I want to say, it's uh 2025.
00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:26.960
So it's just amazing.
00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:28.080
Um, I love doing it.
00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:36.320
Um, you know, we work with all kinds of kids and uh um boys and girls uh from 13 to 19 years old, uh, in your head.org.
00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:40.639
So, you know, if you want to participate, if you want to, you know, join in, you know, tap in.
00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:42.559
Incredibly impressive, Black.
00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:46.799
Wow, that's truly inspiring too, you know, how everything's come about as well.
00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:48.639
Well I appreciate it.
00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:49.519
Amazing.
00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:54.720
Um how um tell me about the Doc and Danzi show and how that came about and what it's about.
00:12:55.120 --> 00:13:00.720
The Doc and Dance show, which is funny because it came by accident.
00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:09.360
So we were so Billy Dance of MOP, uh world famous uh rap group MOP from Brooklyn, um they had this the famous song Annie up.
00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:17.360
Billy and I uh Billy joined uh the Inya Head Academy um back in I wanna say 2015 maybe.
00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:21.120
And he tours a lot, obviously, with uh MLP.
00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:27.200
So his I can't uh be here as much, but like what he tries to do is come up like once a month.
00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:32.879
Um and then what happened was we were raising money for the kids for Christmas.
00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:44.159
So in 2018, I want to say, we did a uh uh a FaceTime, I'm sorry, a Facebook live show, and and we were like, hey, what's up?
00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:46.960
You know, we're out here, you know, running in your head.
00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:50.639
Um back then it was called in your head program before it became an academy.
00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:56.720
So we were out here running um for the kids, this is for the kids, everything you donate goes to the kids, and da-da-da-da.
00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:00.320
And we're talking and we're joking and all that stuff, and we're just being ourselves.
00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:03.360
It was like, yo, you guys are you guys are funny as hell.
00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:04.720
Like, this is really dope.
00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.240
Like, I should do it again.
00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:07.519
So we did it again.
00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:12.320
Um, same thing, raising money for the kids, you know, still Christmas time.
00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:18.960
Now we're now I think we're at Christmas and we're like, hey, you know, now's your last chance to you know help donate to a family.
00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:38.559
Because a lot of a lot of these kids, you know, um have parents that that are on drugs, and um, not say a lot of these kids, some of these kids have parents that um, you know, have unfortunate situations and and and a parent might sell off uh um the ovens, the refrigerators, you know, um and they don't have anything to cook, anything to eat.
00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:45.279
So, you know, we're sitting there and Billy and I were going in, we're donating, we're we're replenishing with appliances and all kinds of stuff.
00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:49.200
So we did that, and then everybody was just like, yo, this is awesome.
00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.960
So they were like, Y'all should do a show.
00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:54.559
The Docker Dance show came to be, and then we started doing the show.
00:14:55.200 --> 00:15:00.159
We started knocking at the door, Pop TV, different um uh companies.
00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:06.080
They were like, You you know, the the um chemistry that you guys have, is he?
00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:19.120
So um, so we're working on the doc and dance show, um, and then it's turning into a reality show, and then the pandemic hit, and then the writer's strike hit.
00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:20.639
And then so everything got shelf.
00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:32.159
So so I went back to doing music, he went back to doing music, and then um, and then you know, I came back, you know, and and did this and built this, um, and built in the head academy.
00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:49.679
Um, and now is it it's resurfaced, um, and now it's been reignited, you should say I should say, and so now the docker dance show is we're sh we're currently shoot shooting the uh pilot um sizzle rail for the uh docker dance show.
00:15:49.759 --> 00:16:11.200
It's gonna be called Um Still Standing, um, which is a it's like a docuseries, um like a docuseries reality um show comedy series, um, where it's about um Billy and I, but it's also about us helping people, um, helping um kids with their struggles.
00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:14.720
Um, you're gonna see a lot of uh in Head Academy involved.
00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:19.919
You're gonna see a lot of um kids uh as they go through different you know dilemmas and stuff like that.
00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:26.960
You're all gonna see um us helping uh because we help a lot of people, um, not just uh kids but adults.
00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:29.200
Um so you're gonna see us helping people get jobs.
00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:29.919
We help people.
00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:39.200
We have an alumni program, so k kids that were in our program years ago that are 22, 25, 26 years old are still um with us.
00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:41.039
So we help them out a lot.
00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:43.519
Um so uh it's it's amazing.
00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:58.320
Just imagine like Entourage, Robin Big, uh Oprah Winfrey, and um um what's that show where they uh the the owner of the job comes in and and and saves people or he watches people.
00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:07.920
Um just thinking like all those four shows morph together, you know what I mean?
00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.920
Um so we're really excited.
00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:18.559
And uh it's uh um so we're we're in the acts of shooting it right now, and we have uh some more shooting uh dates uh in April.
00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:20.480
Exciting, yeah, it's incredible.
00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:21.119
Wow.
00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:29.839
Tell me about the story with MM We Made You from start to finish and how it all transplied, because it's a truly remarkable story.
00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:33.200
So and it actually was two beats.
00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:41.920
So I made two and I made two beats, and I was like, um, I want to create something that's really different.
00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:46.000
Because I I I wasn't really making those beats at the time.
00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:49.680
It was like really like hardcore hip hop type of beats.
00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:56.960
So, and I but I make all types of stuff pop, R and B, and um this was like a chance for me to do something different.
00:17:57.200 --> 00:18:03.680
So I took the beat and I took the other one and I said, you know what, let me make this the hook and I'll this the verse.
00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:11.920
So then I I melody idea um for a hook, and through a whole bunch of writers and a whole bunch of singers.
00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:18.000
But um I I want to say like the fourth or fifth was Charmaine.
00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:21.200
Charmaine Tripp, who's the singer that's still on the on the hook.
00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:27.279
And she came in, we're in the studio, um, and she's like, you know, she's all over the place, you know.
00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:32.240
Cause I I like to let the artist be the artist and like let them come up with whatever they feel.
00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:37.279
I don't dictate and put them in a you know, and put them in a box.
00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:40.240
Um because then it takes away from their creativity.
00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:49.200
So coming up with all this stuff, the jazz singer, so like it's kind of out of her element to kind of come up with like a hip hop.
00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:51.680
So she's like, Doc, what do you have?
00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.720
Like, what's the idea?
00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.759
Like, what do you see?
00:18:54.240 --> 00:19:00.160
And I said, honestly, you know, I was what 29 at the time, I want to say.
00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:08.799
And honestly, for this song, for this vibe, for this feeling, I see me and my boys used to go to all these house parties.
00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:12.640
I don't know why, but there was just a lot of house parties during this time.
00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:13.920
And it was fun.
00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:18.960
And so I like what I see is like us coming into a house party.
00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:28.640
And you know how like when you would step in and you and your crew would come in, everybody would be like, oh shit, doc's here, oh you know, and I like it was such a good feeling.
00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:38.720
So like you walk into the party and and and it's like like a splash, you're making a splash, and at the same time, does that actually make you popular?
00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.359
Like, like it's not it's not you, it's them.
00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:43.440
And she was like, I got it.
00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:47.839
She was like, when you walk through the door, it was clear to me, you're the one that your daughter came to see.
00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:50.480
You're a rock star, everybody wants you, play you.
00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.519
Who can really blame you?
00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:53.359
Were the ones that made you?
00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:56.400
So I was like, get in the booth, let's record.
00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:59.680
Um take, and then the rest was history.
00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:03.680
And then it was and then um, well, I should say the rest was history about that part.
00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:14.400
Um and then um I had this record, and there was a couple of artists that like passed on it, and um was like they couldn't understand it.
00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:17.119
They were like, this it's too weird, like it's too, you know.
00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:20.079
Um I think one of them said.
00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:26.160
I don't want to put anybody's name out there, but it was just like I was like, oh, I I can really let me you know let me show you.
00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:34.960
But um, and then um and then it was like like horrible management, and I had a like a like I had not a good team.
00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:38.559
I was surrounded by by by uh uh unhealthy team.
00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:54.079
And um like, you know, push it to the side, and then um my my boy O love, uh who me and him cannot like we don't we have no idea even to this day like how we met.
00:20:54.559 --> 00:21:00.640
And I wanted to shop it to um to down in Atlanta.
00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:18.880
So he was down in Atlanta, and he was like, hey, I could get up with um big boy and get it to him in the studio, and I thought it would be dope to have Outcast over it with um Sleepy Brown doing the hook, like doing something like he didn't have to do that exact same hook, like he could do one of his hooks, but it was just like the idea sometimes.
00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:34.480
I would I would sell beats with hooks, and it it they would change the hook sometimes, but it would give them an idea, like, oh this is dope, but I got a different idea for the hook, but like if you leave it naked, it's like they're lost, like artists, you need to help them for some reason.
00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:42.240
Um, so hey, I'm in uh I'm in the studio with uh Bazaar from D12, and like what do you think about him?
00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.920
And I was like, Yeah, nah, he's different.
00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:45.599
Like I was like, you know, he raps.
00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:54.640
Um, you know, yeah, and so I'm I'm at a Jade Kiss show and forget it, and then Bazaar's hit me, and finish.
00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:57.839
I emailed it, I sent it to you, and I was like, Oh shit.
00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:06.480
So I was so I'm I I'm there at the Jada Kiss show, and I'm like, I gotta get out of here and go back to the studio because I I want to hear this.
00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:10.160
So I I I leave, I go to the studio.
00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:12.799
Um I mean Jada Kiss was was pretty much done.
00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:14.880
It wasn't like I left during the Jada Kiss show.
00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:20.240
So I don't want anybody thinking I I I got up and left during the Jiss show because I would never do that.
00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:25.680
But it was it was done, and we were already wrapping up, and like you know, he was saying peace out to everybody, stuff like that.
00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:33.680
But um, and uh I went back to the studio, I hear it, I listened to it, and I was like, um, crazy.
00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.480
This is crazy.
00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:45.680
Like he had me laughing because he says a lot of, I don't know if you know Bizarre from D12, but like he says a lot of crazy uh stuff on on the records, and I was like, look, but like we got this radio friendly.
00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:48.079
And he, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you're right.
00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:52.240
Give me to when I get back to Detroit and I'll and I'll re-record it.
00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:53.839
So I'm like, all right, cool, cool.
00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:59.279
So I'm I'm thinking he's gonna send me like a clean version or whatever.
00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:06.640
Um and between this time, like me and Bazaar have had a lot of dialect and like conversations together, and he jokes a lot.
00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:08.240
So like he jokes a lot.
00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:11.119
So like you can't take everything he says serious.
00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:29.680
So and it's been a while, and he and I'm in a session with Saigon, and um, and I'm sitting there uh mixing down the the session from Saigon, and um and I'm focused, and he's like, hey, uh I just left Marta Beat, and I'm whatever.
00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:33.519
And he's like, and then he starts laughing, he's like, nah, and then so I hung up.
00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:38.319
I was like, dude, I'm in a mixing session, like I need my ears, like, you know, back.
00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:44.160
And so um, so only because I phoned him twice.
00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:50.240
And his cousin is who I know, who I who I who I grew up with, Umbino.
00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:55.119
And so Gam calls me up and he's like, yo, Doc, don't hang up, don't hang up.
00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.240
He's like, it's Gam.
00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.359
I'm like, what's up, man?
00:23:57.519 --> 00:24:00.240
And he's like, yo, he's serious, dude.
00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.680
Don't hang up.
00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:04.400
Like, no, I'm like, I'm in here with them.
00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.759
Like, this is real.
00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:07.680
Like, Marshall really wants to track.
00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.960
And I'm like, oh shit.
00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:10.160
I'm like, you being serious?
00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:14.880
And he's like, yeah, he's like, serious, like, um, like what Bazaar has to say.
00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:22.720
And so um, he was just saying, like, hey, you know, um, you know, wants to track, I'm gonna give them your number, they want to call you.
00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:26.480
Um, and I was just like, whoa, this is you know, this is crazy.
00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:33.519
And then like quickly, and I was just like, I was so excited, you know what I mean?
00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:38.799
Because I was like, damn, you know, MM, this is like the best hip hop artist in the world.
00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:46.880
Um and he's he's making a huge comeback, too, you know what I mean, because he had been hiatus for what, four or five years at the time.
00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:55.039
So so it was just it was really exciting, and it was just crazy because um the deal didn't go down like I wanted it to.
00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:59.440
I was fighting with my manager and uh Dre's uh uh attorney.
00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:04.799
Um my manager uh who's who's uh he got locked up and he's long gone now.
00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:12.640
But um he, you know, he really screwed me over and uh he teamed with uh Dre's attorney.
00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:18.000
Um and uh and so they didn't give me um credits.
00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:19.200
Um credits.
00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:21.440
Uh they gave me co-production credits.
00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:28.079
Um and and so it was it was it was it was like a bittersweet th story, you know what I mean?
00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:31.279
Because it was like exciting and it and and you know it hurts.
00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:40.319
It hurts sometimes too because you know you don't you don't see uh rewards a lot of times that that that you should have got you know from that, you know what I mean?
00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.599
Because it was it was a hit.
00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:47.039
I mean it cracked the top ten of the billboards, it went number one in a lot of countries, you know.
00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:50.480
Um ended up winning a Grammy, we won a Grammy, you know what I mean?
00:25:50.720 --> 00:26:01.920
Um so uh you know so it but it was it was definitely and then it was it was definitely a a different time because it was like in his first year of sobriety.
00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:09.519
So it was like, you know, every kind of like keeping him, you know, away because I was up there for like a week in uh Detroit almost.
00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:11.359
But yeah, it was it was awesome.
00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:20.640
I mean, you know, um, you know, when I look back at it, you know, obviously there's a lot of things that that I could have did differently and things could have changed.
00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:27.599
And my health was a huge track too at the same time because I was I was in and out of the hospital during those times.
00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:29.680
Um, and health is better now.
00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:35.680
I had it I have it more under under control now, but you know, I was dealing with a lot of lupus stuff, so it it was uh tough.
00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:38.400
I've always dealt with health issues, you know what I mean?
00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:41.440
So that's an incredible story.
00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:44.720
Um yeah, it's remarkable, truly remarkable.
00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:47.279
What's that you've ever received?
00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:53.279
Um probably would be something related to like the in your head academy stuff.
00:26:53.359 --> 00:27:04.880
Like, you know, when I hear mom in and she was crying and she was telling me a story which was which was emotional, and she was losing her son to the streets or to uh his his father.
00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:07.359
Uh lived in uh in in Florida.
00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:10.799
And it was amazing because I'm a parent, I'm a parent of two.
00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:12.880
Uh both my kids are in college.
00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:17.359
Um and I love kids, you know, at the academy.
00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:20.559
You know, they're like an extension of my family, you know what I mean?
00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:23.920
And uh and she she was saying that you changed my life.
00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:25.680
She was like, You saved my life.
00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:27.759
And I was I was like, how so?
00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:40.160
But I kind of I kind of understood being a parent because her boy she's had her whole entire life, she would lose to either the streets because he was getting into some deep trouble.
00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:42.799
Um, that's why he was sent down to Florida.
00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:46.240
And he said, Mom, please let me come back.
00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:48.480
Like, Doc is building this academy.
00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:52.799
I promise you, I will do great in school, I will stay out of trouble.
00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:54.240
I'm gonna just go to the academy.
00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:55.119
That's all I want to do.
00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:57.119
And this kid, he comes every day.
00:27:57.279 --> 00:28:00.720
Like, he comes, he's up if he can't come here on the weekend.
00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:06.559
Um grades are doing good, and he gets upset when his grades slip, and he hasn't gotten in any trouble.
00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.759
Um, thank God.
00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:11.920
Um, and it was just crazy because she was like, I thought I lost my son.
00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:27.759
Um, and the fact that you know he's here and that he's with you, um, and that um, you know, it's just it it like that that was like um industry stuff, you know what I mean?
00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:32.240
Where it's like, you know, I felt like you know, you should tell me I saved a family.
00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:38.400
Like that, that was huge, you know, like that hit right there in the heart.
00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:41.039
So Alright, thanks for sharing.
00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:46.319
Busy daily everything that's going on in the world, you know what I mean?
00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:46.880
You know what I mean?
00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:48.079
It's a chaos.
00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:52.319
Um, so you know, it's inspired me, you know what I mean?
00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:54.160
It's like what can I do to help?
00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:54.559
Oh.
00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:59.359
You can change anything, could be personally or professionally, what would you change?
00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:03.599
Like like you mean as far as for me or or the world.
00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:11.440
If you could go back really, could be personally or professionally, if you could go back in time, let's say you're 88 again, make it cost of your life.
00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:15.920
Um change like 2015.
00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:17.920
I probably would change that timeline.
00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:23.440
Um here and I lost a lot that year.
00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:30.480
Um was going great, and impact, like I l I I would say maybe go back.
00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:38.400
I think that um well left the music industry because um my grandfather passed.
00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:42.559
It was always he always had my back.
00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:45.839
I was exiled from my family when I was 15 years old.
00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:49.359
Um so he was the one that only had my back.
00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:56.400
Um so um losing him, I lost a lot of people, but losing him like really hit home, you know what I mean?
00:29:56.720 --> 00:30:11.519
And um I wish I would have probably stayed um the music industry um and uh do create and continue to to do all of that stuff because I feel like I lost a lot of time, you know what I mean, and during that period.
00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:15.359
I I had a lot of fun, I was making a lot of money doing businesses.
00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:17.440
I mean, I had multiple businesses.
00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:24.240
I took all the the uh music money and got into real estate, flipping houses and and doing all that stuff.
00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:26.480
So I had a lot of fun during that time.
00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:57.279
But um I would say probably probably back to that time, and you know, if it was me talking to me, you know, be able to sit there and be like, hey, like look, you know, um you're gonna get through this and um um you know stay the course and and everything's gonna work out and um and it's better for you to you know to continue to not to stop flipping houses, like not to go into that life because all of everything that's happened, unfortunately, I can't take anything.
00:30:57.519 --> 00:31:05.680
I can't take anything back because everything that happened to me personally and everything that happened to me business-wise put me into this position I am today.
00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:20.160
And that's why a lot of times being a CEO of a nonprofit, you have to be able to talk to local people, you gotta be talking, you gotta be able to talk to other CEOs, organizations, sponsorships, and that's like the music industry, and it's also like the business world.
00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:22.960
So I, you know, everything happens for a reason.
00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:32.799
So unfortunately, you know, um if there's anything, I probably should have married my girl um when she was pregnant.
00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:46.319
And she was joking around, and we've been together 25 years, and and she was joking around saying, you know, next year is our wedding to the uh to the guy, and slight turning into like, are we ever going to you know what I mean?
00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:54.480
So that probably should have been the you know the one thing that you know I go back, you know, and uh, you know, who knew that we were gonna be together this long, right?
00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:56.799
That's an incredible timeline, you know?
00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:57.759
Oh yeah.
00:31:57.839 --> 00:31:59.119
I was young, you know what I mean?
00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.240
So it's crazy.
00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:08.559
So I was on I was only 21 years old, so it was just like, you know, you don't think at that time that you're gonna be with this person for you know forever.
00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:09.359
Sure.
00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:11.200
Thanks for coming on the podcast.
00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:12.160
I do appreciate it.
00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:12.880
It's incredible.
00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:15.200
Thank you for sharing your insights and everything you've done.
00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:17.440
And yeah, it's remarkable everything you've achieved.
00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:20.240
Man, thank you so much for having me on the show, Nick.
00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:20.720
I appreciate it.
00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:21.279
You're welcome.
00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.480
You're very welcome, my friend.
00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:20.960
Hi everyone, thanks for this episode Nicky in Science.
00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:23.120
On this episode, we have a powerhouse guest.
00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:26.480
We have the incredible Grammy Award winning multi-platform producer Dokish.
00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:35.520
Dokish has helped state modern hip-hop and is best known for MM's global hit We Made You, which crafted the award 100, top ten, and started worldwide.
00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:42.399
With over a two-decade amazing career, he's worked with legends like Willie Sunny Clan, Joe Bodden, KRS1, and many more.
00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:03.759
Welcome to the Multi-Talented Docus and thanks for coming on the podcast.
00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:05.040
Appreciate it, Nate.
00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:06.480
Thank you for having me on here.
00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:08.239
You're very welcome, my friend.
00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:10.159
Let's jump straight into it.
00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:11.040
Take us back.
00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:16.319
Tell us about your family, your life growing up, and um everything relating to that.
00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:20.879
Um it's it's it's it's it's a long, long story.
00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:27.120
But uh I basically uh um I grew up a little bit differently than most people.
00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:30.239
Um and uh I moved around a lot.
00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:33.280
I was born in uh Dallas, Texas, where a lot of people don't know.
00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:37.439
Um, but I was raised mostly on the East Coast and in the Northeast.
00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:50.959
Um and uh uh my family um history is like you know, the the the typical uh father leaves home, never comes back, uh goes out for a pack of cigarettes.
00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:55.280
But my mine was uh more chasing his uh his uh secretary.
00:01:55.439 --> 00:02:09.759
But um, and then so the man that actually uh took the place, um uh he was an African-American gentleman, so we grew up in a very uh interracial uh setting of a household.
00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:19.520
So um so I didn't grow up as a typical Irish boy who was surrounded by a bunch of mix and and and alcoholics and stuff like that.
00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:22.719
Um so it was uh it was definitely uh different.
00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:26.319
And it's funny because um growing up um I played sports.
00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:38.319
So like my whole uh life was all about um playing sports, being an athlete, you know, uh playing soccer, playing football, baseball, basketball, you name it, especially when Jordan came out.
00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:39.840
Everybody wanted to be like Jordan.
00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:46.800
So um, so you know, um I and then strangely enough, um I got sick a lot.
00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:49.199
So I had a lot of health issues growing up.
00:02:49.360 --> 00:03:03.520
Um, and they didn't uh I was hospitalized my sophomore year, and then I was hospitalized again my senior, but my sophomore year, um, they got scared and uh they wouldn't allow uh me to play sports anymore.
00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:15.520
So uh that turned into a lot of depression because my whole life was so set on sports, you know, going to college, playing it, you know, going, you know, hopefully go into the league and whatever sport.
00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:19.360
So who knew I had a hidden talent in music?
00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:30.000
Um and uh I found the outlet and started uh uh my boy Khaled, uh he goes by class from uh SUP out here in Hartford.
00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:36.080
He was making beats on the ASR 10, and I thought it was cool as hell, and I was like, you know, how you do that?
00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:38.639
But I I DJ'd in middle school.
00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:44.479
So I came up with you know some music background, but I didn't take it serious because I I took sports more serious.
00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:55.680
Um, but I used to DJ uh parties, uh uh seventh and eighth grade for high school kids, and uh that's how I I made a lot of my money was uh uh doing that.
00:03:55.840 --> 00:03:59.280
So I knew about blending, I knew how to cut and stuff like that.
00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:10.800
So um, so that part, plus my uncle, he was a drummer, so it helped, you know, the background of the foundation of making the beat, right?
00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:39.839
Um, and then that's how I got into the uh whole music stuff, and then uh by the time I was a senior uh in high school, um I got sent down to uh Virginia um and there was a uh record label that was under Missy Elliott and um uh uh Malik from M5 and he signed me and uh a couple members of my crew and uh and then we were on a label until the IRS came and uh shut it down.
00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:50.560
And then uh and then so I moved to New York City um and I lived in Brooklyn for a while, and I had a um I got my first production deal from there, and then everything else went from there.
00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:52.000
That's really fascinating.
00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:53.759
Wow, it's an incredible story.
00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:55.519
Yeah, it it's it's it's crazy.
00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:58.959
There's a lot of layers to it, but I'm trying to I'm trying to make it quick, you know what I mean?
00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:00.720
I get it, I get it.
00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:03.040
Um how did the name Donkeys come about?
00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:13.519
So it's funny because um my first name was Doctor Strange, and um and that was before like the Marvel movies and all that stuff was coming out.
00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:18.800
Um and so I thought it was cool because I always wanted to be a doctor growing up.
00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:26.560
So I was gonna play sports, but then my my overall goal was to go to school college and and uh uh become a doctor.
00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:29.279
So doctor has always been there, you know what I mean?
00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:31.839
Um and then because it was already a Dr.
00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:37.680
Dre and and it was um and then Strain Wonder came out from the uh Boot Can't Click.
00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:42.720
Back in my day, you couldn't have a name that was remotely close to anybody else's.
00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:44.000
You had to switch it up.
00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:46.560
So everybody liked Doc.
00:05:46.720 --> 00:06:04.800
Um, but we try to figure out like what um and then one day uh my boy Swift, who was part of uh my first rap group, which w which was DNA, Doc and Apollo, um he came up with Ish and uh was like what is it gonna, you know, what's it mean?
00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:13.040
And then because I was a rapper actually first and the producer, so like Doc was like the scientist, and Ish was the the artist, the rapper.
00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:14.959
So it was like split personalities.
00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:31.839
And my brother was like, Ish stands for intelligence surpasses hatred, because um my brother, um who was the the son of Herschel, who my mother was with, um coming from an interracial family, we were heavy on that, you know what I mean?
00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:34.720
So it was just crazy because I was like, yo, that's dope.
00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:36.480
And then we just rocked with it ever since.
00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:41.839
Like we joked around and be like, I'm so high, and and have other different nicknames for it.
00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:45.759
But um uh yeah, I was uh senior in high school when we came up with it.
00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:52.720
I tried to change it actually a few times to stuck it stuck with me, and I was uh I was Doc-ish forever.
00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:55.519
So, you know, I I like it now, you know what I mean?
00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:59.120
But you know, back then I was kind of like 50-50, you know.
00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:00.399
It's a tremendous thing.
00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:01.120
I love it.
00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:09.279
Tell me about your incredible organization, uh, In Your Head Academy, and how that came about and what it means to you personally and professionally.
00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:10.800
So that's a good question.
00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:18.079
So um In Your Head Academy uh started from In Your Head Productions, which was my production group.
00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:26.959
Um, and in 2007, I I finally figured out how to run after school programs and help kids.
00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:36.160
So for years, I was always helping out kids that had been convicted of violent crimes, um, kids that had been uh in gangs, locked up.
00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:40.240
Um and so we used music therapy.
00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:46.079
I thought it was cool if they learned, you know, production and and uh recording and engineering and stuff like that.
00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:51.519
Um and then it I didn't realize how therapeutic it was, not only for the kids, but for myself.
00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:59.920
And a lot of kids would, you know, tell their backstories or or or vent or handle their anger and frustration into something positive.
00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:05.920
And once I started um just running with it, we started having a lot of impact stories.
00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:10.079
A lot of kids that were in gangs were fighting literally before.
00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:15.600
Like I had one kid who literally got beat up by the other kid and we're in the same class together.
00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:18.480
Um and that was my first day with them.
00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:24.959
And so it was crazy because they understood and respected that my space was was like Switzerland.
00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:27.519
It was like whatever comes here is safe.
00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:29.839
What happens in the streets stays in the streets.
00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:37.759
So it was amazing because my first year um doing it, uh they became friends at the end.
00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:46.240
And it was an impactful moment, and the director was uh of DCF, she was crying at the at the ceremonies and stuff like that.
00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:48.399
And so I was like, I really want to do this.
00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:54.320
I never really could commit full time to it because of my music career.
00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:57.840
Um it's it's a lot, you know, you have to be there for the kids.
00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:01.039
Um, you can't say, oh no, I can't be there because I have to go on tour.
00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:06.799
No, I can't be there because uh such and such needs me down in New York or out in California or whatever.
00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:16.080
Um so years later, now, you know, in 2026, 2025, I filed for my 501c3 nonprofit.
00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:23.679
And now I, you know, now it's a nonprofit organization where not um just a couple of things.
00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:27.919
What we do is it's an after-school program that we run Monday through Friday.
00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:32.559
Um we feed, we've already fed 263 uh meals to the kids.
00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:34.240
Um, so we feed the kids.
00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:40.159
We have uh great relationships and partnerships with Jersey Mike and uh other local uh establishment.
00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:55.039
Um we do Thursdays um where it's like family night where um the uh I have a team mom, so all the parents and guardians, they they chip in and they'll cook for the kids on Thursday, so they have home cooked meals on Thursdays, which is which is dope.
00:09:55.279 --> 00:10:10.240
Um, but we run music production, we we run um two classes of music production because I didn't grow up with FL Studio, so I have a kid who's really nasty at FL Studio, teaching the younger generation who loves to use FL Studio, how to make beats with FL Studio.
00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:14.720
Um and I teach the MPC, the uh Ableton and whatnot.
00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:26.320
Uh we have a recording engineering class where we teach kids Pro Tools and learning how industry standard, how to record, how to engineer, how to mix and master with class for podcasting, um just like this.
00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:32.320
Um so that way the kids are able to to um speak and um and um have conversations.
00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:32.960
Oh, they love it.
00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:41.039
They you know they sit there, they put their phone and they got the app going and and and they talk about all kinds of crazy uh uh topics and whatnot.
00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:53.519
And it's a beautiful way for them to uh engage not only with each other but um with the with the community and and also with themselves in order to like get things off of their chests and talk about stuff that they don't normally talk about.
00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:57.600
And then we have a major esports program which is uh massive nowadays.
00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:07.519
It's uh I think it's like over 500 million now online on uh e it might be even higher on uh online now, eGaming, you know, esports.
00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:18.159
Um, and we have a pipeline out here in Connecticut, which is dope, um, with post university, where uh my uh CFO is gonna be the adjunct professor for the uh for the class.
00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:26.320
So the kids are gonna actually be able to get college credits in the class, other in high school before they go to college.
00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:27.440
So it's gonna be amazing.
00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:36.799
So like I'm really I'm really excited with that one because uh Valvelline Oil and a couple other um sponsors have come in to sponsor the team, which is amazing.
00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:45.440
Um and it gives the kids a lot of time to, you know, because everybody might be an athlete on the field, but they can play sports, you know.
00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:48.320
If you can touch a keyboard and stuff like that, you can play.
00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:50.159
So that I'm very excited about that.
00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:58.799
And then our last program uh for right now, um, besides photography, is we have um uh what's called makerspace, a steam program.
00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:01.759
So kids learn how to take apart cell phones.
00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:10.639
We have all these cell phones all over the place and iPads and PCs, and they learn how to um how these these pieces of equipment actually work.
00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:14.960
They take them apart, they figure out how how to fix their phones and put them back together.
00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:18.720
They even created an in your head repair shop, so it's it's really dope.
00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:20.000
So and we run it.
00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:25.440
Um we just started, we got our first building uh December, I want to say, it's uh 2025.
00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:26.960
So it's just amazing.
00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:28.080
Um, I love doing it.
00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:36.320
Um, you know, we work with all kinds of kids and uh um boys and girls uh from 13 to 19 years old, uh, in your head.org.
00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:40.639
So, you know, if you want to participate, if you want to, you know, join in, you know, tap in.
00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:42.559
Incredibly impressive, Black.
00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:46.799
Wow, that's truly inspiring too, you know, how everything's come about as well.
00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:48.639
Well I appreciate it.
00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:49.519
Amazing.
00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:54.720
Um how um tell me about the Doc and Danzi show and how that came about and what it's about.
00:12:55.120 --> 00:13:00.720
The Doc and Dance show, which is funny because it came by accident.
00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:09.360
So we were so Billy Dance of MOP, uh world famous uh rap group MOP from Brooklyn, um they had this the famous song Annie up.
00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:17.360
Billy and I uh Billy joined uh the Inya Head Academy um back in I wanna say 2015 maybe.
00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:21.120
And he tours a lot, obviously, with uh MLP.
00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:27.200
So his I can't uh be here as much, but like what he tries to do is come up like once a month.
00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:32.879
Um and then what happened was we were raising money for the kids for Christmas.
00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:44.159
So in 2018, I want to say, we did a uh uh a FaceTime, I'm sorry, a Facebook live show, and and we were like, hey, what's up?
00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:46.960
You know, we're out here, you know, running in your head.
00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:50.639
Um back then it was called in your head program before it became an academy.
00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:56.720
So we were out here running um for the kids, this is for the kids, everything you donate goes to the kids, and da-da-da-da.
00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:00.320
And we're talking and we're joking and all that stuff, and we're just being ourselves.
00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:03.360
It was like, yo, you guys are you guys are funny as hell.
00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:04.720
Like, this is really dope.
00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.240
Like, I should do it again.
00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:07.519
So we did it again.
00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:12.320
Um, same thing, raising money for the kids, you know, still Christmas time.
00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:18.960
Now we're now I think we're at Christmas and we're like, hey, you know, now's your last chance to you know help donate to a family.
00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:38.559
Because a lot of a lot of these kids, you know, um have parents that that are on drugs, and um, not say a lot of these kids, some of these kids have parents that um, you know, have unfortunate situations and and and a parent might sell off uh um the ovens, the refrigerators, you know, um and they don't have anything to cook, anything to eat.
00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:45.279
So, you know, we're sitting there and Billy and I were going in, we're donating, we're we're replenishing with appliances and all kinds of stuff.
00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:49.200
So we did that, and then everybody was just like, yo, this is awesome.
00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.960
So they were like, Y'all should do a show.
00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:54.559
The Docker Dance show came to be, and then we started doing the show.
00:14:55.200 --> 00:15:00.159
We started knocking at the door, Pop TV, different um uh companies.
00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:06.080
They were like, You you know, the the um chemistry that you guys have, is he?
00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:19.120
So um, so we're working on the doc and dance show, um, and then it's turning into a reality show, and then the pandemic hit, and then the writer's strike hit.
00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:20.639
And then so everything got shelf.
00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:32.159
So so I went back to doing music, he went back to doing music, and then um, and then you know, I came back, you know, and and did this and built this, um, and built in the head academy.
00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:49.679
Um, and now is it it's resurfaced, um, and now it's been reignited, you should say I should say, and so now the docker dance show is we're sh we're currently shoot shooting the uh pilot um sizzle rail for the uh docker dance show.
00:15:49.759 --> 00:16:11.200
It's gonna be called Um Still Standing, um, which is a it's like a docuseries, um like a docuseries reality um show comedy series, um, where it's about um Billy and I, but it's also about us helping people, um, helping um kids with their struggles.
00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:14.720
Um, you're gonna see a lot of uh in Head Academy involved.
00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:19.919
You're gonna see a lot of um kids uh as they go through different you know dilemmas and stuff like that.
00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:26.960
You're all gonna see um us helping uh because we help a lot of people, um, not just uh kids but adults.
00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:29.200
Um so you're gonna see us helping people get jobs.
00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:29.919
We help people.
00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:39.200
We have an alumni program, so k kids that were in our program years ago that are 22, 25, 26 years old are still um with us.
00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:41.039
So we help them out a lot.
00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:43.519
Um so uh it's it's amazing.
00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:58.320
Just imagine like Entourage, Robin Big, uh Oprah Winfrey, and um um what's that show where they uh the the owner of the job comes in and and and saves people or he watches people.
00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:07.920
Um just thinking like all those four shows morph together, you know what I mean?
00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.920
Um so we're really excited.
00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:18.559
And uh it's uh um so we're we're in the acts of shooting it right now, and we have uh some more shooting uh dates uh in April.
00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:20.480
Exciting, yeah, it's incredible.
00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:21.119
Wow.
00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:29.839
Tell me about the story with MM We Made You from start to finish and how it all transplied, because it's a truly remarkable story.
00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:33.200
So and it actually was two beats.
00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:41.920
So I made two and I made two beats, and I was like, um, I want to create something that's really different.
00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:46.000
Because I I I wasn't really making those beats at the time.
00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:49.680
It was like really like hardcore hip hop type of beats.
00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:56.960
So, and I but I make all types of stuff pop, R and B, and um this was like a chance for me to do something different.
00:17:57.200 --> 00:18:03.680
So I took the beat and I took the other one and I said, you know what, let me make this the hook and I'll this the verse.
00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:11.920
So then I I melody idea um for a hook, and through a whole bunch of writers and a whole bunch of singers.
00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:18.000
But um I I want to say like the fourth or fifth was Charmaine.
00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:21.200
Charmaine Tripp, who's the singer that's still on the on the hook.
00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:27.279
And she came in, we're in the studio, um, and she's like, you know, she's all over the place, you know.
00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:32.240
Cause I I like to let the artist be the artist and like let them come up with whatever they feel.
00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:37.279
I don't dictate and put them in a you know, and put them in a box.
00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:40.240
Um because then it takes away from their creativity.
00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:49.200
So coming up with all this stuff, the jazz singer, so like it's kind of out of her element to kind of come up with like a hip hop.
00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:51.680
So she's like, Doc, what do you have?
00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.720
Like, what's the idea?
00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.759
Like, what do you see?
00:18:54.240 --> 00:19:00.160
And I said, honestly, you know, I was what 29 at the time, I want to say.
00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:08.799
And honestly, for this song, for this vibe, for this feeling, I see me and my boys used to go to all these house parties.
00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:12.640
I don't know why, but there was just a lot of house parties during this time.
00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:13.920
And it was fun.
00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:18.960
And so I like what I see is like us coming into a house party.
00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:28.640
And you know how like when you would step in and you and your crew would come in, everybody would be like, oh shit, doc's here, oh you know, and I like it was such a good feeling.
00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:38.720
So like you walk into the party and and and it's like like a splash, you're making a splash, and at the same time, does that actually make you popular?
00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.359
Like, like it's not it's not you, it's them.
00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:43.440
And she was like, I got it.
00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:47.839
She was like, when you walk through the door, it was clear to me, you're the one that your daughter came to see.
00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:50.480
You're a rock star, everybody wants you, play you.
00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.519
Who can really blame you?
00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:53.359
Were the ones that made you?
00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:56.400
So I was like, get in the booth, let's record.
00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:59.680
Um take, and then the rest was history.
00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:03.680
And then it was and then um, well, I should say the rest was history about that part.
00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:14.400
Um and then um I had this record, and there was a couple of artists that like passed on it, and um was like they couldn't understand it.
00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:17.119
They were like, this it's too weird, like it's too, you know.
00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:20.079
Um I think one of them said.
00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:26.160
I don't want to put anybody's name out there, but it was just like I was like, oh, I I can really let me you know let me show you.
00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:34.960
But um, and then um and then it was like like horrible management, and I had a like a like I had not a good team.
00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:38.559
I was surrounded by by by uh uh unhealthy team.
00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:54.079
And um like, you know, push it to the side, and then um my my boy O love, uh who me and him cannot like we don't we have no idea even to this day like how we met.
00:20:54.559 --> 00:21:00.640
And I wanted to shop it to um to down in Atlanta.
00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:18.880
So he was down in Atlanta, and he was like, hey, I could get up with um big boy and get it to him in the studio, and I thought it would be dope to have Outcast over it with um Sleepy Brown doing the hook, like doing something like he didn't have to do that exact same hook, like he could do one of his hooks, but it was just like the idea sometimes.
00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:34.480
I would I would sell beats with hooks, and it it they would change the hook sometimes, but it would give them an idea, like, oh this is dope, but I got a different idea for the hook, but like if you leave it naked, it's like they're lost, like artists, you need to help them for some reason.
00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:42.240
Um, so hey, I'm in uh I'm in the studio with uh Bazaar from D12, and like what do you think about him?
00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.920
And I was like, Yeah, nah, he's different.
00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:45.599
Like I was like, you know, he raps.
00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:54.640
Um, you know, yeah, and so I'm I'm at a Jade Kiss show and forget it, and then Bazaar's hit me, and finish.
00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:57.839
I emailed it, I sent it to you, and I was like, Oh shit.
00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:06.480
So I was so I'm I I'm there at the Jada Kiss show, and I'm like, I gotta get out of here and go back to the studio because I I want to hear this.
00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:10.160
So I I I leave, I go to the studio.
00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:12.799
Um I mean Jada Kiss was was pretty much done.
00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:14.880
It wasn't like I left during the Jada Kiss show.
00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:20.240
So I don't want anybody thinking I I I got up and left during the Jiss show because I would never do that.
00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:25.680
But it was it was done, and we were already wrapping up, and like you know, he was saying peace out to everybody, stuff like that.
00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:33.680
But um, and uh I went back to the studio, I hear it, I listened to it, and I was like, um, crazy.
00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.480
This is crazy.
00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:45.680
Like he had me laughing because he says a lot of, I don't know if you know Bizarre from D12, but like he says a lot of crazy uh stuff on on the records, and I was like, look, but like we got this radio friendly.
00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:48.079
And he, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you're right.
00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:52.240
Give me to when I get back to Detroit and I'll and I'll re-record it.
00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:53.839
So I'm like, all right, cool, cool.
00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:59.279
So I'm I'm thinking he's gonna send me like a clean version or whatever.
00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:06.640
Um and between this time, like me and Bazaar have had a lot of dialect and like conversations together, and he jokes a lot.
00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:08.240
So like he jokes a lot.
00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:11.119
So like you can't take everything he says serious.
00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:29.680
So and it's been a while, and he and I'm in a session with Saigon, and um, and I'm sitting there uh mixing down the the session from Saigon, and um and I'm focused, and he's like, hey, uh I just left Marta Beat, and I'm whatever.
00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:33.519
And he's like, and then he starts laughing, he's like, nah, and then so I hung up.
00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:38.319
I was like, dude, I'm in a mixing session, like I need my ears, like, you know, back.
00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:44.160
And so um, so only because I phoned him twice.
00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:50.240
And his cousin is who I know, who I who I who I grew up with, Umbino.
00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:55.119
And so Gam calls me up and he's like, yo, Doc, don't hang up, don't hang up.
00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.240
He's like, it's Gam.
00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.359
I'm like, what's up, man?
00:23:57.519 --> 00:24:00.240
And he's like, yo, he's serious, dude.
00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.680
Don't hang up.
00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:04.400
Like, no, I'm like, I'm in here with them.
00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.759
Like, this is real.
00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:07.680
Like, Marshall really wants to track.
00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.960
And I'm like, oh shit.
00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:10.160
I'm like, you being serious?
00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:14.880
And he's like, yeah, he's like, serious, like, um, like what Bazaar has to say.
00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:22.720
And so um, he was just saying, like, hey, you know, um, you know, wants to track, I'm gonna give them your number, they want to call you.
00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:26.480
Um, and I was just like, whoa, this is you know, this is crazy.
00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:33.519
And then like quickly, and I was just like, I was so excited, you know what I mean?
00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:38.799
Because I was like, damn, you know, MM, this is like the best hip hop artist in the world.
00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:46.880
Um and he's he's making a huge comeback, too, you know what I mean, because he had been hiatus for what, four or five years at the time.
00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:55.039
So so it was just it was really exciting, and it was just crazy because um the deal didn't go down like I wanted it to.
00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:59.440
I was fighting with my manager and uh Dre's uh uh attorney.
00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:04.799
Um my manager uh who's who's uh he got locked up and he's long gone now.
00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:12.640
But um he, you know, he really screwed me over and uh he teamed with uh Dre's attorney.
00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:18.000
Um and uh and so they didn't give me um credits.
00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:19.200
Um credits.
00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:21.440
Uh they gave me co-production credits.
00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:28.079
Um and and so it was it was it was it was like a bittersweet th story, you know what I mean?
00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:31.279
Because it was like exciting and it and and you know it hurts.
00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:40.319
It hurts sometimes too because you know you don't you don't see uh rewards a lot of times that that that you should have got you know from that, you know what I mean?
00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.599
Because it was it was a hit.
00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:47.039
I mean it cracked the top ten of the billboards, it went number one in a lot of countries, you know.
00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:50.480
Um ended up winning a Grammy, we won a Grammy, you know what I mean?
00:25:50.720 --> 00:26:01.920
Um so uh you know so it but it was it was definitely and then it was it was definitely a a different time because it was like in his first year of sobriety.
00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:09.519
So it was like, you know, every kind of like keeping him, you know, away because I was up there for like a week in uh Detroit almost.
00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:11.359
But yeah, it was it was awesome.
00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:20.640
I mean, you know, um, you know, when I look back at it, you know, obviously there's a lot of things that that I could have did differently and things could have changed.
00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:27.599
And my health was a huge track too at the same time because I was I was in and out of the hospital during those times.
00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:29.680
Um, and health is better now.
00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:35.680
I had it I have it more under under control now, but you know, I was dealing with a lot of lupus stuff, so it it was uh tough.
00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:38.400
I've always dealt with health issues, you know what I mean?
00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:41.440
So that's an incredible story.
00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:44.720
Um yeah, it's remarkable, truly remarkable.
00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:47.279
What's that you've ever received?
00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:53.279
Um probably would be something related to like the in your head academy stuff.
00:26:53.359 --> 00:27:04.880
Like, you know, when I hear mom in and she was crying and she was telling me a story which was which was emotional, and she was losing her son to the streets or to uh his his father.
00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:07.359
Uh lived in uh in in Florida.
00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:10.799
And it was amazing because I'm a parent, I'm a parent of two.
00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:12.880
Uh both my kids are in college.
00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:17.359
Um and I love kids, you know, at the academy.
00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:20.559
You know, they're like an extension of my family, you know what I mean?
00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:23.920
And uh and she she was saying that you changed my life.
00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:25.680
She was like, You saved my life.
00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:27.759
And I was I was like, how so?
00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:40.160
But I kind of I kind of understood being a parent because her boy she's had her whole entire life, she would lose to either the streets because he was getting into some deep trouble.
00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:42.799
Um, that's why he was sent down to Florida.
00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:46.240
And he said, Mom, please let me come back.
00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:48.480
Like, Doc is building this academy.
00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:52.799
I promise you, I will do great in school, I will stay out of trouble.
00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:54.240
I'm gonna just go to the academy.
00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:55.119
That's all I want to do.
00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:57.119
And this kid, he comes every day.
00:27:57.279 --> 00:28:00.720
Like, he comes, he's up if he can't come here on the weekend.
00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:06.559
Um grades are doing good, and he gets upset when his grades slip, and he hasn't gotten in any trouble.
00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.759
Um, thank God.
00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:11.920
Um, and it was just crazy because she was like, I thought I lost my son.
00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:27.759
Um, and the fact that you know he's here and that he's with you, um, and that um, you know, it's just it it like that that was like um industry stuff, you know what I mean?
00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:32.240
Where it's like, you know, I felt like you know, you should tell me I saved a family.
00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:38.400
Like that, that was huge, you know, like that hit right there in the heart.
00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:41.039
So Alright, thanks for sharing.
00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:46.319
Busy daily everything that's going on in the world, you know what I mean?
00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:46.880
You know what I mean?
00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:48.079
It's a chaos.
00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:52.319
Um, so you know, it's inspired me, you know what I mean?
00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:54.160
It's like what can I do to help?
00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:54.559
Oh.
00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:59.359
You can change anything, could be personally or professionally, what would you change?
00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:03.599
Like like you mean as far as for me or or the world.
00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:11.440
If you could go back really, could be personally or professionally, if you could go back in time, let's say you're 88 again, make it cost of your life.
00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:15.920
Um change like 2015.
00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:17.920
I probably would change that timeline.
00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:23.440
Um here and I lost a lot that year.
00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:30.480
Um was going great, and impact, like I l I I would say maybe go back.
00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:38.400
I think that um well left the music industry because um my grandfather passed.
00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:42.559
It was always he always had my back.
00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:45.839
I was exiled from my family when I was 15 years old.
00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:49.359
Um so he was the one that only had my back.
00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:56.400
Um so um losing him, I lost a lot of people, but losing him like really hit home, you know what I mean?
00:29:56.720 --> 00:30:11.519
And um I wish I would have probably stayed um the music industry um and uh do create and continue to to do all of that stuff because I feel like I lost a lot of time, you know what I mean, and during that period.
00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:15.359
I I had a lot of fun, I was making a lot of money doing businesses.
00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:17.440
I mean, I had multiple businesses.
00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:24.240
I took all the the uh music money and got into real estate, flipping houses and and doing all that stuff.
00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:26.480
So I had a lot of fun during that time.
00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:57.279
But um I would say probably probably back to that time, and you know, if it was me talking to me, you know, be able to sit there and be like, hey, like look, you know, um you're gonna get through this and um um you know stay the course and and everything's gonna work out and um and it's better for you to you know to continue to not to stop flipping houses, like not to go into that life because all of everything that's happened, unfortunately, I can't take anything.
00:30:57.519 --> 00:31:05.680
I can't take anything back because everything that happened to me personally and everything that happened to me business-wise put me into this position I am today.
00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:20.160
And that's why a lot of times being a CEO of a nonprofit, you have to be able to talk to local people, you gotta be talking, you gotta be able to talk to other CEOs, organizations, sponsorships, and that's like the music industry, and it's also like the business world.
00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:22.960
So I, you know, everything happens for a reason.
00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:32.799
So unfortunately, you know, um if there's anything, I probably should have married my girl um when she was pregnant.
00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:46.319
And she was joking around, and we've been together 25 years, and and she was joking around saying, you know, next year is our wedding to the uh to the guy, and slight turning into like, are we ever going to you know what I mean?
00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:54.480
So that probably should have been the you know the one thing that you know I go back, you know, and uh, you know, who knew that we were gonna be together this long, right?
00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:56.799
That's an incredible timeline, you know?
00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:57.759
Oh yeah.
00:31:57.839 --> 00:31:59.119
I was young, you know what I mean?
00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.240
So it's crazy.
00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:08.559
So I was on I was only 21 years old, so it was just like, you know, you don't think at that time that you're gonna be with this person for you know forever.
00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:09.359
Sure.
00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:11.200
Thanks for coming on the podcast.
00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:12.160
I do appreciate it.
00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:12.880
It's incredible.
00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:15.200
Thank you for sharing your insights and everything you've done.
00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:17.440
And yeah, it's remarkable everything you've achieved.
00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:20.240
Man, thank you so much for having me on the show, Nick.
00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:20.720
I appreciate it.
00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:21.279
You're welcome.
00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.480
You're very welcome, my friend.
