DavidTheTragic Interview: Psychedelics, Haters, & Slept On ATL Alternative Scene

One more time. Then we do it one more time. One more time. Spin it, rock. Spin it, one more time. Hit me, baby. One more time. Legendary rapper out of Detroit. It's 42 Dugg on the pod. Right now, live in the flesh. See, this is why I don't do pods, bro. Because they're always fucking with me. Yeah, and like, do you feel used because we were literally just talking about this before? I feel used for a few reasons. I don't think I look like any of these people. You did admit before the cameras got turned on. You could kind of see it. I said maybe kind of. I was just trying to give you something, bro, honestly. So I could turn on you on camera. Well, to be to be fair, I was having trouble finding anyone. So you do have a unique look, and that's why I had to. I never asked the guest who they look like. No, I was like, Henry, this is he's gonna hear this and be like, Jesus Christ, this guy was just asking me this. What the fuck? What kind of weirdo podcast is this? We've done it every week. I'm not stopping now. in all seriousness, we have one of the artists that I would say is part of the kind of next wave of artists coming out here in Atlanta. Yes. We got David the Tragic in the building. I am here. David, Thanks for coming. And he specifically requested the Snoop Dogg Red Wine, which is why our lips will be purple by the end of this episode, most likely.

Worth it. And I was asking him what what is it about the Snoop wine, bro? Um somebody showed me it maybe two or three years ago. And it's strong as shit, bro. And it don't taste like shit. It's pretty affordable. Yeah. I told him he could have gouged me and been like, yo, you mind picking up this like, you know, $50 bottle that I love. You know what I mean? Cause I asked him what what wine he wanted, because he was like, yo, do y'all have wine? He's like, apparently, he said he's not a wine connoisseur, but he's at least like a wine-o. I would say he's at least. I wouldn't say I drink wine sometimes. Yeah. Yeah, interested in that for sure. For sure. So what's so tragic about you, man? Uh in like my moniker? Like, what do you mean? I mean, I guess in general, maybe I'm not quite sure what I don't know. I guess uh historically, I've been you can classify me as pretty depressing. Yeah. And um, I think I just I like the play on words, that's why I picked the name, like sort of in the vein of like a play or some shit. Or yeah, you think of like Alexander the Great, like shit like that, but yeah, it kind of sounds like Ivan the Terrible, like a Russian czar or something. I feel like calling myself the great would be kind of like condescending.

So like I was like this. A little holier than thou. Yeah, I feel like the tragic is like I don't know, it's dramatic enough I could fuck with, but also it's like like self-deprecating. So like two things I fuck with. Yeah, it's the brand. Yeah, nice. I like it. Yeah, it does seem a little bit like glass half glass half empty though, man. Yeah, but as of two weeks ago, I'm now optimistic. So what happened? David the positive. David the wonderful. Wonderful. What what happened two weeks ago that you're feeling the optimism inside you? Uh I can't tell you something happened specifically because that's not the truth. It's more like I just want to feel better, so I'm gonna try to. Yeah, I I know you've been, you know, you tweeted about like I guess 2021 was a big year for you as far as like beating maybe it was 2022, I can't remember, but like you know, beating depression, you put again, so like you have battled that, I guess, over I said that shit? Yeah, I probably say that shit every year, but yeah. I think that's kind of. I remember that shit, yeah. That's the nature of it though, right?

Chronic depression, yeah. Yeah, I mean, so so how does music play into that, right? Like, is music therapeutic for you, or do you find almost music to be depressing sometimes and like this this industry that we're in? I mean, honestly, for me, music is everything. It's my entire existence and being in it's as like corny as it sounds for me. So, like, I'm I feel like it's aided. I feel like being an artist is almost like signing up for being a bit bipolar. Like it sounds a little wild to say, but like just the ups and flows like of this shit, like especially if like you're somebody like me who like is so invested in this shit. Like I don't really exist outside of it. Like I kind of just live with the shit. You know what I mean? Like I embody it. So like however like my shit's doing, like that's kind of how I'm doing, which is very toxic, but like that's just me being honest. Do you ever have like moments where you find yourself as David the Tragic, the artist, versus kind of just being, you know, David, like your birth name. Is that your birth name, by the way?

Yeah, my middle name is David. My first name is Xavier. So do you like find yourself having to separate David the Tragic from Xavier ever? Are there like, you know? Um overlaps. I guess funny, funny enough, like not really. Cause I never made an intentional decision to be a different person. Like I came up with this name, whatever. I was like maybe 13 or some shit. And I'm 23 now. And when I came up with it, it wasn't like, oh, I'm not Xavier anymore. Like, that was just my rap name. Like, you know. So it wasn't like I was ever running from my real name. I feel like it just became who I am. So like once I got out of like grade school and I wasn't in college anymore, there was really no reason for people to like know me as Xavier. Not because I wouldn't introduce them, but like they were usually knowing me because of my music or like because of friends I know because of what I do, and they all just call me David. So it's kind of who I am now, but like at the same time, I feel like I'm still Xavier. Yeah, I feel like it's more like a it's more like a layer of like how cool are we or how close are we? Like people I know for a long time still do call me on my first name.

And people like I met, I've had friends I've met as David, and like we're still really cool too. So like it's just it was just a different place in my life, I guess. It's all you though. Yeah, it's all me, yeah. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I feel like the fact that your rap name has a very common first name in it. It almost feels like that that overlap or like transition from one to the other is a little more easy than if you went by some so very you know, well much like a rap name, you know what I'm saying? Like XXXTentacion. Yeah, like that's not your fucking birth name, you know what I mean? So you feel like it's a lot more casual of a transition. Because yeah, I guess if you if you remove the the tragic part, but like just the David part, you could have easily told us your name was David, and we would have been like, Yeah, okay. I mean, I'll tell you that's what I tell people. Yeah, so that makes sense. That is how you introduce yourself, yeah. Like I feel like It's kind of, I feel like it's kind of overstimulating to be like, yeah, I'm David the Tragic. Like, I don't know. It's hard for me to take myself that serious.

So I usually just be like, I'm David. Yeah, and if you like somebody asks, I'm like, yeah, that that is the full thing I go by. Yeah, damn. Yeah, yeah, like you. But if you just at a party introduce yourself, like whoa, I just and trying to talk to some girls. The people that do do that, I just have never been able to like, I would I can't, I can't not laugh at myself. Yeah, like you know what I mean. Even when I do it now, like I I mock my voice. I'm like, yeah, I'm David the Tragic. Like, you know what I mean? Because it's like that's how it feels when I say it. Like, I don't know. Damn, yeah. I'm I'm trying to remember. Like, I've obviously met a bunch of rappers now, and I'm wondering like how they introduced themselves, right? Like, did they introduce like the full rap name, right? Like, from a marketing perspective, you kind of should probably No, you're right. I would agree with you. Because a lot of people just meet me as David, oh yeah, that's David. Like, a lot of times, like, yeah, what do I type David in Spotify? I have to say The whole name like later, they'd be like, Oh, that's you, yeah. Yeah, I probably come off too casual. Yeah, yeah.

Do you think man, do you think David the Tragic still applies to you? Like, you still fuck with the name, or do you think you're just because it's 10, you were 13. You came up with it. I would say, yeah. Like you nailed it when you were 13. Yeah, I got that one right. Nice. Hell yeah. Yeah, bro. Or do you think it almost like you almost had to become it? You know, like that's some trippy shit, but it's like since you did spit it out into the universe. Then do you think maybe your life has evolved because of it? Um, I've had people not say that, but like effectively, like the energy I put out is what I've been getting back. But I would say, like, I dealt with shit before I was 13. Yeah. Just being real. Yeah. Yeah. Without details. But like you know what I mean. Like, so like it's not like necessarily a new thing, but I can admit, like, due to my overall negativity, I probably probably have brought on more negativity. Yeah. Right. Probably doesn't help. You know, what I'm saying? I'm thinking through it. I'm like, you know, you check your Spotify for artists every day, and it's the tragic. And you're like, Yeah, and I'm like, damn, look at these numbers.

Fuck. Like, you know, I've been happy as fuck since I made myself the tragic. No, no, I mean, speaking of numbers though, bro, you've been like constantly evolving. I mean, you know, I think your streams are at an all-time high. I would say your fan base is growing. So, like, you know, maybe it's not where you want it to be per se. I meant it was, I'm just talking shit. Okay, okay. I was like, come on, bro. before, like when I was younger. Maybe I didn't have as many streams. I'm like, fuck. Or like I'm showing people my name. They're like, yeah, that is tragic, bro. Like, you know, for sure. So you posted to your IG story, I think, last week, and this is like the third, like second or third rapper. Hip hop police. Maybe. He's the Nardin. No, it's no, it's more funny. So it's uh, I think it was like you and two other rappers on my timeline that posted this like similar type thing to their story. Need white man for music video. And I was about to pull up, bro, but I was busy. with you. I needed you, bro. I had to slap my black homeboy. We wasn't even planning on doing that. Did he go white face? No, he didn't go white face. We had to overshoulder, so you only see like a corner of him.

But uh so he's ambiguously white in the video. No, he's just no, he's he's just not a white guy. I just didn't get what I wanted. It was to get slaps, though. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But not actually slapped, just like for fake. Yeah, movie slaps. Yeah, movie slap. But uh, it's funny you brought that up because I had a homie hit me up. And he needed a white person too? No. He was like, Who'd you get? He was like, he was like, because he's not from here. He's like, damn, is it that hard to find a white dude in Atlanta? There's only a few of them. And I was like, a little bit, like you want to hear a funny story. Yes. I had to reschedule my shoot. Cause initially I was gonna shoot on like this Sunday, but like the weather was bad. It's something fucked up. And like literally, the white dudes weren't even from Atlanta. They were driving from like Virginia or some shit, bro. He's importing white people, bro. I didn't even know until day of though. They just told me they could do it. Just driving up there like the day before they're like, yeah, bro. We're driving, we're riding from Virginia, babe. take a few hours. I'm like, what the fuck? Whoa. I was like, bro, I only got this shirt for it. I ain't got no You know what I mean? that's real fans, though.

Those are people you want to, you know, support. I definitely appreciated it. I felt bad, but like it started raining. Fuck I'm gonna do I can't control the weather. Damn. He has to reschedule a whole video shoot because he couldn't find a white person now. I feel bad. You didn't say, come crash on the couch. No, I had to reschedule for the weather, and then I couldn't find a white person after the weather went bad. So they turned around and went back to Virginia. I think I don't know why they was coming here. So maybe for your video, bro. Sounds like it. Yeah, I think they went back home. Damn, bro. Shout out to Burrows, though. Shout out to them. Big shout out. Now I feel like I should have, you know, shifted some things around in my schedule, bro, to make it work. Like, I feel bad. I didn't know you were that pressed for a white person. Like I he probably found someone. White guilt. I got a lot of that. Oh man, that's funny. What what was the white man role for? Like you say he's about to get slapped or something? Yeah, it was just that. That was it. Just that scene. Just being able to slap a white man. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you can use Henry right now if you need to get that. If you need to get that aggression.

Why would I put my hands on Henry? I don't know. Bro, do you have some energy with Henry? You need to discuss this. Yeah, he's been throwing some shots the last couple episodes. I heard that podcast be get real. Calls be falling out all the time. Or is that or is it all staged? Ooh. For clicks. I don't know. I guess you wouldn't know. No, that's that's funny. I feel like you know, you've you've really stepped up the music video production. And I think you even spoke on it like you were on like some real sets recently, like full day. shoots and shit. Yeah, Last year, I was on a few. That shit was ass. Yeah. Not a fan. Well, no, I don't like shooting videos. I like quality. So I will do it. I'm gonna do the work. But it's probably my least favorite thing about it. I had to shoot some shit. I had to finish that video I'm talking about. Yeah. So I'm in this fucking suit. Yeah. And I like, like I said, I like the art and I I want it to look good, so I'm gonna do it. But like, no, that's my least favorite part about it. It's a tedious kind of process. And I'm I'm a bit introverted more than I come off. And I feel like on camera, like I have to do more of an act.

It's not natural for me. And like after while like a nigga get tired. Straight up. Yeah, it's really weird. When you've done the same shot five times, it's like all right. not even that. It's just being in a camera that long. I just don't care for it. I don't like how I look before, after. I just don't like myself on cameras. I don't think. Yeah. You have some fire videos, so I'm surprised to hear that. Yeah, for sure. I mean, not because I don't I I like videos and I work with some very talented like video people. So, like, oh yeah. Yeah, yeah. S2S Productions. S2S. Shout out those guys. Unannounced. Yeah. Yeah. No, a bunch of your videos are fire for sure. So, is the music video dead though at this point? Or like what role do you think Who the fuck's saying that? shit? Who's saying that? People are saying that. Really? They're doing that shit, bro. People. What if I can see one thing on Twitter, bro? I swear to God. People are saying that. Oh, yeah. I feel like they're stronger than ever. We're in a video world. Every video is everything. Yeah, I just think the argument that I heard was that we're in a short form content. Can I can I shift the question?

Sure. Is the album dying? Oh, that's a better question. I feel like. That's a better question. Yeah. I think you have to earn a level, like you have to earn the album then to earn it. Our bigger acts were then. Like, I feel like before when somebody dropped an album, like the time we took with it was just different. Even now, like with our biggest acts, I feel like we don't even take time with their shit. You know, what I mean? It's just like here and gone. It depends. I feel like the template is just like singles, like, and then EPs and then singles and then EPs, and then maybe mix tape, but it ain't that long. You know what I mean? Yeah. And then even when they drop these albums, I feel like, in a way, like fuck, I'm finna say something crazy. Not that crazy. In a way, streaming has made it that like we're prioritizing like amount of songs and like streams over even quality at times. I feel like that's not crazy at all. There's, like, pressure by majors to just put out as much as possible because of streaming, and I feel like that's also taken away from quality.

But this is just shit I be thinking about at home. That's a great point. We've talked about that before. It's an interesting argument. So so when so let me get inside the head of an artist, then knowing that reality, how does it feel when you're working so hard on a project like lower self? Like shit. Like shit. Like, no, no, seriously. Does it feel like that? I mean, well, like that shit did well, but like it feels like I don't know. I'm in this never ending battle with like myself and like consumer. You know what I mean? Mm-hmm. And like a lot of people say they don't, like, I make shit for me. I don't care what people think. Like, I'm not one of them niggas, I'll be honest. Like, I do care what people think. You know, like I I wanna it like I being honest, I do want to make shit people like, you know what I mean? And also I want to make what I like. So, like, that's been my balancing act for like almost 11 years now. Yeah, just trying to make shit I like, and that's what I did at first, but then realizing, like, damn, this shit weird as fuck. Like, I'm looking around like, damn, just this who like this shit.

You know what I mean? And then trying to figure out, like, damn, can I make palatable shit too? You know, and that's like I feel like that's my motivation at least. Like, and like as far as the album template, like it makes it discouraging in the sense that like no matter how hard I work on something, or try to like curate a sound or create something unique. Like, a lot of people might just listen to the first 20 seconds of each song. You know what I mean? Cause I've seen it, not even with my shit, just with AAA, acts. Like, mm, no, no, mm, cool, no, no, no. You know what I mean? Like, that's not how people used to listen to music. Like, when you bought a fucking CD, you played that shit because you spent like $12. Like, you know what I mean? Like, for real. Like, you like, fuck, one of these shits gotta go. Like, you know what I mean? Like, people get to the drop. Or even if you don't love it, you still spin the whole shit. You know what I mean? Like, it's just it's just different now, bro. Yeah, I'm not even necessarily mad at it. It's just like you have to adapt. Yeah. Yeah. Getting mad doesn't do much. Hell no, yeah. No, I'm mad for it. I I think you said it perfectly about some people take the approach of I want to make shit that's for me, and like fuck with you know, fuck with the audience things.

And we go back and forth on this, even with the content that we make here at the podcast, right? Is we know what's gonna get views. We've seen it. We've got you know TikToks that have done millions. We know what could work, but it's you know, you even sent me a video earlier of like shit, like how much do you do it for yourself because that's what's gonna sustain you, right? Because the second you keep making shit that's only for other people, that's the that's when you burn out, bro. I think I don't know, I'm crazy. Well, I've been told. I think you can do both. I I just really do. Yeah, I think you can do both. I think I can make stuff that's palatable and originally unique. Yeah, I think I can do both. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm gonna keep trying. I might never get it right, but I feel like it's possible. That's gotta be the mecca, right? Like, that's what everyone needs to be striving for. I would say almost, right? I wouldn't say that. Everybody has different goals, those are just mine. But as an artist, I would say that most people want to be the first of whatever they do, and but they also want fuck tons of people to see it or hear it. Some people just make music to make music.

That's a great generalization, I would say. Right. I mean, like I am lumping all you fucks into you know one little group. I mean, I would say, like, in itself, like just like entertainment is like it's just all subjective. So, like, some motherfuckers just want to make money. And if you want to make money, you're probably gonna make the shit that's the most palatable. You know what I mean? Like, some people are just in it for the art, like type shit. So where are you on that spectrum? Um, I'm like, I'm not necessarily I'm not motivated by money. I do want to like I have goals. Not work at Walmart. I don't want to work at Walmart. Shout out to people that do though. For real, that shit sucks. I wanna be, No, for real. Like, shout out to y'all. Like, I wanna be it's a touring act. That's really I don't really have these huge goals. Like, I'm I probably have to rethink my goals, honestly. He's saying them and hearing them. Midsize venues. No, I've been talking about a few weeks and everybody's like, damn, just that, you know. You can reach a little higher, nigga. Mid-sized venues, intimate venues. I want to be able to tour as much as I want, live off of that, you know what I mean?

Make beats for people, and every now and then have a song that breaks through. Like whatever like weird existence exist in. Like, and I feel like I've already shown that even in like my microcosm, like of a reality. Like, I I like the idea of being able to, even as weird as I am, make songs that everybody can like. Too. Maybe it's not every song on my shit, but like I know there's always gonna be a song there that everybody somewhat fucks with. Yeah. And I do like doing that. You have a pretty wide variety of sound, I would say, too. So yeah, I could see like how some people would could connect with something and not something else. Which is another thing that we talked about is like how much do you think you should focus on having like your sound versus experimenting and making different. Do you worry that you're giving people a sound and then they're gonna expect more of that sound? I mean, I'm about. You should do shit similar. My fault, boss. No, yeah, go ahead. I mean, like, this is some shit I talk about constantly too. Like, I feel like in a in a way, like, well, like, I have two parts to the answer. Remind me I have two parts, so I don't go on the rant.

Okay. Well, firstly, I would say, like, when I first started making music, my goal was to be unique. That was my main goal. Type shit. So anytime somebody sounded told me I sound like something, like I would move in another direction with a goal of originality. And then I woke up when that and like I think I achieved that, but nobody knew what the fuck I was doing. Like, it was like, what is this? So I knew that like being unique is cool, but like it also takes away your reference point. Does that make sense? Yeah. Like when you're actually doing something that nobody is doing, like the idea of that is cool, but people actually don't understand that. But there's a fear of the unknown always, just in life. And people forget that that applies to luxuries like listening to music, right? Where me as the listener, if I haven't heard it before, or if there's not some sort of to use your words, a reference point, if there's not some sort of reference point that I can kind of latch on to, yeah, it turns a lot of people away. And my second part that I would say, see he remembered that you had two parts.

I was ready to tell him. Yeah. I would say, like, in a way, it has bit me in the ass because I hear a lot of sounds that I was experimenting in when I was younger that I moved away from that people that there's whole lanes for now. And I think about how like, damn, like that could have been me if I just kept making this. But like at the same time, making the same thing never has really satisfied me internally. Yeah, you wouldn't be fulfilled. Yeah. So even like with lower self, like it's not the same shit. You know what I mean? I tried to be a bit more descriptive and be like, yo, this first half is like there's 808s, second half, there's guitar. But like, it's still like not the same track playing, you know what I mean? Yeah. Type shit. So like, I don't know, it's like a balance in that, but I also like I've learned enough about myself to know that like I'm never necessarily gonna make the same shit. Like, I don't know, like I can make a cohesive project, but I don't know if that's always gonna be my goal with shit.

Like, I'm gonna always want to have a little bit of this and a little bit of that, I feel like. You know what I mean? Yeah. Here's another one for you. Another thing we talked about lately, because some fans won't care so much if your album's kind of all over the place and goes from this to that, if they're just a fan of you as a person. So as an artist, you gotta make content to you know, market your music. How important do you think it is for people to just like you, David, the person versus the music these days? Very bro, that's why I keep doing these fucking podcasts. He's like, that's why I'm sitting here fuck with me. You motherfuckers. Um it does matter, like and I feel like through all my experimentation, I've curated that. Maybe it's not as like this crazy amount of fans, but I feel like I have people that just accept me for me. I had people that regularly tune into maybe on my releases and be like, I don't know what I'm gonna fucking hear, but I'll probably like some of this shit. You know what I mean?

And like I like that space I created for myself, which is the counter to like if I was making one sound and I tried to drop whatever the fuck this is now, but I was only making songs like the second half, like you know, this whole time, like people be like, What the fuck, bro? Like, you know what I mean? Like, you're consistently different, Like, you're like, I'm different. exactly. So, like, in a way, like, I can do whatever I want. Yeah, because there's no expectation of me to do a certain thing, you know what I mean? Type shit. Like, yeah, and that's fucking cool to me. Like, yeah, it is. So, you know, you posted recently, or at least a while ago, about a fan had DM'd you, I think, showing just mad love about you, you know, demonstrating growth as a person and as an artist, right? And so, dude, fucking play back bitch. You did it, dude. he did it. Clap that shit up. He did it. I got the top of it. pop it up on the screen, Henry. Oh, There you go. yeah, exactly. No, but but clearly, even if you don't remember saying that, that happens. Wait, so what happened again?

My bad. Basically, you just posted that you know a fan had had you know reached out via DM, I think. You know, basically just supporting your growth as a person and as an artist. Okay. Yeah. And clearly that happens. So whether you remember saying that it happens or not, I'm assuming that it happens. I I probably posted it, and that shit do be happening. Yeah, yeah. That's true. Yeah, so shout out them niggas. Yeah. I mean, how does that, you know, for someone who is somewhat self-deprecating and like you're very critical of yourself, it seems from what I've you know gathered. Oh my god, you're reading me, Ben. How does it know? Uh are you a Taurus? How does Yeah, what's your sign? No, but but how does how does something like that affect you, right? Like, does that does that put the battery in your back as far as keeping going when maybe you're feeling like your shit's ass, and like you know, whatever? Because you've said that to you about yourself, you know. It's true. These are things I've said. Yes, you you remember saying that.

Yeah, I've definitely said that. Um that's more of the tragic. I would say. Exactly. I mean, this shit is dope, bro. Like, if I think about it, like sometimes I have to step out of myself and my like current self and think about when I was fucking 12 and I wanted to do this and I was too scared to like the idea that people like me enough that they listen to my shit, and they'll DM me and say I like, oh my god, this helped me feel like this, or like this got me through this. Like, that shit is really it's cool as fuck, bro. Be me being transparent, like I don't know if it keeps me going because like I'm just fucking negative. Like it's fucking awful. Like, send him more messages, people I really only remembered the negative shit. Like, I hate it. I appreciate the positive shit. I always respond to it, but I only really remember like my bad reviews when people don't. And you're not alone in that. That's such a common thing. Bro, they're so toxic. Barry tweeted that the other day. And there's there's some comedian that talked about it. You could be in a theater of 2,000 people.

I can't remember. Damn. Yeah, I wish I listened to a lot of podcasts with a lot of comedians. So there was a comedian that basically talked about how you could be in a room, a theater, crushing it, right? 2,000 cap venue. 1,999 of them are laughing their fucking asses off. But you're gonna hear that one dude that's booing. Yep. That one negative motherfucker is gonna scream louder than all the positivity that's coming your way. Or those 60 people that walk out as soon as you get on stage. You're like, yo, yo, y'all pull up. And they just be. like, ugh. It is just fascinating. It's human nature, bro. As humans, we're fucking fragile. Nah, bro. We're negative. The thing is I talk about this shit. If the homies see this, they're going to be like, shut the fuck up. I say this shit constantly, bro. We're going to clip this. People want it all. You can't have it all. That's the issue, bro. There's like an unsatisfaction with shit. You know what I mean? Like, so no matter what you have, you're always gonna look at the other shit or the next thing. You know what I mean?

Like, damn. If this one motherfucker would, or damn, if this shit would just go like you never you're always gonna fixate on the other shit, I feel like. I feel like it's human nature too, in my opinion. I could be just projecting my negativity all over this podcast properly. We need we need we need to practice gratitude. Honestly, I'm just saying, like, I feel like that that's what it is. You know what I mean? It's just a lot easier for you to remember than people that counted me out than the people that didn't. You know what I mean? Like, and that's so sad. It's no, it's trash. At least speaking personally, so sad. I do remember the people that fucked with me, but the people that had more of an impact on me, like the reason I got as good as I did is because of who didn't fuck with me. I'm just being honest. It's because of this. Like, it's when I don't get an opportunity, it's when I don't get a chance. It's when I'm slept on. It's when people forget. You know what I mean? What I like that's the shit that motivates me. I'm motivated by spite and anger. Negativity. If you see like a comment that's like, yo, it's the hardest shit I've ever heard. You like it, you forget about it in 10 seconds.

You see someone that says this is trash, you're up all night. So I'll give an example. So 2021, when uh my project called Still Alive came out, I had a single called Allergy. And I got posted on hood clips, and they didn't they tore my shit up, bro. They Oh, because I had a crop top on in it. And they were just on my ass, bro. Like they were saying a lot of very negative and fierce things. And I spent two weeks just reading every single one. Yo, shit, Honestly, bro, it had a really bad effect on my psyche and my self-esteem. I believe that. Which I already struggle with. So I would suggest to the next guy don't look at that shit. Yeah. Yeah, don't look at that shit. It's tough though, right? Yeah, I and even if people are talking shit, somebody's fucking with you. Right. And you just gotta weave through it. Cause that's how life is, bro. Not everybody's gonna fuck with you. You know what I mean? When I do a show, I don't think everybody's gonna leave being my fan. Obviously, that's my goal, but like it's usually three, four people, like, damn, that shit was hard. You know what I mean?

The rest of them, like, cool. But like, it's usually, you know, you take a small group from the masses, usually, you know, and that's really how you gotta take this shit. I feel like, yeah, and it's it's interesting in any medium, by the way, like anything. Yeah, yeah, exactly. You know, comedy, music, all that shit. Yeah. Just other normal jobs, whatever, you know. Um, it's it's interesting. Not only do we hear the negativity screaming loudest, but oftentimes it legitimately is the loudest person in the room. That's funny. You know? It's it's funny. Supportive people, to your point, if we just like something, you know, we like it for real. Like we and then we physically click the like button. Nope. We're just maybe, unless we like are fun some fucking super fan or stan, maybe we'll drop a comment, maybe we'll drop a share, whatever. But it takes an overwhelming amount of like you know, intense support to be supporting that way. Just your casual supporter is not gonna be in the comments fucking arguing for you, you know what I mean? Like, but people will be so quick to just drop some crazy ass negativity in the comments, you know.

I love it. That's what, yeah. It means you're doing something right, honestly. It does. It's a sign of success. literally, it keeps me going. Damn, that's that's interesting. So, okay. So let's shift from there. The the dip music video with Kenny. Yeah. Like I'm a catch y'all folks later, bro. How, How was that shot? Like, like, did you get to see them editing you basically hitting the bubbler and then melting into the couch? It was like in the editing room? Yeah, like did you get to see how they do that? Oh, of course not. Uh I saw like a draft. Yeah, was that so? cool? Like I saw like the pre-draft before it was like the VFX. Yeah. But like, nah, I didn't see all that shit. You wanna know so effectively it was like I sat on that fucking couch. Yeah. And then I took my clothes off in a bathroom and then brought them out and then put the clothes on the couch. Oh yeah.

And it shots are different shots. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whoa. Cool. But I didn't know what it was gonna look like. I hadn't they the reference was the commercial, the fucking yeah, the drugs commercial. Yeah, the drugs commercial But I didn't know what that shit was gonna look like when I saw it I was like what the fuck I remember like nah that shit I that video was crazy bro like fire video man It's a good video. I remember I posted that shit on I posted on my Instagram and it took it like like they took it down because they didn't they didn't I was like and I had to like uh what's the word what do you do appeal it I had to appeal to Instagram like yo I made the beat They put it back up this is my show. it was like a copyright error. yeah you know you produced that one too I did produce it hard that's my first like real placement I love the simplicity man that's a lost art right there It's the simple shit like it's just a creating a vibe you don't need a whole lot to create a vibe right thanks big dog i i feel that beat a lot honestly like I feel like when it comes to production like I'm very minimalistic in the sense of like I'm never gonna overproduce something yes you know like I'm guilty that's why I feel like working with other producers because I feel like I make full of things but by myself most of my beats would sound like ideas to the average like person but I also know there's a lot of artists like that because there's room for them. Yes and then we can like produce after around them and shit you know what I mean how how much time is spent would you say just you know any given week between David the tragic artist and you know are you David the tragic producer as well okay yeah yeah so I mean uh how's your time spent that's a good question I would say like this year I definitely slowed down on creating I kind of burnt myself out the end of last year trying to finish a new some new music and shit I I think I put a little too much pressure on myself and it I had to take a little break.

So like I just got back into swinging things I would say this month. And like I really don't like, I don't know. I had a producer tell me, like, because when I first started making beats, I started in December of 2020. So I've been making beats like two and a half years now. I would say them first two years, I was like on some like five a day, or like I'm trying to make as many beats as possible. But then I had a nigga tell me, like, bro, like, honestly, that shit's not true. Like, once you get five, bro, you could just you don't gotta make eight beats a day. Like, you know what I mean? Like, just make it when you want to or when you're inspired. Like, you know what I mean? Like, so that's kind of the tip I've been on. But I still like produce for folks like here and there, and like, you know, obviously work on my own shit. Yeah. Do you like is most of your music now at least somewhat produced by you, would you say? Uh, I wouldn't know. No, no, no. I definitely compete. But like, I have a bro, like my roster, like it for me to like, I would be literally ego tripping to make my music just all my beats, bro. Cause I'm like, because you work with producers.

I know are too good. Yeah, you know what I mean? Right. I'm good enough now I can compete with them more for placements on my own shit, which is funny saying, like, because you're making the decision. Yeah, I'm making the decisions, but I'm the type of dude, bro. I'm picking the best record. I'm not gonna pick, oh, I made it. Like, I've had times where I almost have, and I'm like, bro, fuck up. You're tripping. That's not it. No, like, cause you gotta like, I feel like the biggest thing, and I can talk about music. I feel like it's an art, but like, I can say music because it's my experience. Like being aware of yourself, your strengths and your weaknesses. Huge. You know what I mean? I feel like a lot of people get in their own way because they feel like they have to like do everything and shit like that. But in reality, bro, you should just do what you're the you should just do what you're the best at. We you know what I mean? We know people that you know, they want to DJ for themselves, they want to produce for themselves. But I get it, bro. Cause like I don't. I don't, bro. I guess in my head it's more like of I did this shit. It's like it's empowering. That's ego.

No, that's ego. It's ego, but it's also empowering. It's self-empowering. Ego is empowering. Yeah. I'm not, I'm just saying I understand. I'm not saying I agree with it. Like so, like, well, I try to be empathetic too, but it's your shit, bro. That's how I feel with this shit, bro. So if if you want to work that hard and like fucking it take you eight years to finish some shit, bro, knock that bitch out, bro. Right. As soon as they come out and be like, good shit. Like, you know what I mean? Like, it's really what you want. I would say personally, for me, when my shit started to literally shift is when I started rel relinquishing, relinquishing control. Yes. Huge. When I was because when I was younger, I feel like I was a bit more like, well, I need to, you know what I mean? I wasn't even doing good. Like, you know what I mean? He was controlling some shit. Yeah, like I used to want to mix all my shit and I couldn't mix and I wouldn't watch a YouTube video. So it was like the most stubborn shit. And then every time someone would be like, you should get this mix, I would get like mad as fuck. Like, what the fuck? Like, I've been mixing this shit. But in reality, shit sound like shit. Like, you know what I mean? Like, same thing with like videos and shit. I used to want to like shoot and edit shit, but in reality, like, this is not my thing. I think I can contribute like in that space, like, but I'm it's not my thing.

Like, my thing is like I can produce, I can arrange, I can be an AR. I'm definitely a songwriter. I'm a rapper. Like, I know what I'm great at. You know what I mean? That's what you gotta be aware of. That in my opinion. Yeah, I I really do think it's the awareness factor. And I think that that comes into effect in multiple ways, right? Like, if you know that your live show is your strength, right? Then you need to be getting out on stage as much as possible. If you know that creating content in a certain type of way is your strength, you need to lean into that. I think that people are, yeah, to your point, maybe just trying to be good at everything when really you just need to focus on the things that you are good at and like continue to hone those even more. I would say I feel like trying to be good at everything, you're breeding mediocrity. Yes, you know what I mean? Because it's just not possible. Jack of all trades, master of none. Yes, you can be great. Like, I feel like there's like I don't know. I hate to like I like sports, so I make a lot of like analogies. Let's get sports analogy.

So yeah, big basketball guy, right? I love basketball. Yes, who's your favorite team? I'm actually a Miami Heat fan, unfortunately. Oh, that is unfortunate. So I would say um they call things, these are things they call like NBA level skills. So a lot of ever obviously in high school, like you're the guy, and then college, you're probably like some association of still being the guy. But when you get to the NBA, like not everybody's the guy, they're just a guy. There's like 10 of them like that, just get to shoot everything they want. A lot of people have to fill into a role, and your role is usually your like highest level skill, you know what I mean, type shit. And like I feel like to exist in that ecosystem, you have to like play into that, you know what I mean? And you can try to do everything you want, but like I feel like your growth in a way will be stunted. Like a lot of people get kicked out of the league because like they can't fill into that role, you know what I mean? Like, and that's kind of how I view it in music too, as far as like you could do everything okay, or you could find what you do great, you know what I mean, and start there. Not saying you can't move into more things, but I feel like it starts where you're the best at.

And that's obviously just my opinion. Like, you know what I mean? Well, I think the problem for artists is a lot of this shit is expensive, man. Like, an artist who's trying to do this full time, you get a job, like you pay for studio time, pay for a video, you pay for this and that. And it's like, oh, I can go on YouTube, watch a couple tutorials and do it myself and still be able to get something. out. Bro, but that's my thing. Like I said, if you can do that shit good, do it. I'm talking about if you ask, you gotta know. You gotta know when you're when you're not good at it, know when you're at it. That's what I mean. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? If you can teach yourself how to do this, shit, fucking do it. But know when it's like tragic. Not my thing. Same thing. Yeah. Yes. Yeah, damn. I mean, it's it's expensive as fuck. So I I do get it. And and I think I do want to be clear that you do need to do whatever makes you happy and actually gets you, you know, energized to and exactly to keep doing it. So if doing everything yourself is what fulfills you, then I don't- Do that shit, bro, do it. Exactly.

I I don't want to feel like I'm coming across as you have to do X, Y, Z. Ben, you already said this shit. Stand on it. no, but what I will say is that I think you made this point. I think that it will Good deflect. I like that. It will it will no, and I I'm saying that I agree, I agree with what you said. I agree with what you said, in that I think that you'll go. I think we've had a guest that said further and faster in your music career. Definitely did if you delegate and relinquish control to the people to the people that are super jazzed about mixing, like let the mix engineer who's fucking pumped about mixing your record, mix the shit because he's gonna be excited as fuck about it, he's gonna be better than you, most likely. And just how you're passionate about what you're great at, he's passionate about that. Exactly. Or she or they. I mean, like type shit. Yeah, like we're actually in the middle of this within our own company right now. Yes, if you didn't hear this conversation unfolding. Sadie. Yes. No, it's basically that it's basically that I'm trying to start doing more of what I know I'm good at, even though I've had to, because we're a startup company, we've had to do things that maybe for cost reason all literally all the things that we're saying is applicable to what Henry and I are going through, as far as like, all right, Henry, you're good at this, like you're really fucking good at this part of the business.

I know that I'm really good at this. Let's fucking do those things right now and see what what we can do, right? See where we go. Yeah, exactly. Because it's not to say that we couldn't have kept going the way we were going and gotten to a certain level, but I think that we're gonna really hit our stride and go, you know, further and faster if you will. in our music career. In our music career, yeah, for sure. So, all right. I I feel like, you know, kind of like how I opened up, there's this new wave of Atlanta artists right now, bro. Like, I don't even want to list them all. No, because you're gonna miss somebody. exactly. And then you're going to be their villain origin story, exactly. But yes, Ben didn't say my name. But you know who you are. A bunch of them have been on the podcast as guests. And I wanted to understand how do you view that you know, next wave of artists here in Atlanta? Like, are you guys friendly? Are you competitive? Is there beef within some of this like next wave of artist community? Like, I mean, bro, it's art, bro.

So there's always everything you say. Yeah, you know what I mean? Uh just in any space ever. I would say personally, like, I don't know, I don't have any ill energy to any other person exactly. Just to yourself, yeah, like just to me, usually. Um, I mean, bro, like I feel like there's a sound bubbling here that's been bubbling for years, and now like the other crew is out, and like there's more young folks in, like doing like different types of shit. And it's just like I feel like Atlanta a lot of times gets typecast for its mainstream sound, which is like, you know, babies and the future, and the more like maybe street oriented music, but there's also this alternative music here, and not just in hip hop, like here, like like band shit. Like, it's just hella shit here that people aren't hip to because it's not necessarily loud you know what I mean like and that's why I fuck with Atlanta, bro it's weird as hell it's black as fuck it's gay as hell like it is for real though like you know what I mean like there's just no place like it you know and I feel like the art reflects it but not everybody gets the same amount of sound they should yeah and that's the one thing I I hope to change soon. Yeah like yeah I think we have to stop being the mecca of mainstream rap for that to happen because we I mean fucking have been for how long now right long time don't I don't think that has to be true.

I think somebody just has to do their fucking job bro so like let me tap in real quick I'm gonna keep mine so like I feel like the way these ARs be fucking moving bro it just be like whoever get hot like Ben get hot they come grab up Ben Ben already get signed so they just grab up the four niggas around Ben. You know what I mean type shit. Yeah does that mean you're getting a deal exactly but nobody I feel like people aren't. you're getting one too I feel like people aren't doing their job you know what I mean type shit and I I feel it even in my reality like where it's like someone might fuck with me and then they see the acts I fuck with and they're like damn they're hard but it's just like you shouldn't know about them. It shouldn't take me like doing the groundwork for you to just step in and be like oh yeah like you know what I mean like people should be down here doing groundwork because there's talent here you know what I mean all types of talent you know what I mean? type shit it just takes somebody willing to fucking look yeah and I think that the alternative sound that we have here there's a lot of mainstream artists that have uh I guess kind of come up in a similar sound, right? Like you got the Cardi's and the Uzi's or whoever, right?

But it's still a little different. So when when you say alternative and you say them, like what do you mean? I just mean they're probably the the the most mainstream examples of not street rap. Okay. You know. And they I would say they both teeter the line of street rap still. Right? Yeah. They're not that different. I could go more Uzi because like I feel like he was always weirder. Yeah. You know what I mean? And like I feel like that's an example of something being weird as fuck. And then like it breaks through, and everybody's like, oh, I fuck with this. You know what I mean? Like, and I feel like you see that a lot. Like, I I be feeling that way. I'm like, I don't have shit, but like I be feeling like, damn, my shit's fire than I feel like, but it's just like I feel like it's harder to get. Like when you talk about alternative shit, it's harder to understand until like somebody is co-signed or this guy's dick riding them, or like you know what I mean? Like, I feel like on their own, most people are gonna be like, I don't understand this. Like, until someone makes it make sense for them.

I know that sounds ambiguous, but like actually that's what I mean. Like, like it takes like I feel like there's a lot of things in like this space, it takes like I said, the cosign, whether that's the production, like the big producer or the big act, or like you get on the big act song, you know what I mean? Type shit. And then it's also just like backing. I feel like I was just talking shit about this. I feel like a lot of the artists I grew up on gave a misrepresentation of what independence actually is. So a lot of people feel like there's acts that were telling you, telling us that I did this all by myself, but in reality, it never did. Independent does not mean you don't have a team. Yes, Honestly, independent only means you got no label. Like, being real with you, if you're not signed to a major, they don't even consider you sign, bro. They still call you independent. Yeah. Which is I didn't know that. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, it's very confusing. Yeah, it's not though.

It makes sense. No, I'm saying, but they but they make it, you know. There's no handbook. They make it ambiguous. I understand. I would call it ambiguous over confusing. Yeah, Yeah, yeah, sure, sure. So, like, when I say that, I mean like when you look at it, like the shit makes sense. It's just like we're portraying something that isn't accurate to reality. Yeah. So we give all these kids a false hope of like what reality is. And then they get there and they're like, what is this shit? You know what I mean? But like everybody got a fucking team, bro. Every nigga that say they're alone, they're not. You can't do the shit on your own. No. You know what I mean? You can't, bro. And the last thing I'll say, like, a lot of people probably give up because of these reasons. Because I feel like the biggest thing is your consistence and your persistence. I feel like throughout all this shit, I've been persistent, and that's the only reason I'm in the position I'm in now. You know what I mean? There's a lot of people that give up for good reason. Like, I feel like we shame people for quitting, but like, it's like nobody's fucking with you. You ain't got no money to do this shit. You know what I mean? Like, it is the shit is ass, bro. So, like to quit.

Exactly. Why would you why would you like you know what I mean? Like, yeah, I'm delusional. I'm fucking crazy. That's the only reason I'm still doing this shit. You might be the goat at something else, too. You might be the best like chess player in the world or something. It comes back to the awareness factor. Yes, there's a lot of very unaware motherfuckers in music, bro. Yes, but like, I don't know. On just to it close the topic of the alternative space. Like, I feel like the cosign, the backing, and like, you know, like just the lack of this lack of knowledge, like, is the reason why there isn't light on a lot of these different acts. Yeah, they don't know what to do, and people don't know these ARs and these labels don't know what to do with them. Yeah, you know what I mean? Opposed to the shit, we already have a lane for. We broke six acts that already fit in this. You know what I mean? We could push you out through there. You know what I mean? Like, I might sign this nigga. He too weird, though. He gonna sit next to me. Like, I don't know what we finna do with his ass. But you know what I mean? Like so, you got some room over there.

So you do feel though, in my, you know, from the outside looking in, I do feel like you and a few others are in this weird, like super bubble, like almost like purgatory area, right? Where you haven't made it. I call it limbo. Limbo. Okay, that's a probably a better you know descriptor for it, right? You're definitely not unknown, but you definitely have not broken through. I'm not unknown, but they know who I am. People I grew up listening to know who I am. You know what I mean? I'm in rooms, but I'm still broke. You said it better than I did. I know. Like, I've been talking about this shit for like four or five months, really six months. Cause it's just like limbo sounds tough. I'm in this space where people perceive me as more successful than I actually am, which is cool, but also depressing. Yeah, yeah, like bro, you're doing you're going crazy. And obviously, I'm not a hater. I'm like, thank you. I appreciate you. But in my head, I'm like, yo, this is the same bottle of tequila.

Like, I'm not doing better. Like, you know what I mean? Like, so like it's really all perspective, I would say. But like, it just comes down to what I said before. You just gotta keep going. That's what they fucking tell you, bro. But honestly, bro, like, I be willing to slap niggas in the face when they tell me that shit. And not because they don't mean it. And it's so it's so dual, like, I don't know. Cause it's true. That is it. Yeah, because you mentioned the consistency and persistence. You just have to keep going. You know you do. It's true, but you hear it if you do this shit long enough. Honestly, if you do anything long enough, you that's all you fucking hear. Keep going. You just gotta keep going, bro. Just keep going, bro. Just keep fucking go. It's like eventually you're like, bro, shut the fuck up. Obviously, I know I gotta keep fucking going. Help me. Who do I have to talk to? Right. Is anybody gonna network down? Probably not. Like, you know what I mean? Like, which is another like side note. Like, I feel like the key to this shit, in my opinion, is networking across and networking down. My bad, Mike. You're good. Networking across and networking down. Because networking up is usually too expensive and just not plausible.

Yeah. But like networking across, you usually can work, you know, for service exchanges, shit like that. And networking down is usually just a lot more attainable. And there's just I don't know. We should just start looking within our own communities a lot more. Because a lot of the talent is here, but I feel like naturally we're always gonna look at the biggest examples of it. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. Yeah. No, I I think that we've heard a lot about kind of like that networking laterally, you know, approach. And I think more people need to it. It's just so hard to not want to chase the you know, the people that are on. You can do both. Yeah, you can do both. So what what do you think for you specifically? What will it take for you to break through to the next level right now? Like what what it what in your mind needs to happen? It's a missing puzzle piece. Yeah, uh, I honestly keep going. You know how I feel? I'm one opportunity away. That's it. I'm prepped, I'm ready. You know what I mean?

I'm just one opportunity away, and that could look like a many of things. You know what I mean? It could be anything to me making the right beat for somebody else, getting another placement. You know what I mean? Getting on someone else's song or something like, you know, you know what I mean? It just come down to like really just like one opportunity. I think when I get on the right tour, like somebody fucks, you know what I mean? It's just one thing, and it's gonna make sense for me. It's what he's saying is he needs to keep going. Yo, just keep going, David. Effectively, just keep going. Yeah, so is it true that you lobbied to be on tour with JID and uh and EARTHGANG? I guess we could call it that. Lobbying is a thing. I wouldn't call it lobbying. Like what did you do? Well, really, I said because I think you said he just tweeted, we need openers, and I was like, JID, please put me on your tour, yeah. And then he was like, I mixed the butt up. He just quoted my lyric, and I posted it on Instagram. I was like, oh my god, like he's gonna take you on tour.

And I'm like, probably not. Shouted me out, though. And then I DM'd him, like, yo, bro, like, yeah, take me on tour, bro. And then he was like, no response. So, like, as you can see, I'm not on tour, so yeah, yeah. But like, not every opportunity is yours, and like one thing I'll say to people, like, whoever listens to this long of me talking, I would say, like, there's a lot at play. You know what I mean? Like, people might say you can like get them as many Instagram comments as you want, and you'll get on a tour, but that's just not what happens, bro. There's politics, like so many politics, you know, you never know who managing who who knows who. Like, it's really, I don't want to say it's out of your hands, but like it usually is. Those things are already decided before they post that type of shit a lot of times. I wouldn't even say that. I would say, like, so to anybody listening, like when they post these major tours and they're like, We're looking for openers, they already have, like you said, true openers. They probably already have direct support in a real opener.

They're usually looking for like regional acts to pick up like maybe six or seven dates. Yeah, and you gotta think how many people you're competing with. Not to say lose hope, it's not possible, but just to tell you the reality of it. You know what I mean? Like, yeah. Yeah, no, it's interesting. I I've seen some of our Atlanta people get picked up for those kind of five, six dates. I remember um I remember when Father went on tour last year. I remember he picked up Surf for like the maybe the southern region of that tour. Yeah, but what I was gonna say is I've actually seen I think Marco Plus. Yes, I saw that actually got picked up for a few dates for the token tour. That was a nationwide tour with grip. Uh yes, he did. Well, he did that tour as well. But I'm talking about for this most recent one with Token and uh Ben Riley was on this as well. Oh, I think I read about this. And and so Marco Plus, I'm pretty sure he didn't even get the Atlanta date. And I'm like, this makes no sense to me. He's in Atlanta. That I didn't understand, and I feel like I've seen that a few times where these people have gotten picked up and not even gotten their hometown date.

I mean, I'm not I'm not sure where Chris Patrick is from. Yeah, but I know he just closed out Jit and Swino Stewart. Yeah, that was like Tennessee. I think he lives in Tennessee. Okay, then that makes sense. Yeah, I think he lives in like Chattanooga. I guess he got what he needed. Yeah, yeah. There you go. For sure. Um, all right, so you know, lower self. I think the highest stream song on that is drugs, right? So talk to us a little bit about your relationship with substances with substances. Uh expound, give me some more context, bro. I guess like when did you start doing drugs? Let's get an acid. story or something. When I start getting high, yeah, yeah. When you start getting high. I started I wasn't really a smoker in high school. The homies was. I was like the straight edge friend, believe it or not. Same here. So I think I might have had my first, like, I might have hit my first J when I was like 15, but blunt or whatever when I was 15. But I really still wasn't into like smoking. It was like whatever to me. And I think I drank the first time when I was like 15 or 16.

Like they threw me a birthday party, and like one of the homies got me like a bottle of Hennessy, something gross. Like type shit, yeah. Yuck. How about psychedelics? Hennessy is a group. I did acid the first time when I was seven, eighteen. Okay. It was my senior year. I thought you were about to say seven. And I was Like, whoa. My bad, my bad. It was my senior year of high school in like my second semester. Did that go well? Yeah, I've done I've done acid like around like 20-something times. Yeah. Yeah. What about the psychedelic experience? Do you like? You know what I mean? Because I've I've done I've done each, you know, in my experience, and I'm just curious as to what it is that you enjoyed about that. I'm a thinker. So I feel like it just allows me to tap in with my lower self. Yeah.

But like actually, yeah, and just deal with shit. I can't deal with. Like, I feel like I'm always dealing with something and learning. But like when I'm that high, I just I deal with shit I'm more uncomfortable with. And that's what I like about like acid and shit. I just tripped up like a month ago, honestly. Yeah, it's it's weird though, because for me, as an overthinker, as someone who likes to think as well, that is actually what overwhelmed me about my experiences with psychedelics. So I feel like, in my opinion, I'm not you, obviously. You just have to remember you're in control. Yeah, that's hard. Yeah, it is hard, but like That's hard. No, for real. Like, and like I also like I accept things. So even I've I've I've had bad trips, yeah. Maybe five or six bad trips, yeah. But like, you just gotta accept it for what it is and learn from it. Isn't it weird that even if we have a bad trip, we do it again? I feel like that's weird, right?

That's like almost psychopathic. My bad trips were near the end of my psychedelic day. So you kind of gave up. You're like, okay. I did, I did a few, maybe a few times. I would say it just it's like I said earlier, man. It's fucking perspective in my opinion. Cause like I I like journeys, and shit don't shit don't always go your way, bro. You know what I mean? Just cause shit don't go your way don't mean like you gotta stop, you know, or quit. Sometimes it's just like an experience. Like you get that high, bro. It's not always gonna be a fucking good time. Like, you know what I mean? Yeah, sometimes you're gonna deal with some weird shit, and you gotta learn from that shit and think about it, you know, and that's how I look at it. Not saying I I don't do psychedelics nearly as much as I used to, but like I still dabble because like I do like the experience. I think I did I did shrooms and I did acid this year. Have you experienced that ego death? Uh yes, sober and high. Ooh, interesting. Yeah, I feel like I've gone through, like, I don't know, somebody's gonna be like, this ain't chill. But I feel like I've gone through three or four ego deaths, like real, like reawakening.

Yeah, like I feel like I had to shed a lot of programming I had as a child. What do you mean? Like, I feel like the way I viewed the world, the way I view myself, a lot of like the stuff I was brought up to believe, or like I learned from my environment. I feel like I shed it when I got older. Does that make sense? Yeah. Like a lot of things I think I had natural inclinations to not like, I let go of, if that makes sense. Like how I view like, let me get corny. There's a buzzword, masculinity. Like, for real. Like, I feel like it's changed a lot. And now you're rocking crop tops. I guess you could call that in essence. I'm just saying, yeah. Like, it's not a good thing. No, you could say like that, but also just in like just how I view like being with a man is. I didn't necessarily grow up with a father in my house. My dad wasn't a deadbeat, but I I lived with my mom exclusively. You know what I mean? Okay. So like Are you from here? Sorta. Okay. I was born in Florida, like Broward County. Yeah, yeah.

You're from Broward. Yeah, but I didn't stay there long enough, so it doesn't count. And I moved to Georgia when I was like four, three or four. Okay. I lived like in the city. And then like first, second grade, I moved around. Like, so I've been around Marietta, Alpharetta, Like, and then in middle school, I went to middle school in Sandy Springs Springs. Okay. I went to high school, like that North Springs station on top of the market. Oh, okay. Dope. So like, I forgot the fuck I was talking about. But yeah. No, just basically how you kind of shed yourself of some of that perspective that you had. Oh, yeah. I just feel like there's a lot of nasty man programming you get just growing up as a dude. That like I feel like I went along with at times, but I never was necessarily felt okay about. And that's what I'm getting at. Yeah. And I feel like it gave me a perception of what I was supposed to act like. But in reality, like you shouldn't be acting like anything. You should just be yourself. And that's what I'm getting at. Yeah. So with the hood clips, crop top thing, I'm assuming you got a lot of homosexual or that sort of commentary. Yeah. Just a lot of just a lot of even besides that, just nasty shit, just not nice things to say.

Yeah. Yeah. Like probably couldn't be on YouTube right now, type of comments. Yeah, not definitely just Instagram comments. Yeah. Twitter. comments. Some demonetization. Twitter would have been worse, honestly. Some demonetization. yeah, shit like that. But like, I don't know. Like, I um, I guess getting older, like, I don't know. I fuck with me, bro. But but like, just for the record, are you a straight man? Am I straight? No, I'm just wondering, like, are they just, am I bi? Are they way off? Um I fuck with girls. Okay. But I'm also a viber. So I be chilling. I don't necessarily like I exist in a lot of queer spaces. I got a lot of gay homies, like, you know what I mean? Yeah. So I said that to say, like, I don't necessarily care what people think I am. Oh, sure. I know what I'm into, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, I I find that like empowering to be honest. Yeah, like so, like, I I used to, but then I realized like I can't control it. Like, it doesn't matter if whatever, whoever I've been with, like, people are gonna see my crop top and say whatever they want to say about me. Yeah, so like at the end of the day, it's just like, what I'm gonna do about that.

So, like, I don't know. I just be vibing and I let people think what they want to. I think you should have worn a crop top on this episode. You might have gone viral. Over my suit. The vest is hard. Come on. He does look like he just came from an interview. Right. I feel like I'm at the interview. Yeah. So I mean, can you give us, like, the treatment for this music video that you're doing? I don't know why today. I knew you were gonna ask me if I was gay on this podcast. I had a thought on the way here. I'm like, I didn't even, is that the podcast I'm going to the I didn't even see this clip. Yeah, like I know you didn't. You brought it up. No, but I didn't know you were, I didn't say ask me that. Like, yeah, bro, ask me if I'm gay. No, I just am wondering. Like, most people probably came at you, and I was just wondering, was there any no, you know? I'm not I'm not. Because if it was true, then they'd be like, all right, they just were saying whatever. I'm trolling you. I'm just expressing like I did have an inclination that this question was coming today. Wow, it's because I've been watching hella interviews in preparation for your interview. Oh, you did homework. Yeah, and I was like, remember that one time Charlamagne asked Donald Glover if he was gay on The Breakfast Club? I was like, I wonder if that would happen to me today.

Did he just compare me to Charlamagne the God? Oh, sure. No, I didn't. I was just, it was an interview. He said, No, I didn't, not at all. Well, yo, so David. God, you got me dead. David, you have an amazing story, man. You got amazing energy. I am glad that you're turning your tragic nature into more optimism as of a couple weeks ago. We'll see how long this lasts, but I hope it lasts forever. Until the next interview. I'm back. Fucking Grouch is back. But David, we have entered a final segment of the One More Time podcast. Oh shit. We'll see how off the wine you really are. Oh shit. Yes. Nathan asked me some bullshit, y'all. Are you gay? I can actually cross that one off. For the fourth time. Are you sure you're not gay? Are you positive?

No, no, no. This seriously though. This is my mom's gonna hate this shit. No, shout out Mama Tragic, man. For real. Come on, Mama. Mama, I'm just I just I gotta ask the I gotta ask the tough questions. I don't care. She's the one that'd be mad for real. What in like a you better not be gay way or something like that? Nah, just more like she was like, I know my son isn't gay. Oh, she's like I'd be like, you sure? She's gonna hate that. She's definitely gonna hate that. It wasn't that bad until you added that part. Exactly. Mine was okay with it. You sent us over the edge, man. Yo, okay. In all seriousness. All for the bit, bro. All for the bit. All for the bit. For the clips. We're gonna get some clips and some bits out of this. This is the rapid fire rampage with David the Tragic. It's gonna be a three-part rampage. I'm gonna start off with just some short answer questions. I'll explain the other parts as we go, but starting off with the short answer. Oh shit. This part gets real serious. You gotta dial in. This is a very serious one. Yeah, So my lens is off, so listen.

And I like to talk, you know, like very intimate into the mic like this. Because it's creepy and Serious. David, what is something you've been meaning to do, but you keep pushing off? I know exactly what it is. Fuck. Skip. I can't think I can't think, bro. My bad. Fuck. I hear something. Have we ever had a skip before. Fuck. Oh, these podcasts. Okay. Yeah. That's good. Yeah, let's go. That's good. David, you can go back in time and relive any one day of your life. Describe that day. My New York show last year, October 9th, Sunday. It was just magical 2022. Perfect day of my life. Damn. Love it. You live in a medieval in medieval times. I'm a slave. What? Actually, my question is what would your job be? I guess that is. probably a slave. I guess that's accessible, right? It's not where I wanted to go again.

Damn it, David. I didn't want to go there. I thought I was too quick. I was waiting on it. As soon as I hear pre-night on it, I'd be like, ah. Literally, we already get to get racist hate for being white people in hip hop, and now we have a black person calling themselves a slave on our podcast. My bad post. Yeah, It's going south. this is not good. We might have to edit that out. I'm just gonna move on. Keep it. Keep it. David, what do some of the videos in your current YouTube algorithm look like? Fucking Tony Yayo interviews. G Unit. I've been watching hell of G Unit interviews, bro. I don't know why. It's been like three months of me watching G-Unit interviews. That's what got you prepared for today. Yeah, I've been waiting for Tony Yayo interview. Yeah, yo. Like I don't watch six Tony Yayo interviews. 50 cents. That nigga 50 is hell. I be thinking I'm hell. I'm like, man, this nigga hell. Nah, you were easy, bro. Yeah, I'm pretty easy, bro. I think I'm funny, but I'm not like hell. Well, you know what I mean? Definitely not. hell. At least not on camera and shit. Yeah, after this, I don't know.

We'll see. Okay, for this next question, we're gonna need your phone. For what? You'll see. I don't know. Okay, well, just pull it out and you can feel free to decline the question. But whip it out. I didn't say whip it out. He said, pull it out. We'll see. No, you keep it. Oh, I keep it in my hand. Yeah, so you can, you know. This is like an honesty thing. It's like an honor system thing, you know. We're going to the call log. Fourth call down. Oh, fourth call down. Fourth call down. It was some hot shit. I ain't saying it. Yeah, feel free. But if you can, who is it? And what you talking about? Scam likely. Cop out. Yeah. Man, bro. Fucking robocall is ruining this bit. Hey, forgive me. David, who has the best fast food chicken sandwich? Good question. Two thirty afternoon.

It's 2 30 afternoon and you want a fast food chicken sandwich. Where do you go? I'm trying to think. Um, I feel like that's a great question. They all taste worse now, though. They really do. Yeah, like Chick-fil-A ain't what it used to be. Wendy's ass. I was I'm gonna go with the McChicken. Nah. The McChicken. Pops up. You don't count, but it counts. Publix fast food. He's not getting any chicken sandwich. He's getting a pub sub. I mean, over a chicken sandwich. Of course. I would rather get a fast food burger, honestly. For sure. I don't know if it makes they'll make it better, but I'd rather eat that. They're both bad. They're both bad, but I'm I'll fall with a fast food burger first. Last one of the short answer. What is your favorite curse word? Fuck part one. Part one. Part one. I'm gonna need some uh some wine for part two. Hang on. And say something, keep them entertained.

So we don't we gotta keep retention up, man. Say something. How's this Snoop wine treating everybody? I like it. You like it? I like it. It is kind of nice. Yeah, it's bro. It's it gets you faded, bro. But not like sloppy faded. Yeah. You just everybody, I feel like by the time like we're all probably tipsy. You know? I'm not. I don't drink really. You don't really drink. No, like not that much. I told him to hold it. So I just had had one glass this whole time. I told him to hold it, for sure. Well, like me and bro, we're probably a little faded because we've been killing this bottle. I'm a big guy, though. It takes me decent amount. Yo, my tolerance is smoke because my little sobriety breaks. So that'll do it. Oh that's fine. Yeah, yeah. He hasn't done that. Yeah, bro. it was my first time. He doesn't know about that. This is my first time in like a year, honestly. Oh man, that's great. Okay, moving on to the this or that portion. I'm gonna give you two choices. and you pick one. We can go with this or We can go with that. Exactly. You can go with this, or you can go with that. David, drums or melodies. What am I better at?

What are you asking me? Like that's up for interpretation. Chords. Duh. Lyrics or flow? Flow. Horror flick or anime? Horror flick. Clowns or magicians? Neither. Eggs or grits. Neither. Tragic. For real. Go completely broke or have all your current music taken down forever. I'm already broke. What do you mean? Keeping my music. I love how amazing he is about just the transparency of this Sunak Louie. He just interviewed for a job at CVS. Guys, don't get it. Bro, this is the interview I'm doing. Are you trying to get hired? No, I'll interview him for this. Permanent host. Permanent host.

Sit on the end. I'll have him back. I'm down on that. Bro, I'll sit on the end. I'll definitely. Whoever sits here, like you gotta sit next to him, put an arm around him, man. Come on, like right here. Like, buddy. You know what I mean? You look pretty cozy over there. Come on. All right. It works. I can get used to David the Tragic on here. He's gotta bring the snoop wine every time. I know I could be an infrequent guest. We need that. My fault Ben. get your credit. Yeah. We know you did it, bro. Yeah. Trying to give him one there. No, I got the fucking wine. Let the record show. Alright. All right. Moving on. David, are we gonna give up underwear or give up smartphones? That's a good question. Yeah, it's a tough one. Um you can have a tablet. All underwear for everybody or just me? Just you. Just do I think it's kind of funnier actually if it's for everybody. Right? That's like a big decision. No, because that makes it way easier if no one has an underwear, it's normal. He's the only motherfucker that never has underwear. Damn, that's a good one, bro. That's what I do.

Because free ball can kind of be a vibe, but also not in every pant situation. So, like, you know what I mean? Like, I really don't know. And my phone is the devil. So like, fuck. Like, can I still have my laptop if I can? You can have an iPad. Fuck it. Wait. We'll give you an iPad too. Neither. Oh my god. This is the worst, this or that. He's not choosing this or that. Hasn't been, Yeah. Option two. I'm sure it's like three. Three out of eight. He's a good 50% hit rate. Not like 38%. Doing good. Pretty poor. David, free pizza for life or calorie free. Calorie. Whoa. Pizza. Fuck it. pizza. Or calorie-free pizza. Pizza. The real one. They're both pizza though. No, but the real one for life. But one of them, you can eat as much pizza as you want. It won't taste. as good. And maintain your figure. You know it won't. It won't. That's gonna be ass. It's not like gluten-free, vegan bullshit.

What the fuck is it then, bro? It's worse. It's worse. It's magic. Calorie-free pizza. No, it's bad. All right, something wrong with that. I don't trust it. All right. Last one of the goddamn this or that. You guys are ruining my this or that. Legless or dickless. What? Neither. What the fuck? I'm gonna answer that shit. Dude. He's not going in the rapid rapid fire rampage hall of fame. He might go down in the worst rapid fire rampage hall of fame. Bottom five. Let's see what he does on the live interview. Yeah, no, it was great until then. Awesome interview. Yeah, great interview. I don't answer shit. I don't want to All right. Yeah. let's see what you do on the word association. I'm gonna say a word, you just give me a word right back. First thing off the top of your head. He said starting with hip hop. Popular color. Black chick. Blue. Wife. Black whip slaves. Oh my god, this podcast is taking terrible turn.

He asked me. I told him how I felt. See, that's that's actually, motherfuckers don't want you to say how you actually feel. Yeah, you should have skipped that. That is the beauty of the word association. If you wanted me to answer him, I could have skipped it. He's let him keep going. That's fine. That's fine. That's what he thought. Lil. Huh? Lil. Lil? Lil. Lil. Like L-I-L. Like L-I-L. Lil. Like Lil Wayne? Sure. That's a great answer. Moving on. Jet. Huh? Spell it. G-E-T. G-E-T. Oh. Yeah, not a JIT. Oh, I thought you said Jit. Yeah, nah. Jet. Fast. Gin. Nasty. Wait, Ashley, retract. Dangerous. Okay. He's had some. Every time I've had gin, I blacked out. Like every time, bro. Oh Lord. Raccoon. Skip. Flower. Daisy.

Cuba. Castro. Just in time. Happy. For real. Lower. Dick. Worst rapid fire rampage in history. How do you not go lower self? Yo, thank God the interview was fired. You're doing good for me. That was bad. Value. No. in all seriousness, David, appreciate you coming on, man. Yes, enjoyed it, man. As always, please like, comment, and subscribe. That helps us out a lot. Henry, until next week. What are we doing? Getting out of here. Getting the fuck out of here. Peace, y'all.