1K Phew Interview: Not Your Average Gospel Rapper

When I first you know got around, you know, the CHAP people and stuff like that. I ain't really grow up in that type of surroundings, so it was like I was kind of uncomfortable because I felt like if I was gonna be myself, nobody really really accept me. I was a black sheep, like I was something they never saw. Like I came in with with chains on and wearing my shirt open with no shirt on. I was just really doing me. I was like Bible say come as you are. I really was doing that. Baby, one more time. Welcoming in on the one more time podcast. We've been anticipating this one for a while, but we finally got him. It's Ty Dolla in the building. Bro, let's go just because he's got the hair thing going, it's not Ty Dolla sign. Just you thought it was just because of the hair. We interviewed his label business partner a while back. We didn't, I couldn't get Ty, bro. I thought Sean was hooking up the Ty interview. No, no, but we got almost as legendary, more legendary. Oh my god, we got one K few in the building.

Few. Few dollar sign in the building. Few dollar sign. Oh my god. He got a few dollar signs on his bank account. Ty few, Ty few. That's what I'm saying, no, so so you know, CHH is literally a term that like I had not heard. Gospel rap is back. Yeah. Jack. What is CHH for the people? Yeah, for the people that aren't familiar, what's CHH? I don't know for real. Still figuring it out. Nah, see it, it stands for Christian hip hop though. Yeah. But you know, I be yelling out that gospel rap. So I'm saying gospel rap is back. What did it what did it did it like when did it start? When was gospel rap actually a thing? Is it like as old as rap in general? I thought I invented gospel rap. And when was this? This was like when I when I found out I couldn't rap about nothing else. Like my folks were so strict, like it's like, boy, you finna go to church, and if you gonna rap, you better be rapping by God. You feel what I'm saying?

Straight up. It's like I had to I had to turn that on. You feel what I'm saying? But I just turned it. I don't know, it just turned into something real for me. And I've just been running with it ever since. That's why I be yelling, I'm I'm more so gospel rap because it's like I wasn't really introduced to like the CHH world until I got signed, kind of. So it's like it's it's like kind of me sticking to my roots, like by me saying gospel rap. You feel what I'm saying? Yeah, like was gospel rap the term before CHH? That was the term I knew. It was gospel rap in like they would say like holy hip hop and stuff like that. Holy hip hop? That's H-H-H? triple H. Triple H? Triple H. Maybe we should bring that back. Oh no, I like gospel rap though. I feel like gospel rap harder. Okay, should we try and get rid of CHH and just call it gospel rap? Wait, we gotta get rid of it. I mean, we ain't gotta get rid of it. I mean, we could they could coexist if you want, we gotta get rid of it. I mean, all right, fine, fine. I mean, apparently you've got friends in the CHH scene. I'm sorry. Man, shot CHH. Yeah, no, for sure. Yeah, I mean, you know, just for me, I'd always just you know refer to it as Christian rap in general. So like I didn't really know, but all right.

So I want to start off with a segment that I didn't run past Henry, so boy. I'm sorry, but you don't run anything past me. We trust each other. You have your whole thing at the end that you get to do Somewhat. I I wanted to do something fun today. Let's get it. So I wanted to give rapper names to biblical characters. Oh, yeah, let's get it. Okay, all right. So I want to start off with like the OG here. Okay. Adam. A rapper name too. I don't know, man. A D Smooth. A D smooth. Yeah. God, that's got a ring to it for sure. A.D. Smooth. Yeah, oh man, I can think of so many cool like album album titles with that. No, for sure. All right. ointment. I thought it sounded like an NBA player. No, for sure. I see that too. Get that smooth jumper. I mean he sounds like he sucked, though. He was drafted high. A.D. Smooth with the ball. He was supposed to be good. He gave himself that nickname. Yeah. Another brick from AD Smooth.

Yeah. What a letdown. I definitely think it sounds more like if you're a little ashy, you put on some AD smooth. A.D. Smooth. No. If your elbows are like a little bit. a tad bit ashy. No, no. It's a little more serious than that. If you're itching in a certain area, Oh, shit. you need to go and get some AD smooth for that. Oh my god. All right. Well, no, for sure. Sorry, Adam. That took a weird turn. there. You got to get some A.D. Smooth. We don't mean anything by that. Um, all right. we're moving on to uh Mr. Two by Two himself. We're going with Noah. Noah. Yeah. Noah. Noah was a G. Yeah, he was. Oh man. Art Gang Noah. Art Gang Noah. Oh my god. A.D. A.G.N. AGN. So we got AD Smooth and AGN. AGN, that sounds like a TV network, though. It does. Like this podcast is gonna premiere on AGN. AGN. For sure. Art Gang Network. Yeah.

Art Gang Network. Oh man. That's who Art Gang Noah signed to. Yeah. He is. Yeah, he's got his own rival podcast. He's their flagship artist. Yeah, he's got their flagship pod. No, for real. All right, so everyone's uh least favorite, Judas. Judas. I don't know, maybe it's I mean, I think Judas. I don't know much about it, but you know. No, no, no, no, you're right. Okay, good. I was like, I've heard the stories. He was Yeah, but Judas, he was slime, so we we gotta go slime ball J. Slime ball J. Slime ball, slimy J. Is there any affiliation with YSL? Nah. Hell no, slimy. Okay, hell no. Slimy. All right, okay. He's he's he's he's despicable. That could be a cool rap name, too. Despicable? I don't know. I don't know. Okay, sorry. All right. He's better at this, apparently. No, these names are fire so far. Yeah, these are good. These are good. All right. David's uh biggest opponent, his his arch nemesis, Goliath. Goliath.

What's his rap name? Oh, Goliath, but we gotta go G-Bo. G-Bo. G-Bo. G-Bo. No relation to G Herbo. You don't mess with G-Bo. Now that's Debo, little cousin. Debo and G-Bo. G-Bo. He's the G-grade Debo. So David's rap name. I was gonna have David on there, so his would have been Debo. Nah, nah. Because David, he he probably would have been what? Nah, we can't get him Debo, because G-Bo can't bully Debo. Right, right. They're on the same team. They're not related. But at the same time, G-Bo lost. Yeah. So I don't know. Dang, that's a good one. Okay, all right. That's a good question. So yeah, maybe if you you know think of anything for David later. Um, all right, and then the head honcho himself, Day-Day. Oh, Day-Day. Now we got to go with Day-Day, and then last but not least, of course, uh Mr. Jesus. Mr. Jesus is crazy, Mr. Jesus. Uh is that offensive? The one. Jesus is My father. Okay, the one, the one and not the two. No, that's his whole name.

The one, not the two, the one not the two, and then not the two. Parentheses. Nah, or comma. One name. Oh, just straight. The one, not the two. Straight to the point. Fire. The one not the two. For sure. Okay, wow. I was skeptical about that segment, but it he I think few saved it there. Sometimes you gotta put some faith. Sometimes you gotta have faith, Henry. That's gonna be the mantra for this episode of sometimes you gotta have faith. That's great. All right. So, like, when when would you say that you like developed a strong sense of faith? You know what I mean? Because obviously now you're in the the you know, subgenre of Christian hip hop, which obviously is faith-based. But like when when did you personally develop like your sense of faith? I pretty much grew up in church, really, all my life, but you know, I was one of them kids that kind of hard headed or whatever, so I ain't really I just went to church because my you know, my mama made her go to church. You feel what I'm saying? But then as you know, I got older and started getting into life situations and stuff like that. Like I had the situation I got shot at or whatever, like that.

So it was like I feel like that situation was like the last straw of God saying, all right, that's the that's that's the second strike. You know, you get three of them, it's over with. I feel like I probably ain't got more than three. You feel what I'm saying I feel like I ain't got spared so many times. Yeah, you're like a cat with nine lives. For real, for real. Respectfully, no, for real. If I take a piece of bubblegum, like something gonna happen for sure. You feel what I'm saying? My mom used to say, if it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all. You know what I mean? That's crazy. Because it was just like I was just that kid that I wasn't even doing anything crazy, but it was like I ain't even heard of them. Yeah, but it was basically like if anyone was gonna get caught, like drinking at a party, or like just anything that even like these small things, speeding, like I got like multiple speeding tickets. It's like all my friends were going like 95 on average, and I would like speed one time and get fucking caught. It was just like recurring bad luck, Can't do nothing. Can't do nothing exactly. I feel like you described similar situations. That's how I was where it was like you were just bad, or like I almost want to say bad, but you were just like kind of bad at the street shit, where it was like you were just you were like getting... I really was the one of them like it was like I was I was the one out of my partners and like... It was like, nah, bro, you know you ain't supposed to be out here. Type thing.

It was like I was one of them. It was like, I don't know, it wasn't even just me being around the wrong crowd either, because it was like the crowd was my neighborhood, yeah. All I gotta do is go outside and play basketball. I'm in the wrong crowd, yeah. You feel what I'm saying? So it was kind of that situation. Just knock on your neighbor's door, you're in the wrong crowd. Yeah, you go trick-or-treating and you're in the wrong crowd. That's crazy. That is crazy. Yeah. No, it's so true, man. Um, so you know, for you then when you, you know, made the the shift to start making like CHH music or like gospel rap as you, you know, thought it was, right? Um, like, was that something where you frowned upon, like getting called a gospel rapper or like a Christian like hip-hop artist? At first I was. Yeah. At first I was like on some like, I feel like it was just putting me in the box. You know what I'm saying? And like you feel like other people looked at you kind of funny for that? Yeah, like low key. Well, I well, I thought they did. I probably was in my, I ain't gonna lie, like the more I think about it, the more I the more I know it's like I was in my own head. Mm-hmm. Like, I don't know, because it's like when I'm really standing on it now, is I'm really embracing it, like most of the people that's not even nowhere near church, they respecting it.

You feel what I'm saying? Just because I'm standing on what I'm saying, you feel what I'm saying? And it's like I was nervous to you know get put in the box, you feel what I'm saying? But it's like, especially during the pandemic, like that's when I really sat down and was thinking, like, dang, like, it's like I really gotta stand on it, bro. Cause I'm in my own lane. You feel what I'm saying? I'm unique. It's like I ain't ain't ain't nothing really like this. Yeah, you feel what I'm saying? So that's when I knew it was like if I get in the box, like my box is gonna turn into TNT. You feel what I'm saying? It's gonna blow. Yeah, Boom. for sure. No, I I feel like, you know, you said this, and I think that you're alluding to it is like, it's almost just like that authenticity and that like being genuine, that's gonna trump. It doesn't matter what you're doing, right? Whether you're like, you know, rapping about like you know, faith-based stuff and kind of like elevation and you know, like, you know, Christian influence stuff, or whether you're rapping about like sad shit or you know, party shit, street shit, whatever, like fans can sniff that shit out, like the authenticity. If you ain't rapping what you're talking about, you ain't gonna last, bro.

Yes, dude. And then and as weird as you think you might be, like humans are so similar, there's a billion other people that are just like came from the same story, same shit. That bro, that is people are scared to embrace that. Super facts, like I think so. Man, are you were you surprised? Because you know, growing up in Atlanta, you saw rap. I mean, I grew up here, he grew up here, like raps everywhere. it's part of our culture here in Atlanta, right? Did were you surprised as to how big the CHH market is? Oh nah, for sure. I mean, I ain't gonna lie, bruh, I ain't gonna cap, bro. I've been doing this for so long, bro. Like, I done seen the different levels. So I'll say yeah, but at the same time, it's like nah, because it's like I wouldn't do anything that I feel like wouldn't grow or I mean, I ain't not to sound selfish, but it's like I I was trying to shoot for that. You know what I'm saying?

I feel like if you're not trying to go big, what you doing? Yeah, I I just like for me, man. Even seeing like some of your footage of you like performing and shit at like some I looked like some youth group uh like convention or something, and I was like, youth group convention is crazy. I was like, he's got these kids hyped the fuck up. I was like, oh my god, they are drunk off Jesus in one K for you right now. They are lit as fuck. A convention is crazy. It was crazy, bro. Why do I see like these robots like robotic children, like just everywhere going crazy NPCs, right? Right. That's what it seemed like, and but but for me, I was like It'd be lit though. No, and and then I, you know, I clearly was doing my research, and I'm like, you're streaming like crazy. You've got a solid, engaged, like social media fan base and following, you know, your peers like Lecrae and um and uh what up uh what up RG artists like that are doing numbers, right? Like, and I was just for me, who's not into the scene and hasn't really witnessed it firsthand.

As I was doing my research, I mean, I was actually kind of shocked to see like, yo, this is like big. Yeah, not for sure. This isn't this like tiny niche subgenre of hip hop, like this is a viable thing that like they got going on. It's big. And I also that's why I was like super excited to get you on here to talk about it because it was like it's so foreign to me. I'm not gonna lie. Yeah, I I wasn't familiar with you know, you prior to you know, us us setting this up. Yeah, but then when I like when I heard about you and then like started seeing all the all the people that I knew that were tapped into you too, like as like weird as it is, isn't it a weird psychological thing where we do like check the like who's following that person? Yeah, and he's like, And it's like a bunch of people, I know him, and it was all the people whose like ears I trust as like solid, you know, like tastemakers of music, being like, oh, like they fuck with this guy, right? I was checking like the credits on your album. I saw like Fireman, yeah, and Mike Norris. Are you riding with Fireman? yeah. We had Fireman on the pod and we have Mike Norris, who's his like manager slash like pub admin and whatnot. And so yeah, he did a majority of my last project.

Okay, he did, yeah, yeah. Okay, yeah, because he's definitely very like spiritual as well. So yeah, and he's a character. Oh my god, we had some of the funniest clips from him, bro. That's a good one. He was talking about not going to carnivals because like you can't trust them, right? The rollercoaster carnival. For sure. Yeah, yeah, but he's a fucking character. I ain't getting on that uh the scream machine. I mean, you ain't getting on that. Ain't nobody ride that ride 10 years, yeah. Yeah, no, for sure. So for me, right? When I'm uh I'm not tapped into the scene for someone like me, I guess I should say. If if I'm not tapped into like the CHH scene, like I'm probably making a lot of assumptions about you as a CHH artist, yeah, about the whole subgenre, you know, altogether. What would you say are some of those like main assumptions that people make that don't know about it that they're like surprised to find are not true? Oh man. Because I feel like you have to get this, right? Like, oh, I thought you were gonna only be rapping in Bible verses or some shit. I feel like it's something for everybody.

Like, I feel like it's like it's it's just like regular, just regular music. It's something for everybody. It's not just one specific, you know, genre. You feel what I'm saying? Because I feel like I would not feel like I really, you know, was the first with the trap gospel to bring the trap into the gospel. You feel what I'm saying? So it was like because at first it was like it was a lot of boom bap going on, a lot of you know, and I I was in tune on that too, like coming up, uh being from Atlanta, just watching, you know, how how people from up top in New York having their way at the time, and then you know, Atlanta, we was having our way at the time with you know, with tilt Lou and all them. But uh Did you try the boom bap first? Was that like your No, no, no. I was always like, You remember I told you, I thought I invented gospel rap. Right. Oh, yeah. So it's like when I first started, I just was rapping how I'm like like I'm from Atlanta. Yeah, so who was the person to break the news to you that you didn't invent it? Uh my sister, my sister came back when we realized, so your sister's like phew, Like this shit's been going on, Right. Like she came back with like two CDs, like it was like, nah, this this is a thing for real. Like, the CDs from five years ago.

How sad were you like sad to find that out? Like, were you like kind of heartbroken when you I ain't gonna lie, like I was at first until I listened and I was like, oh nah, they don't even sound like me. Yeah, you feel what I'm saying? And I was like, Oh yeah, I so I'm finna keep this going. When did it click though? As far as like because I I feel like I've heard you say in uh in another interview, you went like Faith Street, Faith Street, or sorry, Faith Street, Faith, or like Yeah, yeah, Faith Street, Faith for sure. Yeah, really faith street, faith street, faith. Okay, so there's been like a couple flip-flops. There's been some kind of like going in and out, like you know, as of recently, like what kind of what clicked as far as like you know, making the type of music that you're making, you know what I mean? And uh really the relationship side, really, because it's like I feel like there's a lot of religious people that don't really got a solid relationship, you know, with God, you feel what I'm saying? And that's where I kind of had to wake up and realize because I was just kind of going through the motions. It's like I had a situation where I got shot at, you feel what I'm saying? That and that really was the last situation where I kind of woke up and realized, I'm saying, nah, I'm finna do this for real.

Cause when I got shot at, I was doing gospel rap and everything. You feel what I'm saying? But I was just still going through the motions and still, you know, trying to find find my own way and trying to move without God, you feel what I'm saying? Cause I feel like I had like hella warnings, you feel what I'm saying? But I was one of them people like I couldn't do anything. It's like I I can do the smallest thing and you know, know what I'm saying get punished or whatever. But uh I felt like that time, that last time was on some like nah, bro. Like, if you keep going, it ain't gonna it ain't gonna end well for you. You you were unlucky in the streets for sure. Yeah, just felt wrong for sure. And so being in this, you know, having gone faith street, faith street, faith, right? Like being in in this like almost like third iteration of like your you know, faith-based, I would say, you know, music career, right? Does it feel significantly more like intentional now and like comfort? Like, you know, do you feel more like comfortable in it? Oh no, For sure. or did you feel like that before Cause I can be myself like yeah it's like when I first you know got around you know the CHH people and stuff like that it's like I ain't really I ain't really grow up in that type of surroundings. so it was like I was kind of uncomfortable cause I felt like if I was gonna be myself nobody really accept me you feel what I'm saying why I don't know just because I was just I don't know I was like a I was a black sheep like I was something they never saw like I came in with with chains on and I'm saying wearing my shirt open with no shirt on and I'm saying it's like I was just really doing me like I was like Bible say come as you are I really was doing that like yeah I was just I was I was coming as I am like I'm from Atlanta you feel what I'm saying and they never seen that before it was like my first video I had I had my shirt off you feel what I'm saying well we appreciate you wearing a shirt here today. I mean no I mean it would have been fine but like you know but that's nice of you but no no no so like really you were just like not the norm of the CHH scene okay because I was gonna ask like you know I'm assuming a good amount of the CHH fans are like religious people I would say right but not all of because, like, because I like Fuse music and I'm not a religious person. Facts facts yeah yeah so do you feel like you're different in that sense or like 50% of my fans for sure my like my supporters like they like I don't go to church but I on Sunday I listen to Fuse.

Yeah yeah Boom. like that that's like because you know you gotta think like I'm I'm the I'm the most guy most of these folk like gonna see like in in their daytime. You feel what I'm saying? It's like they ain't they ain't even trying to see guys. It's like, but if they hear my music, like, they'll oh, okay. You know what I'm saying? It's one step closer. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, it's interesting. Like, you know, this is just like music as a whole is somewhat of like a spiritual experience, even you know, definitely. It's like I definitely feel like I'm closer to some higher power, some shit going on when like I'm really connecting with the song, man. So like then you take it into the CHH scene, and I'm imagining people that do want that, like you know, traditional or not traditional, but like they want that Christian, you know, um, you know, relationship with God or whatever, right? I feel like that can like probably be really special for people. I don't know, really good. it's life changing for real. Like I remember I was at Slutty Vegan, shout out to Slutty Vegan. I was in line. and um, there was a lady like she was like, she came up to me like kind of like crying or whatever.

This was a minute ago. Wow, she came up to me crying, and um at first I was like, dang, I know I ain't cutting nobody in line. Like, what what, what, what you coming at me You know what I'm saying crying for. you thought she was crying about skipping her in line? I've been here the whole time, but nah, see uh long story short, man. She was like, Man, I gotta get a picture, I gotta get a picture with you. Like, you changed my life. Like, I was wow, I was I was just facing suicide last week. You feel what I'm saying? And um, I don't care though. The song choice she said was kind of I got a song called Petco, and it's kind of like a like an energetic type of song. So I'm like, dang, Petco save your life, that's crazy. Like, that's hard. It'd be the wildest one, bro. Yeah, because for you, I think you were saying this before, it's like it's so specific to the person almost. Yeah, bro. That's crazy. That's what I was just about to say. Like, it's like everybody got their own, it's crazy, bro. And that's one of the situations where I was like, dang, bro. That's that really woke me up.

on some. like, nah, bro. It's bigger it's way bigger than me. And it's almost, it should also wake people up. Cause we have a lot of you know, aspiring artists and producers, whatever, on you know, that are part of our community. It's like it should almost wake you up to you never know which song is gonna hit people like the way that it like you know, because like just because it didn't think that it didn't strike you as a song that could save someone's life, like that's not for you to fucking judge. It's not for me to judge. Like, everyone's gonna have their own unique experience with you know your music, yeah. And that's fucking that's powerful. Bro, that's the most powerful thing in the world. It's the same thing with me as a producer. Uh, you know, it's beats like playing beats for people. I'll like be skipping through some beats and accidentally play one that I didn't try that hard on, or did and they're like, Wait, wait, what was that one? What Was that one? Go back to that one. I'm like, nah, don't worry about that one. No, go back to that one. Like, that one's hard. I'm like, really? Yeah, that one, right? Really? Are you sure? You like that? Exactly. But I'm not hearing it the way they're hearing it. Yeah, like, and then it's like I'm the same way, like, especially when you got the beats, it's like, nah, the hook's supposed to be right here. It's like, nah, I hear the hook right here.

Yeah, you feel what I'm saying? Put the hook on the open part. Like, oh, exactly, exactly. Yeah, That's not for real. Art is so subjective, man. Not for real. I mean, it's gotta, is it the most it's gotta be the most subjective thing that exists exists, probably, right? I mean, other I mean, honestly, maybe spirituality too. It's like, who are you to tell me how my relationship with you know, a higher power, God, whatever it is that you believe in is supposed to be, right? Like, I don't know. I mean, I feel like that's how you approach it, right? Like, definitely yeah, like you don't strike me as a type that's gonna like impose your own like ways on people, right? Because I feel like that can rub people the wrong way. That's why it's like I always I always say this, it's not my job to be God. I just gotta point people to him. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? I ain't you and you gotta meet people where you at. That's a lot. In a world where rappers love to be like the GOAT and they all want to be the top dog. Right, exactly.

It's interesting to be like in a different kind of head space. Yeah, like cool being the number two. Yeah. No, for real. For real. Yeah. It's like, and then it's like when you cool with being the number two, you ain't in competition with nobody because don't nobody want to fight for second place. You feel what I'm saying? You feel what I'm saying? That's crazy. That's a good one. That's a good one. That's crazy. Yeah. so you know, when you did uh the project with Zaytovin or had y'all done a full-length project before? We did like a couple songs. Okay, yeah. We got a project, but we ain't just did it, we ain't did a project. Like, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. So when y'all did a couple of songs in the beginning, like um, how did y'all you know first come to meet? Because I feel like you've talked about this on the intro to the album. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Which album was that? Zaytoven Speaks last year. oh, yeah, yeah. So long story short, um, we went to like an open mic situation. Yeah, uh, it's like on the weekend or whatever. It was like like small church and um open mic at the church, yeah. It was an open mic at the church.

They was having like a cafe night or something like that. See, that church sounds cool, yeah. For sure. Like having an open mic with rappers and shit like at the church. But I ain't gonna count like it's a lot like now, bruh. It but church be having so much stuff, bro. Like it, like they be going crazy, like bowling, like super bowl, football, something like everything. Like, and the bro, don't get me started on the youth concert, like oh yeah, the youth concert. Like, like it's like BET Awards. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? they putting some money behind that stuff now. Okay, man. Crazy. But um, I used to see my like young life uh friends or whatever. I remember Young life, and I was like, the fuck kind of like cult shit is this? Like this looks like not like acceptable. I don't even know. This is crazy. This looks wild. I went to a homie of mine's uh summer camp. His dad was a pastor at a Baptist church, and we wanted to. There was like a um not an open mic, but it was like a talent show that everyone could sign up for and be a part of. Yeah.

And me and my buddy, the pastor's son, we're gonna do like a rap battle. Yeah, and they denied us. No, we were the only act. They were like, we don't want you all to do that. Hey, bro, you know what's crazy. It was a long time ago, but when I first got into uh when I first got into doing uh you know gospel rap, um when I sent my music into, this was the biggest uh Christian rap blog, you feel what I'm saying I sent it to them and they denied me. They was like, bro, your your music too urban. Wow, yeah, that's how it used to be. It's too Atlanta. It's changed, it's changed. Like I was the first to do the trap sound, yeah. You know what I'm saying? They ain't never hear they're like, oh nah, bro. You're not one of those people who think like the 808 is the frequency of the devil or whatever, like people say it's crazy. Man, that's pretty fucking cool to be the first one within that subgenre to like blend the the trap shit. It's pioneer. That's gotta be that's I don't know, man. I just like I would feel so proud if I were I would be like popping that shit all the time. Like, yeah, I mean, don't want to brag, but like I was the first one.

to do this trap shit. I haven't been popping it. It's like this I was just telling him I was like, nah, I'm about to start popping it, bro. Like, yeah, shout out Flex in the building, by the way. Yeah, man. Mm-hmm. Flex in the building, yeah. Yes, sir. The biggest so what would you say the biggest differences are Oh, no, I gotta go back to the Zay shit. Oh, shit. yeah, yeah. we didn't answer that? Oh my god. So nah, so we'll thank God we have people here that can remember what we were talking about. Because, yeah, we just go on tangents, and I forget. For real. Tangents are good but. So Zaytoven, so you got the open mic at the church, and then Henry talked about his rap battle, and it got me all distracted. Yeah. Thinking about Henry rapping was like terrible. So let's get back to this. They didn't let him go in, though. They didn't let him go in the rap battle. I know. Thank God they knew what they were doing. They took us to go get the ice cream because we were like bawling, our eyes like pissed. But yeah, anyway. All right. Jeez. Okay. So yours didn't end so sad, I guess. They really wanted ice cream. Dude. I wanted to rap on stage. The ice cream was a close second, but he really wanted to rap.

We had already written our bars. Like we were ready. And there was no cussing. I bet they were trash. Well, but anyways. Listen. Yeah. Okay, so so you got the open mic at the church. Yeah. Oh, yeah. So I walked in. See, you forgot what we were talking about. Right. Low key. Low key. low key. You remember this? You lived this. I'm back. You remember the story? I'm back. I'm back. Yeah, come on now. So when the first person I seen when we walked in was Zay. He was on the keys playing the keys. Wow. And I didn't know what he looked like because you know I'm I'm tapped in with all the the uh the uh the hood clips, the YouTube clips, and them rapping outside and all this stuff. So I'm knowing who he is. A couple of my partners didn't know who he was. They know who Zay Tovin was, but didn't know what he looked like. What era was this for Zay? What was going on? Like Versace had just dropped. Oh my god. No, I'm saying 10 years ago. Yeah, yeah, for sure. So you were like fanning a little bit, probably, right? Low key, yeah. Low key. But before like Instagram and shit was popping, where you know what people look like, yeah. So maybe he didn't have a whole bunch of shit. but I was one of them folks I I knew Zay though, like yeah, you were on the blogs and stuff. What?

Like going crazy on the blogs, yeah. See everyone on all the Gucci blogs and everything. I feel like he was on a couple of mixtape covers too. They put his Oh, yeah, yeah. Gucci put him on there. Yep, yeah. Yep. Nah, for sure. So he's on the keys, yeah, so he's a good one. So you're there for your open mic, and it's time for me to go up, and I'm knowing who's on the keys, so I I go crazy when it's time for to perform and stuff like that. So were you nervous knowing that he was there? Uh I always get butterfly before I perform, but it's like when I get up there, it's over with. Oh yeah. But um in the zone. Yeah, it's over with. Just kind of black out. Yeah. Like when you're up there, just performing. smooth. Yeah, they don't tell you What I'm finna do. do. Yeah. I'm going in the crowd for sure. Okay. But um, but yeah, I just got off stage and then went up to him for a picture. And bro was like, like, oh nah, boy, you hard, but I ain't never seen nothing like that. So he was like, I take my number down. So he took, I took his number down, and you know what I'm saying he invited me to the crib the next day. So I um I go to the crib, You know what I'm saying go to the basement, like where he be cooking up at. He only knew. I'm already knowing what the basement looked like. You feel what I'm saying?

I'm already like on YouTube videos now, I'm already knowing. You feel what I'm saying? You're like, you're you're like, yeah, I mean the bathroom's right here to the left, right? Right, exactly. Exactly. So he's giving me a tour in my head. I'm like, I know I know I know. Yeah, this is the this yeah. I see. This couch did look really comfortable on the line. Right. Exactly. Yep. did you paint the walls? where's that pillow? Where's that pillow that's usually here? Damn, that's fucking big. He put like 10 beats on my flash drive uh that same day. On the flash drive. Loaded them up. Flash drive. Bro. Shout out to the flash drive, bro. Usb flash drive, they don't use them. No, no one uses flash drives, bro. Hard you have a hard drive at least. Maybe that's why. Hard drive, hard drive. Hard drive. Yeah, you need more space now. But a flash drive, nah. You could barely hold 10 beats on a flash drive, probably. now, bro. Nah, you could, You could. Nah, you could. Nah, you could. That was a full ass flash drive, bro. You could still use a flash drive. You just it's just over. that 10th beat was cut off. You can't eat a

flash drive. Because every show. If you ain't had that flash drive, it's over. Yeah, you're done. Like, you're not performing. Yeah. Oh, you don't have a flash drive? All right. We'll see you next time. Right. Well, yeah. To get to the DJ, right? Imagine being a rapper. Like, You just hard rapper, just yeah. Bro, the most street fucking artists. Pull out a flash drive. He put out the whole key chain. And imagine it's like, you know, like it's like a pink one or something. Or like, you know, he like got this flash drive from someone that like he was a very nice old flash drive. It has like some legal office on it, like you know, John Foy. He ain't got nothing but word documents in two MP3 files. Oh my God. His homework, his homework's on there. He's like, oh shit, sorry, not that file. Exactly. No, no, no, the the song, the MP3. The street anthem. Exactly. Not the other shit. Not a book report.

Oh my god. Oh, flash drives. Holy shit. Okay. Okay, so he loads you up, and then you guys proceed to make what basically starts like changing the trajectory for you, I feel like, right? So yeah, so he loaded me up, and I went back. I ain't recording his house that day, cuz I guess it was too early for all that. So, like, how long did you stay at Zaytoven's house this first time? Yeah, got the beats and it was over. It's just a quick yeah. Nah, nah, but nah, nah. It's like a Fast food restaurant for beats or something. Nah, I was talking about it. I'll take 10 beats and chop it up a little bit. One flash drive. I have 10 beats. 10 beats. Yeah, okay. Nah, for real. Extra sauce. But nah, but nah. I ain't gonna count on after that, bro. Like, Zay always tapped in with me. Like, like if I wanted to pull up on him at a session, just randomly, I'd just pull up, like he always always tapped in with me. So, so let me ask you this, just for for people that are out there. So, like when Zaytoven's at this point in his career, I mean, when he's loading you up with beats, like you then you go to put out a song. Did he just, you know, I don't want to be like pocket watching, and if you don't feel comfortable sharing, it's fine.

But like did he charge you for the beats? He gave me all them beats for the free. Like and for Turk Gone Wild, I'll never forget. For Turk Gone Wild, when I told him, oh, I'm trying to mix and match it because it's going up. You feel what I'm saying? And I was like, bro, how much the beat gonna be how much you're like, nah, bro, pull up, come get the come get the track out. You know what I'm saying? I remember I pulled up at the barbershop, he had owned the barbershop, pulled up to the shop. He already had the CD. He had the CD for the track. CD with the stems on it. A CD with the stems. Yeah, and I got pulled up to the barbershop, got the stems I didn't even know that was possible. Yeah, for sure. Crazy. That's wild. Load the stems off of fucking I I guess the point I wanted to make for our audience is that like guys, like you, if you are talented and someone believes in the talent and the potential and fucks with what you have going on, like they're gonna rock with you. Like sometimes that... You gotta be confident. Exactly. Sometimes the money shit, like if the money comes up and it's something that like you know, you just can't do, like, they're just not right for you at that point in your career. Like, if he would have tried to tax you on some beats, you probably weren't gonna be able to afford them necessarily, right?

And so it would just, you would have just had to been like oh, like, damn, I wish I could have had a song with Zaytoven right now, but I can't. And you would have had to move on with your life, right? But there's gonna be these opportunities, I feel like it's just like you know, making yourself open to them, right? Just being open to them and like putting yourself in as many situations as you can, so that like these types of things can just happen. You know what I mean? Because like there's so many examples like this. He's not the only one that like went to church and met a collaborator that ends up kind of changing the trajectory for him. Like, we've had so many fucking people on here that met someone wherever, right? Like at an event, or like their friend's cousin ended up giving them one opportunity, right? And it's like if you don't just put yourself in as many different places as you can and being like willing to try, you know what I mean? Like, shit, what if you wouldn't have done the open mic, bro? That's facts, bro. You could have just slept. on the open mic. That's a whole crazy story, too. Cause it was it was a night. Of course, we weren't getting paid for none of this. You know what I'm saying? You were probably you borderline could have had to pay. That's right. At least pay some time. You're

Definitely not getting paid. You're paying. You have to pay. Yeah, dude. Nah, it was one of those nights, man. I'm like, man, do we just stay back? Or man, we ain't doing nothing anyway. So yeah. Nah, for sure. And you just pulled up. Just pull it up. And you definitely are glad you pulled up. I would assume. Boy, boy, boy. Yeah, that's crazy. So that was the best mistake ever. That yeah. That was the best, like, had no other plans. Right. And guilt tripped yourself into going, I guess, right? Nah, for sure. Man, that's wild. Yeah, I feel like, you know, there's so I mean, shit, even like when my friend wanted to record, if I would have just told my friend to like come to this studio to record and be like, yeah, like the address is this, like, good luck, like, have fun. Like, we would have never met. We would have never started this. shit. But you pulled up with it. We wouldn't have had to spend way too much money on these cameras. It's not talking about how much money spent on this. Are these church windows? Uh, they're from a Missy Elliott music video. How fire that is. But they might have been chosen. They might have been church windows before she got.

That is crazy. Yeah. Yeah. That is pretty good. Thank you for noticing. That's fine. Yeah, we have so many people here. Should we do the stained glass? Maybe. Maybe. That'll be hard. So, you know, with with Zaytoven, he he obviously plays in the like, all right. What do y'all call non-Christian hip hop uh rap? Do you call it secular rap or what do you call it? Uh normal, traditional? What do you call it? Heathens. That's what I'm saying. I feel like all this is so religious, bro. Like, what do they call movies that's not Christian? I'm gonna watch a secular movie tomorrow. Yeah. I don't know. I just thought they're, I didn't know how to refer to like non-Christian secular sports. Like bruh. Oh my god. Now I'm just thinking of what Christian sports are. I don't even know. That's crazy. Is there? Uh my like what I don't know what happened to these youth groups. Good golf. I feel like if there was a Christian, I was playing secular golf with Henry last weekend. Yeah, we played secular golf.

Secular golf? It was different. But if there was a Christian sport, it would definitely be golf. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. How many disciples were there again? 12. So there'd be 12 holes. 12 holes in Christian golf. Yeah. It's funny, because I actually think it golf should be a 12-hole system, but that's in a whole nother conversation. We're not getting into that on this podcast. You know they got 12-hole courses somewhere? They got... They should. I know they got nine. Yeah, they got nines, but I don't know about 12s. Okay. That sounds kind of Christian, man. I'm not gonna. We need to open that up. I know, A Christian golf course? Yeah. Oh, 12 hole. 12 hole. Yeah. Yeah. Call it the the Disciples' country club or something. Just 12 hole. I'm just I thought we were starting a Christian golf club together. The Disciples country club is crazy. Disciples. Disciples, I mean, you know, there'd be a strict like membership application process, you know? Yeah, we'll work on the name. We'll work on the name. It's a work in progress. I don't like any of the names. so far. It's a fucking work in progress. Okay, but so, you know, back to the original question at hand, for you.

So Zaytoven obviously, you know, uh goes to church often. He's been, you know, vocal about like him playing keys in the church. And you know, you you met him at his dad's church, for example, but he clearly was like a founding father of just trap music with the likes of Gucci, etc. Right? Yeah, um, how much integration is there between I hate saying integration, it sounds like we're talking about like fucking black people and white people going to school together, but I'm just saying, like, how much overlap, how much overlap is there between like non-Christian uh hip hop artists and and Christian hip hop artists, for example. Like you can collaborate. Do you know what I mean? Like a non-Christian. It's about the inauguration between regular Christian hip hop. Just just basically, do you collaborate? Or I wouldn't even necessarily say you, because you might be like a rare breed within the CHH space, but like generally speaking, do CHH artists only work with CHH artists and CHH producers? Is it very like siloed?

I feel like it used to be like that, but my generation of like I it's like I said, it's like when I came on the scene, I was already kind of like out in the box. Like I was like, I was black sheep. So it's like I already was working with I didn't even know it was a thing to work with secular this and secular that. You feel what I'm saying? I'm just working, he got some five beats. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah, I'm just I'm just working with him. I grew up with him, so I'm finna work with him. You feel what I'm saying? It's like I ain't really I wasn't that aware coming in. How about others? Um are they a little more strict about it? Or like, or like I would say some are, some are. I'll probably say like 30% are 30% are kind of clipped. But it's kind of weird, though, It's kind of weird. Some folk be like, they'll never do a secular feature, they'll never do a song with a secular artist, but then they'll turn around and do a freestyle on their beat. Mmm, interesting. I'd be like, you that's weird. That sounds hypocritical. That's weird, but that sounds a little weird. Some sounds a little strange. Some conversion therapy going on there. Okay, Henry.

I mean, like, let's let's let's reinterpret this beat. That's nice. You know what I mean? Thank you. And so, like, how much how much is the business different, right? For example, uh, uh a street artist that's not in the CHH space is not getting booked to play at the youth group convention. For sure. So, like, how much of your business, right? Like, because you know, once again, we're always trying to give you know game to people that are like trying to figure out how the actual like business works, like you know, the venues you play, the brand opportunities, like all the different things that come with like an artist's business. Like, are they kind of you know, uh for lack of a better word? Are they Christian types of opportunities? Or is it more you're playing whatever venues that you know other artists are playing and type shit like that? You know what I mean? I mean, I don't know, it's gonna it's getting a little broader now. Yeah, um, it's like all type of festivals and stuff going on, like but I did see a Christian hip hop festival called Smoke, yeah, yeah, yeah. Why is it called Smoke?

Hey, that's my people too. Uh shout out to Indy Tribe. Yeah, but I did they just did a big festival. It used to be called Holy Smoke. Um, they changed the name to Smoke. They brought it down to Nashville and uh and they and they did it big. Is it less holy now? Uh a little bit, no, no, just to just the name. Nah, it's still holy. It's still holy. Okay, I don't know. I mean, they dropped the holy, like it seems like a bold move. Yeah, yeah. I think they just they just went with a name change. Like, I don't think it was just I don't think it was that. I don't know. I think they're trying to just attract a bigger crowd, maybe. Yeah, yeah. Nah, I don't know. I think it was something deeper, but like I can't really speak on. them. You feel what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah, okay. For sure. Sorry, we were trying to get a little bit of the inside. Well, they that went crazy though. Like that that's one of the biggest festivals for sure. Would you would you do like a rolling loud though? if they invited you? Oh, For sure. Like for uh, oh yeah, yeah, oh yeah. For rolling loud for sure, for sure. Rolling loud autumn. I I walk in anywhere. I'm that one thing about me. Like, I'm I'm myself, like you can put me anywhere. I ain't gonna put on the everybody already know what's going on with me.

Yeah, I love that he said that he's the definition of come as you are. Like that's it, that's a whole that's a great way of putting it. No, absolutely. Yeah, and so you know, with with a a good majority of CHH fans being like Christian, I I feel like you know, you've mentioned this before of like are they a little more like judgmental and a little bit more like are they kind of like looking at you under a microscope of like, hey, what's what are these artists doing? Are they upholding our Christian standards and like different? You got you got different type people, like it's like that's what I'm saying. You got religious people, then you got relationship people. It's like no no relationship is perfect, you feel what I'm saying? And you know, with religion, he's like it's it's tradition, the status quo. Like, you gotta be this, gotta be a robot. You feel what I'm saying? So it's like I feel like yeah, you got you got certain people, and then even the people who be judging, bro, like they be doing 10 times worse behind closed doors. Like, it just be crazy. It's like, I don't know, bro. There's a lot of politics in it too, bro. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, it's it's

relationship with me. Because it's like religion nowadays, it's politics, bro. Like, that's all it I mean. I I ain't gonna say that's all it be, but it's a part of it. I can't, I can't really get down with it. Oh, I mean, I I can't even imagine because we talk about this a lot as far as like the politics of just the music business in general. Insane. so, then for me, when you add the layer of religion, yeah, into the subgenre of the already politically fucking crazy shit show of the music business. Boy, boy, boy. I can't imagine that there's just gotta be this other like dynamic that's involved where it's like I feel like that would be tough to deal with for me. The finesse is stronger too. It's a lot of people who are going to try to finesse you, but, oh boy, do it, do it for your do it for your heart. Do it for Jesus. Yeah, do it for this, do it for that. Do it for free. Do it for Jesus Christ. And they turn for Jesus. And they turn around and slime you. You know what I'm saying? It's like, there's

a lot of that going on too. Yeah, I mean, how much it's a lot of solid people in there too, though. Oh yeah. No, no, for sure. I mean, but but like how much are they, you know, are are in is anyone judging the the chains, the cars, the clothes I'm sure. I'm pretty sure it is, but it's like we done stood on it for so long. They don't like to embrace it now. It's like whether they like it or not, it's like the youth like it. It's like it's it's doing what it's supposed to do. You feel what I'm saying? It's like I ain't gonna count, like, especially me coming up. I ain't finna look up to somebody who who ain't who ain't got it on or who ain't got no sauce. You feel what I'm saying? It's like drop a fucking bomb on that shit. Bro, I mean, for real, bro. No, seriously, they don't want to be drug diligent because they sell cocaine, they want to be drug dealers because they got the five cars, they got the five clothes, the shoes, right? You feel what I'm saying? They don't want that lifestyle for real, they just want what they got. Yeah, so it's like if you show them folks a better way, they say, Hey mama, I want to be like the gospel rapper. But Like, you feel what I'm saying? So that's that that's what I'm on. Dang, yeah. Like, how much do you think you are, you know, influencing the like you know kids, yeah. It's big, bro. It's big because I'm being myself, like they see the authenticity in me.

Like, yeah, I ain't I ain't never gonna try to put on bro, like ever. Like you know what I'm saying? I think we're witnessing the beginning of the new wave of gospel rap right here. Like so this is it, dude. Dude, gospel rap is back, man. Yes, sir. Oh, gospel rap is back, Jack. Jack Jack Jack. Samuel. Yes. That's what I'm saying, yeah. I mean. In the beanstalk, tell you, yeah. You definitely got two new fans, you know, in us for sure. And for real. That's just something where, I mean, you know, even talking about like fans who come up to you, like you said, uh, you know, about like, hey, this song saved my life or whatever. And then even someone who maybe is a kid who like finds God because of like gospel rap, for example. For me, bro, I'm not gonna lie, man, I don't think I could sign up for that responsibility that y'all have as artists. No, for sure. Yeah. Like, as podcasters, we can kind of, I don't know. I don't know that anyone's like taking serious direction from us. Maybe people are from like podcasts, but but artists are like a whole different level, bro. It's like y'all are really, really selling uh lifestyle, and you're you're really shaping the minds of of kids, to be honest, bro.

And like for me, like even future talking about wasn't it Future that talked about like the you know, the lean epidemic and like yeah, how he does acknowledge his like part in that. His toxicity, yeah. Like, yeah, I mean, just in general, like him. I seen an interview when he was like, he don't even do lean for real. Exactly. Yeah, it's just part of the he's an entertainer. Yeah, and then he realized that oh shit, even by me like exaggerating my own lifestyle, kids didn't understand that. You know, so for me, I just like you know, hats off to you artists that have to deal with that sort of responsibility because it has to be easier when it's a positive message, at least, right? There's no shame. No, it's still tough. What? What? I almost feel like it'd be more, yeah. It might be tough For sure. Yeah, because if you're not getting through, then it's almost like if they're not doing positive, you know? And it's like you get hated on by your own folk too. Like, it's like I probably and and I ain't trying to bash

nobody, but I probably get more love from the street, and you know what I'm saying? Like from the church. I got I get a lot of love from the church, but it's like it's a lot of people in church. It's just on some like I'm waiting on them to follow. Like, I know he got something, I know it's something, but I know he got something. You feel what I'm saying? It's always on some like there's some Judases in the grass, yeah. Like, it'd be weird sometimes. It's like a lot of competition. So it's it's just weird, bro. That's what I'm saying. And that's just the religious folks, too. It's like that's what I'm saying, bro. I'm relationship, bro. Like, I'm a child of God no matter where I'm at, no matter what day of the week it is. Is is that someone's philosophy, that whole you know, relationship versus religious, or did you kind of come up with that? I didn't know if that was like a teaching or something, you know. I don't think it's really a teaching, like shit. I but I I can relate to it, that's why I'm kind of yeah, no, for sure. man, that's just that's just what I'm on. Like, it's just how I got more mature in my faith.

Because it's like I feel like if somebody's just not really mature with their faith, it's just going to be boom, I gotta be like this, gotta be like that. Gotta worry about what he think, gotta worry about what he say. You feel what I'm saying? It's like when you get more mature in who you are and what your purpose in life is, it's like you ain't really gotta worry about it. You gotta do is just walk in it. You feel what I'm saying? All you gotta do is just have tunnel vision on your purpose. Yeah, damn. The the the tunnel vision and like the having blinders on thing, it's a recurring theme. It's like the biggest theme of people that like get to your level, you know, and and even beyond, or even people that are you know, just starting out. It's like if you can understand that, and like this is something I'm trying to do better about, and I think I am getting better. Am I getting better? I think you're getting better. I'm getting better because I used to look left and right. Oh no, it's it's it's not easy. Straight ahead. I used to look left and right, being like, what are they doing? What are they doing? Should we be like that? Like, why aren't we doing this? Why aren't we getting this opportunity? Whatever. And that's that's a bad place to be in. Boy, that's terrible.

And you and it takes away what I found is that it was taking away from our growth. I do think a big part of like why we've been kind of growing like crazy as of recent is because we are kind of like laser focused on on what it is that they like the mission at hand is so fucking clear for us right now. It is like we're only in our own way at this point. Like if we don't, if we don't do what it is that we say we're gonna do, yeah, we'll know why we don't get to whatever you know goal we're trying to reach. And also just to bring back the word faith. You kind of have to like, if you don't really believe that this is gonna work and you don't have faith in your process, it's gonna be impossible to stay motivated and wake up every day and keep doing it if you don't have that faith, even if it's there's no evidence, concrete evidence as to why you should be doing it. It's just that feeling, you know. What, I mean, I think we we see that in a way. But that's fair and that consistency too. Like a lot of people, like you said, they don't see results, they don't see evidence, but it's like, bro, if this is really for you, bro. All you gotta do is just keep going with it. Cause that's all what I did.

But I had a child and everything, like when I was grinding, you feel what I'm saying? And then a couple more. And then like, you know how crazy you you look, and you got a child, you telling folk, but I don't I'm following my dream. You feel what I'm saying? But you just gotta just keep going, bro. Cause I'm telling you, bro, that consistency, bro. People just gotta learn. Just like when people, like every time I seen like somebody famous when I was younger, they be like, keep going. I used to be like, man, that's some bro, that's so lame, bro. You could like everybody says that's just the cliche thing to say. But bro, as I'm getting up there, bro, Keep going is probably the best advice I ever got. I swear. Straight up. I just was on Instagram live saying that, and I go, guys, you know, to our audience, because once again, there are a lot of people that are like trying to make it in whatever like role in the music business they're trying to do. I was like, I promise you, you have to keep going. Like it's so lame to say. It sounds fucking corny. Yeah. It is just that like cringy, like, ah, like keep going. Like fuck off.

Right. Sounds like a fortune cookie or something, but literally, bro. Nah, for real. We were so close to quitting. Yeah. I was like sick of this shit. Like that long ago. I was like, oh my God, we're doing like the same shit over and over again. It feels like nothing's working. Like, oh fuck this. Like, let's quit. Right. And like now we're just feeling like we've really hit our stride. And like it really does go back to like we had that mindset of like just keep going, dude. Like, I promise. Like, we were getting really good feedback. So it wasn't like, you know, nothing was working at all from like at least the feedback we were getting, but we just weren't seeing the like results we thought we should be seeing, which was all subjective and in our fucking head, anyways, right? Everyone thinks they should be at this certain level by this certain date. Right. Yeah. Because XYZ person did it that quickly or whatever. And bro, like the the quick, the quickest you can go up, bro. The quickest you can go down. Like, oh my god, we just talked about this. The microwave versus the oven, man. That comes up a lot. Put me in the oven, bro. I'm trying to get seasoned. Preheat. Man, what? Like, for real.

Preheat me on 500. I'll get that broil. I'm trying to slant all the way up. Yeah. That's that's the most beautiful part, is like that steady climb, bro. Because to your point, it's like 45 degree. There's so many fucking it's like it's really bad for artists, I would say, you know, content creators too, but just artists specifically. Like, y'all catch, you know, one viral moment or one hit, and then it just feels like it's like crumbles down from there, like just as quickly as it ever fucking happened. Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. But that's why that consistency is so important, but You gotta you gotta come like right when you go up, like you gotta come, like come with it right after. Yep, absolutely. So I first uh became familiar with Lecrae. So we talk about um kind of the the secular versus Christian hip hop like collaborations. He did a song with one of my favorite producers ever, Static Selecta. Oh yeah. It's called uh Live and Let Live. And if you're not familiar with that Lecrae song, I know obviously you're familiar with a lot of his songs, but you might not. This is a deep cut on a static Static Selektah mixtape.

So I need you to go listen to it because it was one of my favorite songs in college. And I was like, who's Lecrae? Somebody live and let live. Live and let live. Love and let love. I didn't want to hear you sing. Oh shit. he was close too. Dude, I just walked right into that. It was a fucking landmine. I'm the worst singer too. Hey, start going stupid. I thought he was about to, I thought he was about to sing with me. You start pop-locking. And then, yeah, right. It's not even that song, it's not even that type of song, it's not pop-locking. Did I pop lock? It's a slow song. Editors, run that back. Did I pop lock? I did not pop. I don't know how to pop lock. So if I did, I didn't mean to pop lock. Play Ben singing in slow motion for a living live. and let live. Okay. All right. Static, if you're out there, shout out to you. Shout out to you, Static. Yeah, static Selektah is one of the best producers of all time. Um, but I I like Googled Lecrae, and that's when I actually first became familiar with like Christian rap even being a thing, right?

It was like this. How long ago was this was? This was back in like 2012, bro. 2011. This is like, yeah, blog era shit. And like I I was putting on concerts and we we booked Static Selecta to host and DJ one of our concerts. It was a Wale concert. Yeah, I'll never forget it. It's at Clemson University? Clemson University? We thought that Wale was going to be popular at Clemson University. Bro, there's only white people that like country music at Clemson University. So the fact that we sold 1500 tickets was fucking impressive. Amazing. But like terrible business plan. But it was at a 5K venue, a 5K cap venue. It was at it was at their basketball arena, Little John Coliseum, and we completely lost our asses financially, bro. It was a very big learning lesson in my uh my music career. But yeah, so like I found out about Lecrae then. Um so you know, when did you because you're signed to Reach, right? Is Lecrae the founder of Reach? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. I mean uh shout out to him and uh Ben Washer. Okay. Yeah, they uh like those the two founding fathers of Reach of the Reach establishment. Is is Reach Records like the only game in town when it comes to CHH, or is there like a competitor that I'm not aware of?

Uh they're the biggest for show. Um I feel like it's a lot of up and coming. Okay. I I ain't gonna count though. It's like we live in a different time, like a different era in music, though. It's like you ain't even gotta be signed to really go up now. True, very true facts, yeah. So it's like that's what I was that's what I was saying. That aspect of it's not really a lot of it, it's a couple labels, but it's not really a lot of labels on that level, but there's a lot of artists on that level. Yeah, sure. Yeah, because you know, from my perspective, I mean, just looking at the Reach Records roster, it's pretty much like the who's who of CHH. Like there, it's it's a pretty star-studded lineup, right? So, you know, you and Lecrae have uh one collab project together. Okay, we got one collab. All right, yeah, yeah. So no church in a while, yep, no church in a while. So and you know, I've I've heard kind of the story of like what that album's all about. It was kind of like you know, you not being as consistent, right? Going to church, and like you know, you finding you know that you know that rhythm and consistency there. That actually got me closer to God.

You feel what I'm saying? It's like uh when I was outside of church, not going and had to realize I really can't live my life like without you know, without being close to God. So what did you miss most about it? Or like what did you feel like you were missing? As far as what like church, yeah, just like when you weren't going, how did you know that like not going was bad for you? You know what I mean? I I I tried to keep everything in my own hands, yeah. Type thing, trying to force stuff to work and trying to I don't know, like try to take on my own responsibility, even though you gotta take on your own responsibility, but at the same time, it's like you gotta you gotta lean on God for everything. You can't just depend on yourself for you know for the for the like your resource and stuff like that. So that's what I was going through. Like I was just trying to handle stuff on my own, and um it was just always go left because I wasn't really like you know being close to God, you know what I'm saying? I wasn't really trying to listen to him, yeah. So that's where that really came from. Yeah, that that lesson was important. You needed to go through that. Oh, yeah, had to, yeah, had to for sure. Yeah, had to.

So so what's what's something memorable with like the making of that album, for example, right? Because I feel like you two are very different artists, yeah, definitely, even though you're signed to the same label, you know, you're both within the you know, gospel rapper CHH scene, right? But I do think that even y'all two showcase that like range of sounds, you know what I mean. So, like, what was your what was your favorite part about like the making of that project? For example, my favorite part really was at the beginning when um I was trying to like present it to him. You feel what I'm saying? I was like, I'm like, bro, let's do a project. And uh, he was like, All right, if you serious, like cook up some songs. If if they like that, we're gonna go ahead and lock in. And so are you already signed at that point? Yeah, I was like, and you're trying to like just pitch the, yeah yeah, pitch the head of the label slash, like, you know, top artist on the roster, like, I got this idea, right, like he was like like okay bro like but that, come correct, that's kind of how it was signed though, um, the first song I did when I came in Reach was this song called Hammertime type thing and that song kind of opened up doors for me too because that's a song that's the first song me and Kray ever did together, yeah, and um, and I wasn't signed at that time. You feel what I'm saying? Like, I was just coming out the street, they, they was familiar with the, with me and Zay song, try to go wild or whatever I came up there because they had like Metro booming and Zay beats and all that so they played a metro beat the first first song I did um was uh Hammer time oh so that's Metro's, yeah, that's Metro's beat, yeah yeah, so like that's my first, like, first anything up at the label, and then they went to go, got, get Kray told me to come in and uh, he, you know what I'm saying, lost his mind. He's like, alright, if you put a verse on there, like, we'll keep it, type thing. So I put a verse on there because I really was supposed to go out there like to help write for the album you feel what I'm saying, but when Kray heard it, he was like, oh nah, we gotta keep you on it, you feel what I'm saying? Yeah, so he was like, if you write a verse, you know what I'm saying if it's hard we'll keep you on the album type thing so I wrote a verse they put on the album then he was like oh bro we might make this a single like and then it just kept going, just kept going, like EP, LP. So yeah, that was kind of like a full circle moment too, like, just me and bro doing a project together you feel what I'm saying and that's what I'm saying like kind of the same thing happened with that uh when he was like, what's my favorite part? Like, I, I feel like my favorite part is when I, I played him two songs that, like, one of the biggest like two of the biggest songs on the project and I just cooked them up like you feel what I'm saying I'm like, I'm about to let Cray hear it. And um when I first let him hear him, but he lost his mind, like just like how he did when when he first heard Hammertime.

You feel what I'm saying? So that kind of just brought back memories for me on something like dang, like this really it's really meant to be. Like, we really about to do this. Yes, it sounds like whether you're performing for Zay for the first time or whether you're presenting some songs to LeCrae, like you perform pretty well under pressure. No, for sure, for sure. Right, just with everything. He be getting on me about that too sometimes. Bro, we just did a uh we just did a listening party um like last week or whatever. And um Hey, thanks for the invite, Flex. But anyways, but look that's all I was just about to say. We haven't done the interview yet. Sure would have invited us now. But this house so under pressure, I would, I'll be like, I was on some like uh uh uh what would I say, uh private listening party tomorrow. You feel what I'm saying? Pull up first come, first serve, one day notice, yeah, like probably 20-hour notice. No one no one's got anything going on, no plan. Right, and it's and it's what it's like. We don't have lives around. It's on a Tuesday, too.

Oh, yeah, Tuesday. Yeah, we're lit, we're totally gonna leave our house, right? Just waiting for a move Tuesday night. No, for the middle of the day. We got like what like 300 RSVPs, damn type thing. So I'll be doing like like just make your point. Like, when it's under pressure, bro, that's what I do the best. Like, yeah, yeah, see that you need to put the pressure on this man. You were like flex, I promise. I'm getting 300 people. I'm telling you, damn. It'd be like that for real. But yeah, but when we actually take our time with stuff, like don't keep telling me too. It's like, just imagine if we actually took our time with some. It's like it's maybe you'd lose that edge though. It's so interesting. It's so interesting. I lose. I go back and forth on this a lot because it's like when I was, you know, I I love to try and help artists, you know, independent artists that are trying to figure out like how should I drop, how should I release my music, whatever, right? And so, like, there is something to be said for like if you can put a really solid plan together, like months in advance of like how this shit is gonna go and have all the content prepared and have all the ducks in a row, right? There's something to be said for that.

Yeah, you know, and like how good can we make it if we really fucking plan it. Yeah, but then sometimes there's some of that like lightning in a bottle. Sometimes you cram, sometimes you cram for the test and you ace the night before you ace it, bro. That's right. I know. what I'm saying? So it's like it's weird. It's a weird, so yeah, we've been posting these paradoxes of the music business, and I feel like that's another paradox that we haven't talked about, is like how much preparation, and it even goes into like, because you can overprepare. yeah, like bruh, yeah. So writing is so true, bro. Cause I I just um what probably like two, three years ago, I just started like punching in. It's like a it's like wave now. That's what I'm saying. So it's like, it's like, but it, it's, I don't know, it'd be like 50 feet, like when I punch in, it's like because I punched in most of uh pray for Atlanta type thing, but it's like I got I do got certain records. I got like what two records where I actually wrote it out, wrote it out, you know what I'm saying? And I was hitting too, but it's like I don't know, it'd just be kind of weird, bro.

You never know, like you don't know. I think the writing it out is what I've all this is what I've always said. When you write it out, you can get more in depth with the writing, you can maybe tell a better story, but with the punching in, you get uh more of a feeling. Yeah, because you're reacting to the beat quicker, you're feeling it quicker, you know. You're reacting to every second of the beat, like live of this on this part of the beat, I'm feeling like this. I'm saying like this real time. It's a real puzzle, like, yes, you know what I'm saying? so. There's pros and cons to both, but the punching in, it has become the wave. Yeah recently. I would say you know, my gut feeling tells me that like you're probably gonna have a lot more misses when you're punching in, meaning like it's gonna be like eh, like, but the ones there, but the ones that where you catch that vibe, hit hard and you're like feeling that shit, and it's just flowing out of you. Like I've seen it happen before my eyes in a session before, and that shit was like mad, like literally like magic. As cliche as that sound it felt like there's no way this artist is actually coming up with this on the spot and recording it for the first time, like feeling the beat and the energy in the room, and like delivering this performance that I'm like witnessing. I was like, there's no way this is real.

There's a lower floor but a higher ceiling. Yes, yes, I would say I'm gonna start recording a lot of future though. I just say um in one interview, future was like he just freestyled a whole beat, and like whatever the producer he ended up with engineer, like piece it together, piece it together. Like, oh, you put this over there, put that over here, make a hook out of this. Man, what are you doing freestyle through the whole thing? Yeah, so I'm like, I don't know. I'm finna do that. Bro, I would love to hear the before and after of a song like that, right? So we need that. Yeah, he did that for uh what he did it for uh uh Gucci flip flops. Oh shit, yeah. He did that for that song on DS2, yeah. He did that for that song. Wait, he posted the before version? No, no, he didn't post it. I'm just saying, he did that. He just talked about that's how, that's how that came about. I want to hear the before version, me too, me too. Because like how jumbled up was it? Probably way different. Oh, I I just I know as a producer, I've done some crazy post-production where something becomes a hook that wasn't a hook, or this was gonna be in the second verse, but now it's like a bridge, or did this jumps to the very front because we think it starts the song really strong and shit like that, just rearranging and having fun with the post. Yeah. Cause I do feel like you can just like let the beat run on repeat on loop, and then you can literally just at any point in time be saying any of the things that are coming to your mind versus like even punching in is very still like you have to stop and it has to get you know, you have to go back to the spot that you wanted to be recording at, and you have to give yourself a little bit like a couple bar like intro, you know, sputtery.

Yeah, there's still like a thing versus like if you're just letting it ride and just loop and you're just saying whatever the fuck comes to mind for like 10 minutes straight, 15 minutes, however long it takes, right? Like I that that would be cool to witness. That'd be crazy. Yeah, damn crazy man, I that's a whole thing. Yeah, I definitely am really fascinated by everyone's um recording process. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, and I I don't feel like we talk about it enough on the pod. So I'm I'm glad that you like shared kind of you know what your style has been lately because I don't feel like we talk about it, you know, as often as maybe I would be interested in. Right. But yeah, it's like it's really cool. And I also don't think that I don't know that um artists and even producers, I don't know that y'all are able to describe it that well, just to be completely honest. Cause like I've been in sessions. I mean, you really can't though. No, exactly. Yeah, yeah. So that's why I almost want like even maybe we should do like some content on the channel, Henry, about like that, you know, like pull up to studio sessions and actually shoot content almost like vlog style so that we can like show people what it's like. Cause like that'd be like you gotta do a hidden camera.

Cause even just having the camera would change it. No, I feel like artists have cameras all the time. It would depend on the vodka. I'm like, bro, I'm so weird, bro. When it comes to that, bro, like you can ask him, bro. I, I feel I'd be having some days, I'll be wanting to be by myself. Then I'd have some days where I'll be wanting like folks in there, type thing. But I'm a type person though, I gotta go ahead and get rolling. It's like I might feel like I ain't got I don't want nobody in there with me, but as soon as somebody walk in there with me, then okay, it's up. Like, go ahead and tell everybody, come on. Yeah, yeah, type thing. So it's like, oh, no, I'll be like 50-50 with that type stuff. Yeah, I I just feel like so. We just posted a clip from our uh our uh Reese LaFlair interview, and he talked about like how studio sessions in Atlanta oftentimes are like you know, turn into a function, and like you might have homies, girls, strippers, right? You might go to the strip club, play the song that you just recorded, yeah, get the DJ to spin it, come back, record more. And I just felt like, dude, if we would have had a piece of content that like documented exactly what he was talking about, and like been able to like kind of show what he's actually referring to.

I feel like, that would have been really cool, you know what I mean? So yeah, for sure. But um, you know, 1k few, we appreciate you coming on the podcast. We have a final segment that Henry is uh is responsible for. So don't blame me if it's bad, but you know. Well, you did a terrible job with the questions that last hour, so I'm just Phew, this is the rapid Henry. You're welcome. This is the rapid fire rampage. It's gonna be a three-part rampage. I'll explain them as we go. Let's do it. Just gonna start with some short answer questions. Here we go. Starting with, get it. Knock knock. Who's there? The rapid fire rampage. Here we go for real now. Damn it. Phew, you can ask God one question. What would you ask him? Oof. It's a good one, right? Just pop it off like that. Dang, just one, two. That's it. Well, for our game, you can ask him how many you want, you know, however many you want. What? Oh. Dang, that's crazy.

All right, one question. Pick wisely. Um what's the mo on's the one guaranteed thing me and my family gotta do for a guaranteed spot in heaven? Damn, that's that's the most efficient. Yeah, but that's like the the goal. That's the goal. So like get to the point. Just tell me what I gotta do. Yeah, so you won't be confused. I don't need any of this. This whole trying to figure it out. Just do this. Yeah. Phew, you can only wear one outfit and wear and eat one meal for the rest of your life. So what are you going with? Uh silk pajamas and spaghetti. Yeah. that sounds like a fucking mixtape title. Yeah, yeah. Silk pajamas and spaghetti. At least like a song name. That's fire. So it's pretty damn. I don't own any silk pajamas. I might need to buy some after those. I don't have no pajamas either. That's crazy.

That's your that's your outfit in general. That's my outfit. And you just you don't even know if you like silk. I know I love silk You might be allergic to silk. Every time I see silk pajamas, I'll be like, dang, I need some silk pajamas. Need a pair of that, yeah. So it never cops. But it's the if it's the one last outfit, I'm getting silk pajamas. He's gonna be comfy in this life. So I'll tell you that much. All right. And he's eating spaghetti. I like it. Hey, spaghetti. I can eat spaghetti every day. Bro, same. It's a problem. Right. I had it last night. I'm not even I'm not even kidding. I had it two nights ago. Literally. Just from what I was talking about. I want I'm gonna eat some tomorrow. All right, this one is called um ideal audio. We're gonna craft the perfect song. Uh-huh. You get to pick two producers and three artists. Uh-huh. You can be one of the artists, but choose who you're gonna include for this perfect ideal audio. Okay. Who are you going with? Oh, I thought I don't know why. I thought you were about to give me some other. You get to know the possibility. You're crafting the list for two producers. Yeah. Two producers. Uh, Zaytoven,

Yeah. And uh dang, man. There's so many producers. Yeah, what do you call him, by the way? Zay Tiggy? Tiggy? I could just call him Zay. Just Zay? Yeah. Alright, cool. I don't know. You said Tiggy? Zay Tiggy? I thought you said she called Tiggy. I think he said that. Tiggy. Is that what you call him, Henry? That's what Gucci called him. Why can't I call him that? Gucci called him that? Bro. I don't think you're allowed to do it. Like, not just Tiggy. Like, I guess he did usually put this in front of him. No, if you drop the Zay. Is it that weird if you drop the Zay? It's so weird if you drop the Zay. Tiggy is crazy. Tiggy is the weirdest. Come on, Tiggy. Like, that's crazy. Bro, he's not a cat. Well, when you say it like that, it's a pet. But you just say it like that? Tiggy. Yeah. I was trying to do a Gucci voice. Like, Tiggy. No, you didn't. You did a you did a pet owner's.

Can we craft the perfect song, please? This is a big one. Not when you're calling Zaytoven Tiggy. All right. I'll take the L. It distracts the process. Tiggy is crazy. So all right, so we got Tiggy on the beat. Who else? Who else? Gotta go Zay and uh Tiggy. Dang, man. Should I go? I need y'all helping this one. Should I go legend or should I go who's popping right now? Legend. Legend. Legend? Yeah. I gotta go Zay and Dr. Dre. Oh, okay. Yeah. And then three artists on the song. You can include yourself. Put one on the hook. Uh huh. One on the first verse, one on the second verse. Oh man. Uh okay, me and plus uh two other people. Uh me. Uh man. I don't know, bro. Me, Lil Wayne. Yes. And uh me Wayne. Henry's so happy about the Wayne pick.

Me Wayne and He loves Wayne. Ah. I don't know, bro. I gotta go meet Wayne and Drake, bro. Yes. Damn, Young Money Reunion. Dude. Let's go. That's fire. It's hard. Yeah. It's gonna be a good one. It's gonna be a banger. Definitely. Okay, for this next question. Uh, we need your phone. And I mean, Tiggy's on the beats. All right, shut the fuck up, man. So, like, I need my phone. Yeah. And Tiggy's on the beat. So it's fire. It's fire. It's so fire. Oh, we're gonna pull up the gram. And if, unless it's something controversial, which I doubt. I hope it is. Read us your last DM and then give us some context around it. My last DM. My last DM, uh, Flex, he just took our picture. Damn, I didn't think. about that. God dang it, Flex. Fuck. It's so lame. Ruin my question. It's just me, Henry, and few.

Chilling. It's a pop business though. I'm gonna be posting. Yeah. Okay. Well, That's cool. Actually, thank you. Okay, last part of the short answer section. This is the co-signed corner. Presented by Guayaquil. Your Bamate. Just uh give us like a few artists or creatives or some people that you're excited about that are coming up right now that we should be on the lookout for. Who needs some shine? Yeah. Uh who are we co-signing? Yeah. That's a lot, man. Um shout out about 1K Phew, son. You know what I'm saying? He's coming up right now. He's part of the fam, huh? For sure. 1K fam, yeah, yeah. So uh I don't know. I don't want to name people because I'ma miss people. I'm gonna name as much as I can. Uh my boy, what up RG, um Paris Carriers, uh Aha Gazelle. Are these all CHH artists? Yep. What'd you say? gospel rap, sorry? Uh Ty Brazz.

Putting on. Yeah. Uh my boy Foggy Ra. Ooh, I'm I'm I'm familiar. Yeah, Foggy Ra. He's a gospel rapper? Uh low key. Really? For sure. Okay, because I've definitely heard of him. He family for sure. He he he don't he don't put no stem on it though. Okay. You know, he's just doing his thing. Yeah. But if you listen, if you really listen to every Foggy Ra song. I'm not tapped in like that. I just the name sounds it's a it's a unique name. So you remember that. Yeah, I remember the name. Yeah. No, for sure. When you go, when you go listen to the music, really listen to what he's saying. Okay, yeah. Uh dang, who uh we got the lady going crazy too. Uh one day. Uh oh yeah, she's on reach, right? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, she's hard, bro. Yeah, Portia Love, uh CC, Dang, it's a whole bunch of folks. I know I'm missing, I know I'm missing some folks. That's all right. I'm sorry, Andy tried too. Okay. Uh dang. I know I'm missing.

I know I'm missing a whole bunch of folks. That was that was good. Yeah, no, it's a good list. Sure. But like, no offense to the people he forgot. Yeah, you know, chill or forgive. You know, because part one. We're basically setting him up for like forgetting people. It was an interesting question. Yeah. This is part two. This is gonna be the this or that few. I'm gonna give you two two choices. Just gotta pick one. Right. You can get this, you can get that. Yeah, that's right. Singing or rapping. Like, which one would I rather do? No further information. Dang. Singing or rapping, singing. Hooks or verses? Oh, Dang, these those are two hard ones. Singing and rapping, hooks and verses. Ah. Dang. It only gets harder from here. Hooks. Hooks. EP or LP. L P. Xbox or PlayStation?

PlayStation. PlayStation. PlayStation. Yeah, okay. You did the. You right you like said it like they say it. PlayStation. Yeah, that was hard. New Testament or Old Testament? Oof. I don't know, but I feel like the old testament more pipe. What do you think? Mm. I think the stories in the old testament like more pipe, though. Okay. There you go. Silly hats or silly socks. Silly socks for sure. I got a silly sock right now. Do you? Yep. This sock. Let's see, Twister. This sock twister, and this sock is uh whatever that game is, Mr. Doctor game. Oh, Dr. Mario? No, what's the guy? What a doctor who this man is. Oh, Operation? Operation, Yeah, yeah. It's operation, man. Yeah.

I just saw a music video where they put a guy, they superimposed the rapper's face onto the operation guy. That's crazy. Yeah. I think it's like Duke Deuce or somebody like that. That's the money right there. And It's kind of. Shout out about Duke Deuce, though. Shout out, Duke. Show. Yeah, we still need that Duke Deuce interview. I know, we need his manager. I know I need to hit up Wayne now. Please. Shit. Marvel or DC? Uh Marvel for sure. Broken Happy or rich and Stressed? Um, I'll cry in a Lambo. And finally, give up music or give up bathing for one year. Oh, give up bathing for one year. It's over with. Stanky boy. Stinky ass few. Not giving up the music. Yeah. Come on. Hell no. Part three. This is the final part of the rampage. This is the word association Few, I'm gonna say one word, and you just give me the first word that you think of. Okay. Right off the top of your head. Here we go, bro.

Starting with hip hop. Tomato. Did you did you hip hop tomato? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, that's it. Don't fucking question his answers, bro. Elevator. Music. Blue cheese. Chicken. Bitcoin. Quarter. Faith. Jeez. Podcast. Pod. Joe. Morgan. Private. Joe Morgan. Plain. Orange. Juice. Snitch. Lil. John. Oppenheimer. Oper. 1K. Few. Let's go. Oh my god. Why did I not? almost say few? Joe Morgan. Why did I not almost say few? I was trying to lay it up to you off the glass. Like, just put it home. And you did. You did. You got there. Yeah, thank God you did. Now, this has been 1K few, everybody. As always, please like, comment, and subscribe if you fuck with this interview.

We are here week in and week out. Yeah. Appreciate you coming on, man. Hey, man, pray for Atlanta on the way, man. Pray for Atlanta on the way. With Zay Tiggy. Tiggy. Smile, man. We just ruined our chances of ever having Zaytoven on the podcast because we called him. Tiggy. Poo Tiggy, man. Yeah, God. PFA. PFA on the way. Until next week. Getting out of here. Getting out of here. Peace, y'all. Peace. Peace. And hair grease.