OCRBeats / The Honorable DJ Metal Monkey Radio Show

0:00 Let's let's be let's let's be social about[ __] man.

0:05 Like, [laughter]

0:07 man, the world is[ __] crazy.

0:08 Ladies and gentlemen, I have OCR Beats on.

0:12 Uh I've been talking about him lately and um got him on the show, man.

0:15 How you doing, my brother?

0:18 Cuz we behave [music] like animals in a cage.

0:23 Mainstream media, NRA, FDA, [music] that's the USA to cast spells

0:29 on the home of the brave free minimum wage.

0:34 And [music] I can't vote for the games we play.

0:36 And I can't vow for a better place at a red place.

0:40 Ain't no time to pray cuz the [music] spelling be spelling out the life we made.

0:44 Cherish the moment of a wonderful place.

0:46 [music and singing] Cuz the ber ain't worried about mistakes today.

0:49 Cutting the grass ain't keeping them snakes away.

0:52 Only me [music] and you can.

0:54 We the people.

0:57 [music] Only me and you can we the people.

1:02 Only [music] we the people.

1:10 I'm doing well, man.

1:11 Maintaining.

1:12 You know what I'm saying?

1:13 Uh, thank you for having me.

1:14 Shout outs to you.

1:15 Shout outs to your wife uh for getting all this together, man.

1:19 So, yeah, I'm happy to be to be here.

1:21 Look, I'm going to be I'm going to be upfront with you.

1:24 I think I'm the most uninteresting individual on the planet.

1:27 So, I I don't really like doing interviews, man.

1:30 But the way um that me and you have built,

1:33 especially these past couple of weeks, man,

1:35 it only makes sense to link up and, you know,

1:38 converse, possibly[ __] So, you know what I'm saying?

1:41 Uh, let's go,

1:45 man.

1:45 I appreciate it, too.

1:46 Um, I've been a fan for a minute.

1:48 I was um Thank you.

1:50 I've been seeing your name for a while.

1:52 Like you like definitely over a year I've seen your name, you know what I mean?

1:56 And heard some of your work.

1:58 Yeah.

1:58 And I I didn't really put it together

2:00 until um me and Alvarez was talking and then he was mentioning you and then uh

2:06 the grenade rap Imperial came out and I'm like, whoa, this[ __] hard.

2:10 Like [laughter] He's something different.

2:13 So I guess Yeah.

2:14 Yeah.

2:15 It's strictly hardcore rap over here, man.

2:17 Like just strictly uh boom bap.

2:20 You know what I'm saying?

2:21 Leave the trap away from me.

2:22 I'm in my 40s, bro.

2:24 Like me, too.

2:25 Uh shout out shout outs to the young kids who do that, but it's not for me.

2:28 Um but yeah, man.

2:29 Just strictly hardcore rap, that EPMD[ __] You know what I'm saying?

2:32 Like

2:33 that's pretty much what I'm about.

2:35 Yeah.

2:35 My demographic is over 30.

2:36 Like I I feel like if if you doing music Yeah.

2:40 you doing music and you're not over 30,

2:42 I'm not really listening to it cuz I don't listen to children.

2:45 Like my children can listen to that, but if you're not over 30,

2:48 you ain't got[ __] to say.

2:49 You ain't even got no like experience to do the work.

2:53 You know what I mean?

2:54 Like Yeah.

2:54 Right.

2:55 100% agree with you on that notion.

2:58 Yeah.

2:58 Absolutely.

2:59 Um how did you get started in this man?

3:01 Like uh did you start off rapping or uh producing?

3:05 How did you get started?

3:06 Yeah, I did, man.

3:07 In 19 when I was 14 years old in 1996, uh friends were ramen, man.

3:12 And I just picked up uh pen the pad.

3:15 I I for some reason, man, during that time when I was in high school,

3:18 I wanted to be like you god really bad.

3:21 So, I was I writing like really weird rhymes.

3:25 I mean, in hindsight, they were[ __] Can I I can curse, right?

3:27 We good?

3:28 Hell yeah,[ __] This Yeah.

3:30 Yeah.

3:30 Everything.

3:31 Still smoking black.

3:33 Hey.

3:33 Hey, listen.

3:34 I don't know, man.

3:34 My sponsor is Switch of Sweets.

3:36 So, shout out to Switch of Sweets.

3:37 You always see me smoking.

3:39 All right.

3:40 [laughter] But yeah, yo, uh, for some reason when I started rhyming,

3:43 I wrote these weird raps like I um because I was so influenced by the Woo,

3:48 but I wanted to be like, "You got so bad, man." But in like I said,

3:51 like I was going to say in hindsight, pretty[ __] awful.

3:54 Uh but yeah, I started ramen 96 to 2000

3:59 from 20 thou um from 200 and 200 up until

4:04 2009 I really didn't rhyme or anything like that man.

4:08 I was just living regular life, chilling,

4:10 just being a quote unquote regular person.

4:13 I mean like I still am.

4:14 You know what I'm saying?

4:15 But yeah, um 09

4:17 09 what happened was um I was in a bad relationship

4:22 and I one day discovered Fruity Loops and it was I I can tell

4:27 you specifically when I started it was Memorial Day 2009 made my first beat

4:33 and it was actually a pretty okay beat.

4:35 It was a remake of um I can tell you I

4:39 can remember because relationship was so[ __] bad that [laughter] Yeah, man.

4:43 I mean, I can remember and I I'm the king of like bad memory, too, this man.

4:47 And like I think I I think I'm getting dementia right now.

4:51 [laughter] Anyways, um yeah, bro.

4:54 Like I I I I made my first beat.

4:56 I was like, "Oh[ __] I didn't know I didn't know somebody like

4:59 me was capable of making a beat on a computer in this program,

5:03 which was FL Studio uh Fruity Loops 4 at the time." Oh, that was a good one.

5:08 That was a[ __] good one.

5:10 You know what's crazy?

5:11 What's up?

5:11 I stayed with that broody loop swore until 2017 when at the time

5:15 I think it was the 14 uh version that was out.

5:19 Yeah.

5:19 I because like I I uh I had bootleg the uh

5:23 the original Fruity Loops 4 I had and I bought it

5:26 and I'm I'm but I'm the king of that.

5:28 I'm the king of not updating for years

5:30 on on[ __] and um with especially with Fruity Loops

5:34 because if I like your ver the version I'm

5:36 using I'm just going to keep using it, right?

5:37 And uh that's what happened man.

5:39 And then I eventually um upgraded to 14.

5:44 Then upgraded to uh what was what was it 15?

5:49 And I stuck with 15 for like a minute.

5:51 And right now I still haven't updated to 25 yet because I've been lazy.

5:55 So I've been stuck on FL Studio 24 right now.

5:58 I do also have this thing right here.

6:00 I I use this from time to time.

6:02 Not too much because Oh yeah, it's a teenage uh KO2 engineering joint.

6:07 I got that.

6:08 I used to have an NPC one and an SP 404,

6:11 but they weren't for me, so I sold them when I got my money.

6:15 So, yeah, man.

6:16 That's uh that's how it all started.

6:17 Started it start with Ramen uh with just MCing

6:21 and then uh went to the to the beats,

6:24 started sporadically um not Ryman and Ryman, but stuck with the beats.

6:29 So, that's why I consider myself a producer

6:32 MC because um you know what I'm saying?

6:34 And it's always the beats first and then whatever[

6:38 __] babble comes out of my mouth is comes after.

6:40 You know, whenever I felt like like doing it.

6:43 It's just so crazy to me that you've been hearing about me for the past year.

6:47 You know what I'm saying?

6:48 Like I appreciate that.

6:49 I you know what I'm saying?

6:50 That um I love the surprises though.

6:52 So I really appreciate that.

6:54 Thank you, man.

6:54 Man, I stay in the underground.

6:56 So like a while back when I got into this like you know I

7:00 pretty much started off like you you know rapping and I did every position.

7:03 So like what I do now is like I years ago I said[ __][ __] radio

7:09 and[ __] the mainstream just really not you

7:12 know I want to hear this underground talent.

7:14 I just want to keep it hip hop and get to this underground talent.

7:17 So I stayed looking at you know what I'm saying?

7:20 Like you what you from Cleveland?

7:22 I'm from Cleveland, Ohio, man.

7:24 Yeah.

7:24 Lot of talent out there.

7:25 You know what I'm saying?

7:26 Like Yeah.

7:26 We got we got we got the we got the homie

7:28 Mondo Slade out here killing it out in the ground right now.

7:32 uh his partner uh high um prime minister um and I

7:37 I've known him local I've known at least uh uh

7:39 um uh minister I I've known him on on and off

7:43 for a long time just through the local scene and whatnot.

7:46 Um and you know Black Vanguard um right now killing it right now.

7:50 But yeah, man, people don't know that we got that boom bap sound, bro.

7:54 Man, it's just a lot of people are just starting to pick up on that right now.

7:58 But there's a lot of us who do just strictly hard[ __] man.

8:02 We go we go in.

8:04 Uh, you know, like I said, at the forefront to me currently is Mondo Slade.

8:08 But if uh I can give you names out here like the homie Vic,

8:12 he's been doing it for a long time.

8:14 Big I heard y'all project.

8:17 Oh, really?

8:17 Oh, wow.

8:18 Okay.

8:19 Wow.

8:19 I appreciate that, man.

8:20 Goddamn.

8:21 I It surprises me really.

8:22 I don't I don't be thinking that anybody be

8:25 tapping into me because I just be making bro.

8:28 I just love doing this.

8:29 So [laughter] surprising to me quite honestly.

8:33 Um my homie now uh my homie Professor Peerless.

8:37 He's actually from the east side of Cleveland.

8:39 He just dropped a project right now with one uh with a with a homie of his name

8:43 Sketch who's like one of the to me

8:45 one of the dopest producers in Cleveland right now.

8:48 Um, so

8:50 yeah, those two dope if you if you saying that he's dope because you

8:55 bro, he's like he's like Rizza, bro.

8:57 Like so if you're into that that dirty sound, man,

9:01 he's gonna he's going to provide you that type of production.

9:03 And um who else?

9:05 My homie Drastic.

9:06 My homie Drastic is a vet out here, freestyle king,

9:09 like can do it off the top of the head.

9:11 Um yeah, we um me and him have like about

9:15 a total of like eight projects that I fully produced for him.

9:18 Uh yeah, man.

9:19 I mean, even Lord Jazz from Lords

9:21 on the Underground albums about three years ago,

9:26 and they did a video for a song that that's out there on YouTube.

9:29 It's called We Hip Hop.

9:30 So, yeah.

9:30 Like I said, bro, there's a lot of us that do

9:34 uh boom bab like soulful hardcore and slashhardcore hiphop out here, man.

9:39 Like if people don't tap in outside of that is their loss in my opinion.

9:43 You know what I'm saying?

9:43 But we got some talent out here.

9:45 It's not all just Bone Thugs and Harmony or MC Brains or anything like

9:50 Yo, but shout outs to them though.

9:52 But like um they're good people,

9:54 but you know what I'm saying through the through

9:57 the car when I've um crossed paths with all those guys.

10:00 But you know what I'm saying?

10:01 People just generalize our city a lot when they never been to it.

10:06 Um you know what I'm saying?

10:07 But no, like once you scratch once you scratch

10:10 in and you see that there's more talent beyond the surface,

10:13 like you're gonna be really surprised at the talent.

10:16 Yeah.

10:16 Like I um I was checking out your um what did he say?

10:21 He say uh sixfold beast on putting in work.

10:25 Um Oh, that's on that Orlando album.

10:28 Um man, all right.

10:31 Damn, you really tapped in.

10:32 Godamn.

10:33 Yeah,[ __] Like I listen to you.

10:34 Yes, man.

10:36 I[ __] Yes.

10:37 I I get in my[ __] man.

10:39 Like, so I like Did you ever play sports or did you

10:45 It was I was always a nerd, bro.

10:47 I'm 6'4, man.

10:48 I couldn't[ __] dribble a ball.

10:50 Saved my life.

10:52 Like,[ __] that.

10:54 Yeah.

10:54 No, it's always my sport always been hip-hop, bro.

10:57 Like, um when I was a I was a kid in junior high,

11:00 high school, always known for my my hip-hop knowledge, my um Yeah.

11:04 I was a hip-hop nerd.

11:06 Like I had all the tapes.

11:07 I had all And then when CDs started becoming more prevalent,

11:10 I had the CDs, you know what I'm saying?

11:13 Yeah.

11:13 Yeah.

11:13 Even even whack[ __] like the No Limit[ __] man.

11:17 When it was getting out of hand and they were dropping 25 albums in one week,

11:20 you know what I'm saying?

11:21 Like I had those, but you know what I'm saying?

11:24 I was always strictly Mob Deep, Nas, Woo.

11:27 Uh uh there there was a store that used

11:30 to have the DJ Clue tapes and and whatnot.

11:32 So we literally used to get the the tapes and stuff like that.

11:35 So yeah, and college radio back then was pretty prevalent.

11:41 Yeah.

11:40 Yeah.

11:40 Shout outs to college radio, man.

11:42 Like um but yeah, like we we had had that um outlet, too.

11:47 I mean, a lot of people I'm pretty sure weren't hip to it, but like I said,

11:50 I was just I got enthralled with hip-hop at 9 years old

11:54 and it never left me since then and I'm 43 right now.

11:58 So damn, that's what I'm talking about.

12:01 Yeah, man.

12:01 cuz this[ __] is like it's a it's a lifer.

12:03 Like that's what I I like to run into the lifers

12:06 too cuz it's so disappointing when somebody don't love it

12:09 and they doing it for the bag and I'm like dog

12:12 this is this[ __] is[ __] um therapy for like therapy.

12:17 This[ __] is literally therapy like you know you

12:20 know how much hip-hop done saved my life man.

12:23 So like right I agree with that no notion.

12:26 It is therapy.

12:27 It's a form of uh vending.

12:28 That's why I still do my MCing on the side because it is a form of banning, man.

12:33 It's uh it's real cathartic sometimes.

12:35 So, you know what I'm saying?

12:37 Yeah.

12:37 Um Yeah, man.

12:39 The uh so so you Yeah, you rap.

12:42 So, like putting in I mean uh the Orlando album because I was I was about

12:45 to say putting in work because I had

12:46 to mention that because that I like on that uh

12:50 track putting in work and then it's

12:51 the track right after that the uh golly forget

12:56 it's either two or three on there man

12:59 that[ __] hard like them verses going hard.

13:01 So the Orlando album what was the motivation behind that?

13:04 Like anger.

13:07 [laughter] I get it.

13:09 I get it.

13:10 Yeah.

13:11 Listen, I am in soul, man.

13:14 Like, that makes sense.

13:15 That's all that's all my motivation behind all my albums.

13:18 I'm not a I I'm not Coogi rap out here, bro.

13:21 Like, you're good, though.

13:23 You great.

13:23 You great.

13:25 Hey, I try, man.

13:26 But thank you.

13:26 Um, yeah, man.

13:28 I'm I mean, you know what I'm I'm no coog

13:30 rapper or anything uh like that, but everything is anger,

13:35 being pissed off at something, being annoyed at something,

13:38 and just the soulfulness of the music behind it.

13:41 You know what I'm saying?

13:42 Like with the That's why I stick to sampling.

13:44 That's why because like with sampling,

13:47 I learned so much about especially like soul

13:51 music here in the in the United States.

13:54 Yeah, man.

13:55 Like when you really like when you get to um to to to do

14:00 this like I didn't realize that I was going to be appreciative of what I sample.

14:05 I do now.

14:06 You know what I'm saying?

14:06 There's even man, there's even some hard body[ __] that I can dig and and find

14:12 and if I start listening to it just to try to, you know,

14:15 try to make a beat out of it or something like that.

14:17 It's something that really hits me, I won't sample it.

14:21 Like for example, I won't sample.

14:24 There's a song out there from the from the uh

14:26 70s uh called um Poverty Paradise by 24 Karat Black.

14:31 Everybody in their mother that song.

14:35 Yeah, that song is I to me that that album is incredible to me.

14:38 I won't touch anything off of that.

14:40 You know what I'm saying?

14:41 Right.

14:41 Right.

14:41 I won't touch I won't touch the Charmel as long as I've

14:44 got you because Rizza already solidified that with cream when he sampled it.

14:49 You know what I'm saying?

14:50 So, I'm not Yeah, I'm not about to like to me it's kind it's kind

14:55 of to me I find it kind of foul sometimes when people go that lazy route.

14:59 I know they're classics and people be familiar with them,

15:02 but to me it's also kind of lazy when somebody recreates those to me, man.

15:07 And I'm always like, "Yeah, I'm not doing that." I'm like,

15:09 "I'm going to come with a certain sound,

15:12 but you're not going to know what I sample." You know what I'm saying?

15:14 Or I'm going to make it sound like you're not gonna you're

15:16 not going to know at the end of the day what I sample.

15:19 So, right.

15:19 Yeah, Bradley.

15:20 Um because there's a certain appreciation behind it for me as when I make beats,

15:24 when I listen to the sample, I appreciate the the whole process of it.

15:29 Yeah.

15:29 That's um that's almost like, you know,

15:31 like if somebody rap that's like when you spit bars,

15:35 like remember back in I like I would say my day cuz I'm 45,

15:39 you know, and like you couldn't bite a[ __] rhymes.

15:42 You had to just even if it was some whack[ __]

15:44 you had to come up with your own[ __] style and flavor.

15:47 And then we like to woo.

15:49 So we already know how this[ __] go.

15:50 So it's the same with with beats with you

15:53 probably like because I I'm I'm that way

15:55 with to a certain extent like it's certain

15:57 things I won't do when it come to producing.

15:59 It's like you shouldn't.

16:01 Uh what's your approach uh what's your approach

16:04 like sort of like principles and[ __] like that?

16:07 Like what's your approach to making a beat?

16:09 like when you get ready to make one

16:12 may I want to make sure that whatever mood I'm in is translated into that beat.

16:17 So the samples got to be right towards that uh that that mood.

16:21 Um the drums got to it got to uh bang.

16:24 Um the the high hat has to sound a certain way.

16:28 Um the baseline um also has to the baseline is really important to me.

16:37 The Yeah, man.

16:37 A lot of people do not.

16:38 Um I I think nowadays a lot of people skip that part.

16:43 They don't even use bass.

16:44 I heard a lot of beats without bass.

16:46 So I'm I'm up the So speaking of old

16:49 school because I'm of the beat miners mind frame

16:51 that I'm going to filter the[ __] out of a sample

16:54 if I can hear some bass out of it.

16:56 And that that and that's one of my quote unquote secrets.

17:00 Even though it's not really a secret, I filter samples a lot

17:04 and use the baseline um out of it.

17:06 But now with stem separation, especially in Fruity Loops now, oh yeah,

17:10 that I I stem separate only the baseline and go from there, man,

17:15 and then manipulate it to how I want it to sound again based on my mood.

17:19 Like,

17:21 yeah, but a lot of times I'm pretty much miserable when I'm making a beat,

17:23 but then I become happy when the end result is what I get out of it.

17:27 So, I'm saying like that that's my approach, man.

17:30 Ain't nothing too crazy to it.

17:32 Yeah.

17:32 So like like okay going back to like the Orlando album or the um Oh

17:38 yeah that that big Vegas OCR that[ __] hard to I forgot you talk about

17:42 but but when you making when you making

17:45 tracks for that like for yourself or something like that how do you how do you

17:49 pick your beats for yourself versus somebody else?

17:52 Like what's that like?

17:55 I um me I'm always making beats if I'm not sometimes

17:59 I go through a phase where I make beats every day.

18:02 So I always have a stash of beats man.

18:04 So um I let the artists do their thing because this is my philosophy.

18:11 Don't tell me how to produce.

18:12 I won't tell you how to rap on them.

18:14 Especially if I know you bad nice.

18:16 I know you're not going to disappoint me.

18:18 So don't dis disappoint me by telling me

18:20 how to um how to produce certain things.

18:23 I know I have beats for you that'll set the mood for what you're going for.

18:28 I've always had a na I learned to develop a knack for that.

18:33 Yeah.

18:32 You know what I'm saying?

18:33 Especially in the day in the days

18:34 now where everybody's emailing things to to everything.

18:38 Um which I don't I I don't really care.

18:40 I don't really mind that at all.

18:42 Um per se, but um yeah, man.

18:45 I I always feel like I got production

18:48 to set the mood even for other people that want

18:50 to that that I want to collaborate with on a project or on a song and whatnot.

18:56 Especially with the homies, too.

18:58 You know what I'm saying?

18:58 So, the homie the homies know how I get down.

19:01 So,

19:02 it's not really that difficult to like give them

19:05 uh beats for their version of what their mood music is going to be.

19:09 You know what I'm saying?

19:09 So, yeah.

19:10 You got a pretty big catalog though.

19:12 Like I mean I I see that you you really produce like you do this[ __] And when

19:17 I was listening to uh uh the grand grand

19:20 uh uh not GR Imperial, I keep grenade rap.

19:26 I keep wanting to say grand for some odd reason.

19:29 But the grand Yeah.

19:29 GR Imperial.

19:31 Yeah.

19:31 Cuz you see GR.

19:32 So like when I was listening to Who Let the Killers In.

19:35 __] you that's my[ __] Barbaric.

19:42 No, man.

19:42 That that's all a team effort, bro.

19:44 Shout outs to Grenade Rap for um well,

19:48 uh Barbaric facilitated uh the the beat picking for all that.

19:52 When they made that song, I was like, "Yo, that's a single,

19:55 bro." Like like that some punch you in your face.

19:59 That's what I was looking for.

20:02 That's[ __] insane, bro.

20:03 Thank you so much, man.

20:04 It's not even there's not even much to it, man.

20:07 They just they really um captured a mood with that one.

20:11 Yeah.

20:11 Who Let the Killers In, man.

20:13 It's uh that's one of the most uh I mean that whole album

20:17 I'm proud I'm proud to be a part of as a as a producer.

20:21 But yeah.

20:22 Yeah.

20:23 Like I said, man, mood music, bro.

20:25 Like that, bro.

20:28 Right.

20:28 [clears throat] Especially when we're all same- minded individuals about

20:31 how the music should be delivered in our opinions.

20:34 like it the process is easy and things just come organically.

20:38 So that that song came came out organically.

20:41 And yeah, man, that's one of the toughest tracks

20:44 I think I've ever produced too in my life, man.

20:46 Like, yeah.

20:47 So, yeah, we're here to real quick, I was going to say, man,

20:50 that track that track is something that I really like uh

20:54 me and and Barbaric always talk about it all the time.

20:57 We're here to make people uncomfortable, man.

20:59 Where because a lot of people do not[ __] with the hard

21:02 with the hardcore hip-hop aspect of things in our opinions.

21:06 Yeah.

21:06 And uh No, man.

21:07 Uh that's right.

21:10 So yeah, absolutely.

21:11 I can talk about that track all day, but yeah.

21:13 I mean, no.

21:14 I mean, you good cuz I mean I I feel the same way.

21:16 I listen to it and then like you know how like you make those beats

21:20 some beats the most complicated beats that take you the longest time to make.

21:26 Those are those are the ones that you probably like less.

21:29 But then that one probably it would even that it

21:31 was that hard to make that one, was it for you?

21:33 Hell no, man.

21:34 It took me like 20 minutes, man.

21:35 I figured that because I always think that, you know,

21:37 when you sitting there making a beat all day and then

21:40 you end up knocking like two or three beats out, you usually make some heat.

21:43 When them fast beats be heat and that[ __] is Yeah.

21:47 When it's just sample bass, high hat, kick,

21:50 and snare, which is literally what that beat is.

21:53 You know what I'm saying?

21:53 Is a is an easy process.

21:55 I don't like I used to so just to backtrack a little bit man like I

22:01 used to make like quoteunquote Rick Ross type

22:03 of things when I rebranded myself as OCR beats okay

22:07 and uh those[ __] used to take long and also [laughter]

22:11 I was making those type of beats even though people people still

22:14 love those beats I was making those type of beats

22:16 for the wrong reasons and I was like yo I got to go

22:19 back to who I am as a as a beatm maker

22:21 producer whatever you want to label me that's why the boom

22:24 bash[ __] is so prevalent right now with my uh um

22:27 under my name right now um especially with the GR Imperial album.

22:31 This is an album, bro, that I'm extremely proud of.

22:35 Like I don't know if Al Bar or Diego know how proud I am

22:40 of those guys for delivering for me even though one they didn't have to.

22:45 Two, I'm sure they weren't aware because I didn't give them any pointers.

22:48 It was just I gave Yeah, I gave Barbaric a whole bunch of beats.

22:53 He picked them out for the group.

22:54 They did their thing and that was that.

22:57 Like [laughter] it wasn't much to it.

23:00 It um it it's it seemed like I mean it was a Yeah, that was a well put together.

23:05 Everybody was on the same vibe.

23:06 Like the vibe is so good for that album.

23:08 Like Thank you.

23:10 Thank you.

23:10 I agree.

23:11 Definitely was Yeah, that was good.

23:12 They need to do another Y'all need to do something else together.

23:15 Oh, we're we're we are, man.

23:17 We're just um we're gonna take our time.

23:19 Believe it or not, this one was kind of rushed, man.

23:22 And it was I don't know if they were

23:24 Yeah, it was like a three uh to me like uh it was rushed,

23:28 but it was like a three or four month process from when

23:31 I gave them the beats to when the album uh it came out.

23:34 Like it was like Oh, that's fast.

23:36 Yeah, that's fast.

23:37 Yeah, man.

23:37 Like I said, like I said, they didn't they did a good job.

23:41 No, they did a tremendous job.

23:42 You did a good job, too.

23:43 I mean, like that that I could that I could play that as a soundtrack.

23:48 I mean, dude, those beats are just so I you

23:53 never I I can't compare your beats to somebody else's.

23:57 I really can't because you got your own flavor and you got a catalog big enough

24:02 to where like you can hear over time

24:06 and you done captured every aspect of this[ __] man.

24:09 Like you are real good producer.

24:12 Um, thank you.

24:14 Back when uh that song I was talking about was Take Shelter.

24:17 That that was that was on that[ __]

24:21 Yeah, hardcore hip hop, man.

24:23 Being pissed off at the being pissed off at people,

24:26 being pissed off at the world.

24:27 That uh Thank you, man.

24:28 Yeah, that's one of my favorite joints.

24:30 And listen, I'm not a fan.

24:31 I'm not really a fan of my ramen, but um oddly enough,

24:35 I don't listen to my own music like like with my MCing.

24:39 I don't listen to it.

24:40 Like I'm right almost not a I'm a fan, but but not a fan at the same time.

24:45 I'm a dope MC.

24:46 I'm dead nice on the[ __] microphone myself.

24:51 But

24:50 yeah, man.

24:51 But like that track take shelter.

24:52 Yeah, that was uh something that I'm I can say I'm proud of my uh myself, man.

24:59 And uh I I do my own my own mixing,

25:02 whatever that entails to anyone else out there,

25:05 uh whether they think it's good or bad.

25:07 But yeah, I I caught a mood with that one, man.

25:10 That's why I just want um I think the kids call it vibes nowadays,

25:13 but I caught a mood with that one, man.

25:14 Yeah, man.

25:15 Um, it reminds me like it's like this, you know?

25:18 It's not even it is it's really good,

25:21 but it's almost like that thing with my I'm a fan of Rizza.

25:25 Like I I love Rizza rhymes and beats and then when

25:29 he rap like you know like uh that him and Doom when

25:33 they did that track or whatever when he wrap up that's

25:36 what you remind me of like you know what I'm saying like

25:39 like you you have that balance so it's

25:42 like almost an acquired taste but your beat

25:46 Yeah.

25:46 You know what I'm saying?

25:46 Your beats are definitely 1,000% way the[ __] up.

25:50 Just like Rizza.

25:51 It's just like Rizza.

25:52 His beats is super great.

25:53 But when it comes to rhyming is an acquired t you got to know hip-hop.

25:57 You got to feel hip-hop and then you can feel him.

26:00 Yeah.

26:00 Yeah.

26:01 Yeah.

26:01 So I mean that's basically the sound I go for because that's all I listen to dur

26:05 during my spare time is Wuang Mob Deep and Nas and Woo Naz and Mob Deep is

26:10 all I literally listen to or I mean I mean if I'm not listening to like R&B

26:15 when I'm trying to get out of the hip-hop

26:17 realm sometime uh sometimes but um yeah man.

26:20 No I I really am a poor man's res.

26:22 I'm not afraid to admit that, bro,

26:24 because Renz and Ha and Havoc from M D2 are such an influence.

26:28 What's crazy is the same reaction that you gave me and the same

26:32 description is what Barbaric told me on a phone call [cough] like dude,

26:38 it's you, but you can tell that it's influenced by Rizza and Mob Deep.

26:42 I'm like, yeah, that's all I'm really trying to convey out there.

26:45 You know what I'm saying?

26:46 And that that sound is prevalent.

26:48 Like, it's never going to go away.

26:50 Like anybody that says that's gonna go away is a[ __][ __] So

26:56 it'll be it'll be definitely I I tell you what,

26:58 it'll be definitely after our time because like right now your sound and uh

27:04 what you're doing it's you're you're part

27:07 of the underground that's holding this[ __] up.

27:10 You know what I'm saying?

27:11 Like it's a lot of good music that came like 25 was on fire.

27:15 It was on fire.

27:16 Everybody was dropping good ass music, man.

27:18 And I've heard so much good stuff and going through your catalog,

27:22 you ain't new to this.

27:23 You you know what the[ __] you doing.

27:24 Um, so um, Follow Protocol.

27:28 I was looking back then like in those years you was making Following Protocol,

27:33 uh, Better Than Most, Clean Slate.

27:36 Um, what was you going through back then?

27:39 Like your production sort of changed over the years.

27:43 Uh, yeah.

27:43 Again, the It evolved, but Yeah.

27:46 Yeah.

27:46 know is the Yeah, Follow Protocol was more

27:49 of like the Rick Ross type beats and stuff.

27:52 There was some boom bash in Follow Protocol, but yeah,

27:55 a lot of it was just um a lot

27:58 more quote unquote softer than what I'm currently doing now,

28:01 which is really what what I do now is really my my land.

28:07 Yeah.

28:08 Yeah, but again, I was follow Protocol.

28:10 Although I, you know,

28:11 I think it's I think for me it's an okay album or whatever

28:15 is definitely not something that that I that I would do do now.

28:19 Like especially and those singles too, same thing.

28:22 Like I would um it was uh mostly the pandemic thing, you know what I'm saying?

28:26 Like yeah.

28:29 Um you know what I'm saying?

28:30 Like I got cabin fever, I got a studio at the crib, I got mad times.

28:34 So that's pretty much it right there.

28:36 But again, a lot of a lot of those songs were done um with the wrong intent.

28:41 They're dope, but they were done with the uh with the wrong intent.

28:44 So, I can't really see them as anything as what I'm doing now.

28:47 You know what I'm saying?

28:48 Like, what I'm going to do now

28:50 in 2026 a as um as an MC and producer to me

28:55 is going to blow anything done then out of the[ __] water, man.

29:00 Like I got I got singles and I

29:02 got singles and albums coming out literally every month

29:06 in 2026 and I already have them set up

29:08 and I already have them approved through my uh distributor.

29:11 So I'm not bullshitting.

29:14 Yeah, hit that algorithm.

29:15 Kill that algorithm.

29:16 I'm talking about get I'm gonna email.

29:18 So I'm I'm sending the DJs my the advanced copy of Passion for the Sport.

29:23 And I'm probably getting ahead of myself with the conversation here,

29:26 but after we're done here,

29:28 I'm going to send you the uh the album uh in advance so

29:31 you can listen to it and just uh you know what I'm saying?

29:34 Give me your feedback afterwards.

29:35 Pull out my weapon [music] and start to squeeze as a microphone.

29:40 [music] Pull out my weapon and start to squeeze a magnet.

29:47 A lot [music] of games, a lot of suckers with colorful names.

29:51 I'm so and so.

29:52 I'm this, I'm that, bro.

29:54 But they all just quick weaponized this pen when it hits the paper lines.

29:59 The paper [music] poet call this daily exercise penaliz

30:07 what I'm about to say people find this arrogant.

30:09 I really don't give a[ __] But I'm a professional man.

30:12 Like I don't I don't play I I don't care if I'm an unknown in hip-hop,

30:16 but I'm a professional man.

30:18 There's nothing more that irritates me that than when

30:21 people fly by through their own concept of time.

30:23 That annoys the right.

30:26 So, especially with like this is why I don't do this anymore locally,

30:30 especially with like studio sessions and[ __] like that.

30:33 People used to come in at their own time and then get

30:36 mad when you wouldn't let when I wouldn't let them into the studio.

30:39 Like, yeah, man.

30:40 Um yeah, I don't have time for that for that nonsense.

30:43 I'm not gonna um have somebody put up with my nonsense.

30:47 uh if I were to ever if I were to ever uh get into some nonsense.

30:54 But yeah, man.

30:55 Like I I I that's one thing that I do uh kind of hate about

30:58 the especially about the underground scene a lot sometimes from my experience.

31:02 A lot of people a lot of people lack professionalism, man.

31:05 And I I mean I cuss like a sailor and[ __] like that.

31:09 But me, too.

31:10 But still, it's it's a you got to behave yourself accordingly and be a like

31:15 especially with us men, be a[ __] man, bro.

31:17 Like, be a pro.

31:18 Even if you

31:19 nobody knows who you are.

31:21 Just like, you know what I'm saying?

31:22 Respect people's time and stuff like that, too.

31:25 So, integrity.

31:27 Everybody, they lack the integrity.

31:30 I That's what I've been speaking on lately.

31:31 They just lack the integrity.

31:33 If you got

31:34 integrity, you know what I'm saying?

31:36 That gives you everything.

31:37 Because as a man, men ain't got balls.

31:39 no more.

31:40 They don't stand on[ __] for real.

31:41 They talk a lot, but they don't stand on the[ __] They Everybody

31:45 scared to be an[ __] Like,[ __] we[ __] men.

31:49 If you a real man, you a[ __][ __] at some point because you

31:52 Because you gotta You gotta stand for yours.

31:54 You know what I'm saying?

31:55 Yeah.

31:55 And it's it's gonna rub people the wrong some people.

31:57 Not even many, just a few.

32:00 Yeah.

32:00 Yeah.

32:01 Absolutely.

32:01 Yeah, man.

32:02 Yeah.

32:02 No, I try to be as much of a pro as possible,

32:04 especially with the[ __] Even if I'm an unknown man,

32:08 like I don't I don't try to create

32:10 any type of delusion or anything like about it.

32:13 It's just a matter of being being a man and being[ __] courteous.

32:16 You know what I'm saying?

32:17 So especially somebody else's time that's giving you

32:20 a platform to you know what I'm saying?

32:24 They um they you can't be a player if you warming up the bench.

32:27 You feel me?

32:30 Can't be a player if you're warming up the bench.

32:33 [laughter] Don't warm up.

32:37 Don't be a bench warmer, man.

32:38 Don't be

32:39 a bench warmer, fam.

32:41 Yeah.

32:41 You You don't see LeBron washing jock straps, bro.

32:44 You've never seen Jordan[ __] washing

32:47 other people's socks or anything like that.

32:49 No, like you can't You got to go You got to go and get it, man.

32:53 You got to be You got to be assertive

32:55 like without without stepping on toes and being disrespectful.

32:59 That's what I mean by that line, man.

33:00 You can't

33:01 hit a player if you're warming up the benches, bro.

33:04 Yeah, you ain't lying.

33:05 That's that's some real[ __] I was like, man, that[ __] owning something.

33:09 Uh, but see, but that's what I'm saying.

33:11 So, this is the day like you got your Kanye West,

33:14 you got your Rizzers, you got MF Dooms,

33:16 I mean the MC like that does that kind of help

33:20 with the beats so you can know what the artist needs when making beats

33:26 like being the MC too?

33:28 Well, we spoke on earlier the Reza influence.

33:30 So, it does absolutely help.

33:32 You know what I'm saying?

33:33 I'm not I'm obviously not biting the sound

33:36 because I'm I'm turning it into my own.

33:40 I'm finding more obscure samples to to use and stuff like that.

33:45 I'm not using I'm using uh uh someone

33:49 like Resa's Formula without using it at that.

33:51 Yeah, because you don't sound like you got your own sound.

33:54 Thank you, man.

33:55 Yeah, every like I said the same reaction

33:57 that you're giving me uh barbarica always gives

34:01 me I mean it's not word for word but the but the reaction is almost verbatim.

34:06 You know what I'm saying?

34:06 So I I it's something that that I'm used to.

34:10 Something that I'm glad that people pick up on by by the way

34:14 that I'm not trying to be a straight clone or anything like that.

34:17 I'm certainly not trying to trying to bite off of somebody

34:20 like Reza or Havoc's influence or anything like like that.

34:23 So, you know what I'm saying?

34:25 I'm glad I appreciate you picking up on that that I'm not

34:27 trying to just be some[ __] schmuck and trying to imitate your sound.

34:33 So, yeah.

34:35 [laughter and gasps] What do you think about hip-hop

34:37 like in and where we at right now in time?

34:40 Like, uh is it motivational?

34:43 Like, how do you stay doing this after so long?

34:49 Yeah, man.

34:49 Uh because I I I seen far more talented people that me especially

34:53 in the local scene quit and at first I used to feel bad for them.

34:57 But not anymore.

34:58 I use that that like with when I mention anger is people like that that I used

35:04 to support especially in the local scene that I

35:06 felt were far more talented than me, right?

35:09 and they they let life get in the way and their creativity just vanish

35:14 overnight that it just[ __] that's what lights a fire under my ass, man.

35:20 Because I don't want to be I do not want to be those people.

35:22 I'm creative.

35:24 I'm a pot I and I I mean I'll be 100 with you.

35:27 I'm a[ __] pipe dreamer, bro.

35:28 Like, but I love this hip-hop[ __] I don't care if I'm working a regular job,

35:33 you know what I'm saying?

35:33 For it, right?

35:35 Like this.

35:36 I'm culture, my man.

35:37 like plain and simple.

35:39 And yeah, man, that's what keeps me motivated.

35:42 The the quitters before me who who for some reason still

35:47 want to holler at you about making music quote unquote for fun.

35:50 And I'm just I'm just like, well, you're not going to do it for my fun.

35:53 So, not for fun.

35:55 Fun is time.

35:57 Like, if you want to do it for your fun, do it by yourself.

36:00 Do what I did.

36:00 Get a studio, set it up, and make your own music for fun.

36:03 Don't try to Yeah.

36:04 Don't try to infringe on my fun and try

36:06 to[ __] [laughter] because that's how I look at it.

36:10 Like, you know what I'm saying?

36:12 Like, if you to me, if you are an MC, right,

36:16 and you and you one day decide to quit because

36:19 you knocked up some woman or you know what I'm saying?

36:22 You found out that you had an illegitimate kid or two out there or whatever.

36:26 If you let that part of life kill you and then, you know what I'm saying?

36:31 you become a victim to to all that, but then at the same time,

36:34 you want to pretend like you're still active about it.

36:36 No, man.

36:37 Like, thank thank you for the motivation because I don't want to be them.

36:42 You know what I'm saying?

36:43 So, that's my motivation for hip-hop, for for me, for the culture,

36:48 for why I continue to to do this on a daily basis.

36:51 Matter of fact,

36:53 an hour before I came into this interview,

36:55 I was mixing a song for myself because I came home from work, right?

37:00 sat.

37:00 I I sat down a little bit, relaxed.

37:02 I went into my studio, knocked out a song that I wrote at work.

37:06 I mixed it really quick and then I started doing this interview.

37:09 I mean, I got my food in there.

37:10 I got my interview.

37:11 That's literally been my schedule since I got to the crib, man.

37:16 Yeah, man.

37:16 And people, if you don't have that type of motivation to do hip-hop music,

37:19 get the[ __] out of my way, man.

37:20 Get the[ __] out of people that are trying to do it on a serious basis, man.

37:25 __] you.

37:26 Like, get out of my way, bro.

37:28 You're a quitter.

37:29 I am not because a lot of people pander to quitters especially on social

37:33 media when people's like oh I'm going to retire from rap or whatever.

37:36 __] you.

37:37 Retire[ __] Like

37:39 they was in it for the wrong reasons too.

37:41 That's what I see.

37:43 Yeah.

37:43 I have I am not gonna cuddle you my man.

37:45 Like yo hell no man.

37:47 The[ __] out of my way man.

37:50 More room for me.

37:51 More room for guys like like Al and Grenade rap.

37:56 You know what I'm saying?

37:56 Like get out of my way.

37:58 you.

37:59 It's real[ __] And I I feel you on that because

38:02 that that kind of fueled me too like cuz like

38:05 I still like you know I DJ I produce but it's

38:08 not so big when I started this show right here.

38:12 It was like

38:13 what's gonna what's going to keep me doing hip-hop for life?

38:16 You know what I'm saying?

38:17 So I started doing this show because you

38:18 have other positions like you know what I'm saying?

38:21 And it's like I'd rather play this right because

38:24 this take up a lot of time for real.

38:25 Like it don't seem like it, but it really do.

38:28 You know what I'm saying?

38:29 And I like to talk to guys like you and I have to look at, you know,

38:33 I'm checking music anyway, but it's only underground.

38:35 So now you got better talent.

38:37 You got better sound.

38:39 And you got[ __] getting off of work coming in to put in this work.

38:42 So you really getting, you know what I'm saying,

38:45 the sound you want because that's what you want out of people.

38:48 It's authentic hip hop, bro.

38:49 And I appreciate you for that.

38:51 um a lot of your appreciate you.

38:54 I appreciate you for the words that you're saying right

38:56 now about it because at the end of the day,

38:59 that's what I'm trying to I'm trying to convey that type

39:01 of emotion uh from people even even if others who

39:04 don't get it think it's just oh some guy just

39:07 talking really reckless full battle rapping on a beat like whatever.

39:12 [laughter] You know what I'm saying?

39:13 But I appreciate your words because obviously

39:15 you get it because you love the culture

39:18 like I love the culture and it's hip- hop at the end of the day man.

39:21 It's a lot of people who get it.

39:23 What's happening is what end up happening was the this digital era.

39:27 We don't know what numbers are real, what's fake,

39:31 what's but people are seeing that[ __] and nine time out of 10

39:34 a[ __] on social media or YouTube or something they just don't hit like.

39:39 They just don't engage.

39:40 But they see you and they scared.

39:43 They waiting for you to get popular

39:45 and[ __] Like probably after this interview right now,

39:49 I'm quite sure a lot of people are just hitting you.

39:51 More they see your name, they gonna hit you up and they see you.

39:54 They might not interact right then and there on social media,

39:56 but they see you cuz I see you.

39:59 You know what I'm saying?

40:00 I just so happen to stop and and listen that[ __] share it and everything.

40:04 You know what's funny?

40:05 You know what's funny real quick, man?

40:07 Yeah, I really I really don't give a[ __] about none of that.

40:10 I'm gonna be honest with you.

40:11 As long as somebody like you,

40:13 one person cares about what I do and they're as passionate to give

40:17 that feedback to me the way you've been giving it to me,

40:20 that's all I give a[ __] about.

40:21 I don't care for I said it on tracks before of my own.

40:26 I don't give a[ __] for likes.

40:27 I don't give a[ __] for who's right

40:30 who's in secret competition with me.

40:32 How the[ __] do I know if it's a secret?

40:34 Like I don't you know what I'm saying?

40:35 [laughter] No.

40:37 is a secret.

40:38 Listen, a lot of people,

40:39 even some of my own people that I know that do hip-hop music,

40:42 they get in their head about that.

40:44 And I'm like, just shut the[ __] up and make music, bro.

40:47 Like, that's Yeah.

40:49 If you do it correctly, damn.

40:51 Right.

40:52 And again, if even if you're a pro at an unknown level,

40:56 the[ __] is gonna the[ __] is going

40:58 to shift where you may possibly get a fan base.

41:01 Even if you don't if you don't know that you have a fan base.

41:04 That's why I'm always surprised when when people are like, "Yo,

41:06 I listen to this and this from me." I'm like,

41:08 "Really?" I'm like, "I appreciate it.

41:10 Thank you." You know what I'm saying?

41:11 Because I don't I don't I don't pay attention.

41:13 I don't give a[ __] man.

41:15 All I give a[ __] is uh living my life.

41:18 Come into my Come into my crib.

41:21 Let it be quiet.

41:22 Once it's good, I don't have any kids or anything,

41:24 but um there's still noise from the neighbors

41:27 and stuff like that, but once it's quiet, I'm gonna rec I'm gonna record and

41:32 you know what I'm saying?

41:33 Make this boom bash[ __] make this hardcore hip hop,

41:36 put it out there to the world via the uh the internet.

41:39 Whatever happens happens afterwards.

41:41 I literally don't think about none of that uh[ __] with support,

41:45 nonsup support or anything like that because I I refuse to be a[ __] victim,

41:50 man, to this hip-hop[ __] I just want

41:52 to make hip-hop music I like and keep it moving.

41:54 That literally I'm telling you I don't give

41:57 a[ __] about any of that uh extra[ __] man.

42:00 That's real.

42:02 That's real because that's that's why you've made it.

42:05 That you know what I'm saying?

42:06 Like that's how you navigate it to get to where you are

42:08 today because at the end of the day that's what it takes.

42:11 Like if you base your[ __] on what these[ __] don't say or do,

42:16 man, you ain't gonna never get started.

42:18 like your brand.

42:20 It looks so good.

42:21 But I got a I got a question.

42:23 Where did you get uh OCR Beats from?

42:26 Like how'd you come up with that?

42:28 Oh, did you have a name before that?

42:30 I did.

42:30 I'm not going to say it because I You tripping, dog.

42:33 Come on, man.

42:36 No, you ain't got to, but I'm just saying.

42:38 Yeah.

42:38 No.

42:38 So, um OCR Beats uh was established in 2016,

42:43 and it's uh it's my government name.

42:45 Uh so basically Orlando Sado uh Sado is from my dad's side,

42:50 Rivera is on my mother's side.

42:52 So that's what CRB uh stands for, but there's

42:54 another um there there's three different meanings to it.

42:58 Uh the two meanings the [clears throat] two

43:01 meanings I want uh the second one came accidental.

43:03 So the first one is for my governments.

43:05 The second one stands for only classic records because I make boom bash.

43:09 That's the classic sound.

43:11 That's lit.

43:11 And the third and the third one is the uh is

43:14 the meaning of the way that it's spelled for branding purposes.

43:20 Yeah, I I spell OCR beats with the OCR and the B

43:23 uh capitalized and then everything lowercase because of the Uber Eats logo.

43:28 [laughter] So

43:31 that's that's the three meanings that we'll see our beats right there, man.

43:35 Like I like that.

43:38 Yeah.

43:38 But but the first meaning that means the most is my government because

43:45 certain I'm not going to tolerate certain[ __] for for a hip-hop man.

43:48 Like especially like stupid[ __] like this songs and[ __] like that.

43:53 Like

43:55 right

43:54 like hypothetically I'm not I'm not the toughest guy in the world but like if

43:58 somebody ever hypothetically were to throw

44:00 a this song at me,[ __][ __] OCR Beats.

44:04 you're going to deal with Orlando.

44:05 You know what I'm saying?

44:07 Simple like.

44:09 But yeah, but is those three meanings

44:13 and whatever the artistry is that comes behind it,

44:15 whether it's uh producer producer or MC.

44:18 Yeah, that's dog.

44:20 That[ __] hard as[ __] I like that, man.

44:22 Oh, yeah.

44:23 Because I always be want to know like I wanted to know that though,

44:26 you know, I always ask artists like how did you come up with your name?

44:29 Like that's it's usually like a you know it's like

44:33 part of the tail of the tape you know like

44:36 be want to know that but I always know that a[ __] got a first name.

44:39 You know what I'm saying?

44:40 Like my[ __] like when when I used to have

44:44 to answer those questions like what was your first rap name?

44:47 Man that[ __] be so cringe.

44:49 You [laughter]

44:51 that[ __] be so cringe.

44:52 You like bro I rebranded myself.

44:54 I'm I'm Nah.

44:55 You got to figure that out.

44:57 Yeah.

44:57 [laughter] I I don't I don't say my my I

44:59 don't say my first name because most of it was

45:01 like local based and and local and local politics too

45:05 with the hip-hop[ __] which is really[ __] weird in hindsight.

45:10 But I didn't know no better before that.

45:12 So that's why I always say I came into this[ __]

45:14 late in my 30s under OCR beats to most people.

45:17 But I've been doing it since like 09 and[ __] like that, man.

45:21 Like from a local I mean even at a local

45:23 level I was getting features from like Black Poet.

45:26 I did music with Planet Asia under my old name.

45:29 You know what I'm saying?

45:30 So like I Yeah.

45:32 I got production placements with Copyright with E40 under my old name.

45:37 So I don't Yeah, man.

45:39 But I don't promote that[ __] That[ __] is that because you rebranded.

45:42 Yeah.

45:43 Yeah.

45:43 That shit's history.

45:44 It's history that I don't like that I will never ever promote to any

45:47 I mean right now I I can name it just because we're conversing, but um Yeah.

45:53 ite to to prominently promote what I did previously compared to now.

45:57 Like even even to now, to me,

46:00 I'm way better than than that back then.

46:03 I'm proud of it to a degree,

46:05 especially with the E40 placement and all

46:07 that, but I'm not at the same time because

46:10 a lot of times I had to compromise for the sound and that really doesn't just

46:16 Yeah, that don't fit what you doing.

46:18 What you It don't fit what I'm doing now.

46:20 I I know I know who I am now as a producer,

46:22 as an MC, as a artist in general, man.

46:26 And it blows anything from the past out the water, man.

46:29 Which is why I don't I'm not comfortable like even speaking about it.

46:33 I figure that uh I I I feel you on it, dude.

46:36 Um so, uh like who do you uh who would you like to work with?

46:41 Like is it any MC's out there like either like local or you know major?

46:46 Um not even local.

46:49 I would I would just say, you know,

46:50 underground because I hate saying local cuz nobody's really local.

46:53 We got the[ __] internet.

46:58 Like

46:57 I'm the same philosophy, bro.

46:59 I bro, look, I I like it's like we got the whole[ __] internet.

47:03 That's the whole world.

47:04 And that local[ __] that's all that's a mindset for real.

47:08 For real.

47:08 It ain't no such thing as the industry like with Sexy

47:10 Red them doing[ __] That's not[ __] what we doing.

47:14 And now we we can focus in on what we like.

47:17 I think it's the best time in hip-hop history to be honest for

47:21 because we back to the underground.

47:23 The underground is the mainstream.

47:26 Yes sir.

47:26 Yep.

47:26 I agree with with that.

47:28 But to answer uh the first party, who would you like to work with?

47:30 Yeah, my bad.

47:31 [laughter] We No.

47:33 Nobody.

47:33 I'm working with who I want to work with.

47:35 I wanted to work with Barbara Alvarez and uh and Diego.

47:39 I wanted to work with Grenade Rap.

47:41 Um I'm working with with with my homie Be Nice.

47:44 He's he I will say he's quote unquote local because he

47:48 really doesn't establish himself on the internet uh like like that.

47:52 But yeah, um just do those four guys.

47:56 Um and my homie and my homie uh Manny Bless uh who's

48:01 who's going to be featured on my Passion for the Sport album.

48:04 Those are the only guys that I that I'm doing albums with.

48:06 That's the only people I want to work with.

48:08 Anybody else who want to who who want to work with me?

48:11 Um, they better pay up based on my resume.

48:15 You[ __] right.

48:16 Yeah.

48:16 But other than that, no man, pay up.

48:19 Do the industry standard 5050 split with the publishing and the writers.

48:22 That's very good.

48:24 Otherwise, I don't care.

48:26 Like, I don't give a[ __] I'm You know what I'm saying?

48:28 Straight the[ __] up, man.

48:29 Like,

48:30 yo, you got to that point to where like it's

48:35 Yeah, it's a [cough] I've done over I've done over 20 full

48:41 uh produced albums in total back to my to my old name and uh Damn.

48:48 Yeah, I want to say Yeah, because I think the the Dr.

48:50 Imperial is my full length albums.

48:54 I I think it's my 23rd full length album I think that I produced is Dr.

48:59 Imperial.

49:00 Um eight of them have been with my with my homie Drastic.

49:03 So, the GR Imperial and and albums I did with the homie drastic

49:06 through the pandemic are the ones that I'm that I'm most proud of.

49:10 Um, anything else can[ __] off and um I don't I don't care, man.

49:15 How was the uh pandemic?

49:17 Like, I didn't mean to cut you off.

49:18 How was the pandemic?

49:19 Like, how'd you make it?

49:21 I made it pretty good, man.

49:22 I worked from home and I got to do hip hop at the crib most of the time, man.

49:26 [laughter] or just uh doing doing Follow Protocol or whatever other

49:31 song other songs or EPs or albums uh came after that.

49:35 So, I can't complain, man.

49:36 Like, it was good.

49:37 I was getting paid well for my old gig.

49:39 So, right.

49:41 Like, I can't compl I can't complain.

49:43 What about you, man?

49:44 While I was working, man, I made, you know, like everybody else,

49:48 you damn near made the most money you ever made in your life during the pandmic.

49:51 [laughter] Yeah.

49:54 I was selling a[ __] ton of beats too at that time.

49:57 So because people were bored,

49:59 so like especially those Rick Ross type beats, it really made me uh good money,

50:03 but at the same we got to go back

50:05 to the word integrity that we brought up earlier.

50:08 Uh yeah, I was I was lacking in that.

50:10 Uh that's where the wrong part of me

50:13 was out there because you know what I'm saying?

50:16 While people wanted to buy those type of beats,

50:18 it the wrong people were buying them.

50:20 And it's people that I wouldn't[ __] with like like I like I do with like

50:25 Al with like bar with with with Diego

50:28 like or or just the homies here in general.

50:32 You know what I'm saying?

50:32 Like Big Vegas and uh my homie be nice, my homie Benny Blesss, etc., etc.

50:37 Like I was doing it for again going back

50:39 I was doing it for the wrong reasons, man.

50:41 But right now, yeah, man.

50:43 I'm a I'm a I'm a full go.

50:45 It's funny that we go back too.

50:47 Um, and you can cut me off at any time, but it's funny too because

50:52 I do got the um the great that I produced

50:57 that's like yeah for the for the theme song for his uh

51:00 for his series that's on Tuby right now, Young Gods.

51:03 And that beat was a Rick Ross inspired beat.

51:06 That beat is like right now like what nine years

51:09 old and it's coming out and it came out in 2026.

51:12 So

51:13 same day.

51:13 But you can find that though.

51:15 You can do that though.

51:16 Like if you got a nice catalog,

51:17 you should be able to do that because there's a time for all of that,

51:21 you know.

51:22 Yeah, absolutely.

51:23 But again, that right now, right now, since the GR Imperial album dropped,

51:28 this is probably be the best run I'm gonna be on.

51:31 There's a different f focus uh from me.

51:35 Um, you know what I'm saying?

51:37 To uh to to contribute first.

51:39 Uh I don't care about the money.

51:41 Money can come later and whatnot, man.

51:43 So that's where I'm where where my head space is at uh right now with it, man.

51:47 Just uh contribute, make the best quality uh either albums,

51:52 uh all my[ __] is going to be albums as an MC,

51:55 but just uh as far as production,

51:57 make the best production that I that I can

51:59 that people will definitely recognize under the OCR beats uh banner.

52:04 Just go from there, man.

52:05 See what happens afterwards.

52:07 Um that's some dope[ __] I'm just saying like [clears throat]

52:12 dead or alive is nobody you would like to work with.

52:16 Absolutely not.

52:18 That's what I'm talking about.

52:20 Hey, I sort of like that response, but go ahead.

52:22 Say what you gonna say.

52:24 Prodigy.

52:25 I missed out on Prodigy, man.

52:27 I was dead ass close, man.

52:30 And then he they passed away.

52:32 Same thing with Kay Slay.

52:33 I was building with K Slay Monsa earlier and then he passed away.

52:37 Actually, Jay Slay

52:39 played uh two two songs that I produced back in 28 before he passed

52:43 away on his hot hot 97 uh show when he had a show at midnight.

52:48 The the drama hour, whatever uh it was called, man.

52:52 So, yeah, man.

52:53 Like, like I Yeah, it it's crazy, man.

52:56 Like, damn.

52:59 That's Yeah, that's um Yeah.

53:03 Uh yeah, man.

53:04 RK Slay, man.

53:06 That's like Yeah,

53:07 that's the[ __] that um Yeah, that's the[ __] that I'm talking about.

53:11 Like after all of this time, I mean, you know your worth.

53:15 Seem like you're in a comfortable, you know, a good space.

53:17 I wouldn't say comfortable.

53:19 I'm in a great space, bro.

53:21 Yeah.

53:21 Yeah.

53:21 Yeah.

53:22 But yeah, and you know, now you're doing your best work.

53:26 What you got coming up?

53:29 All right.

53:29 So, what I got coming up?

53:30 I We are um So, so far Diego Dallas from Grenade Rap.

53:35 He picked the beats for the solo album.

53:37 I'm going to fully produce uh for him.

53:39 That's going to take months.

53:40 Uh there's going to be perfection behind that.

53:43 Uh matter of fact, me and over me and Alvarez over the weekend,

53:47 we picked out our beats for his uh either album or EP.

53:51 And then uh I know Barbaric uh has to uh

53:54 work on a couple of things as far as music goes,

53:57 but we are going to uh pretty soon start

53:59 picking out beats for uh Shiaoan of this uh rap.

54:03 Sha kind of this rap[ __] is uh I

54:05 think that's what he's gonna name one of his albums.

54:08 That's the one I'm probably producing for him.

54:11 My homie be nice.

54:12 Uh we're me and him are doing like a um an album deal.

54:15 We already got a feature from Conway's little brother Goose by the way.

54:20 Uh we got a feature from him uh so far.

54:22 But yo, you know what's funny?

54:23 I'mma tell you a wild story.

54:25 I found out about the I found out about that feature on Saturday because no[ __]

54:30 because I've been busy with my personal life the past couple of months.

54:34 I kind of kept go I kind of kept ghosting the homie.

54:37 So I go to a local rap.

54:39 I go I go to a local rap event

54:42 and I I'm introducing myself because I because I'm introducing myself

54:46 to the person who's throwing beat sets at that particular venue.

54:49 Right.

54:49 So I go to him just me being the polite professional.

54:52 Hey, my name is OCR Beats.

54:54 I got this this and going on.

54:55 He cuts me off.

54:56 He was like, "Dude, I know who you are.

54:59 I just engineered a song for uh he threw the government

55:03 name and he was like with Goose by the way,

55:05 who's apparently Conway's the machine little brother." I'm like,

55:08 "Yeah, I know who Lamar." I'm like, "Are you[ __] serious?" So,

55:11 that's how I found out about the by the way feature that we have on there.

55:15 And I'm also working on my homie Manny Bless's uh album.

55:18 We're almost done with with that.

55:20 He's a he's a dope MC.

55:22 He's uh he's a he's a philanthropist in the community,

55:25 so he's always like uh involved in the community with the kids and whatnot.

55:31 Um yeah, man.

55:32 So, um that's I'm working on a lot, man.

55:37 So, like if somebody has if somebody wants to work with me,

55:41 that has to be a benefit really behind it.

55:44 And I prefer that benefit to be money.

55:47 Like, [laughter] [clears throat] um yeah, I mean I have a lot musically, bro.

55:55 I mean, with my personal life and now with the music[ __] I have a lot,

56:00 especially with my projects, too.

56:02 I'm dropping Passion for the Sport drops February 13th.

56:07 On the 10th of April, I dropped the first single to the next album,

56:11 Concrete Noveist, that's going to feature Grenade Rap.

56:14 It's a single called What They Saying.

56:16 May May 15th, I want to say, I forgot.

56:20 It's um another single off the concrete novelist album.

56:25 It's called the three letters which is three letters our OCR.

56:28 Um and then July 24th is like where my week my birthday is on the 27th of July.

56:34 So July 24th I dropped a concrete novelist album on on the 13th of September.

56:42 I can't believe I'm remembering all this.

56:44 On the 13th of December, I dropped the single to the next album.

56:49 It's called Mike Machete Your Flow.

56:52 Honestly, that's all I got.

56:53 I that's all I could go up to to um a long schedule,

56:58 bro.

56:58 Like, yeah, it's a marathon.

57:01 Well, blame it blame it on me being piss pissed off because um I

57:06 uh there's a motivation for why I'm do why I'm doing all of this.

57:10 And I got to thank the dude who I did an EP for and he

57:14 basically on his Band cap Band cap bio[ __] on me after I gave

57:21 Yeah, it was a weird situation.

57:22 I'm not going to go into it.

57:24 Um, good luck to to the dude, but yeah.

57:27 Um,

57:28 good luck to that[ __] man.

57:29 [laughter] Yeah, good luck to No, no, good luck.

57:31 Good luck to whatever.

57:34 I don't um I feel I[ __] with you.

57:36 [laughter] Yeah, man.

57:38 Um, no, he uh he he realized how wrong he was.

57:41 I I um I heard through third parties

57:44 and some homies on some other[ __] that yeah, he was wrong uh for that.

57:50 But that's but that situation and just basically

57:54 hearing awful music on a on a[ __] constant.

57:58 It's why I have all this[ __] going on, man.

58:00 And some of it is already set up just so I won't[ __] people and say,

58:04 "Oh, yeah, it's coming soon." No, it's not.

58:07 all of my[ __] that I just mentioned,

58:09 with the exception of the individual albums uh from other people,

58:12 my[ __] is already set up so far up until September.

58:15 So yeah, that's what's up.

58:17 I mean, that's um how important is

58:20 relationships in this in this business for you?

58:24 They're important, but if you're an[ __] I don't give a[ __] to burn a bridge.

58:27 I'm I'm not I'm not the type of because I I[ __] hate this notion of, oh,

58:34 you never know who's going to get to the top to help you.

58:36 N[ __] help yourself.

58:37 [laughter] Help yourself,[ __] Hey, for real.

58:40 Hey, I'm the king of that.

58:42 I'm the king of helping myself.

58:43 So, hypothetically, if if grenade rap were not to[ __] with my sound, right?

58:49 Okay.

58:49 Keep it keep it moving.

58:50 I appreciate the time and and effort to listen to my beats and whatnot,

58:55 if we didn't click for whatever reason, I'd keep it moving.

58:58 I'd help myself.

59:01 Um, you know what I'm saying?

59:01 I mean, it's pretty hard.

59:03 __] yourself.

59:04 But like I'd be like, "Okay, cool.

59:06 They ain't[ __] with me.

59:07 Well, let me try to see if I can do this by myself

59:09 and just keep it moving." It's that's how it's always been, man.

59:12 For me anyways, man.

59:13 Just help yourself, man.

59:14 Like, as long as you making beats and you you putting in your work,

59:19 it's going to do it.

59:20 Like, whatever's going on, it's going to do it cuz you you know what?

59:23 That's the focus that I was talking about, man.

59:25 Uh I was talking to my little team the other day, man, about some stuff.

59:29 And uh that's the focus that uh I think a lot

59:32 of produ a lot of producers needed to hear that.

59:35 You know what I mean?

59:35 Like seriously like because artist need to hear that.

59:40 Artists definitely need to know that[ __] because

59:42 especially especially the the the people who are

59:44 always complaining that they don't have a team.

59:47 __] be a oneman team.

59:48 Be your own team.

59:50 Be your own[ __] team.

59:51 Because at the end of the day,

59:52 if you doing what you try if you doing what you

59:54 trying to do and supposed to be doing, you gonna be fine.

59:58 and all else is just a bonus if you if you love it enough.

1:00:02 Yeah.

1:00:03 The pieces will fall into the right place.

1:00:06 That's what's technically happening to me, man.

1:00:08 Certain pieces are falling into place because um you know what I'm saying?

1:00:14 I'm just I'm a cheerleader.

1:00:16 I'm a supporter.

1:00:16 I'm a cheerleader for myself first.

1:00:18 I'm a supporter and I am a shameless promoter for my for myself, too.

1:00:22 I I'm bold enough to tell you that I'm not

1:00:25 afraid to promote and go and go all in on myself.

1:00:30 No matter if I'm lacking a budget, no matter have a budget,

1:00:33 I'm gonna um I'm going to cheerlead for myself.

1:00:36 I don't need um while it's appreciative that maybe people that are

1:00:40 trying to do the same thing that I'm doing with this hip-hop

1:00:44 um are supporters also as as well.

1:00:47 I appreciate I do really appreciate it.

1:00:50 But at the same time, you still got to keep going.

1:00:53 You know what I'm saying?

1:00:53 In order for for it to to hit a bigger reach and whatnot.

1:00:57 So that's all I focus on, man.

1:00:59 Totally agree, man.

1:01:00 Totally agree.

1:01:06 [music] Heat.

1:01:17 Heat.

1:01:21 [music] Heat.

1:01:26 Heat.

1:01:27 N.

1:01:32 [music] Heat.

1:01:36 Heat.

1:01:36 [music] Here we go.

1:01:52 [music] And uh so what's what's up with this fake Wuang joint?

1:02:16 I want to start with that because I I didn't know

1:02:20 like I yo I I I didn't know how to take it.

1:02:23 I had to you know I had to I want you to explain it.

1:02:27 That's the reaction that I wanted.

1:02:28 So, okay.

1:02:30 So, fake Wu Tank joint, it has two meanings behind it.

1:02:35 Yeah.

1:02:34 One, the beat itself,

1:02:36 I feel it's a fake Wu Tang joint because it has a soul sample in it and whatnot.

1:02:41 Nothing really.

1:02:42 It's not overthought or anything like that.

1:02:44 It's just Wuang influenced, right?

1:02:48 Yeah.

1:02:48 The uh the second the second meaning of it,

1:02:50 why I named the joint fake Wu Tang joint?

1:02:52 Well, I guess there's three reasons.

1:02:54 The second reason would be I couldn't I couldn't come up

1:02:56 with a with a theme with a title for the song with uh with Max Bless.

1:03:01 The third is is a influence from a Sean Price song that he

1:03:06 has on when he be when Rock became Sean Price from Hela Skelta

1:03:10 when he did when he did his first album Monkey Bars.

1:03:13 He has a song on there called Fake

1:03:15 Neptune Joint which is literally what that is.

1:03:18 And those are the three meanings behind Fake Wu Tank joint.

1:03:23 It's a It's a Sean P homage.

1:03:25 It's me being a[ __] because I couldn't[ __] remember I couldn't[

1:03:29 __] come up with a themes a theme for the for the song.

1:03:32 And because it's Wuang joint,

1:03:35 that's pretty much the that's pretty much the the synopsis of that.

1:03:39 Um, so I see the track listing right here.

1:03:42 We got um, Embedded in the Flesh because how did you do your intro?

1:03:47 Because I haven't heard it yet.

1:03:49 Like how did you because I start there.

1:03:51 It's just uh it's just a dramatic instrumental

1:03:54 that's going to come in lit literally that's all

1:03:57 that that's going to be and then it'll set

1:03:58 the album off off with uh embedded in the flesh.

1:04:02 Yeah.

1:04:03 How uh track boy embedded in the flesh

1:04:05 that and that's about it's about just strictly raw ramen.

1:04:15 I rap dude.

1:04:16 I rap about rapping and I'm good at it.

1:04:18 D that if you if you ask me what the meaning of uh any of the songs are,

1:04:24 I'm gonna tell you I just rap, bro.

1:04:26 Like I rap and I have a line, a matter of fact,

1:04:30 I have a line on one of the songs.

1:04:31 I don't know which one it is where I start off

1:04:33 my verse with I rap about rapping because I'm good at it.

1:04:37 And then [laughter] ain't no concept behind it, man.

1:04:40 It's just boom bap, raw ramen, man.

1:04:43 Like you get it, you get it.

1:04:45 If you don't, you ain't got to listen to it.

1:04:48 Don't come to me with your wi with with your opinions

1:04:50 about how I need to switch up because I get that.

1:04:53 I get that all the time from people from people,

1:04:55 especially the uh the quote unquote locals

1:04:57 in Cleveland and[ __] [laughter] like what the[ __]

1:05:02 Yeah, I'll just be like, "Okay, thanks for your warranted opinion.

1:05:05 Now [laughter] you can[ __] off like go pay your bills,

1:05:09 go pay your rent, and I mean do me with my music, man.

1:05:14 Like I I don't care.

1:05:17 Yeah.

1:05:17 Bri, right.

1:05:18 But you got a song called No Rest for the Wicked

1:05:20 on that[ __] That that song I guess conceptually it's just about

1:05:26 what we're speaking of the grinder balancing the 9 to5 the grinder

1:05:31 because I'm not ashamed to to admit in my raps too.

1:05:34 Even if I tell you that I'mma punch a rapper in the face or whatever.

1:05:37 Again, I'm not the guy in in the world, but um you know what I'm saying?

1:05:42 Um, no rest for the wicked is just that.

1:05:44 It's just combining the raw ramen with talking about the nineto-5 and juggling

1:05:49 this hip-hop[ __] That one I guess is kind of conceptual, but not

1:05:54 not anything mind-blowing or anything like that.

1:05:56 What you trying to do?

1:05:57 I can't say too far out, but I'm saying like uh as far the future,

1:06:02 like what's what's the future of OCR Beats?

1:06:05 Like what you trying to get to,

1:06:08 dude?

1:06:09 Uh the the main goal is just a fan base.

1:06:12 You know, um, you know how how people online and it's and it's pretty common,

1:06:18 unfortunately, how they talk about that their friends

1:06:20 don't support them, but strangers do.

1:06:22 I'm the opposite.

1:06:23 I'm the opposite.

1:06:24 I don't want my my friends to support

1:06:26 me because my friends are already my friends.

1:06:29 They already they're already they're already about it.

1:06:32 You know what I'm saying?

1:06:33 Um, and even if they're not, because I have a lot of friends 20,

1:06:37 25 years that they don't get this hip-hop[ __] that I'm doing in my 40s.

1:06:41 And that's okay.

1:06:41 You know what I'm saying?

1:06:42 Because I need I need that because I'm old school, man.

1:06:45 I need that that balance between personal and professionalism, right?

1:06:50 So, my personal are the homies,

1:06:52 my friends who are outside of the hip-hop realm because I cannot like

1:06:56 I love hip-hop culture while I'm while I consume it almost damn near 247.

1:07:02 I cannot consume it 247 at the same time.

1:07:04 Yeah.

1:07:04 Like you gota have a balance.

1:07:06 Yeah.

1:07:06 If you know you, you know.

1:07:08 So yeah, the future of OCR beasts is just like um a fan base or community,

1:07:15 whatever it may it may be.

1:07:16 I want that.

1:07:17 I want it to be strangers.

1:07:18 I want it to be people that I want to get to know.

1:07:21 That's my ultimate goal in all of this.

1:07:24 And I'm not going to slow down and listen.

1:07:25 Even if I don't even get to [clears throat] that,

1:07:28 I'm just going to continue to drop albums that I produce for people or I'm

1:07:33 just going to continue to drop albums um until I get tired of rapping.

1:07:37 You know what I'm saying?

1:07:38 Like the producing ain't never going to go away.

1:07:40 Like I'm always going to be I'm always going to be making beats.

1:07:44 But yeah, man.

1:07:44 That's just the future of OCR beats, bro.

1:07:47 is just uh get get strangers to get on board

1:07:51 with this hardcore hip-hop[ __] because it's never going to

1:07:54 Have you went with Creta P?

1:07:58 No, I have not.

1:07:58 But he's[ __] dope.

1:08:00 Yeah, man.

1:08:01 It's funny because I uh I love to hear that[ __]

1:08:04 I actually know some of some of his people uh personally.

1:08:07 Uh I think the uh they have a a girl on his team named Jojo.

1:08:11 I I uh I met her in I met her in New York

1:08:14 in the past uh in Brooklyn because I I go out there pretty often.

1:08:19 I'm go I'm going to New York next

1:08:20 month for uh to shamelessly promote myself at a at a Pace One show.

1:08:26 So, um I'll be I'll be in Long Island.

1:08:29 Uh just long my goal is hit Long Island,

1:08:33 hit Queensbridge and visit some friends out there and go for and go from there.

1:08:39 So, um yeah.

1:08:41 So, um, but Kona P, yo, he's[ __] dope.

1:08:44 He's raw.

1:08:44 Um, hard.

1:08:46 Yeah.

1:08:46 Yeah, man.

1:08:47 I, um, I didn't know though.

1:08:49 I didn't, um, I didn't know if y'all had

1:08:50 worked together or not like that cuz I was like,

1:08:53 man, that that'll be cuz like the way your beats are and they not one way.

1:09:00 U, I don't know what really separates them like that, but it

1:09:04 it give you have a good sound like it's not over bassy.

1:09:09 It's not you're not trying to be something you're not.

1:09:12 And like what when you were saying like your past

1:09:15 stuff like that that probably helped you get to where you

1:09:18 at right now though a lot because you found that like

1:09:22 that sound that can go everywhere cuz right now I'm in Atlanta.

1:09:25 You know what I'm saying?

1:09:26 Like like down here to to where y'all at and to like

1:09:31 that sound travels and it's relevant everywhere in the environment.

1:09:36 You know what I mean?

1:09:36 Um so So, uh, like what do you, uh, own dog?

1:09:44 Like, do you, uh, do you up do different doll?

1:09:49 Like, what what are you using right now?

1:09:52 Just Fruity Loops, man.

1:09:53 Fruity Loops 24, man.

1:09:54 I record I I um if I'm not using this thing,

1:09:58 which I don't I don't use often, I'm gonna be honest.

1:10:01 Uh, I just lay everything on Fruity Loops.

1:10:03 I record on Fruity Loops.

1:10:04 I mix on Fruity Loops.

1:10:06 Um, yeah, man.

1:10:07 That's them.

1:10:13 Yeah, that's pretty.

1:10:14 Can you hear me?

1:10:15 Yeah.

1:10:15 Yeah.

1:10:15 Yeah, I can hear you.

1:10:18 That's pretty much it.

1:10:18 It's just Fruity Loops, man.

1:10:20 That That's all I uh Fruity Loops 24 because I haven't updated yet to 25.

1:10:24 I've been lazy.

1:10:26 [laughter] [gasps] __] Yeah, man.

1:10:29 Uh uh you did a song called Streets Don't Love Me No More.

1:10:33 I haven't heard that yet.

1:10:35 No.

1:10:36 So that's the homie great god man who signed to rock marciano man.

1:10:39 He signed to his pivire label.

1:10:41 So yeah that's the that's the uh song for the theme

1:10:45 for his young god series that's out on tuby right now.

1:10:50 Um it star it stars his son in the in the series.

1:10:55 Um and it takes place in Syracuse,

1:10:57 New York where um they're bas where great God is based out of uh these days.

1:11:02 And um yeah, so I had a relationship with Grey God before he was Gray God.

1:11:07 I'm not going to divulge who his ident identity was previously,

1:11:10 but he was pretty prevalent in the industry.

1:11:14 I'm going to say this, he was he was tied in with Dipset uh at one point.

1:11:18 Okay.

1:11:18 Yeah.

1:11:18 So, um we developed a relationship when he was uh trying to come in.

1:11:23 He was actually going to try to come in, if I'm not mistaken,

1:11:25 under a different name, uh Designer God instead, but I think he just switched.

1:11:30 Um, we developed a relationship.

1:11:32 I sent him some beats.

1:11:34 Um, apparently he had been sitting on that beat

1:11:37 for like years because this was back in 2019.

1:11:41 And um, yeah, so years later um, he just happens to find me again.

1:11:47 I don't know how we even lost touch.

1:11:49 I can't even remember this, but the ill thing is in 2024 he uh, he hits me up.

1:11:54 He was like, "Hey man, do you remember me?" like, "Yeah,

1:11:57 I just figured out a couple of weeks

1:11:59 ago who you were." And strangely enough, one day,

1:12:04 this is[ __] crazy because the net two weeks

1:12:07 after that, I'm in downtown Cleveland and I I

1:12:11 stop in to buy a um I had a homie who uh who had um an album release party.

1:12:17 So, I bought his CD and his beat tape uh his tape um off of him.

1:12:22 And I'm walking out and there's two gentlemen by a van

1:12:27 and the name that comes out of their mouth is great God.

1:12:30 And I hear this[ __] clearly as I turn around.

1:12:33 I go to this van.

1:12:34 I'm like, "Yo, you know, but I dropped the government name." He was like,

1:12:38 he looked at me like I had three heads.

1:12:40 This dude and he was like, "Yeah,

1:12:43 that's my bands of like 30 years." I'm like, "Yeah, the rapper.

1:12:46 He signed a rock mariano." He's like, "Yeah." I'm like, "Yo, I I was like,

1:12:50 I did so and so join for the uh for I

1:12:53 did the theme song for the young guy series if you hip."

1:12:56 And again, he looked at me like I had three

1:12:58 heads and shout and that's the that's the homie now Midwest.

1:13:02 Shout out to Midwest Midwest back who goes back

1:13:05 with Great God for like about 30 years, man.

1:13:07 And uh that made the that made everything easier uh uh for me now because

1:13:13 I got a homie now here personally who know who who's uh homie with the homie.

1:13:19 You know what I'm saying?

1:13:20 So it just so like stuff like I I should write a book

1:13:22 because weird stuff if related like that happened to me almost all the time.

1:13:27 So yeah.

1:13:28 So it catches me off guard too, man.

1:13:31 But yeah, that's how I met the homie Be I N I N I N I N I N I N I N I N I

1:13:32 N I Nice that night was uh through through through that situation and then

1:13:38 yeah um we we've been developing a great relationship ever ever since then.

1:13:43 Um and there's a and speaking of that there

1:13:46 may be a lot of stuff in the works too

1:13:49 um in relation to uh great god and that and that small

1:13:53 group including myself right there in the future.

1:13:55 So I guess that's one thing to look uh forward to at the moment.

1:13:59 You know what I'm saying?

1:13:59 It's not in it's not concrete and sealed yet,

1:14:02 but things may be coming involving Great God, man.

1:14:04 So, shout outs to Great God.

1:14:06 Shout outs to Midwest Mac.

1:14:07 Shout outs to the homie Be Nice.

1:14:09 Um, thank you, gentlemen.

1:14:12 Um, man, that's what I'm saying.

1:14:13 Like, that's what I'm saying.

1:14:16 Your your network is getting big.

1:14:17 And that's what it's about.

1:14:18 It's about these relationships, network.

1:14:21 Like, we we back to doing hip-hop.

1:14:24 We back to doing real[ __] hip-hop like in Africa days.

1:14:28 Yeah.

1:14:28 in a grassroots sense.

1:14:30 One more thing, speaking of like networking

1:14:33 and all that, shout outs to uh 58 Fever.

1:14:36 If it wasn't for for him, I wouldn't have um I wouldn't have have linked

1:14:41 up with Barbaric and none none of this Dr.

1:14:44 Imperial would have happened without him.

1:14:47 So, I'm the I'm the king of storytelling and moot points.

1:14:50 So, I'll tell you uh why I'm shouting out 5A Fever.

1:14:54 A day after my birthday in 2023,

1:14:56 there was a Crime Apple concert over here in Cleveland.

1:15:01 Yeah.

1:15:00 And usually when I go to these venues,

1:15:02 I know the who's who uh of locals that are going to be there.

1:15:06 And three guys stood out like sore thumbs.

1:15:08 It was one of their guys.

1:15:10 It was Fever and Chup all in the all

1:15:13 in the crowd of like 21 people that were there.

1:15:16 Yeah.

1:15:16 And uh I I met I met him and then months later is when I um when when I when I

1:15:23 saw the O 07 Sean Price video that Barbaric had done

1:15:28 and I was like yo who the[ __] is this guy?

1:15:30 Where's he from?

1:15:31 And I wanted and then a year later

1:15:35 uh the first uh heels have eyes westside gun show happened

1:15:39 and I bumped into Fever that uh that day as well.

1:15:43 So then we started a couple of weeks later we started talking

1:15:45 about the um uh the the uh that particular night and whatnot

1:15:50 or that weekend rather and I had asked them finally I'm like hey

1:15:55 who the[ __] is this barbaric dude and how can I link with him

1:15:59 and that's how the Dr.

1:16:00 Imperial relationship started.

1:16:02 So yeah dude I I say this to say this 80

1:16:05 85% of my encounters are not going to be internetbased.

1:16:10 Um, I will I travel for hiphop.

1:16:12 Um, and I do meet people.

1:16:14 It may be one day I may go down to to Georgia and meet you in person.

1:16:17 You know what I'm saying?

1:16:18 Oh, yeah, man.

1:16:18 I'll be in Georgia, New Orleans.

1:16:22 I never been to New Orleans.

1:16:23 You know what I'm saying?

1:16:24 That's where I'm from.

1:16:26 Okay.

1:16:26 All right.

1:16:26 Yeah.

1:16:26 I can tell in the draw like either Florida, Mississippi, or uh or down there.

1:16:33 So So Louisiana.

1:16:35 Okay.

1:16:35 Okay.

1:16:36 That's what's up, man.

1:16:38 Um

1:16:38 Yeah.

1:16:38 Yeah.

1:16:39 But yeah, dog.

1:16:39 Like um that that's why it's funny if you

1:16:42 bring like when you brought up Ctona P earlier.

1:16:45 I know that in their team they have like

1:16:46 a like a girl that's a that's a promoter.

1:16:49 Like I said, I think her name is Jojo.

1:16:51 I met her before at Secret Poor in Brooklyn where Yeah.

1:16:55 Yeah.

1:16:55 Yeah.

1:16:55 So, and that was I met her back in November of 2023,

1:16:59 I want to say, out there at Secret Brook in Brooklyn.

1:17:02 And [clears throat] yeah, man.

1:17:04 Um Yeah.

1:17:06 I I I like know a a lot of people just because um I've traveled

1:17:12 and I try to pay my dues as best as possible with this[ __] man.

1:17:15 Yeah.

1:17:16 Well, you you doing it, man.

1:17:18 I mean, and really it's just right.

1:17:20 I think it's just our time like it it came

1:17:23 around like for us to be able to display our[ __]

1:17:27 and live in a real reality because now we know

1:17:30 that like back when the industry was like the big illusion,

1:17:34 it was still like them[ __] was really behind the scenes working 9 to5.

1:17:38 They was really putting in the like they really was.

1:17:41 They just had a lot of loans that they owe people.

1:17:44 Now we back to like the basics.

1:17:47 Uh, how do you[ __] with Bandamp?

1:17:49 Like, do you do you fool with them?

1:17:52 I love Band Camp, man.

1:17:53 I got a manbeats.bandamp.com is the page, man.

1:17:58 Go check it out.

1:17:58 A lot of them album.

1:18:00 All of my albums that are on streaming are on there as well, man.

1:18:04 You don't have to buy anything.

1:18:05 Just just stream the music, man.

1:18:07 Listen to it.

1:18:08 Get familiar.

1:18:09 Get hip to me if you want.

1:18:11 Or don't.

1:18:11 You know what I'm saying?

1:18:12 Like, that's the people's choice out there.

1:18:14 Um, or don't.

1:18:16 Yeah, but I love I love I personally love Band Camp.

1:18:20 Like that's

1:18:22 that's the[ __] man.

1:18:23 I always I always encourage people if you're an artist,

1:18:25 please utilize Band Camp, man,

1:18:27 because chances are there's um if you work hard enough or try

1:18:31 to work hard enough to get that fan base to buy off of you,

1:18:35 most likely in the future that's the uh first place that they'll go to.

1:18:39 Yeah.

1:18:39 Yeah, that[ __] That's right, man.

1:18:41 Like and then they got they got standard like

1:18:45 they they been holding that[ __] down for a minute.

1:18:47 I've been know about Band Camp for a long time and then now

1:18:50 like I'm finding myself like not wanting to go nowhere else but Band Camp,

1:18:56 you know what I mean?

1:18:57 Cuz I can get the I can get the record.

1:18:59 Like either I can buy it right then and there or they got free downloads.

1:19:02 You know what I'm saying?

1:19:03 But like I can get the music, you know?

1:19:05 Um that that's how um that's how some of the the the through band

1:19:10 camp that that that's how uh two of the guys from uh Bone Thugs

1:19:14 Bone Thugs and Harmony bought an album that I that I produced and they

1:19:18 gave us more money than than we were asking for at the time.

1:19:21 So shout outs to Band Camp and shout outs to uh those members of Bone Dogs.

1:19:25 I'm not going to mention them because I don't want to blow blow up

1:19:28 their spock because I'm already[ __] name dropping

1:19:30 and I'm getting uncomfortable [clears throat] at that.

1:19:31 [laughter] Yeah, man.

1:19:34 That's the reality of it, man.

1:19:36 That's what bank cam does.

1:19:39 You know what I'm saying?

1:19:40 So, um yeah, you uh look, man,

1:19:43 if you if you're like me where um you never know, you know what I'm saying?

1:19:48 Especially with utilizing those tools like like B camp,

1:19:52 you never know who who's checking you out.

1:19:55 Even for a bridge burner like me sometimes, like you don't you never know.

1:20:00 Hey, I like that[ __] That[ __] say even for a bridge burner.

1:20:04 Hey man, we I will torch a[ __] bridge if you piss me off enough.

1:20:08 You love your brand.

1:20:09 You love your brand.

1:20:10 Yeah, OCR Beats is my brand and and especially now um

1:20:16 with again going back to the whole grenade rap GR Imperial album.

1:20:23 Yeah.

1:20:22 When that came out and people resonate well especially

1:20:25 when people resonated with who let the killers in.

1:20:28 We had 1,200 views on YouTube in four days, bro.

1:20:31 Like whoever was listening, first of all, thank you.

1:20:35 Two, you need to find a[ __] better hobby, bro, in your life.

1:20:38 But I appreciate you for listening, man.

1:20:41 You understand?

1:20:41 [laughter] Like, [cough] [clears throat] like going back to that uh

1:20:49 conversation that we had about who let the killers in, man.

1:20:52 Like um like I said, you never you never know.

1:20:54 And then you tap you've been tapped in anyways to grenade rap anyways, man.

1:21:00 But I love that it caught people off guard,

1:21:03 man, because Alvarez had just dropped his[ __]

1:21:06 And then just three three and a half weeks later,

1:21:08 we dropped this whole GR Imperial and you know what I'm saying?

1:21:11 Um it's still getting burned.

1:21:13 There's like radio stations picking this up right now.

1:21:16 You know what I'm saying?

1:21:17 So, you know, sky's the limit, bro.

1:21:20 Sky's the[ __] limit, man.

1:21:22 Like, and I'm and I'm proud of that.

1:21:25 Yeah, man.

1:21:26 And see that's why I was saying like you know the future

1:21:28 of OCR beats it's on the rise because like at I I follow

1:21:32 the timeline like especially like before the show like when we started talking

1:21:37 about it I started like looking and just following the timeline I was

1:21:40 like yeah I'm feeling it and then you know what I'm saying

1:21:44 and like it it's it's a couple people I'm proud of you and just

1:21:48 like 5'8 uh like you said like I'm proud of 5'8 and how

1:21:51 far he done like like y'all are y'all y'all brand is good.

1:21:57 You know what I'm saying?

1:21:58 Like, yeah, I I'll always temp for fever.

1:22:02 He's the[ __] man.

1:22:03 Like I said, if if it wasn't for him, Dr.

1:22:08 Imperial, I mean, obviously with with Barbaric, too,

1:22:10 for him actually trusting me with the sound and whatnot.

1:22:15 Um, shout outs to those two guys, man.

1:22:17 And, uh, if it wasn't for them, Dr.

1:22:20 Imperial wouldn't be a thing.

1:22:21 I probably wouldn't uh wouldn't uh be doing this interview anyways, man.

1:22:25 So, shout outs to to you for the platform once again.

1:22:29 Shout outs to them, man.

1:22:30 Shout outs to the guys, man.

1:22:32 Man, I appreciate you coming on cuz I when you said

1:22:35 you don't do it because I know like you're a producer.

1:22:38 You got your know what I'm saying?

1:22:40 Like, I don't do interviews, bro.

1:22:43 Because I love that I got you on here, man.

1:22:46 No, no, no.

1:22:47 I was gonna say, man,

1:22:48 like I think you're the only platform that I'll ever utilize

1:22:51 because you'll probably be the only one that I'm comfortable with.

1:22:54 I will I will not do interviews with Dell.

1:22:58 People have hit me up like like you know similar to

1:23:02 uh to something like this.

1:23:03 I mean you went more you you went

1:23:05 in depth with my catalog than than others have.

1:23:09 But then when I see their interviewing style, I'm like, "Yeah, first of all, um,

1:23:16 a not first of all, I know I'm not gonna be able to[ __] with you like like I

1:23:20 have with you on here because I'm still a person

1:23:22 at the end of the day." Like I said earlier,

1:23:24 this[ __] this OCR beast[ __] I want to build with people as human[ __] beings.

1:23:30 So, you're building with Orlando at the same time, too.

1:23:32 Like, you're not building with just OCR beast, the producer, Sass, and MC.

1:23:37 Nothing really pisses me off more than uh people who are on that mode 247

1:23:42 at the at the same time because being

1:23:44 in rapper and producer mode can get[ __] annoying.

1:23:47 Like,

1:23:48 oh, they're two different animals.

1:23:49 They two different animals like Yeah.

1:23:51 And I try to be I try to be as human as possible with these conversations.

1:23:55 But again, you're the you're the only one also

1:23:58 because we probably have similar type of humor, too.

1:24:00 Um, which is why I'll be comfortable

1:24:02 doing interviews with you going forward whenever you

1:24:05 invite me again to uh to do this or you know what I'm saying is man.

1:24:11 __] But[ __] everybody else.

1:24:12 I don't want to do interviews with anybody.

1:24:14 __] hell [laughter] about personality because

1:24:18 ironically enough they lack the[ __] personality.

1:24:20 Yeah.

1:24:21 __] Well, a lot of these[ __] interviewers it's just

1:24:23 like watching sports and[ __] like they're watching anything else.

1:24:26 Like a lot of you got to be in the field in order to know

1:24:30 what to talk about because it ain't just I'mma get on and ask some questions.

1:24:35 You got to know what you talking about.

1:24:36 Like if we really having a conversation or we just show it off of the camera.

1:24:41 Yeah.

1:24:40 You know, like that's the difference.

1:24:42 And I one thing, man,

1:24:44 like I don't like I I don't like being that's why see me put

1:24:47 my head down and all that because

1:24:48 I'm still uncomfortable about the this whole thing.

1:24:52 But I still have fun uh doing this though.

1:24:56 __] Yo, man.

1:24:57 Everybody I get on this show, I've even had, like I said,

1:25:00 I've had 5'8 on the show probably two or three times.

1:25:03 I don't know.

1:25:04 But, um, yo, this is a network.

1:25:07 I[ __] with y'all, man.

1:25:08 Like, you know what I'm saying?

1:25:09 Like, I I really do.

1:25:10 I[ __] with y'all.

1:25:11 And it's like it got to be real because

1:25:14 like when we talked about you getting on the show,

1:25:17 I already had you like I point out the people I like and then I sent it

1:25:21 to the schedule and then they supposed to hit

1:25:24 you up and you know what I'm saying?

1:25:25 Get you on the show.

1:25:26 You just so happened to say something.

1:25:28 I was like that[ __] already I'm already looking at him like I

1:25:32 was trying to see how I can get it get that interview fam.

1:25:35 Yeah.

1:25:35 [laughter] I I do this for like what whatever this is that I'm doing

1:25:39 with hip-hop and the culture in general or what whatever the hell this is.

1:25:43 I this is this means more than money could ever like and and I

1:25:51 say that for people that I know that I'm going to like and tolerate.

1:25:55 Anybody else who wants to impede in that[ __] you pay me.

1:25:58 That simple.

1:25:59 Like yeah.

1:26:00 You know what I'm saying?

1:26:01 But now, but like but like the reaction that the love that you've

1:26:04 been giving me throughout this interview and just the past the the past

1:26:09 couple months here in general,

1:26:11 I'm really really[ __] grateful because I I tr I truly don't pay attention.

1:26:16 I have no idea.

1:26:17 So, it catches me off guard.

1:26:19 Makes me uncomfortable a little bit because I don't know how to take

1:26:21 compliments either because I'm so[ __] up as a person like that.

1:26:24 But all I can say is thank you, man.

1:26:27 And that's to anybody else too who resonates with whatever

1:26:30 the[ __] this is that I do with this hip-hop[ __] man.

1:26:33 Thank you, man.

1:26:34 That's all I can say for sure, man.

1:26:36 Before we get out of here, man, you got any shout outs, my brother?

1:26:39 Yeah, man.

1:26:39 Just uh shout outs to you first of all for having me

1:26:42 in your forum and and your in this uh space right here to

1:26:48 to converse and and just No.

1:26:50 Yeah.

1:26:50 Thank you, man.

1:26:51 Thank Thank you.

1:26:51 I look forward to doing this with you again in the future.

1:26:54 Shout out.

1:26:54 I know your wife is behind the scenes on on all this, so shout outs to her.

1:26:59 Um, as well, shout outs to everybody

1:27:01 that I've been mentioning throughout the interview.

1:27:03 Grenade Rap, uh, shout outs to the homie Draft,

1:27:06 shout outs to, uh, the homie Be Nice.

1:27:07 Shout outs to the homie Midwest Mac, uh, 5A Fever.

1:27:11 Um, shout outs to, um, anybody who's doing uh, hiphop the the right way.

1:27:18 Uh, shout shout outs to you[ __] that that anger me

1:27:22 enough to motivate me to do this[ __] Like, I love it.

1:27:25 Y'all make me happy when I get pissed off

1:27:27 and I'm able to drop consistent music like this.

1:27:30 Shout outs to my gig, bro.

1:27:31 Because I don't do[ __] on my regular job, bro.

1:27:34 I do credit Listen, I do credit card fraud for a private bank company.

1:27:38 I don't [laughter] I don't do[ __] six out of the eight hours that I'm there.

1:27:43 So, I get the opportunity to write raps and just come up with ideas

1:27:47 or[ __] sample dig on my phone while I'm in that[ __] man.

1:27:50 So, shout out I'm not gonna mention the company obviously,

1:27:53 but [laughter] shout outs to the gig, bro.

1:27:55 Like, uh for for still having me, you know what I'm saying?

1:27:59 Almost do this hip-hop[ __] almost 247.

1:28:02 But, uh who else, man?

1:28:04 Um yeah.

1:28:05 No, man.

1:28:06 Just uh if anybody sees this, just follow me and follow me.

1:28:09 OCR beats is literally everything on my Instagram, my Facebook, my YouTube.

1:28:15 I don't have none of the twatteraters and none

1:28:17 of the[ __] uh the the the threads or whatever.

1:28:20 I don't have none of that __] I feel you.

1:28:22 Yeah.

1:28:23 Instagram.

1:28:23 Instagram, YouTube, and um a and Facebook.

1:28:28 It's all literally OCR Beats.

1:28:30 And follow me on Spotify.

1:28:32 If y'all have Spotify, man, OCR Beats is the profile.

1:28:36 Follow follow me on that.

1:28:38 play my music so I can get six cents out of my royalty check,

1:28:42 right?

1:28:42 Like I'm gum like you know what I'm saying, [laughter] bro.

1:28:45 Like um Yeah, man.

1:28:48 And like I just want to I just want to shout out

1:28:50 the the the underground hiphop scene again to those that are doing

1:28:54 it correctly like a guy like Fever such somebody like yourself

1:28:58 as a DJ producer and a host of actual uh legitimate show and whatnot.

1:29:03 The rest of you,[ __] you, man.

1:29:07 The criers, the[ __] complainers.

1:29:09 Oh, my friends don't support me, but strangers do.

1:29:13 __] ass[ __] Send those strangers my way.

1:29:15 I want them to get to my music.

1:29:17 Quit being a victim.

1:29:18 Get the[ __] out of our way to those who are trying to do this correctly.

1:29:22 That's all, man.

1:29:22 That's all.

1:29:23 Man, you said what I be thinking all the time, bro.

1:29:26 Like, I swear to God, man.

1:29:27 This[ __] It's like that.

1:29:29 It's like that[ __] Yeah,

1:29:32 I I I don't like seeing that type of[ __] man.

1:29:34 That[ __] be pissing me off.

1:29:35 It's cliche.

1:29:36 We'll see it tomorrow.

1:29:37 You open up that[ __] social media, you gonna see that[ __] immediately.

1:29:41 You know what I mean?

1:29:42 I always I say the opposite.

1:29:44 I know[ __] like me and I don't care who don't.

1:29:48 Yeah.

1:29:48 Exactly.

1:29:48 I'm the same way.

1:29:49 I focus on the people.

1:29:50 I like Yeah.

1:29:51 Like I know part Yeah.

1:29:53 I know what I am and Right.

1:29:55 If I ain't there,[ __] you.

1:29:57 You know what I'm saying?

1:29:58 [laughter] Exactly.

1:30:00 The show go on.

1:30:02 Yep.

1:30:02 That is exactly my philosophy.

1:30:04 Also, I'm a grown ass man, bro.

1:30:06 Like, we're all going to die one day, bro.

1:30:10 Like, no matter the zodiac sign that you are,

1:30:12 you're a Gemini, you're gonna die twice, bro.

1:30:14 [laughter] Chris Brock, man.

1:30:17 And uh yeah, man.

1:30:18 Like, I don't know, man.

1:30:20 Like, like I said, man,

1:30:21 just shout outs to shout outs to everybody who've done right ride right by me,

1:30:24 but shout outs to you who've done wrong by me, too,

1:30:27 because you put a fire under my ass to put

1:30:30 in this work that I'm putting in currently, man.

1:30:32 So, thank you.

1:30:33 [clears throat] All right, man.

1:30:35 And uh before I let you go, man,

1:30:37 I got uh I want everybody to check out the making of uh

1:30:42 and I'mma put the video at the end of this video right here.

1:30:45 Uh the making uh of grenade rap.

1:30:48 You got that on your YouTube right there, man.

1:30:50 Um yeah, man.

1:30:51 It's a couple of minutes of how I made Who Let the Killers In and whatnot.

1:30:55 Oh, one more thing, man.

1:30:57 Right.

1:30:57 If y'all if whoever watches this, subscribe

1:31:00 to the DJ Honorable Metal Monkeys YouTube channel.

1:31:04 By all means, subscribe.

1:31:06 Grow the channel, man.

1:31:07 Cuz brother, you are doing the Lord's work, man.

1:31:10 So, yeah, man.

1:31:13 So, absolutely subscribe to to him, man.

1:31:16 Um, obviously, as we conversed earlier,

1:31:18 a lot goes behind to what he does to get a schmuck like me to talk[ __] on here.

1:31:24 So, [laughter] subscribe to his YouTube channel.

1:31:27 Follow follow his uh his Facebook channel as well.

1:31:30 Follow him on on IG.

1:31:32 And uh yeah, man.

1:31:34 And um yeah, do if you're in this underground

1:31:37 hip hop[ __] um and you're like me coming up, man, just do right, man.

1:31:42 And eventually everything will fall into place.

1:31:44 That's my advice.

1:31:45 Damn sure is.

1:31:47 Ladies and gentlemen, check this show out everywhere.

1:31:50 You can check the podcast out of my[ __]

1:31:52 Type in the Honorable DJ Mel the Monkey.

1:31:54 And when you want to send your music or any of that stuff,

1:31:57 uh, send it to email me 18 timesmail.com.

1:32:01 That's email me 18 times@gmail.com.

1:32:05 Uh, where can we find all of your stuff?

1:32:07 One more time.

1:32:09 OCR beats.bankcamp.com and all the DSPs that are out there in the world.

1:32:16 Even I think Napster is uh is picking [laughter] up my music.

1:32:21 But yeah, Spotify, Apple Music, Title,

1:32:26 Amazon Music, whoever messes with Amazon Music.

1:32:29 Uh, you know what I'm saying?

1:32:30 Uh, YouTube, YouTube at OCR Beats,

1:32:34 Instagram is OCR Beats, Facebook is OCR Beats.

1:32:37 Uh, and just follow for whatever this mortgage board of uh,

1:32:42 hiphop related stuff it is that I do.

1:32:45 Follow me for that.

1:32:46 And some[ __] hijinks as well, man.

1:32:48 cuz I I'll be bullshitting on the apps too.

1:32:50 Like especially on Facebook,

1:32:52 you might see some[ __] about me smoking crack, but it ain't true.

1:32:56 Yes, that'll be Hey, man.

1:32:58 Like,[ __] [laughter] that's amazing, man.

1:33:00 Smoking crack is so good for uh because what they got out now,

1:33:04 man, like seriously,[ __] they got out now is killing[ __] man.

1:33:08 Crack, man.

1:33:08 I know[ __] been smoking crack for 40 years,

1:33:12 bro.

1:33:12 I um so TR I don't know if anybody knows this man but like when No seriously

1:33:18 man before Tran hit the United States was

1:33:22 a thing in PR man in Puerto Rico bro like

1:33:26 uh yeah so you connect um a city like Philadelphia where it's

1:33:31 most I know this is so[ __] out of out of the subject

1:33:34 of hip hop related[ __] but uh yeah but Philadelphia is primarily Spanish

1:33:39 people you know what I'm saying like

1:33:41 especially is uh North Philadelphia and whatnot.

1:33:46 Um I always assumed that somebody that was in Philly went

1:33:49 to PR got hit to the to to the tran that that people were doing out there

1:33:54 the xylazine and brought it to uh to Philly.

1:33:57 Bro, I got lost in Kensington one time dropping my homie

1:33:59 off because I didn't know he lived near nearby Kensington.

1:34:03 Yeah, it was the And I don't mean to be funny about it,

1:34:08 but it was the most unreal thing I've ever seen

1:34:10 with like beings knotting out with that with that crazy um

1:34:14 the lean.

1:34:16 Yeah, with that crazy lean that that they do because they're so yo,

1:34:20 I couldn't even I couldn't even like

1:34:22 be myself about it because it was heartbreaking.

1:34:25 This is probably so this is so this conversation is so out of hand right now.

1:34:29 But um but yeah, bro, like I because he was like I was like where you live at?

1:34:33 I'm like I live off of Kensington,

1:34:35 but it's not going to be anywhere really crazy.

1:34:37 No, man.

1:34:38 It was[ __] crazy.

1:34:39 I'm like bro, I'm like I just saw three fiends just

1:34:43 nodding out off this fence track or whatever [laughter] that they doing.

1:34:47 And then there's And this is at 1 in the morning, mind you.

1:34:50 Then there's brother brothers playing uh basketball at 1 in the morning.

1:34:55 Yes.

1:34:55 a a chicken happens to uh walk by the Chinese

1:35:00 food store that's still open and then gunshots ran out.

1:35:03 I cannot make none of this up, bro.

1:35:06 In the span of 25 minutes, I want to say [laughter] Yeah, man.

1:35:12 I'm telling you, I need to write a[ __] book.

1:35:14 Oh, man.

1:35:14 That shit's hard, man.

1:35:15 That's up.

1:35:17 That's real life[ __] That's why I be telling people,

1:35:20 man, even out here in Atlanta, Atlanta ain't real, man.

1:35:23 You might see Spider-Man.

1:35:24 You might see Spider-Man and Batman like actually the other

1:35:28 day Batman was on the east side like in traffic.

1:35:33 Yeah, that's Yeah, this is like like you had like it was

1:35:37 a dude like at the stoplight and he was coming down off a stream

1:35:42 like Spider-Man and then like uh when it turned green he go back

1:35:46 up and nobody stops this[ __] The cops would be like nah man straight.

1:35:51 Like they pass[ __] like that.

1:35:53 Like that's every day all day.

1:35:54 Like if I leave home right now, I'm running into that.

1:35:59 Like this[ __] is not real, man.

1:36:01 Like the world is so cool now, man.

1:36:04 Um the world got cool as[ __] Like it's depends on how you look at it, man.

1:36:09 Like it's always a kick in the nuts.

1:36:11 Life is a kick in the nuts regardless.

1:36:13 Like

1:36:14 Yeah, I be I'd be lifeing, bro.

1:36:16 I can I can attest to that for sure, man.

1:36:23 [laughter] All right, we go we go from like

1:36:24 amped up hip-hop[ __] to talking about smoking crack real[ __] man.

1:36:28 Like that[ __] man.

1:36:28 I'm telling you, I got some, man.

1:36:30 Look.

1:36:42 [music] [music] [music] Hey, hey, hey.

1:37:11 Heat.

1:37:14 [music] [music] Hey, Heat.

1:37:40 [music] [music] Look, man.

1:37:59 People can do whatever they they want cuz

1:38:01 we're only human at the end of the day.

1:38:04 uh with with AI is a damn if you do, damn if you don't because I know people

1:38:09 personally have been using AI for informationational purposes.

1:38:14 Um I know I use chat uh AI.

1:38:17 Yeah, I use it primarily for mixing tips and whatnot and that's helped me a lot.

1:38:23 Right.

1:38:23 Um if I if you're using it to like undercut um other facets of like

1:38:30 services and stuff like that that people make living make a living off of.

1:38:35 That's where I have a problem with it.

1:38:37 Like

1:38:38 yeah,

1:38:38 you know what I'm saying?

1:38:39 If you're if you're put it this way,

1:38:41 if you're not creative enough to uh to to use AI, you're a problem.

1:38:46 You know what I'm saying?

1:38:47 And that that um so I'm 5050 with the whole AI thing.

1:38:52 You know what I'm saying?

1:38:52 So that's where it

1:38:55 What you think about uh uh Band Camp?

1:38:57 Band Camp had uh Band AI on their[ __] Yeah.

1:39:02 Don't make fake music, man.

1:39:03 And and don't and don't get banned.

1:39:05 That's the equivalent of like when somebody uh for example,

1:39:08 if you a rapper and you take a producers's

1:39:11 beat and you upload it to all the streaming platforms

1:39:14 without permission and that producer files a DMCA report

1:39:18 and you get banned from from ever uploading mu music again.

1:39:23 Yeah, I'm I'm with Band Camp 100%.

1:39:26 Because first of all is again people can do whatever they want.

1:39:29 That's their platform.

1:39:31 So if they say, "Hey,

1:39:32 we don't want any fake music from you." You know what I'm saying?

1:39:35 I'm in agreeance with them.

1:39:37 I'm with it, too, because y'all putting in a lot of work, man.

1:39:40 Yeah, man.

1:39:41 And like that's one part of the music that I'll never compromise.

1:39:43 I definitely won't go the AI route for to get help for my music.

1:39:48 Look, if I if I I've never I've never really had a day of beat block in my life,

1:39:52 but if that ever comes,

1:39:53 I'm not going to use AI for for that[ __] You know what I'm saying?

1:39:56 Um, yeah.

1:39:58 I'm definitely not going to use uh uh uh AI to help me write rhymes.

1:40:02 That that'll be super[ __] weird.

1:40:04 So,

1:40:06 and if you use AI for that type of[ __] and then you upload music to Band Camp,

1:40:10 dude,[ __] you and your music.

1:40:12 I hope it gets banned from everywhere else.

1:40:16 Man, that's just crazy.

1:40:17 It's uh Is it snow?

1:40:19 Was y'all snowed in out there the other day?

1:40:22 We're still snowed in, man.

1:40:23 It's like, yeah, it was so[ __] cold these past few days, man.

1:40:28 Like, and I got to go into work.

1:40:30 You know what I'm saying?

1:40:31 But the thing, but uh the the one thing is is like I love my dead end

1:40:35 job because it's on the same street that I

1:40:37 live on and it's only three miles down.

1:40:38 You know what I'm saying?

1:40:39 Oh, that's amazing.

1:40:41 Yeah.

1:40:41 So, I just drive three miles there, three miles back,

1:40:44 call it a day in my little shitty Ford

1:40:46 Focus and um just and you know what I'm saying?

1:40:49 Come back come back home and uh get away from that[ __] get away from the snow,

1:40:54 get away from all that[ __] and just do my hip-hop[ __] man.

1:40:58 But it the weather is so brick, man.

1:41:02 Like even for somebody like who really like I'm 6'4 300 lb, bro.

1:41:08 Like I'm sweating most of the time.

1:41:09 No, man.

1:41:10 I'm freezing right now, man.

1:41:12 Like

1:41:13 it's so bad that it affects our furnaces here in our apartment.

1:41:17 Yeah, I'm quite sure.

1:41:19 So the heat doesn't come as well.

1:41:21 So, I'm over it's I'm like the past few days freezing at night, man.

1:41:24 It's It's[ __] insane, man.

1:41:26 We got down to uh we got down to 13 degrees the other day

1:41:30 and my[ __] thermostat wouldn't go past 67.

1:41:33 I was mad as a mother.

1:41:34 Like, it was cold.

1:41:36 Like, it was

1:41:37 Yeah, I was just about to ask you how the weather is down there for you.

1:41:40 That's

1:41:41 It's all right now, though.

1:41:42 Like, you know, like Atlanta, you can you can live.

1:41:45 You know what I'm saying?

1:41:46 Like, we one state away from Florida and Alabama, you know?

1:41:49 like you can live.

1:41:50 You know what I'm saying?

1:41:51 It ain't it ain't what y'all got.

1:41:53 I I could go through that[ __] Yeah.

1:41:55 And it's even worse like in Rochester.

1:41:57 It gets worse in Rochester, man.

1:42:00 I've been to Rochester plenty of times enough

1:42:02 to to know that, you know what I'm saying?

1:42:05 __] um where where like I'll leave Cleveland because I

1:42:09 to get to like a place like Buffalo and Rochester, it's all night east.

1:42:13 It's all a straight shot.

1:42:15 But like when you start passing all those small towns in Buffalo,

1:42:19 past Buffalo like Sica, New York and upstate around this time,

1:42:23 it's going to be worse than what it is over here, man.

1:42:26 And it's[ __] brutal.

1:42:28 Damn, that shit's crazy.

1:42:29 Hey, you've been watching the[ __] talking about that shit's fake.

1:42:33 They've been burning snow and stuff like that, saying it's fake.

1:42:39 Yeah.

1:42:39 Yeah, man.

1:42:40 Folks are burning snow, saying, "Look at the snow.

1:42:43 It won't burn." like it won't melt and they say the government's doing it.

1:42:48 Have they tried setting themselves on fire?

1:42:54 Yo, if you're if you're really taking the time out to like burn snow,

1:42:58 [laughter] maybe you should take up a crack cabin or set yourself on fire.

1:43:04 I'm telling you, bro.

1:43:06 People are[ __] stupid, man.

1:43:07 What the Bro, what the[ __] See, I can't talk about stuff like this.

1:43:16 They gota they got Did you see the[ __]

1:43:20 is I uh the Leviathan the uh dinosaur the dragon.

1:43:26 Did you see that?

1:43:27 Yeah.

1:43:28 They said Yeah, they said they was the government was trying

1:43:31 to freeze the dragon so he wouldn't come from up.

1:43:33 He's down there like I think at the end of America

1:43:36 or something like that going to Brazil or something like that.

1:43:40 Seriously, they got a whole dragon face.

1:43:42 They got a whole dragon face.

1:43:44 Like that[ __] crazy people.

1:43:46 What happened?

1:43:48 What happened, bro?

1:43:49 I I I don't know.

1:43:50 Listen, man.

1:43:51 See, that's the thing.

1:43:52 I don't that that's the unfortunate part about

1:43:55 this because I don't pay attention to stuff like that.

1:43:58 Literally all I do, I'm telling you right now, all I do is come home,

1:44:01 do hip-hop related[ __] and be on YouTube watching hip-hop related stuff,

1:44:05 like uh mixing uh points,

1:44:08 how to basically how to um if I'm doing everything correctly for my royalties,

1:44:14 I'll I'll repeat myself over and over again.

1:44:17 That's literally all I do.

1:44:19 So like people who set snow on fire that [laughter]

1:44:24 don't pay attention to to that type of stuff, man.

1:44:28 I just don't, man.

1:44:30 Like [laughter] you got to find something better to do, bro.

1:44:35 Go go go go and man like go find a crocheting hobby or something.

1:44:41 Please, man.

1:44:42 Let's not let's not burn snow because eventually

1:44:44 you're gonna end up setting yourself on fire.

1:44:46 We don't want on fire, man.

1:44:49 Yo, that shit's crazy, man.

1:44:53 What's your favorite What's your favorite hip-hop documentary?

1:44:55 Do you watch like the show or like Hell yeah, that's right.

1:44:59 The The Show and Ry and Reason are my two top favorites.

1:45:03 Oh yeah, man.

1:45:03 The show is my[ __] man.

1:45:05 I want to redo the show, man.

1:45:07 We need to get a network of[ __] cuz I because I want to do a little tour.

1:45:12 It might be some chitler circuit[ __] but if

1:45:15 we throw a documentary behind that[ __] man,

1:45:18 we need to all us underground artists need to get together and do it, man.

1:45:23 Who Who would play Slick Wreck in prison in the underground, though?

1:45:27 [laughter] Yeah.

1:45:27 Yeah.

1:45:28 Yeah.

1:45:30 Yeah.

1:45:30 You're right.

1:45:31 You're right.

1:45:31 Yeah.

1:45:33 It's somebody out there, though.

1:45:34 Somebody out there because it's the underground.

1:45:35 I I'm just getting into the West Coast.

1:45:38 You know what I mean?

1:45:39 Like, okay.

1:45:41 A lot of characters.

1:45:42 It's a lot of characters.

1:45:43 It's another one out there.

1:45:44 So, yeah.

1:45:45 No, I mean, no, in all seriousness though,

1:45:47 like a documentary like that with independent underground hip-hop artists.

1:45:51 Yeah.

1:45:51 Um, if it's shot in that style too,

1:45:53 like the black and white style like the show was,

1:45:56 like that would that would definitely be I would Yeah.

1:46:01 Yeah.

1:46:01 It'd be eye-catching for sure.

1:46:02 My homie Manny Bless is a dope videographer, too, and an editor, man.

1:46:06 Like, you know what I'm saying?

1:46:07 I think he'd be down to do something uh like like that.

1:46:11 keep that idea in a notion.

1:46:12 Plus, it gets it gets people to travel,

1:46:14 whoever's serious about uh traveling and all

1:46:17 that and and putting the effort into it.

1:46:19 You know what I'm saying?

1:46:20 That definitely that's definitely not a bad idea at all.

1:46:23 It's actually a good idea.

1:46:24 The amount of people that are actually because,

1:46:26 you know, everybody will want to do it, right?

1:46:28 But then the amount of people who will actually do it

1:46:30 will be probably about the amount of people we need to do.

1:46:33 You know what I'm saying?

1:46:34 That type[ __] You know what I'm saying?

1:46:35 I thought it [clears throat] through, man.

1:46:37 Yeah, you're right.

1:46:38 You know, that's how that's how that's how it works out most of the time.

1:46:41 So, you're right about that.

1:46:42 Yep.

1:46:43 Yeah.

1:46:43 Yeah.

1:46:43 That's the[ __] filter itself for real.

1:46:45 It's just going in.

1:46:48 Think about it, man.

1:46:49 I mean, if I if Well, when I get started on something like that, I holl at you,

1:46:53 man, because like that's just that's why I'm throwing that out there.

1:46:56 I I I'd be down, man.

1:46:58 Like, I absolutely I don't mind putting the money up to travel behind it.

1:47:02 As long as everything is uh is right and all and all that.

1:47:05 Like as long as logistically it makes sense, I'm I'm all about it.

1:47:08 You know what I'm saying?

1:47:09 I wouldn't care.

1:47:10 So yeah, that'll be the[ __] man.

1:47:12 Um but yeah.

1:47:14 So where do you think we going to be at in uh hip hop in the next five years?

1:47:21 I think man, I don't on a mainstream level.

1:47:25 I don't know because I think I I think

1:47:27 the the these mainstream artists I think your name on uh Sexy Red

1:47:31 like just those type of those type of basic I guess

1:47:34 basic rappers if you want to call them that um I think

1:47:38 they're doing more harm than good on a mainstream level like

1:47:41 it's not like it's not like how obviously it's not how how

1:47:45 it was between 97 and 2000 where you had a balance

1:47:49 where yeah there was still some[ __] trash music out there but

1:47:53 yeah it was but it went like this But in hindsight,

1:47:56 they kept some form of the culture going into it commercially.

1:48:01 Some form of it at the same time, but it was[ __] lucrative.

1:48:04 I don't know if it'll ever be lucrative again,

1:48:08 but the amount of hard workers in the underground

1:48:11 uh right right now to me and I and again, I can name somebody like Mando Slate,

1:48:16 not because that they're originally from Cleveland or anything like that, right?

1:48:19 But because the dude is literally put put

1:48:21 in work the Mando Slates of the uh the world.

1:48:24 Um, I think uh, man, what what is that?

1:48:27 He's really dope.

1:48:28 He sounds like um I'm I'm gonna hate ma myself for making this the best way.

1:48:34 [laughter] He sounds like Fleord.

1:48:36 Um, damn.

1:48:37 What is this dude's name, man?

1:48:39 Uh, he he's a New York underground rapper, too.

1:48:45 That's[ __] up.

1:48:47 Pro Dylan.

1:48:48 Like Pro Dylan.

1:48:49 Pro Dillinger.

1:48:49 Okay.

1:48:50 Yeah.

1:48:50 I think he's[ __] he's[ __] dope, but he seems like a hard work.

1:48:53 I actually met him personally and I met

1:48:55 all those Umbrella guys and uh Umbrella that's Yeah.

1:48:58 Yeah.

1:48:58 I met them in Richmond, Virginia um at at a at a producer show in 2024.

1:49:05 So, and they seem like their team seems to be like hardworking guys.

1:49:09 So, um yeah, I mean uh independently I think it's uh

1:49:14 it's in a good place if you're in a position like me.

1:49:19 Um, and I'll just throw I guess what it would be free advice.

1:49:22 People can take it how they want to take it.

1:49:24 For somebody like me, I'm focusing on getting a fan base, bro.

1:49:28 Like, thanks.

1:49:29 So that way the money So that way the money the money can come later.

1:49:33 So all strangers, please listen to my music.

1:49:36 Get my little get my little 32 monthly listeners from Spotify.

1:49:41 Get those numbers up and then go to my band camp and buy my music afterwards.

1:49:45 and then I'll consider getting CDs and[ __] so

1:49:48 you can uh so you can indulge in my music.

1:49:50 But in all seriousness, yeah,

1:49:52 I think I think in the next five years hopefully it stays in the same

1:49:55 traction with hardworking guys doing it correctly

1:49:58 for themselves and you know what I'm saying?

1:50:01 There's more of a fan base uh coming in uh and whatnot,

1:50:05 especially in the underground for those for whoever those hardworking guys

1:50:10 are going to be in the next five years or so.

1:50:13 I just hope it it works out for them and there's more fans coming into it.

1:50:16 You know what I'm saying?

1:50:17 As far as the underground goes and independent scene goes.

1:50:20 That's what I think.

1:50:22 That's[ __] I think Yeah.

1:50:24 I I like the direction it's going

1:50:26 in and and uh when I started looking at the underground,

1:50:30 I started noticing like if we unite as the underground like right now

1:50:34 because it's like we know Spotify and the DSP is[ __] everybody, right?

1:50:39 So if we create our own industry like how

1:50:43 it was in the beginning of hip hop like

1:50:45 about 1980 before my you know like and and we

1:50:49 just stay there you know what I'm saying?

1:50:50 Yeah.

1:50:51 We don't have to be on the Super Bowl or none

1:50:52 of that[ __] We don't want to be on the Super Bowl.

1:50:54 We want to create our own own way and own[

1:50:57 __] and and that's what I I'm liking about the wave.

1:51:00 So I keep it on underground.

1:51:02 I don't care what Chris Brown them doing.

1:51:04 I I don't give a[ __] man.

1:51:06 I I'm sorry.

1:51:07 And I appreciate those guys and it's a time for that.

1:51:09 But if you ain't Stevie Wonder and I ain't ripping no

1:51:13 samples like I ain't I'm not even I'm more into 70s music,

1:51:17 you know, 60s music, you know.

1:51:19 Um and I think that's where we at.

1:51:21 That's why that boom bap sound sounds so good right now, man.

1:51:24 Um well, that's why that's why a lot of um a lot

1:51:28 of artists um in the mainstream and I'll give you an example.

1:51:31 when Jay Electronica dropped his album and whatnot.

1:51:35 I mean, who did who who did he rip off?

1:51:37 He ripped off one of the most influential guys in the past 15 years and Rock

1:51:42 Marciano by going drumless with what he what

1:51:46 Jay Electronic was rapping over in his album.

1:51:49 You know what I'm saying?

1:51:50 So, yeah, man.

1:51:51 you know, [clears throat] the the uh the underground hip-hop

1:51:53 scene has uh has steady influence even on the mainstream,

1:51:57 but like you said, I think there needs to be

1:51:59 some sort of path where the underground remains underground,

1:52:03 but like more of a fan base does need to come in realistically to again

1:52:09 to to to again have that fan base

1:52:11 for the guys that are working hard to get theirs.

1:52:14 That's where I'm at with it mentally.

1:52:16 If you remember like the 90s like I remember like in 19 uh

1:52:19 I think it was 9798 or when the Cor and I dropped I was

1:52:22 on that little tour you know what I'm saying like just on that we

1:52:26 went to the first show I think or whatever like that and um

1:52:30 I started noticing it was little groups like the black ey peas was

1:52:34 there and you know what I mean like it was it was just little

1:52:37 groups that like just made it even here in Atlanta like you know

1:52:41 like it's it's it's small it damn I forgot where I was going Man,

1:52:46 I was smoking this with you.

1:52:49 You're [laughter] but but it it's it's just like you

1:52:52 it's a lot of people um like with the underground music,

1:52:55 you start off like people just start off and they all had little fan bases

1:53:00 and it was so decent back then because those shows be like 250 people, man.

1:53:06 You know, that's a good ass living if

1:53:07 you could pull that off like twice a month.

1:53:10 You know what I'm saying?

1:53:10 Like 250 people?

1:53:12 __] What do they pay?

1:53:13 $10, $15, $20?

1:53:15 like that[ __] adds up, you know,

1:53:17 like so that's where we at now and we if we create

1:53:20 that way and I think they everybody's creating that way after Westside Gun.

1:53:24 I was just like, man, it's a wrap.

1:53:26 He got everybody doing watching wrestling.

1:53:30 Oh yeah.

1:53:31 Yeah.

1:53:32 No, I I agree with with that.

1:53:34 Yeah.

1:53:34 Um what was I gonna say real quick?

1:53:37 Real quick, though.

1:53:38 Yeah.

1:53:38 Like again using the Westside Gun uh template

1:53:42 with the I was a pro wrestling fan but like

1:53:46 I limit it to AR Anderson in the 80s so I that's me personally but anyways yeah

1:53:52 me too I ain't on the wrestling

1:53:54 but you know what's funny though you see how the boom bap sound using

1:53:58 Westside Gun as an example you see how the boomab sound translates to mainstream

1:54:02 though because you always see him

1:54:04 in the front row of those wrestling pay-per-views

1:54:06 he's iced out and he's representing in that raw hiphop that that we do use.

1:54:12 I I I wouldn't I I'm personally I'm not

1:54:15 trying to copy his template or anything like that.

1:54:17 Not that I'll likely ever be successful realistically

1:54:21 uh with this, but like you said yourself though,

1:54:23 at the end of the day, you just got to find a healthy balance.

1:54:26 If I can find 200 fans that where at least 50

1:54:29 of them will buy my[ __] I'll be so happy at that.

1:54:32 Man, what?

1:54:34 [laughter] Yeah.

1:54:35 Like, can can I make $60,000 a year doing hip-hop?

1:54:39 That's all I ask for.

1:54:40 Like, if it's all I need.

1:54:43 I ain't got no kids.

1:54:44 I ain't got no responsibility.

1:54:45 [clears throat] Like, except for my bills and stuff like that.

1:54:48 Can I get 50 and $60,000 a year doing hip-hop?

1:54:52 Like, that's all that's all personally I'm asking for.

1:54:56 You know what I mean?

1:54:57 just but as far as hip-hop's future, whether it's underground and mainstream,

1:55:03 I think the uh the underground, you're already seeing it in the mainstream,

1:55:08 there's a lot there's a lot of influence being taken from uh the Rock Marcianos,

1:55:13 the Westside Guns of the World, and all these other guys that are

1:55:16 that are doing it uh prevalently currently right now.

1:55:19 So, yeah.

1:55:20 Yeah.

1:55:20 The Kendrick Lamar Drake thing kind of like broke the mainstream.

1:55:26 Uh for me like it got so big to where it was like they was both

1:55:30 mainstream artists and then with Drake out

1:55:33 the game now music started getting more related relatable.

1:55:39 You if you put a gun to my[ __] head

1:55:42 right now I wouldn't be able except for that not like

1:55:45 us song by Kendrick Lamar I couldn't[ __] name you

1:55:49 what Drake song or any other song in Kendrick Lamar's catalog.

1:55:52 I'm so far int.

1:55:55 [laughter]

1:55:56 That's why I mentioned Hey yo, I I was trying you with that question, fam.

1:56:02 You tried me well.

1:56:03 I was like, I will I will[ __] let you[ __] blow my brains

1:56:08 out because [laughter] I[ __] remember uh uh Drake's song.

1:56:12 you I mean again I'm only listening to Biggie Nas Mob Doo

1:56:17 and Jay-Z in my car and then I'm listening to[ __] Total Group Theory

1:56:21 on the R&B side of things and listen and listening to my samples

1:56:26 whenever I I whenever I dig for samples man literally that that's all

1:56:31 that's all my knowledge of like music is man like some semi80s

1:56:36 hip' 80s 90s hip-hop and R&B but like Drake and[ __] Kendrick Martin.

1:56:43 __] man.

1:56:45 I'm[ __] man.

1:56:46 Like

1:56:46 that[ __] like that[ __] [laughter] [gasps] that[ __] on another level, fam.

1:56:52 That[ __] man.

1:56:55 Shout outs to shout outs to those guys because they're[ __] successful.

1:56:59 Yeah, I wish I had an iota of success with the music like like they do.

1:57:04 Hell.

1:57:04 Uh well, even JCole, too.

1:57:06 Like, I can't I can't name you a J.Cole Cole song either other than the feature

1:57:10 that he did for uh for the Johnny P song for for uh Benny the Butcher.

1:57:15 That's the only[ __] thing.

1:57:16 I've never heard a JCole song in my life.

1:57:19 I'm pretty sure people are probably thinking

1:57:20 that I'm faking all this that I'm saying,

1:57:22 but [laughter] I've never heard a[ __] Drake song in my life.

1:57:26 But I I I believe you because you're a creator.

1:57:30 Yeah, I I've only listened to that stupid ass[ __]

1:57:32 not like us song because of the[ __] Super Bowl.

1:57:35 And I that was on accident because I don't even watch sports anymore.

1:57:40 And JCole is a dope MC from what I heard on the Benny the Butcher feature, but

1:57:45 I'm not interested in listening to the guy, man.

1:57:48 Like Yeah, I feel it's not I get it.

1:57:51 Like that.

1:57:52 And that's true.

1:57:53 That's true for everybody.

1:57:54 And that's why I say with Underground Music,

1:57:57 like, you know, I get to enjoy music.

1:58:01 You know what I'm saying?

1:58:02 I get to hear hear the real[ __] that's in music.

1:58:05 I get to hear like what city you in.

1:58:07 I get to hear like what the[ __] you own because even in y'all state,

1:58:11 y'all got every actually just in your city alone,

1:58:15 y'all got every type of rapper in that[ __] You know what I'm saying?

1:58:18 That's the That's the thing about Ohio period.

1:58:22 You know what I'm saying?

1:58:23 It it is has every type of rapper in the state,

1:58:26 but in your city alone, it's every type of[ __] rapper.

1:58:29 And them[ __] rapping at a high level at what

1:58:32 the[ __] they talk about for real like they ain't[ __] Um, right.

1:58:37 [snorts] How is the how is the competition or how is y'all like local scene?

1:58:43 You would you say local like the people in Cleveland?

1:58:49 I couldn't tell you.

1:58:50 I'm detached from it, man.

1:58:52 like um there's what I can tell you is um

1:58:57 uh it's never been good in my opinion [laughter] like

1:59:01 nobody's local scene is good you know.

1:59:03 No any major metropolitan city especially like Cleveland to me um you

1:59:10 I you know you obviously got some uh talented uh MC's and whatnot.

1:59:14 I mentioned some of them uh earlier on the show and whatnot.

1:59:18 Um, but you got to get the[ __] away from this city and then

1:59:21 come back to it in order and ain't nothing wrong with that, man.

1:59:25 Go go go out there in the world, represent Cleveland,

1:59:28 and then come back so people can get hipped and tapped in.

1:59:31 There's nothing wrong with that.

1:59:32 But primarily, man, because of the fact that um when I got into this scene,

1:59:38 I noticed that people like quit really fast and they Yeah.

1:59:44 They never really gave themselves uh a chance to uh redo their failures.

1:59:49 They just took the L and like disappeared or um started [clears

1:59:54 throat] something else or just got away from the whole hip-hop scene.

1:59:57 I really lost I whatever little iota of respect I had for the scene

2:00:03 um you know is just that just an iota of uh respect for it there.

2:00:08 Don't get me wrong.

2:00:09 I mean, it may sound negative because it's I mean,

2:00:12 I still rep Cleveland till I it's[ __] dead.

2:00:15 But yeah, I feel you.

2:00:17 Yeah, man.

2:00:17 But that's it, man.

2:00:18 Just because I I rep it because I lay my head here.

2:00:21 But as far as repping it for other quote

2:00:24 unquote peers or anything like that,[ __] no, man.

2:00:27 Stay out of my way, bro.

2:00:28 You're food to me, bro.

2:00:30 Like, I feel all right.

2:00:32 Now, now we getting at it.

2:00:33 Yeah.

2:00:35 [laughter] like you're you're food without being

2:00:38 competition to me because I don't I don't

2:00:40 think about competition either because I be

2:00:42 in my own little world and[ __] like that.

2:00:44 Um yeah, so especially Yeah.

2:00:47 And especially nowadays, man.

2:00:49 Uh unless it's Grenade Rap and the homies that I'm doing

2:00:52 albums with, I really don't care about anything uh scene related.

2:00:56 So yeah.

2:00:57 Yeah, man.

2:00:58 That's really like when you locked in focus.

2:01:00 I just said that[ __] on social media the other day.

2:01:02 Like I seen a lot of my friends doing a lot of[ __] and I was

2:01:06 like they need to whatever they do let it tie into their brand so it can count.

2:01:10 You know what I'm saying?

2:01:10 Like man make[ __] count man.

2:01:12 And like it's a lot of people I was say I never I never thought about branding

2:01:19 until I rebranded myself and everything started to make sense.

2:01:22 And especially this year in 2025 after GR

2:01:25 Imperial man it really starting to make sense.

2:01:29 Um I got to move.

2:01:30 I'm still going to be the[ __] talking me

2:01:32 that that I always am on social media and whatnot,

2:01:34 but I still watch certain things, man.

2:01:37 Like, I don't I don't really go full

2:01:39 in with my[ __] talking and it's a it's a again, it's a healthy balance, but

2:01:44 yeah, man.

2:01:45 Um, you know, __] man.