In The Real World Episode 5: Nobody Is Going To Save You

[00:00:00] You Already Know This Motherfuckers, Most Of A Love As Always, Donald Peasley. Alongside of LaShawn. Thanks for being here man and I'm hanging out. Always in the center of a conversation. Hey what's going on Kwani? Hey Joe. Hey Dan. What's goody y'all? Patreon. In the real world. Yeah, we're back again. Back again. How's everybody doing?

[00:00:30] What's up? Everybody's alright? Yeah, everybody's great. I feel blessed. I feel blessed brother. That's good to hear. So Dane, that question that you had earlier about topics and how they have to be, this is when they're not like, this is just off the top. Not really off the top but they're things that I wrote down. Like he said earlier, I was driving and I wrote this one thing down. So I guess we can get into that one first. I wrote down new driver, fuck off the road. How do y'all feel about new drivers?

[00:01:00] And how were y'all when y'all were a new driver? See, that's where I was gonna start. Yeah, I was like damn. When I first saw it, I was like Kwani, you was never a new driver. I was never one of them niggas. You had to be a new driver at one point. No, I was, yeah of course I was a new driver but. Tell us what the driver did. Alright. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, let's hear that. Let's hear the rookie mistake first. Alright, cool. First and foremost, new driver sticker on the car. No one needs to know you're a new driver. You're literally making everybody know that you might piss us off because you have this sticker on the car.

[00:01:29] Wait, can I stop you there? Can I stop you there? What about them thinking that that would give them grace on the road? This is New York, bro. I know. There's no grace on the road. I know. But if you're gonna drive in New York, understand what's going on on the road. Yeah. You know? So, alright, cool. That's the first thing that pissed me off, right? Secondly. So, where I live, so it's a one-way and then there's a school and then there's a school and then there's a church, right?

[00:01:55] It's tough, yes. And they do a construction on there. So, all these things are going on, right? As a new driver, be aware of what's going on. Get out the way when you see people are trying to maneuver around and all that kind of stuff, right? So, when there's a school, wherever there's a school, there's always double parking whenever they gotta drop their kids off and stuff, which is the most annoying time to drive, right? I hate that shit. I think New York needs to get rid of that. Bro, it's so, there needs to be a separate section for parents or whatever, bro. Yeah, facts, facts. But, it's a good idea.

[00:02:25] Bro, so it's the double parking, it's the school buses, it's all that going on. And here comes this rookie. And there's one road that everybody can turn left and go down to just go away for not picking nobody up or none of that. Who's blocking the intersection to the road because they want to wait and be nice to the parents that's picking up their kids? The rookie. The rookie, right? It's not nice. They were scared, nigga.

[00:02:51] So, niggas is beeping, beeping, beeping. She's just there. They're none the wiser was going on, right? So, then I saw the stick. Well, then I saw the stick. You saw the stick and it pissed you off your mo? So, nah, it was at that point where, like, I'm so pissed off, but I can't do anything because I'm not leaving my car. I'm not doing anything. Yeah, that's crazy. So, I have to sit with my feelings and that's when I wrote this down. So, yeah. So, yeah.

[00:03:21] You know what's crazy you say that? Uber drivers who aren't new drivers be doing that same dumb shit, bro. They don't have no respect for it. Look, now you frustrated in my wallet? Bro, I was in the Uber. You know what's crashed four times today? Bro, I said, listen to me. Bro, my anxiety going crazy. Yo. Bro, you got to this in LA crib. I said, thank you, Jesus. You got to. I don't mind when I have somewhere to be. Drive like you need me to be there faster than I need to be there. Because I hate the Uber drivers that want to. That's driving too slow. Yo. That's behind a person. Bro, if you don't pass this person.

[00:03:51] I've been watching. What is it? The speedometer? Yeah. Oh, yeah. I've been watching that shit so angry because why are we going to speed limit? I don't even drive this. Why are we? Yo, bro. Nobody drives a speed limit. Bro, I'm looking at the GPS, bro. Why do we lose two minutes? That's the only signal. How the fuck are we late now, bro? When time is moving up and you have to be there. Nigga, I have to get to my fucking LRR. It's everybody else's fault. Bro, I have to get to my LRR at 744, bro. Nigga, it's 739.

[00:04:19] If you don't put some fucking pedal to the metal, you mother. Bro. And I'm just looking at him. I say, yo, bro, I'll give you $10 if you speed up. The nigga barely hit the pedal. I say, yeah, yeah. I'm rushing out this shit, bro. I feel like some of them have that insurance speed tracker. Yeah, they probably do. They got to have that shit, bro. But that's only if you go over 35, though. It still is over 35. Yeah, because they're in all areas. They got this new insurance. Most of you, I think. They got like, well, my insurance has this discount where if you allow them to put a tracker

[00:04:48] in your car where they can tell the speed of your car, yeah, they'll lower your insurance. See, I don't speed on local streets, so I'm okay. But I will be between 30 and 36. Are y'all one of those drivers that you maneuver around if you need to go somewhere? Hell yeah. That's how I got here. Yeah, I'm out of here, bro. I'm out of here, bro. Wait, wait, wait. Am I not understanding your question? Not like you cutting up in traffic. I don't think any of us cut up. Oh, okay. But you used to cut up? I used to cut up.

[00:05:17] It depends on the road. It depends on the road. Bro, I used to cut up in traffic, bro. You got on the car. Nigga, I ain't gonna front, bro. In the back? Huh? No, no. No, I ain't gonna front. Remember, I used to be driving for a while. My friends got like fucking had BM. Niggas had 3 Series, 5 Series. Nigga, I'm in the fucking truck, bro. Excuse me. I'm in the fucking 4Runner, bro. Keeping up with them in traffic. My nigga like moving. Then my pops got the Benz. I started using that. I was like, oh, my nigga, I'm out. It's a cut. When did you stop cutting up?

[00:05:46] I got into an accident one day, but that wasn't my fault. I got to hold that one down. It wasn't my fault. Even with the Civic Sport, I was never really wilding. I thought you could get to a certain age and say, yo, bro, I just want to get to my destination to save, bro. I can drive fast without wilding. But you see the kids now. Nigga, you see the kids now. Niggas getting the crib. Niggas getting the car. I guess we was talking about this when I walked in, but Dane said you had an issue on the road, right? Road rage. Right? And so I'm doing a U-turn on this tight-ass block in my hood. And I'm about to make the final turn to straighten back up.

[00:06:16] And Tessa behind me honking. So now I'm like, I put my head up and I'm like, yo, we got a problem? So they say nothing. I turn. He behind me. I get to King's Highway. I'm going left. He going left. He try to zoom by me now because I'm like, yeah, you ain't going to say nothing to me, but he try to zoom by me. So I'm in the right lane. He try to come around and cut me off. So is the service lane. Here come an Uber who's doing the right thing because I slowed down for the Uber. Yeah. Nigga in a Tesla.

[00:06:44] Literally almost killed himself, bro. I think Tesla's had this thing in there where- Yeah, yeah, yeah. It senses, yeah. But you can see that the car was shaking like- Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like he resisted. Bro, some froze. I pulled up on him real slow. I said, you a dickhead. I said, yo, you a dickhead. Good for you. Kept driving. He was sitting there looking at me like, hyperventilating. I said, yo, you a dickhead. Kept going. And then maybe like two minutes later, I see him zooming by me again. I said, yo, bro, you don't give a fuck about your life. Nigga bugged out.

[00:07:14] That's the only thing about driving that I'm more concerned about. It's like, yo, you're not going to ruin my life. Yeah, that's a dub. Not me. And I wasn't even wilding, bro. Just a tight block on the U-turn. You want to hunk? Yeah. Like I'm an urgent driver. I'm not. I don't be out here bullshitting. Like just wait a little bit. You know, it's funny. You know, we're removing my road rage. Being in Atlanta. Because nigga. Nigga don't beep. I don't. Nigga in Atlanta. I'm not beeping my bullshitting. Nigga's for Swiss cheese. Nigga holds it. Shout out to my son Quay. I'm in the car with my son Quay. I'm driving and shit.

[00:07:45] Nigga at the red light for Mad Lung. That shit turned green. I'm beeping a nigga. Nigga say, yo, Dom. Don't do that shit here. Nigga. Nigga I say, yo, what happened? Nigga was on his phone for Mad Lung. Nigga say, yo, my nigga. I ain't going to front. You're going to end up on the news. Nigga don't do that shit again. My niggas will sit at the light for Mad Lung. What I do now? Move around and I'm like, come on. I'm not going to say that to a nigga. You just stay there on your phone the whole time, nigga. You can do that nigga with a light. Nigga, I see somebody do some dumb shit now. I don't say enough. I just drive past a nigga. Go like this, nigga. Use your fucking head, nigga. I'm talking to myself, though. Use your head, nigga.

[00:08:15] Yo, duh. It be the worst when women drivers are like that. Here we go. Mad aggressive. The baby mama car. Yeah, some girl almost did that to herself yesterday, too, bro. Trying to speed with me. And the dollar van stopped short. Oh. I ain't playing with the dollar van, bro. She was right here. I see it. I saw her light. Her light flash, bro. Now you stuck. Now you stuck. Bye-bye. I hate that.

[00:08:44] When the person in front of you, they could get the light. And they just... Oh! You fucking had my whole day now. What you doing? Yeah, just take it, bro. Yeah, because I don't mind if I missed the light, but bro, go. Because now I'm behind you. And if there's not a camera there, bro, yeah, you bullshit. Bro, yellow don't mean stop. It means prepare for the rain. So go. Oh, my God, bro. Shit. Max, bro. Max. Nah, I agree with that one. Yeah, nah. But you know, they do say if you could drive in New York, you would drive anywhere, which

[00:09:13] I guess is true, but please. New York drivers, please be better, bro. So, yes, be better, please. All right, so next thing I had, I had this thought. It wasn't really towards anything, but it was just more so a thought. I did it, so why can't you? Or in the reverse, I didn't do it, so why'd you do it? Or some shit like that. It could be taken, I guess, into many different avenues.

[00:09:38] I guess, with your person, if you didn't do something and then they did it, it's more of a principle thing at that point. How do you? I think most things like that. Yeah, so how do you broach that topic with somebody? Because everybody's principles are different. So how do you even get your... Can you give me a scenario? I like scenarios. Let's say I didn't have anything. Get my mind working. It didn't come from anywhere. I was just driving. LA, can you give me a scenario possibly?

[00:10:06] I'm going to let Kwanny lead off with this one. I was just talking about relationship first. Let's say it could be one of your friends. Like, time is important to me. I showed up here on time. Why can't you? What's preventing you from doing this? And they don't really have an answer. How do you get your principle to... How do you get that with somebody? You stress to them the importance that it is for you, not for them. But that won't ever matter to them. This is important for me.

[00:10:37] If you care about me, time is really something that I'm like... But I don't think... Is Kwanny saying it in that way? No, yeah. Well, if they're not understanding your principle or whatever it is, how do you make them? I guess I'm saying, how do you make somebody understand it? You're not even thinking about it. It's not even a thought to you. But I'm saying this is important to me. How do I get that to you in a way that you can understand? That's some real work right there. Yeah, that I would think you would have to start letting...

[00:11:06] Well, you would have to let the person know how important punctuality and time is for me. So you understand this is... If you care about my happiness and something that's important for me, show up for me in this way. Is that a bit of... Well, I guess... I don't look at this word as... I see it as different ways. But do you have to manipulate a situation to then have that be a thing? You know what's funny? I thought you got to do a little manipulation like your bro. I don't think manipulation is a bad thing. I don't think it's manipulation.

[00:11:34] You just put them in a scenario where they can finally see why this shit is important. Because sometimes you got to show a nigga like your bro. Like for example... Well, you got to put a nigga in your shoes sometimes. For niggas to understand. Right. For example, let's say... Let's say... Damn. I don't even want to give a particular restaurant. But let's say a restaurant we go to is mad strict with reservations. Tatiana. All right. You said that. I was going to say it. I was going to say it. You were going to say it. They ain't been giving me leeway. Yeah. But once upon a time, they were mad strict with it. Mad strict with it. Or if it's a packed night. Yeah. So let's say restaurant A.

[00:12:06] You plan... It was a tough reservation. You plan it. It's an important date. Da-da-da-da-da-da. Da-da-da-da. We go. You ready to pick up your significant other? She's dragging. He or she dragging their feet. You already late. You get there. They say, yo, you missed your reservation. There's no more... There's no more tables for the night. We're completely full. It's quiet. Go on. I don't want to talk. You got... Nigga, that convo is for tomorrow. This is the manipulation part.

[00:12:36] I'm dragging it. I'm dragging... See, this is why I say, yo, Tom is... It's important. We had this beautiful night planned out there. Is that manipulation? Isn't that the truth? That's what that sounds like. But you kind of got to... You got to... But when do I... You got to add that. Like, you ruined a beautiful night. I don't even... Yeah. But like you said, I have to stress the importance. Yes. So is that... So, yeah, that's the best. Am I not stressing that? That's the stress again. How is the truth manipulation? Yeah, like...

[00:13:05] That's why I don't look at manipulation as a bad word. You know why? It's just a word. You know why? Because I think D-down, the person already know, yo, I fucked up. Are you making it worse? I'm hitting... Yeah, now you got to... Yeah, she already feel it. Now I'm going to let you feel it, E-man. What you going to be? You going to be like, about wedding too? Oh, yeah. That shit! That shit! That's fine. That's a bit too far. That's a bit too far. That was perfect. That was perfect, though. That was crazy. Then he said, nah, she got to feel this. That was crazy. Yo. Yo.

[00:13:35] But no, yeah, I feel like the truth. Yeah, that's what you... That's valid. I feel like the truth. I wouldn't go that far, but I feel like... You might have to throw that sauce. Because... You could be way fine with it. Now she mad sad in the car quiet. I'm tight in the car. We got to find another spot to go to. Nigga, we going home. Oh, we got to go home. No, we going home. No, we actually... Yo. That's why I said, yo, the mood is calm. Like, I don't even want to do... Like, I'm just mad disappointed right now. Like, you just got to... Hold on. Is it manipulation because you really don't feel that strongly about it?

[00:14:05] But if you... Because that's what it... Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. If I dead don't care about the spot and I'm dragging it, then yeah. But if I dead wanted to go and you fucked my whole shit up... You know we don't miss this shit. But we talked about how, like, we drag along and win a little bit, though. But that's sometimes. But there's some shit that I dead care about that I really want to go. And I'm like, yo, you're dragging it. I got to pee real quick. One thing... All right, another scenario. Don, you got a bunch of people. You got a bunch of friends. I don't know if everybody's in the gym. But I'm pretty sure everybody, like, says they will be wanting to be in the gym and shit.

[00:14:35] But you don't be seeing them go. Like, I want to go with you, Don. I'm pulling up with you. Sorry niggas, but it's good time to go to the bathroom. I'm listening to that. Right. So niggas will... So niggas will say, yo, I'm trying to get into the gym with you, I, I, and take time out of your schedule to do X, Y, Z. And then when they don't, what happens then? How do you tell them to, like, stop wasting my time. I care about this gym shit or X, Y, Z? You know what's funny? I ain't gonna...

[00:15:03] I don't like those things, but I'm gonna do it for this situation. That shit happens a lot, though. That's a lot. So my man's nigga G would do that. Like, yo, Don, I'm gonna get right. I'm gonna go to the gym with you. Gym time come. Oh, what time you going to the gym, Don? No, nigga, I'm like waking up early. We don't go to the gym around 12. Bro, what the fuck? Nigga bumped his knee or something? I don't know if I can do that. Maybe next time. My nigga, maybe next time you hit me up. I'm like, yo, my new thing is now. Niggas hit me up to go to the gym.

[00:15:33] Nah, I'm good. Nah, I'm good. It's like, yo, bro, I want you to understand how serious I take this shit, bro. Like, I know you're not gonna take it as serious as I am, so I'm good. I'd rather not go with you. Okay. So I removed that whole element of us going together. It's over with. Okay, wait, are they... Are people one and done now, or you're just none? It's not even a... Don't even ask me no more. Just see it on TikTok. See it on TikTok. Niggas might have to follow my workouts on TikTok, bro. Or I tell you what time I'm gonna be there, I see you. If you pull up, you pull up. If you don't, you don't. I go about my business.

[00:16:03] I got a man's that I bet, yo, every Monday, every Sunday, I text a nigga like, yo, bro, we in the gym tomorrow? Yeah, Don, we out. I know nigga listening to the part too, nigga. Shout out to my nigga Kenny. The nigga be like, oh, we out, oh, Monday comes. Damn, Don, I gotta take care of the kids. Nigga, ain't nobody tell you how for the motherfucker, so you prioritize your own shit, nigga. But I mean, that's a part of it though, bro. You gotta understand, like... Okay. Okay? Was there anything as of recent that y'all had to, I guess, explain the principle behind?

[00:16:31] Like, not even that you were really mad about something, but somebody just didn't get the principle of what was going on. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I don't think you were here for that part. Maybe you were. But I was like, yo, I had to stop letting people walk in and out of my life when they please and just come back because, you know, LA is a cool guy, you understand. Or I know the soft spot to his heart, you know, blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, nah, as hard as this is for me, I gotta be a little bit more strict. Yeah. Like, I can't cave every time.

[00:17:00] That was last week you said that. I might have... Oh, yeah. Yeah. So, like, I can't cave just because I got a soft spot for you and Joe and all you guys. I gotta show you, like, damn, like... Like, I can't. I can't. I can't. He's really upset. Let me... We sure y'all were... Yeah, facts. So, y'all pull up with, like, sour patching. Fuck outta here. I don't eat them shits no more. Fuck them shits. You know? But you just... You can't just show, like, you so... Yeah, you can forgive me. Yeah.

[00:17:30] Yeah. So, what does that look like now? Do you block them? Do you just, like, not reply? Or you don't even... What does that look like? That's a good question. Because what is the... Yeah, because what is the... I'll be asking y'all. No, no, no. I don't know if y'all have it a lot, but... I'll be asking, what is the consequences of somebody fucking with y'all? Y'all be real. Y'all be real, like... Y'all be real forgiving and shit up. Right here. It depends on what type of fucker we're... Nah, you know what it is? I ain't gonna hold you. I ain't gonna hold you, bro. And it's not fair.

[00:18:00] It's not fair at all. It depends who it is. Because it's not the same for everybody. How's that? I mean, that's right, though. That's not how it's supposed to be. Nah, nah, you know what it is? I think I'm more... Because if you... Like, I'm fast to cut off somebody who's not as close. But somebody who's closer... I'd be like... Kwoni, I've been thinking about that since you asked that last time. About what's the consequences. And I'm like, yo, I think I need to be a bit meaner. Like, I think people... Not meaner! It's not meaner. It's not meaner.

[00:18:30] It's more... I think... No, no, no, no. Hear me clearly, nigga. Hear me clearly, nigga. I'm serious. Hoodie mellow. Hoodie mellow. That's what I'm saying. Hoodie mellow. Like, nah, bro. Like, I'm a nice guy. I know that, bro. But I've always been fearful of people seeing the other side of me. So I've kept it locked in a cage. Show that shit. For like... Ever, bro. And it can always come... I think it's easy to open that cage. Mm-hmm. For most people. That's why a lot of people would be... That's a conscious decision for you that you're not willing to...

[00:18:59] And I'm like, but maybe Corny got a putt. But nah, you know what it is? Is there really any consequences for... I think for you, you don't have a middle. Yeah, ain't gonna putt. Once you get there, you get there. It's over. Yeah, you don't crack the door. You open that shit. There's some shit called running with the bulls. Uh-huh. Out in like Spain and shit like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There is no way to like... Avoid it. Avoid it. Once that bull... You better run the fuck out the way. Because you will get ran over. But there is no... Maybe I do got a middle. Who knows? I've been high.

[00:19:28] Cho, you epically will fail. But the thing about it, you haven't been in that mindset in so long, you don't know how far you're going to go. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Yeah, you don't... Right. You haven't thought, all right, let me show this side in a very long time. So the only side you know is to like... Turn out of the cheek. Because I had a thought. I'm like, I saw something online. I said to myself, if that nigga says something to me, like... Because I saw something like talking shit. It wasn't about me or to me. But I say, if that nigga says something to me, yo, they'd probably be shocked by my response.

[00:19:57] And I would literally be like, yo, it's either I'm ready to... I'm going to fuck you up or you're just going to talk shit on the line. Because there's nothing else. Yeah, you don't have a middle. Because I'm not doing nothing else. Like, if you said that to me, I'll really just pop on you. And you're going to be shocked. Like, oh my God, I can't believe Kojo did that. No, yeah, I'm going to smack the shit out of you, bro. Like, that was it. That was it. That was it in my head. I'm like, damn, this is what Karni was talking about. Yo, you don't ever watch things happen to other people and put yourself in that situation and figure out how I can handle... What would my... How would I handle these situations? That's what I did.

[00:20:27] I see someone... And then you realize like, damn, I would have went too far. Yeah. I don't think I'm equipped for that. I don't think I got the facilities. I saw somebody subbing somebody and I'm just like, bro, yeah. Keep me out of that. Keep me out of that. Yeah, keep me out of that. Like, because if you were talking about me like that, bro, I might re-put. But there are times where I feel like I would handle situations. I actually do that a lot. It may be a little psychotic that I see people go through like shit and I ponder like, how would I handle this? And I think of like different ways.

[00:20:57] I do the same shit though. Like, okay, maybe I would have said this. Maybe I said that. Oh, that's extreme. Why did you think about killing him? Like, that's the show we got to work on that. Bitches, bro. Murder? Murder. I don't know about murder. But also for me, it's like... Yeah, it depends on the situation. For me, it's like build up though. I feel like I may have had these thoughts that I'm talking about in a very like stacking way. Like, I might have thought of it a little bit before. So how do you handle those confrontations that don't require that extreme, but it requires you to voice something?

[00:21:26] Yes, it's being really mellow and soft. And you're not really getting... You're not getting something. You're not getting... You haven't figured out your mid-tone confrontational style where you can show slight potential of, yo, you're going to really upset me without... No, it's there. Certain people are afforded it, but I can't say I would do that for everybody. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think for me, like... I think too fast on letting shit go.

[00:21:55] Like, letting people go. Like, all right, I'm never going to fuck with this person again. Do you argue with your brother? Who, Mills? Yeah. Not anymore. We used to... How far y'all used to go? Niggas used to throw knives at each other. Niggas tried to poke each other up there. Right. That's me and my brother. I think my sister sees my worst side, too. But it doesn't... Like I said, it doesn't feel like it's the end of the world when we go at it. Like, when we fight, like, it doesn't. Like, see, that's... I feel like with... With siblings, it's a little bit different, bro. Yeah. Because there's a little bit more forgiving for certain siblings. Certain siblings, niggas ain't...

[00:22:25] A lot of niggas ain't having that shit no way. I was cursing my brother out the other day, and then we just talking about life. Like, instant. Same conversation. Because that's how niggas... That's how some of us grew up. Like, say you're lying, Monica. On to the next. We don't speak. That's what I'm saying. Like, I'm too... I'm very quick to drop people off. Like, cut off. But certain people that I feel like I should do that for, I'm a little bit more like I'll hold on a little bit longer.

[00:22:54] Versus where, like, if my sister would sit there and say, oh, how you forgave so-and-so so many times, but me, you got in one... That's a fair argument. Very fair. That's a very fair argument. I don't even have to answer to that. You working on that? So this is why I... You working on that? So when Kwani say, yo, how forgiving you are with people who play with you, that person played with me way more than... Your sister. So if my sister would be like, yo...

[00:23:23] What happened to me? Nigga! Exhibit A. Exhibit A. Look! Versus me. That's a valid argument on her point. Like, so I don't know how I mentally choose that. Like, at all. Like, do I... I'm trying to think about my consequence. Do I raise people out of my life? I think I forgive too much. I forgive. Nigga! When y'all are forgiving people, do y'all still keep them in the same... In the same, I guess, light as before? Or is it just a big thing?

[00:23:52] No, that shit get dark. I do. That shit get dark. I do. Okay, so y'all keep them around, but just dimmer lights. Yeah, facts. But you keep them in the same. If I forgave somebody... They might be brighter after that shit. I don't mean brighter, but... No! Gradually. Yeah, gradually. And they're not going... Gradually. Gradually. Yes, yes, yes. The thing about this, I'll forgive, but I won't forget it. I won't forget you. What you do? What you do? It all depends on that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Are y'all... This is... Well, are y'all someone who gives trust, or someone has to build it? Build it. You gotta build it.

[00:24:27] I don't have a reason to think this person's gonna be weird or anything like that. I'm gonna start... I'm gonna tell you... No, listen. I'm gonna start... I'm gonna put it past you, but... No, no, no. Of course not. I don't put it past you, but you're not giving me no reason. So until you do, you good with me. And then once you start, you will never go back to where you was at. You're always gonna be chipping down. It's in class, bro. Niggas all start at 100. You start coming late. You start not... You're never going back up. It's harder to go back up. It is harder. It's harder. So, yeah.

[00:24:56] I mean, you're just gonna keep chipping down, chipping down, chipping down. So, I'm like, you know what? You chipped down enough to where I don't even... You good, my nigga? They chipped themselves off. They chipped themselves off. Yeah. I see what you said. But I'm not gonna... Like, I don't have a reason to... Obviously, I'm not gonna tell somebody everything. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But if this is not detrimental information, I'm gonna trust you. That's where I do the building. Because I felt like I was too revealing. Because I used to think, well, why would...

[00:25:25] Why would this person take whatever I say personally or the type of information I'm sharing and ever use it against me or throw it in my face? Because now I slowly reveal. Like, you know how you get in them deep conversations? I have to catch myself, yo. Keep that to yourself. Even though it helps in this conversation. It's the flow of this conversation. You're not forcing it. Or say we talk... Say I'm talking to a woman. And she's talking about her family problems and her upbringing. Naturally, I would have been like, yeah, I grew up like that too. Now, I just listen.

[00:25:54] Now, I just listen. I'm not even gonna tell you. What's your relationship with you and your family? Oh, it's good. You're so bad. Yeah, in fact, it's good. Me and my mom speak from time to time. You know my dad, he's in another country. He's taking care of his mom. But I don't go into the depths of when I was seven, man. They used to do it. Yeah, nah, yeah. Yeah, I don't do that no more. That's a gradual convo. So, I would say I trauma bond less. Because somebody could look at it like, oh, y'all trauma bonding. Y'all now feel a connection.

[00:26:24] My connections won't be through our traumas. And we relate in that aspect and that. Nah. You can tell me all you want. But me revealing? No, that's gonna come over time. I've always found trauma bonding so interesting. How many bad days are we gonna bond over? Like somebody has to bring some light into this situation. You're right. I don't think I've ever been in a trauma bond relationship. But I felt like that's how we felt closer. Because we related to personal experience. Very vulnerable.

[00:26:54] Yeah, it was vulnerable. So, okay. So, I guess with that person, when the conversations weren't, did y'all connect on anything else? Or was it just the deepest connections were on just the trauma that y'all had together? It's gotta be the deepest, darkest thing. Deepest, darkest secrets. So, it's never good on the other end? I forgot the song. I forgot the song. I forgot the song. But Drake was like, with three drinks and I'm already playing therapist. I'll get it for you. Yeah.

[00:27:24] It's on a new album. Something with Start Again. When he's gone, right? Yeah, when he's gone. Yeah. Three drinks and I'm already playing therapist. That was me a lot. I related to that bar so much, bro. Because why am I now hearing about your problems and now I'm trying to speak you through them and stuff like that? So, those moments I clicked from because I used to think, damn, like, I really got to know her. Like, really special. She let me in.

[00:27:51] But when you realize it in hindsight now, we was just trauma bonding over drinks. Do you think you ever had a, like... Well, I don't know. Like I said, trauma bonding's always been... I never... Do you think... Not you specifically, but trauma bonding. Do you think someone has, like, a... I want to save this person complex to hear about their trauma? Spider-Man, Superman? Yeah. Like, I want to hear about your trauma so I can... Girl, I wish I had to save you. Maybe I could help. Yeah, save it or something like that.

[00:28:20] Is that a thing for trauma bonding? Yes. That's actually... We talk about manipulation. Yeah. That's actually manipulative. In fact, I want to hear about the trauma so I can be, like, the best guy in the world. Yes. Best guy in the world. Yep. I can use it tomorrow. I'm good on that. Please. Yeah. Why would you want that responsibility? That's... It's a cheat code. That's a what? That shit gonna come back to bite you, bro. I know a trickster. I know a trickster. And I know a way to make it happen. You're the problem solver. Yeah. You're the nigga that's always gonna figure it out. Because you know what her problems are. Which is not the person you want to be.

[00:28:51] Depends on the type of guy you are. No, sure. Problem solver. As soon as we turn off this line, I'm sure you pause. Always a problem solver? Wait. So, wait. Hold on. Hold on. I'm not talking about you directly. I'm not... I know you're not. Okay. I know you're not. I'm saying... But you got mad people in your circle who... Hit you to get fine. Yeah. Salute to the family. But look.

[00:29:18] Why would you want to use somebody's trauma to... No, no, no. Not necessarily their trauma, no. I'm just saying like... But that's a problem. Those are problems. Well, no. Let's say like you got some shit... A problem's not necessarily a trauma. Yeah. Let's say nigga, my car is just in the shop or some shit. Like I met you. We talking. Uh-huh. I'm always asking like, what's going on? Like you need some help with something? Like what's going on? And that's my win? That's his win. That's his win. Who's win? Now... No, no, no.

[00:29:48] He's talking about the person. The person in the person. He's the... Now he's a solution person. Yeah. Now I'm... Before... Before... Before... Before... Before... Before she called a cop, she calls you. You are the solution guy. He always trying to save the dick. Yo, Joe, you know who he talking about. But wait, wait, wait, wait. I'm just saying... Is there a wrong game for that? You're saying what's wrong with that? Is there anything wrong with that? I thought you were saying... Wait. There is something wrong. Wait, hold on. You stand on this. Okay. Being called to have... Because you have solutions, I'm okay with that. Okay. That means you have...

[00:30:17] You're somebody you are reliable. You can show up. Yeah, but I'm going to say... But... Coach Joe's not your savior. But... No, no. Listen. But I think... What you guys... I think what I was interpreting before is that... You got people who are inquiring about what are your issues... So that they can hold them to this. I think that's fucking nuts. That's the nigga... Yeah. That's the nigga's... That's the nigga's long game. I know. That's their long game. I know. I met you. I know the cheat sheet... Yeah. ...to your life. I know. So I know how to excel in it. If you... And that's a trickery of you if I wanted to. Yes. That's nasty.

[00:30:46] I know you got abandonment issues, so I'm going to always show up. I know you got trust issues, so I'm going to overshare. He will never leave me. He... Yo, you just play on their insecurity or their weakness so they can love you. So you do this so they can love you the most. Because you're showing up better than anybody has ever. That is... Have you ever... Have you ever... Not that specifically, but has a woman ever told you what her type was and you saw something on the list and you were like, I can do that. I can do that.

[00:31:16] I can definitely do that. And you did it? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Hell yeah. Hell yeah. And maybe in our earlier stages... Yeah. We ain't really had a bag yet, so we tried to figure out what's her bag... Shorty said her type is a nigga who could cook and you was like, you got on YouTube. What you doing? What you doing, baby? I'm cooking this. I'm cooking this. Yeah. Just for the night set. Just for the night set. I'm making some tikka masala. What's up, baby? This is the wildest shit. You need a plate?

[00:31:46] Yeah, let's go. This has never been... This is what y'all pay for. Oh, right. Yo. I used to think... Oh, shit. If you pee really hard, it would indicate that your shit is big, right? So there was a point in time I used to be on the phone with a bowl of water and I would just pour the water. So it would be sticking like I'm taking the strongest piss in the water. Yo. I'm not gonna lie. You really...

[00:32:14] So you thought she was just on the other end of the phone just like, yeah. No. Yo. Yeah, shit. Yo, this nigga over there bugging up. Nigga, what? Yo, LA. LA. I'm not gonna lie. LA, you've been doing some wild shit. You've been doing some wild shit. LA. LA, you need help. You're sick. How old are you? High school? Nigga said LA that shit last week is crazy. That's some high school shit, bro. This is like 5-11, bro. Oh, this is Ju-Yah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, this is Ju-Yah. Oh, my gosh, bro. What? This is Ju-Yah.

[00:32:43] Not the bull. Yo. Full cup. And I used to think... For what? For what? The whole town nigga mom probably went up inside the phone. This is on the house phone. What the hell is this? Why he got you? I was talking bugging on a house phone. Yeah, the house phone. House phone cup was crazy. Yo, Qawdy, please. I think that's real quick. Yo. Yo. I never thought I would share that story, bro. That is crazy, bro. Yeah, it's all like...

[00:33:13] Like I said, you ain't really have a bag yet. I'm just trying to impress shorty. Nigga didn't know what worked. Yeah, what worked. I was just freestyling. Like, yo, she could probably think my shit big the way she hit his water pouring in. Hold on, I'm using a bathroom. At what age did y'all become secure in your bag? Like, this is me now. Like, this is... Good question. This is me. Like, this is it. This is me? This was me like maybe two years ago. I finally figured it out. I was going to say... Because I feel like we have like pump fakes of that.

[00:33:40] Like, when I was 17, playing really good basketball, I thought that, yeah, this is me. After I finished college... Oh, yeah, this is me. It took me a couple of years. I think recently, maybe like when I turned 28, around that age. Yeah, even now, though. That's a honest answer. Even now, though. I think like maybe even recently, I think I might have figured something out. I don't know. You figured something out or you added something to your bag? I would say added. I think... But I can confidently say 28, 27, 28, around that time. I was...

[00:34:10] I knew who I was. Like, where? So, that's the... So, at that point, that's the culture you wanted to be and you're just building on top of it. Yeah, because I went through so many phases in life. Okay. Yeah, like this version, he's strong. I think he's the strongest. Yeah, for sure. I love that. I have another question, but that would be from... When did you think this is done? Peace, Link. Shit, Link. Like Joe said, I feel like we all have a phase where we fight. This is the final form.

[00:34:40] But it wasn't. But it wasn't. Like, even me getting into this super, like, gym bag. Like, I feel like this is a new form, but I'm not there yet. This is Super Saiyan 3 right now. But you're comfortable in the path of this one? Based off of everything? I would have used the word comfortable, though. Confident? You like the foundation. I like the foundation. I like the path I'm on right now. Confidence is that confidence. That's what I'm... So, this is done and you're just building. Facts. This ain't... You're not still figuring it out. Necessarily... Maybe you are. You know what it is?

[00:35:09] I'm going to keep in a buck with you. You're on Patreon, right? Yes, 30 bucks. All right, nigga. I'm... Cool being me. I don't got to be that other nigga no more. I'm cool with that. I'm cool with... Fuck that nigga right now, my nigga. Huh? Nigga said thank God. Yeah, I've kind of been past that for a little while. No, you mad at me. You mad at mature now, bro. You so mature. You so mature. He's so mature, bro. When we first made business cards, and I'm talking about legit... Nigga said I put your name on it, bro. This is when I'm in FedEx. Laminated. The legit business...

[00:35:38] I even threw the QR code when you skin. So I put our names on it. LaShawn and...

[00:36:36] Nigga say, yo, you got to take that off. I don't want nobody knowing my first name. Nigga. Yo, we run it, Sean. I'm like, yo. Who did I sign up to do this shit? And we still... Me and Dom now getting really close. We not like this now. If me to sit down now, I'm like, yo, my nigga. Shut up. That is insane. Shit's on my LinkedIn. But I'm like... I'm like, yo, now. The age... That's when I really felt the age gap between me. You was a couple years older than it. I'm definitely a little bit older than it. This is crazy.

[00:37:05] This is a legit business card. Like numbers and emails and how to contact us. And you want me to put Don Peasley? Who the fuck is gonna... I told my manager, yo, just scrap the whole idea. Yeah, sorry. This isn't gonna work. Yeah, even just having all of those thoughts. It's like, bro, I'm tired of playing this fucking game. Like the Peasleys and... I'm cool. I'm cool being who I am. I like Don Peasley. Do you introduce yourself now as Deontay? It depends who I'm talking to.

[00:37:34] If I'm doing business, I'm Deontay. But Don is so much easier. I'm just... I'm Don. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm Don. If it's somebody that's, hey, this is Kojo's friend. Hey, I'm Don. Casually, I'm still Don. Like, if you're doing business... Like, even at work, like, nigga... I got so weird. Everybody calling me Don. My parents call me Don. Hey. My parents, yo... My pops are like, yo, Don. I'm like, yo, bro, who are you talking to? Who are you talking to? I'm not one of your little friends. I'm not one of your little friends, bro.

[00:38:03] My mom's like, yo, Don, can you go to... I say, yo, bro, why did you start calling me that shit? That's fine, you know. Why are you gonna lie? That's fine. Like, my whole family called me that shit. Nah, I would trip out if anybody in my house... Call you L.A.? That's crazy. And my... The L.A. nickname actually came from, like, Mr. Ward. That was the assistant coach for the basketball team at the high. He was like, yo, L.A. And that shit just stuck. Oh, you said, yo, that's kind of fly, bro. Yeah. And everybody started calling me that. I'm like, okay, I don't even tripping, but... That's how you knew you was stamped.

[00:38:33] You was valid, nigga. Yeah, fast. Want somebody to give you a nickname? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Shouts to Ward. I just want the record to show Don Pizzo was given to me. I didn't make it myself, all right? I know that right now, okay? First it was Don Perignon, but that's another story from another time. Yeah, yeah. To answer your question, 26. 26? I was 26, yeah, when I figured out, like, my foundation. I think... Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. So my follow-up question was also what I wrote down.

[00:39:01] So what does it take to maintain, like, you? Oh, that's a good question. The key word, though, I got to answer off back. Discipline. Oh, that's number one. Yeah, that's, like, real, real, real, real, real discipline. Yo, any time I drop the ball on something, I say, get disciplined. Yeah, that's the first thing I always say is, yo, get your discipline up. Yeah, I wasn't disciplined. Yes, Don, the gym. No, no, I wasn't going to say that. You said, say that one more time? What was the question again, Quanny? Like, what does it take to maintain who you are?

[00:39:30] Like, you guys have all found the foundations of the core. You're building it, so... Discipline is definitely high up there, but also... That's number one, yeah. Always remember to re-center. Yeah, because sometimes we fall off track. Always remember to re-center. Yeah, and everybody got to be... Yeah, because, yeah, that's true, because I would be like, yo, once I fall off the track, it's a restart instead of... Re-center? Yeah, re-centering. Recalibrating. Yeah, I really will start back from zero. You know what I'm saying? So, like, say I miss... Say I'm in the gym, right? And I just stop.

[00:39:58] I go into the mindset of, yo, this is day one again. Yeah, no. Instead of, no, this is day 17. You just missed day 14, 15, 16. Now I'm thinking, nah, I'm starting all over. This is day one. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And not being so hard on myself. To maintain who I am, I cannot treat myself so harshly and be gentle and considerate of everybody else's feelings.

[00:40:26] But what it means, like, yo, you fucked up. You're stupid. You're stupid. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I've never done that to myself, actually. We could tell. I'm serious, though. Yeah, we can preach that. I've never looked at myself like, you dumbass. Like, I'll say I did some dumb shit. Yeah. Like, I tweeted that. All I did was misplace my wallet. I was like, I just did some dumb shit. I used to say that shit a lot, though. Like, yo, you dumb, nigga. How do you do that? Yeah, I used to speak really ill on myself, and then I stopped doing that. Yeah. I was telling myself, yo, you better than that. Come on, bro.

[00:40:53] If I got a thing, and y'all all see it happening in real time, when I think before I speak with anybody else, to anyone, I'd be like... But with me, I'm so loose. Like, yo, bro, why you fucking up like this? Like, yo, bro, you shouldn't... And then I talk to myself, yo, bro, why are you talking to yourself like that? I don't know, man. That wasn't nice. You're right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I maintain myself by just, you know, being disciplined, remembering the results of the work that I've done before, you know, and believing that it's all reality.

[00:41:24] And then, yeah, just thinking about all the days that I didn't have what I have now. That shit is enough sometimes. Yeah, how you made it work. Yeah. And then now you got it. Have I ever told a $2 story on the pod? When I came back from college, I only had $2 in my... You told it as a guest. Yeah, I only had $2 in my account. And for that, yeah, that long stretch of time, I had it. From that day when I got home, I had to ask my dad for some bread to get on the bus, on the train from Port Authority. After that, I had never had to ask a nobody for a dollar. I went straight hustle mode.

[00:41:53] So once I always remember that I came out of that situation, nothing else can break me. What was your... What was the first sale you had as a graphic designer? You remember? Yes. Your first client. I'll never forget it. Chamiso. Shout out Chamiso. She was having a block party birthday celebration. Her line sister. Oh, she know her line sister. My other friend had reached out to me and was like, yo, Kojo, my friend's throwing an event. Can you do a Snapchat geofilter for her? And I was like, sure. I think I charged her like $20.

[00:42:24] Got it done. And I was like... When it went up, and I was like, oh, this is fly. It just started to build from there. And I was like, oh, yeah, you're about to make this a thing. And I made it a thing. Like, it was... I'll never forget me. So, she's always been my... He was always my first client. After college. And I was always grateful for those two, for putting me in that position and get that done. Yep. I remember I was charging $20. Well, but... Okay, okay. But you made it work, right? Yeah. So, okay.

[00:42:53] Then I'm going to ask, based off of quantity saying we're building on our foundation. What was the switch to $20 to $250? What was that? What was that switch? I don't got to be as drastic as it was. Yeah, no, but I'm saying that switch where you realize, okay, I have to... As my work goes up, the price has to match. So, there was a shout out to my friend Kim. Kim Chung. She had sold my price list. I think I had posted it. And she DMed me. Take this down.

[00:43:22] She said, take this down, nigga. She didn't say nigga, but... But she was like... She was like, these prices are terrible. Kojo, you should be making... And I'm over there like, no, but... Shut up. That's literally... And once she had that talk with me, I was like, you know what? What's the worst that could happen? That you're just going to say no. And that was the switch. Because I knew that the... She knew that the quality of work was where it was at.

[00:43:50] But I'm over here trying to appease people. Brokeys? You know what I'm saying? So, it was like, yo, you want to stay here or you want to go where you belong? And from there, I just gradually started saying, all right, boom. Every time of the year, I'm moving up. I'm going to keep letting y'all know. Or, if the work just does what it needs to do, y'all just going to have to... You know what I mean? So now, I still... I got it to a point where everybody is satisfied a bit. But I'm not taking no L's.

[00:44:19] So, even if I don't get any work for a little while, I'm still situated and I'm all right. So... Oh, okay, okay. And I got a job, so I'm cool. Love you. Juan, when did you find yourself? You figured out this is who you wanted to be. 25. So, I was approaching three years ago. Yeah. So, really, when I stepped into this entrepreneurial role and I fully had to, like... Lock the fuck in? Yeah. Lock in, do everything by myself. Yeah. You didn't have to. To a certain... Well, to a certain degree. Yeah.

[00:44:49] Yeah. Do everything by myself and really figure out what it is that I want to do, who I want to be, and kind of lock in and really figure that out. Because I wasn't... I didn't plan to go back to corporate. So, I had to figure out how to make money. And I want a family one day, so I had to figure out how I'm going to get that. And then it was just a trickle-down effect of who I wanted to be. And I started looking back on who I was. I wasn't as confident. I wasn't as, like, secure in myself.

[00:45:18] And I really know what exactly I wanted to do or who I wanted to be. That's why I think I was a people pleaser for a little bit. And I couldn't give a fuck less. Because we all have shit going on. I have a lot of shit going on. Everybody has shit going on. And so, I think I just look at things differently now. And I have a clear path on who I want to be, who I want to be with, where I want to be in a couple years. And how to maneuver through it. And everything else is just noise, pretty much.

[00:45:46] Sometimes it's good to listen to the noise and just see what's going on. But you just got to keep your head clear and know what you want to do. And I also remind myself a lot. I have two phones. So, it's a lot of reminders. There's a lot of, I have, like, this motivational shit on my phone that I look at. I, like, breathe more, worry less than nincompoop. I have a word. I try to learn different words. I just try to, like, just be better. Just be a better person. Be a better man.

[00:46:14] Be the man that I want to look up one day and be like, oh, nah, he's, he's him. So, you always stay focused by just thinking of the future? Pretty much, yeah. Not wasting time. I see a lot of people, I see a lot of people, they get older and it's just like, I wish I did this or I should have done that. And it's like, I just never want to be that person. I don't know what happens when we die. So, this is it. I need to lock in and get it together.

[00:46:42] So, I don't really have time to waste. And I think that clicked in when I turned 25. I don't know, I think that's when they say your frontal lobe develops or whatever. Yeah, it's really when I locked in and just, like, that no one's coming to save you mentality. It's like, nah, yeah, for real. People say that a lot. Well, who's really coming to save you for real? You gotta, and who's coming to save you if you're not saving yourself? I don't remember. I think that's it. Yeah, somebody said that. I posted it now. I'm in the video there.

[00:47:08] But yeah, it's like, do y'all really feel like nobody's coming to save you? Bro, you want to be healthy and fit in the future? Who's coming to save you to get you in the gym? If you're not going, who's bringing you to the gym? You have to go get it. Who's dragging you? Are you physically getting somebody and going to the gym? Let me ask the question. Okay, go ahead. I was going to say something. Does anybody know that you need saving? No. Because I feel like people who say, like, nobody's going to save you because they don't know you need saving.

[00:47:38] And another thing is, I'll speak to Joe. I'll speak to Joe. Yeah, you put in, as long as you put in the work, you weren't saved, but you were helped. When you apply for the job, you hit your peoples up, right? And it just puts you on. I'm not saying niggas. What don't you hit me up? Even if. Nick, did he save you? You wouldn't say he saved you. I do. He don't want that, though. He don't want that credit. He said, nah, man, it's you. But you put in the work to be helped, though. You see how that hurt? Somebody got to take it, bro.

[00:48:08] But that's what I'm saying. I feel like, yes, in theory, nobody's coming to save you. Batman ain't jumping out the sky and coming in to break in and break up the fight and save you. But if somebody knows in your circle that you need savings, they may. So here's the thing. I think that what was done in my case wasn't, I wasn't sitting back like, I'm operating as if somebody's going to come and save me. Okay, so you're not who I'm talking about. I got lucky. So you're not who I'm talking about. People are back.

[00:48:38] People are going to sit on their ass and just like, oh. I got lucky. Your preparation. No, my preparation is fine. It met opportunity. And then you're good. No, yes. Yes. Preparation. Preparation. What was it? You was ready plus opportunity. Am I not lucky that Matt saw Chris post what he posted and said, I should send this to Joe? To a certain degree, yes. Are we saying luck or timing? Because you didn't just meet Matt. Yeah, I've known Matt for years. Exactly.

[00:49:08] So the opportunity of Matt putting, not putting you in a position, but recommending your work. That all those years of Matt watching you work, doing your solo thing, made him confident to go to his boss or whoever and say, yo, Ted Postal, I know exactly who you should hire.

[00:49:28] That's timing of all those years of whenever Matt met you, to see you make all the works that you've done throughout Tear, Asylum, yourself. That was enough timing that he got proof of concept. Yo, I know somebody who's creative enough to take this reign. So that's what Matt did come out the sky to save you? No, but hey. Yo, you still looking for a job? Yo, I got a spot. Pull up.

[00:49:57] The luck was maybe me looking at my phone while I was on D&D. Yo, I noticed that about you. It was one of the nights where I... What's up with you in this D&D? That's not your bag, bro. He's got to disconnect, bro. I kind of don't like this. It got to be work that you did. Nah, Kojo's doing this at like, upstruck times, bro. It'd be like... It got it. Like, sometimes I have an automatic D&D at 10 o'clock. So Kojo can put it on shit at 827. No, you manually put that shit. 737, bro, when the Knicks start. I'm telling you. Let me watch my game in peace, please, bro.

[00:50:27] That's really what it is. That's why it looks odd, because it's the random day at 730 where I'm like, yeah, we should turn this phone on. But as far as what you're saying, Kwan, you're the niggas not sitting on their ass, but somebody's going to say, I'm just going to sit here and wait. Yeah, I feel like... Yeah, no, I think I... I just wait for it. Oh my God. What I was saying? No. I'm in the point. Yeah, I think what I realized was, I guess no one was coming to save me because I am an able-bodied man. I can go work.

[00:50:55] I can go do all these things that I need to help myself. So no one is coming to save me. Like, there's no one's looking at me and saying, yo, nigga, you get it? Like, yo, nigga. Nah, someone's looking at me like, why are you not on your shit? So no one... That's the way that I was saying. Like, no one's coming to... Kind of look at the person who's going to save somebody. It's kind of funny, too. Why are you doing that? Let that nigga work. Maybe that makes them feel better about themselves. Let that nigga work. That's the savior complex. Yeah. It's the savior complex.

[00:51:23] The guy that plots on the girl. The long game. The long game, yeah. Because some people love that praise. It's like, oh, I can't... Yo, shout out to this person, Averly. I got that ring. Oh, shout out to this person, Averly. Help me out when I was low. I hate those things, bro. When that nigga help you with some shit, all of a sudden, that nigga helped you with everything in your life. I made them the man they are today. Like, man, that's what they're looking for. Nigga wouldn't be there if it wasn't for me. We was talking about that, too. So, like... That's nasty work. Yeah. That's nasty work. You want to be celebrated for something.

[00:51:53] Yeah, you ain't do nothing. You want a participation trophy. Right. Yeah, like, you was a PA on a set, and now you act like you was the director. It's kind of crazy. That's not fair. Because a PA played a role. No, no. But, yeah, say what you did. If you went to get coffee and that's what you did, cool. Damn. Yeah, nigga, don't say... Hey, don't say you could have seen all that shit. Don't say... Don't drag it now. Don't drag it. Say what you did. If you went to get crappy, you went to get crappy. Yeah, say what you did. You were in the fucking AC, bro.

[00:52:22] Don't say he was handling the fucking camera and all this shit. All you did was just... All you did was just this? Like, don't... That's what it's called? Yeah, you slayed it and you got out of there. Thank you. But you did not conceptualize this, bro. A question on... For the last question. What do y'all need from the people around you to maintain who you are? I think we just... For me, honestly. Honestly? Oh, yeah. We just discussed that. Well, you said you just need support? Just need support.

[00:52:52] Just blanket support. As long as I know that I am supported, I'm going to do the rest. All right. I'm going to do the rest. If I feel like niggas is hating... Hating is... So what... Hold on now. Hating is a... Hating is a... Hating is a... No, hating is subjective. No, no, no. What if you do some whack shit and niggas say, yo, Kojo... No, no, no, no. That's not what I mean. I'm like, that's honest. But you might take it as hate. You're right. You might take it as hate. I don't mean that part. If I do some whack shit, tell me. I'm saying if you know that shit not whack and you're not supporting, you hating.

[00:53:22] That's what I mean. That's what I mean. If the shit is whack, by all means, find a way to say it to me. You got better work through this to say something. Yeah, you can say that. What if the nigga feel like you hating off rip just by even thinking the shit whack? It's all about approach. I know when it's coming from a place of love. If you have no intentions, if you get no gain from telling me how bad something I did is, by all means, yo, and come with the facts. Don't be blind here. Come with the facts. But let a nigga know.

[00:53:52] Let's say you put out a shirt or something. Yeah, let's say something in your new collection, right? Yeah, shit ass. You know I buy everything. So let's say something in a new collection. I'm probably gonna see his ass, bro. No, no, no. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. To me, because Quai doesn't want to fight it. Hopefully, Quai doesn't see it as damn. Joe does kind of have everything in the collection. If he skipped his, is that shit ass? Would you hit me on the side like, yo, bro, what you felt about that? None. You wouldn't? You would just ignore it. I wouldn't think anything of it because you buy what you like. You buy what you like. You don't fuck with me.

[00:54:24] Quai would have probably said maybe his check was short. Yeah. Oh, my God. He would have found a shit. Yeah. I don't think that's the first thing. He not gonna think about it. Damn, my shit whack? Shit. Nah, that's the last thing I probably think about. I can see that, though. I can see that. What? Quani saying that? No, I can see Kojo's story. Like, if Kojo literally bought everything in Quani's collection and there was a one particular fashion piece that Kojo didn't elect to buy, I can see Kojo thinking, oh, Quani may

[00:54:52] not think I like this too much or fond of this or maybe I have this. He's done this too many times or whatever, whatever. So, I could get it. I mean, I couldn't get every jacket. I would think this. Before I think you don't like something or whatever, I probably just think like, oh, you probably have something like this already. Yeah. You probably, like, yeah. Yeah. Honestly, I think it was the money thing. Like, I wanted the Loverboy jacket. I couldn't get it just because his finances around the time. Yeah. I just got the Union jacket. I don't know why I didn't get it before. Which one's Union jacket? The one you have. The one you got. You got the one.

[00:55:21] I wore it one top. I'm like, oh, it's flying off on the practice. I swear to God, bro. Thank you. I was wearing my Dream Club jacket all day one. Everybody was commenting to me because it was cold as hell in Jolene for some reason. I had to keep my jacket on, but they was commenting to me on a jacket too. I'm like, yeah, my boy's brain. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, man. I'll wait. Yeah. New collection, please. Hurry up. Thanks. I'm so interested in this who can save you concept, bro. Uh-oh. Because I just figured like, yo, a lot of people are suffering in silence.

[00:55:51] Don't say it. With that same mindset. Like, yo, nobody's going to come and save you. It's true. Yo, if you hungry, say you hungry. I might have something in the fridge. Don't. Yo, I don't want to be like, yo, LA, I'm starving. I told Cojo all the time, yo, you tell me you cold. You can't be sitting in my crib cold all the time and not say anything and then be like, man, just tell me close the window. You freeze it for no reason. I say it on the way out. Like, yo, turn the fucking heat on. Yo, it was mad cold. Yo, it was mad cold.

[00:56:20] Yo, tell me I closed the window. Yeah. I don't know. I'm on a side of you. You got to figure it out. Just got to figure that shit out. You got to figure it out. Figure something out. But what if we in? What if, yeah, what if the people that are placed in your life are there to help you figure it out? That's a part of figuring it out. I feel like if you're not. But that's the thing. All right. So my thing is, I'm using my resources. I'm not going to be the nigga that's not asking questions. Oh, okay. Okay.

[00:56:46] If you literally just like, just not saying shit, like you're doing yourself a detriment. Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. Yeah. I think some of us are my fault. I think when we say, yo, I don't want nobody, nobody's coming to save you. I think we looking at shit as like, yo, shit's a handout. Yo, bro. I'll take a hand. Yo, let me tell you something. Let me tell you something right now. No, no, no, no. I wouldn't take it. I wouldn't take the handout. I'm just saying. Let me tell you something right now. I'm doing it. I don't care how successful I am in life. You don't have that career.

[00:57:16] If you are willing to help me get more successful, I am not going to be so prideful to say, nah, I'm going to struggle to get the fuck out of here. Matter of fact, I was waiting for you, brother. I was waiting for you. Yo, if somebody's like, yo, I got this gig. I want to invest. Nah, we're going to get it out the money. Nigga, let me get it out the grass. The concrete. Let me get the Rolls Royce. Let me get out the sand. Yeah, come on. Yo, yo, you know what? You was like a son to me.

[00:57:46] I don't even drive these cars anymore. Pick whatever one you want. Nigga, Drew was like, hold on these cars, nigga. Nigga, you think I'd be like, nah, because my dad. Nigga, I'm so bad. Nigga, my dad was an electrician, nigga. We don't do all that. So if you're fucking. I'm a Caribbean man. Some of the cook niggas. So if your fucking dad has all this shit for you, you're going to pick the struggle with some other shit. Nigga, I got it laid out. Why would you go pick something else? He backed the legacy. Wait, wait, wait. I thought you were going to go there. Why would you.

[00:58:15] I'm going to get it out the. Nigga, you have this. Time out, time out, time out. We can talk about Tommy Hilfiger because he's an example. Yeah. That's a great callback.

[00:58:43] But our thing was just supporting what they want to do versus them wanting to do whatever. So my, what I was saying is if somebody is going to help me. Invest in what I'm doing. What I'm doing. Push me up on what you're doing. So like, say you got it. Say you got it. Matter of fact, your first Sunday gig. You asked me to do it. I'm not going to say, yo, I had no experience in blah, blah, blah. In fashion storytelling. Nah, I'm going to wait until I get a little.

[00:59:12] No, I'm going to take the opportunity. My mans gave me an opportunity. We late. We did. Boom. Now, if he was like, yo, LA, I want you to do this fashion shit with me because I got this all laid out for you and I don't care about fashion. I'm not going to do it because I'm not going to be, I'm going to suffer. Now, where you come along is, this is your seed. This is your legacy. This is what, this is a part of the reason why you're doing this. Well, before you go on, what you said, if someone's willing to, I get what you're

[00:59:41] saying, but I guess I'm looking at it as this is something that's going, that is going to elevate your life. You might not see it and you might not care for it because you don't see it, but just look and try it and you might, you might can go do whatever you want to do, but you might need some funds for it and this might set you up so you can go do that. Like, I think, yeah. So, by me, it's no, it's no right or wrong answer, but it's, there's different ways of going about it. But yeah, that's, but the Tommy deal, bro, that nigga looks, bro. Yeah, that, he looks crazy.

[01:00:11] If that was my, bro, I don't even know. So, the, um, is his name Ricky, is his name Ricky Hilfiger or something like that? Yeah, I think that's his name. Ricky Hilfiger, yeah, he was on a, it was on a, I think, No Jumper or something. Back on Fig or something like that. Oh, not back on Fig, that's good. Yeah, back on Fig. Yeah, he was on, uh, back on Fig. I saw it on TikTok. It was a clip. Um, they were asking him specifically what we were talking about. Um, that certain people expect you to go in the route of fashion and clothing because

[01:00:40] your dad is Tommy fucking Hilfiger. One of the goats. The nigga said, no, he's not even a nigga. The guy said, the guy said, no, I wanted to be a rapper. He's tatted, he's bald, he's tatted everywhere, he has a couple mixtapes. Never heard of him. Never even knew Tommy Hilfiger had a son. Much less a rapper son. Tommy did a good job. He didn't suppress that shit to the ground. Yeah, so it's like, I just, I couldn't stop watching the video, bro.

[01:01:08] And it's like, and then people in the comments were like, yeah, good for him, do whatever you want, but then some people were on, on the side that I was thinking about. But, and then I talked to people about it after and they were like, oh, that's kind of how it goes. Generation of wealth typically like leaves a family within like the first couple of generations because the people, they don't. It's usually the first generation. The first, yeah, they don't want to. Yeah, like, bro, imagine you hit a lick. We don't have to go back into it. But imagine you hit a lick in your lifetime and it doesn't get continued. That's tough. That's so tough. It's crazy. That's crazy. I mean.

[01:01:37] That's what they always talk about. There's somebody who, like, they're financial advisors who believe in two theories. Sell grandma house, do not sell grandma house. That's always the fine line in like generational wealth. But there's pros to both, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So it's got to be kind of what works best for the individuals. Whoever inherits it. Yeah, yeah. But that inheritance dictates the next generation. Yeah, so you always have to be thinking about the future.

[01:02:07] So grandma left the house for your mom. Now it's Kojo's house. Kojo can change his whole dazzy dynamic with two choices. Sell grandma house or keep grandma house. If you sell that shit and don't make some shit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You just fucked up the whole family. You just fucked up the whole family trajectory. But it's possible that I could do well. It is possible. It's possible that you take grandma house and you buy two houses.

[01:02:36] And one house is just, you know, you lose the family lineage of this was the Dazzy house. But you created a real estate investment. Now what's the con of keeping the grandma house? The upkeep. The upkeep. You might not have the capital gains. The taxes. The neighborhood that you don't want to live in. Maybe bad memories in there. Right, right. The family discrepancy of why Kojo got that house and the other two didn't. So that's more emotional distress right there. Yeah, yeah.

[01:03:05] But it's still the choice. Yeah. It's still the choice. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's still the choice. But at that point, everybody would have to be thinking about the future of the family. The future, yeah. So emotions are out of this. It's not why. Yeah. This is like, yo, what is. Best for us. Is this the house that I want little Kojo Jr. or Jalen to live in? If not, I'm going to sell this house. Especially if the house is paid off. Oh, nigga.

[01:03:35] That is even the hardest. Because that's a lot of money coming in. Lick. So now it's like, yo, am I prepared for this new wealth? Trying to do that on FanDuel. Now imagine. Let's say you're responsible. You take like, you try to make three mega hits off of the grandma's house money. And they all bomb off for the last play. Like Jalen Brown needed one rebound for you to turn that 50,000 into 6.28 million. Yeah. This may piss me off.

[01:04:05] We've all seen that before. And then you trick it off. And now the whole Dazzy legacy starts back at zero because you blew the bag. Because I'm on FanDuel. Oh, you're responsible. You did some dumb shit. Because I'm responsible for some dumb shit on FanDuel. You put a private jet to go from New York to fucking Boston. Yeah. Like, you just go crazy. So yeah, that pressure is tough. So yeah, there's always an interesting like... Life is crazy, bro. Life is so nuanced. There's really no... The reason why I was not lying.

[01:04:34] The perfection of life is decision making. Like, if you're a great decision maker, you may not always hit. But if you make the right choices off of like your morals, principles, and like judgment, good faith, and all of that, it ain't gonna... I ain't gonna say it's gonna work out every time. Yeah, it won't. It won't. But you may hit more times than you miss. It won't work, but you will hit. Right? But when you make poor decisions, you're impulsive, you're indecisive, you're... Oh yeah, that's a good question. Is it better to be curious or concrete? Like, I'm concrete in my decision making.

[01:05:04] Well, I'm curious, so I wanna try to think and figure it out. If you're the right kind of curious, it might be better. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It could take you further. Yeah, cause my... What do you think y'all are? I'm concrete. When someone asks you a question, do you think I have to... Let me think real quick. Or do you think it's like... Nah, I know this. Yeah. Nah, nah, yeah. I'm concrete. It depends. I'll lean more into... Well, yeah, it depends. But what side do you lean more on? More concrete? Yeah, yeah. But curiosity... I want... It depends.

[01:05:30] My curiosity is purely fueled off of like... The positive outcome of it. Okay. Like, oh, this can really... Like, my curiosity is never going to kill the cat for me. Because I'm not gonna do some dumb shit. Like, some shit that will... Yo, why L.A. do that? Yeah. He was curious. He was too curious. Nah, I'm never gonna trick off because I was curious, right? My curiosity may be off of my imagination. Like, yo, let me be...

[01:05:59] But it's funny you ask that. One of my favorite books growing up was Curious George. Because I loved hearing how brave he was. To do all these things. It was bravery. Yo, you gotta write this book, bro. Because your life is crazy. Yeah, I loved Curious George as a kid. That was my favorite, like, favorite stories. Because it's... To me, it breeded confidence and, like, fearlessness. And, yeah, there's some actions based off of an unknown. But, you know, it never really killed him. I feel like with us being creators, we all gotta be curious, though. Yeah.

[01:06:28] Like, everything's not gonna be concrete, bro. Like, yes, we're gonna be positive when we're doing it. But we have to be curious. Like, yo, bro, maybe this shit's gonna work out. Yo, no, facts. Yeah. Some of my concreteness is in the curiosity. Some of my best work is shit I did by accident, bro. I promise you. Luck. You'll be like... Yo, yo, yo, be like, oh, this nigga Joe nice. I'm like, nigga, I don't even know how I did that shit. I don't know if I can do it again, actually. I don't really know what's wrong. You know what I'm just doing? I'm gonna be honest with you. Like, yeah, I mean, the curiosity got me there. Shit just worked in my favor that time.

[01:06:55] Like, it could be as simple as a blending mode that I just went to by accident. I'm like, oh, that shit worked. I think so. I put those passing at 75. You know what? Yeah, we gonna keep it here. I'm not touching this no more. Like, it could be something as simple as that. But I don't have to reveal that to everybody. I worked long enough and hard enough to get to a point where luck could come my way and do that. That's how I feel. You know what I'm saying? So, yeah, that's thick. I agree, too. Somebody asked me, like, what's the pros and cons about you? And I was like, you know what? That's a great question. I'm like, yo, one of the best things about me is my imagination.

[01:07:25] Because when I let it go wild, but I don't stop it to the point where, like, you should try edible, bro. Let me see it. I want to one of these things. You did ass? Matter of fact, that will be glorious. Crazy as it sounds. This is Patreon, right? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And we're in the real world. Next time. It was a situation where. Your leg will be sweating. Cam was like, Cam was like, yo, next time you come. Because we went to. I told you when we went to, like, this apple store. But it was like a weed spot. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[01:07:52] I was like, yo, this is crazy. So him and his wife. The high end. The high end. Popped some edibles. And they was like, yo, LA, you want to try one? I was like, hell no. They was like, yo, next time you come. Don't recall. We're going to have a chill day. Make sure you're safe with us. And just try it. Damn, next time never happened. Yeah. Damn, man. That thing is really family, though. I was actually open to trying the edible. You felt safe. Yeah. Don't fuck with us. I got a couple years in the game now. But for me, for me, it was lying. I'm lying like shit.

[01:08:21] I'm not taking edibles with Joe again. My night ended right there. My night. I sat on my steps for two hours. That's why I'm going to my bed. We're going to do some crack. Why are we not doing crack? We're going to do some crack. That nigga's true. You with it? Dang. Dang. As long as he can bounce back. Nigga, they ain't going to sell a crib. That's the curiosity? I'm not fucking curious to try crack. I've always had this question.

[01:08:51] If y'all could try any drug and you will be okay the next day, you won't even remember that you did it. I go all the way in. It's crack. Same. Nigga, I'm doing everything. Wait, wait. You said one, though. Matter of fact, whatever you want. It's just one day. I can go on a whole binge. Whatever you want. Do whatever you want all day. What's the first thing you're doing? Crack, nigga. No, what's that shit Mike Tyson talk about? LSD. LSD. The Toad. The Toad. Yeah, that shit that you got to go in the deepest. I might end my night with that. The deepest end. I'm waking up 8 a.m. You going in the deeps of the jungle.

[01:09:21] You got to find the Toad. I'll start with shrooms because I hear a lot of good things about it. I'm going to do a play-lou. But crack. They don't make those up. I don't know. Nigga, I'm back. Nigga, I'm going to find one thing about me. I love Wolf of Wall Street. I think you're going to find the last one in Bill Cosby's pocket. If I could return to form, I need crack, bro. You want to see what it's about? It got to be the top of the room.

[01:09:52] You really have a love for cracking. Think about what it's done to our neighborhood, bro. That's how you want to try it? Nah, you be seeing niggas, bro. You be like, nah, that shit got to be some shit, bro. It got to be some... Like, niggas' legs a little ashy. Niggas don't give a fuck about nothing. Nah, what's the drug? Would it make them niggas freeze in the middle of the road? That'd be the heroin, bro. Heroin. Dolfo. I don't know any J-Rod talking about it. Dolfo. That what? This nigga, niggas don't want dope clown on the floor.

[01:10:22] That heroin lean? Like, yo, y'all niggas thought y'all was scared of the Barclays? The heroin lean is crazy. You go to Harlem. You go to Harlem, niggas. The drool is slow motion. They don't fall. They don't fall at all. They don't fall, bro. Bro, they don't fall, though. They could... Bro, they leaning, bro. They leaning. They don't fall. That Mike Jack lean, bro. I seen him. Yeah, bro. I seen him on the other day. He's on a scooter. On the scooter leaning? On the scooter leaning, bro. Was it moving? No. Oh, God. They don't feel skillful, bro.

[01:10:53] You know what you mean? You used to do the scooter. You freeze and do that Willie trick? The lead forward? The nigga was mid-trick? Yeah. Bro, it's not. Don't judge me, guys. Sorry. I think I would take everybody. I think I'd take the toe. So my nigga's going to go to the old Joe. I want the highest of high. What is a... Huh? Yeah. Oh, on the car. Oh, yeah. You want to be right there? I want to be right there. I feel it like that. The ultimate out-of-body experience. Yeah, bro.

[01:11:23] I've been so high with the walk out there. I'm good. I think these niggas just smoke sour. Hold on. That sour shit? You thought you about to die. I'm like, I was like, I thought we'd go in there with the... With the drug addiction of Kojo. Yo. It's so with Don Peasley, man. It's crack-free LA. This is the real world quantity. I want to hit Joe. Nigga, Joe. I want to hit Joe. Nigga, Joe. Joe. You guys see you guys going to Joe.

[01:11:53] Kojo Biggums. Y'all know. Y'all know I'm right. No, we don't. I'm very concrete in this. Nigga, I watched a video. The nigga was like a NASA astronaut lead or whatever. And he fucked his life up on crack. I thought he was a functioning crack addict. Nah, he was. No, the video I watched, he was functioning. Functioning crack addict. I want to try to think about the drug addicts that we've seen in the industry. I think it's making some fire-ass music.

[01:12:22] Like the Billie Holiday's. The Whitney Houston. Bobby Brown's the... Yeah, you're right. Ray was on the crack? Ray Charles was on crack? I don't know if it was crack, was it? He could see? Heroin, heroine. James Brown's the... Richard Pryor. Yeah, he was on that. Stevie never did that, right? Nah, I think Stevie was... Stevie was... I don't know. Stevie was clean? I think Stevie was pretty good. Damn, imagine what Stevie would've done if it was crack. Imagine what Stevie could've done if it was crack. We not doing this skill because maybe we're going to get mad curious.

[01:12:52] I literally cannot say what I'm saying. Yeah, I'm good. I'm good. I don't know. Yo, Patreon 10, $50. Kojo tries crack on that. I'm not going to lie. That niggas pay for two. No! And then get Joe like this after that shit. I need more. Keep going. Keep going. Honestly... I'm fast and get through a design. Joe on his go got crack. Joe got crack. Joe got crack. Crap! All right, man. Till next time, man. I'm done. God is the greatest. Hold on. God is the greatest.