Transcript
Speaker: it It do be a lot of pride and a lot of ego. So like, even though it be community, it do be a lot competition. You feel me? And I'm a listener. I really listen to what you're saying in your music. Pay attention to how you give a handshake, your energy when I come around or other artists come around. rubbie it It be competition in it. It be all of that there. It's just...
Speaker: May the best man win. I see you at the top. like it's really It's really that simple. yeah It's really that simple. And I don't think... I think artists sometimes... some Some may say me. Some may not.
Speaker: We in their own way of just... Wanting... nobody want nobody else to eat you feel me that's the like you feel me you don't got to be famous to eat it's a lot of more reserve artists the currencies the dom kennedys the smoke dizzards like that aren't super super mainstream that got more money than some of these mainstream artists so it's like a matter of do you want to do you want to be recognized for your skill and your talent and the work you put in
Speaker: or do you just want the vanity and the glitz? Like you feel me? Like this thing, he always said, oh you want the vanity. I could see it now. I was going to be just like the vanity, all of that cool. But for me, I really just want to be remembered for what I did. Like I want when somebody listen to my music, it'd be like as a fan and embrace and be like, I fuck with that.
Speaker: And then when they go through what I've went through or something similar, it'd be like it could register with them. You feel me? That's impact. That's real impact. And something told Cole when was talking. I'm like, yo, like you nice to me. Like you feel me?
Speaker: But then as I got older and started going through certain shit and heard certain songs again, and it registered even more, it changes it. like So for me, that's what I want to be able to do to somebody else.
Speaker: What's good, everyone? Welcome back to My First Kicks, the podcast where I use sneakers as a through line to get to know my guest in front of me. This week, I am joined by Really J-Won. What's up? Yo, man. Appreciate you having me. Nah, man. mean, you hit me up. You like, yo, it's time. And was like, yeah, it is. Let's do it. Let's rock out. Nah, man. I mean, one thing I definitely got to say is I love your Twitter, bro. I appreciate that. You know, you recently went, like, I guess you, would you say that's viral? Well, you was talking about the Nolan Wells thing.
Speaker: Right? Like Yeah Probably Yeah My tweets be going viral I don't even be looking Like Nah I just be like Alright I tweet And then I be like Alright That one's numbers Or that one's Good They left that alone Nah yeah Your Twitter's fire bro Like Nah You shit I be going I be having a lot of pushback Because of my Twitter But that's what it is for though Like I feel like We not there to just be like, yeah, he right, and then just keep moving. Everybody's there to just be like kind of arguing. That's like my third Twitter. I had a Twitter when Twitter first came out. huh
Speaker: Then I had another one. I deleted that like when I got to, when I was on my way to college. That's my third Twitter. I made this one. In college, I think. In college or like a little after college.
Speaker: My third Twitter, but... Twitter's a crazy place. Nah, but I think you definitely like... I think that like being opinionated and like saying things, not on some like...
Speaker: i'm um real I'm right. You're wrong. Yeah, type of shit. is that That's what I really like about your Twitter because you're really there to kind of have conversations. be having conversations with myself. That too, yeah. That be the crazy part. I tweet for myself. now You feel me? Just like put my throat out there.
Speaker: I don't got a journal or nothing. Then here go motherfuckers. Bro, like, I just I didn't care to talk about this with you, bro. This was for me. Well, look, sometimes people take that the wrong way. Because I'll be like... They think a tweet is an opening of conversation. I didn't care about your opinion. I mean, to me, I think tweeting is like yelling in the hallway.
Speaker: It could be. You know? It's like you throwing it out there and be like, if somebody responds, if not, it just echoes back to you. No, but sometimes it'll be like think it's that just that did that like, I look at it like this, right?
Speaker: I ain't gonna respond to you. Right. ah Like, I feel like you could dictate when you should be responding to somebody versus when somebody's making a statement. Like, you get what saying? Like, I ain't gonna respond to you off a tweet you make. Like, oh, I like...
Speaker: I'm give example. Khakis is my favorite pair of pants to wear. Like they just something that you could do on dressed up or dressed down. You feel me? You just tweet that, right? right yeah I'm not gonna come up under niggas sweatpants. Bro, like that's it. Like what are we doing here? Like motherfuckers that really come at you. Like bro, I'm talking about... Like this wasn't I didn't ask your opinion. I clearly stated what my opinion was. Yeah. And this is the facts of my life, not of the world. Right. It's my opinion and the facts to my life. Yeah.
Speaker: I mean, I agree with that. I think that's like if you're tweeting from that aspect, but it is is like it like it opens this door. People are just like, nah, I got to come back at you because it's like you stay now. Now you're encroaching on my field.
Speaker: did But you don't even be approaching on that field. Like you be in your own little world. And then it be people that don't even follow you. yeah That's part the world. be bro, how do you even...
Speaker: How'd we get here? yeah I hope you've been enjoying this week's episode with Jaywon. And of course, do not forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment if you're watching this on YouTube. If you're listening to this on Apple or Spotify or wherever you get your audio podcasts, please do not forget to leave a review and rate this episode five stars or rate the podcast five stars. And of course, if you want to get episodes a day early, if you want to get some inside information, on the next guest or, you know, help build this community around My First Kicks, sign up for the Patreon, patreon.com slash myfirstkicks. I have one tier, and it's only $5 a month, $5. So let's jump back into the episode. um But you're here to answer the question that I ask everybody each week, and that question is, what's your first kicks with that first pair of sneakers you absolutely needed to have?
Speaker: First pair sneakers I absolutely needed to have?
Speaker: I mean, I've been like a sneaker since a young kid, like since I was a toddler. But ah sneaker that I absolutely needed to have. It could be a sneaker I never even had before. I mean, yes, people have said that too.
Speaker: Cherry Red 17s. Oh, man. I can't believe you. 17s, Cherry Red 17s. 17s, my one. Five, eights, and 17s, my favorite Jordan. Really? Yeah.
Speaker: I've had a couple people pull up with the 8s, like saying eights was their first pair. But like, no, you're first 17. I mean, but like, did you get them eventually? Nah, I'm Fire Reds. I'm still looking for those. You gotta got to get them, bro. I need those. Better hit them with Bakari. are my favorite sneakers, 5'8", and 17s. I done had three paired of off-white 5s already. I love that shoe. I done had three paired of them. That's the off-white I think Because I did a top 5 list That's definitely a perfect sneaker Yeah I think it's just it's Like you could dress it up You could dress it down You just throw it on Like Yeah That's I love that shit That is the sneaker I love that shit What is a pair that you actually End up getting? A pair that I actually End up getting in ah oat That I definitely Needed in my closet
Speaker: It ain't no sneaker that I wanted. to like like Those is like real holy grails. That's hard to find. 05 or 06 Easter Air Force Ones still ain't get my hands on none of those. Didn't they come back out again? Nah, they came back with the linens. I got my hands on the linens. Those used to be a sneaker like that.
Speaker: oh What else? What else? It's really like... It'd probably be different Air Force Ones. Yeah. So like... um
Speaker: the all-star joints with the stars all the way around oh yeah what's the 03 or something like that 03 all-star air force ones um I need to get my hands on the um the kate the battlegrounds night battlegrounds I don't think I know which ones are those you're gonna have to yeah you're gonna have to pull that up because like um when I'm thinking battlegrounds I'm thinking like I'm trying to is it it's not the was that a that was a that was an all-star joint like I came out around all-star time Because that one is like, umve no I don't think I know that one. I'll show you right here.
Speaker: When show you this, you'll like, yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Those are the Hyper... Yeah, Flight Posit 3s. The Kevin Garnetts. yeah I want those so bad. Those need to come back out, bro. Next year. Next year. I know. I'm on those. White on Rice. I'm on those. I mean, every time, because when I was growing up, when those came out,
Speaker: all All my friends used to hoop in those And I ended up getting the flight posits The hyper flights I mean instead And so s silver was a john mil just wells is crazy I crazy I messaged Nick DePaulo like yo those is crazy I need those Hopefully you get them If he watching this I need them too I need a size need a 9.5 i need a nine and a half I need the, but I also want the slam joints and the slam joints are coming out. The orange ones? Yeah. Too bright for them. just seen the cherry red ones though the other day. I might get them. The flight positive. Yeah. Hyper positive threes. I wanted the, when last ah All-Star, they did the hyper flights in purple. J-Well purple.
Speaker: um Clean. i need that silver. I mean, you just got the, you just got the 16s. Yeah, i did get the 16s. I wore those i wo was the very next day at 2. 16s is right. Those are beautiful. I might never wear them again as an outfit. I might just throw them on with some sweats or something, but me putting an outfit together with it, it's over. It's over? Yeah, I did that already. You got the fit off? Yeah. When you was growing up, though, you talked about love and sneakers since you was young. How did that find you?
Speaker: Um, when I was younger, like when I was a kid, as I got older, like three, four, my mom's had a comforter bag that your comforter come in and with all my baby sneakers from when I was a kid. Yeah. Like she just had all of them in there, but just all of her sneakers is, so I was born in 96. My aunt, like 16 years older than or something like that. with all her friends. Like, she come from the era when niggas was wearing North Face, steep tags, jerseys. Like, she come from that era. Like, you feel me? So growing up, I just always see, like, her friends or, like, my pops in them, the flight posits, certain kicks. Like, it's just, like, I wanted those 17s. Like, it's just couldn't get them. So it's just always, like, once I get older, they get my own money, I'm getting them. away I'm getting them. that I mean, like, this year was my first time ever having a pair True Blues. Oh, really? Like, ever.
Speaker: I mean, that was such a classic shoe, bro. Ever. All three of those colorways. Black cement, the best ones. Black cement, definitely number one. But actually, because for me for me, I used to be super into Nike SB so much that I never bought Jordans.
Speaker: And then until the Fire Red 3s came out, then that just broke me after that. Black cement. but Black cement, yeah. Black cement's classic. And white cement. Black cement I mean black cement's number one Black cement It's only the black cement Only the black cement That's it I mean but then yeah True blues like blues Cause the white ones is trash Once they get a little dirty or something Black cement threes it But gotta wear your kicks man Oh yeah I wear I don't give a fuck about sneakers Like I love sneakers at the same time don't give a fuck about sneakers Nah yeah you gotta put it on Cause a lot of people just keep them up in the closet I get on dirt bike and a fresh pair sneakers Like just come out Oh shit getting on a bike Fuck it
Speaker: mean, look, you come from basically like a sneaker legacy. So you've seen it around you all the time. So it's just like, how did it, how did, like, did were you always just like, yo, I got to get those or, you know, you know, was it like passed down? Oh, yeah.
Speaker: Nah, because there be a lot of sneakers I pass up on. Yeah. Like, a lot of people, like, I don't care for sneakers because of height. I get sneakers because I like the sneaker. Like, that's my style. Like, you what I'm saying? Like, I'm a weird act. Like, you feel me? Like these. Like, I got the whole pack of these that just came out. Yeah. out The black, the gray, the green, the Nah, those are clean.
Speaker: When I was younger, my foot was smaller. My cousin had the white and fire red ones. Always wanted them. Couldn't get them. So, it's like, once I got it, it's like, right, I know what I'm to get as I get older. Yeah. That, I mean...
Speaker: I'm not a big ups guy. Crazy. He's just dumb. But I feel like... He's just dumb. With the brick red soul. He's just dumb. Those is crazy. I like the way the the color blocking on that is fire. But like...
Speaker: The way the ups like, I mean, you grew up in Yonkers, right? So like- We call them Harlem's in Yonkers. Really? That's the first time I ever heard that. In Yonkers, we call them Harlem's. I need a fresh pair of Harlem's. I've i've never i've never heard that. That's crazy. I'm lying. it Carl?
Speaker: Carl. I'm lying.
Speaker: Am I lying? You trying to act incognito. Yeah. but So I never knew that. But like, what's the sneaker scene up in in Yonkers? So we used to have a sneaker store on New Main Street called Miss Lee's. You go in and get everything. You get your Nike headband. It was like one of the mom and pop stores, Chinese people, right? But it had everything. She didn't miss a drop. Whenever the Puerto Rican Day Parade came around, yeah A few days before that, you go there, get your Air Forces with the fucking frog on them and all of that. That was where to go. And then we got another snow called the Loop. They still open. I be doing added work with them sometimes.
Speaker: You go there and get some shit too. Like, so the sneaker scene in Yonkers is really like,
Speaker: How can I say? Yonkers is a big city, but it's really the urban area of Yonkers is split between the north and the south side. So it's really a like, if you know, you know type thing. If you move around, it ain't really.
Speaker: Now everybody be trying to be on it. You feel me? I feel like it's like, I mean, a lot of the people from New York moved to up there. So you take that. You take that. No, don't even think it's that. Like, so I say for, because me and you probably in the same age, Grange. About eight years older than you. Nah, damn. Shit.
Speaker: You said 96? Yeah. Yeah, 88. damn um yeah but nah um So I say my generation, we really like the generation of like, you know, when you start seeing resellers and all that, that like feel me? Like that was the like, i used to resell on sneakers in high school, 2010, 2011, all of that. So it's like, I come from that generation of like activity. So for my generation, I say it's a big sneaker culture, but overall, like the dudes your age, a little older and all of that, it was just whatever was hot. You just knew because of the culture, like that was hot.
Speaker: That's a, it's interesting because like, I don't really get it to talk a lot about people to people who resell to. And, ah but like, you but not like in terms of just like resell stores, right? Because that became like the big thing. hate the stores. and I mean, yeah, I wanted to know your thoughts on like, you know, pulling up to that and like that transition because you, you've been buying sneakers for for so long. So just like, yeah.
Speaker: So for me it's like So like Shout out to District 1 Yeah shout out District 1 You feel Shout out to Made in Space Of Bianca's Um I to retail I'll go in sell you some shit Yeah You feel me I'll go in there and sell you some shit But I ain't really coming here to buy no sneakers. Like, if I come here to buy some sneakers, this the last resort. Yeah. Like, this is my last resort. The chance I Like, film me there you me? you feel me? I go in there or like, I just go and fucking chip away some shit that I know. Like, you feel me? Like i said, like, if I ain't gonna get, if I got the outfit off already and a pair sneakers,
Speaker: them shit's good as going are you really you really like that in one and done yeah cause i don't like having a lot of sneakers like I like from the start of this I say from we in August yeah so from like May to now I have not had A pair of sneakers that have been worn in my closet Like dave it was like I'd be at 30 pair of sneakers 30 pair unworn Like so I had to just Over the summer had to just start wearing something Get rid of it Grab something Like I don't like that Over hoardering and cluttering Where does come
Speaker: my pops has a bad sneaker problem like yeah he'll have four or five pairs of the same sneakers yeah and he's hoarding just he just got a bunch of sneakers like just in a way you know like i'm i'm anti that that's not my thing like i'm like i don't more whoop all right ain't wearing these no more let me take these i'll wait take like if you ever get danny up here from d1 or anaya i mean they'll tell you i come in here probably three four times a week yeah just But is it like, are you looking to get your money back or you just, you got the fit off and you feel like you got. you See, I got the fit off or I know I ain't going wear them again or something. Get rid of them. I'm about to go buy a new pair of sneakers. So, I don't, I don't need, I don't value materials. Right. Yeah. Like I like, like nice things, but I don't value them. They don't hold a special place in my heart.
Speaker: and was I mean, because I think like we grow up in this era of like, yeah, that's like one of the things we need, especially within like New York City. And it's like, you know. Now, I done had moments where I had some shit and got rid of and was like, damn. What's that? What's that shit?
Speaker: So I had the lambs. The lamb enforcers. Yeah, shout out the lambly. I had to take care of some shit. I didn't want to touch like none of my money that I just was putting away. yeah So I went and sold them, got the money back.
Speaker: But then I wish could call it. was like, damn, that shit's just crazy. I ended up going back to District 1 and buying my sneakers back. You're like, hold on, hold on, come back. I went back. No, it was months later, though. Probably like three, four months later. I just recently went back a few months ago and got them back. Brand new, untouched me. Yeah, this is my sneakers. Don't worry about it. I mean, that shoe, I love that shoe because it's graffiti and shit. So that post-Nobel shit, but like. Just the whole wood grain setup and the leather and Like, was going to wear those today up here. But, like, I'm like, I got to save those for a crazy, like, just event, like a show or something or a party. Nah, yeah. You, like, do you... Because you only want to... You want off in the wares. So, like, are you, like, rocking them on stage and then...
Speaker: Oh, if I wear something on stage, it's over. It's over. If I wear something stage, it's out of here. I ain't going to lie. That shit's done. shit is done. Unless it's like a certain type of jeans or something, but I'm never going to wear it. I might not wear it again for six months next time I wear these. But the shoes, because you got to think about it, you done walked through a crowd, moving back and forth. Somebody might have stepped on them, creased them or something. Certain sneakers you really can't bring back. Nah, definitely not no forces. It's over for those. You feel me? Forces, I'm one and done.
Speaker: Especially whites. I was like, win one time and that's it. I might throw them on again and run in a gas station or I'm just bullshitting, but a fit? Nah, it's over. Like these, I do pretty well with. These probably get another two times. And then you're like, we're good. But I already put them my mind when I put them on today. Like...
Speaker: Let me call the Sneaker Stone make sure they got another size nine. So like i just get fresh beer and tuck them in. Just let you come pull up like, yo, run that back. yeah the The thing is about like the the way we like treat sneakers and stuff like that. It's very interesting too. And the reason why I'm bringing this up because I know that you're, because of that interview I talked to you about earlier, you're a psychology major. And so like I think you are...
Speaker: Like, you're looking at it more than just, like, like you're just like, all right, I shouldn't have ah an actual attachment to this. Yeah. But, like, I mean, you talked about your pops, but, like, you've seen, you're around a lot of sneakers. Mayor, you know, Joe, like, a lot of dudes that's just, like, what you think about the overconsumption of sneakers in, like, 2026? Just having 2026 sneakers? Yeah.
Speaker: I think you're stupid. yeah You feel me? At the end of the day, it's just rubber and glue. And if you're in a position where you're getting like seeded shit, if it ain't something you really want, or you know you probably ain't going really well, I think you should. And you got to... And it's people out there who do want them, but you know you don't really care for them. You feel me? And you could go get some money for or you could go trade them for something that you actually like. I think you should do that, but just...
Speaker: The overconsumption. and I got 500 pairs of sneakers. i gotta like That's stupid to me. You feel me? Doubles of sneakers. I'm cool with doubles. But triples and four times. yeah You got four. Oh, if you like oh these are from 2012. Bro, regardless. you don't meet like I don't get into the older years. and know I don't get into none of that. like You feel me? If I like a sneaker, I like it. You feel me? That's just what it is with me. like I went crazy for the Alaskas. You feel me? Had multiple pairs.
Speaker: Bro, I wore them shits one time. I want once like ain't William again like I want to wear him again but it's just like What the fuck I'ma wear them with? Like, what I'ma wear them with?
Speaker: How I'ma wear them? gonna get fucked up. Like, it's like, it's certain shit. Like, but I had i had the um original bread umm off white ones. I beat the fuck out of them. But they were still in so great, i sold them. Because they look good. Yeah, and I ended up selling them to my men. That's one sneaker I wish I'd have kept, too.
Speaker: Like, you feel me? Run that back. Yo, hook them up. I need them bread. I got both colorways, so I'm like, I jump back and forth with those. I need those again. Yeah.
Speaker: The... I mean, I think that just like... The way I think about it too, because I've also called this out a bunch as well on here, where just like the massive collections and like people really like, that's just hoarding at certain point, you know? It's like you're not going to wear it. Yeah. Like that shit is crazy. Like I've been trying to tell him Pops, yo bro, sell your Yeezy collection. Yeah. He has Yeezy collection? He got Yeezy collection. Sell it.
Speaker: And you don't You're never going to wear them. Sell them. Just sell them. Get the money. i You know, that's a pretty penny. He just got those Victor Victor's. Yeah, I was there when he got them. I'm waiting for mine to come in. You better get them. I'm waiting for mine to come in. You better get them. Tell Steve, Tell Steven, I got something up. got a few outfits in mind. I got outfit in mind for the yellow ones, and I got outfit in mind for the red ones. So, yeah. Steven Victor, if you seeing this...
Speaker: yeah Size nine. Yeah. The yellow or the red. Or if you want to be generous, I take both. Yeah. I'll take a 12 and a half in any color. I take both. But the red, because I got the shorts in the red. I take all of them if I can get them. If there's availability.
Speaker: if I had to balance it out to one. I take the yellow. But if I could balance it out the two, I take the yellow and red. Yeah. Because both of those outfits are ready.
Speaker: It's going to be insane. ain't going lie. So you just fuck with me, Steve. um You your style is fly. Appreciate it. Right. So I'm like, where's that inspiration come from?
Speaker: Because you've been up in the anchors. You've gone down to Atlanta. There's a lot of... style? My style come from music. Yeah. yeah like Depending on like what I'm listening to or like what I'm watching at the time, it'll have a heavy influence on how I feel. like You feel me? I ain't going to be sitting around listening to no fucking... Dom Kennedy or some Nipsey Hussle N.W.A. and want to put on no Timbs. It just don't like it's like it don't it don't correlate in the mind. Like you feel me? I want to be comfortable. Like I might put on some shorts and a hoodie or something. You feel me? I might put on some Vans or something like that's just more calm and relaxed that fit that vibe. I might throw on some cut off Dickie shorts or something with some Air Forces. Like I'm a I'm a finess it. You feel me? It'd be like that or like if I'm heavy in New York music
Speaker: a lot at the moment. I'm probably like, all summer I've been doing jerseys and air forces or jerseys and just different ball kicks. I think that's just overall hip hop and urban culture. Like that's just been my whole thing lately because I've been running through an assortment of the music. It'd be,
Speaker: early 90s early 80s r&bs 2000s you feel me so a lot of my style just come from what i'm feeling what i'm listening to and then just whatever mindset i'm in like i get dressed to go to the studio yeah like i i'm putting on a new outfit that's why you post those fit pics yeah like i i'm getting dressed to go to the studio like yeah i mean i feel like i feel like that's like you know, you getting dressed to go to work type of thing, you know? Like, I'm getting dressed. Like, some days I go in the studio, same outfit, same pair sneakers on, but, like, if i got if I got a song or, like, something on my chest, put on a new outfit. have to just, you gotta just, boom. You dressing up for the yeah occasion. Yeah. but Like, how much of that...
Speaker: Cause you know, don't know long you've actually been doing music, but I did listen to your last album. That was fire. You with Yeah, yeah, What's your favorite song on there? The one where you have a bar that I had to like stop. I was literally down the block and stop. It's the nepotism bar.
Speaker: Where he was like. Oh, you talking about Kanye and Brani. Yeah, yeah. Kanye and Brani. So I was like, whatever the name of that song Kanye and Brani. Yeah, yeah. Kanye and Brani. But like, yeah, that shit was hard. And so that, I literally went, oh shit. Like Appreciate that. Because I was like, damn, you spitting. Because even after that, even after, like, think like the chorus line, I think is that. You went off on like a six bar.
Speaker: like he Yeah. And I was like, damn. So, nah. Appreciate that. Appreciate that. But like you go into the studio again and dress like wait to like where did that preparation like what does that make you like how did you come up with that? To get dressed? Yeah. To the studio? Yeah.
Speaker: So when I was working on my very first tape um The Heart of the North I wasn't able to go, like, when you first start doing music, it's things you learn, like, you feel me? Like, getting studio time is hard. Yeah. You feel me? Yeah. You feel me?
Speaker: oh So, I would probably be like, I'm gonna go to a studio, the studio today, I got some shit going on. I know I'm gonna go outside afterwards. yeah I'm gonna get dressed. So I'm be in there, you feel me? Get footage, content, wo will whoop boom.
Speaker: You feel me? And depending on the type of music, if it's up, if it's lively, a ladies record or something like that, you feel me? Like if it's more lively or flashy or something, definitely know i'm getting dressed, like depending on the beat. Going a studio session with somebody, depending on who the artist, I might get dressed, might come in here If it's a girl record I might be I might record it in my tank top or something Or I might be dressed Might not But when it's time for bars I might just come in there Sweats or some squishy pants Yeah Like I'm coming in Like I'm focused And my mind is just rap Like i all the Like you feel me Like I really I'm meticulous with that Like it's It's all calculated
Speaker: Some days I just, I get dressed for me. Like, yeah you feel me? Like i keep I get dressed for my my spirit and my mental. Like you feel me? Being, I really live by the model, right?
Speaker: When you die, nobody remember how much money you had in your pocket. then Nobody knows. They remember how they seen you the last time they seen you and how you look. Your presentation is everything. So, like, that's really for me. That's a bar, for sure. I really get dressed for me. No, yeah. I mean, yeah, because imagine, you know, you're looking like a bum. Yeah. And you got all these fits on. Yeah, you got a million dollars in your pocket, but you look shitty, bro. Damn, that nigga, he did look kind of crazy last time I seen him. his like It's fucked up. Yeah, and it is. It is.
Speaker: Hey, man, that's that psychology degree. You got to look your best the whole time. Even speaking of that, how did you decide, yo, I'm going to just transition and do this. I'm going to pursue music.
Speaker: Or has it like always been this idea? So when I was young, i always wanted to do music. yeah Like, I always wanted to do music or do something in the industry, right?
Speaker: But my reservation has always been, like, look who your pops is. Right, yeah. This, this, whoop, whoop, whoop. But as I got older and just being me, like, I really don't, like, yes, he's him. Appreciate what he's done. But once you get into this, and he and he had to tell me, it's like,
Speaker: You are artist now, bro. yeah You're not even a fan of niggas no more. Like, you can respect what they do, but you're not a fan. So I just applied that type of thinking to it and all of that, and it just became how did it. But my transition came.
Speaker: I came back home. i had some family shit going on. Like, we had some personal shit going on. And I needed an outlet. yeah I don't like talking to people. yeah You feel me? I needed to go to the studio.
Speaker: Like I said, finding a studio at this time was hard, son. I was with my cousin. I need a studio. He like, yo, my cousin Norma. My cousin Ray, he said, yo, here my cousin Norma. He got the studio in the crib. I said, bro, I ain't talking about no computer with a fucking microphone. He like, yo, nah, he got a real studio. went to his crib. He had this whole studio set up.
Speaker: I had knocked out a tape with him before. You feel me? I knocked out a tape with him. Y'all probably never hear it if you ain't hear it now yet. And I got a whole tape with him. Send me the link, bro. I don't even got the link. That shit cringe. That shit cringe. You're like, tuck that You me? Like, that shit cringe. But, yeah. And then that was like, that was how it happened. And then, you know, as you just doing music and shit and doing certain shit, then like I do like little freestyles and shit like that. Shit and go viral, have little moments and shit like that. So it's like,
Speaker: yeah actually Do y'all actually like this? like You feel me? You don't know how to really gauge it And then certain shit start happening And start moving And it's like Oh shit nigga This what you're really doing And then you know a Part of me also like Niggas doubting like You feel me? like The doubt Like man You ain't gonna be able to do this or You feel me? Then it's like All right, let's put it in. Let's show you something. You feel me? Then I start doing that, you just start seeing the this, this, this, then the progression. Now it's like, I done lapped these niggas. You feel me? done lapped these niggas that was doing this shit.
Speaker: You feel me? I done lapped these niggas. You feel me? Or this, that. like That's just how it be. But it's also going to be somebody out there who feel like, oh, done lapped what J-Wan doing. You feel me? Supposed to that. Supposed to be like that, sure. me, it was just like doubt.
Speaker: h a outlet like my mute like if you listen to my music right i say 95 of it 95 depending on depending on the record too you feel me a lot of that shit is past experiences current experiences some shit i might have went through yeah some shit one of my friends might have went through or they actually going through you feel me like but it's all drawn from real truth you feel me That's the one thing I really loved about listening to your album because it's like, think I'm a big fan of storytelling. My favorite rapper is Nas. My Nas and J. Cole are my pops. That's my big Yeah. That's your big thing. No order though. At any given day, the other one could be better than the other If they're on one song altogether, if you ah which verse you, and you have to skip a verse, which verse what you skip it?
Speaker: In their prime. In their prime? So that's, That's 94 for Nas. 94 for Nas. Yeah, I would say 94. J. Cole would be... J. Cole would be... Really, you'd say 2019? That era. They'd say he was when he was on Everybody's Features. And then, My Pops would be what? You'd say My Pops promised like that 01, 01, 02? What'd you say? What?
Speaker: When you say his promise? Yeah.
Speaker: 9697? of his career? 9697? And I had to skip one? Kiss of death though. Nah, I'm thinking when he was doing Heard It All Before Freestyles and all of that. That was 01, 02. Nah.
Speaker: you know I'm not talking about when you would consider his prime. I'm talking about the world would consider his prime. It would be like 01, around that time.
Speaker: And you said who verse I'm skipping? Yeah, whose verse you skipping? You got
Speaker: it. Verse I'm skipping between them three, of they verses from they prom? Uh-huh.
Speaker: You got to skip one. If I got to skip one, I'm probably going to skip Coles just because I hate all my life. Yeah. Jumping in once again to remind y'all, I have shirts. I have merch. I have My First Kicks t-shirts. They are only $40 plus shipping. It all depends on where I'm going to ship these things out to. So hit me up in the DMs if you're trying to request a t-shirt. It's easier if you email me at info at My First Kicks. Like I said, $40.
Speaker: forty dollars plus shipping, hit me up. Would love to get this shirt out to you specifically if you're listening or watching in this. Please hit me up. Let's jump back into the episode. Yeah.
Speaker: And the shit he did with Lil Yachty. Yeah, that Lil Yachty joke. Like those two songs, and those were songs that came out in his prom. Yeah. I'm skipping those two. Just because of those two are in his prom. I mean, that shit, yeah. I'd probably, I'd agree with you. I don't have to. I don't want to. don't want to. But like, it's funny you brought Cold, too, because like I was at that Cold concert you went to, too. And I wanted to touch on this, too, where like I've never seen and I've been to a lot of rap shows. I've never seen someone rap two hours straight. Like not miss a word and not miss a word, not fumble. That's aspiration. That's crazy. For me, that's aspiration. Yeah, that's like that's inspiring. So I went to two of the shows. I went to the second one at the Barclays. Yeah. And I went to the last one at the garden.
Speaker: The one at the, this is my first time i ever seeing Cole perform. Yeah, same. I saw him in the garden on Sunday. So. That Sunday. See, the first show when I went, I really like, I was more so like, just like, oh shit, thank you. Like, for me, it's like, it's my favorite artist. so i feel Like, this nigga's really doing the shit. it was like, It was like seeing the verses. Yeah. Again, a close and personal for me, like that moment.
Speaker: And then when I went and seen at the garden, I was able to more relax and enjoy it from a different angle. But like that shit was incredible. It was insane. That I sat, was at a suite. I was in a suite. You're getting money. No, no. Shout out New York Times. But they hooked us up. Oh, he needs to shout out New York Times. No, no, no. Shout out New York Times. We have money. That's not money. That's just my job perks. But it was just so crazy because like the way I didn't, I guess I was just thrown for a loop because of...
Speaker: how much his movement and everything that shit was it was just so everything was intentional everything was purposeful like his bars was like he was just going through all everything like you could like it was like a playlist like it felt like I was listening to Cole on my on my in the crib yeah like we just yeah it's so crazy how much attention to detail he paid cause The speeches, like, in between. Yeah. He gave in the Brooklyn show. Uh-huh. He gave again the last guard. Like, it was everything. Like, it was to that point. So, it's like, he really cares. Yeah. Like, you feel me? And you got to link up with him, though, right? Yeah. That's crazy. How that? What is that like? That was tough. So...
Speaker: I went downstairs. um Shout out to Eve and shout out to Matt. And Elite, too. Elite over at Dreamville. First person to ever record me. He was an intern for Rough Riders. That's crazy. As a young as like a little kid, like this small, like he sent me he sent me a beat. He cooked up with my vocals and all of that. That's fire. But...
Speaker: but So i went downstairs, they had like a little writers camp downstairs. Like you feel me, Boss and all of them, PFG and all of that. They just working on shit. I did some shit with them. But then Matt came and got me. He like, yo, wanna go see Cole?
Speaker: Yeah, like, you feel me? But already knew that, like, it was, they put it together so we see them went back then. We just chopped it up for two hours, like. Two hours? Yeah, real two hours. Jeez. Chopped it up by mad shit. Like, just the state of, like, music right now, just real, like, life shit, music shit, the tour, the concert, all of that. Like, it was a great conversation. Man. real down earth real cool yeah speaking of the like the state of music I mean I've been talking to a lot of musicians especially out of New York and I go to a lot of shows too and like we're seeing this like bubbling scene you know with On The Radar and you know there's been a lot of shows like I've been I feel like there's been a lot of shows like a lot of like a lot of artists having events and shows and shit together so like
Speaker: How do you feel about that? Like, how do you feel about this like budding creativity that we're seeing, especially within like the Lower East Side with Lambs and doing their show or like, you know, like, do you feel like we got, we or is it competition? Is it community? What are we talking about? It's community competition. Yeah.
Speaker: It's community competition. I feel like, so like when I first started rapping, didn't want to really go to these like powwows and these events and shit with niggas. I was cool on that. Like I really don't like people. Like I'm cool and I ain't with the fake industry shit. Like I seen it happen with like my pops and so I'm cool. always have my reservations.
Speaker: But motherfuckers always see like, oh bro, you ain't going come out to this shit. Then I start going and see how they embrace me. But I just always feel like you got to let the work speak for yourself. Then you going to embrace you like in New York week. that's why I said this on Twitter I hate how they say in the south and all of that New York don't fuck with nobody New York fuck with everybody If it's quality music or if it's good You can suck but the song sounds good We're gonna fuck with you Like you feel me? Like you feel me? Or you got a good energy We're gonna fuck with you So it's like They just embrace you. It's a lot of community. But then at the end of the day, you know, we come from the big city. It's a lot of egos, a lot of pride, a lot of motherfuckers feel how they feel. Like I walk any room, any studio session. I'm the best in this motherfucker. don't care what nobody say. You feel me? Like you feel me? My energy come in the room. feel me? I feel like that. I feel like everybody should feel how I feel. You feel me? If you don't feel how I feel, you doing the wrong thing. Nah, yeah. You're not really embracing yourself. Yeah, but it do be a lot of pride and a lot of ego. So, like, even though be community, it do be a lot competition. You feel me? And I'm a listener. I really listen to what you're saying in your music. Pay attention to how you give a handshake. Your energy when I come around or other artists come around. It be competition. It be all that there. It's just...
Speaker: May the best man win. I see you at the top. like It's really is' really that simple. yeah It's really that simple. And I don't think, I think artists sometimes, some some may say me, some may not, we in their own way of just wanting Nobody want nobody else to eat. You feel me? That's the. Like, you feel You don't got to be famous to eat. It's a lot of more reserve artists, the currencies, the Dom Kennedy's, the smoke dizzards, niggas like that aren't super, super mainstream that got more money than some of these mainstream artists. So it's like a matter of do you want do you want to be recognized for your skill and your talent and the work you put in?
Speaker: Or do you just want the vanity and the glitz? Like, you feel me? Like, this thing. He always say, you want the vanity. I could see it now. I was going to be just like, the vanity, all of that, cool. But for me, I really just want to be remembered for what I did. Like, I want when somebody listen to my music, they'd be like, as a fan, they'd embrace it and be like, yo, fuck with that. And then when they go through what I went through or something similar, they'd be like, it could register with them. You feel me? That's impact. That's real And something told Cole when was talking. I'm like, yo, like, you nice to me. Like, you feel me?
Speaker: But then as I got older and started going through certain shit and heard certain songs again and it' just and it registered even more, it changes it. Like, so for me, that's what I want to be able to do to somebody else.
Speaker: And I mean, like, nobody can, nobody can know your, you know, what you've gone through until it's been said. They go through it, yeah. And also, yeah, them going through it too. And then and you can feel it. You can hear when somebody rap, like, that's some bullshit. Nah, yeah. If they if their heart's not in it, they've got not passion. There's no passion in it. They just saying this shit. It's just like, yeah, get that shit out here. What's the fuck? Yeah. The way, like, I'm, because, like, you know, I've noticed that when I was looking at the album, like, you you you pushed it yourself.
Speaker: So it's like, what would what was, like, that decision to be like, nah, I'm not to try to, like, you know, push this to other, out like, labels and nothing like that. I'm going this myself. um Honestly, I done had label talks and stuff like that. oh It's just, for me, it's just keep building that core audience. Core audience, core audience, core audience, core audience. If you fuck with going fuck with it. And if you fuck with it, you're going to somebody else onto it. They might fuck with it. They might not.
Speaker: But I know I watch it. Like I could see my own analytics on Apple, Spotify. Like I know who fuck with me. I know where my biggest markets is. Like I know what song is hot, what song dropped. Like I see all of that. And that's for me, it's just, that's important. Like, um, and also, i also understand there's no money in music right now. yeah The money is in everything else. So you really got to give the music away as like a soundtrack to everything else you're doing. So like my next project I'm about to drop is really going to be like,
Speaker: A soundtrack to everything else. There's going to be a soundtrack to the content that I'm creating and the in ah um interactive events and stuff that I'm putting on. Like the music is just going to be the soundtrack. Yeah. So while you are at these events and you're doing this, you're doing that,
Speaker: the music's playing in the background. Even if you might not like this song or something, eventually it's gonna get caught in your mind, gonna get caught in your, now it's gonna be, oh shit, like I like this song now, you feel me? It's putting people on. Like so for me. You world building. Yeah, like really build a core audience and then you could eat like that. Like fucking, who's it, Tech N9ne? Got this whole little- Tech N9ne probably richer than everybody. Nah, for sure. For sure. that dude That dude's got like the most diehard fan base I've ever seen. I've never listened to one song of his. See I'm saying?
Speaker: I'm be like, oh yeah. Somebody be like, yeah, you listen to Tech N9ne? be like, nah, bro. But he got millions of followers. He got his own compound. His print, his merch, everything is.
Speaker: the that whole he's his own 360 like that the way that I mean I agree with you on like there's no real money in music unless you're you know going crazy on TikTok or but even then that ain't real money like it's only real money if you're independent because you're seeing your actual revenue you feel me but also Is your ROI making sense? But do you Because think about what you're spending. right Right. So like my tape. Some of them beats that you heard on my tape aren't the original beats.
Speaker: Ride With Me, different beat. um
Speaker: Trouble you different beat.
Speaker: It's like.
Speaker: Three songs on it. Three or two songs on it got different beats, right? Because what it would have cost me to pay for those beats from the producers. Yeah. And some I had relationships with, you feel me? Like, it kind of made me feel away. right Like, damn, nigga, I done did a song for you for free. done did this videos, all of that. You gonna charge me for this, you feel me? I done felt the way.
Speaker: I'm over it now. i just that just made me change with how I do my business now, which you like, you feel me? Like, yeah you want me doing song? All right, well, I need this. You feel me? I need this. There's no, this is not a relationship now. Now it's like, I need this. Now it's business. Now it's business. um so like the roi for me to man if i had put that money into who wouldn't have been beneficial right yeah feel me so i just took it as i push it boom it's gonna do this gonna do that to live off that i'm not really trying to live off the money for music at this moment yeah you feel me just keep building
Speaker: building building building and catalog eventually it's gonna it's gonna do it's gonna sustain itself so that's really just how operate from it that's I mean that's it because what I was gonna say was that I don't think that many artists think that way at all so it's like everybody went to quick dollar yeah but you you want to be in the red or you want to be will be sustainable like you know like you want to make you be able to rap for the rest of your life like longevity my biggest thing is also preaching about longevity because a lot of people are quick to just kind of like scoop in the quick you know whatever you can make if you make 10 g's on something and it's just like yeah but like imagine right if you were artists you make ten thousand dollars a month off your music right that's enough to live
Speaker: hundred um That's almost $120,000 a year. yeah That's enough to live. That's enough for an apartment. If an apartment costs $4,200, you feel me?
Speaker: With everything included. Now, you've still got some changeover. You've got $6,800 left over. right If you've got a car note and car insurance, you're probably looking at anywhere from $2,000.
Speaker: e 900 to maybe so now you forty some honey You can live a comfortable life. Yeah, you can live a comfortable life. You can live a comfortable life. You feel me? You can live a very comfortable life.
Speaker: You want to get some jewelry? All right, boom. Go get a watch. You know the jewelry game. Not pay the jeweler everything at once. Just them all. Boom. Every month. you'll home Here go $2,000. Here go $5,000. Shit. It might be a month where you caught a bonus or something. Here go $10,000. You feel me? like And you can live.
Speaker: That's the... That's the way to go. Yeah. But I don't think anybody, like, they're not, as soon as they make that, they're like, oh, I got bread. Now it's like. Yeah, niggas don't spend it. Niggas count their chickens before it's whatchamacola. Yeah.
Speaker: Before the egg. Yeah. Count their eggs before the eggs. Whatever the shit is, I just think it's it's a, I also think it's just like the way we're being brought up. And um my biggest thing is just like, like, and especially in our communities, like it's always like, I feel like we always living in a way to just be at our means. And then when we finally get that, like nobody, you live outside. Yeah. And that's why it'd be funny when they'd be like, oh, athletes are stupid. This, that, bro.
Speaker: You went as poor for 17, 18 years of your life. you just go Then out of nowhere, all you had to do was just go play football, play basketball, right? Then out of nowhere, motherfucker give you $3 million, $5 million. dollars You sign a check for $120 million, $20 million. dollars Everybody in your family- everybody They was holding on and sustaining doing what they gotta do just so you made it to the league.
Speaker: Now all they problems is your problems. You feel me? Like that wasn't support that you was getting because they wanted you to go. That was pushing he was giving you so you can help them. Like you feel me? Like of course a lot of these people gonna be broke afterwards because that's just, that's a different type of mental strain most people not gonna understand. More money, more problems a real thing. I got friends.
Speaker: So growing up, I got more friends that ain't have shit or like parents was in jail, drug dealers and all of that. Then I had celebrity friends. Like all my celebrity, other celebrity kids, friends, that shit start coming around.
Speaker: Senior year high school, college and all of that. Like, and then my adult life. Fucking... I always tell both sides, of bro, you couldn't do what that child could do and they couldn't do what you could do. Nah. You feel me? Just two different type of lives like that. You feel me? like A nigga might be super rich, family the most famous and all of that, but ain't really no love in a crib. You feel me? yeah Ain't no love in a crib, but you got all the money. You don't ever see your parents.
Speaker: Never see your parents or your parents always beef and they barely pay you any attention. Or you can just get material things. Yeah. is it Now on the flip side, nigga, you ain't got shit in the crib. Your moms love the fuck out of you. Your grandmoms love the fuck out of you. Your brother do whatever for you. feel me? Yeah.
Speaker: how you gonna handle having the money but your moms don't really pay you no attention? Or how you gonna handle shit? You ain't got no money but your moms paying you attention. They don't know how them for a while. There's two sides of different heartbreaks, man. yeah like And it's like, there's no there's no middle ground for it either because people would just be like- I would say i'm probably the per i would say me because I know my life. No, now i'm I'm not saying that. No, get what you're saying. like I'm the perfect middle ground. I can adapt on either side because of my upbringing whatnot. You feel me? I ain't bad. You went through, yeah i went through it like you were you didn't have money to having money. Yeah, you feel me? My little brothers and shit, my little sisters, now y'all see, you feel me? Nigga, this is, you get what I'm saying? Y'all are, like I really look at my little brothers like, y'all really some fucking spoiled celebrity kids. Y'all, what the fuck? You feel me? Y'all just don't give a fuck about nothing. The the one thing I definitely was like curious to is like because when you get into these rooms and other people are rapping and everybody knows who you are, like how do you battle against like thinking every conversation you're having is going to be transactional? like Are you able to really- Almost everything is transactional. you think so? In life, yeah. like
Speaker: That shit is almost everything is transactional. Everybody trying- Everybody's trying to get something from me. ain't really trying to get nothing from nobody. No, me yeah. Like, I don't want nothing. Like, you feel me? Like, you feel me? And I say that even in, like, relationships, that's messed me up because it's like, I really don't need nothing from you. The only thing I need for you is to be a genuine person. Like, i've really fuck with you. You really fuck with me. Like, you feel me? So everything is always transactional. But the ones where it is genuine, I cherish those. Like, you feel me? Like, I cherish the fuck out of them.
Speaker: So that's why when, like, a motherfucker do something that just shows the opposite side, it's like, like, I take, I really take personal because it's like, yeah like, damn, why would you do that, gang? Yeah. I mean, that's heartbreaking, too, because it's just like,
Speaker: Like, cause like you were talking about the different, you know, people who with nothing and people with a lot. Like, it's like, I feel like people with a lot. Oh, they're just always in a constant state of like, yo. Everything's a transaction, bro. It's like, oh I could just buy my friend.
Speaker: Yeah. know And then when you buy your friends, you only never got nobody that's real around you. Exactly. You feel me? They don't ever want to tell you no. That's why you see so many artists, and entertainers and shit Doing dumb shit, you see the niggas around Nobody telling them like, bro, you ain't supposed to do that Nah, yeah That should be mind boggling Because it's just like, I'm like ah I'll look at somebody going through something like that And they have, you know, money Because money can't buy you happiness at the end of the day No matter how many times people try to preach that it does You know what's crazy though?
Speaker: So, who I just was talking about this with I was talking about this with my friends, right? A lot of our mental health issues come from a lack of finances. Right.
Speaker: But then when you get the finances and you got your bills, all of that's covered. Yeah. Now, so your money bought your mental health and you your money can't buy your piece. Right. Now it's a constant, you feel me? eye You trying to buy your piece. Now you paying for therapy, this, that, whoop.
Speaker: But like it's just money's just buying everything that you need. but By the time you get to the complete process of healing yeah or being whole, nigga, you might be on your deathbed. For sure. Like it's already time has already passed by. Shit is so fucked up. You're always just like trying to get to it. ah Like everybody's always like trying to find their peace. or through yeah You spent your whole life poor. You got some money now.
Speaker: you you cool. yeah i ain't I ain't even stress no more. All of that stuff. Now your piece is fucked up. yeah You done grinded so hard you don't see your family. You might got a girlfriend or a wife. You don't see them. Your kids, this, that, woo, woo, woo.
Speaker: Fucking your friends, this. now you Now you're like it's just always something. yeah Now you go to buy your piece shit and By the time you know it, only thing you might got is your family. You done lost your friends. yeah People done turned their back on you, stabbed you, or you done secluded away from the world. You feel me? like One of my friends just told me that the other day. I was on the phone. She was like, what you do for fun? My homegirl Rebecca, I said, I'll do nothing. I'll be in crib yeah or the studio.
Speaker: I'll be in a hookah lounge. like Me, Lowell, all of us, but I don't do fun. like My fun ain't. what everybody constitute as fun ain't fun to me. Like, you feel me? Going to the club, ooh. Nah, that's not fun. It's not fun. Like, my fun is, all right, we going to Miami or we going here, somewhere where it's warm, they got a boat. I get on a boat. Let's get on a boat, do some mushrooms, drink a little bit, couple of the homies, if they know any of the girls or wherever we at, like, oh call them, you feel me? And to just set the ambiance and just chill. Like, you feel me? Like, not even on some just turnt up shit. Like, I just...
Speaker: don't My fun is doing shit that is not in my everyday ability. right like You feel me? like I can't do this every day. It's a vacation. Yeah, like not even a vacation.
Speaker: No, I'm talking about like mentally. oh yeah like You feel me? like ah like My fun is anything that's going to help inspire me create more music. You feel me? So i might go to I might need three, four days in Miami to just...
Speaker: going to Tootsie's, going here to have food, doing this, shopping and all of that, ball hobble, walking, like, shit like that'll help me create some new, because its now it's more life experiences, like, you feel me? But going to the club, don't want to do that game, I'm cool. Nah, yeah. i was at of I was at a party yesterday, and real life was just sitting on the couch like this and next to my cousin, like, just like this, like, yo, bro, like,
Speaker: I'm like, I'm out. And like, yo, nah, we out 1.30. Now, bro, I'm out right now. yeah Why you leave, bro? I'm out, bro. Like, I'm just, this ain't fun to me like yeah Like, just look around. Nigga, like, them niggas over there standing there. They standing there. They standing there. No women are dancing. Like, everybody's just standing, looking around. Don't nobody in here really even fuck with each other, bro. This ain't fun to me. Nah, yeah. You feel me? You want to have some fun with me?
Speaker: come on, we out to the Natural History Museum. Let's get dumb high and walk around the museum, bro. See the dinosaurs talking to you and Learn shit you ain't learning. Let's go to Central Park and we just take mushrooms and walk Central Park or something.
Speaker: That's fun to me. Walk around the city, shop, and just put outfits together in my mind in the store. To me, that's fun. like You feel me? like This is fun. I have fun doing this. like You feel me? I appreciate that. Creating music is fun. Yeah. But the other shit, the vanity, that shit's not funny. Nah, yeah. i don't I don't find that fun as well, so it's it's funny you're saying that too, because I'm in that. I do like, you know, I'm i'm am extrovert in a sense of like I like being around people, but like if we're like I'm going to a sneaker event, fire. like I'm there to talk to people. We talk in sneakers, I get to geek out. To me, that's like, I get to talk about sneakers and the history and shit like that more than just spending some money or drinking or you know something like that. like
Speaker: I think that's fun. And I think people should definitely like identify their fun like what is their fun, especially to like their friends. Because then, man, you can do more of that. You can have that experience. and Or you can put somebody else on and another experience. because Because we're stuck in this like loop of like not having experience. And people be asking questions. really And I think COVID did that too. us oh for sure like cover fuckers i definitely had my like after covid 20 2021 2022 i partied every day yeah for two years straight two three years straight i partied every day to the point like even with music my friends are like yo bro you need to go to fucking studio you're not recording you're just partying i was like bro was in the house for a year and a half yeah i was in the house for a year during the whole covid
Speaker: If I wasn't in the house, I was on my dirt. I was going to my garage, you on a dirt bike. Like I really wasn't. didn't give a fuck about COVID. I'm going to the garage, you know, a dirt bike. And just gradually as the summer, the weather was breaking, you see everybody start piling up on each other and shit. Like, so I did that for the whole 2020.
Speaker: Just dirt bikes all through all the whole summer. 2021. Partying I mean endless gambling Just gambling Every day 2022 Endless partying Like I had to just Like you feel me So I didn't did so much Of this shit Now I'm just like Nah you was going You was going 100 bro You was going 100 on the dirt bike I was really going on benders Like you feel me So now for me It's just like I want peace bro I want to chill really want to do Too much crazy shit want to chill Man, well, we're towards the end of the podcast, so there's a little visualization. I want you to think back to young J-Won when he was, I mean, you didn't tell me a specific shoe that you did get. That I always wanted? Yeah.
Speaker: A specific shoe I did get that I always wanted?
Speaker: Bro, I really don't know. Oh, my God. cause is ah like Because the the question leads with you opening a box. So I need you to open a box. All right. We can still go from Open a box. So like you're opening a box of, let's say, i don't know. I'm even think. A sneak. always want it. Yeah. so How do I feel? Like a five. Let's go with the let's go with a pair of fives. I'll tell you even better. The 17s that came out last summer. Oh. The white and blue. The white and blue. Yeah. I want to go young. cause I want to go young back now. always wanted them in the box. I always wanted to. I'm trying to. We trying to talk to to young J-Won. So let's go like. I don't know. Metallic Fives. Did you have you Metallic Fives? Yeah. I had the Metallic Fives.
Speaker: Always had them since. oh Young J-Wan Probably I was I was younger It was a pit Air forces Uh huh They might have just been Simple white ones But for some reason, i just like, i need new pair of sneakers. Yeah.
Speaker: I need a new pair sneakers. need new pair sneakers. I was like four or five. My aunt used to work in Foot Locker inside of the gallery in White Plains. My moms did not want to get them shits. Like, I was on her back. I need those. I need them. I need them. Like, dumb young.
Speaker: She finally yawning for me on. I just put them bitches on. They used the midge, too. Tie them bitches up. I'm like, Love mates Thank God like so like That was the moment for me So let's let's do that So but Now you're older you Behind your younger self He's opening those Mid whites why don't White on whites Let's go white on whites Whatever color whites they are They was all white They were all white Alright cool um And what would you tell Your younger self As he opens that box Tell my younger self As he opens that box
Speaker: You ain't even gonna like these shits when you get older. You ain't even gonna really like them. I don't, yeah, I don't got no attacks from two. Like, I'd be like, I just, my thing, I'd probably say, oh you will you always gonna be fly, bro. hey You just always gonna be fly. I mean, that's a fact. Like, you just always gonna be fly, dude. You got style. You got taste. Hell yeah. I love that. Let everybody know where to find you.
Speaker: Yo, sup, y'all? Y'all can find me on Instagram at Instagram. You can find me on Twitter at underscore reallyjewon. All my music on all DSPs, reallyjewon. You feel me? It's two separate words, not one word.
Speaker: What else you can find me? TikTok Really J1 I'm about to start uploading content on there again i about to start streaming to it That would be fire That new That's the new That's the new That's the new The new meta I'm about to stream on the low Yeah That would be dope ah You know where to find me WhoisHas on social media Just follow the podcast On MyFirstKicksPod Hit me up if you want a t-shirt. Info at myfirstkicks.com. Hit up the Patreon. I only got one tier, $5 tier. Supports the podcast. Patreon.com. Come on, man. Quick.
Speaker: Quick five. ah Patreon.com slash myfirstkicks. I'm kick it to myself to do the outro. Peace. I hope you enjoyed this week's episode with J-Wan or really J-Wan.
Speaker: Man, this episode was dope. ah You know, getting talk about his upbringing and, you know, his father being Jadakiss. You know, we danced around it a little bit in this episode. I don't know if I could like really just say it out there. um But I think that, you know, this conversation was from a perspective that we don't really get to hear from a lot. Um,
Speaker: Towards the end, i definitely really wish we could have expounded more on the dualities between having everything and having nothing and then coming from the middle and having the glimpse of having nothing to having everything. And I thought that was really interesting perspective because we don't really hear about that at all. um You know, when you grow up, I mean, I grew up basically lower lower middle class or upper lower class. It's around there. Like we had stuff like my mom, you know, put her best foot forward every single day, you know, immigrant fan, immigrant mother, single mother. ah i didn't really grow up with my father. If you listen to the Anik Khan episode, we talked about my dad a little bit on there, but I wasn't necessarily able to get
Speaker: everything that I wanted or I was always coming at it from the perspective of like, I'm not going to be able to get things. So you'd get your, you know, one outfit or two outfits a year. And I try to like make that stretch and, you know, back to school shopping wasn't always like the greatest, like i always trying to find stuff on sale. And I mean, even still to this day, these are habits that I've taken into, into, you know, my everyday of like trying to cop stuff and trying to be, you know, wise with my money. But yeah,
Speaker: When it comes to just creating overall, it does it becomes hard to try to kind of like figure out a way to balance it all because you're so used to spending you know X amount of money in your everyday and you go to work, you do your 9 to 5 or whatever you're doing, your 10 to sevens or your 11s to
Speaker: Those are the worst shifts, but you do your best. And I think it's like hard for anybody who's like just trying to make ends meet and, you know, working a couple of jobs. I have friends that work a couple of jobs and and it's hard for them, especially within this economy. So like.
Speaker: hearing how kids grow up in that circumstance is not it's like it's something that we all know and grow up with. ah A lot of my listeners are within the range of my age and a little bit younger, but we're all adults now. And it's like.
Speaker: We don't we only know our our upbringing. We only know our friends up there in Gaines and we only know what we talk about. And if you're at my age, we didn't really talk to each other. So it's a lot it's a lot doper to hear that his perspective and just the way he has set out to differentiate his life and make his own name and continuously push out his music and do things differently and embrace the community and embrace you know New York City because I mean, his father, and you know, the locks are just like big. Like they're they're an everyday, ah basically an everyday household name now because of two Jews and three black dudes. Right? I'm saying that name right. I always mess that up. But I think that that that podcast is starting to blow up like crazy as well. And and you also got Joe and jada which, you know, Jaywon was on an episode of that. So it's just like trying to figure out
Speaker: a way to differentiate yourself and make your name and come in with within his, you know, upbringing of like, you know, he doesn't want to be in anybody's shadow. He wants to make it his own thing. And I think that's super dope. um You know, his perspective was super interesting. And I thought that like,
Speaker: Again, to hear about how he handles sneakers and you know his his thoughts of like the over-excessiveness of it was very interesting because that's the first time I ever had anybody on there that really shared kind of like what i'm what I share. Because I've spoken about this a ton of times of just like... I don't really like big collections. Like I've never idolized people who like big collections. I never or had big collections. Like cool is one thing. Rarity is one thing. I think having rare sneakers and so seeking and so and finding them is one thing.
Speaker: And I think that's dope because that's an art form because you do have to put in that time and effort and figure out, oh, is this the price I'm going to pay for this? Or, you know,
Speaker: how bad do I want this? Or the story behind this really attaches to me, so I need this. And so these are things that like, when you look at it on a surface level of like big collections and rarity, that it does go unspoken about of like, is this really necessary? And,
Speaker: You know, my thoughts on that is like I have a lot of sneakers. I love sneakers. But I've always been a person that's just like I just i keep it just at a a certain number and I keep like two or three fresh. And then I just get rid of stuff. And so.
Speaker: That's the that's the the the rotation that I do personally. And i do feel like a lot of more people should do this. like i'm not I'm not a big fan of like people buying the same retros every year that come out just because they want to see how it compares to the last year. It's just like, you got the shoe.
Speaker: Do we really need another one? And and like look, I know there's some people that watch this. They share a different perspective and that's that's fire. I want you to keep that perspective. And this is not some sort of like, I'm battling you on this and this, you're doing something wrong.
Speaker: You have to live the life that makes you happy, and i have to live the life that makes me happy. And if I feel like this big albatross of like extra pairs that I'm not wearing on my back, I do have to do something about it or else it's going to eat at me. Versus somebody who is like, if I don't get the new version of this retro that's coming out, then that's going to bother me.
Speaker: it's the same It's the same discourse we're having with ourselves. Like, we're fighting ourselves to do the opposite things. And so it's very interesting.
Speaker: I thought it was very dope. So I hope you really enjoyed this episode. And I really, and you know, and Angelo's episode really stirred a lot of conversation. And I'm all for it. And I hope, you know, some people that were checking out that episode have checked out this episode as well. And I appreciate you all for tapping in and checking out the podcast. You know, we've been around for...
Speaker: Well, this podcast has been around for six years, so there's a lot of episodes for you to catch up on. And this is if you're first time checking out this episode, I mean this podcast, I appreciate you for checking out the podcast. But if you want to go the extra mile and you want to help out this podcast,
Speaker: Hit up the Patreon. Patreon.com slash MyFirstKicks. have one tier, $5 tier. You get a shout-out at the end of the podcast. Much like these people here. So don't forget, MyFirstKicks.
Speaker: Nah. Patreon.com slash MyFirstKicks. $5 tier. You get a shout-out. Let's start them all. We got Adam Neustadur. Shout-out Adam Neustadur. He sent me these these ah field day shirts that he's created himself.
Speaker: So I'll give him him a special shout-out here. If you watched last week's episode, Gusto, who I mentioned on a previous episode, He hooked me up with some graffiti style shirts. That one that worked last week said hip hop forever. That was a fire shirt. Make sure you check out GustoNYC.com also. And check out Field Day on Instagram. i don't think he has an official website yet.
Speaker: But he's doing some dope stuff. This is a clean shirt. Then we got Ross Adams. We got Derek Lipkin. We got Jesse, Jesse G. We have Plox. We have Derek Hawkins. Jordan Kaiser.
Speaker: Samia Grandpierre. Sean Hates You. Brett. MDOT. We got AD Sneaks. And that's it. Like, if you want to also become a person that is down to help out the podcast, patreon.com slash myfirstkicks.
Speaker: It'll help out the podcast. And if you want to rep the podcast as well, have t-shirts. If you made it to the end of this, you probably see an ad for it. T-shirts, My First Kicks t-shirts, $40 plus shipping. Just shoot me a DM or hit up info at myfirstkicks.com.
Speaker: I'll ship this bad boy out to you and you can rep the podcast wherever you are. Or if you're in New York local and you want to just buy the shirt, I'll meet up with you. We can meet up at a store, have a conversation, and I'll sell you the t-shirt.
Speaker: So hit your boy up. Hope you enjoyed this episode. And if you want to check out more of this podcast, do not forget to check out these two episodes here. Hit that subscribe button in the middle there. And of course, you know what say each week, wear your kicks.
Speaker: Peace.
