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Red Octobers & Cocotaso's with LIFEOFTHOM
157 Plays22 days ago
This week LIFEOFTHOM, pulls up to the podcast and we talk about his journey with kicks. The bubbling current New York rap scene, how he has been navigating it. Creating community and supporting others that support him. Starting and pursuing music at his age, plus working with On The Radar. We also talk about his producing and his last album Cocotaso. Plus so much more!
Where to find LIFEOFTHOM:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/lifeofthom/
Website: https://lifeofthom.com/
Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks
Music by The DoppleGangaz: https://thedoppelgangaz.bandcamp.com/
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Transcript
The Red Octobers Stir
00:00:00
Speaker
Like the Red Octobers came out yeah and we had this kid, this dude at my school bro. And like, you know, they were the real ones. They were real bro. But nobody, they was real. He had, they was real. I remember that he got them from a, because they were, you know, in the dance community, they were the sneakers. He had those Red Octobers, he was gliding and slipping and sliding bro.
00:00:21
Speaker
Back flips all that. And my bro is into dancing. So, you know, when he came to school, like, Even when people check the shit to confirm, they was like, nah, we not jankin'. So I remember I pulled up to school, pulled up to middle school. And like, for me, like, they they was all coming at my neck.
00:00:37
Speaker
They was like, bro, these not real. Except for like the real right sneaker hat homies. It was like, nah, he got that shit. Yeah, exactly. You got that, bro. Like, what?
Welcoming Life of Tom
00:00:50
Speaker
What's good everyone? Welcome back to my first kicks in this week. I bring to you the homie, yo, the homie, life of Tom bro. Welcome to the podcast, man. go myy Yo.
00:01:01
Speaker
man yo first of all i don't know why i say yo like three times just now but it's wild that you know you've pushed so much like i remember seeing you first open for 99 neighbors and then from there it was like we just kept running into each other remember that it's like bro it's like everywhere in les or like brooklyn or in the city every event everything like yo like this guy i was like i was like no got to tune in with something
Tom's Musical Journey
00:01:27
Speaker
Nah, man. Yo, but look, you know, well, first of all, last year dropped Coco Tassel.
00:01:32
Speaker
Yes, sir. And you saw how much I fucking listened to it. Facts. Nah, you blessed it. Nah, yeah. It's so is wild to see because like I'm always big on just finding artists and and like listening to them as they like develop and you know you eventually you you know you blow up which is yeah i see that in your future but the process yeah but it's like my favorite thing is is the new york music scene so i always am always down to interview people that are just bubbling up you know The scene that you are starting to foster as well with Lord Sko. Yeah. The rest. I forgot a lot of the people. Wise Boy. Yeah. Wise Boy. Yeah.
00:02:09
Speaker
A lot of the stimulated people. Shout out about Dante. Yoshi. Shout out Dante. Shout out Dante. Cisco. Cisco. Yeah. Yeah. I also feel like you know the the recent, like I guess, the I want to say like not resurgence, but like the way he's been pivoting,
New York's Jazz Scene
00:02:25
Speaker
Marlon. Marlon.
00:02:26
Speaker
Oh my God. Yeah. Marlon, man. He ah brought me and Sko out for his new blue residency like this past like month or so, man. Yeah. He's dope, man. Seriously. One of the ones that cool vision for it. For Yeah. For real. His, his jazz residency. I wanted to do it I'm no, I'm, I'm going to go to the last show. The last year yeah this one. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But you did the the recent one and that looks so dope. No, it's it's dope, man. You go in, it's mad packed, mad just people, mad jazz musicians. And it's literally like a dope vibe. You lose yourself in there. It's good.
00:02:56
Speaker
And you know New Blue too, known for like it's- you know not No, I've never been. Oh, whoa, bro. They got this producer Mondays, man. Like you could run it. I ran into like large pro in there. I ran into like some serious like OGs in the spot, bro.
00:03:08
Speaker
Fuck with New Blue. New Blue's tough. Oh, that's that's crazy. Yeah, you you about to have me at a lot more shows now. yeah yeah You know, but before we jump into that, let me ask you the question I ask everybody each
Tom's Sneaker Roots
00:03:19
Speaker
week. And that question is, what's your first kicks with that first pair sneakers you absolutely needed to have? Wow. First pick, first kicks, first sneakers I absolutely needed to have. And it can range from a kid to teen. Yeah, whatever you i always tell people, what is the best sneaker story that describes you?
00:03:35
Speaker
Wow. Oh my gosh. It would have to be when... It would have to be like when the threes... Like when I wanted the threes. um From my pops like 2009.
00:03:47
Speaker
two thousand and nine And like for me, like my family, like when we grew up, we couldn't like... My parents like, you know, they was two regular working class people. My pops are from me, don't think of that from DR. And like my mom is like, you know what I mean? some Some shorty from the Bronx. And so like, you know, couldn't really afford- Shout moms, yo. Yo, shout out moms, man. Shout out mama Tom. because um no I don't know. Do we call it mom Tom? Mama Tom is the best mom Tom. Like she held it down for me as a kid. And like, you know, there was a point where I wanted those, you know what mean? I wanted those threes badly, bro. But like, you know, growing up- Black Samantha? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Growing up, yes. Come on. That's the stamp. And growing up, like, feel me, we couldn't really afford, like, the kicks like that. Like, there would be a Foot Locker right there on 181, chilling. So, feel me, I did everything, bro. I got the best grades. i You know, my dad was type of person, like, you only get what you want on Christmas and your birthday. Yeah, that's it. Done. Stop. Finish.
00:04:43
Speaker
And, ah yeah, it was my birthday. And lo and behold, they was in there. And I think I got, like, Halo 2. Damn. Yeah, I was at it. Wow, you was out there being the Master Chief. Yes, sir. Yo, bro, wife, man, that first Xbox for me was married. Oh, man.
00:04:57
Speaker
I mean, that's wild. that Where did you originally grow up? Like, you was uptown? In the Heights. Yeah, okay. Yeah, Washington Heights, 183rd, 184th, between then Broadway. That's, I mean, that's a lot of cultures in the in those blocks, man. Yeah.
00:05:12
Speaker
Should be intercepted crazy, bro. What? And so, like, what was it like when you first, like, pulled up with them? Oh, my God. Everybody thought they was fake. Everyone thought they was fake. It was a yo, what? Like, it almost reminds me, like, when, like, the Red Octobers came out. yeah And we had this kid, this dude at my school, bro.
00:05:33
Speaker
And, like, you know, they were the real ones. They were real, bro. They were real? now. Nobody, they was real. They was real. I remember that he got them from a, because they were, you know, in the dance community, they were the sneakers. You had those Red Octobers, you was gliding and slipping and sliding, bro. Backflips, all that. And my bro is into dancing. So, you know, when he came to school, like...
00:05:55
Speaker
Even when people check the shit to confirm, they was like, nah, we not jankin'. So I remember I pulled up to school, pulled up to middle school, and for me, they was all coming at my neck. They was like, bro, these is not real. Except for like the real right sneaker hat homies, they was like, nah, he got that shit on me. I'm nah, you got that, bro?
00:06:13
Speaker
What? Let me get him. Shit, man. If I move right, somebody would have him. Oh, yeah. For sure. For That shit. I mean, Red October is a movie. I think that. I mean, was a movie if you got him. Yeah. That Twitter link shit piss me off, man. And I think Tumblr too. Oh, really? Because there were all these subreddit pages. There were all these subpages from Reddit to Tumblr, Twitter, that had the culture of the sneakerheads hunting them down and shit. And I remember just being in school.
00:06:44
Speaker
There were like maybe a few, few red or a good tool, man. And like those were the dudes that like gave me they gave me to go. They gave you to go. yeah i say I mean, look, that shit was crazy. I remember I had ah had three laptops open.
00:06:57
Speaker
Wow. The link dropped. and I had three laptops open and i I was trying so hard. Yeah, yo, I was looking like I was in the fucking matrix trying to get it. Six hands, six arms. I was like, nope. It was like trying to check out. Nope. Trying to check out. Nope. Trying to check out. Then I had my phone out. was like trying to check out. You was passionate about it. Yeah, man. was trying to get them. Nah, that's fine, bro. That's fine. That's crazy. Three laptops? Three laptops, bro. Oh, wow. Three laptops. That's crazy. It was ridiculous. I wish feel like people still do that now. Yeah. but They might add like six. Yeah. I've seen, you ever seen that? There was like a video on the internet where it's like a guy and he has, it's like a guy in like the streets of like, i don't know, Thailand or something like that. He's on a bike and the bike got like 40 different ah that's great phones thats on it. And people will always be like me on a sneakers app.
00:07:44
Speaker
That's crazy. Nah, hey, that dude's winning. He probably getting, definitely snagging something. He's definitely, I mean, he gra he's getting that Bitcoin. He's definitely getting that Bitcoin. definitely getting that coin for sure. For sure.
00:07:54
Speaker
Yeah.
Growing Up with Audie
00:07:55
Speaker
Oh, I mean, so one thing I definitely want to touch on, especially as we get deeper into this, was just like, you know our connection is yeah Audie. Yes. Yeah. Yo. oh my God. Audie's, bro. Yeah. Wow. That's the dude. huh That's the dude. I wanted to know more of like his influence on you.
00:08:11
Speaker
Well, like, Audi, like, bro, like, I grew up with Audi. You know what mean? Like, he... And so dope, y'all know each other, because that's my mom's best friend from, like, ah Art and Design. yeah So it was so cool.
00:08:25
Speaker
And it's like, my mom, like... You know, like she had like cool different footprints with like different, you know, rappers and, you know, just different fashion heads. You know mean? Like, you know, back when like, you know, Prodigy and Havoc was doing anything. You know what I mean? She was like, I mean, she was chilling with them. You what mean? She was telling me at one point she like dated Havoc for like a very small second. That's crazy. She has the picture my crib, man. I think, yeah, I remember you told me that and I was like,
00:08:49
Speaker
I was like, you ever think about it one day could, I mean, there was a moment in time, Havoc could have been your dad. Yo, it was yo, bro. remember when she told me that shit, I was like, was in the bathroom like, I'm the shook one for real right now. Like, oh shit. Rob Markman, nah man, yo, nah, Aldi's bro, like him and my mom's, they was mad cool growing up. So like when I found out that like, you know, like it was, you know, he, you know mean?
00:09:15
Speaker
He was the connect hit. I was like, it's crazy. But yeah, Aldi's always show me love. And wa when he found out I was doing music for real, and he found out fuck with the Lambs family, Stevie Scottie, and he found fuck with a Awake man. you know, he was peeping, know, he was like, oh wow, you really, ah you, you, Diving into your profession, man.
00:09:32
Speaker
He's just been there, showing love. that's the And and it came't it was back random. Random as fuck, bro. i don't I forgot what it was. wait yeah Him and my mom, they came they came to see me open up for neighbors that day. Yeah. yeah that was that's I saw him online, and I was like, what are you doing here? He was just like, oh.
00:09:48
Speaker
I would, Life of Tom, that's my that's my best friend's ah son. And I was just like, really? And he was like, yo, I was holding him as a baby. yeah And now I'm out to watch him for perform. yeah is crazy crazy yeah crazy It's That's crazy, man. It's insane. ah Full circle, universal, man.
00:10:02
Speaker
Audi, I've known Audi since 2020. Yeah, how you guys know each other? Just Clubhouse. Like, we we got, we became cool on ce Clubhouse. um And we, like, we met in real real life. But, like,
00:10:14
Speaker
He's such an influential, like, back back behind the the yeah the street wear. He's smart. Yeah. Very smart. He's not outside. He's dot connector, bro. Yeah, for sure. he's not like i I'm talking about, like, he's not in front of the camera, but you know he's he's maneuvering everything that's in back. He's like one of those guys that's like, know what mean? You put in with the right people, you you give them the right thing to work, he gonna work it yeah and like, he know how to like do that and just stay right there. And he know you will never know.
00:10:45
Speaker
And that's so fire, like to know and, you know, be close to someone like that, man. Like, shout out to you, man. No, yeah. You still got to come on the podcast. Stop playing. Come on, man.
00:10:57
Speaker
You supposed to be here like two years ago. now I give him a call. He's going to get on here. But if you're not familiar with Audie, like if if you ever been to Scars or, yep you know, seen a picture of DJ Clark Kent, you would see Audie. yeah He's the man. He's got stories for days. For days. For days. He told me. There was one thing. We talked about one thing. And it led to a story about how him and Clark Kent went to go do something. I was just like, this is crazy. He was close with Clark Kent. Before the passing and shit. He'd done numerous cool things with him.
00:11:32
Speaker
yeah i mean Other DJs and shit. where he He liked that. Audi for me. He popped that shit like that. man like He know his shit. yeah You touched on the Lamb stuff and and I'm so curious about the
Streetwear Connections
00:11:43
Speaker
Lamb stuff. like ah like I'm not familiar with it.
00:11:46
Speaker
I'm not familiar with the brand, but I've definitely seen... like you know i think therere they're part of this like newer fabric of like touch getting in touch with like the younger generation of like who the people are out in the streets right now. yeah like Awake's doing the same thing. I had J. Miles on. J. Miles has been running with them for a little bit. and I think it's really dope because...
00:12:08
Speaker
It's it's like we're not we everybody's always talking about like how do we pass on our passion on to the newer kids because everybody's always super, you know, confrontal and being like gatekeeping and all this stuff. Holding this shit. Yeah. want to, you know, give certain gems passed down.
00:12:23
Speaker
Yeah, no. Yeah. Nah. I love Lambs, bro, for that. One of those reasons. I was just over there right before this. I shot some tour promo, man, for this tour coming up. And oh that was in the basement. That was that one. Yeah. Yeah. watched that video. I was with Spirit, man. He held it down for me. We had it for me. um Yeah. no Stevie, bro.
00:12:41
Speaker
i You know, the how I got into Lamps was through my boy Kiza. um That's my bro right now, man. he He's going through a pretty life, crazy life, challenging, changing thing right now, though. Like he was like he's the soul heart pinnacle of like that whole entire, you know, you know, entity. and ah when I met ah Stevie and like Scotty, man, and and that's the thing.
00:13:01
Speaker
always saw like Lambs as like the cool boys club. You know mean? Like, you know, early in the And when I kind of started putting the connect together, like they did this modernology, bro. That's a mix between, you know, the OGs and the youth that's coming up. Yeah. And TikTok and like the digital age heavy. So it's really cool because you go in the shop and you're going like,
00:13:20
Speaker
run into like this crazy like fucking Newport like Nike collab, right? And then like, uh-huh, uh-huh. And then you gonna run into like some really dope like pieces by like Nego like on the wall. But then you might run into some cool like Banksy like artwork that's maybe stashed. And then they got their They got the vinyl section upstairs, shout out Rotten Island Records, man. And then, you know, it's so many compartments. You got this joint upstairs. But that's what love. You're selling me. I'm about to go right now. I'm about to stop this podcast and go right now. may be trying to sound like a marketer of your plans. But, you know, as fans, that's the Lamley. You know what I mean? And I always, I fuck with that because we don't really got one of those social staples like that in the city. And they not even...
00:13:59
Speaker
Like they stamp, but like they not even that many years, bro. Like out, like it's still fresh. yeah. I'm trying even, because like I'm trying to make a ah connection to like what I, maybe Fat Beats.
00:14:10
Speaker
Fat Beats was like that maybe. yeah Like it was like this intersection of hip hop. you know street culture, ye street wear, sneakers. i mean Barely, I don't know. I feel like a lot of the backpack rappers took out out to took the sneakers away from that shit. In a way, in a way i mean you could always go into that conversation, but it's it's so cool to you know still have something like you know that existed and and you know feeding the people. you know i mean you know You have random people coming into New York, you know it's at least they get some taste of like some actual real culture and you know really see what it is. face i mean These people come in town. They don't feel me. Their perception is so fucking walked out their ass. so it's
00:14:49
Speaker
It's cool to have pillars like that. Nah, yeah. Nah, I got to go now. yeah they they They pay an homage like that. got to go. Those are peoples, man. yeah Yes, sir. Cracking one for the... Yo, you know what they say, drink water, man. I've been moving all day, man. Barely been hydrating. Don't be like me. As Mick Jenkins said, drink water. Shout out Mick Jenkins. Shout out.
00:15:11
Speaker
You know, so growing up in New York City and, you know, I'm a senior, I guess,
Sneaker Culture and Grounding
00:15:19
Speaker
now. I'm unk now. You OG, I'm OG now. So I want to know how the sneaker culture, like, translate towards you. Like, how did you see it? How were you part of it? Because, I mean, like I said, we've had conversations and, you know, you've been part of it. Rob Markman, Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I wasn't a crazy sneakerhead growing up. I wouldn't even consider myself a sneakerhead, but I love kicks, man. Growing up, I wore a bunch of Vans, I wore a bunch of Nikes, shout out these Cortez's on the feet right now. You know what I mean? I had some Jordans, probably no more than three, feel
00:15:51
Speaker
the Chicago's, threes I have to quit right now. know what I mean? Feel me? Though it was one of those cultures that it kind of kept me still to the ground and it kept me still, my ears and eyes to the street because before hip-hop was like that full thing for me, which it always has been, Kix was always like that push. It was all my bros in school.
00:16:11
Speaker
they like It's just what it was and like certain kicks may have connected to certain songs and certain themes that was going around and like certain fit styles. and I remember like if you was wearing the full Dita tracksuit, either had those Pumas on or you had like some pair of those fucking skate highs on or some off-white. Some fucking G-Fazels. You know I mean?
00:16:34
Speaker
some clean shit bro. And you know for me, you know like I go into it like bro, like I said, my family was not, my mom pops was not bringing in the bacon and I definitely is not like I was fucking hustling tree and selling all this shit through school bro. I'm working fucking cafeteria, picking up the lunch and shit bro. So was like whatever little bread I did save through time, I probably get you know something here and there. though I think it was so cool to like see those influences of the sneakers has kind of evolved to like actually become like gatekeepers, kind of for the culture and the ways moving through the city. And it'd always be so dope being close to those people and the proximity of it.
00:17:12
Speaker
you know And it it also it made me want to be like, I want to get in i want to know more of my culture more. want to know steez of the city, the fashion. And you know i mean? Like, bro, I got Rockaway on so your top, bottom. yeah mean And like that only comes from just the years and amalgamation seeing these all these different kicks, all these different rappers, especially wearing fits like these. Most times they probably putting some butters on, but you might have a nigga like rockin' some all-weights on this shit.
00:17:39
Speaker
So for me, like it's it's definitely been like a cool, a dope thing. I think as I got older, I understood it was important, especially for my generation, for us to have. Because like sneakers became the bind between you know understanding like classic New York hip-hop sound yeah and also like the you know the next scale in the landscape of things so that's you know and that that'll never leave nah for sure never i mean i've always i'm always curious because like whenever i listen to your music you know i feel like you're you're painting pictures yeah and it's like that's my favorite type of like hip-hop so
00:18:18
Speaker
That's the best shit. Storytelling, bro. You know what I mean? Bumping Mos Def and Nas and listening fucking like Knife Wonder Beats and know, you know mean? Talib and you know, Ye and like all these sick artists. Well, that shit always has inspired me, especially like Big L too, man. And these are artists that would wear fly shit. Fly sneakers. So yeah, it's all the mix for me, man. um ah But like I was saying that because it's just like, where did you learn how to rap that way?
Rap Influences
00:18:45
Speaker
that's the because i don't i feel like maybe you've answered this before yeah no it's it's a it's a it's a string of like honestly kind of just listening to hip-hop so much as a kid and like that's the thing because like also like took a different approach to things you know like i have my own sound which is very established you clearly hear and it's you know it has its own oh yeah it's you and it's very refreshing yeah and it kind of took a point you know where i was bumping like You know, because I got into this you know, obviously through like all my mom's influences. Biggie, you know, Ho for me. listen She sat you down with havoc. Yeah, yeah. She sat me down with havoc.
00:19:22
Speaker
Tell me that was prodigy. You know what I mean? Listen, you know, know what mean? You know mean? Just all, all, all the goats, bro. And, you know, as I got older, it translated from like, into like my freshman year where I was bumping like M so much. was listening to Infinite every fucking day in Slim Shady LP every day. Damn near one point dyed my hair blonde for Halloween. Walked in that bitch, kept that shit on for like half of that school year, bro. So I had to take it off because my mom was ready beat my ass.
00:19:49
Speaker
though pretty much it was so cool. Rob I will say the way Eminem rapped on Infinite, I wish he would bring that back. Rob Markman Oh, nah, nah, nah, nah. My mom was ready to fucking kill me, bro. She was like, you need to stop this now, my child. And that shit inspired Me and my bro, we would play Xbox, we'd play Black Ops, zombies, and that'd be freestyling.
00:20:10
Speaker
and you i mean And I remember the exact chain of event, how it happened. Well, actually, no, I don't. know But I do remember us like bumping Jay Electronica, Exhibit C. And I remember around that time frame, like I just wrote, I wrote, I wrote some raps.
00:20:25
Speaker
I showed it to my son. he was way better than me. he was like, bro, you should have become a rapper. And I said, Huh? What's that? yeah How you do that? like yeah yeah What's a studio? like You know what I mean? Bro, what? First time wanted to record, I didn't know what a studio was. I just thought you just got to go to a mic and talk into it and something happens. And there you go.
00:20:46
Speaker
Rob Markman, No beat, no nothing, no lyrics. You just started rapping. Rob Markman, Once I got into more of my mom's influences, you know especially like you off all this shit with like, listen, you know everything I just telling you, feel me, I started just writing shit. And then I easily got into like Joey Badass, you know Beast Coast, Capitol Steeze, Underachievers, Dizzy Wright, the Hobsons of the time, you what mean? Like fucking Mick Jenkins, I could go down the fucking wall, Nipsey.
00:21:10
Speaker
though i i for me it was like i was so inspired by people speaking their truth and actually having a purpose and you know an impact of knowing that they matter and putting that in their songs yeah you know i'd bike riverside bro all the time studying bar structure without even knowing bar structure bro fucking joy badass asked me to spit him what 10 bars and i was like 15 14 bro i just kept rapping until he told me to stop i'm pretty sure went over 10 bars like yeah i i'll you know flipping like bro entendres and i was trying to flip on similes metaphor ah i was probably sounding like a different language respectfully though he's like yo he caught the ghost yo bro why i mean he showed me love that day though like it definitely you know that's kind of really how it started man it was an inspiration of you know the things i grew up influenced on what i already knew and what i was putting my eyes to and just kind of like the culture of you know ready just being in school going to school midtown and shit like that and just
00:22:06
Speaker
hearing different things, I was like, I fuck with this and I know I wanna do this and I wanna write, rap. I mean, yeah, cause we talked about, when last time I saw you, we talked about like you just being like, no, I'm gun-ho on making sure I make
Touring and Fan Connection
00:22:20
Speaker
this happen. And now you're about to be on your first like world, well, not world, but- National. Yeah, national. I always say world. i mean it' if we got We got one international day. We got Canada. you go We got Vancouver. Well, that's gonna be the 51st day soon. Of course.
00:22:35
Speaker
ah Right. Yeah. um But it like how does that to go from thinking about that moment where you were rapping in front of Joey Badass to how much work you've put because like if you if you aren't following him make sure you follow him because you in the studio I've never seen it. I feel like I'm a rat.
00:22:53
Speaker
Yeah, like you, I feel like you got like a traveling airbed with you. yeah. And then you just pop, just like, right, cool. live in the walls, bro. It's like gangster, bro. Like, i it feels so, not even surreal, because it's like when you do this for so long, man, you just know that like, this is literally your profession and your job. yeah And like, you have to become a savage at the business. You got to become a savage and you're creative. And I think like in a flash of an eye, kind of looking back, bro,
00:23:19
Speaker
it almost feels no different than when I started bro. You know, there's just more shit going on. The love for it is still the same. The jumpiness for it is still the same. The hype for it is still the same. Did I see this year?
00:23:30
Speaker
Me going on a tour for Sholee, did I think it'd be with Lord Skull? Nah. You know what I mean? Did I think Lord Skull was announcing a tour? Nah, you know what I mean? I kinda had the idea, though, it's like knowing what's brought me here and how I've got here, it makes full sense. You know what I bro? I fucking, you gotta like, this sacrifice. It's a life, it's an infinite stream, bro, and it's a sequence, and Tauren, is so essential because you got to educate people about you. know what mean? I got to go on that road. I got to meet these new faces. I got to get in those crowds, rub those shoulders, man. Leave that mark on these people because goddamn two years later from now, they going to get to say, I got to see Life of Tom for fucking $20, bro. And I'm going get to be like two years later. Holy shit.
00:24:15
Speaker
These people got to see me. And before that, I was thinking about these people going to see me. And now these people trying sell tickets to see me. You know what mean? So it's it's like it's just like so dope to see like how never stopping and never quitting and staying the course can bring you, bro.
00:24:33
Speaker
Even when you think you there, you got to nudge. And you got create a whole new world to show you that you're not really there. Keep going. Yeah, ah because like you, you've done the the big cypher.
00:24:46
Speaker
You know, you produce that beat. Yes, sir. Shouts on the radar, man. Yeah. But like, how did that come about? I know you talked about it on that breakdown episode, but like, how did it come about to where you were close with the crew there? Yeah, yeah, yeah. on the radar is everywhere No, it's staple, Nah, speak about it, man. Shout out Gay P, man. Shout to El Calvador. Shout out to John, man.
00:25:06
Speaker
Shout out to Rob. Those my brothers right there, man. um You know, I've been to about OTR for so long, and I remember my boy Iman Nunez kind of like giving me the nudge, like, yo, bro, like, you should really go fuck with him. Like, actually go see what's good. actually met El kl ah Cal on a line ah for Kenny Mason listening at RCA with RCA at Kitsune um like about damn near almost two years ago and no invite yeah yo yo it was like you know how much i like Kenny Mason bro it was so out of nowhere like I remember i remember like it was one of those like you don't even have the address like somebody had to just
00:25:44
Speaker
miraculously tap you on the shoulder and I remember like thinking whoa what is the fucking coincidence that like this motherfucker's right here and I remember at that time I really wanted to get in that circle you know fast forward damn near a year later putting out all these records you know seeding everything you know keeping the market in my plan straight for me um you know I ran it up did the Christmas cipher and then I think the more I just kept creating more value and incentive that made more sense for them to optimize as a company you know because I'm I'm, you know, I'm just an artist. I'm on the boots. I'm on the ground. I know, you know, I just know, you know, what's going to, for me and who should, you know what mean? So, I think like as time just continue happen, Cal fucking, we we I built, you a dope close connect with my boy, el Calvador, and he hit me up. and Gabe actually was the one I was like, I was just chilling there one day working and he was like, bro, can you do a cypher this year? And I was like,
00:26:38
Speaker
Sure. Fuck yeah. What? And then, you know, I got up with a couple of different producers, you know, Shouts LaRon, you know, Shouts Fight Back, you know, Jesus, Rondon, a couple other dudes. And, you know what mean? These are New York cats? These are all New York cats, you know what I mean? And, you know, these all different sessions I was doing. And right there, we got the beat, got it done. And the cypher happened. And now, more than that, I'm like, I have an ear for them. You know I In a way, you could say like, I help with A&R and over there, but like really, I'm just a fucking homie of the homies and I just put my hand in when I can and that's it.
00:27:13
Speaker
yeah Listen, I don't like that ah fuck Juan Soto bar, but the rest of it was fine. Yo, oh my God, bro. I remember when sun hit me the night before, like, yo, bro, should I really start it like this?
00:27:26
Speaker
I'm an instigator. So of course I said, fucking yes, what the fuck? As a Mets fan? No. You know, man, I'm a Yankees fan. But I love the Mets too. So I couldn't be so biased. yeah Nah, it was a great cypher, man. Soulchild, one of my favorites out that cypher, Wise Boar Jeremy, Kod Cash, Shouts Ben Bill on that cypher, Jordan too. A lot lot of great gray spitters on that shit. shit was fire.
00:27:51
Speaker
ah So like there is i'm always curious about the new bubbling like underground of the New York hip hop scene. Right. Like I got my homies like don't if you know, like my homies like I grew up with are. um why can't i say his name jonathan unitas okay uh joey okay uh but i'm like but they've been rapping at this like different area of underground hip-hop in new york and then there was the whole beat scene yeahp that occurred so i got my homies like nothing new you know um when fresh daily was here fresh daily was doing the whole like beat house stuff and stuff like that yeahp and then you know you see we've seen that like
00:28:34
Speaker
The rise of Arm & Hammer and the Backwoods people, you know, Backwoods Sound, right? So what is the the like, the area that you're in?
00:28:46
Speaker
Like, because I feel like, you know, the Lord's Go, the Yoshis. I want to talk about this. I feel like the ecosystem is kind of shaped right now because of the environment. You know, like, hip-hop is kind taking a new resurgence in the city and just in general, you know, people want to hear more that rap shit.
00:29:03
Speaker
But more, I think it's a little more than that, actually, you just want to hear some real good shit, man. Yeah. he just want feel that shit. They want hear that fire beat, those fire bars. You know, good songs. And I think between, you know, guys like myself, Lord Skull, dudes like Nico Brim, you know what mean? Dudes like Yoshi T, dudes like Cisco Swing, you know what mean? Like Mike, you mean? Like its fault so on and so forth, you know?
00:29:26
Speaker
i feel like Mike is the as in the ah Arm & Hammer level. He's like... In a way, yeah, I can say that. But he still keeps that reach. He still has that freshness to him where it's like I can feel, I can see the translation.
00:29:43
Speaker
you're saying you got a mic feature on the next album? Hey man, they printed the hip hop guys bro to get me that one. I put that shit on Twitter, that shit that blew up for like half a day bro. He dead seen it too, man. I got the like, bro. T-T-C-X Mikey, some shit like that. Oh, is it? I've been trying to find his Twitter. His Twitter's like mad weird, bro. It's like his email and same shit, bro. But no, no, no. I feel like I'm definitely in this kind like, it's just this new space that's like influenced from
Hip-Hop Resurgence in NY
00:30:08
Speaker
all that. Even like the Beast Coast shit, bro. know, the Griselda shit. You what I mean? you know, the Billy Wood shit, bro. Like, feel me?
00:30:14
Speaker
um and what's so dope it's refreshing it's refreshing it's new and it's real you know it's no there's literally like you you can't fake the funk with this shit but you either you either you either him or you not right simple and it's so dope you know it the way it's kind creating this old grass because like we haven't had a grip on something like that yeah it everybody's been saying that like no but New York does not have a sound. yo we we and it that's the thing. The city, especially with, you know, like, you know, mainstream rap for me, it's struggling, bro. Though it's figuring itself out. And I genuinely think if people come together and understand, like, this music is... It's it's it's it's on point, bro. And these people and, you these rappers...
00:30:58
Speaker
these producers, know I mean, they creating a whole world build that is essentially putting the city back on its fucking pedestal so everything else fall in line. You know what mean? That's kind of low-key how originally started. You know, it's just, well, New York is New York. And that's...
00:31:15
Speaker
that's that. Yeah. You know, we we be famous. One day we catch a trend and run it and burn the shit out down the ground. Or, you know, we might put eyes on the thing that's like, y'all, like. ah I do feel like every three or four years is like another Oh, we be having a little week with that. That'd be our cash. Go Bain. I feel was like the last one. Yo, cat and that's yo I fucking love what cash did, bro. Like cash, cash been taking over, man. Like slizzy's numb. Like they that's, that's cool, bro.
00:31:44
Speaker
And it's like, but yeah, and there's like so much different identities yeah and different layers of hip hop in New York that it's hard for people to be like, yeah, that's the New York sound. And I feel like that's kind of why like dudes like my so you know like myself and all the homies I just named and even others out of like, even the the Jersey influence, you know, Wise Boy, Jeremy, Chris Patrick, you know what mean? Soulchild, know what mean? You know, you know Justice x Xavier, like, you what mean? These are all like artists like...
00:32:13
Speaker
pushing the shit you you got these niggas coming over here you know rock the shows and hit the studio and shit bro so it's it's it's shifting it's just like you got you know real niggas is back in style you gotta give it sec yeah give it a sec it's shifting you know and that's not even to be biased you know it's just kind of the nature of the sound and the scale bro it's just how it shifts through time yeah it's history repeating itself all over again I mean, throughout this whole thing, I've been mentioning how hard you are at like how hard.
Striving for Greatness
00:32:43
Speaker
Wow. Pause. ah yeah ah I've been mentioning how hard working you are, how hard working you are. but like, where does that come from? ah stems from this. ah It stems from this valiant effort with that I've built from knowing that i'm have this vision that supersedes my time right now.
00:33:05
Speaker
And ah you know at the end of it, I want to be one of the greats. want to be one of the greatest of my generation. you know i want to be known as somebody that was able to shift and mold things into a new standard. into a new platform, but more than that, into a new logistic and something more holistic that we can enjoy.
00:33:20
Speaker
And, you know, at the forefront of that, is is is it's not just like, ah it's not ah just a thought, you know, it's it's something actually starting right now. It's just like, feel me?
00:33:32
Speaker
I, you know, i someone that, you know, it's like, When it came to virality, not really like, you know, you know yeah, certain things pop off here and there, but it's like, I never relied on that, bro, when it came to like, you know, even the do you know deals and like deal points and like working with certain partners, bro, I never really relied on that.
00:33:48
Speaker
You know what I mean? You know how much humiliation you got to go through, bro, to be fucking saying him right now talking about this shit, bro? Like, you know how much like, you know, 10,000 hours of fucking work, you know, and to really like be so confident, go in these buildings, go to like something like at Atlantic or like, you know, ah Columbia, you know, really sit there and speak to these A&Rs and these VPs and really tell them what's my vision and what I want. That literally stems from...
00:34:13
Speaker
me knowing that at the end of the day, i can't depend on anything but me, you know, and that's not to come out in a negative way or trauma. It's just like, this is my dream. It's my vision. And I'm going to make sure I'm going to bring myself to the greatest value. So anything around me working that and wanting to add on to that to, you know, incline it success for me.
00:34:36
Speaker
it's not like you're breaking your fucking back and you shouldn't have to, you know, unless you really like have to, bro. You what I mean? And I am so inspired by my fucking purpose. You what mean? People are always telling me they're so motivated, moved by my song. Yeah. People always telling me, yo, I'm sitting down my bro. Your songs are so good. Yo, I was going to work today. they Didn't want to go to work today. But this shit, yo, I was in the gym. It helped me get my last pump. like That is my gratification. you know My gratification, don't lie in some fucking you know watches, Rolex chains, Firefits.
00:35:10
Speaker
straight class, none of that, or Deals, none of that. It lies in what I'm educating to the world, what I'm receiving back, and this longevity, and the whole, and the journey that it takes to go then, you know, could sound like the shit straight out of a fucking book, but it's like, it's real. It's true and yeah it' is my life. yeah I've had to grind for everything brick by brick.
00:35:31
Speaker
like Literally brick by brick. And because of that, it's kind of crystallized things for me in a way where they stay tight yeah very solidified that's that's the style i like you know i mean when i look at the ogs when i look at the top dogs like they've built it ground by ground and if you know and they didn't really have to skip steps and if they did it was that was guys time and i was just the nature of what it was though for me i think like The slow process, bro, is the sturdy process. yeah i'm sure And it's not about being slow. It's just about being patient. You know you don't wait for yours. You understand and you sit and you ready to be patiently there to strike and really make sure all you need is one fucking hit. yeah Literally. Yeah.
00:36:17
Speaker
Somebody, I mean, because you talked, saw recently you were like, you went from 200 streams to 200K. Yo, yeah, yeah, yeah. 200 months. So I was, yeah, I was looking at my, looking at my Spotify for all these. I don't really be looking at it all. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, you know, when you rolling out these songs back to back, you kind of got to be on it, you know, looking at the data and shit. And I just peeped like, holy shit. Like, you know, we're damn near...
00:36:41
Speaker
on our way to like hitting 100k on the mufflies and that's sticking yeah it's sticking it's not dropping um it's not going up and down it's sticking and i don't care about numbers but the data shows it's working yeah and to me that's fire because you know now i can like go on something like this tour and be like oh like yeah those fucking 85 000 fans where the fuck y'all at? Pop out, know what I mean? And like we we can interact on Instagram and Twitter and TikTok and and to me it's just like, wow like fuck yes, yeah I fucking did that. yeah yeah i mean And dropping every month like this, bro, you know increasing the visibility, the awareness, you know what mean? like That's what gets you there, bro. Not not just for me dropping a thing and not making it matter. You got to make it matter because you got to know you matter. know what mean? And all those things kind of just, just what was the sprinkle to just getting me here?
00:37:38
Speaker
You know what mean? Like, but, you know, we on our way. No, yeah, for sure. Like one of my big things is just like, fostering community. yeah You touched on it a little bit, but like how do you how do you view your community? How do you continuously try to you know be interactive with them to the point that they feel you and they like you feel them back?
Community and Impact
00:38:01
Speaker
Man, low no, no, that shit is important. That's a good question, bro. Yeah, no, community is everything. Like, my my goal is, you know, to to to kind of, like, hit this thing so much from the inside out, bro, that, like, I feel like a real person of wealth is able to advocate, you know, like,
00:38:18
Speaker
you know like impact on others, you know, where it helps them change their life. You what mean? I feel like, you know, someone, you know, who thinks in that mindset can help create business ventures in other people's lives without even having to move a finger. know mean? It's just that inspiration, you know, that, that exuberance, you know what mean? of The result and the grind and the work and,
00:38:37
Speaker
know mean? Just putting your arm to it, feel me? And that's kind of what I want to do, man. Like, you know, i want i want to be able to, you know, do different producer camps. You know, I just did ah i just did a workshop in SAE Institute, um right over by like 18th Street in the city, man. a few It's like small class, bro. It's like, you know these students, man. And yeah and they... they they They there to test up recording me, you know, through all like, you know, through the boards and and the monitors. Wow. and That's like going like a barbershop, like barbershop school? Concept basically. You know what mean? Like they got to learn, you know, how to fade it out. a Yeah. It means, you know, trim it, fill me on.
00:39:14
Speaker
And no, no, no. It was really nice because it inspired that community aspiration that I had. You know, these, you know, these is people like from like damn near 18 like, 25 to like fucking almost 40 bro and they all asking these questions and you know what I mean they you know it was so nice and it and it made me realize like wow I want to be able to like open up some shit like that one day bro I want to be open to you know feed the libraries and schools you know throughout the nation one day and just knowing that's like a continuation of my work within like just this is my my statement my mission man like you know I'm here it's deeper than rap
00:39:50
Speaker
It is for sure. Which is why I was going to say after that. Now, how does the community around you help you? Because, you know, you touched on lambs a little bit, but they want me to win. But yeah, but like, um ah but I mean like the, the, yes, I understand that part, but like the, how do they influence you?
00:40:06
Speaker
it i think watching, like watching lambs, like do a fucking successful block party, bro, to celebrate the anniversary. Like, Fuck yeah. I want to fucking shut down a block for a day and perform. Put a stage, pack the whole shit out for a day. Even watching Wise Boy going crazy selling his cassettes and his vinyls, bro.
00:40:27
Speaker
That shit is fire, bro. like I want to you know keep doing that. you know i mean watching you know Watching the homies like for me like Like um Yoshi Jackson. you know Watching Whatmore, bro. Kind of like doing their thing, bro. like it's it's It's fine because it's not a Brock. It's not a PE. It's not a a fucking Flatbush. This is dumb. and and i'm so It's not that I'm so easily inspired. I'm just like like just that electricity, bro. I'll be feeling that shit, son. And that shit be making me just want to keep going.
00:40:59
Speaker
yeah i mean? And it's not about... you know It's understand, like, there's there's a trek to this shit, bro. And, like, we fake all falling in line, like, literally. and And everyone is just having all these great things happening for them. So it's like, holy fuck, what a time. Like, there's no way I can't be excited about the future.
00:41:16
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's it's super wild, like, especially to see. Because I remember when i I came across, like, Cisco's stuff, like, in, like, 2020, I think, super early on TikTok. Yeah. Like, all three of them.
00:41:28
Speaker
Yeah. And they were doing that, like, this is called The Last Show Ever whatever. Yeah, yeah. At that bar. Yeah, yeah yeah that that was crazy. Yeah, Shouts Jackson, he's still holding down over there. Right, right, Jake? Yeah, yeah. That's that bar, right? Yeah. Yeah, that bar is crazy. That bar is insane. And ah it's like, well, i still have to go. I wanted to go. I haven't checked out a show yet.
00:41:47
Speaker
I wanted to, yeah. the But it's like, it's so crazy to see that because like when I had Koda on, Koda talked about throwing, you know, his little, his like, ah his Flyboy stuff. Yep, yeah, Flyboy. Yeah, Flyboy stuff at the, um,
00:42:01
Speaker
at that bar that they were like they were like we were underage but we still had the bar like it's just it's so crazy to like see that that is still around that like what is i feel like like what's the basis of like making music in new york city is still around yeah um but like It's needed.
00:42:18
Speaker
It's what keeps it fresh, bro. And it's what keeps, you know, even the ones that are inspired off it. and Because they need some form of identity, identity to tap latch onto. Like, where do I start?
00:42:29
Speaker
You know what I mean? Respectfully, almost 25 years ago, that, where do I start? was gut-wrenching. You know what mean? You either goddamn had CDs, you either your vinyl, you either knew somebody, you either knew somebody hosting those great beat tapes, you either had somebody, you either knew someone hosting those good mixtapes, bringing it to radio, and that was like a nerve and a half to strike. Run into Bobito on the street and hope to free. like a stretch and just be like, yo, you know mean? Like just...
00:42:56
Speaker
Feel me? So yeah, no. it Nowadays to have it played out the way it is now and the way rolling, like I think it's good, bro. It's good. Yeah. And then, i mean, look, even just a shout out on the radar again, or like all the offshoots where whatever the one that Casual Band went crazy on, what's the one that was like the It's like on the block or something that? Oh yeah, yeah, from the block. From the block, there we go. shooters only. For shooters only, yeah. It's cool to have these different, you know, taste makers in a way that have created their own platforms, you know, for the speakers, you know, shout Soundfine, you know what I mean? Like, know mean? Like, there's so many dope platforms have come out now giving so much light, you know mean? And I think what's cool, you know, and obviously it's politics in them, bro, you know what mean? You can't, that's just what it is, but at the end of day- Politics in everything, Right. But at the end the day, it's carrying on tradition.
00:43:43
Speaker
You know what mean? And that's what we need the most. it's A lot of these people is doing it the right way and they not getting too reachy. Some of them is even their own communities checking them, bro, because they know that, yo, we can't have you fucking up, bro. Right, yeah.
00:43:57
Speaker
You know what I mean? We need this shit. They need this shit. You know what mean? And that's also the new blog era now, bro. Respectfully, you want to run press, bro. You're probably having more visibility come from paying a sleeping on gyms or some shit versus getting a paper mag, a Clash mag thing. I just keep it stacked.
00:44:16
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. mean, it makes more sense, too, because it's just like, yeah, they already baked in whatever, how many millions of ah followers or subscribers. And you're just like, yeah, I just got to get on there. Everything live on the gram these days. Yeah, for sure. Well, i because he we talked about on the radar profusely, but like that first freestyle, what did I feel like?
00:44:35
Speaker
I was fucking nervous. Bro. Nowadays, like... Because I be up... I be in the office, bro. Like, I got some new stuff coming up, man. Actually, me and Stoic got one coming out this week. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's going tough. Again, where's the invite? Yo, yo. come I want to come. why you i want to You should come to the next one with me and Plain Pat.
00:44:50
Speaker
Yeah. We actually supposed to do that, like, next week. actually need to call him and figure that out. Though, like... No, no, no. me know. The first one was so... It was so fucking, I was shy. i remember like my homegirl, Annabelle, she pulled up with me. And then like I just invited all my friends. like My boy Bobby came with me.
00:45:07
Speaker
ah Who else? I feel like a couple, a couple like I had like six friends with me. Gangsta. And I remember I had to redo my shit. I like did it. It was all like, who's going to be the guy that does it off the first take?
00:45:21
Speaker
what I mean? And I was like,
00:45:25
Speaker
No. I ended up being the guy that did it like six, eight times to get it right. No, but now, bro, you know what I mean? Just go and sell that shit, bro. Yeah. I mean, it's... It's the job. It is. It is. But it's also just like... it's Because i I went in there one time for s Sango. Sango did... Oh, I fucking love Sango, bro. Yeah. That's the oh it's the homie.
00:45:43
Speaker
And after his episode here, he took me there. Oh, fire. And so we went and... Oh, that was the Real's Recent. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And that was December, I think it was. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Something like that.
00:45:54
Speaker
um And then we went... It was November. We went and then there was like somebody pulled up and they were rapping. And I didn't see like first time I've ever seen it like that where it was just like outside of YouTube where it's like all put together and stuff. And I'm like, this is crazy. It's like they got it down pat.
00:46:13
Speaker
it's like a hat. Bro, it's one they almost similar setup here. one camera right there, another right there, another right there, you know, and they probably they got maybe like one of these fancy lights in there, but like when you go to like the engineer room, like, oh my god, computers everywhere, man. Gabe's fucking, you know, drinking the shit out of the monster, you know what mean? Just like, yep, yep, yep, yeah, cool, you know what mean? No, I love those guys, bro. That's family for sure. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's ah it like, but like, recording something and then putting it on some something that has like
00:46:45
Speaker
a million eyes off the bat always seems daunting. At first, it's little shook, but you got to do your thing. You got to sail it, bro. You got to sail it. I want to see more stuff like that, too, because I also feel like you know like ah give me like where's this you know i want to see like people from like that are rapping like ah Billy Woods and and more more of that more give me more of that feel like they definitely they definitely did a good job like giving more of that shine you know they had Common and Come On and shit you know mean a they always reach back for sure yeah yeah you know they they always they they've had like great a lot of great spitters on it you know you even between me and you right now I am working Mike on the radar right now oh yeah like I'm trying to get him
00:47:31
Speaker
Nice. Like I'm trying to get him. I need to be at that one. You need to be at that one. Give me that. Give me a there. I'm trying to get him. Yeah. Not an easy one, but. Yeah. Get the feature and him on. Oh, that's what saying. You know what I mean? Double cup. You know what mean? Like right there. I mean, it's just, it's crazy. I think that like, you know, what you're doing right now is just like, like I said, like seeing your growth and mean, listen to Coco Thausau, like what was your- Legend project.
Creating 'Coco Tassel'
00:47:59
Speaker
Yes. What was the inspiration or like, where did, what kind of mind frame were you in order to record that? Cause that, that album's fire. And if you haven't listened to it, please pause, not even, don't even pause it.
00:48:10
Speaker
Finish the podcast. Absolutely. And then tap into Tossil. I bumped that Coco Tossil, man. Produced by my man Stoic. Mix and Master by myself, man. That was a project we did around this time last year.
00:48:22
Speaker
um it was actually Ramadan. And yeah, Stoic, the mentality I was in, I was just really fucking like, I was off like a fresh release with Dash that I produced. I remember Static hit me up that same day, DM me like, yo, send me this.
00:48:34
Speaker
Do it right there on Shape 45. He bumping it. Like, know mean? I remember Spanish Ran was like, hit me up like, yo, this shit vibe. I was feeling it, bro. So, you know, I was having so many wins. i was fresh off the On The Radar at the same time. Like, you had like all these like, you know, like, kids kid kids take over. Like, you know what mean? Underground sound, you for the speakers. Like, it was all opposing me. Like, was just like a lot of, the lot of awareness all the time was like,
00:48:58
Speaker
Whoa, and then when people saw me and Stoic were now working on an album, that shifted things. Because like Stoic got this lore of being this YouTube legend. like He really is, bro. He's uploaded these beats. very And he's kind of he's kind of broken out some artists.
00:49:12
Speaker
yeah In a way, you know like I know Lexa's kind of like got a crazy like song with him. I know that was like kind of an influence to like some of her success. you know ah And there's like a bunch of like different other artists in the scene that just like have this affinity with his beats and shit. so yeah mom Yeah, his beats crazy. Oh, he's dope, man. He do that hip hop shit, that shit go. and And it was so cool for me like getting each session every week. you know Him keeping it up. He kept it a buck with me, man. like First session, he kept it a stack with me. was like this
00:49:44
Speaker
He was like, the way you be rapping, bro, you're not doing that on this one. but Oh, yeah. Like, he kept it a buck, man. He kept it a stack. And, you know, I, it was one of my first times someone, like, said that to me bleakly like that.
00:49:56
Speaker
And, you know, Stowe also, like, he was there in a writing a lot. Like, I'd be rapping and be like, yo, like, what if you, like, said this? I'd be like, oh, shit. And you know, it was so, it was one of my first times, and you know, an artist and a producer actually got to really like, really collaborate. And it was so cool, because it just kept inspiring this victory mindset, and then these new songs. And now it's it was so different from everything I was making before. The shift from Rue 44 to Cocotazo, bro, was like crazy. And at the same time, I just met Plain Pack that same month.
00:50:29
Speaker
And we started cooking up the LP that same month. And then at the same time, I was also redoing a whole album that I have like, Johan Lennox and like, Overcast and like some other cool homies on. So i was just in this super like, bro, fuck being number one, I gotta to just be like, I gotta fucking take all my force, my energy and like, just just aim at the top. And and i even that month, I remember April came, I dropped the gas.
00:50:54
Speaker
opened up for Marlin Craft at LPR May came dropped again opened up for Conway with Iman you know what I mean as far and like you know then June the project came out and and like the shift was so based on me just like I'm staying of course yeah you know was I overwhelmed a lot yeah bro what the fuck like I'm over here trying to write like some really good music and that's what it offset me too was Stoic was like I just want every song to be really good. yeah Like, um don't care what it is.
00:51:28
Speaker
Can this just be some, like, we need to make good songs, yeah great music. And I think the thesis is, if you're going think like that, then you know you have to deliver. You know you have to be strong. You don't have to trust your pen. You know you have to, you know, understand your value and your worth yeah and all that. So you know you him. So you know how going to show up. and and And yeah, yeah, bro, that that should change.
00:51:50
Speaker
Yeah, that project really definitely helped change like a lot of things for me, bro. Definitely stuck. It's still a wave right now. like People still reposting. Have you saying, oh, my God? Oh, my God.
00:52:02
Speaker
Yeah, but That's one of my favorite joints to perform live. that's Yeah, that shit fire, bro. Now, thank you so much, bro. Fuck with the project. I'm about to run it back when on the way back. Oh, you sure, man? Me and Jake, we probably going to do the same thing. Yeah.
00:52:15
Speaker
But the, um so like I'm hit you with my last question after that. But, yo, like I said, y'all got to listen to the album. I think that that that it's one of like my top albums from last year because I just thought you were gliding on that joint. It's definitely a special project, bro. Definitely one one of those. Like through time, it's going to cement. Like like there's going to be a motherfucker, bro. Eventually, like how the fuck?
00:52:40
Speaker
Like, does this only have this many views? Like, wow, this is the best shit in the world. It's going Anthony Fantano. Yo, probably. Yo, actually, I remember this for actually the Coco Tazo release party um at Loudmouth. He reposted the flyer. Oh, yeah. He actually reposted the flyer. And I remember, ah i remember he actually, I think he did my boy Tal. And he was like, yeah, like going like, let's see what's up.
00:53:03
Speaker
Mm hmm. don't know if came through that. was mad late. He's just in the back. He's not here yet. I'm out of here. He's probably in cut. I don't know. You know what I mean? But yeah. All right. So my last question, I always ask this every episode. It deals with a little visualization. I want you to go back to young young Tom.
00:53:22
Speaker
You know, he's about to he's about to get those black cement threes, right? Now you're you transported back in time. What would you tell your younger self as he opens that box? I mean going back in time.
00:53:36
Speaker
What would I tell myself going back into that box? I would say.
00:53:48
Speaker
Take your time, kid. Like, you know what mean? I understand, you know, you really want things badly because you're so joyous and so happy to be here. Take your time because that light, little kid, like, you never want that, like, to be removed from you. That's what's going to keep you moving. That's what's going to keep you in the best feats, you know, the best sneakers, but more like the best movement.
00:54:14
Speaker
Yeah, i mean, that's that's the way I tell that I tell that kid like take your time, bro. Like, you know, I mean fucking dudes is becoming millionaires by fucking 40 50, bro. Like take your time. Yeah, I mean, you got all the pace in the world to, you know, before you fly, you got to fucking, know, run before you run. You got to walk before you walk. You got to crawl, man.
00:54:34
Speaker
Like. Take your time. Take your time. You know what I mean? You're have mad fun, bro. Don't overthink You know what mean? Whatever. going to to school. Everybody's going to cut your ass saying they fake. You're going to take your shoe off be like, oh, really? yeah i mean you go show him yeah i mean like and You know I mean? You don't have to go off opinions. or You don't have to build anxiety off the judgment of others or people around you.
00:54:59
Speaker
your fucking self. Yeah. let everybody know where to find you man yo man y'all can find me man life of time life of thom man everywhere man yo check me out on law school you know mean piff the piff tour we everywhere man 15 cities man yeah come check us out man i'll be i'll be there april yeah man you know i got it i got it my boys performing the right before y'all yeah oh word yeah so i'm be there for from six to like oh you can't damn you gonna be in building but yeah yo 15 cities man we're here on the map man east midwest west coast take us on sale right now come check the kid out direct support fucking here yes sir you where to find me i am who is hot on all social medias follow the podcast at my first kicks pod if been listening to this
00:55:42
Speaker
This is on YouTube. hey but hit Go subscribe to the YouTube. Click that, man. YouTube.com slash at My First Kicks. um If you have a My First Kicks story, hit me up.
00:55:52
Speaker
Yeah. my Info at MyFirstKicks.com. um We got shirts. Shirts is coming out. You know, order a shirt. Get that merch, man. Yeah, sell, sell, sell, sell. I'm trying to sell them out.
00:56:04
Speaker
And then buy some merch when you go see Tom. Yeah, yeah, yo, yo, yeah. Definitely bring us some merch on the road, y'all. Limited, exclusive things, y'all what mean? But yeah, yo, support us, man. If you seen, I'd be rocking his merch. Nah, you definitely do. I ain't gonna front. You definitely do, bro. That shirt was fire, bro. That shirt was fire. It was good time for it to come out. I'm not gonna front. Yeah, yeah. That shirt was fire. I was like, yeah, got cop.
00:56:23
Speaker
Yeah. And ah you know what say each week, man. Wear your kicks. Peace.