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The Places Sneakers Take Us, Alfred Banks Returns
144 Plays9 days ago
This week Alfred Banks returns to the podcast, we last spoke almost 4 years ago when I first started the podcast. We catch up on the accomplishments we have achieved since then. I also touch on my time in Cincinatti for the Piggy Runners Adistar release. Alfred talks about the creation of SaxKixAve and their upcoming album. Also performing at the Super Bowl and the path his has carved since his last appearance.
Where to find Alfred:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alfredbanks
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@underdogcentral
X: https://x.com/underdogcentral
SaxKixAve: https://www.saxkixave.com/
Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks
Music by The DoppleGangaz: https://thedoppelgangaz.bandcamp.com/
Recommended
Transcript
2017 Jordan Brand Showcase Experience
00:00:00
Speaker
um remember the first time I did a 2017, I did a show ah with with Jordan, Jordan Brand showcase for All-Star Weekend at Kennedy, New Orleans.
00:00:10
Speaker
And it was me, Tango the Bangers, A Boogie with the Hoodie and some other artists. And up they brought us backstage and was like, yo, pick out a pair of Jordans you want. And I was like, burp. And I got the Motorsport 4s.
00:00:23
Speaker
And I still got them. You got them. Those are in the Hall of Fame. They still got the sticker on the side. I got my name on. I'm like, Lord. i got free. So I never forget that moment as long as I live, man. So I totally understand feeling.
Introduction and Guest Update
00:00:41
Speaker
What's good everyone? Welcome back to My First Kicks. This is episode 215. And this week, I bring back another guest that we've had on previously, Alfred Banks. Welcome to the podcast, man. Hello, hello.
00:00:54
Speaker
Hope all is well. Yeah, man. It's been a straight long time since you've been here. you were one of the first like, I don't know. I want to say, I think you're you're around. i could i don't have i don't put episode numbers on, like visual episode numbers. You would have to like look in behind yeah to see it. But we looked ah we looked at it earlier. You were in 2021 the last time you were on here, man. That's wild, man.
00:01:15
Speaker
That's wild. Time just flies. yeah you know But it's good to be back, man. very proud of you. and That was Zoom interviews, too, man. They were terrible. Yeah. But it's all good now, man. We leveled up a little bit. yeah Yeah, for sure. I mean, that was when I, especially because like for people who are new, because I've had some so significant growth as of, as of late, but the, there's like, it's funny because the beginning part of like the first hundred episodes, I had no video.
00:01:42
Speaker
Right. And then, and then i was just doing a straight audio episodes and I didn't even put them on YouTube. And then episode a hundred with Dave Ortiz, you know, i was just like, It's Dave, I gotta put it on. So from there, I got the the itch to keep putting on there. But and I mean, you've been doing a lot. not Not just talk about me, you've been doing a lot, you know? well yeah Since then, since
Documentary and Personal Struggles
00:02:05
Speaker
2021? Yeah, it's been, what, it's four years. So yeah, we've we've done a few things, man. I'm very, very excited, ah very happy.
00:02:11
Speaker
I'm much better space, man, mentally. you know Music is doing pretty good. know what I don't know. What can we say? We're going to have to talk about it. no Don't be shy. Don't be shy about it. Let's get it. but But first, let's talk about why you're here because you know you're pull you rarely come to New York. Yes. you know So what what brings you out here?
00:02:33
Speaker
By the time this airs, that yeah I got reached out um to, ah so I put out a documentary um in December. It's called Alfred Banks Standing By Himself.
00:02:43
Speaker
And ah it's pretty much about my my come up and like, you know, my ah grind and like where I'm at right now. And ah so we put the documentary out. People checked it out.
00:02:54
Speaker
Apparently it made its way up here. Some folks here saw it. and ah they work in a community center ah in Manhattan and they wanted me to go speak to some kids because if you know I was homeless at one point yeah you know things have happened to me and so they want me to kind of come speak to kids who are of that kind of same going through those same circumstances right and showing them that you can push through you can make it if you grind out um put some work in and so I'm kind going to help you know hopefully speak to those kids and maybe push them in the right direction kind of us that's what's got me up here in New York But yeah, I don't come up here often, bro. I'm super excited to come up here on such a good tip.
00:03:28
Speaker
And then you get to see friends. You know what mean? Yeah, I mean, yeah. You hit me up. It like, we got to do this. Oh, yeah. Come on, man. I'm not coming to New York and not hitting my people up here. That's how we do it. You really think that you can keep watching this episode without like, subscribing, or leaving a comment?
00:03:42
Speaker
Come on, man. And also, if you've been listening to this episode, leave a review. But back to the episode Nah yeah Look you've been doing Especially cause of this And you know Recent success Sax Kicks Ash Come on man I gotta slow down As I say Come on man It's all good Take your time Sax Kicks You've been doing A lot of press too You know so Yeah man What's pushing you to To keep doing that a documentary? We back outside.
Upcoming Music Projects
00:04:07
Speaker
We back outside. um I have a new single that I'm i'm gonna be dropping ah within the next few weeks. It's called Get Back, featuring my bro, Pell. So it's gonna be like- Shout out, Pell, man. Yes, that's my boy, ah Global Warming.
00:04:19
Speaker
ah So we're gonna be dropping some stuff ah very soon. It's gonna be me popping back out on the solo tip. um got a new pride i got I did a a show with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra last year, which is really tight. yeah And so we got the album coming out with that.
00:04:33
Speaker
And then I have my solo EP coming out as well. So we got a lot of cool things coming in. Sass Kicks Ab, we have our first live album coming out. and wow And we got a new single version of a Arctic. We have a song called Arctic that kind of like jumped for us, putting out a live version that. So yeah, we got a lot of music coming in the next few months, man. so we We back outside, man. That's all it is. Hey, man. You know, shoot.
00:04:52
Speaker
We met when we were staying inside. So it's crazy. Pandemic times, you know. You know, it's real funny because I was like on the way
Clubhouse Connections and Hip Hop Discussions
00:04:58
Speaker
here. I was like reminiscent of just like how we we first connected. It was all over Clubhouse. Come man. It's crazy how we have buried that damn app. Like, okay.
00:05:09
Speaker
We were like, we're good. like yeah We're never going I don't even know nothing about it. I'm good off that, man. thats wild That was a very much a stamping time. that know it's It's so wild because so many of my interviews have come from, like the bit with the way when I was first starting, like so many of my interviews came from that era because it was just,
00:05:30
Speaker
the best place to to just practice i guess like spend spent eight hours on there talking to people every single day might as well translate that into some content yeah exactly love talking about like i used to get on that app just talk about hip-hop right and i want to talk about hip-hop for the obnoxiously long amount of time yeah that was only place to do it you know even the most dedicated hip-hop head at some point wants to stop but those people want to talk about it for forever and that's why i got my hip-hop fix so it was cool while it was but you know, now we ah we back outside in real life. so
00:06:00
Speaker
Were you ever on OK Player? Were you on like... Nah, that was a little bit before my time. Yeah, facts, facts. That's where we would talk hip hop all day. Man, look, I can only... Them and Nike talk. You know, those are the two spaces where i I was... It was a little bit before me and I wish I could have been very able to indulge. Shoot, man. I mean, it's crazy because...
00:06:19
Speaker
I had like Von P. I don't know. Tonya Morgan. Yeah. Don Will and Von P both on. And they were both like are OK player like like old heads. I want to say my bad. My bad. If you if you yeah come back and beat you up. That's crazy. Questlove is like listening to it this like he's right.
00:06:37
Speaker
But no, seriously though, man, like those are the spaces where i I wanted to be at to kind of like have the conversation I wanted to have about hip hop, about obscure artists and and different things like that.
Podcast Networking and Relationships
00:06:48
Speaker
And that's where it was for a little time it was. So it's just dope, but glad to have met you on there. And now look at us.
00:06:53
Speaker
You're on there. Yo, first, so like before we we got in here, ah you know, we were looking at my my my piggy
Sneaker Enthusiast Event in Cincinnati
00:07:01
Speaker
races. Come on, man. What are we doing, Come on now. ah So shout out to Phil and everybody at Unheard of. You know, they invited me out to Cincinnati. i I wanted to tell you on the podcast so you can hear about the experience. Of course.
00:07:12
Speaker
absolutely crazy event like you know being able to be ah invited out there and you know just thinking about where i first started off of like you know the first couple episodes or whatever and now i'm here to be an ass to come out to do like be part of this event is like forever grateful because it's like a once in in a life the life type of like thing yeah for me you know because like you know When you're collecting sneakers, you don't think you're... You just feel like, all right, I just got to keep paying for these for the rest of my life. You know, like, like I'm part of this thing. And you don't you don't think that you can actually make something around it until you see other people do it.
00:07:51
Speaker
You know? And, you know, so such like Saks Kicks Ave. Oh, my God. I can't say it. Oh, it's all good. No one can. Nobody can. So... Yeah. But... but but It's like, it's so wild how you, we were able to like intergrain our like interest and make it, jobs make it actually do something for us too, you know? So, you know, I got to Cincinnati, you met up with a ton of the other sneaker people that we, that you see all around that I'm always posting on former guests. Like I,
00:08:18
Speaker
Jazz, Jixie Kixie, who's going to come on again soon this year. um Aaron, former guest. KO from ATATF, a former guest. ah Got to meet with Dez from Nice Kix. Yeah, I met him. ah super Super Bowl happened in New Orleans. Yeah. definitely going to talk about that. Talk about it. Got to link up with um Elena from Sneaky League.
00:08:40
Speaker
Yeah. Dope. We had some great conversations. Soon, maybe. um ah And then and several other people, you know, but the event was so dope. he Phil put this this ah put this together where it's like a friend's family event where you're able to cop the sneakers.
00:08:57
Speaker
um It seemed like everybody in the city who's like actively going to Unheard of was invited as well to cop the sneakers. And then he dropped like ah ah just a blue pair that you can only get there. Yeah. right And so these are only limited to 1,500 and the blue pair was limited to 1,000.
00:09:15
Speaker
I got to talk to him for a little bit. Hopefully future guests. I don't know if I keep foreshadowing. He's definitely going to be a guest. um but But ah ah like he did this in this American Sign Museum, right?
00:09:27
Speaker
yeah And I took a ton of piece pictures, but like I spent so much time talking to people. ah like I was hanging out with Winona Kix and Dez and Producer D pulled up with me too. So like we we were there just like conversing and talking about like, you know, it to me, I was just like, it's wild.
00:09:44
Speaker
And then um some people came up to me, ah shout out to Dre Sean and Kixology. They came up to me were just like, yo, they listen the podcast. Absolutely wild to get that. You know, right? Like, um You think, because like i I always move, and I mean, we talking about this earlier as well. like I always move.
00:10:01
Speaker
like I don't think anybody's listening. um Five percent. Five percent, man. it saves you. saves you a It saves you all that a weird energy of trying hard whatever. You're just like, man, you know what? I got this thing starting to bubble, but maybe you never heard of it. Let's get it going. yeah then you get It leads up for nice surprises. It's like, oh, you know me. Aw. That's really dope man so that' I like that cause like for me ah Realizing that people are listening Is more of like a shock Like not not of like like the The happy surprises is cool um But The shock of like wow people actually Are really listening you know ah And I'm grateful for everybody That's listening and I'm sure you're grateful That's love for all your listeners too,
Fan Recognition and Impact
00:10:45
Speaker
man. It'd be so wild. Like, especially with like Sash Kicks, like listening to fans, like say the words back to me. Yeah. It's just like, whoa, you are saying the words back. What is going on here?
00:10:58
Speaker
Or like, I see it in a couple of videos. You do the the the the standing, like you just standing there. Not in real life. Not in real life. Well, Come to the show you'll see.
00:11:09
Speaker
That's what I'm saying. I see it like you did. You have done. So we yeah, we we we we mess around with it. We try to, so it brings the familiarity, but then we break right out of it and get into the back. but But we definitely like try. i try my best to, now that I know people are like actually listening and repeating and using our words as captions and stuff,
00:11:27
Speaker
I'm like, okay, now I'm like thinking more about what I put into the bars more than ever. it's super fun. But no, I totally feel that, man, where it's like you put some work in. And I remember ah first time I did a, 2017, I did a show ah with with Jordan, Jordan Brand Showcase for All-Star Weekend at Kennedy,
Memorable Free Jordans Event
00:11:46
Speaker
New Orleans.
00:11:46
Speaker
And it was me, Tango the Bangers, A-Boogie with the Hoodie, and ah some other artists. And they brought us backstage. was like, yo, pick out a pair of Jordans you want. And was like, and I got the Motorsport and I still got them you got them those are in the Hall of Fame they still got the sticker on the side I got my name on I'm like Lord got free Jordan so I never forget that moment long as I live man so I totally understand that feeling for sure I mean, it's crazy, man. Like, yeah, i to be honest, I took the the tag off of my bag because ah the bag the bag that Phil made for these kicks were gigantic. I'll show you a picture after.
00:12:27
Speaker
But the event was crazy, man. Like, seeing old signs, I don't know if you've ever been to, like, a sign museum, like an American sign museum. Next time you're in Cincinnati. Yo, by the way, I love, I go there all the time. Shout my boy Santino Corleone.
00:12:40
Speaker
It's my dog out there. Nah, Cincinnati's lit. love it. Next time you're out there, well, you say you
American Sign Museum Visit
00:12:45
Speaker
hit record. go to Unheard of too, a lot actually. Yeah, yeah. But make sure you check out that American Sign Music because it's like, I'll show you some pictures and I'll put a little bit on on my Instagram, but they had like had so like They had a gas station set up, like the old school gas station with the pumps and all that. Yo, they had old McDonald's signs. They had like a- Wait, old McDonald's?
00:13:07
Speaker
did it Was it a farm? Nah, there was no farm there. But ah KFC, they had all the seasonings, every single original recipe. Wow, that's tough. That's crazy. That's tough. crazy.
00:13:19
Speaker
um I wish I knew more niche Cincinnati spots, because I would like to see those like specific. I think it's like a chili spot that's like niche. Yeah, Ben's Chili Bowl. Yeah, facts. No, no, no. Ben's Chili Bowl is Skyline Chili. Skyline Chili. That's what it My bad. You're about to get both of us beat up. That's crazy. Yeah, Skyline, man. Every time I go there. The is about to come out for me, man. Every time they hit me, every time I go there, I go to Skyline and um yeah get some food. Yeah, it's super dope, man.
00:13:48
Speaker
so i didn't I didn't grab any Skyline because i was ah it was in and out. I was in Friday and I bounced out Saturday, so I can't take a chance of, I don't know if you go to the bathroom on the plane like that.
00:13:58
Speaker
ah I mean, yeah, but but not for everything. yeah Exactly. feel me? Yeah, is there's a is a line. There's a line. A very hard that we don't we don't cross ever.
00:14:10
Speaker
i Because I can't. Yo, oh my God. we It has to be dire. It has to be straight dire. It's situation. would literally sit there and like. It's a situation. I'd just be like, no, I just got. I've had i've had a food poisoning on pa a plane. Yeah. ah Flying home from.
00:14:24
Speaker
Where was I flying home from? I think was flying home from a Chicago or something. And I had ah i had had food poisoning. That is the worst. Because food poisoning sucks because like, don't know about you, but when I'm sick like that, I wanna move, I wanna roll around. yeah I can't do none of that. so i'm in this I'm in the middle seat.
00:14:43
Speaker
In between two people. having to get up and do all kinds crazy. It was wild. like, man, this is the worst. At one point, they didn't be like, right, you could take the aisle seat. Yeah, it did, actually. I was going to say. Towards the end of the flight, it was like, yo. would have been like from the jump. Nah, it was an hour and a half flight. It was a connector from Chicago to somewhere, then somewhere to back to the Long story short, yeah, they show love 40 minutes when the flight was over. It was like, come man.
00:15:08
Speaker
Yeah, so. And you getting dehydrated? She was like, let me get some water. Bro, at some point, the lady with the flight attendant was kind of like, she's giving me water, bro, like showing love. They gave me this thing that apparently like this that's supposed to like, it's like this spice that you crunch on, it's supposed to fix your stomach, and it didn't work.
00:15:27
Speaker
it was a It was a lot going on back then. They got like army shit up there? Yeah. Because that sounds like something they give to the army. The the flight attendant herself had it. Oh, okay. Honestly, I feel like, yo, if you're on a plane, they got to have some like, all right, this person got like nausea. I'm sure.
00:15:45
Speaker
We got you. Bam, it's gone. I'm sure. But they didn't they didn't lace me. So i had to thug it out. yeah yeah They tried to do everything they could without giving me the stuff that worked. And I thugged it out. Yeah. ah We didn't make a reference, but if you, but like I said in the beginning, Alfred, this is your second time on here. yeah So go back and shoot. if you can you can If you can withstand not watching us on video.
00:16:12
Speaker
Definitely go back to his his first appearance on here. We talked about his journey in New Orleans. You told me not to go to New Orleans because you said it stink. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Bourbon Street. Bourbon Street is crazy. But everyone else is beautiful. We also talked about his first pair the pair he absolutely needed to have, which are the Terminator, Swagger Terminators. got them now.
00:16:31
Speaker
That's lit. Yeah, for real. He also pulled out a pair of Red Octobers, if I remember correctly. Oh, Lord, man. Different time, buddy. Different time.
00:16:44
Speaker
But it's like you've grown so much, right? Like in the beginning, like we were all still trying to figure out what we were going to do. like Right. So I definitely want to hear about from that last moment we had that conversation and to basically now, like,
00:17:00
Speaker
What was that? Where is there moments in your life where you're just like, oh, i don't know what I'm doing. Is there like catch me up? So around that time, 2021, man, my ah yeah, my day job had closed.
2021 Reflections and Personal Growth
00:17:13
Speaker
I lost 60 shows and my my seven year relationship ended. So every my whole world just came from under me, right? So that's 2021. Around that time, had just dropped a project called One Guy Standing By Himself, which was shaking me back. like People were buying and showing love, supporting.
00:17:30
Speaker
We was going to cover some local magazines back home in the city, which was cool. My first time doing that. um And in 2022, 2023, that's right around the times I kind of jumped in with Sass Kicks Ab pretty heavy. And ah so did Albert. and whether the ah I want to know where the inspiration for it came from. So what happened was Albert was in a band called Tank of the Bangas, right?
00:17:54
Speaker
And he was a saxophone player, flute player. And I toured with those guys in like 2018. Yeah. I was under their management. ah And so.
SaxKicksAve Project Origins
00:18:03
Speaker
These, these, this, the band. I'm trying to remember.
00:18:07
Speaker
You did a bunch of shows. Cause I remember seeing you performing with a band, but like it was under one name. It was like, it wasn't like with Alfred Briggs.
00:18:17
Speaker
It was like. How many people were in the band? I'm trying to remember. It was like a full band. It was stage. Yeah. It's either Soul Rebels or it's Tank of the Bangas. Okay. And I thought it was probably Tank the Bangas. Okay. I toured with them pretty extensively. And so- were you It's my bad. like were you were you Were you like an added piece to it? where I was just opening up the tour. So it was like- So then why would- If if you're part of the opening- I thought you were part of with the band, like you were rapping with them. what happens is like, especially on that run, so both Soul Rebels and me, so it depends on who you're talking about. I feel like it might be Soul Rebels. But if we're talking about Tang of the Bangers, what happened was we would like, it was Tang the Bangers' headlining, I was the opener, and then at the end of their set, they would bring me up to like freestyle or do whatever if i was going to do. So that's kind of like how I got on stage with them kind of vibe.
00:19:01
Speaker
But we're we're hanging backstage. I'm talking with Albert. Albert is just like funny. is I was like, man, this dude is hilarious, man. Who is this guy? And so we're both closer in age, so like we have a lot in common in that regard.
00:19:14
Speaker
We're completely different people, but like we have a lot of similarities. yeah And ah Tavia, our old manager, was like, yo, y'all should get in the studio. Albert makes beats. You rhyme. Y'all should make some stuff. We get in the studio, and we laugh for like,
00:19:27
Speaker
three hours before we even started making music. And I was like, yo, this dude is really funny, man. He's quick. I'm throwing like darts. He's throwing right back. I'm like, okay. He got the sarcasm down. He he quick with it. I'm like, all right.
00:19:39
Speaker
I rock with this dude. We started making some music. It felt real good. I was like, man, like, I really like creating with this dude, man. So I was like, yo, you to make this a thing? And we kind of like made it a thing. We'll probably do like a one-off thing, put out a project. It's something to do during the pandemic.
00:19:53
Speaker
Once pandemic's over, we'll get right back to what we was doing in Salt Love. yeah Well then what happened was we put out the first project, Out On Wear Suits. People started jamming it. 2022 we put out a, what was ah Nectarine Pills, right? 2022, 2023 we put out a project called Nectarine Pills.
00:20:09
Speaker
um It started kind of doing well. We had a song called Kaleidoscope with Pell that kind of did well. A song called Cheeks Off Of Out On Wear Suits that kind of did well. And then 2023 happened, man. like we We were doing the Abbott and Costello thing, doing a lot of skits. yeah And then one day i was like, yo, man, we need to like do stuff that's more like you know like like music related. So like you play sax, I rap.
00:20:29
Speaker
yeah So you play, I'm find beat. Let's just rap over it. I rhyme over it. You play sax over it. It's familiar to people. Maybe they like it, whatever. Put it out. And just felt good to do. And then we had a video just kind of went, it was ah I rapped over the... um the Wii Sports boxing thing. Yes, that one crazy. And that one went viral on TikTok. It just kind of went from there and then wrapped over to all that theme song. That one, I love that one. that was okay So then it didn't just got crazy. It was so many. So that's what happened, man. Like we just kind of like fell into something beautiful and then we just put out our new album, Terrell Charbonneau.
00:21:02
Speaker
That's doing super well right now and people are checking it out and jamming it. What's the name? It's called Terrell Charbonneau. Is that like somebody you know?
'Terrell Charbonneau' Album Release
00:21:10
Speaker
So my middle name is Terrell. His middle name is Charbonneau. Oh, that's...
00:21:15
Speaker
I was like, you just named him. Like, yeah, he's just my best friend. Yeah, he's like dog. He helped me move that one time. I mean, look, that's a fire name. If you were like, all right, I'm going to redo my whole rap career. I'm just going to come out like, I don't know, like a grindcore rapper or something. don't know. Hey, yo. Terrell Charbonneau great. Nah, but nah, Deadass, like, we definitely, like, because the album is, like, us.
00:21:40
Speaker
Right, yeah. And we wanted to wade for it to, like, We want the album title to sound smooth and sophisticated, but be us, Terrell Sharpeno. And the album's doing very well. We just put out the deluxe. We got Big Freed on there. Who we got on there? We got ah Big Freed on there. My man Crucial from Global War, man.
00:21:56
Speaker
We got... Oh, man. Who's... a Mac from No Limit. That was a big dream come true for me. um land is would My oldest brother, Landis, would be like so excited for that. So Mac, we got Big Freed there.
00:22:07
Speaker
Who else we got on that bad boy, man? We got a few, I'm forgetting, but we got a few folks on the album. Make sure you make sure you tap in. Definitely. But long story short, that's how Saks Kicks app came about. um It started off as a side thing. yeah And then, you know, it became way more than a side thing. Right, yeah. While doing that, you know,
00:22:24
Speaker
you're also pursuing pursuing your music as
Balancing Projects and Creative Management
00:22:27
Speaker
well. So um how do you balance the two? and And I'm going to ask a sneaker question too. yeah are you Are you also collecting sneakers as well at the same time? Because I feel like you're just busy.
00:22:40
Speaker
You say, bro, I buy way too many shoes. yeah It's like obnoxious at this point. Yeah, but you saving. You a thrifter. feel me? like i don't If it ain't the last... I'll wait for that album to come out, Big Thrift.
00:22:55
Speaker
Hey, yo. applemo um I'm trying to think, like what's the last full... To answer your question, yeah ah what What was your question? It was a- so how do you balance?
00:23:05
Speaker
Yeah, how do you balance both? The balance, man, it's, I have to like, I give them both the time they need, right? So like with Alba, we link up like two days a week to create, whether it's videos or something or to make some music.
00:23:21
Speaker
um So when I'm in SassKicks mode, I'm in SassKicks mode. like We just had a meeting yesterday morning about some stuff and ah some publishing stuff and that's SassKicks time. But then right when that meeting ended, I jumped on a meeting about Alfred Banks. So it's like, I just engage in it as it comes, whatever it is. So if it's SassKicks Ave, we just put it put the energy towards that. And if it's solo, then we put the energy towards that. Like right now, I'm on a solo trip doing some stuff. So yeah you know he's back at the crib doing whatever he's doing. So I'm doing stuff with SassKicks Ave.
00:23:49
Speaker
That's kind of how I do it I just like Do it as it comes along Like if it's something That's solo Then we rock out If it's Sass Kicks And me and my dog Rock out type of vibe And yes I'm collecting shoes The whole time Because I'm going to All these different cities Like tomorrow morning I'm going to have A few hours off And I'm going to go thrift And I'm going to go see What I can get you know what mean give you some spots please do yeah uh so like that that's that's what we on man um definitely trying to like just keep the balance there because i i you know i'm a i can't really like stay in one thing for too long i have to move around because that's just how my brain works i start to feel claustrophobic and i get weird so like i need to do some sass kicks energy and then do some solo alfred bank stuff and then do some stuff with other bands and other you know ghost writing for people or doing whatever writing hooks for people and stuff so
00:24:34
Speaker
I'm all over the place with that man. I enjoy that being busy type of thing. At what point did you say, oh Snap Music is actually paying for me?
Career Milestone with Volkswagen Commercial
00:24:45
Speaker
Man, around like 2016, 2016 when I did the Volkswagen commercial. So ah Volkswagen, ah the the Polo, which is the European version, I think that's their Jetta.
00:24:57
Speaker
oh They licensed my song Homecoming. that was the first five-figure check i ever got from rap yeah and i was like wow that was nice so that was the moment I was like whoa you can make money from this thing and uh being able to do that a little bit more often and then we just got the Peloton commercial that just popped yesterday so it's like okay people are cutting check this is cool yeah yeah but it took about about 12 years before we got to a space where, well obviously, if I'll be honest with you, I only quit my job because of the pandemic. The store closed down. If it wasn't for that, probably still be working there. ah But I definitely am glad that I jumped out.
00:25:35
Speaker
I've been full time four years and that's been great. But ah between the whole the homecoming, license the Peloton license. oh we did We had a song at a TV show called The Crossovers, a Disney Plus show.
00:25:46
Speaker
um So we we we definitely working in that regard and and not tour very frequently and putting out music, people stream it, people check it out. So, you know, things are Things are pretty cool. i'm not man I love that. i love that. it's It's funny because now you just brought we were talking about thrifting and, you know, we try to find finds in ah Burlington.
Humorous Sneaker Encounter
00:26:06
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Marshall's.
00:26:08
Speaker
So let me tell you about yesterday, man. i go to i go to I go to Burlington yesterday because I'm looking for a gift from my mom for her birthday. Shout out, mom. But in your mom's too.
00:26:19
Speaker
But but ah so I'm at Burlington and I'm like, let me go look at the sneakers section. You never know. You might find yeah you got to go take a pee. Right. So I'm looking and they got Sabrina's. They got the the like the midnight midnight colors, like the purple joint.
00:26:31
Speaker
What? Fire. But they're size 17. Of course. Right. So I'm there. But I'm rock I'm rocking like some beat. I'm rocking my my beater ah Jordan 4s, the winterized Jordan 4s or just whatever for them.
00:26:44
Speaker
So. I'm standing, I'm just looking through the rack, and this guy's like, I just hear it out the corner of my ear, or I hear it in my ear, hey, yo. And I'm like um'm like, is that like my headphones or something? Because I'm listening to somebody talking in my headphones.
00:27:00
Speaker
And he's like, hey, man, you. And I was like, me? And I look, he's just like, he goes, I see you wearing Jordans. ah um Can you tell me what these are?
00:27:10
Speaker
And he's he has like a pair of LeBron Zoom Generations. Bro, they were fire, right? They were fire. It was a pair of Zoom generations. They were just like, I don't know. It had like designs on the side. it were it was the Cleveland colorway. I've never seen them.
00:27:28
Speaker
Clean, clean. And he's like, he goes to he's like, you look like you know about s sneakers. And I didn't want to be like, yeah, I got a podcast. I'm literally talking about sneakers every day, bro.
00:27:39
Speaker
And I didn't want to say that because I don't want it to be ah open to Kenner Worms. So then he's like, he's like you wearing Jordans? Are these legit? And I'm like, yeah, they're legit, bro. He's like, I've never been in here.
00:27:52
Speaker
all this Everything I've seen is is just, it looks like garbage. Because I'm like, I guess he's never stepped foot in the Burlington. Yeah, in fact. And he's like he's like, so I just want to know if these are legit. And I'm just like, they're legit, bro. Like, you're good. Like, you got to steal right now because they were $40. And I'm like, you got steal. that's tough And he's just like, like many now now I'm offended because he goes, he goes i know.
00:28:19
Speaker
and an and And if you're wrong, I know where to find you. I'm like, what? Where does threatening me come from? Like, Bro. Just buy the shoes a dope. Yo, you got to wait on that long ass line at Burlington.
00:28:32
Speaker
Why you coming at my top? What's going on? That was ridiculous. Bro. That's hilarious. I'm glad I got to tell you that story because was holding on to that one for a minute. Like not a minute. A day basically. That's actually really funny. It's like it goes from this harmless sneaker conversation. I'm going to harm you. It's like, okay. Nah, man. But that shoe is crazy though to be in there. Shouts to Marshalls and Ross for having size though.
00:28:55
Speaker
They just always have them They just always have them And like, I want to say who's like, who has that? but like What NBA player is going to be like, you know what? Let me go to Marshalls. Let me pull up to Marshalls right quick, see what they talking about. Like, who's buying size 19, bro?
00:29:11
Speaker
You walk into just a random Marshalls on 34th Street, he's just like, Carl Anthony Towns? What are you talking about? why don't you just reach out to the brand you're sponsored by to get shoes? Why are you Marshalls?
00:29:22
Speaker
He's just like, nah, I got to go to Marshalls, man. $40, you know? sure All right, cat. Sure, dude. And then he got to wait on that long talk line, too? Nah, all you got to do is step over everybody. Like, excuse me, y'all.
00:29:34
Speaker
I play for the Knicks. Yeah, facts. Yeah, man. That's crazy, man. Man, I mean, look. It's just the journey with sneakers is always going to be crazy, you know? thousand percent. what What have you, I mean, now that the, you know, the the expenditures have widened a little bit, have you picked up, has anything been in and the crosshairs? I'm very curious if you've even bought anything like like that's caught your eyes like recently. where um really had i mean, i had those the I got those for tour SBs. I came out with that last year.
00:30:05
Speaker
yeah um I won a raffle for those. which just funny. ah And the place I get SBs from, i don't normally have to do the raffle, but I did it because they were like, dude, we want to lace you but could you just do the
Recent Sneaker Acquisitions and Aspirations
00:30:17
Speaker
raffle, man? hear that flex?
00:30:18
Speaker
You hear that flex? That was a big flex. don't got to do the raffle. I don't, but like I did it to show love. But got the fatoras. Mm-hmm. um What have I gotten and recently that was crazy?
00:30:31
Speaker
I've been buying a lot of like real low key stuff. I just got these shoe probably about three weeks ago. Isabel Moran, Chuck Taylors. Yeah, super. I mean, little joint, little fuzzy joint. um I'm still mad at myself because I didn't buy the, is it Josh Vitas? Joshua Vitas?
00:30:50
Speaker
but he There was a designer shoe, a designer Converse. And then they put like, you know that that suit you wear to paint a house? Facts. Oh, yes. They put the Vitek joint. I got those still saved in my phone. I need those, yo. You probably get them for like $60. I know. I know. I got to get them. I got to get them. The shroud. They got the holes. Yeah, they got the holes. Man, that's hard. You got to get them, Come on, man. Because I wanted to get them and then like take like a sandpaper and then like. Yes. That's hard. Yeah, them joints is fire.
00:31:17
Speaker
Yes, that's a good shoe. That's so crazy. I wanted those shoes too. I'm going to go get those shoes now that you say and say that. um What have I got in recent? I got these. I've been going a lot of like ah like Converse outlets. I got the Pata joints, the red, white, and blue joints. I got those too with the arrows on the side. Yeah, I got those. That was like 20 bucks. Super crazy.
00:31:37
Speaker
I mean, I got them with the discount. Shout out to the homie. ah With the discount. ah and you still used And you still paid less than me. Come on, man. I'll be hunting, dog. But what have gotten recently? That's like crazy.
00:31:49
Speaker
um I got a pair the Reebok. ah ah No, no, no, no. Toby's? No, no, no. Oh, that's that's actually next on my list. yeah Yo. Those are crazy.
00:32:01
Speaker
Them preseason lows or whatever they're calling that model. Yo. Fire. You know, it's funny. I don't like all black shoes. even want one. Oh, you want the black one? Oh, man. No, want the joints. But I'll do the black ones because they crazy too, bro. Like, it's such a good shoe.
00:32:14
Speaker
I want them. um That's real awesome, man. Like, I'm... It's not... I was looking at the SB4, the blue one. I was looking at the Brick by Bricks. I thought those were cool.
00:32:25
Speaker
But like... don't know, man. It's got to move me. yeah and That stuff don't move me right now. I'm more of a Reebok, Converse, you dig ASIC guy or something like that. Yeah, you're off of Nikes.
00:32:37
Speaker
If it ain't a tech, if it ain't a Air Stab, if it ain't a some weird trainer, like an Air Span or like a, you know what I'm like that type vibe Mack Attack or something,
00:32:49
Speaker
kind of off it, bro. Is is there a shoe that it like eventually when you go crazy... Facts. Right? The Air Mag. Yeah? You're rocking it at shows, I'm talking about.
00:33:01
Speaker
What? Yes, I am. The 2015 one, though. Okay. So not the one with the lights. no, no, no. Not the one with the Adapt. We need the 20... Yeah. That's the joint. What, they like 60? 75, maybe? They would cheaper than the... yeah they they were they like sixty seventy five maybe they would be cheaper than the No, no, no. So the 2011 was the one they put out, but one. so you're saying, my bad.
00:33:21
Speaker
You want the ones with death. Yes, I want the ones that's like the movie, the 2015 one. Yeah. Them joints go for like 60, 75 of them joints. I don't know if I could, because like- Yes, I love that shoe, but I definitely think it's like, you keep it, like to rock it though. Like pia Pete Davidson rock it in the streets. Got to.
00:33:43
Speaker
i don't know, man. Got to. I don't know if could do it. That's like a, I'm not really a big flexor. Every now and again, I'll do something to just, you know what I'm saying? Like let them know what time it is. yeah Like I pull out like, you know, Off-White 1 or something like that. You know, it's whatever.
00:33:57
Speaker
ah The SB4, I do got the the green joints. So like the Futuras, whatever, right? Mm-hmm. But for the most part, dog, I'm super chill. But that shoe, I'm wearing that with my Rollie. i'm wearing if if Whenever I finally get one, I'm wearing that with the, you know what I'm saying? got to put out everything I got.
00:34:12
Speaker
Because right now, my big flex shoe is my Mesa Margiela Reebok Classics. okay Those are my joints, right? i wear Those are like becoming beaters. And I wear them all the time, you know? So that's like my little flex shoe. I want the Mesa Margiela Converses.
00:34:27
Speaker
Yes Tell me more Crazy You never seen them? No Tell me more They came out 2014 I think it was And they painted over The ah Converse High Okay And then it's different colors on the under that's tough As it cracks You see different oh that's tough Yeah See That's what I'm on bro Yeah Yeah I keep it a bug with you man I've been kind of like not really rocking with Jordan lately. Like, again, in Brick by Brick, the story is crazy. Yeah. That made that shoe, right? The shoe looks great, but the story is nuts.
00:35:00
Speaker
I own it. So, yes, I love it. I love that shoe. The SB4 tough, the blue one. Yeah. That's, I almost got the mud with the mud, the PRM joints that Sylvester was showing love to. Because I was like, it's a new model. RM4, right? oh for But them joints are kind of cool. But dog, I'm not, don't see nothing, bro. If it if it ain't, the joints I wear are the ones I've had.
00:35:24
Speaker
I just, it's got to be something like, you know, like if it's like a Sneaker Politics joint or something like that, shout out to Sneaker Politics. Yo, shout out Sneaker, yo, they did, their babe collab was so dope.
00:35:36
Speaker
When did they do B.A.P.E, bro? Oh, yes, they did do a B.A.P.E. I'm wigging. And the A6 too, the D.A.R.A.R.A.S.I.S. was absolutely fine. So the the the one that they did for Veterans Day, yeah I have those at the house um where you can kind of take the the like little name tags, Velcro off. I got them joints.
00:35:50
Speaker
They did that ah the blue, red, green, low top. What is that? Not the campus. What is that joint? um I forget the model name. But Dash joint is fire.
00:36:01
Speaker
I got the Reebok ventilator that they did back in like, ah ooh, that's like 2013, I want to say. yeah um The Reebok pumps they did some years ago. Yo, they got some sleepers, bro. They got some sleepers. Shout out a Sauce Pandan, man. Come on, yeah you know it And the whole team at at Politics, they dope, man. Those my guys, my love to death, man. So, yeah, like, if it's something like that, I'm rocking, you know? But for the most part, bro, like, I'm thrifting. I'm um um' at the outlets. Like, I'm doing that. Because, like, you know, got little something, but I want to spend it.
00:36:32
Speaker
So, like, I'm i'm on something. I also feel like, you know, doing thrifting in the South is a lot more rewarding. Cause out here, I know it's just slim pickings, man. I can imagine. But also like what y'all consider slim pickings would be like a harvest for somebody like me i I understand that, but I think it's out here, the thrifting, like the, the, the art of thrifting, I feel like it's absolutely
Challenges of Thrifting in NYC
00:36:58
Speaker
gone. Like, Like you're not going to walk into a Goodwill and find stuff. Because everybody knows what it is. Everybody like, you know what I'm saying? So it's like you can't like walk into a donation store, you know, like so I was recently there's a spot by where I work.
00:37:16
Speaker
And it's I think the best places to thrift are like church donation spots. Right. Because they're they're not trying to. They're just trying to make money to keep the church open.
00:37:26
Speaker
So they're not trying to beat you in the head for anything because they don't know what they got. So you walk in. And I'm like, I walk in and it's like downstairs and they're like, they're only open for like three or four days or whatever. I'm like, cool, cool. I walk in and I'm like, yo, they got like, cause it's in a ah rich neighborhood. Like I'm talking about like brown, like houses in, in lower Manhattan. Right.
00:37:48
Speaker
So I'm like, yo, I'm going to find something crazy in here. Right. I go in there. I find, I think they, I think there was a ah Burberry trench. Oh, that's tough.
00:37:58
Speaker
Right. yeah And they wanted Burberry Price. Oh, no. Yeah. yeah It's like that now. Yeah. So I went in there i'm like, yeah I was like, I was like, isn't this like a church? Like, what is going on? And I look and they're like, they are really appraising the stuff. They're looking it up and finding how much it costs. yeah, that Burberry Trench was like, I think they were trying to get like 900 for it because they had they had ah all the designer stuff behind them.
00:38:26
Speaker
So it wasn't even on the racks It's really different yeah so yeah People know now it's not It's not like how it was before It's crazy like you know Whenever I come up like to the northeast like i I play shows in Boston I play shows in Philly and stuff that um the Northeast always has like some of the but the coolest stuff and the coolest stuff to someone like me who doesn't always come across that yeah ah well maybe my travels I do but just saying from where while I'm from I don't come across that yeah yeah um
00:38:58
Speaker
I'm like, whoa, like you got the blah, blah, blahs or whatever, you know? um But now that you're saying that like the internet has really just exposed everyone to it and everyone's Googling now, it takes away the hunt. So it's like now you just have to be able to afford it.
00:39:12
Speaker
Right, yeah, exactly. Which doesn't really do it for me. Shout out to the wrestling group I've mentioned them before and here and it's funny because they were like i have I have a little group chat we We're all into wrestling so let talk about it But oh a couple of people in there ah My favorite wrestler of all time The Rock and then after that is Chris Jericho But Chris Jericho is starting to go down now because
Vintage Wrestling Shirts Value
00:39:33
Speaker
of what's starting. Starting.
00:39:34
Speaker
That boy's a Christ man. Anyway. Yeah. ah But i like <unk> ah vintage wrestling shirts. Yes. I don't know why. $608,000. Yeah. What is going on? Like I remember I bought a rock shirt when I was 15 off the street.
00:39:55
Speaker
And that same shirt right now is going for like $500. It's the one where it's like, it's the the cartoon one where he had the, remember the tattoo before he did it over? He had that big in the middle and it just said the rock.
00:40:08
Speaker
And I remember buying that and being like, yeah, I'm killing it right now. You want Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now that same shirt is like $500 right now. You can pay your light bill four times over with. It's crazy. Yeah, I don't, um, it's Those are the type of spaces like I don't like going into. you know Because if it's like a wrestling shirt is $600, then even their lower end stuff is still high. right Because like I need to like... My favorite thing is walking into a store that has shoes that you know pre-owned, couple whatever, but they got like a $50 to like a $150 section.
00:40:42
Speaker
That's my sweet spot. yeah Because... Those are the shoes that they don't find important, but I'm pretty sure I will. It just says Nike. Boom. yeah right Or just some weird GR shoe that came out in 2009, nobody cared about. It's like, yes, let me get them because remember them being on the wall and I couldn't afford them. Let me get them.
00:41:02
Speaker
You dig? Or whatever the case may be. So that if I walk in and I see the shoes wrapped in plastic, I'm probably about to turn around. ain't lie to you, King. ain't rock with it. If I see the shirts with the little plastic shroud over it, I'm going to hit the old dusty trail, as Peter Griffin would say.
00:41:19
Speaker
we We don't play none of them games. I'm not about to spend $600 for a shirt that probably won't last another year. Gucci. that moth is That moth was part of Come on, man. Showing with love, Oh, yeah. The moth wings kind of is part of the design now. We don't play none of them games, man. Yo, I went into this one vintage shop, and it and i knew I knew the price was going to be outlandish, yo.
00:41:40
Speaker
I went to this one vintage shop, like, and I'm like, I'm like, they just had, it was, it was big. Like, it was, it was like a legit storefront, like, big. And then you walk in and it's just a bunch of, like, vintage clothes on the sides. And I'm like, it's too spacious for vintage right here, right?
00:41:59
Speaker
And I walk walk in, right? Sign number one. yeah Yeah, I walk in and then I picked up, um they had like a corn shirt. So basically what what they had was shirts on one side and then jeans on the other side. right And so I looked at the shirts and I'm noticing like, oh, it's like Spice Girl. ah you know, Korn, Aerosmith, all that, right?
00:42:21
Speaker
And I'm looking, I'm like, as I keep going down, I'm like, why is the price getting higher and higher? And then the shirt that I picked up and I was like, I can't believe they're trying to sell this, was a shirt that has so many holes in it. It was barely holding on to the hanger and they wanted like $800 for it. And that's vintage now, bro.
00:42:40
Speaker
In Midtown, man, Midtown, man. He plays none of them games, B. I really hope somebody buys this shirt, put that thing right back where it was, and I'm going to go down to the to the to this other store that has they mind right, because what's going on?
00:42:54
Speaker
I'm not trying to pay $800 for a rice strainer. What are we doing, man? This is wild business, man. Y'all are killing me, dog. like Nah, a ah fly would fly and like, yo, this shirt is crazy. yeah A moth would be like, nah, can't even get a piece of this one. Come on, man. Like, yo, who yeah got all these leftovers in here? What's going on? Nah, for real. But like but seriously, though, i'm not I'm not a fan of that. And I do understand now that thrifting has kind of become like very trendy.
00:43:21
Speaker
I'm waiting for that bubble to pop. Just like, you know, I think I'm starting to see the SB bubble pop, which
Sneaker Market Trends and Philosophy
00:43:27
Speaker
is cool. I was telling a somebody the other day that like I walked into, there's a store in New Orleans called Humidity, Skate Shop, shout to Humidity, my guys. Shout out. um They got all the SBs.
00:43:37
Speaker
um Well They got like six pair SB's On the wall now Yeah And I'm like Yeah It's looking like 2009 again Yes Like I think it's about I think that bubble's about to pop They're putting out way too many shoes Yeah They're in general And then now we got tariffs And that's a whole That's a whole other A whole other thing So I think I we're gonna see A lot of stuff sitting man Like It's going to be – stock is about to go crazy down. Like, um it's going to be scarcity on on scarcity at this point. But we'll see. i'm um um It's an unfortunate situation, but I do hope that somehow maybe the real heads can benefit from it. You know i mean? If it's something you truly want, going to get it instead of just buying, hoping it'll get you some clicks or some likes or get you some clout or something. No, yeah. Yeah, I think it's – I mean, we're shifting. I think we're –
00:44:23
Speaker
this this the not the I wouldn't say the real sneakerheads, but I think it's the sneakerhead, the people that are really enjoying this. like there are really Now they're consciously buying because I think we were in a moment where we were just we had to get it. We got, oh oh, before it sells out, before it sells out, before it sells out. But now it's like,
00:44:42
Speaker
Oh, this will sit. Like, it's fine. And then it'll actually sit. And then you can go after your metallic fives because you're just like, oh, I think this might go crazy. Or you can go after your cool gray knives because you're like... Because we're back in that... I feel like we're back in that era of...
00:44:57
Speaker
Where the sneaker heads and then we have the division now that the sneaker heads and then the hood classics, because anything that the that the hood is going to come out for, you know, sneaker heads aren't really necessarily going for like they're they're just like, oh, i could wait for something, something else or like a GR that I feel like I'm like, I can I really want, oh you know.
00:45:16
Speaker
So. Just an interesting time. And I think i don't I don't know if we'll see content that will dictate that either. Because, you know, I feel like content is going to be widespread.
00:45:28
Speaker
Facts. Like they're just trying to grab as many people as possible. And in order to do that, you just got to have the next thing that comes out. Right. So we're not to see a lot of variety in that. Yeah. You know, I'm not. i I did go through a phase where like I was on some like real.
00:45:45
Speaker
I kinda wanna just cop, I wanna just cop, I wanna just cop and just like gluttonous and kinda more like you know quantity over quality. But then like I kinda snapped to my senses and was like, nah man, like is we gotta curate, don't like that word, but like we have to kinda create ah ah more excellence instead of like,
00:46:06
Speaker
I got boo-coo shoes. not about that. It's like, what do you have in your collection? like what What does this mean to you? kind of Quality over quantity. And so for me, like when I look at like people that, you know, everybody got, they eat how they eat, but I feel like if people are just like doing stuff just to grab, it's just like, okay, man. Nah, yeah. good like I'm good. I'll fall back off that That's not my bag. And I've never really been that guy, dude. like I was wearing SBs when it wasn't cool. right I was wearing you know i'm saying patent leather sneakers when you get ripped for that. wearing skinny jeans when you shouldn't you wasn't supposed to wear those.
00:46:38
Speaker
I've always kind of just been against the grain. So when I
Authenticity in Sneaker Culture
00:46:41
Speaker
see people... You know one thing I would... No, I'm not going to do that. i no I'm going to play it nice. But let's just say there are certain shoes that let me know you're not a real sneaker here. You're a cloud chaser. Okay. um these are These gold shoes. i do have pushback on that.
00:47:01
Speaker
I would say. Yeah. What is it I will say there's always people that, I mean, i think the the entry that a lot of people have succumbed to is buying the hype shoe. The hype shoe?
00:47:13
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. So. But if you're only just doing that. don't disagree with that, right? Yeah. But morality comes into play. And what I'm talking about has to do with a shoe but has nothing to do with a shoe. yeah It's the specific gold shoe that came out a couple years ago that a person who has no at all any interest in the sneaker world whatsoever yeah yeah and cats were like on it because it was a hot topic. right And it's like You're killing me, Smalls.
00:47:44
Speaker
Listen, I wish. So I had this, I had this like, I don't know when I run because I run every morning. and um I think I have like these like scenarios in my head. And I was thinking like, what if I was the one that was like, yo, I get to go to Sneaker Con and I get to be in that back room to be like, yo, ah you get to take a picture with Trump. I would have been like,
00:48:05
Speaker
Nah, we good, bro. Like, I would have been like, I would have been like, I think I would have done the sleeper cell thing and get dragged out by like, by like, by secret, what is it? Secret service. Secret service. There we go. You're my guy. Because I would have been there. I would have been like holding and then I would have just chucked it at his face and be like, you ain't shit.
00:48:26
Speaker
Like, you causing all this shit. 35 different hundred reasons. Yeah, bro. But specifically in this moment, this ugly ass shoe. This shoe looks like, Awful. It looks terrible. It's Alibaba, Ali ah ali Express.
00:48:43
Speaker
Come on, man. 2000%, bro. And people are buying it, bro. People are buying it. This man is a merch machine. It broke my heart when I saw certain people. It's like... Yo. yeah And then everybody's trying to make justifying.
00:48:58
Speaker
ah They were trying to justify it. They were like, hey, we you know we were paid to do it. Capitalism, man. crazy. It'll ruin us all. Yeah, man. It'll ruin us all. But anyway, anyway, anyway. So those are the type of things that I see. If you jump into that clout chase kind of energy too far deep, then you're in that space. That kind of ruins everything. No matter what space you're in.
00:49:20
Speaker
Yeah. But yeah, man, nah, I'm just over here buying like Nike tailspins, man. Crazy. Airspins and like I don't do too much. I mean, look, I think that it's it's it's good to have...
00:49:34
Speaker
a lane that you want to be in. right Especially within sneakers because we're in this era of like, we're coming out of an era of everybody just buying everything.
00:49:45
Speaker
So like now, how do you, I've i've been big on saying this because like lot of people come to me and be like, yo, I want to start a podcast. How do you do this? Or like, and I've always been this one, the person that's like, even back when I was collecting heavy in 2000s, like people were ask me and be like, yo, what shoe do I start with?
00:50:01
Speaker
I'm just like, Find something that you love. And if that's your lane, don't let anybody push you out of it. Like, if you're like, you know, oh, I only like these specific ASICs. I only like the the the omnibus, whatever they're called, the omni 10.1s or whatever. um then just And you only want to cop that. Don't let anybody be like, wow, you don't have any Jordans. Like, just do your thing. Do your thing. You are being different.
00:50:24
Speaker
That is what what this culture was verily based on. Right? We were always, the when you got in the sneakers, it was just to stand out as much as you can. Right? With as little money that you had. Right? Because you the whole fit can be Old Navy. You spent $20 because you went on a sale at Labor Day. You was like, I'm cleaning up right now. Talk about it, man. You're looking clean, though. And then the shoes, as you're like, yo, now I was able to spend, because I save all this money on Old Navy, now I'm able to spend, you know, $150 on pair of, you know, SBs that I think are crazy. is Yeah. Like, I, ah that type of energy, I've always kind of implemented.
00:51:02
Speaker
And so, to be where I'm at, sneaker-wise, is crazy. ah Speaking, you know you you talk about those. i yeah I got reached out to during, Super Bowl was in New Orleans this year. I got to perform at the Super Bowl, which is still, like,
00:51:14
Speaker
What? Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was wild. um Like a full set. It's crazy. Anyway, so- It's crazy, man. I seen the pictures, man. Yo, it's crazy. Bruh, like, I'm not like, um I'm a real emo person. I'm super emo.
00:51:30
Speaker
So I'm always like reflective and reflecting and in reflection about stuff. And man, I was just sitting there the next morning. I just like, that was a Sunday, obviously. And then that next Monday morning, i was just laying in bed like, I just played the Super Bowl. yeah That crowd was huge. They loved it.
00:51:45
Speaker
It was right in front of Superdome. we We performed and then this band called Sweet Crew performed and then the event happened, the pre-show, and then Kendrick played.
00:51:56
Speaker
That was it. That was only four sets. yeah And we were like
00:52:02
Speaker
What do you mean? yeah But that's not even, i had that's a life flex, but I had to um say that. No, you needed to, man. But what what was cool was um about three days before the Super Bowl happened, I got a DM from a young lady. Her name escapes me. She was like, hey, man, oh we're with ah City Gears throwing a party um for the ah Just Gotta to Believe, so the Gotta to Believe Deion Sanders, the All Black and the Gold. And they sent me the joint with the box and the ba shades and the helmet. I was like,
00:52:31
Speaker
And I don't even really wear all black shoes, but boy, put them to pavement, dog. That is a really comfortable shoe, man. But it was so, I was so like... Yeah, what's that that moment, bro? Like, how does that even feel? you're You doing your passion brought you closer to another passion.
00:52:48
Speaker
It's crazy, bro. it's It's the wildest. It's the meeting of two worlds that I love oh so much. And it's so cool because it's like... And it was funny, they sent me and a few other guys a shoe, but I the only one at Ward at the party that they invited me to, which was crazy. But anyway, it's so- was been judging too. would've been like, didn't you get him?
00:53:05
Speaker
You feel? because it's like you know Because I know I'm going to be one of 50 people with shoe on. Yeah, exactly. was like So now it's like, who going flip it the best? Who could put the best fit on? I was the only person with him on. I was like, this is kind of cool, actually. And everybody kept looking at him, feel like, why he got him?
00:53:19
Speaker
I'm like, me, baby. What you mean? I'm from here, uptown. and nola va For It's me. But um like that type of thing, it brings it back around for me because it's like I stayed myself the whole time. I didn't do anything weird. I didn't yeah compromise
Music Industry Career Insights
00:53:35
Speaker
or switch up. I stayed myself. It took a little longer, but now we're here. and And when things in my city happen and things around my city happen, people reach out and want us to be a part of it. and That's why I always tell Cas, like Cas asks me a lot. Like how do you get, don't, how you, people ask me this question. Think about this, man, how do you get as like, how you get as big as you are?
00:53:57
Speaker
Dude, that's the most open-ended question of all time. I have no idea how to answer that. Like in the gym? Like my arms, dude? Like I'm pretty toned, but like I have big arms. I'm no John Cena, but like, nah, bro, like you just got to work. You work hard.
00:54:13
Speaker
You stick to what you do, right? look Always look for ways to progress without looking crazy and thirsty. Exactly. And just stick with it, bro. And then if you're good, i I live by if you work really hard at what you do, do it for a really long time and you're really good at it, success is going to come. yeah It's inevitable, bro. For sure, man. yeah um that I mean, we're both testaments of that, right? that we we We started with this idea and we won continue to push push
Encouragement for Perseverance
00:54:40
Speaker
through. you know um man ah think ah if you, like, when you do your your talk tomorrow, I think the the biggest thing you should definitely instill in these kids is, like,
00:54:51
Speaker
is that you know perseverance does happen. and It can look like it's dark right now. You're in the darkest tunnel that you're you can be in, but there will eventually a light will show if you just keep walking. Don't just stop.
00:55:03
Speaker
Don't just stop. It's the realest thing ever, dog. I mean, man, i got I got put through the wringer, bro. like Pandemic really sucked, and for me to be able to bounce back from that is crazy. And dude, my dream was to be a full-time rapper. I just wanted to be a rapper for a living. That's all I ever wanted. And I did. I'm literally living my dream right now in this moment. Everything else is laying out.
00:55:26
Speaker
You know, now there's, I want to level up. I want to do all these things, but I'm living my dream, bro. Exactly. It took 15 years, but I did it, you know? And so like, and I, and I see that for people. I know that it's possible. Maybe everybody won't get there, but man, you can truly engage in what you love and have a beautiful relationship with it. No matter what, if even if it is full-time or it's part-time, whatever, you can engage in what you want to do.
00:55:50
Speaker
You just got to love it, bro. and And because I would still do this if I wasn't doing it full time because I was doing it and I wasn't doing it full time. You know, I didn't make money until like seven years of my career, man. Like I really love this thing. And so always tell cats that all the time, man, just push, bro.
00:56:06
Speaker
Just pushing. If you truly love it, you don't have to ask me the question you're asking right now. You're going to it regardless. Yeah. You what I mean? Yeah, exactly. Yeah, no doubt. But yeah, nah, man. Nike sent me something. tight. That's fire, bro. Yo, look.
00:56:18
Speaker
Shout out to the fam at Unheard of because, you know, we got the piggy pork chop runners on. You know what I'm man? They actually got some really dope Adidas, bro. Yeah.
00:56:29
Speaker
did that ah The one they dropped, what was it, the Rival Low? The grandma's. The grandma's couch. Yeah. the friends and family joint. Yeah, yeah. It was a- Crazy. Oh, you talking about the building bridges? Building bridges is fire. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Bruh.
00:56:41
Speaker
And then they had different suitcases. Yo, shout out to Phil and the gang at Unheard of. Shout out to Adidas fan that I met out there too. Shout out to everybody that pulled up too. Shout out, Key. Shout out, uh, Shout out, Key, Genevieve.
00:56:56
Speaker
Uh, I gotta name all the ladies cause I felt like I only named nothing but the dudes. So Key, Genevieve, uh, Jixie, you know, E, um, uh, Miss Jones. Shout out, Miss Jones.
00:57:11
Speaker
And everybody else, I'm sorry if I missed you. But let everybody know where to find you. um You can find me at Underdog Central. Yes, sir. much better and easier to spell than it is to say. Yes, sir. Sakskixave.
00:57:30
Speaker
Just Google us, man. You can go on Instagram. with All the things. Sakskixave. Alfred Banks. um We got some really cool things in the works, man. I'm super excited about it, Huh? Oh, yeah. So like, oh you put me on the spot? Yeah. I mean, shoot.
00:57:47
Speaker
ah what what do What do I have that's really exclusive? um Did i say I talk about the Philharmonic thing? Yeah, I think you did. I did. I ain't got nothing exclusive. I ain't got nothing for you.
00:57:59
Speaker
No, new album? In the works? Okay, so we have a new project that's dropping, a solo album. It's called Yes The Month. Okay. um It's about 75% done. There you go. Mixing needs to get done. but um Yeah, dude, Yestermonth, it's about using your past as a platform to build your future. It's like this idea where it's like, you know, people like to reminisce and I'm very much a reminiscer. It's not about staying in the past and living in the past. It's just about when you feeling empty sometimes, going back to the past, using a little bit of that, what you've done to inspire you to get to the next thing. And so that's what Yestermonth is all about. It's a dope project, man.
Shoutout to Liam Nissan
00:58:33
Speaker
don't think there's gonna be no features on there.
00:58:35
Speaker
It's gonna be all me. But shout out to my dog, ah Liam Nissan. ah He's out of Sacramento. yeah he's yeah Look him up, man. He's hilarious. Liam Nissan, man. That dude is really hilarious. And he's a very big sneakerhead. and You should probably have him on this podcast because he's going so extra viral right now. oh yeah Outside of that, though, he is a head yeah actually i met him uh because of the uh like uh charles hamilton forums back yeah yeah yeah and uh he is boy that dude is a sneaker head man whenever i go to sacramento i linked up with him and uh man we could just run it for hours dog and he's incredible producer um so he introduced me to few guys up there sacramento db ozzy and a few other guys and stuff and
00:59:20
Speaker
Great guy. Anyway. Shout out to D.B. Ozzy, man. Your facts. Incredible. So he's ah so li ah ah Liam Nissan is producing the whole joint. um So that's the next project we got coming out. Yes, the month. That's going tight.
00:59:32
Speaker
I also have a new single dropping in a few weeks. By the time this comes out. feature I'll put it in the description. Definitely, man. Featuring a Pell song. It's called Get Back. i'm Super excited about that. that's my first solo record.
00:59:45
Speaker
In a while. Yeah. So like ah it's going to be super tight. So yeah. You know where to
Engagement and Closing Messages
00:59:50
Speaker
find me. I am who is Hassan on social media. has Follow the podcast in My First Kicks pod. If you have a My First Kicks story, hit me up. Info at myfirstkicks.com.
00:59:59
Speaker
ah
01:00:02
Speaker
I'm ah I don't know if I should announce this on here. No, I'm not going to announce it next next week. I'll announce something pretty cool. ah And then if you have just been listening to this, because apparently a lot of my my my podcast listeners are listeners and not watchers.
01:00:19
Speaker
We're on YouTube trying to hit that 1K. Probably by the time this comes out, I'll be at 1K on YouTube. So hit that subscribe. My at my first kicks on YouTube and shirts.
01:00:32
Speaker
shirts I think we should have the new one up on the website. So if you're listening to this and you got to the end of this, and I'm proud of you, you got to the end of this, go cop a shirt. Go cop a shirt. Help your boy out trying to get rid of those so we can get some new ones in. Talk about it.
01:00:47
Speaker
And you know we say each week? Wear your kicks. Peace.