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Phat Farm had Superstars? with S WHIT
125 Plays4 days ago
This week I am joined by the legendary S WHIT, we talk about her journey through the music industry. What her biggest influences are, how being curious has always lead to more. What second hand Supreme has done for her fits. What it is like being a DJ personality, and evolving that to more. The amazing opportunities she has gotten. Meeting huge artist and having the opportunity to get gifted a crazy pair. Plus a whole lot more!
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IG: https://www.instagram.com/s_whit_/
X: https://x.com/s_whit_
Sauce Whit: IG: https://www.instagram.com/saucewhit/
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IG: https://www.instagram.com/naslovee/
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Intro & Outro by Sango: https://www.instagram.com/sango_/
Backing Music by The DoppleGangaz: https://thedoppelgangaz.bandcamp.com/
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Transcript
00:00:00
Speaker
dudes I ain't gonna lie, I even bought a fake pair of Air Force Ones once off of 165th Street. That's how I'm... Yo, I was just telling somebody the other day like, you know, the shiesty movement and all of that. i don't know, everybody don't look clean and fresh. And
Buying Fake Air Force Ones Story
00:00:12
Speaker
maybe it's my age, little ageism kicking in. I'm like, yo, being fresh or like having some fresh white something.
00:00:18
Speaker
you know crease all that used to really matter and i remember i had i had to go meet some girl and i had no money for no new shoes and by any means necessary i was not going to see this girl without new shoes right yeah so i had 35 and i bought me some fake air force ones off the avenue to this day nobody know you know what i'm talking about i was hotter than the crib though i ain't want nobody to know i had it yeah they had a box and everything like no ain't one time them shits i i was breaking them bitches out oh my god
Introduction to 'My First Kicks' Podcast
00:00:50
Speaker
What's good, everyone? Welcome back to My First Kicks, the podcast where I use sneakers as a through line to get to know somebody. I'm your host, Haas, and across from me is S. Witt. What What's poppin', Haas? Yo, yo, this is a huge, gigantic honor, yo. Oh, don't do that. Come on, come on. It is. ah But for people who are not familiar with you, how about you introduce yourself? oh What's going on? Which camera looking at? That one right there. What's going on everybody? S.Witt, representing Jamaica, Queens. Started my career as a DJ in personality, everything from SiriusXM to moving in these streets. Currently over at Apple Music, doing some behind the scenes things with content.
00:01:27
Speaker
We was just talking about people being a modest, so i think that's where I stop and I guess you ask questions about Journey and all that other stuff that people can discover more. But yo, that's it right there.
Meeting Through D's Wedding and Supreme Tuxedo
00:01:37
Speaker
Yo, look, first of all, shout out D. D's in the building. check out Check out Oxymorons. Gang, gang. Gang, gang. oh yeah But I met you through D. Yeah. D's wedding. I got to bring this up immediately. What's up? You had on the head-to-toe Supreme fly ah tuxedo. What did you call that tuxedo? A suit. A suit, yeah. that I wanted that so bad.
00:02:01
Speaker
Rob Markman, when I saw you in it, I was like, I want it even more Rob See that's one of those pieces where like, um I guess like if you know, you know. Rob Markman, Another thing is, you know, Supreme's popular for the box logo on the street wear, but people don't know they make a lot of like really nice pieces that you could wear to dinner or to wedding or whatever. Like it's, you know, all types of cuttings. different pieces that they have and my wife ah used to work over at Supreme and in production so you know when they used to be done with the models sometimes I get lucky so that was one of those pieces that when the model was done with it I got lucky secondhand shit yeah that's that's second hand Supremes I don't want nobody to think I'm out here getting mad money and I'm copping every new box logo I'm getting second hand Supreme out here
00:02:48
Speaker
I mean, let me know if you can slide me the Margiela box logo. I need that. Yo, if you want the shirt that the skater skated in in the photo with the, I got you. All right, man. If they have an XL, I'll take a dirty shirt. We'll see where we can go dirty shirt. Secondhand Supreme. my like i say yo That might have to be a hashtag.
00:03:06
Speaker
Because some people, some people are wearing secondhand Supreme.
Supreme's Streetwear to Formal Wear Transition
00:03:09
Speaker
They do. Yo, there was one time, yo, I went to a thrift store and you know, don't know, back in the day, ah back in the day, like 2014 Supreme, they used to have the, or they they sold the Joan of Arc shirt with the Joan of Arc on the back. So I have it. And I went to a thrift store and it was in there, like the blue colorway. And I saw somebody cop and I was just like, all right, man.
00:03:28
Speaker
Yo, what you think these thrift stores are and and goat and everything? Yo, secondhand supreme. Yo, gotta yoall get it how you can get it. you know Yeah, for real. Ain't nobody judging. But you remember you reminded me of the Brooks Brothers collab that they did while back. you're Not familiar with that one. That one is- But as I probably had some busting suits and lasers. It was like pinstripe because Brooks Brothers was known for their pinstripe thing. Yeah.
00:03:50
Speaker
Fire. you got see It's a seersucker suit. That's what it was. That's what grown folks. i a lot some Some of like my ah favorite going out dressed up pieces are from Supreme. yeah I have a few suits from Supreme that are just like like my favorite pieces. Because it's like the perfect streetwear meets formal. um So like certain accents and things about it, like the details matter and it's like kind of cool. So...
00:04:17
Speaker
You know, and it fall right over your sneaker. You can rock it with a regular T. So, like, you know, yeah, not to
First Sneaker Stories: Aqua H and More
00:04:23
Speaker
get them too much promo. But, you know, shout out to Supreme. They do some cool things outside of the T's and the hoodies. I think it's like, well, I've always been a, so I've been a big dude for most of my life. And then once I finally, I used to go to Supreme and they would tell me I'm too big for their clothes. Really? Yeah. I think they stop at a certain size, like XL or something like that. Yeah. And then once they got bought bought.
00:04:42
Speaker
and by LVMH. They moved on like one size. was Yeah, they got the double XL. They started adding double X. Sorry for the three X brothers. And so once they once they started fitting it, i was like, ooh, I'm about to start going off, right?
00:04:56
Speaker
Still too expensive for me. Secondhand supreme, brother. Listen, get it how you can get it. Get it how you can get it is a fact. But you're here to answer the question that I ask everybody each week. And that question is, what's your first kicks? What's that first pair sneakers you absolutely needed to have? The first pair of sneakers that I absolutely needed to have, man, it's taking me back to East Bay right now. Let's go. You know, I just interviewed the owners. Yeah, saw that. I saw that. I got to listen to the full episode.
00:05:24
Speaker
So many. But the first one that I really wanted and needed to have was the Aqua H. Let's go. um you know If you was a kid in the 90s, Space Jam, Michael Jordan, Bugs Bunny, you The Bulls, just the epitome, like the peak yeah of like basketball at the time. um But you know my mom couldn't afford those things, so it's one of those shoes I really wanted and I never got until I got to college. And this man had been like 2006, 2007, and whoever's listening or watching could correct like the timeline if you're real sneakerhead. But they ended up re-releasing the Bugs Bunny's, the Aqua
00:06:03
Speaker
um And I had dated this girl at the time, and I probably like shared some of my trauma with her about not being able to get those. So when they re-released, yeah you know she was you know dead on like, yo, dead set on, we're going to get these for you. um And that's still when people was lining up for sneakers a little bit. So I think we went to like Roosevelt Fields Mall, Shout out, Roseville. Yeah, nice little line outside the mall. Ironically, my man had worked at the sneaker store. Had maybe like Champs or Foot Lock or something. So I skipped a couple people in line. There you go. I wore a hell out of them shoes, bro. Like them shits was leaning. And it it made me sad because...
Sneakers and Candy Store Mishaps
00:06:35
Speaker
I had them from, what I said, like, 06, 07. And so, like, recently I moved from, like, one of my apartments to another one. And, you know, you want to wear something for a while.
00:06:46
Speaker
You know, they start evaporating in the box. I'm like, yo. So one day i went to take them out the box. And literally, i just took the shoe out of the box and the soul separated from the shoe. And it was just like, it was dust. And that was the R.I.P. That was the funeral. But, yeah, that was one shoes. Man, like, and I bugged my mother. And...
00:07:04
Speaker
I circled it in the catalog and I clipped it out, man. This is before mood boards. Yeah. I probably had a mood board on my wall. Yeah, the Pinterest. Next to Jordan. you know like um But yeah, that was one of them shoes. that I mean, that's that's fire. I think it's dope that you kept it with you still because...
00:07:21
Speaker
Like, I still have my regrets of, like, getting rid of ah the first pair sneakers i I paid my own
Influence of Sneaker Culture in Jamaica, Queens
00:07:26
Speaker
money for. Like, I i i cook those, right? i got Which one were those? Nike SB khakis.
00:07:32
Speaker
Okay. And it's like, because of the white and it's suede, used to work. It was easy to cook. Yeah. But also, I worked at a candy store, and I was doing stock at a candy store. So I got- You were dropping shit the Yeah, I milk and- Double cook. Yeah. They smell terrible. Rob Markman, you said milk, that is a spoil. That is wild. Spoiled shoes is wild. Like you walk in somebody's crib and tell you, you gotta take your shoes off, yo, it's hot. If y'all was wondering in fifth grade, it was him, man. Look, all right, yo. Times is tough, man. You got to make do. You got to make do. And so, I wish I could hold... I've held stuff. I've held... I had the Bread Force, the 2013 or 2014 pair, and they grew mold on it because I wore them in the rain one time.
00:08:17
Speaker
And I was like, I put them in the back of the closet, and then you forget it. You're like, why does it smell weird? That had to get even more moldy, man. That is wild. You need a book. You need like a coffee table book with the pictures
High School Sneaker Evolution and Basketball
00:08:29
Speaker
and the stories. I need receipts. I already got like three of them. I know you got a picture them all somewhere. I definitely got the picture. Because it happened to both. It happened. No, it happened to my military fours. I had a pair of military fours and those got the mold on them. So you like legend of cooking the shoe. Yeah. You got you got to, know, they made to wear. Legendary cook. Yeah. Legendary cook. Make a website where it's just, just a Instagram. It's just nothing but cook shoes. My cook shoes. I hope you've been enjoying this week's episode with S. Witt. Yo, if you can help out the podcast, please do. And by doing that, all you have to do is like, subscribe and leave a comment.
00:09:07
Speaker
on YouTube if you're listening to this on Apple or Spotify leave a review five stars if possible and if you're on Spotify leave a comment that also helps me get the podcast in to other people's ears and if you want to go the extra mile five dollars that's all I need from you a month patreon.com slash my first kicks I have a little little button on the top right over here that all you have to do is click and it'll take you right to the page.
00:09:39
Speaker
So please, please sign up for the Patreon. Patreon dot com slash my first kicks. And of course, let's jump right back into the episode. um But like after that, like when you were, you know, progressing, how much did in Jamaica, Queens, like how much influence of sneakers was around you during that time? It's everywhere. You know, R.I.P. to the Coliseum, 165th Street in Jamaica.
00:10:03
Speaker
You know, the epitome of like, yo, I need to get some fresh shoes. yeah This is where I'm going to get them, whether it's back to school or it's Easter and I need some fresh white joints, whatever, whatever it is. um So it was all around me. But, you know, a little secret, i actually...
00:10:20
Speaker
I'm not originally from Queens, I'm from Long Island. Rob Markman- Okay, okay. And then my mom moved us to Queens when I was like maybe like
Confidence and Overcoming Challenges
00:10:26
Speaker
in fifth or sixth grade. So, you know, I claim it because that's where I was bred. Markman- Right? That's we're going to put it down. Rob Markman- That's where your formative years is spent. Formative years was in him stead, you know, shout out to the stead. But back to what I was saying about the aquays, my mom didn't have the money, right? So like...
00:10:41
Speaker
Yeah, the Influenstive shoes is all around, right? And my cousins is wearing it, my friends, and you know, commercials. yeah You know, you got the Penny commercial. Everybody had a commercial for a shoot at the time. We don't got that thatmo anymore. The catalogs, like I said, East Bay, you can see sneakers in the Sears catalog. It was everywhere. um My mama don't couldn't afford that. so I was like the Payless kid. Yeah. um And it's funny because I'm definitely going back to a lot of my origins where my mom used to buy me them all white Procads. to be pissed off, steaming, off the fist, right? um
00:11:14
Speaker
But now I'm the type of adult, right? I enjoy a good, casual, clean, simple shoe, right? Every spring I buy me some tan Reeboks, right? With the fabric. Like classics? Yeah, some Reebok classics. Or some simple Adidas, right? Reeboks back. Yeah.
00:11:31
Speaker
But you you learn to appreciate that as you got older, right? But, you know, you when you five, I don't want no all white pro cats or, you know. um So, yeah, I wasn't able to enjoy, I think,
00:11:45
Speaker
What do you call it? Like the sneaker culture? The whole sneaker culture growing up. I think I was more of a spectator. Okay. For sure. Like observer. And taking notes where it was like, yo, when I do get it,
Exploring Beyond Queens
00:11:56
Speaker
I know what you're doing. Yeah, we scooping up. We going crazy. And every while, you know, grandpa slide a little break. You get something. My neighbor across the street, used to play ball. So every year he'd buy me some new shoes. But yeah, I didn't really like get to like buy my own kicks into high school.
00:12:10
Speaker
What were you hooping in? What was I hooping in? Insanity, bro. um I used to steal my cousin's sneakers in middle school. don't even remember what them shits was. I do remember he had to pay a pair Duncans. Okay. Damn, you was hooping in Duncans? See, I said insanity. He had a pair of Duncans. I used to jack all the time.
00:12:28
Speaker
um But when I got to high school and I played varsity, Yo, first pair sneakers, i had on some, because my school colors was orange and blue, also Let's go. I had some orange and blue patent leather ones, which is insanity, because it's flat yeah ones, and my feet was fucking cooking me. Yo, yeah, but looking cute and crazy.
00:12:53
Speaker
Cute and crazy. You a bucket though? Huh? You was a bucket? was okay. I was definitely not good the freshman year of school. I got good like junior scene. Okay, okay. Like I still ball now. play intramurals. No intramural good. You what mean?
00:13:09
Speaker
You know there's levels to this shit. Yeah, they are. You know, intramural good. You need a pickup player? I got you, son. You know I'm saying? But we running a tournament, don't call me.
00:13:20
Speaker
So yeah, first year had these these blue orange pad leather ones. Second year, i had some yellow and white Bo Jacksons. Okay, okay. And just so now going back to shoes, I was just keeping note on growing up. And then I was like, okay. But hooping Bo Jackson's crazy too. Insanity. I just wanted the shoe, bro. you know Because you got to remember, right? This is the conversation with my mom or whoever. Not just shopping for school shoes, but it's like, all right, well, basketball season. yeah You get one
Curiosity About the Music Industry
00:13:51
Speaker
shoe for the season. right I'm not thinking about what's like...
00:13:54
Speaker
ergonomically better for my foot. You know what What am I going to perform better in? I think there's more options now. I'm just thinking style. yeah Everybody was playing in balls that you were styling. Jordans, all that. i seen people play ball in Air Force Ones. Insanity, bro.
00:14:09
Speaker
It's crazy. I used to hoop in SBs. sit But you been crazy. You just crazy from beginning of the podcast. ah You just took your shoes and all types of shit. um But yeah, the white and yellow Bo Jackson's. Then my junior year, classic, my favorite shoe, the Barclays. You could definitely hoop a nose.
00:14:29
Speaker
I held those for a very long time. I had them in all white. Oh, nice. Hot tie. I used to get crazy in them shits. Did you get the ah the Supreme joints that they released? All white with the gum bottom? Nah, missed that. I missed that. iin know lot I ain't gonna lie. I'm gonna snooze mode, man. look i got I got two kids. I don't know what be happening. I got lucky with these shits, man.
00:14:50
Speaker
But yeah, so probably my last two years, and I just stuck with those, because once you break a shoe in, and by then, I was little bit short. I had figured it out. I'm like, well, this is my shoe right here, right? Like the Barclays. I killed them shits. I walked the sole off them shoes.
00:15:04
Speaker
probably had them for eight years. But yeah, that's my, what I balled in in high school. And then, you know, you're on the block and shit. You're just throwing on some shit. Right, yeah. Comfort at that point. You're like, oh, no, no, you look dope, but like. I had, you know, you run outside and once you run outside and then pick up game. know what saying? Now I'm playing bowling pumas. Like, wow. Insanity, bro. Look, back in the day, we was...
00:15:27
Speaker
Everybody talks about this now, because I don't think anybody does it anymore. Shorts under the jeans. Because you never know- never did that. That is a different level of insanity. Come on. Come on. Maybe, alright, so I'm masculine facing, but I'm not that masculine. I was looking at dudes like, what? The shorts under the jeans? It's crazy. I always wore skinny jeans. I was there already. You know? When people arrived late, I was- How come was I getting the shorts under the jeans? Nah, yeah, wasn't happening. It happening, it wasn't happening. But I get it. You and they pulled up to the park and he was like, snapping off pants. I said, shit.
00:16:00
Speaker
I get in there. Now I got to sit and watch everybody play ball because he had shorts on under his jeans. Fuck. Nobody told me why. Yeah. what So like, and you talk about catching up. When, at what point did you start being like, all right, now I'm going, I have my own money. like Probably like ah junior year, high school. um Because, you know, you get some money from some family members and I figured out and learning how to save.
00:16:29
Speaker
to the side. Pick up some jobs and stuff, some odd jobs and stuff. And I always figured out how to hustle to get bread. So yeah, high school. um But then it came, you know, leisure shoes. ain't gonna lie, I even bought a fake pair Air Force Ones once off of 165th Street. That's how... Yo, I was just telling somebody the other day, like you know, the shiesty movement and all of that.
00:16:48
Speaker
i don't know, everybody don't look clean and fresh. And maybe it's my age, little ageism kicking in. I'm like, yo, being fresh or like having a fresh white something. you know, crease, all that used to really matter. And I remember I had to go meet some girl and I had no money for no new shoes. And by any means necessary, I was not going to see this girl without new shoes. So I had $35 and I bought me some fake Air Force Ones off the app. And to this day, nobody knows. You know what I'm talking about.
00:17:15
Speaker
I was hotter than the crib though. I ain't want nobody
Discovering and Sharing New Music
00:17:17
Speaker
to know. It had a box and everything. I ain't one time them shits. I was breaking them bitches out. Oh my God. With the right, with the right pant, cover the, cover what you need. Yeah, all the way down. And we talking about like the big T era? Everything was big? Fuck that. He was good. He good. But high school, I started like, I could take my money, some shoes.
00:17:38
Speaker
um But by then, the appetite, my taste had changed. It wasn't like the stuff that I told myself, well, when you get money, you gonna cop it. By then, I'm like, I went to, so I'm from Queens.
00:17:48
Speaker
um My zone school is John Adams and no disrespect. I was like, I'm not going John Adams. I just didn't want to get like pigeonholed to just being local. I like exploring. I ended up going to a school on the Upper West Side called Louis D. Brandeis.
00:18:03
Speaker
Yeah. Brandeis. You know, Brandeis. I think I fought somebody from that school. You probably did. We used to get it shaking. Yeah. But I think, I think I've, wasn't there like a big story? Nah, for sure. I either heard there was like a big fight between Brandeis and Man Center one time. Man Center, Park West, MLK. I could go for days. It used to be for everybody. Because I went to Washington Irving. Okay. Yeah, that was hell high. You know, it's levels these schools, man. It's not like that anymore. But I mean,
Roles in the Music Industry
00:18:39
Speaker
going back to like the kids where you're saying now with like shyesties. And yeah, there's no real emphasis on being fresh anymore. Rob Markman, emphasis on being, I just wanted to be fresh. But now I wasn't going back to the bucket list.
00:18:50
Speaker
um So now I'm in high school, I'm not in Queens, and I get to travel, I get to go on the train. You remember how high school was, you had periods, and sometimes you can might get out little early. I'm okay with exploring by myself, so I'll end up 42nd Street and then Soho. right like This is before the Soho wave. right And this is like Michael K. Storrs. Yep. Training Camp. Oh, man. David Z's. David Z's. All that type of shit. And then by that time, I'm like, yo, I was copping Deodora. was copping Saucony. That's how you pronounce it properly. um
00:19:22
Speaker
I was just in. Now I'm like, I'm just looking at different shit now. No, it's not. It's Saucony. No, it's not's not. Saucony, Saucony. It was Saucony.
Free Sneakers and Financial Needs
00:19:32
Speaker
So let me...
00:19:33
Speaker
Let me stick whatever we saying at the time. You know what I mean. Saccone. Look, look, look. I've had Jason from Saccone. Yo, shout out Jason. It's Saccone, right? Yeah, it's Saccone.
00:19:43
Speaker
But like now. It was Saccone. Now, because so many people make fun of it, they put it on the box. the Phonetically how to say it on the box. and We don't care. It's like Aniche or whatever. Yo, yeah. Yo, that's the funniest thing, bro. That learning why see yeah learning that is NYC is the crazy, like, no, it's Aniche, bro.
00:20:03
Speaker
It's Tarjay, it's Aniche. It's that Mandela effect. They be fucking with us. Anybody care, man. yeah That's all Mandela, Bursting bands. Yeah, Bursting bands. Sinbad was in Shazam. Shazam, Kazam, whatever. Man, they be fucking with us. yeah, you know by then, I was just into a different type of shoe. And then I got into like Penguin, you know like brands who make... stuff i just like i like nice stuff.
00:20:30
Speaker
And then, you know, growing up, I wasn't getting the cool stuff. So, like, all that, I didn't give a fuck at that point. I'm 16. I don't give a care what I wore because was wearing Procats, right, when y'all was wearing Jordans. So, like, what you going to say? Like, now I'm just on my flex. I'm wearing whatever I want. So, yeah, by the time could buy Reeboks,
Industry Glamour vs. Reality
00:20:49
Speaker
with the pump. you know I'm just buying obscure shit at this point. I mean, I like that. that But I was married to, like yo, Sakini and Deodora in high school, if you knew me. Because my parents you know had me looking crazy the first two years of high school. Let me tell you they were real quick. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Go ahead. Back to being fresh. Fresh me at high school,
00:21:08
Speaker
This is like 2002, whatever we was in like in some early retro wave with Kangol's and Adidas was cool. Y'all remember that shit? I don't know what happened, like the belt with the name. It was like, yeah yeah for some reason we just flashed back to 86. Anyway.
00:21:23
Speaker
People was pulling up with Dookie chains. You know what the fuck I'm talking about, right? I had like a fuzzy can go ahead. What the? What was we doing in 2002? So it's 2002, start high school. yeah And yo, you know, the shell toes was hot. I'm like, yo, I need some shell toes. I was pumping it to my mother. We from Queens. I thought she would have integrity. Yo, this is what we need. is what I want. i Boom, boom, boom, back.
00:21:45
Speaker
you know We went to Jamaica Avenue, you hit Jimmy Jazz, ah what was it, Monet, it was another one, something underground. We hit all the stores, you know, the strips. yeah We didn't get the sneakers.
00:21:57
Speaker
I was a little sad, then when she came home, even next day and the day after, like, yo, I got the shoes. She came out with the box, yo, bro, no lie. My mother pulled out a ah Fat Farm box. No. Yo, we was cooked there. I said, oh, shit, what is going on? What's happening? Fat Farm shoes? Yeah.
00:22:16
Speaker
She pulled some fat forearm shoes out the box. They was show toe, but they was like the fat forearm show toe. We got to this whole argument and then
Celebrity Encounters and Perceptions
00:22:24
Speaker
she was like, trying to make the connection that Russell Simmons' brothers with Joe from fucking Run DMC. I was just like, what? know, parents are insanity. They fucking insane too. So in my freshman year high school, yo, I was wearing these fucking Fat Farm shell toes. You had to at that point. But yo, Brandeis is Upper West Side, so I'm competing with the kids coming from the Bronx and Harlem. This is a different level of It's like fashion show in there, yeah. They were wearing Pradas and Marmonts. Like, Marjellas. I was like, where are y'all falling? Yo, it was hot fashion, bro. The kids from the Bronx was wearing Vasquez boots. Uh-huh. The kids in Brooklyn was wearing more alligators and his mouth ass with the fat form sneakers.
00:23:09
Speaker
they thankfully I'm cool cool coolness is say yes yes so many occasions because man kids could go back they'd be like she wasn't fresh that shit was crazy you say that so like how can you explain that can you explain being cool because i don't think I think nobody understands like you can it's more than just like this aura thing it's like you know i think it's essence yeah I think like I think it's like a, you know, like talent or it factor anything. Like it's like magic, right? Like I think being cool is magic.
00:23:41
Speaker
um But like being cool comes with confidence, right? Like my confidence was built from like being bullied and clowned on and joked on. And you just like, you know, you move with a different, you know, level of resilience and,
00:23:53
Speaker
Yeah, like and I think that probably is what developed the cool in me. yeah right Because just like it's just like, so what? yeah like you know And then the nonchalantness turns into, oh, you too cool, right? um But like I'm friendly and you know i get along with most people and stuff, so it didn't matter what I had on and
Maintaining Curiosity in Music
00:24:12
Speaker
on my feet and shit. know, people, you know you fuck with me. But cool, cool is, you know you can't be cool. Nah.
00:24:19
Speaker
You just gotta, a you are cool. it's You are, and I also think it's like, it is earned. Because people can be like, yo, yeah, you too cool or whatever. and But it it would come off condescending. But like if it's like, oh, nah, are they too cool or whatever, it's like, oh, nah, I get what you're saying. But then you got people have their own personal definitions of cool too, right? So somebody cool to somebody is like, oh, he was wearing Jordans every year, right? But cool to somebody else is just like... man like i don't know he just lit up the room and you know the way he just navigated through you know so you stay on i think it' what's really dope is like you know you touch on a little bit of just like you wanted to venture out out of queens like where does that curiosity of like yo know i need to experience more come from don't know that's that was a good question where does the curiosity come from
00:25:13
Speaker
Maybe my son as an Aquarius. I'm just naturally curious. right like like I'm the type of person... Say if I know you about to go commit a crime. I know the consequences and end results of this, but I just got to go for the fucking ride. Yeah. Yeah. Because curiosity killed the cat. that's me ah um That's But then that doesn't translate to like my travels and stuff. right like I'm not wildly interested in going to Europe or anything like that, probably for historical reasons and other things. Yeah.
00:25:47
Speaker
But yeah, at that time being young, yeah, i just wanted explore. and it And it made it easy, right? Growing up in New York City, the five boroughs, all you needed was like a MetroCard and enough time. I'd walk from the bottom of my head to the top. I've walked over to Queensboro Bridge, you know Brooklyn Bridge. You just be just ending up anywhere, right? I still, to this day...
00:26:07
Speaker
as an adult, be in a car driving around and end up like in random destinations. I like, mala yo, I don't know how we ended up here one day yeah after to school. We just went around on this corner. like you know how this shit just come to you? um So like you all types of corners.
00:26:21
Speaker
Be in Jersey. like What are we doing here? But it's easy. right yeah cause Curiosity for me. is just Gotta stay curious. For sure. um When it comes to like music too, finding your way into like that's what you wanted to do. like How did that shift? like how does that How does that curiosity lead you into that?
00:26:41
Speaker
same um yeah Same level of curiosity. right like um with With music, music is different because it was always in our face. like you know MTV, BET, radio, you know your parents. like music music is Music is everywhere. yeah um But I don't know. I just had a different level of... um How do I describe this?
00:27:09
Speaker
I don't know. as a kid Back to magic. As a kid, this shit just seems so magical, and I just had to figure out how to touch the magic. it just seems so like, oh my God. yeah Even now, i' was in the dough, and I go back and watch documentaries about like the music industry in the 70s, and the 90s. It is. It has magic to it. i just I just wanted to touch that magic. I wanted to be a part of that. um So that's where that curiosity came from. It was just pure. like i was just amazed at the music industry, at like rappers and singers and music videos and DJs and VJs. The whole shit was bust me upside my head, bro. I was just like, yo, like what is this? How can I get down, be a part? So it's crazy. Music and entertainment industry, I'd laser focus since a kid.
00:27:57
Speaker
i Probably... Candy Garden. like It was like, whatever it was, I had to figure it out. they're like Is it like your family is heavy in music or is it just- No, I got a cousin that sing here and uncle that do some gospel, but like we're not like a musical family. right yeah like um My dad DJed a little bit, my uncle DJed, but like nobody's like Wally renowned or- Nah, I think you know it's crazy. It starts with me. me yeah I was just really kid in my room in love with music and the radio. What was just being birthed and what was happening. All of this shit, man.
00:28:31
Speaker
that like how does that feel to be like the trailblazer in your family in that specific area because like you know when you try to explain it to somebody else like that doesn't understand it it's like you're speaking a whole different language and it's like the mysticism of it or like the magic as you're saying like you're trying to explain the magic trick to them and they're not like you're like that's not i don't understand that how do you make money out of this whatever and it's always about money but like the fulfillment out of like pursuing this how does how does that like like how does that like how does that feel i mean for i mean well you asked a later question is yeah so like how how does how did it feel for my on the family side or for me personally you personally gratifying because you gotta be like y'all shit i did that um
00:29:21
Speaker
Gratifying, but also like at the same time, um awakening. Because you know you start getting in the music industry, you realize it ain't all the magic that you perceived it to be. It definitely don't pay. yeah oh But yeah, just just gratifying, like the whole journey.
00:29:39
Speaker
um like Even I was telling my story to um my brother recently, because he's you know significantly younger than me, so he wasn't you know he was like,
00:29:50
Speaker
two years old when I was like in college, right? So like he just knows of me now, whatever he hears. But I was just telling him, like sometimes it's real. Some shit is just real destiny. um I think some shit you can really manifest. I think I manifest where I am from a kid. um I do think there was a lot of moments of luck where like, you know,
00:30:14
Speaker
opportunity, met the right moment. um And I just seized it and went for it. Because man, the journey's been crazy. like I got into music you know to my man D in the room when we was kids. you know Curiosity, I wanted to do music. I couldn't find nobody to really click up with. I grew up in Hempstead and my mom moved us to Queens.
00:30:32
Speaker
Lived with our grandparents. Same thing, I had a passion for music. Kids is weird. You show interest in stuff that and they start clowning you for shit. I had seen something recently. Somebody was just like, you're the black community, you're the only community. be like, yo, nigga, you smart. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whoa, Yeah, I saw that too. Look at him over there, read him up. You trying to achieve something? Yeah, like, oh. Come on, man. But back to the cool. didn't let that shit bother me on the But, you know, about finding your tribe is really important. And some people don't find their tribe until later night, but found my tribe very early. I had to be like maybe 10 or 11. Grew up on a block. My best friend, his cousins lived a few blocks down.
00:31:13
Speaker
And sometimes I'll just go with him to go to his cousin's block. And of course, the street where his cousins live was, you know, D and my man and them. yeah And, you know, they're older than me, but they was into music.
00:31:24
Speaker
Like in middle school, son. That's crazy. Like into high school and like take that shit seriously. And like, imagine being 10 and 11. You like, oh my God. You know, like that was more like, oh, they get it. yeah They trying to do what I'm trying to do. We all serious about this shit.
00:31:40
Speaker
Oh, let's get it. So I locked in. I'm over there every day now, bro. Like I don't care who I'm rolling with. I don't care if y'all remember from the day before. i'm on a stoop. We here. Like what y'all doing? We writing rhymes and then it be instrumentals and rhymes. Uh-huh.
00:31:53
Speaker
I went through the journey. I started him as a rapper. Horrible. Yeah. Horrible. Yeah. We had a rap group. Yeah. I was in the rap group. There's not one piece of wax with me on it. It's okay.
00:32:05
Speaker
We didn't need that piece of history. um But yeah, just finding that tribe and investing and then being able to grow with them. Yeah. You know, um and evolve, right? Yeah. Yeah, and it's crazy to see where everybody is now. But yeah, I found my tribe at like 10, bro. I mean, that's fortunate. So that was cool. It's hard. I mean, the internet definitely kind of made it a... I don't know if it's like easier to find your tribe or harder to find your tribe. Because I feel like now you have to be so specific of like what what people are like We all can like the same thing. And then some people just start parsing it down and being like...
00:32:40
Speaker
Nah, I find this more critical, you need this. And then you and then some some people just put themselves in an echo chamber yeah and you don't grow out of that. Or you can only be this because you were in this trial. It was just like back to curiosity, day I can't explore nothing else. yeah I mean, I was able to explore my trial. So I was a rapper.
00:32:56
Speaker
I tried to make beats. I did everything. I managed. You know, like, ah and then- Who'd you manage? Who'd you manage? I managed the oxymorons, man. Yeah? You know, i managed my own friends, bro. Like, when we started and shit, and then spun the block on it, had more success, you know, once I learned more. But- Yeah, I landed on DJing, was the long story short. Yeah. um And I was like, okay, I found my thing.
00:33:21
Speaker
And it was I was actually talented at it. And it was good. And it felt good. It felt crazy, like electrifying. um But yeah, music, that's, yeah, I had to get there. I mean, that's it's so far. I've been a person that's like, I need to find my music. Like, I found, you know, Oxy. Or, like, I found, like, the music I listen to. Like, when Radimus, when we was at that show with Coda. Shout out Coda. Facts. Coda, Rodiman, Marlon, whole New York City scene. You already know. a Life of Tom. Like, that's, like, finding music is one of my favorite things to do. Like,
00:33:55
Speaker
I've always been, I'm not a digging in the crates type of person, but I will go to a, I go to vinyl, I go to a vinyl shop by my job every day. ah vi a village don't Don't find me, but Village village just village Revival. I got Disclaimer. Yeah.
00:34:09
Speaker
But I pull up there like when I'm on my lunch and I like like looking at old records and stuff like that. But I've always been a person that's online. Like I used to be super elitist with my underground music. I was big Aesop Rock. You know, like. Oh, one of those. Yeah, i was one of those. so You know, you got to. feel like you got to be an elitist at a point certain point of your life. Yo, you listen. Not judging. Yeah. Say, yo, listen. You don't want to piss somebody on to your favorite recipe, but you want to tell them this is the best recipe you have in your business.
00:34:43
Speaker
I think if you're like really diehard about something, that's where you have a moment where it's like, nah, it has to be like this until it starts opening up for you. And so I started accepting more. I listen more music now. More than you did before. Yeah. So had to go through that. So what you listening to right now?
00:34:59
Speaker
Right now? Yeah. Well, I had Nem's on, so I've been listening to Nem's new album. ah Red Veil. i ah okay Red Veil is one of my favorites right now. Not too many people familiar, but Red Veil is cool. That's my dog, man. um I listen to a lot of Sango because that's literally my friend.
00:35:15
Speaker
Okay. think it's because of vibes. I'm like, that's... That also too, I listened him before he became my friend. And now I listen him more because now he just sends me stuff. Okay. So it's his heart it's hard. Exclusive. yeah I do have his album. Exclusive. Sorry. Yo. You gotta be the first. It's like only on that piff. Yeah. yeah yeah the But like music and sneakers definitely, I feel like, I mean, Kanye went crazy with, you know, like the trends. They intersect naturally. Music and fashion just, yeah. the
00:35:47
Speaker
There was something where it was like ah hip hop, like the the four tenets of hip hop. And I also feel like there is a fifth. And I think that like getting fly goodzla is a part of it. For sure. huh That's like, that's it right there, right? Like most of the most the songs are about it, the themes.
00:36:06
Speaker
You know, what's the point of the bling, right? Like that's part of being fresh, all of it. it's it's I love hip hop. That's just all I wanted to yeah you get that out. you know But like how does how does that, staying continuously being curious without like while working within the industry, like how hard is that? Because you're always ah being fed, like yo know this is what's going to be hot. And it's kind of like you have your own personal taste.
00:36:33
Speaker
So how do you separate, like you know, like okay, this is going to blow up and this isn't, especially when like coming as like a DJ too. Rob Yo, you don't. I'm going to be honest, man. There's things that I thought was going to be astronomical and just wasn't. It didn't turn out to be what it I thought it was going to be. in is There's artists I didn't, i don't want to say believe in, but probably wasn't like naturally curious or interested or grabbed my attention and they turned out to be way bigger artists. right um So i think like it's a per case scenario. right like I've had some W's where I've like called it. To this day I'll be like, yeah. When they still love their getting awards, like yeah. And there's moments i'll be like, dang, that's crazy. I really thought you know such and such was going to X, Y, Z. um
00:37:19
Speaker
so And some people could call it every time, but I think, you know, because at some point your personal taste does cloud the, you know, the judgment with determining talent, you know, that biasness, because you like what you like, right? yeah So like you swayed that way. So I don't think many people can separate two and do well. Because we always know about the role like the A&R role. We always hear about it. But like nobody, everybody doesn't really like talk about what goes into it. And and I always say like, you know, I A&R my podcast because this is the people I want to talk to, you know, and I think that are interesting and that people should be checking out. But like what goes through your process of like keeping people like on the radar for you?
00:38:02
Speaker
Like pin other people on or just keep them on from my own radar? oh Both. and Because I think everybody's their own personal A&R. You know? Like you're going to show people who you think is popping and who you think is like, have. I mean, yo, I'll give you some real G advice I got from Sway. Um...
00:38:19
Speaker
A minute ago, i had asked him about being jaded, like being in in an industry and your career for a long period of time. and like how you How do you avoid and not be jaded? and one of the best pieces of advice Sway gave me was, sometimes you have to put yourself back in the shoes of being the fan. I think we get so lost of like being a part of this industry thing, we forget like we're fans first, that's how we ended up here. yeah right like My curiosity started with the fact that I was a fan of this shit, right and then i I discovered everything else and figured out how to get here.
00:38:47
Speaker
But I love the music, right? So like, pitch yourself as a fan. So like, still going to the shows, right? Like, just naturally. Like, i I'm going to be honest. I didn't know who Life of Time was. yeah Until we went to the Koda show. And only went to the Koda show to see Rodimus. was listening Rodimus. And then, you know, they had million openers. And then Tom came out. You know, like, that type of shit. But I'm being a fan, right? Like, I'm just out on a Wednesday night, seeing one of my favorite artists. yeah Took the time. And I got there early see the openers to discover some new shit. um you know Go to the festivals, buy the CDs, buy the shirt, you know like something that nobody else likes. um yeah just you know i just I'm really curious in still being a fan of people. yeah And then still reminding yourself, I try to curate my algorithms a certain way, what I'm still able to discover.
00:39:36
Speaker
So like I try not to follow pages that make too many suggestions about music or blog pages. i ain't following no labels. Don't take it personal. I have a lot of friends in the industry, but I intentionally don't follow you, so whatever you going on isn't influencing. Markman- Right, what's on your page. Rob Markman- I'm just seeing bunch of artists you're working So keeping the algorithm fresh. So stuff still just... I still just stumble upon stuff. Rob Markman- Yeah. My thing is- Markman- That's how it was for... Not to cut you off. That's how was for... This was like two years ago.
00:40:09
Speaker
the fucking Momo Boy. Affinity Song? Y'all found Affinity Song. I was like, yo, I think I sent it to y'all in a group chat. I was like, yo, y'all, I want it. Black people doing folk music. That shit crazy. You know what I mean? Or Larizzi. Yeah, Larizzi. The kid Larizzi. Larizzi, he popping right now.
00:40:27
Speaker
nobody in the industry put me onto Larizzi. I ain't gonna lie. That was like 2 a.m. scrolling. His views were still low. My algorithm on X was still doing what they needed to do. The computers was pewing. Yeah. And I fell into a wormhole like, man, Larisi, I tell you, met Larisi at work. He finally came to Apple and I lost my shit. You would've thought he was Prince. I was like, yo, Larisi.
00:40:50
Speaker
I was like, yo, bro, I just was watching your videos last i He's probably gonna say, what is this? And I was like, yo, bro. And I had to tell him, like I literally discovered you. like This ain't got nothing to do with work, bro. I discovered you on my own. and But you know, the magic about that shit is, now we in the meeting. I'm like, because I'm the first nigga. Yeah. You know, who doesn't want to feel like they the first, right? Like, going back to the sneakers, the outfits, whatever, right? You got to be like, ain't nobody know i even knew about this. Yo, I love i love that, though. I love that. Yo, that feeling, yo, that feeling is the absolute shit. That shit is crazy, man. That shit is better than a vi of a a video going viral. That's better than... they And don't let nobody ask you like, oh, you ain't know? Yeah, because you know. And now you got to get humble with it. Yeah, because you know. I've been listening to since 2018. Like, you know, like that was me. Yo, that was that was that's probably me with Redville because I was going to his shows when he was at Baby's All Right. that's you stunted on me just now. You was like yeah, you know, that's my yeah man. Cause when you the first, it feels different. You already know. You already know. But i the one thing I've been trying to push people to is like to break their algorithms. Cause like,
00:42:01
Speaker
we And I've been telling people, like y'all got to cater y'all shit. Y'all got to cater. you got to unfollow some shit, man. You know know people in real life. It's all right, man. Catch up with that shit later, man. This is an experience. that's That's literally how I look at social media. No different than when Twitter launched or Facebook or any of that shit. like this Y'all honestly, you know how treat social media? Like Tumblr.
00:42:19
Speaker
Tumblr? Yeah. I really cared about what I'm following. Your shit wasn't right. Yeah. It wasn't telling a story here. It wasn't cohesive. The pictures wasn't hitting. Get out of here, bro. I'm not here for the the video content, the rails. Y'all are doing y'all thing.
00:42:34
Speaker
But like i've really I like to really enjoy scrolling. Yeah, same. And a lot of people are- got to feel like art to me. Yes, for sure. And a lot of people are The one thing that's also been pissing me off that's like- Is a lot of people that have no- Have never done some of these things that they're talking about. And they're just like- Experts. Yeah. Yeah.
00:42:52
Speaker
the The out of nowhere experts. It's cool. I'm happy for everybody. Because, you know, this is you know it's free will. It is. It's all free will. Use your free will. I'm just choosing not to tune in. yeah And I'm going to just curate what I got going on so I can see what I need to see. Yeah. the I mean, so like, yeah, in terms of just like curation, right, and trying to get more eyes on people that are are newer to you, like,
00:43:19
Speaker
how How big of how big of an emphasis do you put that within your day-to-day? It means everything to me. It means everything to me. like I don't even got to know you, never met you. if If I can repost, if I can share, whatever whatever I can do. Because at the end day, it goes back to being a fan. like Why we here? right To share the music. yeah um To help people garner more fans. um What's the point of... like Even with what we were just referring to, right? like It ain't cool being onto something if somebody else ain't onto it, right? Because it's just like, who I converse about this with? Or like, you know, let's enjoy this together, right? Like, I want to share this thing. And I love discovering new artists and dopeness.
00:44:02
Speaker
And just talking about it and championing it. I don't care what credit I get from it, yeah you know, what high fives, nothing. I'm pretty sure there's some plaques owed to me or whatever. I don't know. I just be happy at success, man. like and And thinking to myself, i contributed, right?
00:44:17
Speaker
I contributed to their success. And now because of whatever I contributed is one more better artist out there. Right? Like that's how I look at Like, you know, it's like we all have a job to do. yeah um So do your job, right? don't hurt the shit, right? Sometimes texting stuff to people like, yo, you heard this? I did that to, um just remind me it's something i got send Joe K. I've been listening to. Shout out Joe K. And I'm just randomly like, yo, Joe, you listening to this? You know, like, cause that's I feel like you need to be on that.
00:44:44
Speaker
the See, I've been struggling with this for a hot minute because I think there's way too many people that want that credit, right? They just want they want to be known for that thing. Y'all, y'all got to credit me. y' gotta I did that. I did that. And I've been that person that's just like, I just want to put y'all on stuff. why like How do you continuously not feel jaded? Because self-validation matters, but that also goes into self-esteem and confidence, right? like I'm able to self-validate myself. I'm not going to lie, it was a period of time, right? And so I was able to mature and reconcile a little of that where you know i did have a little chip on my shoulder. felt like, oh, well, I helped them while didn't get the social media shout out somebody else did or why they didn't tag me or why I didn't get this plaque or they're taking this dinner. But going back to reminding myself, why are you doing this shit? None of that matters. yeah right like you're seeking You're seeking recognition.
00:45:38
Speaker
which is a form of validation. But if I could validate myself, I wouldn't be seeking that other you know anywhere else. yeah So I've just learned to validate myself. right like you know Whether I succeed or not, I validate myself. So that that that matters, what I think of what I've been able to do. um Yeah, you know, so...
00:45:57
Speaker
I mean, you've done amazing things. Thank you. You interviewed. But I'm very quiet about it. I know. That's what I'm saying. We got to say a little bit out loud, as you told me before we jumped of Our man's called. Our man, shout out to Goop. He just randomly calls sometimes, and he be like, yo, so have you ever met? I just, he be asking random shit. Other than he called me, and he asks me, have you ever met? Who did he ask me?
00:46:18
Speaker
Nipsey. And I was like, yeah, i have. i was like, a bunch of I was like, you know what's funny? Last time I seen Nip, he was mad at me. Because back to the cool shit, I'm not trying to be cool. Zoom in. I'm not trying to be cool.
00:46:30
Speaker
I just be like, yeah I be in my own zone. I be chilling. I'm mad modest, mad laid back. I'm kind of so socially awkward a little bit. So if you think I'm being cool, it's probably because I'm being a little introvert, being a little fucking weirdo low key, right? And we might have been in Texas, South by Southwest.
00:46:47
Speaker
And I was a across the street somewhere. And I'm the type of person, right? Let me tell you what literally goes through my head when I'm somewhere. I say to myself, oh, they don't remember me. Or they don't know me.
00:46:59
Speaker
I said this up to to myself in the head. Mind I've been with Nick multiple times. yeah He gets out the car, he looks across the street. He do some other shit, looks across the street. Then in like typical crip fashion, he starts walking across the street, pulling up his pants and then little skinny ass tanks he used to have. He was like, yo, where? You gonna have to see me? And I was like, oh my bad, I didn't know.
00:47:19
Speaker
If you saw me, if you remember me, he like, what fuck you talking about, right? He was tight. He was hitting me all this wild, wild, like, what you talking about? But I had to tell my man, like, yeah, like i got I got mad stories and people I met and situations I've been involved with and...
00:47:32
Speaker
Yeah, would you started off with like a crazy- But how many more books we need? yeah How many more podcasts we need? Right? Like- This is the one. No, man. I got a backyard. Y'all want to tell some campfire stories? Pull up. I know you got- Yo, when you like- We can share some stories, but I ain't- Yeah, I ain't doing all that other shit. Nah, nah. You gonna be that OG at the barbecue. I'm down for it, man. People go, yo- Yo, know ah one time it was me, Tyler. I mean, yeah, that's usually some hard time, hard stories. But so sometimes people think that's stunting.
00:48:09
Speaker
So I try to be careful. Because sometimes that is casual you what it is, right? Like, say what I said to the thing, if I was like, oh, advice from Sway, right? Like, imagine talking to somebody, don't translate that, and like, oh, you... Oh, you just rubbing it in my face. That's the, I've been trying to get. I was with Swiss last night. and like I'm not bragging. I was with Swiss last night. How am I supposed to start this story? you like Our life is different. Like, you know, just be like, yo, that's crazy. Yeah. So I've been battling that also because because I've been in weird situations now as well. Like with Sango, he'll be like, yo, come, I'm playing, I'm playing. he All he goes I'm playing a show with Amine. I'm like, all right, cool. I'll go. Yeah. Details. Yeah. I'm like, cool, I'll go. And I'm like, I'm thinking like, yo, it's just a regular venue. Terminal 5. I'm thinking Terminal 5. I get the ticket. or at No, he's like, no, we at Central Park. I'm like, Central Park? You playing Central It like Louis Vuitton show something like that? No, no, no. He was playing center stage. Like, Amine sold out center stage. So I'm backstage. I'm like, what happened? Like, where like I remember when I saw Amine at Irvin Plaza. He only had three songs. But it's casual, this is now your life. Yeah.
00:49:14
Speaker
I don't know how, like but then when I explain it to somebody, it's like, I don't know, it feels weird. Because it's not their normal. it's sure no It's now your new normal, right? So don't feel bad for it. Now this is mys my normalcy. It's just different from your normalcy. We just not vibrating on the same level of normalcy. But that don't ain't nothing wrong with that. But but how do I- It's like somebody who got up and went to work today, and right? Like they found something about their day exciting and you thinking to yourself, what? yeah But that's their normalcy, right? like Yeah, yeah. I agree. i But I think it's just the the ah i think the flexing nature of it whatever. can feel like flexing. Right. but yeah But for you or for us, is like it's the same thing, right? Where it's just like we're just we're just doing a cool thing. and that creates... I think it was just like...
00:50:02
Speaker
A person who doesn't, who thinks about it like they put you on a different pedestal. in it But that's their choice. You put me there. Yeah. Because we both here. i don't know. Why'd you do that? Yeah, exactly.
00:50:13
Speaker
Now I'm up here. Now I got to disappear. Now I got to disappear. Now you can't see me no more. I'm one it those, man. wouldn't even go to my own hood because I'd be like, man, don't know what, you know. Yeah, I feel like. And that's how it was for parts of the career, right? When somebody see you in pictures with celebrities, was like, I am broke. yeah Don't think hanging out with ce celebrities equates to making money. It just don't. I'm just hanging out with people. Yo, please. And getting free shit, right? Yeah.
00:50:38
Speaker
They don't pay to eat and drink, so now I've gotten a free meal. Free crap, free That's really I'm with them. Yeah. I started making money, I hang out with celebrities as much I was there for the free shit. I'm there for the free shit right now. Shout out to Wiz Khalifa. It was so many broke days, man, and free weed. Thank you, brother, Cameron.
00:50:59
Speaker
probably don't even know that. I yeah used to be so broke hanging out with that brother, man. I go home, be like, this is sad.
00:51:07
Speaker
Nobody, yo, I had a yeah had an apartment up in the Bronx. yeah yo Yo, it was like, remember Joe's apartment? Yeah, Joe's apartment. But like rat version. Rat version? That bad? Yeah, like they became the friends. out At that point, I hear, I'm like, hey, what up? right I got to keep going about my day. yeah It's the only rent I can afford. yeah And I used to be out.
00:51:25
Speaker
And I only used to be out because I used to hate going home. I enjoy going home now, so I don't go out as much. right I used to be out all night. Yo, imagine being in the club. you know, you know, Wiz is popping bottles at Hendrix. The the fucking joints is flowing. We go from club to club. And at the end the night, he's just like, okay, right? is not See you next time. And then, hey, I go walk my drunk ass to the six train.
00:51:52
Speaker
yeah And now gotta take this shit all the way up to the second to last stop and don't let them decide that they got ultimate service, I gotta run a fucking bus, right? it's not But kills the whole illusion of what just happened, right? yeah Now I'm in my apartment with the rats. yeah and some spice ham and some fucking Martin's potato bread. Bro, that's what it really was. But you show up, people think like, yo. Yo, you popping. You popping, you got it, you going back to your penthouse? The majority of the people in the industry you see, they ain't got it, man.
00:52:21
Speaker
It's just, everything just looks good because we're having a good time with some corporate dom. Yo, facts. Just keep it bro. Shout out to the sponsors. Yeah, shout out to the sponsors, yo. But like, one thing you talked about getting free shit. Has there ever been a moment somebody gave you free sneakers? What? yeah Yes. I'm queen. Let me queen of free. Yeah. I just started, back to when you asked me when I started buying my own sneakers, yeah I just started buying clothes for myself in the last few years. like And I want to say, that and that's not to start, I want to say that while I was trying to figure out my career journey and I was manifesting and going going after things, you know, shout out God and universe just always somehow blesses me.
00:53:03
Speaker
Shout out to our good family over at Rockaway. um We used to hang over at Sean Carter Enterprises a lot. you know Shout out to the team. They used to bless me with a lot of free clothes, orfu Dodger, ah Shout the Champion. i could go on on with the brands and sometimes and even know me and y'all blessed me with some fresh fits. didn't even have money to buy clothes. um But free sneakers, yeah. you know cause you know I know we skipped around, so anybody listening, please forgive us, little ADD going on. Rob Markman- Now this is the way this conversation is. Markman- Yeah, but to rewind a little bit, you know once I told you I found my tribe, landed, I became a DJ in personality. Early parts of my career was at Sirius, I did high-known hip hop, worked for labels, a bunch of stuff. um but you know now you're kind of like building a name for yourself. So like now this is just marketing. like They want to get you stuff. Markman- Yeah. Markman- I had gotten exposed to that, and i'm like, oh shit, I don't got to spend my own money. um
00:53:57
Speaker
One pair of shoes that I got for free huh that to this day I regret selling because I was so broke. You're right. Yeah. You got to make breath. R.I.P. to my man, Hovay. Yo. R.I.P. Legend. He would be sick and all that solely shoes, but shout out Hovay and Rob Markman.
00:54:14
Speaker
They was doing something at the time, and we ended up doing an event for 40 Acres and the Mule Spike to re-release the Spizzikes. It was like- Oh, the OG? Or- The OG and it had the scuff on it. It was supposed to be like, oh, was the most of the movie. I remember those. And it came in a pack with like a retro version of the shoe. It was like a two pack and packaging and everything was crazy. I did the event. They gifted me the shoes. The Fours. The Fours, right? They gifted me the Spitz Ice. don't know, this is crazy.
00:54:43
Speaker
Yes, the mars are the Mars joints. I can come i convinced myself a I was going to put them into some peck plexiglass and all that shit like that. but let's go back to this apartment in the Bronx with rats. And you know, you broke. You like, the fuck I'm doing with these shoes in, man? Like, I'm ah hungry.
00:55:01
Speaker
Man, I took them shits down to... Flight Club? Flight Club. yeah oh yeah i Yo, I ain't even walking Flight Club. I think I got out the car and got to the curb and somebody spotted the box. A homeboy hit me with the, yo, you know what I could do you for? Nah, because I opened the box and I took the other shoe out, yeah um he told me if I didn't touch the package at the time, I think I probably where got 1,200 for ended getting like eight for it. okay but then But then it's like, damn, I think back to it, stupid.
00:55:31
Speaker
That was like gifted to me by Jordan and Forti Acres. right right that is ah and it I think there was only like 30 May. and a and The crazy part about it, it I can even do you crazier, bro. like The whole event was dope. We did it like downstairs at Forti Acres Mule. I think they did like an event activation where they recreated Mars' rooms and the pizza shop. It was dope. Before we did the event, um we did a panel.
00:55:58
Speaker
on On this panel, it was me, Clark Kent. Rob Markman- rest in peace. oh Rest in peace. Oh my God, man. um It was me, Clark. I believe the young lady named Beja from Complex at the time had moderated. there was a bunch of other faces in the room, but we had a conversation about sneakers, where the concert went, don't know. But everything about it was dope. So yeah, you know, circumstances make you do some desperate things. Rob Markman- Y'all feel you. Feel you. I got them for free and let them and sold them. So I came up technically. I mean, yes, but.
00:56:29
Speaker
Insanity. Insanity. Oh, man. That kind of hurt me. Because if I had that, I'm thinking about myself in that situation. i'd have been like, this is going with me. Like, here hear that's how ah I'm not like, I wear my shoes. Yeah. Yeah. You know, like. I would, because I love the, I'm a, I'm, fours are my favorite model. So that's the other thing. All right. So let's come in. Other than them Aqua Ace, like fours hand down. Yeah. Hands down. don't care what color way they come in.
00:56:56
Speaker
Them things, man. And they work on anybody's foot to me. Mm-hmm. Yeah, Faws. Faws is the joint. um But we're towards the end of the podcast, so I want you to think back to Young S. Wit. You know, she about to get those.
00:57:11
Speaker
we We're going, Aqua 8s? Or you want to go Fat Farm? No, hell no. We can Aqua 8s. Burn the Fat Farm shoes. We got Aqua 8s. Now you're older you behind your younger self. What would you tell Younger S. Wit as they open that box?
00:57:31
Speaker
Stay fly, stay fresh. just is those just is Just simple. What's This my daughter, y'all. She likes
Father-Daughter Sneaker Bonding
00:57:39
Speaker
sneakers, too. Yeah. welcome Welcome to the podcast. um But yeah, just you know stay fly, stay fresh. Yeah.
00:57:47
Speaker
It's a beautiful thing, you know? And I don't know if you want to introduce... Oh, yeah. This is my daughter, Nas. Nasir, you want to say hi? Hi. She likes sneakers, too. What's your favorite sneaker? Yeah, your favorite sneaker?
00:58:03
Speaker
New Balances. Balances. Yeah, we both got New Balances today, so. Yeah, cheese. But everybody know where to find you. um At S underscore WHIT on all social media. I'm thirsty. I got you. would um But yeah, I don't got a website percolating right now. I do. I'm tripping. Source Lifestyle. Yeah, there go. I was about to say. what I was about to bring it up. That's what when you got so much going on.
Source Lifestyle Brand Overview
00:58:29
Speaker
Check out SourceLifestyle.com.
00:58:32
Speaker
It's where I get off my passion ideas and my creative. It's more of a full lifestyle, travel, all-encompassing brand. Still working on some new ideas, but I got some cool t-shirts over there and aprons if you like to cook and kids t-shirts if you're a parent. Rob Markman Follow that page too, SauceWit. Markman follow SauceWit on all social media too. You know, whatever you got, X, Instagram. I think only thing I'm not on is TikTok because I haven't figured that shit out. Rob Markman But yeah, man, check me out. Source with, source lifestyle.com.
00:59:01
Speaker
S underscore W-H-I-T underscore all social medias. And yeah, man. Yeah.
00:59:08
Speaker
Oh, word. Right after this, we're going to do podcast with Stuff Animals. Yeah, for real. Let me do my little little thing
Podcast and Patreon Promotion
00:59:14
Speaker
at the end. ah You know where to find me, who is Hassan? Also, with me to follow the podcast of My First Kicks pod. Write me a story. Info at MyFirstKicks.com. Tell me your My First Kicks story. Would love to read it to a guest. Hit up the Patreon. Patreon.com slash MyFirstKicks. I'm also starting...
00:59:30
Speaker
a youtube series where i just talk my my shit sorry for cursing uh and that's gonna be at youtube.com uh who is haas um yeah i'm about to kick it to myself to do the outro piece i hope you enjoyed this week's episode with eswit man if you had a great time listening to this please, please, please comment below or leave a review.
00:59:59
Speaker
It really helps out the podcast. and I'm mentioning it again because these are things that do tremendous for discoverability within this platform or these platforms that whatever you're listening to this on, um it really does help me inspired more people to check out the podcast. Uh, and if you enjoyed this conversation, I'm pretty sure somebody else may too. So please share it with somebody, but I really learned a ton from this episode. i mean, shout out to D for setting this one up.
01:00:34
Speaker
Uh, he was in the building. I mean, you hear him in the background and you know, they go back way, way, way, way. Like you hear it like from kids and, um you know It was very dope having him in the building. we talked a lot after. we shot We shot a music video at the after this as well. Well, they also shot a music video. the Oxymoron shot a music video. Incorporated ah you know me a little bit in there. So very dope to see whenever that comes out. um
01:01:08
Speaker
Please be sure to follow Oxymorons and
Eswit's Journey and Social Media Perception
01:01:13
Speaker
pay attention them. going on tour soon. But back to this episode, you know, hearing about Eswitch's journey and how she, you know, was able to incorporate being herself and doing such cool things along the way. And even though, you know, there are moments where you feel like you're not,
01:01:38
Speaker
up to par in terms of just like, you know, having as much money or doing some thing cool and then having to come back to an apartment that's just like not up to your own standards is, was like really eye-opening because, you know, I've been doing a ton of cool stuff and then you know, I'd have to go to work the next day, right? Like, a lot of people don't know that It is like we we, for example, you know, on Instagram, you'll see, I always say this is just like, it's just a highlight reel.
01:02:18
Speaker
Like you're not really putting up the the downs. You're not putting, you know, the blemishes that you see every day because you kind of have this like perception of like, yo, I got to post what's cool. I got to post what's dope. I got to post. And it's like, it's dope to, for yourself, it's dope to take a moment,
01:02:38
Speaker
and be present and kind of like take a picture and then post it to kind of like remember but from the outside looking in if that's all you post then everybody thinks that's how you live and You know, it's crazy where you can be like, yeah, i taking a picture with a famous person and we're chilling and doing bottles and popping bottles. And then now got to go back to this apartment that like has a leak and, you know, it's not doing well. Like, it's crazy. um
01:03:11
Speaker
but it's all too common and and it doesn't get talked about enough. But hearing some of these stories of just like growing up in New York and Queens, and I just, I really enjoyed this episode.
01:03:23
Speaker
Sinwit, with Eswit, and you know, the special guest at the end was dope as well. um Her daughter's extremely adorable.
01:03:35
Speaker
And that might be the youngest guest I ever had on the podcast. bubble the kid was was was first place for that but now that he's got beat he got him beat but uh i hope we really enjoy this episode you know the thing that that you know that's what this journey is like within music is extremely layered and we didn't we barely you know scratched the surface on it because i really wanted to you know, hone the just the sneakers and also the upbringing and just the curiosity. I think I think we
01:04:15
Speaker
you know That's probably like my biggest skill. If you listen to every episode, I'm always trying to to pick people's brains and and their point of views and trying to see as much as I can through their learned experiences because that's what makes for a great conversation and having that chance to really sit down and, you know, ask the questions that kind of like come to mind because i would just want to find
Interviewing the Interviewer
01:04:55
Speaker
out more. I want to find out more and like I'll even
01:04:57
Speaker
have these same conversations just when like I'm at a bar or you know hanging out with somebody because I'm naturally curious and hearing how curious Eswit is like it was really dope to see so and hear because she's done some crazy interviews she's interviewed Tony Hawk and that was like I think that's her most recent one and interviewed a ton of people so
01:05:29
Speaker
when she said that, like, oh, she's never been asked that, I was just like, that's crazy. So, huge honor. um Please do, you know, additional research. Look up some of those interviews. um I really have, and I'm going to say this out loud, I really have been enjoying, because this kind of foreshadowing um for guests to come, but I really am enjoying interviewing the interviewers.
01:05:56
Speaker
ah Not to kind of, like, not on like the competition end of it, more of like, I feel like the people who always sit across and host are the people that are the most curious. So like when you get a chance to pick their brains, it is on a different level of like,
01:06:18
Speaker
the introspectiveness because I think when you sit across from somebody and you are the one that's trying to break out the introspectiveness ah using, you know, insightful questions and and kind of like leading your way through that.
01:06:33
Speaker
You're never thinking about yourself in that capacity and like how to input yourself. And, you know, that's why. whenever I sit across like B.S. Witt and you know whoever you know like a Matt Welty, Brendan Dunn or a lot of these people that spend more time actually doing the interviews I find it so much more fun. I find it i find it extremely just like insightful and I'm hoping to do more of that in the future.
01:07:03
Speaker
so Thank you for checking out this week's episode. I really appreciate each and every one of y'all for tapping in with me each week. And if you're the this is the first time you've ever checked out this podcast, I really appreciate you giving this podcast a chance. But we have to do Patreon shoutouts because you know Patreons and Patreon subscribers mean a whole lot to this podcast because it only takes $5 for you to support this podcast, $5 a month.
01:07:33
Speaker
It really goes a long way. I'm trying to build as much as I can around the Patreon and add more things. Currently, I'm putting up episodes, making them ad-free, because I know there's a ton of ads throughout this episode. If you're watching this on YouTube, there's going to be ads in the future when you when you're listening to this. So if you want to get ahead of it, Patreon. Patreon.com slash MyFirstKick. So let's do the shout-outs. We got Plox. We got Sean Hates You. We got Jordan Kaiser. We got Samia Graham.
01:08:03
Speaker
And we have Derek Lipkin, we have Derek Hawkins, we got Ross Adams, we got Adam Neustetter, we've got Brett, we've got Jesse Jesse G, and we got Adam Butler. So I appreciate every single one of my patrons.
Upcoming YouTube Content
01:08:23
Speaker
um Like I said, I'm building this new page that's gonna be mainly just me and my commentary. It's gonna be who is Haas, gonna be on YouTube and YouTube only I'm not posting clips anywhere else it's just gonna live on YouTube YouTube.com slash who is Haas nothing's up right now I'm currently and the process of you know just building an archive of episodes currently so right now I have a in the chamber right now I have four episodes of i' working on five tomorrow um
01:09:03
Speaker
and tomorrow being Thursday, the day before this episode comes out. and once that last episode is done, i will be starting to work and build that YouTube page. So I'm hoping by next week ah I will probably be fully launched. And by the time you're listening to this, maybe I'll, you know,
01:09:28
Speaker
I don't know, put some creatives up on it or something. But that's going to be full commentary. It will be connected and within the My First Kicks universe. and But it's more going to be it's more it's going to be really about the culture and the cultures that I frequently ah ah ah frequently frequent.
01:09:48
Speaker
You know, I love wrestling, anime. I love sneakers, obviously. Street wear, music, um all these things that I am constantly pouring myself into and, you know, and part of those extra communities as well.
01:10:07
Speaker
I'm going to expand that reach and that's going to go and live on who is Haas or Haas. The Haas page, whatever. But thank you again for checking out this podcast.
01:10:20
Speaker
And if you want to check out more of this podcast, check out these two episodes here. Hit that subscribe button if you're watching this on YouTube. And you know what we say each week, wear your kicks. Peace.