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Chicharrón Force One's with The Kid Mero
198 Plays3 months ago
This week I am joined by The Kid Mero, we talk about his journey with kicks. Growing up in the Heights and the Bronx, working retail in the city before starting Victory Light. How sneakers and clothing have always played a part in his life. We also talk about being one of the only people with the Air More Get Money Uptempo. Also being able to work with Timberland to put out timbs. Plus so much more!
Where to find Mero:
Socials: IG: https://www.instagram.com/thekidmero/
Twitter: https://x.com/THEKIDMERO
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@accordingtothekid
Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks
Intro Music by The DoppleGangaz: https://thedoppelgangaz.bandcamp.com/
Outro Music by Gordon Bombay: https://thegordonbombay.bandcamp.com/
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Transcript
200th Episode Celebration with Kid Mero
00:00:15
Speaker
What's good, y'all? Welcome back to my first kicks and crazy. Yo, this is crazy. Episode 200, and I got the guy, my guy, the Kid Mero. Come on, dawg. I invented podcasts, dawg. You thought it was Joe Rogan, nigga? It was me. You know what I'm saying?
00:00:30
Speaker
especially Especially if you're ah if you're just like from New York and you think, like yeah, I'm just going to live in these four walls for the rest of my life. like I got the guy to life. You know what I'm saying? Victory life, baby. You know what I'm saying? Like, baby. That's it. That's the hand signal. If you see that outside, that's like the jailer brothers in this. That's like, we winning.
00:00:48
Speaker
You know what I'm talking about? Pow. Yo, episode 200, man. Like, it's crazy. We here, dawg. Yo, congratulations. First of all, that's a milestone, man. 200. Yo, this morning, I reflected on like my journey here, right? i've I've interviewed fucking Jock Slade. I've interviewed Nick DePaul. I've interviewed Russ Bengston. I've, like, sat down with some of these people. Sneaky gods. Sneaky gods. Dave Ortiz. Shout out Dave Ortiz. That's my dog. but I had to talk to you for episode 200. You wanna know why? Because without you, there would be no this. You don't understand, like finding, I don't know if it's a redacted podcast
The Power of Honesty in Entertainment
00:01:28
Speaker
now. My old work. Yeah, my old work. Finding the old work was revolutionary to me because I always thought that podcast was just two white guys talking. About recipes and science. Comedy and fucking- Serial killers.
00:01:46
Speaker
And i remember I remember when I first found the Redacted podcast, yeah and like I remember just sitting and being like, yo, these dudes were in the streets. like I was like ah was like, so maybe maybe all the shit that it all the crazy shit that I've done, I could talk about it. But yeah, we here. But fam, and that just goes to show that the best thing that you could be in entertainment is honest. yeah like I always say, like this is art, bro. like Conversations.
00:02:12
Speaker
Jokes, music, all that shit is art, you know what I mean? And like I always say like the best art is honest art. So I would go up there every day, you know what I mean? And just tell people, yo, this is my this is my life. You know what I mean? For better, for worse. You know what I mean?
From Humble Beginnings to Luxuries
00:02:26
Speaker
Like, damn, I'm fucked up.
00:02:27
Speaker
You know what I'm saying? I'm broke, nigga. Yo, PayPal me some money for weed. Like, 2017, niggas, bro, was going through it. Like, yo, I thought I was going to get radicalized by the Taliban, because I was tweeting crazy shit about health care in the United States. All kind of shit. But that just, you know, built an audience of people that's like, yo, this dude, yo, he just like me. You know what I'm saying? So, you know, even though, you know what I'm saying, nigga, came through in the Batmobile and shit with the Rollie, nigga.
00:02:54
Speaker
Still metal, man. Yo, i so I'm saying that Batmobile. That shit is crazy. That was crazy. And you were like, yo, I'm going to turn it over right here on the bridge. I was like, please don't.
00:03:08
Speaker
Yo, listen, if you drive a Nissan Altima or some other shit like on Honda Civic, yo, would you listen? Straight
Parenting and Personal Stories
00:03:15
Speaker
down the barrel. This is my single. Listen to me. Don't try me on the highway, bro. I'm an animal. You know what I'm saying? I got a V8 by turbo, dawg. I never had that before. OK? I lived my whole life not flexing at all. You know what I'm saying? Like, just humble. You know what I'm saying? Now it's flex time. Call me fuck master flex, OK? Drop a bomb on it. Because when I get in that motherfucker, dawg, I feel like Bruce Wayne. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? It does. Blacked out. When you pressed the button, I was like, all right, here we go.
00:03:47
Speaker
Yo, listen, man, that shit hates me in the first gear. That shit's like, turn me up. He's like, yo, what are you doing? Why are we only going to sport? That downshift burp is nasty. Yo, listen, if you a car guy.
00:04:01
Speaker
That shit'll get you bricked up. You know what I'm saying? That downshift burp. You know what I mean? P1 in the back like, yo, chill. Yo, I don't know, bro. It's true, guys. There is no back. What are you talking about? Yeah, yeah. No. Backseat. Oh, in the back there? I thought you were in the back of the car. I'm like, this is a two-seater. Nah, nah, bro. I'm like, bitch, you be like, nah, nah, you got to sit in the back. That was on purpose. It's like I'm four kids, bro. And I don't be taking my word. Yo, y'all can only take one.
00:04:25
Speaker
It could only be one of y'all. It's like Highlander. You know what I'm saying? This is where they fight. This is like, I got to make sure I got, I'm in on the best on the team right now so that I roll up. Bro. So my nine year old Shatamari is, was killing it in football this year. You know what I'm saying? Like got hurt.
00:04:43
Speaker
Sat out like the first couple of weeks, came back, ripped it up in the playoffs, ripped it up in the Super Bowl, did his thing. And every single time we had to do any like football thing. I'm like, bro, let's get in the truck, bro. You got a helmet, you got pads and shit, all this other type of stuff. We need like space. He's like, I want to go on your car.
00:05:04
Speaker
Then he's going to get in the car. I turn the shit on. And as soon as we like two minutes away from the field, bro he turns on young Dolph on 20, bro, and rolls the windows down and just rolls and sticks his arm out the window. I'm like, bro, you're nine years old. The fuck? What? He got under Fisher Price Cuban links. Yo, crazy, bro. Insane. You got the Jackson chain on it. I ain't buying you no real shit yet, bro.
00:05:28
Speaker
You fuck around, leave that shit at the pool, and you're like, you can have the Odell Beckham sex dream. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You can have the little, the Puerto Rican link. I don't even call it a Cuban link. It's just the Guatemalan link. Yo, yo. First of all, like I said, yo, it's a huge huge honor to have you on here, you know. I was going to go and do AKAs, but I don't remember all of them. You know what I'm saying? People be like, yo, can you do AKA's? I'm like, yo, hold on. Let me get my phone out. It's like that free style in there off the Blackberry line. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah. The funniest part is, though, because the only reason I wanted to say this is because I remember being like, yo, Bar Mellow's Anthony for three. Oh, yeah. All the time, bro. All the time. And then when you finally, you and Mellow finally have a podcast together. And he he did not understand at all the AKA's, bro. I was crying at my that, champ? I'm like, yo, all right, bro, listen. Let's try this again later. and then And then he made fun of the whole, like, I don't know, he's the human do-rag flapping. He was just like, yo. Keep it wavy, baby. Come on, J. But explain it to a dude who's like played basketball and all these crazy nicknames that you have like on the court. And he's just like, I don't understand. I don't get it.
00:06:49
Speaker
Listen, but in Melo's defense, he's always just been mellow. He's never been like, you know, like fucking junkyard dog or some shit like that. You know what I mean? He's just been mellow dog, like from junk. I mean, lucky him. But Hard Pivot, welcome to the podcast. If you know Hard Pivot gang, ah I'm here to ask you the question that I ask. I'm here to ask you the question that I ask everybody each week. And that question is, what's your first kiss with that first person? Because you absolutely need to have.
Sneaker Culture Beginnings
00:07:17
Speaker
Yo, man, this is crazy, bro, because, like,
00:07:23
Speaker
growing up, I hated Michael Jordan, bro. Like, I hated Michael Jordan, bro. Die hard next to him, I feel you. Die hard next to him, bro. He whooped our ass every year, bro. It was inevitable. You know what I'm saying? Like, i didn't I hated Reggie Miller, but I didn't hate him like I hated Mike. Because I was like, yo, Reggie's not going to beat us every time. right Mike is going to beat us every time, bro.
00:07:44
Speaker
Every time and it was just made me sad like it was just like yo, you know, it's like, you know the end another movie type shit Like and you a kid bro. That shit is heartbreaking when you when you watch a movie and you like it's all based off of a real-life story, you know It's like yo the story the true story based on true events of 9-11. I'm like, I know what happened. I was there I was smoking weed on my roof watching the shit go down like this is crazy Like y'all doing this here Wow And then I call my pa and she's like, Papa, you safe in the Bronx. They're not going to fly no plane over there. Relax. Relax. Relax. But the first pair, bro, and I say all that to say that the first pair was the concords, the OG colorway, concords, man, like, and
00:08:29
Speaker
they were sold out everywhere. This is before, what year did those originally drop? What was the original release date for those? 99? 99. 99. 99? Yeah. So I'm high school freshman, bro. There's no apps. The Sneakers app is distant. You know what I mean? Somebody's like, yo, what if we did an app? Niggas like, what's that? On your phone. Your smartphone. What's your smartphone? We so, boop, boop, boop. You know what I'm saying? So it wasn't no, yo, I'm going to order them here. Yo, I'm going to go on stock. It was eBay. I mean, even closer to East Bay was even, you know, East Bay wouldn't even show it in the magazine. They wouldn't. They're like, yo, you good, bro. Like, you on your own. You want these pippies? You want some, uh, flight, hyped-piper flights? You know what I'm saying? Like, you want the roofing, uh, Team Jordy's, bro? Like, you want the hammer loop joints?
00:09:21
Speaker
oh So we drove, and this is a crazy story because my pops, he was like, my pops is like no nonsense. You know what I'm saying? Like immigrant dad. So he was just like, yo, listen, dawg, I don't know what the fuck it is about these shoes, my nigga, but like, I'm gonna take you to like three stores. And if you don't find these sneakers in these three stores, it's a wrap. Three strikes you out, bro? Bro, that was it. So we are, fuck it, we are one of these, shout out to Foot Co, 181st, we going all over the Heights, bro, because at the time we lived in Heights, all over, everywhere. Every sneaker store, bro, the shit's with the shit's wrapped in plastic. Yeah.
00:09:57
Speaker
everywhere. Now we sold out, now we sold out, now we sold out, now we sold out. After the third store, I was sold out. I wore 10 and a half at the time. That was sold out. Which by the way, is like the worst size. Yeah. Like 9 to 10, 10 and a half. Bro, I'm a 12. And I'm like, I wish I was a fucking
Evolution of Sneaker Culture
00:10:13
Speaker
14.
00:10:14
Speaker
I wish I had fucking big ass Carl Anthony Townes feet, bro. You know what I'm saying? I'm a size 13. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it 100%. Bro, but you might fuck around and find some shit in an outlet. You know what I'm saying? Because everybody got little feet. You feel me? You get the fucking seven rings. Shit, nigga. Fuck out. I don't know, man. I feel like...
00:10:32
Speaker
I feel like back in the day, for sure. Like- Oh, now they know. Now they know. But now, I think it's mostly, I think the average foot side has grown and the nines are like the rare shit where it's like, if you a size nine, you getting everything because- Oh yeah, yeah, that's true. It's like, if you go small or like medium, no, small or very big. You know what I'm saying? Ayo. You know what I'm saying? It's part of the left. I was gonna say something. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a part of the left. You know what I'm saying? But nah, bro. So we go to like, mad different stores.
00:11:02
Speaker
And then we finally fired a spot that hasn't. Yeah. But they got him in a tent. OK. So I was like, I don't give a fuck. Like, I'm rocking these, bro. Take the insoles out. I was about to say, he ripped the soles out. I ripped the soles out then, bitch, bro. And I'm just thugging it out hard as fuck. He said Jordan's a dress sock. That's it, bro. That is it. That's the dress sock. That's it. Like, the little, they're not even a dress like the shit that you put on in the store. Yeah, the sock liner. Yeah, the fuck condom. You know what I mean? So you don't give a nigga a foot gonorrhea when they're trying to take you in this channel? Brothers, they're called no-shows. No, right. There you go. The foot connoisseur. You know what I mean? That's it, bro. Thugging it out. And I did that shit with another pair, the second pair of Ivinsons, the black and gold. Oh, yeah. Same shit, bro. I went to, because I loved to hoop in those shoes. Like, I was looking, because they were like, they were lows, I believe. You're talking about either the threes or the first ones.
00:11:57
Speaker
Not the first ones. the The first ones are high. The first ones are high. They had like the honeycomb, hexalite shit. and Yeah, the hexalite. The second ones that were like had that were black and gold. They had like a vest on it. Yeah. when i had like the shit down and make us I think that might be the the three. Those are the three. Bro, whatever they were, well yeah yeah I was like, Alan Iverson crossed up Michael Jordan.
00:12:18
Speaker
He is my new hero. And this motherfucker got braids like me, like his jersey man big. He got the same whole life I got on, bro. What is this? like I was like, yo, this is crazy. Yo, how crazy is it that we used to rock those big ass shorts under jeans, bro? Under jeans, bro? Because you never know, bro. Listen, hey, we all men here, bro. You know what I'm saying? You might say, yo.
00:12:41
Speaker
Yo, we playing 21 right now. And I got i gotta gotta yeah we got to get it in, bro. It has to happen. That's a New York rule. Listen, let me tell you something. I'm an elder statesman. That means I'm watched.
00:12:54
Speaker
The reason why people wear basketball shorts under their jeans all the time is because that was a law. David Dinkins started that shit in like the 80s. Like, you got a hoop. New Yorkers is known for hooping, bro. Yeah. So it was just like, that's why that shit fell off. It used to be every point guard, New York point guard was a dog. Dog, yeah. You know what I'm saying? But then we said we stopped wearing Olives under the jeans, bro. That's why they all coming from New Jersey now.
00:13:14
Speaker
I heard it was the skinny jeans. That was it. I heard it changed everything. That was it. Niggas looking crazy, like they had the grump pants on. Yeah, you got the... Looking like Legend of Bagger Vance, bro. It was out of Wiggly lines. Yeah. It was crazy. Looking like a drumstick. You got the skinny part up here and shit, man. Fat up here. Looking like you got poetry pants on. Niggas looking crazy. Poetry. Got the ninja joints, but the ninjas aren't ninjas. The Tenchu stuff is assy shit, bro. You're just running on the roof top like this on your tiptoes.
00:13:41
Speaker
I mean, that's crazy. Shout out to your dad. Shout out to El Dong, Tito El Dong. You know what I'm saying? Because, yo, he's a con, yo. I have to, like, the fifth star. You know he was like, oh, I don't got to buy these now. Yeah, he was like, let's go. 10 to 10? Oh, it's not 10 and a half, Papo. No, Papo, you know it's on the air. It's on the air, man. And I was like, I don't care. I was like, school starts in a week. You got to look fresh like that. Right now.
00:14:09
Speaker
Yeah, but I got him, you know what I'm saying? I'm one of the shit out them tight ass Jordans, man. what like so did Was that like the first um like grasp of like when did sneaker culture was like, yo, this is an actual thing? Because I know when you wear Jordan 11s, it like skyrockets you in high school or whatever. like No matter what school, middle school, world high school. Elementary school. You're like, yo, this is hard. To me, honestly though,
00:14:35
Speaker
going back to my hatred for Mike, which I no longer have, Mike. Shout out to you. You know what I'm saying? You a legend, gang.
Sneakers as Social Currency
00:14:41
Speaker
I'm 40 years old. I've come to the realization that sports is a competition, and you were the number one competitor out there. You know what I'm saying? So shout out to Michael Jordan and the Jordan brand. If you want to sponsor me. Us. Holler at your boy. Us? You know what I'm saying? If you want to be a sponsor of my first kicks podcast, Jordan Brand, Holler. You know what I'm saying? Nike, also. You know what I'm saying? Nike basketball. Me or shit. The Air Max SB. Whatever, baby. You know what I'm saying? Dog walkers in here. Some Chucky Duggies. You know what I mean? Let's get a wall back here. You know what I mean? A wall. Yeah, you dig? But for me, it started like the obsession with sneakers started early because
00:15:14
Speaker
You know, you in public school, you know what I mean? That's the social currency is what I call it. Uh-huh. I did a stint in Catholic school where the only way you could floss was your sneakers because everybody got a uniform on, right? So it's like I had this North Face jacket. My parents was like, where'd you get that? I was like, I stole it. And the whatever sneakers, you know what I mean? Since I was anti-J's until the concords, it was the Griffys, the Diamond Turfs, Dion joints.
00:15:44
Speaker
Like, literally, i like, i you know how it is in the hood, bro. You don't call the name, the shoe, the name of the shoe. You call it the athlete that sponsors it. right Or it's like in doses. Yeah. so i had the paris Or would be like, with the, with the Domiturs, you'd be like, the 49ers. You'd be like, yo, I got the 49ers. The 49ers, right. So like, you know, I'd be like, yo, the Deons, the Barry, the Zoom Air, the cross training joints. Like, the, the air trainers, bro, the bows. Like, those, the bows. Nogacies. Whoo!
00:16:13
Speaker
Bro, my shit was just like... You were living in the Heights during this time where this is... I was in the Bronx and going back and forth. Because I feel like the Bronx secret culture, because it's the place where hip-hop, hip-hop was created, that it's like the way that sneakers moved in the Bronx is so different. Oh, yeah, bro. And the rest of it. Yeah. Because it was like, in a way, kind of like DC, where it's just like, bro, if you go to DC,
00:16:37
Speaker
992s is it. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? And phones. Yeah. And phones. If you go out of DC, if you would would like leave DC in the 90s, 2000s, and some 992s, it's like, nah, you wearing science teacher sneakers. Yeah. You about to teach me, you about to show me a Punnett square, nigga, and show me like how to make P's tall? Because that's science teacher shoes that you got on. But crazy in DC, it was like, yo, I'm selling dope in there. It was ah is a cultural thing. So I think New York,
00:17:04
Speaker
Uptowns, you know what I'm saying? like It was like, bro, and it was crazy it's crazy to me now because like the way it shifted, right because it was like, yo, I could not step out in some sneakers that had anything on them. right yeah You know what I'm saying? like Anything, bro. If I had a dot of ketchup on my shirt, bro, I had to do a lace swap, immediate. oh yeah like Bro, like them the you I'm hitting it with the toothbrush, bro. I'm going crazy. so now You know what I'm saying? Shout out to fucking Pratt. Shout out to Rhode Island School of the Design. Shout out to fucking at every art school out there. Y'all white girls is going crazy, bro. Y'all white girls is going crazy. Y'all niggas, y'all. Yo, Shorty, yeah yeah your ups look like you do them in a mulcher.
00:17:50
Speaker
You know what I'm saying? And then threw them in a deep fryer, and then was like, all right, these are ready now. And then you put them on your feet. Now we're good. Now we can rock. I just put them in an air fryer on French fry for 20 minutes. Now I can rock these to school. It's nuts, bro. Like, you would have got fried back in the day for that type of shit. These girls are rocking.
00:18:07
Speaker
the dope and sp let's keep it a buck i don say one go to say these their air forces are more cooked than it bene come on here come on dog let's teach i don force one bro yes guys guys cause the culture different that's what it is it's the two americas that's up all in time is two americas wrote those america ones been cut in you in line at the club since the early ninety s um yeah with the tight as do with the super choke laces show what They said no sneakers you be like with the Jordans. He'd be like no sneakers yeah and then theyll they' be like yo but Boy, he's got a Brooks Brothers shirt on yeah. Yeah, so get the fuck out of here. He's got a 401k Yeah, he's ready to go. You know what a rough. I raise is nigga the fuck out of here back in the line low key hove try to jack those where he did the whole button up and yeah when's no know let's say hovis home You know, but dog you had us looking crazy Crazy out
Cultural Impact of Sneakers
00:18:59
Speaker
here. You know what's so crazy? It's funny that y'all said this. It's because I just kind of rewatched Just For Kicks. You remember Just For Kicks, the documentary? So they said in that documentary that Hov is the reason that Air Force Ones are what they are right now. And I was like, what? No. he was like They were like, Hov is the reason why Nelly but made the song ah Air Force Ones. Oh, man. And I'm like, yo.
00:19:24
Speaker
You know what fucks me up? People that be like, yo, Nelly made Air Force Ones popular. I'm like, bro, are you stupid, niggas? Have y'all, bro, have you never seen a picture of a person in New York City? Ever? Not even in like like on Wikipedia? It's crazy, bro. That's crazy, man. They're called Uptowns. You know why they're called Uptowns? Because niggas from Uptowns started rocking them. Yeah. and that's what they' called That's why they call that. As a queen, we got cosign that. Come on. It's Uptowns.
00:19:49
Speaker
It's crazy. like i don't I don't understand that app. How did that work? But the doc is... That doc, you got to do a rewatch. If you want to do a watch-along, we got to do a watch-along. Because that shit is crazy. We do it on Mero Mondays. like That shit is crazy, bro.
00:20:05
Speaker
Shout outs because, yo, we be tapped in on the Mero Mondays, man. i got Every Monday, bro. Yo, son, listen, if you don't know, I'm on Twitch. You know what I'm saying? I had a lot of, I i was, listen, before, like 2015, 2016, I had a lot of smoke for Twitch and streamers. I was like, man, y'all niggas, corny, this, that. I've changed my ways. You know what I'm saying? I'm a home, i'm ah I'm a stay in the house type of dude, unless I pop out. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, but then it's usually I'm there if you pop out. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah.
00:20:34
Speaker
That being said, you know what I'm saying? Meryl Mondays, every Monday, 9 p.m. to midnight. You know what I'm saying? We going crazy. We're doing whatever the fuck you want to do. It's a democracy. If you want to watch bugs eat each other alive, we could do that. You want to watch a guy chug every flavor of Mountain Dew that's available for purchase, we could do that. You know what I'm saying? That's just crazy. I can call my grandmother on WhatsApp and go, whatever you need. You know what I'm saying? Mero Mondays, baby, on Twitch. And it's the Kid Mero, no spaces, everywhere. Everywhere. I'm going to ask you to plug it at the end anyway. Yes, sir. So I definitely want to know about that progression, because obviously we know that you started yapping on Twitter. Yeah. And we know about from there, but what propelled you and what was your life? What was your first job? How did we get? How did we get to hungry, hungry Mero?
Early Career and Lehman Brothers
00:21:20
Speaker
Yeah. So listen, man. So it's crazy because it goes. It's even it predates like complex. It predates DVM and predates with the boys predates all that shit. Victory. Like the reason why I call my victory. That is distinct now is because that was like my first foray into like the Internet.
00:21:37
Speaker
When I was just like, bro, I'm outside. Like, I got tray bags, bro. I got a pistol. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, I'm not. What is the internet? Right. You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm like, I'm on here. Yeah. Like, I'm downloading music and shit. Like, oh, shit, a freestyle with DMX, Tupac, Eminem, Snoop Dogg.
00:21:53
Speaker
And it's not real? Yeah, yeah. Damn, Lime, why are you tricking me again? On a MF-Doom V? Yeah, on a MF-Doom V. I'm like, man, wow. None of this is like secrets. Y'all made this on acid 3.0. You know what I'm saying? Like, this is not a real thing. yeah Or it's like porn. yeah Like, it's just audio porn. What do I need an audio porn file for? What the fuck are you, like, I'm jerking off to the sounds? What is going on? We're not doing that.
00:22:22
Speaker
But yeah, nah man, so like when I started, um so. writing Victory Light was like what made me think like, oh, okay. What made me believe that I could have a career in entertainment. Because people were hitting me up about it. But like, you know, rewind even further than that, like my first jobs were like retail, like the retailer loft on like third like by Herald Square. You know what I'm saying? Like if you see, y'all listen, if you, if like 2000, 2000 ish, 2000,
00:22:55
Speaker
Yeah, 2002, maybe. You know what I'm saying? If you seen a dude outside with braids smoking a New Paul 100 and a black t-shirt looking upset in front of Ante La Loaf, it was me. You know what I'm saying? It was me. Because I had to unload a whole truck and do inventory. Because they wouldn't let that. I was not seeing the floor. Yeah, you definitely not seeing the floor. They was like, bro, they could be a short staff. They're like, nigga, get your ass back down here.
00:23:17
Speaker
with your dusty, with your Jim Jones braids. They can go downstairs, bro. With the booger, I got the size. Yeah, and now you wildin', bro. Like, you tied your shit like this, bro, on the side, in the bow. Go downstairs. These are city women are scared of you. You know what I mean? And there was, so it was a lot of that. It was retail. I worked at Sally Beauty Supply, which is crazy. I almost got into mad fights, shot the Co-op City. You know what I'm saying? Because dudes would go in there with their shorty. Yeah. And I'm behind the counter, and they're like, pfft.
00:23:40
Speaker
Snicker man, Zesty, you're working with the blue supply. I'm like, yo, fam, yo, listen. I'm just here to get it checked, B. You could try me if you want. yo You know what I'm saying? I have to fuck you up before you go. But listen, this deep conditioner, what it's going to do is you're going to leave it in right for like five minutes. No more than five minutes.
00:23:58
Speaker
So there was that. Then my first like what I felt like was my first like real job. Yeah, like I got to change my I got to dress up for this and I got to go and like not be late and whatever was that Lehman Brothers, which was like a not no longer exists. Nope. Youth of America. Google Lehman Brothers. You know what I'm saying? And it coincided with 9-11, bro, because I went to D.R. as Dominicans do. You know what I'm saying? Like on vacation came back.
00:24:25
Speaker
end of August. You know what I'm saying? I'm supposed to go to work like September, like 3rd. Yeah. Some shit like that. Right. Like, I'm in the crib September 5th, like, ah. Like, yo, I ain't even there. No cold, no show, gang. Like, crazy. Like, just bugging. Like, what am I doing? What is like, why are you moving like this, fam? Like, if I, fam, if the ghost of Marrow past, ghost of Marrow future, ghost of Marrow past, bro, it's going to be a weird conversation, bro. Why are you doing this? I don't know. Why not?
00:24:54
Speaker
Why not? Why not? That was right there with you. Why not? I feel like you definitely like if somebody's like, yo, young blood, like back then and trying to talk to you, yo, you just got to, you know, be on the straight and narrow prep. But you be like, yo, what? For what? And he's like, yo, I'm here for a good time, not a long time. Like, fuck you mean? I was like, yo, Mike just got shot. Fuck you talking about? Like, I got poked yesterday. I think I got gangrene in my thigh.
00:25:16
Speaker
Like, i might get it they might get me out of here soon. So I was just like, wiling. So I'm working at Lehman Brothers. Shout out to Jose, who's a friend of the family, got me the job there, because he was the mailroom supervisor. So I started working in the mailroom at Lehman Brothers, just like a financial company, you know like Goldman Sachs and like all the other ones. It was like the big ones. It was one of the big ones. Then financial collapse, crash, wah.
00:25:41
Speaker
Like, that shit don't even exist anymore. You got to look it up on Wikipedia. Long story short, man, I come back, and I'm like, man, I don't really want to go to work, man. Fuck this shit, bro. I just came back from DR. I'm 10 and shit. I've been smashing cheeks all summer. You know what I'm saying? I'm just like, I'm just trying to chill, bro. It's calling me, yo, you got five, bro. Then my cousin calls me. September 11, my cousin calls me, yo, bro.
00:26:04
Speaker
Yo, you're not going to go to work, bro? Because he works with me. I got him the job. Yeah. He's like, yo, you're not coming to work, bro? Yo, Jose is asking about you, bro. I told him he was in the army. He's like, yo, he's so he said he was coming back on the dirt. Fam, he calls me and he's just like, yo.
00:26:20
Speaker
They blew up the job. I was like, what do you mean? What? What? I'm like, yo, what? They blew up the job? What do you mean? that's ah That sounds so crazy. Yeah, it doesn't make any sense. I'm like, what are you talking about? Because like if you look.
00:26:38
Speaker
and old footage of 9-11, there's like obviously the you know the two towers, yeah and then there's Three World Financial, which is where I used to work. It's the building with like the green top. Oh, yeah. So it was right in the middle of those two buildings. Yeah. So everybody was like, yo, this shit is like 20 floors. And they're like, we out of here. Yeah. like I didn't see nobody, like I didn't see no crazy shit because He's like, yo, they blew up the job, blah, blah, blah, blah. I'm like, yo, what do you mean? What's going on? He's like, yo, turn the TV on, nigga, turn the TV
9/11 Experience at Lehman Brothers
00:27:02
Speaker
on. I turn the TV on. I'm like, oh, shit. I was like, oh, shit, bro. So now I'm calling my moms. I'm calling my pop. They ain't DR. I'm calling them up, yo. Yo, what's going on? They're like, yo. And that's what my pops is like.
00:27:17
Speaker
like mad like mad like god that's nothing I was like what are you talking about like that's nothing like they just blew up like two big-ass buildings in the downtown it's like but every empire has to follow yeah yeah Yo, I was like, what? Tito Vader. Yo, relax. OK? With the dark empire shit. What are you talking about? He's like, that's what happened. People don't understand. You know? What? Yeah. Because, yo, bro, let me tell you a little sidebar. Yeah. For the longest time, and I've told this story. If you know me, you've heard the story before. For the longest time,
00:27:55
Speaker
In my crib, there was a painting that my uncle did of a guy in a turban with a beard. And I was always just like, bro, who is this guy? Is this my uncle? Is this my great, great, great, great, great grandfather? The patriarch or whatever. So, bro, this thing is hanging in my house, in my living room, dog, for years. I never asked, who is that? Fast forward, bro. I'm a grown man. I'm 27 years old.
00:28:20
Speaker
My pops is cleaning shit up, throwing shit away, like, you know, whatever. And I'm like, yo, I was like, Papi, who is this guy? Like, you know what I'm saying? Is this like a family member or something? He's like, Papi, you don't know who's that? I was like, nah. He's like, that's Ayatollah Khomeini. Oh, my god. The revolutionary. I was like, what? I was like, hey, yo, my pops was on some free Palestine shit earlier, you dig it? He's like, yo, he's like, you know, where's the other picture? Johnson out of five.
00:28:48
Speaker
ah was I was like, word? PLO style? Word? That's what we doing? Dang. Dang. That's what's up. My pop's always been on that type of time. Oh, my God. Wow. I was like, yo, you got to pick that nigga in the living room. He's about to rise up and revolve around every time he gets he got. That's where I get it from, bro. That's where they can't hold me. They can't put the shackles on you. Duh, fuck out of here. What is it? In perpetuity. Yeah, nah. In perpetuity? Nah. No way. Ice with the matombo, rest in peace. Duh. You not doing that?
00:29:15
Speaker
man. I mean, so then like, you know, fast forward into, you know, your successes and stuff like that, you know, I definitely wanted to talk to you about because I talked to Victor about
Unique Sneakers and Career Highlights
00:29:24
Speaker
this. And he was like, I gotta to ask you about this. There's one time y'all received a pair of get monies. Oh, yes. And I wanted to hear that story. Bro, that was the funniest shit ever. Because, like,
00:29:38
Speaker
You know, you run around and shit. Like when you do graffiti, your tag is what people call you. So like Mero's not a stage name. Like I was writing Mero since I was like nine years old. You know what I'm saying? Like in different stages of toyness. You know what I'm saying? Like now my shit is here, bro. Nah, yeah. His hand style is fire. His fillings is fire. Like one line, bro. Yeah. Crazy. Can't control. Superb. You dig? But before. Never. We've never been bombing together. Nah.
00:30:04
Speaker
Nah, I don't even do graffiti. I'm not active. I'm ah i'm an oldtimer old timer. Old timer. You know what I'm saying? I come out for the legal wolves. You know, there's a lot of copycats out there. yes There's a lot of Marrow guys right in Marrow. And i I'm flattered by that. You know what I'm saying? So shout out to y'all. You know what I mean? Keep going. You know what I mean? Or don't, because I don't want to encourage anybody to do anything illegal. But you know as an homage to me, I'm flattered, y'all. And if you ever see a Marrow tag with Haas next to it, that wasn't us. Nah.
00:30:30
Speaker
Nah. There's like a lot of people know. yeah They be talking shit, so it's just like, bro, let me live vicariously through these guys. You know what I'm saying? like oh Maybe they'll think it's me. you know like maybe i'll you know Maybe Shorty might look at me. Exactly. you know But, yeah, no, bro. So, yeah. We get monies. We get monies. Those came through. Shout out to Nike, man. Shout out to Aaron Desimone, who was there at the time, Nicole Sprunk, who was there at the time. And um they sent those. And, you know, the the air monies had the, like, the lace covers. Yeah. and And they were interchangeable. Yeah. So there was, they, you know, they sent Desus and Mero air monies. You're right. Yeah. And I took them, and I was just like, bro, like, I was like, oh, shit. I was like, hold on.
00:31:14
Speaker
I was like, one of them said, get money. yeah And it was my graffiti. You know what I mean? Because they just found it, and it like they embroidered it onto like the lace cut. I was like, this is so hard. So then I was just like, I took out the decent one, and I was just like, get money, Mero. And I was just like, deb bro, rolls off the tongue, get money, Mero, baby, let's go. That's who I am, baby. I'm um um i'm here for the bags. OK?
00:31:34
Speaker
So I did that. And it was like, it created a whole fucking story. And she was like, yo, bro. Hold on, sir. Yo, wow. Yo, that's crazy. Yo, you trying to get something out of that? Yo. I was like, bro, what is this? I was like, what the fuck are you talking about? I was like, nah. I'm like, I'm get money marrow, bro. That's it. And I got these on. They on my feet. You know what I'm saying? Like, what the fuck you mean?
00:31:55
Speaker
you know like I ain't telling you to stop using a highlighter, Shorty. you know Your face is brighter than the sun. Do you think? But yeah, not that was ah that was ah that was a ah moment. yeah And it's crazy because now my kids is like, yo, those are mine. like There's only two pairs.
00:32:10
Speaker
There is. Yeah. No, right. Yeah. So, I mean, for people who aren't familiar with the story that like, so, uh, during the, when you were making the podcast, it was the podcast time.
Vice Land Show Era
00:32:20
Speaker
So this is the Vice Land run. Yeah. The Vice Land run. Vice Land run. And it was like, yo, they was like, your feet were visible, right? Right. Yeah. So, and it was like, yo, this show is cool.
00:32:29
Speaker
You know what I mean? Like at that time, Vice was like the illest shit going. Right. It was us, it was Bronson, Eddie Wong, like. Yeah, it was like the pharmacopoeia. Yeah, pharmacopoeia was crazy. Crazy, bro. I used to go to the events at the office, and they're right down there in Williamsburg. Yes, Sursky. Yes, Sursky. He used to be turning up. You know what I'm saying? In the garden. They had a little grand piano when you walk in. Yo. Crazy. They was stunting for free. Shout out to Ezra Koenig, my guy. You know what I'm saying? Lee's saying a vampire weekend. He was the first person I was just like, yo, come through. I was at MTV at the time. So he was just like, yo, come through. They doing live. We just going live. And I was like, what? I was like, I just doing live TV. Like, fuck it. Like, no delays or nothing? He was just like, yeah, come through. So he came through, and it was me, him,
00:33:14
Speaker
Mcconnen? I love Mcconnen. And like two other people, I think Despot. Shout out Despot. Yeah, like playing the piano, singing, freestyling, going crazy. I was just like, this is nuts. I was like, but this is brilliant. I was like, yo, this is what TV should be, bro. Right, yeah. Like, I'm sitting at a desk at MTV like, damn, bro, like.
00:33:31
Speaker
How much ridiculousness can I watch? You know what I'm saying? Like, this is getting ridiculous. You might have ridiculousness that we got. Bro, it was so bad that I walked out of my little area, yeah which wasn't even an office, bro. It was just, like, a huge area. This is 15-15? Yeah. Yeah, I worked there. I worked there, too. So no yeah on the 26th floor, they had this huge, like, room. And they were like, yo, rock. I was like, word? Just me? Yeah. Bro, the whole wall. Like, the wall was this big. And it was all dry erase.
00:34:00
Speaker
Fam, I went crazy in there, bro. Oh, is that the BET floor? I think. It was MTV2 at the time. MTV2. They could have converted it to when I probably started working there. Yo, they probably did, bro. But yeah, they still had all. They didn't have the grab. They didn't have your your stuff. ah But they still had that wall. And I remember being like itching, being like, yeah, I kind of want to get up. It's crazy because I met a dude. Yo, graffiti writers are so ill because a dude will be like, yo,
00:34:27
Speaker
You write, and I'll be like, yeah, what you write? And you know how the whole exchange, yo, what you write? Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's how we met. Remember? Yeah, yeah. You remember? Yo, what you write? Yo, what you write? Yo, what you write? Mm-hmm. And it's kind of like awkward at first, because it's like, yo. Yo, did you go over me? Right. If we say the wrong name, it's just like, I got to duff you right now. Like, automatic. Bro, this guy comes into the office, sees me. This is like an older white dude. Yeah. You know what I'm saying?
00:34:53
Speaker
like Brooks Brothers button down, denim, boot cut denims, you know what I mean? Cole Han shoes, straight executive, like, office type of dude. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what I mean? With the company embroidered. Yeah. He got the Viacom right here, blazing. Big V, nigga, like, wow. Like, nigga, you a Star Trek bro? Get out of here with that shit. I'm out here catching strings. Fuck him, man. So yo, he comes in. Well, fuckers can be freelance forever. Your permalance, man. I hate that. That's crazy, bro. Hey, bro, I was over there, and I was just like, y'all are slick. Yeah. Y'all got these 18-year-olds over here hyped to edit this shit, because they know they're going to be here overnight editing this shit, and you turning it into a party. Like, yo, we're going to have a pizza party sleepover. Like, bro, y'all working. I used to bust it like, yo, y'all stupid. Y'all getting taken advantage of. Slices. What the fuck? Put some white-ass fucking dollar slices? Y'all look crazy, bro. That's not even cheese. That's melted condoms. That shit is crazy work. Y'all look wild, bro. So who was the white guy?
00:36:01
Speaker
Bro, it was, so he comes in, he's like, yo, he's like, first of all, he said, do you write? Which immediately is, it's like, oh, you're a writer. You only, you know somebody's poetry. If they're like, yo, do you tag up? I'm like, ahh. You played a little bit too much getting up. Yeah, yeah, relax. Yo, yo, you write what you write. That was like, you're a writer. Bro, this guy's like, I write Eric. I was like, okay, you write your name? He throws his shit up, RFC. I was like,
00:36:28
Speaker
Bro, you're an RFC, man? You look like a total square. Like, RFC stands for razor face cutters, guys. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's a violent gang. You know what I'm saying? And he's just like, yeah, yeah, dude. I was just like, this is crazy, bro. But yeah, yeah, all stripes, man. All stripes. My face been stuck the whole time.
00:36:48
Speaker
that it's ah but but But I think it's just like, yeah, when you dropped that picture and I was just like, yo, these are crazy. Everybody thought like, yo, these are gonna these are yeah drop. And then they dropped the different, they dropped that pair, but it was just like, I don't know what they call it, like an up-tempo something. yeah It was like an up-tempo something and it had that like guard on it, but it was not the get money. Yeah, it wasn't that. It was like, yo, sorry guys, but.
00:37:13
Speaker
What I will say is that that led to like that interest and that like, you know what I mean? Like that, like, you know, desire for that, for that, for that shoe led to like the Timberland collab. Right. Yes. Which I'm like so tight. I didn't cop. I'm so tight. I got a couple pairs. What's that 13? Is it a 13? A 12. A 12? I'm a 12. A 12? In Tim's. Yeah. OK. Yeah. Yeah. I'll see what I see. I look up in the attic. Yo. Or if Hector, Hector, shout out Hector, the collector. You know?
00:37:41
Speaker
You open that attic and you happen to stumble upon anything. Holler. Holler. It's crazy because now my kids is getting into... into into i know I'm just going to pivot to that too. I'm so curious about that. Bro, it's wild because I'm in like suburbia. like You know what I mean? I'm in the land of like the white girls with the fried air forces. yeah But my kids are not like that.
00:38:03
Speaker
my kid my yo know my old My two oldest boys are like, yo, we from the Bronx. Every time they go anywhere, I'm like, bro, you've lived in Jersey. At this point, you've lived in Jersey longer than you have lived in the Bronx. But anywhere they go, they're like, yo, I'm from the Bronx. Fuck out of here. Yo, they're gonna start stepping on my shoes, bro. I'm like, bro, relax. like You know what I'm saying? So now they're going through my shit. And I got South Beach, LeBron's, this, that. And they're like, yo.
00:38:29
Speaker
yo Like, my 13-year-old is like, yo, drinking like chugging two glasses of milk every night. He's like, yo, my growth plates. He's like, yo, I got to grow in. Because I told him, I was like, yo, of whoever hits size 12 first, that's you. They They going hard. And it's crazy, because the nine-year-old is the biggest one. He might fuck around and hit 12 at, like, 11.
00:38:51
Speaker
yeah know He's just walking into the closet like, yo all of this is mine. Yo, yeah, it's your once, bro. ha She a boy. You know what I'm saying? That was not to pivot, but like that was a crazy get, those those you know Jordan ones, bro.
00:39:08
Speaker
I got so lucky. Like, you didn't cop regularly? Yeah, no. So I got retail. But like, I got a retail. Let me tell you how. So I was like looking in Jersey, right? This is like pandemic. Right. Right. So it's like everybody's staying in the house. Nobody's going nowhere. I'm just calling stores. I'm like, yo, is there a Dior? Because I'm not as soon as I see like that. Yo, these are coming out in like next year or whatever the fuck like that. Yo, these might happen. I'm like, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo. Because I'm like, fucking yo, listen.
00:39:38
Speaker
I'm new money, B. You know what I'm saying? If you can't tell. You know what I'm saying? So I was just like, I need the Dior Jordans. You know what I'm saying?
Pursuit of Dior Jordans
00:39:45
Speaker
The Jordans. And that's why it's like, yo, having a goofy laugh that's memorable and having a voice that people recognize came in mad handy. Because I'm calling everywhere. And I'm just like, yo, Jersey is like, yo, we don't have, this is a women's boutique. We don't have any menswear. So I'm just like calling, calling, calling, calling. I finally get a guy.
00:40:08
Speaker
yeah Hey, hey, this Dior and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Hey, how are you doing? ber I would say, yo, yo, what's up, man? Listen, um I'm trying to find a pair of these Jordan ones, the Dior Jordan ones. He's just like, and it was like a pregnant pause and he was just like.
00:40:25
Speaker
Mero? And I was like, bro, what? I was like, yo, how the fuck? I'm like, I was like, Doug, i I'm like, I'm loud. ah yeah You know what I'm saying? And like, my voice could be a little irritating at times. I admit it. You know what I'm saying? Like, my kids tell me that all the time. your dad Well, that's because you're the dad. You're going to be like, pick stuff up. right Fuck up, dude. I'm like, yo, give me $5. I want to go to Dunkin Donuts. And I'm just like, yo.
00:40:50
Speaker
Did this motherfucker just recognize me by my voice? He's just like, huge fan, dude. Huge fan. I was just like, yo, listen, bro. Yeah, he's like, dude. Let me fuck you up one time, bro.
00:41:05
Speaker
I used to, I used to bookmark Victory Light every time, bro. Bro, the how to do drugs? Hilarious, bro. Fucking hilarious. Like, top tier, bro. S-tier writing, bro. I'm just like, yo, thank you. Fucking Adam, whatever your name is. And he's just like, yo, I got you. I'm gonna put a pen to the side. I was like, yo, that's crazy. I was like, that's just so crazy. I was like, yo, this is insane. I was like, yeah I was like, yo, I don't want to be a dickhead, but can you ship him? I ain't trying to leave the house, bro. I might die.
00:41:33
Speaker
But yeah, bruh, I got him. That was bro. That was like the that was more almost more satisfying than the concords because... I was like, there ain't no way I'm going to get these. You know what I'm saying? And I was calling everybody, bro. It probably felt like a lost cause to me. I was like, man, forget it, bro. Another one? All right, let me do one last one. I'm going to do one last one. Right. I'm calling like, short hills and shit, like all these random malls. Like, I don't even know if they got a door store in there. I'm not calling a security guard. Like, yo, this is the front desk. Yo, y'all got the door doors?
00:42:04
Speaker
He's like, Sir, this is Auntie Anne's pretzels. You want a pepperoni pretzel nigga? We don't got no sneakers. I'm like, all right. But dawg, that was like a quest to get them shits, man. Love that. That's the thrill of the hunt, bro. Like, I mean, which is, it's like, I don't know if you did that back in the day where you were like waiting on lines and shit. like So I didn't, like, I didn't, I always tried to like, so first of all, like,
00:42:27
Speaker
Shout out to the Freddy Krueger SBs, you know what I'm saying? Because I had those and i I left them at my old crib because recipes Charlie, my cat, sprayed them. oh And you know when cats like are not fixed and they spray something, that's it's overcooked. Bro, if I Febreze them shits, I put baking soda up to the... filled them up with baking soda, dog.
00:42:50
Speaker
everything and they smelled like pure cat piss. Like if I put them on for 10 minutes, am I foot warmed up in them shits? Get out the car, nigga. Get out the car. You smell crazy. So I just had to leave them. Now they're just trophies. I just looking at them. Now I look at online, I'm like, damn, bro. I'm about to say these shits smell like cat piss. I would have been like, I would have put that in the eBay thing. It smells like cat Cat piss. piss. Smells like cat piss, but it's Mero's cat. And the cat is dead. I was like, I can't dig him up. Start the auction. You know what I'm saying? The cat skeleton comes with it. You know what I mean? It's just a part of a package.
00:43:27
Speaker
yeah I mean, that's crazy you have Freddy Kookers though. But that was the thing, like if it like a lot of people like, cause at first like, I'm not going to say SBs weren't popular, but like amongst skateboarders, right like people that really skated were not checking for Nike at first. So like they would release these things to like skate shops. yeah And if you find the right skate shop, bro, please.
00:43:49
Speaker
You get, in your show you get, you know, back in the day, right? Cause the dudes that was really skating was wearing like at knees, at knees, DCs, DCs and shit.
SB Sneakers and Creative Appeal
00:43:57
Speaker
Like, you know what I mean? Like pillow feet pillows. Yeah. Yeah. You know what I mean? Cause you're going to skate these shits. So you know, put pillows for like $85. Yeah. And now good luck head right here. So yeah I got flavors for days and that.
00:44:12
Speaker
it broke my heart when SBs got popular. Bro, it's it was crazy because I loved them so much because they were so creative. Right. Yeah. Like you could look at like, you know, and no shots on Nike, like the designs are are great most of the time. But like SB was padded when it was like colorways, collabs. Got me into culture. You know what I'm saying? Like, yo, and these are going to be doing these one time and that's it.
00:44:35
Speaker
You know what I'm saying? So it's just like, that really drew me to it. I was like, oh, okay. And then they tried to trick me with the 6.0 shit, nigga. No. That's the BMX, man. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yo, look, shout out Nigel. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Shout out Nigel. You know what I'm saying? That transition into that. But let's transition into this last question, and it deals with a lot of visualization. So I want you to think back to when you was about to be you know, young Mero about to open that box of concords, right? And now you're, you're you, your current, the kid Mero. Behind your younger self, what would you tell your younger self as he opens that box? Yo, bro. You crease these shits, I'm fucking you up.
00:45:19
Speaker
And I'm fucking you up, bro. And this is hard. Bro, you got to really go hard to crease these. You know what I mean? Because that pleather, like, once it crease, it ain't never going back, champ. So be very careful, OK? Take care of these. Because in the future, you know what I mean? You could be like, yo, this is an OG original release, dead stock, whatever. That's probably what I was saying about. So yo, listen, fam, I know you want to wear these and have Cherise jerk you off in the backseat case. But don't do that. Don't do that. Put them away in the back. They will be worth a lot of money in the future, bro. Trust me. What are you going to wear while you get jerked off, then? Bro, some fucking, some skippies, me. Some skippies. Some air walks. Throw in some air walks.
00:46:00
Speaker
that but i know so I ain't gonna hold you, like I had, like, and another thing too was like the outlets, bro. Like you used to be able to score at the outlets. Oh yeah, for sure. You know what I'm saying? Like, you would go to, um, what's the, what's the, what's the, with Mary's, that's some shit. Would you do a trip? Would you be a people? The fucking Tanger outlets and shit. Like, I don't even know if they was called that back in the day, but like, you know, everybody had an outlet somewhere. You know what I'm saying? And like, if you would go like up where everybody had no sauce, like if you up in like Vermont, Maine. Oh yeah. Shout out to y'all. Y'all got a little bean sauce. It's a different type of sauce.
00:46:35
Speaker
It's like, you got J's for days, bro. It's like, bro, they're not even, they're wearing them to hoop for real. Like, you know what I mean? You can see like fucking Steven and Dave come in and cop them shits and be like, you know, these are great for my run at the YMCA on Wednesdays. Great ankle support. I rolled my ankle once freshman year. If Jordan plays with them, I got to play with them. Yeah, come on. Mike's just, he's the, he's the go. Got to be like Mike. Got to be like Mike. Is it the shoes? Remember that? Remember that campaign?
00:47:04
Speaker
Remember Dan versus Dan, the Reebok campaign? That was great. No, my favorite is, I always loved the Larry Johnson joint, bro. Grandmama? Bro, but did you hear the story of what the original campaign was supposed to be? About Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Larry Johnson? I'm like, bro, that's brilliant! That's absolutely brilliant. Why did y'all not do that? I don't understand why they didn't do that.
00:47:25
Speaker
Like yo, y'all pivot to that was like, yo, put this dress on. That was crazy. That's so crazy. How left field is that, bro? How left field is that? There was no Joanna man at this time. There wasn't, who was dressing up? Was it Ms. Doubtfire? That was it. Maybe. I think that was before Ms. Doubtfire. That's gotta be before. You have a fact checker. Yeah. That's gotta be before. Now was he, Popman, was that before Rodman?
00:47:49
Speaker
like great yeah Yeah, that was but way before, way before. We're robbing the wedding dress shit and we're selling this book and all that shit? That was 97.
00:48:00
Speaker
That's last dance. Damn, you're right, that is. That's last dance, 90s. And it's crazy because all that shit, bro, all it's crazy to me because I'm like, I'm 40, you know what I'm saying? And like all this all the shit that happened in like my junior high yeah like class,
00:48:15
Speaker
was so so much shit, bro. Like I came in in 96, I left in fucking 98, and it was just like, bro, so much music, so many sneakiest legends.
Fashion Trends and Cultural Shifts
00:48:26
Speaker
Bro, like fucking so much gear, like North Face shit. I know you had a Steve Tech era. Come on, bro.
00:48:34
Speaker
an era. Come on, big Sam. Did you ever have a polo era? Bro, I had a lot of low, but I wasn't like competing with like the niggas I really had, like Thirst and Holler Third. You weren't even listening to Thirst and Holler Third. But I'm just like, bro, I don't got it like that like to be collect cause they was it was more that. The polo shit was more like, yo,
00:48:55
Speaker
This is a piece, bro. Right, yeah. Like, I'm going to trade with you, and I'm going to do this, that. And we did that with the jackets, too. Don't get me wrong, but like. I know about that with the Steve Tex, yeah. Yeah. So like, we traded jackets and shit like that. Like, bro, the Tommy Moe Spider? Woo! That's odd. Tommy Moe Spider, go Google that.
00:49:11
Speaker
You know what I'm saying? So I had a couple of Tommy Moes, mad steepees, but my shit was just like, bro, we will go to like Titan Trails, like go to fucking Connecticut. Like I said, bro, when niggas got no drip, they wearing the shit to actually like go spelunking. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's what they're wearing it for. It's intended purpose. Not for drip levels. You know what I'm saying? Like, so I'm like, yo, y'all got every fucking... Bro, I remember going racking with... I'm not even gonna say y'all names because I don't want y'all to get in trouble. But like, I remember going racking with a bunch of dudes.
00:49:39
Speaker
And one dude, you know there's always one dude that's nervous. Yeah. So we in there crazy. I don't know, man. I don't know. Yo, you making it hot, dummy. Like, this is the late 90s, early 2000s, bro. There's no cameras everywhere. Like, it's not, it ain't like that, bro. We not living in minorities before. You just smash and grab, bro. You go in there. Put that shit on. Over your shit, over your shit, over your shit, and we out of here. Bro, we go, I walk out of there with four Steep Techs on, bro. This guy walks out with a size small women's ski pants.
00:50:07
Speaker
I was like, bro, what did did you come here for? What did you come here for? You know what I'm saying? And then, not not only that, he his Lizzie bag is all fucked up is shit and shit. Nigga walks out, whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop. Now it's hot. Now we got to run to the car. Now we run into the car. My man, yo, my man T, I didn't even say your whole name. My man T, there was a fucking mountain guy yeah on a mannequin, just like that.
00:50:29
Speaker
But it had the wire
Humorous and Chaotic Incidents
00:50:31
Speaker
on it. Oh, no. So he's running. He's just like running down the sink. The mountain guy like, yo, I'm taking you with me. Fuck it. And that shit said, go. This motherfucker said, go. Just rip that shit, bro. Rip the jacket to shreds, bro. Oh, my god. Took that shit home and sewed it up. I was just like, yo, respect, respect. We got out of there. You know what I'm saying? But yo.
00:50:51
Speaker
That is crazy, man. A lot of Steve Techs, bro. But I had a crazy ex who fucked a lot of my shit up, bro, unfortunately. You know what I mean? And she was just like, yo, who's that? I was like, it's my cousin, bro. Like, she's calling me to say, yo, I live in fucking DR. I'm in America now. Let's hang out. You know what I'm saying? Let's go to a family event. Like, you heard the whole conversation. And now you mad?
00:51:16
Speaker
And I wake up and like, she way in my body. Yo, this is crazy, bro. Like, I never, this is how I know I'm a good guy. And I never will put my hands on a woman. Cause I opened my closet and all my steep texts was cut ass.
00:51:29
Speaker
oh Like a box like she went with a box cutter was just like well first of all what what kind of box cutter does she have? Like just one by one bro like this the big guys Yellow join just like like the level on yeah know like combo to she was Like a plumbob a level and a box cutter everything, bro. I had a Donna Karen blazer. She did that shit too. Oh, man, bro. You know what I'm saying? We cool down. We cool down. We messaged on what's up. What under the bridge, you know? Man, we cool. It's whatever, bro. Like, you know, I understand. Bygones being done. Bygones.
Victory Light and Writing Projects
00:52:07
Speaker
Fuck you though.
00:52:09
Speaker
Well, everybody know where to find you, you know, push all your stuff. Hey, man. Listen, it's your boy, the kid, Meryl, the human direct. like name is anne And this is my first case. But let me tell you something. You can also find me on Victory Light on according to the kid. If you go on YouTube and type in YouTube dot com slash according to the kid, it will take you right there. It's the home for all things Victory Light. You know what I'm saying? Which is coming back.
00:52:33
Speaker
very soon, you know what I'm saying? After Santa Claus comes and sees all of y'all, you know what I'm saying? After y'all celebrate fucking Christmas, Hanukkah, whatever the fuck you do. Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa, you know what I'm saying? All that shit. You know what I'm saying? Victory Light, we coming back. According to the kid, it's coming back. Seven people in Brooklyn, we out here, you know what I'm saying?
00:52:54
Speaker
I'm writing a book. I'm fucking writing a book. I'm writing a book on fatherhood. That's much needed. You know what I'm saying? That's much needed. I'm writing scripts, bro. I'm out here, bro. You know what I'm saying? Because I want to get out of in front of the camera and get behind the camera. You know what I mean? Because I started as a writer. Right, yeah. That's why I
Teaching and Scriptwriting Success
00:53:08
Speaker
said a shout out to Ezra. Ezra and I wrote a show because when we first met, I was like, bro, I don't really know you at all. You know what I'm saying? like let's We got to talk. We got to find some common ground. What did you do before you started doing comedy?
00:53:21
Speaker
I was, I work at, what did did I do? I still do it. I work in a school. yeah good What did you do? Before you you blew up and became a famous rock star. I worked, I worked at a school too, man. Oh shit, where? Bed style. Oh shit, like in the hood. Yeah. Okay. Now we training war stories. Yo, when you get two teachers talking, yo, what's the craziest shit you ever seen? Yo, what's craziest shit you ever seen? What's craziest shit you ever seen? We to going back and forth. And it's just like, bro, this is a TV show.
00:53:45
Speaker
So shout out to him because this man is a white man. You know what I'm saying? He's like an indie rock white guy. You know what I'm saying? He's my brother and he would take the fucking six train like Dolo to the Bronx. You know what I'm saying? And like, get off.
00:54:01
Speaker
after all the white people, you know what I'm saying? And I go pick them up on Tremont, and we go back to the crib and write, you know what I'm saying? That's fire. That's fire. Yeah, and that was the first script I sold, man. Like, I'd never seen that much money in my life, dog, after that. I was like, whoo!
Social Media and Upcoming Collaborations
00:54:16
Speaker
Well, before that, pardon. You know what I'm saying? But yo, the kid marrow on all socials, no spaces, T-H-E-K-I-D-M-E-R-O, boop, boop, boop, boop, boop. We gonna put some graphics down there. You know what I mean? Victory light.
00:54:28
Speaker
tune in, bro. Subscribe. There's a back catalog for you. You know what I'm saying? Because I know people like to go and binge. I did it on purpose so you could go binge it. You know what I'm saying? So there's 80 episodes of Victory Light. P, how many episodes according to the kid we got? 20? 30?
00:54:45
Speaker
No, you just dropped one yesterday, right? 40? No, today. Enough. A lot. no A lot. Enough for you to enjoy yourself and all sizes to a whole heap on the left. A whole heap. A whole heap. A whole bushel. You know what I'm saying? So check that out. You know what I'm saying? And before you leave.
00:55:00
Speaker
Like and subscribe over here. Yeah. Also, ah you know where to find me. I am who is also also the media. Follow the podcast on My First Kicks Pod. Follow and like all subscribe. My First Kicks on YouTube ah announcing. I'm going to announce this. I'm working with Renarts. We're going to drop an official My First Kicks bacon colorway hat.
00:55:21
Speaker
Oh, let's go. So we we drop in that should be around February, but announcing it on this episode because, you know, we're doing special things out here. It's your boy because you get one of those first. I mean, it's a met hat. So I don't know if you will. Hey, listen, listen, bro. All right. I'm with it. bro Break up with your significant other now and get ready to cut that.
00:55:42
Speaker
I get two. I get one for pee, too. You know what I'm saying? There you go. There you go. Queens get the money. Yes, sir. Shout out to Dave Ortiz for giving me the go ahead, the love on that one. Yo, this has been episode 200, bro. My guy. Episode 200. 200 episodes of My First Kicks, man. God damn it. Yo, from episode one we here, episode 200, baby. It's your brother Camaro. Yo. Pop, the human do-rat. You know what we say each week? Wear your kicks. Peace.