Dave East & Gianni Hit the Club, Rapping to Acting, Wu-Tang, Method Man

Every time a rapper pulls up, oh, we smoking and drinking. I'm like, the actors pull up there like, yeah, we do our process like this. It's like a sparkling water and shit. Yeah, yeah, Davey's pulls up. I'm like, all right, we drinking Don Perry on it's a legend. Last ones of the airport buying breakfast. Buy breakfast. Day one, day one. [MUSIC] All right, Mike, let's do this. Who do we got in the building today? Listen, man, the introduction is not needed. I know who's going on. We got the big only Dave Eason to build it, man. We made it. We made it. It was outside. Bro, you know what's so fun is. We made it. Because our team, like, we'll talk to publicists sometimes and they'll hit your team and be like, bro, when they ask people who we want to have on the podcast, it's like kind of outside of the power universe. I was like, you know, Davey's like, obviously, because we can talk a lot of acting stuff as well. I'm a fucking huge fan of your music, bro. I love your music. Thank you. So I was like, I really want Dave on and I've heard nothing but good things about you. So they was like, yeah, yeah, they were like, Dave, we talked to his publicists. We think he's coming tomorrow at three. So I was like, and rappers flake all the time. But we got his out word, man. And then you know what? If I didn't bump into you last night, not that I wouldn't have been here. But that kind of like super stamping, like, let me get my ass over here. Well, that's what I did because no, everyone was kind of like, yeah, we don't really know because we have rappers cancel. And then I saw you and honestly, the energy was like, fire. Like, you're just a fucking good dude. And right when, like, I walked out of the green room when I say, I just texted the crew. I was like, just ran out of the day. He's confirmed. He's in. I was like, you said it, right, Dave, and give you no choice to say, no, you didn't say that. He's like, you pull it off the ball, right? And it's in this, bro, I beat it, bro. But you be seeing each other outside a lot. Yeah, man, yeah, bro, you see this all the time. My mom's bumping to you somewhere, took a picture with you. And she was like, I ran into my naked. I'm like, who are you talking about? My boy, it's a reek. But then I'm like, oh, shit. Yeah, my mom's ran into you somewhere. That's crazy. If you want to move that, might just a little closer to you just so you can. We good? All right, bro. So yeah, I kind of want to get into a little bit of the early you growing up. Because I know you was a ball player before you, you know, got into music and acting. 100%. I did that shit from my pops told me he brought a basketball to the hospital, you know what I'm saying? Like, that was, that was like, I think that was like my dad's dream for me. Like, now that I'm older looking back at it, I think that was something he put in my heart and my, you know what I mean? And as I got older, I found my own love for it, you know what I mean? But it just, I had a hot temper. I'm super cool now, like, you know what I mean? But at 18, 19, I was a little hot. You know what I mean? I had a, I got a full scholarship to University of Richmond. Played there for like a year, got kicked out of there. I didn't told this story, man, time for this real shit. Got kicked out of there, came back to New York. I was playing in like, like the summer, summer shit, like, uh, Hunter College. Yeah. Little summer leagues, diagnosed shit like that. Then I got an, um, an offer to go to Towson in Baltimore. Went there. And when I got there, Tony Durant, that's KD's over the brother. That was my roommate, no crazy, crazy, crazy small world. But then I got kicked out of there, got some little legal troubles. I mean, in Baltimore, that I don't really want to, you know what I mean? Yeah. Get into whatever whatever. But God passed that, came back to New York and always had love for music. But I didn't have a, um, like, I ain't got no cousins in the rap game. Or no uncle, that's a producer. Like, it's not, you know what I'm saying? Like, my family first, first, first person ever, like, you know, some rap shit, you know what I mean? My parents listen to Marvin Gaye and, you know what I mean? Like, so were, were, were you, uh, rapping when you were doing a little, uh, ball or, yeah, a little, but not serious. Because you're just both playing around, but I was nice with it. Like, I was like, yo, this should come into me a little easy. Now everybody around me would be like, did you write that? Is that true? Or is that somebody I was like, no, I just be, you know what I mean? Like, I used to really, like, I got through high school with teachers thinking I'm taking notes. I'm writing rhymes. I'm looking up at the teacher like, yeah. Writing a rhyme. You know what I'm saying? You're not a test and the teacher like, looking around at teacher, you're like, you like, look back down to, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Right, right. I got a good 16 in my low composition, low, whatever, low notebook. What, what were you like in high school? What, what was, I was the, you know what I mean? I was like, like, I feel like, uh, I was the, I was cool. Yeah. I was the man on the basketball team. He was nice with everybody. The girls, like, you know what I mean? I was cool with the, the, the, the, the dudes, like, my peers. I ain't really, I know drama, like, I wasn't really like a drama. I never been no drama type of person, like, unless it come to me type shit. I never was in the mix in no drama from high school up until now. Right. Uh, so, so, so you do basketball, obviously. And then what, when is like music start, like, popping off a little bit? Like, when, when you start seeing some success? Uh, you're like, when was your first release? Like, what was your first, like, what was your first time job? And then like, first time I put out a mix tape, I think, was 2012, 11 and 12 shit like that. Five, five. And how long ago, how long ago, like, after you stopped playing basketball, was that? Shit, I, that was 12. So I was done playing ball, uh, 2009. I graduated high school, oh, six, rich before year, tells him for two years, locked up for like half a year. So now I got back to New York. It was like 2010, 11, got on the rap shit. And then what I put out are just like a street mix tape, like, that I recorded in the crib with the homies, like, just put that out, just to see the response. And at that time, I was, um, living in Queens, like, by Queens Bridge. I was living in Ravenswood. That's like the next hood, next to Queens Bridge. So I was bumping the jungle. All of the, all of the, like, now I'm spitting. That's not the brother, that's the brother, like, you know what I'm saying. So I would be going to the liquor store, going to get my head cut. I see jungle, me and jungle got a relationship. And I'm, you know what I mean? Big, big shout out to jungle. And he don't want that, you know what I mean? That's who, that's who really made it. Of course, Naz was the one that said it and all of that. But jungle's the one that connected that or even put me on Naz radar, like, you know what I mean? But I would bump into jungle, start pumping him into music. It still ain't happened right away. It was like a year or two in the hood, you know what I'm saying? He called me one day, like, yo, my brother filling his shit. Yeah, brother. I don't even know you to have one brother like. You talk about brother brother brother brother brother brother brother brother. He like, nah, that's go, that's what I'm like, oh, nah, this is crazy. And then we're from that to Naz really speaking on it. And then, you know what I'm saying? The rest, I've been there. He said, have you ever been doing me since then? Just, were you surprised or were you like, yeah? I was living in a project, so it was like, you know what I mean? Like, I'm from New York, so I know the gift of gab and the, you know, my fucker tell you anything. It's up to you to believe that shit. So not saying jungle just told me anything. But I just was like, yeah, yeah, like, you know, that sounds amazing. But I'm about to go back to the chicken spot and go back upstairs. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, for that to really, you know what I mean? To see that pan out the way it did was like some movie shit. Yeah. That's tough. That's tough. I know you are enjoying this episode, but I got to let you in a little secret. Because you guys just zoom in real quick on this beautiful face of mine. Okay, you see that? I do this for you, baby. Okay, and you know I have sensitive skin. I've had sensitive skin my whole life, acne prone. 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Again, that's Harry's dot com slash crew for a $3 starter set. Okay, back to the episode, but real quick. Come on, get this face one more time. This is a money maker, baby. So then you tore a little bit or like what's your first like on stage? Shit, like, were you nervous? It's kind of feeling it like because you're an athlete. It's a little bit of some type of performer in you. Right. Did you feel like the crowd never really made me nervous until like knives brought me out. Like when I came out. Because it's not your fans, yeah. It's like you perform a foot. You perform a foot. And I know he is, I know his, you know what I mean? His audience, his, his, his years in the game. He's a master at that shit. Like, I mean, so it was like, oh shit. I'm really more nervous performing in front of him. Than the crowd. I'm like, if I impress him, I'm good, you know what I'm saying? So that pride of first side. broke me out on stage and shit like that. - That's fine. - So then, music's blowing up, everything's going well. When is your first dabble in the acting? Was it the video shit or was it a little bit more? - It probably was off of video. - Yeah. And did you feel like you got it pretty quickly or? - Yeah, it wasn't, like one thing with me bro like, and I don't knock, nothing that nobody's journeyed, but I never had the like, I didn't go to no, and maybe I actually wanna do it 'cause I think it's gonna make me even sharper, but I never went to no acting classes or school. And none of that, I went straight from rapping and just got in front of the screen and was watching other actors. And, you know what I mean, people that didn't did they think for years and shit like that, seeing how they moving, you know what I mean? How they going through the line. Just all that, I was just, I'm really observant. So I was just like a sponge soaking up where I could soak up from real actors and shit like that. But I think the first, it was the first shot I did, being Mary Jane, Gabrielle Union Husho. That was the very first, they had me on there as a guest, but I was still me. - You were Davies? - I was Davies on the show. So that wasn't really, I had to really do one. - You know what I mean, it's just like a pull-up. - Can't be the end, I'm talking with Gabrielle Union, I'm like, I'm gonna watch that all my life. This is fire right now, but I didn't have to like, be a character or no shit, I was myself, like, you know what I'm saying. - Honestly, what I've learned a lot, and I think that's why you're so good at acting is because, and Michael as well. A lot of times when people are, they go to acting school, the way acting used to be was very performative and you're putting on a performance. The way TV and film acting is now is just a comedy, it's real. So I think when people aren't fucked up by acting classes and you have to perform, they're not putting anything on anything, they're just turning a camera and go, "All right, be you, have a conversation with the character." So I think that's why you're so good at what you do is because no one fucked you up. - I don't have a structure to this shit. - That's why a lot of times you see, like, when you're watching a movie, like, damn, that kid was really fucking good. Because no one's fucked him up. Life hasn't fucked him up, they haven't had his head about it. - Well, you're the prime example of that Italian movie. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. I didn't do shit before that. I did, like, music videos and shit and commercials before that. And I was like, my first movie. And I did that shit in full Italian. Like, the whole, I had to learn the whole language for that shit. Oh, no, I was going crazy that way. I was on my bag that would be, oh, no, what it was. It was just some shit. It was just like, I had never really acted before. So I was just like, this is what it is. I'm just jumping in and shit, do what I gotta do with it. - And a lot of times it's like being out of your head. So kids, they don't have, they don't feel judged. Kids are like, I just want to fucking play and have fun. That's why a lot of the kid actors are so fucking good. It's because no one's-- - They don't fuck with nobody. They ain't okay with the way they're doing shit. - Right, when you got on set, were you a little like, but were you a little like, not nervous, but man, what do these people think, am I good? Am I not good? - I didn't know how to be. - Yeah, it's a different world. - Yeah, I'm like, do I smell like weed? (all laughing) - All of that, I didn't want to be the rapper. Like, I mean, I wanted to pull up, like, I'm here to act. And you know what I mean, I'm here for this, like, so I was kind of the initial. And then once I got comfortable with it, knew who I was on the set. - Right. - I could beat me a little more. - Yeah, it's funny because, like, I've done, like, ABC Family shows, I've done shit like that. And that stuff is like, so, like, everyone shows up and you're on time, and you-- - Right, I think I trying to be perfect in shit. - But when you, when I got to the power set, I was like, I'm home. (all laughing) I was like, I'm home, baby. - I was like, I'm home, baby. - Bro, you only got to pretend to be this fucking actin' ass. And they're like, yeah, I got my shit together last night. Like, I've been reading this little week. Like, you ain't got to do that before that. - I'm like, I mean, like, we're at Harbor until four, yeah. (all laughing) - Wake up and kill that shit. - We can go get the set, three hours of sleep. I bet. - I already know. - So, when did Wu-Tang come along? You got them, that, the men are the same. - So, Wu-Tang, I bet. I did a movie called Beats, where Anthony Anderson, we shot it in Arm and Chicago. This was maybe 2017, yeah, so Netflix. I did that, and Big Shot, the Chris Robbins, and that was the direct, that's who got me that role and put me in that movie. But even with that, he gave me that, now with that, I had a role, like I wasn't Davey, so I had to actually roll in that. But it was like, somebody that I would be. - That's right. - You know what I mean? Like, I own the club, I own the pool hall. Like, you know what I mean? Like, all of the rappers in the town fucked with me. Shit like that, like, so that was a dope role. And I got to soak up Mad Game from Anthony Anderson. He been in all my favorite shit life. You know what I mean, all kind of shit. So, to be with him, that was dope. From that film, Chris Robbins and I guess got the pilot, or whatever the whole thing, and he called me like, "Yo, would you play Muffin, man?" Yeah, I played Muffin, like, he like, it's not a movie, though, it's gonna be a series, like a show based on their life, and they come up and all that. I'm like, "Yeah, I'll do that, that's fine." Like, you know what I'm saying? - So it was a straight offer, or did you get the read for it, for the network? - No, I did an audition, but it was like, I already had the role tape shit. Like, he called me direct forward, and was like, "Yo, you gotta do an audition." - Just to do it. - And having an on camera type shit, and it was like, they spoke with Muff. Muff had already okay that he would want me to play him on the show. All that had already been handled. So by the time it came out that I had the role, it was already like that. - Did you know Muffin before all this, yeah? And you fucked him, had it? - Yeah, yeah. - Bro, he's such a good dude. - We did a song, "Me, Him, and Max B." Max on the hook. - Max Wavy. - Mike Lovy, Max Wavy. - Yeah, me, Max Wavy, a couple years ago, I even broke my head back out of head cut. But this was a little minute ago, me and Muff did some shit. And then it was just crazy how that fast forward, that's my god like, you know what I'm saying? - Right, right, Max, Max on the hook. - Max on the hook, that's tough. - And so when you were prepping to do, to play Muff, did you like kick it with him? Did you study him? Like, did you try and get his mannerism? - 100 and simply same. - Yeah, so what was that process like? I want to hear that because you fucking nail it bro. - You know what it is? I actually grew up, this is two things, right? It's like, I super salute people with that play, roles of people that ain't even from the arrow. You didn't, I mean like, that's crazy. I grew up the Muff bro, like, all my life. Like, watching him act and belly, watching all the music, him and Red Man. Like, I've been a die-hard Muffin Man fan from a kid. So, I already kind of knew Muff. Like, when I would read the script, and it would be, like, say I had to do a verse from a certain song, I'd be like, oh, shit. I know it's my heart. I mean, we got to read this shit, like, you know what I mean? But it was, it was like, more about like YouTube. I was going to YouTube for hours bro, and just watch old Wu Tang interviews. - Interviews, yeah. - For me, like, more than they perform. Like, I would watch his performances for the mannerisms. I was moving and shit like that, but it was more like the interviews, 'cause that's where I got the cadence and all that down. Like, really, you know what I mean? It's okay, he was talking. He had that sound, he had them grills in, so that made him talk a little, like, so once I got the grills, it was like, worst. - Shut up, man. - 20 seconds. (laughing) - I studied him crazy, bro. Like, I talked with him, studied him, watched all the videos. Like, really just like tried to, um, but calm him as much as I could for the set. Like, you know, I mean, for the show. - Now, he's really is one of the greatest guys ever. Bro, he's so funny, sometimes we'll be filming, and there'll be background. - And then look at the meth, y'all get. - Right. - That's a whole 'nother meth. (laughing) - Think about it. - That's actually true. - The meth I'm portraying is a, you know what I mean? Y'all get a whole 'nother meth in the spot. - Know everything, smart as hell. - Iconic, bro. - That's iconic. - Yeah, that's different. - Yeah, business savvy, old type of thing. - Bro, and everyone loves it, he'll pull up the set. - He's freestylein' if he takes. - Yeah, yeah, that be on set, just freestylein', but like, while they set 'em up the camera, he'd be like, yo. I got this hot shit from last night. - You hit it, he just started rapping. - And it's like, everybody on the set, everybody just listen to it. They have to like, bring people out to like calm down the background. 'Cause they're all wild. Like, the background actors, like, they never seen meth a man before. Let alone. - He just frees down with the set. - He's just frees down, and they be wild. They be lookin' like, yo, this shit is amazing. Like, that has to be a name. - Yeah. They be chained to the background, like, they, like, they, family, too, I felt them for that too. - Yeah, yeah. - Yeah, he make everybody feel welcome. Like, he, met the man, I think. - All of the men, like, they all embrace me. Like, coming in the game, goes ray all of them. They all embrace me. - I shoulda done pulling it, man. - Who were your, like, inspiration? I wanna hear actors and rappers grown up. Like, who'd you listen to and who'd you watch? - Uh, listen to 'em comin' up. Pfft. - On DMX, The Locks, Cam, 50, 50, I mean, how do you mean 50? - I mean, how do you mean 50? - Yeah, that's my though. - He's the man, is he? - Him, Banks, yeah, you all of them, like, that was, I grew up on all of that, like, that. I'm on early 2000s. You know what I'm sayin', dipset, all of that, I mean, but then I also was heavy on Snoop. Drey, all of that over there, dad's corrupt, dog pan, like, I grew up to that too. I grew up to a bunch of shit outcasts, like, I just had a, my older cousin was listening to everything, you know what I mean? - He was in that, hell of music goin' along, you see. - But when I got older, I was able to identify with The Locks and G-Unit and dipset, like, my fuckers that I was, you know what I mean, that would grow up, like, me or I could see in person and shit like that. - Right. - I'm not even in the same spaces, you know what I mean? That's the guys now that, that those, you know what I'm talkin' about. - Sometimes I get around and be, I be sittin' in the room, I be like, that's his butt now. - I'm still here, like, I was, that's his head, like, this is his butt. Every time, like, I swear to God, I say clicks in me, every time, like, 50 calls me or something. know I have a conversation with 50. I'm like, damn, so like this, I'm gonna be talking to 50 on the regular. Checking over me all that. I'm like, bro, I used to get in trouble for listening to his music. Used to wear doer-ags like my mom used to take that silver. He's going with that, me too. - Jesus, we were in the rags. - We were in the GZ, the snowman. - Yeah. - We used to get kicked out of school for that. - Yeah. - They packed you up for that. - Jesus, that's the homie. - We had GZ on a couple weeks ago. - Yeah. - I got a tattoo with that. - We was in LA. - That was fire. - That was a fire episode, too. - That's dope. - And actors, who did you, who did you watch? - Growing up, all right. So my favorite actors has always been like the nero, Pesci. - Yeah. - Like, I'm like-- - Oh, you like them. You like them often. - That's much. - Yeah. - Yeah. - Good job. - That's the type of stuff that I like. - Good, most favorite stuff. - Low casino. - Funny, funny how. - Yeah. - That's funny how. - I fucking amuse you out. Pesci, my dog. - Yeah. - But you know what, I like Johnny Depp. - Yeah. - Denzel, of course, you know what I'm saying, Denzel. I grew up with Denzel, that's the OG. I'm trying to think who I was. - Did you watch a lot of comedy or did you gel more towards those type of movies? - Heavy comedy, too. - I'm big on comedy. I love comedy. I just, you know what it is. Something about like just the score says he joints, bro. - They got a different type of feeling when you watch them. - Even the Irishmen, like, I feel like the most recent. They hold in all that. But even that had a feel, like, I'm watching this shit. - Yeah, shit got a different type of feeling. - You gonna watch it, you know what I mean? Like, so I always been a big fan, Puccino, you know what I mean? Like, he, that's like, that's probably one of my favorite top five films. Like, but it's a few, there's a few different actors that I, that I was, I was growing up too and I had real love for. - If you go, if you go worse with any director, be Scorsese? - Yeah, if I had to pick, but if it was my choice, find, find my man. - I know, I know, I know. It's different, bro. - Different, bro. His films is different. - Feeling behind like that. Lens, like, there's a feeling behind that. - The music, the whole, just the, you know what I mean? - The whole-- - Beyond everything. - Different. - Different, bro. - Yeah, he's dope. So, so, when you get to set with, with Wu-Tang, you met, obviously, John L. Ashton, all the guy T.J. Was it, did you guys do some, like, shit to be like, all right, we Wu-Tang, like, we got to go out together, if it's not? Like, what was that thing to get kind of-- - We've, I feel like we really caught a vibe, really on set. Like, when we wasn't filming, you know what I'm saying? Like, a few, I feel like, a few of us were hang out. Like, Shameek, T.J. John L, Sadeek, I mean, here and there though, it wasn't like a heavy, you know what I'm saying? Like, 'cause, like I said, I'm the only rapper out the bunch. So, I'm out, like, you know what I mean? If y'all going out of night, I gotta be here, I gotta-- I mean, I would be out, but a few, definitely a few times, I would definitely be out with John L, Sadeek, Shameek. I see T.J. everywhere, right? - Yeah, I mean, I see T.J. outside too. - He's like the fashion god. - Yeah. - He do the music shit too. Like, he got his own clothes, you know what I mean? Like, he got a lot, a lot of motion. - He's different, yeah. - So, I would, I'd be with T.J. Like, you know, I got to store Harlem, T.J. come up to the store, or shit like that. But, um, I really think we caught our vibe on, like, in the trailers and shit, like, you know what I'm saying? - Yeah. - Yeah, I was seeing a lot of that too, when you have, like, in the beginning, like, first season. A lot of you are from, like, John Nellies. - He'd be robbing the trailer, bro. Like, until they kind of caught wind, like, "Ah, ah, ah, ah." I mean, like, a little too turd over there. - Well, that's what I heard. Everyone that comes, we talked about this last night, but everyone that comes over that worked on Wu Tang that comes to power. They're like, those motherfuckers are crazy over there. - I'm like, man, they could've wrote me in from one little scene. I'm trying to see what's going on in that satellite. - No, it was lit, it was lit. I came to say one time, one time. But it was like a two-day, so it was really. - Alright. - Who was John Nellies working? - Yeah. - Yeah. - I was breaking, I was telling everybody, though, I'm like, bro, we Wu Tang, like, this can't be a quiet calm. - No. - 'Cause it's like, that's almost like, as face completely opposite of what they do. - I'm telling you, they're like, bro, you ODB, bro. - You have to be wild and crazy as a mother fucker. - Yeah, like, we all got roles of people that are like, you know what I mean? That all legend is bro, so it's like, we gotta be able to find that camaraderie that kind of, you know what I mean? Put trade with them because I was doing it. Even though you can't. It's impossible to do what they did, but to the best we could try to make that shit look believable. - Well, it was like a day to day for you guys. Like, you get the set, like, I'm curious how different it is, 'cause we shoot in the same place, like, would you get the set, like, smoke a little, like, drink a little, like. - I get there. I'm gonna tell you, all right, so boom, this is what season two, I had the Ella schedule ever. So I was recording my survival album that came out, that came out December 2019. So at the same time of recording that album, I was filming. So I would be in quad in, you know, a quad in the mid-term. I'd be there till maybe like, one, two in the morning, three in the morning, leave from quad, drive the statin' down, had to be on set, like, maybe like, four, 15 was my call, 'cause I had to, you know, I got mad tattoos. - Yeah, we got to cover whole of them, we got to cover everything. Meffin had no tats in his face and neck and all that shit, it's my hands. - That shit, face. - So I'm sitting in the makeup chair, four, three, I'm dead sleep and makeup chair. - How many hours in, it was like an hour? - Probably a solid hour. - I want to have, if I do makeup. - So without tattoos, you realistically had to be there, like, six, six, 30. - Without the tats, but with the tats, I had to be there a little earlier. But then this the shit that I didn't know, I'm sure y'all familiar with it, that shit is hurry up and wait. - Oh, yeah. - So I mean, they gon' rush you. - I didn't got made up, like, I'm thinking, so as I get out of this chair, I'm goin' on set. I go sit in the trailer for four, five hours. - Yeah. - Now, I might have nodded off in the trailer, fucked my makeup for a little while. - Yeah, now you got the makeup on. - They got to touch it up. Oh my god, this is crazy. - Sometimes it is nice though, when you're doing night out and you get to sat, and like, we're not ready for you. - I can't wait, I can't wait as long as I need me to, man, if I'm gonna take me, and that, I'm gonna be like-- - Yeah, yeah, yeah, never too many. - Well, yeah, I said I got like a good two through you. I'm gonna roll a split. - Yeah. - You gonna be straight? - Yeah. - That would take me and that, but not that hurry up and wait, shit, be blunt. Especially like, when, 'cause some days you get to work in that mode, like, yeah, I'm ready to get to work, like, I'm ready. - They call me, oh, yo, we're gonna, we want you to be ready at this time. You ready at this time? Now, I was like, okay, we setting up the next shot. - All right. - I'm gonna set up the next shot, and then it end up being two hours, and I've been ready, like, I'm ready for the scene. I got crazy energy, and now I got to sit here with you. - When you got your lines for the night before, would you be doing it, would you be looking at the studio, or would you do it, would you get to set, like, how do you-- - When I get to set? - Yeah, you get to set. - I think with rap, my memory is like, you know what I mean? Like, me with scripts and shit is not, I could read that shit one time. - Right. - Two times. If I'm sitting with my man, a lot of times, my man would be with me coming from the studio, and chill out there with me, I'd be in the car with him, like, you'll say this part, like, whoever I had, whoever was my, uh, person I was in the scene with, I have him read them lines. And I just, I mean, he said, I should two, three times, like, up, got it. Now it's just about doing it on camera, type shit, but I learned the script, man, he's easy. - You know, as you see the words, it's like, I bet this is-- - I get it, yeah. - And then, especially for me, like, when I'd be doing it, when I'd be reading, because I could reach something like six times by myself, and it might take me a lot more time to memorize it, but like, if I read it with this nigga, like, twice, I'm gonna remember it like this. - I don't know what it is, but I just be remembered. - And I, I don't know my shit based on, yeah, learning. - Yeah, literally. - That's how I remember shit. - You wanna say a certain shit now? - Oh, that was my time to say this. - Exactly, exactly how it works. - That's crazy. - You watch our show, right? - 100%. - Heat, bro. He'll have those canonical studies, paragraphs. - Right. - It's like, baby, no coming out, have a day, and I'm just like, oh, I just say, I bet. That's all I got to, all right, cool, I'm telling, I'll look at the other sides and I see like, Michael's got this whole shit, like, shit. The difference between love and trust, it's like this whole shit. I'm like, bro, good luck. - He'll literally look at him go, all right, cool. - And then he'll do the whole shit, and I'm there like, what the fuck? - I gotta read that shit the night before, I have to see it, bro. Some people could just, you know what I mean? You could see that shit once I'm like, all right, but let's do it. - It's a photographic memory, you see the words, taking that information. - Remember that shit. - He's like, I bet. - Yeah. - Gucci. - What's something you want? Cause Wu-Tang's over with now. - Right. - You did three seasons. - Right. - What's like a dream role for you next? Like, if you could say, I want to do this, this type of role, this, what would it be? - Something that you don't think would be me. - Right. I feel like everything I've done thus far is like, oh yeah, he's gonna do that. That's kind of his lane. - Right. - I want to do some other shit. - He's playing a piano, wearing some glasses. - Yeah, I'm like, I was like, exactly what, but it's something. - Yeah, I'm like, Chef, my guy. - Yeah, like, something different, bro. - Something different, bro. - Yeah, yeah. - Something different. - Yeah, I'll be too. Like, I never expected to see "Method Man" as no lawyer. - Yeah. - Yeah, right, right. So that's like a, that's so far fetched from what you'd be thinking is dope. - Right. - And then to see him kill Ashley, it's like, oh. - Bro, bro, you, like, you gotta give yourself credit. I have never played another real life human being, never mind an icon, never mind method, man. - That's what I mean. - That's a big shoes to feel, bro. - Bro, like, you fucking, you gotta give yourself credit for that, like-- - And you know what made it crazy not to cut you off? - No, no. - He's here. - Yeah. - So a lot, like I said, a lot of times, people play roles and people been passed on. So I had to get, I got direct, like, he's alive watching somebody play him, like, so for him to be like, yeah, you killed that, that felt mad, good to me. It meant not gonna be super close to either, I don't think you killed him, you're not gonna say you killed him. - He's mad at you. - Bro, playing a live human being is fucking tough. So like, I feel like anything after that is kind of, like, easier in my opinion. So anything you do as that's gonna be fucking-- - I think a role, any role where it's just a character, I'll smoke it. Just because my very first real introduction to the world where acting was me portraying somebody. I didn't know easy shit. - At all. - It really ain't, yeah. - And I'm portraying, I had to portray him in ways that I didn't even know when he was younger, working at the Statue of Liberty. You know, like first season with the Friday, I didn't know that enough. So I was learning him as I was learning the role. I was not a shit about him, you know what I mean? - As being a rapper on set, 'cause like, a lot of times, like sometimes those, like we got some crazy people and ghosts coming up. But like, sometimes they're like, they don't know how long they have to wait and shit like that. - Right, right, right. - I know you said the "Hurry Up and Waste Shit." Were you just like, fuck, like, was there any moment where like, fuck, I wish I didn't do this, or did you have any of those? - I ain't going out of here, you know why? Because me being a rapper first, a lot of times I would be like, the fuck? 'Cause I'm so, even with rap, it's something like, it could be some old day shit, but it's like, when I pull up, it's time to go. - Right. - If it's a video shoot or anything, it's like, once I get there, I might be late. But once I get there, we get in to it. That shit was different, but I never dealt with nothing where I had to rush to get there. - Yeah, and then they got you. - And then they got you waiting, like, you know what I mean? But sitting back watching the show and really understanding the production and all of the people that's involved, it's dope. - Right. - I mean, it's much bigger than just the actors. - Right. - And I mean, it's a whole, a lot of people. - Yeah, a lot of people. - Did you talk with a lot of the crew members too? - Yeah, cool. - Yeah. - Man, cool. From the makeup artist to the people on the craft, teach all that, like, you know what I mean? - That'd be the best. When you fuck with the crew? - It just makes your day better because you already know, all right, I got a long day. - Right. So you don't want to be around my fuckers that's making that long day. - Even a long day. - Right. - You know what I'm saying? I mean, do you remember, like, what was the fucking long day? Like, do you have any nights where you guys were shooting out with a co- other? - Oh god. - With, with, with, with, with, with van peoples. - Yeah. - OG, the legend. - Yeah. - All night. - Yeah. - And I was there from four a.m., like, now we still shooting this two, three in the morning, like. - And you shoot on the side of the, like, you shot and people, like, in hoods and people are watching all that. - Well, season one, a lot of it was in Park Hill. - Park Hill, yeah. - It was actually in the hood. - Right. - So, like, across the street. - People will be yo-e-e-e-s. - I'm trying to be, I'm trying to be my face on. - I'm meant for it, I'm meant for it now, man. But they move, I think season two and three we kind of did it in Jersey. We found spots and kind of made it look like we was out there in time, you know what I'm saying? - That's fine. - That's a dope experience. - Music-wise, what's next for you? Like are you just-- - Cookin' man, I'm cookin' man. I feel like I'm a real catalog type of artist. I always get you a strong body of work. So I just, you know what I mean? I feel like with all I got going on, my music now is like almost like a soundtrack to my own shit, like to my own life and everything else I got going on from the clothes to the actin' to everything is like, you know what I mean? Some of you know, you don't know how many people are runnin' to that don't know me from rap. - Like what do you mean by that? - Like they know you from, like they know me from Efferman. - Or know me from people that know you're acting. And don't like-- - They don't put too much in there. - I feel like that's kind of fire, though. - I love it. - You can't even fuck with it. I love it. - I love it. 'Cause it'd be sometimes like, I love it. Sometimes it'd be people that would recognize me and they'd be like, oh that's 22, he'd be makin' the beats. But that's 22, he'd be vlogging. Well that's 22, like, right, right, right, right, right. - All right, man. Most of the time, I was like, oh, to me, to me. - So when the nigga recognized you from like something else, you'd be like, oh man. - And if you know what it'd be, it'd be the, it won't be, like, I, I generally could beat who'd probably a fan of me. Like, when the airport, I could be, like, once I'm walking, I'm like, oh, they probably gon' say something to me. - Yeah. - And it'd be like a, like, an older white lady or like an older, just somebody that, the last day on my mind is like, they don't know who I am. - They don't know who I am. They'd be like, I love Shawn Wu-Tang. - Yeah. - Or you killed nothing, man. - Oh, that's right. - Yeah, it's actually-- - Yeah, it's actually-- - It's weird that you, because you did play someone else, so it's weird that you get recognized as method. - Yeah. - Yeah. - You're messing with me. - No, I'm Davies, but I played with it. - Yeah. - I'm a rapper. - I'm a rapper too. - Yeah. - Yeah. - Oh, that's fucking hilarious. So, who's someone that you haven't worked with, that you, that you would like, like, a musician that you would love to hop on a song or do something with-- - Erica Badu. - Yeah, be tough. - Yeah, that's tough. - Erica Badu. - I've been a fan of her forever. I love her, you know, I just, I love her sound and I'm a, I'm a, I'm just like, I like that soulful shit, bro. Like, I always been like that and just musically that somebody I haven't locked in with, that I would, I would love to lock in with, you know what I'm saying. - And there ain't really too many rappers, I didn't feel like, I feel like I didn't work with all the rappers I wanted to, besides like, Hove, it's hard to get a Hove verse. - Yeah. - Hove, if you watch it, I need a verse, bro. - Well, had he done a verse, has 50 and you done any music? - Me and 15, I can't get it, but I got shit with banks, I got shit with Yale. - Yeah, Yale is fucking out of his mind, bro. - Me and 15, I can't get it. - Yeah. - I love Yale. - I was just with him two weeks ago, bro. He's fucking crazy. He was, he was shitting on murder because he was like, murder's been tired because they've been doing like 150 shows. He's like, murder runs out and says he's like, he's so tired, he's like, he's like, you don't know, I can't even make it, every date, you know, his energy is one of a kind, bro. - Every date. - Yeah. - And you watch the original power, right? And did you watch from day one, or did you catch on a little? - Says he was mad little. - Yeah. - He was mad. - Yeah, like, I've been locked in, bro. - Like, it's crazy when you watch a show and can watch somebody, damn, then it grow up. - Yeah. - It's a show, bro. - Yeah. - You feel me like, that's fire. That'd be talking about only, yo, I really grew up on power last year, bro. - I started when I was 12, I just turned 23 last week, bro. - I grew up on that show, bro. - Yeah. - 11 years. - 11 years. - Yeah. - Did you ever read for any of those early roles or anything like that? - For power? - Yeah. - Were you not acting yet? - You know, it's crazy. I had a meeting, damn, what short of your name? Who was the, who was the, who was the, Courtney? - Courtney. - Courtney. - Yeah. - I did me well, but this was before routine. - Mm-hmm. - May well, how we sat down, you know what I'm saying? But I guess it did. - Was it for Ghost, or was it, or was it-- - No, I went for Ghost. It was for, uh, damn, what was the role, bro? It was like one of the hitters, like one of his hitters was some shit. - Yeah, I was, for power, was it for Ghost, book two? That's what I meant, sorry. I know, that sounded like, was it for Omar? - Oh, no, no, no, no. It was, what's the original part? - The original part. - Yeah, that was the original part. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. - I'm curious what role that would have been that. - Yeah. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He probably would have been like, I don't know. - I don't know. - Yo, see? - I think it might have been part of the role. - Yeah, that's it. - That's it. - Somebody just called that. - Somebody, yeah. - It might have been one of them role. - Yeah, bro. - That would have been tough, man. - Yeah, that would have been fun. - What's your favorite one out of them all? - You can say Ghost, bro. - You know what I'm gonna be real? - I'm gonna be real with you. - Nah, real shit. I felt like, of course Ghost had it, how he had it. That was a, it's Omar and my brother. Like, I love that. But it's the way the show twisted from him to his son. I jacked that. You feel me? And it made it, it just made it make you tune in. - Right. - Damn, he didn't. He gone and it's him taking over. - What's happening? - It's so much to have him. - And the watch you just grow. Like to see you going from being his son where you ain't really had so many lines, it was always. - Yeah, I was just me. - You be there, you be there. - You be there. - And then to see you, oh no. - Oh my gosh. - I'm glad to get you a car. - Yeah, yeah. I needed that. - Cause you was, you was. - I needed that. - I was over it. I was walking in. - I was, you know, going for a V, man. - They gave me the, they gave me the, they gave me the, they gave me the, they gave me the push. - That was fire. - That was fire. - No, I'm a, I'm a fan of that, bro. I said much that shit. Religious leave it. - Thank you bro. We appreciate that. - Has there been anything that, A, that has surprised you about your journey, like, like maybe, was it going like a Milan fashion week and you just kind of tapped into something that you didn't think you'd ever tap into? Or, and is there something that you want to do, like something along those lines? That wasn't music, or that wasn't acting. - Or acting? Yeah, I would say definitely the fact, like just fashion week in general. That's some shit that I had to mature. - Yeah, that, I guess that, okay. - Beyond the code, I always like to give them from Harlem. That's shit on, but I had to mature mentally to really be able to indulge in that world, 'cause I didn't, that ain't my world. - Right. You feel uncomfortable on the clothes. - Should do. - Should do. - I'm from the clothes to the, just the world. - To everybody that just be around. - Just the world, you know what I mean? So, to, to, uh, jumping in that world, you know what I mean? It took some maturity and just me being a lot more understanding than I probably would have been 10 years ago. - Right, right. - And now we gotta be open minded. - Yeah. - The world we in today, you just gotta, okay, that's cool. - Yeah, yeah. - Don't come too, too, too close, that's cool. - Yeah, but it's cool. - I can be around. - Have you, have you toured overseas a lot? - Yeah, yeah. - And what, what is, like, do you have any crazy stories or anything that's like? - Overseas is a vibe, bro, because I feel like, no, we're not going to America, bro. I'm from America, you know what I mean? But I feel like overseas, they really appreciate. - Hell yeah. - Your, your art. - Right. - Art is appreciated more. I feel like in America, everybody rap, everybody, everybody is so much. - Right. - You get over there and it's like, it's really appreciated and respected. Like, they don't want to even, like a-- a lot of shows I do, well like say like not even shows, but like club host and shit like that, low events. I can rap over my music. - Right. - Over there, you can't do that. - And no, and no, no, you gotta rap over the beat. So you have to, you gotta know all your songs. A lot of times when people rap over the records, it's like a crush. - They let it feel, they let it feel in some time. They could stop rapping for like a kick back in. - With them, they just wanna hit the beat and you laugh. Like they're really fans of hip hop and the craft. Like, so that just made me some brush it up a little more. But I enjoyed it because you really get a different love over there. - Oh, did they go out there to really enjoy what they're going to? A lot of people out here, they just go to shit to shit. - And shit else to do. - Yeah, they go to say they went to some shit. - They'll get the footage. - They can just put it, 'cause I've been seeing like overseas bro, when it'd be like lit shows, a lot of the crowd, they don't even be having their cameras up, bro, they really just be insane and really vibe in like, every show out here, it's a thousand flashes, like it's like, bro, y'all not even living in a moment like, y'all not even living in a moment like, y'all not even. - Portugal, Amstit, all of them countries, bro, they really, you know what I mean? And they like, like you was just saying, they're not with the fans shit. - Yeah, they're trying to appreciate that moment. - They really like. - It's because they don't get, I mean you could probably say this better than me, but like they don't get, there's one artist that comes maybe a month. Like in New York, it's easier, they're not just a million shows. - Every night. - They can catch you alive. - That's a five year old type of festival. - That's probably exactly, you just sum that shit up. They're not getting it as much. You get what I mean. - Appreciate that shit. - They really get to see you finally coming out of New York. - They don't care about their phone. They stay watching their phone all day long until that. They wanna see you, but I want to see, I saw 50 in Prague last year, bro. And I was kind of like in, I was side stage, but like side stage, you could see the crowd. - Right. - They'll look on these people's faces. - Insane, like Michael Jackson was on stage. - Like they could not believe fit, like when he came out, everyone, like they could not breathe. Like that's how insane it was. They just appreciate some of the more. - It's a different type of five out there. - We gotta go to one of them shows. - Yeah. - Oh, we out. - I was out. - I was out there for the world. - I went to 50 overseas last year, twice. It was fire. - I'm not missing anything. - I was missing it last year. - What's your favorite place to perform in a city in U.S. or in Europe? - If I had to pick New York. - New again. - Yeah. - Yeah. - I did the Apollo this year, first time. That was dope. That was some real legendary. I was shit brought, math came out. - Oh, that's shitty. But I was saying New York, you know what I mean? Just because I can remember not having no type of motion, no support besides like my friends and shit like that. So to watch the city when I sell shit out, in the city it'd be like, oh I made this shit happen. I mean. - And that's fire too. 'Cause a lot of artists, like when they come from a certain city and they have a show in New City, the city don't sell them to love. So when you selling out your own city? - It took a minute, it took a, it took a, it took a while, but once it got to a certain, it was like, oh. - There's always no going back out there. - When you started blowing up, what like was your family? Like what the fuck, like was it out of that field? - You know what it's crazy? - All right so my pops is Beijing right? If you're from Barbados like. So he's a real, you, you Western, I mean. So they, he don't believe in rap. Like he didn't, they don't, they believe in straight like. - As a case in bed, you don't get a good job. - You go to school, you go to school. - You're gonna be an athlete, you go like, they don't believe in all that shit. - When I fucked the ball up, he really was like, oh if you want to be a bum, you know what I'm saying? Like that's what you want to be, you want to be a bum cool. So I had to really convince and show. Look, this is what rappers made me like look. I could get you a call house, I could move you. I could, when they came to show. - But when they sent you on the trip, he lost his mind. First time I brought him to a vent and he's seen it. - He was like, y'all, all these motherfuckers know you. And for you, if you like, so I was like, I told you what I was doing. But he didn't believe it, you know what I mean? Like I said, he come from the arrow of Motown and Earth went in fire all that shit. So rap, he like, man, y'all ain't saying shit. Till he's sitting, listen to him and he'd be like, y'all, you're actually saying something, you know what I mean? My pop's 70 years old. - That's probably the craziest feeling, like, to really bring your pop to something that, that he ain't like, believe in that first one. - At all. - And I'm trying to tell you. - So I got pops on stage amongst all of the, you know, how the rap show is being, there's 100 people. - That's what I'm saying. - It's a million people on stage. - Yeah. - But I'm like, yo, watch out. That's my pops. - Yeah. - Yeah. - Yeah. - Make sure he good over there. Pop's was chilling. - That's fine. - He was chilling. - Did he watch Rutan? - Yeah. - He was crying. - Right. - So when he's watching it, he, you know, he really realizing that I'm portraying somebody. He's just thinking, oh, that's who you are this show. You killing that shit. - Have you ever introduced to anyone that, or like, he's been at a show and be like, oh my god, that's this? Have you ever like-- - He hit me day by. - And he's-- - My mom's me day by day. He hit me day by. She didn't ran up for me. Look. - I was with me. She was doing it with me, my like, yeah, that's so fine. - But you know what it's dope to, like I said, to not had a belief or not had it. My mom's been my best friend from birth. I can't knock mama like mama, whatever. I always said, if I was robbing banks, my mom's, I'd be probably holding stash in the money with her. She ain't gonna say nothing. But it took some convincing with my father, because like I said, he old fashioned. - Right. - He's so him like, look, I'm chilling, like, this rap got me good, I'm good, like you feel me so. - More than good, bro. You're fucking had a fool. - You wanna go? You wanna go to a ruby? - Yeah, he does. - You wanna go to a ruby? - Well, where's the first big thing you bought, like when you-- - For me? - Range Rover. - Yeah. - I didn't get to lift. - I was on a train for decades. - What? - I need to-- - I need more white Rover. - Yeah. - That's fine. - Dude, thank you so much for pulling up. We appreciate it. You know what I mean, bro? Like I said, as soon as I heard it, I'm like, well, that's my thing. I gotta go over there. - Bro, anytime you got something to promote, you got a show coming out, anything you wanna come back, you're more than welcome, bro. We appreciate it. Plug everything you got, coming out, music, Instagram, all that stuff right now. - Okay. IG, ad Davies, same on Twitter, musically, state song, it's on the way. - Yeah, I'm cooking, I'm coming, I'm in cooking, I ain't got no shape up a night, I'm in, I'm in, I'm in, I'm in caveman mode right now, so, definitely, if not the end of this shit type of 24. - And you, you're gonna do any acting stuff coming up or you just kind of wait until the strikes are over to start? - I'm more straight. - Yeah. - No, you gotta talk, talk to the store like that. - I'm gonna tell you, he's like, we're on strike, I'm like, dude, we're on strike, bro. - Bro, you sag, I'm sag. We're on strike, I didn't know that shit. - Yeah, no, I didn't know that shit. What I said, I needed, they didn't email me. - Yeah, he's like, I'm out on the email list, I'm like, dude, it's not a list. - I didn't get the alert. - They gotta put, they gotta put, they gotta put, they gotta be like, yo, we, so, me gotta let him know. - Let you know, send that yo, we on strike right now just in case you was wondering. - He in that studio, mate, he, he, he, he, he, he, what was going on, like that, you gotta keep him up to date, say that, come on, say that. - Yeah, I'm more straight, I'm sag, I got my little sag card in the car, I'm sag. (laughing) - They shut out the sag, man, man. - sag. - In this strike, man, I need to act a little more. - He's trying to show, he's trying to show how he could do, man, he's trying to show how he could do, but listen, man, we on strike, can't really do much, can't promote much. - We might be off strike by the time this episode comes out, by the time it's come out though, we might be streaming. - The strike by hand? - Hopefully, hopefully, 'cause they just reach the settlement for the writers, so hopefully, they reach the settlement for their actors, 'cause we gotta get back, back and work. - Alright, so look, I don't want to sound ignorant, but can y'all break, like, what happened? - So basically-- - That's how out the loop I am, man. - Basically-- - What happened, like, you, you, you, you, the writers, what on strike first? - The writers went on strike first, and then the actors went on strike after to support them, because we're kind of fighting for the same thing, but the way, to sum it up really quick, the way that TV used to be, like, ABC, NBC, you would watch a channel, and you would know the ratings of that show, so you would get paid based on, you know, residuals, based on how many times aired, et cetera, when Netflix and all these other, you know, streamers, Hulu all came into the game, they don't release their numbers, you get paid of plastic, yeah, you don't know-- - It could be a billion more fuckers watching your show, you get paid-- - Not for nothing. - You would get paid just one flabby. - There's, there's a little residuals for, like, certain stuff, not, like, it used to be, like, these friends motherfuckers were making, like, more on residuals than they were just-- - That's all, that's all the show, yeah. - Like, that's the way that people used to eat. - Signed, feeling all that, they probably was killing 'em. - Right, right, so they'll just be running all day, every day? - That's crazy. - So, so that, and then also the AI stuff, where, like, they were trying to say that, say, for example, a background actor, they want to scan a background actor's face. - Right. - Pay them $150, and then they can use it whenever they want. So, that's how a lot of people-- - No, that's crazy. - Isn't that crazy? - So, they don't pay you all anything for your whole body, and we're just going to use it also. - Also, the AI stuff, they wanted to be able to write entire scripts from AI. So, type in two guys in a street, that's not that chat GBT-Shit, we'll write a whole scene with two guys in a street talking about guns. - So, the writers got nervous. - Sure. - Right, the writers got nervous, 'cause they're like-- - Robots, man. - Right. So, that's kind of what their front-end against. The writers got what they wanted. The studios, I wouldn't say they lost, but, like, they had to say, no AI, they made a minimum amount of writers for a writer's room, which is also what they were fighting for, and residual stuff. change was going on with Netflix and I'm like that's ain't that locked there well that's why they went on strike because no one they're like it's locked in but they said the the contract was up so they're like we're not writing another thing until we get it so they changed it and now everything's good so the actors about probably I think they're supposed to meet tomorrow and Tuesday and the actors are fighting for the same thing that AI the background stuff the residual stuff and they'll they're gonna come to a deal and it'll be in our faith it's only right yeah so that's kind of what it what it was and it makes sense like I just made that shit mad clear yeah that's crazy but you're not giving us the bag that we deserve we're not working until we get it yeah it's a lot of hours I know I can't even compare the y'all to put out what I was in I did three seasons now we need we need you a pop but we need you something on power we gotta we gotta make that we gotta make that we gotta make that we gotta make that we got Dave East in the building thank you for pulling up bro Gianni BPL Instagram Twitter all that you know vlogs coming out merch we got crew hasn't merged but um well yeah my merge about to come out to 22 merge about to be created I'm not even going to announce it as a merge though it's just gonna be like a like a clothing I need all that too I got you semi size all that got you it was my like listen man the crew has the Davies in the building yes sir thank you thank you thank you so much bro we appreciate it