T.I. & CeeLo Green: Raising Sons, Breaking Expectations & Redefining Legacy (Pt. 2)

this is expeditiously i am tip t i have uh-huh now the following experience is not a test the conversations and stories expressed on this podcast are meant to be an expression of purpose and truth this show properly entitled expeditiously is a free exchange of ideas and opinions no judgment no preconceived beliefs no fear you're encouraged to share your thoughts and ask any question as long as it's done with respect and that's through true love and respect for others that we will change the world and speak truth to power one show at a time now without further ado this is expeditiously i'm tip t i harris man so now we have uh the the next generation of of of your lineage yes and um this is my my brother lake yes sir how you doing g lake erie to be exact yes right okay and uh this creative expression of yours uh you we spoke earlier about the freedom to be artistically expressive by way of of of costume and you know just other forms of appearance what led to this this level of freedom to express yourself in such a way um i think in just the way that i was even raised creative freedom individuality have always been principles that have been cultivated you know within um how we were spoken to how we were taught to carry ourselves as children you know i'm saying as individuals within the world so it was never necessarily um any type of hesitation when it came to um the things that you know we might find ourselves inspired by you know all we had was a super dope support system just be like man go you know what i'm saying like so it's a privilege to be able to be yourself right it is it is and you know it take true parental guidance to offer that level of confidence to be able to be yourself now you spoke about you know some things uh one principle uh which is not enough of that shit going on another principle is being adhered to and also inspiration uh i want to know what principle and or inspiration is your presentation founded in pride a healthy amount of pride strength for your last name and who eventually your first name will be to the rest of the world um in terms of inspiration i mean you know i think i don't think a lot of people really catch on to the fact that like it's been alternatively styled the entire time you know like growing up um you know i heard dad say he was an mtv kid so it's like i don't think people really understand the level of privilege and being able to go and listen to the song they immediately want to listen to skip through the songs you know like when you're watching a public occasion like mtv you gotta go through the duran duran you gotta go through the motley crew to even see the videos that you really want to see um so that was just that was naturally placed in my whole upbringing so like we've always been metalheads we've always been alternatively styled um always been fans of um the crazy world arthur brown lou reed peter gabriel kiss um black metal movement in in europe like these are things that we've always been privy to okay um so yeah yeah it's more based than that it's based on sean you know niggas they can do other things got it now i saw y'all when y'all hit y'all hit the red carpet i believe it was the grammys yes sir yeah y'all hit the red carpet together and and and you know of course it was great to see y'all you know paired together as father son and in support of one another's art and um and and and you know i guess attacking the carpet collectively now one of the things that came up from you guys's appearance there was a question in you guys's faith and uh what what what faith you guys held uh in regards to i guess what creator uh what what what what origin of faith you you you possess for yourself so i want to allow you the opportunity both of you to speak as to uh where your faith is based you want to speak first not yet yet um well i know i mentioned earlier that both my mother and father were ministers southern baptist so uh i've had my fair share of salvation you know what i'm saying for sure and um i think you know that innate you know quality uh or quirk or what have you you know i mean has run throughout the the body of work you know something that i've done i mean um even we were speaking about get up get out earlier today you know something like i i end that verse by saying i know the lord ain't brought me this far so he can drop me off here and i'll make myself clear you know so um no i never i never thought that um you know something you know artistically a spiritual you know like um or a faith practice and belief system whatever come up in the question i mean like i i feel like um it has been the faith and so like that has caused me to be resilient and enduring enough you know i mean like to have lasted professionally at the wind of unpopular you know opinion that's right you know i'm saying and political incorrectness you know i'm saying like you know over and over and over again we throw ourselves into the battle you know this and so like you know like as artists you mean like you know we have to you know i mean we have a right into like you know a civil right to expound upon them so like black excellence black exoticism you know i'm saying you feel me like i always wanted people to you know this is this is the welcoming you know that i wanted people to feel about atlanta this was a place that you could come and be expressive the entire city the landscape is a is a um is a um uh a canvas you know saying to paint that to grow from you know something like to become a product of an all-inclusive like environment you know what i mean like and i don't feel like talking shit you know like gangster shit as it's defined you know categorized you know i mean like i think that's so easy to do and that's that's that's like a trump card i play and by the time i get to talking gangster shit you know i'm all out of tricks you know i'm saying you feel me like so like let me explain to you like i'm not a gangster you know i'm saying you feel me like let me you know be far-reaching and so like beyond you know the borders of limitation and so like give me like let me land you know i'm saying like somewhere and plant a flag and say we were here you know because i feel like i'm an ambassador for black excellence in black music black arts and black industry i'm saying like you feel me so like i've got it's like i've got a i've got the torch and i'm saying like you know uh um the figurative you know to um to bear light and i'm saying like you know and i think that it's essential that the individual account be you know i mean like you know uh appreciate it so like you know um and so yeah man like no i'm just it's just an act of individualism you know i mean so just to answer your question very plainly simply i'm gonna let him answer his uh no i mean like i don't worship the devil or none of that shit you say you feel me like the red eyes were and i was joking with somebody on the on the internet because every now and again i like to you know play the dozens and go back and forth in the comments and joan and talk you know if it was popping this i'm like all right so i'm saying look man you know i mean like if you wanted to do it you could have done it i'm saying you feel me um like they sell them lenses at the gas station and so they sell them at the hot topic in the middle of coming tomorrow somewhere you can go and get it if you want to play dress up a little bit i'm so like but see a lot of these don't realize that they're wearing costumes and so they y'all dressed up like real like you feel me i mean like i don't have to do something different so i don't be mistaken for you yeah that makes sense so so okay and that's that's that's wonderful because you you said it very plainly you do not worship you know satan and nothing like that you have found it in baptist christian principles yeah and you have maintained those principles and we're intellectuals right so you guys should look up in webster's dictionary man the definition of satanism man like it really boils down to this the worship itself you know me like i'm a selfless individual i mean like you know like i'm here to give let me like you know be transparent let me like be a vehicle and a vessel let me like you know so you know i'm here to be an off ramp and something like from the loop you know what i'm saying you feel me like that's it off around from the loop live on loop you know what i'm saying you feel me like anything different yeah you're gonna make sure you can separate this from that anything like you feel me like is acceptable i mean like you know a means to an end you mean like an alternative you know something like reality i'm saying like you know we there are multiple dimensional things like that we can take into account into consideration i feel like i represent that ethereal class you know i'm saying you feel me like um and in an extroverted in the extroverted way like you mean like so if something i'm doing is not normal and i'm saying like doesn't also it doesn't mean that it's abnormal either you know i'm saying like it could mean that it's exceptional but are you want to give me the credit for being exceptional or not you feel me like because you accept your own normalcy and there's nothing wrong with normalcy you know so like you feel me like so if a motherfucker yeah exactly so if somebody else had to walk down if a normal motherfucker had to walk down the rear carpet you feel like would they have gotten the press coverage that i got you feel like you feel me like i don't think so and i'm saying like i just think it's just a matter of distinction and say you feel me like and also it's about product and it's about product placement you know i mean so we have a product to sell and it's about product placement and it's about product placement and it's about product I'm saying you feel me like you know and to promote and you know also is a showcase of the support system that I have with My son my son is about to venture out into a space. So that's me chaperoning him down through the valley of the shadow of death and I'm saying like and I can associate those cameras and those interviewers with the monkey wrenches and the fucking you know saying like The low blows in the in the question in the shit like that. I'd associate that shit with demonic in the energy I'm saying or it can be perceived as such and I'm like, you know I mean like I'm gonna walk you down through the valley of the shadow of death and it's like you're gonna be more confident in this Element to brave them and we're gonna get to the other side safely. I'm gonna be with you I'm saying you feel me like and and these energies they're gonna recognize you as strong I'm saying you feel me like as fierce and as a worthy adversary and I'm saying you feel me So therefore when you come back alone, they know to stay at bay and I'm saying you feel me But Jesus is still the way in the light. Oh, absolutely Because I you gotta forgive me because I'm getting a little upset about it Let me be passionate about what you believe, you know, I mean, so yeah So for show let me like speak and speak speak your speak your full mind in your full voice And you don't you ain't got to hold back for me, you know, so yeah, no for sure That's it. And I appreciate you saying that This is a safe place with family. Yes, sir late. I Truly believe that The devil Satan Lucifer. However, you want to give him his credit? he isn't he is no acknowledgement or credit in terms of the artistic expression the creative direction or The overall hard work that it took, you know, I'm saying like to get to a point to be so fearless As well as the purpose that we were in doubt with from our Heavenly Father that we acknowledge each and every single day That's one of the principles that was Very well instilled within my support system within my family within my parents and honestly, even when it comes to a discussion about What different may look like to our people I think we tend to Immediately associate it with something negative something evil Based on the lack of understanding of it and the lack of exposure and then the lack of exposure or or maybe saturation of exposure To things that come from a certain place that only look a certain way exactly, you know So if a person's only experience with the lack of better terms devil worshipping has an appearance or an imagery or symbolism that looks similar to the way you present yourself then that association would be an inevitable However, what's dangerous about that? Which is the reason why I'm giving you guys an opportunity to articulate your position yourself is because if that appearance is enough To make you put them over here then whoever is devil worshipping or in that if they Appear like us and we gonna put them over here, right? So you got to get past the first layer and You got to not just say okay. Well just because I see this Doesn't mean that this is what it is, right? Let me actually hear a person speak and state their position because you must Observe with thine eyes and confess with that mouth. Thanks. You understand that so Yeah, because you see something it is way if it ain't confessed with its mouth and accept it the role responsibility and and the the risk associated with damnation They got to say that at they face. They got to say nah ain't with Jesus I'm over here with this and if a person ain't came out they face and said that their appearance should not hold as much Weight as our people have been allowing it to hold for so long. Agreed. Absolutely agree. Well said King right on So yeah, man So y'all got a project coming that together. Yes collectively. Yeah, what is the name of like father like gun? Like father like gun the group named lagoon Lake Lake Erie and Thomas gun My name my actual name is Thomas for you. I'm mr. Carlo Calloway. Okay. Yeah, man. Oh, it's a son of a gun Okay, dear. So let me ask you. Why? Did you guys decide to Collaborate and and how long did it take you to actually? Like like produce this music And like I think we're in like a tenth year, yeah, and we're working on this Decade, okay. Yeah, so before your beard start exactly Baby face me What was that what was the creative process and Getting to the place you you ultimately arrived to music I Think you know the encouragement, you know, I had given the king Was taking shape, you know, I mean like, you know sonically, you know him being a producer and just listening to his tracking and a lot of the The direction he was going in sonically. I was like it made me want to rhyme so like I was becoming inspired By as a matter of fact, and of course, I wanted to be his first responder and his biggest fan. Right, you know what I mean? and Even beyond of the fatherly, you know, something like, you know context I mean like I'm just like this shit banging so you feel me like I like it. I'm so like I'm starting to feel right much like I felt about danger muscle mom was like, can I I I feel strong Instinctually and I'm like, it's not it's not the bias. I'm like this. This is this this is strong, right? You know what I mean? And so that's my compliment. I want to give to him You know me like and that's kind of it started like that and just to support him hearing them out like, you know Every so often send me four or five things. I worked on these and this out of the third and then we started just Bartering in a way where I would be out of town and I might just do an impromptu session and record something to hit to his Stuff and then we started thinking and you know trading, you know, basically trading like, you know of cards about you know, I like this personal or oh, you know, Like this this bear check this band out. Okay. I heard some of this remind me of you So just building this other's confidence like as long as I've known him, which is his entire life like, you know He always was heavily interrupt what without without give let me like, you know stern on that so Yeah, so it just felt really natural to do okay, and you know, we got the freedom we got the liberty we got the resources we like to just be creative and And love and and lean into each other, you know, because you know when he was younger To provide and so like, you know like and not be able to be in both places at one time But they'd be that reason instead of which you you go so hard you and your father, you know, is that what I mean? So In my in my heart, I'm still making up for a lot of lost time You know I'm saying like, you know, like and it's you know as an older man them so like you feel me? I'm like and I kind of like You know for me man, you know, the American dream is being able to afford to say no I'm saying you feel me like and I can say no a lot I'm telling about this data that they're so like and then I can really really do the big one when I want to do You know, so we've got the free time the luxury the liberty to just rock and I'm saying you feel me I'm like, so we spent a lot of time together and I mean like in in the last year, so he's been traveling with me So he's to it and done done Stays with me in a boy is in as large as Yes, sir. Okay, so you have a you you have an audible gift as well as your production. Yes, sir Okay, tell the man multi-instrumentalist a singer MC. I mean, I mean, I mean instruments you play I see guitar bass a little bit of piano a little bit of drums, but mainly bass. Okay. Okay. Okay Well, you know man, we are me you me. Yeah, buddy. Yeah Yeah, um, I want to see can I get a buddy they they to me yo yo boys and so like Kind of that trifecta them so like you know me like King got that gangster shit his name is Kingston - okay so King of Kings so we both had that same sentiment and like you know speaking those affirmations into our children they're like nothing wrong with that you say you feel me um you know King is illegal to name your child now is that right yeah you can't name your child or Messiah so both of two of my children's name is on the do not name list that crazy King and Messiah both why would they I wonder what gonna happen if somebody actually decided that what they want to do hmm they gonna say no we can't put this name on the birth certificate I wonder what's the like what's the I like that I like King Domani always kind of reminded me of Dominion I'm saying you feel me like or heiress me like so I like what your intention was with your kids I pay attention to you maybe we got a lot of strong shit in common I'm fuck with you like that I see that that just that that pure backpack hip-hop that's the money and I say you feel me like you feel me like you know I'm saying like unassuming them say you feel me like no strings attached to it I mean like it's just love me like but then you know and then buddy knows like you you never did no shit like that but I wanted to yeah I had the notion I just had too much crack in my pocket yeah man nobody goes I know though like I admire I admire I admire Messiah or buddy read so much because you could tell he has the confidence inside himself that only comes from walking outside of 11 household you know that when you go here man people love you unconditionally so much that you don't give a damn what nobody say or think when you walk outside show because you know where your love come from you don't want them to be like you right say them say I want them to be better I want to be better than me and I want them to be free to be who they see for them say so yeah I mean cuz guys like us once we commit and so that we locked in all right we got to be who we is today we stuck say you feel me yeah but y'all take this shit and fly with it and say you feel me like we're gonna defend y'all and I feel like I'm always in that defense position it's like me like I'm gonna protect that's what that meant for me to walk down like me like y'all gonna let him eat and silly even if it's y'all food listen like you let me I'm saying you feel me and that's how I feel and felt about that shit so like one another week or weird about this is strong to me don't say you feel me so but again buddy though I'm like see that shit in tip though cuz it's in here so he had to inherit it be exposed to it by one way or another down through DNA you ain't now you know I mean you ain't got to you ain't got to see it if they see it you know what I mean I like that too you know I think that um it comes in coherently you did and I can and I hear the the the tone of protection in your voice even even now as you speak about you guys experience on the red carpet um to protect you must be able to defend indeed and I have a story of time that there was defense and that's there and brother CeeLo green called to pay by another legend by the name of kilo I leave now kilo I leave man this is an illustrious legend I'm talking about a founding bricklayer that's a fact of Atlanta music scene man kilo Ali had his for any of us I'll do respect all do respect you're gonna go ahead and document the moment so you can't keep kilo kilo came over to the dungeon family until I can I know us for a moment yes and it was to showcase his talents as a as a as a as a artist and uh and he did made a dope ad record called love in your mouth y'all ain't heard that y'all need to go check it out thanks definitely one for the playlist love in your mouth kilo Ali and big boy um all right so kilo as a Westside niggas I always said man Westside nigga be different you know what I'm saying we got a little guy extra sauce it's gonna it gonna spill it's don't spill we ain't got no say so who would spill on and we just got to deal with it when it spill and his sauce just happened to spill on your shoe yeah it did and um this just so happened to happen on the radio yeah he just didn't understand that you had new shoes and you ain't want them dirty I did can we talk about that a little bit all right let's talk about it all right all Specs to Kilo, a legend of this city. You know what I'm saying? Like, an OG to me. Always loved him. Always was a fan. Hated that that ever happened. You feel me? It was me who suggested Tariq Owe. They were just then establishing the label. We went through a couple of different names. KP is my witness. It almost was Red Clay Records. Am I right? Settled on Organized Noise. Let's go with the brand. And I said, you know who would be dope to go and bring with us? Let's go get the legend, Kilo. So that's that. He was having some troubles, whether it was how the business was done. I don't have no knowledge of what exactly transpired as far as what the gripe was. I know that it was professional. You feel me? But when you're in that close quarters, like the Dungeons, so many dudes, real guys coming up out the city. Man, you got to sit down at the table and have a conversation about it. So apparently they did. And I don't know who was evading or what happened. Or I don't know if it was a situation that could not be rectified because it was on paper. Is the deal you agreed to? You know, you got to deal with it. You get one time. You get one time. You get to say something about it. For sure. That before the ink hit the page. That's funny. I just saw a throwback, too, when you was talking to 21 Savage about he wanted him to give you a million dollars. Now, he wanted me to give him a million dollars. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I had the same conversation with him and Shline. Yeah. They both were like, man, come on, man. Give me a million. You got it. I got you. I'm like, man, that ain't going to work, right? That ain't going to work, right, man? And the main thing I told Savage, I say, bro, keep doing what you're doing. The money coming. For sure. It's coming. And every time he see me, he like, it came. Straight up. Real shit. Real shit. And I love how you had your hand wrapped your arms around so many young guys, man, that come up out the city. Man, I love that about you, too. Man, I see us in them. For sure. You feel me? Me, too. I got to treat them how y'all treated me. Real shit. It wasn't about nobody eating off my contract or nobody doing it with no ulterior motives. It was just, man. I was running these streets trying to find my way in this shit. So I'm going to treat you how I wish people treated me. That's the way Rico taught us, too. We weren't all wrapped up in paperwork with Organized Noise, either. You feel me? And I think by the time they had done the joint venture with Interscope Records for Organized Noise Records, and then Key Love was going to be the first look, I think they were trying to practice actual business. Business education. Formal. We in a formal business. Okay, so after that gripe, he decided. He spoke on it. What did he say? Motherfucker. I remember we was out of town. He said, like, motherfucker said something slick. He was talking about the guys. He was talking about the business. I don't even know how I came up in the conversation. I wish somebody could get me the audio of it. Because you didn't drive the contract. It had nothing to do with it at all. As a matter of fact, they might have never even fucked with you if it weren't for me. That's why I took it personally. Right. And I'm like, damn. So I'm like, why I got to be a midget and all that kind of shit. Oh, shit. So now we're hearing what he said. That's what he said. I'm like, God, damn. Really? He called you a midget. So, I mean, you know. But how long did he stay on it, though? It was just that one time, but I heard about it. You kept hearing about it? Well, you know, the screets going to get you. The screets ain't going to get you. Boy, you heard Makilo find your ass up on the radio. How you want to handle this? I'm like, damn. So, I didn't want to. It's like, damn. But again, my attitude then was, you know what I'm saying, like defense. Yeah. Protection. And demonstration. So, like, I'm like, I got to give him one. Like, you know. Because it's going to help in the long run, I think. What you know? Apparently, you say, man, she's going to hurt me more than it hurts you. Because I'm like, man, this ain't what the fuck you want in real life, man. You tripping, man. Like, don't put me in. I got love for you. Oh, shit. Oh, shit. So, we was at the Atrium. Okay. We were doing a show out there, and we were doing a Q&A. segment in the back of the where the back lounge used to be if y'all know the atrium if you're from the east side where the pool was yeah okay oh shit motherfucker runs up I don't know who it was somebody run up on me and be like man Kilo and them just walked up but we jumped up from the interview left the interview like and I guess well we'll be back after these messages and let's see what's going on you know what I'm saying like I I called him outside. Coming in? Coming in. I checked him at the door. I basically patted him down. So I said, I ain't even going to try to say nothing. For real. When he seen me. He started talking some more. But then what I love about him, that's why the incident, I've got so much affection for it. Because he kept it a tie. He stood on it right there. He seen me. We right there in front of each other. He say, he look me down like this. Do what you're going to do. I felt like Cain there in a minute just said, what am I going to do? So. And allegedly, I put hands on him. Oh, shit. I whoop him. I whoop him out there. And I'm going to tell you, Atlanta's so real, secure that nobody got into it. Everybody in the line. Everybody watched it. Let them fight. Because they had also heard the radio interview. And they were like, let that man straighten out. Oh, shit. We got that out the way. Oh, shit, man. It is what it is. God damn, man. And that's just a story. It's a lot of them stories, y'all. It's a lot of historical stories, man. We'll probably come back and do a part two. Because I know we talked about this before when the goody was here. Yeah. But it's a lot of them good old stories. Oh, my goodness. Some of them internal. Some of them outside. It's been a lot, dog. You got one more you want to share, man. One more that you can think about that you care to share. Who else I done had to walk around? I don't know. See, y'all don't understand what people have evolved to a place in life. We don't nobody go around just talking about the victories. We go around more so giving testimonies of the losses. Because that's where our lessons come from. Say that. We enjoy, you know, a good victory. And you know what I'm saying? We reminiscing with the people who were there. Everything. But we don't just go around basking in that light. For sure. We trying to evolve beyond. So don't. But don't get it fucked up. While we was out here, man. We was out here, man. Moving furniture, man. That's a fact. I'm talking about, man. We were shaking. We were shaking the motherfucking pavement, man. That's a fact. And if we wasn't shaking the pavement, we wouldn't have been able to be here. That's a fact. They wasn't just going to let this shit happen. This shit had to be forced. Straight up. This shit came. And with a certain level of force. You know what I mean, man? I remember like, you know, I got my reputation. And I'm a small person. And by stature. I'm not the biggest, you know, or the strongest, or even the meanest. But I am probably one of the most determined. Yeah. Probably one of the most determined. You feel me? My will will be. My will will push me further than my body can at times. I like it. So I got my reputation for one, because I was a little bitty nigga around a bunch of big, you know, big niggas that nobody ever like, even like, lit in the party anyway. Right. You know, most of my niggas used to have to sit outside the parking lot or whatever. So, but now I'm getting the name for myself. I know CeeLo. I know Big Boy. I know KP. I know. Man, shit. Hell, this they party. We coming in here. And these motherfuckers, either it because I got such a baby face, they don't want to let me in without an ID, or it's too many of y'all, or y'all out of dress code, or you can't wear your hat. Pow! Right. I know you ain't feeling thank you. Going to let all these New York niggas, these other out-of-towners in here. Here I am. I'm from the town. You telling me, you telling me I can't get in? Ain't going to be no party. Talk to them. Talk to them. Ain't going to have no fun tonight. And it got to the point where Alec came out, hey, let me in, let me in, let me in, let me in. He's okay. He's okay. Let me in. Come on, come on. Let me in. Let me in. Come on. He's okay. He's okay. He's okay. And that's kind of where the little reputation of mine came from. Well, you said speak on another one. Actually, I was right there. We was at the club warehouse. Fucking Pretty Ken. Oh, my God. We was opening up for Biggie Smalls that night. So everybody was in there. Yeah. Me and Puff had, it wasn't really words, but he was really reprimanding me as an OG. Oh, yeah? About? Because I used to do some writing for Puff. Then we were like, you know. So I went to, I think we were in Barbados or something. So we did a recording retreat. All right. And this was a session where they did- No Way Out. All about the No Way Out. But at first it was called Hell Up in Harlem. That was the name of the album at first. Okay. And then, you know, them songs like All About the Benjamins and all that kind of stuff. That might be a better name than No Way Out, actually. I think so, too. But anyway, yeah. So I was part of the writing team, and I didn't really know how to take to it. Because I didn't know my own, I didn't know what they saw. I didn't know my own self-worth. I didn't have a gauge on myself at the time. Right. I was grateful for the opportunity, but just too real and rough around the edge. And still green. I didn't know how to be much of a professional. Okay. So I left in the middle of the night. Excuse me. My attention was still going out? Well, it's a funny story. I got to tell you, man. Okay. So you know how Dave Chappelle depicts Puff on his show? Yes. We keep coming in. This was, it was. Just randomly popping in the room. It was so for real. With all our requests. Playboy. He's like, so look, we went into one room. I listened to a bunch of tracks. I said, I like this, I like this, I like this. He burnt me a CD, maybe 10, 15 tracks. Okay. Then I went into the writer's room. Just guys sitting with headphones and CD Walkmans and shit like that, sitting there writing shit. Then there was another room full of MPs, you know, some producers in there. All right. Shout out to my man, Mr. Rogers. He was there. Like, if y'all ever talk to him. But, um, so a couple of times he would come in to check on me. Yeah, what's up, man? You need anything? You good? I'm good, man. What you got so far? I'm like, I don't got shit. Shit. Okay, cool. I'm about to go to karate. Huh? So, so, so Puff got on the, uh, on, on the, on the Sean John Gee. The Sean John Gee. Hell nah. Where you, uh, you know what I'm saying? Like, you feel me? Hell nah. So, yeah. He ran it on. Okay. I'm like, okay. And I didn't think that it wasn't strange to me at the time. It was Sean John, though. Sean John. Oh, shit. He comes back two hours later. What you got for me, playboy? You, you, you good? In the Gee. He wasn't in the Gee this time. Okay. What was he in this time? Well, take your, take your, take your time, man. The vibe will hit you. It's all, all, all a matter of time, man. I'm about to go to boxing. I'll check on you later. You're bullshitting, bro. He got on the Sean John boxing outfit. You bullshitting. I'm not. The road with the shorts and shit. The, you know, the big, the, the. The shorts got the high waist on. The high waist would say Everlast on there. Yeah. Sean John. He was like. No. With the, with the robe and everything, so. Man, we're going to have to animate this story. Okay. You know, so it's funny, but it's a true story. And I, and it sounded so ridiculous, I thought I could never really repeat it. You feel me? Yeah. Nah, it's okay. Oh, shit. Until, um. Hold on, hold on. Hey, look. Tell them, let this little man in here. Little man in here selling lemonade, man. I'm a little partner. He, he be outside on the corner. Let, let little man in. He not even came. Oh, good. Little man be selling little, he sell flavor lemonade. He ain't going down, uh. Fed. Down the street on the corner. What's on it? Down on the street. Yeah. He be on that corner. All right, cool. No, so. So, okay. So, anyway, to make a long story short, I just thought that that was just so funny, man. Like. No, okay. So, so, so, okay. So, so, he went, he went to karate. He went to karate. He went to boxing. He went to boxing. Yeah. So, by that time, I couldn't, I couldn't vibe. Like, you know, like, I couldn't vibe. I was just with. You had, you had fights on your mind, man. For sure. My man, Bernard Parks, who was managing the Goody Mop at the time. Okay. That's, that's still OG. I'll get it, man. One time. We asked him. He, he, he was, he was with me. The only person with me. I was like, we got to go. I don't like, you know what I'm saying? Like, I just, I was just uncomfortable. And I was just too, you know, it was too, it was too new. Yeah. So. What you think, Lord, about the fighting? What, about the, at that time? You think he was just mentioning that? So people, like, just to let you know he on that? Or was he really going? Puff? Yeah. Oh, well. I don't know. This is. It just seemed like they were just activities throughout the day. Just like, that's it. To be totally honest, man, the motherfucker's phenomenal to me. I don't know where he found time to do all this shit, dog. Nah, he whimsical. For sure. Yeah, Puff is definitely whimsical, man. Nigga, I'm whimsical. That's a whimsical motherfucker, man. Yeah, Puff is whimsical, man. Nigga, he's magical, man. Nigga, a whole unicorn. Puff will pop up right in the middle of the most, in a melee. For sure. In the middle, and he'll just be the calmest face in the room. For sure. So, he was rectifying me. Well, reprimanding me right outside the front of the warehouse. Yeah. The warehouse used to be on Marietta Street. It's a parking lot now. Mm-hmm. He was like, yo, playboy. Like, look, I understand. You feel me? Like, if you felt you needed to leave for whatever reason or whatever, you feel me? Like, I can respect that, but at least let somebody know. And then also, man, like, at least I'm going to take care of your incidentals, playboy. You had incidentals. Because it was like some hotel room. Oh, okay, okay, okay, okay. Or whatever. Take care of the incidentals. Whatever kind of deal I'm in. No, all this shit was another facility. Okay. Okay, wait a minute. So, wait, wait, wait. Okay, so you left from the studio and then left at the hotel? Yeah. Because I want to stand on the grounds. Okay, got it. Yeah, yeah. Got it. Okay, so you basically ate up a bunch of shit in the minibar. Apparently, I did. Apparently, I did, man. Man, poor Petty. Hell, man. Talk about some goddamn incidental, man. But he was teaching me, man, like, be tactful, man. At least leave me a hit if I got to pay for your Zoom Zooms and wham wham. Do that. I didn't think I was, I thought I was being more respectful, you know what I'm saying? Like, you feel me? Just by, you know, showing myself out. I don't want to make a scene that was in the middle of the night. I'm like, you know, I'm a dip. I don't really feel comfortable. And I don't want nobody to try to convince me to stay. Right. Yeah. So, let me just be on the other side. I got to ask you, what made you uncomfortable? I just got it. Because it could be that metamorphosis again. I probably could have started feeling some kind of way, you know what I'm saying? But I didn't realize that I was starting to come alive because he was acknowledging me. He saw my, he saw what I was capable of, you know what I'm saying? But the first person to see, like, as far after my album dropped and, like, people out side of the town, like, recognizing me from hearing, like, my album, like, that shit. Puff pulled right up on me. Well, he didn't pull up on me. I was getting my car wash at the car wash on P Street next door to the Kaya, the twin from Chicago owned. So, I was getting my car wash right next door to Club Kaya at that car wash, sitting outside me in Bigfield, rolling up a Swisher. Right there in front of the club, any time? No, it's right there, man. Yeah, the car wash, yeah. I gotcha, I gotcha. It's right there on the car wash that was on the corner, right across the street now to what is, uh, you know, Metso. Exactly, exactly, yeah. It's where Sugar, whatever that is, the, the, wherever that, that corner of, damn, I think that's 15th Street. Yeah, right across the street from Brio, where Brio used to be. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I know what you're talking about. Yeah, for sure. So, I'm sitting here at the car wash, man, rolling up, rolling up my spliff. Bentley pulls up to the stoplight. I just hear, hey! Is that Tip? Is that TIP? And I look up. It's nigga Pup. I knew it was Pup, because he had, it was a convertible. So, he's like, yo, yo, nigga. I get up, I walk over there. He's like, yo, man, hurry, I heard your shit, man. Fuck with you, man. You hard, you hard. But, having a party tonight, man, you should come, come through, man. Come through the party tonight. Like, I ain't bet. And this nigga knew me from nothing. You hear me? And, um, he always, ever since then, was just extremely supportive, just, and, and we ain't never did no business together or nothing. But I remember the Sean John ass y'all did, though. We did do some Sean John. I remember that. Yeah, yeah, we did do that. I forgot all about that. I said, that boy Tip moving around. Shit, man. But I appreciate that about you. I say, he's savvy. And they record. I recognize that about him. You feel me? I'm telling you. I'm going to say it again, too. I think it was that Jesus and Jay-Z line. That's the one that opened up their ears and their arms to you. Like, and I think your lyrical proudness, you know what I'm saying, like, was also attractive, too. It represented us in a larger format, you know what I'm saying? Like, as far as emceeing, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know, like, I think Goody Mob, you know, or something like that was kind of, like, more notable for the sentiment, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know. And, of course, the introduction to the software, OutKast, and just the overall undeniable success that they had. But in terms of just the lingo, you. You feel me? I appreciate it, man. I do. I do. And so what happened when you and Puff was outside, and he was talking to you about the incidentals? I don't want to get off track, because this sounds like a very important story. So, no. So, nothing about the environment, or Puff, rather, or something like that made me uncomfortable. I actually didn't even. I didn't even see him that much. Right. I just saw him those few times he checked in on me. He had so many defense classes. So, I probably would have been. I probably would have been. Defensive driving. Yeah. 7.30. Be right back. Exactly. So, I probably would have been there for the weekend. He got it. With the mechanic suit. He got it, dog. Like, you know. A bunch of bad boy patches on him. Flight class. All that shit. That motherfucker, you know. Yeah. So. Sean John. Sean John. Sean John. Aviation class. I'm serious, man. 9.30. I know this shit sound ridiculous, but it's true. When Dave Chappelle made that skit, I said, well, God damn. I'm not the only person that experienced that. I've seen that for myself. So, for any way, he was giving me some good game. It was some OG game. It was a simple infraction. You feel me? Like, but enough to mention. You feel me? Like, almost like, be respectful. You feel me? Like, you know, like, because I was respecting you by having you out there. Like. And I feel like he took that personally, and rightfully so. Like, you feel me? So, of course, I was humble and apologetic. And I handled my business much differently. We spoke a lot, I think, when. I believe we touched on this some when I was with you and the guys. But y'all had a very close relationship and spent a lot of time with Tupac. Yeah. And there was even, like, talks about y'all doing music and shit together. True. And what happened? How did that relationship come about? And what happened to where the music didn't? Well, I know Timo was the one who had made direct contact. And, you know, we had all knew about it. And I had been a fan of Pac since the beginning. Like, Brenda's got a baby. You know, you. You know, they got me trapped. You feel me? Like, the first Tupac, I was just a fan of his. And so, during that time, you know what I mean, I just thought that. I thought it made sense because I understood his background, his story, his struggle, his plight, you know what I mean? Like, and it was relative, you know what I mean? Like, to the things that we were addressing topically on the album. And I knew he was. He would have been able to see that light and his reflection in that. And so, and maybe during that time. During that time of his incarceration, he just probably needed some, you know, some brotherhood, some understanding. Like, you feel me? Some brothers who he knew, who put themselves out there where we could have some common sense together. And he felt like maybe that was a safe haven or something that he could possibly, you know, once he was freed or exonerated, and then could come down and be a part of it because so much of his private life was in Atlanta anyway. Right. And so, set his sisters. Like, a sister to us. Something like, you know, Queen of Feeny. Something like, rest in peace. I'll live. Was like a godmother to us as well. And we, you know, spoke at Tupac's memorial when he passed here. And I got beside myself and, you know what I mean, really passionate. Something like, you know, a few words to say, you know, on his behalf and in, you know, the wake of his legacy and shit like that. So, yeah, no. So, that's the gist of it. So, but he was really kind to us, man. Like, you know, and welcoming. And one time we was in L.A. and I ain't even go. But the rest of the homies went. Mo loved Pac. This would be a good question for him. I love Pac too, but Mo really loved Pac. And they invited us to come over to the studio. So, I was messing with a girl. I remember this day like it was yesterday. I was like, man, I'm going to chill. Y'all go for it. Y'all go for it. But they went and that's the night where he played Hit Em Up for the first time. And all of that history now. And I'm like, damn, I hate I missed out on it. You feel me? But it's cool to have been in that close proximity. Like, and be acknowledged by him. I can't imagine what a Tupac Goodie Mug record would have said. Crazy. No point in changing it. It probably would have come across like the record he did with Bone Thugs. Yeah, I hear you. You know, so, yeah. That's all. Amen. That's awesome. And it's undeniable. You know, go with what I'm saying. I can't not acknowledge, recognize, and celebrate your keen sense of fashion. Yeah, I mean. the course of your illustrious career you have had so many different noteworthy ensemble which one comes to mind the most hmm it's hard to say - cuz I guess cuz it wouldn't really be none of the gnarles broccoli stuff cuz we are we did themes we would theme out the whole band okay we're gonna be you know we're gonna be tennis players or we're gonna be accountants we're gonna be in students at a prep school so we did stuff like that too mm-hmm for goody it's like more like what we doing today you know I'm saying you feel me like but I'm old-school they say you feel me like but you go from soul to prep yeah almost effort so you yeah I do that's a lot of stuff that's Atlanta that's a lot of shit Atlanta you don't know where soul is you don't know what prep is you're not from the town I'm super soul you know I mean like you know um I still leather and gold and shit like that and but but I'm a lowlife - I respect low life is accrued it was always you know we're known for wearing polo yeah we're called the lowlife for sure that's another that's in that's some more Atlanta shit I got a shout out Thurston how the third them said Iraq low the originators instantly on the East Coast end of it I'm saying like but in Atlanta we was prepping and I'm saying like that was nationwide that was a nationwide affectionately I'm saying you feel me like but now that the original crew what they definitely had a crew like to my first knowledge of it was out of Brooklyn them so like you know I mean in these these these gentlemen and they were just over over doing it and so like them of the first dudes that were seen when the Polo rolls outside when the bath getting shit like that so crazy shit but for Atlanta I would have said it was stray cats okay you remember them too I do not okay the stray cats we talking about I'm gonna shout them boys out I'm talking about Tim Todd slack whoa quit read him saying you feel me I hope they love hearing names just um this 90 80 no 86 yeah 86 you know I'm saying kindergarten was in my way yeah you know she called kindergarten a but it's crazy though man like sometimes you speak so affluently man be thinking like we damn near the same a but we're gonna say man yeah but it's crazy though man like sometimes you speak so affluently man be thinking like we damn near the same but we damn near the same man you five-year-old yeah you know I'm saying so it's like we was in the same you know circumference we we age adjacent for show you feel me because your your age group was the the age group that I directly you know got passed down information so yeah I mean so for you guys so this this is from some Atlanta history for y'all it was a prep crew and back then it was it was cruise of like you know me um and it's like the gangs were the dancers you know like so it was telling shows we didn't have the venues until we had a sharing showcase or some shit like that you know but what were the stars of the city were born is in the school talent shows so stray cats was a scam yeah the skating ring and stray cats was a dance crew but they were kind of they had to almost defend themselves and carry themselves like a gang cuz it was so hated on but these ghetto dudes man like you know like hood niggas man like out of Misty Valley and shit like that on up to a fortune industrial you know me like you know you know how real it is over there that's got a site here okay so but catching the bus or the train out the the Lennox or the Burlington Coat Factory on Beaufort Highway and boosting and shit like that I was into that shit really heavy too and I'm saying like I was into snatching and grabbing like that that Starter Jacket era then that shit got got me yeah but anyway we're talking about down right so there was carrying tennis rackets been a ton bags yeah Fred Perry nothing like v-neck sweaters and shit like that tree tones we did that I still do them to this day right on and case with case we'll still do them too you know me so we bought classic come on now you know so I basically always been into fashion so let me just try to generalize it without going too far down that road like I always been in the fashion if he wasn't fresh I wasn't a fan you know the main and I was I would look for those those role models who were just kind of like had all of the elements all of the bases covered all of the boxes checked so Cain was one of them people to me like Cain and LL they were fresh they was like having the Dapper Dan that the custom-made Dapper Dan Gucci or MCM shit I'm saying like you feel me there was ladies man there was also battle MCs and so like you know and then of course Cain wanted a step further because he had knowledge of self too because he was a big fan of Dapper Dan so you know he was a big fan of Dapper Dan so you know he was a big fan of Dapper Dan so you know he was a big fan of Dapper Dan so he was a big fan of Dapper Dan so you know he was a big fan of Dapper Dan so he was a big fan of Dapper Dan so he was a big fan of Dapper Dan so he was five percent and I was really into teaching this and civilized you know being civilized and being you know I mean educated and enlightened I sought that out and that's how I became myself too so I was looking for those those representations and those role models who had those qualities and I mean so but I just saw some shit about grand poobah let me like yeah I remember grand poobah brand new yeah so he was one of my favorites too just like in terms of a fashion icon so I always love I always love clothes and you know like us who hustle before that's the first thing we want to do we want to ask our parents for shit and we want to look like the money we getting so it's like it's almost like they were like hustlers was a different species you know like a caliber you know a person they understand of character and I mean they understood style and you mean like things that you know like were were you know the value of okay the Cartier's we're talking about they just cost more and so you got to make more and say you feel me like so you can afford those and then some you know say you feel me so that was the motivation so I wanted to get fresh and I was trying to get out of snatching and grabbing and robbing and shit yeah you know me so but it's a good thing I only wanted it was just a shortcut to success right you know I mean like I wanted to look like it I'm saying you feel me like and I wanted to be counted wanted to be in the number you know I mean so yeah so fashion was really important to me about being able to make that statement I mean or that you know that point of social currency right you know I mean got it man here on expedition we have something called the word of the day that word of the day is a word is usually inspired by or derives from the guest or the conversation yes and today the word that has been chosen inspired by see mr. C logo artifacts artifacts not to be confused with artifacts artifacts if X on the in our T fix a craftsman and master of a crab artifact and I may use it in a sentence CeeLo green has presented himself to the scene of music and on behalf of Atlanta has become a true artifacts of the music scene mmm a fixture I like that yeah yeah I take that thank you so much contributions you so young man thank you so much man for being true to yourself man sir and you know I'm saying staying so aligned in the principles that your father instilled in you thank you for being fearless enough to submit parts of yourself artistically and present it to the world I wish you none but the best on your journey and with that being said guys this has been expedition this is expeditiously I am tip ti have now the following experience is not a test the conversations and stories expressed on this podcast meant to be an expression of purpose and truth this show properly entitled expeditiously is a free exchange of ideas and opinions no judgment no preconceived beliefs no fear you're encouraged to share your thoughts and ask any question as long as it's done with respect and that's through true love and respect for others that we will change the world and speak truth to power one show at a time now without further ado this is expeditiously I'm tip ti Harris