‘Tournament's gonna go crazy, bro,’ Big Zuu on USMNT World Cup Success | Orange Slices w/ Heath Pearce

What is going on everybody? Welcome back to Orange Slices. I'm Heath Pears. Today, I'm joined by a multi-talented artist out of London, a rapper, a chef, an entertainer, a massive football fan, Big Zoo. Welcome to Orange Slices, man. Cheers! Thank you for having me. How are you doing, man? I'm doing all right. I'm doing all right. What's. I know we got to talk about Liverpool at some point, but. Yes. What's the vibe has been around the World Cup with you, with your crew, and everything going on in your life? It's been going with it, watching a lot of games, trying to keep up with everything that's going on. There's been some interesting matches. As a Liverpool fan, you know, watched the Netherlands game yesterday with Japan. I think that's one of the best games so far. I've been really enjoying it. I'm quite lying. I'm obviously waiting for England to play. We've got big game, Croatia, there's something going to be easy, but I've been really enjoying the World Cup so far, I feel like that Netherlands game really stood out for me, and the Australia game as well. Australia was a really, really cool match. Australia to our key, that's a good game. Yeah. We'll be right back after a quick word from our sponsors. The biggest stage in World Soccer is here, and every goal changes everything. And now, Fandall is giving you a reason to root for every single one, introducing every goal pays. Bed on a match and get bonus bets for every goal scored in that match. More goals means more bonus bets and all you have to do is turn on your token. Are the US going to go on a deep run, reach a semi-final, or even a final in a dream world? From the opening whistle to the final kick, let there be goals on Fandall. Visit Fandall.com to get started now. 21 and over, select states. For Kansas, an affiliation with Kansas, Starkoceno, 18 and over in DC, Kentucky and Wyoming. Gambling problem called 1-800-Gamber, or 1-800-Myreset. In Connecticut, call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat. In Maryland, visit mdgamblinghelp.org. In Massachusetts, visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 1-800-327-5050. In New York, call 1-877-8HOP-INY or text Hope-INY. In Louisiana, call 1-877-770-7867. Now, let's get back to the show. Yeah, you know, I said we get to Liverpool, but some of the themes that I've been hearing from commentators so far is, you know, obviously big names that play at Liverpool, but every time there's a Liverpool player, whether that's the Netherlands, whether that's Sweden, they say, "Ah, you know, this guy, massive player, but maybe underperform this year for Liverpool in terms of overall numbers." When you see them playing for their national team, are you judging them on a different level based on maybe their performances this year with Liverpool? Obviously, it depends on the player. For like, Virgil's been really consistent as a football player, for many years, but you know, it's just interesting seeing East Act play for Sweden, because you'd look, see, looks like a new guy. I mean, you know, his goal was incredible and you all know he has the quality, but obviously, we've had injury problems throughout the season, and I feel like the team had to adjust to the locker and on behind the scenes, and I feel like this World Cup is a big chance for a lot of Liverpool players to really show what they're about, and you know, players like Warts and Cody Gapold and East Act, they're going to have really, really great opportunities to flourish, and we all know their quality, but obviously, in the Premier League, it's tough. So, for like, the World Cup is the best stage for all these players to kind of like express themselves, and show us how good they really are. Yeah, looking at this World Cup, right, you're this multi-faceted person that brings so much to the table and to the community, but you find it stressful for you because everywhere you got to go, somebody wants a meal, somebody wants somebody wants some bars, somebody wants to be entertained by you. I mean, depending on you have different circles where you know that you could just like, you know, are you hosting things during the World Cup or you playing all the way games? Well, this year has been, it's been a bit different. I've been, I've been, because the times are a little bit mad, I've been home for a lot of them, but I went to, I went to an event for the World Cup, for the Morocco and Brazil game, which was a vibe. My friend did a party in LabrGroves where there's a big Moroccan community, and he did an event where it was, it was the game on a big projector and then it turned into a party after, which was a big vibe. So, we got there, that's a place called Under in LabrGroves and that was a vibe. And I feel like, I feel like, because these games are quite late, I feel like most of these World Cup's going to be like, it's going to be game and an party. And I'm the whole thing in front of myself, but maybe, maybe towards the end of the tournament, I do know a little thing. Okay, that's fair. Yeah, well, I wasn't even thinking about that because this is the one time that we're spoiled here. I'm in California where it's like a 9 p.m. kickoff. I'm winding down and, you know, 9 p.m. in California. People on the East Coast are already complaining, you know, the Australians are like, oh, this is perfect for us because, you know, they're a world away. But what have been sort of the, the cadences now that there's like four games a day? What times are they kicking off where you are? It's a bit random, but one of the games yesterday was at six o'clock. We have got games at nine o'clock, eleven. I think like the latest games are kicking off around one, two, two a.m. It's kind of like watching the UFC or the boxing when it's in America. You know, if you watch UFC boxing, the basketball, if you just, if you were just watching the play of finals, you're used to staying up really late to watch. But with football, it's always been time-ins that are naturally aligned with us. We're so used to watching eight o'clock kickoff or 12 or 12.30 p.m. So watching football at these late times is definitely a new one for a lot of people. But I feel like, I feel like when you're used to World Cup, World Cup is all over the world and you have to kind of be ready to watch at different times. So I think it's interesting adjusting to that, but also I've had a great time. Like I said, I would never really watch the game and then go into a party straight after if you have to give the kickoff at eleven o'clock. Yeah, that's wild. What's your first big World Cup memory that maybe you hold close to your heart? What's something that you remember at some point in your childhood or your life that's yours? Maybe your biggest World Cup memory? Oh, I mean, there's so many that come to my mind. I think it's probably 2006, that final, that that said, Dan Penelty, when it bounced off the crossbar into the goal, out of the goal. And just remember watching that final was such a heated final. It was so much going on. The England team was like, we thought England were going to take over the world. That 2006 England squad, there was so many incredible players at the time. I really, really remember what 2006 was probably the flat. I would have been like 10 years old at that time. So that's when I was just old enough because the 2000 and two competition, I kind of vaguely remember it, but like, I don't remember watching all of it, but 2006, I remember that was like, yo, this is mad. This is like, whoa, this is like World Cup football. And I remember how intensive was. And I just remember like it and he went in and being like, oh my god, like, what just had, well, I just watched, you know, and I remember that final was such a like, you know, obviously, because of the record and the controversy, but also that penalty, that's that penencult is like one of the greatest goal. And that's before goal line technology, you know, I mean, so it was, I remember the decision against that was crazy. I remember being young. What did he just do? Like, yeah, that was a crazy game. England played their first match Wednesday against Croatia and Dallas. Stadium roof is closed. So it'll be nice and air conditioned in a controlled environment. So the English lads won't be melting in that Texas heat. What do you, what do you, I mean, the supporters will be out for sure. They'll be out on the terraces and they'll be, you know, with like the misspring types of bars and restaurants. But how do you rate England's chances in this tournament? We've got a chance to take it all the way, you know, we finished, we finished in the final for the Euro's twice in a row. Team the team have a lot of tournament experience together. Obviously, there's some new hitters in there with some players that maybe have this is their first time going to the World Cup, but I genuinely believe they have the skills and squad to take it all the way. Obviously, it's going to be dependent on moments, you know, the moments are going to be really important. Getting through the group stage is step one and I believe we can do that, but, you know, France, Portugal, Spain, there's some big teams out there, man. There's some, there's some serious, serious hitters that are looking very dangerous. And even like a Morocco, like, I don't think you can sleep on Morocco this year. I think Morocco looking very good. They, they, they, they, they, they, they, I think they played better than Brazil and can England take on these immense nations that it means so much to them will see, but I definitely believe the lights can take all the way. Do you have a, do you have a, whether it's through a player or, or with Liverpool or otherwise, do you have a second nation that that you're kind of got a little bit of love for in this World Cup? There's a lot of teams that I'm happy to see there and, and enjoy watching my athletes neverlands for me because of Virgil, Graven, but Goldie, Gapal, I love to see the Netherlands take it as far as possible. And see Virgil get something, man. Virgil deserves a little international trophy. I mean, Virgil's got everything. You want him to have more? I mean, we feel like we're getting a bit, getting a bit, getting a big really right now you know. You know it's when it comes to the arguing about best defender of all time. If you had a World Cup next this name is definitely cementing that you know I mean so when it comes to the arguments about great Premier League Centerbacks Virgil comes up in that conversation but something that will definitely take you far is having a World Cup you look at a McAllister McAllister for Liverpool one one of World Cup and it it it changed everything about is in terms of his name you know a lot of people knew McAllister when he played for Brighton if he was good but he becoming a World Cup when I really cemented him as a as a top top quality player in the Premier League so I feel like the accolade for Virgil is a massive thing. Same way a lot of people think Ronaldo obviously can cement that gold status if he gets the World Cup so I feel like sometimes you know you look at how it would have done for Messi I'd love to see that whole Virgil man. Yeah I feel like Netherlands are definitely going to be one of the teams to be but I mean honestly I like I feel like it's been hit or missed in some of these games and obviously playing in group stages are always different because how you navigate the first game trying to get a result and if you don't how do you then navigate that so the result doesn't hurt you a lot. You like the expanded World Cup I mean Corsoll they punch one back against Germany and you're like okay let's go this is this is it and then it lasts just a few minutes and they run away but do you like the idea of more nations being able to participate? Yeah one million percent I feel like the World Cup is all about representation and seeing the team in there that haven't had the opportunity before is super important. You know we're very used to the typical like 10 to 8 nations that always do well and World Cup's only been one back eight countries and you know there's a reason behind that is about the infrastructure or football in these nations and how much chance they get to play this football but like you remember the years when Morocco got far when Ghana got far these are the moments that actually still the headlines and and get people excited people want to see countries that are not as big in the football world get to the top so the only way you're going to do that is if you give other nations a chance so for me I'm happy about obviously it's not it's not amazing to see a team lose seven one and you know that's part and parcel with it but everybody needs a chance and there'll be some surprises definitely I feel like I feel like not every big team is going to get through the group stages that there was going to be some twists and turns. Yeah you mentioned your your your favorite World Cup memory a few minutes ago but you lifted the Sockrate trophy last year. Yes. You scored the winning goal in old Trafford last year's match. How amazing is it playing and something like that and also having a big moment because for people that don't know there's a big audience watching it's a you know maybe you felt pressure maybe you didn't but it's a it's a it's a massive opportunity and and you rose to the occasion. Thank you man yeah I mean scoring a winning goal in Sockrate is probably one of the biggest highlights on my life. The fact it's a massive charity game that's watched by millions of people it's broadcasted on national television in the UK you know we got legends like Carlos Tevez there and Bobby Kean and just like Revaldo Revaldo I was watching some old clips of Revaldo oh my gosh those oh that O2 era of like man and then you see and then you see Brazil and this one and you just go gosh like not only did they have the stars but like you could you could feel back then when Revaldo and and and that crew were together like you could feel when a goal was coming and it was bomb bomb bomb bomb you know and it was like and it all happened perfectly so to be on the field with him must have been amazing. Yeah it was mad like just being able to say I was upfront with Carlos Tevez as my striking my striking partner is definitely something I never would ever say in my life and you know but me and Benucci actually started a great friendship because of Sockrate and he's someone I'll consider a friend so it's an incredible opportunity as a as a football fan and to score the winning goal last minute you know it's did it was so real celebrating people screaming your name picking up the trophy knowing that you you was able to add a little bit to that uh is an incredible feeling and something I really jean dog being able to do when I was young is playing in a massive stadium in front of people even I never want to make it as a footballer luckily I was able to have that experience and I don't take it for granted man this is one of the most important things I've ever done. When you know I talk about this a lot with people of just you know you're obviously a TV personality entertainer a chef a rapper you know you do all these things and maybe most of those are within your comfort zone right of like you put you on stage and you're like okay I'm good this crowd no problem and I was always like okay you put me in front of a hundred thousand I'm I'm good to play in that stadium but you put me in front of a hundred to talk on a stage and I'm like you know shaken did you feel did you feel the nerves when you when you played in that match in terms of the magnitude of it did you did it feel I guess different for you or you just like you know let's go no that hundred percent it's a different craft it's a different it's a different thing from what I'm used to doing you know performing in front of thousands of people I'm used to that that's what I do for a job you know like you said presenting that's something I do all the time so getting on a football field you do have a little bit of nerves in your legs and you don't want to make a mistake and you know you don't want to slip off you don't want to you don't want to concede a goal or make a big mistake that leads to a goal but you also have to take it in your stride and know that you know we're here for charity it's a bit different to playing in the World Cup with your nature of the lives on you yeah but that and the internet lives forever man if you slip up if your boots come up you know I know you're in that room being like am I wearing am I wearing a stud today or my you know like because that that I mean I've got a couple clips in my playing career where where I just did a couple guys dirty and every year these like mixtapes come out and there it is and I tag the people I tag the guy in it that I you know that I that I did dirty because it lives forever and I'm just hoping some of them don't come out of me as a defender getting burned by because they they exist but I haven't they haven't surfaced yet so you know the internet lives forever now then you're right the clips do loss for life so you have to you do also have that in the back of your mind when you're playing and stuff like that of that magnitude you're thinking if I if I mess up here it's gonna be clipped for life it's gonna go viral forever every year they're gonna bring it out but thankfully I'm on the good side of history with Sokari then what I've got a clip that that will live forever yeah exactly etched in history uh let's talk about uh let's talk about the World Cup songs the the album and and everything that's come out she hears back again with Berna Boy uh what you know again when I when I I can watch the areas of the world that I'm in and involved in and feel like a position of expertise to critique but for you you are you vibing on the music uh did it miss the mark on anything is there anything you would add or or is it just uh is it is it just all good for me as a football fan it's weird kind of seeing like these big like performances before a game because we're so used to just like please just play the match you know I mean this especially in Europe especially in the UK we don't really do that when it comes to to football but I'm also a musician and entertainer so I love I love seeing future on stage with Tyler like before it became crazy like the Shakira Berna Boyd moment was mad so I think as a like as a someone that loves music and entertainment for me is dope but also as a football fan I just want to see the game on it's the game is the most important thing for me so but with World Cup we're you know every every World Cup has an iconic song and something that that lives on but it also depends on how the tournament goes I feel like they say the song good but it will only get it the song can only be as good as the tournament is and honestly for me right now it started really well I've I've really really enjoyed the level of I've been a level of football is the highest we've ever seen in World Cup history in terms of every nation giving it a goal like especially that Japan game yesterday that was like yo these men are here to play you know they people might have not put them up in the rankings in terms of people that are gonna like do well with the tournament but they're really doing well and that Australia game really really surprised me I mean I can't talk a lot on the Australian national all the Turkish nationals they're up but they're up a couple more superstars in that tacky team than there are compared to the Australia team and they both goals were really really good so I'm really enjoying the stand of the football at the World Cup so far yeah I think it's so important I think in any sort of tournament form like the better that the host nations do the better it is right so I was in I was in Russia 2018 and US didn't even qualify but I was there I was in a fan zone for the opening day when Russia put a beating on Saudi Arabia and I remember being like you know why am I really even here like I don't really I don't really care about these two teams but it was the opener and I remember after that everybody became a fan of like okay we need Russia to do well because clearly everything happening around me is based on the fact that like the tournaments live and the longer the host nations go the better of the vibe the party and all these things and then yeah exactly was obviously the quality of football yeah and now we've got three host nations and yeah I know we got three three points for Mexico and the US and then Canada they get a point but you know it's it's it's a positive start at least they've started well it'd be interesting if they all get to the knockout stages that would be super interesting I think you're right I think when the when the host nation does well people will get behind them and it was really interesting to see the reaction to that USA game because they, I mean, they played very well and they looked good. And you can see, Piotr Tino, he's not a bad manager. So I mean, they also got a chance. There's a clip that's going like my viral of like Gary Lindner, Kasey and there's no way USA will win. And you know, he got a lot of backlash from the American fans and I think you can't say you can never say never with with with with with tournament football, anyone could do it. But if you were say get further in the competition, we're going to see that vibes. I mean, you look at the next, the next one, the one that the play of finals and they absolutely turned New York upside down. So what's going to happen if America proceeds far into this competition? What's going to happen if Mexico gets super far or Canada while this is going on? The tournament's going to go crazy. Yeah. Yeah. I was actually thinking about that when I watched all I'm going to I'm actually going to New York this week. And it would have been during game six. No, there's no game six now. But but to see that level of celebration, it's what you would get, you know, when Liverpool win the league, with Liverpool, when the Olympians league, or you see that type of like they they they you know burn the city down in terms of like the party and the vibes and the atmosphere. And I was like, man, I wonder I wonder what it would take because you know, the thing about the US is that like we like winners, right? And so in the grand scheme of football, it's tough to always contextualize is like a quarter final knockout being a big deal, you know? Or a semi final knockout type of thing. So I'm wondering what it's going to take at that point to get the next fans behind the US national team and that type of thing. Well, I think that's the super important part of what they're trying to do with football in North America. You know, you're seeing the expansion of the game in the MLS and how it's changed over the years and obviously having a World Cup tournament there. Naturally, it's going to create more fans, but you're right. I mean, I love America fans are fueled by the W the championship, the trophy. So I they have to put the expectations down because you can't just be happy if you guys get the World Cup final. You've got to be happy with every win. Every win is a win in the World Cup. So I think the five of the USA team goes, the more people are going to have to adjust to just celebrate in the fact that they're there, you know? Yeah. You mentioned the music before, you know, in the entertainment happening before games. And I remember when I was, when I would come out with the national team, it was one of the few times that you had sort of the you'd have the two anthems and these and it's just when you when you've gone through your warm-up and then you're in the locker room, you just want to get out and play, right? You like, and this anticipation, I think about it through the lens of like the Super Bowl and stuff where it's like a 40 minute half time, you know? And you're just like, what like how do you get, how do you, you know? And so I was thinking about that through that lens of of those stoppages where you just want to keep going. And so my mind went to the the hydration breaks. Are you pro or anti hydration? I can contextualize it through a player's lens because if you got all the momentum, you're like, you just stop for three, you just gave a team like a a timeout, you know? You're able to go to the sideline and whatever. But I know that for the US at a certain point, we're probably going to look at that hydration break as like a good timeout to be able to like, hey, let's talk, let's figure it out. But as a fan, are you with that or are you sort of like it kind of kills the vibe and the energy in the momentum of the game? As a fan, we all just want to see what we played. That's the main thing. We just want to see the gameplay. And I think one of the main problems I have of it is that football is about pressure and building pressure isn't just a simple thing. It doesn't take just one move. It takes repetition of of passing cycles and shots and a lot can change in three minutes. Some of us go out hatching in three minutes. Do you know what I mean? So when a team is on top and then they have to go in for a break and then everybody gets to regroup and then you get that moment where you go get to sit with the manager and have that moment. I'd be finding it a little bit unfair, but also we have to take it to can't it is bloody hot. I'm saying these are not in England, England's playing in Dallas. What do they need a hydration break for you? That's a cover, that's a indoor climatized. Yeah, yeah, that is true. You do also have the pitches that are, you know, they aren't as as boiling and not as hot, but at the end of the day, football is a business role and they got to run them and votes. They got to make their bread. It's getting me so I think obviously there's certain things that come into the game that we don't like, but we also have to respect that money is getting made. People are doing their thing. People need their times out. You know, FIFA FIFA going to do what FIFA going to do and as a fan, we can say whatever we want, but at the end of the day, as long as it doesn't have super negative effects to the match, I think it's okay, but I think it is worried that fans are not setting people are upset about it because it does mess with the flow. Yeah, does the, does the world cup feel big in England right now? Because in the US, the hardest part is if you look at Qatar and there was, you know, it was what I think was when I was there as a different type of energy in the stadiums. It didn't feel as crazy and as electric in some of the matches just because it didn't feel like it had the at times the supporters of those nations filling up a lot of the stadium. Russia, I thought was on point, but here because it's 16 cities, there's no real hub, right? Russia had like essentially you had St. Petersburg and Moscow as like people would leave and they'd come back and it kind of gathered everything and here it's hard to, you know, there's a ton of events going on and all that sort of stuff, at least being in LA, but what's the energy like? Obviously you haven't even started, England haven't even started their run, but what's the energy been like there? Are there gatherings? Is it easy access to like, if I'm a fan or I'm a supporter and I want to wander down the street whether in London or otherwise, is it as a feel accessible and as a feel well advertised, I guess? Oh yeah, it's, we're football crazy. So now it's world cup time. It's kind of like life, life for me as a football fan is structured around the football. What game we're going to watch tonight? Where are we watching it? Where are we going? Like I told you, Morocco versus Brazil, big party, like we, we, in England, we just need any excuse to celebrate for me. And now we've got late night football to enjoy and then have the vibes after it's a matter and also there's like a law that lets the pub stay open when England are playing. So if England are playing late night, you've got your license goes on. So if you were supposed to close around 11, but the game ends at 2 o'clock, you could stay open till 2 a.m. now just for the football. That's how much we want you to enjoy in this country. So yeah, man, for everywhere you go and you see the different flags, people wearing that, that, that, that, that, that country's jersey, that like it's it for me, world cups, one of the best times, man. And right now, Jérôme, Samar, watching it in the states, it's, I'm really enjoying it. Yeah. Are you going to be based out of the UK for the entire tournament? You got some travels planned? I did get a chance to get over there so I'm going to be over here for the, for the entire year of the World Cup. But we'll see if England gets far and things start, yeah, I'm going to have to start making some calls. Yeah. That's fair. The biggest stage in World Soccer is here and every goal changes everything. Bet on the match and get bonus bets for every goal scored in that match. Are the US going to go on a deep run, reach a semi-final or even a final in a dream world from the opening whistle to the final kick? Let there be goals on Fandall. 21 and over select states for Kansas and affiliation with Kansas, Dark Ocino, 18 and over in DC, Kentucky and Wyoming. Gambleing problem called 1-800-Gamble or 1-800-MyReset. In Connecticut, call 1-888-789-77777 or visit ccpg.org/chat. In Massachusetts, visit gamblinghelpline-ma.org or call 1-800-327-5050. In New York, call 1-877-8H-O-P-E-N-Y or text Hope and Y. Now let's get back to the show. You're from London, but you became a Liverpool fan through your father. Yes. Talk to me about that journey and obviously we have this tribalism in other sports, but no one's going to give me a hard time. I think we've passed this generation of like, hey, you're not from, you know, your parents are from Liverpool. What like, bandwagon type of thing. But what's it been like you being a Liverpool supporter in London and having to kind of obviously you've had some positive positive results over the years that give you pride to whatever, but what's that like for you? It's weird because we definitely still have a little bit of a notion that is, if you're not from that city, you shouldn't support that club, but obviously my dad was born and raised in Africa. So he just supported the team that he, when he was young, he was a failure. He's my dad's support at Liverpool from when he was 10 years old. So he's followed the clubs from the 1970s. Obviously they were doing really well there. They were a really successful team. So naturally my dad supported them from from from young, but for me, I inherited it. I didn't really think too much. When I was a little kid, I didn't think too much. My mum just said, "You support Liverpool, that's it." I didn't think about my low-caliety to the club or go into the stadium. For me, watching football was always something that you could be just did on telly. We never really had the money to go and pay for tickets to go and watch games. So as I got older, I was able to really go and travel to games and go and watch games and create that true affiliation and I've been really lucky in my adulthood with the amount of trophies we've won and games we've won. But I do understand why some people get upset they're like, come on man, you're not from them, we're just supporting them because they're successful team. And I'm like, yeah, that is true, but I also didn't have a choice and you know, one thing you always people always have to respect is if your dad supported that team, you support that team in it. And that's how it goes here. But it's definitely, I've been really blessed in the times that as an adult, I've been able to travel and watch it. I've gone to multiple Champions League finals, I've watched us in group stages, knockout rounds across the country, across the world. And I've seen us play all different types of football and all different stadiums. And I feel really blessed that I've been able to see my team do so well. And obviously, there's been times where I've seen us lose. I went to Ukraine when we lost to Roman Dread Free One. That was very painful. And you know, sometimes there's the downs. I went to Camp Nou when we lost free Nilta Barcelona before the four-new comeback. I was at that game. And you know, so that downs are also important as well. Yeah, yeah, I was like six, seven years ago, I did some work with Luis Garcia. And I remember everywhere we went, we were with him for like a week. And every week was a song about Eastembol that the supporters were singing to him. I'm an Arsenal guy. And I just remember they were so catchy that like within a day, I'd find myself just like sitting in the car drive and you know, Luis Garcia, he drinks angry. And like all, I was like four or five songs that everywhere we went, there was like, and I thought there was such a cool element to that for him and the club that it made me give, you know, have a lot of love for people over the world that support in different ways, but have the memories of the ups and the downs. And obviously that documentary had just come out on Netflix recently, too. I was watching. That was just like amazing to sort of take you back into those moments. I had just signed my first first team contract in, I was living in Copenhagen at the time. And Jimmy Treori was, at the time, they may have been married by then, but dating or married to a Danish girl that was a friend of a friend. And I remember being like, well, now I got somebody to support in this match. And it was, it's those distinct little sort of like polaroid type of memories that I think are really amazing. But like you said, they come with the ups and the downs. Yeah, definitely. It's mad how, how connections to football work. It could be the littlest thing, the biggest thing, but everyone has that little thing that brings them to something, you know what I mean? And I think spending that time you know, across the sounds really interesting. And one, and the song. By the way, he's the nice, like, he's another one that like we become friends over the years and we'll just chat, but it's never like, hey, I need something from you. It's like, hey man, how's the family? Oh good. I'm, you know, and it's like one of those things where it's like not the deepest of friendships, but there's like a nice little check-in once in a while. Oh my. And there's just sometimes I'm like, why does this exist? But it does. Yeah, definitely. I think it's interesting how the game does that. Like, I've got a story about a friend that I was hosting a radio show on the station a couple years ago. I was probably when I was younger. I was hosting the show. Somebody called into the line and was like, hey man, I'm a massive fan. I'd love to go watch a game with you. This was probably about, maybe about good luck eight years ago, seven or eight years ago. He called the show. He's like, I love to go watch a game with you. I said, okay, what game do you watch? So let's go watch the man's city game. I ended up meeting him just randomly documented the process for the for the radio station, went to the game with him. We went to the Liverpool City game in the Champions League, where we won free nil at Anfield. And then from that game, me and him started going to random games together. We just start, we always went to like Champions League games. And now we're like, he's genuinely a very good friend of mine. It's called Brandon. And we go to games all the time. And that genuinely just came from a random radio show he called in. And we now we've got that years of friendship just cause of football. Someone I would have never met. Someone that was from two different worlds. We've never been collided. But because of our love for Liverpool, now he's like a genuine friend of mine. I could call him a lion. And it's it's mad how those little connections just come from literally a sport that is about kicking the ball into an air. Yeah. That's that's a wild. I mean, it's crazy how that all comes together. Well, something we got to talk about is that first time in 40 years, right? That Liverpool doesn't have a player in the England squad for the World Cup. I was waiting for you to say this. I was waiting for you to bring this up. Yeah, it's not. Do you know what's the mad stat? The the Graven Barker system is the first assist by Liverpool player in the World Cup since the 60s. No, since 1966. I know what's going on with Liverpool. What's the what Stevie G didn't have one? No, it's six to the World Cup, bro. I know what's going on. I saw that start online. I said, what's going on with Liverpool in the World Cup? There is not an affinity between our club. I think our club is so successful domestically and in football as a club that the the World Cup affiliation is just not there. Like, it's very interesting to see to see no English players from Liverpool getting to the team. I definitely thought Curtis Jones maybe deserved it more than people let on, but you know, it's just one of those times for us. I think Real Ingramoa would have been a great shot as well. Like real obviously went out there with the training squad and got a look, got his first cap for England, but he didn't make it to the to the World Cup squad. I genuinely, I thought maybe he would have been like a little wildcard, but two short loads of what he's doing, he's made his decisions. Henderson is there and they know he's not a Liverpool player currently, but he will always be our captain. So Henderson is enough for me. What about like the journey that trends been on this this year? It's tough, man. It's tough because you know, there are some little fans that are happy to see him do badly, but I personally will always respect him and always appreciate him as a footballer. It's sad to not see him make it to that level where he represents his country, but he will be back and he has to use this as an opportunity to get himself back on top and we saw it with Rashford. Rashford, you know, was was down at one point and wasn't representing his country and needed that energy to get back into the squad and he did that and now he's back in and he's firing. So I don't think this is the end of Trent's international career. I definitely feel like he'll be back. Do you have stuff for England? Have you built any friendships with current players? Obviously that world between entertainment and sports becomes so small. Have you like whether it's you know, you mentioned your your boy Brandon and that sort of thing, but have you had any sort of because it's one thing like you kind of all you're all the same places all the time anyway, but where you know, you just have a conversation and it's not just surface level and you go, oh yeah, I kind of like him and he's like, yeah, I vibe with this dude and you become friends? Yeah, I've got I've been lucky enough to meet a lot of the Liverpool squad and spend spend some time with him here and there, but Hendo actually drew the Henderson actually invited me to print me to try to be the press day years ago because of a rap I did about Liverpool, I did a Liverpool rap and it went crazy with crazy online, the squad heard it and Hendo invited me in to do the media day, depressed day with him and go to interview him and and obviously a Chamberlain and ever since then I've always kept in touch, he's always kept in touch, he's always showed love so that's someone I consider as a friend and he's he's always like, help me throughout my career whether it's access to games or whether it's one time when Liverpool won the Prem, he messaged me and said, where's the freestyle and I used that to launch my Liverpool Premier League winning freestyle and I posted the DM from him saying, where's the freestyle as like a teaser so he's genuinely helped me with my work as well which is like incredible to say and I never thought I'd be able to say like Hendo is my guy, but like Jordan Henders is definitely someone that I've got an affiliation with, it will be wiggly enough if you place forever then but pick for me and pick for the quite cool we've done some campaigns together, we've done some work together, pick for the someone I know and like the players it's weird like like you said entertainment, music, sports they always cross over and you end up becoming cool with these people and meeting them in real life and doing a campaign where we start with like a Nike or a Adidas, you end up meeting these players and passing Joe Kudem and you end up like getting to a level where you're like, oh my god, you're a decent guy and then that connection grows from that so. The hard part is you've got to be careful then the world is so small that at some point in your journey you were probably like man pick for it's got bad hands on social and that gets me service someday and he's like, hey man remember that time that you said I got you know. They gotta be open to the criticism, unfortunately football is one of the sports where you can love them as a person but you're gonna diss them, you know. I've openly tweeted so much hate about my city. I don't think I should ever be allowed in Manchester but Semenio is cool. I love him. I think he's a lovely guy. I think he's a great footballer. If I see him salute like we're cool but as a team if I see them fail I'll be happy. So it's everyone has their affiliation with the club that they love. There's not a lot you could do in it. You've just got a kind of you've got a role with them. Don't go too crazy. Sometimes you got to be a little bit political with it especially when you're in a place of like like in a public eye and a you know. Yeah you know funny enough the 94 World Cup was here. And at the time I was nine years old and I fell in love with this player named Kobe Jones. - Yeah. - And I remember thinking like, "I want to be him." You know, we were like, my best friend and I, dogs named Kobe, like we did my hair like him, which I obviously would get in trouble for now. But like, I was like all about this guy, right? And then over time, Kobe and I became friends. Like, you know, he played, I never played it with him on the national team, but then there's still this moment though that happens that every time I see Kobe, my brain goes back to the childhood where I'm like, oh my gosh, that's Kobe Jones. And I like, I used to see him like twice a week, you know? But every time I would see him, I'd be like, that's Kobe Jones. And then I would snap out of it and be like, oh, that's my friend Kobe Jones, you know? But like, I kept going back to this memory and you talked about people putting you on the map and maybe the dreams you had as a child, what was that like for you now that, you know, Hendo putting you on, you know, years ago, maybe before you are the size and the magnitude of the artists that you are today, do you ever just stop and go like, man, I'm just this London kid and look at the life that I've had and look at the people I'm connected to? Does it ever like that pinch you moment? - Yeah, one million. It's still to this day. I think it's crazy to call the soccer raid. I've been able to play a lot with a lot of different legends and people in the entertainment industry and in the world. He was like incredibly famous. Like, when I added the first soccer raid a couple years ago and we were holding a group chat with me first joined and one of the people that we're in a group chat was Roberto Carlos. - Wow. - So I ended up just having Roberto Carlos's number. And then one time I was in Brazil and I met she's in, and I was like, "Roberto, I'm in Brazil. "If you're around, let's meet up." And he wasn't free, but he messaged me back. He showed me some love. And I was like, "I'm just casually messaging Roberto Carlos "talking about less link up land. "What is this life?" I did some content years ago with Yavin Klopp when he was a Liverpool manager and we did some drills and I got spray some football with him. And I remember just being there like, "What am I doing? "Little on me from the hood. "Kicking boom with the manager of Liverpool." One of the greatest managers of all time. It was just that in the industry that I work in, you get a lot of moments where you remember how blessed you are and how important faith is and how important God can be for your journey. And I'm happy that I'm able to actually say that I've done some of these things that are for really blessed, bro. It's that pinching moment. But then you also remember that to some of these people, this is normal, this is normal life. I'm just like, "I'm just going to be cool, "but you're my friend, isn't it?" Sometimes it's not that deep. You're making it really emotional, but for them, it's like, like you said, you're a Kobe, you end up becoming friends, but it's like to him, he's like, "Come on, chill out." That's the funny thing is I can only imagine big zoo having these moments and then he's behind the tent crying and then the rapper side of you that's got bars can see somebody going, "Hey, yo, you crying, bro?" - I'm straight. - I'm straight. - I'm straight. - I'm straight. - I'm straight. - Yeah, what are you talking about, man? The wind blow through, I got dust in my eyes right now. - Yeah, you know? - Yeah. - I'm just right in rhymes right now. What do you mind your own business? - Yeah, just, just. You go, "Hold it down sometimes." You go, "I like you, binning for." - Yeah, exactly, exactly. Well, do you cheer for the countries with the players? You mentioned a little bit of some of the Liverpool boys, so I'm assuming you do with, especially Netherlands. But what about the fact that they're interacting with a lot of your enemies? Like they're lining up next to some of the boys that you got to go after a week in and week out for, you know, 38 plus weeks of the year. - Yeah, man, it was easy. You see, you see, what's with habits? They got to be friends and, you know, they're such, unfortunately, you know, this is the game in it. They spend most of the majority of their careers hating each other and then they're all tied, but they have to be friends and it just reminds you, this is a sport at the end of the day. It's a job for them. Like, people that you look up to that represent your club, having to join a alliance with some of their biggest enemies. It's just, it's just a sport. And I feel like there's always going to be that added a little bit under beneath the, behind those doors, where it's like, they don't really get on, but for their national team, it's a different level of pride, you know, they play for their country. So you can never expect them to not get along with these players or be stunned by the side by side, but just as we know, as soon as that Premier League season starts, it's back to, it's back to war. You know what I mean? So I think World Cup, your roles, I've gone, we always give them a little blight. We let them, you get gone. Do you figure out, like I can't see it? Yeah, that's fair. Before we let you go, any projects you have coming up that you want people to know about, anything you got going on, where, you know, we'll obviously plug the socials and all that, but any projects you're excited about? I got some music coming out this summer. I haven't been making a lot of music recently. I've been doing a lot of TV stuff. So music, jumping, I can't tell you exactly when, but we look to watch out if you've never really heard my music or you're just getting to know me as an artist. I got some new stuff dropping in summer. I know I've got a lot of more social media content coming up as well. I've been doing a lot of tele stuff. So it's nice to kind of do some more laid back stuff just straight for the socials. But that's about it, man. There's more projects coming soon, more TV work coming soon, and just stay locked in my myself big zoo. Donald. Yeah, I love it, man. Well, I appreciate you jumping on orange slices with us, giving us your background. It's such a unique one and to see somebody like yourself that comes from your humble beginnings, have the success that you have. Right. And in so many different areas, you know, it's one thing to put all your eggs in one basket. It's another thing to have the ability to do so many things at such a high level. So I'm a big fan of your work, and we appreciate you jumping on the show with us. All right, come on. Fight time with you, man. Yeah, and if you haven't already, make sure you subscribe to @SlicesASocker and leave us a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts. And until next time on behalf of myself and our production team, we will see you guys on the next one. Cheers. The Orange Slices podcast is a four-socker production in association with Gemini 13. Executive producers are Heath Pierce, Charles Steinehr and Mark Karine, associate producers, Alexis Aroncio, Jenna Martin, and JJ Casillo. Written and produced by Mike Millberger, edited by Daniel Rue, with a special thanks to Fandall Predicts, Scott Teish. Orange Slices podcast, 2026, all rights reserved.