July 16, 2025 • 24 mins
On this week's In Service Of rapper/actor/entrepreneur Ice Cube sits down with host Steve Baltin to talk about his upcoming arena tour, working with greats like Bootsy Collins and George Clinton, writing and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hey, it's Steve Fulton.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This week on inservice of Really Fun Conversation, I sit
down for one on one talk with ice Cube talk
about his upcoming tour working with Pozzy Collins, the great
artists of him before him, and the artists who inspired
so much more hope.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
He enjoyed this conversation as much.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
As I is.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I talked to Gasis, he said, to think it was packed.
So how it feel for you?
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Felt great, you know, to see the turnout, but just
the significance of it. A lot of people got they
got stars on the Walk of Fame, but only movie
stars got they they hands in the cement in front
of Chinese theater or the big name, so you know,
(01:07):
it's cool to be part of that club.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, it's funny. I remember talking to Flee from the
Chili Peppers as a friend when they got their star,
you know, which for them was a huge deal. And
it's like, you know, growing up in LA you can
never anticipate that. Could you have ever imagine that one
day you'd you know, I mean that's like you said,
you have to you start like I think, God, I'm
like an old movie fan, so I think the people
like Humphrey Bogart and shit like that. I mean, that's
the legends.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, never thought in a million years. You know, I used to.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
I was bussed to school, so sometimes we would miss
the bus, so I would have to jump on you know,
the public transport to get to school, and they would
take us up Crenshaw to UH to Sunset Hollywood Boulevard.
Then we have to walk catch another bus to go
(01:57):
the rest of the way island. So I remember walking
those streets, you know, seventh, eighth grade, ninth grade, tenth grade,
walking those streets, never thinking that I'd be down there
one day, not in a million years.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
It's funny because I think to you, as you can
a hooker, you appreciate that stuff more. So does it
mean more to you now?
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Of course, you know it would have been a lot
anytime it happened. But you know, having my kids there,
you know, my son Osha Jackson Junior, who's made a
name for himself in this business, to give a nice speech,
and you know, just seeing my whole family, from my
pops to my to my granddaughter. You know, it was like,
(02:49):
you know, seeing everybody there with me, some of the
people I've worked with, you know, Mike Epps did a
nice speech, and you know, seeing people like Lee Young
who's been my attorney forever, and Matt Johnson. You know,
these guys helped me become who I am in the business.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
No, it's cool.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
I mean, I just mean, like, you know, it's funny
because I'm sure you've had this feeling too. Like I remember,
you know, because I wrote for Rolling Stone when I
was like twenty five, I went to some ridiculous f
in my event and at the time, you know, not
appreciating it because you're twenty five. You don't understand I
met Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Little Richard in the
same night, and you're twenty five and you're too stupid
(03:32):
to appreciate it. And then later on when you get older,
you're like, holy fuck, did that really happen? So, you know,
I think when you get older, you have those moments
where you're like, now you understand these types of things
don't happen often anymore. So that's why I think you
appreciate them more. So I'm sure it was like more special,
like you said, because your whole family was there, and
like you know, when you have success when you're in
(03:52):
your early twenties, You're like, every day is going to
be like this.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Yeah, you know, Uh, you able to soak it in
and appreciate it and reflect. You know, you have a
lot of years to look back on before something like
this happens, you know, more than likely decades in the business,
(04:17):
and so you start to reflect on the people who
got you here. You know, John Singleton rest in peace. Uh,
he discovered me. You know, I never knew that I
was fit for Hollywood as far as acting. Thought you
had to go to school and you know really you know,
go to Juilliard or something to to be a actor
(04:38):
and have you know, plays under your belt.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
And so.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
He showed me what I could be and and I
kind of ran with it from there. I got bit
by the bug, as they say, and I wanted to
to write and produce and you know, direct here and there.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
And so fortunately I've been able to do all that
and and make people laugh.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
You know.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
My my records are hardcore, but my movies you know,
are comedies, you know, and I think being able to
show that balance is something that's you know, cool for
an artist like myself.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
It's funny though, because you say the records are hardcore,
but I mean, I'm not gonna lie. I'm ask when
I listen to So Sensitive that made me smile, That
kind of made me laugh.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Yeah, you know, we always through the comedy in there.
You know, even with the hard core stuff. You know,
there's comedy in there because we know it's art. We know,
you know, we're making records and not statements, you know
at the end of the day, and records, you know,
they're the kind of you know, they take a life
(05:55):
of their own when it comes to the listener, you know,
because you never know what somebody is going to take
out of your record. You know, you never know what line,
what hook, what arrangement with lyrics that they really that's
really gonna stick. So uh, you know, it's very subjective.
(06:16):
It's like a movie. You know, with a movie, we
could sit down and watch the same movie at the
same time, but we're not seeing the same movie because
you have things going on in your head that that
strings the movie together. And I have things going on
in my head that strings the movie together, and and
(06:36):
it's a it's a subjective experience. So you know, music
is the same way. I believe.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
I remember, it's like a concert. I remember seeing Radio
had a degree theater. They bore the ship out of me.
That's me personally. The girl was in front of me
was seeing God and I was like, damn, I was
the show that she was seeing.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Yeah, you know, that's that's the that's the beautiful thing
about So you know, reality and living and exist and
you know it's perception.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Perception is everything. Yeah, So you know, as long as.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Someone's having a good time at it, which brings us
through the tour because I feel rush because we only
have a few minutes. But there's so much I want
to ask you about, but it's funny or we're talking
about about, you know, appreciating things more. This is the
first tour and ten years do you feel like now
going out this time, you know, doing the big production,
doing arenas, getting to connect with the fans. Do you
feel like now after having that decade? You know, and
(07:33):
then there's all the shit that went on with COVID.
There's the fact the world feels like it's about to
end because of the fucking administration. Like, you know, do
you feel like you appreciate more like or you'll appreciate
more being able to be in this setting with these fans.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Definitely.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
You know, I feel like I'm putting it together because
I appreciate the fans for being here for forty years.
They deserve a big production. They deserve a show that
not only has the music and celebrates, you know, for
(08:10):
decades of music, but also shows my influences, the things
that influence me in the world to write the.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Music over these forty years.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
I think, you know, just like the movie Straight Out
of Compton was able to give people an overall picture
of where we were coming from.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
You know, I.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Believe this show truth to power give my fans an
overall picture of where I'm coming from, you know, when
it comes to delivering street knowledge, which is my specialty.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Nice Well, I think one of the things that happens too,
Like you say, it's forty years of music. Like we
talked about, man, you have a family, now, you have
a grandkid, you have a whole life. So songs change,
you know, because you look at them, like you said,
it's all perception. You look at them with that history,
with that meaning. So for you are the songs that
you're particularly excited to revisit.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Of course, you know, I always looked at it as
time capsules.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
You know, people always ask me, would you go back
and change this and change that?
Speaker 3 (09:19):
I say no, Because if you.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Want to know how things were in nineteen ninety one,
go pick up a death certificated. If you want to
know how I felt about things in ninety six, pick
up the War this, you know, and it's really.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
A time capsule of.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
You know, where I'm as an artist, as a person,
as a man, and you know, making music because at
the end of the day, you know, it's still art,
it's still music, it's still expression, and you know, I
never lose sight to that.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Well, that's a really cool perspective. It's funny where there
are people you listen to you talked about influences were
there are things that you first heard growing up where
you realize, okay, that's what this is. Like you started
to hear it as art, you know, and you understood
that it's, you know, whatever you want it to be.
That's a great thing about music. It's whatever you take
from it. And I talk about this with artists all
(10:22):
the time. When you put a song into the world,
it's not yours anymore. As soon as you put it out,
it belongs to the fans. So what were the songs
for you that you kind of first can and realized, okay,
this is this can make me into whatever I want
to be.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Well, you know songs that really made me understand that
music can can be what you wanted to be. You know,
the Parliament Funkadelli very big influence on me.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Their music was it's still it's still ahead of his time.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
If you can, if you can look at that, you know,
it's it's it's you know, I don't know if music
will ever catch up to that.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
And so it's.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
You know, Herbie Hancock, you know Rocket, you know, things
like that show me music can be anything more bounced
to the ounce by Zap show me. It's about a feeling,
you know. It's not necessarily about you know, having the
(11:29):
you know, the the lyrics that blow you away. It's
really about the vibe of the song.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
And so I always try to create a vibe with
my song and pull people into places that you know,
maybe they don't feel welcome going in for real, but
on a song, uh, they feel comfortable with it.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
What's funny because you mentioned Barlamin I just talked to
Bootsy last week. Did that guy is still like there's
no one fucking in the world like Bootsy, but you're
on the record. I mean, you know, how much fun
was it for you to, like, you know, get to
I mean, I'm sure you've known Boutsy for years, but
I imagine every time you get to play with one
of your heroes, it never gets old.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
Never you know, these guys are magical to me. You know,
they're they're just from another time and place. We should
really check their DNA because they may be from uh,
from out of space. But you know, at the end
of the day, it's like it's like what I did
(12:32):
today at the Chinese Theater. You know, things that you
are too too big to dream and uh and and
it ends up happening.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
For you.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
And I never thought growing up with those Parliament Funkadelic
and those Bootsy Collins records, Uh, you know, these were
you know, superheroes to me, never thought I'd even get
a chance to shake their hand, let alone hang out
with them, let alone record with them, jump on stage
(13:07):
with him and become friends with him.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
I mean, it's a different world. Like you said, I've
talked to everybody in the world, but when Bootsy is
talking to me about doing an LSD with James Brown,
I'm like, dude, what the fuck?
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Yeah, you don't get no better for a music fan,
no stories.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
But I mean it's interesting then for you as well.
How cool is it to think about the fact that
like kids in the audience there today and it's like
they're you know, you're saying that they're of another world
to you. I mean, Bootsy may very well be from
out of space, that's possible. He's an awesome dude though,
But I mean for you, you know, maybe people don't
(13:43):
think you're from out of space, but they think you're
a fucking superhero.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
I mean that's amazing.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
That's that's the magic of music. And you know, look,
when you touch somebody heart, it's hard to get get
you out of there.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
You know.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
When when you when you get you know deep into
to you know, a fan or somebody that's sending to
you heart, you know, it's hard to get you out
of there. So you know, I just continue to hopefully
give them things that I feel are you know, worth
their time, money, worth their.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Attention.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
That make them smile, make them feel good, make them dance,
make them think, make them experience life in another way,
or make it where they under they know that somebody
like me understand.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Because I do.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
You know, I'm I keep myself grounded and.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
And there's no other place I'd rather be.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Well, it's interesting, I mean, talk about them from this
new album, which I really love, you know, songs you're
most looking forward to doing live and that feeling of
like again. You know, also when you do new songs,
it can infuse old songs. Then you get to put
everything together and make like you said, the show, you know,
give us a little preev like what influences like talk
(15:27):
about a little bit like the influences they'll be showing
and how you'll be showing it.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
Well, you know, I think, you know, going through each decade,
you know, I want to tell you know, my story,
you know, from all the things that influenced me, you know,
to write songs like a dope man, to write songs
like you know, boys in the hood, fuck the police.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
You know, just.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
Throughout my career, I've always tried to you know, take
reality and you know, create an artistic form that was.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
You know, palatable so to speak, you know, for music.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
And and you know, I can't wait to show people
what influenced me in the nineties.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
Uh, you know why I did the music that I did?
What what?
Speaker 4 (16:24):
What were my influences and this current events? It's life
and to be able to mix that with with the songs,
it's gonna be pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Well what's interesting you said, I mean I imagine that
you know, it's current events, and I mean, as I said,
you know, it's crazy times we're living in. Regardless of
your beliefs. It's like there's you know, things are so
split for you. How much fun is it to be
able to provide the escape for people, to be able
to sort of you know, as an artist, magnify these
times and help people in this, you know, and like
(16:58):
in doing a big show like this. You know, I
remember talking with Blondie you know about it, and they
said that even if they don't ever write a political song,
by going out and playing songs that allow people to escape,
that's their political statement. And I think just you know,
at this time of death, like you know, being able
to provide people with you know, diversion, escape, think about
(17:20):
other things, you know, as an artist, that's gonna be
incredibly rewarding.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Yeah, you know, I've always felt like, you know, I
got the microphone so I should speak not only for myself,
but for for people who can't speak for themselves against
you know, whatever I felt. The topic was, you know,
going after and so for people to be able to,
(17:49):
you know, to rap my songs and express their own
feelings through them is uh. You know, it's that special
thing that that that makes continue to write, makes me
continue to look for music that works, and it makes
me continue to work hard at the craft. It's it's
(18:11):
easy to lose focus. It's easy to focus on the reward,
you know, and not focus on the art. And you know,
I always like to focus on the art. It's the
most important thing. And if you do that right, you know,
you get rewarded.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
All Right, we'll probably have time for two more. So
I should ask you about Big three. But when we're
talking about Bootsy and I mentioned the stories, You're like,
that's the best, So give me your best story, man,
give me that fine, Like I mean, Bootsy was like
again he was telling me about doing LLSC with James
Brown and how he didn't like to do it. I'm like, dude,
and I because I told him I interviewed James Brown
once and I was like, I wish I had've been
(18:54):
down to LLC for it. I don't know if you
ever met James, but dude, he was tough.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
Never got a chance to meet James, and that's one
of my biggest regrets. But you know, I went one
day to go pick up George Clinton's first time I
was working with him, and he had me driving him
up to some hotel in Hollywood where he was staying.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
He jumped out the car. He never told me what
room he was in.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
So three hours later he comes down and uh, we
jump in the car and were rolling down you know,
Sunset We on Sunset Boulevard and I don't know what
he had in his aluminum foil, but he pulled out
(19:46):
some aluminum foil and uh, you know, I heard, you know,
a big, a big uh you know, no snort, and
then I was like, oh shit, you know I can
see the headlines now, ice Cube and George Clinton, you
know what I mean, pulled over on the side of
the road, arrested for for what he was doing. So
(20:09):
it was, uh, it was one of the moments where
I was like, you know, let me get let me
give my ass to the studio quick.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
You know what I'm saying. For for we end up
in the county jail.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
You know, Man, I asked him George stories as well,
including off the record. One time he stopped an interview
we were doing to go score, came back and then
was falling asleep in the fucking interview. Oh Gray, Now
he's like sober and doing totally great.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Oh he's the man now, you know.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
We Uh, it's it's amazing that, you know, for a
guy who's done it all, you know, he's still hanging
with us and rolling with us, and you know he's
still doing shows talking ship oh and uh, you know,
it's just it's just like out of all of the
(20:56):
people that I'm glad I know in the in the industry,
you know, I'm glad I had a chance to really
get a chance to know who George Clinton is and
meet him. And you know, I talked to him every
now and then. He sent me messages, video message. I
try to redo his songs over and shit like that
New Funkadelic.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Uh. And so it's just really about.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Paying homage to the o gs, you know, just like
the youngsters pay homage to me.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yeah, I know, dude, he's so smart too. I remember,
given the best headline of all time. We were talking
about prescription medication and he called it one nation undersidation.
I'm like, dude, I can't talk that. That's sadline.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
Oh man, you know he said he was he you know,
one time he said he was gonna do a funky
album called Smell My Finger. And you know, I'm like,
you just can't get no no more funkier than that.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
No, man, there's no one like him. But yeah, all right, dude,
we gotta wrap up. Tell me about Big three.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
Big You know, Season eight. We're moving into cities now,
so each team is going to represent a city. We
got the Los Angeles Riot, the Houston rig Hans, the
Dallas Power, Chicago Triplets, Miami three oh five, the DMV Trilogy,
(22:27):
and the Boston ball Hogs. And you know, I think
it's going to unlock a big fan base in these
cities and really really get you know, really start the
league rolling downhill, because next year we want to add
four more and keep going and you know, hopefully one
(22:50):
day we'll look up and have thirty teams across the
country and across the world, like like our friends at
the NBA had.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
About twenty twenty one. Yeah. Done, done playing. So it's
been a minute.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
And I know you just brought in Dwight Howard for me,
who's a huge NBA fan. Who would be the dream
person to bring in. Just have them come and play
for fun? No, no playing for fun. No playing for fun.
You got to come in. You gotta be serious about
pro basketball. But we would love to have you know,
the guys that want to still do it. You know,
(23:30):
who wouldn't Who would turn down Carmelo Anthony, who would
turn down Dwayne Wade? You know these are guys that
are you know, still great players.
Speaker 4 (23:43):
You know, the Marcus Cousins. You know, we would love
to have him. Yeah, there's a few people out there
that we would love hopefully one day they'll do it cool.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Anything you want to add that I did not ask
you about.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
No, Man, that's been it. It was a great interview.
Thanks man.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Thanks. Yeah, I wish you know we have more time,
but now I appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
It was fun anytime every time. Man, take it easy,
all right, Thanks you do.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Man.
Hey, it's Steve Fulton.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This week on inservice of Really Fun Conversation, I sit
down for one on one talk with ice Cube talk
about his upcoming tour working with Pozzy Collins, the great
artists of him before him, and the artists who inspired
so much more hope.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
He enjoyed this conversation as much.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
As I is.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I talked to Gasis, he said, to think it was packed.
So how it feel for you?
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Felt great, you know, to see the turnout, but just
the significance of it. A lot of people got they
got stars on the Walk of Fame, but only movie
stars got they they hands in the cement in front
of Chinese theater or the big name, so you know,
(01:07):
it's cool to be part of that club.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, it's funny. I remember talking to Flee from the
Chili Peppers as a friend when they got their star,
you know, which for them was a huge deal. And
it's like, you know, growing up in LA you can
never anticipate that. Could you have ever imagine that one
day you'd you know, I mean that's like you said,
you have to you start like I think, God, I'm
like an old movie fan, so I think the people
like Humphrey Bogart and shit like that. I mean, that's
the legends.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, never thought in a million years. You know, I used to.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
I was bussed to school, so sometimes we would miss
the bus, so I would have to jump on you know,
the public transport to get to school, and they would
take us up Crenshaw to UH to Sunset Hollywood Boulevard.
Then we have to walk catch another bus to go
(01:57):
the rest of the way island. So I remember walking
those streets, you know, seventh, eighth grade, ninth grade, tenth grade,
walking those streets, never thinking that I'd be down there
one day, not in a million years.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
It's funny because I think to you, as you can
a hooker, you appreciate that stuff more. So does it
mean more to you now?
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Of course, you know it would have been a lot
anytime it happened. But you know, having my kids there,
you know, my son Osha Jackson Junior, who's made a
name for himself in this business, to give a nice speech,
and you know, just seeing my whole family, from my
pops to my to my granddaughter. You know, it was like,
(02:49):
you know, seeing everybody there with me, some of the
people I've worked with, you know, Mike Epps did a
nice speech, and you know, seeing people like Lee Young
who's been my attorney forever, and Matt Johnson. You know,
these guys helped me become who I am in the business.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
No, it's cool.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
I mean, I just mean, like, you know, it's funny
because I'm sure you've had this feeling too. Like I remember,
you know, because I wrote for Rolling Stone when I
was like twenty five, I went to some ridiculous f
in my event and at the time, you know, not
appreciating it because you're twenty five. You don't understand I
met Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Little Richard in the
same night, and you're twenty five and you're too stupid
(03:32):
to appreciate it. And then later on when you get older,
you're like, holy fuck, did that really happen? So, you know,
I think when you get older, you have those moments
where you're like, now you understand these types of things
don't happen often anymore. So that's why I think you
appreciate them more. So I'm sure it was like more special,
like you said, because your whole family was there, and
like you know, when you have success when you're in
(03:52):
your early twenties, You're like, every day is going to
be like this.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Yeah, you know, Uh, you able to soak it in
and appreciate it and reflect. You know, you have a
lot of years to look back on before something like
this happens, you know, more than likely decades in the business,
(04:17):
and so you start to reflect on the people who
got you here. You know, John Singleton rest in peace. Uh,
he discovered me. You know, I never knew that I
was fit for Hollywood as far as acting. Thought you
had to go to school and you know really you know,
go to Juilliard or something to to be a actor
(04:38):
and have you know, plays under your belt.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
And so.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
He showed me what I could be and and I
kind of ran with it from there. I got bit
by the bug, as they say, and I wanted to
to write and produce and you know, direct here and there.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
And so fortunately I've been able to do all that
and and make people laugh.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
You know.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
My my records are hardcore, but my movies you know,
are comedies, you know, and I think being able to
show that balance is something that's you know, cool for
an artist like myself.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
It's funny though, because you say the records are hardcore,
but I mean, I'm not gonna lie. I'm ask when
I listen to So Sensitive that made me smile, That
kind of made me laugh.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Yeah, you know, we always through the comedy in there.
You know, even with the hard core stuff. You know,
there's comedy in there because we know it's art. We know,
you know, we're making records and not statements, you know
at the end of the day, and records, you know,
they're the kind of you know, they take a life
(05:55):
of their own when it comes to the listener, you know,
because you never know what somebody is going to take
out of your record. You know, you never know what line,
what hook, what arrangement with lyrics that they really that's
really gonna stick. So uh, you know, it's very subjective.
(06:16):
It's like a movie. You know, with a movie, we
could sit down and watch the same movie at the
same time, but we're not seeing the same movie because
you have things going on in your head that that
strings the movie together. And I have things going on
in my head that strings the movie together, and and
(06:36):
it's a it's a subjective experience. So you know, music
is the same way. I believe.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
I remember, it's like a concert. I remember seeing Radio
had a degree theater. They bore the ship out of me.
That's me personally. The girl was in front of me
was seeing God and I was like, damn, I was
the show that she was seeing.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Yeah, you know, that's that's the that's the beautiful thing
about So you know, reality and living and exist and
you know it's perception.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Perception is everything. Yeah, So you know, as long as.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Someone's having a good time at it, which brings us
through the tour because I feel rush because we only
have a few minutes. But there's so much I want
to ask you about, but it's funny or we're talking
about about, you know, appreciating things more. This is the
first tour and ten years do you feel like now
going out this time, you know, doing the big production,
doing arenas, getting to connect with the fans. Do you
feel like now after having that decade? You know, and
(07:33):
then there's all the shit that went on with COVID.
There's the fact the world feels like it's about to
end because of the fucking administration. Like, you know, do
you feel like you appreciate more like or you'll appreciate
more being able to be in this setting with these fans.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Definitely.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
You know, I feel like I'm putting it together because
I appreciate the fans for being here for forty years.
They deserve a big production. They deserve a show that
not only has the music and celebrates, you know, for
(08:10):
decades of music, but also shows my influences, the things
that influence me in the world to write the.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Music over these forty years.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
I think, you know, just like the movie Straight Out
of Compton was able to give people an overall picture
of where we were coming from.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
You know, I.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Believe this show truth to power give my fans an
overall picture of where I'm coming from, you know, when
it comes to delivering street knowledge, which is my specialty.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Nice Well, I think one of the things that happens too,
Like you say, it's forty years of music. Like we
talked about, man, you have a family, now, you have
a grandkid, you have a whole life. So songs change,
you know, because you look at them, like you said,
it's all perception. You look at them with that history,
with that meaning. So for you are the songs that
you're particularly excited to revisit.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Of course, you know, I always looked at it as
time capsules.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
You know, people always ask me, would you go back
and change this and change that?
Speaker 3 (09:19):
I say no, Because if you.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Want to know how things were in nineteen ninety one,
go pick up a death certificated. If you want to
know how I felt about things in ninety six, pick
up the War this, you know, and it's really.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
A time capsule of.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
You know, where I'm as an artist, as a person,
as a man, and you know, making music because at
the end of the day, you know, it's still art,
it's still music, it's still expression, and you know, I
never lose sight to that.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Well, that's a really cool perspective. It's funny where there
are people you listen to you talked about influences were
there are things that you first heard growing up where
you realize, okay, that's what this is. Like you started
to hear it as art, you know, and you understood
that it's, you know, whatever you want it to be.
That's a great thing about music. It's whatever you take
from it. And I talk about this with artists all
(10:22):
the time. When you put a song into the world,
it's not yours anymore. As soon as you put it out,
it belongs to the fans. So what were the songs
for you that you kind of first can and realized, okay,
this is this can make me into whatever I want
to be.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Well, you know songs that really made me understand that
music can can be what you wanted to be. You know,
the Parliament Funkadelli very big influence on me.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Their music was it's still it's still ahead of his time.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
If you can, if you can look at that, you know,
it's it's it's you know, I don't know if music
will ever catch up to that.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
And so it's.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
You know, Herbie Hancock, you know Rocket, you know, things
like that show me music can be anything more bounced
to the ounce by Zap show me. It's about a feeling,
you know. It's not necessarily about you know, having the
(11:29):
you know, the the lyrics that blow you away. It's
really about the vibe of the song.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
And so I always try to create a vibe with
my song and pull people into places that you know,
maybe they don't feel welcome going in for real, but
on a song, uh, they feel comfortable with it.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
What's funny because you mentioned Barlamin I just talked to
Bootsy last week. Did that guy is still like there's
no one fucking in the world like Bootsy, but you're
on the record. I mean, you know, how much fun
was it for you to, like, you know, get to
I mean, I'm sure you've known Boutsy for years, but
I imagine every time you get to play with one
of your heroes, it never gets old.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
Never you know, these guys are magical to me. You know,
they're they're just from another time and place. We should
really check their DNA because they may be from uh,
from out of space. But you know, at the end
of the day, it's like it's like what I did
(12:32):
today at the Chinese Theater. You know, things that you
are too too big to dream and uh and and
it ends up happening.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
For you.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
And I never thought growing up with those Parliament Funkadelic
and those Bootsy Collins records, Uh, you know, these were
you know, superheroes to me, never thought I'd even get
a chance to shake their hand, let alone hang out
with them, let alone record with them, jump on stage
(13:07):
with him and become friends with him.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
I mean, it's a different world. Like you said, I've
talked to everybody in the world, but when Bootsy is
talking to me about doing an LSD with James Brown,
I'm like, dude, what the fuck?
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Yeah, you don't get no better for a music fan,
no stories.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
But I mean it's interesting then for you as well.
How cool is it to think about the fact that
like kids in the audience there today and it's like
they're you know, you're saying that they're of another world
to you. I mean, Bootsy may very well be from
out of space, that's possible. He's an awesome dude though,
But I mean for you, you know, maybe people don't
(13:43):
think you're from out of space, but they think you're
a fucking superhero.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
I mean that's amazing.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
That's that's the magic of music. And you know, look,
when you touch somebody heart, it's hard to get get
you out of there.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
You know.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
When when you when you get you know deep into
to you know, a fan or somebody that's sending to
you heart, you know, it's hard to get you out
of there. So you know, I just continue to hopefully
give them things that I feel are you know, worth
their time, money, worth their.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Attention.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
That make them smile, make them feel good, make them dance,
make them think, make them experience life in another way,
or make it where they under they know that somebody
like me understand.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Because I do.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
You know, I'm I keep myself grounded and.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
And there's no other place I'd rather be.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Well, it's interesting, I mean, talk about them from this
new album, which I really love, you know, songs you're
most looking forward to doing live and that feeling of
like again. You know, also when you do new songs,
it can infuse old songs. Then you get to put
everything together and make like you said, the show, you know,
give us a little preev like what influences like talk
(15:27):
about a little bit like the influences they'll be showing
and how you'll be showing it.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
Well, you know, I think, you know, going through each decade,
you know, I want to tell you know, my story,
you know, from all the things that influenced me, you know,
to write songs like a dope man, to write songs
like you know, boys in the hood, fuck the police.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
You know, just.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
Throughout my career, I've always tried to you know, take
reality and you know, create an artistic form that was.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
You know, palatable so to speak, you know, for music.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
And and you know, I can't wait to show people
what influenced me in the nineties.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
Uh, you know why I did the music that I did?
What what?
Speaker 4 (16:24):
What were my influences and this current events? It's life
and to be able to mix that with with the songs,
it's gonna be pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Well what's interesting you said, I mean I imagine that
you know, it's current events, and I mean, as I said,
you know, it's crazy times we're living in. Regardless of
your beliefs. It's like there's you know, things are so
split for you. How much fun is it to be
able to provide the escape for people, to be able
to sort of you know, as an artist, magnify these
times and help people in this, you know, and like
(16:58):
in doing a big show like this. You know, I
remember talking with Blondie you know about it, and they
said that even if they don't ever write a political song,
by going out and playing songs that allow people to escape,
that's their political statement. And I think just you know,
at this time of death, like you know, being able
to provide people with you know, diversion, escape, think about
(17:20):
other things, you know, as an artist, that's gonna be
incredibly rewarding.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Yeah, you know, I've always felt like, you know, I
got the microphone so I should speak not only for myself,
but for for people who can't speak for themselves against
you know, whatever I felt. The topic was, you know,
going after and so for people to be able to,
(17:49):
you know, to rap my songs and express their own
feelings through them is uh. You know, it's that special
thing that that that makes continue to write, makes me
continue to look for music that works, and it makes
me continue to work hard at the craft. It's it's
(18:11):
easy to lose focus. It's easy to focus on the reward,
you know, and not focus on the art. And you know,
I always like to focus on the art. It's the
most important thing. And if you do that right, you know,
you get rewarded.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
All Right, we'll probably have time for two more. So
I should ask you about Big three. But when we're
talking about Bootsy and I mentioned the stories, You're like,
that's the best, So give me your best story, man,
give me that fine, Like I mean, Bootsy was like
again he was telling me about doing LLSC with James
Brown and how he didn't like to do it. I'm like, dude,
and I because I told him I interviewed James Brown
once and I was like, I wish I had've been
(18:54):
down to LLC for it. I don't know if you
ever met James, but dude, he was tough.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
Never got a chance to meet James, and that's one
of my biggest regrets. But you know, I went one
day to go pick up George Clinton's first time I
was working with him, and he had me driving him
up to some hotel in Hollywood where he was staying.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
He jumped out the car. He never told me what
room he was in.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
So three hours later he comes down and uh, we
jump in the car and were rolling down you know,
Sunset We on Sunset Boulevard and I don't know what
he had in his aluminum foil, but he pulled out
(19:46):
some aluminum foil and uh, you know, I heard, you know,
a big, a big uh you know, no snort, and
then I was like, oh shit, you know I can
see the headlines now, ice Cube and George Clinton, you
know what I mean, pulled over on the side of
the road, arrested for for what he was doing. So
(20:09):
it was, uh, it was one of the moments where
I was like, you know, let me get let me
give my ass to the studio quick.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
You know what I'm saying. For for we end up
in the county jail.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
You know, Man, I asked him George stories as well,
including off the record. One time he stopped an interview
we were doing to go score, came back and then
was falling asleep in the fucking interview. Oh Gray, Now
he's like sober and doing totally great.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Oh he's the man now, you know.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
We Uh, it's it's amazing that, you know, for a
guy who's done it all, you know, he's still hanging
with us and rolling with us, and you know he's
still doing shows talking ship oh and uh, you know,
it's just it's just like out of all of the
(20:56):
people that I'm glad I know in the in the industry,
you know, I'm glad I had a chance to really
get a chance to know who George Clinton is and
meet him. And you know, I talked to him every
now and then. He sent me messages, video message. I
try to redo his songs over and shit like that
New Funkadelic.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Uh. And so it's just really about.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Paying homage to the o gs, you know, just like
the youngsters pay homage to me.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yeah, I know, dude, he's so smart too. I remember,
given the best headline of all time. We were talking
about prescription medication and he called it one nation undersidation.
I'm like, dude, I can't talk that. That's sadline.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
Oh man, you know he said he was he you know,
one time he said he was gonna do a funky
album called Smell My Finger. And you know, I'm like,
you just can't get no no more funkier than that.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
No, man, there's no one like him. But yeah, all right, dude,
we gotta wrap up. Tell me about Big three.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
Big You know, Season eight. We're moving into cities now,
so each team is going to represent a city. We
got the Los Angeles Riot, the Houston rig Hans, the
Dallas Power, Chicago Triplets, Miami three oh five, the DMV Trilogy,
(22:27):
and the Boston ball Hogs. And you know, I think
it's going to unlock a big fan base in these
cities and really really get you know, really start the
league rolling downhill, because next year we want to add
four more and keep going and you know, hopefully one
(22:50):
day we'll look up and have thirty teams across the
country and across the world, like like our friends at
the NBA had.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
About twenty twenty one. Yeah. Done, done playing. So it's
been a minute.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
And I know you just brought in Dwight Howard for me,
who's a huge NBA fan. Who would be the dream
person to bring in. Just have them come and play
for fun? No, no playing for fun. No playing for fun.
You got to come in. You gotta be serious about
pro basketball. But we would love to have you know,
the guys that want to still do it. You know,
(23:30):
who wouldn't Who would turn down Carmelo Anthony, who would
turn down Dwayne Wade? You know these are guys that
are you know, still great players.
Speaker 4 (23:43):
You know, the Marcus Cousins. You know, we would love
to have him. Yeah, there's a few people out there
that we would love hopefully one day they'll do it cool.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Anything you want to add that I did not ask
you about.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
No, Man, that's been it. It was a great interview.
Thanks man.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Thanks. Yeah, I wish you know we have more time,
but now I appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
It was fun anytime every time. Man, take it easy,
all right, Thanks you do.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Man.
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