Ralph McDaniels Dives into Creativity with the Launch of His New Coloring/Work Book + More
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
What app is way up with Angela Yee. I'm Angela ye.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
And Jasmine Brand is here yes, And this is a
true legend in the building. Ralph McDaniels is here with
us and listen. So I've spoken to you before extensively
about video music box.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
You know, I grew up watching Uncle Ralph.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I'm video music box and you ventured into something new
right right now you have this Rascoe learns about video
music box and so this is an educational tool. So
can you tell us about how you even ended up
doing this to educate the younger kids about video music bos.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
So you know I work with the library in New York.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I've been there Queen's Public Library for.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
The library, Yes you have, and You've always been a
friend of libraries, and so I was looking around and
I was like, well, we need some more hip hop
for the younger kids, and where is there a space
for them? And I started looking at the children's books
and so the seven plus area seemed like a safe
place for me because I wanted to keep it authentic
to the coach. And so we started thinking about what
(01:02):
a book would look like. And I had no idea
that we'd come out this fast. We worked on it
with a writer Shay Donaldson and Ed Hayes, and next
thing I know, the book was in my hands and
I was like, oh, okay, we did a book.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
You know this is more like a work book.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
It's a coloring workbook. Yes, So it's not like a
read where you know there are read you know you
can read. I'd love to get it's little read and.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Know Thatt's say as you know, anytime you need me
to be somewhere, yes, all you have to do is
say the word yes.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
And so it's it's it's exciting because going into these schools.
I work in schools all the time. You know, you're
around kids and you know they just need a little
help and something they can identify with. And I think
that the hip hop is definitely where their head is at.
It's not like you know, the young school stuff that's
out now, but it talks about hip hop culture and
(01:55):
things that are going on right now and also gives
them a little bit of work. It's not even easy.
It's like a little bit of this real work you
got to put.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Put into this.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Listen, I want to talk about your partnership too with
the Queen's Public library and what you've been doing, the
work you've been putting in there. What I love about
the library that people don't talk about enough is it's
not only about books, but there's a lot of other
things that kids can learn. Yes, you know, I know
here in our public library system, they can even learn
how to edit video. There's a whole facility for that.
(02:24):
They can learn how to podcast and do all those
different kinds of things. I always encourage kids to go
in and do that. That's something great too, because I
could imagine like a modern day, you know, young kids
video music box, but something like that could look like I.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Like that, you want to executive produce it?
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Now, let's do it, because honestly, like it's so different
today when you think about what kids are like when
they go out, you know, like how often do you
go to a party or a club?
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Because I know I barely go anymore. What about you?
Speaker 4 (02:53):
I don't really go unless I'm working and I'm not
in that little vacuum that we're in, and then we
do what we do and then we leave. I don't
know what's going on, but I have an idea. It's
a little crazy. It's you know, they doing they thing.
It's not like back in the day.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Well, the young.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Kids dance, they have their dances and stuff, so that's
that's not true. I was gonna say they don't dance anymore.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
They just they definitely do TikTok dances, dance every challenges.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Yes, yes, but I think that you know, there's there's
you know, look, we used to be doing everything, and
I'm sure they do whatever it is that they do
in there and have fun.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
But you know, look it's a different time. It's a
different time, it is.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
But I think there's a lot of skill that comes
along with being able to to do something like this.
Right when it comes to there's a videographer, there's an editor,
there's a producer, and then you're coming up with question,
you're keeping a conversation going, you're doing research.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
You know, it's not like and people think you just
go in.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Front of the camera and it's easy even you being
in a position of you know, when you had to
interview people, that's not an.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Easy job to do in the middle of a crowd, and.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Also having to know things about people because you go
in there and people have to feel comfortable with you,
you know, like back then, Jay Z had to feel comfortable.
He wasn't letting people in this sphere. Knaves had to
feel comfortable and safe to know that. You know, you've
never been a shock jock. You never tried to be
the type of person that will capture something that could
get somebody, you know, in trouble or to go quote
because back then there wasn't really like going viral. You know.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
I appreciate that, you know, because you peeped that out.
You know, a lot of people just didn't realize that
I did have a relationship with them, and I wanted
to keep that relationship with these artists and you know,
be able to do other things, you know, outside of
entertainment maybe, you know, so I kept that relationship with
Jay and Nas quite obviously. Just did my documentary with
(04:42):
mass Appelia for Showtime, and you know, and it's fun
when we're with each other.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
It's not really business.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
And even fifty fifties, like man, I love when I'm
sitting with you, Ralph, because I feel like I don't
have to be fifty cent. I could just be whoever
from South Jamaica, queens.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
And even you.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Moving from the space of interviewing people to like, okay,
I want you to direct my video. That's a level
of trust too, because it's not like you were pitching
yourself like, hey, you know.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Let me work on this.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
People were coming to you because of how much they trusted,
like what it was that you had done and built
and building something that you had no idea where it
would land.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah, no, we had no idea.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
It was all something in my head, a vision I
woke up with one day and said I think I
could do this. And nobody knew what I was talking
about when I first started because it didn't exist. And
so that's for anybody who's listening, like, don't worry about that.
Just do it, you know, go through the process, walk
through it, you know, you know, don't be a lot
of times people are fearful of things. I'm fearful of
(05:41):
things now, and you know, I'm like, well, I don't know,
I don't want to look crazy, but don't worry about that.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Just do it. You know.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
I'm a little bit older now, so I know how
to go through the process. But when I was younger,
there were probably things that I could have accomplished maybe
thirty years ago, that I didn't do because I was
fearful of it you.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Think that when you're younger you're more fearful or when
you get older, because I feel like when I was younger,
I might have taken more risks.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
And then now you kind of like you did they
got no one was there to document that.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
But I think we take you know, we stay in
a lane that we're comfortable with and that we know,
we feel like we can talk about this. But sometimes,
you know, somebody says, well, I think you should do that,
and it just doesn't feel comfortable. So you kind of like,
I don't know, and you waste time. Waste time, waste time.
Years go by before you do it, Like I know
that this was so easy. I could have done this
(06:29):
ten years ago.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah, you get to the point where I like to
do things that are challenging and then when you figure
it out, you're like, oh, that wasn't so bad.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
You know, you have to do it first.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
When ray Dejohn was up here, he was talking about
how Video Music Box really helped him too. You know,
was it hard for you when you weren't hosting it
had other people hosting because that's your baby, and so
sometimes you look at stuff and you're like, are they
doing that?
Speaker 1 (06:50):
How I would have done it or how was that
for you? You know, sometimes giving up the rings.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Yeah, I could be an idiot and I'd be like,
you should have asked him this, and you didn't ask
them the main thing, you know, but you know people,
I got used to people being them themselves and the
hardest part of what we do is managing personalities. That's
the hardest part of everything, you know, and letting people
do what they do and feel comfortable about it, and
(07:16):
then giving them some tips on you know, things that
they you know, you should do a little homework. You know,
that's okay, But we'll we'll we'll tighten it up, we'll
edit it and make it work.
Speaker 6 (07:24):
So would you like to ever do a reimagined version
of Video Music Box?
Speaker 3 (07:29):
What is a reimagined version or the same thing?
Speaker 5 (07:31):
Or would you like to do you know something?
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Yeah, I mean it or I don't.
Speaker 6 (07:35):
I don't think it's outdated, but I don't know if
you have a different remix in your mind.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Yeah, I would, you know. I used to watch.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
What's the Show with the news TMZ, right, and I'd
be like, I could be like the guy in the back,
Harvey and let them do what they do. You know,
and I just maybe I don't have to be on
set all the time. I pop up every once in
a while, and they want to get the OG's opinion
on it.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I can see that, yeah, because I feel like there's
also not like the lane for videos to be seen
on a program anymore, right, you know the way it
is now, like we'll see it launch on you know,
YouTube or on Instagram. Somebody puts their video out or
on TikTok, but there's no program where it's like people
are actually playing in it talking about it.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Yeah, I think people want to see that. You know,
there's so many creative artists. There's so many creative directors
out here. I love the content that I see, and
I'm like, you know, it goes into this machine of
Instagram and then you know, for a week you see
and then it's gone, you know, And so where do
we find it? I don't even remember the title of it,
you know, Like how do we find these things? I
remember one of the executives that, you know, Viacom telling
(08:42):
me on the people are not interested in watching videos.
They'll watch it on YouTube. I said, but how do
they know it's on YouTube? Like, how do they know
where to find these things?
Speaker 2 (08:50):
So yeah, because usually I see videos like if I'm
following somebody and then they post it, but I.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Don't know, how do I know?
Speaker 6 (08:57):
I think I sometimes I see what's trending it it
has to be something that was that stands out in
the video and then it starts trending and you're like, oh,
what is this? It's not you know, unless you're a
hardcore fan, you're not gonna know when their videos coming out.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
And you you you see something that came out a
year ago or two years ago, it was like.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
I never saw this in my life, like this, this
is amazing? Who is this artist?
Speaker 6 (09:21):
I see videos gonna get my hair done? I've never
seen any of these videos.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Now do you watch to B movies? I somewhat dude,
you know some of that stuff trending.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's that's trending right now, which is
cool for for the filmmakers and you know, and folks
that don't necessarily have big budgets or they just you know,
they they somehow got it to to B and they
then that's their lane and they're going to continue to
make films for to be you know, which is is fine.
You know, I think that we've always had a place
where we can find a hip hop has always had
(09:52):
a place where we could find certain things that we
just would never see.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
In mainstream, right and some of the movies listen and
a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
What I like is that it levels the playing field
and other people can monetize, you know, so you're not
relying on these big studios to make things happen. You
can actually get out there and make it happen for yourself.
And sometimes just doing things is the best education.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
You know.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
There is something to be said for going to school
and being able to afford to take classes, but then
there's a whole nother the learn it yourself and do
it and that's how you learn type of education too.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Yeah, No, absolutely, I think I love it. You know.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
You know, there's there's plenty of great filmmakers out here.
They started making music videos first, or started making content
for you know, the you know, Internet or whatever, and
and now they're doing their thing with twob and and
that maybe we'll get them to another platform that that'll
be great, you know.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
And I think for you, Uncle Ralph, people came to
you because, like I said, they wanted you to work
with them. So even you doing this book, you had
no idea, you know, the lane that this could have
you going. So what have you learned from this whole
process and what's the vision and that you see?
Speaker 4 (11:02):
The most important thing to me was the education part
of it. And so when I started looking at some
of the workbook stuff in it, I was like.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
I don't really know about this as much as I should.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
So I started to do a little homework and what
some of the institutions like schools and libraries and wherever
that young people are at and they're doing their learning.
I wanted to learn from them. And I took it
to teachers first. You know, I said, tell me what
you think. And my aunt is a is for the
retired teacher, and I said, I really need your honest
(11:33):
opinion and she was like, this is amazing. I said, no, no,
don't say it, because it's me I want to know.
And she says, no, no, no, this is exactly what
I've been pushing for our kids to have and we
just don't have it.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
And I was like, okay, I like that.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
And so you know, they're learning about our culture and
there's you know, there's other things to do. Here and
you know then you know, I heard about you know,
coloring books are a cool thing right now.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
People are adults are used to it's therapy.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
They say the color color inside the line.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
Yes, and so that part it falls into that situation
and and you know, and it's it's all a culture.
It's it's it's it's just what kids as when I
was a kid.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
This is what I would want, right I could see
some Video Music Box kids clothes. I just bought Jasmine's
daughter some Rock the Bells Gap sweats, which is so cute.
Like I love that. I love that we're able to
take things. And I know, like, look, a lot of
people are doing things. It's the fiftieth anniversary of hip hop.
It's the fortieth anniversary of Video Music Box also, by
the way, and a lot of brands are trying to incorporate,
(12:39):
like you know, some throwback hip hop, some fundamentals into
the mix. But I also while I look at it
like okay, but I also look at it like I
like that, Like I like to be able to see
I want to see her daughter wearing like some sweats
with Rock the Bells with you know what she gonna
be wearing and So that's why I like this because
it is important and for the younger generation to understand,
(13:02):
like a kid could be doing this, Rascal learns about
video music backs and now they know this was the
fortieth anniversary. This is Ralph McDaniels. He's a man behind
video music box. Those things are important for people to understand,
you know, our history. Those are always the most fascinating
documentaries and stories to me, like how things got started?
Speaker 4 (13:19):
Yeah, yeah, no, we have to do it as you know,
we get older. I'm older now, I've been you know,
around this for forty years. I'm like, okay, what do
I do right now? I'm not you know, necessarily with
the twenty year old twenty five year old? Where can
I fit in? And what can I do? And I
tell some of my peers that you know, on my
agent been around hip hop for a long time, you know, like,
(13:40):
you know, I don't know if you need to make
a song again, you.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Know, like, I'm not sure, no need to do that
for you? Do that for you.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
I don't know if you know you put it out,
but you.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Clearly can communicate with people. You've been doing his stuff.
You can clearly communicate with people and I think you
should get into this space because you can talk if
it's if it's radio podcasting, if it's you know, going
to schools and just reading the book, you know, whatever
it is.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
And I think it's great.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
You know, there are people like A Marie has a
book club, you know, and I'm you know, I follow her,
you know, you know, and I want to know, oh, yes.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
We had an up here to talk about her book club.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Yeah, and so you know, like I'm like, I gotta
get this to a Marie, you know, So this is
you know, because she'll get it.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
You know, it's her, it's her world. And I don't
know how she got into that.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
But there are plenty of folks that are just into
books and you know, and they would be able to
distribute them to the right people and get them into
their their spaces.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I mean, I would be into seeing, you know, Ralph
Mydaniels like behind the videos are some classic videos. Because
you debuted a lot of those video music bacts, I
want to ask you, with a limited amount of time
on the show, for you to play videos. I remember
I interned at MTV, right and they would present to
the music manager of video and then they would have
a music meeting every week to see like what could
(14:57):
get onto the air. People had to actually pitch it,
and they would be pitching hard.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Like I remember Diddy.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
We went to Daddy's house when I was interning and
my the person Fred Jordan was his name, who I
was interning interning for, And it was like a hole
to do. Like they had champagne, they had drinks. They
were like, Okay, we're gonna play the video.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
And so it was really like did people have to
come to you and kind of pitch their videos because
you know, it wasn't like everything was gonna make it
on the.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Air, right.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
I mean people would come Jay and Rockefeller days. They
would come with the with the champagne and all, and
it'd be in a like a.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Basket and the videos in the middle, and I'd be.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Like, Okay, in the gift box, I put this on
next week.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Can you talk about some of the big videos that
you debut?
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Wow? All of them?
Speaker 4 (15:47):
I mean there's nothing up to you know, like once
she got to about ninety seven, then you know we
would you know, MTV see that.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
The problem. The way I would beat MTV to the
punch is because you have to go through a process.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
That's what that's it.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Yet of Hey to pitch, then they had to prove it.
Then they might be like, oh, we can't air this
because it has this word or it has it.
Speaker 5 (16:05):
Yeah, so they just had to get to you.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
All they had to do is come to the office.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
Like if my show came on at three point thirty
two o'clock, somebody showed up with the video and then
Puff would be like, Yo, please play it, Please play
it right now. And I'll be like, I got you.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
It's Craig mac or it's you know, Black Rob or
whoever it is.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
And we would play it because I knew that we were,
you know, think about hip hopsy we want to hear
it first, Yeah, And I said, okay, if I can
get it to the airways first, yeah, then I got
exclusive And so that was always my position on it.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Remember people used to spend a million dollars on a video.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Crazy.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Well, Hype Williams, Hype was my assistant. He started with
me and he you know, we started doing videos. I
gave him the first couple of videos. He lived in
Queen's on Lynden Boulevard. Pick him up, get in the
car and we were driving. He was he was working
in the art department. Then he said I want to
do videos and I said, all right, I should try
this one.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
And people wanted me to do it. I'm like, no,
this kid is good.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
He got an eye and then he became you know, hyping,
you know, one of the most amazing directors hip hop directors.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Ever, how were you able to first start monetizing when
you started video music backs?
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Like how long did that take to figure out?
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Like? How are we going to make some money off
of this? Because we do have people to pay. It
does cost money to be able to do this work.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Yeah, And we were on a non commercial.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Station, so Channel thirty one.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Yeah, Channel thirty one, and so we I was people
started hiring me to host parties and the parties were
packed and they were charging like twenty dollars or whatever
to get in. And then I would see like two
thousand people, three thousand people, and I was like, I
think we should do.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Our own party.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
They just giving me like a thousand dollars and they
making like forty thousand dollars. I was like, oh, wait
a minute, so let's try it out. And so that's
how we started trying out. So then once I saw
you know, oh, it's a whole different ballgame now. So
we started doing being a promoter and we started doing
our own thing. And that's how we we we made
(18:06):
money back then because there wasn't you know, the music
business has always been you know, oh yeah there are people. Look,
the street cats are gonna come and be like your
route here. You know, they won't pay you, but you
don't want you All money is not good money if
you're out there doing your things, So stay away from
that right there, because you don't want that.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
So we just you don't want that, trust me.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
And now they're like, okay, you're got video.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
On right, yeah, you know, keep going and keep going.
And so we just wanted to, you know, be be
aware of everything that was happening out there. So we
played the street stuff, you know, we played the label
stuff and just so I could beat people to the punch.
And then at the same time, I was directing videos,
(18:52):
so you know, I was making a living off of that,
really not.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
As much off a video music box.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
I was really making a living off of all the
videos that I did, you know, Wu Tang Cream you know,
and people was like like what's cream. They didn't even
know what Wu Tang was, and I was like, it's
going to be something, you know, I feel it, and
then all of a sudden it was the biggest thing ever.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
And then for you to have worked, like you said,
with NAS and Massive Hill to do the whole documentary
that was on Showtime about video music box, that had
to feel like a whole like three sixty from the
beginning from somebody that he came to you to work
with him, like I just want you to do your
video music box thing too. Now I'm working with NAS
to actually put out a whole documentary.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Whose idea was that? Was that yours or his?
Speaker 3 (19:35):
It was my idea. I had to deal originally with hbo.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Okay and Mark Wahlberg Oh Wow.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
In the middle of the pandemic, and it just dragged
out and dragged out and dragged out.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
So Mark Wahlberg initially wanted to do.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
The video music see the yeah, because remember he used
to wrap the fucking bunch.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
He hates when people bring.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
That up too, so he we you know, it's crazy
because I'm having conversations with him and you know, and
it's dragging out and it's like I'm like, this is
taking too long, you know, and our contract ran out
and Sasha Jenkins from mass Appeal said, hey, what do
you think you know if we take it to showtime?
(20:14):
I said, well take it and him and Nas went
to a meeting with like ten different ideas and the
first thing the guy said was you know the guy
who does hear music? And they were like yeah, and
the like we want to do that one.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
You never know who's looking for you, right, yeah, Sometimes
you don't even know your own power.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Right right.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
I had no idea and so that was it, and
Nas wasn't directing at first, and then you know, like
about three months and Nad said, you know, I want
to direct that. So you don't have time to do this.
You're are artists, bro, you you running around the country
And he's like, no, this is close to my heart.
I grew up watching you. You've been to my house,
You've been You've seen my mother when she was like
you know you know me? And I was like yeah,
(20:54):
I said, all right, you know it didn't it take
me too long to think about.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Mark? Now?
Speaker 2 (21:03):
You know how Angie has this Tupac interview that she
still is like has not put out.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
I don't know if she ever will.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Do you have any interviews that you're like hesitant to
ever put out because you're like, oh, they were talking
a little wild.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
A little crazy. I don't mean, I don't know what
her reason is.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
But do you have anything that you're like, this doesn't
feel like I should put it out that you've never
I probably.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
Do, you know, Like, like you said, I'm not a
shock jock at all. I wasn't at like that, And
so there's probably things that we edited and I'm still
playing the edited version of it and forgetting that. There
was a whole reason why we edited it out because
we did interviews with everybody from Big to jay Tons
to Park you know, and you and the club and
(21:45):
people were drinking and they just talking crazy, you know,
And I'd be like.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
And that is true in the club with the drinks,
people will people being them.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Say anything exactly. They're being themselves.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
They're talking to you, so they're comfortable.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Right, And I'm just going, anybody ever asked you not
to play something like the next day woke up That's
happened to me where they the next day realized what
they said and been like, Yo, could you take you know,
that out and they definitely did. That happened one day
when I was like guest hosting on Drink Champs.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Oh wow, yeah, I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Yeah, exactly before it comes out.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Because sometimes it is also like, well, you said, it's
hard because there's a balance of this is going to
be big, but then there's also the responsibility that you
have to know that, like you're not trying to cause
any problems, right, you know.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
And you out here in these streets, you know, and.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
You know I'm outside for real.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
So you know, you just have to you know, look,
you want to be a responsible journalist, you know, and
some people you know don't care about that journalism at all.
They just won't play the role and that and I'm like, nah,
you know, let's let's let's let's not use that.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Right.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
It's other times when you feel like you've done interviews
and people have tried to like put things out for
a salacious headline, right, not too.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Much with me, Not too much with.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Me because they know I don't even say that like that.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
Yeah, they know how to looking at him crazy.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
But so can we look forward to Rascal learns about
video music box. This it's going to be like an
ongoing series. Are you already planning to, like, you know,
roll some more out.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
So this is basically the video music box story, but
there'll be other hip hop related just in general hip
hop stories, because that's originally what they wanted to do.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
And I was like, no, we'll do it about video music.
But I know about video music. Let me do that.
Speaker 5 (23:34):
That would be amazing working.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Rascal says, protect your neck.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Exactly.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
That's you can get it online now at Tasco Books.
It's I T A S C A B O O
K S. And for the holidays around Black Friday, they'll
be in retail.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
I love it. I'm already thinking of some other books.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
Books.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Let's talk about sex. We can have one with salt
and pepper theme, like we can talk about that might
be for at education. No, you learned that health education.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
This is seven. This is seven year old.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Yeah, that one might have to be.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
Like by the way you.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
See her pushing the coaching forward.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Saying that was responsible, you know, way to go about it.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
All right, But thank you so much for joining us.
You know, it's always a pleasure. I love when I
get a chance to see you out and you know,
invite me back to the library.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Yes, yes, yes, they loved you and.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
You amazing and the library was packed, so they loved
you out there in Queens, come.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
On out all right, Well, anyway that I can assist
in that, you know, I work with the New York
Public Library, so and within that system anything like when
it comes to education, I'm fully on board.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
Cool, thank you, all right, well.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Ralph McDaniels, Uncle Ralph. Rascal learns about video music backs.
Where can they get it.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
Again, the Tasco Books or follow me at Video Music
Box and you can find out.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
We're going to do book signings and all kinds of
stuff in the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
Oh Rascal learns about cream and then we can can
do something about like money and finances and don't be
Speaker 1 (25:03):
A good book okay Angela, okay, alright, it's way up.
What app is way up with Angela Yee. I'm Angela ye.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
And Jasmine Brand is here yes, And this is a
true legend in the building. Ralph McDaniels is here with
us and listen. So I've spoken to you before extensively
about video music box.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
You know, I grew up watching Uncle Ralph.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I'm video music box and you ventured into something new
right right now you have this Rascoe learns about video
music box and so this is an educational tool. So
can you tell us about how you even ended up
doing this to educate the younger kids about video music bos.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
So you know I work with the library in New York.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I've been there Queen's Public Library for.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
The library, Yes you have, and You've always been a
friend of libraries, and so I was looking around and
I was like, well, we need some more hip hop
for the younger kids, and where is there a space
for them? And I started looking at the children's books
and so the seven plus area seemed like a safe
place for me because I wanted to keep it authentic
to the coach. And so we started thinking about what
(01:02):
a book would look like. And I had no idea
that we'd come out this fast. We worked on it
with a writer Shay Donaldson and Ed Hayes, and next
thing I know, the book was in my hands and
I was like, oh, okay, we did a book.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
You know this is more like a work book.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
It's a coloring workbook. Yes, So it's not like a
read where you know there are read you know you
can read. I'd love to get it's little read and.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Know Thatt's say as you know, anytime you need me
to be somewhere, yes, all you have to do is
say the word yes.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
And so it's it's it's exciting because going into these schools.
I work in schools all the time. You know, you're
around kids and you know they just need a little
help and something they can identify with. And I think
that the hip hop is definitely where their head is at.
It's not like you know, the young school stuff that's
out now, but it talks about hip hop culture and
(01:55):
things that are going on right now and also gives
them a little bit of work. It's not even easy.
It's like a little bit of this real work you
got to put.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Put into this.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Listen, I want to talk about your partnership too with
the Queen's Public library and what you've been doing, the
work you've been putting in there. What I love about
the library that people don't talk about enough is it's
not only about books, but there's a lot of other
things that kids can learn. Yes, you know, I know
here in our public library system, they can even learn
how to edit video. There's a whole facility for that.
(02:24):
They can learn how to podcast and do all those
different kinds of things. I always encourage kids to go
in and do that. That's something great too, because I
could imagine like a modern day, you know, young kids
video music box, but something like that could look like I.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Like that, you want to executive produce it?
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Now, let's do it, because honestly, like it's so different
today when you think about what kids are like when
they go out, you know, like how often do you
go to a party or a club?
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Because I know I barely go anymore. What about you?
Speaker 4 (02:53):
I don't really go unless I'm working and I'm not
in that little vacuum that we're in, and then we
do what we do and then we leave. I don't
know what's going on, but I have an idea. It's
a little crazy. It's you know, they doing they thing.
It's not like back in the day.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Well, the young.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Kids dance, they have their dances and stuff, so that's
that's not true. I was gonna say they don't dance anymore.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
They just they definitely do TikTok dances, dance every challenges.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Yes, yes, but I think that you know, there's there's
you know, look, we used to be doing everything, and
I'm sure they do whatever it is that they do
in there and have fun.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
But you know, look it's a different time. It's a
different time, it is.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
But I think there's a lot of skill that comes
along with being able to to do something like this.
Right when it comes to there's a videographer, there's an editor,
there's a producer, and then you're coming up with question,
you're keeping a conversation going, you're doing research.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
You know, it's not like and people think you just
go in.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Front of the camera and it's easy even you being
in a position of you know, when you had to
interview people, that's not an.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Easy job to do in the middle of a crowd, and.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Also having to know things about people because you go
in there and people have to feel comfortable with you,
you know, like back then, Jay Z had to feel comfortable.
He wasn't letting people in this sphere. Knaves had to
feel comfortable and safe to know that. You know, you've
never been a shock jock. You never tried to be
the type of person that will capture something that could
get somebody, you know, in trouble or to go quote
because back then there wasn't really like going viral. You know.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
I appreciate that, you know, because you peeped that out.
You know, a lot of people just didn't realize that
I did have a relationship with them, and I wanted
to keep that relationship with these artists and you know,
be able to do other things, you know, outside of
entertainment maybe, you know, so I kept that relationship with
Jay and Nas quite obviously. Just did my documentary with
(04:42):
mass Appelia for Showtime, and you know, and it's fun
when we're with each other.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
It's not really business.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
And even fifty fifties, like man, I love when I'm
sitting with you, Ralph, because I feel like I don't
have to be fifty cent. I could just be whoever
from South Jamaica, queens.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
And even you.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Moving from the space of interviewing people to like, okay,
I want you to direct my video. That's a level
of trust too, because it's not like you were pitching
yourself like, hey, you know.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Let me work on this.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
People were coming to you because of how much they trusted,
like what it was that you had done and built
and building something that you had no idea where it
would land.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah, no, we had no idea.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
It was all something in my head, a vision I
woke up with one day and said I think I
could do this. And nobody knew what I was talking
about when I first started because it didn't exist. And
so that's for anybody who's listening, like, don't worry about that.
Just do it, you know, go through the process, walk
through it, you know, you know, don't be a lot
of times people are fearful of things. I'm fearful of
(05:41):
things now, and you know, I'm like, well, I don't know,
I don't want to look crazy, but don't worry about that.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Just do it. You know.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
I'm a little bit older now, so I know how
to go through the process. But when I was younger,
there were probably things that I could have accomplished maybe
thirty years ago, that I didn't do because I was
fearful of it you.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Think that when you're younger you're more fearful or when
you get older, because I feel like when I was younger,
I might have taken more risks.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
And then now you kind of like you did they
got no one was there to document that.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
But I think we take you know, we stay in
a lane that we're comfortable with and that we know,
we feel like we can talk about this. But sometimes,
you know, somebody says, well, I think you should do that,
and it just doesn't feel comfortable. So you kind of like,
I don't know, and you waste time. Waste time, waste time.
Years go by before you do it, Like I know
that this was so easy. I could have done this
(06:29):
ten years ago.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah, you get to the point where I like to
do things that are challenging and then when you figure
it out, you're like, oh, that wasn't so bad.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
You know, you have to do it first.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
When ray Dejohn was up here, he was talking about
how Video Music Box really helped him too. You know,
was it hard for you when you weren't hosting it
had other people hosting because that's your baby, and so
sometimes you look at stuff and you're like, are they
doing that?
Speaker 1 (06:50):
How I would have done it or how was that
for you? You know, sometimes giving up the rings.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Yeah, I could be an idiot and I'd be like,
you should have asked him this, and you didn't ask
them the main thing, you know, but you know people,
I got used to people being them themselves and the
hardest part of what we do is managing personalities. That's
the hardest part of everything, you know, and letting people
do what they do and feel comfortable about it, and
(07:16):
then giving them some tips on you know, things that
they you know, you should do a little homework. You know,
that's okay, But we'll we'll we'll tighten it up, we'll
edit it and make it work.
Speaker 6 (07:24):
So would you like to ever do a reimagined version
of Video Music Box?
Speaker 3 (07:29):
What is a reimagined version or the same thing?
Speaker 5 (07:31):
Or would you like to do you know something?
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Yeah, I mean it or I don't.
Speaker 6 (07:35):
I don't think it's outdated, but I don't know if
you have a different remix in your mind.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Yeah, I would, you know. I used to watch.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
What's the Show with the news TMZ, right, and I'd
be like, I could be like the guy in the back,
Harvey and let them do what they do. You know,
and I just maybe I don't have to be on
set all the time. I pop up every once in
a while, and they want to get the OG's opinion
on it.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I can see that, yeah, because I feel like there's
also not like the lane for videos to be seen
on a program anymore, right, you know the way it
is now, like we'll see it launch on you know,
YouTube or on Instagram. Somebody puts their video out or
on TikTok, but there's no program where it's like people
are actually playing in it talking about it.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Yeah, I think people want to see that. You know,
there's so many creative artists. There's so many creative directors
out here. I love the content that I see, and
I'm like, you know, it goes into this machine of
Instagram and then you know, for a week you see
and then it's gone, you know, And so where do
we find it? I don't even remember the title of it,
you know, Like how do we find these things? I
remember one of the executives that, you know, Viacom telling
(08:42):
me on the people are not interested in watching videos.
They'll watch it on YouTube. I said, but how do
they know it's on YouTube? Like, how do they know
where to find these things?
Speaker 2 (08:50):
So yeah, because usually I see videos like if I'm
following somebody and then they post it, but I.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Don't know, how do I know?
Speaker 6 (08:57):
I think I sometimes I see what's trending it it
has to be something that was that stands out in
the video and then it starts trending and you're like, oh,
what is this? It's not you know, unless you're a
hardcore fan, you're not gonna know when their videos coming out.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
And you you you see something that came out a
year ago or two years ago, it was like.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
I never saw this in my life, like this, this
is amazing? Who is this artist?
Speaker 6 (09:21):
I see videos gonna get my hair done? I've never
seen any of these videos.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Now do you watch to B movies? I somewhat dude,
you know some of that stuff trending.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's that's trending right now, which is
cool for for the filmmakers and you know, and folks
that don't necessarily have big budgets or they just you know,
they they somehow got it to to B and they
then that's their lane and they're going to continue to
make films for to be you know, which is is fine.
You know, I think that we've always had a place
where we can find a hip hop has always had
(09:52):
a place where we could find certain things that we
just would never see.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
In mainstream, right and some of the movies listen and
a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
What I like is that it levels the playing field
and other people can monetize, you know, so you're not
relying on these big studios to make things happen. You
can actually get out there and make it happen for yourself.
And sometimes just doing things is the best education.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
You know.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
There is something to be said for going to school
and being able to afford to take classes, but then
there's a whole nother the learn it yourself and do
it and that's how you learn type of education too.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Yeah, No, absolutely, I think I love it. You know.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
You know, there's there's plenty of great filmmakers out here.
They started making music videos first, or started making content
for you know, the you know, Internet or whatever, and
and now they're doing their thing with twob and and
that maybe we'll get them to another platform that that'll
be great, you know.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
And I think for you, Uncle Ralph, people came to
you because, like I said, they wanted you to work
with them. So even you doing this book, you had
no idea, you know, the lane that this could have
you going. So what have you learned from this whole
process and what's the vision and that you see?
Speaker 4 (11:02):
The most important thing to me was the education part
of it. And so when I started looking at some
of the workbook stuff in it, I was like.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
I don't really know about this as much as I should.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
So I started to do a little homework and what
some of the institutions like schools and libraries and wherever
that young people are at and they're doing their learning.
I wanted to learn from them. And I took it
to teachers first. You know, I said, tell me what
you think. And my aunt is a is for the
retired teacher, and I said, I really need your honest
(11:33):
opinion and she was like, this is amazing. I said, no, no,
don't say it, because it's me I want to know.
And she says, no, no, no, this is exactly what
I've been pushing for our kids to have and we
just don't have it.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
And I was like, okay, I like that.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
And so you know, they're learning about our culture and
there's you know, there's other things to do. Here and
you know then you know, I heard about you know,
coloring books are a cool thing right now.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
People are adults are used to it's therapy.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
They say the color color inside the line.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
Yes, and so that part it falls into that situation
and and you know, and it's it's all a culture.
It's it's it's it's just what kids as when I
was a kid.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
This is what I would want, right I could see
some Video Music Box kids clothes. I just bought Jasmine's
daughter some Rock the Bells Gap sweats, which is so cute.
Like I love that. I love that we're able to
take things. And I know, like, look, a lot of
people are doing things. It's the fiftieth anniversary of hip hop.
It's the fortieth anniversary of Video Music Box also, by
the way, and a lot of brands are trying to incorporate,
(12:39):
like you know, some throwback hip hop, some fundamentals into
the mix. But I also while I look at it
like okay, but I also look at it like I
like that, Like I like to be able to see
I want to see her daughter wearing like some sweats
with Rock the Bells with you know what she gonna
be wearing and So that's why I like this because
it is important and for the younger generation to understand,
(13:02):
like a kid could be doing this, Rascal learns about
video music backs and now they know this was the
fortieth anniversary. This is Ralph McDaniels. He's a man behind
video music box. Those things are important for people to understand,
you know, our history. Those are always the most fascinating
documentaries and stories to me, like how things got started?
Speaker 4 (13:19):
Yeah, yeah, no, we have to do it as you know,
we get older. I'm older now, I've been you know,
around this for forty years. I'm like, okay, what do
I do right now? I'm not you know, necessarily with
the twenty year old twenty five year old? Where can
I fit in? And what can I do? And I
tell some of my peers that you know, on my
agent been around hip hop for a long time, you know, like,
(13:40):
you know, I don't know if you need to make
a song again, you.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Know, like, I'm not sure, no need to do that
for you? Do that for you.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
I don't know if you know you put it out,
but you.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Clearly can communicate with people. You've been doing his stuff.
You can clearly communicate with people and I think you
should get into this space because you can talk if
it's if it's radio podcasting, if it's you know, going
to schools and just reading the book, you know, whatever
it is.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
And I think it's great.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
You know, there are people like A Marie has a
book club, you know, and I'm you know, I follow her,
you know, you know, and I want to know, oh, yes.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
We had an up here to talk about her book club.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Yeah, and so you know, like I'm like, I gotta
get this to a Marie, you know, So this is
you know, because she'll get it.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
You know, it's her, it's her world. And I don't
know how she got into that.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
But there are plenty of folks that are just into
books and you know, and they would be able to
distribute them to the right people and get them into
their their spaces.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I mean, I would be into seeing, you know, Ralph
Mydaniels like behind the videos are some classic videos. Because
you debuted a lot of those video music bacts, I
want to ask you, with a limited amount of time
on the show, for you to play videos. I remember
I interned at MTV, right and they would present to
the music manager of video and then they would have
a music meeting every week to see like what could
(14:57):
get onto the air. People had to actually pitch it,
and they would be pitching hard.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Like I remember Diddy.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
We went to Daddy's house when I was interning and
my the person Fred Jordan was his name, who I
was interning interning for, And it was like a hole
to do. Like they had champagne, they had drinks. They
were like, Okay, we're gonna play the video.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
And so it was really like did people have to
come to you and kind of pitch their videos because
you know, it wasn't like everything was gonna make it
on the.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Air, right.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
I mean people would come Jay and Rockefeller days. They
would come with the with the champagne and all, and
it'd be in a like a.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Basket and the videos in the middle, and I'd be.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Like, Okay, in the gift box, I put this on
next week.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Can you talk about some of the big videos that
you debut?
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Wow? All of them?
Speaker 4 (15:47):
I mean there's nothing up to you know, like once
she got to about ninety seven, then you know we
would you know, MTV see that.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
The problem. The way I would beat MTV to the
punch is because you have to go through a process.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
That's what that's it.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Yet of Hey to pitch, then they had to prove it.
Then they might be like, oh, we can't air this
because it has this word or it has it.
Speaker 5 (16:05):
Yeah, so they just had to get to you.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
All they had to do is come to the office.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
Like if my show came on at three point thirty
two o'clock, somebody showed up with the video and then
Puff would be like, Yo, please play it, Please play
it right now. And I'll be like, I got you.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
It's Craig mac or it's you know, Black Rob or
whoever it is.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
And we would play it because I knew that we were,
you know, think about hip hopsy we want to hear
it first, Yeah, And I said, okay, if I can
get it to the airways first, yeah, then I got
exclusive And so that was always my position on it.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Remember people used to spend a million dollars on a video.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Crazy.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Well, Hype Williams, Hype was my assistant. He started with
me and he you know, we started doing videos. I
gave him the first couple of videos. He lived in
Queen's on Lynden Boulevard. Pick him up, get in the
car and we were driving. He was he was working
in the art department. Then he said I want to
do videos and I said, all right, I should try
this one.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
And people wanted me to do it. I'm like, no,
this kid is good.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
He got an eye and then he became you know, hyping,
you know, one of the most amazing directors hip hop directors.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Ever, how were you able to first start monetizing when
you started video music backs?
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Like how long did that take to figure out?
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Like? How are we going to make some money off
of this? Because we do have people to pay. It
does cost money to be able to do this work.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Yeah, And we were on a non commercial.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Station, so Channel thirty one.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Yeah, Channel thirty one, and so we I was people
started hiring me to host parties and the parties were
packed and they were charging like twenty dollars or whatever
to get in. And then I would see like two
thousand people, three thousand people, and I was like, I
think we should do.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Our own party.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
They just giving me like a thousand dollars and they
making like forty thousand dollars. I was like, oh, wait
a minute, so let's try it out. And so that's
how we started trying out. So then once I saw
you know, oh, it's a whole different ballgame now. So
we started doing being a promoter and we started doing
our own thing. And that's how we we we made
(18:06):
money back then because there wasn't you know, the music
business has always been you know, oh yeah there are people. Look,
the street cats are gonna come and be like your
route here. You know, they won't pay you, but you
don't want you All money is not good money if
you're out there doing your things, So stay away from
that right there, because you don't want that.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
So we just you don't want that, trust me.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
And now they're like, okay, you're got video.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
On right, yeah, you know, keep going and keep going.
And so we just wanted to, you know, be be
aware of everything that was happening out there. So we
played the street stuff, you know, we played the label
stuff and just so I could beat people to the punch.
And then at the same time, I was directing videos,
(18:52):
so you know, I was making a living off of that,
really not.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
As much off a video music box.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
I was really making a living off of all the
videos that I did, you know, Wu Tang Cream you know,
and people was like like what's cream. They didn't even
know what Wu Tang was, and I was like, it's
going to be something, you know, I feel it, and
then all of a sudden it was the biggest thing ever.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
And then for you to have worked, like you said,
with NAS and Massive Hill to do the whole documentary
that was on Showtime about video music box, that had
to feel like a whole like three sixty from the
beginning from somebody that he came to you to work
with him, like I just want you to do your
video music box thing too. Now I'm working with NAS
to actually put out a whole documentary.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Whose idea was that? Was that yours or his?
Speaker 3 (19:35):
It was my idea. I had to deal originally with hbo.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Okay and Mark Wahlberg Oh Wow.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
In the middle of the pandemic, and it just dragged
out and dragged out and dragged out.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
So Mark Wahlberg initially wanted to do.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
The video music see the yeah, because remember he used
to wrap the fucking bunch.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
He hates when people bring.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
That up too, so he we you know, it's crazy
because I'm having conversations with him and you know, and
it's dragging out and it's like I'm like, this is
taking too long, you know, and our contract ran out
and Sasha Jenkins from mass Appeal said, hey, what do
you think you know if we take it to showtime?
(20:14):
I said, well take it and him and Nas went
to a meeting with like ten different ideas and the
first thing the guy said was you know the guy
who does hear music? And they were like yeah, and
the like we want to do that one.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
You never know who's looking for you, right, yeah, Sometimes
you don't even know your own power.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Right right.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
I had no idea and so that was it, and
Nas wasn't directing at first, and then you know, like
about three months and Nad said, you know, I want
to direct that. So you don't have time to do this.
You're are artists, bro, you you running around the country
And he's like, no, this is close to my heart.
I grew up watching you. You've been to my house,
You've been You've seen my mother when she was like
you know you know me? And I was like yeah,
(20:54):
I said, all right, you know it didn't it take
me too long to think about.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Mark? Now?
Speaker 2 (21:03):
You know how Angie has this Tupac interview that she
still is like has not put out.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
I don't know if she ever will.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Do you have any interviews that you're like hesitant to
ever put out because you're like, oh, they were talking
a little wild.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
A little crazy. I don't mean, I don't know what
her reason is.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
But do you have anything that you're like, this doesn't
feel like I should put it out that you've never
I probably.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
Do, you know, Like, like you said, I'm not a
shock jock at all. I wasn't at like that, And
so there's probably things that we edited and I'm still
playing the edited version of it and forgetting that. There
was a whole reason why we edited it out because
we did interviews with everybody from Big to jay Tons
to Park you know, and you and the club and
(21:45):
people were drinking and they just talking crazy, you know,
And I'd be like.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
And that is true in the club with the drinks,
people will people being them.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Say anything exactly. They're being themselves.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
They're talking to you, so they're comfortable.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Right, And I'm just going, anybody ever asked you not
to play something like the next day woke up That's
happened to me where they the next day realized what
they said and been like, Yo, could you take you know,
that out and they definitely did. That happened one day
when I was like guest hosting on Drink Champs.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Oh wow, yeah, I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Yeah, exactly before it comes out.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Because sometimes it is also like, well, you said, it's
hard because there's a balance of this is going to
be big, but then there's also the responsibility that you
have to know that, like you're not trying to cause
any problems, right, you know.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
And you out here in these streets, you know, and.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
You know I'm outside for real.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
So you know, you just have to you know, look,
you want to be a responsible journalist, you know, and
some people you know don't care about that journalism at all.
They just won't play the role and that and I'm like, nah,
you know, let's let's let's let's not use that.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Right.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
It's other times when you feel like you've done interviews
and people have tried to like put things out for
a salacious headline, right, not too.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Much with me, Not too much with.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Me because they know I don't even say that like that.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
Yeah, they know how to looking at him crazy.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
But so can we look forward to Rascal learns about
video music box. This it's going to be like an
ongoing series. Are you already planning to, like, you know,
roll some more out.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
So this is basically the video music box story, but
there'll be other hip hop related just in general hip
hop stories, because that's originally what they wanted to do.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
And I was like, no, we'll do it about video music.
But I know about video music. Let me do that.
Speaker 5 (23:34):
That would be amazing working.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Rascal says, protect your neck.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Exactly.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
That's you can get it online now at Tasco Books.
It's I T A S C A B O O
K S. And for the holidays around Black Friday, they'll
be in retail.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
I love it. I'm already thinking of some other books.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
Books.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Let's talk about sex. We can have one with salt
and pepper theme, like we can talk about that might
be for at education. No, you learned that health education.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
This is seven. This is seven year old.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Yeah, that one might have to be.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
Like by the way you.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
See her pushing the coaching forward.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Saying that was responsible, you know, way to go about it.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
All right, But thank you so much for joining us.
You know, it's always a pleasure. I love when I
get a chance to see you out and you know,
invite me back to the library.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Yes, yes, yes, they loved you and.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
You amazing and the library was packed, so they loved
you out there in Queens, come.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
On out all right, Well, anyway that I can assist
in that, you know, I work with the New York
Public Library, so and within that system anything like when
it comes to education, I'm fully on board.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
Cool, thank you, all right, well.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Ralph McDaniels, Uncle Ralph. Rascal learns about video music backs.
Where can they get it.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
Again, the Tasco Books or follow me at Video Music
Box and you can find out.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
We're going to do book signings and all kinds of
stuff in the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
Oh Rascal learns about cream and then we can can
do something about like money and finances and don't be
Speaker 1 (25:03):
A good book okay Angela, okay, alright, it's way up.
Way Up With Angela Yee News
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Angela Yee
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