April 25, 2025 • 23 mins
Leon Thomas Shares His Lightbulb Moment with Drake & Deluxe Album
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Leon Thomas.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Feeling.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I feel like your name keeps coming up other time.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
That's great number one.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
You know it's spending crazy.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Oh yes, it's been doing really well.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
I've been doing really well. Ivy's always talking about loves
the album. He loves the album. He brought an album thinking.
I had Neil here the other day and boy as
Neil of the generation that's right now happening. Who who
are you Neo Feeling? And you are the first name
he said.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Wow, I'm a huge fan. I will say, really big fan.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
I saw also on your page, I saw Sizza and
talking about y.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I mean I got a chance to work with all
three of them separately on different projects.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, that was cool to see you.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Feeling like a like an abundance of just.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Flower.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
It's it's been a long journey for me as a career,
you know, from from doing the whole acting thing for
a really long time and then you know, doing production
and songwriting. So I mean, I've worked with everybody, but
now I'm really doing my artist thing. It's really nice
for people to you know, show this much love.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I love that for you.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
It is a hard transition for a lot of people,
it really is. And sometimes people are super talented, you know.
I don't want to disrespect anybody, so don't want to
say their names. But I know a few young talented
actors that that have some ability you know that great
abut and just have a really hard time cutting through
cutting out of a box.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
It's tough. It's tough.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I mean, I feel like when you're an actor, everything's
picked out for you, you know. And I think the
biggest part of music is the culture aspect of it.
And shout out to my team for really helping build
this brand around the music, not just it's not just
about the songs, you know, it's about like what we
can do to really push this when it comes to
look and and like the culture behind it.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
And yeah, what was the biggest thing? What was like,
is there a turning point? Was this something that.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Yeah, he was like a light bulb went off when
I was working with When I was working with Drake,
I feel like seeing the way his whole system was
flowing and like the amount of like positive affirmations and
like words that he was saying to me about what
I could do as an artist too at that time, which.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Was really Drake.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Yeah, I mean I thought that was really tight, because
I mean I genuinely look up to him and everything
that he's doing.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
At the time, I was just producing.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
But but what did he tell you? I mean, the
one thing he did say, he was like, nobody told
me the most. I wasn't the most talented person in
the room right now, I was like one of the
craziest things he said.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
I was like, oh, that's pretty crazy.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
And you know, I played a lot of my music
for Boy Wonder, and Boy Wonder was telling them that
I was doing my own thing as an artist, which
was really cool. Boy Wonder is one of my mentors
as well. But I think one of the biggest parts
of where everything clicked was when I started linking up
with Todd Dollars sign of course. And you know, he
was always like a big bro to me in the industry,
but he really took that role on and really helped,
(02:56):
you know, tell my story with his label Easy Money
and Motown and we did the deal.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
And what's the number one thing you learned from him?
Because he'd been added.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Well, you know what, his biggest thing was branding, So
he was like, your fans should be able to draw
a cartoon of you, and it looked like your look,
so you have to figure out like what that's going
to be.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
This is what came from. Yeah, I mean like in
my head, I was.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Like, oh, this is a cool way for people to
be able to just like you know, identify, identify me
throughout all of the millions of artists.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Who are you know doing that thing?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Yeah, you also happen to make a great body of
work too, that does That doesn't hurt at all.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
It's it's a you know package.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Some artists actually, some artists who are really talented like
you are. You produce your instruments, all that. But like
sometimes artists resent the selling part, the marketing part of it,
you know what I'm saying, Like they don't want to die.
But you seem to be embracing that.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
It's hard.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
But I mean I'm also like a serial entrepreneur, you know.
I look at my music in this opportunity as an
artist to be to be a brand and to even
you know, transfer that into material items later on you know,
see what they end up being in.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
But yeah, what kind of.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Kid were you though? Like you, I know you started
at ten, right.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Yeah, yeah, I started at ten, you know, and theater
kid ended up booking my first Broadway play, Lion King,
and and you know, my parents were musicians. I was
a cool kid just backstage usually, you know, just hanging
with them at all of their gigs.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
But were you.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Like like a you know, some kids who are talented,
they're they're quiet, they wait, or some kids are like
the voice in the room, like right, you want to
perform in every living room.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
I definitely changed over the years.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
I think when I was younger, I was definitely super loud,
you know, kind of kid just bust out dancing and
do a flip, you know, look.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
At me, I'm here.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
But yeah, over time, you know, I learned how to
be more you know, calm, Especially in this industry. It's
important ever to overshadow or or or or just.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Kind of like outshine the master. You know.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I think it's important to like learn do your thing
and then when your time's right, you're gonna.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Get your look. You know.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
That's super smart.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Yeah, yeah, I learned that in a book. And I
was like, okay, let me bit so I can really
see right.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Let me play my position exactly. What so how much
how have things changed now? Because things got to be different.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Things are very different. I think it's just mostly my schedule.
You know, it's just NonStop promo, which I think is
a beautiful thing. Traveling a lot more. You know, I'm
seeing more of the world, not just the country, flying
out to South Africa this summer, all over London and
you know, all over the country just weekly. I'm on
a plane. That's the biggest difference. Everything else is the same.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
I'm still in the studio, what you're doing Broadway.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
It's not like you're traveling the world and people are recognizing.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
A whole different thing. It's a different thing.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I mean, well, I think the closest experience to to
what I'm dealing with now is when I was on
a TV show called Victorious, Yes, and that was like
really big and everywhere I would go and stuff it was.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
It was definitely a lot.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
But it's that it's that crew.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, it's like the young kids.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, but this is a little different, like the demographics are.
Really it's just a wide range. Sometimes, you know, it's
like an older lady will come up to me like
I really like your song, and the younger ladies I'm like, okay,
I you know, the brothers, the couples. I mean it's
just like, you know, white black, Asian Hispanics, you haven't
really hit that pop space like having I'm having a
great time.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
How are you navigating? How does this change with the ladies?
I know I heard you in the breakfast club talking
about that that album you made it your single break
up era.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I think like, right now, I'm just trying to figure out, Okay,
how do I how do I balance my schedule and
and really keep keep that human side of me active.
It's not like I'm a big hobby guy, right so
you know I kind of feel like it's I'm.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Not a hobby guy.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Like I'm not going like, yeah, y'all, I'm trying to
pick up golf of bowling or something like. I gotta
figure it out, like your girl.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
When you're ready. You're not ready yet, you.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Guys, I've been a top golf here and they're trying
to but not the same.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Now, well thank you, I heard you.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Don't be out here saying that because I bet we're
gonna put them off, but you know enough love to top.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Yeah, I'm just trying to hobbies other than you, just
like really trying to figure this out.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
You know, pain, You know it's bad out here.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Now you need a hob.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
I was doing video games for a little bit, but okay,
I want to get more actors, be outside vibe.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I'm just trying to find my thing. But you like
a studio rat, Like, definitely a studio rat.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
I mean it's just like it's one of the most
fun things I can do for myself that I really
enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Yeah, you can't.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Just because you do it for a living doesn't mean
it's not your hobby.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I really have fun doing it. Yeah, So I mean
maybe maybe it is a hobby.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Is your hobby, your your passion, all of that. At
some point you may need a little something to get
on you go a little ways to go.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah, I'll be cool.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
What is the goal? What is the what is the like,
I don't know what is the goal for you, like
next five years or something like that. What do you
what are you shooting for?
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, that's a really good question.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
I feel like right now I'm building slowly, break by break,
a bridge back and forth from the acting space to music.
I really respect what fifty cent did you know? He
really took the act and stuff serious And then being
an executive producer and being able to put on some
of the homies from back in the day from the
music space on his TV shows.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
I thought it was a brilliant idea. I'm super inspired
by him. And have you met him?
Speaker 3 (08:17):
No, No, I've never met fifty cent before, but but
I love what he's doing as a businessman and owning
his own studio, Like that's like.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yeah, yeah, that's next level.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Fifty always been about his about the business. Like yeah,
like you said, what did you call yourself a serial entrepreneurial?
Speaker 2 (08:32):
I won that.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Nobody is more of a serial entrepreneur yeah, yeah, no, no, no,
he's next level.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Definitely a mogul at this point.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yeah, have you been like have you met a whole
bunch of new people, Like you haven't met fifty yet,
but any of your idols, I mean, I know you've
been in it for a while, so you have. I
mean a lot of people not new to you. But
I'm just thinking each other era. This era is different,
you know.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
I just recently met Justin Bieber. He's a big fan of.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
The music, singing the song because everybody saying he likes
the record a record.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
When I was performing, I just did Coachella not too
long ago, so with Todd dallas Son brought me out
and George Clinton was up there with me to so believing.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
I was like epic.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
But but Tyler was in the audience, like in the
cool VIP section. I saw her mouth and the words
the Mutt. I was like, Okay, I still got to
meet her though, But but it's cool to know that
some of these folks know who I am.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
I'm sure you could have did it that day. You
probably could have.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Tried to figure it out. It's just like Coachella is
tough with this.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I see what's happening here, I see what's happening. You
had your eye on maybe meeting her, Oh.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Yeah, for sure. It would have been a wonderful thing.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Yeah little that could be a cute little thing.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Yeah yeah, yeah, who knows? Who knows? Right?
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Yeah, you're a single guy.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yeah, why not successful?
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Even?
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Thank you?
Speaker 1 (09:43):
You know what I'm saying. Why not tell me about
the Coachella experience, because how does that even hell? Were
you on stage with it with George Clinton like that?
How does that even?
Speaker 2 (09:52):
You know? It's it's it's funny.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Right before I did Mutt, probably like three months before that,
I was in the studio with George Clinton and we've
been working on some records. Wow, which was such a
legendary thing.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
I got the call, and what is he like in
the studio. He's real cool, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
He's definitely a weird connoisseur. You know, the room is
definitely smokey.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
It's a good vibe.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
And he's really creative and and just like I don't know,
even at his age, still super inspired.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
You know.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
He's like the epitome of like he's just an artist, right.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Like he's a real creative. He's just a design on clothes.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
He paints too, like you know, so he's a he's
a really creative guy.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
But I was inspired by by.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Atomic Dog and like, you know, the whole dog movement
of the of the of the p Funk era. So
Todd knew that and it also worked with Georgie around
at time and thought it was kind of ironic that
we both had the Mutt and Atomic Dog.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
He said he should do Atomic Dog. Right after I.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Performed Mutt, and George Clinton came out with an Adupe
hat that he designed for me. So I was rocking
up while we were playing Atomic Dog Is it was
actually a fever dream at this point, you know. I
mean that's like level amazing, definitely a bucket list moment.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
What was real? Proud?
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Something's going on with your karma? Like you got good
energy on you right now?
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Well, you know, I try to pray every day to
try to be a good person. Yeah yeah, yeah, keep
it together.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Somebody gotta somebody put some like I feel like you
got blessings on you, like yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Yeah, yeah, I got.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
I got a lot of powerful people praying for me,
you know, And I know for a fact that that
the steps that I'm on are truly ordered.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
None of this is by accident. You believe that.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Yeah, yeah, so that's why I'm not even tripping on
the timing of what's happening right now. Yes, I've been
in the game for a long time, but I couldn't
be more ready as a human being, you know, for
this moment now exactly? Yeah, yeah, So what does that
look like?
Speaker 1 (11:38):
I know I asked you that bit, But like, I
know you want to do business, like you said fifty
but are you trying to like go do we see
you doing major films? Are you trying to have a
label are you trying.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
To I'm not all this music thing yet, So I've
got I've got plenty more to offer, and I feel
like the music is genuinely going to evolve and turn
into something really really special. Like just really scratched the
surface of what I'm capable of musically. So I'm steady
just getting better so that I can I can really
offer up the best art I can.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
I can see that. But like I said, I'm building
that bridge.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
So I want to do some films or maybe even
a TV show, you know, kind of like Dave or
like at O, a.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Little bit more like music music focus, you know.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
I love that for you.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
I appreciate you in the studio now creating this next
wave of like or are you.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Still in Yeah?
Speaker 1 (12:28):
This?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
I got a deluxe coming up.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
I heard about that. That's excited.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Yeah, and uh it's you know, just adding on to
the Mud album. But we got about ten records. We've
got a lot of a lot of stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
A couple of extra records.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Well it's like, uh, three remixes and then seven extra
records that you know, we cooked up this year. Really
great collaborations.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
With the Hay The Haley songs on there and the
Chris remixes.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
On Yeah, yeah, Chris remix and I got to a
big Sean that I'm really excited about kay Lonnie as
well as on it. I love her Marsha and Brosia
from Flow the Street. So we got some really good
stuff on the way and I'm I'm excited to share it.
You know, continue to tour and I've been also working
on another project you know, behind the scenes as well,
but we're going to focus on heel for now.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
What is that?
Speaker 1 (13:16):
What is that not? I want to know what you mean,
like producing or another project.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
For you for me?
Speaker 1 (13:20):
So you're ready to cook you Like, my whole.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Thing is is like, uh, I want to be on
the road as long as possible. So I'm taking the
time where I do have an opportunity to be in
the studio consecutively.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
I'm not taking it for granted.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
I want to be able to work records at the
same time that I'm dropping them.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
To be honest, yo, take this moment of this little
this moment make you do all the collapse, yeah, all
the information.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Yeah, yeah, because I'm definitely trying to stay as busy
as possible.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Because you got heat on you too. So I'm sure
like when you're in the studio with these artists, like
all those artists, Yeah, they're not just showing up like
a fake like I'm sure they're showing up with energy
to give you right now.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's definitely like a an amazing
give and take and I don't take it for granted.
So you know, I'm coming through ready, prepared, locked in. Yeah,
what do you like in the studio a bit of
a maniac because the thing is for me is I'm
like nocturnal at this point, so you know, my studio
sessions will start at like six or seven, and then
(14:20):
if you can hang you know, you might be up
with me at around four am, five am when I'm.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Finishing you know, here, I'm gonna go.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
I'm gonna go and knock out, you know, as much
as I can because my phone is ringing all day
and I'm definitely trying to make sure right now, staying
on all of these calls and you know, make sure
everything is locked in. But but I'm you know a
little bit more freed up when it comes to just
mental space at night.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
So that's what, Yeah, that's so fire.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Who do you like, who do you like? Who's giving
you inspiration right now? Your name keeps coming up with.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Other people, but like for you oldhead.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
But but there's some really amazing new artists too that
I'm super inspired by, like the Scott McGee, he's like
super talented. I really love to see, you know, some
of my peers, like Coco Jones doing her thing too
right now, like her packages together.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
You see her, she's coming there right after your Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Okay, oh yeah, no, we're cool. You have a bunch
of records together. Matter of fact, we did a song
together when we were like sixteen. She was on Disney, I.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Was on Way.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Because you have the same world.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Yeah, it's really cool to see all all of us
graduate and you know, make it all right.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
It doesn't always happen.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
It does not always.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Yeah, yeah, it gets real out here.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
It's such a weird thing that happens with child actors,
and like, I don't know, I think this is a
special thing and I usually it comes from having a
good family that kind of helps you kind of navigate
those waters of like because if you're a kid, there's
expectation on you of what you're supposed to be, how
much success you're supposed to have. I don't know, I
just feel like for child actors, child performers sometimes that
(15:47):
it doesn't. I don't know, it's just it.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Yeah, it's a challenging tribe around you. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Yeah, it's a challenging thing waters to navigate, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
And I mean shout out to Kiki, even Ariana Grande
who's been doing this and she was thirteen, you know, like, uh,
you know, we all had really strong parents that that
that were our protectors just as much as they were
our family, you know, making sure we had a safe
space to to come back to when we had to
deal with an entire world of thoughts and opinions.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
That's probably why you got along so well with Drake.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Too, absolutely yeah. Yeah, yeah, and I really look up
to him.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
I mean the way that he was able to transfer
out of that whole thing with you know, yeah, it
was not everybody could do it. It's a really hard transition.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Your music got to be super fire, got to be
people got to believe you, Yeah, they got to believe
the culture behind it. Yeah. They can't just think that
you could just sing a song because sometimes you know
what I mean, like they gotta believe.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
You gotta believe the story.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
They gotta Yeah, yeah, they got to buy into the whole,
the whole get down.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Yeah, why do you think you said your family? But like,
did you ever have any challenges with that as a
kid coming up and the expectation you put on yourself
or yeah?
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Yeah, I mean, I mean I wouldn't be telling the
truth if I would say that it was just an
easy journey, especially being like one of the only main
black characters on my show. You know, just kind of
like the A and B of like man, like, you know,
I'm seeing other things happen for other people, and you know,
you just start comparing yourself. But I think when I
really started putting the blinders on and just like kind
(17:12):
of operating from a place of gratitude, everything changed for
me just as I grew older. But I think when
I was younger, I was always trying to figure out,
you know, how to continue to you know, support my
family and you know, keep the ball rolling.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
I mean, Jesus, that alone is a lot for k
to be the one that's supporting the family.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Well yeah, I mean, it's it's a very consuming industry,
you know, and it's not like I could just be
there by myself. So you know, this is definitely a
family business at a certain point.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Do you remember your first time on stage? It was
stage first, right then the show? Yeah, so you were ten.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
That was like like my first real performance, pay performance,
my first gig. And you were ten, ten, ten, and
like looking out into the audience and you're seeing like
the smiles, the instant gratification, and immediately.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Immediately I was like sold. I was like, that's what
I'm doing. Figured this out forever. That was quick.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Was there other kids because it was like, was there
other kids that other child actors and stuff that you
were working with? Well?
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Yeah, I mean they hire about four kids for every
season that they're doing. So I have we have like
we switch off. We don't do all eight shows. When
you're got young that could be a lot. But for
the other Broadway plays, I was, I was doing eight
shows a week, you know, Matt Day's on Wednesday type.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Did you have any like regular parts of normal childhood?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Or I went to public school and we did which one?
Speaker 3 (18:34):
So I went to International Studies for middle school and
then PS two ninety five for elementary. Wow, it was
really cool to go to public school and just kind
of vibe with my friends and realize that, you know,
everybody's life wasn't like mine, but but you know we're
all blessed on all ways. You know, I think it
definitely kept me grounded and balanced for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Amazing. All right, I know we don't have that much time,
but we do you have a date yet for this
deluxe album? Because I know, no, no what it is?
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Soon come.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
There was a date, but I know we're still working
on some things. You have more fire and there's some
there's some stuff cooking up right now. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
something crazy?
Speaker 1 (19:12):
All right? So in the meantime, what is the people
could just what is this? Oh your thing? We have
to go through your Oh you didn't do it? So
why are you giving this to me in real life questionnaire?
You have time because you because you ran in. What
is the last thing you ate?
Speaker 2 (19:29):
The last thing I ate was a panini? What kind pasto?
Chicken pestle?
Speaker 1 (19:34):
We put a little book of our guests a pesto
chicken panini? What is your go to karaoke song?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
My go to purple rainbow Prince Body that? Yeah, I
ain't gonna lie.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Do you get into like do you go into character
or you just like I need to know.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I'm just vibing, you know. I think I'm like naturally
dramatic when I'm on stage. So it's a good time.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
And you're a prince man and I take it.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Definitely a Prince fan, A big Prince fan.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Isn't that your favorite Prince song?
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Probably one of my favors.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
What is your superpower?
Speaker 2 (20:07):
My superpower would be flight? I want to fly?
Speaker 1 (20:12):
What do you mean?
Speaker 2 (20:13):
I like you mean if I were to have a superpower?
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Right, oh if you were? Okay, I'm saying, what is
your supermo?
Speaker 2 (20:20):
What is my superpower?
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Are you secretly a pilot? No?
Speaker 2 (20:23):
No, no, no no.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
My superpower I would say it is a melody, melody.
I'm really quick with melodies in the studio, you know,
almost muting, Like really I can come up with a song.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Like can make now about about today?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Well, see, words are my thing. Words take time, but
the melodies use the melody.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
So if we next time you came, if I gave
you words, could you help me put it in a
melody in real time?
Speaker 2 (20:46):
In real time?
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Yeahs a challenge challenge? Okay, who is your celebrity crush?
Speaker 3 (20:56):
My celebrity crush. That's a really great question, thil Oh. Yeah, yeah,
let's throw toilet down because I don't even have that
on me right now a little bit, everybody, Okay, Okay,
I like that. I don't want to answer that for you,
but you know, she's definitely fine.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Okay. What is the one thing on your bucket list?
Speaker 3 (21:20):
The one thing on my bucket list? I want to
go to I want to go to Africa the continent
and go to different countries.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
And perform, perform and explore.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yeah, you know who could get you there? Tyler?
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I like that. I like that. I was very smart.
Let's make it work.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
What is your pet peeve?
Speaker 2 (21:39):
My pet peeve is over assertive ego.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
I like when people are coming in the room just bravado,
being rude, like yes, it gets to me.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
And also people who smack when they eat, like yeah,
like like too much of that. I'm like, calm down,
play it, slow down, never good.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
And ego is terrible to you.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Yeah, I just ego gets me, you know, because that's
something unspoken at this point.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Confidence is great, though, confidence.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Is great, but you know the difference, Yeah, for sure,
I wonder.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
What is the difference unwarranted confidence or over the top
unnecessary concessary.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
It's sometimes shows just ugly head when it's rude, when
they're being rude to.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Be yes, yeah you don't like that. Yeah, I feel
you on that. What is the last thing that sent
you down a YouTube or or social media rabbit hole?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
UFOs for sure? Everything. Yeah, I love like checking out
those YouTube videos.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
It's pretty fun.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
You went down a rabbit hole?
Speaker 2 (22:38):
What did you learn?
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Anything you want to share?
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I mean we all can google it. It's all out there.
What do you believe?
Speaker 3 (22:45):
I definitely believe there's aliens for sure. Yeah, but I
mean that might just be the hippie and me.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Who knows, but like amongst us, at this point it
makes sense. Yeah, would you go to space?
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Uh, knowing that there's aliens? I don't know. You gotta
check that. Hell see how they feel about that.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
First, you're having a good you're having a good run
here right now, so you might as well stay here
and right there, right they.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Were going, well right right, I'm with it. I'm with it.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
Congratulations on everything. I can't wait to hear it.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
The Deluxe Joint. It was such a pleasure meeting you.
Congratulate everything, Thank you. What's happening on everybody's problem by
point what
Leon Thomas.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Feeling.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I feel like your name keeps coming up other time.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
That's great number one.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
You know it's spending crazy.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Oh yes, it's been doing really well.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
I've been doing really well. Ivy's always talking about loves
the album. He loves the album. He brought an album thinking.
I had Neil here the other day and boy as
Neil of the generation that's right now happening. Who who
are you Neo Feeling? And you are the first name
he said.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Wow, I'm a huge fan. I will say, really big fan.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
I saw also on your page, I saw Sizza and
talking about y.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I mean I got a chance to work with all
three of them separately on different projects.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, that was cool to see you.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Feeling like a like an abundance of just.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Flower.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
It's it's been a long journey for me as a career,
you know, from from doing the whole acting thing for
a really long time and then you know, doing production
and songwriting. So I mean, I've worked with everybody, but
now I'm really doing my artist thing. It's really nice
for people to you know, show this much love.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I love that for you.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
It is a hard transition for a lot of people,
it really is. And sometimes people are super talented, you know.
I don't want to disrespect anybody, so don't want to
say their names. But I know a few young talented
actors that that have some ability you know that great
abut and just have a really hard time cutting through
cutting out of a box.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
It's tough. It's tough.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I mean, I feel like when you're an actor, everything's
picked out for you, you know. And I think the
biggest part of music is the culture aspect of it.
And shout out to my team for really helping build
this brand around the music, not just it's not just
about the songs, you know, it's about like what we
can do to really push this when it comes to
look and and like the culture behind it.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
And yeah, what was the biggest thing? What was like,
is there a turning point? Was this something that.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Yeah, he was like a light bulb went off when
I was working with When I was working with Drake,
I feel like seeing the way his whole system was
flowing and like the amount of like positive affirmations and
like words that he was saying to me about what
I could do as an artist too at that time, which.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Was really Drake.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Yeah, I mean I thought that was really tight, because
I mean I genuinely look up to him and everything
that he's doing.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
At the time, I was just producing.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
But but what did he tell you? I mean, the
one thing he did say, he was like, nobody told
me the most. I wasn't the most talented person in
the room right now, I was like one of the
craziest things he said.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
I was like, oh, that's pretty crazy.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
And you know, I played a lot of my music
for Boy Wonder, and Boy Wonder was telling them that
I was doing my own thing as an artist, which
was really cool. Boy Wonder is one of my mentors
as well. But I think one of the biggest parts
of where everything clicked was when I started linking up
with Todd Dollars sign of course. And you know, he
was always like a big bro to me in the industry,
but he really took that role on and really helped,
(02:56):
you know, tell my story with his label Easy Money
and Motown and we did the deal.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
And what's the number one thing you learned from him?
Because he'd been added.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Well, you know what, his biggest thing was branding, So
he was like, your fans should be able to draw
a cartoon of you, and it looked like your look,
so you have to figure out like what that's going
to be.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
This is what came from. Yeah, I mean like in
my head, I was.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Like, oh, this is a cool way for people to
be able to just like you know, identify, identify me
throughout all of the millions of artists.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Who are you know doing that thing?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Yeah, you also happen to make a great body of
work too, that does That doesn't hurt at all.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
It's it's a you know package.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Some artists actually, some artists who are really talented like
you are. You produce your instruments, all that. But like
sometimes artists resent the selling part, the marketing part of it,
you know what I'm saying, Like they don't want to die.
But you seem to be embracing that.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
It's hard.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
But I mean I'm also like a serial entrepreneur, you know.
I look at my music in this opportunity as an
artist to be to be a brand and to even
you know, transfer that into material items later on you know,
see what they end up being in.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
But yeah, what kind of.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Kid were you though? Like you, I know you started
at ten, right.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Yeah, yeah, I started at ten, you know, and theater
kid ended up booking my first Broadway play, Lion King,
and and you know, my parents were musicians. I was
a cool kid just backstage usually, you know, just hanging
with them at all of their gigs.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
But were you.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Like like a you know, some kids who are talented,
they're they're quiet, they wait, or some kids are like
the voice in the room, like right, you want to
perform in every living room.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
I definitely changed over the years.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
I think when I was younger, I was definitely super loud,
you know, kind of kid just bust out dancing and
do a flip, you know, look.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
At me, I'm here.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
But yeah, over time, you know, I learned how to
be more you know, calm, Especially in this industry. It's
important ever to overshadow or or or or just.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Kind of like outshine the master. You know.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I think it's important to like learn do your thing
and then when your time's right, you're gonna.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Get your look. You know.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
That's super smart.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Yeah, yeah, I learned that in a book. And I
was like, okay, let me bit so I can really
see right.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Let me play my position exactly. What so how much
how have things changed now? Because things got to be different.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Things are very different. I think it's just mostly my schedule.
You know, it's just NonStop promo, which I think is
a beautiful thing. Traveling a lot more. You know, I'm
seeing more of the world, not just the country, flying
out to South Africa this summer, all over London and
you know, all over the country just weekly. I'm on
a plane. That's the biggest difference. Everything else is the same.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
I'm still in the studio, what you're doing Broadway.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
It's not like you're traveling the world and people are recognizing.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
A whole different thing. It's a different thing.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I mean, well, I think the closest experience to to
what I'm dealing with now is when I was on
a TV show called Victorious, Yes, and that was like
really big and everywhere I would go and stuff it was.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
It was definitely a lot.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
But it's that it's that crew.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, it's like the young kids.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, but this is a little different, like the demographics are.
Really it's just a wide range. Sometimes, you know, it's
like an older lady will come up to me like
I really like your song, and the younger ladies I'm like, okay,
I you know, the brothers, the couples. I mean it's
just like, you know, white black, Asian Hispanics, you haven't
really hit that pop space like having I'm having a
great time.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
How are you navigating? How does this change with the ladies?
I know I heard you in the breakfast club talking
about that that album you made it your single break
up era.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I think like, right now, I'm just trying to figure out, Okay,
how do I how do I balance my schedule and
and really keep keep that human side of me active.
It's not like I'm a big hobby guy, right so
you know I kind of feel like it's I'm.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Not a hobby guy.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Like I'm not going like, yeah, y'all, I'm trying to
pick up golf of bowling or something like. I gotta
figure it out, like your girl.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
When you're ready. You're not ready yet, you.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Guys, I've been a top golf here and they're trying
to but not the same.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Now, well thank you, I heard you.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Don't be out here saying that because I bet we're
gonna put them off, but you know enough love to top.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Yeah, I'm just trying to hobbies other than you, just
like really trying to figure this out.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
You know, pain, You know it's bad out here.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Now you need a hob.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
I was doing video games for a little bit, but okay,
I want to get more actors, be outside vibe.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I'm just trying to find my thing. But you like
a studio rat, Like, definitely a studio rat.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
I mean it's just like it's one of the most
fun things I can do for myself that I really
enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Yeah, you can't.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Just because you do it for a living doesn't mean
it's not your hobby.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I really have fun doing it. Yeah, So I mean
maybe maybe it is a hobby.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Is your hobby, your your passion, all of that. At
some point you may need a little something to get
on you go a little ways to go.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah, I'll be cool.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
What is the goal? What is the what is the like,
I don't know what is the goal for you, like
next five years or something like that. What do you
what are you shooting for?
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, that's a really good question.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
I feel like right now I'm building slowly, break by break,
a bridge back and forth from the acting space to music.
I really respect what fifty cent did you know? He
really took the act and stuff serious And then being
an executive producer and being able to put on some
of the homies from back in the day from the
music space on his TV shows.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
I thought it was a brilliant idea. I'm super inspired
by him. And have you met him?
Speaker 3 (08:17):
No, No, I've never met fifty cent before, but but
I love what he's doing as a businessman and owning
his own studio, Like that's like.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yeah, yeah, that's next level.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Fifty always been about his about the business. Like yeah,
like you said, what did you call yourself a serial entrepreneurial?
Speaker 2 (08:32):
I won that.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Nobody is more of a serial entrepreneur yeah, yeah, no, no, no,
he's next level.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Definitely a mogul at this point.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yeah, have you been like have you met a whole
bunch of new people, Like you haven't met fifty yet,
but any of your idols, I mean, I know you've
been in it for a while, so you have. I
mean a lot of people not new to you. But
I'm just thinking each other era. This era is different,
you know.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
I just recently met Justin Bieber. He's a big fan of.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
The music, singing the song because everybody saying he likes
the record a record.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
When I was performing, I just did Coachella not too
long ago, so with Todd dallas Son brought me out
and George Clinton was up there with me to so believing.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
I was like epic.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
But but Tyler was in the audience, like in the
cool VIP section. I saw her mouth and the words
the Mutt. I was like, Okay, I still got to
meet her though, But but it's cool to know that
some of these folks know who I am.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
I'm sure you could have did it that day. You
probably could have.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Tried to figure it out. It's just like Coachella is
tough with this.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I see what's happening here, I see what's happening. You
had your eye on maybe meeting her, Oh.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Yeah, for sure. It would have been a wonderful thing.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Yeah little that could be a cute little thing.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Yeah yeah, yeah, who knows? Who knows? Right?
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Yeah, you're a single guy.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yeah, why not successful?
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Even?
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Thank you?
Speaker 1 (09:43):
You know what I'm saying. Why not tell me about
the Coachella experience, because how does that even hell? Were
you on stage with it with George Clinton like that?
How does that even?
Speaker 2 (09:52):
You know? It's it's it's funny.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Right before I did Mutt, probably like three months before that,
I was in the studio with George Clinton and we've
been working on some records. Wow, which was such a
legendary thing.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
I got the call, and what is he like in
the studio. He's real cool, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
He's definitely a weird connoisseur. You know, the room is
definitely smokey.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
It's a good vibe.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
And he's really creative and and just like I don't know,
even at his age, still super inspired.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
You know.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
He's like the epitome of like he's just an artist, right.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Like he's a real creative. He's just a design on clothes.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
He paints too, like you know, so he's a he's
a really creative guy.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
But I was inspired by by.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Atomic Dog and like, you know, the whole dog movement
of the of the of the p Funk era. So
Todd knew that and it also worked with Georgie around
at time and thought it was kind of ironic that
we both had the Mutt and Atomic Dog.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
He said he should do Atomic Dog. Right after I.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Performed Mutt, and George Clinton came out with an Adupe
hat that he designed for me. So I was rocking
up while we were playing Atomic Dog Is it was
actually a fever dream at this point, you know. I
mean that's like level amazing, definitely a bucket list moment.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
What was real? Proud?
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Something's going on with your karma? Like you got good
energy on you right now?
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Well, you know, I try to pray every day to
try to be a good person. Yeah yeah, yeah, keep
it together.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Somebody gotta somebody put some like I feel like you
got blessings on you, like yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Yeah, yeah, I got.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
I got a lot of powerful people praying for me,
you know, And I know for a fact that that
the steps that I'm on are truly ordered.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
None of this is by accident. You believe that.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Yeah, yeah, so that's why I'm not even tripping on
the timing of what's happening right now. Yes, I've been
in the game for a long time, but I couldn't
be more ready as a human being, you know, for
this moment now exactly? Yeah, yeah, So what does that
look like?
Speaker 1 (11:38):
I know I asked you that bit, But like, I
know you want to do business, like you said fifty
but are you trying to like go do we see
you doing major films? Are you trying to have a
label are you trying.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
To I'm not all this music thing yet, So I've
got I've got plenty more to offer, and I feel
like the music is genuinely going to evolve and turn
into something really really special. Like just really scratched the
surface of what I'm capable of musically. So I'm steady
just getting better so that I can I can really
offer up the best art I can.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
I can see that. But like I said, I'm building
that bridge.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
So I want to do some films or maybe even
a TV show, you know, kind of like Dave or
like at O, a.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Little bit more like music music focus, you know.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
I love that for you.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
I appreciate you in the studio now creating this next
wave of like or are you.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Still in Yeah?
Speaker 1 (12:28):
This?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
I got a deluxe coming up.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
I heard about that. That's excited.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Yeah, and uh it's you know, just adding on to
the Mud album. But we got about ten records. We've
got a lot of a lot of stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
A couple of extra records.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Well it's like, uh, three remixes and then seven extra
records that you know, we cooked up this year. Really
great collaborations.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
With the Hay The Haley songs on there and the
Chris remixes.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
On Yeah, yeah, Chris remix and I got to a
big Sean that I'm really excited about kay Lonnie as
well as on it. I love her Marsha and Brosia
from Flow the Street. So we got some really good
stuff on the way and I'm I'm excited to share it.
You know, continue to tour and I've been also working
on another project you know, behind the scenes as well,
but we're going to focus on heel for now.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
What is that?
Speaker 1 (13:16):
What is that not? I want to know what you mean,
like producing or another project.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
For you for me?
Speaker 1 (13:20):
So you're ready to cook you Like, my whole.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Thing is is like, uh, I want to be on
the road as long as possible. So I'm taking the
time where I do have an opportunity to be in
the studio consecutively.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
I'm not taking it for granted.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
I want to be able to work records at the
same time that I'm dropping them.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
To be honest, yo, take this moment of this little
this moment make you do all the collapse, yeah, all
the information.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Yeah, yeah, because I'm definitely trying to stay as busy
as possible.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Because you got heat on you too. So I'm sure
like when you're in the studio with these artists, like
all those artists, Yeah, they're not just showing up like
a fake like I'm sure they're showing up with energy
to give you right now.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's definitely like a an amazing
give and take and I don't take it for granted.
So you know, I'm coming through ready, prepared, locked in. Yeah,
what do you like in the studio a bit of
a maniac because the thing is for me is I'm
like nocturnal at this point, so you know, my studio
sessions will start at like six or seven, and then
(14:20):
if you can hang you know, you might be up
with me at around four am, five am when I'm.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Finishing you know, here, I'm gonna go.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
I'm gonna go and knock out, you know, as much
as I can because my phone is ringing all day
and I'm definitely trying to make sure right now, staying
on all of these calls and you know, make sure
everything is locked in. But but I'm you know a
little bit more freed up when it comes to just
mental space at night.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
So that's what, Yeah, that's so fire.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Who do you like, who do you like? Who's giving
you inspiration right now? Your name keeps coming up with.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Other people, but like for you oldhead.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
But but there's some really amazing new artists too that
I'm super inspired by, like the Scott McGee, he's like
super talented. I really love to see, you know, some
of my peers, like Coco Jones doing her thing too
right now, like her packages together.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
You see her, she's coming there right after your Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Okay, oh yeah, no, we're cool. You have a bunch
of records together. Matter of fact, we did a song
together when we were like sixteen. She was on Disney, I.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Was on Way.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Because you have the same world.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Yeah, it's really cool to see all all of us
graduate and you know, make it all right.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
It doesn't always happen.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
It does not always.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Yeah, yeah, it gets real out here.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
It's such a weird thing that happens with child actors,
and like, I don't know, I think this is a
special thing and I usually it comes from having a
good family that kind of helps you kind of navigate
those waters of like because if you're a kid, there's
expectation on you of what you're supposed to be, how
much success you're supposed to have. I don't know, I
just feel like for child actors, child performers sometimes that
(15:47):
it doesn't. I don't know, it's just it.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Yeah, it's a challenging tribe around you. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Yeah, it's a challenging thing waters to navigate, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
And I mean shout out to Kiki, even Ariana Grande
who's been doing this and she was thirteen, you know, like, uh,
you know, we all had really strong parents that that
that were our protectors just as much as they were
our family, you know, making sure we had a safe
space to to come back to when we had to
deal with an entire world of thoughts and opinions.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
That's probably why you got along so well with Drake.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Too, absolutely yeah. Yeah, yeah, and I really look up
to him.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
I mean the way that he was able to transfer
out of that whole thing with you know, yeah, it
was not everybody could do it. It's a really hard transition.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Your music got to be super fire, got to be
people got to believe you, Yeah, they got to believe
the culture behind it. Yeah. They can't just think that
you could just sing a song because sometimes you know
what I mean, like they gotta believe.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
You gotta believe the story.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
They gotta Yeah, yeah, they got to buy into the whole,
the whole get down.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Yeah, why do you think you said your family? But like,
did you ever have any challenges with that as a
kid coming up and the expectation you put on yourself
or yeah?
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Yeah, I mean, I mean I wouldn't be telling the
truth if I would say that it was just an
easy journey, especially being like one of the only main
black characters on my show. You know, just kind of
like the A and B of like man, like, you know,
I'm seeing other things happen for other people, and you know,
you just start comparing yourself. But I think when I
really started putting the blinders on and just like kind
(17:12):
of operating from a place of gratitude, everything changed for
me just as I grew older. But I think when
I was younger, I was always trying to figure out,
you know, how to continue to you know, support my
family and you know, keep the ball rolling.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
I mean, Jesus, that alone is a lot for k
to be the one that's supporting the family.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Well yeah, I mean, it's it's a very consuming industry,
you know, and it's not like I could just be
there by myself. So you know, this is definitely a
family business at a certain point.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Do you remember your first time on stage? It was
stage first, right then the show? Yeah, so you were ten.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
That was like like my first real performance, pay performance,
my first gig. And you were ten, ten, ten, and
like looking out into the audience and you're seeing like
the smiles, the instant gratification, and immediately.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Immediately I was like sold. I was like, that's what
I'm doing. Figured this out forever. That was quick.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Was there other kids because it was like, was there
other kids that other child actors and stuff that you
were working with? Well?
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Yeah, I mean they hire about four kids for every
season that they're doing. So I have we have like
we switch off. We don't do all eight shows. When
you're got young that could be a lot. But for
the other Broadway plays, I was, I was doing eight
shows a week, you know, Matt Day's on Wednesday type.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Did you have any like regular parts of normal childhood?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Or I went to public school and we did which one?
Speaker 3 (18:34):
So I went to International Studies for middle school and
then PS two ninety five for elementary. Wow, it was
really cool to go to public school and just kind
of vibe with my friends and realize that, you know,
everybody's life wasn't like mine, but but you know we're
all blessed on all ways. You know, I think it
definitely kept me grounded and balanced for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Amazing. All right, I know we don't have that much time,
but we do you have a date yet for this
deluxe album? Because I know, no, no what it is?
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Soon come.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
There was a date, but I know we're still working
on some things. You have more fire and there's some
there's some stuff cooking up right now. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
something crazy?
Speaker 1 (19:12):
All right? So in the meantime, what is the people
could just what is this? Oh your thing? We have
to go through your Oh you didn't do it? So
why are you giving this to me in real life questionnaire?
You have time because you because you ran in. What
is the last thing you ate?
Speaker 2 (19:29):
The last thing I ate was a panini? What kind pasto?
Chicken pestle?
Speaker 1 (19:34):
We put a little book of our guests a pesto
chicken panini? What is your go to karaoke song?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
My go to purple rainbow Prince Body that? Yeah, I
ain't gonna lie.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Do you get into like do you go into character
or you just like I need to know.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I'm just vibing, you know. I think I'm like naturally
dramatic when I'm on stage. So it's a good time.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
And you're a prince man and I take it.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Definitely a Prince fan, A big Prince fan.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Isn't that your favorite Prince song?
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Probably one of my favors.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
What is your superpower?
Speaker 2 (20:07):
My superpower would be flight? I want to fly?
Speaker 1 (20:12):
What do you mean?
Speaker 2 (20:13):
I like you mean if I were to have a superpower?
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Right, oh if you were? Okay, I'm saying, what is
your supermo?
Speaker 2 (20:20):
What is my superpower?
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Are you secretly a pilot? No?
Speaker 2 (20:23):
No, no, no no.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
My superpower I would say it is a melody, melody.
I'm really quick with melodies in the studio, you know,
almost muting, Like really I can come up with a song.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Like can make now about about today?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Well, see, words are my thing. Words take time, but
the melodies use the melody.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
So if we next time you came, if I gave
you words, could you help me put it in a
melody in real time?
Speaker 2 (20:46):
In real time?
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Yeahs a challenge challenge? Okay, who is your celebrity crush?
Speaker 3 (20:56):
My celebrity crush. That's a really great question, thil Oh. Yeah, yeah,
let's throw toilet down because I don't even have that
on me right now a little bit, everybody, Okay, Okay,
I like that. I don't want to answer that for you,
but you know, she's definitely fine.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Okay. What is the one thing on your bucket list?
Speaker 3 (21:20):
The one thing on my bucket list? I want to
go to I want to go to Africa the continent
and go to different countries.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
And perform, perform and explore.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yeah, you know who could get you there? Tyler?
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I like that. I like that. I was very smart.
Let's make it work.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
What is your pet peeve?
Speaker 2 (21:39):
My pet peeve is over assertive ego.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
I like when people are coming in the room just bravado,
being rude, like yes, it gets to me.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
And also people who smack when they eat, like yeah,
like like too much of that. I'm like, calm down,
play it, slow down, never good.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
And ego is terrible to you.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Yeah, I just ego gets me, you know, because that's
something unspoken at this point.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Confidence is great, though, confidence.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Is great, but you know the difference, Yeah, for sure,
I wonder.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
What is the difference unwarranted confidence or over the top
unnecessary concessary.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
It's sometimes shows just ugly head when it's rude, when
they're being rude to.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Be yes, yeah you don't like that. Yeah, I feel
you on that. What is the last thing that sent
you down a YouTube or or social media rabbit hole?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
UFOs for sure? Everything. Yeah, I love like checking out
those YouTube videos.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
It's pretty fun.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
You went down a rabbit hole?
Speaker 2 (22:38):
What did you learn?
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Anything you want to share?
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I mean we all can google it. It's all out there.
What do you believe?
Speaker 3 (22:45):
I definitely believe there's aliens for sure. Yeah, but I
mean that might just be the hippie and me.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Who knows, but like amongst us, at this point it
makes sense. Yeah, would you go to space?
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Uh, knowing that there's aliens? I don't know. You gotta
check that. Hell see how they feel about that.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
First, you're having a good you're having a good run
here right now, so you might as well stay here
and right there, right they.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Were going, well right right, I'm with it. I'm with it.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
Congratulations on everything. I can't wait to hear it.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
The Deluxe Joint. It was such a pleasure meeting you.
Congratulate everything, Thank you. What's happening on everybody's problem by
point what
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