May 13, 2025 • 27 mins
TikTok star Devonte West joins the show!
Devonte shares his journey from accounting to viral stardom, the story behind his iconic “Darnell” video, and how a spiritual shift helped guide his career.
He also talks about making content during the pandemic, staying true to his creativity, and moving to Dallas for love.
Follow Devonte West on TikTok @_yogi75
Watch the full episode on YouTube:
YouTube.com/@michaelzavala
Follow the Guys:
Michael Zavala @michaelzavala
Eric Star @mrericstar
Clark @justsimplyclark
Follow the Show:
Instagram: @mznowtv
www.MZNOW.tv
Produced at mzStudios mzStudiosDallas.com
Devonte shares his journey from accounting to viral stardom, the story behind his iconic “Darnell” video, and how a spiritual shift helped guide his career.
He also talks about making content during the pandemic, staying true to his creativity, and moving to Dallas for love.
Follow Devonte West on TikTok @_yogi75
Watch the full episode on YouTube:
YouTube.com/@michaelzavala
Follow the Guys:
Michael Zavala @michaelzavala
Eric Star @mrericstar
Clark @justsimplyclark
Follow the Show:
Instagram: @mznowtv
www.MZNOW.tv
Produced at mzStudios mzStudiosDallas.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're abound to enter the world of Michael Zavalla.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Now your change to turn back Michael, don't do read
well do uh or something like this.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I can't hear you.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Wow, I'm just bains. That's what you think about.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
This is m Z now one of the funniest guys.
(00:50):
I think that's on TikTok right now. It's sitting in
the studio with us, and uh, I don't I'm not
gonna say I stopped you, but I knew you were
in Dallas. You just moved here? How much?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
How long ago? Five months ago? Okay?
Speaker 1 (01:02):
So I found that out somehow. Maybe you posted it, may,
I hope, And that's how I found out. And then
and then I'm like, we got to get this guy
in the show because I've been following you for a
long time. And then I'm like, how do we get
this guy in the show. And then randomly, like two
weeks ago, right there's a YouTube event in town, and
so I show up to the YouTube event and I'm
late and they're doing something on stage. I don't know
(01:23):
what was going on. And then everyone starts walking away
and I start looking around for people that I might know,
and unfortunately, didn't walk it run into anybody that we know.
But the first person I saw and recognized was you.
And I'm like, I'm gonna I'm gonna corner him and
I'm gonna make him sign this contract, but he's gonna
come in. I didn't have to do all that. He
said absolutely, I'll be there, and he showed up. I
was like literally a week ago or so. Yeah, yeah,
(01:44):
DeVante West, Yes, sir, Now you've really blown up really quickly.
Like you posted a video what was it two or
three years ago.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
At this point? What was that? Yeah? Going on three
years now July make three years.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And then it really took off and you blew up right.
I Mean they say sometimes like one video can change
your life, but in your case, it really did.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, So what were you doing before TikTok?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Before TikTok? I was in accounting, Oh really counting. I
woke in auditor Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
So I did that.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
I got my degree in accounting and inspirational job. Yeah,
and then I moved out to La. That was right,
pandemic happened and then.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
What were you trying to do in La?
Speaker 3 (02:23):
I just moved out there because my best friend was
out there. And then the pandemic happened. He was like,
you're not doing anything anyway, because I was at that
point we're working from home. So he's like, you can
just do what you're doing now and come up to
LA and I was like Manuel, So part out of
LA realized I didn't like accounting yeah right, and college
just sound cool because like, oh, I looking at the money,
but I'm like hours I'm putting in. I'm working on weekends,
and then you know, you got busy season, which I
(02:44):
wasn't aware of.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
This is actually terrible.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
You're trying to go on spring break.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
And then I was yeah, so I didn't like I
heard like the traveling part.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
I'm like, oh, I'll be traveling working.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
That sounds cool, but I'm traveling in the middle of nowhere,
just like at the client's office and I'm back at
the hotel and there's nothing now but the McDonald's and
it's like, yeah, you might as well work because there's
nothing to right.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I'm like, this is kind of miserable.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
So then I stopped doing that, and then my one
of my best friends, she convinced me to start doing tiktoks,
and that's when everyone was starting me because we're.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
In the house. It's like might as well.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
And then so there was no desire to do entertainment.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
I mean, I wanted to major in communications, and I
wanted to be uh. I wanted to do musicals. I
love musicals, like theater arts. But then, like a guardian
of my life, she was like, ah, cool, but there's
no money in that. You're good at like numbers to accounting.
So the logical is like, okay, cool, I'll take the
safe out. Yea, yeah, I so take the say for out.
And so I did that, but I'm like, ah, I
(03:36):
don't like this.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
And then but you weren't a comedian, you weren't going
up on stage.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
I mean, I'm definitely the class clown you school and
stuff like that. So stuff that I was that I
record now is what I've always done. I just never
recorded it, you feel me. So they're like, you're doing
it anyway, you might as well see what can throw
it out there, throw it out there.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
So I was like, this is what I was telling
them in the elevator. I'm always amazed at people that
can do a really good funny video one time it
blows up and then they do it again. And they
do it again, and the consistency is there. You were
one of the people that I follow that consistently has
great funny videos.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Let me play the video that I think this is
the one that that you got famous off of thisten
Right here, boy boy, look.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
At you boy looking like nineteen sixty go ahead on.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
And that did it? That blew out how many millions
of people have seen that video a lot.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
I think what's crazy about that is it's not even
the video, it's the audio that people kept recreating. Yeah,
so I didn't know that was a thing until one
of my friends like, hey, isn't this your voice?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And I'm like, that is that is my voice?
Speaker 3 (04:44):
And I was seeing it from a lot of creators,
and then went from just TikTok to seeing like people
in interviews using the you know.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Nineteen sixty eight, don that's you.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Now it's going around and it was on YouTube and
then Instagram and Facebook and everyone's like seeing it. I
remember my dad heard it. He was like, oh, you
suity people, how that worked? I used to suit them.
You know, you can't really do that, but yeah, that
I think that's what blew up because the sound even
not to this day, people still use that. You know,
Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steel has used the sound bite
(05:15):
this past season. So I think the cool part is
like even three years removed, it's still a thing.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Like even when I go out, people like done.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
That, that's you. They know you now, And so I
think that's the cool part. I think it was the
recreations that kept it alied, that really blew up to
what it was, which I didn't know was the thing.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
What I what I remember because I saw this video
when you first released it. And the reason why I
remember this so well is because I had just finished
watching the latest season The Stranger Things. And as you
watch the video, uh, you'll notice there's the breeze just
floating down the air and uh, and I'm watching it
and I remember that I commented, I never comment on videos,
(05:52):
but I thought it was I thought the video was funny.
I thought you were funny. After everything was so funny
that I said, did you film this? By the way,
it's probably was not an original because Strange Thing has
just come out, you know, the under what is it
called the upside Down? It's in everyone's mind. So I
was not original, But I was like, did this get
filmed on the upside down? And you look at it like,
I'm more concerned about your health at this point at
this place?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Was here at that point I was. I was a
caretaker at that point.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
So I'm like, oh, said a guy I'm caregiving for,
I'm at his apartment and so he was actually sleep
so I probably woke him up.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Come loud? Is of them just loud content. He's like,
I'm trying to sleep even But yeah, that was so.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Is that like cat hair did floating around? Were you
not concerned at all that this might you didn't notice it?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
And so people were like some people thought it was
like spiritual orbs and some people are like, okay, clean
your house, right?
Speaker 1 (06:38):
I got I was like, is this the start of
the last of us? I think that's how it started.
But I remember that so clearly. And then I saw
like an a couple of years later, so another and
I started following you from there, and I'm like, this
guy's really funny. So the ideas for it, obviously, you know,
where did you get the inspiration for this bit?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
My dad?
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Okay, like growing up like you grew up like you
know in the South or you know, oh head, that's
a prominent person in hood growing up, And so I
got it from him because every time he saw his friends,
it was just like that, that's you. Like I had
need the loud laugh, the stomping, the memories stopping.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
And yere's a kid.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
You're just like like, you'll know who that is, Like
I have no clue, you know. And so I think
that's why it stuck because also people like they can
relate like, oh, this is my dad, this is MI.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
I just saw this at the gas station. You feel
what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
So that's that's really what I get it from, just
like people ask me whereas like it's actual moments that
I've experienced, and I just have my own way to
put it into a word's relatable and add the funny
punch lines and stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
But it's do you have like a notebook of ideas
that you have written down?
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
No, Now I start because now it's my full time
job now. So beginning of each month, I sit down
and I go over ideas that I want to do.
I never script out lines because like just like the
improv of it, right, So I have like, Okay, I
want to do this or at this, And now, so
I've been in for so long, I have my certain
characters people like so Dartnelle is a character, So now
I have my old head videos. What's there when I'm
(08:00):
with him in you know what I'm saying? So I
do that, and then after that, I just go and
just go through the day and like I'm gonna film
this one, I just turn the camera on and boom.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Do you have people you bounce ideas off of? Do
you have like a group?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Like no, it's just me?
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Really is That's even more impress me to always have
to bounce everything off of fifteen people and then nothing
gets done.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Well yeah, because once if I did that, I probably
would like my creativity probably stop because what I think
is funny, like you might not think it's right. And
so then now I'm trying to like, Okay, now I'm
trying to tell my comedy to you, but it's like
it's it's not it's my own creativity and people who
enjoy it will enjoy it. But if I feel like
if I go to these certain people, then it wouldn't
be original to me. And now I'm just trying to
force the comedy because Okay, you said this part was funny,
(08:41):
you know what I'm saying, But that's not whine I
wanted to use, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Yeah, because at the end of the day, you're making
these videos for you, right. If you're not thinking they're fun,
you're not gonna do it.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I'm not gonna do it.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Which is why I think you've been able to consistently
bring out good content because it's about you. It's about
and I think it's what comedians that are funny or
actors or whatever that are doing good work. It's because
they're doing it for themselves because they think it's good
or they that's their outlet, right, and so you have
to do it that way definitely. Otherwise again, you if
you got bought up by a corporation, they're telling you
what to say, it ain't gonna be funny.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
No more not.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
And that's the thing like when you do it full time,
you start working with brands and stuff, sometimes they try
to control the creativity of it and then like the
video comes out and you're like, I didn't want to
come out, but also I did need that little thirty five.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Yeah, so I'm gonna just do it.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
But that sometimes they try to control the creativity and
I know what works for the people who want to
consume my content, let me, let me do it, you probably,
but sometimes they want to script how they script it
and and yeah, so.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Now going into that, so let's say somebody puts out
a video and overnight they become a success, and they
think the money just starts rolling in. It really doesn't. Right,
you have to go out and just brand people. Are
you signed with anybody that helps you with these deals?
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Yeah, yeah, signet the manager and of going into twenty
twenty four. Okay, so that video came out twenty twenty two.
I didn't start making money from content until going into
two times twenty four. So that's the whole to your
guys and people thought and I'm like, no, cod just
got repold, like Donelle like let me get a ride.
So it's like no, So it's a whole process. But
(10:10):
also that's a part of content that I didn't know
because I just make it for fun until I had
a friend who's in the fashion aspect of content and
he was like, no, you can said I didn't know once,
and then when I started, uh going into that and
do my knowledge that, I'm like oh you can. Got
to manage your because they can help talk the language
of brands to me just trying to make my content,
but they know the language. They can they have the
(10:31):
connects and stuff like that. And then that's how I
came in. But now TikTok pays you just off minute long.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Videos, right, you know, so if your video, so you
got to make sure your videos are at least a
minute over a minute?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Yeah, yeah, over a minute, and you get paid from
that as well.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Did you have a merch You gotta have a Darnell's
at your shirt?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Right?
Speaker 3 (10:46):
So when I veata came out like I wanted to,
but I didn't have to have the funds day to
make merch. I'm like, merch cost money, you know, I
don't have it. So I'm just now this had I
have on is I had. I gotta like it's my
merch out and I have like on the side it's
my okay. Then it's another yeah uh thing that I
use in my videos that people love my okayden uh sound.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
So that's a nice hat too, It's not like one
of them printed ones that they sell.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
My best friend in La he's in the fashion world.
So Ironian it's crazy enough the design and everything. One
of my supporters fans, he loves my content. So one
day he just did a whole design thing, attacked me
on Instagram and I'm like, oh, this this is nice
and he's like, I can see you to print out,
so he sent them to me. I said to my friend,
He's like, this will actually be really cool for Murray too.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
I'm like yeah. So he helped me get the hat
and design and stuff going.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
So you Morothe's I have the black one, and I
have a white with the black brim, and more those
out and then eventually now start.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
They better get them now because with the tariffs, you
know they're gonna be They're gonna be one hundred dollars.
Uh So five years ago, you're you're accounting, and somebody goes,
you're gonna be fair. You're gonna be not even be
doing the same We're not even have a nine to
five job. You're gonna be doing videos on the internet
and you're gonna be doing some brand deals and this
is what you're gonna do. Would you believe them?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
I don't know if I would believe them. But when
I wasn't accounting, my audit partner. He would always tell
me like, yeah, you're not an accountant. Even my manager
you're like, you're not an account like, don't get stuck here.
Like it's cool, but he was like, because my personality
me like this, how joking the office even going to clients,
I'm joking people and they're like, if you're not an
account of your difference and like, don't get stuck here.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I don't know what you're gonna do.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
But everyone in my life knew like entertainment was something
that should be doing. I didn't know how, or I
don't know if I fully believed it. You know, because
if you don't know anybody too. I knew no one
who was doing it. But also it's like accounting is safe. Yeah,
I know that check's coming the fifteenth and the thirtieth
of each month. You know what I'm saying with this,
Like it's not guaranteed you your video flops or you know,
(12:44):
the brand not coming this month. So like the uncertainty.
Maybe I like to be comfortable. I like knowing my
money's coming in. This is not you don't really know
until everything starts flowing. Then you get a better system.
But right, yeah, I probably wouldn't believed them, like, nah.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Now it stressed me out.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yeah, it is stressful, Yeah, for sure, it's it's uh.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
I mean, we we do some stuff, but I mean
I'm stressed all the time, but I would stress me
out even more not knowing, like, hey, you know, is
this just a three month thing and then everything's going
to turn off? Do you still think like that even
though you're as big as you are.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
I still do.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
But I think it keeps me like motivating, yeah, to
keep going and keep the creative going because you don't
want to go back.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
I don't want to go back.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
You almost caught something in that that guy's house.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Exactly.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
So I definitely think about that all the time, and
I think it motivates me to keep going, yeah, and
keep creating and keep it flowing because I know, like
if I stop, then it all stops. You know, it's
all on me at this point. So I definitely do.
But I think it's more like a motivation thing for
me to not get comfortable.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, I think that's important because I think too many
people get I was just watching a TikTok the other day.
I don't know how this couple got it, but they
got like a million dollars, right, and they were explaining
how they spent the million dollars. It's all on watches, cars,
they bought like four cars, down payment on the house.
First of all, it should bought the house outright if
they had that much money or whatever. But you know,
put some no investments, no savings, nothing. It was just
jewelry in a house. And now they don't have the
(14:02):
million dollars anymore, you know. So it's like you have
to be I think, coming from nothing, like I came
from nothing. You're always like I could go back there
really easily. So just keep working and you should be
okay hopefully, you.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Know, definitely.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Yeah, so now you have a taste of the you know,
the entertainment life. Where do you want to go from here?
So this is just a stepping stone to something bigger?
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Right, Yeah?
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I think I want to I want to get into
the like the improv common space. People ask me, I
don't want to be a stand up comedian, and I
don't want to do that, but I do want to
do like the sketch comedy rom coms, like acting stuff,
But I want to be in the improv space. So
I think, now that's why I started doing my YouTube
and I want to start doing it like it's almost
like a talk show and have different segments. So I
introduced myself and I cut to like a scene of
(14:46):
me doing something here. So it's like the entertaining thing.
So that's definitely the next step. You know, I do
do music as well, so push, I.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Was gonna say, you sing as well to you at
church you're singing, So.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I do music as well.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
So it's like you know, getting too that maybe performing
one day because I do have people come out to me.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
And like, I love your song motion, I love this song.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
So people like respect me as an artist now too,
which almost was was hard at first because people see
you they want to laugh. It's like he being seriously
it's like a funny song, you know what I'm saying.
But now they actually take it serious. So then so
that aspect of well, so even cultivating something or creating
something where it's like a show where they see me
as a comedian, but also you're coming for the artistry
(15:23):
as well, so seeing how I can. But I guess
something I'm working on as well, So that's like what
I see.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
He's like a variety show. Yeah, what's Las Vegas. I
saw a big apple or something like that or something. Yeah,
they're like singing. They had like a magician show, they
had like acrobatics. It was like a variety show.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Yeah, something like that for sure, and then maybe even
growing the fashion line and maybe turn out from that.
So you have a lot of irons in the fire, yeah,
which I think you have to have in this day
and age. Right, Like Shack's not just a broadcaster. He's
got much, so much stuff he's got to do. He's
building on because you have to. And then he's also
thinking about his kids. He's going to turn this over,
you know, wingstop or whatever. And Rick Ross has a
(16:00):
bunch of you know, they got all these things that
they have to so I think it's important to do that.
Unfortunately for me, I'm a one trick pony. So that's it.
That's all I do. Is there anybody out there, like
in the TikTok world that you would want to collab with?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Uh, there's a few, I would say. There's he I
find hilarious. Who I say, Joshua Neil. We're mutuals on TikTok.
He actually was in the movie with Sizza and Kiki Palmer.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, he was in that.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
We're mutual so I loved that because he does a
he his filming is as he does a good story
so I love his stuff. Lambeau Television out of Mississippi.
He's hilarious muchoosers were mud Choose as well, So I
would love to work with him. Uh, this is not
three three four baby, she's out of Atlanta, so yeah,
(16:51):
those people for sure.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Yeah, there's a juice you know juice right the guy
who does.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
That him as well, he's in Jacksonville.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
He used to be here. You missed him by that really?
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Yeah, so we we actually, uh we have herself to contact.
We text and we want to collab on that. And
also because he has music as well, yeah music, well, yeah,
so him, I definitely want to collab with as well,
because when I was I didn't know he was in Jacksonville.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
And when we had connected, I had just moved to Texas.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
So now why moved to Texas? That's that's what I
forgot to ask.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Longest relationship. Okay, the girl, she was out here.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
She's still out here. Okay, ship outs again?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Yeah, so okay, how did you meet Texas TikTok really
all my life came in there and then started dming,
and then she started visiting me because I had just
moved back from California to Florida, and then she came
out and so we had been no longer since for
a year. So I'm like, all right, let's see, we're
gonna take it to the next step. And it's easier
for me to move. And I didn't want to upbrook
her because she has a you know, nice job.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
I don't want you to that was my next question,
because of the entertainment thing doesn't work out, she at
least have a good job, take care.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
So I was like, I'll move out here. We got
our separate places because we're not married yet. Right, Yeah,
it was separate. But it's been good.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
That's awesome. Congratulations, that's really good.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Appreciate that. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
And so do you like Texas compared to Florida. I mean,
we don't have as many hurricanes, but yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
I mean I think it's different because people asking me that,
because like, Florida's that's home. That's why my friends are
your family, family, niece's nephew, brother. Texas is cool. I
think I'm now starting to explore more because you know,
I beat it myself. And also like I meet meet
some like, you know, weird people, and it's still different,
like people recognizing me and sometimes a little bit overboard.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
I noticed at the YouTube event you felt a little
I felt like you felt uncomfortable out there a little.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Yeah, because also people see me and they expect me
to be like funny, tell a joke, and I'm very.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Chill, like I'm very just like laid back, and so
it's kind of.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
You want to be there too, you want to exactly.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
So people come to mean they're like, oh, yeah, dude,
this say this, and it's like, okay, you.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Know that's a character I play.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
On the end. Yeah, I'm like, oh.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Yeah, because I met one dude where like he was like, oh,
you're so different off camera and he kept saying it.
I'm like, it's just you and I in this hippy restaurant.
What do you what do you expect me to do?
You know, you want to bounce off the walls? Ye,
chilling and vibbing. And he's like, oh yeah, it's just
so different. And so I do get like my anxiety
kind of rises when.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
I go out.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I understand that.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Yeah, but I'm starting to get more comfortable when I've
met some people and started making friends and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
So that's good.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
So I think a little bit little like I'll start
to love Dallas, but for now, like you know, I'm
still like fairly new.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Do you feel it's pretentious? It has a reputation for
being kind of pretentious. Do you do you feel that?
Speaker 2 (19:22):
I can't. I mean I haven't.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Really, that's good.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
I mean, yeah, he obviously hasn't been downtown.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yeah, yeah, but the event was downtown. The event was downtown.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
He was there. Yeah, they closing, even Marcus, So I
guess for yeah, yeah, we're getting our potentious level back down, right.
It was up a little high for a little bit,
but now it's coming back that hopefully at least you
were like get off the plane and then slapped in
the face with pretentiousness. At least that wasn't the case.
So that's good.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Uh, well, that's awesome, and I'm really excited to see
what you do next because I am a big fan.
I appreciate it, and I didn't ex by the way,
I did not expect you to do jokes while I
went up and said hi to you, but I saw him, like,
I'm gonna get this guy in this corner. I'm gonna
tell him he's got to come on the show because
he's so funny. I got to talk to him. And
then we also do bits and stuff out here too,
so like if there's a role that comes up or
something like that, we'll we'll definitely reach out to you
and if you're interested, come on out and do it.
(20:09):
But h I get the anxiety part of that, like
going out because not because I'm anybody, but in high
school I was the class clown two. And then I'd
be invited to a birthday party and I'm mellow and
just want to take everything and everybody's so why aren't
you telling jokes and this and that? Because it's not
my birthday party. It's the other part. I'm here, I
know my place. I'm just here. I'm just they invited
me to. They didn't pay me to be the clown,
(20:30):
so I'm not going to be the clown. So I
get that. But you're on a whole different scale. You're
you know, the whole country knows who you are basically.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
So it's different. But yeah, so I'm trying to get
used to it.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
You know, and you see people because I beat my
also because like I beat my girl a lot. Yeah,
and I see people like they think they're not if
they think they're hiding it, but they're very obvious. Like
I can see you plat your phone and like you
like you recording and like you're following us, and then
like when I leave, like, oh is this you? And
it's like the whole time I kne who you were.
But it's like I have my girl here, you know,
(21:01):
so I want to make sure she's saved things.
Speaker 5 (21:02):
You know.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
I've been places I walk and people just got me
by the arm and like I'm like, you know what
I'm saying. I get the excitement. You know what I'm saying.
I love meeting people, and a lot of my experiences
are nice.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
You feel me. I have some dope people I've met,
but it'd.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Be some weird woes that like hey, that's it's not okay,
Like it's not normal, Like you kids come and just
grab on me and pull me.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
In right, how your phone off?
Speaker 3 (21:20):
If I'm eating, You're like, I don't want, I don't
want to interrupt, but you already have your phone.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Out, you got your forget excuse me. Uh yeah, that's
that is that is so weird because you don't really
think about it. I mean, you think about that from
years ago was the celebrities, right though, when now it's influencers,
it's people, bloggers, it's all these people that you know,
we're just every day people two days ago and now
they're huge, and it's like it's an adjustment for you.
(21:46):
It's an adjustment for the people that are because uh,
you know, I I get it more excited about seeing
somebody that I follow on TikTok than I do I
saw on a movie. I don't know why, but I
do because I guess we feel that we can relate
to you more because you're a regular person versus somebody
who was born with a what is it called, not
a wooden spoon, silver spoon, Yeah, maybe a golden spot.
I was born with a wooden spoon mouth the same
(22:09):
on the same with my the same spoon my mom
spanked me with as well. Well, that's a whole different thing,
that's all I know. I don't mean, I don't mean
to trauma down here, but anyway, but yes, I think
it's I don't know, it's a weird. It is a
weird kind of world we live in, but it's incredible
for people like you who are very talented because the
world's your oyster at this point, so you can take
(22:31):
it anywhere.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Definitely, I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
So where do we find it? How do we follow
you on this journey? Where do we do? You have
a website?
Speaker 2 (22:37):
No, right now?
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Just find me on TikTok, Underscore, Yogi seventy five, Instagram,
on the Score, Devonte West YouTube on the Score, DeVante West,
Apple Music, Spotify, Davonte West and h Yeah, we're going
to keep doing I can to you know, give fresh
and good content for the people who want to come
and you know, enjoy, get to laugh and get inspired.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
And yeah, so you find me.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Now you're also doing like a podcast and now you're
doing like like a daily devotional type thing.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Yeah, because like.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
The spiritual aspect, it's it's you know, I do believe
in God, and you know, when I write my goals out,
like I write him out, and I like I pray
to God and I sent him to him, like if
it's in your will, like let this happen. Yeah, And
so that's also been a tricky thing because you know,
in my comedy. I curse sometimes and so I remember
one time I posted a clip of me leading worship man.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
People are like, oh, get on those stage planning.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
You don't believe in God, yeah you know, And I'm like,
I do and so and I don't so. But then
I remember when I started thinking about going full time,
I ask God, like, if this is what you have
with me, you know, expand my territory, like and I
have wrote in my circle like these are the things
that I need, and they started happening. And the promises
that he made to me and then I made to
him like I give back like this one of the things,
(23:51):
like I will implement this and I will win my
scripture reading when I get that what I'm feeling, I
do shit with people, you know. And so it is
a big, big thing for me, and I see me
incorporating it and my prayer time like it has and
I don't think it's you know, a coincidence, is by chance.
It's like, this is what I really was praying for.
And I said, God, if it's in your wheel, like
let it happen. If not, okay, I'll go back to
(24:12):
accountant or I'll you know what I'm saying go back
to caretaking and like month by month, day by day,
like he reveals and he you know, he blessed it
with me and he shows like, hey, yeah, you're doing
what you're supposed to be doing and so still here.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
So I definitely want to add that in.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Like when my YouTube I have a segment, it's like,
let's bring it home and I'll just tell the people,
like what I learned from my reading and how you
can apply to your life and how it inspired me
and X Y and Z. I don't think. I think
it's all comes full circle. Yeah, trying together. So yeah,
that's really cool.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
Yeah, I think I'm in a crossroads right now in
my personal life, and I feel like you're like the
probably a sixth sign that I've gotten so far like
for me, and so like for the beginning of the interview,
you've been so transparent throughout your whole journey, and I
just really feel like I was meant to meet you
today and like see and hear your story because it's
(25:01):
really inspiring me. And it's because Michael knows like I
was in transition of like possibly changing careers and then
jumping into accounting but bookkeeping try to like because I'm
like you. I was like, I love entertainment. I want
to be an actor. I want to do you know, entertainment,
but scared to make that jump, right, So like you're
(25:23):
kind of giving me the kind of the future, like
you know, glimpse of what it could be. So yeah,
thank you for sharing your story.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
Definitely.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
Then I wasn't to ask you are you more spiritual
because I am.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
I don't.
Speaker 5 (25:36):
I'm not in an organized, organized religion, but I do
believe in like God, in a higher power, and he
has blessed me throughout my my year, and I give
myself over tim saying if if, if this is your
will you know, I trust you without any like questioning,
and I don't.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I don't.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
I don't need to worry about it, and I'm trying
to retrain myself to do that. It's to like just
be worry free and then whatever he has in my path,
he will give me to it.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Yeah, beautiful.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
It is pretty crazy because I didn't know your story
before you came on. You know, we knew you were
coming on today, but I didn't know your story, and
so literally I knew Eric's situation and then as you're
talking I'm like, well that kind of sounds like eric
as you're talking about, like that's what the air's going through, right. Yeah?
Uh so that is really cool. That's really cool. Yeah,
so look what you did. You just came in, you
told your story. Look what happened. So now Yogi seventy five,
(26:26):
where did that come from?
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Is like the dancing bear Yogi? Yeah, so one of
my homies they call me yog can have you know,
dancing Florida. We have our own little dancing Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
So we had that here in Dallas back in two
thousand and seven.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
And then I didn't think that, like my TikTok will
blow up, right, And if I knew I want to
use Yogi, right, would to use my name? So that's
how people like, is your name Yogi is a jet?
I'm like, no name DeVante. Yeah, that's so if I
knew it would have blew up, probably would.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
It's like one of those people that have like an
AOL email back in the day. They never changed it
and it's like hot, Yeah, they're signed up for to
go to Google corporate. Uh but yeah, that's so cool.
We'll keep doing what you're doing. I think it's incredible
and you need to fight. You need a booboo. Yo,
who needs a boo boo? So you need a little
sidekick to come in on your little uh, your your
skits and stuff. So yeah, put it Paul out there.
(27:15):
But all right, well, thank you so much and uh
I looked forward to come back anytime. You're more than welcome. Yeah,
I appreciate it. Yeah. This is mz now online at
mz NOOW dot tv. Like us on Facebook at Facebook
dot com, forward slash mz now
You're abound to enter the world of Michael Zavalla.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Now your change to turn back Michael, don't do read
well do uh or something like this.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I can't hear you.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Wow, I'm just bains. That's what you think about.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
This is m Z now one of the funniest guys.
(00:50):
I think that's on TikTok right now. It's sitting in
the studio with us, and uh, I don't I'm not
gonna say I stopped you, but I knew you were
in Dallas. You just moved here? How much?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
How long ago? Five months ago? Okay?
Speaker 1 (01:02):
So I found that out somehow. Maybe you posted it, may,
I hope, And that's how I found out. And then
and then I'm like, we got to get this guy
in the show because I've been following you for a
long time. And then I'm like, how do we get
this guy in the show. And then randomly, like two
weeks ago, right there's a YouTube event in town, and
so I show up to the YouTube event and I'm
late and they're doing something on stage. I don't know
(01:23):
what was going on. And then everyone starts walking away
and I start looking around for people that I might know,
and unfortunately, didn't walk it run into anybody that we know.
But the first person I saw and recognized was you.
And I'm like, I'm gonna I'm gonna corner him and
I'm gonna make him sign this contract, but he's gonna
come in. I didn't have to do all that. He
said absolutely, I'll be there, and he showed up. I
was like literally a week ago or so. Yeah, yeah,
(01:44):
DeVante West, Yes, sir, Now you've really blown up really quickly.
Like you posted a video what was it two or
three years ago.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
At this point? What was that? Yeah? Going on three
years now July make three years.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And then it really took off and you blew up right.
I Mean they say sometimes like one video can change
your life, but in your case, it really did.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, So what were you doing before TikTok?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Before TikTok? I was in accounting, Oh really counting. I
woke in auditor Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
So I did that.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
I got my degree in accounting and inspirational job. Yeah,
and then I moved out to La. That was right,
pandemic happened and then.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
What were you trying to do in La?
Speaker 3 (02:23):
I just moved out there because my best friend was
out there. And then the pandemic happened. He was like,
you're not doing anything anyway, because I was at that
point we're working from home. So he's like, you can
just do what you're doing now and come up to
LA and I was like Manuel, So part out of
LA realized I didn't like accounting yeah right, and college
just sound cool because like, oh, I looking at the money,
but I'm like hours I'm putting in. I'm working on weekends,
and then you know, you got busy season, which I
(02:44):
wasn't aware of.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
This is actually terrible.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
You're trying to go on spring break.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
And then I was yeah, so I didn't like I
heard like the traveling part.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
I'm like, oh, I'll be traveling working.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
That sounds cool, but I'm traveling in the middle of nowhere,
just like at the client's office and I'm back at
the hotel and there's nothing now but the McDonald's and
it's like, yeah, you might as well work because there's
nothing to right.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I'm like, this is kind of miserable.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
So then I stopped doing that, and then my one
of my best friends, she convinced me to start doing tiktoks,
and that's when everyone was starting me because we're.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
In the house. It's like might as well.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
And then so there was no desire to do entertainment.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
I mean, I wanted to major in communications, and I
wanted to be uh. I wanted to do musicals. I
love musicals, like theater arts. But then, like a guardian
of my life, she was like, ah, cool, but there's
no money in that. You're good at like numbers to accounting.
So the logical is like, okay, cool, I'll take the
safe out. Yea, yeah, I so take the say for out.
And so I did that, but I'm like, ah, I
(03:36):
don't like this.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
And then but you weren't a comedian, you weren't going
up on stage.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
I mean, I'm definitely the class clown you school and
stuff like that. So stuff that I was that I
record now is what I've always done. I just never
recorded it, you feel me. So they're like, you're doing
it anyway, you might as well see what can throw
it out there, throw it out there.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
So I was like, this is what I was telling
them in the elevator. I'm always amazed at people that
can do a really good funny video one time it
blows up and then they do it again. And they
do it again, and the consistency is there. You were
one of the people that I follow that consistently has
great funny videos.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Let me play the video that I think this is
the one that that you got famous off of thisten
Right here, boy boy, look.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
At you boy looking like nineteen sixty go ahead on.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
And that did it? That blew out how many millions
of people have seen that video a lot.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
I think what's crazy about that is it's not even
the video, it's the audio that people kept recreating. Yeah,
so I didn't know that was a thing until one
of my friends like, hey, isn't this your voice?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And I'm like, that is that is my voice?
Speaker 3 (04:44):
And I was seeing it from a lot of creators,
and then went from just TikTok to seeing like people
in interviews using the you know.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Nineteen sixty eight, don that's you.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Now it's going around and it was on YouTube and
then Instagram and Facebook and everyone's like seeing it. I
remember my dad heard it. He was like, oh, you
suity people, how that worked? I used to suit them.
You know, you can't really do that, but yeah, that
I think that's what blew up because the sound even
not to this day, people still use that. You know,
Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steel has used the sound bite
(05:15):
this past season. So I think the cool part is
like even three years removed, it's still a thing.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Like even when I go out, people like done.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
That, that's you. They know you now, And so I
think that's the cool part. I think it was the
recreations that kept it alied, that really blew up to
what it was, which I didn't know was the thing.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
What I what I remember because I saw this video
when you first released it. And the reason why I
remember this so well is because I had just finished
watching the latest season The Stranger Things. And as you
watch the video, uh, you'll notice there's the breeze just
floating down the air and uh, and I'm watching it
and I remember that I commented, I never comment on videos,
(05:52):
but I thought it was I thought the video was funny.
I thought you were funny. After everything was so funny
that I said, did you film this? By the way,
it's probably was not an original because Strange Thing has
just come out, you know, the under what is it
called the upside Down? It's in everyone's mind. So I
was not original, But I was like, did this get
filmed on the upside down? And you look at it like,
I'm more concerned about your health at this point at
this place?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Was here at that point I was. I was a
caretaker at that point.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
So I'm like, oh, said a guy I'm caregiving for,
I'm at his apartment and so he was actually sleep
so I probably woke him up.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Come loud? Is of them just loud content. He's like,
I'm trying to sleep even But yeah, that was so.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Is that like cat hair did floating around? Were you
not concerned at all that this might you didn't notice it?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
And so people were like some people thought it was
like spiritual orbs and some people are like, okay, clean
your house, right?
Speaker 1 (06:38):
I got I was like, is this the start of
the last of us? I think that's how it started.
But I remember that so clearly. And then I saw
like an a couple of years later, so another and
I started following you from there, and I'm like, this
guy's really funny. So the ideas for it, obviously, you know,
where did you get the inspiration for this bit?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
My dad?
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Okay, like growing up like you grew up like you
know in the South or you know, oh head, that's
a prominent person in hood growing up, And so I
got it from him because every time he saw his friends,
it was just like that, that's you. Like I had
need the loud laugh, the stomping, the memories stopping.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
And yere's a kid.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
You're just like like, you'll know who that is, Like
I have no clue, you know. And so I think
that's why it stuck because also people like they can
relate like, oh, this is my dad, this is MI.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
I just saw this at the gas station. You feel
what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
So that's that's really what I get it from, just
like people ask me whereas like it's actual moments that
I've experienced, and I just have my own way to
put it into a word's relatable and add the funny
punch lines and stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
But it's do you have like a notebook of ideas
that you have written down?
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
No, Now I start because now it's my full time
job now. So beginning of each month, I sit down
and I go over ideas that I want to do.
I never script out lines because like just like the
improv of it, right, So I have like, Okay, I
want to do this or at this, And now, so
I've been in for so long, I have my certain
characters people like so Dartnelle is a character, So now
I have my old head videos. What's there when I'm
(08:00):
with him in you know what I'm saying? So I
do that, and then after that, I just go and
just go through the day and like I'm gonna film
this one, I just turn the camera on and boom.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Do you have people you bounce ideas off of? Do
you have like a group?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Like no, it's just me?
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Really is That's even more impress me to always have
to bounce everything off of fifteen people and then nothing
gets done.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Well yeah, because once if I did that, I probably
would like my creativity probably stop because what I think
is funny, like you might not think it's right. And
so then now I'm trying to like, Okay, now I'm
trying to tell my comedy to you, but it's like
it's it's not it's my own creativity and people who
enjoy it will enjoy it. But if I feel like
if I go to these certain people, then it wouldn't
be original to me. And now I'm just trying to
force the comedy because Okay, you said this part was funny,
(08:41):
you know what I'm saying, But that's not whine I
wanted to use, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Yeah, because at the end of the day, you're making
these videos for you, right. If you're not thinking they're fun,
you're not gonna do it.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I'm not gonna do it.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Which is why I think you've been able to consistently
bring out good content because it's about you. It's about
and I think it's what comedians that are funny or
actors or whatever that are doing good work. It's because
they're doing it for themselves because they think it's good
or they that's their outlet, right, and so you have
to do it that way definitely. Otherwise again, you if
you got bought up by a corporation, they're telling you
what to say, it ain't gonna be funny.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
No more not.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
And that's the thing like when you do it full time,
you start working with brands and stuff, sometimes they try
to control the creativity of it and then like the
video comes out and you're like, I didn't want to
come out, but also I did need that little thirty five.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Yeah, so I'm gonna just do it.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
But that sometimes they try to control the creativity and
I know what works for the people who want to
consume my content, let me, let me do it, you probably,
but sometimes they want to script how they script it
and and yeah, so.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Now going into that, so let's say somebody puts out
a video and overnight they become a success, and they
think the money just starts rolling in. It really doesn't. Right,
you have to go out and just brand people. Are
you signed with anybody that helps you with these deals?
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Yeah, yeah, signet the manager and of going into twenty
twenty four. Okay, so that video came out twenty twenty two.
I didn't start making money from content until going into
two times twenty four. So that's the whole to your
guys and people thought and I'm like, no, cod just
got repold, like Donelle like let me get a ride.
So it's like no, So it's a whole process. But
(10:10):
also that's a part of content that I didn't know
because I just make it for fun until I had
a friend who's in the fashion aspect of content and
he was like, no, you can said I didn't know once,
and then when I started, uh going into that and
do my knowledge that, I'm like oh you can. Got
to manage your because they can help talk the language
of brands to me just trying to make my content,
but they know the language. They can they have the
(10:31):
connects and stuff like that. And then that's how I
came in. But now TikTok pays you just off minute long.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Videos, right, you know, so if your video, so you
got to make sure your videos are at least a
minute over a minute?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Yeah, yeah, over a minute, and you get paid from
that as well.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Did you have a merch You gotta have a Darnell's
at your shirt?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Right?
Speaker 3 (10:46):
So when I veata came out like I wanted to,
but I didn't have to have the funds day to
make merch. I'm like, merch cost money, you know, I
don't have it. So I'm just now this had I
have on is I had. I gotta like it's my
merch out and I have like on the side it's
my okay. Then it's another yeah uh thing that I
use in my videos that people love my okayden uh sound.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
So that's a nice hat too, It's not like one
of them printed ones that they sell.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
My best friend in La he's in the fashion world.
So Ironian it's crazy enough the design and everything. One
of my supporters fans, he loves my content. So one
day he just did a whole design thing, attacked me
on Instagram and I'm like, oh, this this is nice
and he's like, I can see you to print out,
so he sent them to me. I said to my friend,
He's like, this will actually be really cool for Murray too.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
I'm like yeah. So he helped me get the hat
and design and stuff going.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
So you Morothe's I have the black one, and I
have a white with the black brim, and more those
out and then eventually now start.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
They better get them now because with the tariffs, you
know they're gonna be They're gonna be one hundred dollars.
Uh So five years ago, you're you're accounting, and somebody goes,
you're gonna be fair. You're gonna be not even be
doing the same We're not even have a nine to
five job. You're gonna be doing videos on the internet
and you're gonna be doing some brand deals and this
is what you're gonna do. Would you believe them?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
I don't know if I would believe them. But when
I wasn't accounting, my audit partner. He would always tell
me like, yeah, you're not an accountant. Even my manager
you're like, you're not an account like, don't get stuck here.
Like it's cool, but he was like, because my personality
me like this, how joking the office even going to clients,
I'm joking people and they're like, if you're not an
account of your difference and like, don't get stuck here.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I don't know what you're gonna do.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
But everyone in my life knew like entertainment was something
that should be doing. I didn't know how, or I
don't know if I fully believed it. You know, because
if you don't know anybody too. I knew no one
who was doing it. But also it's like accounting is safe. Yeah,
I know that check's coming the fifteenth and the thirtieth
of each month. You know what I'm saying with this,
Like it's not guaranteed you your video flops or you know,
(12:44):
the brand not coming this month. So like the uncertainty.
Maybe I like to be comfortable. I like knowing my
money's coming in. This is not you don't really know
until everything starts flowing. Then you get a better system.
But right, yeah, I probably wouldn't believed them, like, nah.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Now it stressed me out.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yeah, it is stressful, Yeah, for sure, it's it's uh.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
I mean, we we do some stuff, but I mean
I'm stressed all the time, but I would stress me
out even more not knowing, like, hey, you know, is
this just a three month thing and then everything's going
to turn off? Do you still think like that even
though you're as big as you are.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
I still do.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
But I think it keeps me like motivating, yeah, to
keep going and keep the creative going because you don't
want to go back.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
I don't want to go back.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
You almost caught something in that that guy's house.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Exactly.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
So I definitely think about that all the time, and
I think it motivates me to keep going, yeah, and
keep creating and keep it flowing because I know, like
if I stop, then it all stops. You know, it's
all on me at this point. So I definitely do.
But I think it's more like a motivation thing for
me to not get comfortable.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, I think that's important because I think too many
people get I was just watching a TikTok the other day.
I don't know how this couple got it, but they
got like a million dollars, right, and they were explaining
how they spent the million dollars. It's all on watches, cars,
they bought like four cars, down payment on the house.
First of all, it should bought the house outright if
they had that much money or whatever. But you know,
put some no investments, no savings, nothing. It was just
jewelry in a house. And now they don't have the
(14:02):
million dollars anymore, you know. So it's like you have
to be I think, coming from nothing, like I came
from nothing. You're always like I could go back there
really easily. So just keep working and you should be
okay hopefully, you.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Know, definitely.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Yeah, so now you have a taste of the you know,
the entertainment life. Where do you want to go from here?
So this is just a stepping stone to something bigger?
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Right, Yeah?
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I think I want to I want to get into
the like the improv common space. People ask me, I
don't want to be a stand up comedian, and I
don't want to do that, but I do want to
do like the sketch comedy rom coms, like acting stuff,
But I want to be in the improv space. So
I think, now that's why I started doing my YouTube
and I want to start doing it like it's almost
like a talk show and have different segments. So I
introduced myself and I cut to like a scene of
(14:46):
me doing something here. So it's like the entertaining thing.
So that's definitely the next step. You know, I do
do music as well, so push, I.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Was gonna say, you sing as well to you at
church you're singing, So.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I do music as well.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
So it's like you know, getting too that maybe performing
one day because I do have people come out to me.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
And like, I love your song motion, I love this song.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
So people like respect me as an artist now too,
which almost was was hard at first because people see
you they want to laugh. It's like he being seriously
it's like a funny song, you know what I'm saying.
But now they actually take it serious. So then so
that aspect of well, so even cultivating something or creating
something where it's like a show where they see me
as a comedian, but also you're coming for the artistry
(15:23):
as well, so seeing how I can. But I guess
something I'm working on as well, So that's like what
I see.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
He's like a variety show. Yeah, what's Las Vegas. I
saw a big apple or something like that or something. Yeah,
they're like singing. They had like a magician show, they
had like acrobatics. It was like a variety show.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Yeah, something like that for sure, and then maybe even
growing the fashion line and maybe turn out from that.
So you have a lot of irons in the fire, yeah,
which I think you have to have in this day
and age. Right, Like Shack's not just a broadcaster. He's
got much, so much stuff he's got to do. He's
building on because you have to. And then he's also
thinking about his kids. He's going to turn this over,
you know, wingstop or whatever. And Rick Ross has a
(16:00):
bunch of you know, they got all these things that
they have to so I think it's important to do that.
Unfortunately for me, I'm a one trick pony. So that's it.
That's all I do. Is there anybody out there, like
in the TikTok world that you would want to collab with?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Uh, there's a few, I would say. There's he I
find hilarious. Who I say, Joshua Neil. We're mutuals on TikTok.
He actually was in the movie with Sizza and Kiki Palmer.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, he was in that.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
We're mutual so I loved that because he does a
he his filming is as he does a good story
so I love his stuff. Lambeau Television out of Mississippi.
He's hilarious muchoosers were mud Choose as well, So I
would love to work with him. Uh, this is not
three three four baby, she's out of Atlanta, so yeah,
(16:51):
those people for sure.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Yeah, there's a juice you know juice right the guy
who does.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
That him as well, he's in Jacksonville.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
He used to be here. You missed him by that really?
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Yeah, so we we actually, uh we have herself to contact.
We text and we want to collab on that. And
also because he has music as well, yeah music, well, yeah,
so him, I definitely want to collab with as well,
because when I was I didn't know he was in Jacksonville.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
And when we had connected, I had just moved to Texas.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
So now why moved to Texas? That's that's what I
forgot to ask.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Longest relationship. Okay, the girl, she was out here.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
She's still out here. Okay, ship outs again?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Yeah, so okay, how did you meet Texas TikTok really
all my life came in there and then started dming,
and then she started visiting me because I had just
moved back from California to Florida, and then she came
out and so we had been no longer since for
a year. So I'm like, all right, let's see, we're
gonna take it to the next step. And it's easier
for me to move. And I didn't want to upbrook
her because she has a you know, nice job.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
I don't want you to that was my next question,
because of the entertainment thing doesn't work out, she at
least have a good job, take care.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
So I was like, I'll move out here. We got
our separate places because we're not married yet. Right, Yeah,
it was separate. But it's been good.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
That's awesome. Congratulations, that's really good.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Appreciate that. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
And so do you like Texas compared to Florida. I mean,
we don't have as many hurricanes, but yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
I mean I think it's different because people asking me that,
because like, Florida's that's home. That's why my friends are
your family, family, niece's nephew, brother. Texas is cool. I
think I'm now starting to explore more because you know,
I beat it myself. And also like I meet meet
some like, you know, weird people, and it's still different,
like people recognizing me and sometimes a little bit overboard.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
I noticed at the YouTube event you felt a little
I felt like you felt uncomfortable out there a little.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Yeah, because also people see me and they expect me
to be like funny, tell a joke, and I'm very.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Chill, like I'm very just like laid back, and so
it's kind of.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
You want to be there too, you want to exactly.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
So people come to mean they're like, oh, yeah, dude,
this say this, and it's like, okay, you.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Know that's a character I play.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
On the end. Yeah, I'm like, oh.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Yeah, because I met one dude where like he was like, oh,
you're so different off camera and he kept saying it.
I'm like, it's just you and I in this hippy restaurant.
What do you what do you expect me to do?
You know, you want to bounce off the walls? Ye,
chilling and vibbing. And he's like, oh yeah, it's just
so different. And so I do get like my anxiety
kind of rises when.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
I go out.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I understand that.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Yeah, but I'm starting to get more comfortable when I've
met some people and started making friends and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
So that's good.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
So I think a little bit little like I'll start
to love Dallas, but for now, like you know, I'm
still like fairly new.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Do you feel it's pretentious? It has a reputation for
being kind of pretentious. Do you do you feel that?
Speaker 2 (19:22):
I can't. I mean I haven't.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Really, that's good.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
I mean, yeah, he obviously hasn't been downtown.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yeah, yeah, but the event was downtown. The event was downtown.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
He was there. Yeah, they closing, even Marcus, So I
guess for yeah, yeah, we're getting our potentious level back down, right.
It was up a little high for a little bit,
but now it's coming back that hopefully at least you
were like get off the plane and then slapped in
the face with pretentiousness. At least that wasn't the case.
So that's good.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Uh, well, that's awesome, and I'm really excited to see
what you do next because I am a big fan.
I appreciate it, and I didn't ex by the way,
I did not expect you to do jokes while I
went up and said hi to you, but I saw him, like,
I'm gonna get this guy in this corner. I'm gonna
tell him he's got to come on the show because
he's so funny. I got to talk to him. And
then we also do bits and stuff out here too,
so like if there's a role that comes up or
something like that, we'll we'll definitely reach out to you
and if you're interested, come on out and do it.
(20:09):
But h I get the anxiety part of that, like
going out because not because I'm anybody, but in high
school I was the class clown two. And then I'd
be invited to a birthday party and I'm mellow and
just want to take everything and everybody's so why aren't
you telling jokes and this and that? Because it's not
my birthday party. It's the other part. I'm here, I
know my place. I'm just here. I'm just they invited
me to. They didn't pay me to be the clown,
(20:30):
so I'm not going to be the clown. So I
get that. But you're on a whole different scale. You're
you know, the whole country knows who you are basically.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
So it's different. But yeah, so I'm trying to get
used to it.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
You know, and you see people because I beat my
also because like I beat my girl a lot. Yeah,
and I see people like they think they're not if
they think they're hiding it, but they're very obvious. Like
I can see you plat your phone and like you
like you recording and like you're following us, and then
like when I leave, like, oh is this you? And
it's like the whole time I kne who you were.
But it's like I have my girl here, you know,
(21:01):
so I want to make sure she's saved things.
Speaker 5 (21:02):
You know.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
I've been places I walk and people just got me
by the arm and like I'm like, you know what
I'm saying. I get the excitement. You know what I'm saying.
I love meeting people, and a lot of my experiences
are nice.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
You feel me. I have some dope people I've met,
but it'd.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Be some weird woes that like hey, that's it's not okay,
Like it's not normal, Like you kids come and just
grab on me and pull me.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
In right, how your phone off?
Speaker 3 (21:20):
If I'm eating, You're like, I don't want, I don't
want to interrupt, but you already have your phone.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Out, you got your forget excuse me. Uh yeah, that's
that is that is so weird because you don't really
think about it. I mean, you think about that from
years ago was the celebrities, right though, when now it's influencers,
it's people, bloggers, it's all these people that you know,
we're just every day people two days ago and now
they're huge, and it's like it's an adjustment for you.
(21:46):
It's an adjustment for the people that are because uh,
you know, I I get it more excited about seeing
somebody that I follow on TikTok than I do I
saw on a movie. I don't know why, but I
do because I guess we feel that we can relate
to you more because you're a regular person versus somebody
who was born with a what is it called, not
a wooden spoon, silver spoon, Yeah, maybe a golden spot.
I was born with a wooden spoon mouth the same
(22:09):
on the same with my the same spoon my mom
spanked me with as well. Well, that's a whole different thing,
that's all I know. I don't mean, I don't mean
to trauma down here, but anyway, but yes, I think
it's I don't know, it's a weird. It is a
weird kind of world we live in, but it's incredible
for people like you who are very talented because the
world's your oyster at this point, so you can take
(22:31):
it anywhere.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Definitely, I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
So where do we find it? How do we follow
you on this journey? Where do we do? You have
a website?
Speaker 2 (22:37):
No, right now?
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Just find me on TikTok, Underscore, Yogi seventy five, Instagram,
on the Score, Devonte West YouTube on the Score, DeVante West,
Apple Music, Spotify, Davonte West and h Yeah, we're going
to keep doing I can to you know, give fresh
and good content for the people who want to come
and you know, enjoy, get to laugh and get inspired.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
And yeah, so you find me.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Now you're also doing like a podcast and now you're
doing like like a daily devotional type thing.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Yeah, because like.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
The spiritual aspect, it's it's you know, I do believe
in God, and you know, when I write my goals out,
like I write him out, and I like I pray
to God and I sent him to him, like if
it's in your will, like let this happen. Yeah, And
so that's also been a tricky thing because you know,
in my comedy. I curse sometimes and so I remember
one time I posted a clip of me leading worship man.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
People are like, oh, get on those stage planning.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
You don't believe in God, yeah you know, And I'm like,
I do and so and I don't so. But then
I remember when I started thinking about going full time,
I ask God, like, if this is what you have
with me, you know, expand my territory, like and I
have wrote in my circle like these are the things
that I need, and they started happening. And the promises
that he made to me and then I made to
him like I give back like this one of the things,
(23:51):
like I will implement this and I will win my
scripture reading when I get that what I'm feeling, I
do shit with people, you know. And so it is
a big, big thing for me, and I see me
incorporating it and my prayer time like it has and
I don't think it's you know, a coincidence, is by chance.
It's like, this is what I really was praying for.
And I said, God, if it's in your wheel, like
let it happen. If not, okay, I'll go back to
(24:12):
accountant or I'll you know what I'm saying go back
to caretaking and like month by month, day by day,
like he reveals and he you know, he blessed it
with me and he shows like, hey, yeah, you're doing
what you're supposed to be doing and so still here.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
So I definitely want to add that in.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Like when my YouTube I have a segment, it's like,
let's bring it home and I'll just tell the people,
like what I learned from my reading and how you
can apply to your life and how it inspired me
and X Y and Z. I don't think. I think
it's all comes full circle. Yeah, trying together. So yeah,
that's really cool.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
Yeah, I think I'm in a crossroads right now in
my personal life, and I feel like you're like the
probably a sixth sign that I've gotten so far like
for me, and so like for the beginning of the interview,
you've been so transparent throughout your whole journey, and I
just really feel like I was meant to meet you
today and like see and hear your story because it's
(25:01):
really inspiring me. And it's because Michael knows like I
was in transition of like possibly changing careers and then
jumping into accounting but bookkeeping try to like because I'm
like you. I was like, I love entertainment. I want
to be an actor. I want to do you know, entertainment,
but scared to make that jump, right, So like you're
(25:23):
kind of giving me the kind of the future, like
you know, glimpse of what it could be. So yeah,
thank you for sharing your story.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
Definitely.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
Then I wasn't to ask you are you more spiritual
because I am.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
I don't.
Speaker 5 (25:36):
I'm not in an organized, organized religion, but I do
believe in like God, in a higher power, and he
has blessed me throughout my my year, and I give
myself over tim saying if if, if this is your
will you know, I trust you without any like questioning,
and I don't.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I don't.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
I don't need to worry about it, and I'm trying
to retrain myself to do that. It's to like just
be worry free and then whatever he has in my path,
he will give me to it.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Yeah, beautiful.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
It is pretty crazy because I didn't know your story
before you came on. You know, we knew you were
coming on today, but I didn't know your story, and
so literally I knew Eric's situation and then as you're
talking I'm like, well that kind of sounds like eric
as you're talking about, like that's what the air's going through, right. Yeah?
Uh so that is really cool. That's really cool. Yeah,
so look what you did. You just came in, you
told your story. Look what happened. So now Yogi seventy five,
(26:26):
where did that come from?
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Is like the dancing bear Yogi? Yeah, so one of
my homies they call me yog can have you know,
dancing Florida. We have our own little dancing Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
So we had that here in Dallas back in two
thousand and seven.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
And then I didn't think that, like my TikTok will
blow up, right, And if I knew I want to
use Yogi, right, would to use my name? So that's
how people like, is your name Yogi is a jet?
I'm like, no name DeVante. Yeah, that's so if I
knew it would have blew up, probably would.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
It's like one of those people that have like an
AOL email back in the day. They never changed it
and it's like hot, Yeah, they're signed up for to
go to Google corporate. Uh but yeah, that's so cool.
We'll keep doing what you're doing. I think it's incredible
and you need to fight. You need a booboo. Yo,
who needs a boo boo? So you need a little
sidekick to come in on your little uh, your your
skits and stuff. So yeah, put it Paul out there.
(27:15):
But all right, well, thank you so much and uh
I looked forward to come back anytime. You're more than welcome. Yeah,
I appreciate it. Yeah. This is mz now online at
mz NOOW dot tv. Like us on Facebook at Facebook
dot com, forward slash mz now
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