Death Row Records founder Michael "Harry O" Harris joins the show to talk about his organization Community First, his decision to endorse former President Trump, the Opportunity Plan and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
FCB Faith is your rhythm and prey station. I listen,
my mom listens, pretty much the whole family.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I cannot, I cannot. I canna.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Said, don't, don't.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
And no joke. Listen to FCB Faith on iHeartRadio, Odyssey
(00:59):
at Faith dot com, or tell your smart speaker to
play FCB Faith on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
This is the FCB Podcast Network.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Great when they drunk Ja boot change at top. We
don't listen to y'all.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
We don't listen to y'all.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
This the hold make them scream out now like a
sound because.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
The ruck is in the crowd.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Tune in the charge for the out Tune in the
for the out.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Welcome to a special edition of the Outlaws. This is
Darvey Oda, Kingpenmorrow. Don't forget too. Like us on Facebook
at Facebook dot com, slash the Outlaws Radio, follow us
on Twitter or x and Instagram at the Outlaws Radio.
We have a very special interview with Michael Harris a
k A. Harryo, who is one of the founders of
(01:59):
death Row Records, the legendary death Row Records. We're gonna
talk about a lot of things. We're gonna talk about
his initiatives in the community to help improve the community.
We're gonna talk about his endorsement of former President Trump.
We're gonna dig into that as well, and just some
(02:20):
of the things that he's trying to do, some of
the things that Harry OH is trying to do to
help improve the community. We're going to talk about his
Opportunity Plan or the Old Plan. We're going to talk
about his Community First initiative and all of that good stuff.
So we're gonna jump into that interview right now. All right,
(02:40):
we have a very special guest on the show today.
He is a founder of one of my all time,
all time favorite record labels, Death Row Records. Michael Harris,
also known as HARRYO. Welcome, How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Are great? Man, I'm gonna be here. Thank you. How
you doing this one?
Speaker 1 (03:05):
I'm good, I'm good, good. Thank you for taking the time.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I really appreciate it. Yes, sir, Yeah, looking forward to speaking.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Yes, sir, So talk a little bit about the old planned,
the Opportunity Plan. Let's start there first, talk a little
bit about that.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Well, before we go to the Old Plan, let's just
talk about Community First and what that organization entails. Community
First was an organization that we created five and one
see for to highlight the voice of the community Blacks
in particular, but the.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Community as a whole in terms.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Of creating policies that every day Americas should care about. No,
we don't speak for the entire community, but we know
there's certain things that are essential. One is having access
to capital to help grow these and develop these communities
into what they should be opposed to what they have
(04:06):
continued to be. Also, we have what we call a
redemption agenda, which speaks to the incarcerated who while they
incarcerated should be equipped with a skill setting too so
that when they come home they're able to enter the
job market and then that should be second chance hiring
(04:29):
opportunities for them when they come on that side of
the wall as well. And so we try to highlight
different programs and initiatives that we could go after and
get people to support us on. In terms of education,
one of the things that we wanted to talk about
with school choice and how important that is that children
(04:53):
have access to better schools, either if those schools are
in their community or outside of their community. Children should
not get substandard education. And so we're a big component
of school choice and also in terms of job opportunities,
we want PELL grants to include trades that people can
(05:17):
jump into, because everybody don't want to go to college,
but they want to get into meaning for employment, and
so we just have a litany of things that speak
to what the community can get into right away and
change their lives.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
So talk a little bit about what inspired that. What
gave you the idea to create your organization and the plan.
What did you see where you felt like, Okay, this
is a need. What inspired you to create this?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Well, it's been a long journey.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
While I was away, that was away for like thirty
three years, but doing some parts of that conservation, I
used to think about different ways to get involved in
philompathy and how you can create different organizations that can speak.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
To the needs of the community.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
So this kind of evolved from that, just thinking about
the programs that I was involved with while I was
away and some of the programs that helped change my
life and other people's lives that I helped create as well,
And I was thinking like, why, you know, that's important
for us to do here, but why is this a necessity?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Like where is the prevention here?
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Like how can we do things in the community that
prevent one people from even going to prison for different reasons.
But more importantly, how can we create an economic system
that those communities can thrive from? And so it's always
been in my mind trying to figure out what's the
(06:59):
way they gay society to do that.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
And then when I came home.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
I just watched a lot of these communities that had
deteriorated and continue to deteriorate because it doesn't have economic infrastructure.
And so I just thought this particular election, But I'm
not just limited to this election. I know it's important
when you start talking about policies that you deal with
(07:24):
all government up and down the ballot, But I just
thought this particular election spoke to the black voice, and
that the black voice was essential to whoever wins the election,
and that if that is the case, then how do
you utilize that power to make a deal with the
(07:45):
incoming president to.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Speak to your community needs. And so there goes the
title community first.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
So if we start off with the community first being
a subject matter, being a focus point, and we take
it all the way up to the election, that windows
whoever wins becomes the president, we don't put it on
your mind, and so we put out a challenge to
both candidates, and President Trump tapped back in and said,
(08:18):
if he's elected president, that he would work with us
community first with the old plan to make sure these
initiatives are are pushed through so that the community can
benefit from that presidency. See, that's what's important. We have
to start supporting people that support us. And so that's
(08:41):
why I wanted to put it out there. Okay, this
is what we want to be supported on. Who's going
to acknowledge us. If you can't acknowledge us when you
need us, then of course we know how that's going
to turn out when you don't need us.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
So that's how we got there.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
And I was going, Uh, that was the next place
I was going to. I saw that you made an endorsement.
Talk a little bit about that and again talk about
you know what brought you to that point, and uh,
talk a little bit more about his response to your
plan and your initiative.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Well, like I said, it was, uh, you know, it
was a well thought out plan, I said. I with
some experts and we talked about things that that were doable,
that was realistic, that things that shouldn't be you know,
it shouldn't be a fore reach, you know, like, how
can we improve on the opportunity zones and and make
that uh, that opportunity that President Trump actually bipartisany by
(09:47):
partisan matter voted into law where the wealthy, some of
the wealthies of our community business sectors could invest in
over look communities and of course, uh receive a tax
benefit for it for it, but at the same time,
(10:07):
we get to bring these these these these funds into
our communities to build out our community, to develop our community,
to build models, to build shopping centers, to build businesses
that we can employ people. So I just think that
that needed to be flushed I needed that needed to
be flushed out. And so I worked with Shay Hawkins,
(10:28):
who was one of the architects of this plan, to
be able to see how we could, if if we
get some support from the incoming president, how we could
broaden that opportunity zone so that people in the community
can truly benefit from that opportunity. And so as we
(10:49):
went down the list of things that, uh, you know,
for self sufficiency, that we could bring into the community
and change the traject to our community, we started to
see things that President Trump had already done in his previous.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Administration, which was.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
One of the things he did was he signed in
the law permanent permanent funding for HBCUs. He also, like
I said, implemented the Opportunity Zone, but he also brought
in he signed law, pushed in law for first the
(11:31):
First Step Act.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
So I think it's.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
Important when you start thinking about who's going to be
the person that you choose, what's the track record, like
what have you done in the past that points to
what you could possibly do in the future. And I
just think that it was clear that he had done
some things that had a tremendous effect on our community.
(11:56):
Thousands of people were released from the First Step Act
back into you become positive and productive citizens.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
The HBCU, I know it has been enhanced since he
did the permanent funding for it, but that was essential
for education for people to.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Look like us.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
And so it was those kind of things that was
like part of the due diligence, you know, like there
is some history here, so what it was time for
me to make that choice after he tapped in. It
was easy because he basically had already done some things
(12:36):
that affected our community, and it also did funding for
a sickle cell anemia to russ a cure, and I
just thought that that was unique and different, but it
was specifically directed to our community.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
So when.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
I put out the challenge to both candidates, and he
tapped back in and and in a sense, he says, look,
I want to build on what I did before, and
I want to work with community first to help build
out the old plan. That's when we decided that we
(13:11):
would support him as president of the United States. And uh,
and we never heard from the other side even to today,
because we was a you know, bipartisan organization, and so
our theme is we support.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Who support us?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Wow, that was that was actually gonna be the next question,
I asked, So there was because because I remember seeing
that you all had put it out to both candidates. Yes,
and I saw President Trump's former President Trump's response, but
so you had you guys have heard nothing, no response
from the Airs campaign.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
Now spends crickets, not one thing, you know, And we
put it out, we put it directly to both campaigns.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
So and we've been out here talking about it. We
had been out there talking about it, promoting it, letting
it know. It was it was it.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Was, it was what our agenda was about and we
still haven't heard anything. And so uh, once President Trump
said yeah, look, I'm committed to working with you guys.
To me, that was a form of support that and acknowledgment,
and so we we we endorsed President Trump the President.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
After that, the conclusion of our interview with Harry O
coming up next here on the elows.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Welcome back, Welcome back.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Make sure that you subscribe to the show on Apple, podcast, Spotify, iHeart,
or wherever you get your podcasts. And if you listen
to this show on Apple, please make sure you leave
us a five star review and a comment is very
important for the algorithm and for those of you that
have already done so, thank you oh so very much.
And now to the conclusion of our interview with Here
we Go, We're talking with Michael Harris aka here we Go. So,
(15:12):
since you've put this plan out you just mentioned, walked
us through everything with you, endorsement the former president and
everything else like that, have you gotten any other support
from any other members of the community, celebrities you come from,
the people in the hip hop world obviously know you.
(15:33):
Have you gotten any other support for your initiative?
Speaker 2 (15:36):
And what you're trying to do. Yeah, look look this.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
You know, look, everybody notices the slippery slope, but in
terms of people who really know which ways that errors
this point. I have received your support from the hip
hop community as well as business, from the business sector
who connects with men, and I believe it's something they
(16:02):
can get behind. And so I just think that it's
been an opportunity because we started our campaign out with
you know, we're all out here to educate ourselves about
both candidates or both parties, and one of the things
we want to lock into we said, look, let's just
put policy of a party, and so let's go through
(16:26):
both parties and see who says something and does something
or either. Sometimes in President Trump's case, there's some things
he didn't actually run over, but he actually came through for.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
So these are of this kind.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
Of due diligence we've been involved in, Like this is
serious business.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
You know, when you start talking about putting your vote
out for somebody.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
To see if within the four year period of time
they're going to move the needle for your community, it's
a long time to wait and to be stuck in
to so you have to really make sure that you're
making the right decisions. So we haven't been telling people
who to vote for. We just said do your own research.
And I just think that on both party sides, there's
(17:11):
some things that have happened to benefit the community, but
it just seems like this particular candidate had been more
for our community in his period then the last four
years had done for our community. And so I just
think that it's important that we that we get there first. First,
(17:32):
Let's get the wisdom, Let's get to knowledge, let's see,
let's go through the information, and then make our decision
based on wisdom opposed to getting emotional about you know,
race and sexism and things that has been playing in
our country for so many years. And like I said that,
(17:52):
you know, I spoke at the Madison Square Garden that
that's an issue that we should all agree that we
still have a problem with, and that's something that we
should all work on. That we have a lot that
we that we have a lot of work to do
when it comes to that. But I think what brings
this country together is when you focus on the similarities
that we have.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
That's what unites us.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
And so these are the kind of things I've been
trying to focus in on what do we what are
what are our similar common goals and how can we
reach them together instead of getting focused on things that
can separate us.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Mm hmm, yeah, that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
So after the election, regardless of the outcome, what's next
for Community First? What's what's next on the agenda? What
what are your plans moving forward?
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Well, look, we would love to have somebody in the
office that supports our plan. But but what regardless of
how it turns out, Community First is still going to
be committed to going into the communities, working with different
organizations to try to keep pushing our a gender.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
It's not a one shot Harry.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
For us, this is a continuum and we believe that
you have to work up and down about it to
make that happen. So Community First to probably take a
break like everybody else for no Christmas Holidays, but you know,
we're gonna be right back to work at the top
of the year because there's a lot of serious work
(19:30):
that has to be done and I just don't want
to be a part of you know, we tried, it
didn't work, and then we stopped. It's like it's going
to take a lot of heavy lifting to fix the
problems that plague our communities and the way people perceive
us and think about us instead of thinking about how
we can work together to uplift all communities.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Absolutely, we're talking with Michael Harris Akareo and we have
a few men this left, but one thing I definitely
wanted to ask you again. You have an incredible story,
incredible journey along history, and as I mentioned at the beginning,
part of that history also involves being one of the
(20:15):
founders of death Row Records, which has become a legendary
historic brand. It's been relaunched, still in existence today. Snoop
Dogg is now running it and having success with it
as well. Talk about what it's what it's like to
know that you were a part of something so legendary
(20:37):
like that, that you were that you actually were one
of the founders of it. Talk a little bit about
what that's like.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Well, you know, you know, people from different lenses, they
see Death Row Records different ways at different times. But
like you say, I was there at the conception of it,
and I knew what the original purpose of it was for.
And I just think that at that time, especially when
it comes to music, we just was in We were
(21:07):
locked into such small boxes in terms of being owners,
managing our own record label, and then to be able
to create a platform that could tell stories.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
About the community.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Rat was just a whole unique form of entertainment that
actually was able to really do illustrative stories.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
And so it was an.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Opportunity to talk about our community in a way that
some media would never cover us. And at the same time,
it was fun, it was party, it was you know,
it was just things that was happening in the community,
and also cautionary tales could be told through this form
of music. So in the beginning, you know, it just
(21:49):
it was just about a collective group of people coming
together with their talents and skill sets and building our
own platform, and it just turned into it just blew up,
and uh it just was the right time, right place, Uh,
you know, at different people that had different inputs to
make it feel a certain kind of way, you know,
(22:10):
based on our own varying experiences. And then Minds was
kind of unique because I was actually incarcerated with I
helped create this company, and so I had a different
less that I was looking through from behind the walls,
you know, and how important it was to have a
platform that could speak about our truths. And some some
(22:33):
of it worked out, you know, like like planning it,
and some of it kind of win left. But death
Ro just kept going, you know, it just it was
one of them phenomenons that you.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Know, out of ran the people from all walks of
lives who.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Said, you know, you know, I mean, I'm going to
bed ass mayon ass, you know, people from different races,
and they just sayd that that death ro was a
soundtrack of their college days or you know, their life.
And so when I hear that, you know, it's still
throws me back a little bit, like because I just
thought we were just really talking to our community. And
then we started to see that so many other communities
(23:08):
locked into that that time, and they enjoyed what we
were doing.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
And uh, I know I've seen Snoop shout you out
a couple of times. You guys still have a relationship,
you and Snoop.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Yeah, we're business partners. Oh wow, wow, that's fantastic. Okay,
I'm part of I'm the CEO of death Row.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
Oh wow, the CEO and uh and we also just
created death Ro pictures and actually we have a documentary
coming out soon. That was shot by One on one
Studios and directed by Antoine food Car. So it's gonna
it's gonna probably be the most comprehensive story ever told
(23:57):
on death Row.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
That's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
I'm definitely as a as a death Row fan since
I was young.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
I'm definitely looking forward to that.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
So let everybody know if they want to get more
information about Community First and O plan, where they can go, website,
social media, all that good stuff, how they can follow
you and keep up with with all the other stuff
that you got working well.
Speaker 4 (24:21):
They can go to Community First Action dot org or
at Community First Action or the official Harry out is
my ig. So that's how you can follow us. And
we always out there and we love to hear from you,
(24:42):
and you know, and we want to work with the community,
not just from me being out there being a social activist,
but you know, in the entertainment world, how we can
help tell these stories that may not have an opportunity
to be told. So and we're still trying to figure
this me the thing. You know, it's a new platform,
(25:02):
it's a new system, but we just think that people
should be paid for their creativity and we want to
work with different artists and companies to make sure that
people are they benefit from the talent.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Absolutely, thank you so much for coming on the show
and spending time with us.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
We really appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
Thank you for having me, sir, and there's been a
pleasure talking with you and looking forward to see more
interviews from you.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
Yes sir, Yes, sir, thank you.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
One more time. I want to send a special shout
out to Michael Harry O Harris for coming on the show.
We really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
We are out of here.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
We'll see you next time.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
This has been a presentation of the FCB podcast Network,
where Real Talk lifts visitors online at fcbpodcasts dot com.
M
FCB Faith is your rhythm and prey station. I listen,
my mom listens, pretty much the whole family.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I cannot, I cannot. I canna.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Said, don't, don't.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
And no joke. Listen to FCB Faith on iHeartRadio, Odyssey
(00:59):
at Faith dot com, or tell your smart speaker to
play FCB Faith on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
This is the FCB Podcast Network.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Great when they drunk Ja boot change at top. We
don't listen to y'all.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
We don't listen to y'all.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
This the hold make them scream out now like a
sound because.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
The ruck is in the crowd.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Tune in the charge for the out Tune in the
for the out.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Welcome to a special edition of the Outlaws. This is
Darvey Oda, Kingpenmorrow. Don't forget too. Like us on Facebook
at Facebook dot com, slash the Outlaws Radio, follow us
on Twitter or x and Instagram at the Outlaws Radio.
We have a very special interview with Michael Harris a
k A. Harryo, who is one of the founders of
(01:59):
death Row Records, the legendary death Row Records. We're gonna
talk about a lot of things. We're gonna talk about
his initiatives in the community to help improve the community.
We're gonna talk about his endorsement of former President Trump.
We're gonna dig into that as well, and just some
(02:20):
of the things that he's trying to do, some of
the things that Harry OH is trying to do to
help improve the community. We're going to talk about his
Opportunity Plan or the Old Plan. We're going to talk
about his Community First initiative and all of that good stuff.
So we're gonna jump into that interview right now. All right,
(02:40):
we have a very special guest on the show today.
He is a founder of one of my all time,
all time favorite record labels, Death Row Records. Michael Harris,
also known as HARRYO. Welcome, How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Are great? Man, I'm gonna be here. Thank you. How
you doing this one?
Speaker 1 (03:05):
I'm good, I'm good, good. Thank you for taking the time.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I really appreciate it. Yes, sir, Yeah, looking forward to speaking.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Yes, sir, So talk a little bit about the old planned,
the Opportunity Plan. Let's start there first, talk a little
bit about that.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Well, before we go to the Old Plan, let's just
talk about Community First and what that organization entails. Community
First was an organization that we created five and one
see for to highlight the voice of the community Blacks
in particular, but the.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Community as a whole in terms.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Of creating policies that every day Americas should care about. No,
we don't speak for the entire community, but we know
there's certain things that are essential. One is having access
to capital to help grow these and develop these communities
into what they should be opposed to what they have
(04:06):
continued to be. Also, we have what we call a
redemption agenda, which speaks to the incarcerated who while they
incarcerated should be equipped with a skill setting too so
that when they come home they're able to enter the
job market and then that should be second chance hiring
(04:29):
opportunities for them when they come on that side of
the wall as well. And so we try to highlight
different programs and initiatives that we could go after and
get people to support us on. In terms of education,
one of the things that we wanted to talk about
with school choice and how important that is that children
(04:53):
have access to better schools, either if those schools are
in their community or outside of their community. Children should
not get substandard education. And so we're a big component
of school choice and also in terms of job opportunities,
we want PELL grants to include trades that people can
(05:17):
jump into, because everybody don't want to go to college,
but they want to get into meaning for employment, and
so we just have a litany of things that speak
to what the community can get into right away and
change their lives.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
So talk a little bit about what inspired that. What
gave you the idea to create your organization and the plan.
What did you see where you felt like, Okay, this
is a need. What inspired you to create this?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Well, it's been a long journey.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
While I was away, that was away for like thirty
three years, but doing some parts of that conservation, I
used to think about different ways to get involved in
philompathy and how you can create different organizations that can speak.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
To the needs of the community.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
So this kind of evolved from that, just thinking about
the programs that I was involved with while I was
away and some of the programs that helped change my
life and other people's lives that I helped create as well,
And I was thinking like, why, you know, that's important
for us to do here, but why is this a necessity?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Like where is the prevention here?
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Like how can we do things in the community that
prevent one people from even going to prison for different reasons.
But more importantly, how can we create an economic system
that those communities can thrive from? And so it's always
been in my mind trying to figure out what's the
(06:59):
way they gay society to do that.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
And then when I came home.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
I just watched a lot of these communities that had
deteriorated and continue to deteriorate because it doesn't have economic infrastructure.
And so I just thought this particular election, But I'm
not just limited to this election. I know it's important
when you start talking about policies that you deal with
(07:24):
all government up and down the ballot, But I just
thought this particular election spoke to the black voice, and
that the black voice was essential to whoever wins the election,
and that if that is the case, then how do
you utilize that power to make a deal with the
(07:45):
incoming president to.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Speak to your community needs. And so there goes the
title community first.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
So if we start off with the community first being
a subject matter, being a focus point, and we take
it all the way up to the election, that windows
whoever wins becomes the president, we don't put it on
your mind, and so we put out a challenge to
both candidates, and President Trump tapped back in and said,
(08:18):
if he's elected president, that he would work with us
community first with the old plan to make sure these
initiatives are are pushed through so that the community can
benefit from that presidency. See, that's what's important. We have
to start supporting people that support us. And so that's
(08:41):
why I wanted to put it out there. Okay, this
is what we want to be supported on. Who's going
to acknowledge us. If you can't acknowledge us when you
need us, then of course we know how that's going
to turn out when you don't need us.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
So that's how we got there.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
And I was going, Uh, that was the next place
I was going to. I saw that you made an endorsement.
Talk a little bit about that and again talk about
you know what brought you to that point, and uh,
talk a little bit more about his response to your
plan and your initiative.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Well, like I said, it was, uh, you know, it
was a well thought out plan, I said. I with
some experts and we talked about things that that were doable,
that was realistic, that things that shouldn't be you know,
it shouldn't be a fore reach, you know, like, how
can we improve on the opportunity zones and and make
that uh, that opportunity that President Trump actually bipartisany by
(09:47):
partisan matter voted into law where the wealthy, some of
the wealthies of our community business sectors could invest in
over look communities and of course, uh receive a tax
benefit for it for it, but at the same time,
(10:07):
we get to bring these these these these funds into
our communities to build out our community, to develop our community,
to build models, to build shopping centers, to build businesses
that we can employ people. So I just think that
that needed to be flushed I needed that needed to
be flushed out. And so I worked with Shay Hawkins,
(10:28):
who was one of the architects of this plan, to
be able to see how we could, if if we
get some support from the incoming president, how we could
broaden that opportunity zone so that people in the community
can truly benefit from that opportunity. And so as we
(10:49):
went down the list of things that, uh, you know,
for self sufficiency, that we could bring into the community
and change the traject to our community, we started to
see things that President Trump had already done in his previous.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Administration, which was.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
One of the things he did was he signed in
the law permanent permanent funding for HBCUs. He also, like
I said, implemented the Opportunity Zone, but he also brought
in he signed law, pushed in law for first the
(11:31):
First Step Act.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
So I think it's.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
Important when you start thinking about who's going to be
the person that you choose, what's the track record, like
what have you done in the past that points to
what you could possibly do in the future. And I
just think that it was clear that he had done
some things that had a tremendous effect on our community.
(11:56):
Thousands of people were released from the First Step Act
back into you become positive and productive citizens.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
The HBCU, I know it has been enhanced since he
did the permanent funding for it, but that was essential
for education for people to.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Look like us.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
And so it was those kind of things that was
like part of the due diligence, you know, like there
is some history here, so what it was time for
me to make that choice after he tapped in. It
was easy because he basically had already done some things
(12:36):
that affected our community, and it also did funding for
a sickle cell anemia to russ a cure, and I
just thought that that was unique and different, but it
was specifically directed to our community.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
So when.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
I put out the challenge to both candidates, and he
tapped back in and and in a sense, he says, look,
I want to build on what I did before, and
I want to work with community first to help build
out the old plan. That's when we decided that we
(13:11):
would support him as president of the United States. And uh,
and we never heard from the other side even to today,
because we was a you know, bipartisan organization, and so
our theme is we support.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Who support us?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Wow, that was that was actually gonna be the next question,
I asked, So there was because because I remember seeing
that you all had put it out to both candidates. Yes,
and I saw President Trump's former President Trump's response, but
so you had you guys have heard nothing, no response
from the Airs campaign.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
Now spends crickets, not one thing, you know, And we
put it out, we put it directly to both campaigns.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
So and we've been out here talking about it. We
had been out there talking about it, promoting it, letting
it know. It was it was it.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Was, it was what our agenda was about and we
still haven't heard anything. And so uh, once President Trump
said yeah, look, I'm committed to working with you guys.
To me, that was a form of support that and acknowledgment,
and so we we we endorsed President Trump the President.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
After that, the conclusion of our interview with Harry O
coming up next here on the elows.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Welcome back, Welcome back.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Make sure that you subscribe to the show on Apple, podcast, Spotify, iHeart,
or wherever you get your podcasts. And if you listen
to this show on Apple, please make sure you leave
us a five star review and a comment is very
important for the algorithm and for those of you that
have already done so, thank you oh so very much.
And now to the conclusion of our interview with Here
we Go, We're talking with Michael Harris aka here we Go. So,
(15:12):
since you've put this plan out you just mentioned, walked
us through everything with you, endorsement the former president and
everything else like that, have you gotten any other support
from any other members of the community, celebrities you come from,
the people in the hip hop world obviously know you.
(15:33):
Have you gotten any other support for your initiative?
Speaker 2 (15:36):
And what you're trying to do. Yeah, look look this.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
You know, look, everybody notices the slippery slope, but in
terms of people who really know which ways that errors
this point. I have received your support from the hip
hop community as well as business, from the business sector
who connects with men, and I believe it's something they
(16:02):
can get behind. And so I just think that it's
been an opportunity because we started our campaign out with
you know, we're all out here to educate ourselves about
both candidates or both parties, and one of the things
we want to lock into we said, look, let's just
put policy of a party, and so let's go through
(16:26):
both parties and see who says something and does something
or either. Sometimes in President Trump's case, there's some things
he didn't actually run over, but he actually came through for.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
So these are of this kind.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
Of due diligence we've been involved in, Like this is
serious business.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
You know, when you start talking about putting your vote
out for somebody.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
To see if within the four year period of time
they're going to move the needle for your community, it's
a long time to wait and to be stuck in
to so you have to really make sure that you're
making the right decisions. So we haven't been telling people
who to vote for. We just said do your own research.
And I just think that on both party sides, there's
(17:11):
some things that have happened to benefit the community, but
it just seems like this particular candidate had been more
for our community in his period then the last four
years had done for our community. And so I just
think that it's important that we that we get there first. First,
(17:32):
Let's get the wisdom, Let's get to knowledge, let's see,
let's go through the information, and then make our decision
based on wisdom opposed to getting emotional about you know,
race and sexism and things that has been playing in
our country for so many years. And like I said that,
(17:52):
you know, I spoke at the Madison Square Garden that
that's an issue that we should all agree that we
still have a problem with, and that's something that we
should all work on. That we have a lot that
we that we have a lot of work to do
when it comes to that. But I think what brings
this country together is when you focus on the similarities
that we have.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
That's what unites us.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
And so these are the kind of things I've been
trying to focus in on what do we what are
what are our similar common goals and how can we
reach them together instead of getting focused on things that
can separate us.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Mm hmm, yeah, that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
So after the election, regardless of the outcome, what's next
for Community First? What's what's next on the agenda? What
what are your plans moving forward?
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Well, look, we would love to have somebody in the
office that supports our plan. But but what regardless of
how it turns out, Community First is still going to
be committed to going into the communities, working with different
organizations to try to keep pushing our a gender.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
It's not a one shot Harry.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
For us, this is a continuum and we believe that
you have to work up and down about it to
make that happen. So Community First to probably take a
break like everybody else for no Christmas Holidays, but you know,
we're gonna be right back to work at the top
of the year because there's a lot of serious work
(19:30):
that has to be done and I just don't want
to be a part of you know, we tried, it
didn't work, and then we stopped. It's like it's going
to take a lot of heavy lifting to fix the
problems that plague our communities and the way people perceive
us and think about us instead of thinking about how
we can work together to uplift all communities.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Absolutely, we're talking with Michael Harris Akareo and we have
a few men this left, but one thing I definitely
wanted to ask you again. You have an incredible story,
incredible journey along history, and as I mentioned at the beginning,
part of that history also involves being one of the
(20:15):
founders of death Row Records, which has become a legendary
historic brand. It's been relaunched, still in existence today. Snoop
Dogg is now running it and having success with it
as well. Talk about what it's what it's like to
know that you were a part of something so legendary
(20:37):
like that, that you were that you actually were one
of the founders of it. Talk a little bit about
what that's like.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Well, you know, you know, people from different lenses, they
see Death Row Records different ways at different times. But
like you say, I was there at the conception of it,
and I knew what the original purpose of it was for.
And I just think that at that time, especially when
it comes to music, we just was in We were
(21:07):
locked into such small boxes in terms of being owners,
managing our own record label, and then to be able
to create a platform that could tell stories.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
About the community.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Rat was just a whole unique form of entertainment that
actually was able to really do illustrative stories.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
And so it was an.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Opportunity to talk about our community in a way that
some media would never cover us. And at the same time,
it was fun, it was party, it was you know,
it was just things that was happening in the community,
and also cautionary tales could be told through this form
of music. So in the beginning, you know, it just
(21:49):
it was just about a collective group of people coming
together with their talents and skill sets and building our
own platform, and it just turned into it just blew up,
and uh it just was the right time, right place, Uh,
you know, at different people that had different inputs to
make it feel a certain kind of way, you know,
(22:10):
based on our own varying experiences. And then Minds was
kind of unique because I was actually incarcerated with I
helped create this company, and so I had a different
less that I was looking through from behind the walls,
you know, and how important it was to have a
platform that could speak about our truths. And some some
(22:33):
of it worked out, you know, like like planning it,
and some of it kind of win left. But death
Ro just kept going, you know, it just it was
one of them phenomenons that you.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Know, out of ran the people from all walks of
lives who.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Said, you know, you know, I mean, I'm going to
bed ass mayon ass, you know, people from different races,
and they just sayd that that death ro was a
soundtrack of their college days or you know, their life.
And so when I hear that, you know, it's still
throws me back a little bit, like because I just
thought we were just really talking to our community. And
then we started to see that so many other communities
(23:08):
locked into that that time, and they enjoyed what we
were doing.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
And uh, I know I've seen Snoop shout you out
a couple of times. You guys still have a relationship,
you and Snoop.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Yeah, we're business partners. Oh wow, wow, that's fantastic. Okay,
I'm part of I'm the CEO of death Row.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
Oh wow, the CEO and uh and we also just
created death Ro pictures and actually we have a documentary
coming out soon. That was shot by One on one
Studios and directed by Antoine food Car. So it's gonna
it's gonna probably be the most comprehensive story ever told
(23:57):
on death Row.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
That's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
I'm definitely as a as a death Row fan since
I was young.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
I'm definitely looking forward to that.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
So let everybody know if they want to get more
information about Community First and O plan, where they can go, website,
social media, all that good stuff, how they can follow
you and keep up with with all the other stuff
that you got working well.
Speaker 4 (24:21):
They can go to Community First Action dot org or
at Community First Action or the official Harry out is
my ig. So that's how you can follow us. And
we always out there and we love to hear from you,
(24:42):
and you know, and we want to work with the community,
not just from me being out there being a social activist,
but you know, in the entertainment world, how we can
help tell these stories that may not have an opportunity
to be told. So and we're still trying to figure
this me the thing. You know, it's a new platform,
(25:02):
it's a new system, but we just think that people
should be paid for their creativity and we want to
work with different artists and companies to make sure that
people are they benefit from the talent.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Absolutely, thank you so much for coming on the show
and spending time with us.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
We really appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
Thank you for having me, sir, and there's been a
pleasure talking with you and looking forward to see more
interviews from you.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
Yes sir, Yes, sir, thank you.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
One more time. I want to send a special shout
out to Michael Harry O Harris for coming on the show.
We really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
We are out of here.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
We'll see you next time.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
This has been a presentation of the FCB podcast Network,
where Real Talk lifts visitors online at fcbpodcasts dot com.
M
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