Joy, Pain & Purpose w/ Young Dro

00:00:00
Speaker 1: Coming up Keep It Positive, Sweetie.

00:00:03
Speaker 2: I was in pain because you know when you have fifty six staples in a colossomy bag send right here and a tube right here, and you feel what I'm saying, and then you're healing up from the gunshot. You know what I'm saying. I went on a couple of surgeries, you know, so I'm in pain pains. So when that lady hit me with that stuff and I went out, it felt like it was like, I don't know, I don't know how it is, I don't know how I feel to be born. But it felt like I was just coming into the world, like coming out of the wound, like oh my god. And I was like, this feels insanely good. Hi.

00:01:06
Speaker 3: I'm Christoph Nate Hazlet, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetish Show, a safe space to heal, laugh, grow and love. I'm really looking forward to the show today because we've been trying to get this next guest song for a while. I'm talking about hip hop great Young Droe will deep dive into how he overcame a lengthy drug addiction and how he's using his testimony to inspire and uplift others.

00:01:29
Speaker 1: That's known for hip.

00:01:29
Speaker 3: Hop hits like Shoulderling and We in the City. Young Joe has been a part of the soundtracks of My Life along with so many others. Despite having hit records over the course of his career, Young Droe is immersed in a drug addiction that spanned decades. Now nearly four years sober, Joe is more focused than ever. He's here now to share his powerful testimony and how he's moving forward and music, movies and more.

00:01:53
Speaker 1: Droe, we got you here, you are here.

00:01:58
Speaker 3: I'm so happy. I just love your energy. I appreciate your support. We follow each other on Instagram and I was like, oh my gosh, I just from growing up and well we're probably probably at the same age, but like we grew up together and you were such an instrumental piece of hip hop.

00:02:14
Speaker 1: So to actually know you now, I feel blessed.

00:02:17
Speaker 2: Thank you.

00:02:18
Speaker 1: I'm so happy. How are you feeling feeling?

00:02:20
Speaker 2: Good?

00:02:21
Speaker 3: Man?

00:02:22
Speaker 2: Woke up this one.

00:02:24
Speaker 1: Listen you did?

00:02:25
Speaker 2: You did?

00:02:27
Speaker 1: It's good. So I want to talk about the fits.

00:02:29
Speaker 3: Because Joe, you have been clean. Oh and that was another thing you said.

00:02:34
Speaker 1: We have a new definition of I'm cleaning this bitch because you clean now. Oh, Man, I'm clean, but I want to talk about that fashions.

00:02:45
Speaker 3: I was a stylist. I styled Tyler Pay for five years. I was a costume design at the studio for five years. So I'm all about the fashions. And you have been rapping polo since that. You were before there was influencers. You was a Ralph Lauren influencer.

00:02:58
Speaker 1: Did you ever even like have a partnership.

00:03:00
Speaker 2: With them, because in high school. In high school, this is where I was, you know what I mean. So to come into you know, celebrity and rapping and all that and then join it, I was like, this is normal, you know what I mean? So you know when we be having this, don't you know? You know, it's just it was.

00:03:20
Speaker 1: Just so you woke up today. What was the thought process?

00:03:25
Speaker 2: Oh no, I kind of wanted to be like mister Rogers type. It's beautiful scholar, you know what I'm saying. And you know, the green, the green and yellow. I felt like, you know, my skin would pop off that yes, you know. Then I went carduoy and then I was gonna leave them down, and I was like, I can't disrespect the sock.

00:03:47
Speaker 1: All the socks socking, you know, what I mean.

00:03:49
Speaker 2: So, and it's just you know, some little it's some light, a little light saying, so.

00:03:53
Speaker 1: Do you start yourself or do you have a style?

00:03:54
Speaker 2: I saw myself that's do. I never really had a stylist though.

00:03:58
Speaker 1: Really, nah, it's always when you I love that.

00:04:01
Speaker 2: I got the I can walk in like I can walk in somewhere and just being being ben. But it took like, uh, I had these songs for like a minute, but I just had them and about about at least about eight months and then this just came out, so like it's just.

00:04:19
Speaker 1: Yeah, it just I love that.

00:04:22
Speaker 3: You have a song called put It On.

00:04:24
Speaker 1: And I was just I.

00:04:25
Speaker 3: Was just talking to my parents the other day and we were reminiscing about our trip to Europe this past summer, and they were like, you were just in there like okay, we want to get this, this and this, and.

00:04:33
Speaker 1: We were just walking around. Looked like hell Billy's I said, now, y'all put that ship on. And they was like what I said, y'all put that ship on.

00:04:39
Speaker 3: And I was like, I said, so when you get dressed, cause I had about to like Louis with Tye and all that stuff.

00:04:44
Speaker 1: So they was looking good, and I said, y'all was y'all had it on.

00:04:47
Speaker 3: I said, that's when you put your fists on, you look good at Like, oh O, can we put that ship on.

00:04:53
Speaker 1: This morning? I was like, put it out that song.

00:04:57
Speaker 2: Man. I just wanted to make sure that I just put the fun back into it because when we was coming up, we didn't want to spend and do all that stuff. Man, we just wanted to be fresh, have a good day. Everybody see the outfit. You feel what I'm saying? Back up, man, I'm clean. Yeah, I love it.

00:05:13
Speaker 1: I love that. Congratulations on Young Row Day. I heard that that just happened.

00:05:18
Speaker 3: And guess what, that's my birthday, October eighteenth.

00:05:23
Speaker 2: We got to get together.

00:05:24
Speaker 1: We need to cleve on our day.

00:05:26
Speaker 2: That's crazy.

00:05:29
Speaker 1: I love it. What does it mean to you to have that level of recognition in your city?

00:05:34
Speaker 2: When when when my manager Sierra had got it all together and you know, the powers that be came together and said we're going to give Young Droy's day to day. Always wanted a day, you fear me. They used to have Drow Day in Atlanta. But it's unofficial, you know what I mean? But I felt like this is an important time for me, Like I was thinking, like have fun on that day, but I do want to make it meaningful and impactful, like giving back to the kids and doing stuff with the community. Also, you know what I mean.

00:06:09
Speaker 1: And you're already doing that. You're doing that before you got your day.

00:06:12
Speaker 3: And I love how you're in the community speaking to young men and trying to make sure they stay on the right path.

00:06:18
Speaker 1: I applaud you for that.

00:06:20
Speaker 3: Recently, for the election, you were very involved with making sure people got registered to vote. What was the importance of that, because I know this is a big election for us.

00:06:28
Speaker 2: It was important because how I grew up, like we were just bombarded with how we were going to get some food or if mama had some money, or you know what I'm saying, what kind of clothes we were gonna wear. And we went years and decades without even having an awareness about voting, you know what I mean. And as I got older, I kind of just had like an epiphany or some sort to you know, it took me back to I was looking at movies and you know, my life experience. I was like Martin Luther King and John Lewis, and you know what I mean, like people that walk that walk. And if Martin Luther King was living, you know, my birthday January fifteenth, and if he you know, and I'm probably sure we would have met, you know what I mean. And I could just see him saying, you know, if he was alive, like you gotta do this. You feel what I'm saying. Look, look at all I did, you know what I mean for this moment, and I just you know, I felt the importance of it, you know, because in our culture we be complaining about so much Pauline messing with us, and you know what I mean. The street light might be out, potholes in the street, you feel what I'm saying, No cameras in the neighborhoods to protect and see us in our you know well being. You know, we have these complaints and then we don't do nothing about it, you know what I mean. So voting is very important in our culture too. You know. It's some people that like my manager ran for a position in Georgia on council right, and I was telling people vote for her. They didn't even know what she do, so yeah, aware, So we have to understand too that voting for like the presidents that's one thing. But if you want real change around you, you did what I'm saying.

00:08:22
Speaker 3: You have to vote locally, locally that Oh my gosh, I'm so glad you said that.

00:08:26
Speaker 1: Backstorre.

00:08:26
Speaker 3: I used to work on Capitol Hill, so I love politics, not enough to say in it, but I'm very enamored in it, and now I just love like how it works, and I want people to be more educated on it because a lot of like you said, she was running for an office that nobody even knew about and didn't even know what that position, what the decisions she would be making in that position.

00:08:46
Speaker 1: And I try to tell people.

00:08:47
Speaker 3: It's your sheriffs, your police chiefs, your mayors. Those are people that are making the choices closer to you, the judges, you know, so if something happens, that's who you're going to see. Yes, you had to make sure those people either reflect your or standards and what you're voting for or they look like you, and a lot of times they don't in those positions. So that's so important. I'm proud of you for that. When it comes to the message you want to send to black men, because I know you talk to the young young men but like to black men and where we're going within this next four years before we have another election, what's a message that you would drive to them so they can kind of help prepare for the next race when we get there.

00:09:26
Speaker 2: I have to keep it. I have to keep it gunner because it's so many of us right now, Like that's from the hood. You know what I mean. And I speak to them because our voices can be hurt now because feelings can vote. You feel what I'm saying. It's okay to be a part of something that you now have children in. You feel what I'm saying. Because we look at voting and all that politics stuff. We put that in the same bracket as police. Yes, like we steer away from it, or hey man, with all that police, you feel what I'm saying. So when you look at it like that, you actually ignoring the fact that I have a child coming up in this same environment, in the same world. You know what I mean. I want to be able to have the best things for this child possible. So find like minded people you feel what I'm saying, and make your voice hurt. As a young black man, it don't even really matter what color you are. But mostly us, are you know, resisting on that? You know what I mean? And if I could say something to them, is like, it's okay to be a part of what your children's future look like. That's good.

00:10:33
Speaker 3: I love that message. I love it because a lot of times we forget. We just think about the right now, but we're not thinking about our legacy exactly, and that's what we need to, like literally cultivate a culture that protects them because right now I don't have any children, but I'm afraid to bring a child into this world because it's so scared.

00:10:51
Speaker 1: I'm like, I don't I know, I'm protective on my people.

00:10:54
Speaker 3: If I have a mini me running around here, I will go crazy because I just want to make sure they're allway's good, you know you do?

00:11:03
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, yes the game? Yes? And he is so cute.

00:11:06
Speaker 2: I can be. I can be gangster as I want to be about how I want to protect him and how you ain't finished. You know, I'm from the web side bank heading, you know what I'm saying. But at the end of the day, he has to go out into the world, you know, alone to school, you know, with his friends, to the movies. I can't follow him everywhere, and I want to make sure that you know, the area that he's in is comfortable, you know what I mean. And the laws are put together to represent him and not be against him.

00:11:37
Speaker 4: Yeah.

00:11:37
Speaker 3: I love that you've had an incredible career with your music. Hip hop is so instrumental in our culture. Wait, what point did you know that you had a gift to wrap?

00:11:50
Speaker 2: It had to be in high school, I think God, I was listening. I was listening to something like some Tupac stuff and like Biggie more Money, more problems, and you know, Mason puffing all that. So when they when they came out with that song, I had this shiryland cot on that I got for my sister. Boyfriend. You was a hustle, you know what I'm saying. So I go to school. I got your shirland on out that stole my sister of Pasatia glasses, got the big glasses. So I'm kind of looking like you know what I'm saying. So and I learned the verse, you know what I mean, b I G you know b BA, So I'm rapping it, so you know, And it was a girl. Now, she was kind of green. She ain't know what I was saying. She was like, that's you. I was like a lot. Yeah, yeah. She was like, yeah, that's huge. She was like you sound good. And in my head I'm like, if I could you know do that? You know what I mean? Then I you. Then I heard Tupac one day I gotta get minds with mc bree and then I wrapped that and then they was like that sounded like your music. And I was like, oh, maybe it's my voice, you know what I mean? Then I knew, you know, the voice was something that you know, they was fond of and uh. And then when I put it to pen and paper, it kind of work. I love that.

00:13:08
Speaker 1: So when you put it on pending paper. I used to write poetry as well as a kid.

00:13:11
Speaker 3: My mom used to always say, don't buy me a card, write me a poem because I was.

00:13:14
Speaker 1: I was pretty good at it. I need to get back to it.

00:13:17
Speaker 3: But I would write poetry at what Like when did you say, Okay, I'm gonna put it to pen to paper and then I'm gonna get in the studio or did you just start doing like talent shows or wrap it in the neighborhood.

00:13:26
Speaker 2: To be what's crazy? Was like when I was young. I was. I used to like this girl named Maya in the second grade, okay, and I wrote her this extravagant poem really yeah. It was deep and it was cool like and the girl was like, you wrote this, and I'm like, yeah, you know what I'm saying. So I used to I was into that, you know. And also I used to perform like I Need Love for my Mama by l LL cool J. You know what I'm saying. Shit, you know they'll give us like fifty cent you know what I'm saying. We would be in there. I performed that and you know, different different songs. So I knew that I had the talent. And I used to sing in the choir for my grandma, you know what I mean. And Center of My Joy was one of the songs that I sung. I had to learn it, you know what I'm saying. So after you, I was musically inclined. I was like, I think I want to be a rapper because I ain't want to be no rbs.

00:14:17
Speaker 3: Right.

00:14:17
Speaker 1: What did Grandma said when he's like I want.

00:14:18
Speaker 5: To do rap?

00:14:19
Speaker 2: Well, she she was she used to get me like these caps for your tea. Yeah, She's like saying baby, I'm gonna get your cap. And by the time I got through singing, I had like four black mom Yeah, like one of them had the little cut in it, like a little nugget, you know what I'm saying. One of them had a champagne and went on, had a little heart, you know what I'm saying, and one of them was sided. So it was almost like, I call it this to me, I get drunk now. So so that's when I knew I was musically inclined. But I wouldn't just go around rapping, you know, in the hood, you know what I'm saying. And one day I was on Bankhead at the Bounce and I was wrapping up there and I got noticed.

00:15:02
Speaker 1: Wow, is that when tier I noticed you was?

00:15:05
Speaker 2: I was in my teens at that point. Yeah. So with me and Ti, I was we grew up together. Like like a time after that, I met Tip because we had got our Section eight voucher and stuff like that. You know. We went from you know, apartments that just had heat, you know what I'm saying. Then the big radiating thing that was on the side that you know what I'm saying, I done burnt my behind on that a couple of times, but you know, we weren't used to carpeting. You know, when we got our sixtion eight voucher, that's when I met Tip, you know what I'm saying. So you know at that talent Showlder on the West Side, I think I was around. I couldn't have been no more than about sixteen seventeen.

00:15:46
Speaker 1: Wow, I mean, okay, that's what's up.

00:15:48
Speaker 3: So when you when Tip, so, I guess Tip decided he was gonna do grand hustle And did he come back? And was it one of those hey come with me or were you like, hey, bro, you see.

00:15:58
Speaker 2: I was on before Tip rap before it Like, yeah, it was. It was a dope. It was a dope thing. Yeah, you know, And I knew what he wanted to do with music because in the beginning he didn't really even do. He didn't rap. He was he used to produce and you know, he did beats and hustled and I couldn't he was. I was so I was like one dy, I was like, you know what are we doing? He was like, I'm gonna do these beats? You just kick that around, you kick you know what I'm saying. But we weren't even know rappers though, you know what I'm saying. When we first got got around each other, you know what I'm saying, and we just was fun of each other, of our hood antics because we lived in Riverdale, you know. Coincidentally, his mom got her section they about you and moved out there, and my mom got hers and moved in the same and that's where we was at, and you know, and and we started out just being friends and you know, being I was actually I was healing up from wearing a colossomy bag because I had and shot.

00:17:00
Speaker 3: Yes, talk about that. I saw that on Porsche. You did an interview Porsche and whoa like. I can't imagine at fifteen getting shot. Tell me about that.

00:17:12
Speaker 2: It was crazy, man. I was supposed to go to summer school this day because I was real bad in the ninth grade, you know what I mean. And so we was at Atlanta Area Tech and were supposed to win. I was going to summer school, and I really didn't like like that I had to go to summer school. So we out, we go, We get off the bus, we go to school. The next thing, No, we were supposed to got some to eat after we went on break, so we was going to breath. I'm like, nah, man, I'm finna go sell me some I'm been gonna sell me some drug. Man, I'm finna go. I hain't got no money. Yeah, And they were like, no, let's just go get something to eat. Bro, And I had to polo on. I had to polo sport on the white and blue the white and blue Polo Sport shirt with the white and blue trunk song, with the white and blue sock song.

00:18:00
Speaker 3: You were like the first influencer, so in my outfit, wouldn't let me stay still.

00:18:06
Speaker 2: So I was like, I'm gonna go. So I went to the hood. YEP. So when I went to the hood, I got into some stuff. You know, this guy tried to bully me and you know, take advantage of me being alone and fresh, and I had a par of expensive or money shades on it. He would say he was gonna take him and stuff like that. So I was I was in a position to where this could have been controlled by conflict resolution. I could have came up with a better decision than I came up with. The decision I came up with at that age was to go get my cousin and we're finish, come back, and we're gonna get you about what you just tried. But it was premeditated. And that's the reason why I believe the reason why I believe I got what I deserved in a way, you feel what I'm saying, because I was smart enough to know that by the time I got the bankcad court and got my cousin, I could have had a different thought, like you know what my feelings changed. I don't even you know, I don't even I'm not even mad as I was. And I almost cried at that point when he tried me. But when I got out there my cousin, it was later on that day we had nothing bitch smoking and all that. He was like, hey, what that was you were talking about? Because I came over there and told him, man, I need you. We got to go handle some ben there. But some time passed he was like, oh, what that was you were talking about. I was like, oh, yeah, don't tried me, and woo woo we finish go over here and we went back. We went back and we did what we had to do and I ended up shot. Yep, you know when I when I got shot. Man after we hand up the boddy that I got into it with. You feel what I'm saying. Another dude came up and I thought that was my friend, you know what I mean. I'm looking at him and my cousin was like, what, like, oh, that's my guy. He pull out the pillow boom and when he shooting, you know what I mean, I kind of like try to, you know, shoot back or whatever. But he ended up hitting me in my back and it went through like this way and when it tore up everything in the inside. So sitting in the car crying and going crazy. We driving my cousin he going crazy. We throw the guns out, go to the hospital, and when we get to the hospital, the lady told us we couldn't come in and she's like, you can't come in this way because this is the wrong I'm.

00:20:37
Speaker 1: Like, lady, I'm doing you know what I'm saying.

00:20:40
Speaker 2: So my cousin get because when he got out, he went in there and it was like this the wrong door. And when I seen them giving him problem, I tried to crawl over into the drid side and hit the games like bro got the car, so he pushed me back over. We drove around to the other side. He got out the car again and he ran in there. And when I seen him take it too long, I got out the car. I thought I could walk, and I fell to the ground crawled in there.

00:21:03
Speaker 1: Are you kidding me?

00:21:04
Speaker 2: Ye? And then the doors, you know, they opened automatically. I saw wheelchair, got up in the wheelchair, rolled in there was like, save me, please, Oh my god.

00:21:14
Speaker 1: I have a lot of fears in life.

00:21:18
Speaker 3: One is like dying while giving birth, and then another one's getting shot. Is that a feeling that you never forget, Like that feeling when you like hit or some kind of sometimes your geleen's going you don't even realize and you're like, oh shit, I'm hit.

00:21:30
Speaker 1: What was that moment?

00:21:31
Speaker 3: Like, in the moment when it happened, you thought that was your friend that was approaching you, and then it wasn't.

00:21:36
Speaker 2: I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe that I had got shot. I had seen it in movies, I had heard it, you know, I seen some people shot before, but it was just it was it was groundbreaking from me in my position, you know, and how young I was, you know, bleeding from somewhere and throwing up and you know, you know, it was. It was crazy. And now now I think everybody's gonna do. I think the worst, Like if I'm at a club, yes I'm standing somewhere, I'm like a botna get stabbed or you know what I'm saying. I have these fears and this anxiety that you know.

00:22:18
Speaker 3: To this day, to this day, Oh my goodness, you spoke about at that point the situation being in the hospital and getting addicted to drugs, to the pay medicine. When I was in college, I tore my Achilles Sendon and my mom she works in the hospital, and by day three she took the hydrocodones away from me because she was like, you're fine, You're okay. And I remember what it felt like the sleep I was telling them early so I can hear myself snoring, like it's the best sleep I had ever had in my life.

00:22:51
Speaker 1: And I know I was like, even though I don't have an.

00:22:54
Speaker 3: Addictive spirit, I know how people have, just I just want to feel that at that age, what.

00:22:59
Speaker 1: Was is it for you?

00:23:03
Speaker 2: Well, nobody in the family ever had these talks about, Hey, addiction is very powerful, because I thought that you know, my uncle, my aunties and uncles did drugs and everybody it was cool, like people drinking beers, smoking weed and you know they doing cracking, shooting hairrow on it. You know what I'm saying. But yeah, you know what I'm saying, because it was just like like on shoulder Lean I was saying, like, I don't know if I live my mom, but a bunch of junkies like all her brothers would come over and this would be normal. You know what I'm saying. So in the hospital, I don't know why I was addicted to it, but if that would have been explained to me, maybe I would have been able to say wait a minute, or you know, somebody else could have said, wait a minute, let's tell him. You know about the feeling he's feeling, because I was in there, man, when that Jont put like. I was in pain because you know, when you have fifty six staples in a colossomy bag sit right here and a tube right here. You feel what I'm saying, And then you're healing up from the gunshot. You know what I'm saying. I went on a couple of surgeries, you know, so I'm in pain, pains. So when that lady hit me with that stuff and I went out, it felt like it was like I don't know how it is. I don't know how I feel to be born, but it felt like I was just coming into the world, like coming out of the wound, like oh my god. Yeah, And I was like, this feels insanely good, you know, and it was taking the pain away. But I enjoyed the feeling more than what it was for, yeah, you know what I mean. So that laid down a whole. So I had she used to stick me right here and stick me right here to the point where I had not in me because I was asking so much, you feel what I'm saying, and I had not. She was like, I can't find a good place to stick you. Now to go, And then it happened over here, and.

00:25:03
Speaker 3: I was like, now, I wonder if at some point the nurses should have stepped in and said, okay, that's or had some type of limit of how much they.

00:25:12
Speaker 2: You know, well, well it wasn't even it wasn't likely that I survived, so they I guess it was a delicate situation, you know what I mean. I didn't even supposed to survive that, you know, like, well, most of most teams die from you know, shocking this and that, you know the fact that you're here, and I was totally in pain though, you know what I mean. And it just got to the point where like, I don't know, you know what I mean, it just kept giving it to me. I needed it, but I don't know if I needed it for what I wanted it for. You feel what I'm saying. So by the time they governed it, I had already had that taste. And then when I got out of the hospital, I was like, so what y'all gonna give me when I get out of here. So they was like, oh, we got some something. I was like, I hope it's like that. They was like, this guy here, it's crazy. So when I got out the hospital, man, you know what I did. I end up smoking a blunt and I passed out. I was I drove my bike down the street and I was you know, we're in the projects. Everybody out there crowding around me, and you know, they're like, man, you don't care. I'm like, yeah, I got this bag on, I got my boxes on, my T shirt. I'm skinny. I'm thinking. I'm like I had to be no more than like ninety some pounds before. When I went in, I was like one thirty five, you know what I mean. I got out, So I ended up smoking a blunt and passing out, and the whole thing I could tell them like do not tell my mama and mixed street drugs with this hospital fell out, you know what I mean. But what I do, what I do wish what had happened was that my family was educated on our drug addiction and my father's other addiction than my aunties and uncles and addictive personality and how to navigate what I felt counseling, you know what I mean, like things like things of that nature, because I wouldn't have this story to tell you.

00:27:16
Speaker 3: Yeah, No, Seriously, the hip hop industry speaks a lot about drugs and lean and all types of pills and things like that, and it's I think even more today they're more outward with it in their music.

00:27:32
Speaker 1: We hear so many people overdosing.

00:27:36
Speaker 3: Being that you were in the industry, the addiction started at such a young age as you continue to be engult in this career path, was that something that you were faced with everywhere where you try new stuff, because that was already that spirit was already kind of set in with being addicted.

00:27:51
Speaker 2: It was set in and by the time I got there, you know how you deflect, you know, I used my celebrity to hide behind what was actually a problem. So I was like, oh, well, because I was one of the ones like when I pop peel, I take on like a thundercat and all kind of stuff and you know, the pills and the lean and coming up with ways to rhyme it and make it sound cool. You fee me. So I was a part of that, you know what I mean. And everybody used to always see me out and be like, you geeked up at it, and I was like, not now, you know what I'm saying, but you know, probably later, but you know what I'm saying. They always put that on me, you know what I mean, because I used my platform to put that out there that you know, it was okay when actually I was just hurting and you know, trying to figure out a way to deal with it that was sociable because a lot of things that I did a lot of people didn't do socially.

00:28:52
Speaker 1: Got you.

00:28:54
Speaker 3: Recently, you open up about t I sun de Money saving you from an overdose was at the turning point and tell me about that situation.

00:29:03
Speaker 2: So at that point, Yeah, that happened in the studio. And the reason why I wanted to share that is because I was all out of options. I faked the help a little, you know, Tip took me to get help one time, and I was in there. I was like, and I've seen people that was, you know, on drug and you know, I was like, I ain't that type of junkie. You know what I'm saying. And I felt like, you know, and I just I didn't go back, you know what I mean. Then one time I tried to get help at the crib and the lady came and I was lying in her and you feel what I'm saying, And then I just kept repeating that, and then you know, I would tell like say, for instance, this is a professional place. This is where I wrap at me. You you know, you're my manager. You know what I'm saying. I'm telling you, Oh, I got it, you know what I'm saying. Cool? Cool? Then I go out and get high. Then I come at you and down and missed a couple of shows. Then I tell you another lie. You know what I'm saying. Then it's you kind of got an idea what you don't until the day you overdose. Around me, now, I'm all lot of options, you feel me? So when that happened at the studio, I was like, man, you know what I mean, I'm out on the floor and the the fire department guy, he was young and he was a fan and he was in tears. He was like, Colm Drove and I'm on the floor, like what I said in front of everybody, now you know what I mean? I had been you know, you know I got it. You know, ain't like that. You know what I'm saying. I'm ailing it. You know what I'm saying, propably, pray, you know what I'm saying. But it got to the point where like it came out like you know what I'm saying, and it came out in the worst way. And to have my nephew in that position to a hid because he was like, oh, you know this is what they telling me? May you know? And I didn't answer. He was like, man, some I'm wrong. And he went to work on me. And when I came to and till it was they facetiming, he get up, hey boy, you're good. I'm looking like I'm not good. What are you talking about I just came to you know what I'm saying, and the money is there, and I could see the look in his eye and if I could just apologize to him now, like I'm so sorry that I put you in the position to where you had to see your uncle in his way because of something that I didn't share that I needed help, you know what I mean. And in that position in that studio where I made hits at you know what I mean, and I was broken at uh and I didn't want to go back in there. I was like, oh man, everybody has seen it. I ain't got nowhere else to go, like, I can't lie no more. I can't pop it to you like I got control. I don't have any more control. I said, you know what, I'm gonna just stay out the studio and you know, and then next thing, you know, God was telling me. He was like, go back to the studio, and I was like, I don't want to go back in the studio. I about I'm going there far people looking at me every time I go in there. When I see people now, they be like, you, okay, you look good. I was like, I'm good man, you know, But I appreciate the love. But I did not want to go back in there because it was like the Walker Shane. But when I went back, it was some reason. God kept telling me to go back. So when I went back, he was like, you can't be on nothing that you was on. You can't even be this person you was. I need everything pulled out. I need everything that you was. Nothing can be the same. Wow, you can't have the same antiques. You can't. You can't with the same people. But when I send you back in there, make sure you're like this. And I went back in there and I was cleaned up right and next thing you know, I record Thank God in there with Kurt Franklin. Sunday, Sir, come in there, and I released what had happened to me on paper because I had never shared it. And I felt like God was saying, you know where you're broken at, you know how rebuild you? And it happened.

00:33:25
Speaker 1: Oh you're gonna make me cry. That's so good. I listened to it.

00:33:29
Speaker 3: So who is that we have a church or it's like a group of us to go to church together. I really have to cry because God is so good.

00:33:40
Speaker 5: Let's see, it's okay. You're gonna make me cry.

00:33:52
Speaker 2: It's so good.

00:33:57
Speaker 1: People don't understand when you have that relationship.

00:33:59
Speaker 3: With him, to listen to him the way you have, how he will hew you, will restore you and turn you around. And sometimes you think things are not redeemable or you can't come back from something.

00:34:11
Speaker 1: So I love that God you listened to him.

00:34:13
Speaker 3: And we were on our way to church and a friend of mine we call ourselves the squad. We all go to church together, and he sent that song to us, said me and Marquise. We were listening to it and as I was like, oh my goodness, like I didn't know Joe went through this, yes, and it was so beautiful how you told the story and I reposted it that day.

00:34:30
Speaker 1: I was like, oh my gosh, I just love this song.

00:34:33
Speaker 3: But I had went to I was doing I've been doing this show for a while, and I remember I was like, oh, like I want to I feel like it's getting to churchy and I don't want to do this. And I went to Woman Evolved and I was telling my team, we need to switch it up and rebrand it.

00:34:48
Speaker 1: I want I want to be more of me.

00:34:50
Speaker 3: And I went to Woman Evolved and Sarah Jakes was preaching and yeah, I love her, and I came back and I was like, y'all, I gotta be a the content that I'm putting out, the message that I'm sending, And it's basically God saying like, I've given you this platform, but I need you to keep me in. And it's funny because even in the rebranding, God always comes up.

00:35:10
Speaker 1: It's like he's in the midst.

00:35:11
Speaker 3: Even if I am being myself, He's like, you can be yourself, but I'm.

00:35:15
Speaker 1: Gonna be in there, you know. And it always comes up.

00:35:18
Speaker 3: But it's just listening to that voice and knowing that the platform He's given you and given me, he wants the glory for it.

00:35:25
Speaker 5: Yeah.

00:35:25
Speaker 1: So I'm proud of you for that.

00:35:27
Speaker 3: So in your new music, are I know you're more aware and conscious of the message you're putting out.

00:35:34
Speaker 1: How has that shifted?

00:35:35
Speaker 3: And when you go into the studio now do you just is it a different energy that you feel?

00:35:39
Speaker 2: So we share the same thing Because I had a it was complicated because I was like, Okay, God, now I can't just glorify this. Yeah, yeah, just say mean I can't do that, you know what I mean? So how do I He was like, you could be yourself. You could talk about what happened to you. Yeah, age you feel like what your experiences were exaid, but not it's a way to do it. You could be yourself, you know what I'm saying. So, so now you know that I'm doing that. I did that song. A lot of people look at me like, oh, well, it's it's he's he's strictly doing church. Now I have to tell you about real stuff that I went through. I'm a real person and God is real also, and he's also instrumental. And that's what that's where we lose at because we feel like if we're some way, but I believe church people make you feel like you can't be Come on, God, if you just all the way like you know what I mean, I ain't just exactly And at this point in my life, I'm just letting him God me you know where I need to go. And I'm also, you know, letting the spirit lead me to where I'm like, well, I ain't gonna do that.

00:36:59
Speaker 1: Ye say that you want me too, I'm the same way. I'm like, yeah, I'm like let's let's let's not do that.

00:37:05
Speaker 3: These are things I want to talk about. I'm not gonna talk about that right because we have to be responded. It's now it's like a certain responsibility that we have for the people that's listening.

00:37:12
Speaker 2: It's certain things I won't do. It's like and then I'm skeptical about things that I would say, but doing what I used to do totally not yeah, totally different from that, Like I don't walk that walk no more. Like and it's a lot of people waiting on me to do something. Oh they well they're gonna be they probably gonna be hold and gold because I don't.

00:37:36
Speaker 1: So something I want talk about.

00:37:38
Speaker 3: Because you talked about the trauma, like always looking around, like if it's somebody gonna shoot me and he upside here with a ball or stab me. Have you like gone to any therapy or are you actively in therapy to kind of help with that trauma?

00:37:49
Speaker 2: Actively in therapy? Man my therapist original Michael Man and his wife Socrates Michael. They're good people that help help me identify what mental health and stuff like. To be healthy mentally is very powerful and it all coincides with the peace that God gives me.

00:38:15
Speaker 1: That surpasses all understandings.

00:38:17
Speaker 2: I can't be in a position to be better prosper or talk to people if I don't go talk to my dude and to sit down and unpack it. You dig what I'm saying, and it's okay to you know what I'm saying. And then from a clinical from a clinical standpoint, my manager is actually she has her doctrine and behave behavory with mental health cl you know what I'm saying. So she's there to hey, look thinking like this and being like that because for a long time I was a lot of things. When I got out drugs, I've seen how crazy of a person like this dude is crazy, you know what I mean. And it's a lot of things that I have to sit with. That's why don't have an iPhone.

00:39:02
Speaker 1: He has a flip phone.

00:39:03
Speaker 2: I have to because it allows me to go.

00:39:06
Speaker 3: Out and disconnect because you probably can't get like Instagram, nothing on that phone.

00:39:10
Speaker 2: But I still amazing. You know. If I'm like, if I watch or something, I gotta let because you know what, I have to tell you this. The spirit was like because I look at a lot of nonsense, and the spirit was like, you have to watch this show and you were in it and then it gave me standards, morals like things that you could live by other than Instagram, nick Girl, Shootout, Robbery, that News, try out, murder Ricos. You know what I'm saying. Because all of this stuff that I take in, I started to handle my family like that. You feel what I'm saying. It's hard to choose a stable woman if you're always looking at you know, stuff that's online how women are. And you know what I'm saying, You'll tend to say the wrong thing to a girl like what you're talking to. But I thought it was.

00:40:06
Speaker 1: That's what I like.

00:40:10
Speaker 2: You need to get off, Okay, all right? Yeah, So so I don't have a phone for that matter, so I could sit what I need to sit with and face it. We call it fighting demons, but they is. The demons only grow if you feed them. So if I keep feeding it and it gets so big, this dude it's behind me is huge. You feel what I'm saying. Yeah?

00:40:36
Speaker 1: Wow, I love that, John, This is good. I love that. So you had your trajectory of music, was there?

00:40:45
Speaker 3: I didn't want to ask you because I didn't know that you were on before to y'all was on his career went crazy crazy. Now I want to talk about friendships and the business.

00:40:55
Speaker 1: Was there ever a point where you were like, damn, like this nigga done you say? And like what surpassed me?

00:41:02
Speaker 2: Yeah?

00:41:02
Speaker 3: Was everyone you kind of like felt away like dang, like I'm supposed to be there because this is what I was doing this first because I know sometimes that happens in friendship.

00:41:10
Speaker 2: Know why, because I knew I knew the real meaning of loyalty, love and acceptance. You know, I wanted to see like when he came out and this, I ain't saying this because this my friend. It was my favorite rapper. I was like, the stuff he's saying is you know what I'm saying, not And just for that to be my friend, my close friend, that's just a bonus, you know what I mean. And I and to be a great leader, you have to follow, you know what I mean. So I was good, you know, going around and you know, following in his footsteps and seeing the connects and you know, picking up off that and this until this day, I'm utilizing that relationship, you know what I'm saying. And he has a lot to offer out in the world, and it's a lot of things that I appreciate him for knowing me like I've always wanted a friend that knows me and knows me. Yes, you know what I'm saying.

00:42:09
Speaker 1: It's diferen tell me you know and know who I am.

00:42:13
Speaker 2: You know what I mean. But it's a lot of things that he said no to that sheltered me from people actually seeing like my story. Now, it could have all it could have been something that you already knew. You know what I'm saying. But it's a lot of stuff he was like, Nah, leave him being him there because he's gonna get he's gonna get acting crazy. And I'm happy he don't have to send me home a lot of times go I'm like, what I'm having fun, No, go home. It's gonna get embarrassing after this point. And you know what I mean. So to say, I felt the way I always felt joy to see him speak, and I learned how to pick up some lines. I ain't learned those big words, Jay, a couple of them, you know what I mean. But you know, to see him in action, it's a pleasure.

00:43:02
Speaker 1: I love.

00:43:03
Speaker 3: I love hearing that because sometimes we don't hear the positive side of friends.

00:43:07
Speaker 1: Being in business together.

00:43:08
Speaker 3: So I love that it's been a positive situation for you. What are some things that you've learned from him?

00:43:13
Speaker 1: With the business?

00:43:16
Speaker 2: You have to you have to be be He taught me, like to appreciate people that work for you, tell them that you appreciate them, you know what I'm saying. Like we wrapped on the movie the other day and he had a speech and it was so heartfelt and he was appreciating everybody that came and everybody that shared the dream that he had and brought it to life. And he was thankful. And you know, this is an icon, you know what I'm saying. Like he takes the time to do little things, you know what I mean. And that's what I picked up and learned from him. Like like if we at the house in La and I see how he interact with Aarons and he takes it's the little things, you know what I mean. He picks her up and if she has a problem, you know, you know with how he's you know, being too clean, Dad, you're being clean? Well I have to be clean, you know what I mean? What are you doing here? And we're gonna eat vegetables and this is you know, this is totally the opposite from what you're thinking.

00:44:20
Speaker 1: Yes, yes, make.

00:44:21
Speaker 2: Sure you eat your vegetables, and this in here, and this your uncle Joe and y'all going to race today. You know what I'm saying stuff like that, And I feel like that, you know, that's why he's still always covered and blested because his family is first. He's a strong leader, and he's the best friend in the world.

00:44:40
Speaker 1: I love that shout out, Tip.

00:44:42
Speaker 3: I love that I got to work with him on a movie like twenty fifteen, and he's such an incredible worker, works very hard, professional and it was a joy.

00:44:51
Speaker 1: So I love Tip. I love it.

00:44:53
Speaker 3: So you spoke about acting, Yeah, is this like was it? Has this always been a dream? Or is this something that just kind of I think?

00:45:00
Speaker 2: I don't want to unofficial thest s biard. I don't got that much stink skin in the game. But I'm so good with movies, and I know, like I can watch a movie that I've never seen before, and I could tell you, like when a woman is finished cheat or when she finished kill him. I can tell you if they're gonna walk in the room and die. I can tell you if they're gonna survive. You know, what I'm saying. I like, he's gonna survive me. And you know, I'm like, watch and it's just that I'm so into it like that, Like and I've watched countless movies and countless TV shows and I'm so I'm a big deal when it comes to TV, you know what I mean? So acting, I do act a lot in the mirror in the bathroom and with nobody around, you know what I'm saying, you know? And yeah, so and then so Tip kind of like pulled it out of me, like long time ago. He asked me. He was like, so, so I think Tim for acting in the movie. I was like, man, I just want to call you and appreciate you. Yet, you know, I'm thankful for letting me act in situationships. He was like, I said, I always wanted to do this. He was like you sure. I was like, why you say that? He was like, man, I asked you to be in ATL He said, you supposed. I asked you, did you want to play big boys role in ATL and you said no, Are you serious? I was like, I was high. I was just just overlooked that, you know what. I was high, dude, Like you know, I said, what I want to do that. It was all right, cool. We got plenty of stuff coming up.

00:46:29
Speaker 1: So yeah, that's amazing.

00:46:31
Speaker 2: He got me in an apartment's too Apartments Part two, you know what I mean. I'm in that and I'm in situationships and doing our thing amazing.

00:46:40
Speaker 1: So when are they coming out? Can we let the people know?

00:46:42
Speaker 2: I don't know, Okay, so they should be soon though, Well they're done.

00:46:46
Speaker 1: I love that. So you are back in the studio working on more music.

00:46:49
Speaker 2: I'm back in the studio.

00:46:51
Speaker 1: I love that. Is there a release date on that?

00:46:53
Speaker 2: Me and say Tobin are going to release Wow in January. The PSC project is almost done. Well, it's majority majority done, you know what I mean. We got t Pain, we got a lot of people on there. We got DJ Drama is gonna put that project out, you know what I mean. But for now, me and zay Toven has a project called ten Piece Hot. Make sure you bring your blue cheese.

00:47:21
Speaker 1: I heard it.

00:47:23
Speaker 2: Because IM gonna need that. So it's called ten ten Piece Hot and it's just ten songs that is very hot that you know, I could put out right now to represent who I am and what I see because a lot of people like Oh, now that he's over, let's see if music sounded like geeked.

00:47:42
Speaker 1: I got that's what I thought.

00:47:45
Speaker 2: I thought, Well, the devil convinced me that, oh, you can't do this without drugs, and that's what I was. I was stuck in the rehab. I was scared to come out of rehab because I thought I had to have drugs to write good and that was a that was a lot. Yeah.

00:48:01
Speaker 3: I need our aspiring rappers to hear that, because I think they look at a lot of rappers today and think, oh, I got to be on these drors. I gotta do this to be cool and to come across as reputable you know, and have that reputation.

00:48:14
Speaker 1: But I need you don't have to do all that.

00:48:16
Speaker 2: No, you're gonna mess around the overdose trying to find that hut. Yeah, you feel me. You're gonna pick up the wrong thing trying to find something that you don't even need. Because I had this, I had this thought that just popped. A light popped over my head and I heard God say, you think I have it equipped you with everything you need to get what you got? Crazy. I was like, oh, yeah, you're gonna need appeal or two God.

00:48:41
Speaker 1: You need to add none to this. Yeah, I love that.

00:48:45
Speaker 3: If there was anything that you would tell young men. I know you you have an outreach right now, but what if you can leave the young men that may watch the show with something.

00:48:53
Speaker 1: What would you tell them?

00:48:58
Speaker 2: It's okay to admit that you walked in the wrong door than to spend your lifetime in the wrong room.

00:49:06
Speaker 1: Write that down. That's that's the thank you.

00:49:09
Speaker 2: It's okay to admit that you walked in the wrong door, then to spend your lifetime in the wrong room. You know what I mean. Hm, It's okay to say, hey, look, I ain't get it right. You have to stay over there, you know what I mean? You can actually elevate. It's like it's good. It's good in all of us. And like I always tell people, if you can't see the good in me, I'm gonna just give you a hug and tell you life is difficult for the blind.

00:49:40
Speaker 4: I'm taking that one. I am taking that one. That is so good, Joe. I have absolutely enjoyed this conversation. You brought me to tears.

00:49:51
Speaker 1: Tears go back in the eye.

00:49:55
Speaker 2: The rewind my eye, nah, man, that was that was how it felt man, I appreciate you feeling for me. Yeah.

00:50:05
Speaker 1: No, I felt that.

00:50:05
Speaker 2: We need to. We need a lot of that in the world today. People to feel for people.

00:50:09
Speaker 1: The grace.

00:50:10
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that's something that the Christian community lacks, is grace for each other to give the same grace that God gives us.

00:50:18
Speaker 2: That that's powerble.

00:50:20
Speaker 3: Yeah, I appreciate you any way that I can support you, or the Kiss community community can support you.

00:50:25
Speaker 1: We got you and we're here for you. Just call on this. Thank you, yes, thank you so much.

00:50:38
Speaker 2: Man.

00:50:39
Speaker 3: Between Young Joe's testimony, the tears, and the GMT jobs, guys, I am so full. There was so much I took away from our conversation. But I had to choose one thing. It would be it's okay to admit you walked in the wrong door, instead of spending a lifetime in the wrong wrong That that right there was so poignant and it meant so much because I think sometimes we make a mistake and instead of trying to find a way out of it, we just stick with the devil that we know and.

00:51:08
Speaker 1: We stay in that situation. Joe, thank you so much. I love that. Thank you all so much for watching and for your support of the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show.

00:51:21
Speaker 3: I also want to thank Young Joe for coming through and sharing his story.

00:51:25
Speaker 1: For those watching who may be.

00:51:26
Speaker 3: Struggling with substance abuse or mental health challenges, you don't have to go through this. All you matter, your loves, and the help is available to you. You can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at one eight.

00:51:42
Speaker 1: Hundred sixty six to help and to keep up with our show and.

00:51:47
Speaker 3: All the cool things we have going on, you can follow me on all social media platforms at Love Chris Sorinee and you can also follow our show at keep It Positive Suit. If you want to write into our Positive Outcomes listener letter, you can send us an email at Keepitpositive Sweety at gmail dot com. In the meantime, in between time you know what to do.

00:52:07
Speaker 1: Keep it Positive, Sweeties. I'll see you guys next time