Why the People Who Built Hip-Hop Ended Up With Nothing Transcript, AI Summary & Key Points

00:00 I think in life it's impossible to do anything great if you start with what's possible. You have to start with what's right. Hip-hop's not that big. Like the guys who made the art form are not that many. And so why can't we honor them? >> Acknowledging and celebrating and then bringing this group of people together is something that the industry should have done a long time ago.

00:19 When people see me and they see my passion, this [ __ ] still got it. He's still doing it because I have to. Hip-hop don't have social security. You have to work. >> The whole thing about hip-hop is about to grow to be better. And I think we are living our lyrics with paid for. >> I want everybody to know around the world what Grandmaster Cass looks like and to celebrate him and applaud this man for what he's done and celebrate Roxan and celebrate Melly and the DOC and everybody else who's had these achievements.

00:48 The thing is the honor. The thing is putting you in the light that you deserve to be in. if you're watching this and love hip hop. >> So, this is the first time this group has gotten together to publicly talk about the Paid and Full Foundation. Guys, welcome to the podcast. >> Thank you. Yeah. >> So, Ben, why don't you introduce the the the foundation and maybe let's get into the origin story as as as far back as you want to go as to how how this came to be.

01:17 >> Yeah. So, Peyton is an organization meant to honor uh the legacy of the of the people who created uh one of the most important musical art forms of all time, hiphop, and uh make sure that they're paid in full financially, uh spiritually, and culturally. And uh the idea kind of started um with me, Stephen Nas. So, I had it always bothered me that, you know, that I bought uh paid in full the album for $10 and I got, you know, in my career, and those of you, you know, people in tech know this, I probably got at least

01:59 $5 million worth of value out of that record. Uh, but there was no way to pay it back. Um, and it needed to be paid back. And so, I had the idea originally, and I called Steve. um uh you know Steve and I have been friends for many many years and I said Steve I have this idea uh what do you think and he said uh well it's not only a good idea but it's a very timely idea because people are talking about this right now and but they're not doing anything.

02:29 So, like if you listen to the podcast, people are saying, "Oh, these rappers, you know, these old guys, they don't have any money. They're dusty. They're this, the that, you know, and all these kinds of things." And these are very, very important guys. Uh, but nobody's doing anything. And so, I thought, well, let's do something. And then the next call I made was to Nas.

02:53 And Nas had a great insight cuz a lot of the concept uh our dear friend all of our friend Quincy Jones had a thing called the Jazz Foundation where he would get money to the old jazz guys. And you know I I told it to Nas and Nas said you know that's not going to work that way in hip-hop because in hip-hop you can't just give somebody money. You it has to be more than that.

03:21 it has to be a recognition uh of what they did and who they are. And so that's uh when we got the idea of well let's have a big award show have this idea of the Grandmaster Award for the true greats of hip hop and uh kind of and then invite everybody to honor these guys. And we started it off with um two all-time greats uh Scarface and Rock Kim. >> Before we even got to the the first show, it was also timely because Scarface was going through a medical condition.

04:03 >> Yes. And I remember I was in south of France and I called him and he needed to get uh his kidney to get his kidney from his son a kidney transplant and it wasn't the right doctors and it wasn't you know um obviously there was a there's a lot of care and concern on that anyway but more specific was the money and the doctor who was performing it the surgery and I called him and I've known Scar my face for years.

04:33 But like when I called him literally from the south of France in June and he got that phone call from me about what we were going to do, he was in shock. I mean, just imagine just a phone call come randomly from a guy you hadn't spoken to in two years and I'm calling you about your medical condition and I'm telling you that we got you financially. We're going to help you.

04:54 And I remember calling Ben after that and saying, "Look, I spoke to Scarface, man, and he was in he was in disbelief. In fact, early on, people were in such disbelief they didn't believe that it was real." >> Yeah. >> We had a hard time we had a hard We had a hard time No, we had a hard time We had a hard time actually helping people cuz they didn't believe it.

05:23 >> Yeah. I have some stories on that of I don't even know if I can mention the names, but we had people who literally didn't get the award cuz they thought it was a scam. >> Yeah. >> They just they didn't want to mess with it. So, um, and and and and that's actually what reinforced the belief that if you celebrated the artist and it didn't feel like you were giving them something like reparations, but you were actually celebrating them and and give them the honor and dignity they deserve that they had not received

05:55 properly. Then that would be the way um that it would be accepted and celebrated. And it wasn't until we did the first one and it was you know we you like any other startup you duct tape and right you whatever we got to do to get this thing going but we had Scarface and Rock Kim and then obviously you know the support of the the board and and having Nas on the board and that all all helped and then it was started to go through the community you there is something that's happening and that's when it it worked but

06:33 literally It was disbelief from the initial phone calls and and just initial reach out like why would anybody do this? That's how [ __ ] they've been for so long. Like why would anybody come look and try to help us now? >> Yeah. And how [ __ ] uh the rap community has been like to not show love, you know, to be so divided, to act like, you know, it's every man for itself.

06:59 you know, rap is competitive, but at some point we got to bring it around to what it's supposed to be. And it was it was funny like nothing like this ever existed. Um, it's sort of like when you were talking to me, I was like, why hasn't this happened? Like, yeah, >> we're I'm in the right circle of people to be talking about the right thing. And it was almost like um it was it was daring for us to even to do something like this.

07:30 >> Yeah. Well, it it's one of those things where um I think somebody got to step up at some point and and that's the thing about history in general is people act like things are inev inevitable, but they're not. like somebody's got to do something and that you know that's been the thing that's you know once it's done it's very obvious but until somebody steps up it doesn't happen and actually it was a you know I met Cass uh in New York um uh kind of right around the first year and I remember because you we had a great

08:10 conversation but then kind of going back and reanding how important Cass was like Steve let Let me ask you this. In a different circumstance, in a different kind of timing, how big would a Cass been? You know, Cass, I talked about you after I met you, I speak about you. I the fact that you are so charismatic >> still right now >> right now >> that you hold no bitterness in your heart and you present yourself as a star I mean it's clear if you would have been if I mean 12 years later I mean just forget it by the way if

09:00 if you would have actually just got the credit you deserve from the beginning in beginning, we wouldn't even have to fast forward it 12 years. But I'm just saying that you are when you walk into a room, it shifts. You have that level of presence and talent and star power. So, um I think it's definitely ageless uh the time period, but >> it was shocking to me that again, everybody had known what had happened to Cass.

09:32 everybody. >> It's the original. >> Not enough people knew though. >> At the same time, >> not enough people knew, but the right people knew. The industry knew. >> Yes. >> In the music industry knew that. >> 100%. >> Yeah. I mean, the music industry knew. >> Yeah. >> I mean, Cass wrote the rhyme that became Rapers Delight. I mean, those were his rhymes >> with his name.

10:00 >> With his name in the rhymes. the first hit. Yeah. >> And it was stolen. Yeah. The first hip-hop hit >> was stolen from him >> and he didn't get what he deserved >> and everybody knew it but no one ever did anything about it. Never said anything about it. Didn't give a [ __ ] about it. It just >> when we were get when we were having our board calls and we were thinking about who we were going to honor.

10:24 I mean, one of the privileges of having this group of people looking at the cases and deciding who we're going to give the award to. You say certain people's names and it's unanimous. It's like it's like >> it's like everybody it's like yes and then >> everyone's arguing why their yes is more yes, >> right? >> It's like yo Cass. But you don't understand why I said yes because everybody's so delighted that we nailed the person >> and >> then you meet the person and it is so beautiful when they walk in the room, >> right?

11:06 And I like we've been blessed um to have honored people who not only deserve it, but when they got the phone call, they didn't come in with about time or >> right, >> you know, any of that kind of energy. They came in >> smile, bright, glowing. You know, I think about Cass and Shantae when I when I just think about, you know, that like just glowing when when when Roxan got the award and she said, you know, her her child ever said her mother her child never said, you know, mom, you see all these uh rappers, these

11:51 female rappers getting all these awards. Don't you ever feel bitter about that or you don't feel anything about that? She's like, no, I didn't want that award. I wanted the right award. >> Yeah. >> Paid in full. And I was like, >> "Yeah, >> that's awesome. That's awesome that we were able to do that." And and and to be able to give these artists that recognition um right now and and then having the artists >> be a part of voting for the future.

12:21 >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Uh recipients, right? So Cass is now a recipient and he's part of the committee who's voting for future recipients. And that's the gift that keeps giving about this foundation. >> And Shantae is one of the reasons I'm here, you know. Um, she's from my neighborhood, same neighborhood. And when she she released Rox's Revenge back in 1984, 1985, she was a kid older than me, but a kid.

12:46 And when I saw that she could be on the radio rapping and and going after men, it was like it was like she was like a activist and beating them. She was like an activist, a woman's activist, you know, and because that was unheard of in hip-hop. And when I saw her be that bold and to challenge a whole established rap group and change the course of this whole thing for me, that was incredibly inspiring, you know.

13:17 Um, so to have her be a part of this, you know, to me is still it's still crazy, you know. I love it >> for me. um when I I was kind of brought in, you know what I mean? Un un you know, I had no idea what was going on. I just know somebody that I know from a while back reached out to me I hadn't heard from in years and that was Quincy Q3. And I'm like cute, what's up?

13:41 Yo, this and that, such and such. He's like this and that. He was pretty vague, but he was like, I want you to come downtown and you know what I mean? This and that. And that's when I met Ben and everybody. And I really didn't wasn't wasn't fully, you know what I mean? But I was being vetted to some degree, you know what I mean? We want we we want this guy.

14:02 Let's see what his you know, let's see where his head is at. Let's see where his attitude cuz I've I've I've seen or or heard about, you know, other people who deserve but don't, you know what I mean? I I just I just came just with with with with my spirit and the fact that so many people these guys had alluded to earlier had had brought this up earlier or who brought up the subject.

14:28 Yo, we should give the old school dudes, you know, a million dollars. You know, I mean, I think Swiss Beast uh made it public. Shout out to Swiss. >> Not to interrupt you, but I just did. Sorry, but I had to say it. Um when you were saying that, you reminded me of something. I spoke about this in a magazine I think in the 90s. They asked what would I do or or or maybe the year 2000.

14:53 They asked a bunch of hip-hop artists and I described this to a tea. >> So I I just saw somebody pointed that out to me like last month that I forgot I even said that. So we all been wanting this type of thing. Sorry to cut you off again because I just got excited at that memory. And I would debate hip-hop with Ben. >> Yeah. >> I would debate hip-hop with Steve forever.

15:18 Me and Steve will stop speaking about disagreeing. Me and Ben will analyze the album to death. Ben got with you and sent me a video of your conversation um and about Sugar Hill Gang and everything. I couldn't believe that you cared so much. >> Yeah. >> Being from the Bay about the origin story of some of the greatest hip-hop history ever. But I shouldn't have been surprised.

15:49 But it was just like the care that we have for the culture is is the same. Like Cass, like I I talk to you about uh history. Every time I approach you, I'm stalking you about what happened this year and that year. No doubt in the other. So that it's not just the the pay the full thing is like a it's a way that we convinced ourselves that we can be together and we can get together and not just talk about it from afar.

16:20 We can actually talk to Cass. We could actually be in a room with Rock Kim and it's not just this thing that's so spread out. It's bringing us together. >> It Yeah. It it feels like a like a class reunion. Um. >> Yes. And >> last year when Dr. Dre heard about uh Peyton Full and decided to come, >> I was in shock that he asked me could I introduce him to Kumo D.

16:50 He never met him before. >> And I was like, this is first of all, I would never even think of that. You know, not that you that Dr. Dre never met Kumo D before. >> So Dre did this to me too >> in Vegas. He he said, "Could I introduce him to Slick Rick?" He never met him before. >> Yeah. >> Oh my god. >> Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. >> It's it's it's just a wild it's it's it's it's wild that it took this foundation to bring these type of people together.

17:26 >> And the bond is that strong. The bond is so strong that 25, 30 years removed, Dr. Dre with all of his glory and success is like, "Man, could you could you please introduce me to Slick Rick and Kumo D?" But at the same time that it took this celebration in order to bring these legends together in the same room. >> Agreed. >> To to create that moment.

17:57 >> Yeah. I think the industry itself like separates us, you know, by success, status, you know what I mean? Who's hot, who's signed, who who this and that, you know what I mean? So I >> I haven't if I see Nas, it's like by by happen stance or something all these years, you know what I mean? Mutual respect, you know what I mean? But I don't see him all the time.

18:19 If he reaches out or something as he's did in the past and done a project and say, "Yo, Cass, I want you to be a part." I'm I'm on it automatically. I ain't got to see him on or none of that. Just say it and I'm there. You know what I mean? Now I see him every year. I can call him on the phone. Steve Stout, you hear about Steve Stout, big business, man.

18:39 He done made this person rich. He done >> It's a It's a It's a It's a special moment that is growing every year. >> Yeah, >> it's growing every year. And to Cass's point, this idea of separating artists, >> I'm not sure why that happened. I'm not sure if it was the industry doing the industry's doings on purpose or was it just the fact that rap was broken into like old school, new school, this that and the third.

19:11 So they just it it was just no connection. But the truth of the matter is that the real artists have respect for the person that they had their poster on their wall. >> Definitely >> the first CD they bought or the the first CD the first tape that they bought. And that respect that inspired either um me as a businessman or Nas as an artist or Ben as a businessman, whatever it is, that'll never ever go away.

19:42 like sports heroes never it never goes away. >> And so the foundation acknowledging and celebrating and then bringing this group of people together >> is something that the industry should have done a long time ago. And like there's been attempts like the VH1 thing. >> Yeah. The V hip-hop honors. >> Hip-hop honors. Yeah. >> And it's cool. >> It's not It's putting a light on it on these artists.

20:14 But it's not putting anything in their pockets. >> Yeah. >> It's not it's not investing in the artist. It's not making them feel like they've gotten acknowledged for everything that they contributed. That was that was the point. It was two things. It was starting paid in full but also been investing in United Masters. The idea was like, how do you contribute so much culturally, but yet the financial take is so meaningless?

20:42 How does how do you put pour so much in and get so little out? >> No respect, I'll tell you. >> You know, and and and everybody became comfortable with that idea. They just accepted it as, oh, that's just the way it is. >> Yeah. >> That's just the way it is. Like meanwhile, you're changing the way people are dressing. You're changing dialect. You're changing so much in the world.

21:09 And yet your bank account or acknowledgement for what you've contributed is not even partner. It doesn't add up. It's not that's not inspiring. And it doesn't incentivize creativity. It doesn't incentivize anything. Incentivizes people to feel like they've been robbed and stolen from. >> Right. Right. Um and and and not to cut you off um in in the lyrics of hip-hop, we speak about the total opposite.

21:36 We speak about breaking down barriers. We speak about um changing the system. We speak about uh love. We speak about um being entrepreneurs and taking this thing into our hands and and keeping it real. But then the action of keeping it real didn't wasn't happening outside the studio. You you play a record, this dude sounds like he's the realest ever.

21:59 Then you see him, he won't speak to you. You see him, he's, you know, he's posted up and he's not talking to you. You see him, you could be like, "Yo, I need some help. He's looking at you, he's laughing at you." You know what I'm saying? It's it's it's a competitiveness to know to to the max. And it doesn't round up being like what the lyrics said.

22:17 you hear the lyrics of rap. We since the beginning since Cass uh was talking what he was talking and inspiring and putting his DNA into this thing and and and bigger groups will come from Cass uh and bigger soloists and the rap game will be shifted with what Cass put down and the lyrics represent one thing, but if how do we how we going to be real and we say we're hip- hop, we're real and then the actions are not happening.

22:43 It's just going to be on record. It can't just be on record. The whole thing about hip-hop is about to grow, to be better. And I think uh we are living our lyrics. We're paid in full. >> And it takes the courage of >> Ben and his wife Felicia and and that foundation >> definitely >> to put the money up >> um to match >> the contribution um to be able to to to fund something like this.

23:12 I mean, um, you would think that or you would hope >> that it would come from an organization that benefited >> financially from >> you would write one would one would guess one would one would guess of if you just to say who do you think will help these guys you'd be like oh definitely the record company >> so and so this person no it takes somebody it takes It is hard for me to sell him a ticket.

23:45 >> It takes >> It's a crazy rap fan. >> That's crazy name. >> A crazy rap fan. >> And Felicia >> um who is a um entrepreneur who who has deep soul and belief in what in and respect for creativity. that made this one of his missions to help solve this and make sure the right guys get properly awarded and and and and the respect they deserve. Um >> and I think this year I think this year >> all right I think this year >> is going to be a pivotal year for the organization.

24:22 Um this is our fourth year and we have a great great great lineup. It's very well produced like you don't walk in first year lucky you wasn't there >> you know we were trying we were feeling we were feeling our way through it was a little long it was a little this that and the third >> where we learned like anything else we learned refined got tighter got smarter >> and I think we got it now um in year four where it's going to be our biggest year and hopefully this thing.

25:01 I believe that as well as produced as this show will be that it's something that we could take um wider. At the same time, I feel like I want everybody to know around the world what Grandmaster Cass looks like and and to celebrate him and applaud this man for what he's done and and celebrate Roxan and celebrate, you know, Melly and and and and the DOC and everybody else who's, you know, had these achievements, these achievements that they've done and contributed so much to their culture that they get a chance to to to

25:31 see their heroes on the on the platform that they respect. I think when you do something big and important, not only in hip-hop, but in anything, people are going to emulate it. People going to want to follow. If they see a formula that works, Ben, you're a testament to this. You see a formula that works, you want in. And you're going to want to try to, you know, do something.

25:52 And and a lot of people lost uh uh I don't know, face or whatever because all of these nobody did it yet. And I Steve and I have conversations about this kind of thing all the time, but I think in life it's impossible to do anything great if you start with what's possible. You have to start with what's right. And if you start with what's right, then you have a it may not be possible, but at least you have a chance to do something great.

26:24 And so, you know, that's always how I came at it. I was like, "Look, we ought to be able to figure this out. It's not hip-hop's not that big. Like, the guys who made the art form are not that many." And so, why can't we honor them? Like, like, it just it didn't make any sense to me. And then, by the way, I mean, you guys were very kind saying, you know, I wasn't a beneficiary.

26:52 I'm a big beneficiary of Cass and Nas and Rock Kim in that they were you all were the inspiration to my career and one what got me through like a very very difficult times in business so hard that I wrote like a best-selling book about how hard it was. Uh, and in the book, you know, I had the rap lyrics, which but in Silicon Valley, I I actually got a lot of criticism for it because like, what are you doing with hip-hop?

27:19 You know, is that some kind of gimmick and so forth? And I was like, no, this is credit where credit is due. The ideas that I had in business came from those lyrics. And that's why the chapters, that's why the idea started with the lyric because that's where the idea started. And it was just credit where credit was due. And so it was my, you know, my chance to in my mind just do what was right and pay it back.

27:45 And uh, you know, look, I'm an entrepreneur. I I know how to build things. So, you know, building a foundation didn't seem that hard. Yeah. No, I haven't. I if I got push back or like people talked about it bad, I don't listen. I can't even hear it. >> No, he doesn't. He doesn't hear it. And you >> Well, you do. You bring people, you invite people who would probably be like have no interest in this topic.

28:11 Yeah. >> And you and you bring them there and you know what they do? >> I've seen it convert. >> Yeah. >> Where they go there and they're like >> I I'll go I'll go for Ben. I mean, whatever. I'll go for Ben. [ __ ] It's Ben. Then they go there and they're like, "Oh [ __ ] I didn't even know >> this that. I didn't know that." >> And it and it connects a lot of dots.

28:34 And there's obviously a lot of empathy. How do you not feel empathy for somebody who's invented something >> right >> and didn't get what they deserved? And that and and but we don't the theme of the night isn't that the theme of the night isn't get what you deserve. That's the underlying foundational truth. And on top of that, we celebrate the fact that you are getting now what you deserve.

29:01 you are getting the acknowledgement you and the light put on you in the right way by a bunch of people who respect you and that you were chosen to do it. I mean, come on, man. Last year, I know my man Grant Puba for so long. I to see Puba out there. >> Yeah. >> That made me feel so proud to have a you know, like why would you skip that? It's easy to skip it.

29:26 >> It's just like oh no, not that. And you got Grant Puba >> at one point the greatest rapper. Oh, by the way, did it over three different It's funny about rap. It I don't know if if you eras >> like it's not like decades, but errors could be four years, >> right? >> It could be a four year where it just changed. >> And if you don't even if you're not part of it, you don't even realize how fast it changes, right?

29:49 So, >> Masters of Ceremony, brand new Nubian, >> Puba, >> solo career. >> Yeah, solo career. Three eras. Three. He went through three eras. crazy and got through that and got to the other side. Very few artists had done that. Um, and those changes during that period of time were drastic. Like it was like you were out the a lot of our favorite artists couldn't jump that fence and they got stuck on the other side and then you all of a sudden you're considered old school or you're considered washed or considered not dope

30:26 anymore, whatever the thing was. And Grand Pa I did that. No one's going to sit and then to turn around and watch this man go on stage and get his props. No one else is going to do that. And no one else is going to put the time in to have the people that understand that nuance. It's easy to write a check. You people write checks to things and >> they check that box, >> right?

30:50 It's loved. It's it's it's we're we're the check is being written and there's so much time going into making sure we get it right. >> Yeah. Because of the love and in the room there's love. Even if you didn't think you'd be walking in a room like that, you think it's going to be like some type of typical award show or something like that. It's genuine love.

31:13 It's no egos. Nobody's putting their chest out in front of nobody. Doesn't matter if of a billionaires are over there and over here at that table and that table. Everybody's here on on a real uh uh thing of learning what's happening on the stage. you're get you're be you're being educated. And then we're talking about our our man Quincy Jones who I spent a lot of time with with Ben uh before he passed and then QT3 being there and we getting to to see a Quincy Jones award happened through this cuz Quincy had he been

31:47 here, he would have been a part of this, right? And and we get this last year George Clinton went he did he brought the mothership. He did he did a mothership thing for us and it was just mindblowing to see him reciting Rock Kim's lyrics to follow the leader. This is George Clinton. He is the outer space guy. He is the the guy who shifted music and then him reciting at 83 years old Ra Kim's lyrics on stage.

32:12 This is like this is a room of love on another level. Well, let me to to to to the Quincy Jones award. Quincy Jones, obvious legend, the legend of legends, the triple OG, the >> Yeah. >> you know, the the foundation of it all. No disrespect, but the Grammys botched his >> botched it >> botched his celebration. >> Yeah. >> The idea for the Quincy Jones Award was literally because of how bad the Grammys did it.

32:46 It wasn't like we thought we had to check that box. We couldn't believe >> they got that wrong. >> They didn't they didn't they didn't pay tribute to this man properly to the point that his son was like QD3 was like let's do this and now it's part of >> what we do in the foundation on an annual basis. >> That's love. Can we say who the new uh recipient of the Chrissy Jones Award is?

33:18 >> Yeah, we got to let Steve say it because he works so hard on it. >> No, no, >> such a funny story. >> We're not we're not going to get into the details of the story, but um I mean >> but but who? >> Nile Rogers, man. >> Yes. >> How do you not Nile Rogers? >> Yes. Yes. This is great. Nile Rogers who >> came up with a a guitar lick that's been used that's been used >> good times >> by the way.

33:44 He I mean hip-hop that's just hip-hop connection. That's his hip-hop chic. Look at all the Sister Sledge. Look I mean go down the the myriad songs they he's produced >> all the way up to get lucky. >> Yeah. >> For death I mean the death punk. He's that guy. >> You know what I'm saying? So boom. So we got Nile Rogers this year getting the Quincy Jones Award.

34:07 So what we're doing is obviously we're making sure within our purview whether it's old school hip hop or you know Quincy Jones who should have gotten celebrated a little bit more properly with his Grammys that we're making a contribution to make sure we get it right. We're holding ourselves accountable to get it right. This is obviously a big thing to do because you got families, estates, uh um other artists looking at this.

34:45 >> Do you know aside eye like are these are are these is this real? >> Is this going away anytime soon? Is this another facade? What are they selling on the back of this? They must be selling t-shirts out the trunk, >> right? Yo, I called Kur Rock ski from the Fat Boys and like, "Yo, man, we want you in this." And I think for for a second he didn't think it was real.

35:08 >> Yeah, I heard. >> I ain't going to lie to you. He was there last year award and didn't think it was real. >> You walk off the stage not thinking it was real. >> Right. Right. Right. >> What did Coog rap say? You called what was very appreciative. G Rap I called him. He was very appreciative. Um, I mean, one of the greatest MC's of all time, man. One of my biggest inspirations.

35:32 >> Um, and when when people come again, it's love, man. It's it's real love, you know? It's it's your time. It's your show. We're here for you. And I think it's it's surprising for them to feel like it's not it's nothing like like you said, we're not selling shirts out in the back. We're not This is not for us. It gives us joy that we we we're doing this, but it's it's beautiful to see these people show up and and be appreciated and and show.

36:01 >> And so N you just talked about the ego thing. Of course it is. I mean, first of all, at the end, you start going crazy on the mic, right? I mean, you and Mod last year. >> Oh, yeah. Y'all go y'all go crazy on the mic. >> So that's still there. Let let's let's be clear. It's a celebration, but that part the park the park jam part is not going anywhere.

36:22 But like >> because there's so much ego in rap, at least in this moment in this room, >> it comes down to the point where Ice Cube came two years ago. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And he says, >> I wouldn't even put out an album until I listened to what Scarface had to say. >> Yeah. >> I knew. You remember when he said this? >> Yeah. Hell yeah. He's like, I knew before I dropped anything, I'd had to make sure what this guy was saying.

36:50 You would know. And >> Scarface came after Cube. >> Yeah. Scarface came after Cube. >> But when Scarface came, >> woo. >> And to watch Scarface and Ra Kim acknowledge each other's writing skills. Oh >> yo, dude. That's like >> If you love hip-hop, IF YOU BY THE WAY, if you love if you love hip-hop, If you're watching this and love hip hop, you got to know to have Rakim and Scarface have a conversation about writing and respect that they have for each other in a real pure way is you're talking about two of the greatest

37:34 writers in anything. >> Yeah. >> I don't give a [ __ ] what it is. >> Yes. Anything. in anything having a real discussion about >> and every hip-hop guy in the world before a sense would acknowledge what you said. >> Nobody would even >> Yeah. >> Some of the greatest writers of all >> Yeah. >> in hip-hop, Scarface and Rock Kim, like not even a question.

37:55 Nothing to discuss. >> Nothing to discuss. >> And they're discussing it for the first time at PaidenF. That's how special this room is. >> Okay, let me give the plug. paid fullfoundation.org. org. You can come and be a part of it. And uh uh Felicia and I match every donation two and a half to one, which means that all your money goes to the artist. There are no paid employees at the foundation.

38:23 Everything is volunteer. Uh and so, you know, if you want to be part of it, if you want to contribute, uh paidfull.org. Um and that's my plug. And I want to ask Cass That was pretty good. That's like a radio. >> Thank you, >> Cass. We've been talking about it, but like being a recipient, what did it what has it meant to you from an honor standpoint, from a financial standpoint?

38:55 Like, how did it it affect you? Um, you know, tell us from from from that side. Yeah, I I definitely was gonna address that at some point because it's not >> specifics, you know what I mean? Like, yo, this and that, this one gets that, this one gets that. It's like you get a you get a a grant, you know what I mean? So to speak, and it's over a fiveyear period, and it's it's helped change my life, you know what I mean?

39:20 I was on a on a path to, you know, for self-improvement and trying to get things that, you know, LL CoolJ called me a few years back and was like, "Yo, it's time. I want you on the radio, you know what I mean?" But when Payeyton Fool called me, you know what I mean? It was like, "Yo, now this is going to change your life." I bought a house. >> Wow. >> You know what I mean?

39:43 I moved out some projects, >> you know what I'm saying? And I've lived in the Bronx all my life. >> Yeah. I only did a three-year stint in Cali for a while, but I I lived in the Bronx all my life. And I thought I would always I would end up here. >> And my my the last thoughts in my head for the last like 10 15 years, I don't want to die in the projects.

40:04 >> I don't want to I don't want to end here. I don't want it to end here. And um it it didn't >> and it's not You know what I mean? I got a nice house in Pennsylvania. You know what I'm saying? me and my wife and um my life has improved drastically. I I got a comfort, you know, I got like a a cushion >> that I that I never had, you know what I mean?

40:27 Everything was dayto-day. Everything was run out, grind, hustle. And when people see me and they see my passion, they see my You know what I mean? This [ __ ] still got it. He's still doing it because I have to. >> I I didn't have no no, you know what I mean? Hip- hop don't have social security. You know what I mean? Hip-hop don't have no um uh health benefits or none of that.

40:47 You have to work. You got to stay out there. For me anyway, I got to keep working. So, when you see me on radio, you see me doing park jams, you see me doing hip-hop sightsee and tours and all all that was to maintain to keep me up and at it. And I think my attitude that went along with it and the way that I deal with people >> kept me in people's consciousness.

41:08 You know what I mean? Which I'm so [ __ ] grateful for. You know what I mean? And like I said, uh I can't speak for everybody, but I'm sure what what it's done for me, it's done for everybody. You know what I mean? I know one thing I want to say, and I don't want to say what person, but when you was talking about some people didn't know if it was a scam or whatever, you know, a couple people thought was like, "Yo, I don't I don't need this.

41:35 Like, I'm good." You know what I mean? I you know, >> Yeah. like a hand like like I don't need nobody to give me. Nah, it's not about that. It's not all about that. That ain't about that. That's that's a part of it. I mean, the thing is the honor. The thing is putting you in the light that you deserve to be in. And I got to salute LL CoolJ for that, too.

41:55 You know what I mean? He he put us me he put Shy Rock on the radio when um he didn't have to. He didn't have to. And he created a whole lane. He's like, "Now that's y'all go." Monday through Friday, y'all on the air. You know what I mean? So that kind of recognition, it resonates. And when people see important people giving you your props, they feel obligated like, >> "Yo, I got to say that what this does is what how you just ended it is it brings recognition."

42:28 And that's the gift that keeps giving because it it's it's it's done out of love. And it it kind of inspires more people to think that, you know, we can do things like this, too. We can we got to remember, let's take care of each other. I'll say this. I was getting reached out to by few hip-hop artists for a while, probably the later end of the 90s on.

42:57 And I would do things for different artists and won't say it. I won't even mention the names. Even up to someone who passed away recently, um, a musical hip-hop uh, producer and whatever. like I was there and you know I wonder how many more of us were doing that but it's on the low this is on the high >> right >> this is on a high on a even bigger level and that that it's you can show it you can show the world we're taking care of our own we're taking care of the thing that took care of us with in Ben's book he has

43:35 pieces of lyrics uh in one of his books he has pieces of lyrics um that inspired him. These things are important because if we forget if we don't if we sweep it all under the rug, if you don't know that Puba took Hilfinger to another level, if if you don't know >> Sprite, >> Sprite, he what? Say this fashion industry period. >> By the way, that that that's exactly why I wrote The Tanning of America.

44:02 It was specifically so that all of the things that hip-hop created >> in your book when you talk about at the concert when at the run concert >> I go from >> everybody holds up their Adidas what that did for Adidas. >> What it did for Adidas when he >> Adidas was kind of dead at the time. >> Hold on. >> Dead. >> Oh yeah. 2% market share in America. >> 2% market share in America.

44:26 And threequarters of that 2% was coming from the Northeast region. And all they knew is that why are everybody up there buying this one specific skew and why are they throwing away the shoelaces? >> Hip hop baby. >> But the uh but Puba obey your thirst is his line. >> First things first, obey your thirst. That's his line. That's their tagline. >> Yeah.

44:55 >> Like no one would ever pay attention to these things. The these guys are pioneers above and beyond hip-hop. They created the culture around the music that lives on to this day. The fashion, the language, the brands that have uh only exists as a result of their contribution. I love Tommy Hilfiger. Tommy Hilfiger is a great guy. He's done a lot um with uh artists.

45:29 He should be part of, you know, contributing to Paid in Full. If it wasn't for >> hip hop for sure, he was dead in the water. They were selling ties. I >> mean, he he he he says that they were actually sell he was selling ties. He was trying to be Ralph Lauren. And they were like, "You're not Ralph Lauren, dog." and on his way listen on his way home cuz he lived in uh Greenwich.

45:51 When you leave the when you live this uh leave the city, you can obviously you can get to Greenwich by the traditional way taking the highway or you can cut through Harlem and get up to Westchester. So he's cutting through Harlem and he's seen everybody wearing their pants low and their Calvin Klein top of the Calvin Klein brief show and literally that's where he got the idea to make underwear and use that where would Calvin the the the top.

46:20 Yeah. And put Tommy there. >> Whatever the the top of the underwear, whatever this [ __ ] is called the elastic the elastic band. And he put Tommy Hilfiger there and made the waistband bigger, thicker >> so that you could it was it was you could really see it. >> And that's how the whole thing got going. Seriously, that's literally and he talks about and he'd seen it driving through Harlem.

46:45 >> That's crazy. And that's and that's when the brand took off and went from, you know, selling ties that wasn't working to now selling street wear, the hottest fashion trend in the world. Street wear that Louis Vuitton sells designed by skateboard P. You know what I'm saying? >> God bless and Virgil. like and these these are the things that these guys have been a part of contributing >> right >> that they never got their fair share of and by the way what we're doing >> is a we're just trying to get momentum we're not

47:25 trying to solve >> right >> the the world's problem here right >> we need others >> to either come and donate to the organization for sure >> or start other organizations that also have the same motive to help celebrate, give back to the guys who have helped contribute to your business, >> contribute to your to inspire you on some real with with love and respect.

47:53 >> Yes. >> With love and respect. >> Yes sir. And actually on that I want to tell a story because the the love and respect part goes beyond even the award. So Scarface um had a heart condition. Um and you know look he comes from a place where people don't even really go to the doctor let alone go in for open heart surgery which is what he needed. and uh he was on the phone with my wife Felicia and she knew he was scared and she flew out to Houston uh to see him, you know, before he went to the doctor and he didn't want

48:36 to go in and he's like, "No, I I don't want to go to the doctor. I'm not going to the doctor." And she said, "No." And he calls her the bully. She's about 5 feet tall, weighs maybe a buck 05. And she says, "No, I'm taking you to the doctor right now." And right as they got into the doctor, his aorta burst and they got him in just in time and saved his life.

48:56 And that doesn't happen without her caring so much about him. And a lot of what uh the foundation is about because she runs it. he's the president is how much she cares about these artists and how much uh you know she's committed to taking care of them regardless regardless like forget the award, forget what the actual contract is and all that kind of thing.

49:28 She's going to do that work and that that creates the whole culture of the thing which is why that feeling at the ward is so different. Agreed. I have not that and I have to, you know, >> definitely kudos to Felicia. >> None more serious than that. >> She makes it she makes it, you know, like it's love involved here. Yeah. >> And like it's like beyond the award, beyond the check, you know what I mean?

49:53 It's not over, >> right? >> You'll get a call, how are you doing? How's your wife? You know what I mean? Oh. Oh, she's sick. Give me your address. She sent the next day flowers come. You know what I mean? the next day like some glasses from some Dior glasses come in. That's how Felicia is. And it's not about what's going on. She'll randomly call you just to check on you to see if everything's good.

50:13 And that's the difference between this and anything I've ever experienced in an award uh grant found or anything like that. You know, the love, the genuine love. I don't know. I just can't speak enough about the event that's coming up, the next uh hip-hop Grandmaster Awards. Um, it's going to be monumental and if you haven't been a breast of what's going on with paid in full, definitely check in, okay, this year and then look back at what we've done in the past four years.

50:43 All right. And then get on board. Don't play with it. Stay with it. >> Yeah. >> Yes, sir. >> Uh, now Steve, I'm curious if you could talk about when was the moment you knew that you and Ben were going to be friends for life. >> Uh, Steve invited me to a dinner years ago. >> That's the craziest. and uh way up. >> Oh yeah, it was a interesting room of PE people, right?

51:06 He put together a great room, great restaurant. >> It was Mr. Child's downtown, >> Mr. Freddy. Yeah. >> So, this room was dope, right? and he put this together >> and I heard about Ben through him and I met Ben right there and you know just our love for music and and love for food >> was uh was a thing that kind of that connected me me and Ben at that point and um we just we just been cool.

51:36 >> Yeah. >> Since then. >> Yeah. We're some of my best times listening to Brock Kim with Nas. By the way, Nas hears things in Ra Kim songs that nobody else hears. It's It's like unbelievable. And then listening to Prince. We listen to Prince together. >> And then break it down. >> Yeah. Going and visit Triple OG, Quincy Jones together. Just, you know, >> music fans who just Nas is like as great an artist as he is.

52:05 He's that great a music fan. Like, >> by the way, I was at Quincy Quincy's house >> when he had just moved into the the house. Yeah. >> Or redecorated the house rather. And it was me and Chris Tucker. And he goes and he shows he was showing us the um the rehearsal tape the the casting tapes for um >> Color Purple. >> Color Purple. Right. He's showing us >> and there was uh Whoopy Goldberg.

52:39 >> Yeah. and she's talking. She's just talking the camera like this or whatever, whatever. And then she starts reading the script and then within a second starts crying. I was like, "Oh." It was the first time I seen acting and I was like, "Oh, I mean I knew for a fact >> this is [ __ ] a skill that is beyond." She was like like regular normal talking >> and they said, "All right."

53:00 And Stephen Spielberg's holding the camera. >> Yeah. >> This is that. And boom, she just starts crying. So anyhow, >> yeah, she was great in that role, by the way. >> Yeah. So she just starts crying. So anyhow, um Chris Tucker, we all were blown away by just like that that fact that she did that and we just started talking about a bunch of different [ __ ] and I talk bring up Nas and Nas's dad Oludar.

53:28 Yo, this guy gets up and Quincy Jones at at that age was still moving very quickly like he just was like a very like a quick guy quickly went and go grab went through a bunch of vinyls and came back with pictures and he showed me a picture of Na of him with Naza's dad in Sanrope in the 60s. That's amazing. >> I was like, "Holy shit." >> Like I knew Naz's dad was like obviously a jazz legend, but I didn't know at what level it was >> that these guys were running around.

54:09 >> He tells me, he would tell me stories of people he been around, but I didn't listen. >> I'm like, "Oh, yeah. Okay, pop." >> Yeah. >> Yo, my pop told me about Mumi. The song Juicy came out. He's like, "Yo, that's my man." I'm like, "Come on. You probably met him in passing." You know what I'm saying? I ain't thinking nothing about it. What year was that?

54:28 83, 84 or something. I got into the rap game and I met him to me and he's like, "Yo, your dad is my man." And I said, you know, I didn't believe him when he told me that. Not that he's a liar or anything, but I didn't know it was like y'all were like that. He was like, that's my guy, man. I was like, yo, you understand? Juicy Fruit was the biggest song in the world.

54:48 So, I how could I believe that at the time? I'm a kid. I don't know. I think he's just trying to make me feel good or something like that. But uh he knows he knew a lot of people. He's when he was younger, man. And Quincy was Quincy knew everybody. >> That's going to be >> everybody. >> No, no, no. That's definitely going to be him. >> Everybody know everybody know your kids.

55:10 >> Yeah, we know. >> But the fact that Olu >> it now you you got to understand like like in anything else, you know, the DNA thing, right? Your your dad's a famous football player, right? the son. This I didn't know. I mean, obviously I know Nas is a brilliant artist. I had no idea the connection was that his dad was that level of brilliant. I thought his dad I didn't know I didn't know it was that level of brilliant that Quincy Jones within a second go find a picture of them together.

55:41 And I'm like these guys were in Sandro Pay in the 60s doing their thing. The whole thing was like uh profound to me that whole evening of going from The Color Purple to to Olud Dara and then reflecting on the fact that Nas comes from this great lineages of the lineage of talent. >> Yeah. They come from Mississippi. My pops. He comes from Nachis, Mississippi, and his dad was in a a band and it it just it just music in the family.

56:10 >> Yeah. >> It's crazy. >> It's crazy. >> So, one more time. Paid in full. >> Paid in full. foundation.org. All your money goes directly to the artists. Um, >> two and a half times put up and we matching two and a half times to one. And it is um, everybody who's ever been to it will tell you it's the greatest charitable event in the world. Like there's nothing like it.

56:35 It's you will I guarantee nobody's ever gone and not had a great time. Uh, and a and a time that's will be a memory for the rest of your life. >> Oof. All right. >> All right. >> Thank you guys. That was great.