Video summary
The video explores the historical and cultural dynamics between New York rappers and Southern artists, challenging the long-held stigma that the North and South do not collaborate in hip-hop. The speakers reflect on how this divide was often manufactured by media narratives rather than reflecting reality, noting that many influential figures from the South actually originated from Los Angeles or had deep connections to the East Coast before their rise. They emphasize that early interactions were genuine and impactful, with New York artists appearing on Southern mixtapes and vice versa, proving that cross-regional respect existed long before it became a mainstream talking point.
A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the advice given by industry veterans like Puff Daddy to avoid staying in a "box" or limiting one's brand to just the tri-state area. The speakers recount their experiences hustling in various regions, including the South and the Midwest, highlighting how they actively sought out collaborations with local artists like Jeezy and Mad Libs. They argue that the perception of territorial conflict is often a result of poor communication and ego-driven competition rather than actual animosity, suggesting that when artists communicate effectively, regional differences dissolve into mutual respect and shared energy.
The conversation also touches on the unique challenges of performing comedy in New York compared to the South, where the speakers found audiences more receptive and fun-loving. They share anecdotes about touring during harsh winters in New York, contrasting the short blocks and long walking times there with the expansive distances covered in Southern cities. These personal stories serve to illustrate that the differences between regions are often exaggerated for entertainment value, and that true success comes from expanding one's reach and understanding across all parts of the country without letting geography dictate relationships.
Read the full video transcript
during the mixtape eras and [ __ ] like
that. It wasn't but like a handful of
New York rappers that the South felt
like [ __ ] with the South for real.
>> Y'all always would like appear on like
mixtapes and we'll see y'all [ __ ]
with artists from the South. When did
y'all realize y'all had that impact in
the South?
>> Me? I was hustling down here in the
bluff. [laughter]
>> What you know about that?
>> I was
>> What you know about that?
>> I was hustling down in the bluff.
>> That's [laughter]
Hold on. What year though? You got to
tell the folk. The folk don't
understand.
>> It had to be 90s.
>> But you dangerous, boy. What the [ __ ] is
wrong with you
and
>> in the bluff?
>> That's why I was on all Little John
album,
>> right?
>> And then a ball, MJG, and then we [ __ ]
with all we [ __ ] with all of the music
anyway. So when anybody call us, we
already knew what it was from being on
Bad Boy. But I used to be down here in
the bluff. So I'll be in the clubs. I
knew about Jeezy. I knew about Mad [ __ ]
early,
>> right?
>> You know what I mean? So I already And
one thing Big always told us was do
>> don't stay in a box. Like don't just be
>> don't be a tri-state rapper. Do all of
that [ __ ] Stage commercials. [ __ ] with
the South. [ __ ] with Midwest. [ __ ] with
the West. [ __ ] with everything and
expand your brand. So
>> what y'all used to have down here too?
Puff used to have a bad boy weekend.
What was it? Yeah. Yeah. We used to play
against organized
to have like weekends. We We knew about
the a lot. We went down here.
>> So where did that stigma come from? Like
the north don't [ __ ] with the south or
the south.
>> I think some media people create they
have something to talk.
>> But if you know about it, most most of
our [ __ ] mothers and fathers came
>> came from LA. That's what's stupid about
hip-hop cuz that's all that's all that
happens is
>> New York [ __ ] east coast [ __ ] get
sent to the south for the summer and
vice versa.
>> So like you know and there's always a
cousin from the south of New York from
the summer. So
>> Larry Bird the Cooper like that [ __ ] is
that [ __ ] is
>> that [ __ ] is programming.
>> DC Fly ain't as funny as doesn't they
don't do that with John Candy,
>> right?
>> And you know what I mean? Even
[laughter]
yeah, that's programming [ __ ] Like, you
know what I mean? Even in our culture,
>> you see they put five dope entertainers
or five dope actors, one got to go.
Like, you know what I'm saying? That's
never you don't see that [ __ ] in no
other culture. Why you putting up why
you putting up all the great saying, one
got to go?
>> That's a [ __ ] that's programming is what
most people don't understand. A lot of
people got the
>> the the kind of na I got to be better
than you. We got to do this. I can't get
along with you. And that's what [ __ ]
[ __ ] up. But like when you got good
communication and you get somewhere,
everybody know that from personal
experiences. Take [ __ ] outside of the me
and him, we chop it up just on some [ __ ]
just on like what you said, OG. Like
what you said, young boy. Like how you
doing it? That's like that don't got
nothing to do with where we from, how we
doing it. It got to do with just
>> the [ __ ] you see, you respect, and the
energy you feel. Yeah.
>> So, but when people get involved and it
gets territorial, people say certain
[ __ ]
>> this is when we get to this point.
>> When you when you doing good, they start
doing them type of post. One got to go
and this and that. And
>> who was this?
>> Why? We can't [ __ ] with everybody.
>> Yeah, that [ __ ] is stupid.
>> We entertainers on the comedy side, too.
And a lot of comedians will tell you New
York one of the hardest cities to do
comedy at. We could never relate to that
cuz we like [ __ ] they love us they
don't like
>> yo we
was in front of me like I'm straight I'm
talking about from the barks to
[ __ ]
con fuego
on Tuesday night
>> four goddamn shows and they coming to
all four of like you struggling
>> for this [ __ ]
>> for [ __ ]
>> we done had so much fun in there bro I
remember you remember your first season
in New York.
>> What? That was the month that was one of
the coldest years [laughter] they had in
like recent New York history. We up in
that [ __ ] still having a ball. Matter
>> of fact, that was my first time in New
York now. That was the coldest. The
coldest I've ever been,
>> [ __ ] [laughter]
>> And I knew y'all, that's when I realized
walking is different.
>> Hell yeah.
>> Cuz in the south you can walk, [ __ ] 30
minutes. You walk a block in New York, a
real block. Cuz the streets are divided.
Like here go, here it go. [ __ ] it's
going to take you three hours to walk
two streets over. [laughter]
>> That's true.
>> I'm sure.
>> But y'all down the road is way farther
than our down the road.
>> That's a great exaggeration. We just
said we down the road, but we like an
hour.
>> Yeah, that's like [ __ ] say you GOING
DOWN THE ROAD,
>> [ __ ] 45 MINUTES LATER.
>> THAT MIGHT JUST BE some down the road.
See, that might be some stout [ __ ] cuz a
[ __ ] tell you down the road that [ __ ]
could be step out.
>> Yes, sir.
>> Okay. Yeah.
>> All right then.