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Okay, welcome to the Playbook Podcast where we break down the real game behind love, fame, money, and everything in between. I'm your host, Rebecca Jay, and today's guest is a sixtime awardwinning, lyric genius, and the man behind some of your favorite hits, ladies and gentlemen, Derek Milano. That sounded good. Nailed it. So, she nailed it. She did her thing on that one. That was good work. Thank you. Thank, you know. Yeah, do the thing. And also, you know, we have to have some eye candy for you guys. Miss Julia Lynn Salval. I had to say your name.
Sandoval. Yeah, there we go. Where you from? Okay. Miss Latina, where's that from? Listen, I'm Spanish. I don't look it. But like what kind of Spanish? Spain. Ah, my hips don't lie though. I promise. Yeah. You like Spanish girls? Absolutely. Okay. You got a type? I do and I don't. I think for this new era, this new vibe. Yeah, for sure. What is your perfect ideal woman? If you had to paint a picture, paint it in my mind, man. Then everybody going to go out and try to look for stuff that I like. Feel me?
You know, it's enough out there. I promise you. No, but um I would say first I would I pay attention to skin. I love skin. I feel like that's important. I feel like how like a woman keeps her skin regimen is kind of fly. Okay. Hair for show. Okay. Body type. I ain't really too picky with it. I don't really care. It just can't be like super like just doing too much.
What does that mean? Like what is doing too much to you? I feel like doing too much is like when you know that you already look good. Okay. And then just adding on and adding it on and just adding it on. Like I be seeing stuff sometimes I'll be scrolling. I'll be like, "Why she did all that? She ain't even need all that." All that. Okay. Um I feel that. And I like fashion sense, too. You feel me? And a good taste of and foodies. You like a girl that can eat.
Yeah. and cook. That's good. Okay. Yeah. All right. So, you're mainly known for some of the biggest hits right now, right? Yes. What is one of your favorite Give me top three songs that you've been a part of that you're just like this [__] was top three. I would say my top three I think my first probably would be Damn, that's hard. I'm going to say I'm I'm going to say Christopher Walkin first.
Okay. Pop Smoke. Um I'm going to say Hot Girl Summer after that. Sorry. Yeah. I'm going say Hot Girl Summer after that. And I'mma say uh Man, it's a tie. Maybe between Yikes and the Savage remix. Okay. With Beyonce. Hot girl summer though. What were you thinking? What was going on when you were like, "It's a hot girl summer." You know what's crazy? It's It's crazy cuz I never really told nobody the story for real. So, um I will always hear act up in the club.
Mhm. When y'all when they would be like real ass [__] give a [__] about [__] So, and I heard it so much and I would see it so much on my timeline. I was like, you know, how could we flip that? So, we ended up flipping it and then we said, "Ral ass [__] give a [__] about it, [__] It is what it is." So, we flipped it and made it a male version just so we everybody could sing it. And then, um, I remember when I had did it, I had sent it to Juicy Jay first and I was like, "Yo, you got to add some drums to this. You got to turn this up. Let's let's like make this a movie." And um we got Tai on it. And
then after that I was like what's going to make it a moment though? Like what's going to make it like impact? So we got Megan first. She had did it was just her entire dollar sign at first and then um around that time I had just started like working with Nikki. So, I had put up on Nikki and told her about the song and then um just kind of explained to her like what it meant to me and just like culture and then like all the elements of what it was cuz we sampled the city girls in it, little yachtis on there. So, it just like it's it's a whole it's like a whole thing of a genius behind it. And then when she got on it, it just made it an anthem. And I feel like it like united and brought together like female rap.
Mhm. And um I feel like that was important because I feel like music be going be having it ups and downs and it be having it waves, but I start I just started seeing a lot of like my home girls doing music and taking it serious and going so crazy. I was like, "Yo, how could we just kind of just highlight and really target it?" So yeah, that was crazy cuz it was everywhere. That song was everywhere. No, that's the that's like the female anthem right now for sure. That's the fe that's like the pledge of allegiance for women.
It's crazy. Pledge of allegiance is crazy. It really is though. So you work with a lot of female artists, right? like and there's like this huge wave now culture like in the culture with females in rap. Yeah. Um women are a little difficult sometimes. Do you find that working with women has been harder than working with guys in the industry? Like what is the biggest difference between working with a female artist and a I think women take it a little bit they they care a little bit more about the craft. M um only thing is like when y'all get in relationships that be like the distraction with the music cuz it's like it'll throw off the whole like direction where we trying to go creatively and then it makes you like
overthink sometimes or what you're saying in the music cuz you don't want to offend your partner. Mhm. Um with men though it's always cool working with them because it's like we just able to pop our [__] and just say [__] that just sounds cool. find production that's usually left field or dep dependent on the artist on who the artist is. I'm grateful to work with artists that like to challenge themselves and do different things. So a lot of the stuff that we be doing just be gone. Like whya that [__] just went. You know what I'm saying? Like [__] I was doing with Pop Smoke, that [__] just went cuz we just knew kind of already how to cater towards women and then cater towards [__] is too at the same time. So the music will
be bigger and impact both crowds and both audiences. So, I think that's like the biggest thing that separates it. I think when I work with a lot of women, I don't like to just kind of just make songs that just only women like. I like them to make songs that everybody could like. Yeah. Feel me? Right. Which artist doesn't give a [__] Which female? Like, they don't care if they in a relationship. It don't matter. It's the music and it is what it is. Which female artist do you know of right now that just is like I feel like I would know I feel like Gorilla I haven't I was going to say I feel like Gorilla don't give a [__] Ice don't give a [__] Mhm.
They just having fun. I feel like Sexy Red they don't Sexy Red don't give a [__] [__] Yeah. I think they just do what they want to do and that [__] just goes. You know what I'm saying? Like they understand it like that for them. But are there any males who give a [__] For sure. I did at one point. Really? Hell yeah. And I had to remember how to separate it, you know, saying you overthink it sometimes. Yeah. But I mean, I feel like for men it is a little bit harder on us because the perception that we get sometimes from women looking at us and what we're
saying in the music on like can be perceived to another woman. You know what I'm saying? So that might be like the hardest part. And now you got to explain it. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like do you hate that though? Like you're in a relationship and now you got to explain the [__] that you're just vibing like you just had a thought in your head. Yeah. You're just saying stuff, you know? Right. Yeah. That got to be hard. That [__] gets annoying for sure. Yeah. So, all right.
Let's get to the real questions. Okay. So, would you where you are in your career, would you date an Only Fans model? Um, yeah, I would. Okay. You don't have no like some guys are weird about it, right? Like especially the higher they are in their careers and the further they like especially in the industry, they're just like, "No, they would they don't they don't touch it. You don't care." I mean, I feel like it's limits. Like I don't feel like you could be [__] on there though. That's kind of right. But like outside of that, like you just posting cute pictures and [__] like that.
Cute pictures. Come on. Sexy pictures. I'm saying though, you know, cuz to, you know, some people it' be a different extreme. You know what I mean? Like to some people I've seen dudes complain about girls being on a yacht and thinking that's just the craziest [__] ever. You know what I'm saying? You got [__] like me like they just having fun, right? You know what I'm saying? I see dudes that be tripping off of girls that be in a strip club and to [__] like me, we kind of just, you know, we get it. You know what I'm saying? But there's some people that just look at the different extreme. But
I feel like that's just different type of men though. I feel like we in a it's weird times. Mhm. Right. It's weird times for sure. It is. Sorry. And um Okay. So you would date uh would you marry? Yeah, for sure. Okay. But is like obviously you're at a different level, right? How do you feel about like prenups in that type of relationship? Um, I feel like they're necessary. Okay. Yeah, I definitely feel like it's necessary. I do feel like if you have assets and your partner has assets, it's fair enough to be able to separate. If y'all separate and to keep your stuff, you
know what I mean? Instead of one person getting in, the other person not. But I just feel like that also starts with establishment, too. and like foundation of what you got. Okay. I want to ask this question, but I'm afraid to. No, I'm not. Have you [__] any of the artists that you've worked with? No, I haven't. No. I try to keep that [__] separate. I ain't going to lie to you. I feel like that [__] the money up. Okay.
You know what I'm saying? Then you end up getting in the middle of like beef between other girls and you never been this close. might have been a couple times, but I know there's a flirt or two exchanged. I might have happened like this close like he smells too clean over here. Something's something ain't right. That's not good. I'm not Nah, it's just understanding like I really a whole politician in this fact. Hey man, somebody got to do it. Nah, but to be honest though, I think I do think I mean would I if the opportunity maybe but at the same time I do understand um like boundaries and I also respect like work and like my working environment and
I didn't ran it up. You know what I'm saying? So it's like the last thing I want to do is [__] up my bag just being horny. Like that's number one thing is the bag. You know what I mean? Like it's and then the cool part about it is a lot of my home girls that do rap and do music and [__] like that all they friends be bad. So why so they be bringing them to the studio anyway. So it's like they bringing the buffet to you sometimes. So you just have to have self-control in the right direction. That's it. I'm saying you know what I'm saying? But it's like if you know if Sweetie pulls up to the studio with six of her home girls, it's just like okay word. What up sis?
Appreciate you. Who's this? Sweetiey's bad though. [__] That would be hard for me. And now I'm That would be very difficult. Sweetie is bad. She's so pretty. Like out of this world. Well, I've never seen her in real life. You know, people in real life look different than they do in pictures. That could be Is she bad in real life? Yeah, she's bad for sure. Yeah, she looks like she's doing just fine over there. She's good. Like natural. Have you ever had a sugar mama?
No, I haven't had one. Would you like one? Not me. I know. Uh, I wouldn't be opposed to it. No. I feel like that should be cool. Yeah. You cool with the girl being like, "I got this. I'll pay." Yeah. I mean, I do it all the time. Yeah. But you're a guy, you know? If I could sit back a little bit and just Yeah. And benefits. I do it. What if she's like 80, but she got a mean bag. I mean, that thing is hefty. But she just wants to take care of you, King. And it's like we just a thing or it's just like we just this is like under wraps.
No, she's in love with you and she wants you to be I don't know about that part. But she's going to take care of it all. I don't know. I don't know if it's worth it. No, but the body's tea. Like what if the body's tea? At 80 the body tea is the body. What if the body's tea? Come on. You have to give me an example. She's just a little wrinkly. That's all. Like at 80 though. At 80. Full storm.
He likes his skin, bro. He likes his skin. That's right. It's a that's it's the skin. That's what it is. I ain't trying to be a little spooked out. It's 2025. There's a solution to everything. Keep your skin. And she got that much money. She definitely looks That is a fact. So, but that's that's where you hard line right there. Yeah. 80 is crazy. Now 60. It's women that do it every day. What's the oldest you've ever been with or dated or whatever?
Probably 50 something. No way. So, you're getting older. I'm 31. Yeah. You liked them. You liked them up there then. Yeah, I'm 31. You said 50. What? 50? 50 something. But this was when I was in college though. Oh, you were even younger. Young. That means she's like 60 right now. Probably. If she's even up if she made it that's crazy. But yeah, probably. For sure. Do you normally take older women more seriously?
Um, I feel like you have to. I feel like it comes with a lot more especially as more maturity. But um I do appreciate girls around the same age too as well. They just got to have the right mindset. Man, you know, it just always starts with that. I feel like a lot of older women usually have a mindset on like where they going. What's the youngest you would date? You're a guy to be honest. Like 24. Okay. That's See, that's respect. 24 25. That's respectable.
Yeah, that's rare. Around the same age. My sister's kind of crazy, right? That's very rare. Yeah. 24. They like them. 18. Most guys to me. That is the craziest thing. 50-y old man looking for a 18-year-old. There's something high red flags right there. That's crazy. 18 is nuts as well. Okay. So, you like them old, kind of safe to say mature. You like the mature well seasoned marinated for sure in their or if they around the same they got to have a good mindset though. They got to been through some [__] right? Okay. You know what I'm saying? You can't be like green like Yeah.
I don't like green [__] Like I don't like when girls be approaching me and acting like I don't know. I haven't been there before. I feel like I've been through a lot, seen a lot. So it's like certain things going to just get me excited or get me riled up. You know what I mean? So you like to be mentally stimulated. He wants someone understands. Yeah, for sure. I want to deal with somebody who's just like a robot blank canvas. Yeah. Okay. I like that. Compare you today before the fame and after the fame? Like how has things changed for you in the dating world? Like how do you approach women? Or do they just approach
you? Like how does that or do they just have better skincare routines? Um they definitely have better skinare routines. I definitely think I approach more now. Really? I started to realize that a lot of women appreciate being approached. Absolutely. You know what I'm saying? I feel like before I would kind of just wait to see if there's a sign, but it's like now it's like, nah, if you give me at least two seconds eye contact cuz I know y'all can look at mad stuff. Like we be walking through places all the time. Y'all know how to put your headphones on and whatever and just kind of just keep it going. Look at your phone. So, it's
like if I get at least two to three seconds of eye contact, I'm probably going to say something. Especially men, please take notes. I beg you for real. And let me tell you why. Hey, listen. And you're you're my witness. You tell me if this is true. If you like somebody, women, this is y'all tell me in down below in the comments. When you like a guy, that's usually like the go-to thing is to like put the headphones on, act like you don't give a [__] and see what happens. Right? If you're too if a girl is way too friendly like hi like in your face, she probably is just Yeah. being normal, like she doesn't really or she's after something and doesn't
have good intentions. Well, what I'm saying is that in a regular situation, girls that are like normal, like just being normal, you I think a woman with class and a woman who would be worth investing in or you could see a future with is probably not going to come up to you, my guy. Exactly. Right. But what I'm saying is that when girls want to go up to Most women are not going to come up to you. They're not going to do it. But if they're interested, there will be signs. There'll be signs. You got There'll be signs. And the sign is that they're going to [__] ignore you.
Yeah, that's a fact. That's kind of good. Kind of. They're going to like awkwardly ignore you. No, but you'll get eye contact little bit. It's like they'll be flirting with the eyes. The slightest contact, but Yeah. But then they'll just ghost you. Turn away. For sure. Yeah, for sure. Women got to love, right? You heard this. I'm sitting in the middle of this twist. I'm putting y'all on game. She give you two to three seconds. I'm putting y'all on game. Run down. Two to three seconds. Run And hopefully this will find me a boyfriend. Everyone to 3 seconds. Run down.
Take notes, please. Yeah. Just make sure your approach game is right. Exactly. So, do you feel like now Okay. How's the groupy situation going on? cuz now you've gotten some names behind you. Like obviously people know who you are. How do you navigate groupies? To be honest, sometimes I get annoyed sometimes. Okay. Sometimes I be feeling like they don't really approach me as much. The groupies? Yeah, they don't approach me that much. Oh, you mad cuz they're not approaching you? Nah, it's like when they do approach, it's just kind of like I can I know that they just not for me.
You get what I'm saying? Like I feel but I feel like they know who to approach and who not to talk about. But what if that ass is looking good, bro? That shit's looking fire. I mean, if it's fire and she's with it, then it's it's whatever. But she a groupy. what makes her a groupy, though? I think that's the biggest question. I don't be knowing. The [__] is different now. It's like I don't know what the That's a good question. What the [__] makes a groupy?
I don't know. Okay. So, she is the girl that is only hanging around guys that have clout. Yeah. And she's all in their face. She's always in the section. She's always like in somebody's face. She's always dating but never like it's the it's a girl that it's just everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It's hard though because some of those girls like really be those dudes friends. So it's like that's what I'm saying. That's what No, but you'll run in a small circle. So you know the difference though, you know the difference. But if they're throwing that thing around like Yeah. Like the girl that is like she's she's [__] everybody literally in the industry and but like nobody really takes her serious. I feel like that to me is a groupy, right?
Nobody takes her seriously. All the homies have [__] her, but she's and she's always there. She's just always there. And she knows what you've done. She knows who you are. She knows your friends. She know she knows your mother's middle name. Yeah, they don't approach me like that. I'm scared. What the [__] Yeah, they don't approach me crazy. I don't know. I think my demeanor is too like stern of a [__] Like I don't I feel like they know who to go after. like they going to go. I feel like nine times out of 10 they're going to go
after like somebody that's insecure that they know they can run up and finesse me. I just I keep my I'm very like confident in who I am and how you do have a very like stoic demeanor. Girls that come to me I thought you were mean. I'm like no I'm not mean. I'm cool as hell. I just be chilling though. You feel me? So you cold shoulder them. You let them know. What sign are you? I'm a Capricorn. There it is. Love an earth sign. I'm an earth sign. Me too. I love Capricorn. Me too. Do you know your sun, moon rising? I never knew.
Every time somebody ask your mom for your birthday right now, please. Like, mom, when was I born and when? What time? Okay. So, you don't know who groupy who the groupies are in your I don't know. Damn. Also, uh just so you know, Capricorn, a lot of them don't be like that. They not really my type. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't know. I just be paying attention to certain things and I'm like, I don't know if I could just see myself with you like that. Are you that upfront with a girl? Like if you're do like do you like cut things off like that? Yeah, I'm very respectful especially now. Like before I probably wouldn't communicate it, but now I communicate it. Like I
feel like before I would think about feelings a little bit too deep, but now if I'm not feeling it, I'll be like look this I just ain't really you not my vibe, you know? You cool though. I [__] with you, but it ain't going to get past more than this. I probably wouldn't have said that before. I probably would have like went along with it and kind of like sold a dream. And that's when I had to like learn like I'm getting older now. I got to be more assertive and I got to communicate more, right? So I don't put off the wrong So let's say you and I are dating, right? And you're done with me, right?
How break up with me? I don't think this is going to work out. Damn. Just like that. I don't think it's going to work out, but we friends. I think I slash your [__] tires just like that. I'm already mad. Like I'm not an arguing person. I'm not going to argue. I'm not going to throw like I'm just going to be very like stern with it. Like we cool. You know what I'm saying? Like it's it's good. Like it's no pressure. But maybe we can meet down the line. But I do think we should focus. I feel like we need to lock in separately.
How do y'all how y'all use the breakups? I'll straight up ghost you. I'm very toxic. And I can admit that. I'm not the person to ask. I've been in one relationship. What? Wait. You would How would you break up with a guy? Like you don't You're I wouldn't date him if I'm going to I'll be honest with you. Oh, come on. So, you have never dated a guy that you were like, "Okay, it's over." How? Like, what do you do? I'm too much of a lover girl. If I'm locked in, I'm locked in.
Oh my gosh. Unless he does some [__] [__] then. Okay, he did some [__] [__] Well, yeah, definitely did some [__] [__] And then I call him and I'm like, "What the [__] is this?" I give him the facts. I let him talk. I, you know, communicate. And then if he's up to some [__] [__] bye. I'm terrible. I will. But then I'll be crying. [__] I'll just stop talking to you. I'm horrible person. Really? Not even just ghosting. I get more pleasure out of just completing like cliff together blocked stuff outside in the front yard.
I mean, maybe. I mean, I've never been through that. I haven't been through that, but I don't know how I would deal with that. That's a good Like, I don't know. I'll probably go on vacation for a while. You go here for me. Oh gosh. Like, you know, you've been caught if you haven't seen me in 3 months. Like, you don't even have to explain yourself. I know. You know, I think that's the best way to do it. What would you do if a girl ever did that? Like, you would feel like, "What the fuck?" Yeah. If she ghosts me. Yeah. And you really was.
Yeah. But we're all earth signs, so it's like we're we know how to be alone. We know how to kind of just Yes. We know how to channel our solo. You're a Taurus. I am. Yeah. And you're a Capricorn and I'm a Virgo. Yep. Oh. Yeah. We don't give a [__] No. You got some stubborn [__] up in here for real. I'm an evil earth sign. I'm the evil one for sure. Have you ever been ghosted in a relationship? No. Have you? Everybody always circles back.
Damn. Okay. What about you? No, I used to ghost. No, but like you guys are dating. Like you're fully committed and like you just ghost him randomly. No, that never happened. Oh. Oh, you did that. Oh, damn. You already Huh? How long was the ghosting? What time is it? Still gone. She said, "What time is it? I'm out of here." Yeah. No, I feel it though. Yeah. I feel it. I mean, I feel like, like I said, I feel like, you know, we as we get older, we just got to be mature about certain things. And I feel
like women appreciate when a man is upfront and says what it is rather than playing the game and just kind of just stringing it along. You know what I mean? Cuz I don't want to deal with that. And that's just with business, that's with relationships, that's with anything. Like, just tell me what it is before we even get to that point, you know? Yeah. Absolutely. Communication is the key. It's the key for sure. What is the craziest crazy fan or even like a studio session? You don't have to give me the artist name or nothing. Give me the craziest situation you've been in a studio session. In a studio
where you were just like, is this real life? I'm like the worst person to ask for that. You're not paying attention. I'm like, I'd be locked in. Okay. I would say I don't think I could use a studio as an example. I would have to say like a out in the world or like a house where we might have like a studio set up and it just be people there kind of like a get together type of [__] What's the craziest thing that's happening? Yeah, them shits be crazy. Um interesting. this one girl, this one girl. So, I was recording a song and she made me mad uncomfortable cuz she would, first of all, I wasn't like didn't find her attractive at all.
But the whole time I'm recording the song, I'm like this. I we have the mic outside in the middle of the kitchen. Yeah, I like this vibe. And as I'm recording the song, she's literally standing in front of me the whole time. So, I'm over here trying not to give eye contact, but I'm saying [__] that she likes. So every time I'm saying something, she's like smiling and it's like making me mad uncomfortable. So then I stop recording. I walk away. She follows me the whole time. Basically, she followed me around the whole time. You didn't say and I didn't know how to tell. Huh?
Did you say anything to her? No, because she was cool, but she was just kind of off. You know what I'm saying? And I didn't know if it was like I don't know if she was drunk. I don't know if she what it was, but that [__] You seen the movie Smile? She was a groupy there. That's the groovy. Have you seen the movie Smile? Yeah, that's what So, just imagine recording a song and then somebody's literally just standing in front of you just smiling. Everything that you do literally the whole time. I was mad uncomfortable cuz I think the song was crazy anyway. And I'm just like, yo, this isn't even intended for this girl. And she probably thinks I'm talking to her soul right now. And I have no intent for
this being about her. I don't want her to hear this song and tell people that we be that I'm trying to tell I don't like that. That's scary. There you go. But that's what I'm talking about. They are scary. They That girl probably knows where you live. I hope not, man. That [__] she's still following you. You don't even know. Scary as hell. That's funny. And it was crazy cuz she'll still pop up randomly at different people's spots. Oh, hell no. And it just be like, "Oh [__] here she is." You feel me? And it's like I have to do the same thing. I'm like, "Pivot.
Go here. Go there." Then I'll troll. Mhm. I'll go somewhere completely left where I'm like, she won't go out here. And there she is. You feel me? Damn. I feel like that at the gym sometimes. Not like you, not the girl. Not the smile. Oh, at the gym. Yeah, I can see that for you. People be [__] at the gym. I can definitely see that for y'all at the gym for sure. That's crazy. Did you hear about that guy that got caught? He was like following girls in department stores and like pretending he there was something
in the bottom shelf and then he'd sniff their ass. Yo, that's crazy. Yo, these dudes. Where are you finding this news? Some on Tik Tok. But yeah, some crazy ass people out there. So, Kevin Gates was on I think it was a podcast. I don't remember which one it was, but they asked him if he'd be cool having a threesome. and he said he would be cool with having a threesome with this girl with another guy if that was her fantasy. If that's what she really wanted to do and if the dude respected her. How do you feel about that? Chem is my dog. Whatever he says is his life, that's him. Would you be Would you No, I'm not with that.
No. Hell no. Cuz what? I should be the only person you [__] in the first place. Okay. Are you a loyal? Are you loyal? I'm super loyal. Okay. And I think that'd be like the problem. That's the problem. I think so. The problem is that you're loyal. Yeah. Cuz it's like over loyal. You know what I'm saying? It's like even when it comes to just like time, you know what I'm saying? It's not even necessarily like loyal like on a cheating wave. It's just like out of respect certain things and like putting
people first. It's like I go super hard for people that I genuinely love. Like my loyalty is all the way there. Like if you don't like somebody, [__] them. You know what I'm saying? If you not feeling this, I'm with you. If you ready to leave and we just got here and this [__] lit and I'm having a ball and you not feeling it, [__] we out. You know what I'm saying? I think for me, I got to kind of like separate that a little bit more and like understand like, okay, I got to understand like my own like boundaries and understand like when it's when I got to put myself first before other people, right? You know,
I feel that on a soul level. Like that [__] real. You speaking her language right now. Is there something that you've poured into people and just like wish that they could pour it back into you, but no one's been able to? Yeah, man. This whole music industry with this songwriting stuff, like I mean, you know, like I've been doing it for a while, but I'm an artist first. So, I had to put my career aside for like five years to help other people. So, when it's time for me to do my [__] there'll be artists that I'll be like, "Yo, I need a feature on this." And, you know, sometimes they'll get it to you.
Sometimes it'll take a little bit more time, but I know that whenever they need me, I'm always there first. You know what I'm saying? Right away. Like, I got you, bro. I'm there. I'm pulling up, whatever. Um, so I would say especially with that, especially with like these labels and executives too, it's like when you know how much money you made a company or how much money you've put into a like a building, it's like you feel like it's a slap in the face when it's not. Yeah. It's like, why you procrastinating with me? You know what I'm saying? And is that like the I seen that a while back you had put a post saying how you know exactly what you're saying right now.
You had to take a step back to like get yourself right. How do you feel now? Like are you navigating this whole situation better? Do you feel like you still run into that same issue? I'm very upfront now. Like now I'm quick. I mean I'm going to say this much. I say no more. Before I didn't know how to say no. That's my favorite word. Yeah. See, I didn't know how to say no. Everything would be like, "Okay, yeah, I'mma figure it out."
Now it's like, "Nah, I'm good. Not feeling it. Uh, it don't really sit right with me. It ain't really my vibe. I ain't really feeling like this isn't really what I'm going for right now. I'm finding other ways to say no without being so direct with it. But it's healthy for me because I get to relax. I get to take stress off my [__] shoulder." You know what I'm saying? Cuz it's like sometimes when you got so much you say yes to everybody. It's like everybody comes at you at one time and it's just like damn bro like okay I need help with this and then this person well I don't know if I can. It's just like damn.
Yeah. What about in uh relationships or in dating or with women? Is there something you've like poured so much into and felt like you couldn't get it in return? Reciprocated. Yeah. Um no I can't really say that. I feel like I haven't dealt with that yet. Like I haven't really felt like felt with that even like in past relationships like we were kind of equally pouring into each other. Um I think the only thing is that dealing with somebody that's either in the same like career path of you or like in the same field and or dealing with somebody that might not be and they understand what you're doing. so they can
appreciate things a little bit more. You know what I'm saying? Like there's certain things like that I would be excited about that like in a past relationship it might be like oh you know I' I've done that before. You know what I'm saying? So it's like it's cool but you know I did that like two years ago. But for me dealing with somebody who's never been there before and they're like oh yeah you know it's like oh man I never been there before. I think finding that equal balance to appreciate like both fields of work is like the biggest thing cuz you know how this entertainment industry is. We get invited to everything.
Mhm. And there's people that's been to everything and there's people that haven't been to [__] Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like how would you deal like I'm pretty sure you've been to award shows. I'm pretty sure you've been to like Allstar games like certain stuff. You know what I'm saying? Even if we want to take that down, even when it comes down to like traveling, going out the country and doing certain things. If you're dealing with somebody who's never done that before and they're excited about it, how do you treat that situation? Honestly, yeah, it's exciting for me for them to be excited to do something that you I think I get a lot of enjoyment out of being other people's first time.
You know what I mean? Like introducing like I have a lot of friends, for example, that you know, I live a different type of lifestyle than a lot of my friends. So, if I can show them something that they've never experienced, to me, that's like top tier. That's great. I'm I'm happy to do it. I'm a giver, though. Like, I don't know. I just like that. No, I feel that. Yeah. What about you? She about to say the opposite. Feel like I don't know. Um I don't know. What about you first? You just said, you know, I you know what it is? I think that I don't know what your beginnings were. Would were they pretty humble?
Yes. Until like college. Okay. So, but so when you don't have a lot, it's it's nice to be able to, you know, and you know, the people around you probably grew up the same way. Like, so yeah, I like to kind of spoil the people around me, which is also kind of bad because I've noticed that I've had to, and you tell me if this is the same situation with you. Now that you are where you are in your career, do you find that there's certain people in your life that you've had to kind of like put a pause on because they're too like family members or like friends that you're just like, "Motherfucker, you never got your rent. Why? Why all of a sudden you Man, listen. I literally told my brother the other day.
I was like, "Bro, it's only maybe you and like maybe two other like friends. This ain't family like that I consider like my brothers that I just go above and beyond for it. Other people, hell no. Cuz they don't even be checking on my well-being. You know what I'm saying? Like I got like my brother like he'll call me and just talk to me about and I'll be going through something this [__] don't even know. He'll just call me randomly and be like, "Yo, you good." They feel And I don't never get that from people who I've helped a lot. You know what I'm saying? It's like I done pour [__] into so many people. And then it's like the And then the you
might only hear them from hear from them on your birthday or some [__] like that. You know, it's like weird. But I understand though. I had to understand that you can't expect everybody to move like you, right? And money changes things. Money I think that's been literally the most difficult thing in life for me. I'm not even going to lie to you. Yeah. Cuz it's like de it's like finding out Santa Claus isn't real. It's like devastating low key. Cuz connection is like the most important thing in life. Right. But it's kind of one of those things that has to happen though. But when people don't connect with you at the same level that you want to connect with people or they're not
willing to or they don't know how to cuz they haven't done the work on themselves. That's like the most like I'm like but you're so great. [__] Just like love me a little harder. Come on. So great. Okay. So, how are you in a relationship? Are you like are you someone that likes to support your girl in whatever they're doing? Are you okay with them having the spotlight? Are you like what is the dynamic inside a relationship? Yeah, I'm mad supportive. I'm like over supportive. You feel me? Cuz I'm like cuz it's like we both doing the same thing. You know what I'm saying? So, it's like yeah, I want you
to have fun. I want you to be out there doing your thing. I want you to enjoy life because we only get one life to live. You know what I'm saying? But I'm not Like if you choose to not be in it, I'm not going to be like, "Oh, you need to be in it." But um I mean, I definitely feel like it's necessary to be supportive, especially if you have a partner that's aiming to do something like acting. Like my ex, she was like, she really wants to get heavy into acting. So, it's like whatever I could do to help her get into that. You know what I'm saying? It's like I'm I'mma push.
I'm going make sure that you can get the opportunity whatever resources I got being in here working on soundtracks for movies and [__] like I'm I'mma bring your name up. You know what I'm saying? If they say yeah, they say yeah. If they say no, at least I tried. But you know, at the end of the day, I just feel like that's the best part of having a partner is to push them. You know what I'm saying? But like I said, everybody doesn't like the spotlight either, though. So, if the person that you're dating is in the industry, are you someone that gets uh jealous if they're working with people or how like is that something that bothers you or you don't care?
I don't think you can cuz I work with a lot of women. So, it's like that can kind of be contradicting. You know what I'm saying? It's like that's like me having to stop everything that I'm doing because, you know, Have you ever been in a relationship with someone that was insecure about you working with these women? I'm sure. Yeah. In the past, for sure. How did you deal with that? It never worked out. Yeah, it never worked out because it was like if you can't respect the business that I'm doing or you can't respect the what I'm doing that's that's paying the bills.
It's just like what we doing. Are there certain like boundaries though that you guys put in place in relationships or to make the woman feel more secure or is it just like my way or the highway? Uh I mean I feel like when you deal with somebody, you're supposed to know their character. You know what I'm saying? You're supposed to know how they move. You feel me? Especially if they if you deal with them on a daily basis, you're supposed to know how they're going to conduct themselves in a room, how they conduct themselves around other people. I'm very respectful. So, it's like you could put me in a room with 10, 15 girls and I'll be by myself. And, you know,
nine times out of 10, like, "Oh my god, I love Derek. He was so cool. He made us feel good." But then down the line, they might use that as, you know, I' never met a guy like that before, or you treat me a way that I probably never felt before. And then it's just like understand all infatuated and [__] Yeah, that happened in love with you, sending you love letters. That happened. That definitely happened. Have you ever had a girl fall in love with you while you were in a relationship because of the way that you are and then try to sabotage you?
I've had girls say that they love how I treat the person I was in a relationship with, but they never like sabotaged it. They always respected it. Always respect the boundaries. And then Yeah, cuz these hoes are sneaky. Out of respect. There some sneaky hoes out here. I'm telling you. So, you've done so much. Yeah. You've done some of the biggest hits that, you know, we all know and love.
Uh, you've been on Love & Hip Hop. Uh, what's next? What do you want to accomplish next? What's the next move for you? So, I'm just like on that era now where it's like multifaceted when it comes to everything. Like, I'm really focused on my artistry right now, but I'm getting into acting. Even just being on Love and Hip Hop. I did Rhythm and Flow, too, right? So that was like another platform for me to just kind of showcase on TV on how I work. So eventually I want to start my own production company where I can do my own shows. Um like I said, put out my music of course, but I'm also in the process about start signing producers and like songwriters and like tapping into that world cuz I haven't done it yet.
You got a songwriter right here too. She's Yes. Oh, for real? I ain't know that. She didn't say that. Yeah, I got a artist. I sing and write. Okay. Hell yeah. You got to send me something. I will. But yeah, that's like that's that's where I'm at now because like I said, I am 31. So I'm like I'm still like young enough to do exactly what I want to do cuz by the time I'm 40, I want to be up a lot like you know what I'm saying? And I'm surrounding myself around people like I was with Kanye probably like two maybe two three weeks two or three two or three weeks ago or whatever. and just like seeing how his foundation is when
it comes to his business and just understanding like how old he is now, but just knowing like where he was at my age and [__] like that is just inspiring cuz I'm like, "Yo, this [__] is possible if you do the right [__] and you position yourselves and you position the right people around you and focus on the right [__] It could all it could all like form formulate to make sense down the line." So, I think that's where I'm at. Um cuz I look up to people like a Nick Cannon who kind of just like understands all aspects on how to get money and know their business and kind of stay true to themselves and like do stuff culturally that is might not necessarily be the norm but works because he understands culture.
Right. My last question is what um how do you feel about all of the backlash that these guys get and you know what I mean like you want to go to these certain heights but there's so much that comes along with it that can be like Kanye his whole his whole persona on the internet is that he's this batshit crazy man that's lost the plot right but then you're you are someone that is close obviously if you're close quarters with him you probably get a different version of him that nobody knows Do you ever worry that could happen that people are going to like distort your image? Um, I mean to be honest, I had to like really think about it recently.
I think that's what separates a star from a superstar. I think stars is comfortable with just kind of like playing it safe. And I'm still in that era of like trying to figure it out exactly that's what I want. But superstars are the ones who don't give a [__] M they're the ones that's going to don't care what people say. They just going just go on what it is. But that's why they are who they are. That's why they are so bad. That's why people kind of resonate with them more as human beings because they're just more unapologetic. Feel like stars is like the people that's like, you know, I don't want to do this or speak that, but it takes certain things that I feel like you have to go through first to make that decision if you want to
step into that next chapter in your life or not. Right. And that's where I'm at. I'm at the like I'm here, but do I want this yet? And I'm still not fully committed on if that's what I want to do. But, you know, like I said, it's all learning processes and things. I feel like there's like a witch hunt right now for artists. Yeah. Particularly like black men. Yeah. In the music industry that is very obvious. I mean, I mean, that's just my what I see online. And it's like, yeah, you know what I mean? Like it's just it's it's a really interesting time to be on social media. For sure. Yeah. You get attacked even for like no reason like sometimes, you know what I mean? But you just got to prepare yourself and you
just like I always it always goes back down to your character. Like it always goes back down to like cuz that's what's going to win at the end of the day. Period. Like that's what all people going to say. Your name is everything. like is it to a man your name, your face card, you know, like that's it's all you got to yourself. Okay. You know. Yeah. So, is there anything that you would like to close out with? If you have any advice for anyone that's, you know, and trying to be in your lane.
Yeah. Just stay focused. You know what I mean? Just know what you want. That's it. It's nothing not too deep. Just know what you want. Stay focused and then anticipate and execute. That's it. There you go. There you have it. Stay focused for sure. Stop being a loser. Get out of bed. Do what you want to do. Right. Exactly. Thank you so much for watching the Playbook Podcast. I'm your host, Rebecca Jay. I will see you next time. And make sure that you guys go follow Julia and Derek. Right. I know you guys probably follow him, but anyways, thank you guys
for watching. Bye.
