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GenX Gon Give It To Ya is ultimately about spreading love and bridging generations. I’m broadening connections while scoopin up some old friends along the way. We’ll reminisce on tv, movies, music, entertainment and events that helped form our culture cause the bond is deep!
Come Play!
Welcome back to another episode of GenX Gon
Give It To Ya. My name is Deshanta. To all the
newbies, welcome to the Block Party. We do ish
different over here, and all GenX lovers are
welcome. Do me a favor and hit that like and
subscribe button. I'm dumb hype about today's
episode because it's a guest episode. I haven't
done one in a minute. My guest today is someone
that I've known since 15. I remember him always
making everybody laugh and just being dumb
cool. Today's guest is former Co-op City resident,
Mr. Multitalented himself. Rodney Taylor is
in the building. We got a lot of catching up
to do. So let's get into it. This has been
an interview in the making. I'm happy everything
has finally aligned. Thank you, old friend,
for stepping up to the plate. How have you been?
Yes, yes. Thank you for the invite. I've been
OK. You know, like everything ups and downs,
but I'm still here. So blessings. It's good
to be on your platform. I'm glad we finally
got it together. And here we are. I will be
forever indebted. let's just get. Let's just
get right into it. Yes. Where in the Bronx
did you live? I grew up in good old Co-op City.
Let's just bring it back a little bit, a little
bit. I was born in Brooklyn and I didn't stay
there too long. And I was adopted about the
age of two, three. And I found myself in good
old Co-op City, section five. Northeast Bronx,
all day. All day? Yes. And what are some of
the things you like doing in Co-op City or
even in the Bronx? There's so much stuff to
do. Co-op City, growing up. For the most part,
you know, it was about sports and video games
and things of that sort. So I'm more or less
hung around the hood. I didn't branch out from
co-op to around after high school because my
parents had a tight leash on me, you know.
co-op was just walking around the sections
because, you know, I have friends in every section.
so we would walk around, play ball, hang out
in two, one, you know. We had friends everywhere.
Co-op for me was like a melting pot because
you had people from everywhere. You know, it
was predominantly Jewish, but you also had,
you know, Mexicans, Spanish. wasn't too many
Africans here back then, but a lot of West
Indians, you know, so was a melting pot. So
it was a great experience for me, yeah. It
was a diverse community. You mentioned that
your parents had you on a tight leash. Was
that because of religious reasons or they just
were strict? Well, my parents had been through
a lot previously in their lives, so... They
interjected all the insecurities on me, which
meant they had a tight rope. They didn't want
me to see shit out in the street. So I was
sheltered for a long time, which, you know,
it was kind of like a detriment, but you know,
also was a good thing. So it was a balance of
both. have no complaints because you know,
I learned a lot of stuff being alone in the
house for a long time, but I've also learned
a lot of stuff and being outside in the street,
you know, so it's a beautiful combination.
think everybody should have a combination of
both experiences, you know, but. We don't,
you we all have different paths to this. But
I have no complaints about anything at all.
Yeah, of course. What schools did you go to
when you grew up in Colorado? Well, my parents,
like I said, tried to shelter me from shit.
So they sent me to St. Mary's, which was on
City Island, which is a private Catholic school.
Then they tried out their hand by sending me
to Mount, you know, which was an all boys Catholic
school run by monks. But that didn't work out
too well for me and my personality. So I ended
up in Truman and those for two years, know,
Harry S Truman and that gave me my edge, should
I say, and my open experience to things that
my parents was trying to hide from me. So I
got two years to get that in and I soaked everything
up because I kind of experienced everything
when I was in Truman. And then for my last
year, cause they saw me kind of turn into the
dark side, I guess you could say, for better
words, they sent me to a Lutheran school. I'll
save you Lutheran for my last senior year.
which was just as bad as a public school. I
don't know what they thought they were trying
to save me from, I want, it's everywhere, you
know, it's everywhere. Let's back up to the
monks for a second, cause I did not know this
and I don't nominally know anyone that has
went to a school that was taught by monks. What
was that like? It was a different experience
to me because there were no girls around. And
at that time, you know, my hormones were raging
and that's what I was focused on. And Honestly,
I should have been worried about my academics,
but to me school was never a problem. It was
easy for me. So I didn't give a damn about
that. I knew I had that side of the solution,
the problem mapped out already. I'm like, I
can do the school thing, but I was trying to
work on the girl thing because I was still
shy. So my focus is on that. the school, I mean,
the monks, they still hit us. They try to keep
it as rigid as possible. So it was very strict,
but you know how. people find ways around shit.
You we found out ways around as kids, but it
seems like every time I did something wrong,
a certain monk would appear. And I thought like,
damn, where you come from? That means you was
watching us. We even didn't do anything. You're
still behind wherever you at watching us. It
was also a little bit of weirdness there because,
know, a lot of these guys wound up being perverts.
For me, it was a nice experience, but it was
a weird experience. I went to school with Puff.
I didn't know if I told you that. No, I didn't
know that. Yeah, he was a year. He, I gotta
put this on record because I wanted to be known.
He was a year ahead of me. Right. So every
day, you know, we used to get on the lunch line.
I would be the last freshman because I was
always either in trouble or just running late
for some reason. And he would wind up being
one of the first people in the sophomore line.
And he would always like wind up getting behind
me and he would talk shit to me. He called me
a fat fuck for like almost a whole year. I
could see that. Damn. And you can do nothing
because then you probably get hit by one of
the mums. So what would a kid do that they
had to hit people? Like where did that come
in and how would they get hit? I got got Was
it with a- A ruler. A paddle? A ruler. So were-
type of wood. If you were talking, would that
constitute getting hit? No. Horse playing more
or less. They wanted us to be militant. At that
time, I'm sure it's a lot looser now, but because
you know, lot of litigations and lawsuits, but-
At that time, they was trying to be rigid with
us and we were black kids, you know? And if
you can go to Mount, you know, your family
got a little bit of paper. they probably always
felt some type of way to all these black kids
in here. We got to make sure we whipped them
into shape. I'm sure part of it was good intention
and part of it was bad, you know? So it all
mixed together, but you know, there was still
a strict regimen they tried to adhere to, but
it didn't really work with the type of kids
that were going there at the time. I mean, so
it was a, push and pull. So I was, my parents,
my dad was in the office constantly because
I didn't agree with a lot of shit that they
did. I felt you taking it too far. And my parents
don't go to this extreme, and you don't need
to. So I was outspoken, which got me in trouble,
especially with the monks. Because you ain't
supposed to really talk back to these dudes.
know, a lot of these dudes, if they were about
that life, they were rigid and strict, and you
could tell. But, you know, there was a lot
that, you know, deviated. And out of all these
schools that you attended, are there any teachers
that made an impact on your life? No. No. OK,
we'll just leave it at that. I remember names
and certain instances and some wished me well,
you know, but um no, just know none of them
really stuck. You know what? Sister Mary, Sister
Mary Margaret, she stuck with me because she
had a kind heart. You know I'm saying? Every
brother teacher I've really dealt with in my
life, I felt they like were aggravated. You
know what I'm saying? When you asked them extra
questions or whatever was going on at their
life, interjected into their teaching life
and them and me just didn't have a personal
good one-on-one experience. You know what I
mean? So no. None of them left the impact on
me, especially Sister Mary, Sister Margaret.
Yeah, that's it. What was your first job? My
first job was McDonald's had a program where
they were picking up kids from co-op and letting
them go work up in uh Connecticut along 95
at the McDonald's. that was my first job. Sorry.
That's probably where we met. I'm pretty sure.
And those are good fucking times. What store
did you work at? Darien. Darien. So you dare.
Okay. Daring East. That's where, okay. That's
definitely where we met then. And probably
good times, good times, food, lots of fun, a
lot of playing around on the bus coming and
going. That's work.
Yeah. remember I used to make these huge ice
cream cones. You know how they're to be like
probably two, three inches tall. Mine would
be like seven inches. Yes. It's crazy. That's
when I first tried my first triple, um, a fish
fillet. Yeah, I stacked it. Yeah. I was feeling
myself. I only had a couple of bites, you know,
it was wasteful. Yeah. There was some good
times up there. Good times up there. Yeah. I
missed that job. And after that, I got, I think
I got fired on our left and wound up working
for the gas station right in front of it. Ronnie,
remember you at the gas station, the blue shirt,
right? Well, listen, I'm getting old and I've
been through a lot. my memory is not that vivid,
but I do remember the job. I don't remember
the shirts though. I do remember because I think
you work with Nikola because Nikola worked
at the gas station too. A couple of people,
and Reggie, my boy Reggie worked there at the
time. Yeah. Yeah. It was a couple of people.
Yeah. We were hustlers back then. We just
was all about the paper. We sure was, because
I was getting them on that credit card. Oh,
said too much. No problem. I'll edit that.
I'll edit that. Somebody knocking at your door.
I didn't get to even listen. What is that called?
The Times expired on that anyway. Oh, really?
Okay. All right. So this show is a nostalgia
show. So let's talk about some TV for a little
bit. Can you tell me what were some of your
favorite TV shows or movies growing up? Okay.
I'm just going to. From what I remember, I'm
gonna break it down like this. Everything Spike
Lee, most of the black shows, and you got a
few shows that you throw in there like One
D Years, Miami Vice, they ride at Hill Street
Blues, even Little House on the Prairie, know,
things like that. New York Undercover, I'm in
that genre, but I more or less went towards
whatever caught my attention, the storyline,
because my mind is very vivid. I always went
for the storyline, so I watched a whole bunch
of different stuff, so. You know, the list
is so long, I can't even name everything, but
let's just say I watched a little of everything
with the exception of some stuff that was just
too out my box. Like the Power Rangers never
did it. And a few other things I just couldn't
do. More or less, I watched pretty much everything
that they had on the little 13 channels in my
house, because we didn't have cable. Yeah.
I had to put that in there. Did you have a
favorite celebrity? I do, actually. My favorite
celebrity for me, I would say is Don Cheadle.
I love his resume. If I was an actor, I would
love his resume. Low key, but still active.
Always representing himself like a proud brother.
Never heard of, no scandals about the brother.
And I've heard a few stories that people that
had approached him or seen him and talked to
him in the street. And they said he was a real
dude. And I'm saying, plus I like all his movies.
For me personally, low key, not too above
the scene. I don't want to be no big, fabulous
star. I just want to make my little mark on
this world. And he did that. You know what I'm
saying? So yeah, him, you know, I kind of would
mirror myself after him. Like Don Cheadle as
well. And this is probably TMI, but I probably
could listen to him talk on the phone all day.
There's just something about his voice that
I really like. Shout out to Don Cheadle. Yeah,
shout out to Don Cheadle. Definitely. What
about favorite TV jingles? Like a song for a
brand like OY. Oh boy Toyota, you know, like
one of those type of commercials. Do you have
anything that stands out? Yeah, I still sing
it to people randomly and they laugh. I'm Tootsie
Roll take off, that? Whatever it is I think
I see becomes a Tootsie Roll to me. Yeah, yeah.
I'm like that too. What about favorite cartoons?
Ooh, wow. See, I'm a cartoon, anime type of
guy. So, okay, I'll just go with a few off
the top. Cause like I said, My memory is shaky
now. know, we're getting up there in age. Shh,
don't tell nobody. Okay, shut up. We not old.
We not old. We just vintage. that's what it
is. Vintage, I like that. We Yes. were fine.
There you go. For all the youngins out there.
Yeah, for all the youngins. The YNs as they
say. Yeah, we're good. I call it Jekyll, I'm
in Jerry, Flintstones, the Jetsons, Scooby Doo,
know, Voltron, Popeye, you know, always popping
that can of spinach open. and whipping some
ass. We love that. Cosby kids, they seem
to have taken off the air for some reason. The
original Cosby kids, the cartoon. Oh, hey,
hey, hey. Yeah. Yeah, the Fat Albert more or
less. um I never see that. And I have a hotbox
with 3,000 channels. And still, I've never seen
that on there. They must have really taken
that off the air and just smashed it. Thanks,
Bill. Yeah. Yeah, actually, yeah. Thanks,
Mr. Cosby. What about favorite cereals? Did
you eat cereal? Yeah, but my parents kept it
low because of the sugar. They want to toughen
that sugar thing. And they want my teeth rotten
out because they already were. So they want
it worse. Just uh cocoa, Krispy's, corn flakes,
and the honey nut, the Cheerios actually. And
then it evolved to honey nut Cheerios. Honey
nut Cheerios is actually good. I just wanted
to add that they have four new versions of
honey nut Cheerios. They ever need to go out
and cop because they are the bomb. I go with
the almond and coconut joint. Really? Really?
Now it's only in certain supermarkets, so you
gotta look for it. And listen, I'm sorry, I
meant to give you disclosure ahead of time.
My voice is gonna go in and out, because I'm
getting over a respiratory infection. All
right? So I'm not gonna always sound like me.
I might go in and out. Fair enough. And I hope
you better soon. Thank you. What about favorite
candies? I can name four or five off the rip
that I still with to this day. The Almond Joy's
turtles, you know what turtles are? They have
caramel in them, right? And nuts, and nuts.
Yeah, those are good. Peanut butter cups and
Hershey's Kisses, like this one. Oh, I'm sorry,
I gotta add another, what's that called? The
one that Bart Simpson used to advertise for
the, it's a crunchy one and it has peanut
butter, but it's a crunchy, butter crunch. No,
no, that's not it. It comes in a yellow pack.
Ah, I forgot the name. Yellow. it's a crunchy
bar, but it's, I forgot the name of it, but
that one right there, outstanding. I'm have
to look it up. I don't remember. Butterfinger.
There we go. Oh, yeah. Yeah, those are good.
Hey, yeah. But I didn't find out about Butterfingers
until a couple of years ago. I hate to say.
Yeah. Those are good as hell. Yeah. What about
some video games? were some of your favorites?
Oh, you're talking about back in the day or
now, because I'm still a gamer to this day and
I have no shame. and that at all. Back then,
you know, it's more or less like the defenders
and the dig dogs and the games like that. But
I was always about graphics. So in my mind back
then, I was like, this is trash. I wanted it
to evolve. So it evolved now to that point.
So now I'm a game. play the call of duties
and the two K's and I actually play golf and
things like that as well. You know, it's for
me, it's an outlet. keeps me out the street.
You know, it keeps me in the house, you know,
cause the street is, it's good and it's bad,
but You know, you're actually a little bit
safe in the house as you get older. And that's
what it's turned into. My comfort is in the
house now, my TV, my game system, and as many
channels as I can possibly put on the TV. know?
So what system do you have? I got the PS5 always.
I've dabbled with the Xbox here and there,
you know, due to circumstances I had to play
it. I had no other alternative. But I always
gravitated back to the PS. You know, I was blessed
that someone gifted me with one by default.
So I'm up to date with one now, so I'm good
on that. And like I said, I'm a graphics type
of guy. That's what it delivers for me, the
graphics. It's like, technology is a beautiful,
it's a beautiful and a horrible thing, but on
the gaming side, it's wonderful. But I still
think there's a little bit behind, they dragging
it out so they can get us with this paper.
The funny thing about that is I don't want to
go into too much detail. Let's just say there's
a game that comes out in 2024. All right. Cool,
this game is dope. Next year, the same game
comes out and all they do is twitch one thing,
but they still charging you the same price
and it might up at $10. So I think it's a scheme,
but I appreciate the graphics in the process
and I'll leave it at that. And you know it's
all a hustle, you're right. Yes, yes. Did
you ever beat a game? No, because my intention,
I guess I have OCD or no. I don't know what
equates to what I have. No, I can't focus on
it that long and that's my problem. I don't
focus on any game long enough to finish it.
I have finished a few, don't get me wrong.
But let's say my collection was 100, I maybe
finished 20. The other 80, say, I'm done. You
know, I just walked away from it. That's not
a good thing, but you know, that's what happens.
let's, how about back in the day? Cause you
know, back in the day when video games first
came out, everybody wanted, you had to beat
the game. What was the first game? Do you remember
the first game was that you beat? I think it
was Defender. Okay. Cause at the time, the
first game I think I had was either I think
it was the Atari 2500 and then it went to
the Colecovision and then from there I think
PlayStation. No, I never had a Nintendo. It
just evolved from there. Yeah, I think that's
the first game. It definitely wasn't Pac-Man
because no one as I knew actually finished the
boards in Pac-Man or Dick Doug or King Kong
or the other game. Yeah, this was... No, it
had to be Defender. Yeah, but that's the only
thing. Now you got me wanting to break out my
retro system because you named Dick Doug and...
You just went there and now I'm like, I wanna
play. So let's shift gears a little bit. Favorite
superheroes. Well, what do you consider superheroes?
Like Superman. Are anime characters considered
superheroes too? Or no? Do they fight crime?
Yeah, they do. Then yes, they count. All right
then. Okay, I'm gonna give you four. I'm gonna
go with the Hulk, always, because I see me
in him. Because I turn green on people. given
the situation, sometimes I have overreacted.
Does Rodney smash? Yeah, unfortunately, in my
younger days. And now I'm trying to be better
as I get older. Let's just say that. But I still
turn halfway green. If you watch The Hope,
sometimes he goes halfway and turns back. Yeah,
when he's guided under control. So yeah, I'm
going to go with The Hope. Black Dynamite, uh
I don't know if a lot of people know about
Black Dynamite. Afro Samurai, yes, that's my
dude too, yes. And the Black Panther. And I
don't want to see the end like I'm on some pro-black
power to the people. I am though, but those
are just happen to be my favorite characters.
disrespect to any Caucasian superheroes. I
love y'all too, cause you're all doing the same
thing. I just like the people that I meet.
Okay. Fair enough. So tell us about Afro Samurai.
Cause a lot of us probably don't know. Okay.
Glad you asked. Okay. Afro Samurai is a story
about a black samurai who was an orphan, who
was adopted into a Japanese family and they
took him in and treated him as their own and
raised him with these martial arts skills.
And at the time he had a vendetta, he wanted
to get revenge on the people that killed his
family. So he stayed with this Japanese family
until he was old enough to become a man and
he went out on his own. And from that point
on, his goal was to be number one samurai and
he achieved that. Now with that achievement
also comes now, you have to defend that title.
So now he has that on his shoulders, plus all
the demons that he's carrying inside him, which
motivated him to get to the top. But now that
you're at the top, you have to maintain that
status by any means until you're just tired.
Because at some point in time, someone's gonna
come to take your place. You gotta remember
that. And that's what it's all about. And he's
in the middle of that and dealing with that.
And that was kind of like equivalent to my life
to a point because I can't say I've never been
at the top top yet. don't, I haven't reached
the goals that I've wanted to yet to say that
I'm at my top. You know, I saw a lot in him
and you know, it was very interesting and they
told it from a black perspective, which I liked
even more, you know? So if you can check that
out, it's a good show. So it is animated, it's
not comic book? Yeah, it's anime, so yeah.
It's animated, yeah. Okay, got you. And Samuel
Jackson is one of the voices on the show. Oh,
well that's a motivation right there. Well,
another motivation actually. Yes. Okay, did
you have a favorite villain that you could relate
to from their perspective? Yes, the Penguin.
And why? Not really socially acceptable. Wasn't
everyone's cup of tea. Was dealt not a good
hand, you know, at the beginning of life, but
made the best of it. and did the best he could
in his mind, you know. So in his mind, he was
that success. And what movie would you say
portrayed the Penguin the best? The new series
that came out that nobody really popped on,
but y'all need to go check that out because
it's a good series and that really depicts
him the way I really see him. Are you referring
to Gotham? What's Gotham? I'm not sure. it's,
um, no, it's- No, Oh, see, you're getting the
old man here trying to answer questions. Take
your time. Take your time. it's Gotham. I think
it's the new series out, the Penguin. Let me
look. Yeah. Hold on. Let me see if I can pull
it up on my phone. Yeah, because it's a series
that was, was it in season two already? Oh,
here we go. Colin Farrell. Is that? Yes. 2024,
right? Yes. Yes, Colin Farrell. Yes. Check that
out. If you can, check that out for anybody
that's into, you know. DC and the other one,
Marvel. Yeah, check that out. It's a very good
series. The Mandalorian as well. I just wanted
to throw that in there. Yeah. love the Mandalorian.
Yes. Very good series. If you're into that type
of thing and you just got a nice big TV and
like to sit in the dark, you know, with your
adult party favors and enjoy it. Yeah. If you
can check those out. Yeah. Thank you for that.
Marvel or DC or something else. I'm going to
have to go with Marvel for Hulk and the Black
Panther. Yeah. Good choice. But I love them.
I love them both because it's cinematography
at its finest because they put money in these
movies. They put some money in them. What movie
do you love that we'd least expect? Unforgiven.
Unforgiven. Is that what Morgan Freeman? Yes.
And Clint Eastwood. And what stands out for
you in that movie? The storyline and how he
got his revenge at the end. Yeah, it's just,
yeah, it's, yeah. I just, it was just, it was
just so, it's so raw. The movie is slow-paced,
though. If people are looking for action right
away, don't go watch the movie. This is not
for you. But if you want something slow with
a good storyline, with an ending that you feel
satisfied with as well, because you got your
little thing in it as well, then yeah, watch
that. And it's, you know, it's classics. If
you don't like classics, though, don't watch
it, because I'm not even gonna put you through
it. Yeah. Now I saw a decade ago, so I really
don't remember what it's about. Can you give
us a summary? A quick summary is, you know,
they killed his family, waited for a while,
got back. He got his got back, you know, get
back. And that was it. It was, it was, it was
satisfying. And his boy came along with him
for the ride, for one last ride. Cause that
was his way. And that's, that's what really
touched me. His man was like, you know what?
I'm, I'm coming with you. And he came with
him. and they got him, but you know, I don't
wanna kill it for anybody, but you know, at
the end it's a little sad, but it was fulfilling,
you know, so, it's good movie for me. Thank
you. Gonna start talking about some fashion
here. Did you have a sneaker brand that you
rock faithfully? Nike, because I don't, I mean
I started off with Adidas, but you know, I
sprayed my ankle wearing some Patrick Ewing,
so I said never again. You know, the other
things like Lottos and stuff like that, Siconis
and all that. They were nice stickers. They
were classics. They were dope, but a lot of
them just weren't comfortable. So for me,
Nike and Reebok were what it was. I gravitated
to Nike and stuck with them until Jordan came
out. But then Jordan became too unaffordable
or it was just too much. So now I just go with
what's comfortable and fashionable. I try
to still get a little fashion in there. Speaking
of Jordan, what's your favorite sports team?
Well, I'm considered a traitor as far as the
New Yorker's concerned because I'm a Laker fan
and I'm a Cowboys fan. So that means I don't
like the Giants or the Jets and I don't like
the Knicks and the Mets. But I do root for
the Knicks when they get to a certain level
in the season. And I root for the Giants sometimes,
but that's as far as it goes. I'm not, and
I'm a Yankee fan, you know? So I got one foot
in the puddle, but it's not enough according
to, know. real die-hard New York fan. But
that's okay. know, life is about diversity.
We are allowed to like what we like, right?
Without judgment. That's why there's so many
choices. Exactly. Exactly. But for some people,
some people don't need too many choices. They
just need a few because then they lose their
minds. Some people just need two or three. You
can't give somebody like 15 choices. They'll
lose their mind. Who is your favorite player?
Any all-spoil? It was Kobe. It was Kobe. Kobe.
No. Usually ups and downs, but now it's Kyrie.
I go with the player, I follow him, and I root
for him. That's my favorite player. Back in
the days, it was James Worthy, Tony Dorsett,
know? Guys like that. It just went from there.
It went from, I like Jordan, but everyone liked
Jordan. I was the only child himself, because
I wanted somebody from my own. So yeah, that's
why I gravitated towards my player, because
most dudes in New York wasn't feeling. Lakers
for a while until Magic and Kobe came through,
you know, or Shaq, you know. Going into movie
genres. Well, did you watch horror movies? Yes,
I am a horror movie guy, but the thing is,
I like real horrors. There's a lot of trash
out there that just waste your time for an
hour and 50 minutes. But I give it like five
to 10 minutes, maybe 15. If it's not catching
me by then, I'm cutting it off. So I like everything
except for I'm a weird dude. I don't like
watching too many comedy movies. I can laugh
while just watching a comic through movies
like that. A comic show, a movie has to really
grab me. I mean, like some real have me laughing
type of movie. I go for more horror, action,
thriller, documentary, crime, those type of
movies. What are you watching right now? Like
now? I just finished watching a show that someone
put me onto that I wasn't privy to or I just
ignored it. It's a show called Shameless and.
I didn't know anything about this show until
somebody put me on to it I was like, yo, this
is a good show. It is funny. If you can't just
watch a few seasons of Shadeless. That's real,
that's a classic show right there.
I have a friend that's into that show and she
really enjoys it. And I know it's popular,
it's on Showtime, I think. Listen, I didn't
watch it while it was out, but I binge watched
11 seasons in the course of two months, maybe
a month, yeah. And I caught up, watched the
whole thing. Good show, good show. It looks
like it's good. The characters seem very interesting,
but you know, somebody that you would know from
your family, like they remind you of family
members. I've seen a few episodes. That's the
word, relatable. Thank you. Yeah. Do you watch
old school shows? Like I said, I'm a weird dude.
So for me now, it hits different. So not really.
I can't watch too many old, especially old cartoons.
I was blessed right now because I have like
400 channels and it shows all the old shows
on repeat through seasons. So right now I'm
just glued on. You know, the Wyatt and the Soprano,
that's it for now as far as nostalgia and going
back, but not too many. And I always, I always
watch at Three's Company. That always gives
me, I always watch that. But anything other
than that, no, oh I I I tried watching Gilly
Gizz Island a few months back and I'm like,
I can't do this. I can't do it no more. You
know, it's just, honestly, it was a good show
when I was coming up, but just maybe it's us
as a people. You know how we evolve and our
mentality can deal with certain things now
that we couldn't afford, know, vice versa. I
just can't, I just can't watch it no more.
I know exactly what you're saying. And they
were training us to focus on what wasn't real.
You know what I mean? That's how I feel as well.
Yes. Music genre. And definitely jazz right
behind it. Okay. Let's say, okay. R &B with.
Reggae and jazz hanging on real tight to his
coattails. Yeah, let's say, cause those two,
just moved me. It's just, especially R &B.
Who would you say is one of your favorites?
Stevie Wonder, Off RIP. For sure. Yeah. Stevie
Wonder. And then right for me, it blends right
into Sade, for me, from where I'm at, you in
life, how I, the people that have gotten me
through things. Those, their albums, yeah,
it's just, they do something to you, for me.
Shade is bomb. I already got her episode written,
but I'm trying to go down a timeline and she's
in the 80s, so I haven't gotten there yet.
But nah, Shade is everything. Everything, everything
for me, yeah. It's just, see, a lot of oh the
people that I'm around, close enough to like
say, they're in the car with me or in the crib
and I'm playing this. For them, it makes them
sad. For me, it gives me a different feeling.
You see what I'm saying? I'm like, this is not
sad music for me. It's not depressing. It doesn't
bring that out of me. You gotta explain to some
people that everything is not the same for
everyone. You and I could have a vanilla ice
cream cone with sprinkles and the experience
would be different for both of us. Yes. You
see what I'm saying? me, Chardé kind of caresses
my heart. Like the instrumentation, the vocals.
Yes, yes. I'm there with you. We locked in
on the Chardé Yeah. Yeah, always, always. I'm
just heartbroken that I may never ever be able
to see her perform live before I leave this.
I think I've read something or heard something
that she's done performing, but if by chance
I ever get a chance, even if I gotta fly to
Morocco or somewhere, I wanna catch her one
time before I leave this. I'm typing it in
now. Did Sade retire? It says Sade has not officially
retired from music. While there were rumors
about her retirement, she has remained musically
active. In 2024, she released a new single
titled Young Lion following her contribution
to the Disney film A Wrinkle in Time with the
song Flower of the Universe. Despite her reclusive
lifestyle away from public eye, Sade continues
to create music. So there's hope. Yes. She's
on my bucket list too. Now I know that you
are a hip hop fan. Indeed. Do you remember
what was the first rap song you heard? From
what I can remember, the first song that brought
me into hip hop, I think it was Curtis Blow,
These Are The Breaks. Break it down, break it
down, break it down. Yeah, I can never, that's
the earliest I can remember. I'm sure there's
some songs maybe that maybe just lit the match
beforehand, but that, him right there. And it
was personal for me, cause I think, I don't
know if I told you this, but he lived in my
building, part time. That was one of his crips
and I used to see him periodically and he would
always pat me on my head in my lobby and I'd
see the limo in front of the building. If I
saw the white limo, I knew it was him. So for
me again, just- I ruled the world, I love
all the girls, wear diamonds and pearls.
Yes. Good times, good times. If I ruled the
world. I like how you hopped in on that. For
sure. And it bopped, it really bopped, but If
I Rule The World was a dope ass song. Yeah,
it was. was. So for me, it still pops. It's
in my playlist. What is something that you
had to have, but your parents refused to get
it for you? Cheapskate. You still sound a little
bitter about that. Did you No, no. It was for
my own good. It was for my own good. I Because
everyone was getting robbed? Yes. Yeah. And
me and my rebellious attitude, somebody probably
would have killed me for it. know, cause I would
have been like, no, I'm not giving up shit.
Take it. And you know, lot of dudes out there
don't play and you know, it may have been that,
that time and point. who knows? Did you ever
end up getting it for yourself? I started the
process recently. Some things happened in life,
gotten away and I left it on. started, I put
it on layaway, he and an ex and then life got
in the way and a lot of stuff happened. and
I forgot about it until I moved and was going
through receipts and was like, oh wow. And
I called them up and they honored it and they
were like, yeah, it's still good, man. You
can come back and start paying on it again.
I never went back and I regret that, but it's
for a reason. know, everything happens for a
reason. But that's like the Sade thing. Before
I leave this earth, I'm gonna have me one. Even
though I plan on moving out of this godforsaken
side of Gamora we live in called New York City.
and moving someplace warmer, yeah, sooner or
later I'm gonna have one in some form of fashion
in the closet just in case. Or for when I come
visit and come back here. Yeah, it's on the
list. That's one of the things on the list,
like seeing Sade. Oh, I meant to tell you about
the Sade thing is what I want to add in. I
wanna see Sade somewhere overseas. I'd prefer
it be overseas, possibly in the Caribbean.
That would be so dope for me. If all those three
things could connect and I was able to see
her, that would be beautiful. That's what I'm
hoping for. So if God aligns that for me down
the line, and I know it is too perfect to be
true, that's the time I'm going to see her.
I know that you and God could make it happen.
Y'all can collaborate and manifest for sure.
Yes, he holds me in place. Okay. So then you
will be seeing Sade in the tropics. So I will
be seeing Sade in the tropics. And if I can,
I will videotape it for the masses. Well, that
would be lovely. So tell me Rodney, what career
did you choose? I chose, okay. Let me be, let
me tell you the boozy title that I chose. uh
I chose the title of transportation specialist.
All right. Which breaks down to bus driver.
There you go. you drive buses in New York city?
Yes. I drive buses in New York city at the
moment. I am not driving. because I had an
erratic moment which put me in a situation where
they were able to suspend and demote me and
actually fire me, but I fought to get my job
back. But my career, technically, my title
is driver. I've done everything from drive trucks
to minivans to box cars to cabs to buses,
school buses, tour buses. I've driven almost
everything. But my title right now, if we're
gonna put it out there, is driver, bus driver.
Yeah, I like it because it gives me the freedom.
And to be honest, I don't want to be up in some
building or office with my boss or anyone from
corporate in my face, critiquing me over my
shoulders. Being over the road, I'm in control
of my destiny. It's my office and I run things
and I usually make it as calm and peaceful
as possible until it's not. So you were able
to get your job back? I got my job back. I
was demoted. not yay on a demotion, but thank
you. No, no, no, actually, let's say yay on
the emotion because I needed it at the time.
had lost my mom. didn't deal with everything
that was going on. no, thank you. And I lost
her at the time and I wasn't dealing with everything.
I didn't grieve the way I was supposed to. So
that emotion came in a time when I needed it
because I was really at a point where I was
really, I wanted to smack fire out of some
of these passengers that got on the bus disrespectful.
And I mean that respectfully to all the people
that got on respectfully. This is not towards
you, but When you deal with the public, they
are people that are very disrespectful. And
because they have a bad day, now it has to
be your bad day. And I was on some shit where,
no, it's not going to be my bad day. And I'm
going to get my point across and let you know
that it's not. But you can't do that in a city,
in a world that we live in like that, because
I put my life on a lot, a lot of times talking
crap to people in Greece. When these people,
I didn't know what these people were going
through. You know what I'm saying? And you have
to take that into consideration. And sometimes
you gotta humble yourself. And I've learned
that now, but at then I didn't have that under
my belt and I was very reckless. So God sat
me down and said, yo, I gotta suspend you and
put you in this situation, even though you did
most of it, but now I'm gonna show you your
error through your ways. And that's what he
did. And then I'm not sitting here being all
preachy about it at all, cause I'm not a holy
roller, but I just know how he works in my
life and how things transpired. And that's how
it went. But that's my calling. getting people
to where they need to get to safely with a friendly
driver. Because I know about almost everything
because I've been in it. So we could talk on
all different levels across the board, and
people relate to that. And that's why I love
people that come to me on a positive note.
Because I went from driving over the road coach
buses to driving in the city now. On those
coach buses, these people are friendly. Hey,
ha ha ha. On the city bus, these people are
like, fuck you, I'm not paying. And I'm like,
oh, there's a difference. Wait a minute. oh
Okay, so you gotta handle each accordingly.
And let's just say I'm a work in progress.
So some days it works out and some days it doesn't.
And I'm sorry for the days it doesn't, but
I'm human and you're not gonna talk to me crazy.
I'm not that dude, respectfully. Thank you
for the transparency. Is that where you got
the inspiration for Bus Driver Chronicles?
No, what's part of it? My initial, cause I drove
for a year in Florida. I drove the city bus
in Orlando, Florida for a year too. And I drove
Greyhound for a year over the road. So, you
know, my experiences are crazy because Greyhound
is like the prison bus used to be. All due
respect. No disrespect to Greyhound. But yeah,
you're like the bottom of the transportation
cycle. And I dealt with that, but I was based
out of Orlando. So I was doing the Orlando
to Atlanta runs. I was doing a lot of that,
but I did come up here to work in New York
for a few months, but they don't help you out
here. So I was like, no, let me get, let me
get out of here and go back down south. But
yeah, I've had experiences and yeah, the bus
chronicles, more based on my whole experience
as a whole, but they get a lot towards New
York City transit, respectfully, because we
live in a city where there's a lot of characters
and there's a lot of 730 people walking around
and need to be in hospitals. There's an influx
of that here and it's sad, but they get on the
public transportation and we gotta deal with
them. I say don't deal with them at all, just
let them get on. Just don't even pay attention
anymore. You just hit a button and keep it moving.
Can we look forward to a part two? I don't
know because I didn't get really a good reception
on part one. Yeah, but of course my artistic
side of me will always, you know, keep trying
to progress and create. So you probably will
get a part two because somebody saw it. Even
if four people saw it, they saw it and they
know what it is. I want to give it to you from
my perspective. I'm a human being driving this
bus. I'm not a mechanic. And then somebody over
me. that I gotta report to. I don't run shit.
I pick the bus up and I get to you as fast as
I can. So you should take nothing out on me
unless I crash the bus into a wall and you get
hurt. If you get from point A to point B safely,
then just thank me. Don't take your shit out
on me. Go home and do that shit or go to a
bar or a gun range or the church or you know,
whatever. Go get a donut, something, a grande
caramel from Starbucks, but just don't take
it out on me. other people in the street because
you don't know what they're going through. And
that was my main thing because people have
said some horrible shit to me and I ate a lot
of it, but a lot of it I didn't for no reason.
I don't know you. Bus Crock Drivers Chronicles
was for everybody that works in public service.
If you guys are cordial to one another, it
should be a peaceful interaction. Even though
somebody may not get what they want in the end,
at least you guys talk to each other with respect.
But once the disrespect comes in, and starts
to take place, there's no need for that on
either part. Honestly, Aunt Shantigua, you're
having a bad day, but you ain't gotta take
it out on me when I come into your establishment
because I'm trying to give you my consumer
dough. I don't care what your baby father did,
turn that off for a second and just help me
with this situation. And if you can't, just
say you can't, but don't talk to me crazy.
And you know, just let's alleviate that out
of the equation. And that's what it all boils
down to. Everything I try to do artistically,
I try to teach in the process. I'm not the
best teacher, but I'll try to teach you from
the mistakes that I made, because I made so
many mistakes that I'm learning from now. I'm
a late bloomer, as they say, and I'm trying
to rectify a lot of stuff. Some stuff can't
be rectified, but the things that I can do,
I try to reach out and do. And if I can't, then
I put it in God's hands. And that's part of
what I was trying to do with that. Thank you.
For everyone that doesn't know, Bus Driver
Chronicles. is a skit that Rodney created where
he is, he takes on the persona of a bus driver
that's not him and he has these comical situations
and he has retorts with good comebacks and
I really enjoyed it. So that's why I was asking
about a part two. As far as people not seeing
it. The only thing I can suggest, and this is
from personal experience, because you know,
it took me a while for people to learn about
the podcast. Advertising is everything and
word of mouth is everything. So that's what
we need to do with you. We just got to get
you some advertising. We can get this shit popping
because I see how talented you are and the
visions that you have musically and. as well
as writing little short scripts. Yeah, I love
to, I want to act. I'm scared. I've always been
scared. I've been holding myself back my whole
life. I would love to act. I don't know if you
know, do you know Troy Gentles? He went to
Truman, but he's made a few short movies and
he's looking to create more. And so I'm trying
to, you know, help wherever I can. Maybe I can
get you two linked up. I believe he's still
in the Bronx, but you know, everybody got to
start somewhere. Listen, I'll do a film and
you pay me a dime. I'll do it for free. I just
want to, I want to experience the exposure.
That's what it's all about. Two people starting
from the ground. If we're both starting at
the same level and working and making it happen.
I see people doing it on online all the time.
All the time. We got to look out for each other.
You have to. It's all about networking. The
whole village concept, you know, we got to keep
that in play. Yes. You know, no matter how
much the times have changed, it's still the
same at the end of the day. Exactly. So since
we're on this talent tip that you have, tell
me about your music because you have a lot
of, you have some songs there. Have you been
writing since high school? When did this start?
The music thing started as poetry when I was
in Mount. you know, my, used to write stuff
and the teacher would call my parents and they
would tell them, This wasn't poetry. My parents
were like, well, this was his form of it, you
know? And so that morphed into music. And then
I met some dudes in high school, actually one
of my neighborhood friends. And we started
from there. And then we met some more dudes
in high school. We had a group and we was doing
music and you know, one got locked up and then
one lost the urge. And so it was just me and
my man and know, Teddy Bear. And we just started
doing music. And I'm not gonna say we put our
full foot on it because we didn't. And I can
honestly admit that now. We went in, but we
didn't go in as far as we should have. I don't
know. He has his reasons. I have mine. I was
just lazy. I'm not gonna even lie to you about
it. And it was just a hobby for me. Some people
do it because as they get out the hood or as
they come up. I didn't have that urge. I loved
it, but it wasn't pertinent for me, but I still
loved it. It was in my bloodstream, but I had
other things going on as well. It wasn't my
main focus. And I should have really main focused
that. Cause me and him could have went real
far, but you know, things happen for a reason.
know, and- when you say we could have went far,
are you talking about Teddy Bear? Yeah, me
and Corey. Yeah, me and Corey, that's my man.
bone, you know, day one sandbox. You know,
we've been doing music since day one, you know,
and his beats have always fit the type of rapper
I was, an MC. I'm not, I'm not going to talk
about hustling and selling drugs on the block.
I have done it, you know, at a minimal, but
that wasn't what my life was based around.
I didn't come up in the street hard. It wasn't
like that. I had a good family. You know, they
made good paper. You know, I went to good schools.
I dressed decent. You know, my life was decent,
you know, good. I don't have that struggle,
but you know, I still had the urge to write.
So my music came from a different place. It
wasn't as hard as some of the stuff that I
listened to that I love. You know, I didn't
have that perspective from them. You know what
I'm saying? So yeah, me and him was doing music.
We still doing music to this day. I mean, I've
been going, I left New York for 15 years and
went to Florida because I went through a period,
a stage, I say, after my divorce. So I was,
I had to get out of here because I would have
killed somebody, respectfully speaking. I'm
not on some promoting it, you know, that's
where my mind was at at the time. But he and
I always connected because he knows what I
like as far as what I like to write to. I'm
actually writing to something now so we can
do it 2026 style because I had to make this
point in your podcast without being too long
winded. is that all these genres, people can
make music up until they 60s and 70s and 80s,
but apparently with hip hop, we have to stop
when we're 30 because we don't feel it no more.
I say personally, that's bullshit because if
you love the music and you have the urge and
the thoughts and the concepts, make music until
you're 60, 70, 80, if you're feeling it. Now,
if you've lost that ass, then bow on me. Put
the pen down. You know what I mean? I feel
there's no age on music. It's about... whose
hearts and spirits you catch when you make
that song. And if you're a real artist, you
just do it for the love, for the love. Cause
I've not, I have not been rich most of my life.
So I'm, I'm okay with that right now. So I'm
not looking for riches. You know what mean?
Of course I would love to hit the lotto on
the number here and there. Yeah. Okay. That'd
be a little nice though. Six figures here and
there. That, you know, to add the little rainy
day from the pillow, but you know, things like
that don't always happen. I'm okay with my life
right now. to this point, as far as certain
things are concerned. I mean, so it's not about
the money. It's about the love. And we still
make music together. You know, we just have
never pushed it to the limit that I think we
should have and could have. But you know, that's
just my personal opinion. But I'm always going
to do music. Music is how I release myself.
I release myself by working out, playing sports,
getting on my PS, going to the gum rigs with
my boys and doing music. That's how I release
and go to the beach. Yeah. You heard? and grounding,
yes. Those are important. Sean, Cory Johnson,
if you are listening, you need to be on my show.
You should have been on already. Listen, we
just had our birthdays a couple of weeks ago.
We all went out to dinner. Yeah, that's my
man, 50 Grand. We've had some issues throughout
our lifetime, but he's always been a friend.
He understands my erratic ways and he's been
patient with me, should I say. And I appreciate
God and I love him. You know, that's my man,
50 Grand. I will tell him immediately that
you need to get him on this podcast as well.
Yes. Cause of timing, he hasn't been able to
be on, but I just wanted to, since we brought
him up, I wanted him to hear my voice and be
like, yo, I ain't forget you. Cause he's been
there. It's a new year and he's been there
for me a few times that I can't even, I don't
even know how I would ever thank him. Very
talented. Yes. He's in the videography as well
and a very, very talented producer. Yes. I
agree. And he's got his own little line now,
his clothing line. I wish I had it. It's Choco
Oso. Look it up online. Yeah, he's got his own
clothing brand he's bringing out right now.
It's a little slow, be patient with him, but
it's quality stuff. And yeah, yeah. Cop that,
sponsor. Yeah, be trying to do something. Just
look him up on YouTube. can't, I can't plug
the exact website. He can do that when he gets
on, but yeah. Plug him in. He's got, he's got
videos with other artists he work with. Yeah,
very talented dude, yo. Yeah, definitely. Definitely.
He's back in Co-op City. in his mom's spot now.
Definitely. Good. Oh my gosh. That's wonderful.
Yes. Yeah, I'll message him. I was listening
to some of your songs. Seems like everything
I do is freaking wrong, is an emotion that a
lot of us felt at some point. Songs like that
and spiritual essence and all I got. How did
you form the words to some of those? What
made you form the words? Because they were very
deep and transparent and admitted to some things
that a lot of black men would never admit to.
So it really struck me. And I was just wondering,
were you doing it from a place of just getting
it out to feel better? Were you doing it to
reach other people? What was your motivation?
Well, like I said, one of my things that I
strive for in my life was freedom of expression.
And you can do that through conversation. Also,
you can do it through, you know, writing books
and cooking and whatever. I did it through
music and writing because I'm still, I've been
writing a book for like 15 years now. It's
just, I promised myself I'm gonna get it out
within the next two years. But that's also
another outlet that I chose. The book is actually
deeper, but the songs are a prologue to that.
That's why I said he and I fit because the music
that he gives me fits, each of them fit an
emotional situation that I went through. And
like everybody else, we've all been through
so many things in life, but these certain songs
and beats touch on certain moods and emotions
for me. And those particular songs, know, shit
I've been through and mistakes that I've made.
And I admit to that because a lot of people
don't admit to their shit. I admit to all my
shit. And if you need to call me out on it,
by all means, I apologize for it. I'm not the
same person I was 10, 15, five years ago. Within
a six year span, I lost both my parents, so
I'm a different person. I'm not, some people
still hold me to that person who I was in
1980. Okay, if you want to live there, I can't
rock with you. I'll say hi and bye, but we
can't coexist because you still see me as the
faulty person that I was, you know? And through
my music, I try to bring you in, let you know
where I'm coming from and what I was thinking
at that time and what I did about it. And thank
God it goes with the music. But it's how I
let it go because I have so many, so much guilt
and regrets about shit. But you can't live
in regrets. It's hard. Same time a lot of us
do. Like maybe I shouldn't have said that in
that moment. Or maybe I should have said this
to this person before he left. I can't lie.
We're not robots. Everybody has at least one
regret. You know, some people walk through
life like robots. Nah, I'm okay with everything
I did. Yeah, I'm good. I'm a man. Yeah, okay.
All right. You say all that all you want behind
closed doors though. It is what it is. I don't
care about that. I'm talking about for me right
now. And I don't care who judges me or has
anything to say about that. I'm finally at a
point in my life where don't care if you judge
me. I'm just giving you my truth and just rock
with it. If anything, it'll give you a tool
on how to deal with me going forward because
I'm already told you I don't play when it comes
to certain things. So now if you say you heard
what I wrote a uh song or whatever, and you
still try to play with me, then we're going
to have a problem. But it's not all about that
though. That's just the worst case scenario.
Cause I don't have those types of experiences
anymore. All my shit is peaceful and positive
going forward. You know what I mean? But the
music helps me let it go because I'm an emotional
hoarder and that's not good. It's been turmoil
on me my whole life and it's held me back. I
can admit that because I didn't, held onto
the fact that I messed up my marriage for years
after we got divorced. She was already remarried.
She had already forgiven me. She said she forgave,
but she had to say it again for me to let it
go. Cause I held onto so much guilt for messing
that up. That was a blessed agreement that
I messed up, that I made a promise on that I
didn't keep true to. And that bothered me for
a while, you know? And the only way I let that
go is through my music. The things that have
hurt me the most, I let go through my music.
And that's my expression. The music. That's
why I say, about to do this new music. I gotta
let some more things go. Cause I feel like
I'm holding on to my parents and they're at
peace now and I'm still sitting here. I'm it,
I need to let shit go. You know, but it's easier
said than done. But I'm working on it.
It sounds like you've grown a lot and conquered
some demons and there's so many of us that
haven't because they lack accountability. You
know, you're holding the part that you played
and how your life evolved and that's a beautiful
thing. It sounds like you're doing good. You
have to. I mean, I'm not going to be long-winded
about it, but my job forced me to go into therapy,
which wound up helping me. So I advocate therapy.
It's not for everybody, but for me. It helped
me get over a particular hump that I needed
to in order to progress. And that's all I'm
gonna say about it, because I'm not gonna sit
here and preach about therapy, but it works.
I know it works. And I'm proud of you. I'm proud
of you. And I'm sending you big hugs right
now. What are some of your favorite moments
in life? Favorite moments in life? I'll start
from childhood and grow up. I would say literally
being good at it and being in the paper every
weekend from doing my thing with the Astros
and Mr. Lumen. Yeah, and then I would... And
then I'll go from maybe after that, this is
the birth of my child, the friends that I made
along the way, you know, it's just the proudest
moments, just graduating boot camp in the military,
because I didn't think I was going to make it
at some point, you know, because I was being
targeted because I was from New York and they
figured they had to break me even more. So
they came at me extra hard, you know, thinking
they was going to break me, but they didn't.
And to see my parents come up on graduation
and I had dropped my 80 pounds and I was chiseled
and I made it. It's just that's, know, and like
I said, getting married, the birth of my daughter,
you know, it's just those things, just the little
things in life, you know, that we take for
granted that just go by so quick because if
you sit back and look at it now, all those
things happened years ago, at least 15, 20 years
ago. Exactly. And some people can't get over
things and it's sad. Yeah, it is sad. And I've
seen a lot of people that dwell in that. they
dwell in the pain or the circumstances that
happened to them. And I understand it's easy
to get caught up in. And I dwelled as well,
but to a point. I dwelled, but I didn't let
it anchor me. You know, so I dwelled, but it
floated with me. Some people, dwell on it and
they get anchored in the same place. You see
what I'm saying? Yeah. Yeah, but as far as
best experiences, that's what it is. I had a
good life growing up in Co-op City, meeting
the people that I've met, then going to college,
the military, being out there, being in the
street. but a small amount of time that I was.
I needed that education as well. You know,
the people that I bumped into, I think there
was like design. I bumped into all genres of
people that I just happened to meet at that
time. And the majority of them showed me love
because of who I was as a genuine person. And
I take all that in, you know, it was, I've
rarely had negative experiences. Now I've had
them, but the good outweighs the bad always.
Yeah, thank God the people that I've bumped
into is more positive than negative. It's
a beautiful thing and these people have taught
me things, but that's because of the person
that I am. You ever meet somebody one day and
you're like in not such a good mood and you
meet that person and out there in whatever type
of mood and you guys develop a relationship
based on who you people were at that moment.
She caught you at a crazy time, but it didn't
last because it was just in that moment. You
know, it's just, it's one of those circumstances.
It's life. know? Yeah. What is something you
wish you could redo? Are you just so evolved
now? It didn't even matter. No, matters. I wish
I could redo how I handle things when my ex-wife
and I got divorced as far as with my child because
I'm still trying to rectify that to this day.
I stepped away because I let ego play a part
in a lot and I shouldn't have, but I wasn't
mature enough to realize that and it winds up
causing a rift between my daughter and myself
because I stepped away completely because of
my ego. Because I'm like, yeah, she's good.
She don't need me. And myself, I called myself
trying to get myself together, but so much
time had elapsed. And that time, it goes by
so fast. And now I lost that time. And in that
time, other things have occurred. Relationship
and bonds have occurred. Yeah. And they say,
they out of sight out of mind. So there's some
things that, you you do based on ego that will
screw you down the line. And I tell people now,
let the ego go, you when it comes to family.
So I would rewind that and handle that situation
completely different. I wouldn't leave and
go to Florida. I wouldn't run away as they say
I did. I would stay here and deal with it and
try to rectify the situation as best I could
because my daughter and I are not close right
now because of my indiscretions and I regret
that every day. But I'm still here to work
on it. And know, God got me here another day
and I'm gonna do the best that I can. to work
on it. If she sees the need, or should I say,
can have forgiveness in her heart for me,
then by all means. But if not, I can say I tried.
I love her regardless. And I want to have a
bond with my granddaughter as well, who's new
here. Yeah. Congratulations. Thank you. That's
my main focus in life right now. I don't care
about anything else, except for being financially
secure, which I haven't been, and bonding with
my daughter and granddaughter. That's it. And
possibly, maybe, dipping my foot into this film
thing so we can have some generational wealth.
Maybe the music, the film or something to pop
off so I can take care of me and mine and all
those in my 360. And this is when I'll add that
I got you on the film thing. Cause ultimately
my big plan through my t-shirt company Sick
Like Minds and Gen X gonna give it to you,
I'm producing movies. So I'll find a spot for
you. I'm here. Yeah, yeah, for sure. I got
you. And I know you talented so that's not ever
gonna be an issue. I do want to also add to
those listening out there that kids need their
parents. Swallow your pride, swallow your ego.
Please, please don't do what I like a parent's
love, so just remember that and listen to Rodney's
advice. What is something common from back
in the day that we rarely see now? The whole
concept of taking a village to raise a child.
Preach, bro, preach. Yeah, don't, it's just
like, we don't, I know these young ones are,
seem like they're wild and misdirected now
and they doing a lot of stuff we don't understand,
but that's the same thing it was with our parents.
You know, they don't, they didn't understand
hip hop. The baggy clothes we were wearing
at the time, the styles that we had, you know,
they didn't different, the language we were
using. I mean, I get both perspectives, you
know, it's hard to understand stuff with, at
the time, as in a. grown adult you look at as
being ignorant, but it's not, it's just evolution.
You know, but we still gotta take care of each
other, you know, because there's some kids
that don't have direction. Yeah. Now I know
some of them, if you tell some of these young
ones something, they will come back very disrespectful,
but that's when the, you know, the adulthood
comes in and the patience. You can overlook
ignorance, can you? You know, and if you can't,
don't even engage at all, you know, but yeah,
I think just we all need to stick together
and look out for one another, any other. racist
doing it while we can't do it. When are we
going to get that easy concept together? Like,
Jesus, like we get everything else together.
We be for a good 20 minutes when they kill one
of us as some bodega or in our residence or
in a car. Yeah, we band together for 20 minutes
strong then, after an hour we'll be like, oh,
okay. Yeah. We going on vacation, baby. Yeah.
You know, so it's like that, you know, come
on, let's get it together. Can we at least get
that down pat? Let's take care of one another
first. And see if that had that, that sprouts
to some new roots from some new tree that we
can all get together and feed from rather than
these old trees that are dying, you know, that
no one's paying attention to. And I'm not, like
I said, I'm not here to be preachy about anything,
but I just feel we need to get it together across
the board. The concept of racism shouldn't
even exist anymore. We all on the same damn
planet trying to get the same shit. mean, okay,
you look different than me. That's fine. Be
different, but don't. feel different. We're
still here together. Like, motherfucker, you
on the train with me. Like, for real, like,
come on. But you know, that's a whole other
subject. You said a mouthful and all of it
was truth. And I really appreciate it. Do you
have some favorite quotes that you live by?
The main quote I go by is to each his own. Like,
I can go to your house and I'm going do something
light because you know, some touchy people out
there. I go to your house and you don't have
the air conditioning on. And it's in the middle
of July. And that's okay because you like natural
air. You like the heat. You like the humidity.
And let's just say the air you live in, you
get fresh air and a fresh breeze. And you just
love that. But I'm an air conditioned dude.
I'm not going to judge you. You know, I'm just
going to say, I ain't going over there too
much anymore. But I ain't going to hate you.
That crazy MFA don't turn on no AC. wrong with
her. I'm not going to say that. I'm going to
normal say to each his own. Yeah. That's it.
I can't judge you for anything you do. Now there's
certain levels where that doesn't apply, you
know, where it comes on some criminal shit.
It's not to each his own. No, you in the field
on your own, you need to be executed, you know,
but that's the whole level level we should
even be thinking about. When it comes to general
positive life to each his own. If you like
apples, I like oranges by all means. All right.
You like Nikes. I like Reeboks. Go ahead girl,
rock the Reeboks. I like Johnny Walker Red.
You like Jim Beam, all right, you bring your
bottle when you come over, because you don't,
you don't, you ain't get none of my shit. know
what All right, that's it. It's along the lines
of we can agree to disagree. Exactly. We're
adults. You ain't paying no bills over here,
so what you like don't move me. I still love
you. I don't care what you like. I like what
I like, you like what you like. End of story.
So to each his own. That's it. That's a good
one. What is something from your childhood
you keep on your radar? And that could be...
a social movement, whatever. Racism. Because
I'm like, damn, when's this shit gonna end?
When is it gonna end? Is it gonna end? Before
the planet ends? And the planet ain't going
nowhere. I don't have faith it don't end before
I leave this earth. You know? And that's sad,
but I don't foresee it. I don't think it is.
I don't think we're strong enough as a nation,
a universe, because we all have our preconceived
notions and qualms about us. Yeah, there's a
good amount of people that want it to happen.
Yeah, but it don't. Like, I dated somebody white,
a white girl for a couple of years, and I got
mad hate from the sisters. And I'm like, yo,
you wasn't feeling me at the time. You see
it? She was. And you know, I'm like, I don't
give a fuck about the color huskin'. Now,
if she's racist, different. But if me and her
enjoy the same shit, we're from two different
parts of the um United States, but she know
who... Grand Poobah is, she know who Mike Geronimo
is, she know, you know, somebody like that.
She's from the Midwest and she knows that.
Then we be bonding on music alone. Let us have
this, you know, but that's not the world we
live in. And I've done it to a couple of sisters
in the street, like, what the hell are you
doing with this white, you crazy in front of
me? No, but I had no right to, but it was just
in that second, I was wrong. I had my moments,
so we all had. You know, it's just, it is what
it is, you know? We just gotta get past it and
just let everybody be. I like how you touched
upon the music because music unites people.
It if more people just gotta realize that we
use different analogies to talk to one another.
So really there's logic and reason in music.
You just gotta listen as opposed to who's saying
what being said. Just listen to the words.
That touches. upon me really agreeing with what
you're saying because not the shit off. Exactly.
None of us are getting out of here alive. Exactly.
Come on now. When I went to, when I used to
go visit my dad in Calvary, there were white
people dying in there, black people, Spanish,
Oriental. And it was no difference at that time.
No one cared that they were next door to white
person. or black person. All they were trying
to do was enjoy these last moments on earth
as much as they could. And that didn't matter.
It should never matter. But it does, unfortunately.
But when are we going to break the cycle? When?
people that made this shit up are dead. They're
gone. Why are we still following their shit?
Please. Because if they got the grandkids,
like, if you raised in it, then it ain't going
nowhere. And some of them are still alive.
Because Ruby Bridges is still here. You know
what I mean? So it really wasn't that long
ago, as long ago as it seems. It's just crazy.
Racism is crazy. But I don't, you know, this
is not what this show is about, but. No, no,
no, I get it. I get it. No, and I'm not knocking
you bringing it up because it's a very valid
point and a lot of us are over it. Wanna shout
out anybody in the community making a change?
To be honest with you, my life recently has
just been work home, work home. So I'm not really
up to date on what. who's doing what in the
community. I'm gonna say I don't agree with
the mayor, don't like the president, okay?
I'm gonna leave it at that. But like I said,
because my world is work home, the only person
I see really doing something is my boy Tramell
Thompson right now. And he's doing something
for the people that I work with in my organization.
That's the only thing I'm kind of really paying
attention to and I don't wanna be closed minded
as far as politics and what's going on in the
community. But... I don't have time for that
now. My thing is work, sleep, work, sleep,
work, sleep, work, sleep. So I'm in that groove.
So the rest of the world, I'm not concerned
with unless there's some stuff going on like
in Iran right now, but we're not going to get
into politics and all that. I keep abreast of
what's going on, but right now it doesn't phase
me as opposed to directly. So directly, Tramell,
you're doing your thing. Keep it up at progressive
action. Do your thing. You're fighting for the
rights of the city workers, mostly trained.
But buses is filtered in there as well. This
fight for the rights, because we are getting
abused under this umbrella. Shout out to him.
And is that, is he part of the union? What
does he work for? Yes, he is a, he's a vice
president of the TWU union and he is fighting
for, you know, our basic rights, you know, under
the contract and just period because we, we
run the city. We, we get everybody to work,
but yet we're abused. We're overlooked. You
know, they spend money on dumb shit and it's
take care of the safety of the people that
work for your company first. We are the blood,
sweat and tears. It's bad enough. We're away
from our family and friends enough as it is,
but then we got to deal with the crap we have
to deal with from the public. Then we got to
deal with the crap we got to deal with from
the company at the end of the day. It's like
three strikes and you can't win. And there's
for some of us, we go home and our homes are
not peaceful. So come on now that's four strikes.
Now that's not a positive conducive equation
to being healthy, right? So that's not good.
Yeah. So let's knock some of those out, get
some positives going up in there and let's
make it happen. Let's stick together. Across
the board. stick together. You hear? Stick
together. Next question. Have you heard about
the reunion, the Truman High School Co-Op City
reunion for the eighties? I have heard about
it, but I probably won't be attending. But
I have heard about it. But if my boys are like,
yo, we're going to go. and we go with a group
and I go with them, I'll probably go. But if
it's not one of them things, I probably won't
go. I got my set group of people that I rock
with. I still keep in contact with them through
social media. So I don't need to see them. I
would like to see them in person, but not in
that particular experience because it's a whole
bunch of other people I don't want to see.
So I wouldn't probably put myself in that situation,
but I could hear my friends and my family saying,
step outside the box. Maybe you need to go to
something like that and see some people. Hey,
you never know. You may connect and find your
wife there. Nah, I know. I And I was gonna
say, what you mean? Do you know the networking
possibilities? You know what I'm saying? I
know, I know. cause there's a lot of us out
there still working to get our dreams created
and manifested. So I think you should go. I
probably would. Like I said, if my boys were
on the road, I'm not gonna roll dolo. Even though
I roll dolo to a lot of stuff. This song, actually
you know what? I may turn the... turn the dial
and roll dolo to a situation like that and
try to keep an open mind in the process because
that may, they say you start to step outside
the box in order to grow. And I'm trying to
grow right now. So that might actually be the
perfect, you know, situation for me to do that.
We'll see. It depends on how I'm feeling at
the moment. Cause I'm like, I'm like a sundial.
My goodness. You won't even be dolo cause I'm
a be there. You know what I gotta find you first
with that whole big ass crowd. Stop it. I
shine in case you didn't know, okay? It ain't
gonna be hard. All right, okay. So. All right,
so we'll see you there then. We'll see. Well,
I would like you to be there. All right, listen,
listen, you told, because I know Cory, you told
Cory he gonna go, so if Cory go, I might slide
with him to the event. I tell you. I think it's
in section two in the community center, so
Cory will be there. I'll make sure Cory's there
too. When is it actually? So put it out there.
is for everyone listening or who did not know,
let me pull this up. There is a Truman High
School Co-op City 1980s reunion. It is Friday,
August 7th from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. And there's
a Facebook group for it. So if anybody has any
questions, I know that Cynthia Fuentes is a
part of it again. There's a group of them who
organize it. There's a few organizers, so.
There's also Gloria Moreno. She is, I think,
the key organizer, but there's a few people.
Her brother, well, not her brother, but Cynthia's
brother is also part of the committee. So yeah,
I think it's gonna be an awesome time. I would
love to see you. I would love to see a whole
bunch of people. So everybody in Earshot knows
about it, and be there at B Square. Yes, everybody
from the old school come out. Tigger, bring
your ass up in here. Don't be bougie. Right,
don't be bougie. Come represent, brother.
So where can people connect with you or see
your content? Oh, my goodness. Musically, I'm
on SoundCloud. But like I said, I'm just...
Let me put this out there, everybody. I lost
my dad last July. My condolences, damn. Yeah,
it hasn't been a year, so I've been in a funk.
I've been in a cloud for a minute, and I'm
trying to get out of it as far as creatively,
because I've really got a lot of stuff I really
want to put out there and try to make happen,
because... The market is so open now with the
internet and everything. You can actually be
your own, you can be your own platform and
it's a beautiful thing. And that's what I'm
trying to step into right now, because that's
why I feel I belong. so it's been a while. I've
been going through some things and so I can't
really tell you that I have platforms. I just
had a couple of videos on YouTube, you know,
with Teddy bear and the music on SoundCloud,
but I'm going to revamp everything and everything's
going to start new, but don't. Don't give me
a time, Dave, because I'm trying to still tap
into my creative side, because I have this severe
block. It's because I'm still dealing with
so many residual feelings, but I'm working through
it. Boxing that shit out like Rocky. And hopefully
real soon, I have all this info for you, because
we'll touch base again. And hopefully by the
time you interview Cory, he'll be able to plug
you with the info. Tell you. I love that. yeah,
because me and him, you know, joining the hit
but still doing different things. That's because
that's family day one and at the end of the
day he's my friend. So he understands me and
he's dealt with me and has been patient with
me and inspires me still to this day. He's
helped me get out the funk a little bit but
it's still within me to be 100 % and that's
what we're working towards right now. Like I
said, just look for me on SoundCloud if you
can. Actu, Cheddy Bear and all that and look
for me on YouTube with the little video snippets.
I promise you I'm gonna give you some more product
coming soon. I'm trying to reignite that creative
side of me because I need to get it out. I just
feel everybody would enjoy it. That's what's
in our genre, what's in our age group, our years
and timeframes. And hopefully people outside
of that group because there's a lot of open-minded
young people out there that feel every ever
and every genre because they're tapped in. So
blessings to y'all as well. And I'm going to
give y'all the best I can going forward. And
peace and love to everybody. If you're going
through something, just... Like I said, I'm
not preachy, but just pray on it and just have
a solid, solid unit around you. That's important
because after I lost my dad, I was about to
call it quits real short because those are the
only people that really know me. To lose them,
it cut me in half, but I made it through because
of the people around me. And I thank y'all
for that. And I'ma show y'all it wasn't in vain
because I got a lot of shit in me I got to
get out that I think. A lot of people would
enjoy it because it's about fun and progression
and opening your mind and expanding it so people
can jump in your world and have a little taste.
You know what mean? Right. And that's what
it is. Like what you're doing, you're touching
so many people and bringing so many people together.
That's the thing that I love. You're mad people
together on your platform that maybe like, oh
shit, I know him. I haven't seen him in a long
time. Yo, tell him I'm what's up or give him
my number. I'm not saying I'm going to call
because I'm still a little sociawkward. I'm
a hit you with the Texas song and we combine
like that, but I don't know how I'm gonna call
you, but I'll be honest, but I'm a reach out.
reach out if you want to build just, might take
a minute. But thank you for putting me on your
platform to express and, and building. You know,
talk. Like I said in the outro for my last
episode, you believed in me and you believed
in this show from day one. I thank you and
I appreciate you. I can't wait to see you.
We need to reach out to Miles too. Miles, Miles
Marshall Lewis. also, you didn't hear, I already
interviewed him. You did? Yeah. Okay, I gotta
go. Yeah. Okay. All Like I said, I've been in
the cloud for a minute trying to shake off
this grief. You dope ass interview. Shout out
to you, Miles, and thank you again. Like, that
interview was fire. So yeah, yeah, for sure.
Yeah. Oh, you're doing big things, then. Yeah.
Yeah. Salute, salute. Thank you, thank you.
So I appreciate you, I love you and... Love
you too, You ever need to talk, you know I got
you. True as well. Like you said, we're gonna
see each other soon. I'ma I'ma come. Since you
gonna be there, I'm coming. All right, good.
And I'ma tell everybody. Everybody, Rodney's
coming. Yes. All right, so I'ma let you go.
You are gonna be the next episode. Okay, I got
you. All right, I will talk to you soon and
I hope you feel better. Thank you, D. Take care
of yourself and be good. Okay, you too. Listen,
thank you very much for being here. So I appreciate
you. I got, listen, if I ever blow, got you.
I'm not one of them people. I got you. You with
me. I'm bringing you with me. You're bringing
you with me. All right. Talk to you soon. Be
safe. at peace. right. Talk to you soon. All
right. Take care. Bye. You too. Bye-bye. It
was so good reconnecting with Rodney Taylor
on this episode of GenX Gon Give It To Ya. He really
put himself out there. showing a vulnerability
I wasn't expecting, but therapy will do that.
Kudos to you, bro. I look forward to some collaborations
in the future. Coming up on the next episode
of Gen X Gon' It To Ya, I don't know how many
times I've seen Grease, but it'll never get
old in my book. Take a stroll with me as we
revisit our favorite characters, Sandy, Danny,
Vizil, Kenicki, Frenchie, Marty, the rest of
the gang and more on the next episode of GenX Gon' Give It To Ya. Thank you for joining
me. Please like, share and subscribe. Later.
Love you!