Up next in 10
Dive deep into the soul-stirring journey of SiR in "SiR's Raw Comeback: From Addiction Hell to Hip-Hop Heaven" 🚀 right here on Sway's Universe. Witness an exclusive and emotional conversation where this hip-hop artist from Inglewood, California, opens up about his battle with addiction, the road to rehab, and how he emerged stronger, ready to take on the music world with his new album. This unprecedented interview sheds light on the darker sides of fame and how Sir turned his life around, making it a must-watch for fans and music enthusiasts alike.
Subscribe now for more candid conversations and unforgettable stories from the heart of hip-hop and beyond. Sway's Universe is your gateway to exclusive interviews that hit hard and reveal the truth. Don't miss out on the rest of our content, where we tackle the most pressing issues in the industry, call out injustices, and celebrate the artists shaping our world.
Follow us on social media and visit Sway’s Universe website for the latest in hip-hop, social change, gospel music, and everything in between. Sir's story is just the beginning. Join us as we explore the power of transformation and redemption in the music industry and beyond. #SwaysUniverse #HipHop #AddictionRecovery #NewAlbumAlert
#Rehab #AddictionTransformation #AddictionRecovery #AddictionDetermination #AddictionSelfgrowth
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - SiR Sobriety Journey
1:10 - Importance of Commitment
3:04 - SiR Sobriety Realization
5:02 - Support from SiR's Wife
7:19 - Sobriety Impact on Music
10:38 - Battling Addiction Insights
13:41 - Understanding Karma
18:53 - SiR Freestyle Session
19:20 - “Again & Again” Discussion
20:27 - Influence of Popularity
22:15 - SiR Final Thoughts
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
First of all, man, I want to welcome our next guest from Englewood, California, TDE, Aficionado
0:06
Yes, sir. He came up here a few years ago, and we got a chance to chop it up and have some really great conversation about his beginnings
0:13
working with Dre and Vidal and all these different folks that we knew, working with Tyrese, who has done a lot since then
0:22
He's here to celebrate the new album. It's called Heavy. It's going to be set to release March 22nd. Yes
0:28
Seven Sundays, November. All these different projects he's done in the past are projects that I listen to genuinely
0:36
Like songs and music I listen to not because I have to. Hey, man, let me just say that
0:40
Like, you've been putting on for me for a long time, bro. And it's always love and nothing but love with you, bro
0:46
Always. You always put on. You are day one. You said Seven Sundays first and foremost
0:52
Most people don't even know that music. That was a different time for me
0:57
Yeah, man, I really appreciate you, bro, for everything you do. For the game in general, but for me, you know what I mean
1:03
It's all. My man, sir, from TDE is here. Yes, sir. Yes, sir
1:09
But we were sitting there playing the Nothing Even Matters live performance song that you did for Genius
1:15
Back in Twitter. You know, Kalani, you pulled that clip? Was that you? Yeah, I did
1:20
He was like, Kalani was like, yo, he got a great piece
1:23
I want to play it, right? You like that version, huh? Yeah, I did. You know what it is, though
1:29
A lot of people don't even know what goes on behind the scenes and how it feels for an artist to hear their mistakes
1:36
That was a rough day for me. I was barely sober, you know what I mean
1:40
Okay, okay. And a lot of people are wondering why it's been such a long time since I released music
1:44
It's because I wasn't able to, you know what I mean? I was going through my challenges with addiction
1:49
you know what I mean? I had a couple of stints in rehab, you know what I mean? And I had to separate myself and, like, really start over
1:54
You know what I mean? Man, I think the last time you seen me, I don't remember where we were, but it was in passing, bro
1:59
And I just wasn't myself. You know what I mean? I don't even know if you noticed, but I think you did, bro
2:05
I did notice. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was, and I've done that in so many spaces
2:10
So the first thing I like to do is just apologize if I made you any kind of uncomfortable because, you know, that kind of stuff
2:17
relationships get ruined without people saying anything. Yes. all the time you know what i mean and um it's just big to to to make sure you own up to who you are at
2:27
all times and i you know at the time i was going through something wasn't talking about it with
2:31
anybody you know what i mean so you know i'm i'm a year and three months over now come on sir is a
2:36
year and three months over brother i'm blessed to be here man man let me say this happy to have you
2:46
You don't have to apologize. I know people go through every day, you know, we have our inconsistencies, right
2:54
But it's important that even with those inconsistencies, we still show up
2:58
We talk about that a lot. You obviously kept showing up where you got to the point where I don't know if you did
3:03
Did you check yourself in or did someone? I did. I did. I know. What was the moment that said, oh, shit, I need to check myself in
3:10
Oh, man. There were a couple moments, actually. I knew before I was even ready to talk to anybody
3:15
I wrote a song about it It's on the album It's called It's the title track Heavy
3:20
Yeah, it's called Heavy And that song in particular It's basically me
3:24
Crying out for help You know what I mean I played it for people And they really didn't even get it
3:29
When I played it for them That I was really talking about myself And talking about what I was going through At the moment
3:33
And it just says I'll give you a little bit of it Please Get up on that mic though, man
3:39
You're gonna do it I want you to like this This is the hook It says
3:42
I've been killing myself softly, waking up remembering. I'm losing sleep over dreams that were coming true
3:54
Oh, I've been killing myself softly, lost my mind completely. I really hope I can find my way back to you
4:06
And it's just a conversation on, like, being lost. You know what I mean
4:10
And then a lot of addicts, the first issue that I found with my addiction
4:15
is that I don't know how to communicate it to anybody else. So the first thing I had to do was tell my wife
4:20
How did that go? How did you do it? You know what's funny? A guy kind of did it for me
4:25
He forced my hand. I had a surgery that I had to go under anesthesia for
4:30
and they had to ask me what I had done, like what drugs had you been on in the last 72 hours
4:36
I had to write down my DOC. I don't say my DOC. I'm not going to say it online
4:40
Okay. Because I don't give it power like that. But I had to write it down, and the doctor saw it and was like
4:47
Oh, so you did this and this and this yesterday, huh? And my wife was sitting right next to me, and I was like, yes
4:56
And she found out that way. So after I woke up from surgery, that was the first conversation I had to have
5:00
This was 2021. Wow. And we checked in probably like four days after that, you know
5:07
And that was the beginning of the journey, man. And, you know, applause for your wife
5:12
I remember when she she quit her job back in the day. She quit her job. She believed in you so much
5:19
Listen, the vows pull up on you quick. No, for sure. Yeah. You know, God is good to bless me with a woman like that
5:24
So early on, you know, I mean, we've been together 20 years. We've been married for 15. So out of out of out of all the people that I could have had around when I was going through my words she was supposed to be there and just taught me a lot about grace and how we all deserve a deserve a little grace sometimes you know what i mean and did you feel relieved though like after the doctor exposed it
5:45
and you had to deal with it yeah for sure dang yeah i knew you knew yeah man and and and it it
5:52
was because i was the reason i didn't talk about it was because i was so afraid of what people
5:55
thought but these are people that love me you know what i mean so it doesn't matter what they
6:01
really think about me, it's all about the next step. You know what I mean? And the only way to get to the next step
6:08
is to admit that you have a problem. How did your siblings..
6:11
You come from a very popular family. I did a great job of
6:18
covering it up, man. They couldn't tell. High-functioning. Super high-functioning. Still singing, doing shows
6:26
and showing up. Towards the end of it, I was missing so many things and, like, not showing up
6:35
thinking I showed up, but not really showing up. And that's, like, the times when you'd see me
6:39
You know, I was getting caught. And people, you know, I had a friend of mine. Shout out to Keem, bro
6:44
Every time I seen this dude, he's one of the OGs in TD. Yeah. Every time I seen Keem, he would just look up at me and, like, look at me
6:53
And it just paused. And it was this pause, this eerie pause. And it would make me so uncomfortable
6:58
But he knew that I was faded. He knew something was faded. He knew something was wrong
7:02
Every time. Because he grew up in a household where he'd see it every day as a child
7:07
And it made him so sick to his stomach to see me like that. So now anytime I see Kane, I say, what's up, Kane
7:13
I look in his eye and we look at each other with clear eyes. We smile and we good
7:17
You know what I mean? You let him know you're sober. Yep, let him know I'm sober. And more than anything, I'm sober-minded
7:21
You know what I mean? I think with what we do and the music that I put out
7:28
it's important for me to have a clear mind when I'm singing these songs because there's so much emotion attached
7:32
Yeah, that's what I was wondering. If your approach to music is different, I remember when Wayne was talking about going sober
7:39
and one of the things that he was worried, or fans were worried about, was how this would impact his approach to music
7:45
his style, his delivery. Was that a concern of yours at all
7:50
Yes and no. Once we got to the point where it was time for me
7:54
to start working towards performing again, I felt a lot more confident in sharing the message
7:59
because I was, you know, healthy. You know, being healthy does wonders, man
8:03
You do a lot when you take care of yourself, man. You know, you know
8:08
You get proper rest and everything. Man, it's crazy. One of the things that, you know, I had to suffer through
8:14
is just a lot of weight gain through all of my drug use. You know, I got up to about 250 pounds
8:18
You couldn't recognize me, you know. And over the last two years, I got down to about 185
8:22
You're 185 right now? I'm about 186, 187, something like that. I've been eating good in New York, so I put a couple pounds on
8:28
well yeah now it's a six-pack under this shirt man word okay gold
8:32
see Heather you know circle to the gym too no I love
8:39
thank you for sharing all that because the first thing that came to my mind
8:42
when you said this is about like also that that clear life
8:49
like your appreciation for life you know you look at your spouse
8:53
differently you look at your circle differently how you surround around who you've been surrounding yourself with versus what you want to be around now you know
9:02
everything and then you realize the source from it on it's like god i am not wasting any more time
9:09
no and i got something to live for for sure like i got a three-year-old in my house and she oh man
9:14
through all of it she's been you know just silently suffering let's just call it that
9:23
call it what it is you know what I mean can't communicate learning as she goes watching me
9:28
trying to learn as I go right you know and um yeah you learn to appreciate things differently
9:35
when you've been through what I've been through you know and like uh man I don't take anything
9:39
for granted anymore and especially myself I take care of myself because I I got so many people that
9:44
look up to me I got people that don't know me that look up to me you know what I mean and you
9:49
That's not even talking about my direct family, my nephews and my brothers
9:54
you know what I mean, and my sisters and everybody that I help take care of
9:58
my godchildren, my children. And it makes you really lock in. I just hope people see that when they see me
10:10
that I'm a different type of locked in, and it's going to be a problem if you're trying to come and rock the boat
10:17
You know what I mean? We feel it. Amen. Oh, man, sir, get his man a man, brother
10:22
Welcome back, sir. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You know, this is heavy
10:29
But it's like, it's awakening, it's enlightening. So you have to go heavy to get to the enlightening, right
10:38
And so now, is it heavy? You know, all of this information you're giving now, you're giving up medicine
10:44
Yes. You're giving people medicine, brother, and we're in your corner. And the thing about addiction is once you realize what it is
10:52
you understand that it's an ongoing journey. Right. No, once an addict, always an addict
10:58
I had to learn that the hard way. Now, I say I went to rehab, but I'll be honest with you
11:03
I'll be keeping it all the way frank and beans. I went to rehab three times. Before I figured it out
11:09
Couple of relapses, man. And like I mean like first time I went you know it was a 21 program I got in and got out Oh I good now Two weeks later right back Next time I went five solid months of sobriety I was sober for five months before I had my relapse
11:27
And that is when I learned the harsh lesson of once an addict, always an addict. Yeah
11:31
You know what I mean? Every day you stay sober and every day you conquer your demons is a powerful day
11:37
You know what I mean? And it's one day at a time. That statement, it sucks to hear
11:42
But I should get it tattooed on my forehead. because it controls my life
11:46
I got to make sure I wake up and I do the steps. I got to make sure I wake up and I stay prayed up
11:50
I got to make sure I'm connected. I got to make sure I'm working out
11:54
I got to make sure. Because if I don't, my emotions can sway me in the wrong direction
11:58
and I don't want that. Let's talk about that part because there's a lot of folks
12:03
especially came up through the culture, through the music in recent years
12:06
that have a lot of issues, have been challenges with drugs. and some of the, I don't want to say solution
12:14
but some of the things that you can do is keep a routine, right
12:19
Do you write your routine down? I have, you know what I mean
12:23
When I was trying to figure it out, I was writing it down over and over and over again until we got it down
12:28
Now it's ingrained. So what are some of the things you must do every day
12:32
Oh, man, I got to work out. I wake up every morning at 8.30, I'm trying to get to the gym
12:37
You know what I mean? I have to find new music every day
12:42
So I try to find at least one new song. You know what I mean? And it doesn't matter what genre or anything like that
12:47
Just go exploring Apple Music or go on Spotify. Just try to find something new
12:51
A new vibe. Yeah. You know what I mean? I've been taking my daughter to school
12:56
That's beautiful. Which is a big thing because I don't wake up that early. But no, no, no
13:02
She enjoys it. I noticed that she enjoys seeing Daddy drop her off with her little backpack
13:07
Yeah. She walks up, you know, so she has a good time. So I've been doing that, you know what I mean
13:11
And prayer is huge. Prayer is the biggest thing, you know what I mean? A lot of addicts in the 12-step program, which didn't work for me
13:18
that wasn't my thing, but the program is based around God. And I think that's the part of the program that I pulled
13:24
that was like, oh, this is all I need. I don't need your 12 steps, I just need God
13:28
You know what I mean? So that's my real focus is just staying prayed up, praying with my wife, you know what I mean
13:33
That's beautiful, man. Service here, man. Oh, man, that was crazy. thank you so much sir your words are really helping so many people oh my gosh the impact
13:42
um this single karma with our guy isaiah rashad it makes me wonder was lust would that be a form
13:51
of addiction as well oh yeah just through the lyricism i mean if you really look at all of
13:55
what i've been talking about for the last couple albums you can tell i um and i i say this on on
14:01
record so much like I'm not into the whole sir thing I'll never be it's not who I am as a person
14:08
you know what I mean so you know part of my addiction and my issues with drugs um kind of
14:15
came from the attention I got from being sir and how I you know reacted to that attention the
14:22
decisions I made based on what I thought or who I thought I was supposed to be you know what I mean
14:27
and that like set me back you know a long way so you know these songs and these lyrics are all
14:34
you know based around who i you know a person i didn't want to be you know what i mean and you
14:38
listen to like karma in general you hear what i'm talking about like never been too shy for the limelight right i never really cared much you know and you say you wish you had never bought
14:47
the game your uncle y'all want to hear that story yeah what was the game you said that was a lyric
14:53
I wish I never bought the game or uncle sold. Hey, let's just say I was promiscuous at a young age
15:01
And, you know, like, just the people I looked up to, they were all players and, you know what I mean, like pimps
15:06
And, like, you know, my Uncle Rich was, he's my mother's youngest brother
15:11
and he was the closest thing to a father besides my actual dad. And, like, he's picking up from work, always around him
15:16
always kicking with him. And just, nah, I ain't telling that story
15:21
I should have never bought the game my uncle sold me. It's a little too late to save the old me
15:27
Come on. Yeah, man. Yeah, man. I like that line, too. It's a little too late to save the old me
15:31
Like, yeah, I've been that guy. You know, don't worry about him, man. He's gone
15:36
He's out of here, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. The old me. So how do you let go of that
15:40
Because you have so many female fans. Do you switch up after, like, a show where you're not going to be going to an after party
15:48
Are you not checking your DMs as much? You know, people thinking that I have control over who listens to my music is so wild
15:56
It's so crazy. I just write the music. Having female fans, it isn't a thing that I was like
16:04
these songs are for the females. These are for the ladies. If you really listen, they're not
16:09
They're for everybody, you know what I mean? And I love my female audience, but I don't cater to them
16:13
Right. You know what I mean? I'm just trying to write music that's personal to me. I feel like the more personal I get, the more connected to God I am in my music
16:20
the more it's going to reach other people. You know what I mean? So I never really do the dance
16:25
You know what I mean? I think certain things and certain conversations gravitate
16:31
bring certain people towards me. You know what I mean? And I'm just trying to be me
16:35
That's all I'm trying to do. Nami, how do you avoid the hoes, sir? Oh, that's what I just said
16:41
That five minutes ago. Oh, man. Damn. Oh, man. the hoes
16:45
What the hell? No, but I meant one. Let me be more specific here
16:49
Sway, you want me to freestyle? Can we talk about this? I got a freestyle for you D shut the beat on D Hurry up Hurry up No no no no Come on man That what I talking about son No no you know You got to say that To answer your question I stay prayed up
17:07
You know what I mean? And I keep my circle small as of late
17:10
You know what I mean? And one thing that me and my wife have been doing to build our trust back up
17:15
because, of course, with all that we've been through, trust was broken and it has to be rebuilt
17:21
We talk on the phone all the time. I'm going to walk out of here. I'm going to call her. I'm going to be like, man, how you doing
17:24
doing? She's like, I'm good, man. We just be talking for two hours straight for no reason
17:28
while we drive in transit. We're always on the phone constantly. And, you know
17:32
what I mean? She got open phone privileges. She can go through all my stuff. She can go through your
17:36
phone? I have no choice. I have no choice, Sway. Okay. She's
17:42
got all the answers, Sway. She got all the answers. Let me tell you. No, I don't know
17:47
She got the answers. Yeah, Kelly got all the answers. She got all the answers. Yeah, yeah, yeah
17:50
No, I'm on my mama. No, no, no. I think, shoot, because
17:54
yeah if if i really want to like if i wanted to fix things you know i i had to first and foremost
18:02
totally submit myself to god but then totally resubmit myself to my relationship with my woman
18:06
yeah you know what i mean and uh that doesn't stop it from you know happening like they still come
18:13
they're consistent i'm me i'm just that type of guy not trying to toot my own horn but i you know
18:19
i'm confident i you know what i mean i'm sure of myself i look you in the eye shake your hand
18:24
with firmness. I do things that attract people to me. You know what I mean
18:28
So I definitely would get the attention if I was sir or not. Being sir makes it ten times
18:32
worse. Word. You know what I mean? But you know, I got it under control now
18:36
I can't say that I always did. We're rooting for you. I love this conversation
18:40
sir, man. This is amazing right now. Hey, you just became Kelly's
18:46
best friend. Let me tell you that. She's going to like, yeah. What's up, Kelly
18:49
Hey, Kel. What up, Kelly? Hey, man, can we do a little Freestyle Vamping
18:56
Maybe one of the songs Can you sing Can you sing a verse Of one of the songs
19:00
That we haven't heard yet Give me a beat Give me a beat Let me come up with this
19:04
Sir is here man Come on This is beautiful Heavy is the name of the album March 22nd T.D.E
19:09
Salute to Punch Salute to all of you No Man No No
19:14
I better know what this is Sway in the morning Hey Hey Hey
19:21
I'm on the lower east side Smoking Cali weed I brought inside my carry-on
19:26
Shall I carry on? The lights are barely on I try to stay awake for the late night show
19:31
You know I love me some Jimmy Fallon Tree I do blow You can see the smoke roll off my talons
19:36
Trying to find balance between my good and my awful habits I used to chase the white rabbit through the matrix
19:41
Until Neo couldn't heal A young sur-sur had had it Hey, where I've been and where I'm going
19:46
And I can't go back Don't come around if you don't be around I've been on that
19:50
But it don't mean that I won't stumble down memory lane For a little December pain
19:55
Cause nothing really hits the same Again and again Yeah, I thought about you
20:00
Again and again Yeah, yeah, yeah We used to be friends Yeah, I thought about you
20:06
Again and again Hey! I like that! Fire! Hey, sir, thank you, man. Can I get a feature
20:16
Hey, come on, man. Hey, I'll put you on the track, bro. I'll put you on the track, bro. Come on. Yo, you set me up for that
20:21
He looked at me, cued me. He was about to drop again. I said, again and again
20:26
Yeah. Yo, brother, I'm going to tell you something, man. This is when it gets beyond the game
20:33
You know what I mean? This is beyond the rap, the music, the singing
20:37
This is beyond the celebrity. This is inhumanity. This is humanity. This is reality
20:43
This is divinity. You coming up here sharing this story. This is godly what you're doing right now
20:49
You do have that. People do gravitate towards you. That is a lot of power
20:53
It is difficult to handle. It's not meant for human beings to be so popular
21:00
Right? It's hard to, if you get in these positions, it's hard to process that on a day-to-day
21:06
It's a mind . Right? And sometimes you feel, I got to grab something to make my mind feel different
21:13
You know, shaking. You think it's escapism, but you're really digging yourself in deeper and deeper holes
21:20
That's what it's designed to do. It fools you, right? Right. I'm speaking from experience
21:25
Yeah. Okay? I see it. Okay? And so I'm proud of you. I'm very proud of you that you are here
21:31
and we're going to be here with you every step of the way. It's a day-to-day process, but what you're doing with it is powerful
21:37
We get in front of these mics every day, and the kind of discourse we have as a culture, sometimes it's short
21:45
You know what I mean? It's not reaching its full potential. Most times. It's a lot of power in this and that camera
21:51
What you want to do with it. I see what you're doing with it
21:54
Salute to you. I commend you. Your music is awesome. No Evil is an incredible song
22:00
Karma is an incredible song. I can't wait to see Heavy. I can't wait to see the video
22:05
If you need any extras and videos, Heather, Tracey, and I are available
22:09
I don't know if y'all have the album already, but we're going to leave it with y'all. So y'all can do it today
22:13
Yeah, yeah, yeah. For sure. For sure. For sure. Anything you want to say in past? I love you, Sway
22:17
I love you, too, sir. I love you, Sway. I love you, too, man
22:21
I love you, too, man. I love you, too. Yes. Okay. That's it, bro
22:26
Send my love to all the family members. I will. You already know, man. Especially the sisters, man
22:29
They don't get enough life. That's right. That's right. Incredible, all right? Yes, sir. Hey, y'all, y'all give it up for sir one time. Absolutely
#Arts & Entertainment