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Tupac’s mentor Leila Steinberg shares transformative life lessons and unveils the impactful work behind AIM for the Heart on this powerful episode of Sway In The Morning. From guiding Tupac Shakur through her microphone sessions to empowering youth and incarcerated individuals, Leila’s programs have shaped lives and sparked monumental change. This exclusive interview dives into her journey, collaborations with hip-hop icons, and her relentless mission to bring emotional literacy to communities in need. Featuring inspiring stories, powerful performances, and appearances by D Nice, Tisha Campbell, Exhibit, and more, this episode is a must-watch for fans of hip-hop, social change, and creative storytelling. Don’t miss this heartfelt discussion that goes beyond music to tackle identity, healing, and building empathy. Subscribe now for more exclusive interviews, and be sure to support AIM for the Heart today!
#socialimpact #musictherapy #calismooth #musiceducation #artseducation
#leilasteinberg #arttherapy #leilasteinberg #artsprogram #lifelessons
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Leila Steinberg on Emotional Education
05:24 - Leila Steinberg on Financial Education
06:06 - Supporting Aim For The Heart
07:38 - Xzibit Joins The Cypher
09:49 - Introducing Milo Manheim
10:39 - Milo Just Said
14:09 - Meet Ezekiel Pacheco
16:25 - TK from Maryland
17:30 - Dee Walls from Detroit
19:11 - Last Call Before Cali Smoov
20:30 - Kelly Smooth on Foster Care Experience
23:18 - Coach Jackson on AIM Program Experience
28:03 - Last Minute Guest: Cali Smoov
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
That voice right there was a sister of mine that I met in Northern California, the Bay Area, um through her microphone
0:06
sessions program, TMS, and we would go to different various places. I love
0:11
repeating this story, including school campuses, prison yards, uh to really uplift people
0:18
and offer them opportunity to express themselves and and be able to reflect through her program, the microphone
0:24
sessions. Um, a lot of people know her for managing Tupac Shakur, who actually went through that same uh, program when
0:30
she met when she met him. She's a manager, she's a businesswoman, she's an educator. Um, she she manages Earl
0:37
Sweatshirt from the one and only Eye Future Crew. A lot of people don't know she started off too as a dancer, as a
0:44
singer. She's been on the stage with many people including Santana, Bo Ditley, the Neville Brothers, the
0:49
Spinners, Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff. Uh, she did marketing for Death Jam,
0:55
Tommy Boy, Innercope, Sony, Atlantic Records, and Relativity. This is my sister, the founder of Aim for the
1:01
Heart. Give it up for the one and only Laya Steinberg is back.
1:10
Got to celebrate. Thank you, Sway. Yo, get up on that mic, Ila. You know what it is. Yeah, I can hear you. You
1:17
are you tired from dancing to Dic's mix? Oh my god, that was so special. Thank
1:22
you guys and thank you for having me. I have always, you know, we we really have to celebrate
1:29
who Sway is. I probably would not have spent all the years doing what I do had
1:35
it not been for SU and the people who believed in the work. And I usually come
1:41
to the show to promote other people. And I just felt like our work is so
1:47
important and I'm not running it anymore. For the last two years, Stu has been the executive director of
1:53
aimfortheheart.org. He is young and black and graduated law school at the age of 21 at USC. Oh.
2:01
Um the youngsters have kind of taken over. Wa who I actually I I wanted to be
2:07
here with Wa to promote her book and we haven't done that yet but bless the blood is so important and I'm bringing
2:14
this up because the things that have sprouted and been incubated in this space in 35 years are major. But one of
2:22
the reasons I started was I'm an LA kid. I'm I was born I'm from my first place I
2:30
ever lived was 64th in Vermont. Most people don't know my mom came from Mexico as a kid. So, I was identity
2:38
challenged. I grew up in a a black community. I learned and I'm so thankful
2:43
and blessed for the education I got. And my dad, who was a juvenile offender in
2:48
this city, went from offending to public defending to eventually becoming a
2:54
judge. And so, we can't grow without addressing the issues of race and and
3:00
what's happened in this country. So, for 35 years, I've just been on a a mission
3:06
to examine why we're all messed up. And we're all emotionally illiterate until
3:11
we decide to become literate. And so, the core of our work is that we get
3:16
emotionally educated and we begin to develop empathy and then we get financially educated. So, aim
3:22
fortheheart.org. Um and and really quickly before I introduce the crew, for years we um had
3:30
Michael Green who has a talent agency, Green Artist. He would volunteer um and
3:35
do the acting segment of the workshops and Omari Hardwick, Mom McCrae, many
3:41
people came out of they got their start out of the mic sessions and Michael Green would develop the acting talent.
3:48
So one of the reasons I wanted to come today was it doesn't cost. You all get to come for free. you get to come to the
3:54
mic sessions and the acting, but you have to give back. And so that's how I've run the program. All these amazing
4:00
artists and some you'll meet today. They got to get the education for free, but that's how we work in the schools
4:07
and the prisons. They volunteer. So, I'm on here today asking for every one of you. I don't care if it's a dollar. Go
4:14
to aimfortheheart.org. Send in any donation at all because that's how we run our programs. and
4:20
support the artists you see today and and show us some love because the work matters and we have to start with the
4:26
heart. Mine follows the heart. You get somebody's heart, you can take them anywhere. So I'm I came here for the
4:32
first time to ask for something for the work that I've been part of for God. I'm 64. It's our birthday. JP
4:39
and and my birthday today. No, but it's this week. Next week his is tomorrow. So
4:45
I was like I don't I I have an amazing family. My kids are amazing. Ira, thank you, Ira,
4:52
for holding me down because this business that we have, we iconize
4:58
artists and we iconize athletes and we have to stop that. We have to take people off the pedestal. We have to
5:03
acknowledge our history and our mistakes and do it different. So, I'm an elder
5:09
now, be 64, and I'm still active and and all of our voices matter. So, with that
5:14
said, I would like to introduce our young Hold on. Let's give you a round of applause, man. You don't go. Hold on,
5:20
man. You just ran down in there, man. Come on, Laya Steinberg. The oracle. Yeah. Mhm.
5:25
I'm talking fast cuz I just want to get it in. We got it. You got time. I was going to be here Friday with Juel
5:31
and then Torch said we got to change the day. But we got teams here. So, it doesn't matter what day, we got artists
5:38
and activists that'll show up and do the work. If you anybody listening, if you need us at your high school, your junior
5:44
high, your senior, whatever, we come because we're a good 60 deep now. And
5:50
you'll meet a few of the artists today who came last minute, didn't even know they were coming and
5:55
said yes. And I have to surprise them because they get to come see Sway. Wow. And then now they got D. Nice and
6:02
Tisha Campbell and Heather B. Real quick, I want to do this cuz um
6:07
aim for the heart. you know, we have a way of really appealing to our citizenship, right, Heather B? Uh, and
6:14
they step up and they come out and they support and to the citizens. I want to say this is one of those things, your
6:19
selflessness, uh, will really benefit a whole lot of people. Uh, if you could
6:24
show some some any type of charity or generosity or support for aim for the heart. And that's aim the number four,
6:32
the heart. The way it's spelled um the way it sounds, this is the way it's spelled, aim for the heart uh.org. or
6:38
this is one of those organizations, citizens, when people call our show and we and we we do the vetting and we let
6:44
make sure that it's legitimate, the whole nine. This is one of those organizations that you can send your money to and you know that is being put
6:51
to great use. Um there's no embezzlement. There's no I've never taken a salary. I don't get no money from it in case y'all don't
6:58
know. It's public record. So, um I I just I'm the founder and I'm going
7:04
to stay on the board and keep doing the work. And you can sign up for classes. Go to the website. You can volunteer. We
7:10
need you. So Leila Sway, just for clarity purposes, is AIM the number four? Yes. Okay. Aim the number four. The heart.
7:17
Okay. Aim for the heart. What do you think? What do y'all think about this, dude? What do y'all think? I already pulled her to the side and was
7:23
like, how can I how can I be of service? Because I love these types of programs.
7:28
You actually know where the money is going. You see where the money is going. It's being invested in our kids. So, I
7:36
really want to be a part of it. We're going to talk after this. You got you're going to get my number cuz I want you
7:42
whatever I can do. Whatever I can do, whether it's speaking, teaching, whatever it is, just hanging out with
7:48
the kids. That's what I want to do. I want to be a part of it. Well, hold up. Exhibit just walked in the room.
7:53
Exhibit just walks in like it's just regular.
7:59
I just walked in like Oh, perfect timing. Hey. Hey, exhibit.
8:06
There's a lot going on, man. I told him I told him Cali Smooth was going to rap today, so Exhibit came up
8:11
here. So beautiful today. I was on tour on the same tour as exhibit like 30 years ago.
8:18
That's crazy. Wow. This is I know. Dice is like, what kind of whirlwind mall am I in right now?
8:24
It's like a hip-hop mall of hip hop.
8:30
Yo, X to the Z. Yo yo yo yo yo yo, let me say something. I was uh I was driving
8:36
in and I heard the the energy coming off this room. Wow. I missed the dance party. I I still got
8:43
a mean. Yeah, I I still got a mean running man. You know what I'm saying?
8:48
So, I heard the energy coming out of this room. Dice teacher, you guys are
8:53
Yo, come on. I love y'all, man. You know what I'm saying? I felt it, man. Good morning. Good morning. Hey yo. Hey yo, Sway. Yo, my son was
9:02
named because of him. Z. So, so Exhibit X was on the on the on
9:09
the radio when we were going to see the sonogram and I was like, "Yo, we was we should start his name with X." And so we
9:15
named him Zen because of him. That's right. Wow. Wow. That's right.
9:21
That's crazy. Oh, man. They they told me that and my heart my heart warmed up, man. It was It
9:26
was beautiful, man. Thank you. Wow. So, so X is going to hang out cuz Cali Smooth going to rap. So, I told I
9:33
told X, he said he a battle rapper. He said,
9:39
I'm a dog. I'm a dog. So, wait, we're not going to start with him.
9:45
We're starting with the youngster. JP, you got to wait. Absolutely. Absolutely. All right. So, who who we have? We're we're going to start with Milo.
9:52
Milo's been a workshop since he before he was a thought because his parents were in my workshop and then they hosted
9:59
us to do workshops in Hawaii and he was a baby and I was holding him while I was on the mic and he was bopping to the I
10:06
said I already know. So Milo actually how many um cities did you tour when you
10:12
were in Lay Miz? He was starred in Lay Miz the Broadway, right? Yeah. Over 50 cities in 19 months. And
10:18
now he's starring on Vampirina Disney Channel. Sings, dances. But you wrote a
10:25
he wrote a poem in workshop. So he's been doing workshop. Grew up in workshop. So can we hear the
10:31
Okay, hold on. Hold on. Let's clear let's clear the frequency here. Okay. Okay. Okay. This is amazing. All right. You got him. You got him, PB. All right.
10:38
Anytime you're ready. Okay. This piece is called Mirrors. It's about seeing yourself honestly. Not who the
10:44
world tells you to be, but who you actually are.
10:50
Mirrors for those who see themselves in me. I look in the mirror
10:57
and who do I see? A shadowy figure of the person I'm working to be.
11:04
Yet, is it really me? Or is it the person I think I see? I am who I am. The
11:11
person I believe me to be. a reflection of my family, of society,
11:17
and history over the years. It's not always been positive. Prejudice forms
11:23
from the fear. I look in the mirror, I'm to that, I'm
11:28
to this. Dealt with pain and rejection. The scars inside I live with.
11:35
I see my mistakes and notice imperfections in every frame. But I know
11:40
I'm not alone. So why should I ever feel ashamed?
11:46
With empathy, maybe we could move past the illusions, be present with our presence, and find real connections.
11:54
I look in the mirror and smile to cope. I keep my head held
12:00
high because in my heart there is hope.
12:06
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Wow.
12:12
Milo just 12. Wow. How old are you? 12.
12:18
And Milo grew up in workshop. And guess what? He didn't even tell me. And I saw him making donations. Milo on the
12:26
website. This is a really special young man. How old How old are you? 12. You You wrote that at 12?
12:33
Yeah. He writes every week for class. We have topics. That's how we teach. We have topics. We all write together and
12:40
then we go out into the high schools, the prisons, wherever, and we have conversations that help us understand
12:46
the anatomy of our heart and how how we work together as a people to change.
12:52
It was also the way he delivered it. Man, he's my teacher. I'mma need him to not be in my business
13:02
because the whole time I'm like was he behind me in the mirror when
13:08
you were so good. Thank you so much. I I know we're going to have um Callie Smooth, but before that I
13:14
Before you go into that, I want to This is a good time to You heard that citizens. Thank you. Call up if you want to donate, if you
13:21
want to contribute, you want to volunteer. Donate to the damn baby.
13:27
Okay, you could donate at aimfortheheart.org.
13:33
aim the number fortheheart.org. And if you love what you hearing, 8887423345.
13:40
And if you call up here and I pick up your line, I we expect you to donate.
13:45
All right. So, give us And the way you did it, you set it up, that's how workshop is. So, you gave feedback before we got up here. He
13:52
shared his new poem and he had one word in it and I was like, you said the word try. Maybe you could consider replacing
13:59
it with working towards because he's doing he's not trying. So we all hold each other up
14:06
and get each other like to be better. Um so before we go into
14:11
Kelly's move, we have a last minute surprise and I just want to introduce Ezekiel. Ezekiel
14:17
Pacheco who actually is the first DACA recipient to ever star in a film and he
14:22
has a massive career ahead and I want to acknowledge that he's here because I we're working together but I recruited
14:29
him this morning to lead some of the acting workshops through Michael Green. Um and you said yes, right? Can I put
14:35
you on the spot as he we appreciate your journey and I just
14:40
I'm recruiting. So honestly I'm starruck right now. So many people I looked up to. Can Can you tell
14:46
everyone the film that you were in? Yeah. At the Gates. It came out last year. It's out on Peacock now. Um
14:52
Woody Harlson. Is it? No. No. It's with Noah Wy who just got Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's starring
14:58
alongside him. I'm the first Dhaka recipient to lead a film. I'm from Watts. I grew up a street vendor. I'm an immigrant. So trying to give back to the
15:05
community, you know. I didn't grow up in much. So Aim for the hardest is a program that we need for the kids out there. You know, we don't have too much
15:11
out there. So wow, man. So you're the first DACA recipient to star in a major movie. What impact have you seen that for you have
15:18
on other DACA recipients? I mean, now there's just people that see the envelope pushed. You know what I'm
15:24
saying? Now we're trying to chase bigger dreams. And the best thing I can do is lead by example. You know, I'm about to
15:29
start an Augustus Vanscent movie as well. I'm about to shoot in February. I'm about to shave my head, be bald, take over.
15:36
It's a film about punk rockers in the 80s. Mhm. It's um directed by Chris Blauvelt who's
15:42
a cinematographer of mid '90s and he does all of Gus Vans's films as well. It's produced by the same producers as u
15:47
one battle after another. I'm really excited for the future and I just I mean it's not just immigrant kids, it's a lot of black kids out there in South LA, you
15:54
know, that are trying to act now and I'd encourage them to come to the program so we can help you guys get agents and
15:59
hopefully we can change a life, you know, and have them grow up like Milo and, you know, get a opportunity in life
16:04
just to be somebody. You're amazing, Ezekiel, man. Thank you. I do have a question for you. Yes.
16:10
Where will you be in February when you shave your hair? Cuz I I need some help, man. I need I need I can borrow it. You
16:17
know, I need some help, man. Oh, yo, that's great.
16:22
Different type of you got Wait, hold up. We got a caller. Hold up. We got TK on the line. Help TK. How you doing?
16:30
I'm doing wonderful. How are you all doing? Excellent. I'm glad you called. What's on your mind? What you want to
16:36
say? Well, I I'm I'm just like taken I'm I'm blown away by the young man that
16:41
just did his piece and even before I heard him, I was trying to donate. So
16:46
now I really make need to make sure that I donate because what Thank you. Children is just amazing.
16:54
You're welcome, Milo. It's amazing to hear you. That was powerful at 12. I can't wait to see what you do
17:00
at 13. That's great. So aim fortheheart.org
17:06
Okay. Yeah, but it's only showing PayPal as an option. Is there another way to donate or do I need to open up a PayPal
17:13
account? That is a good question. And I I have to
17:18
ask Stu. I'mma call Stu while um Cali Smoo is rapping and we'll let you know
17:24
on the air. Okay. Thank you, TK. We love you. You're super citizen. All right. Thank you so much.
17:30
Okay. D Walls is on the line from Detroit. D Walls, what you like to say?
17:35
I I I would like to say uh thank you all for highlighting this uh especially with
17:41
the arts because the the arts it is evidence how powerful the arts is by by
17:47
the the young people that's showcasing now and uh I'm I'm definitely going to
17:52
uh donate and I also would like to collaborate with you all. I called up before talking
17:58
about uh my nonprofit called Motive, which is uh music opportunities to
18:04
incarcerated voices everywhere, where I'm utilizing music as therapy for those incarcerated, their family members and
18:11
victims. And I I heard um I heard when they was talking about how the the the
18:18
um their their goal was to uh heal the
18:23
hearts through the arts. And I I'm looking at the website and and that's pretty much my my whole mi whole mission
18:30
also. And I definitely would would love to collaborate. And uh I have a curriculum also where where I I'm uh
18:38
taking of songs by those incarcerated talking about their life story and I
18:44
take them to the high schools, the college and juvenile detention center and we have a critical listening session. Uh get the feedback from the
18:51
youth right with you. We we got you. Go to the website and give us your info. I've 35
18:57
years inside. So, we're doing the work. Please um go to the site and give us
19:03
your info. Dwalls, you a citizen, brother. That's Wayne. Appreciate you, family.
19:08
D Walls. Thank you, brother. All right, let's keep it moving. Uhoh. This is This why exhibit is here.
19:17
Get exhibit some headphones. No pressure. No pressure. So, this is like when I tell you this young man,
19:25
I've known him since before double digits. You know, he grew up in the space. We've been through a lot
19:30
together. When I met Leila, I was coming out of a group home. My mom had just got us back into custody. And um going to Mike
19:37
Sessions was like uh it was like a therapy that I needed, you know, um cuz they always put you in therapy when you
19:43
a troubled youth, you know. So, I was taking a school therapy and stuff, but mic sessions, going to Leila's class, and really being able to express myself
19:50
around other adults and push my my pen and learn new writing techniques and get
19:55
feedback from these adults that I looked up to at the time, you know, was um beneficial for my life. I don't know where I would be without it. You feel
20:01
me? And I mean in just in terms of what you've been through and almost losing
20:07
your life and losing your mom. I mean he's really part of my family. And um we
20:14
came up in the elevator. We went to the studio for a session with Fauna and we could not find him. We thought he
20:19
bailed. He was stuck overnight in an elevator and it it was so crazy. But I
20:24
know we don't have much time so I want to make sure you spit and I know you dropped a a
20:29
I'm from LA man. from all around LA. My name Cali Smoo because I, you know, in the foster system, you move around a
20:35
lot. So, I was in the IE LA. I've lived in the Bay, you feel me? I lived all around California. So,
20:40
what in your experience, what what is that the experience of the foster kids in the foster system that you've seen?
20:47
Um, I I hope it's better now. Um, the experience I had was um
20:53
it wasn't good. It wasn't good. You know, we dealt with we dealt with abuse. we dealt with um
20:58
you know in specific homes that I was in there was sexual abuse none directly towards me but it was um it was
21:06
definitely uh and I'm mixed too so I'm black Mexican part Hawaiian so it was an
21:12
identity crisis not really knowing my parents like that or not really knowing where where I come from like that or who
21:17
I am like that um and learning from strangers and then they have their own
21:24
household everybody we all have our own household issues in our own house. So, welcoming some kids in your house and
21:30
you ain't got it all the way together is um it could be detrimental to the kid, you know. So, everybody that is a foster
21:35
parent out there, I super uh commend you and support what you're doing, but you know, we got to do it the right way. For
21:41
sure, Tisha. Yeah. Ain't that something? I know. I know a lot of people So, I was
21:47
telling him earlier, a lot of people don't know that I grew up in a group home. I had um my my parents were foster
21:54
home parents and group home parents. And so um I grew up with 14 brothers,
22:01
quote unquote brothers, and my three brothers and um until they aged out. But everybody tried to get
22:07
into our house. It was called the Haywood House in Jersey because my father and my mother were such good
22:14
group home parents. And that's a rarity in the foster care system. when you're going through that system, you're like
22:20
he said, you're going through sexual abuse, you're going through different types of abuse, um abuse from the kids
22:26
even. So, my father was such a wonderful role model like this lady here and he
22:34
was able to lift all of these kids up and we've seen a lot of things coming in
22:40
and out, you know, uh with these kids. Some were runaways, some were, you know,
22:45
in trouble with law. Some were not, some were just abandoned. And to be able to
22:52
see this young man right here pull himself up and have the support like
22:57
this, that's why AIM is so important and having programs like this is so important and I can't wait to hear
23:04
what you have about. Man, you going to make me cry. Yo, Tisha, thank you for that. Tisha
23:09
Campbell. Yes. Yes. Hold up. was. Man, that's amazing. And consistency is everything. That's my
23:16
favorite word. We're consistent. Yeah. Hold up. We got Coach Jackson on the line from from the ATL. Coach Jackson,
23:22
what's on your mind? Yep. Hey there, Sway. This is probably my third time calling in and I just want to
23:30
say I love everything that you guys are doing today. Um, and I know it's good
23:36
news Thursday. You got to love it. And I just want to let you know I'm definitely donating and you're doing the young lady
23:45
that you're talking with is doing it to um um uh arts and and whereas I have a kid
23:54
that I coached years ago reached out to me and he said to me, "Hey coach, this
24:01
is Brandon." I said, "Brandon who?" He said, "Brandon Thompson." I said, "Well, yeah, give me a little more." He said,
24:06
"Coach, you don't remember me." I said, "Bernie, how many kids I've seen over 18 years coaching basketball?" And he told
24:13
me his name was Stretch. I said, "Oh, Stretch." I never knew his real name,
24:19
but he said to me, and and I could just see based on that first kid that did the
24:26
uh the poem on Mirror, he said to me, "If it wasn't for you, I'd either be dead or incarcerated." So y'all keep
24:32
doing what the heck you're doing because you do not know the number of people that you're touching just on the radio
24:39
and with the program that that young lady has. I love you. I appreciate you saying that
24:44
so much because you never know like there are people who came through the program and never shouted back. But
24:51
then there's her who reached out to me after all these years and she said she
24:58
started with Sway and I on an assembly in a school. I'm such a big her fan. I
25:04
was on the radio last time I came on talking about that this person kept texting me and I'm like who is this? and
25:13
she said, "You made such a massive difference in my life. You knew me as Gabriella, but everyone else knows me as
25:18
her now." And I wanted to remember to shout back. And then Kaani, I'm not part of Kaan's career. She did her thing. But
25:27
when my son, our oldest, was killed by the police in Oakland, like I've been through so much trauma. It drives the
25:33
work. I I'm not I didn't come up just privileged. I've been through it. And so
25:39
when we were dealing with that, Kaani came through in a way I could never explain. And and so you never know where
25:46
it's coming from or who's going to come full circle. So we have to continue to give and it'll come full circle. So
25:53
before we wait, let me say to Coach Jackson. Coach Jackson, don't worry about the clock. Exhibit's right here.
25:59
He's next. I look I pul I pulled Kelly. I This is
26:06
so last minute. I know you're right. I said I made these kids get up last
26:13
minute. I'm so worried now. I'm like, don't worry, Kelly. We got way more important than what I got to say.
26:20
Yo, I'm over here like Exhibit wants his time. Hurry. Don't worry about it. Yo, coach, I want
26:27
to say thank you, man. And then and I know you want to donate. Go to a Oh, yes.
26:32
I I want to just say this to you. I can't stand you right now because you got me crying and I'm sitting in this
26:38
parking lot at this place between all the stuff that's going on at your where
26:44
you guys are located and the Oh my god. I mean I'm I mean tears are just running
26:50
down my face. I'm a big coach. We understand. We we appreciate you. And coach, we don't just do art intervention. We do
26:56
athletic intervention, art intervention, and we look at medicine that's not
27:02
dependent on pharmaceuticals to help us heal. Healing is our own responsibility,
27:08
and that's the core of our work. But we all are are responsible for our own healing. And so, everyone resonates with
27:15
something different. Some people it's tech, some people it's athletics. We just want to um inspire young and old
27:23
because we're intergenerational. We don't throw our elders away. And now that I've crossed, like I got grown
27:28
grandkids. I'm in the elder category. Don't throw us away. We need to do it
27:33
together. So And coach, thank you, man. You know you're a super citizen. You keep crying.
27:38
Crying don't make you a big baby. It make you a bigger. If it makes you a bigger man, coach,
27:44
makes you a bigger man. D. Nice was crying earlier. We cry. I cry with him.
27:49
Man, go ahead and cry. Quit suppressing those emotions, man. Let that thing out. But do this. aim fortheheart.org. Yep.
27:56
The number four. Aim the number fourtheheart.org. Coach, you a citizen, man. In the morning, my man. Coach,
28:01
you g you gonna take us home now. This is it, baby. Cali Cali Smooth. He's a battle rapper.
28:07
I'm a musician first. He's a musician first. We went off with the battle rapper. Who did you battle? Um I battled some some of the top names
28:14
in battle rap. Disaster. Um Ram Niti, Geigi Gotti. Um
28:19
uh yeah, man. John, Cortez, Big man, you know, go up Gigi Gatti, my man,
28:26
you know, so I ain't going to get up here, you know, that's my boy. We had a war, Danny Meyers, you know, a lot of
28:31
them. I I battled on a high level for sure. And I still battle rap. I'm battling in London in January, the end
28:37
of January, you feel me? And he's taken our program overseas. Yeah, I've taken uh Aim for the Heart. I
28:43
did my own sessions in Sweden. Um, I did like a a four-week course that in a a I
28:51
don't want to call it like a detention center, but it was in Escuna, and I did a class in the juvenile hall in Hawaii.
28:58
I was uh uh I had a residency course there as well. So, I've been doing a course myself as well, taking from
29:05
Leila's example and just trying to lead by example for sure. Aim the number fourtheheart.org.
29:11
Here he is. Cali Smooth John. Yeah. Wait, hold up. I want to ask you one
29:16
more question. So when you woke up this morning, what what did Leila tell you? What did she say you were going?
29:22
You know, she she she let me know it was something big and just to be ready. So what did you imagine and where did you
29:27
think you was going? Man, I ain't think I was going to be face to face with you like this, but I'm happy to be here. Yeah. And where do you think you are
29:33
right now? Yeah, I'm on I'm on cloud nine right now. Look, I see your camera with exhibit.
29:39
It ain't where you at, bro. You in the valley of the hyenas. Yo, Drop a beat on him.
29:47
Yeah. Uhoh. Cali Smooth sway in the morning.
29:52
Hey. Hey. Sometimes I think about our history and all the hatred against me. Dreams
29:59
like Malcolm X but raised closer than Nipy. It's tricky. You had friends, mine had envy. Love when I was broke but
30:05
criticized the rich me. We tend deep limos tenant like it's the SP. My playlist but Wayne on ice. Ain't talking
30:11
Gretzky. The old me still on smoke ain't talking Reggie. Everything on your click fake like it was Etsy. Test me your best
30:18
behavior is where you best be. Ocean views clearing my mind. Wifey like jet skis. Old school healing with time
30:24
that's to depress me. Cold world spirit entwined. Call it reflecting the best part. Walk a straight line from what the
30:30
rest thought. Pretty boy nice off the shoulders like I was Brett hard. Leather jacket heart on my sleeve. They think
30:35
I'm Brett hard. Sat back cry for years. That was your head start. Left California landed talking to foreigners.
30:41
Feeling like I'm living on both sides of the border. Proud of my baby brother cuz he listen a lot. Close friends turn
30:47
snakes if it's rich as you got. I move patient but ain't waiting on the tick of the clock. I'm Cesar Ch as if they mixed
30:54
them with pot. I'm different than y'all. Told the world my image is raw. Globe trotting like a Harlem team spinning the
30:59
ball. My wrist is at large in public like I'm risking it all. Still undefeated over beats though if a pencil's involved. I speak for the
31:06
streets. Really I'm the voice for the loss cuz most of us never knew we had choices at all. We just follow. That's
31:11
why you see these boys hearts hollow. Imagine if a gang sign played as your role model. RP pop smoke. He was caught
31:18
in a cycle. You ain't got to believe to take notes from the Bible. Music like Beethoven and the vocals like Frank
31:23
Ocean. Remember back the days when I was in a cage hopeless. My main focus was writing in blank notebooks. I was trying
31:30
to turn my range into a range rover. Them same statements on mics can make changes. The same people who ain't fly
31:36
make spaceships. It's ugly outside. Consider a city facelift. We should be adjusting crowns and trading acres. We
31:43
should be focused on teaching the next Malcolm. I was told Nipy and Sebie could heal thousands. Use my platform to show
31:49
the world my outcome. It's street motivation is more than a rap album.
32:00
I think we got
32:06
fire man. Fire. Man, fire, brother. I ain't got to cuss in my music. I ain't
32:11
got to degrade nobody. I ain't got to shoot nobody. It's about uplifting. You feel me? Beautiful. We going to snap
32:17
every time. Beautiful. Wow. D Nice. You you you made hits and you play hits. What are your thoughts on
32:22
this? Man, that was refreshing, bro. Wow. Like just hearing your journey, your person, first of all, hearing your story before
32:29
that and then hearing the lyrics, it all makes sense, man. Super proud of you, bro.
32:34
Tisha, turns of delivery. I don't know what to say. It's the same thing like knowing his journey, you
32:39
know, and and hearing him spit and just that that that Caesar Chavez pocky
32:46
that that got me. That metaphor got me. All my black and brown folks out there. That's right. HB, I saw you just
32:53
throwing it up. I I really got cuz that's that's the way we grew up though. You know what I mean? Like I'm not of I
32:58
love this generation of music, you know? I like to party to it, but I grew up on Public Enemy in KRS in Paris, you know,
33:05
like so to hear to hear those lyrics was like, yo, I kind of got lost in it, you know. So, thank you for that.
33:11
And I'll add to it, too. You know, as an artist, we make choices. You made a choice, you know. Um, it's
33:18
one thing people get up here all the time and share their stories and then when we see or listen to their art, it's
33:24
something totally different. and you chose to be a reflection of truth and to
33:29
tell your story and to stand by it. God bless you consistent about what she teaches at age.
33:36
Come on. It's it was so articulate. It was so it was spiritual. I think everybody's soul got touched in a way
33:42
that was just so welcoming and warm. God bless you, brother. God bless you.
33:48
I'll say this real quick. between what you said lyrically and then looking at his Tupac shirt, it's like wow to know
33:55
how far hip hop hip hop has come. Yeah, man. Come on. It's crazy, man. I'm going to let Tracy in New York chime in.
34:01
How how was those vibrations in New York, Tracy? Listen, bro. Cali Smooth, I feel like
34:07
that was in the intersection of therapy and potency.
34:13
And you um Milo, Ezekiel, I think you guys are also reminders that any
34:20
challenge that comes our way, we can see it as soil for creativity to be birthed
34:26
from, you know, and that's what can make every single type of hardship make
34:31
sense. So, thank you for your work, Leila. You included. Yeah, this was really
34:36
important for folks to hear. Queen Leila. Okay. So, what what people didn't know
34:41
since we're full of surprises, it was another thing that exhibit and I discussed and it depended on your
34:47
performance. I'm let Okay. Okay. So, check this out. Um, one
34:54
thing about being an MC is authenticity, right? Um, we come from a generation
34:59
where a lot of MC's wanted to be accepted. So they did things and said things that they necessarily weren't
35:06
really about. Um I think now is a is a time of reveal. We living in a time of truth,
35:12
right? And so um when MC's because we have this big big vocal voice around the
35:18
world and people listen to what we say. Um you take a responsibility and and an accountability that is rare, right? So I
35:26
support you with that. You know what I'm saying? Thank you. And and and I'm going to take it a step further, man. Um, I will go ahead and
35:33
and say that I want to do a track with you. You know what I'm saying?
35:40
Oh, wow. Oh my god. We going We going to make that happen.
35:45
Wow. Oh man. Yo, bless.
35:50
And we going to post that track. We We going to post that track on the aim fortheheart.org
35:57
website. All right. Yes. I'm holding you to it.
36:02
Oh, come on. I know you will. Laya will come looking for you, right? Hey, look. My my word is my bond, man. I
36:09
really appreciate what you going what you saying. You know what I'm saying?
36:18
Oh, man. And Tisha's going to cook to it. I got collard greens. I got mac and
36:25
cheese. All right. Okay. I like we can't not talk about Heather's cooking cuz
36:31
Oh man, that's why I brought her to Thanksgiving. Leila, you're the best. Thank you. I I'm coming by. I'll be by the the facility
36:38
as well. I want to contribute any way that I can along with Tisha. I'm there. Even if you want to start some cooking
36:44
classes, I'm there for it, Ila. And and and uh you got my support 100%.
36:49
I love you guys. J Callie Smoo, you want to real quickly um let us know how to find you? Follow me on all social media
36:56
platforms. JP Cali Smooth. Um, just dropped a project. I just dropped a memecoin, too. You know, my coin is out
37:03
on Gala Film on Gallup Music. You know, Smoothcoin. Um, shout out to Exhibit. I
37:08
got a track coming out.
37:14
Come on, man. That was amazing. Ezekiel, what about you? People want to talk to you, man. You got social media.
37:20
Next going to do a show. Milo and Ezekiel have social media. Yeah. Uh, my my Instagram is just Milo Maharlica. You
37:27
can find me on Instagram. And yeah, you got to spell the last name. Spell that, bro. Milo.
37:32
M I L O M A H A R L I K A.
37:38
Beautiful name. What about you, Ezekiel? Yeah. Ezekiel PCO Instagram, every other social media. And this goes out. Murders
37:44
in Gus Vans. Chris Blava coming out really soon. God bless you. Thanks so much for having me. I'm proud of you, brother. You went from
37:50
being being a vendor. Street vendor. Street vendor. What corner? What corner? I was on 105th in Wilmington. All around
37:57
Jordan Downs, all watchtowers, you know, that's where I grew up. So, right next to the towers. Really blessed and putting on watch forever. So,
38:02
proud of you, brother. You got it, man. You got it, man. You too. Um, shout out to Milo's mom who I don't
38:08
know. Daisy. Daisy gets a shot. Mom, come here. Mom, come here. Milo call. Milo's calling. You got to
38:15
go. It's embarrassing if you don't give his mom a hug. This is on camera, you know.
38:21
This is my This is my mother. Hello. She's awesome. A thank you.
38:26
Beautiful. Look at that. You gotta be proud of him. Congratulations. We really appreciate you. You have no
38:33
idea how much. Oh, man. I love you, Laya. Let's keep doing this work, man. Be nice.
38:38
And Heather, I'm just waiting to come eat with you. I'm so
38:44
bigger than aim for the heart. I stop her Instagram and and wish I could cook like Heather does.
38:49
Laya, we going to make it happen. Ila, say less. All right. Hey K, we got to make room for exhibit.
38:55
But Tisha Campbell, Tisha, love you, man. You something else. This
39:00
I don't know what happened this morning. This wasn't radio. I know this wasn't
39:06
something happened today. Dice. Thank you, brother. In the morning. We still here.
39:14
Literally still here like in the same room. December 19th. Thank you everybody.
39:21
Oh, you're very welcome. You you you amazing young man. You're powerful. I I don't even know the words he wrote when
39:27
I was 12. I'm about to take a picture with him now cuz you might not later. Yeah. D Nice. Once again, December 19th.
39:33
December 19th. New York Symphony Hall. That's right. Go to uh new york symphonyhall.com. Get your tickets.
39:39
Everybody from KG to next to YG Marley Day. Wow. Coffee Brown.
39:46
All right. Oh, they all going to be there. Make sure and D nice. All right, I'll be there.
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