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Young Chris on Roc-A-Fella: Jay-Z, Kanye West & Baseline Studios | SWAY’S UNIVERSE
Apr 17, 2026
Hip hop legend Young Chris stops by Sway in the Morning to talk about his journey from Rockefeller royalty to independent powerhouse. From the golden era of Baseline Studios to his latest project Made in Philly, this is a masterclass in longevity and lyricism. 🎤
In this deep dive interview, Young Chris reflects on his early days as one half of the Young Guns and the incredible run with State Property. He shares rare stories about working alongside Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Pharrell during the peak of the Rockefeller era. Chris also opens up about the transition to being an independent artist, the importance of owning your masters, and why he chose MadeinTYO to produce his latest body of work. 💿
The conversation takes a serious turn as they discuss the resilience of Freeway, the importance of mental health, and what it means to be a young OG in today's rap landscape. Whether it is discussing the legendary Freeway vs Cassidy battle or the business of sample clearances, Chris drops gems for every aspiring artist and hip hop head. 💎
Chapters
0:00 Intro and the legacy of Young Chris
3:15 Navigating the independent music scene
6:45 Memories of the Rockefeller Records era
9:30 The wisdom of a young OG
12:15 Legendary sessions at Baseline Studios
15:00 The truth behind the Freeway vs Cassidy battle
18:30 Sample clearances and owning your masters
22:00 Collaborating with MadeinTYO on Made in Philly
25:15 Freeway’s resilience and Philly MC culture
28:00 Aging in hip hop and mental health
31:00 Fan calls from the Bay to Philly
32:49 Final thoughts and wrap up
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0:00
Yo, ladies and gentlemen, you are in the
0:02
presence of the MC.
0:04
The name has been distorted, had to be
0:07
>> Talk to me.
0:08
>> It's been become Bizarro.
0:11
They changed the narrative of what a
0:12
true MC truly is.
0:14
>> Oh, that's a fact.
0:15
>> In my opinion, bars, similes, metaphors,
0:19
style, timing,
0:22
lyrics, he has it all.
0:25
I met this man when he was about 15
0:27
years old.
0:28
>> That's crazy, man.
0:29
>> And he didn't realize how young he was.
0:31
One half of the Young Gunz back in the
0:33
day, the Grammy nominated, also State
0:36
Property, Roc-A-Fella Records. Come on,
0:38
can't stop, won't stop. This man has
0:41
since done a series of independent
0:42
releases. And he's standing on his on
0:45
his own two feet, affectionately known
0:48
as Young Chris.
0:49
>> Yes, sir.
0:49
>> And he's still young. Give it up for my
0:51
man, Chris, who's up in the building one
0:53
time. Yo, CHRIS IS IN THE BUILDING.
0:56
>> OH, MAN.
0:57
>> WHAT'S UP, SIR?
0:58
>> THANK YOU, MAN.
0:59
>> Come on, man.
1:00
>> Yeah, couldn't have been a better intro,
1:02
man.
1:02
>> Nah, bro, it could have. I could have
1:04
just kept pontificating, man. To be
1:06
honest with you, as I start thinking
1:07
about all the independent projects
1:09
>> Yeah.
1:09
>> um you've done since um you've been on
1:11
your own. You know, and I I think it's
1:14
quite amazing because a lot of times
1:16
people don't see the independence.
1:18
>> Right.
1:18
>> Right. When when it ain't on the
1:19
mainstream, you know how it go. And if
1:21
they ain't checking for it.
1:22
>> If they ain't checking for it, right? Uh
1:24
but you sustain How many projects have
1:26
you put out on your own now? What you
1:27
>> I I know my network series I stopped at
1:29
five.
1:30
>> Uh-huh.
1:31
>> I did like two with Mick Boogie. Shout
1:32
out DJ Mick Boogie.
1:33
>> Uh-huh.
1:34
>> Shout out DJ Mick Boogie.
1:35
>> Yeah, her man Steph Loss when I was out
1:37
Cleveland.
1:37
>> Yeah.
1:38
>> Brian and Rischin them, I was cooking.
1:40
>> Yeah.
1:40
>> So, um I don't know, man. Ellis Ellis,
1:43
one of my last joints was uh No
1:44
Expectations, No Disappointment.
1:46
>> Mhm.
1:46
>> Me and Rhoda followed up after that, and
1:48
then me and Dave East.
1:49
>> Dave East.
1:50
>> Yeah, with the final one Find Dawn, and
1:51
it's crazy.
1:52
>> Y'all put that thing together, man.
1:54
Young Chris is here, man.
1:55
>> Then we did gave him the deluxe.
1:57
>> That's right. You gave him the deluxe.
1:59
It's different now, man. When I met you,
2:01
you were like 16, still young. I don't
2:05
think you had the beard.
2:08
Did you have the beard then?
2:09
>> No. Full beard
2:11
since 2000.
2:11
>> Crazy.
2:13
Little man boy walking around like a man
2:16
boy.
2:17
>> No, that that was that was Freeway.
2:18
>> That was Freeway with the beard, man.
2:20
>> had the beard.
2:21
>> Um and now you at a different stage in
2:23
your life and and when you reflect back
2:26
on those times, you know, just
2:29
reflecting back, man, I think you
2:31
you know, that whole the the the State
2:33
Property Rockefeller run, man, is
2:35
legendary. It's iconic.
2:37
>> Yeah, man.
2:38
>> it's unfortunate. We're not going to
2:39
even focus on the divide and all
2:41
everything that happened right now.
2:43
>> Yeah. The good outweigh the bad.
2:44
>> The good outweigh the bad. But at at at
2:47
that age, did did you have any idea what
2:49
you were in the midst of?
2:51
>> I didn't know. I was life was a blur.
2:53
>> Yeah.
2:54
>> just caught in the moment. You know, we
2:55
was fresh off the block,
2:57
right into that. You got to know Jay was
2:59
already who he was when we came to
3:00
Rockefeller.
3:01
>> Yeah.
3:01
>> So, you know. And then when we caught
3:03
our own success, it really was on.
3:06
>> Yeah?
3:06
>> Yeah.
3:07
>> Yeah. What what were you like when
3:08
>> And it wasn't like he up next here. We
3:10
had to put in work. Like we dropped
3:12
Youngest in Charge mixtape.
3:13
>> Mhm.
3:14
>> Me and Neef. Shout shout out DJ Enuff
3:16
for always doing the
3:18
Big Von from KMEL and Overhead.
3:20
>> Yeah, that's my brother.
3:21
>> But I'll tell you
3:23
the Bay Area was one of our biggest
3:24
markets.
3:25
>> Uh-huh.
3:25
>> You can't stop Talk about it. Let me
3:27
have it. Hear you.
3:30
>> Talk to him, Freeway.
3:32
>> the Bay but talk about that. The Bay was
3:35
>> Yeah, it was. It was heavy. I forgot
3:36
what tour we was on. It was Sprite tour
3:38
or whatever tour we was on with Hov and
3:40
he pulled his back. Like, damn, how did
3:42
that feel? I remember seeing Wayne in
3:44
the crowd word for word when we first
3:46
dropped that joint.
3:46
>> And then he did it on his mixtape.
3:48
>> Yeah. Y'all remember Nicki Minaj?
3:50
>> Yep.
3:50
>> Yeah.
3:51
>> What did that mean? Cuz Wayne was
3:54
>> Yeah, Wayne still Wayne still
3:55
>> Wayne still is.
3:57
Hold up, let me rephrase that.
3:58
>> For sure.
3:59
>> Wayne has always been
4:01
>> Absolutely.
4:01
>> him, right? And to have him
4:03
>> We always had a good rapport, man. We
4:05
got a few records people probably
4:06
haven't heard. We got like four joints
4:08
we done.
4:08
>> Never released?
4:09
>> Yeah, well, yeah, released.
4:11
>> Okay.
4:11
>> Yeah.
4:11
>> Okay. My network is out.
4:13
>> Okay.
4:13
>> It's out there. They ain't check for it.
4:15
>> They didn't check
4:16
What what does that feel like when they
4:18
didn't when they stopped checking for
4:19
it?
4:19
>> even It's just more so we ain't had a
4:22
machine. I won't even say I won't even
4:23
blame the people for not checking for
4:25
it. It's just we ain't had the tools.
4:26
>> Mhm.
4:27
>> Uh-huh.
4:27
>> You know what I'm saying? So, you know,
4:28
cuz they still there. The core fan base
4:30
still there.
4:31
>> I'm glad you mentioned that cuz I think
4:33
a lot of artists get discouraged
4:36
>> Yeah.
4:36
>> when they put out music and it doesn't
4:39
necessarily get the response from a
4:41
previous drop or whatever, but they
4:43
don't understand the machine.
4:45
>> Yeah, the machine. We in the era you got
4:47
to keep going. They got a short
4:48
attention span, so you got to keep
4:50
kicking and some some more catch. You
4:52
know what I'm saying? When it do,
4:53
they'll double back to all your old
4:54
stuff.
4:54
>> Yep. And I think it's almost like
4:56
thinking about it in terms of your
4:58
friendship circles as well.
4:59
>> Oh, yeah. I'll tell them it's 90% who
5:01
you know, 10% what you know in this
5:02
thing.
5:03
>> Mhm.
5:04
>> Yo, you hear that? Chris just sounded
5:06
like a
5:14
>> That's wisdom. He came with it quick.
5:18
>> That's the beer. That's the beer.
5:21
Hey, the wisdom COME WITH THE BEER,
5:22
DAMMIT.
5:23
>> I'm done.
5:24
>> Hey hey man, let me let me ask you this,
5:26
man. I When I think of Roc-A-Fella and
5:28
State Property, I think of Baseline
5:30
Studios, bro. Man, I We used to love on
5:33
MTV. We used to love coming up with
5:35
Shaheem and Remind. We do mixtape
5:37
Mondays. Remember we used to
5:39
We used to come up in there, man.
5:40
>> And I never I told somebody that the
5:42
other day. I really spent all my time in
5:44
there like we grew up right there, man.
5:46
Right in Baseline. You know, I was 15.
5:49
Yeah.
5:50
Freeway and them about 5, 6 years older
5:52
than me. So, they driving back to Philly
5:53
enjoying the fruits. I'm in the studio
5:56
trying to jump on records when they
5:57
leave just to know I ain't make it when
5:59
DJ Clue put it out. You know what I'm
6:01
saying? I've been through all that, but
6:03
you know, it made me who I am. You know
6:04
what I'm saying?
6:05
>> What's the the Tell me one of your
6:06
favorite sessions where that just kind
6:08
of just blew took you away.
6:10
>> of them. You got to think You got
6:12
Pharrell in my room.
6:13
>> Mhm.
6:14
>> Yay in one room. Just Blaze in the
6:16
other.
6:17
>> gosh.
6:18
>> You know what I'm saying? Hov and them
6:19
in there. And even when Dipset came, it
6:21
was just like just a all-star team. We
6:23
ain't have to go out the camp for
6:23
nothing.
6:25
Easy.
6:25
>> Uh-huh.
6:26
>> Sheesh.
6:27
>> Yeah.
6:27
>> Yeah, man. What What What was the
6:29
competition like? I love hearing those
6:31
stories. Like not not, you know, like
6:33
y'all MCs, everybody was hyenas up in
6:35
there.
6:36
>> For sure.
6:37
Yeah, we got We used to get thrown in
6:38
the ring. Just I'll give you an example
6:40
like at the Hot 97.
6:42
>> Yeah.
6:42
>> We went back to Baseline and and and Jay
6:45
called Hip Hop.
6:46
We ain't know what the call was about.
6:47
Hip Hop was like, "Come on, Jay. Call
6:48
this." He called me, O Skinn and
6:50
Freeway. Beans just went with us.
6:53
We end up at Ruff Ryders.
6:55
We go in there. There's 50 people in
6:56
there. Hov in the back. He like, "Pick
6:58
one."
6:59
That's the Freeway and Cassidy battle.
7:01
>> Oh my god.
7:02
>> So, that's how we used to have to be We
7:04
used to have to be ready. We ain't have
7:05
a clue where we was going or what we was
7:08
doing. And we just got done burning it
7:10
down Hot 97.
7:11
>> Yeah. Y'all burned that down. That was
7:14
historical.
7:14
>> Yeah.
7:15
>> And And that was the Freeway That's how
7:17
that happened?
7:17
>> Pick one.
7:19
Yeah. We used to get thrown in the ring.
7:21
>> Did you get time one-on-one time with
7:23
Jay or was this always group time?
7:26
>> Yeah.
7:26
>> Yeah.
7:27
>> I used to get left in the stu. So, there
7:29
was times he might have came and got me,
7:30
"What you doing here by yourself?"
7:32
>> Uh-huh.
7:32
>> [ __ ] everybody left. [ __ ] went back
7:34
to Philly. "Come on, we going to the
7:35
crib." You know what I'm saying? They
7:36
would They get back up top, I'm at MTV.
7:39
>> Uh-huh.
7:39
>> Where they at y'all?
7:43
>> How was we to see you. We didn't have
7:44
the beard though, Mike. You didn't have
7:45
the beard back then.
7:46
>> Less wisdom.
7:47
>> That was mostly wisdom, right? Um,
7:50
let's talk about cuz a lot of the
7:51
production you you did
7:53
in a prior to this project. I just
7:56
remember Chad West being a part of a big
7:58
part of that formula.
7:59
>> yeah. And he always told me like
8:02
when I work when I work on the album, I
8:03
get the body work done with Chad.
8:05
>> Yeah.
8:06
>> And then I go for the big joints.
8:09
I like Chad. He ain't have him give you
8:10
no better love.
8:11
>> Uh-huh.
8:12
>> And my mom, she loved Luther so much
8:14
when he played that sample, it was you
8:16
know, it was on.
8:17
>> Uh-huh.
8:18
>> Even the joint we did with 112, Don't
8:20
Keep Me Waiting, on the second album.
8:22
>> That was Chad?
8:23
>> That was Chad.
8:24
>> Uh-huh.
8:24
>> That was that Luther sample. Luther took
8:26
like 70, 80.
8:27
>> Oh, yeah.
8:28
>> Yeah, look at that. Look at that, man.
8:30
>> How did he get that?
8:31
>> I know because we sampled him. We
8:33
sampled Promise Me for Taking Mine on my
8:35
first album, and like he'll clear the
8:38
sample, but but he wanted twice. He
8:40
wanted his. I'm not mad, you know what I
8:42
mean? But you got to you got to give it
8:44
to him cuz he
8:45
he wrote those songs. He wrote them.
8:47
>> Oh, Luther wrote them himself?
8:49
>> That's a fact, and he takes his
8:50
publishing estate. They take the
8:52
publishing.
8:52
>> So so we know that you learned about
8:54
that, right?
8:55
>> Early.
8:56
>> yeah.
8:56
You mentioned that. He hit us with
8:58
another gem earlier, right?
9:00
Okay, so let's just say it, Torch. Every
9:02
time he hit us with a gem, give him a
9:04
ding. All right, give him a ding. Made
9:07
in Tokyo, who was a MC, a rapper?
9:10
>> everywhere.
9:12
He's still rapping though, right? He
9:13
ain't rapping on this project. I told
9:15
him on the next one I need a verse. He
9:16
said he got me though.
9:17
>> Okay, so
9:18
>> he's more into producing right now.
9:21
>> Why Made in Tokyo? I you know
9:23
>> was new for me, too. Shout out my team.
9:24
They brought it to my idea.
9:26
>> Uh-huh.
9:26
>> And I you know, I'm I'm I'm like the
9:29
versatility. I don't mind showing it, so
9:31
and then he it just it was connecting.
9:34
>> Uh-huh.
9:34
>> It connected quick. We didn't even do a
9:36
session together at all.
9:38
Before you know we had like nine drinks
9:40
done.
9:40
>> Wow.
9:41
>> Yeah. Feedback though, like, "Hey man,
9:43
can you do this hook over?" Or you know,
9:45
maybe that would None of that?
9:46
>> of that.
9:47
>> You don't get that?
9:48
Not no more?
9:49
>> I
9:50
haven't in a minute.
9:53
>> I ain't mad at that.
9:54
>> add to it.
9:55
>> But he did the whole album.
9:56
>> Yeah.
9:57
>> I
9:58
I tend to like that now.
9:59
>> Yeah.
10:00
>> Mhm.
10:00
>> When, you know, when you see a static
10:02
selector do the whole album or you see a
10:04
DJ premiere do the whole
10:06
>> for business, too, man.
10:07
>> Speak on that.
10:08
>> I mean, you don't feel like, you know,
10:09
these guys is crazy. The dude used to
10:11
get wicked. Yeah. For sampling costs and
10:13
all that. My man the street played
10:15
everything. So, everything come home
10:17
50/50.
10:19
>> That makes sense.
10:20
>> Torch, you hit them with a ding right
10:21
there.
10:21
>> Another gem.
10:24
>> There it is. Easier for business.
10:27
Luther took 80.
10:29
>> Give me that.
10:29
>> Luther took 80.
10:31
Luther took 80.
10:32
>> T-SHIRT.
10:35
>> AND YOU YOU YOU quickly learned too how
10:37
like commerce and art are always kind of
10:41
intertwining with each other, you know?
10:42
Like going back to 2003 when Can't Stop
10:45
Won't Stop drop, which will forever be
10:47
one of my favorite songs ever ever ever.
10:50
>> you.
10:51
>> And y'all charted so well. You know, a
10:53
lot of copies were sold too and I think
10:56
about like the piece of the pie that you
10:58
got in 2003 and then with the dawn of
11:01
streaming, which brings me back to like
11:04
I feel like that was when Fetty Wap was
11:06
entering the game. I think about like
11:08
Hotline Bling. That's when all of the
11:10
different um platforms really started
11:12
competing and then you can get a million
11:14
streams much quicker per se than the
11:17
past.
11:18
>> But the take from that is much smaller.
11:22
How did that shift your financial
11:24
mindset?
11:24
>> Mhm.
11:26
It's a gift and a curse.
11:28
It's definitely a gift and a curse. I I
11:30
I got majority I got a loss of my money
11:32
when I did a publisher deal with Cherry
11:34
Lane. Shout out J Brown.
11:36
>> Okay.
11:36
>> Back then and
11:38
I think I recouped by now.
11:39
>> Mhm.
11:40
>> Yeah, I should have. He told me it's
11:41
going to dispute it by then. Get you
11:43
brown. Found out it wasn't, but
11:47
I think it's cleared. I think it's
11:48
cleared now. But um
11:51
See, for me right now and I'm back in it
11:52
cuz I I own my masters and that's what
11:55
I'm excited about.
11:56
>> That's great.
11:56
>> So yeah, so
11:58
so yeah, so to know everything is coming
12:00
home.
12:01
>> Yes, sir.
12:02
>> Yeah.
12:03
>> It it's a interesting conundrum for you
12:06
because
12:07
um
12:08
you a young man. So when you came out
12:12
it it seemed like you was you you know,
12:14
you Wale, J Cole and all those Meek
12:16
Mill, you know, you all those dudes.
12:18
>> so much.
12:18
>> Those your brothers, but you've been
12:19
around. So you you seem like
12:21
>> I was
12:22
I was JUST IN THE BOOTH WITH THEM. WE
12:23
all the same age.
12:24
>> Y'all the same age, but
12:25
>> Yeah, I just came a little bit earlier
12:27
than them.
12:27
>> So does that make you a young OG?
12:33
Hey, a young OG.
12:35
>> A young OG.
12:36
>> I guess so. I guess so.
12:38
I take I'll take that.
12:40
>> You'll take that?
12:41
>> that. I ain't no YN.
12:42
>> Nah.
12:45
Hit him with a ding there, Torch. You
12:46
ain't no YN.
12:48
Hit him with a ding, man.
12:50
I love what I'm seeing from you, Chris.
12:52
This is one of the reasons why I wanted
12:54
to
12:55
have you on the show and and having
12:58
heard listen to some of the album I'm
13:00
me. Don't ask how it happened, but it
13:02
happened.
13:02
>> Yeah, yeah, yeah.
13:03
>> You got a song on there. We for a minute
13:06
Freeway was Freeway is a member of this
13:08
show.
13:09
>> Yes, sir. I'll be seeing that.
13:10
>> Right? So for a minute he always is.
13:13
>> For a minute he'd be on the West with
13:14
y'all or
13:14
>> Nah, he would do it on the on the East
13:16
Coast and then when we moved to the West
13:18
it got a little more difficult. Uh but
13:20
it's Freeway and I was talking about it,
13:22
man. His experiences from when he's
13:24
having a kidney transplant plan when his
13:26
kidneys failed and losing his children
13:29
and the way he did um
13:31
and then be so transparent and open
13:33
about it really I thought was very
13:36
important and it was important
13:37
>> Motivation I tell them all the time
13:38
inspiration he is to see him keep going
13:40
like that.
13:41
>> Yeah.
13:42
>> Yeah man.
13:42
>> Speak to that part man.
13:44
>> and not feeding to the negativity
13:46
I salute free every day on that.
13:48
>> Mhm.
13:49
What did you take away from how he dealt
13:51
with his life challenges?
13:53
>> What I just said.
13:54
>> Yeah.
13:54
>> Just keep it moving
13:56
at at hard times.
13:58
>> Mhm.
13:58
>> You know what I'm saying? Cuz it's it's
14:00
easy to get buried in it.
14:02
And [ __ ] be depressed.
14:04
And sometimes like Max said you don't
14:06
know you depressed till you come up out
14:07
of it.
14:08
>> Mhm.
14:08
>> Mhm.
14:11
>> There you go. Y'all got a song on the
14:13
album right?
14:14
>> Yes sir.
14:14
>> Two strong.
14:15
>> Two strong.
14:16
>> Man.
14:17
>> Um
14:17
>> There you go.
14:18
>> And two strong as you know what I'm
14:19
saying the definition he the definition
14:21
of it.
14:22
>> He's the definition of it.
14:23
>> Absolutely.
14:24
>> Uh salute to my man Freeway give him a
14:26
round of applause.
14:27
>> Freezer.
14:30
>> When I think of y'all man I I was so in
14:33
that State Property movement man I had
14:35
the clothes and everything man I did
14:37
everything but the movie.
14:40
You know nobody put me in the movie
14:41
here.
14:42
>> Right.
14:42
I was going to say you still bitter?
14:44
>> A little bit.
14:46
You know that's why Chris is here I want
14:47
to talk to him.
14:47
>> Okay.
14:48
>> Mad at man dog.
14:49
>> The caster the caster.
14:51
>> I don't know I think y'all could have
14:52
added me to it man.
14:54
But I whenever I see these promotions
14:57
about State Property coming to town and
14:59
all of these different things I used to
15:01
get really excited. Um now I just you
15:04
know I just have wishful thinking. Is
15:06
there is there ever is is there
15:08
>> I was about to say why you used to.
15:09
>> Yeah. Well
15:11
what's the scenario? What can it can it
15:13
happen?
15:14
>> Yeah it can happen.
15:15
>> That can happen?
15:16
>> I always feel as long as no blood ain't
15:18
get spilled man it can happen.
15:19
>> Yeah.
15:20
>> Time will
15:21
>> Time will
15:22
>> Yeah I ain't saying it won't but it can
15:23
happen.
15:24
>> It can happen. Time will torch.
15:30
Do do other people feel the same way?
15:32
>> Yeah, I I think so.
15:34
>> What do you think it could make it?
15:35
>> I think [ __ ] I'm one that that talk to
15:36
everybody in the click so it's easy to
15:38
say than done for me.
15:40
>> Uh-huh.
15:40
>> But like I said, in due time man. In due
15:43
time.
15:43
>> What do you think it takes to make it
15:44
happen? Do do does it take a a sit down
15:47
a a session?
15:48
>> Time.
15:49
>> Time.
15:51
Damn, he said time four times.
15:53
>> Listen.
15:53
>> Ding.
15:54
>> Repetition is the mother of learning.
15:57
>> Time.
15:58
>> Young Chris is here man. We talk about
16:00
his new album it's made in Philly.
16:02
>> Yes sir.
16:03
>> It is coming up. We don't have a date
16:05
for me just yet.
16:06
>> Early summer.
16:07
>> But we played that let me let me cook
16:09
track right there. Who produced that?
16:11
>> Tokyo.
16:11
>> There you go. Let me cook.
16:13
>> Yes sir, made in Tokyo.
16:15
>> You got anything to prove as an MC?
16:17
>> As as always.
16:20
>> Mhm.
16:21
>> I like that because
16:23
I was hoping that you would have the
16:24
opportunity
16:26
to speak about the spirit of Philly MCs.
16:29
I've always been a fan of MCs that come
16:32
from Philly. From Bahamadia to Jill
16:35
Scott like it's something about Philly.
16:38
Like how Jay said pick one, that's cuz
16:40
he know MC in the spirit. You know, I
16:44
say to this day Black Thought is one of
16:46
the most feared MCs on the planet. Like
16:48
you do not want nobody to say pick one
16:50
and you pick him. Like it's not that's
16:53
not the nightmare you invited yourself
16:55
to.
16:56
But you know,
16:58
I think a lot of times when people
17:00
mention MCs Philly you you almost have
17:02
to remind people of Philly for some
17:04
reason but can you speak to the spirit
17:06
of Philly MCs?
17:07
>> I've been telling everybody it's like
17:08
they they fly right over the city go
17:10
right up top man, right to New York.
17:12
I'll be like how y'all skip over us.
17:14
You know what I'm saying? That's that's
17:15
where the aggression come from.
17:17
>> Oh, I get it. Yeah. Yeah.
17:20
>> That's the same thing.
17:21
>> Being feeling left out, underdog. Yeah.
17:23
>> I get left off of bad and boujee.
17:26
>> YEAH.
17:27
>> YOU'RE STUPID.
17:31
>> YEAH, TORCH.
17:32
>> I'M DONE.
17:33
>> BUT BUT Jersey got that same issue, too,
17:36
though.
17:36
>> Jersey Jersey had it for a while, but I
17:39
always give credit to like Redman and
17:41
and certain artists because Redman had
17:44
the most um success in terms of record
17:47
sales. Like when Redman came out and and
17:51
you know, got on records with artists
17:52
from everywhere. Redman earned that
17:55
respect and he kept shouting out Jersey
17:57
everywhere he went. So, you knew. Same
18:00
with Latifah. That's why I always give
18:01
her the credit that that I give her is
18:03
well-deserved. Even if she didn't have
18:05
the same amount of sales that Reggie may
18:07
have had, Latifah took put Jersey on her
18:10
back, you know? She put Jersey on her
18:12
back and and the television and the
18:15
film, the management, Flavor Unit. You
18:16
you couldn't deny. Yeah, you couldn't
18:18
deny what they did. So, uh yeah, salute
18:21
to both of them cuz they they did it.
18:23
>> Mhm.
18:24
>> They did it.
18:24
>> Young Chris is here. 888-114-233-45.
18:28
Mike News, you want to say something?
18:30
>> Yeah, Young Chris, I love this
18:31
conversation we're having and I love how
18:33
you titled yourself a YN.
18:36
>> I like that.
18:38
>> It's yours.
18:40
Um I like you said, you're not a YN, uh
18:42
but you're not a OG. We've been talking
18:43
a lot about aging in hip-hop and how we
18:45
support hip-hop getting older. What are
18:48
you rapping about? Do you feel the
18:50
pressure to rap about things that the
18:52
YNs are talking about? Are you
18:54
uncomfortable to rap about the OGs or
18:56
what are you
18:57
rapping about?
18:57
>> I do the I do cuz I'm in it. I rap about
19:00
what I'm in, but I don't glorify, I
19:01
verify. I also give them the
19:03
consequences.
19:04
>> Mhm. Boom. Is the consequences a part of
19:07
the the wisdom?
19:09
>> Absolutely.
19:11
>> Yeah.
19:12
Huh.
19:13
>> It's the flip side to everything you do,
19:14
baby.
19:15
>> It is, man.
19:16
>> Can Can we talk a bit about the side
19:17
effects of fame because it's interesting
19:19
how long you've been in the game, but
19:21
like we said, you're still very young.
19:24
And we weren't having any type of
19:26
conversation about mental health, you
19:28
know, in the early 2000s. And now it's
19:31
the centerpiece of so many different um
19:34
dialogues happening now. When you
19:36
reflect back, was there ever a period
19:39
where you were like, "Damn, my spirit
19:41
was really low." or "Damn, I could have
19:43
used um some therapy."
19:45
>> For sure. I never My My man always tell
19:47
me I need therapy.
19:49
>> You do.
19:49
>> Yeah, YEAH.
19:51
>> WOW, BABE.
19:55
>> BUT UH YEAH, MAN, SOMETIMES WE DO. YEAH.
19:57
>> YEAH.
19:58
>> For sure.
19:58
>> Mhm. What does that
20:00
>> know it all.
20:01
>> Right.
20:02
What does that look like for you now?
20:03
Any type of therapeutic practices? It
20:05
doesn't necessarily have to be with a
20:06
therapist.
20:07
>> No, I'm good right now. I'm in a good
20:08
space right now.
20:09
>> Mhm.
20:10
>> Yeah, I'm in a good space. My kids is
20:11
good. My mother's good. Everybody health
20:13
is good. I'm good.
20:14
>> Amen.
20:15
>> I love that, man.
20:15
>> Blessings.
20:16
>> Look like you working out, Chris.
20:17
>> Yeah, I got to tighten up though. I'm
20:19
there though. You know what I'm saying?
20:20
>> on? What's your regimen, man? Maybe we
20:21
could
20:21
>> I posted the Griffith in the future. You
20:23
want to do Griffith Park with me?
20:24
>> No, no, I'm good.
20:26
What is that? What is that?
20:28
>> The park The park
20:29
>> Oh, Griffith Park.
20:30
>> Yeah, yeah.
20:31
>> The hiking.
20:31
>> You said you used to do 7 miles, right?
20:33
>> Six.
20:34
>> Oh, okay.
20:36
>> Six miles in.
20:37
>> What you doing? Hiking or you doing the
20:38
CrossFit thing?
20:39
>> Just hiking. Me and my man DJ Omega, we
20:41
go all the time. Yeah.
20:42
>> Yeah? You in the gym, too? Or uh yeah?
20:44
>> Yeah.
20:45
>> Okay.
20:45
>> Yep.
20:46
>> All right, you quiet about yours. Okay.
20:48
>> I like results. This question, you
20:49
going? You doing the six?
20:51
>> like to show results, man.
20:52
>> When you doing it? When you going to
20:53
Griffith Park?
20:54
>> When you want to go? Tomorrow?
20:55
>> I GOT WORK TOMORROW.
20:58
>> YOU GET OFF AT 9:00 A.M.
21:04
>> I'LL LET YOU KNOW. You never know, man.
21:07
>> That's a good one, Sway. I got to work
21:08
that.
21:09
>> I got to work. Let me play one of your
21:10
songs, huh?
21:12
>> SMOOTH ABOUT NOW.
21:14
>> LET ME PULL THEM out real quick. Fine
21:16
wine and steak. After we go and eat fine
21:18
wine and steak, then we'll go to THE
21:20
HOTEL.
21:20
>> OFF.
21:23
>> AND THIS IS THIS this produced by Made
21:24
in Tokyo, too, right?
21:25
>> Which one is this?
21:26
>> Fine wine and steak.
21:27
>> No, no.
21:28
>> That was
21:28
>> Mane Davis. We have multiple producers.
21:31
I can't even tell you which which record
21:33
you playing.
21:34
>> Fine wine and steak.
21:35
>> Oh, yeah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Tokyo.
21:37
>> Yeah, that one well, I knew it.
21:38
>> I'm sorry, Tokyo.
21:39
>> I'm like the You know why I said that?
21:41
It's It's so It's so close to Fine
21:43
Dining.
21:44
>> Yeah.
21:44
>> Yeah.
21:45
>> Yeah.
21:45
>> Extension.
21:46
>> Yeah.
21:46
>> All right, this is Young Chris,
21:48
888-742-3345.
21:52
Yeah. Full court press on you [ __ ] ass
21:54
mother
21:56
[ __ ] mother
21:56
>> I I heard you, Sway.
21:58
>> Sorry, man. Chris got me fired up, man.
22:02
You know what I like, man? You you you
22:04
you mentioned a lot lot of times when
22:06
this project have a one foot in the
22:07
street and one foot in rap.
22:10
Uh yeah, turn up Let's turn this mic
22:11
There you go.
22:12
Go ahead.
22:12
>> Yeah, now I got it.
22:13
>> Yeah, and I'm just curious to
22:17
um
22:18
There was one point where it felt like
22:20
that the the Roc and they were
22:22
positioning you to be like that next guy
22:24
to me.
22:25
>> Yeah, right. Yeah.
22:26
>> you was going to be the next solo. Even
22:27
though you was in Young Guns, it seemed
22:29
like they were positioning you to be
22:31
that next person.
22:33
>> Right.
22:33
>> Um it Is my intuition wrong? Like was
22:37
was that
22:37
>> no, you was right. You right. You right.
22:39
>> Did they Did they Did they ever step to
22:40
you like Dame, Beans, and Jay and say,
22:42
"Hey, man, this is what the future could
22:44
look like for you?"
22:45
>> Never said it. I remember a time when I
22:47
was about to drop Coast to Coast with
22:50
Bobby Valentino.
22:51
I remember Jay was excited about it. We
22:53
used to walk around the office talking
22:55
about how we going to do the vid.
22:56
Open it up, playing ball, just showing
22:58
them stuff like we do on tour that they
23:00
don't get to see.
23:01
>> Mhm.
23:01
>> And it never happened, but I remember I
23:03
remember Mac had When Mac was booked at
23:05
the time. And when Mac came home, he was
23:07
like, "I told O over, you got better
23:08
joints than that. We we shouldn't go
23:11
with that one."
23:12
And then "Feel It in the Air" came out.
23:16
So, that was a setback, you know what
23:17
I'm saying? And yeah, from there I don't
23:19
know what happened.
23:20
>> That That's what happened. So,
23:21
I don't feel like y'all ever reached
23:24
the full potential.
23:25
>> the full surface. Yep.
23:27
>> Never And so, when when that time
23:30
started to happening, was there ever
23:32
time
23:33
that, you know, cuz you you talk about
23:35
having one foot in and one foot out. Was
23:37
there ever time that you felt like
23:38
putting both feet back in the game?
23:40
>> For sure.
23:41
>> Yeah.
23:42
>> But, I was in deep. So, I really
23:44
couldn't.
23:45
>> Yeah.
23:46
>> You know?
23:47
>> Yeah.
23:47
>> Yeah. The other foot was in too deep.
23:50
>> The other foot was in too deep.
23:51
>> Yeah.
23:52
>> Look like you made the right
23:53
>> like, yeah, you got to you know, you got
23:54
to give it your all with this [ __ ] to
23:56
win, so.
23:56
>> Yeah. You can't be halfway in and
23:59
halfway out.
24:00
>> Nah, man.
24:01
>> Look at Chris. Look at his face. Hey,
24:02
man, look this dude
24:06
This man been This all wisdom right
24:08
here, man. Give it up for my man Young
24:10
Chris up in here.
24:11
Beans, when you did the Beans voice, you
24:13
did the the ashy voice. And I know Beans
24:16
have been talking about utilizing AI.
24:18
>> Yeah.
24:19
>> My album crazy right now.
24:20
>> it sound like?
24:21
>> It's beautiful. I can't wait for him to
24:22
drop.
24:23
>> Yeah.
24:24
>> I'm ready to leak something.
24:25
>> How did that work? How did it work out?
24:26
Like with the AI and everything?
24:28
>> It's good. Sound amazing to me.
24:30
>> Mhm.
24:31
>> You know, the process is for the
24:32
engineers, but
24:34
the outcome is beautiful.
24:35
>> Yeah.
24:35
>> Yeah.
24:36
>> Are you on any of the tracks?
24:37
>> Of course.
24:40
>> You still digging, hoping he could pull
24:42
you play something
24:44
I'm watching the action right now.
24:48
I ain't going to do him like I did when
24:50
he was a younger guy.
24:53
This is first time back in a long time.
24:59
I'mma chill.
25:00
>> with him right here just just
25:02
tip in the water to let him know where
25:03
this could go if if we if we wanted to
25:06
do that. What are are you planning on
25:07
going to the concerts Jay's going to be
25:09
doing? You got tickets?
25:11
>> No, I'm very optimistic.
25:22
>> He got Oh, he got the roots picked
25:24
there. He got He got the the three days
25:26
at Yankee Stadium. Which one are you
25:27
going to?
25:28
>> I don't know. I don't know. Hometown is
25:30
always good. I would like to make them
25:32
all for real for real.
25:34
Hov don't come out too much.
25:35
>> He doesn't, right? And it's great to see
25:37
him back.
25:37
>> It's a movie every time.
25:38
>> If he calls you, you there?
25:39
>> I'm there.
25:41
For sure.
25:41
>> Pick one. That's it, huh?
25:43
>> Pick one.
25:44
>> I ain't mad.
25:46
>> Pick one. That's the mentality, homie.
25:48
>> Pick one. I'm there, baby.
25:49
>> I'm there. Let's get it. Let's get it.
25:52
>> That's going to be a Beanie righteous
25:53
t-shirt, Lonnie like. We go We got We
25:56
got pick one. We got
25:58
That's a dope ass pick one.
26:00
>> Pick one.
26:01
>> Real rap.
26:02
>> Come on. Hey Stun, turn your radio down.
26:04
He's in San Francisco. Stun, what up?
26:06
>> What's up, Stun?
26:06
>> What's going on, man? What's up, man?
26:08
First of all, I want to say what's up to
26:09
Sway, man. Bay business.
26:11
>> Bay business, you already know. Gee.
26:14
>> Yeah, you know what I'm talking about? I
26:15
wanted to tell Chris, man, we've been
26:17
rocking with you for a long time, man.
26:18
When y'all dropped that, you feel me?
26:20
You know what I mean with that uh State
26:22
Property, you feel me? We was out here
26:23
really rocking with blood. We got a lot
26:25
of youngsters out here trying to be
26:26
down, you feel me? But they didn't
26:28
really catch out here on the West Coast,
26:29
so you know what I mean?
26:35
>> Thank you, brother. I felt the energy
26:36
though, man.
26:37
>> Hey, man, we just got to represent
26:39
though, you feel me? I quit rapping cuz
26:40
I lost my laptop with all 37 tracks and
26:42
went to jail, so I kind of hung it up. I
26:44
ain't going to hold you.
26:45
>> Go do 37 more.
26:47
>> Come on.
26:49
>> I know, right? I was discriminated
26:50
against, you know what I'm saying? I
26:51
kind of felt like I was hated on.
26:53
Somebody probably stole them.
26:55
>> Use that more as motivation, baby.
26:58
>> Yeah, you know what? Just cuz you said
27:00
that, I got a couple tracks I'm working
27:01
on with San Quinn. So, I'm going to
27:02
check it out. I'm going to hit you back
27:04
when I got them ready. And I'm going to
27:05
go ahead and hit the playoff with those
27:07
and I'm going to see what it's going to
27:08
rock with. And hopefully in the future,
27:10
me and you could do something. You know
27:11
what I'm talking about?
27:12
>> I'm looking forward. Hey Stun, you get
27:15
that done, send it to me. I I promise
27:17
I'll play it at least once.
27:19
>> Hey, hey, hey, on my mama, I'm going to
27:21
try to hurry up and get that done. I'm
27:23
going to call Quinn as soon as I get
27:24
done with this Wendy's baconator and I'm
27:26
going to get at that.
27:30
>> Tell Quinn I said what up, too, man.
27:32
Tell Quinn I said what up, man. All
27:34
right. You a super citizen.
27:36
>> you can always call and check on it,
27:37
man. It's right there in the bus there.
27:40
>> Hey Lonnie, save his number for me. He
27:42
still in the 415. Wasn't it 415 day
27:45
coming up or something like that, Stun?
27:47
>> Yeah, it was definitely 415 all day.
27:50
>> Is it today?
27:51
>> Today.
27:52
>> Yes, 415.
27:53
>> Oh my god.
27:55
>> 415 day.
27:55
>> Oh, 415 day.
27:57
>> That's what I'm talking about, baby.
27:59
>> Yeah, yeah, area. Hey, yo, stand up and
28:01
celebrate.
28:04
All right, Stun, you a super citizen,
28:05
man.
28:06
>> That [ __ ] was so baked.
28:08
I'M SORRY. I JUST
28:11
I JUST felt something.
28:12
>> You know what it was about y'all,
28:13
though?
28:14
Y'all look like y'all were from the Bay,
28:16
too.
28:16
>> Hell, yeah.
28:17
>> Y'all look like Look at Look at Chris.
28:19
He could be from Oakland. Like y'all
28:21
look like y'all were from the Bay back
28:23
then, too. Y'all look like
28:24
Bay dudes. When y'all used to come plus
28:26
y'all was out there all the time.
28:28
>> Bay show so much love, bro.
28:29
>> Big vibe, man. Big vibe.
28:31
>> Big vibe. What up, Von?
28:32
>> What's up, big vibe?
28:33
>> I was on the phone with Von last night.
28:35
Me, King Tech, my partner King Tech.
28:37
>> Oh, yeah. Send my love. Von, what up,
28:39
man?
28:41
>> With Von, Rizza, me and King Tech on the
28:43
line.
28:44
>> Mhm.
28:45
>> That was a stunt, Chris.
28:47
That was heavy.
28:49
Hell, yeah, yeah.
28:51
That's all it IS, CHRIS. MAYA'S ON THE
28:53
LINE from ATL. What up, Maya?
28:57
>> What's up, y'all? I'mma be real brief
28:59
cuz I'm about to get out the car, but I
29:00
just wanted to say what's up to Young
29:02
Chris. Me and my husband have been
29:04
rocking to a lot of your new [ __ ]
29:06
lately. We pregame to it when we about
29:08
to hit the streets. Um oh, before I even
29:11
say anything more, uh one love to Lore'l
29:14
Searcy. I call up there all the time,
29:15
but I just had to say one love.
29:18
And our forefront, always. But yeah, I
29:21
just wanted to give you a shout-out and
29:22
tell you to keep going. And Tracy G, if
29:25
we ever ever link, me and you going to
29:27
be standing on the couch for sure
29:29
dancing to, you know, Can't Stop Won't
29:31
Stop. That was my jam.
29:34
>> Thank you, baby. I appreciate that.
29:36
Tell hubby I said what up.
29:38
>> Y'all have a good one.
29:39
>> You too. Y'all both are citizens.
29:42
Jay is in Philly. What up, Jay?
29:45
Jay, what up?
29:47
>> I'mma be real quick real quick. What's
29:49
up? What's up, gangster?
29:50
>> What it do?
29:52
>> What's the deal, man? You already know,
29:54
man. Hey, I'm just going to sit here
29:56
real quick, man. Hey, what's up with
29:59
what's up with what's up with the hood,
30:00
man? You going back to the hood soon?
30:02
>> I'm always there, you know that. Don't
30:04
stop.
30:05
>> What's up with little bro, Dada?
30:08
>> Dada good.
30:10
I just
30:11
I just talked to him. He called him. He
30:13
good.
30:14
Dada's good. I just talked to him.
30:17
Yeah.
30:18
What's up? What's up with you?
30:22
For sure. All day.
30:26
Ain't no doubt. It's some Philly talk
30:28
right here.
30:34
Dirty Wingo. Damn. Dirty Wingo
30:37
all day.
30:39
Yep, love. How do you How do you say
30:41
peace in Philly language?
30:44
>> He ain't even say what up to Sway. He
30:46
just got right to it.
30:48
>> That's crazy.
30:49
>> I ain't even call Chris sale.
30:50
>> I'm feeling like an impostor.
30:52
>> What up, Dada?
30:54
>> WHAT UP, DADA?
30:55
>> THAT'S MY [ __ ] What up, Dada?
30:57
>> Dada got hot today.
30:58
>> Where LoLo at? LoLo still around?
31:01
>> What up, man?
31:02
>> Dada raw, raw, raw. How's Jay Bug?
31:04
>> How's Jay Bug?
31:04
>> Is Jay Bug good?
31:05
>> There's always a Jay Bug in Philly, man.
31:08
>> Yo, when you coming back with it?
31:10
>> Cheesesteaks, baby. Let's go.
31:12
>> Shout out to Wallow, too, man. Let me
31:14
shout
31:14
>> Salute Wallow.
31:16
>> Wallow is
31:17
my brothers, man.
31:19
>> What up, Chris?
31:20
>> My man. Appreciate it.
31:21
>> Yo, brother. Congratulations, man. And
31:24
know that now you got you got more
31:25
family out here.
31:26
>> Oh, I'm here. I'm on your line when I
31:27
come out.
31:28
>> Okay, whenever Don't hit me hit me after
31:30
Griffith Park.
31:33
>> All right, WE JUST DO RUNNING.
31:34
>> OKAY.
31:38
>> YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
31:39
>> I HEARD THAT. MADE IN Philly is the
31:41
project, Citizens.
31:43
Uh Young Chris is here.
31:45
>> Yes.
31:45
>> And he's here to stay.
31:46
>> Yes.
31:47
>> And it don't even stop there, man. He
31:48
got That's That's going to come out
31:50
later this year, um summertime.
31:52
>> Yes, early summer, for sure.
31:53
>> Early summer, but he got a
31:54
>> run it back and keep running it back. It
31:56
don't stop. I'm here to stay.
31:57
>> And all those independent projects go
31:59
straight to your to your pocket.
32:01
>> home, baby.
32:02
>> So, when y'all look at all the
32:04
independent projects he got, make sure
32:06
you support it. That's how we keep
32:07
artists alive, right?
32:09
>> Thank you. Thank you.
32:10
>> Appreciate that.
32:10
>> Brother, you got a
32:12
a a a a a Grammy-rated career.
32:14
>> Yes. Yes.
32:15
>> You know, and it's only the beginning
32:17
for you.
32:17
>> Yes.
32:18
>> All right?
32:18
>> Yes, man.
32:19
>> Keep going, man.
32:20
>> Yes, keep going, for sure.
32:22
>> your flows can't be tested. Um you're
32:25
making great music. You got a great
32:26
mindset, man.
32:27
>> My man.
32:28
>> You know, we known each other for
32:29
decades now.
32:30
>> Crazy.
32:30
>> Yes, sir.
32:31
>> You [ __ ] crazy, man.
32:32
>> Yeah, it's crazy.
32:32
>> Man, I'm proud of you, homie.
32:34
>> Thank you, Sway.
32:34
>> All right. No problem.
32:35
>> Thank you. Thank you for having me. I
32:37
appreciate y'all.
32:38
>> Absolutely. Our pleasure. And your team.
32:40
You got a great team surrounding you.
32:42
>> out to the team.
32:42
>> Dre Cole, right? What up?
32:44
>> Tosh, Courtney,
32:46
Jay Wy.
32:48
>> Yes.
#Arts & Entertainment