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Don Trip & Starlito Drop Bars 🔥 | Step Brothers 4 Freestyle | SWAY’S UNIVERSE
Jul 30, 2025
Don't miss this exclusive Sway In The Morning freestyle as Don Trip and Starlito drop bars 🔥 and share the inspiration behind their album "Step Brothers 4." These kings of the underground open up about navigating the music industry, the importance of relationships, and their experiences as fathers. From heartfelt reflections to raw honesty, this conversation dives into their creative process, personal growth, and the challenges they’ve overcome. Plus, their chemistry shines in a powerful freestyle performance that showcases their lyrical brilliance. Tune in to this unforgettable moment on Sway's Universe, where music meets real-life stories. Subscribe for more exclusive interviews, freestyles, and deep dives into hip-hop culture only on Sway In The Morning! #isthemicstillon #grind #brothers #dontrip #itmso CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Don Trip & Starlito New Album Release 01:33 - Importance of Music Industry Relationships 06:53 - 'Dear Younger Me' Reflection 16:05 - Emotional Intelligence in Parenting 19:35 - Letter to My Son Insights 23:49 - Listener Feedback and Engagement 25:55 - Callers Interaction 27:15 - Memphis vs. Nashville Music Scene 34:30 - Self-Discovery Through Music 39:54 - Don Trip & Starlito on Madden Curse 42:40 - Don Trip's Take on Madden Curse 47:23 - Freestyle Performance
View Video Transcript
0:00
Shay four five man. Heather B they are here. Kings of the underground if you ask me man these guys
0:08
career. Yo I'm so happy we got a chance to really um build a rapport with each other over the years
0:15
Man true that. Yeah through music we don't see each other a lot. Yeah um because you know no matter
0:21
where you had I'm coming to you. You was in New Orleans one year. Yep. I was telling them like man
0:25
I gotta go holler this way. They was like yeah he in New Orleans. I said all right well I don't know
0:29
what's going on in New Orleans, but I'm on the way. There you go, man. You always come through
0:36
You have one of the realest voices. Oh, man, I appreciate it
0:41
You know what I mean? That I've seen come out of the gang through the duration
0:45
You've been around through eras now. True that. Right? You know, they had what they used to call a mumbo rap era
0:51
Yeah. Remember? That's crazy. That's what we used to call, right, Tracy
0:57
It wasn't that long ago either. It wasn't that long ago, but things, when they pass, they pass, right
1:02
Bye. You've been a part of a lot of different eras, and you like Larry June or like Currency or like Tech N9ne
1:12
the two of you actually. Shout out to all of them. All those folks have been able to sustain, bro
1:19
Yeah. And I want to commend you because when I hugged Don Tripp today, Heather
1:24
I said this is beyond rap now. Yeah. We keep, you seeing me do my thing
1:28
and sustain. Right? And so that, to me, is inspirational. I get inspired by that
1:33
Yeah. And so I want to say congratulations to you. Congratulations to Starlito
1:38
They're back right now. Come on, Step Brothers for life. Okay? The number four
1:44
Not to be mistaken for F-O-R. This is the number four, man
1:48
Give it up, man. Don Tripp and Starlito are here. Yeah. Starlito, what up, man
1:53
Man, it's just cooling, man. Step Brothers for life. Step Brothers four in the head. Yeah, man
1:58
Let me ask y'all, are y'all officially a group? Like, this is four projects
2:02
We're family. Yeah, man, we're brothers. Yeah, we're family. We locked in in like, I think we met in like 2010
2:10
Mm-hmm. And, you know, our bond has only grown stronger since. Yeah
2:16
Yeah, y'all been, go ahead. No, I'm saying that's interesting because you said you met in 2010
2:20
We're looking at 2025 right now, going into 26. That's 15 years going on 16
2:26
You've known Sway for so long, and we've been having these conversations lately
2:30
Sway just talked about the mumble rap era. We're blessed. You know, like we're doing what we love to do, right
2:37
And you realize now, looking back, how relationships become so important. You know, when you meet people, being kind, looking people in the eye
2:47
talking to them, keeping their word, being professional. Because had it not been for y'all's relationship and then your relationship with Sway
2:54
this moment may not even be what it is right now you know it's so important so if you had an
3:00
opportunity to speak to somebody right now and this is for both of you guys what would you tell
3:05
a younger person right now trying to get into the game about the importance of relationships
3:09
I would say as far as relationships um they say um you never get a second chance to make a first
3:19
impression but every impression is the first impression i mean again i've known y'all for
3:26
you know about 15 years yeah but i just met him today pb so you know how i carry myself is still
3:33
the first impression to him right same for you know the engineer that would know that i crossed
3:37
in the hall that's what i'm saying you know i you know the way i treat him i could have you know
3:42
been sideways with him and came in and been genuine with you but that ain't genuine right
3:46
And, you know, I think in this business, I think that's one of the most important factors to it
3:54
You got to treat the people the way you want to be treated. Yeah. And I learned from Bubba Sparks taught me this early on
4:00
Bubba Sparks. Yeah, shout out Bubba Sparks. Yeah. But he told me, he said, man, the way you treat the people on your way up is how they treat you on your way down
4:09
So, you know, that always stuck with me. That's what I was going to say. The relationship is more valuable than the money, as they say
4:16
because I believe in leaving how you came and leaving who you came with
4:23
So you want to keep those relationships intact. You never know who you might need. You never know who you're going to pass along the way
4:29
because I have passed a lot of people in my journey on the way up
4:33
and maybe seeing some people fall from grace and the way they handle people was probably a big factor
4:39
Yeah, yeah. I agree with that. PB, man, you mind getting on the mic
4:44
because look at this guy. PB is our videographer, right? Yeah. Don Tripp just says something that PB says to me all the time
4:57
Like, people come in our spaces all the time, right? Right. He meets people on every level
5:02
A-list actors, politicians. Yeah. Rappers, artists, the whole nine. And what you just said is something he pointed out, right
5:10
You know what I'm talking about? Yeah. so basically um the position that i'm in most people that come into this space they don't need
5:18
me they already have a cameraman so they don't need to treat me with the same respect they treat
5:23
sway or heather yeah i mean they can just blow me off like barely even speak but when they run
5:29
in the sway they turn the character on yeah and um yeah it's always good to meet genuine people
5:34
that's that's crazy because when we came in he was downstairs and we didn't know you know we
5:39
He didn't know he would be up here with us. And we spoke then, like, you know, what's up, man
5:43
How you doing? And just so happened when we come in the room, he beat us in the room
5:48
So I'm like, you know, but that goes to show you that's just how we are. You know, like you said, you know, you got to leave the place, you know
5:55
the same as you can. And, you know, that's just how we rock. And we've been in the space where no one knew who we were
6:02
and nobody paid any attention. So, you know, I can, you know, I feel like we owe that back
6:08
no matter where we at. You know, rather we had cameras and mics on or not, that's just, you know, how we rock
6:13
That's who you are. Pee-pee, get back on the mic one more time. I just want to ask Don Tripp and Starlito a question
6:20
I want to make sure the cameraman is actually getting on camera. He is
6:24
I'm looking at the angle right here. I'm looking at the angle. I'm looking at the angle. Give him some light
6:29
Sun don't shine if sun don't shine. Okay. A-B. They spoke to you
6:38
Yeah, when they first walked in. Yo, be honest. Did he give y'all attitude? That's all, bro
6:45
That's all. Oh, man. See, PB, there's terrible setups here. I felt something
6:50
That's why I got him first. I got you, PB, my guy. We got a lot of folks on the line
6:54
Yeah, already. But I played this song, The Butterfly Effect. Mm-hmm. Yeah
6:59
What a dope song, bro. Hey, man, appreciate that. Man, this is a dope song, man
7:05
You guys are talking to your younger selves, giving advice. True that
7:10
Which is interesting, the way I'm wondering, people always ask that question, what would
7:16
you tell your younger self? But the way you approach this song is very interesting because you talking about people who you may have lost but wouldn have known that that person would be gone True that As your younger self you know decisions and choices you made Yeah
7:35
Right? How did y'all come up, Starley? I'll start with you. How did y'all come up with that, the concept
7:40
It was a lot of our songs, we pick a beat together
7:44
And from there, we'll build out a concept. Or very often, one of us will just follow the other's lead
7:51
or get triggered and inspired by something that was said. I can't remember the record we were doing before
7:57
but when we got to that track, I looked over Bro's shoulder and his iPad
8:03
He only had one line on the thing, and it said, Dear Younger Me. And so at that point, I saw it as a letter to his younger self
8:11
and it just kind of went from there. And then by the time, I think it was in conversation
8:18
we said something about the butterfly effect. You change one thing, you change everything
8:21
So rather than having a chorus, we just made that a centerpiece conceptually or otherwise
8:29
And we took different perspectives. We have different experiences. I think the perspective that we offered our younger selves was slightly different but equally reflective
8:39
Like what? Speak to something you would offer your younger self. I was very, like, reflective and thinking about moments when I let the influence
8:50
or the advice of others kind of drown out my inner voice
8:55
and where I wasn't, you know, looking from within, I guess you could say
8:59
One of the things I said very intentionally was you are good enough
9:03
You're just always in a rush. And also you can rap and finish school
9:08
because I can remember when I got my deal at 19, the Yo Gotti Cash Money situation, I was in college
9:16
I was a sophomore in college, and my grandmother was a biochemistry professor
9:20
right across the hallway from one of my science labs at the time
9:26
When I was skipping class selling CDs, she would call me later, like, you weren't in class today
9:30
So I was afraid at the time, I remember, to tell her, I think I'm about to drop out of school and pursue the music full time
9:37
and her giving me her stamp of approval, like go for it, chase your dreams
9:43
that empowered me. But I also remember later I went back to college about four or five years later
9:49
while I signed. It wasn't a problem. Well, not so much that
9:54
The people I was around was like, all right, this is about to speed up. You're not going to be able to do both
10:00
Even though I was taking recording industry classes and a lot of technical classes
10:04
learning how to record better, learning a business that much more. And maybe that was a part of it
10:08
Maybe they didn't want me to educate myself that much. But it was like, you can't do both
10:12
But why couldn't I? You know what I'm saying? That was someone else's standard
10:17
So it was like, that was what I wanted to tell myself. Like, you got it
10:21
It's in you already. Don't be defined by the environment around you or, you know
10:27
what you're trying to navigate. Like, you got the tools. and sometimes you just got to have that confidence and boldness and otherwise
10:36
And it's just, like I said, it's just a reflection point. Obviously, I've grown older
10:39
I've survived the times. I've grown wise enough to see it. I was like, man, it was me
10:44
It wasn't what I was attached to or who I was around. True that. And so we also talked about it
10:50
We were speaking to a generation behind us, just speaking through ourselves
10:57
I know he could probably tell you just as well. He wasn't just talking to his younger self
11:04
and I think he got an interesting perspective with that. What do you mean by that? Well, for mine, or I guess the inspiration, you know it's hard
11:15
I got a 20-year-old son and I got a 16-year-old son. And they're in a space where I'm not certain they know they can
11:27
And, you know, I tell them they can talk to me. I try to make sure they feel like they can talk to me
11:33
But you never really know it. You know, I don't know what truly goes on in their minds
11:38
And I don't know if they're listening when I'm speaking. You know, you know me well enough to know, you know, I choose my words carefully
11:45
So my verse was to them, just not to them. I knew talking to them would be, you know, that could go in one ear and out to others
11:55
Make it direct to them. Right, right. So maybe you need to hear what I would tell me when I was your age
12:03
Does it come off pretty bridgey? Right, exactly, exactly. And when I was their age, I know that I didn't have anybody to talk to
12:13
And I don't really know how it would have turned out had I had somebody to talk to
12:19
So I tried to create an avenue for them to understand that I am a person that they can talk to
12:25
Although I'm their father, I understand that they're young men. On top of that, they're young black men
12:31
And, you know, with that, that's why I spoke a lot about what I went through
12:35
when I was younger. When I was younger, I felt like everything I was going through was permanent
12:42
And, you know, a lot of times pain feels like it's forever
12:48
and you'll make it through it, you know, especially for, like, it was moments
12:52
Like even in that record I say It was a point in time
12:56
We wanted to kill our stepdad And you know We was really on that type of time But
13:00
We just You just said that Yeah and he brished by it Like he was
13:04
He was reading He was like in one of Storlitos classes And they was going over the syllabus Yeah
13:09
Yeah yeah Just wanted to kill our stepdad Just body him real quick Well Well I said that to say
13:15
If we You know In that moment in time We felt like that was the solution To
13:20
The turmoil we was going through. But looking back, of course, I'm older and mature enough to say
13:29
that could have been the end of it. We could have been in jail for the rest of our lives
13:35
We ain't, you know, Menendez brothers, we wouldn't even been on TV. Wouldn't have been no book deals
13:40
They wouldn't care. No movie, no nothing. Right. And, you know, I just felt like, you know
13:45
sometimes, again, you know, we got the habit of thinking that the space that you're in you're going to be stuck there forever and you know we never when we
13:57
was kids we was you know 10 and 11 we never dreamed about being adults so you know we couldn't see we
14:05
couldn't see a moment where we wouldn't be in the space you know in the situation that we was in
14:11
and i just wanted to you know i guess um tell them that without directly talking to them yeah and
14:19
And similarly, I was speaking to almost in a way to someone trying to get into this lane or that may aspire to take this on as a career path
14:29
The idea of like be mindful of what you're putting out the atmosphere
14:34
Like, you know, choose your words like they words have meaning of value and also save the money so the money can save you
14:42
You know, be wise about what you're able to purchase just because you're able to
14:47
maybe you shouldn't necessarily. And that's just something that comes with trial and error
14:51
and otherwise in real time. Wanted that nice fast form card And it like it more of a liability than an asset But that something you know maybe in your 20s you don see And looking back it like all right
15:07
And when you're so in a moment, you don't look forward to anything
15:11
Versus, I can, the last time I was here, I didn't have a child. I do now
15:16
It's like, so looking back, it's like, man, you got a lot to look forward to, like, starting a family
15:21
And when you're in it, when you're in the streets, when you're running around, Even when you live in this rap lifestyle full tilt, it's just you
15:28
And it's a different perspective. If you can make it to that point to where it's bigger than just you
15:34
you'll be able to have these reflective moments as well. Congratulations on the child, man
15:39
Appreciate it. Yeah, man, that's a beautiful record. Damn, man. You hear all that, Mike Muse
15:45
They just not, you know, throwing things at the wall. Oh, indeed
15:51
I do. I think it's beautiful. and I think it's beautiful to have two black men
15:55
and two black fathers discuss their version of fatherhood but also too I think it's really great to have two black men
16:01
discuss emotions and emotional intelligence and being vulnerable and I think what YouTube represents is
16:08
we all have a following, we all have influence no matter what we do in our
16:13
sectors of industry or business or jobs but in particular YouTube, the people that listen
16:17
to you and the people that follow you what I've noticed oftentimes in our culture
16:20
is that we often need permission structures to be able to emote, right? And to engage, right? And to be vulnerable and to cry
16:28
And so I think what you two are doing is giving permission for so many black men to be vulnerable
16:34
And oftentimes we say break the generational curse, but sometimes that seems too heavy. I think you guys just by talking to your sons and showing emotions, that is so transformative
16:43
that a black boy can feel so protected by another black man and feel safe and then to feel loved
16:50
and I'm sure you guys hug them. It's amazing how much black boys don't have physical touch
16:56
from their fathers, right, and how revolutionary that is unto itself. And so I just salute you, and I just thank you guys for doing that
17:04
And I'm just wondering how have you seen that within your sons in terms of how they are experiencing the world as you see them grow
17:11
I'm just curious. How do you see it through their eyes? Man, my oldest is not my biological son
17:19
So watching him grow and watching him transform, it's got a different feeling to it versus watching my biological son, of course
17:30
So with my oldest son, it's like watching the things I taught him, even if I didn't realize I was teaching him
17:39
It's like watching it come to fruition, the way he handles himself
17:43
Same deal with respect to other people. and you know the the idea that you kind of got to stand on the decisions you make and you know
17:53
watching him become that person and for my for my biological son watching him become kind of like
18:01
you said watching him be comfortable in being vulnerable or being comfortable expressing his
18:07
feelings you know we was taught uh i didn't have a father but i was taught that you know you're a
18:13
man, the last thing you do is cry. And, you know, even when it hurts, you got to, you know, suck it up and tough it out
18:20
And that's the opposite of what I teach my children. I teach them, you know, if it hurts, that's, you know, you got permission
18:26
You know, you're supposed to cry because it hurts. But I also teach them that you can't sob
18:33
You know, you can't mope about it. You know, you got that one day to feel sorry for yourself
18:38
After that, you got to get back to it because in the real world, nobody else is going to feel sorry for you
18:43
So you can't, you know, you can't get so caught up in it that you're looking for a pity party
18:47
But at the same token, you can't you don't have to go and pretend to be invincible
18:53
You know, I hurt. I cry. You know, you know, it is what it is
18:57
That's life. And we're only human. So, you know, I I find joy in watching them become young adults
19:06
Because, like I said, you know, my biological is 16 and he looks up to the older one
19:12
And they both look up to me. So, you know, to be in a space where you truly, you know
19:18
they say it all the time that your kids do what you do, or they are who you were
19:23
And, you know, so to watch them kind of flourish and become their own people and be people that I can be proud of. Yeah
19:31
I think that's normal. When did you discover you had permission to be vulnerable
19:38
Letter to My Son. That song? Yeah, that song. Yeah, because I recorded that record
19:44
Wait, can we have a letter to my son, Momin? What you mean when you say Momin
19:48
I don't want to play it I'm with that I actually had a conversation with Jalen
19:55
About that record And initially he was telling me When he heard the record, he was offended
20:00
He was like, man, because it's like a diss to my mom And I was like, we know how you feel now
20:05
And he was like, you know, he kind of understands What was going on And how much pain
20:10
And, you know, him being old enough to understand me as a man versus me as his father
20:17
He's like, you know, I see how tough you are. He was like, I understand how much that had to hurt you in order for you to go there with it
20:26
And so, you know, he asked me what I would have done, you know, if I would have done the same record now today
20:34
if it would have been the same situation. And I told him it would have been the same record, but I wouldn't have said her name and I wouldn't have called out her name
20:42
I said, that's out of respect for you. I said, you didn't exist, you know, in that in that form then
20:48
I didn't you know, I didn't have to have respect. You know, you were one year old
20:53
But here and now, you know, me, you know, I know I've spent 16 years with you
20:59
So, of course, I have a higher respect for you and out of respect for you
21:04
I wouldn't have went there with it, but I still would have told my story. And when I told that story, if you remember, like, the original video
21:12
I had turned my bedroom into a studio. So, you know, I didn't have a bed
21:17
I was sleeping on it. I put a futon, and those were very uncomfortable
21:21
But I wanted to make myself uncomfortable. I wanted to only work
21:25
And that record, I did a lot of records on YouTube right then in that time period
21:31
And all those records were me being a rapper. and music was my outlet so certain songs i wouldn't i wouldn't record i wouldn't film it
21:41
yeah but that record was heavy on me so you know i was like man it i'm just gonna go in here
21:46
and whatever happens happens and i never would imagine that that video would have became like
21:54
the viral sensation that became. Yeah. And when that happened, I came on here, and we did a – we took a call
22:04
Yeah. We took a call, and there was a guy with an accent. I can't remember where he was from. I don't want to be disrespectful and just give him a nationality
22:12
But I knew he wasn't African-American. Okay. And when he started speaking, if you remember, he started crying
22:20
I'm tearing up now. But that broke me. I remember that. he started crying he was like man I feel that record and the the idea that what I was going through isn just individual things not just me going through it And on top of that it not
22:38
I'm not the only black man going through it. And then to hear that man speak as sincere as he
22:43
spoke, that told me I'm not the only man going through it. And although it's an unfortunate
22:49
circumstance it was it was relieving to to know that you know in this space i i guess i took i
22:58
took the feedback the way they received the song yeah they heard the song and felt like they weren't
23:03
alone and i you know i i saw the feedback and felt like you know i'm not alone you're not alone either
23:09
don tripp and starlito are here we're gonna come back we celebrating their new album man it's out
23:14
now and I want you guys to get it Step Brothers for life this ain't from the album but it's what
23:21
I gotta go I gotta take them back man let it rock man 888-742-3345 let's go Tyler
23:28
that song is 16 years old crazy it's been a while since um geez since I heard that record
23:40
Man, we got goosebumps. I've got a bunch of people on the calls right now
23:44
Starlito's here. Don Tripp is here. 888-742-3345. Andrew is from Nashville. What up, Drew
23:51
Drew! Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. How are you all doing today
23:56
Doing good. The funny part is I'm from Nashville, but my fiance is actually from Memphis
24:05
Cooper Young crowd. Oh, you're real. That's what's up, man. Shout out to A-Ball MJG
24:11
Come on, man. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come on. Hell yeah, man. You guys, I'm loving that you guys are bringing something to the state
24:17
other than Nashville has the hot chicken and country music. Memphis has got the blues and barbecue
24:24
You guys are just spitting the truth, and it sounds fantastic. Oh, man
24:28
Appreciate it. Appreciate it, Drew. Hey, Drew, you got to get the new project, too, man
24:32
a few stepbrothers for life, the number four life. Man, you're going to really enjoy it
24:37
That's the one thing about their project and their music, which is not fabricated
24:43
What you're hearing in these lyrics is real. True that. You know, and so definitely support them
24:47
Drew, we appreciate your call. You're a super citizen. Let's weigh in the morning. Okay, Brittany's on the line
24:52
She's from Memphis. What up, Brittany? Hey, y'all. Hey. What up, Brittany
24:57
How y'all doing? What up? So fun, so good. Good. What you want to say to these guys
25:01
Excuse me. Okay, so excuse me. I'm in the grocery store right now
25:05
But I just wanted to say to y'all that I appreciate the fact that y'all are being something other than the usual product of our environment
25:14
I'm from Memphis. I went to school and teach. So I saw you perform
25:18
So I did a little when y'all came and did the Stair Brothers tour and stuff like that. So I just want to say thank y'all for, you know, being some good examples because y'all know what it's like being in here
25:27
Yeah, true. Appreciate you. That mean the world to us. Wow, Brittany. Thank you for your call
25:32
And what you buying? Stay away from processed meats. Will do. Okay
25:37
Looking for something organic. Okay. Thank you. There you go. All right. Make sure the code on the, what do you call that
25:44
The code on the barcode starts with the number nine. It should start with the number nine
25:49
Yeah, number nine zero. There you go. Okay, Brittany. She's on her square. I see you
25:53
You citizen. You citizen. Organic girl. Okay. We got Thor from Nashville
25:58
He said he watched them grow over the years. Thor, what up
26:02
Yeah. Hey, Thor. Okay. What's happening? I just called in and gave these men their flowers
26:07
I called last time they was here about four or five years ago. I didn't get through. But, man, I met Star by Princess Chicken at that car wash with Ed one day
26:17
He handed me his CD. He was going by All Star. But I just wanted to speak to the fact that, man, these are intellectual men
26:25
They book smart and street smart. Star to the high school he went to
26:30
And he was a hooper, too. Don't let that sleep on you. But when you smart like that
26:35
The streets will try to test you And he stood strong when they tested him
26:39
And he kept it solid I don't know much about Tripp But everybody I know from Memphis say he'll stand up a cat too
26:45
But there's always been Some underlying tension between Nashville and Memphis And I appreciate how y'all bridged that gap
26:53
And put Tennessee on y'all back That's a loop Wow that's amazing man
26:59
Y'all be safe out there man You too, God bless I appreciate it. That was a real-ass call right there
27:05
Yeah, nice. And that's the sort of stuff we wouldn't know about. But just from your perspective, when people talk about Memphis, right
27:12
it's just always dark and derogatory. Of course, there's been a lot of losses
27:19
People have lost their lives the whole nine. Y'all being from there, is this your ode to Memphis and Nashville
27:28
just to be real, just to offer this kind of music? Like people calling and saying, man, you guys represent something different
27:35
Are you hoping that the music make a difference? For sure. It's a survivor story
27:40
Like it's a double meaning, dual meaning for life. This is, you know, everlasting in that sense, but also like it's about living
27:50
You know, we're given an experience, like a human experience as survivors
27:55
And so, like one of the callers said, we're not the typical product of our environment
28:02
but very much so we're from that environment and trying to represent it well
28:07
trying to set an example and, you know, give people, like, offer a breath of fresh air
28:12
in this whole terrain or landscape or, like, rap at large. But, yeah, I do think that we represent natively where we come from
28:21
because we do come from different places. Yeah, true. and I think like the last caller said that from the prison system
28:28
and otherwise there's always been this like rivalry, you know, traditionally from Nashville to Memphis
28:34
It's the same way like I think like L.A. and the Bay, you know, kind of have that
28:39
They're different worlds. Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and debunk that L.A. and the Bay is in unison
28:44
They're always together. I'm just going to say that. But I know what you mean. But the stigma is there's some separation
28:50
But it takes for real ones to, you know, to set their tone. and make that what it is
28:55
But for sure, I think it's, like I said, that's survivors, man
28:59
because it's not in both places. They're real places. Yeah, man. And the guy said, you know, you tested, you battle tested
29:05
and otherwise, that's a real thing. Like, it seemed like he was from my side of town
29:09
Like I said, we met in East Nashville, the high chicken spot, and Prince's
29:14
Like, so he probably knows more than, you know. Than the average person
29:17
Right, right. There's a lot that went on in that, you know, two-mile radius
29:22
In Nashville, right? East Nashville. East Nashville. You notice how he separated
29:26
Mm-hmm. East Nashville. That's important, right? For sure. True that. What about Memphis
29:30
Memphis is tricky, man. I think Memphis is just as dark as other places
29:42
I think we all got, you know, all our cities got those spaces where you shouldn't be
29:48
or, you know, you shouldn't be present if you don't know anybody
29:52
I think a lot of times what happens is people that's not from there get caught in the allure
29:59
You know, like in Chicago, people want to go to, what is it, O Block
30:04
Yeah. People come to L.A. and they want to go to Crenshaw. You want to go to Long Beach
30:09
I, you know, I think that's part of it. When you find some kind of weird allure with being in the traps
30:16
or you want to visit the traps, what do you expect to find in the traps
30:20
That's what they are. And, like, for Memphis, I think part of where the stigma started
30:25
is the show, First 48. Yes, first 48. And what most people don't realize, I mean, if you think about that
30:36
what was the show about? It was about homicides, and you put it in wherever city you plan to put it in
30:44
If you put it there, you're only showcasing homicides. The show wasn't about barbecue
30:48
It wasn't about walks in the park. It was about homicides. Memphis signed some kind of contract where Memphis was on every episode
30:56
for a couple seasons. and when they did that i don't know who who's in charge of that kind of stuff but whoever did it
31:02
couldn't have foreseen how much bad light you were turning on but you could do that in any city
31:09
if you take it to you know i don't know what city in america will have the least homicides but if
31:16
you went to that city they got enough homicides for a season worth of episodes so if you only
31:22
showcase that then you're gonna assume that that place is treacherous no one can go to this place
31:27
there's murders every 10 minutes and you know i think once that light got shined on memphis
31:33
it kind of you know it gave it the dark allure like you know this is a very you know a very
31:40
dangerous place and on top of that it being a dangerous place it kind of like you know that
31:45
that maximized i feel like that made it a lot worse than it is of course you know like i said
31:52
even though it's a dangerous place just about every place is you can't really name a city where
31:58
you know where there isn't violence right right it's you know now that ain't to say that is not
32:05
you know unfortunate because a lot of what goes on is and the the i guess the most unfortunate
32:13
part of it is the culprits are becoming younger and younger yeah like you know you look up and
32:19
it's 13, 14-year-olds catching murder. Right. And, you know, I think that's sad because, you know
32:26
I look at that like, you know, I wouldn't want my sons in that mix
32:30
on either end of that, you know, the recipient or the person committing such crime
32:37
But I think the kind of music I make kind of gives my younger audience
32:44
an idea that this ain't the only way to go about it
32:48
And I come from that space, so, you know, I understand, you know, you got to do certain things to survive
32:56
You got to react or move around a certain way to survive in these environments
33:01
And a lot of times in these cases, the things you don't do kind of still get you in the mix
33:09
Like you can go to school and, you know, be a square and you drive down a particular street on the right day in your fancy car
33:18
and they want to take it from you. And I think sometimes part of the variable is that success is the thing that brings the envy
33:27
You know, people feel like. Breaks the envy. Right. I mean, you know, it's people that feel like you shouldn't have what you have
33:35
Why are you? Not because you didn't earn it, but because they feel like they should have had it
33:40
Yeah. And then you got people who, you know, it's a crazy world
33:44
You got people who don't want you to have it, even though they don't even want it
33:48
They just don't want you to have it. Right. You know, why are you? It's people that right
33:52
It's people that take you down, even if that means they got to go down with you and just
33:57
determine to make sure you don't win. And with that being our society, you kind of got to keep your head on the swivel
34:05
So in my music, I try to I try to portray that or try to provide that, you know, you
34:11
I want you to be able to be who you are, but don't be naive
34:16
You got to know that every person smiling at you ain't happy for you
34:22
You look at a wolf, it look like he's smiling, but that ain't going to smile
34:27
Man, Don Tripp is here, Starlito, they're both here. Tracy, I'm going to let you jump in
34:33
Yeah, I got to, man, because this conversation is too good. I don't say this about every single guy I come across
34:40
but I'm really happy that the both of y'all are fathers because your energy, your mindset, your wisdom
34:46
it needs to be replicated. Like, it needs to be replicated through y'all DNA
34:51
So I'm glad that you guys have that responsibility. And what you both have shared is um reflection is such a necessity to your art you know you cannot create the music that y do without that introspection um especially when so many people keep things buried you know what I mean
35:13
like the pain, the mistakes, the doubts, et cetera, et cetera. But you guys are able to alchemize it
35:19
And what happens is your music becomes a mirror. And you probably don't even realize things that you were carrying
35:27
until it came out through the art. And I know we spoke about that with you, Dawn
35:34
especially when it comes to Letter to My Son. But I wanted to see, Lito, do you feel like your music
35:40
has taught you something about yourself you wouldn't have realized otherwise? Without a doubt, without a doubt
35:50
I have learned about myself via the music. When you just play A Letter to My Son, like you said
35:57
I got chill bumps the entire time. I was early on in discovering the song, I think before it was actually a moment
36:05
but it took me back to that. And the same happens listening to a lot of my older music
36:09
I can kind of chart the growth or chart, like, I don't feel like that anymore or what was making me
36:17
Some music is difficult to listen to because it's so much of a time capsule and it's so much of a reflection of where I was at that time
36:25
Sometimes it's a relief, it's refreshing, it's a blessing to know I'm not in that space
36:30
I don't indulge in certain things anymore. But I have to, like, look back, like, why was I propping that up
36:35
Why was that an ideal of mine at the time? and when I realized that a lot of it was programming a lot of the things that I was into
36:43
were made to seem like they were cool or you know the direction I should be going in and so I had to
36:51
also realize I have an audience I have a responsibility there's somebody that probably
36:56
feel like drinking lean is cool because they heard me talking about it because I put a syrup
37:01
bottle on an album cover and I look back I'm like man that was so irresponsible I also can live with
37:07
because that's just where I was at the time. But I'm like, all right, whatever it was
37:13
I was not compartmentalizing some things well for that to be what I was wearing
37:19
My heart was on my sleeve, and that's where my heart was. It was kind of, you know, in a dark place
37:25
And that's why it's like now I put different lifestyle things in my music
37:32
not as a soapbox in a preachy way, but just like if I could stand on that
37:36
If I can stand on destructive things and prop them up, then why can't I say I went running on Runyon Canyon yesterday
37:44
and I was working on my breath control or whatever. Hell, yeah. You sound real as hell to say Runyon Canyon
37:49
You did that. For sure. But it's just the same as about a whatever I did
37:57
I mean, because to each his own. But, like, this is what I'm into
38:02
And I feel like that transparency is what wins. because people latched on to it or gravitated to it
38:08
because they felt like it was real. Well, I don't have to hide the constructive things
38:12
just the same. I don't party. I don't club as much. So I don't make club music
38:17
And it's like, that's okay too. It's just, I'm just expressing myself
38:22
I'm just sharing my journey. But it is, I do agree that it is a mirror
38:26
And that's, I think, the sweet spot or the beauty of what we do collectively
38:31
because we are so different as people. but to meet in the middle with that I think we we cover more the basis of the type of people that
38:41
are out here like and it's something for everybody or even in storyboard records where we're not
38:48
speaking first person we're able to to offer like different viewpoints or you know sometimes I think
38:56
the Michelangelo and Bugs record on a project which is like a tortoise in the hair updates
39:02
update of Aesop Fable, it's like a crash out, as you would say
39:08
Somebody just moving too fast for their own good. It's somebody a little bit more thought out
39:13
And these are just, these are reflections. It's a mirror of somebody
39:16
We for sure know somebody that, you know, that fits that profile
39:20
If we probably fit both roles in our times to be able to speak on it in that way
39:26
But it's definitely like I found moments of like reckoning almost from creating the music
39:35
I've been in the studio in real time. Like I don't need to say that
39:39
Or like what's, you know, I almost have to check myself because of the energy I might be putting out there
39:44
Or I might need to get this out and do it here so I don't bite somebody's head off somewhere else so I don't go react in the world outside of here
39:53
I think Madden Curse is a song where y both do that you know what I mean Where you get things out you know And was um just some of the things y saying and I know it real I know it raw I gonna quote some of the lyrics
40:08
um I know uh Tripp you said baby mama told me go to hell you know what if I do I finally get to
40:18
meet my dad he's gone still don't get no pass even in a cemetery I can't even find the word
40:24
forgiveness in the dictionary true yeah um i don't know what your question was on that
40:32
i just want to see what you matter i just want to see what you take it well first i think that um
40:42
i think i'm built for it even when you know even when it's it's not in my favor i can take it
40:49
and I think sometimes other people recognize that. They see that I can take it, so they dish it as much as they can dish it
40:59
So I tend to find a silver lining in whatever it is
41:04
and I believe that the face you show me when you're upset
41:10
that's your true face. So, you know, in that line, my baby mama told me to go to hell
41:17
If I do, I'll finally get to meet my dad because I never met my dad
41:22
And the sheer fact that I've never met him, that alone says if there's a heaven and a hill, you went to hell
41:29
I don't care how you swing it. And I ain't going to praise you just because you died
41:35
We got the habit of doing that. People die. Now we only speak of the positive things
41:40
No, he wasn't shit when he was alive. He couldn't have been because I ain't never meet him and he made me
41:44
And if that's how you treat the person you made, I can only assume that you were, you know, you was a despicable person to the planet Earth
41:54
if you didn't even have love for the person you created. And like I said, you know, I ain't forgiving it
42:01
I think that, what was it, Marlon King, you say, turn the other cheek
42:06
Yeah. You know, and Marlon King got assassinated. So that's how I look at forgiveness
42:11
I ain't saying I run around and I hold a grudge and, you know, I'm beefing with all people
42:15
but I ain't ever going to forgive you or forget what you've done
42:19
I'm going to remember and I'm going to remember to keep my distance. And same deal
42:24
I never met him, but, you know, I still would keep my distance if he was alive
42:29
I don't want to meet you now. I'm 40 now with children. And, you know, there's nothing you can teach me other than what not to do
42:37
So, you know. You talk about distance. There's a star lead. Thank you for sharing that
42:42
Because when I heard the line, you know, it made me think of you individually as a person
42:49
Like, is he okay? You need therapy? Right? I might, man. I might
42:53
You might. It's okay, though. Your music is your therapy. Starlito, you go keep a safe distance so you have no choice but to play victim
43:01
Damn, it's been eight years. I evaded a little state conviction. Life comes at you fast
43:06
A lot of shit happened that I hate to mention. and you did catch a charge
43:10
in what 2007 before you say that that's ironic we never break that shit down
43:17
we just you know I rap and he know he gotta come on or I'm gonna keep going so
43:21
it's wild that I just said I don't forgive I learned if anything I learned to keep my distance
43:30
and then he turned around and say the same thing basically so that was it
43:35
shout out to my journalism to point that out too man. You gave your own self a clap
43:41
It's in the room. Sometimes you gotta pat your back. Thank you Tracy
43:48
Thank you Tripp. I appreciate that. The question is with that looming
43:54
over the years how has that affected you and what is the state of things
44:00
I mean it's resolved. It reached a resolution. The charge got reduced
44:06
to a lesser charge. It was, you know, extended litigation. It was quite expensive and otherwise
44:12
And that situation wasn't the only thing that I was saying that I hate to mention
44:18
Just things that happened. That's the first song on this album. Okay
44:23
And so it was like, and connecting from where we left off on three, like a lot happened
44:29
We lost people near and dear to us. I caught that charge five months
44:33
after the project drive, Right after we got off tour, just a lot of things that happened in the public eye and otherwise
44:40
And it's like, that all happened, but here we are kind of thing
44:44
So, like I said, it's resolved itself. While I was fighting the charge, it was the same time that my daughter was on the way
44:53
And so all that happening it was like the greatest blessing of my life and the darkest time of my life happening at the same time Like I had to find myself and all of that And on the back end of it I kind of at a time lost a love for the rapping because I
45:14
felt like what I was going through wouldn't have been the same were I not a public figure
45:19
or was it not happening in real time. Like my home address got publicized in like a rogue article that got millions of shares online
45:28
So, like, instantly, like, there was things in real time that I'm like, man, this kind of sucks to be the rapper or to be a public figure when you're going through real things because there's street issues and this is a legal issue
45:42
And then I'm like, I'm about to bring a child into the world and now her safety and well-being
45:48
And it was just a whirlwind of things. So for a while I took a step back from the music to Soul Search
45:55
and just to figure it all out on a life level, on a human level
45:59
So, again, like, at some point later he goes on this historic run
46:05
dropping 24 projects in 24 months, and that helped get me out of a space, a dark space
46:14
and was very much inspirational. like all right we got these gifts if we don't use them what is our value here and um you you are
46:24
what you what you do yeah and so i found a different uh pocket to tap into and and wanting to
46:33
share my gift and otherwise and now my daughter's old enough to she loves this album wow i mean the
46:40
She's a clean virgin. She's a clean virgin. Okay. I was like, damn. I was like, wow
46:45
But she can ask, like, real questions about things. And so, like, yeah, I think that was, even though it's upbeat and it's bars and punch lines in your face
46:56
but it's always going to be that gravity, that reality, the autobiographical, you know, aspect of it
47:05
I appreciate y'all for being transparent and honest and open with us
47:10
and having this conversation. This ain't really an interview. This is just us having a conversation
47:16
This is me coming. Well, I just come to hang with our people. Yeah, that's what this is, man
47:20
Give them a big round of applause. Don Trepp and Star Leader. Oh, wait, hold up. Hold up
47:28
Uh-oh. Hold up, man. You know what this is, man? Oh, okay
47:34
This ain't Nashville, dawg. This ain't East Nashville, dawg. Hollywood. This ain't Memphis, dawg
47:43
True that. You in the Valley of the Hyena. Okay, red rose, white silly, but they ain't playing games in my city
47:56
They shooting rappers like they Hyde Williams, and that's why a Vane's got ice in them
48:01
Gotten too used to the pain with knee Vicodin These days gotta take the pain like vitamin
48:06
New disease spread called envy and entitlement Made my own lane in a game I wasn't invited in
48:11
And that's why I'm all over the web like I'm Spider-Man My bathtub don't lift up and I ain't in no 360 deal
48:17
The back end be crispy bills I know it's rare to see a rapper that's both rich and real
48:22
And it's for the long run, the spirit of Nipsey lives Yeah, I gotta get money so when I'm a chill
48:28
Just give them what they feel, no gimmicks, I'm real Look, I never went viral, a millionaire still
48:33
Pink 50s, blue 100s like a gender reveal Get it poppin', let's go
48:38
Sway in the morning, they could've warned us Why ain't nobody say we was performin
48:42
Either way, the beat gon' get straight laced like a Mormon No silverware place but say your grace how I'm goin' in
48:48
Stepbrothers for life, well, four and a half Superb album and deluxe and we on tour for that bag
48:54
It's Lido, I come from nothin', of course I'm a brag The joy that I have, just helpin' my lil' daughter with a map
49:00
No choice, I'm a dad. Can't overstate the importance of that. I'm in this mother swinging like I'm going to bat
49:06
That's what it sound like if Pippin enjoying K-Rap. And when it's paper on the line, we can't afford to relax
49:13
Back in this mother, I'm back with Avengers. The chopper came with bananas. The pistol came with a lemon
49:19
And I'll squeeze if you run up on me like it's just a bar. Burn you like Puffy did cut his car. Step Brothers for life
49:26
That brother's for life. We got some hyenas up in here. Now so stand up
49:31
Stand up Yeah She's not playing the sound That's it
49:40
I'm always gonna be turned up I'm gonna do that on the stage tomorrow
49:45
Shout out to Lunel That was dope right there bro Give it up for Lido
49:50
Give it up for Tripp Step Brothers for life man Great having y'all up man
49:55
Let's stay connected Wherever I'm at you're welcome You know how we rock you man
49:59
I'm going to find you. All right. You know, Lito, appreciate you, man
50:03
Come on, man
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