Mind Over Matter: Mindset Development
Venting about life while trying to navigate through it and sharing what I’ve learned with the world through enlightening conversation. This podcast was made and carefully curated in the essence of myself Deja Wallace. I will take you on my journey of self-discovery through a video journal-type podcast that guides you to self-discovery as I evolve with every episode. Mind Over Matter is the power to govern how you feel internally through mindset development. This podcast is essentially for dreamers, deep thinkers, optimists, and anyone who’s on the journey of self-discovery. RATE COMMENT SUBSCRIBE
Mind Over Matter: Mindset Development
Building Authentic Community @CultureCon ft. @deonraps
In our 100th episode, we dive into creativity and unexpected connections with DEONRAPS, a multifaceted artist from Queens. We met DEONRAPS at CultureCon, an event that sparked new friendships and meaningful opportunities. This episode unpacks building genuine communities and the importance of intentional relationships in the creative world.
Navigating networking in creative spaces like CultureCon is both exciting and challenging. DEONRAPS and I reflect on the surprising connections in the music and arts industry, highlighting the small-world nature of creative networking. We also explore moments backstage at the Made in America concert. DEONRAPS shares his experiences meeting icons like Raekwon and Jay Z , emphasizing the balance of admiration and professionalism in these encounters.
Our discussion also dives into today’s digital landscape, where content creation and artistry intersect. We question whether everyone is inherently creative or if true artistry requires a specific intent and vision. Finally, we discuss personal growth, overcoming fear, and finding supportive friendships that encourage us to push boundaries and embrace new opportunities.
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DEJA @deja.waja
My big theme in life right now is being more intentional with the people that I already have in front of me and acknowledging and being more open and unreserved with people that want to get close to me. Because before I'm like I don't fuck with niggas. I don't like niggas. You know what I'm saying. Because people like the couple times I've opened up my heart and my home and like my resource to people that were bought to me, they***ed me over, like in like crazy ways, disrespecting me, like spitting my face type sh**, and it's taken everything in me not to crash out because of it.
Speaker 1:But once you recognize, like your mission and why you were placed here and how valuable you are, like you realize like these are people that needed some type of healing or needed to get that off. Like they projected all their issue on to you. So, like if you really want community, that's going to be inevitable. You feel me like you're gonna have to take a risk, just like with anything else. Like you want to build something beautiful and authentic, you have to put yourself out there.
Speaker 2:I do magic. Mind over matter is magic, I do magic. Mind over matter is magic, I do magic, I do magic. Mind over matter is magic, I do magic.
Speaker 3:Welcome, mind over matter. Baby. I'm your host, deja Wallace, and if this is your first time joining, welcome. If this is not your first time joining, welcome back. I appreciate you. Like you really came back to listen to another episode. Shout out to you. You really came back to listen to another episode, shout out to you. You really came back like I love that for you. Oh, where's my popper? I have to get my poppers. Episode 100, big episode 100.
Speaker 1:Give me two seconds, I'm gonna clean it up this is your 100th episode, that's so fire, and now I'm honored. Now I'm extra excited. That's, that's super sick.
Speaker 3:Happy episode 100.
Speaker 1:Happy episode 100. You got to edit that Like the kids screaming yay.
Speaker 3:So Mind Over Matter. I love that for us and if you've been rocking with us from the beginning, I appreciate you. I made a mess just for y'all, because that's how much y'all mean to me. It's a vibe, though it's a vibe. I'm sorry, art, I made a mess. I ain't think this through. But yeah, I have a very special guest for my audio listeners. I I know you can hear. You can hear my guest right here. Introduce yourself, let the people know.
Speaker 1:Well, go ahead. My name is Dion Raps. I'm from Queens, New York. I'm a rap extraordinaire, a photographer, I cook.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so Dion. Mr Dion Chambers, thank you for joining me today. Of coursebers, thank you for joining me today of course, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:It's my like first like podcast, like interview thing, ever so, like usually I make fun of podcasts, but I really yeah, I'm not gonna lie but I really like your content like a lot, thank you. Like it's of substance, it's not like who should split the bill, like type shit. You know what I'm saying no, they'll never catch.
Speaker 3:If you ever see content like that, I'm not okay type.
Speaker 1:It's like yo, like who should eat the bread at the table?
Speaker 3:like crazy shit I'm not okay if you see content like that. So we're gonna get into just a lot today. We're gonna get into culture con. That's where we met that's where we met that's where it all started. We're gonna talk about the pros and cons of that, of just events in general that are catered to content creators the pros and cons of that.
Speaker 3:Um, we're gonna talk about building an authentic community and life as a creative. So if this is something you're interested in, kick, kick back, relax and enjoy this episode. So on today's episode I already talked about I said all of that, All right CultureCon.
Speaker 1:CultureCon.
Speaker 3:What did you expect going in? And what is CultureCon? For people who don't know what that is, so I went to CultureCon last year.
Speaker 1:I'm no way a brand ambassador. Culture con was something that I work for. This woman that owns this archive she like does archival work for like hip-hop, so like anything like since the conception of hip-hop. Like she archives like it's super sick. Um, her name's uh, serena gates. She's amazing. She actually gave me a ticket last year to CultureCon, but the day I went like I didn't know what to expect. Honestly, I just knew it was like a hub for creatives where you can find a job and connect with others and look at panels and things. It's not really like my forte, but it's something like. Let me step outside my comfort zone and go to Last year. I didn't get to experience it like in a great way.
Speaker 3:You were working and get to experience it like in a great way you were working. That's all right.
Speaker 1:I was sick. I was sick, I went. It was rainy, it was cold, I was sick, I was anxious, I was like I stayed for like a little bit of it. The lines were ridiculous, like for the job fair, for the activation, so I ended up going home. This year I was able to get the ticket again and have to pay for it. I was like, okay, like now I'm on the mission, because before the job fair last year was really crazy, like that was my main like thing of going. I was like, okay, I want to find a job in my field, I want to connect with others and I want to like really have this be like a fruitful, productive moment like did you get a job?
Speaker 1:huh. So I connected with this really cool dude from navy yard that we connected on linkedin and he's like pushing me forward into um applying for like these different positions that, like you wouldn't normally like find. It's like yo, like I'll put you in this base and we'll reach out if something fits like what you like. You know what I'm saying. So, like I accomplished like something from it. You feel me it was cool, but, um, I don't know, this year was just like it was so different in like a good way and like like a way that I didn't really favor because my whole intention was to come for like work, feel me, but, um, it felt more like a showcase.
Speaker 3:You know I'm saying for just like they still had the job thing yeah, which I'm tight because I didn't realize that until after I left I went, it was cool.
Speaker 1:Um, I don't know, it wasn't like last year. Like I went and essentially it was me talking to recruiters and them directing me to the website. You feel me Over here? I got like 10 resumes in a folder, like I'm ready, I'm elevator pitch ready, and basically it was just them explaining to me what the company is and does. And hey, go on the website and see what jobs look good for you.
Speaker 4:But like could have did that at home.
Speaker 1:You feel me like I thought like you know that was this year yeah, that was this year, so maybe like that I didn't miss out anything cool type you feel me. So maybe like I don't really do the job fair thing, so maybe that's how job fairs usually go, yeah like, that's how they are yeah, okay, so I I didn't know that, so I'm expecting, like okay, like maybe I'll get an interview on the spot mainly with job fairs.
Speaker 3:I'm actually going to one next month. Just be personable, make them laugh, you gotta yeah, just funny. I need bread but if you move like I need bread, like everybody else, they just like I, get in line no effects, no effects so you went there to basically like get a job yeah, like not just get a job, like get a job.
Speaker 1:You feel me like expand the network, like expand the field, like just get something from it other than a party with like beautiful black people. You feel me like I'll go to nowadays and do that. You feel me like I want like something to come from this, you know um so did it meet your expectations, or it's?
Speaker 1:hard to have expectations on something that I've never really been to. You feel me like like a type of crowd I've never really been with, like these are all like brown and black creatives from all over new york flying in, throwing on like their best low-key. It felt like a met gala.
Speaker 1:You know I'm saying so like it's just like and then with the prices of the tickets and I know people like really dropping bags and the food, that was just like this was. This is just a big block party with panels. You know, I'm saying a big yeah, big, expensive block party, mind you. Uh, the energy and the atmosphere of it was amazing, but, um, I don't know, I just felt on a professional tip. I would have wanted more to come for it, but that's my experience. Maybe there are people that actually did like get to connect with others and and got some type of job from it or got some type of, uh, something more than just like a photo op. You know what?
Speaker 3:I'm saying my expectations going in. I felt like I was just going there for the vibes. I did pay for a ticket. I kind of wanted to just put myself out there because I seen it last year. I wanted to, I'm not gonna lie. I was like maybe I will meet somebody that is like got some type. I wanted to meet somebody I could put on my podcast. You know what I mean. Like like an isa ray or somebody type. You know what I mean? Yeah, um, but that was very unrealistic of me because like they were like all like, like in their own world, the girl from Poor Minds. I've seen them walking around getting food and stuff, but then they just went back in their own zone.
Speaker 1:That's not unrealistic, that's very realistic. As soon as you're three paces away from somebody, that is access for you.
Speaker 3:But I don't want to just come off like oh, can you be on my podcast? Yeah, of course.
Speaker 1:Like obviously relationships has to be organic, but you did come with intention.
Speaker 3:You feel me that was the intention but other than that I have very no expectations outside of that. Like I, was just like. I'm just going there. I don't know what to expect from the event itself, but I know what I want to do when I get there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, basically that, because like Big Up's Culture Con you feel me.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they did a big one. That's like the third one or the fourth one, but yeah, they did their big one.
Speaker 1:OD right, so I had expectations of my own. That doesn't fall on anybody except me. You feel me, which is why I normally don't have expectations.
Speaker 3:Can't not disappointed. I think that for me especially because I hate going to places alone and I couldn't convince anybody to buy the ticket to go with me I ended up going alone, and what that did for me was it kind of made me just gain this sense of confidence that I've never felt before. When you go to a place alone, especially when people are like in their groups and they, you know, planned about this all year it's like okay, you're here alone, you have no excuses now. Like you got to put yourself out there. And when I actually did that, they said does anybody from the audience want to speak? I grabbed the mic and I was just shouting my stuff out and it just made me feel like yo, you could do it, like you're all in your head at the end of the day, everything you tell yourself is all in your head, so that was like very like cool.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that was when I first saw you.
Speaker 3:That was literally when I first saw you.
Speaker 1:And I had went to that tent because I was like my social battery was dead. So I went to the tent. I'm like nothing's going on here, let me sit and catch a little break. Then they were like, oh, little networking session. I'm like this is what I wanted. This is actually what I wanted. So the network session in the tent. Nobody kind of knew what was happening.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it was literally just a few people outside. That's why I didn't care to shout my thing out.
Speaker 1:I'm like it's crowd, like I don't know these people type. And then you said something that resonated, which was wanting to do something consistently, but consistently at a high level. You know, because what was? It was something along the lines of like you can do something consistently, but the quality is going to suffer at some point just because of, like, putting things together at such a high level all the time, like it's not especially by yourself.
Speaker 3:By yourself it's not realistic yes, exactly and I passed by you on the jerk chicken line yeah, I didn't get no jerk chicken y'all, I got some vegan food.
Speaker 4:I'm on my vegan tip on your vegan tip on your sebi tip and I got my rum punch type.
Speaker 3:Okay, you got it but, um, you were like the second person. I was like yo, what you said resonate. I'm like I ain't gonna say nothing that profound though, but it's just crazy, because once you put yourself out there, you don't know who's going to resonate with something that you would have overlooked.
Speaker 4:You know.
Speaker 3:That's why I really liked that event, because it was very invigorating. It was like yo, you can literally meet anybody and they can be doing anything Like this dude likes post-it, posted cards, like post them. It was somebody in there that worked with rap radar and he's like right there, yeah, on the radar or rap radar. I mean on the radar he had like some gap sweater on and he was under the tent too do you recall their name?
Speaker 1:gabe, oh, oh yeah, yeah, I know gabe, gabe. I knew me and gabe were like mutual followers for like a minute when he was working at the radio station and we just would kind of just dm, and then he took off for on the radar and he's I met him in person, I think before on the radar dropped. Uh, I was at this girl's um single release party, victoria. She was like dropped his fire single. He was every fun. Huh, huh, no, not monet, no, no, no, no, no, um, my home girl from queens and she dropped this fire single and Gabe happened to be there. I'm like, oh shit, like we finally meet in person, like New York is really funny, like that.
Speaker 1:It's like if you do music, the six degrees of separation really become two or three. You know what I'm saying so, and then another dude there that I met through my home girl in atlanta. His name is romeo. He's been killing shit at republic records. Um, it's just kind of weird how, like everybody just knows everybody some way. Somehow, if you do music and you do music at like a higher level than a nigga with like a a sound cloud in the studio mic, you feel me?
Speaker 3:um, it's, it's interesting yeah, it's crazy because I didn't think I was gonna see anybody I knew and I seen three people I had on my podcast. I'm like what the hell? It's crazy, like the whole six degrees separation thing. Yeah, like this world is not as big as we think it is od like somebody can know somebody who knows somebody like oh, that's my cousin. Yeah.
Speaker 1:That's my cousin, od who, the who the man. I met, someone that told me something. Oh, I was with this amazing artist, amazing artist. Yesterday in the studio we met for the first time and she's telling me all this, all the work with who she's written some of my favorite songs. I had no idea.
Speaker 3:That's crazy. You know what?
Speaker 1:I'm saying she lived right in queens. You know what I'm saying? Just moving low-key. She's working on a great project. I don't know if I can like say anything about it, so I'm just going to keep it no name. But we're always in reach of like spectacular things and you'll never know until you open up your mind, or just open up your eyes a little bit, just pay attention to something outside your immediate surrounding and, um, which is funny, which is kind of like what that book I was telling you about like involves. It's like you literally have to be intentional with everything you acknowledge in like a weird way, you feel me.
Speaker 1:It's like, um, like, like nothing's coincidental yeah, nothing's coincidental at all reason yeah I don't. Nothing like everything is for a reason, like even me yo, I wear it to everything once you see a new yorker go that's how it's.
Speaker 1:Like shit, I walk past you on the line and I was with my homegirl, jonesy, and I was like yo like wait, wait here. And I was, I kept walking. I'm like no, I'm not gonna say nothing, I don't want to. You know, she's doing her thing like she's totally like I don't want to like bother her. She may think I'm like I'm on some other shit, I just keep walking. But I had this feeling in my like my stomach. It was like tightening up. It's like go back, go back and tap in something. Something good is going on. Yo, yo like what?
Speaker 4:you said what happened.
Speaker 1:You know I'm on my uh, my first podcast and a great great platform of something of substance. You feel me Like something that feels good to be in conversation about.
Speaker 3:Exactly Not talking about.
Speaker 1:And you know mad people that I know.
Speaker 3:Really.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:See, that's how true. It is the universe universe. All right, so the showcase-y part. I want to get into that. You said like it felt very showcasey.
Speaker 4:We're gonna talk about the cons.
Speaker 3:It wasn't all kumbaya. Yeah, I did feel that kind of like a dystopian vibe like yo. Is this really where the future is going?
Speaker 1:like yeah, it's like. It's just like I like some of the mcdonald's food. What do you know about streetwear? You feel me like having a screen printing class with mcdonald's was so interesting why did you see that on that?
Speaker 1:because it's like, so I forgive me if I'm misquoting something, but mcdonald's is moving forward in streetwear fashion and dropping like they're gonna unveil like a line of closings of like, just like, like, like high fashion denim, like streetwear, like cool shit, like making it like like high fashion denim, like streetwear, like cool shit, like making it fashionable, like dicky, looking like work wear outfits, things okay, I can see that like a fashion line and you just thought it was like, and that's the thing, there were so many activations but, like, for the amount of activations there were, in the amount of people there were, you can be online for like an hour like waiting.
Speaker 1:Like the same moisture line was stretched, you feel me?
Speaker 3:the mcdonald's line was stretched I didn't wait, and you feel me. So the jerk chicken line.
Speaker 1:I waited for samples and like I don't want to, like like we're at this event and like we're just waiting in line for like a quarter of the event, half the event, like it's not something that's favorable. I think the main bang for the buck is just hitting for the panels okay, I think all right.
Speaker 3:I said dystopian vibes in terms of, like you know, when you just see a content creator creating, it could be cringe sometimes oh od and when you see like a bunch of them in their own worlds doing it od, do you look?
Speaker 1:like npcs for the world, like ice cream, so good yeah, that's how I felt.
Speaker 3:I was just like like I was seeing people that I only see on my feed and then seeing them in real life. I was just like yo, what the black in the black mirror is going on.
Speaker 1:Why the fuck you got a ring light for it?
Speaker 3:like yo. Outside it's like the sun is out. Why do you got the?
Speaker 1:reflector. He's like, yeah, can you take this for me? 0.5 on the camera 4k yeah was.
Speaker 3:that was just the weird part to me and it kind of felt very pretentious at some points. People were just moving like there's shit to make the best patty in the world. They didn't have to say it, but it just felt like that you know what I mean. Like don't tell me.
Speaker 1:That's part of being like a creator and an artist is like that. There's a like, a fine, fine line between like humbleness and then also being delusional. The thinker, the greatest in the world, and in order to make it as any type of creator, like what we just talked about earlier, we need to have some of that delusion just to feel like you're the best, but I don't know the whole content yourself.
Speaker 3:Sometimes you gotta feel like you're best, but it's about how you come off to others.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean yeah, and it's like weird because you don't also want to like police how someone shows up in the world as their best self, like. If you want to act like a and that empowers you, unfortunately you have the right to be and have that empower you. But, um, I don't know. Content creation that's the way, because I'm not a content creator like I'm an artist. You feel me like I'm not doing like a day in the life and vlogging about what outfit I'm gonna wear, like I'm making music. You feel me like I'm pouring out like these inner thoughts, type shit like this therapy for me.
Speaker 1:So it's weird to be in in that space with people that create like dopamine hits for people to consume on the internet. And because the conversation is different around it, it it's like, okay, you're here with the intention to make content, to showcase this thing online, but what's after that? You go to the next event. You make content about that event and the next thing and the next thing, and it's not really a talent. It's like you're a social journalist. You feel me You're just a socialite that vlogs it, which that's a lane of its own, that's a bag of its own. That's a bag of its own like. I'm not dissing it, but the conversation gets muddy when, like I'm coming, like I'm showing up as like a music artist, photographer, and like I don't like doing the whole performative, like be on instagram every day and make a tiktok dance or something stupid like that, like it's not something that I find enjoyable chasing the algorithm yeah, chasing the algorithm, like obviously there's some rules we gotta play by, but like I'm not gonna sit here and shake my hips.
Speaker 1:My song is talking about like therapy and I'm over here shaking my hips to it.
Speaker 3:I'm going to shake my hips because I like dancing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I like dancing, but it's hard to dance when you're talking about, you know, struggling, you feel me Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3:And did you feel like individuals were like clout chasing out there? Did you have that vibe or anything?
Speaker 1:Clout chase. I don't well, for one, I kind of don't pay attention to you for me so like, because I'm jaded by people like low-key. But um, I saw some people I wouldn't even call it cloud chasing people. Some people were there to make a statement, okay, and they did, and I like, but they weren't being weird about it at least not me, because you know like I just kind of observe and just keep walking. But people there and like their Sunday's best, like the suits went crazy. There was like these two dudes. They were in these crazy Bedazzled suits. I was like yo, like these niggas, was here on a mission, like, and then they got it.
Speaker 3:You seen the guy with the beard and the. He had flowers.
Speaker 1:Yes, bro, that shit is so hard, yo, yo, what. Okay, so what I was saying to somebody is that, despite whatever qualms I had with my experience at the event, it felt good to be there. I felt like everyone that was supposed to be there was there. I didn't feel like a clout-chasing vibe. I felt like, well, well, you put a price tag and an intention behind an event. The right type of people are going to show up. You know I'm saying like it didn't feel like people were there on like weirdo shit. You feel me like you paid 300 plus to be here. I know you're not gonna like make it an uncomfortable experience for yourself or for others. You feel me like I meant some like really like good souls there, so I can't attest to the cloud chasing yeah, same, same, um.
Speaker 3:As a more reserved person I don't like the word introvert as a more reserved person, how do you capitalize yourself in environments like that? Because I did see like the girls from poor minds and obviously I wanted to speak to them but I just didn't. It's just the new new yorkian in me. I just can't just go up to somebody without like something to offer them, offer them, and not just be like a fan, just a pure fan.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I mean yeah.
Speaker 3:So how do you like and also like my um anxiety was kicking in so I couldn't I didn't know how to like communicate to them, but how do you like capitalize on a situation like that, especially as a reserved person?
Speaker 1:um, I have to. You have to read the room, like like, in order to like capitalize on a situation for one like I've been in rooms with, like the most random people in the world like I was like yo, how it's like, how am I meeting? Like I, I've met Jay-Z backstage at a show. That is hard, it was weird. So he dapped me up. I was like n***a, I was walking, I was on my photo. I was at Made in Philly with no, I was at Made in America, the concert Tingy does in Philly with my manager, yams. I'm walking backstage. I'm trying to rush to the next tent photo. Rob and jay are walking. I'm looking, I'm like you see me. It's like, well, god, I was like son, what? And it's you kind of just have to. Um, just, you belong there. You're there for a reason. You feel me like you're. You're just there.
Speaker 1:Like, just treat it like you would treat anything else. Give people their flowers. Like if there's an artist that I like, it's like yo, like I'll just dab them up. Like yo, like I really like what your work. You feel me like there's a difference between showing respect and giving someone the flowers, like being super fanned out and like sometimes it's hard not to fan out because someone's like influence, like on like, whether it's your developmental years or just like your everyday, like their vocals or their artwork is something that's getting you through life and like that's your, that's like your perspective. But you have to be mindful of the fact, like, the people that you're approaching are still individuals themselves and like exactly they may not be.
Speaker 1:So you know, quick to to be receptive to you. You know I'm saying like people have to be comfortable, like the same, like first conversation we have, like it was a little like we had to feel each other out. You know I'm saying Like people have to be comfortable, like the same, like first conversation we have, like it was a little like we had to feel each other out.
Speaker 3:You know what I'm saying?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so someone that's in that situation definitely has to feel you out. Yeah, exactly, and rather they take to you quickly, or and they're not obligated to.
Speaker 1:At all, or it's like a high and by yeah, especially if you want to like work. I met like I met like Raekwon On like a fashion week, in like Cinnamon Jones, which is like One of the originators Of like Wu-Wei. She went to FIT and that's how me and her got close. She's like oh, you went to FIT too. She's like Yo, come meet Rae, da, da, da, da, da, yeah. And I was like, oh, yeah, and you kind of find your in.
Speaker 3:You know what I'm ramel?
Speaker 1:oh, the, you said the person who made woo woo no, no, cinnamon jones is one of the like originators of woo, where she introduced him to ray kwan okay, okay from from yeah, yeah, yeah and um, I was talking like yo, like, I like, I like, and you just kind of just conversate when I was like I like your last project. He had dropped this crazy song called marvin, which is basically him illustrating the life and death of like marvine. And I'm like bro, this, this song is crazy. You chopped it up and then outside I was like yo, now I'm like, okay, we spoke. Maybe I should just let them know, like yo, I do photo work Like here's my card. He's like, if you ever need any type of like video photo work, like you could do it.
Speaker 3:You just can't. For me, the part that I can't get past is the emotions. Like I want to say something. It's not that I don't want to seem like I'm coming off of as a fan, it's like I literally choke up, like I don't know what to say. I just like don't say any. I seen um tracy ellis ross wow, first class.
Speaker 1:I have such a crush on her.
Speaker 3:No, no Security, nothing. First class On a Plane to Jamaica. She was sitting First class alone. Nobody was sitting next to her, and you know what I did.
Speaker 4:What.
Speaker 1:Nothing, because I don't know, like my emotion, I'm still like I don't know how to I'm not going to be Extradited automatically I get mean to myself, like that's one of the things too. Like when I feel like that, I'm like stop being a bitch, like not like shake it off, like you'll never be in in in the next person anyway. But you know what, having good experiences with celebrities also shape you. Because when I first started photographing my stupid ass one of my first gigs, um, I was photographing uh like an adidas source event and I pulled it in like a three-piece suit. I was like 17, 18, I put it with like a full suit and like a button up and all these true religion and like streetwear and all that. I look goofy as hell girl and I'm baby faced with these thick black glasses. And then waka's like yo, like big flock, you know that's me up like waka.
Speaker 1:Flaco was like one of the first celebrities I met. That me up made me feel welcome. I was in vip. The security was really nice to me. Um, jack harlow when before he, uh, before what's popping I met him, um, he was super nice and like meeting these people that I was listening to on the regular and having them be receptive to me and like showing me love, like, especially so early in my career, really like gave me that extra oomph to like just approach people and like talk to them. You feel me, cause the worst someone can say is like like yo, not right now. You know what I'm saying. I met Tyler the creator at a milk gallery when Lucas Sabat had like a photo show. Lucas Sabat, forgive me, and he had like a hot mess, I think it was called. It was like a little photo thing and I was walking backwards, I bumped into this nigga and I was like yo and then he looked at me he's like yo and it was Taco Yo it sound like you would do that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it sound just like that and we like talked and it sound like you would do that. Yeah, it sound just like that and we like talked and it was like such a great conversation. Like I was like, okay, like this dude's cool as fuck and I go to Tyler and Tyler was like you don't want to talk, I'm like yo I know you don't like photos, because I maybe get a flick. He's like nah, like not right now. Like how, like just being an individual, these, these interactions can just switch up so drastically, like I'm over here laughing, chatting with taco and then tyler's.
Speaker 1:Like you feel me mind you, I'm still a fan like of of tyler's, everything he's done, but that just shows you like, at end of the day, like the work in a person, while the work is like an extension of them, there's still a person at the end of all of it so just treat niggas with respect, and if it's meant to be, it's meant to be.
Speaker 1:If not, it's not. So that's how I kind of like go with it. It's just like I've been in this situation before either do it or shut up, type shit. That that's what I say to myself, but that's kind of what I say to anybody.
Speaker 3:Don't be a bitch yeah, I have ptsd from that moment. I'm like yo, you you know when a moment passes you and you just keep thinking about it. Od. I could have said that. I could have said this.
Speaker 1:That's why I circled back to you. You didn't say anything. That is why I circled back to you.
Speaker 3:Life as a creative. Let's get into that. Do you feel like we are all born creatives?
Speaker 1:Not to get like too deep, but like low key. Yeah, like I wouldn't say All born, like all born creative. I feel like Anything we do Is creating itself, but I think the difference Between someone that like Creates something and like an artist Is that An artist create with intention. You know what I'm saying. But naturally we just create as like a way of life. You feel me Like you put a fit together, you make a meal, take a shit, creating something. You're dispelling something. You feel me Like it doesn't even have to be art. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3:Anything we do with our hands, anything we do with our hands, or we have a execute, something that came to our heads, like we're always creating something, so if we're all creatives.
Speaker 1:Does that mean that anyone could be a content creator technically? Yeah, I've seen yo the aki was making sandwiches, something. That's some fat nigga was like, yo put a honey bun in my and, bam bro, like yo like, and he took it and he ran with it. You know what he does. He built, he's, he's building an empire and he's holding down this family in Yemen. I was watching like little interviews of like the Akiwayu and it's like anyone can, can, can create something. Anyone can be a content creator. It's just knowing what to do, like there's um, there's one thing they just do, um, my mind just went completely blank. But people will, will do something on the internet that people will enjoy and they'll just run with it and it'll be an accident. The fuck Tula girl, bro, the hock Tula Spit on that thing, the white shorty. You know what I'm talking about? Nah, I don't the hock Tula. If she don't hock Tula, I don't talk to her.
Speaker 3:Why does it sound familiar?
Speaker 1:but nah, it's not it's literally a white girl talking about giving head and then she, the dude, was like yo, like what are you supposed to do with it? And she's like you gotta hawk to her, spit on that thing. Yeah, it went viral literally. It was like one of those stupid street interviews where they interview drunk people and she was like basically spit on the. And people were like yo, we need her, we love her, and she's a fucking millionaire and I'm not hating what it's like she. I think I read online that she's worth 12 mil. I don't know how true that is, but she's making a bag, she's selling merch, she's making, she's getting sponsored, she's getting brand deals from literally saying hotua, spit on that thing.
Speaker 1:That's crazy it's an interesting world we live in it's an insane world we live in which, but she's not an artist. There was no intent behind that. She was just being her f***ing self.
Speaker 3:Mhm, you know what I'm saying so you think even the most boringest person in the world can become a content creator literally be a content creator, literally be a content.
Speaker 1:There's a niche for everything. You know.
Speaker 3:I'm saying a successful content there's a niche for everything.
Speaker 1:Yeah, if people like you, they like you. Like. The thing about content creators is that, like the ones that don't do any type of talent, like they're a brand, you just become a brand. Like people just have to like you, people have to. You know I'm saying like and like man's was saying earlier, um, when you know how to operate media and the internet like it's all a science, like this comes down to a science. You feel me, either people are going to take to it or they're not going to take to it.
Speaker 1:I'm watching one of my homies have a crazy viral like blow-up moment and the way he moves is so calculated, like from the rollout to like, even the saying, like his strategy nuts, because people are gonna eat that up. So, um, whether it's art, whether it's content creation, and for one like I hate the fact that people kind of use content creator to like umbrella everything like it's. So, oh, like, I'm always a content creator. Like, no, I'm a painter. You know I'm saying I'm a painter. You know what I'm saying. Like I'm a photographer, I'm an artist.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like I'm not no f***er, you know what I'm saying Like I'm not doing that.
Speaker 3:Yo, I got to get you to do a TikTok. I want to see that let's get into building an authentic community.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's the theme of my life right now. Is it harder to build genuine communities nowadays, especially because of social media? Yes and no. Um, I feel like that's just the thing with the. When I was younger, I feel like it was harder to build genuine communities. I feel like it's like. I feel like there's such a there's this collective feeling. I've noticed like with each shift of like age, people start moving very differently, but they move adjacent to how you're currently feeling. It's like a weird like, like universal. You ever heard about the like the, the theory, the universe theory, where we're all one big thing of energy and it's like the universe is just using us as sock puppets. It's like there's one big mass of energy that's all of us. We're all cosmic dust and stars and the universe is just putting us on like a glove and playing with us like so me and you are one in the same um, it sounds like the sixth degree kind of thing type yeah, but like we're literally all one, like we're one entire.
Speaker 1:oh okay, yeah, I yeah, but like we're literally all one.
Speaker 3:Like we're one entire thing.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay, yeah, I've heard of it, or like we're all. Like I've definitely heard of that, yeah, we're all connected. Literally all connected Like taking you watch Rick and Morty. I used to you remember the Hive Mind episode.
Speaker 3:No, I watched like five episodes.
Speaker 1:There's an episode where, like a hive mind, and it's like she basically infects people by getting them to throw up in each other's mouths, but, um, she comes as a deity as well. Yeah, she comes as a deity as, like a creature, she'll infect one person, the other person, the other person and she'll have like total control to like their feelings, brains and and they all have like their own personalities, but they all kind of operate on one plane.
Speaker 3:That's what I'm smacked and I'm so very shit, whoever created that was fine, but um, I get, I get. I get what? Exactly what you?
Speaker 1:mean, yeah, it is I wouldn't say necessarily harder. I think we're more emotional, intelligent, emotionally intelligent. I think it's harder in terms of like just having the time. Like my big theme in life right now is being more intentional with the people that I already have in front of. Like just having the time. Like my big theme in life right now is being more intentional with the people that I already have in front of me and acknowledging and being more open and unreserved with people that want to get close to me.
Speaker 1:Because before I'm like I don't like you know what I'm saying Like cause people like the the couple of times I've opened up my heart and my home and like my resource to people that were bought to me, they f***ed me over, like in like crazy ways, disrespecting me, like spitting on my face and it's taken everything in me not to crash out because of it. But once you recognize, like your mission and why you were placed here and how valuable you are, like you realize like these are people that needed some type of healing or needed to get that off. Like they valuable you are. Like you realize like these are people that needed some type of healing or needed to get that off like they projected all their issue on to you. So like, if you really want community, that's going to be inevitable. You feel me like you're gonna have to take a risk, just like with anything else. Like you want to build something beautiful and authentic, you have to put yourself out there. And that sounds mad cliche, but that's what I've learned the hard way. Like this year I've had to disconnect with old friends or detach from certain people that had they, they stopped growing. You know I'm saying once you stop growing like and I'm progressing forward and I'm trying to evolve and be a better version of myself than yesterday and you're still where you're at there comes a disconnect and there's no like harm done. But I need to move forward into something that's going to serve me. You know things that no longer serve me have no space in my life or it's detrimental to what I'm gonna have going on.
Speaker 1:So, in search of new community and friendships like I've had actual artists, like really embrace me and like show me. Like you know I'm saying like yo, like we're here. You know I'm saying we got you. Like we may not be the most consistent communication, but where we're rooting for you, we rally together and we support each other.
Speaker 1:Like one of my favorite artists that I was originally a fan of, now we have a whole song together is uh, thomas, life of tom and when I really started like putting my foot forward with the music, like he would like give me like little tips and tricks and really push me forward and speak life into me. And that's my, my thing now is like people are really speaking life into me, like without me really having to do much, but they just recognize like what I'm about and I think your tribe is going to find you was going to see you for like who you really are and you know, anything I can do to reciprocate, I reciprocate. You feel me so. Oh, it's harder to find community if again you're, you're moving, reserved.
Speaker 3:You know what I'm saying yeah, and that's why I like try to go to events like that, and because I went to another event thursday. That was really cool, similar to culture con, but it was way smaller, it went, way more intimate. But, um, it also reminded me like yo, you're all in your head. Put yourself out there like that's the only way people are gonna know who you are like outside of the internet yeah because you can't.
Speaker 3:It's uncomparable, you know. Yeah, another thing too I found is that this is the 100th episode, but it's like, you see, I'm still by my doli, you know what I mean at the top it's lonely. You feel me? I didn't. I wasn't. I didn't start well, I did start by my doli, but I still have friends around me. But then I started to see like their true colors and it kind of made me. That's what made me.
Speaker 1:Reserved is like, yeah, be your own man, be your own man's so disheartening yo it's like my mama's food. You feel like heart type.
Speaker 3:So, yeah, that's like I'm trying to um not allow that, not to move so much off of fear anymore.
Speaker 1:That, yeah, everybody's like that yeah, fear is the mind killer especially when there's multiple people multiple people like that. Yep, but then again, like you know, I don't know if you're religious at all, spiritual, but I always ask god, as the universe you'll like, remove those I mean me harm, remove those I no longer, and then when they drop and it's like, hey, hey, hey, are you sure you should let him her?
Speaker 3:him, him, her.
Speaker 1:It like yo, it's easy, it's like damn, but then you realize, once you, once you. My pops always says it, I quote this in the daily. He says believe people when they show you who you are. You know I'm saying when someone shows you her the first time, like believe them. I love saying that my stupid is to give the benefit of the doubt. It's like, nah, I'll like justify the behavior because me, like, I'm a pisces, right, but I always, I always find logic. So it's like oh, you act like that because your mom did this to you when you were 12, like I'd be psychoanalyzing the other people but in doing that I accidentally justify their bullshit behavior. Yeah, that was like it'd be real though it'd be real.
Speaker 1:It's like I can't fault you for that, like you were raised off for survival for certain, like the way people move you know what I'm saying or certain. But now it's like just because this happened to you or you move like this because of that doesn't mean I should have to suffer for it, go to therapy, do something like I can no longer be like journal you know what I'm saying Draining.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You know, especially when you have like healer energy, like niggas will just sense that.
Speaker 3:Especially when you're a natural giver Type shit Yo and that's not reciprocated most of the time. Od Say yo, they will take until you have nothing left. They will take the damn clothes off of your back.
Speaker 1:And then say, oh, why don't you got a shirt on, got it? That's the last one in my size, but it's like yo, like, and even for us, like natural givers, like it's hard to be selfish, like I don't just don't even feel right, it don't feel natural for me to be I don't think it's selfish well, not selfish to, but move more, like put up boundaries, boundaries, yes yeah but even like the way I'm by these, like I feel the way, like what I have is what you have, you feel me like if I love you, I'm loving you all the way.
Speaker 1:So for me to like have to set a boundary and be like, no, I can't do that. It always feels weird, it's like like this doesn't even feel natural. It's not me being myself you feel me like, I want to give you being reserved I want to give you what you asked for.
Speaker 3:You know saying then I have, then it's like yo, you can't even pour back into yourself when you're around them, too much od od.
Speaker 1:And that's when I found, like my friends now, like like my homie lord, like I talked to him every day, like we were roommates in college and I like so that's my brother, and like we pour into each other constantly, my nigga, each other constantly.
Speaker 1:We grow each other constantly. Like if he's going through a situation like, sooner or later I want to go through the same exact situation that we learn from each other. You feel me, if I'm up and I got bread, I'm gonna break him off. If he's up and he got bread, he break me off, just off the strength. So like I learned that I can still love and be unreserved. But it's just certain people like you have to. You can be that way with.
Speaker 1:You know what I'm saying exactly you'll be yeah, so you can still be your natural way of self. You just can't be that way with everybody. I think that's like the big boundary what I also found too going to.
Speaker 3:I all right. The event I went to Thursday was like last minute thing. It was Jordan woman. Jordan event collaboration with Nordstrom.
Speaker 3:So they were just doing like, just like this panel discussion thing, they were giving out, they had raffles, they were giving out like cameras to people in the audience, like some cool, like creative kind of vibes. And what I also realized is that cause I spoke up and I did similar to what I did at CultureCon I grabbed the mic and I was like, oh, like my name's, deja, this is my podcast. What I realized is it's in the mind. It's in the mind Cause I was sitting there and I'm just like yo, why are you being shy? Why are you being nervous? Like, get up and say something, get up, get up, get up. Because really that voice in your head is like it could make or break you honestly.
Speaker 1:So what? What has been the catalyst for you, just kind of coming out your cell and like moving forward, like because I no longer want to.
Speaker 3:I want a new reality, like mentally I like that, I want a new. I don't want to move in fear no more, type shit. I want to be free from the shackles of just the limitations of my mind. That's a sign.
Speaker 1:That's on the map. That was poetic as fuck. Langton Hughes, over here everybody. Yeah, you got to add the snaps.
Speaker 3:Yo, that was mad poetic. Yeah, I'm just tired of living in fear, living just with bitterness. What people did to me in my past? Yeah, and stop giving myself excuses, because you're literally the creator of your life. So if you tell yourself you can, it's true.
Speaker 1:If you tell yourself you can't, it's also true yeah, you shape your reality with every thought, with every, with every affirmation, with every naysay money. That's the reality you make for yourself.
Speaker 3:Exactly so, especially when you're going to these places alone. Like your internal dialogue.
Speaker 4:But dialogue be loud as hell oh, d like the voices, the voices, the voices the voices so yeah, that's.
Speaker 3:What I realized is that I don't, I can't lean off of a friend, I can't like hide behind anybody.
Speaker 4:I brought you know what?
Speaker 3:I mean, it's just me it's me, but it's so.
Speaker 1:It's so liberating though, once you finally like because I already enjoy my own company. But when I enjoy my own company and spaces that require you to be a socialite, it's like okay, like, now I know how to work the room yo that shit is it unlocks a whole new world.
Speaker 4:I feel like go cool trans in that motherfucker I can do anything.
Speaker 1:I can do anything when.
Speaker 3:I say that was a big fear of mine, like you don't understand. So it's like I'm going to definitely do it more. It's like a drug. I'm like I'm going to do it again, tight shit.
Speaker 1:Like I'm like, do it, trust me, that's the only way you're gonna find your people is by doing that one of, like the biggest thing, like just putting yourself out there, even like executing an idea or a project, like and it sounds a bit morbid, but if covid didn't teach you any thing, is that you'll die tomorrow unexpectedly, like the amount of death and grieving we've seen over the past four or five years you're gonna sit here and tell me you're worried about, like, how people perceive you. You're not gonna execute that idea because you're nervous, because you can't, because you get nervous like son, like just like, do it. Just, let's just do it for real.
Speaker 3:It's a thought that I've been having recently. Like you don't know, no nerve, well, not well. Yeah, you don't know any shy old people yeah, they be talking shit. Old people be saying crazy but that like ties back into what you're saying. Like yeah, because they know, like it don't matter, they're about to die.
Speaker 4:Yeah damn, I ain't even thinking about.
Speaker 3:Yeah, their filter is like why the hell are they gonna be shy and nervous yeah, their filter is done.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like, what do you want to do?
Speaker 3:yeah, I got like 10 more years left, like, if that if that you feel me like damn, I can go at any minute. You think I'm gonna be shy?
Speaker 1:yeah, I'm not, I'm gonna be myself that's another thing I'll be telling myself. You could die today like you. Better say something now. You know it's crazy. I feel like being an artist like that literally just applies to like everything in life, like literally everything, even like my shorty, like like sliding like in her. Actually she low-key said in my dm, but the fact of the matter is oh that's crazy, right.
Speaker 1:It's like what she said I think also I had like kind of like sit up. I was like yo, we should get japanese sometime, but I never followed up, for whatever reason. I was, I was doing whatever. And then she hit me up like a like a couple months later and she's like yo, did you still want to get japanese, or what? And I was like, all right, what do you know?
Speaker 3:you slid first.
Speaker 1:You can't say yeah, but I didn't follow up at all. It's like that's like a nigga approaching like the Frito line, just like. You know what. I don't really feel like it. You know what I'm saying. Yeah, so like just like take and like it went from that to like we're like a year plus in like probably the healthiest relationship thank you, the healthiest we've ever been in and that just came out and we're both like shy people. We don't approach people like we're not like well and shy in terms of like like non-networky, like you know business things. So it's like reserved. Yeah, we're reserved, but like the fact that we came out of our shows.
Speaker 1:Anytime I've ever came out my show and and stopped being reserved about something, something good has always happened that's so true something good, whether it was a relationship, whether it was relationship, music, friendship, adventure on the other side of fair is everything you ever wanted type shit. I never heard that. Who said that um will smith but he got it from, he got it but I heard him say it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he's right. Yeah, is there anything you're working on you want to share about?
Speaker 1:Oh shit, yeah, Actually. Yeah. Is there anything you're working on you want to share about? Oh shit, yeah, actually. Yeah. Um, I'm working on an insane album right now probably my best album, my most mature album. Everything that we've talked about has all been, has all like led up to this album.
Speaker 1:Just because these are the themes that have come in my life, like detoxing, detachment, mental health, like community everything has been kind of pulled siphoned into this project, this body of work, and it's called everything is fine and like it's a double entendre. Like everything is like you know everything's pretty good, life is pretty good, but also everything is fine. It's kind of like you know the automatic response you give to Life is pretty good, but also everything is fine. It's kind of like you know the automatic response you give to people when you're navigating life and you ask how's it going? Really, everything's in f***ing shambles. Like it's like a relative could have died, lost your job, you broke it, and every day you put on that face and you're hustling dude, yeah, everything is fine, fine, you know. I'm saying so. That's what that album is to me.
Speaker 1:Like I've I've had full-on. Like aunties and uncles die on me, like an hour before I have to shoot a music video, or like while I'm in the studio, or like I'm at a show. Like my uncle like got like. Rest in peace. Like he was a big catalyst for like how I move now and like this album. He died in 2022 and I was performing a benefit concert for a woman Of like domestic violence. Like it was like a fundraiser For like women in shelters and I was on the lineup and I was feeling like this angst and he checked Like while I was doing it. So it was like yeah, it was like how do you bounce back from that? You know what I'm saying. Like you do your thing. You have to put on this face. So like everything is fine. You feel me Like as long as I'm still here, as long as I have the means, as long as I have my voice, as long as I have the ability to be better than yesterday, everything is fine.
Speaker 3:You feel me.
Speaker 1:Even though it's not and the project is one of my favorites. I got some of my favorite artists on it. Got ice cold bishop on it and I fuck, ice cold bishop is one of my favorite artists from the west coast and, um, he shows mad love. I got life of tom on it. Uh, 305 from atlanta, like he's on it like cool, cool features and, um, while I'm not one of them, niggas are like, yeah, I need to get every feature in the world like, but some of my best work comes with just like collabing, with like another mind. But even my shit, where I'm just on it, it's like it's real introspective, it's real self-aware, it's real like.
Speaker 1:It's not like on some depressed like oh, what was me? What was me like? Nah, like in the same breath I took a l, I made it back like five times more. You feel me. So you see, if you you get knocked down and you sit there and you be stagnant, or you or you acknowledge your feelings, process them in like a productive way and you get back to it, you feel me. I feel like that's where, like up, it's like they'll go to something traumatic and they'll get stuck and for me, like to be complacent money like to be still is to die, because once you stop, once you stop, it's like where do you go from here? Yes, like, don't set no ceilings. It's so easy to get trapped in your grief. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3:You know people that be at companies and they're there for like 60 years. Yo.
Speaker 1:What.
Speaker 3:He's like yeah, I seen when Macy's was being founded years and I'm like yo what he's like. Yeah, I seen when macy's was being founded. Some lady that I worked with when I was at macy's- she had a cane, I'm like what are you doing?
Speaker 1:but some I can't even like. I can't even fault that, because once people find like something comfortable and stable and they're happy, they're content yeah so my, my, my cup of ethani chai isn't gonna be like your coffee.
Speaker 1:You feel me like some people want that stable. Like, yeah, I'm going to be here for 40 years. Get my, my paycheck, my, my, my, uh, 401k and all that. But it's scary when I see people it's scary, but then me, I don't, I get, I get bored fast. My gemini moon son like I need to be entertained, I need to be on my toes. I don't like structure, like I want to experience life in its fullest, whether it's it's stable or not. But I also realize there needs to be a balance for it. So I mean, so I just can't, I can't afford to just stay still. I know for what I want and where I need to go. I need to evolve as much as possible. So every like, anytime someone me over, anytime I take a loss, I know that's a lesson learned and that's something to add to the growing points. Life is one big video game. Life is one big RPG.
Speaker 3:Like that's essentially what mind over matter is.
Speaker 4:Mind over matter baby.
Speaker 1:Mind over matter. Oh shit yeah.
Speaker 3:Mind over matter. What does that mean to you?
Speaker 1:Mind over matter, what we've been talking about this whole time. Like your mind is in charge of everything, nothing this whole time, like your mind is in charge of everything, nothing on the outside should be in control of your mind. You feel me mind over life in its entirety. You know, I'm saying once you have control of that which you master, that any situation you can conquer, any situation you can overcome. Once you master everything that's in your head top, like you're straight, like you can be starving and living in a box, but as long as you have some some, some type of will and resolve, once your mind is in tune with a goal that you want going forward, like you can knock down anything. That's what that means to me Mind over matter, because nothing else matters except your mind.
Speaker 4:Mm-hmm. Wow, it would matter, because nothing else matters except your mind.
Speaker 3:Um, how, how much time is that art? Okay, because I put this on tv. It's only an hour slot. I'm gonna keep it at this oh fire.
Speaker 1:Yeah, mama, I'm a star.
Speaker 3:Public accent, you know we're getting somewhere. But yeah, thank you for joining me Of course.
Speaker 1:Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3:Of course, of course. This was a very enlightening conversation and if you reached the end of another episode, I appreciate you Shout out to you. You made it to another end of another episode and I could tell you love yourself, I could just tell it, I just know you do. And don't forget to tell a friend. To tell a friend, mother, that is mind over matter, baby yeah, yeah.