Remember Angela.

Yeah, and look who's in the belding.

Gee, herbro's here with me.

How are you feeling?

I know this is a good time for you to be in New York because it's fashion Week.

Yeah for sure.

I love New York the energy around it, Like I don't never want to leave when I'm in New York for some reason.

And you're a light way to New York at two in some way.

Yeah, yeah, I feel like it's like my second third home.

When you think about your kids, you think, like your kids were telling you know, they're like New Yorkers.

Yeah, for sure, do you consider them Chicago?

My daughter, my daughter like a New Yorker because she like aggressive, like she.

Just oh that's how y'all think of us.

Definitely definitely like super like for sure.

But I mean my kids really like I wouldn't even say Chicago.

I'll say La like my kids like bell little sport rich kids.

But my daughter, yeah for sure.

Yeah, my kids definitely eat sushi for sure.

Definitely, But I could say that like if I had to pick out of all my kids, Like my daughter for sure, she like she acts like a mom, so probably that's why, just like.

A mom, I know they do say, but I wonder if Chicago considered aggressive though, Like when you think about New York, can you think about Chicago, y'all.

Got us beat?

Definitely man like Chicago.

We really like passive aggressive kind of like we kind of like sweet a little bit, like you know, like cool like Chicago.

Don't come off like you know, I think I think it's just the confidence in New York, like y'all kind of cocky.

That's why I come off as aggressive.

You feel me, Okay, you gotta understand, like to know what's to love.

When they come to New York, y'all just confident and they come off as aggressive.

Now, while we're talking about these things, I want you to clear something up that was said.

And I saw this headline on TMZ, and so I really because I know you're very tapped in with everything and so I love like even watching any of your interviews, right, And you said it says here that the headline is de here, BUTRO was in agreement with President Donald Trump sending a National guard to Chicago.

See, they be trying to like take my words and take the stuff I say and like twist it.

I wouldn't say I'm in agreement, like you know what I'm saying, Like I'm not.

I think they took that as like me trying to make a political statement, like you know what I'm saying, I'm not political.

Like all I said was I'm just off for keeping the kids and the women safe, Like that's what I was saying, you know, because Chicago, I'm a product of violence in my city, you know what I'm saying.

So it's like I understand, you know, the senseless killings of the children and the senseless killings of the women, Like I'm all for just keeping the women and kids safe.

Like and I don't want to sound like crazy or harsh when I say this, but like I come from the streets, so like with dude, with guys like me, and we want to be knuckleheads and do silly shit like you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes, you know what I'm saying, Like when you want to go outside and kill each other and do shit and go to jail and get a hundred years, like I'm I'm all for, like saving the youth.

I don't really give a fuck about grown men making dumb ass decisions for real, Like I could curse on here right he did.

Yeah, I don't really care about like grown man making dumb decisions, do I'm from the environment that they were raised in.

Like we all do have to do better, and.

I feel like sometimes it is just a lack of resources.

It's always a lack of resources, for sure, And like that's why I'm so adamant about being a voice for the voiceless.

Like I've I didn't done so much for my city as far as putting millions of dollars in the city between like me and my brother McKinley Nelson, Like we don't really gave back to my city tenfold when it came to just being somebody that's gonna be on the forefront when it comes to making a difference.

That's why I speak out about mental health and gun violence and all this stuff because I come from that.

And like, going back to what you said, like I don't want to sound like like desensitive, like unsensitive when it comes to like as far as what I mean with decisions people make.

But I'm a man.

I feel like if you want to change your environment, you could do that, you know what I'm saying, Like everybody got regardless of the resources you got twenty four hours to wake up and be better than you was before, no matter your circumstances.

And I believe that, especially when it comes to being a man.

I'm talking about the kids who don't like have the option to choose and decide they their kids, they don't know, they don't have the resources, Like that's what I care about.

I care about the kids getting home safe for real.

Like, don't get me wrong, I care about my entire city.

But I'm all for the kids and the women.

So that's what I really meant by that.

Like I'm not I'm not a Trump supporter or nothing like that.

I'm not political at all, to be completely honest with you for real.

So it's like I was just saying, whatever gonna stop the violence in my city.

And I'm saying that because I come from a place of knowing and understanding.

Like if it's certain people in Chicago, like and I'm saying, like, they don't really give a fuck about the police.

They they're not scared of scared of the police for real.

So it's like if the National Guard is standing on the corner gonna stop somebody from shooting a block up, I don't care.

I'm cool I saw somebody went on Live and was like and they put up this story and they were like, don't try that in Chicago, because let me tell you something, we not going for that.

I don't know if you saw that po yeah, and he was It's like, this is a different place as somebody.

Saying that who's gonna be in the house who ain't never did shit to nobody or never not got probably no tough bone in his body.

They just want to go viral on the internet.

I'm speaking about the people who actually outside in the forefront, there's dodging bullets looking over their shoulder every day.

You feel what I'm saying, Like I've seen those type of posts.

But them people who don't even come outside, who ain't never heard a hard day in their life, probably you feel what I'm saying.

And I could speak from like I said, people like lack of resources and people who just it's people in Chicago that really just don't care for real.

So it's like it's gonna take a lot, Like you know what I'm saying, It's gonna take a lot to really make my city a better place.

But I'm all for it though, because I want the kids.

To grow up, okay and listen.

I think for you being a father, it also puts a different twist to it too, because you think about your own kids.

I do, and it's like I don't.

I think twice when they come to like half of my kids in Chicago, Like I don't play that when I'm when I'm in Chicago my kids there, I got to ride in the bulletproof trucks and stuff, and I don't even feel like my life being danger for real.

I'm just super cautious, you know what I'm saying, Like I don't really feel like somebody waking up every day trying to kill me, but I know somebody probably will.

You know what I'm saying.

You feel me, So it's like I think about that kind of stuff, Like I never go take my son named Essence, but I would never go have my son with me in Chicago and go on my block.

I named my son after my block.

I never take my son over there because it's not safe.

I remember our interview wife and Luci before he went to jail, and he was saying he don't even ride in the car with his kids.

Yeah, like they can't be in the car with him just in case something might happen.

Absolutely, that's what I'm saying.

So I'm riding in bulletproof trucks for stuff like that.

And growing up that's crazy.

Like when I was in Chicago, when I was living there and I was like in the streets and stuff like that, I never wanted to pick my sistuff from school.

Like I always had money, I always had cars.

I never picked my sistuff from school.

I never rolled with my mom in the car taking her to work, or drop a hall for picking her up, none of that type of stuff because I'm always thinking about that safety.

You know what I'm saying.

I never put anybody that I love in harm's way ever.

You know, you got to think about the growth that you've had too, from when you were young and even just your growth in the career and everything that you've been doing.

Because I actually downloaded your app.

Appreciate it, you know, so because I saw when at the time when your app launched, it was actually the number three app behind like YouTube and Spotify, which is a huge deal.

So tell me about that, because I feel like this was like incredible for you to decide to make that decision and be direct to consumer the way that you happen and I know you're setting up for something even bigger.

Yeah, no, for sure, that's crazy, Like you said that, because when I learned about like direct the consumer, it was just something that like just like a light bulb went off of my brain, you feel me, Like, and I always hit like a die hard core fan base, so I really wanted to like appeal to those people who really support me.

And honestly, I didn't think it was gonna be as big as it was, you feel what I'm saying, Like it made me like like get more like hands on with the app and with my business, like getting the right software and the right data, you know what I'm saying, the right behind it to make sure that it don't crash, because it was crashing.

Like so many It's a good problem, it's a.

Good problem, but it's a problem.

You know.

I don't want it to look like I'm not on top of my business and then not on top of it, you know what I'm saying.

So like when I started it, it was just something away for me to like try to connect with my real core fan base.

You know what I'm saying.

It just make them like feel appreciated while I'm giving certain things, content, merch pieces, whatever it is, to just like strictly for them, you know.

And it got to a point where now it's like I'm at a point where I really want to be able to just like like I don't want to say it and like offend nobody or nothing like that, but I want to get to a point where it's like I'm you're gonna have to just see me on my app, you feel what I'm saying.

Like I'm gonna stop posting as much on Instagram, I'm gonna stop putting music out a certain way like just giving it, you know, feeding to the people who really support me.

But that's a way to really, like, you know, kind of teach the generation under me to to like control it, you know what I'm saying, control they business and control they in so and I'm actually like, you know, I was talking about starting another app too for my for my uh for swerving through stress forty.

That makes sense because I was you say that, and I was thinking, like, man, you could connect people with services, but that would probably be a different Yeah.

So like basically the app that I want to start for Swerving through Stress, don't nobody take my idea was really like people could go online on the app and just like say what it is they going through, how they feeling, and then you can connect with somebody you know what I'm saying, who specialized in that field.

So yeah, oh that's great.

I love that because I do feel like the easier it can be for people to access that, because it's still people who are like, I'm not doing that, I don't even know how, but if they could easily go on and just have yeah, people where they're at.

And how the resources, you know what I'm saying, Like, really have people who go actually like not wading.

You don't gotta like right then when you text it or type it, somebody is automatically responding.

Yeah, because that's the hesitancy I feel like people have.

They don't want to have to like go online, find a person, make an appointment, show up, or get on someone.

They rather just something could be happening right now and you just be like like I want to right now, I just need to talk to somebody before I crash.

Out, Absolutely for sure.

So yeah, that's what I was thinking about that, and it was like, perfect.

What are some things you've learned like about you know, even I'm sure there's times that you want to have some crash out moments, Yeah, for sure.

How do you deal with that?

I mean I just learned to like breathe and not act off emotion, you know what I'm saying.

Like I always been a thinker for real, So if I crash out, it's logical.

I mean I haven't thought about it five ten times, and it's just like, all right, this is what I'm gonna do for real.

But like I don't even want to like use the word crash out for real.

Real.

It's like with me, I just try to, like I think my kids for real, Like with me having kids, it's certain things that's just not worth it because I'll be like where I come from, it's easy to like go off the legs or like prove a point, you know what I'm saying.

And I feel like when you actually trying to change your life and do better, that's when like the devil, when people pull at you like try you and say certain things and do things, that's just gonna try to press your buttons.

So for me, like having kids is just like you know what I'm saying, I think, like I don't even be caring about certain stuff, like I'm not gonna react to certain things or do certain things because I'm thinking about how it's gonna affect me and affect you know what I'm saying, me being a father and being there for my family because before I hear kids, I wasn't afraid to go to jail.

Like I'm still not afraid of death for real, for real, but I got to be here for my kids.

I gotta live for my kids, like I ain't afraid of die.

I've never been afraid of that.

Did you plan because I think also when we think about like family planning and things like that, when you're not here, do you have a plan set up to make sure like the kids are good, you know, estate planning and.

All of that.

Yeah, absolutely, all of that set up.

Like I got everything set up for my kids for sure, like everything going with my kids.

Okay, Now I'm just asking because that's a conversation I've been having a lot lately.

I actually want to talk to my parents, like what are y'all about to do?

Because you know, there's a lot of responsibility that comes It's already like a morning situation for people, and now we got it.

I see all the time, people having fish fries and trying to figure out, like, how are we going to take care of this?

I got stuff set up by I mean, of course I want to live to.

See it, of course, you do, you know what I'm yeah, no, I'm just.

Yeah like that.

My kids gonna be there, My kids gonna be set.

By the time my kids twenty twenty one years old, they all will be worth eight figures, like multi multi millionaires automatically.

You know, you have some of the funniest moments on social media too.

I remember seeing somebody and you were like in the background and they was like fake filming themselves, but they was really filming you.

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah that was recently.

Matter of fact.

Yeah, recently, I shot a video.

I shot a video and I don't even know who that guy was.

It's so weird that, but it went viral because it's like, yo, if you want to take a picture with him, just say, like, I feel like.

He was recording.

And then I said, so when I seen him and you look up, yeah, I'm like, what's up?

You feel what I'm saying.

But I don't get why people do that, man, That's so like, just ask me.

Yeah, for sure, Like what that was probably like a week ago.

I was in Philly.

Me and my security was like having a debate, like you know, me and my security.

We like this, so we argue and go back and forth because we, you know what I'm saying, really know each other for real.

And he tell me certain stuff and I tell him stuff.

So they thought I was arguing with my girl.

I saw that that somebody felm that.

They thought I was arguing with Tana.

But I wasn't even arguing with her.

They walked up on me.

I didn't like when I be upset.

That's the thing, Like when I get upset, I only see like like I got a ton of witch.

I wasn't even paying attention to nobody.

And Tana was tapping me, trying to tell me, like let the window up.

Like you arguing and you yelling and peak fans outside recording you like, let the window up.

She told me at least three or four times before that girl walked up to me and was like let the window up.

How New York looking all around.

She paying attention like she like, you know what I'm saying, Like she'd be on point when it comes to that type of stuff like she not trying to go viral on them, like.

Bs, yeah, she do not play either.

You're not doing interviews.

Come, She's like nope, I'm good over here.

Yeah, now she don't.

She don't try to go viral at all.

Like the wrong thing is something like she really told me like three four times let the window left one let one.

I just wasn't paying attention though, for real.

And then the other thing that always comes up is you and Farrakhan.

You were like, whoever did this is up?

That was his fault.

That was it.

That was his fault.

Man.

When I went in and did that, I don't even remember to be I'm gonna be completely honest with you.

I was still drunk from the night before leaving the club.

Talk.

Yeah, we go talk to the minister man at ain in the morning, Man, nine, am I guarantee you I was leaving the club at probably five six?

He called him, Like, yeah, the minister they called me to They want to like they must have hit because he'd be up early.

They hit him probably five six in the morning, Like we want to talk to her.

I'm just not leaving the club, man, I'm like, bro, what you mean, Like I gotta go.

I don't know how my arm did that, Like, I don't remember, man, all I know is I was still drunk at the table at the minister like, yeah, man, much love respect.

Every now and then that picture just pop up.

Yeah, and it's always funny when you see it.

Yeah, no, for sure.

And I really honestly don't know how my hand was like that, Like that's how you know.

I was just doing some shit, like just trying to take the picture and going about my day.

Now, let's talk about this song.

Went legit, Yeah, banger, appreciate it, you know, for you to and you really talk about a lot of different things on there.

I love that about your music too.

It really paints a picture.

But we got to ask you, like the deeper questions about you know, what was going on in certain parts.

I feel like, man, like my music has always been a like a form of therapy for me, real like what I'm going through, you know, Like honestly, I really honestly feel like for like I got to put myself like in the mindset that I was in when I actually recorded that.

I was in New York too, though, but like I really felt like I was fresh off of a long paragraph reading tying in the text or something like she must.

Have said, that's why you started the song like that.

That's exactly why I started it like that, Like I guarantee you, like if I could really, I could bet my bottom dollar that me and Hull was arguing before I went in the studio.

I can bet that too, because the song like go.

And say that for real, and I was I didn't even realize what I was saying, like you know you was just like I didn't.

I wasn't trying to create that song.

I wasn't trying to create a hit record.

Like we were just in the studio and they told me to rap, and that was the first thing I could think of, Like, man, be for.

My bitch right now, Bro, I'm not even trying.

To I ain't even trying to rap for real, but alright, cool, and it just turned out like it turned out like literally, I guarantee you that's like how it went.

Because when I, like, when I recorded the song, we was in the studio chill.

It was probably like thirty forty people in there, everybody chilling, drinking stuff like that, just having a good time.

They played the beat and like go rap like south Side.

I told them, like, man, go rap on.

This and you Southside boy, what a combination.

That's my brother man.

Yeah we know, I'm like yin't and yang man.

For sure, it's my real twin.

And yeah that's my brother too for sure, Like that's definitely.

My brother's coming on with those projects.

Me and Rob, we like the thing is, I feel like it's just be our schedules, like we be all over the place.

We never get a chance to really lock in for like a week straight.

But when we get together one day, two day, we do four five songs fast on.

Me and Rob probably got twenty some songs for real that we could really drop a project.

But we don't even want to like cheat our fans like that, you know what I'm saying, Like we really want to take our time, pick the songs, get the content, shoot the videos, do everything the correct way for real.

But it's definitely still like coming for sure.

No, y'all make a great team together now.

For sure.

Me and Rob got great chemistry when it comes to like music.

And that's really my friend for real, Like, yeah.

That's good to be in this business and have friends for real.

Yeah, No, for sure, it's my dog brother.

I talk to him every.

Day because think about it, you were so young when you started really making money, and you talk about that on the song too, just being young and listen, holding the whole family down.

It's kind of like not happening.

Up for sure.

For sure, Yeah, I messed up.

And not even how in a real childhood throwing away.

I say that, people don't be believing me, like I really didn't get to have a real childhood for real, like I was young.

You gotta think about it, like I started like experiencing like death and stuff like that when I was like seventh grade, when my homie started to like get killed and stuff like that, so we already got like a chip on our shoulder.

I never went on dates because by the time I'm fourteen fifteen, I'm in high school, I'm rapping.

People know who I am.

By the time I'm sophomore in high school, I got like a real name for myself famous.

I had a song with Nicki Minaj.

I was a sophomore high school, a junior or something like that, so I had to drop out.

I couldn't go on dates.

I want on my first date when I was like twenty twenty one years old.

I used to be scared to go places because I felt like somebody gonna say I'm right here and come try to kill me.

Like right, No, that's the real thing.

I didn't really get to have a childhood.

I didn't really get to do.

Too much, like for real, real you didn't go to no prom.

I didn't.

I want no problem when I was in eighth grade.

I want to sing in eighth grade.

What it took a little eighth grade?

It's a prime.

I went on saying prime in eighth grade.

But I didn't get to go on my prom though, like and I felt like I kind of had like fomo for real, Like I was in LA recording music when like my class graduated, and I felt like even though I had done so much and I was successful, I felt like I failed in a way because I didn't even get that chance to graduate high school at the time, you know, like I had.

I went back and actually got my diploma though, like I don't got no GD.

I got my actual high school diploma from my school, like just to have it, you know what I'm saying.

But like I didn't like growing up.

It was fast for me.

By the time I started making money.

I had to take care of my mama.

My mama caught her job when I was sixteen years old.

I had to take care of her from that point out, take care of my aunties and you know, like just being an artist and you know, you think the street code, we got to take care of a hundred niggas.

You know what I'm saying, You got to take care of by from your neighborhood, take you care of their family until you learn that you don't.

Like I thought I was doing the right thing for real, and I still like, I don't regret anything, but like I gave a lot of myself to people, and I feel like I should have dedicated at that time to really connecting and being with my family, Like even at thirty, I'm just now starting to do that.

You know what, I think.

Losing my father last year is really what kind of like super woke me up was, Like I thought I had time and time it's not promised.

Like the stuff that I thought I was gonna be able to do with my dad and for my dad, I didn't really get a chance to do, you know what I'm saying, because I was doing so much early on and just taking care of people who really not even in my family or who I thought was family that you know what, I'm so or I consider family because it never.

Starts real, Yeah, it never starts, It never stops.

You gotta really just cut it off, like you gotta go cold turkey.

And the people that's still cool with you is the ones that matter, and the people that's not cool after you have to be like we I just can't.

Nah for sure, Like make it tell you.

When I first started going on the road and doing shows, I used to have twenty thirty people with me, Like my first time is going out of town, I'm having thirty people with me.

Now when I go out of town people, I guess I.

Would love for make you to talk about this.

I want to hear some of these stories that maybe can we turn his mic on?

Please come on, man, listen, you know me.

Because you've been you've honestly been doing this for how long now?

Like, oh, man into the mic, let's move his mic over it.

Look, okay, there we go.

Well, man, when I got with her, when herd before he dropped his first tape, so when he was sixteen years old.

So we've been doing this for thirteen.

That's not you know, that does not happen.

Yeah too often where somebody's with you from the beginning.

Yeah like that and now little Herb is back.

Yeah, full circle moment.

It is fuck yeah, that's I mean, that's your son, god Dad.

So it's like it's more than just like this is my real family for real.

So it's like he didn't sing he know me more than I know myself for real, because to be completely honest, like it was a blur for me early on, I ain't gonna lie like I was.

I was wild, like I get high.

I used to be all sayings and perks, and I like, I don't even remember a lot of stuff, like I used to be in rooms or I wasn't even really in a room because mentally I'm somewhere else, you know what I'm saying.

He always been sober, you know, so he's like he.

Had to be somebody got it.

But you know, I want to ask Mickey because that's people always be like, oh the people around you, because you know, I hear that a lot, right, They'll be like, well, like I hear that when people talk about Kanye, they'll be like, oh, the people around him is letting him do this.

Oh, the people around him are enabling him.

But as somebody who was the people around you know her when he was young, what would you say when people say, well, why didn't you do something?

You were the people around him.

That's that's the problem.

The reason.

The thing that I would say is I was never an enabler.

I was always a positive voice right to get him to do what he needed to do.

Get out the streets.

Take this music one hundred percent serious.

All of his success came in the beginning.

He was still in the streets.

I was having to figure out ways to get him to the studio to take this stuff serious.

Like, and I believed in him so much that I stuck it out and stuck with him.

And you got to allow people to grow and be themselves.

It's like, as much as much as I'm a big brother father figure to him, I don't ever try to control him.

You have to let an artist and a man before anything, be himself and learned.

You can always offer advice.

He'll tell you.

I will say, hey, don't do this, don't do that.

I advise you against this, don't do this.

This is the pros and cons.

This is how that's gonna play out, but he makes his own decision.

You know how I still touch them?

Well, he touch it, he gonna touch touch it.

Did you ever want to give up and be like this is just too much?

He is a knucklehead, like I can I got.

I've been frustrated, and but I love him like my son.

To get what I'm saying.

I've been.

I've been frustrated, you know, because I know I just I feel like you, it's impossible for him to say no to that.

Man, I know for sure.

It's like I done did so much shit.

Ain't no way that you don't want to give up on me.

My mama want to give up on me.

But I never wanted to give up on them.

I've been frustrated, don't get me wrong, and have to allow him in the room to go do you and learn and bump your head.

And I'm learning that with my own kids right now.

It's like I can't It's not a video game.

I can't control every step, every move.

I gotta teach them poem, show them I have real love for him, and then let them go and know that they're gonna always come back home and let them know they have a space to come back home and he knows that with me, you know, all they gotta do is call me and say, hey, nick man, I mean, let's get this shit back on the road.

All right, all right, what I'm gonna say, that's your sign?

Do you feel like sometimes people that grew up listening to you want.

You to be back like how you were.

Definitely, And so that's a problem too, because sometimes people don't want you to really like be positive, grow picture your mental health, swear through the stress.

They want you to be like back outside.

They're like, that's to her we know, Yeah, definitely.

I think That's kind of one of the reasons why I'm naming my project Little Herb though, you know, like because for years and years I used to like hear that, like people telling me, like you need to rap like this, you need to do this, and it was hard for me to like, excuse me, it was hard for me to like find that version of that hunger because, yeah, I think about I've been living in LA for seven years, Like I've been done so much.

I took care of my mom, moved my mom out the hood.

Like the whole objective of this and where I come from, Like I really had to beat death in jail.

So it gets to a point where you really like change your circumstances and change your life where you're like, you gotta find a reason to want to do it.

The whole objective is to make money and get out the streets and change your family lives.

Like, don't get me wrong, I'm passionate about rap.

Excuse I'm passionate about rap.

I'm passionate about like music.

I love it.

But like I kind of did lose the hunger for a second, Like you know, I had to find it, Like I had to dig back into it and just realize where I come from and everything that I had to do and all the adversities that I had to overcome to get where I am today and look back at it, and I feel like I'm hungry now because I want more.

So what got to a point where it is like I felt like I had everything that I needed or everything that I could have asked for.

I got a beautiful family, I got my mom out the hood.

I don't got to look over my shoulder no more unless I go back, Like I have to go put myself back in that environment to feel unsafe, Like I go in La.

I walk around.

I could be by myself, no security, do the stuff that I do, you know what I'm saying, because I'm in a whole area where it's like nothing could really happen to me.

For really, I don't want to be naive to the fact because of course something can happen to you anywhere, like me being who I am.

Nobody is in La these soccer moms and he's old women not trying to do nothing to me for really, you know what I'm saying.

So it's like I had to find that hunger in myself again to like, you know, be able to rap hound rapping and making the music that I'm making.

And you know, I'm grateful, thank God that I did find it.

But it was kind of tough for real, Like I ain't really rap about nothing but cars and jury and the stuff that I was experienced because I rapped about my life, you know what I'm saying, Like it was raw because that was my life.

Every day I woke up and I went outside.

I was up against death in jail every day every day, every day, you feel what I'm saying.

So that's what it was, just like a reflection.

Of my music Mondy.

When was this period of time that you felt like you kind of lost it and lost the hunger?

Mm probably like from twenty nineteen to twenty three, like for real, for real, but I just stayed consistent with dropping music and doing it.

But mentally I wasn't like in a headspace where I felt like confident, felt like I was the hardest, Like you know what I'm saying.

I always knew I was talented, that I couldn't make good music, But right now, me speaking on as Mike today, like I feel like I'm one of the best rappers like in my generation or one of the best rappers period right now, Like you can put me up against anybody and i'ma feel confident and feel like I could stand total told with any artists or any MC.

I didn't feel like that four years ago, you know what I'm saying.

But that was your own reasons why it was me.

Yeah, it was you doing that for sure.

Yeah, you know you beat like a lot of the odds too, just in so many different situations, definitely, you know.

Just I know you said you went to rehab twice, and that's and they do say people when they go to rehab, they normally don't kick a habit the first time they go.

It does require and some people also go to rehab and don't want anyone to know about that.

But that's something you open about it.

Yeah, I spoke about it for really and I feel like it was it was good for me.

I really I did good the first time I went to rehabit though, Like I think I went in two thousand and seventeen or something like that or twenty eighteen, and I was cleaned for like a year, and then I lost my best friend.

He got killed, and I relapsed, right, And that's what, like, you know, made me relapse, cause I only want to get emotionally talking about it, but like I just felt like, you know, I experienced so much death, like I said earlier, like I've been losing frands since I was in middle school.

And I was at a point in my life where I felt successful.

I had just had my first kid, I was on tour, like you know, I had moved out of Chicago.

That was when I first like really moved out of Chicago.

And I felt like, man, I don't even gott to be in this no more.

I gotta look over my shoulder.

I don't got to carry a gun, and I was.

I felt like I was just getting to the point where I could make money and pull my people closest to me out of that.

And I lost one of my best friends who I felt like was going to be a part of that.

Well not it felt like, I know was going to be a part of that journey and be with me, like I wanted.

That was one of the main people I wanted to save his life, you know what I'm saying, Like I wanted to get him out of Chicago, get him to LA with me, and show him this lifestyle because when I like what I was probably let me see twenty eighteen, when I was twenty three years old.

I first started doing music when I was like sixteen fifteen, going on the road doing shows seventeen eighteen nineteen.

He never would come with me, like he always wanted to be in the hood, right, like he was one of the people like you know, when I started like doing shows and getting famous, like everybody want to come, Like when you got a show, I want to come.

I want to come.

People I don't even want to come want to come, like and I used to have to beg him to come and he had never come, you feel what I'm saying.

So it's like I got to a point where now I got some real money, I'm in LA, Like I'm thinking, I'm finna get a crib and my homiees just gonna all come to LA with me, you know, And then he got killed.

It just made me real, real depressing, and I just like I feel like I couldn't even be there for my son at the time, you know, Like and I just started back like getting high, and then I had to go back to rehab after.

That, and that was like the survivor's remorse that you've Yeah.

Yeah, for sure, like definitely like losing him, losing my homie Cap who passed away actually before him, then my little brother passed away in twenty twenty one.

It was just like a lot on me for real.

That's a lot, yeah, for anybody to have to deal with.

And then I know, I'm also when the sound you kind of touched a little bit, I think on on went legit, the case that you had recently that you managed to come through, Yeah, yeah, and you know that has to also feel a little like I hate to say it like this, but like embarrassing at the time that it's in the news, it's the headlines, and people are making up like their own story.

It was real embarrassing for me to be honest, like people just making up stories of what they think was going on or you know what I'm saying, and people like it was what really frustrated me for real, Like I ain't I was surprised that all the people that wanted me to go to jail.

People think everything is so funny, like it's.

They wanted me to go to jail.

It was crazy to me, like crazy people like I post something in the college, but like, ain't you in jail?

Was she supposed to be in jail?

When he going to jail?

With this?

Like it was insane to me, Like I never seen like so many people like felt I feel like they hated like it was.

It was definitely embarrassing going through that kind of situation and just seeing like people who I felt like I ain't even gonna say.

I felt like because you know, like I ain't naive.

I know the internet really don't love you, like they're not really with you for real, Like you know what I'm saying, they love you today, hate you tomorrow.

But just like I've never been the type to like pray on nobody downfall.

Right, keeple online, enjoy like those types of headlines to because that's a big story, Nicky, where were you and all this, like.

Right in the midst of it at every court date and just giving them support and man, praying that, yeah, praying that he got his freedom, and hating the fact that it's hard to explain yourself to millions of people right case that you really can't talk about and it's just it was it was frustrating for all of us that loved him because it was a reality that he might have to actually go to jail, and that's something that you know, I'm your son's godfather, right, So at the end of the day, it was like, man, I'm thinking about that and the kids and everything that has to do with him, and how we're gonna set this thing up if the worst scenario happens.

And we prayed and God delivered.

Yeah, No, that was a blessing because I know you've probably been thinking, I don't know what's about to happen.

Yeah, I was definitely I ain't gonna lie.

I was definitely nervous for real to the last second, think about it, like I didn't been through so much and overcame so much and like be at that point of my life in my career where it's like you're finna go to jail.

I made all the success and not being able, Like I've never been the type to like explain myself for going the Internet and go respond back to comments or the negative feed, you know what I'm saying, Like that's never been my thing.

But like I it was just crazy to me.

I was aways so shocked by the people who really, like, I've been making money so I was sixteen years old, like I really like I was then there a millionaire eighteen nineteen years old.

What the fuck reason do I have to go do wife fruy right?

Like that don't even make sense to me, Like what the fuck am I doing with some wife fry?

Like I bought my mama manche when I was nineteen years old.

I've been making money that long, like for real, for real, I ain't you know, Like I was real deal innocent, Like I didn't have nothing to do with that shit for real, you know what I'm saying.

So it's like that was the thing, and I didn't I didn't care to go explain it.

I damn that couldn't explain it because I was in the middle of the case.

You feel me.

And then it's like it's tough to really stand like you know, stand on tin and just be like all right, whatever come with this shit is cool, Like just go go lay down and go to jail for some shit that you had nothing to do it, Like that's a different like if I committed the crime, it's different.

Right of going to jail for something you didn't do.

That's a different type of like just having discipline as a man, Like I'm just gonna go sit down and make sure everything good, my affair is good in order for you know, me to be able to take care of my family, because I can't really like downgrade my lifestyle.

I gotta still be able to provide for my family and my kids no matter what.

Right and not to really know what was gonna be the decision until the actual courtinate at the end, when the judge came back from deliberating and talking to him, like at that point, like we in the courtroom, heads down, praying, and we didn't.

Know when I walked in that courtroom, I ain't know if I was gonna walk out of her.

She had no guarantees that he wasn't gonna have to go to the back right then.

Yeah, little Herb is gonna be So the album did get pushed.

Back, right, Yeah, I pushed the album back up.

Why did you push it back?

Really?

Because like h and I'm gonna be completely honest for real, for real.

It had a lot to do with just like and the finishing touches.

I was, I'm so like hands on, and I feel like there's gonna be such a special project.

I didn't want to leave nothing else, Like, just got to make sure all the clearances together, Like, I didn't want to swap no songs or anything.

You feel what I'm saying, Like because the original day, Yeah, the original day was supposed to been October three, right before my birthday.

So I pushed it back to like me and late October, just like two weeks for real, right, just finish.

I didn't want to Like I got a hundred songs, don't get me wrong, Like I could.

Have made it last couple of mites could have been albums.

I mean it could have, but I just I was trying to, like really to be honest with you, I was just trying to get back in my groove for real, okay, just with music, like have fun and try to put music out and just try to see, like you know what, connect with the streets for real, you know, because twenty twenty two, twenty three, I didn't really drop much music because I was like getting my business in order and just like getting my mental together.

I was really still kind of like shaken back from grieving and lost to my little brother for them two years.

Like I really fell into like alcoholism real bad, Like I lost myself bad after my brother that, like I admit, like I really wasn't myself.

I turned into a whole other person, you knowe what I'm saying, like drinking every day, wanted to be outside party and anything and just get my mad off of that, you know what I'm saying.

Like I was really in the now that he got killed.

So twoenty twenty two, twenty three, I was like I had to like really like it was like a reality check for me for real, Like just like all right, bet let me get my beness in order, let me figure out what I want to do with my career in music.

Like I was just winging it for like a year and a half two years, So I spent all that time trying to like, you know, just get a grip and figure it out.

So the last year twenty twenty four to twenty five, I just wanted to kind of like figure out how to rap again and just like for music out and see what.

And it works.

Yeah, yeah, for sure and that so that felt it felt good to you to be but it be like people's responses were amazing.

Yeah, And that's why I like, I love everybody who support me on the app, because that's how I was trying it for real, Like I wasn't trying to put music out on DSPs, like I was just testing my app and seeing who really rocked with me, Like all right, bet go listen to it on the app and see what feedback I could get from that.

Because I was just locked in the studio and just tried to make as much music as I can and whatever I came out with that was good.

I just put projects together.

I think I dropped like three four mixtapes and just what was.

The pressure of you doing through the fire?

It was I ain't gonna lie that.

That's crazy you asked me that because that was one of the toughest songs for real, because.

People are gonna compare like your own like twenty twenty.

Five, Yeah for sure, like through the wires, Like definitely in my top three of Kanye.

Songs probably I could see that, Yeah.

Definitely, you know what I'm saying.

So like to do that, it was tough for me.

I wanted to be able to kind of like dig into like all the emotions that I could find doing that record, you know, So it was a lot of pressure on me though I ain't gonna lie like and even when I did it, I still wasn't like super comfortable with it, Like I ain't know how it was gonna be.

I had to like read the room after I was done, see like what everybody was feeling.

Yeah, I had to see what everybody was I think it did, thank you for sure.

It's because it's nostalgic, but it's your own version of and rightfully so yeah.

So its like I was like, that's why I was like talking about my uncle and my father and stuff, because I just wanted to be like just get all the real emotions out because that's what YA did on that record.

So I was just trying to get as close as I could to that.

I like it, So what are we expecting from Little Herb?

Oh Man, Little Herb?

It is definitely I don't even like saying this type of stuff, but I'm gona just go ahead and put it out there.

Man, I'm a manifested man.

I feel like it's gonna be album of the year.

For sure, like my best body of work.

Definitely.

I feel like and it's just like elevated rap, Like it's not even just like it's not about the songs.

You gotta really listen to my lyricism and the word play and the stuff that I'm saying on the album and the topics that I'm touching on.

I feel like it's like what music has been lately.

It's getting back to hip hop, like real rap, you know what I'm saying, Like it's cool people making records and the stuff that turned the clubs up.

Like don't get me wrong, I got those kind of vibes on that, but I'm really really rapping on here, you know what I'm saying, And like that's who Little Herb was.

But introduction of who Little Herd was to the world was a kid from say Ninth Street and one of the worst neighborhoods that just knew how to rap, Like in the midst of drill and what drill was.

I was the the drill rapper that like, oh no, he could spit like he an m C.

You know what I'm saying.

I think that's what you know, love her it is.

So I was visiting and he collapsed from.

Perhaps I want to I'm handing a little something, man.

You know, I'm trying to.

I'm trying to really, you know, bring Bibby our retirement.

So we're gonna see when it dropped.

Man, you keep saying that, let's see if it's gonna happen.

Yeah, Yet I'm trying to bring Biby our retirement.

Man.

Biby like he just super picky with the music that you know what I'm saying, he like and what he want to put out.

You feel I'm saying like he tell me, you know, it's so crazy, like not even crazy, like he tell me at time we talk.

He like, bro, you're going crazy right now.

Like he felt like, I'm like my best when it come to like rap right now.

You know what I'm saying.

That's great, yeah, like for sure, but Bibby like and I feel the same way about him, Like he'd be saying, like he has say some shit like mom, we can hear now I can't rap, but like it's no way, there's no way possible.

He can't.

You rapp too good to not.

You know what I'm saying.

I like you could, like like it's like Iron Shop or iron but I ain't.

And it's been it's probably been seven years since me and Bibby actually been in the studio together and did a song, like that's what I want to do.

Like, if we get in the studio in the studio and do a song, it's gonna be a smash.

But we ain't did that in at least seven years.

Well, he don't got much time, so he got to hurry up.

For sure, it's coming out here and it's gonna be on your app, But no, it's not, is it the Is this the last album that you have as part of your deal?

Because okay, I'm gonna be one hundred percent independent man the first time in my career.

It's good that you said it that bright.

You got the app going, You see how it's working, iron out all the kinks in that people can get on there.

It's not gonna crash.

No, it's not gonna crash for sure, Like for sure, I got an elite team behind the app now for sure.

And I'm I'm like, I'm just trying to figure out like certain things, like even outside of my album, I got so much music and I'm still recording still, like even though my album is turned in, Like I'm still recording and trying to push stuff together, like just to just keep feeding the algorithm on my app, Like that's more important to me than anything.

That's what gave you back your energy.

It's having your own app.

But you can do whatever it is that you want.

I could wake up at four in the morning, like, might I want to drop this song and just put it out on my app?

That's dope.

You've done so many things that people haven't done.

You got the family again along everybody.

I think that's amazing.

So congrats on that because that was a journey.

Sometimes people can't even see that that will ever happen.

I mean I did though.

That's the crazy part about it.

Like I'm always been like a visionary.

I'm like, man, it's gonna be cool to get greater later, you know, And it's all like just just got to try to figure out how to do the next best thing, because at the end of the day, ain't nothing more important than Yeah.

That's right.

You got an apology from Selene the Power.

I ain't never seen that, probably the only art rapper to ever get an apology from us show.

The shouts out to her.

Man being open and honest about your story.

But I appreciate you for coming up.

It's always great talking to you.

Your interviews are always amazing.

Definitely, Definitely, it is always good to see you.

Yeah, you, thank you so much for getting on that.

Right, you got an interview.

How to make you Ain't nobody doing that, got a presence, ain't nobody doing that.

But that's how we have to do it.

We plan this back all right.

Well, thank you so much.

I appreciate you sure