Heart Of The Valley, Voice Of A Dream

We sit down with Ralph Edwards, runner-up on The Voice season 28, to talk perseverance, Fresno roots, and building a platform that serves the community. From small rooms to national TV, he shares the mindset, mentors, and mantras that keep him moving.

• twelve years from first audition to finale
• gratitude to Central Valley voters and supporters
• giving back through toy drives and warm clothing initiatives
• Snoop’s mentorship and model for community programs
• moving from TV covers to original releases and touring
• assembling Vibe Check and growing from residencies to ticketed shows
• handling big crowds, owning small rooms, and performance mindset
• lifting Fresno’s music scene with more stages and open mics
• resilience through rejection and family support
• goals for albums, charts, and national anthems

Follow Ralph: @RalphEdwardsMusic on Instagram; @RalphsGonnaWreckItt on TikTok; @vibecheck.theband on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok

 www.vibechecktheband.com

Follow us @ brokeboyz_ff on Instagram and TikTok
Intro Music by Rockstar Turtle- Broke Boyz (999)
Christmas Intro Song by Nico

Transcript

Warm-Up Banter And Intro

SPEAKER_04 0:01

Wait on her.

SPEAKER_01 0:05

I know when we're when we're live, I'm always telling everybody it's a weapon if somebody comes in. Yeah. How's it look, Caesar?

SPEAKER_02 0:14

Okay. Not too clear though, right? Like I don't I didn't get to do my skincare this morning, please.

SPEAKER_03 0:20

Me either, so don't don't get too close. I didn't have the makeup person ready, so I'm kidding. I'm kidding.

SPEAKER_01 0:27

They didn't make the budget this week.

SPEAKER_03 0:28

They didn't make the budget this week.

SPEAKER_01 0:30

Dang. It'd be like that, man.

SPEAKER_03 0:32

Raising Kane's money ain't came in yet.

SPEAKER_01 0:34

No, just the cane icon.

SPEAKER_02 0:40

Ready? Okay.

SPEAKER_01 0:42

Welcome back to another episode of the Broke Boys. I'm Martin. I'm DJ. And today we have a special guest, one of a kind, rep in Fresno just the way it should. Please introduce yourselves to everybody.

SPEAKER_03 0:52

Oh, my name is Ralph Edwards on season 28 of The Voice, runner up. And then uh got a band called Vibe Check.

SPEAKER_01 1:00

Yeah, yeah. That's right. It's a pleasure to have you back, bro. Like uh, I know we had you very briefly when we met at RB night. Um, it was such a pleasure. You're so nice and so caring to us and kind. And I was just like, man, like I kept thinking about that whole interaction of like, man, like this dude's just so genuine, so nice. And just even even after the fact, you were like, oh, come check us out of the band. But we had to leave literally that at that moment.

SPEAKER_03 1:26

Hey no, it's all good, man. We I'm I'm just glad y'all went up there with me. I was like, man, I'm gonna go up there by myself. Let me let me see if I can pull some extra people on there. And then you guys had just introduced yourself, so I was like, Yeah, I'm gonna tell them, come on, let's go.

SPEAKER_02 1:38

Heck yeah. Definitely made our night, too, man. That was one in a lifetime opportunity for sure.

Performing On The Voice And Future Releases

SPEAKER_01 1:43

Thank you, thank you, man. Absolutely. Yeah, well, before we go ahead and continue, let's go ahead and just roll the intro. Well, Ralph, you've been making a lot of noise, man. Just going at it, huh? Trying to, I'm a loud person. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You are. I loved each of your performances on the voice, man. You my favorite one had to be the one with Ed, the the cover that you were doing with Ed Shearing, Dive In.

SPEAKER_03 2:46

Oh, you like that one? Hey, that's that was one of my favorite ones to do.

SPEAKER_01 2:49

And it definitely hit, man. Like you were singing, like I was like, oh man, like I was even showing my girls. I was like, wow, like this is I was like, if there's I need to listen to it, I need to re record it. Yeah, I was thinking like back in the day when you used to want to get your voicemail and you're recorded next to the speaker, you know, on your phone. That's what I was thinking.

SPEAKER_03 3:06

Like, but well, I definitely plan on doing like a uh like a release on all those songs. I'm I'm gonna try to like cut them all and release it on like iTunes and all that fun stuff. So look out for that. That might be a thing, and maybe even a video, maybe YouTube and all that fun stuff. Yeah, we'll see where it takes us.

Gratitude For Fresno And Finale Reflections

SPEAKER_01 3:25

Absolutely, man. Absolutely. So what what is to expect after everything that went down?

SPEAKER_03 3:30

Man, first off, Central Valley Fresno, everybody. Thank you guys so much for the votes. Y'all got me that second place, you know what I mean? It's it's you know, honestly, I didn't even think I was gonna get second place. I I knew I was gonna be in the finale, but I was so happy when when yeah, when when I was the top two, and then they said they said his name first, and I was like, nah, hey, honestly, shout out to my boy Aiden too. That's he's a brother, man, and he's hooper too. He can play basketball too. Oh yeah, that's my guy. But um, yeah, no, man. I told him I was like, I think it's gonna be us two. I really do. And then it was that was that was actually from the beginning too. From the beginning, I was like, man, like hearing you, I hope it's us two standing there. And it ended up being that, which was crazy. It was crazy that we kind of predicted it. But um, shout out to everybody though, the top six, the top 16, everybody, man. It was it was such an experience, it was so fun. And yeah, no, I just had a fun time, honestly.

SPEAKER_01 4:27

Yeah, yeah, yeah. What was like your favorite highlight throughout the whole adventure that you went through?

SPEAKER_03 4:32

Man, hanging out with Snoop was so cool. Um, I think what's what was so cool about my experience too is that after after every time I sung, I went and hugged each and every one of the coaches. Yeah, you know, and um not saying not everybody did that, but I just developed a friendship and a relationship with all of them. Right. And yeah, now I got so much love and respect for all of them, even now, even though you guys beat me, and I was it's all good, brother. I'm I'm just so happy and happy to call you guys my friends.

SPEAKER_02 5:02

Absolutely. And with that being said, I mean it it it definitely has to heal a part of your inner child, right? So, what do you think your younger self would say if they saw you in that position?

First Big Crowds And Finding Purpose

SPEAKER_03 5:12

Man, ever since that show came out, I was dreaming about getting on it. I tried out for it 11 times before this 12th time getting there. Right. Um, yeah, and I would just tell them, man, keep on trying, don't stop, and release music. Do do some original stuff, get that out there, and yeah, that would be that'd be the only thing I tell my inner child, just keep on going, man, don't stop.

SPEAKER_02 5:33

Absolutely, man. That's amazing. I couldn't imagine being in front of a crowd of that many people. And I think on the last episode we were actually speaking about that with culture. Yeah, we were I've never been in front of a thousand people or more. So being at the Fresno Fair event, I was like, oh my god, I didn't realize there was this many people here. What is that? What was your first experience like being in a large crowd? I mean, I could only imagine you were anxious, right?

Giving Back: Drives, Donations, Community Work

SPEAKER_03 5:56

That was a long time ago, to be honest. But it's fun, it's like I think it's easier to be in front of thousands of people than to be in front of ten. Um, and a lot of singers and artists would tell you that too, because it's more intimate, obviously, but it's it's just like, man, you know those people usually. Like that 10, those, that that group of 10 people. I mean, I've done I've done shows to where, you know, you can't see how far people are, you know what I mean, how many people. But then you can also I've done shows where there's like seven people. I'm gonna tell you one thing, I'm gonna do the same show, yeah, no matter whether there's a hundred thousand or seventeen people in the crowd. Right. Because that, you know, you get a chance to touch just one person with your voice and with your music. That's that's at least for me, that's kind of like my my why, why I do it. You know, I love to reach people, I love to inspire, I love to um show love too. Uh that's that's one of my main goals is to let this platform speak and you know do more positive things with it.

SPEAKER_04 6:59

Right.

SPEAKER_03 6:59

Um, so yeah, any any you know, any following I have, any chance I have, you know, look out for those toy drives, look out for those warm clothing things, giving back to the homeless, giving back to the kids, whatever I can do to help people with my platform, I'm going to do.

SPEAKER_04 7:15

Right.

SPEAKER_03 7:15

I'm just building it right now. And that's you know, even with my my band VibeCheck last year, we did a Toys for Tot drive, we did a warm clothing drive.

SPEAKER_04 7:22

Right.

SPEAKER_03 7:23

Um, I know we've done even a breast cancer awareness month, like a month of October, right? Breast cancer awareness month, and we sold t-shirts. And I think it was like 80% of the proceeds went towards we we we donated to breast cancer awareness, and then the other 20% kind of just went towards the cost of the shirts and all that stuff. Right, right, right. Um, you know, I'm I'm we definitely want to make a living off of this for sure, but right, I also want to help as many people as I can and help my community.

Persistence Through Rejection And Family Support

SPEAKER_01 7:50

Yeah, that's beautiful. That's beautiful here too, because like I said, you're so nice, you're so genuine, and a lot of people showed a lot of love. How was that feeling of showing of seeing Fresno really give back to you?

SPEAKER_03 8:02

Without crying, man, yeah, that was that was amazing. And I can't be more thankful enough, uh, can't be more appreciative because yeah, I mean, I just told you why I do it. And that's that's yeah, to get that back, to get that same love back, um, to get the recognition that I've been looking for, not looking for really, but trying to get to since I was a young kid, like, you know, that 17-year-old that tried out for the voice for the first time is screaming right now because he's like, Finally, like now it's time to really show people what I can do and and what I'm about.

SPEAKER_01 8:36

So you never gave up.

SPEAKER_03 8:38

That's a that's a key point to your whole story. And that's something I push to everybody. Like, if you have a dream, go for that because you're only gonna be upset at yourself at the end of the day. Right. You know, you can't nobody else can do it for you. It's only got to be you, and it starts with you. And you know, you you had mentioned on that other podcast, um, you were saying, like, oh man, I don't know how he can get in front of over a hundred thousand people or over a hundred or a thousand people, whatever. And um practice. Yeah, yeah, you know, making sure I was ready for that. And I think I made a comment on that video too. But I was like, Yeah, just just practicing, man, putting in the work, putting in those hours where people don't see you, right? Is you know, is how you how you get that, how you get there, and how you go up there without a hiccup and just being excited.

SPEAKER_02 9:28

Right now, I want to ask a more interpersonal question Is there anyone that may be alive or not alive at this time that you wish you could perform with or perform for?

SPEAKER_03 9:40

Man, I think everybody's answer to that would be Michael. You know what I mean? Michael Jackson. Okay, yeah. If I could do, yeah, if I can go back and meet him or you know, do do something with him, it'd be amazing.

SPEAKER_02 9:50

Now, what era of Michael were we talking? Jackson 5 era we talking about?

Dream Collaborations And Stage Presence

SPEAKER_03 9:54

Uh I'd be like teenage Michael. Okay, okay, yeah. Because we'd be able to go crazy on that stage. I'm not a dancer, don't don't even look at you guys. Saw my extent to dancing on the show that night. You know, I did a little bob and that was about. He was rocking up.

SPEAKER_01 10:07

It looked like you were getting ready to bust the move.

SPEAKER_03 10:10

I was gonna try, but then I was like, you know what? Nah, I'm here to sing. It's called the voice, the dancer, yes. And yeah, no, I was I was, man, that was so funny because I was like, I got these backup dancers. What am I gonna do? Right. You know, I didn't I didn't know what I was gonna do, and I was like, you know what? I was looking back at like the dress rehearsal, and I was like, they're bobbing right there. Okay, let me see if I can at least do that. Yeah, maybe I could bounce a little bit when they're dancing and stuff, and that'll that'll kind of look like I'm look like you're gonna. Well, I got two, I got two left feet, so there's no way I can dance dance, but yeah, no, I had some fun. Hey, that's if I could rock it with Michael, um, I would love to do that. Uh, who else would be? I mean, Stevie Wonder is is definitely one of my my all-time prints would be tight too.

SPEAKER_02 10:56

Prince, of course.

SPEAKER_03 10:57

Yeah, so you know, those those guys for sure. Um I know he's on American Idol, but Lionel Richie would be fun. Uh, those yeah, that that would be my thing. Right. Maybe a little, maybe a little Bruno Mars, too. Yeah, okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:09

Bruno, if you're seeing this, man. Come on. Come on, bro. Come on, we gotta do one with you.

SPEAKER_03 11:13

Come back to town. Yeah, come on, man. We need you back.

SPEAKER_02 11:17

One question I did have. Now reaching this this milestone, right? I mean, again, since you were 17, this is something you've been wanting so bad. Now that you've reached this milestone, what is your next level or means of success? What do you think is next in terms of like, I need to, I need to reach that.

Next Goals: Original Music, Charts, Touring

SPEAKER_03 11:35

I want to release music. I want to release an album. I want to be, you know, dare I say, top of the charts. You know what I mean? Like, because then I know I reached people. You know what I mean? That's that's a whole other thing. It goes back to what why I do it. I do it for my family, I do it to reach people, I do it to inspire. And if I can just if I can get that album out and it really touches people and it's it's gaining traction, I can go on a tour. Yeah, you guys, you guys saw one of my dreams come true right there on the stage, too. You know, I I sang that song and I put my ear up instead of singing, yeah, and the entire crowd was like, oh, I was like, that's my dude. I I want that always. Yeah, but if I can do that and it's my music, that's gonna be even better. And you know, it's gonna be a dream come true there too. So the next step, I guess, would be like releasing music and going on tour. Wow.

SPEAKER_02 12:28

Is there a place you want to tour like very badly?

SPEAKER_03 12:30

Everywhere. Everywhere. Okay, I ain't gonna, I'm not even gonna, yeah, everywhere. Anywhere I anywhere and everywhere I can. Okay. I want to be there.

SPEAKER_01 12:38

That's terrible. Yeah. Well, I want to dive in a little bit deeper into like a much more difficult question. Sure. Where were some of the doubts that you had growing up?

Doubts, Resilience, And Defining A Calling

SPEAKER_03 12:50

I mean, doubt I have all the doubts. You know, you that's that's a whole thing. You know, if everybody goes through, you know, sadness and thoughts, and you know, me personally, I've been through so much that I don't even care to talk about it. But, you know, people don't people don't know me. People really don't know what I've been through, what what's happened in my life. But you know, it's not about that. It's about how you get out of that stuff, it's about how you persevere through those things. Um and you know, being told no 11 times before this 12th yes is is something, you know, that's crazy. But um I think it's just just that never giving up, man. I don't know. I hope I answered that question. I kind of went into something else, but but yeah, man, I just there were so many doubts. There were so many, are you good enough? There were so many, and I have to give it to my family. They were pushing me too. My dad, my mom, my fiance, my sisters, my little brother, too. Um, they all were just like, Man, you could do this. You know, at one point I thought I was going to the NBA for a minute, too. I thought I was gonna be on the Olympics for shot put. You know, I did football, basketball, and track in high school and choir. And so, you know, I had a lot of different things. But yeah, on top of working a job too. So yeah, man, we just, you know, I just I always never wanted to give up, and music has always been that plan. I've never wanted to do anything else aside from the sports part, but I was okay with giving up the sports. I was never okay with not singing, right? And so that's how I knew like that's yeah, that's what I'm supposed to be doing. So yeah, and here we are, man. Here we are. It's crazy.

SPEAKER_02 14:37

What an experience. Oh, yeah. It's kind of crazy because growing up, I was always one of the kids that was trying to sing all the time, but I didn't know how to like find my voice, right? Like I never took choir class. I can't see. But if you ask my mom, she will literally tell anyone. I was in that living room watching on-demand Comcast, Michael Jackson music videos, singing along, dancing, doing all of that. And it just it feels it feels good seeing someone actually make it so far and something in little, just a small singing, right? It's something that we're all able to do. Uh it's something that we're all able to have a voice and be able to, you know, experiment with singing in different songs and stuff like that. But what I'm getting at is it took you so far, simply inhaling and exhaling, and it can reach a means of success with no limit, you know. Um I got a question that may be a little it may be a little too personal, but I want to ask in the case that you were to reach your other means of success, right? Like let's just say you end up going on a tour and everything like that. How would you mentor someone else who would try and get into singing to try and reach your level?

Mentorship, Youth Programs, And Snoop’s Model

Fresno Roots, Schools, And Community Pride

SPEAKER_03 15:46

That's a great question, actually. Um, I'd like I said before, I want to give back as much as I can. So when I have that platform, when I have the funding, dare I say. You know, I I plan on doing all that stuff too. You know, I'm gonna have kids myself and they're they're gonna be in voice classes. What I wish I was in growing up, they're gonna be doing it. You know what I mean? Like I'm gonna have them in like gymnastics because they're gonna be great at sports. You know, their mom is gonna be very smart. She's my fiancee is a college professor. Wow, she's a chemistry professor, and she's the smartest person I know. And so I know they're gonna get the smarts from her. Yeah, and hopefully they get my you know, somewhat athletic abilities. Yeah, we pray. She was that she played volleyball too, so don't let me say she wasn't. But yeah, no, I was I'm the dominant one. Yeah, but she's uh yeah, I can't wait. I can't wait for that. But I want to, yeah, I want to give people, I want to give people all opportunities that they can get. Um I'm almost gonna try to follow a little bit in Snoop's footsteps too. You know, he's got a Pop Warner teams and things like that. Yeah, he's got avenues for people to get out of the hood, get out of, you know, bad situations. And I'm gonna I'm gonna do the same. I mean, I almost actually recently I was gonna tell him, like, hey man, if you need me to be a part of any of your Pop Warner stuff, like I used to coach football, I coached my little brother in his Pop Warner days. Um and shout out to Delano, the Bengals over there, because I played, I played for them, and then I uh I coached, you know, they just won state the RFK high school. Oh, yeah. They just won state championship and from Delano, little Delano, California winning state championship. Come on now. Um, but shout out to them, man. They yeah, they killed that. And uh I was oh man, I wanted to be at their they had a like a parade in the whole town and a big old stage, and they had asked me to perform, but I already had something that I had to be at. Oh man. So I was upset about that. But I'm gonna be back right before actually I went for the finale. I went and visited my old choir because I went to high school in Fresno. I went to uh Clovis West for the first three years of my high school career, and then I moved to my dad's my senior year and went to RFK. Gosh, and that's been it's funny too because there's been like a debate online. I've been seeing comments. He went to RFK. No, he went to Clovis West, and they've been fighting on there. I'm like, oh man. I went to both. I love both. Just you guys know, look at the camera. I went to both, and I love all of you guys. I'm representing Fresno and Delano too. I I love I got love for both. I was born in Fresno, but I was also partly raised in Delano too. So shout out to both. So no more fighting online, no more fighting.

SPEAKER_02 18:25

All together as a community, we move forward.

SPEAKER_03 18:27

We were together, y'all. Central Valley strong, and that's when you keep it that way.

SPEAKER_01 18:30

That's right. That's right. So, was there any time that you felt like you developed like imposter syndrome? Like after you would record from the show and then you would come back home.

SPEAKER_03 18:40

Yeah. Man, it didn't sink in. Honestly, this is gonna sound funny, but I'm gonna be honest with you guys. Like, when the show ended, I had tears in my eyes, right? Right. It wasn't because I lost, it wasn't because in the second place, right? It was just because I blinked my eyes and it was over. Like, and it's not over. My journey's not over, but the voice journey is over. And you know, I was that was why I was crying. I'm not gonna lie. I I yeah, I wanted to win, but the voice journey was the reason why the it being over was the reason why I had tears in my eyes that night. Wow, and um, yeah, man, I I still I still can't believe I was on TV. Like it was yeah, you know what I mean? Like it was I was watching that the other day, actually, and it, you know, a commercial popped on, and I was there, and I was like, right after a bounty commercial, and I was like, what the heck? Like that's crazy. Like, but yeah, so needless to say, yes, every time I'm like, man, yeah, whoa.

Processing Fame And Staying Approachable

SPEAKER_01 19:42

Yeah, whoa, I did that. That's crazy. Yeah, no, it's incredible to for me, because I'm like, you know, I was telling my girlfriend and and I thought I was like, Yeah, I'm gonna have an interview with Ralph. And she was just like, What you what do you mean? Like casual, and I'm like, Yeah, like I was like, he's just a great guy. I've seen him on TV, and then he's performing. And I was like, and I met him before, and then now to be here with you, now I see what she's saying because now I'm starstruck. I'm like, shit, man. I just hit you.

SPEAKER_03 20:09

I'm a person. Let me tell you guys this too. I'll look in the camera again. Come say hi to me. I want it. I want you guys to come say hi to me. And have you all hanging up all around me and grabbing on me? That's different. But you know, come say hi. I love you guys. I promise you I do. I want to take a picture. I'll sign something if you want me to. I don't, I still don't think I'm cool enough to sign something to be real, but I'll take it. You know, I've been asked for a lot of autographs. You say in the computer.

SPEAKER_02 20:35

You say that right now. I'm not having time to say, but I'm taking it with you.

SPEAKER_03 20:40

You walk out. Louis is like, what the fan.

SPEAKER_02 20:46

$1.5 million.

SPEAKER_03 20:48

Just tag me in it. You don't even got to give me no money. I'll just go. Come on. I got to break it down. I'll share it. I'll share it. I'll share it. But yeah, no. Yeah, I'm I'm just a person, y'all. For real. And I'm always going to be a person. You'll never, you'll never see me acting different towards anybody unless they really deserved it. Yeah. Yeah. Like, you know, you know, I was I was also a young crazy kid at one point. You deserve the microphone. Right, yeah. This this does got some weight to it, but no, it's yeah, no, it's all love for me. And I I want everybody to know, come up to me. Don't be shy, because I'm really just a person. And I will treat you like a person too, I promise.

SPEAKER_01 21:26

Absolutely. I love the the chains, man. Oh, yeah, man. But last time I seen you, you had the silver the silver one. You upgraded.

SPEAKER_03 21:33

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Uncle Snoop, this is this is my favorite one. No one else has it. No one else has this one. And so this one, yeah. It's a one-off. It says Death Row Records. It says season 28 of The Voice. Nice. And Team Snoop on it. And so, you know, I was the winner of Team Snoop. I was the only one that got this one. I wore it on stage that last night. Actually, I wore all this. Yeah. This is exactly what I wore. The same earrings and everything. You got it. And the watch. And the watch. And the watch. I just didn't bring the pinky pinky ring. Oh, not the pinky.

SPEAKER_01 22:05

I know, dang it. Missing the mob boss. Come on. Come on.

SPEAKER_03 22:08

I did a Bruno Mars song. I had to put a pinky ring on. Okay, okay. That's respectable. That's respectful. I had to put a little gold pinky ring on. But um, yeah, no, it's I love this, man. It's crazy. It's crazy that he gave this stuff to me. You know what I mean? Right. Snoop literally handed me these things and was like, I got this for you.

SPEAKER_02 22:26

And I was like, Yeah, that could have felt like a fury. That's crazy. He just blink and he wakes up and he's like, wait a minute, hold on. This is a dream. That's a crazy experience. I mean, being able to meet Snoop for one, I mean, that's a dream come true for most people's childhood dreams, right? But that that's even that's crazy, man.

SPEAKER_03 22:44

No, for him, he he truly is such a good person.

SPEAKER_02 22:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:47

Um I look up to him a lot. You know, I at first I didn't realize exactly what he did and what he's doing.

SPEAKER_04 22:54

Right.

SPEAKER_03 22:54

But um, after you know, really doing my research and talking to him and figuring out who he is as a person, like didn't realize Snoop Dogg was a real role model out here. Right. And he really is. Like, he is he's got so many things. He's got kids stuff for like he's got like affirmation for kids, like things all on YouTube, and he's he's such a good person, and he gives back so much. He gives the gifts to everybody. Yeah, so you know, maybe if I could tag him in this, he'll send you guys something.

SPEAKER_01 23:24

He's definitely invited to the Carnazala, man. I just I know how he'd be talking Spanish, performing with Mexican artists too. I'm like, oh yeah, you invited to the Carnazala.

SPEAKER_03 23:32

He don't play, he got man, he's got a country album out. What? Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's got a country song out with Zach Brown. Like meeting him was cool too, but like, yeah, that was that's about smoking weed, but is it if you don't like Snoop, it tells me a lot about you.

Songs For Life And Embracing Pressure

SPEAKER_02 23:47

Right, because Snoop is such a world at that point. I mean, such a genuine guy, and then being able to see how far he's come. I mean, he's he's one of the last standing ones from the OG era of of rap and music. But it's like that's the definition of being able to come from the soil from the ground up and give back to the community, not just one community, but so many different aspects of it too. Right. I think uh I think that's beautiful, and I'm glad to see you know, people can reach a high level of fame and such a large amount of lump sum of money, but they don't let it consume them. They're able to give back to those communities and give back to those who may aspire to be just like him. You know, I think it's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 24:28

I love that he does a lot for the culture, yeah, but he also does a lot for everybody else, too. Like he really does. He's not just, you know, he he does a lot for the black community for sure, but he does a lot for everybody. Yes, and I love that about him. You know, half of me loves that he does it for the black community, and the other half does it. Nah, man, it's he's so cool though. He's he really is the coolest person in the world.

SPEAKER_02 24:53

I gotta ask one question. Is there a song that you could sing for the rest of your life that you would never get tired of singing?

SPEAKER_03 24:59

Ooh. That's a great question, actually.

SPEAKER_02 25:01

I couldn't even thought of that. I got mine. I know mine for sure. What the park, man?

SPEAKER_03 25:06

I don't even know, man. Um got him.

SPEAKER_04 25:12

Yeah, you gotta be stuck for a second.

SPEAKER_03 25:14

Um, I'm I'm always down here. Shut it. One of my favorite songs is like I Wanna Know by Joe. Okay. Uh my band Vibe Check. Vibe Check. Vibe Check star. We started doing that song. That was in our set list from the beginning. Uh-huh. Um, I would love to do that song. Michael Jackson songs all day in New York, you know? Yes. Bruno Mars songs kill me too. So I'm like, I like songs that are hard for me to sing, like a challenge. You like a challenge. Yeah, I love a challenge, and that's that's all I did the whole show. Yeah. I challenged myself. You know, those last two songs I sang, yeah, I was singing at the top of my range the entire time. And so, you know, that's that's something I like though. And I I like to challenge myself and get there. And especially for like TV and competitions, is when I show up. That's when I show up the most.

SPEAKER_02 26:08

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 26:09

Um, I'm I'm that person, like, I will not do good in a rehearsal. I'll sing it terrible when I'm practicing. Right. But the second I get on the stage or the second that I'm ready to go and I know I'm ready to go, it's like second nature. And so we just go in.

SPEAKER_02 26:23

Pressure builds diamonds. Yes, it does. Pressure builds diamonds. That is amazing to even think of. Like that level of pressure. I don't know how you go on there stress-free like that. Bro, I would fold. I'd be like, all right, I'm sorry, I'm just not prepared. I'm going back home. That's crazy, man.

SPEAKER_03 26:40

I thought it goes back to putting in that work. Yeah. Put the work in, and yeah.

Building Vibe Check And Gigging Locally

SPEAKER_01 26:46

Wow. So uh VibeCheck, when did you guys meet?

SPEAKER_03 26:50

When was Vibecheck is about three years old now. Um I would say 2022. 2022 is when we officially like became a band. Me and my boy Marco, he's a keyboard player. Um I had just left my other band and um that called the 1140 band. I was in that one for about three years. And then um then we kind of just I kind of just left. We kind of just, you know, parted ways. Um nothing crazy, no, no bad blood or nothing like that. No, I don't like to keep any beef with anybody. But um no, I was just we we were just like, man, we gotta start something. I can't sit still for that long. And so I needed to perform. I I had already gotten a taste of it, and I'm like, I gotta go, we gotta go. And so that's what happened. Uh we just kind of picked put some guys together, trial and error, and you know, got a team now. My drummer Gene, my bass player Katzal. Um, I got two different guitar players. I got Fernando Jimenez and Bobby Griffin and um Marco Flores, Kyle Keys, and me on vocals. We might be adding in some backup vocals soon too, just to kind of add to the production of everything. And um, but yeah, we'll see. Maybe some horn players. So if you got any horn players, hit me up. Hit me up because I want to we might do some auditions very soon.

SPEAKER_01 28:10

Yeah, heck yeah. Y'all heard them. Y'all heard them.

SPEAKER_03 28:12

I'm trying to build them, trying to build.

SPEAKER_01 28:15

Do you ever plan on performing here?

SPEAKER_03 28:17

At uh at Zero? Um, yeah. I mean, shoot, if if the stars align, we'll be we'll make it happen, whatever we needed to do.

SPEAKER_02 28:25

Um, I would love to, yeah. What was the first place you performed here in Fresno?

Upcoming Events And Bringing Friends Onstage

SPEAKER_03 28:31

Whoa. That's a crazy question, too. I have no clue. Um I have no clue. I can I can't even tell you. It's been so long. Right. You know, I could tell you where we performed the most. Um, was that Beyond the Wine right there on Palma Knees? Okay, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Shout out to Santiago, man. We that was one of our first time like when Vibe Check started, one of our first places I hit up because I was like, hey man, I know you used to used to have my other band here, like what's up? Right, right. And then yeah, no, he he caught us in right away. Um, we were there like every Wednesday for like a year straight. Wow. Yeah. Wow. Yeah, it was you can't, I mean, you can't beat a residency. Anytime you have a residency, it's amazing to have. But um, yeah. And then I say, like, I used to I hit a barrel house, I hit a Lucy's Lounge, Goldsteins, Howlin Wolf. And then it just started trickling in, people started calling us, and that was the cool part. Right, right. We got busy and we started doing like private shows, weddings, all that stuff. And I can say honestly, now our like full band, we only do like barrel house. And honestly, right now, I don't know how much often we're gonna be able to do that one either because we just got so many other private things going on. I know I got the Ronald McDonald House Fund uh fundraiser thing coming up in February. I got a uh my Valentine's Day with Bad Brad Yuricki. Um hopefully, like I said, I'm gonna I'm gonna try to get you guys over there too.

SPEAKER_02 29:59

I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_03 30:00

So Brad, we gotta get these these guys on it. So watching you, Brad.

SPEAKER_01 30:05

Please, cameras rolling.

SPEAKER_03 30:06

Cameras are rolling. Oh, but yeah, no, so yeah, we got some we got some big stuff coming up, and that's the goal is just to keep on doing the big stuff, ticketed events, having you know big names there too for that Valentine's Day. I'm actually bringing two of my friends from The Voice that are pretty big names already for themselves. You know, maybe my knockout partner, I don't know. We'll see. Yeah, that's a that's a hint because we haven't talked about who's coming out yet. Yeah, but I just kind of said it right here on the Broke Boys podcast. So that's right.

SPEAKER_01 30:39

Yeah, we're gonna represent Fresno.

SPEAKER_03 30:43

Hey!

SPEAKER_02 30:44

Speaking of Fresno, do you feel like there is a lack of um how can I say this? Like a lack of platform for local artists that are trying to make something for themselves. Do you think we're lacking in certain areas here in Fresno?

Fresno’s Creative Scene: Gaps And Opportunities

SPEAKER_03 30:57

Yeah, I do. Um, respectfully, of course, I love Fresno and I'm I'm trust me, I'm 559 to the day I die. But um yeah, we need to we need to get out there more. We need to get more people on these events, like we need to have events for these things, and that's another thing I plan on doing is just there's so much local talent here that people just don't know who they are. And um, I was one of them for a long time. Yeah, you know, before my other band, before this band, y'all didn't know who I was, right? And so, you know, and that's that's something that needed to change.

SPEAKER_04 31:32

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_03 31:32

And uh, you know, I put the work into to change that, and I will encourage others too to do that too, but because it's not gonna ever just get handed to you. But if you do have a platform, if you do have an avenue that you can you can explore that will change that, then yeah, that's what Fresno needs.

SPEAKER_04 31:49

Right.

SPEAKER_03 31:50

Fresno needs more open mic nights, Fresno needs more um, you know, and people to come out and do them too, though. Like I like I said, I'm not I'm not saying it's all Fresno's fault, because you know, if you're an artist and you want to do this, you will find a way.

SPEAKER_01 32:04

Right.

SPEAKER_03 32:04

You will find a way, and you need to. Yeah, you need to find a way. And respectfully, of course, I'm not trying to sound like mean or anything, but that's my opinion. And I think, you know, people need to start speaking up and going for it and having fun. Yeah, right. Because that's what it is for me. It's just fun.

SPEAKER_02 32:20

Right. And being that Fresno isn't as big as like a like a city like LA or like in terms of entertainment, of course, or like San Francisco, San Diego, and things like that, can you kind of feel a little bit of pressure building up in Fresno? Do you feel like there are some I mean, you mentioned earlier there's some local talent that definitely needs some spotlight out here? Um do you feel like in a matter of like maybe five years we'll reach that point of something like a mini LA or Fresno or I sure hope so.

SPEAKER_03 32:48

I hope so, man. I think, I think for sure, you know, I hope they can use me as a vehicle to make that happen. You know what I mean? Like use the success I got from the show to bring more people, the confidence to come out and do more things and and create for yourself. You know, that's why I try to say my story as much as I can.

SPEAKER_04 33:08

Right.

Twelve-Year Full Circle And Valley Talent

SPEAKER_03 33:09

Because that 17-year-old boy that tried out a level that tried out for the first time, which was funny. My the next day, so this Saturday, the 15th, was the finale, right? Right. My little my last performances on the show, the 15th. The 14th was my 12-year anniversary of the first time I tried out.

SPEAKER_02 33:29

Right.

SPEAKER_03 33:29

Isn't that crazy? The day before the finale.

SPEAKER_02 33:32

I think you mentioned that on one of the posts, right? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, and I was reading it.

SPEAKER_01 33:35

It was nuts. It's just crazy how a full circle moment that it happens.

SPEAKER_03 33:40

It was nuts, man. And again, that that brought a tear to my eye too. And it I didn't even realize it. My mom sent me a picture and was like, look at this, it was 12 years ago, and this was your first time my nephew got to be. He was at the show, or he was at the um first audition, and then he was also at the finale with me that day, too. Wow, he's almost 18. Like he was a little kid. Yeah, it was it's it's nuts. Yeah, what was that 12 years ago? I don't even try to make me do math, but he was young, let's just say that. Yeah, but yeah, no, it was a full circle moment, and so man, but I mean, that being said, though, I I I want everybody to know that the Central Valley, Fresno has so much talent, and if you guys are looking at it from a different spot from LA, come over here and find out because I mean, sports, there's some of the best athletes come out of Fresno, some of the best musicians come out of Fresno. You know, even the lead singer of Journey, Steve Perry, was from Hanford, Central Valley boy. Yeah, um, and so you know, it's it's just there's so much talent here. Yeah, there's so much talent that just scratching the surface. So I'm excited to see what happens, and I hope I can create a platform for more people to come out and do things.

Balancing Jobs, Passion, And Platform-Building

SPEAKER_01 34:54

Yeah, most definitely. You are impacting you are impacting so many people's lives. And even if you don't know it, but you are people are seeing this, and people are gonna see this, and people are gonna be like, damn, like he's you you're gonna be inspiring the next generation or the next set of artists that are you know what they might be stuck, and we've met so many people that are like, I'm stuck, I gotta work two jobs, I have a kid, I have families to feed, and they do their passion on the side, right? And you know, you're living proof that hey, you continue grinding, you continue putting forth the effort, it's gonna pay off.

SPEAKER_03 35:27

You just I mean, I did vibe check and I had a full-time job. I mean, you guys, you could do it. Hell yeah. You could definitely do it. Full-time job doing that, and then helping other people on the side, and then also having housework. Man, I can't tell. If I have any money, I can't wait to do that. I'm gonna just pay somebody to do all my housework for me. I need if you if you guys want, I need a maid so uh I can't pay you what you think I can pay you, but I man, I want to. Right. We knew we're taking uh interns.

SPEAKER_01 35:58

Sign me up, man. Yeah, yeah. No, I know I feel that, and I relate to that a lot because you know, like I've I've said it so many times on the platform for years, is I've always I went from working two jobs, doing this on the side, then you transit, then you see my transition of working from one place to another, and then I'm able to do it more flexible and being like, all right, I can do this project, my passion project. Right, and it's a blessing. Um, again, because this is something that we get to do. I'm here with Ralph Edwards. Yeah. And if you were to tell me three years ago, hey Martin, you're gonna be you're gonna have a platform, you're gonna have cameras, you're gonna have people that are here to support you, and you're gonna be interviewing somebody who is so big right now in the Central Valley that I'd have been like, you're smoking fucking dicks, like there's no fucking way that that would be fucking true.

SPEAKER_02 36:49

I mean, that's valid though. I mean, the position that we're that's how I am. I'm sorry, bro.

SPEAKER_01 36:53

You caught me off guard, but you're good. Again, out the pump art.

SPEAKER_02 36:58

Yeah, yeah, got me. Absolutely, and even just in terms of like watching everybody grow, right? I mean, just a few months ago, we were just at the Fresno Fair watching your performance. Our first run with you, uh, being brought on stage and just seeing the dynamic change was just wild. But now we're in the position to be able to at least host you here, and we're happy to have you here. And one of Fresno's finest establishments, shout out Lewis for that, by the way. Shout out Lewis. Um, and it's just uh to me, it's a full circle moment because the dream that he had when he first created Broke Boys was originally to make a name for himself, obviously, but also to build a platform that can get back to the community. And obviously, I feel like, you know, there's other podcast teams out here, there's other people out here trying to do the same thing that we're doing, but not the same way that we are doing it, right? Um being able to give people who have reached the means of success a way to come back and shine light on the city that they're from and the community that they're from and really show, like, hey, I'm not just doing this for me, I'm not just doing this for the rags and the riches. Exactly. I want to give to you guys as well. So thank you for even being on the podcast, man, because this opportunity is amazing.

Shared Wins, Full-Circle Moments, Collaboration

SPEAKER_03 38:04

I'm gonna tell you guys now too, let it be known. Hit me up for stuff. Like, I want to be there. Um, especially if I can be, if I'm in Fresno, if I'm doing something, if I'm not doing something, I'll be there for you know, whatever you guys got going got going on.

SPEAKER_02 38:20

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 38:20

And hope we can collab on things where it's like, yeah, let's get back to the community, let's get some warm clothes on some people, right? Let's get some people fed. Like, right, I want to do that. So please reach out, reach out to me as much as I can because or as much as you can. And um, yeah, if I can't be there, I'm gonna make something help help however I can help a post, whatever I can do to help out. Please let them you guys too, whoever needs help with with building something. I know I was working with um all things Fresno. Yeah, I'm sharing some of their stuff for for fundraisers and you know, clothes and all that stuff. I want to help out, right? So please let me know.

SPEAKER_01 39:01

And it's a crazy full circle moment because we just yesterday we had the whole charity event, uh-huh. And that was something that I was like, dude, this is such a milestone for me. Yeah, this is something I wanted to do for years, and for us to actually execute it and the way it came out. And again, all things Fresno being a part of it, feed the block. Shout out Feed the Block. Everybody being a part of it was just incredible, and it's a full circle moment. And you know, uh, I'm I'm extremely blessed, and I'm blessed that that you know, with the day that we met you, um, you reached out and you were like, Hey, would you guys like to come up on stage? And I'm looking at DJ like I'm about to freeze up. I don't know what the fuck is happening. But there's a a clip that DJ's holding the the camera, and he's just like, All right, bro, this is the moment right here. You stand right in front of Keesy's in the middle, and DJ's just holding the camera, and then you announce this to go on stage, and then just the crowd's insane, that energy. Like I will never get that that experience back, but to being able to experience it with you and you allowing that to allowing us to be a part of that was just so it brought me to tears that night because I was just like yo like this is I this is my highlight of the year.

SPEAKER_02 40:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:10

Because I never would have imagined that I would be doing something like that, something big. And then it brought it brought some happiness to the little boy from Fresno that came from nothing to something. So thank you.

Mantras, Mindset, And Big-Stage Aspirations

SPEAKER_03 40:20

Well that makes that that's why I do it right there is is those the feeling that you know you just gave me from what you just said is like that's why I do things like that is because I'm like man like I want to give people as much as I can and whatever I can do. And I'm going to sound like a broken record because I say it all the time it's like man I'm trying to give out I'm give back give back give back right because it's coming to me it's and I know it's going to keep on coming thank God Lord willing but you know at the same time if it's yeah I want I want that so and honestly that was completely by like I was like man I'm about to go up there by myself might as well call some people from Fresno up there why you know what I mean like it's like might as well but um so yeah so thank you guys for being up there too like of course you guys didn't have didn't have a whole stage to myself I'm I would love a stage to myself too I guess but at the same time I was like why why when I have people that will be up there with me. Right right you know what I mean so I'm I had just as much as fun as you guys did. Thank you. If not more to be honest because I mean I I love what I do man. I I really do I love singing for people I love getting the crowd going you know what Lloyd and uh Navea I'm gonna say the wrong Navia and Mario did up there too like I want to be you know I'm trying to I'm trying to get to those levels. Yeah and you know I'll keep you guys up there with me too if I can whatever happens you know what I mean and that's why I said hopefully this can be like a working relationship too wherever I go we'll bring y'all to and let's have some fun. So please know we'll work together more.

SPEAKER_02 41:51

We would love to appreciate that we are we have been networking with some of the um the most genuine the most compassionate people here in the city of Fresno uh trying to get back to those communities. So fulfilling your wish in the future of being able to get back to the communities I think we'll be able to bridge that gap pretty easily cool that's what I want. And I think their networking right now is just again another full circle moment. Everybody we run into it's just like all right this is another missing puzzle piece that we got to connect the dots with um but yeah absolutely we would be happy to work with you in the future and uh like I said just thank you for being on the platform and giving us this opportunity man.

Arizona Bowl, Socials, And Closing Thanks

SPEAKER_03 42:28

Of course of course thank you guys for having me man of course I had a lot of fun I did too man yeah if I can tell anybody though like I said my last little words would be don't give up don't give up keep on trying have fun and lock in. Lock in lock in lock in I I I'm gonna tell you one last thing before I go um but um every time I got on the stage on the stage of the voice or anytime I really usually get on any stage I tell myself remember who you are remember why you're doing it and remember who you're doing it for and I just kind of repeat that to myself so before my blind audition right before I went in front of all those four mega stars that are facing the other way not looking at me you know I thought how am I going to get them to turn around and then I just told myself remember who you are right remember why you're doing it and remember who you're doing it for right and that helped me get to be second place on the voice and hopefully an amazing career. Yes hopefully signed artist hopefully you know on those big old stages bringing the boy broke boys out there with me y'all be my hype guys or whatever we can do man. I'm telling you next year you're gonna be at the Super Bowl singing I'm telling you I'll put money on anybody watching this anybody watching this I put money on this he's gonna be on the Super Bowl next year singing the national anthem yes Mike's people who who run that let me know let's make it happen let's make it happen but um yeah no I'm excited again Fresno State's doing the Arizona Bowl I'm singing the national anthem at the Arizona Bowl myself so I can't wait to see that go dogs and go dogs yeah man thank you guys for having me man I'm excited and I appreciate it uh for you coming out here please tell everybody where they can find you at y'all can follow me at Ralph Edwards Music on Instagram Ralph's gonna wreck it on TikTok and um vibe vibecheck dot the band on Instagram Facebook and TikTok or www dot vibechecktheband.com sweet absolutely well we thank you guys for watching for another episode we appreciate you guys thank you Ralph again and stay tuned for the next we love you guys much love peace peace