M.T.A.C. Podcast with Rashaad Lee

I got to chop it up with a rapper from Kalamazoo MI. we talked family, Education & his music career & much more. Go check his music out on all major & small platforms @ Rashaad.Lee you won't be let down.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:23

What's up, y'all? What's up? Welcome back, y'all. This is your boy, your host, Coach Marshall, y'all, from the More Than the Coach Podcast. It's been a minute, y'all, but y'all already know. I'm back here on the scene with season eight, episode one. Y'all, tonight is gonna be a special um show. I got a young brother, man, out of Kalamazoo, Michigan, y'all, that I ran across through TikTok, Instagram, and then by the way of my family, I end up hooking up with him and making this happen. But before I bring him on, y'all already know, let me take care of the little house issues. And tonight, y'all, the show sponsored by Marshall Media. Marshall Media, the home of all your content, your photography, your podcast shows, your education shows, and soon a much needed online radio station coming, y'all, next month. So y'all make sure y'all tap in with your boy. And uh, hey, keep it going. Because y'all know how we do here. Also, this Sunday, y'all, for season seven, the Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Podcast will be back, y'all. We've been gone for a few months. You know, I was healing and recuperating. We've been holding it down, me and the missus, and now it's time to give our people what they want. Everybody been asking us where we've been, so we coming back, y'all. Coming back strong and better than never. Also, make sure y'all tap in for the summer with Miss G Learning Time Pre-K. If you got the little ones that need that education, they need to, you know, stay tuned up before the school, start back up in the next season. Y'all make sure y'all tap in with Mrs. G Learning Time Pre-K. Y'all she teaches them and she got some outstanding busy books for the kids. Y'all gonna love it. And also, make sure y'all tap in with my little brother, Mr. Danye F. Jones, it's something every year podcast, y'all, out of Chicago, Illinois. But my brother be doing positive things, y'all. So y'all make sure y'all tap in with him and follow his podcast. He still comes on on Thursdays, so y'all can check him out on all the social platforms. He definitely appreciates it. And hey, great content, great show. And also, I want to give a big shout out to my cousin, y'all, Miss Tiffany Owens. She released a book a couple months ago called Beyond Broken Pieces, where she talks about a mom that not only lost one kid, but she lost two kids to gun violence. So, y'all make sure y'all tap in, support her, get that book, y'all. It's a great read. And I can't wait to get her on the podcast and talk about it. So, y'all, before I get my guest on the show and bring him on, some of y'all might have heard him, some of you might not have. So, what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna drop this a little quick video, and I'm gonna let y'all see who I'm gonna be bringing onto the show with me, y'all. So, y'all hold on one second and check this out.

SPEAKER_03 3:35

Be dead or I'll probably lose it, K zoo. My heart and soul go out to you. Always keep you really close, but it's some shit I'm going through. How I lose so many homies in the shit that I pursue, and how the city overlooked me when I did the shit for you. Uh is my city gonna think I did it big enough. I've been on the grind, still they act like I ain't did enough. I can see it coming, some people telling me give it up. I can hear them fucking, but at me, I'm gonna give a fuck, really? You either with me or against me, though. Always been a butt with these niggas, but they wasn't before.

unknown 4:12

Let's go tell them when they hit on me now. This a hell of a fine, nigga. Just wait, go get them a top. I'm looking for my niggas nowhere to be found.

SPEAKER_03 4:21

I'm standing on business with 10 on the ground. I said I'm a key, man. Give me the ground. I know they gon' hate me, so this is what I found. Coming up like in a dice game. Come really different. I ain't thinking about you niggas. Stay the fuck about my business. I just kick it like a bunt. Buffin' on the bunt. Y'all know on these niggas, I've been giving what I want.

unknown 4:47

I had to make a couple moves. Now I niggas look official. I've been learning on my strikes. All I'm missing is a whistle. I just kick it like a bunt.

SPEAKER_03 4:54

Buffin' on the bunt. Y'all's on these niggas, I've been giving what I want. They used to tell me that I couldn't do it. I never listened, I was shooting for the stars. Focus handling business. They told me I couldn't make it now. God is my witness. I know he watchin' over. This son of my mind did it. They gon' tell you that you can't do it. Don't ever listen, they gon' tell you that you can't do it. Handle your business, they gon' tell you that you can't. Don't listen to the hate. This is your moment. No, you can't let it see the break. Alone is sitting in my room. I'm trying to piece it together. Told yourself I'ma make it. Don't need to know if it's true. I'm just gonna read it. I'm crazy. I'm talking about these in the big. But I nobody taking my black. I don't know, lady, I've been gonna do it.

unknown 6:12

I learned when breaking the fucking movie. Focus don't be given a damn what they do it. Right should be easy, I'm still improving. I'm questioning the rule and while hate on the nigga.

SPEAKER_03 6:20

You bitch in the proceeding. This shit be confusing.

SPEAKER_00 6:24

Welcome to Martial Media, the home of creative podcast shows impactful educational content. And a photographer group built to capture moments that matter. At Marshall Media, we tell real stories, amplify real voices, and bring ideas to life on screen, on mic and through the lens. If you're ready to listen, learn or create, this is where it starts. Connect with us today. Call number 89-780289. Email Marshall Media Ground54 at gmail.com or visit Marshall Media Ground org. Marshall Media. Your vision.

SPEAKER_01 7:17

So y'all, with no further delay, y'all, I'm gonna bring him in, but I gotta bring him in on one of my favorite songs. And I'm gonna see if he's gonna vibe to this one, too. But this one of my favorites, y'all. And y'all, welcome to the More Than the Coach Podcast, all the way from Kalamazoo, Michigan, Mr. Rashad Lee. And let's bring him in the right way, y'all.

SPEAKER_03 7:50

I've been going through so much weeks, but everybody changed everything. Nobody ain't no love up in these streets. Man, you you took it back on this one, huh?

SPEAKER_01 8:03

Man, for real. Welcome to the show, my brother. I can't lie, I can't lie to you, man. Ever since I seen you on TikTok, then I jumped on IG, and then when I found out you were from K Zoo, bro, I became a fan. You know what I'm saying? So, first of all, man, it's an honor to have you on the show. I know you're a busy brother, so I ain't gonna keep you too long, but man, I think people that listen to me and follow me, they need to know who you are. I reached out to some local rappers around here and I told them, Y'all better get on and follow. This man got some fire down there, man. And I appreciate my little cousin Greg for making this happen for us, bro.

SPEAKER_03 8:46

Hey, I that's crazy. Uh I'm gonna be real with you, man. True story shit. Uh, I definitely sent your message, man. But at this point, you know, of where I'm progressing in my career, it's like you it's hard to take every message serious. So you get so many of them, and you just like, all right, this bro for real. Like, all right, and then you get tired, and you like, all right, I'll check on it later. I was in the gym, man, and I know Greg from way back, man. Like, Greg was the big homie. I was a thing, I was a freshman when he was a senior, man. So yeah, he was the big homie, the football star and shit, man. So you know, it was crazy that he uh he stopped me in the gym the other day and was just like, yeah, you know, my cousin got this podcast out of love. I'm just like, yeah, bro, I got you. And then I seen it was you. I'm like, man, the world is so small. It must have been meant to be, bro. Honestly, like long story short, man.

SPEAKER_01 9:43

Yeah, and I appreciate it, man. Because um, I was just in K zoo this past weekend, and that's when we were sitting there, and he was like, and I asked them all him and my other cousins, and instantly he bust out laughing and say, cuz I know him. I'm like, man, you don't know him, bro. And look what happened. So while I got you over here, man, I'm gonna let you introduce yourself, man, and tell the people something about you, man, before we get into the podcast.

SPEAKER_03 10:09

No doubt. Um my name is Rashad Lee. I'm from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Man, I've been shit rapping for shit. Like, I got a catalog that says, like, my first few songs I dropped in like 2017, but bro, I didn't even fuck with music like that when I was doing that. I was just doing it like my homeboys did it, and I was just kind of at that place in life where I was like, you know, let me try something different. It was fun. And then uh 2023, around the time pressure came out. Um, or no, that was Insomnia. When around that song, the time that around the time that song came out, you know, is when I really started taking it seriously. So it's been about five years, man. So Rashad Lee, Calumazu, Michigan, been rapping about five years, you know, for real. And yeah, there ain't much much else to tell until you start asking questions, bro.

SPEAKER_01 11:03

Well, man, we can get into it, man. But I I just first thought, man, it's like, you know, as a former cat who used to call herself a rapper, but then life hit me in military call. And man, it's just like hearing you, you got a distinguished sound. And you know, and the caption that got me to tune in was one of Michigan hardest rappers nobody knows about. You know, and it was like he got his own flow, but he takes these drill beats and he killing it. And man, once I started, I started sending it to people, man. Check this cat out. And man, I guess you got some classics, bro. I appreciate that, bro. And like you said, I went back in the in the crates with that one because you know, I deal with some of that stuff you was talking about, and that's one thing I was gonna ask you. Your music is very therapeutic, you know, and it's helpful. You know what I'm saying? So, what what caused you to start? Even I know you said it's been since 2017, but what caused you to pick up a pen and start writing music like this?

SPEAKER_03 12:06

Uh, I would say like around 2020, I was like, I, you know, let me. It was like therapy, bro. I ain't gonna lie, like it was it was just something to help me get through shit that I was going through. Okay, and I found out I like the shit. And then, you know, people would tell me, you know, like, damn, bro, your voice crazy. Shit, bro. I'm talking like old white folks in the store and shit, bro, would be just randomly be like, oh my god, their voice, you should do radio. They never told me to rap, they always told me I should do something with the radio. So for me, you know, being in the culture, I'm like, all right, radio, I should probably be rapping because I used to write poetry and shit back in high school. So, you know, bro, like that's really like what got me into is just trying to deal with my own shit. It was a release, just something I enjoyed.

SPEAKER_01 13:01

Yeah, I feel that I uh man, that's that's how I got into it. Same way, poetry. Then hooked up with a couple cats from the neighborhood, man, and started doing it, then they went to prison, so I went another route, and that was it, but still got passion for it, man. So, you know, that's a cool thing.

SPEAKER_03 13:20

So you never lose the love for it, bro. It's it's just something that you you keep close to you, man.

SPEAKER_01 13:26

That's right. So and I see you are a father, right? Yeah, yeah. Some of the pictures and things, man. Beautiful kids, and I know that's gotta be your inspiration and everything.

SPEAKER_03 13:38

Yeah, yeah, to a degree, man. I'm uh I'm a really honest and forthcoming person. I'm not the I'm shit, I'm full-time dad, but I'm not the kind of dad that, you know, relies on my kids for inspiration, you know, or as a source of, you know, like I I rely on my purpose. You know, I believe my purpose is bigger than my family. My family, that's selfish. You know, like if I say if I'm looking out just for mine, you know, I can only take my gifts so far. But if, you know, I keep, you know, other people in mind, where you say my music can be therapeutic, you know, that's that's a strategy, I guess, that at some point I subconsciously started to implement my music, where it was like, nah, your purpose is bigger than you and yours. Your purpose is to uplift people and inspire people to be the best version of themselves, you know. The music is is healing. You know what I mean? It's aggressive, but it's healing. And I I think in a lot of ways, that's kind of my what what would they call that? Like, that's like my thing, I guess, in my music is that I find a way to say really meaningful shit in an aggressive way that makes people receive it better. You know what I mean? So that's true. You know what I mean? If I was to say some of the shit I rap about, it would come off probably preachy to some niggas, man. So it's like my job is to get motherfuckers to be able to digest a better message, and you know, I just kind of all right, we're gonna do it this way, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 15:22

Okay, that's cool, yeah. So um, you I mean, you just really kind of touched on it, but one of the questions I was gonna ask, how would you describe that unique sound, man? Because it's different, it reminds me of Sean from the old, you know, yeah, yeah, bad boy, yeah. Yeah, you got that that voice and carry. Like, I'm I used to be a coach, I just retired, and that's what everybody say, man, is your voice scare the shit out of me. And I'm like, So I'm me, but you know how basically that's the question I ask you, though. That unique sound that you got, man. I mean, you you practice that, or just that's been you your whole life.

SPEAKER_03 16:03

Bro, this is what y'all get is just me, bro. Like, it is sometimes like it's a gift and a curse. Like, I sound like this one, uh I talk to my kids, you know, like that's my rap voice, you know. Like, I don't I don't know how to to I'm not a good actor, bro. So I don't know how to turn it on. I don't have this alter ego about my music, you know. It's just Rashad Lee is my government name, bro. So it's like for me, I don't know. It just it's just me. It's how I've sounded my whole life. But what my approach with like I guess how I use my voice is more like you know, I I it's the energy, bro. It's all about energy, you know, it's enthusiasm. It's not what you say, it's how you say it.

SPEAKER_01 16:54

Yeah, it is.

SPEAKER_03 16:54

So, you know, for me, I I make a really good point about you know how I say certain shit that I say. And I think that makes a really big, you know, impact on how people receive, like, okay, his his shit's so different from you know, whatever his voice is distinct. It is maybe I did practice it from years of you know, I I put in my $10,000. But I think as an artist, we always develop in our sound. You know, you listening to uh insomnia, I don't rap nothing like that anymore, you know, like my my cadence, you know, my rhyme scheme, everything is like so much more tighter, you know, that you can tell there was growth and development in the crap. So I think it just comes with evolution, bro. You you hear yourself, you gotta hear yourself, and sometimes you don't like what you hear. So you like, even though you might like this song, as the artist, I'm like, bro, my shit, my voice sounds like ass, bro. Like, I got yeah, like play my new shit, nigga. You know what I mean? Like that, you know what I mean. So yeah, bro, I I don't think it's something I really spent a lot of time working on. I think it's just something that came. Every song is a new story, and every song is like a a better or you know, more meaningful expression of you know who I am and how I sound.

SPEAKER_01 18:20

Exactly. That's cool. So speaking of like your new sound, the song winning, another powerful, another powerful man. What's the what's the message and the meaning behind why did you write winning? That was just something that hit when I heard it, like, wow.

SPEAKER_03 18:38

Um, bro, I was I've always been that dude that like was like counted out, you know what I mean? Like teachers didn't really think I'd do anything after high school, which they wasn't really wrong for a while. But you know what I mean? Like, you know, it's like I I was that guy that was good at sports but got cut from the team because the coach didn't think I was committed enough. You know, it was like I always was misunderstood. People never really seen what I had inside of me because they never tried to understand why I'm holding back or why, you know, I'm not giving what they think I should give. You know, there's always a reason for the shit. But whether, you know, it's that child's fault or you know, everybody has a story on why they are the people they are. And when you a kid, you don't have all the information or all the pieces to the puzzle. So you're just cycling through life the best way you know how. And I think once you get to a certain point in life, you you grow up and you look back on those experiences and you're like, man, you know, like I that kid never really got a chance. Like, you got four kids of your own. So you're looking at your yourself and you're like, it wasn't nothing wrong with me. I just, you know, didn't, you know, whatever. So when you become an adult, a lot of the shit we do, bro, is a reflection of what we couldn't do when we were younger, you know. And yeah, I think in a lot of ways, man, like that experience shaped me a lot. And winning is like it's an expression of that. Like being counted out when I started the rap career and all of that, you know, nobody really took me serious. It didn't matter how good I was at it. You know, because I was good at it wasn't good enough to be mentioned, you know, with whatever. In my city, we got we a small city, and we got, you know, like this thing where motherfuckers would be like, who the best rapper in Kalamazoo? It was never important to me, but I always remembered every time my name never came up, even with niggas that I'm friends with, would not in the in the comment section would never post. And I don't hold it against them. They my guys to this day. Because we from a city where people don't have a lot of faith, you know, in in somebody's ability to to take something somewhere. So, you know, long story short, winning was a byproduct of just being counted out, you know, being, you know, looked at is like ah, you know, whatever, we better. And it was like being humble and being quiet and just watching that shit and just being like, all right, you know, just screenshotting it. Because I was screenshot shit. That's my thing. When I see something that motivate me, I'm like, man, I'm out, hey, I got you. And and I screen, and it's like those are the things that motivate me. So when I hear a certain beat and my producers send me shit, and I listen to it, I'm like, all right, I know what direction we're gonna go with this based on the vibe of the beat. The vibe of uh Winnie was trapped out. It's a really simple beat. I'm gonna be honest. Like, I think I got it off a beat. It didn't even come from my producers that I work with. I needed something quick. So I felt some kind of way. So I was like, All right, I need to find that energy. I find that beat, and that's where everything came out. It's just a representation of I did it without y'all. You know, like I didn't need the help, and I don't have any resentment. Yeah, it's just the fact that I get to stand here at this point and say, I'm winning. I did shit. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 22:21

And you know what? I'll be real with you, man. Um, I stayed in Portage for like two years with Greg. No, you know, when I used to go to Kalamazoo Valley Community College, where and I'm gonna be real, you probably the only rapper I ever heard out of Kalamazoo, bro. That's crazy.

SPEAKER_03 22:39

And I know it's been rappers, but right, yo, and and that's the thing, like there shit. I'm I'm a dude that always pays homage, you know, and always show love to my city because there was a lot of people doing this shit before me where I would look up like to them because at that time where I'm nobody, I don't even got a single song. You know, I'm looking at certain people like yo, they the ones as they had all the shows, they doing all this. And regardless of if you know anybody's ever really heard of anybody in in the zoo, for me as an artist from here, you know, I know that you know, there's been plenty before me, you know. I'm just blessed to be, I guess, gifted with a vision, a purpose, a voice, an artistic ability, and a faith that trumps any and every opinion, algorithm, gatekeeper, anything like that, bro. So it's like it is a powerhouse of motivation. Yeah, that I had to read a lot of fucking books. Like as I come to you as a rapper. You motherfuckers will look at me, but you a rap nigga, you know, bro. I got a fucking library, man. Yeah, I I could quote motivational speakers, man. Like Les Brown, Tony Robbins, I Jim Rohn, I can go on and on and on, bro. Like those are the people that helped me shape my mind. Okay, when I first started hearing this shit, I'm like, do you corny ass niggas? But then, but then when I when I realized that me being isolated and not fucking with people allowed me to create my own values, my own ideas of what's cool and what's not cool, my own perception and direction, that that allowed me to it opened my my eyes to a whole different world. That that 10 years of learning, you know, spirituality, faith, you know, abundance, just all of those little things that people don't realize, wealthy, rich, successful people really practice on an everyday basis. Those are the things that separated me from I'm I don't think I'm that much better than you know, some of the talent that's in this city. I will say, as an artist, you know, as a as a talented art, I don't think anybody's personally better than me in my city, obviously. But and I can stand on that, but I'm not gonna take no stripes from nobody else that's truly gifted at what they do in this city. I was just you know lucky enough, I guess I worked hard enough, yeah, and that opportunity and desire equals luck. Okay, and if more people understood that opportunity, desire, and hard work is what makes luck, yeah, it would be a lot more of me, bro.

SPEAKER_01 25:39

That's true. Honestly, that's true. And I and just we've been on for about 15 minutes, man, conversating and listening to you. Now I can see why your rap music is where it's at. You know what I'm saying? Because it's something about you here, and it's funny you say you got a catalog and a bunch of books you read, and that's the best way to do it. You know, I used I'm sitting right here in my studio, it's a bookshelf right there to my left, full of books, top to bottom. Because you have to read to build your mind up to know basically personally about yourself, and I can see that in you, man. You got this kind of glow on you, and it's a good thing.

SPEAKER_03 26:19

I appreciate it, bro. I be I like I don't appreciate niggas, man, because I honestly like I don't I'm in school right now, I'm a 4.0 student too, by the way. This last semester I got a 3.5, but has some personal shit going on, it is what it is, you know what I mean. But you know, that's something I I take real serious, bro. Like, fuck, I'm a nerd, like deep down. Like I like learning, bro. And if that's the definition of you know what makes that, then I guess that's me, you know what I mean. And I ain't never gave a fuck what's how somebody feels about it, you know what I mean. So, you know, with me, like I I think personally, if a nigga read one book a year that if he had one, he could fall in love with a year, bro, in five years, you know, you're gonna know that much more about whoever you're trying to become, you know. Like you read 10 in one year, you know, you're gonna be a fucking master at whatever the fuck you decide to do. And that that's just factual truth, you know. Like, that's not coming from me.

SPEAKER_01 27:21

Oh, yeah. Well, Mira, I'm gonna tell you, keep doing what you're doing, definitely with that education, bro, because without it, you know, you can't do nothing, and you're gonna have that education on top of this, you know, rap career that you're about to have and continue to have it because you're all over social media, man, and you're hitting them the right way with the clips, and you're basically baiting. I was one of them that got hooked, you know, because just watching the clips, bro, and I wanted to know more, so could continue doing that, bro. So now that we go, being from Kalamazoo, what's some of the biggest challenges you faced in your rap game and your rap career, I should say?

SPEAKER_03 28:02

Uh shit, bro. Like, I'm I'm a positive nigga, man. So it's hard for me to find the challenges like that. I just don't really see them, bro. Like, they're but they're there. I I'll say that a lot of the issues that I let me speak for a lot of rappers. I say a lot of the things because I'm telling you, bro, I went a different route. I the route I went was fucking help, anybody that doesn't want to, and not literally, like it's not like I'm well, I have to tell myself fuck the world and every opinion. And I had to put my head down and say, the help ain't coming, I gotta do this on my own, and there had to be a fire burning in me to make me want to do this that bad. That's right. So, like when I look at what challenges I faced, it's like the only challenges I faced was myself. Nothing stopped me from dropping a song every month and promoting it on social media just like you mentioned me doing. Yeah, you know, that's just consistency, that's discipline. That's it. So, you know, I I guess I went the the discipline route, but a lot of things that a lot of people face in in Kalamazoo that is they we're not a a city that people you know want to support each other very much. So it's just like every other city, bro. Like, yeah, we take it real personal here, you know. I did in the very beginning, and after that, I was like, this. I I don't like feeling this way about I don't like being a victim, I don't like feeling helpless. Yeah, so I'm like, fuck it, I don't need no help.

SPEAKER_04 29:41

That's right.

SPEAKER_03 29:41

But um, you know, a lot of people do, and it shouldn't be that way. Yeah, you know what I mean? Like it it there should be some level of support and some level of unity associated, you know, with arts and cultural arts like hip-hop and shit like that. But yeah, you know, there just isn't. And I I think for me, I could entertain the challenges, but I'm more of the type of person that that's like, I would rather, you know, tell somebody how much more how capable they are of overcoming those challenges if they just focused on themselves, stop relying on help that they don't need the support is people sharing your shit. I'm not asking anybody to share my shit. I've never tagged any of my friends or nothing in my shit. I never sent out mass DMs. I rely on the algorithm to push my music to people that want to see it. And if the people that don't want to see it, they're gonna engage with it anyways because the algorithm knows that you're gonna hate this and you're gonna say something, and so they're gonna send it to them too. So it's like it for me, it's like why feel resentment for people in your city when they're not the person or the people that's going to make the difference or impact in your career. It's gonna be the people you don't know. If for me, it's like to go from not getting a single ounce of support at all to being the guy in the city. It's fair for a person like me to have that opinion to say, why wait on support? Well, you can do it yourself, now the whole city supporter. You know what I mean? So now I get all the support in the world. But people want you to prove yourself before they commit themselves to you because we hate to be let down, we hate to tell our friends, yo, he's gonna, and yeah, and then they don't. And I will say, on top of that, that's one of the scariest things as an artist in my in my situation, is you ain't made it yet. You just you just creating you got motion, you talented, people are seeing you, but you ain't made it yet. So it's like your biggest fear is what if I I fall off tomorrow? The whole fucking city, like, he gonna be the one. And you like, I gotta wake up every day with that, not only to to worry about feeding my family, but I gotta worry about letting everybody down too. You know what I mean? So it's like it's crazy how easy it is to have a different relationship with music and your city if you you put a little more purpose and intention behind how you move. I guess I'm trying to I'm trying to word this careful because I don't want to offend anybody. Yeah, but it's cool to have a group of people that think, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You hype, yes, man. But it's different when somebody that don't know you say, bro, you cold than a motherfucker. Because you know you got something there, they don't know you, they ain't got nothing. They they it's just like a person hating on you online, they don't know you, don't take it personal. They have no idea who you are, they've never if they did know you. Trust me, I don't sat in a steam room with motherfuckers at the gym, you know, hot tubs, and people that would typically hate you get to talk to you, and they just like, well, damn. So it's like, dog, like these people don't know you, you know what I mean. So it's like that's the biggest issue in my city that we complain about is support, support, support, support. We don't support each other, there's not enough support. If we help ourselves, we can help ourselves, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 33:48

Like now, you told me help we because we got the same issue here in Sagino, man, with a lot of you know, rappers. Um, but you can't get them together to do things, and like you said, the venues won't allow them to come together to do something positive to show their talent, you know.

SPEAKER_03 34:07

Right, that's that's a big problem here, too. We don't got venues for rap shows. We are really artsy ass city, and I know because I'm in school for art, bro. So I've I've won second place in an art fair or an art show in my first year in school, so I know about I've been a part of some of these art events. They got tons of of things in in my school, they even have a recording studio, the instruments that you can rent out, all kind of shit. There's wow, there's you know, it they but they cater to the music that they deem, you know, acceptable or safe, or they look at it as this is real art, this is real music, you know what I mean. So it's like hip hop in a lot of ways, regardless of how much of a uh impact it has on pop culture, on on uh marketing sales for any and every business in the world where you get used for marketing Pepsi's and shoes and this shit, that shit, hip hop literally is a is a staple in everything we do in American culture, and so for it to be looked at in the way that it is, you know, on local levels, it's like on a mass corporate level, there's value in us, you know. There's value in us, but on a local level, it's like, why are you rapping? Quick, go get a real job, do this, do that, you know, the whatever. No support. We don't do rap venues, we don't like so it's like that's really you know what we up against. And it sounds like you know, this the same smaller city bullshit that we deal with.

SPEAKER_01 35:48

Yep, it is a lot of politics, and it's messed up. I know we got this thing coming up here, um, 989 Day coming up this summer, and I know some of the people putting it on, man. And I'm gonna pass your info on to them because I think they should reach out and bring you down, man, to perform. I think that we will, you know what I'm saying? And definitely go ahead. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_03 36:12

Oh shit, no, I cut you up, bro. I was gonna say, should uh no, I'd definitely be down, bro. Like I'm I'm that's the one thing like that's crazy. Out of all the people that make music in my city, I've performed twice in my entire career. No bullshit, bro. That's the type that's what I mean when I say that's the the level of support that an artist like me has gotten in my city. So it's like there's promoters, there's people, there's whatever. But because I keep to myself, man, this you know, this I'm just assuming this has to be the right reason. It ain't talent. So it's like it I think it's because I keep to myself, and I don't have a large circle at all that you know I they can't say he's affiliated with this person, that person. A lot of people just it's not how good you are, is who you know, and when you're from a small city, those are the people that try to act like gatekeepers, you know, those are the people that they know you're there. If niggas in Detroit know you and niggas in Atlanta know you, and Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston are your three biggest cities streaming. You could go to Dallas and 5,000 people know your name, but you can't get booked for a small ass venue in in a city of 75,000 people. That don't make no fucking sense. But for me, I chose not to be offended by it, and I just kept doing my thing. So now you fast forward, I don't I didn't need the shows to get to where I'm at, and that's what I was trying to tell you about. Y'all gonna wait for the support, you don't need it. Yeah, I make plenty of money off of my what I do, and I never had to to the pleasure of standing on stage and performing what I do the best, you know what I mean. So for me, it's like I'm okay with that because I'm like, I'm gonna win now, I'm gonna build my catalog. I'm gonna want when I stand on stage, I got bangers, bro. One after another after another, and people just gonna eat it up, yeah. So for me, it's like that patience, you know what I mean? Like, but yeah, I forgot what you even asked me.

SPEAKER_01 38:21

I think I went off on a little bit on no, it's it's like the same when we talk about the support, you know. I mean, and it's it's sad because it's that way, even with the podcast game. You know, it started with me just picking up a phone, conversating after my pops died. Then you like you said, people don't support you, don't move. But a lot of my supporters are outside Michigan, right? You know what I'm saying? And it's it's sad, but like you say, you can't get mad at it, man. You gotta keep on moving and keep building.

SPEAKER_03 38:50

I think the biggest thing with it, exactly, exactly. I think the biggest thing with it is it just build confusion. Like, I don't even think it's anger, you just like I don't get it.

SPEAKER_04 39:00

That's it.

SPEAKER_03 39:01

Like, why they why they fuck with me, but why I gotta work so hard, you know, to get you. It's like I don't know. I'll start. Once you stop asking yourself that question, though, man, you kind of understand it's just how the game works. If you talk to some of the most successful people, they're gonna tell you the same story. It comes with the the journey, it comes with that self-realization, and people watching you grow from you know, or having the audacity to say, I'm gonna be somebody, and then they kind of feel some kind of way about you because that that's not a reflection of you, it's a reflection of them. Like, how dare you want to be somebody? I ain't even thought that yet, yeah. So it's like, and then as you progress, you know, people watch you stay true to who the what the fuck you said you was gonna do, and then they they grow more resentful. Like, all right, I ain't gonna like your shit, I ain't gonna share your shit. It ain't because they don't fuck with you, you technically a friend, you know what I mean? Like, but it's it's when people just are still trying to figure out what what their thing is in life, it's sometimes hard for motherfuckers to be happy for you, man. That's true. I think more people just gotta look at it that way and save yourself the fucking heartache, bro. That's right.

SPEAKER_01 40:14

It's like you said, you can't you can't let other people's feelings you know affect what you're doing, or you won't be successful, right? So, with that being said, I asked this to a lot of artists though. Who yo uh Mount Rushmore in the rap game?

SPEAKER_03 40:29

Man, you just last time somebody asked me this, I like froze. I ain't had nobody, bro. Like, I ain't gonna lie though. Um, it's gonna take me a second, so bear with me. I listen to so much different kind of music, man. And the older you know, I got the the more I was like, I don't even really listen to all that rap as much. But uh, my favorite artist, bro. I'll just say my favorite artist. I I can't do the Mount Rushmore shit. That's too difficult, man. It gives me a fucking headache, you know. There's too many great artists, bro. Like it is, it is. Uh, the ones that inspire me the most are probably uh Lupe Fiasco, um Bontas and Harmony had to be in there. Um Big Pun Tupac. Oh fuck, man. It's it's zero. Um it's man. I'm all over the place with these guys. Some of them people ain't never even heard of, bro.

SPEAKER_01 41:40

Like it's a hell of a melting pot what you got going though. You know, yeah, I like that. It's different.

SPEAKER_03 41:47

I like uh Zero is all about that pain music, you know, like that that real shit. That you I'm gonna speak my mind and I'm gonna keep it. You hear a lot of that nigga in my music, man. Like, I can't even lie. Like, and I love it because nobody's ever been like, You sound like Zero. Motherfuckers always tell me I sound like Kevin Gates. I ain't never listened to Kevin Gates' music in my life. Like, I've they I may I may have saved like three songs of his in my entire life on my playlist, and that that's about it. So his influence had no impact on my rap career, how my voice sounds that he's like, You sound like Kevin, how the fuck I'm gonna make up a voice, bro. Like, this is my real voice. That nigga used autotune, bro. Yeah, so it's like this this is my real shit. I'm in an interview right now. Sound the fucking sink, bro. So it's like, but um, yeah, Roe was Ro was from how he said his shit, the enthusiasm to how you felt it, yeah. You know, like that that's really like uh everybody's opinion about his rapability aside, like that dude influenced the hell out of my music, man.

SPEAKER_01 43:00

Well, now you say it, I can hear it. Remember, I said shine. Yeah, you put me in that mode of shine, but now that you say zero, yeah, I I feel that 100%. You know, that was my guy, man. Yeah, I feel that for real. Wow, that's all right, though. I like that though. Wow. So if you wasn't rapping, what would you be doing?

SPEAKER_03 43:25

Shit, before I was rapping, I had my own lawn care service, bro. So shit, I was I was just hustling doing that shit, and I didn't I got tired of digging in the fucking dirt. So it's two years ago, bro. Last year was my last year, even I last year I had one property, and then I I let it go. It was my brother's property because he owns some houses. So I was like, I'll look out for my bro. I told him I'm about done with this shit, but wow, you know, it yeah, last year was it, man. And shit, this year I was actually. Able to see the potential in making a living off of music. Like I haven't had to work. So that's a good start, bro. We we we you know, we getting there, but maybe that for me as an artist, you like, all right, maybe I just had a really good year. You know, like there's no stability in this shit. So you don't want your ego to go like crazy, and you like, I still gotta make a full-time income, provide for my family, and you know, be the person I'm trying to aspire to be all at the same time. That's right. Beats, production, videos, fucking everything that goes studio called, all that come out of pocket too. So everything that comes in gotta go out too. You know what I mean? So when you that's the only way you can get to where you know I'm progressing, is you gotta understand that your music is a business and you gotta manage that shit accordingly. If you want to be able to live off the shit at some point, that's true, man.

SPEAKER_01 44:59

Hey, you hit it with that. I mean, I'm things I'm doing with this media company that same way, man. So I like that. So the next thing I want to do, bro, I'm gonna put up a couple songs that just something about them was personal favorites of mine, you know what I'm saying? And just wanted to get your intake on them songs and the meaning behind them. And first one, never folding.

SPEAKER_03 45:26

Alright, so um shit, man. Sorry, I I paused for a second because I thought you were gonna play a clip of it. Oh, wow, never folding. That was just like, I mean, I think it really speaks for itself when it kicked off, bro. Like, I I shit. I was trying to figure out if that was gonna be the first verse or the second verse. And uh, you know, when I'm like, let's talk, let's talk about what makes a real nigga, you know, like, but that's really what the song's about. Like my son's mental health issues, uh the perception of what make a real nigga in hip hop is comedic to me, man. Like, and I think that's a lot of where where the energy for that song came from. Like, I don't I don't play by them fucking dumbass street rules that niggas be hanging and clinging off of, like, got me fucked up. I'm a man first nigga. Ain't nobody making choices for me, you got me fucked up. So that that's really what that was about, bro. Like, just okay, that's cool.

SPEAKER_01 46:33

Yeah, that was one that just hit me, man. This was another one that that I fell for right here, and going back.

SPEAKER_03 46:40

You like that one?

SPEAKER_01 46:42

I like that.

SPEAKER_03 46:42

That was your shit.

SPEAKER_01 46:43

Uh yeah, I like it.

SPEAKER_03 46:45

I I think number one, that was my first time ever trying to sing, like, actually, like sing, bro. So like I tried three different takes of that shit, and the third one, I was trying like a rock and roll take, a country take. I tried like three different because that wasn't some shit that I was used to doing. But my brother, my brother had moved to Nashville, and uh I was down there visiting, motherfucker was like, You should make a country song. You know, we in this cigar room just chilling, and he's like, Yeah, make a country. I'm like, eh, fuck out of here. I get back, I get back to Michigan and I'm like, maybe I should, man. I found a beat from a producer named Nick Nash. And uh, he was in the Carolinas at the time, and I had purchased a beat from him. I didn't think the song was gonna do anything because it was my first time, but I ended up, it went crazy. The meaning behind this song is um, I mean, it talk about little shit like addiction. Um I had like I don't want to say like a severe addiction, but I had a minor functioning addiction with you know painkillers at some point in my life. And uh it was getting to a point to where it was no longer, you know, a functioning, you know, the situation. And I was able to turn that around just by you know consciousness alone. Just like, uh, you got all this self-help shit you learn, you got a faith. Let's let's apply this shit, you know. And so I I got through that shit, and um music was what saved me from it, honestly. Like music was like, okay, I'll trade this for this, you know, and so it was like if if I want mu it was almost like I bro, like I ain't I ain't overly religious. Like, don't get me wrong, but like I I'll be lying if I didn't say like I pray to God, and I'm like, if you help me get through this shit, and and mind you, I'm giving God an ultimatum. I sound stupid as hell, but I'm like, if you help me get through this shit, you know, I'm all in with the music. I'll never look back, you know, I'll never, you know, whatever. And the irony in that song is that the song, you know, was about exactly, you know, what you know, yeah. So it's just about saying goodbye to that shit, talking about childhood, early times, just a lighthearted approach to talking about tough things, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 49:24

Okay, man, I like that. Dang, that's powerful though. Official.

SPEAKER_03 49:34

That's an older one, huh? Nah, it ain't older, man. Look, I don't like the song. I'm gonna be nice because some people like my music, bro. So I ain't about to shit on my own music and that fact that they like it, but it's like I just don't think the song has any substance. If I'm being completely honest, like that's the memory, I'm real careful about what I put out and what I say, and so um when I listen to that, when I hear it play back, you know, I'm just like puffing on a blunt, you know, like that. I I smoke so much weed, but I never really talk about it. You know, like it's just certain things that I don't my listeners don't give a fuck about that, man. You know, like it's so for me, I I don't know. I did I thought I was trying to do something fun, yeah, and it just kind of turned into something that when I heard, when I hear it, when I hear that shit played back, I'm like, man, fuck that song. But uh yeah, that's all it's just ain't it ain't meaningful enough for me, man. And I've had I've had critics say the same thing, and I've I've been forced to agree with them because I can't take offense to something if I feel the same exact way, yeah. When somebody be like, this is the same old whatever, no substance. I mean, shit, bro. With that song, you like you, I think you're kind of right, man. Yeah, but it called it. I like I mean, it was fun to make, don't get me wrong. But most of this interview has been about, you know, my purpose and my you know, the reason for why I do what I do. So I felt like it was important to outline that song specifically and being you know fun and a lot more lighthearted, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 51:31

Yeah, that's cool though. A lot of rappers wouldn't even be truthful about that though. So that that show that you somebody different than everybody else, anyway, right there. You know what I'm saying? So I appreciate that. And here goes my other one that I like too.

SPEAKER_03 51:46

That one's deep, bro. Like with that shit, everybody that one outlines a lot of uh shit that I was going through. Uh homeboy that I lost and got shot six times three months ago. Uh I guess like I I talked about that right off the rip. RP my nigga Marcus should have been hella crazy. I stay the fuck up out the wake and let a nigga play me. And uh a lot of it is just a testimony to how I live my life to stay out of the way of the bullshit, bro. Like, you know, I'm the the things that mean the most to me in my life is you know, being a father, you know, I've had a fiance, you know, for longer than I should, but we've been together 10 years. Okay. You know, I'm not the I'm not the nigga out at the clubs, you know, fucking off on my old lady. You know, I'm not the dad that chooses parties over, you know, parenting. I I kiss my kids goodnight every fucking night, bro. I'm not out there like that, bro. So for me, like that song was that song was a lot about uh the pain, the reason for why I am who I am. What I try to avoid, you know, like people's fraudulent intentions. Um fuck man, I'm trying to think of the lyrics. Sometimes I listen to my own music, bro, and I hear it back, man, and I can get emotional depending on the song because I forget that I say this shit, bro. I forget that I say a lot of the shit that I say in my songs because sometimes a motherfucker tell me, oh, your music sounds the same. I'll go back and listen to my music. Like, does he have a point? Can I rearrange or I'll tweak something? Because I don't mind criticism, but bro, I hear some of the lyrics and I'm just like, damn, nigga, damn, bruh. I'll be like, all right, next song. Yeah, because I'm like, I I'm not in that, I'm not in that story anymore. We done turn the page, and all my music is just like turning pages, bro. Every every song is a new, I'm in a new place. I didn't regress, yeah. I might be talking about something else, but it's all in the timeline, you know what I mean.

SPEAKER_01 54:18

I like that, man. Here go the last one on that, then um for the family.

SPEAKER_03 54:27

Oh, that's self-explanatory, yeah. For the most part, um, but it's all the other shit that I outline in the songs. Usually the title speaks a lot about like the it summarizes, you know, like this why I do, you know what I mean. But um I think I talk about a lot of shit. I I don't listen to that song much, I almost forgot. Uh-huh. It's got the sample. Ain't it funny? Oh, they talk about the money, but yeah, um, I think in that song it's a lot real similar to fake love. Uh spoken in a different way. Uh a lot of different topics that don't pertain to fake love, but uh telling the same story of, you know, uh betrayal, struggle, triumph, you know, reason, you know, like purpose. You know, it it explains and outlines a lot of why I do what I do. Yeah. And some of the things that might influence, you know, who I am in my music. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 55:40

I feel that. Man, that's cool, man. It's been very. I'll be honest with you. Speaking to a lot of rappers, this is different and more real than what I even thought it was gonna be. And I appreciate you, man. I'm 100% genuine with it. So if it was um anything you can tell a young up-and-coming rapper about the game, I mean, if they listen to the interview, they hear it because you're talking about it. But it was something specific you can tell them, what would that be?

SPEAKER_03 56:18

Uh whatever it is you decide to do in life, you gotta put your everything into it. You gotta figure out why why you want what you want. Um it's important to have a huge level of faith in yourself, in God. Um until you know who you are, it's impossible to to lead people. You know, people really depend on uh a person's being sure of themselves before they buy into anything, you know, that that you're trying to project. So I just think it's important to know yourself, know your reason why. You know, keep your faith strong and work really hard. And I think anything, no matter what you do, will always work out.

SPEAKER_01 57:22

I like that, man. I appreciate your time tonight, bro. Like I said, I know it seemed like we just started, but we didn't already win an hour into a show, man. So definitely had that good conversation to be like that, bro. And I know you got a lot of things going. I heard seen one of your clips today. You got a show coming up tomorrow, right?

SPEAKER_03 57:44

Yeah, yeah. Well, I mean, it's a show, but um, it's my guy uh early, his birthday bash. Okay, so he he be promoting shows and shit, and so he's uh got me headlining his show for his birthday, man. So I told him I'll pop out, man. And that was he he wanted that was his birthday gift, he said, man. You know, and honestly, I I I do have to say this in the interview, man, it meant a lot. Um, because uh he just kind of tagged me in a post and and continued, you know, to express his gratitude for me being there and how proud of the fact that I am gonna be there to perform. And I'm just happy to be there to support other local artists that are working their ass off to to aspire to be somebody, man. So I'm I'm glad to be there. So yeah, it's a show. I'm I'm performing at 1120. So uh it'll be popping, bro.

SPEAKER_01 58:44

It's gonna be it's gonna be nice. Yeah, I picked the wrong weekend to come to Calvin Mazoo. I should have came this weekend.

SPEAKER_03 58:50

You still can come, man. You got it, it don't take no time. What you two hours away, three hours away?

SPEAKER_01 58:55

Two, two and a half, yeah. That's about it.

SPEAKER_03 58:58

Yeah, see, yeah, but I'll skip, man. Gonna pop up.

SPEAKER_01 59:01

I got I gotta do some prime pictures tomorrow, man. You know, I keep it grinding, man. I keep it grinding, you know, for sure. Well, bro, is it tell the uh people that listening where they can find you, your music, your social platform, so everybody knows where they can go and see Rashad Lee because I'm gonna promote this and you know and let people know about it.

SPEAKER_03 59:26

No doubt. Uh Rashad Lee. Um, you can check me on Instagram, TikTok, uh, Facebook. They all Rashad.lee, all lowercase. Uh, not hard to find me at all. Um, then uh Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, really any major platform that, you know, and even smaller platforms, like any platform. You know, I'm on pretty much every one, man. So there's links in my bio on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. Uh, also threads now, too. But everything is Rashad.ly, all lowercase, all links are in the bio.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:07

Man, well, most definitely, and like I said earlier in the show, before we uh you came in, man, I'm starting an online radio station next month. And I do, I'm gonna have a week where throughout the week where I got local artists and playing all the music, man, and you definitely gonna be in the rotation for him.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:26

Hey, appreciate it, man. Love, man, for real. And actually, bro, I'm really glad that I that I took uh that I answered your message and talked to Greg, man, because this this was a really good interview, man. Like, I appreciate the the time, the consideration, the intention that you put in the interview, man. Cause you know, I I really at this point I'm just trying to tell my story, man. So you you you gave me a platform to do that, and I I really appreciate it, man.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:55

Well, my brother is being heard. I mean, like I said, your clips got me. And if they got me, I know it's thousands of other people that's doing the same. So I'm gonna continue, excuse me. Excuse me, shouldn't be smoking that shit up in here. But anyway, I'm gonna continue to um promote, push your stuff, man. But at the same time, I'm definitely gonna get with them cats that I know during that 989 day here in September, man, and gotta get you down here, man, so the city can see you and you know hear your music, man. So no doubt, man.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:30

I'm excited, bro. Just let me know, man.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:32

Most definitely. And next time I'm in Kalamazoo, man, I'm gonna tell Greg we gotta hook up, man, and take you out to lunch or something, man. For real. No doubt, bro. For real. We definitely gonna make it happen. Hey Rashad, I appreciate you coming on the More than the Coach podcast, man. Good luck. And if there's anything you ever need from me, bro, just let me know, and we're gonna make it happen. No doubt, bro. Appreciate you having me, my dog. Yes, sir. All right, man. You have a good night now. You too, man. All right, yep. So, as y'all see, there we go. As y'all see, man, we had a great interview with Kalamazoo's own Rashad Lee. And just in case y'all missed the beginning, I'm gonna let y'all hear this before we get up out of here, y'all. A couple of quick clips of me.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:27

K zoo. My heart and soul go out to you. Always keep you really close, but it's some shit I'm going through. I lose so many homies in this shit that I pursue, and how the city overlooked me when I did the shit for you. Uh city girls think I did it big enough. If they don't act like I ain't did it, Mr. People tell them give it up. You eat the way we don't get me though. I ain't thinking about you niggas that fucking about my business. I just think it like a butt. Buffin on the butt.

unknown 1:03:35

Y'all on these niggas, I've been giving what I want. I had to make a couple moves. Now I niggas look official. I've been learning on my strikes. All I'm missing is a whistle. I just think it like a butt.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:46

Buffin' on the blunt. Y'all on these niggas, I've been giving what I want.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:00

So once again, y'all, I appreciate y'all tuning in to the More than the Coach Show, y'all. Season eight, episode one. And y'all, I had a great interview with Calvin Mazuzone, Rashad Lee. Y'all make sure y'all go follow him on all major platforms. Go download that music, y'all. Hey, it's a deep brother. To all my podcast brothers out there, man. Y'all make sure y'all reach out to him and get him on y'all platform. Until then, y'all, this is your boy Coach Marshall. Hey, it feels good being back. Peace.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:33

Donate to the podcast, to the process, we take a light music, and it's a good thing.