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I Love JAY-Z's Music. His Business Moves? I Can't Defend Those. Episode 161 of Respect The Connect. Can you still be a fan when the artist you grew up on makes moves you can't defend? We break down 30 years of Jay Z - the MC genius behind Dead Presidents and The Black Album, the business empire, the NFL deal and the Colin Kaepernick fallout, plus the Jay Z legacy debate, the documentary conversation, and when hip-hop goes from cultural mirror to commercial enterprise. We also get into Eminem and Kid Rock and whether friendship can survive politics, the Rick Rubin HBO documentary, and how to disagree without breaking brotherhood. For those who love hip hop and are breaking its illusions - from the industry and from ourselves.  Real hip hoppers bend. We don't break. In this episode:  Nostalgia, Kmart layaway kids and Toys R Us dreams  Stand-up life vs hip-hop touring  Jay Z the MC - lyricism, flow and 30-year run  The NFL deal, Kaepernick, and where fans draw the line  Eminem and Kid Rock - politics vs lifelong friendship  Producer genius and the business playbook behind the empire  Has hip-hop gone commercial?  How to hold dialogue without hate      Subscribe.

Freeway Rick Ross: $3 Million a Day, 20 Years in Prison, and What Snowfall Didn’t Understand He sold $3 million in a single day. One word in a courtroom cost him 20 years. Freeway Rick Ross built one of the largest cocaine networks in 1980s Los Angeles — then sat in a federal courtroom and heard his own voice on tape answering a question he should have ignored. In this episode he tells it in his own words: what the game actually cost him, and why the money never made him free. He talks about selling to the same families he was trying to protect, the 20 years he spent behind bars reading over 300 books, why he thinks Snowfall got his story wrong, and what happened when a federal warden picked him up at the airport and invited him to speak to his prison. This is not a glorification of the drug trade. It's a 59-minute conversation about illusions — the ones the streets sell you, the ones the system sells you, and the ones you sell yourself. IN THIS EPISODE  • Why the money never made him free  • The muscle-memory instinct that put him away  • The CIA, Gary Webb, and the crack epidemic in South Central  • Fentanyl in New Mexico and what's different this time  • Redemption, accountability, and what he's building now

What do the case and our reactions to it reveal about parenting, marriage, mental health, and the modern family? In this episode, we go beyond the usual guilt-vs-innocence argument because, you know— c’mon bro. We get into parental responsibility, postpartum mental health, marriage, fatherhood, motherhood, healthcare failure, gender war, and what happens when families lose trust in each other and the systems around them. The bigger question: Hey ladies, you good? #Parenting #ModernParenting #Family #Motherhood #Fatherhood #MentalHealth #Marriage #TrueCrime #RespectTheConnect _______________ Check it out real quick, support the people… *CashApp | https://cash.app/$iamjohnnyjames *Paypal | mercilessmusic _______________ Website | https://www.goodtripnm.com Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/iamjohnnyjames Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/iamjohnnyjames TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/iamjohnnyjames _______________ For business inquiries only: [email protected] _______________ 0:00 RTC Goes Biweekly, New Mexico Rain, Drought & Water Rights 9:58 New Mexico Water, Classism, Congress & Political Accountability 19:57 Red vs Blue, Mayor Accountability & Lindsay Clancy Trial Setup 28:00 True Crime Internet, Men vs Women & Lindsay Clancy Evidence 36:48 Postpartum Psychosis, Medication, Marriage & Mental Health System 45:30 Family Unit, State Control, Masculinity & Relationship Responsibility 54:16 1984, Dating Skills, Casey Anthony & Personal Accountability 1:03:06 Mental Health Crisis, Fatherhood, Healthcare Failure & Accountability 1:12:00 OJ Juiced, Reality TV, Voyeurism, Bread & Circuses 1:20:28 Discipline, Disconnecting from Screens, Gambling & Question Everything

Who said a kid from a 700-person town in Dexter, New Mexico can’t win Triple Crowns? Meet horse racing's LeBron — Mike Smith — who did it at 52 and is still winning at 60.Finesse over force. That's how Mike turned 44 years, 29 Kentucky Derbys, and 2 Hall of Fame careers into a masterclass in longevity, hustle, and beating Father Time when he tries to count you out. The Hall of Famer reveals why you have to learn to lose 80% of the time, why New Mexico's "disadvantage" was his advantage, and how letting go of ego lets time slow down when pressure peaks.Mike Smith is a Hall of Fame jockey, 2x Kentucky Derby winner and Triple Crown winner (Justify, 2018) — we call him horse racing's LeBron James to salute his 40+ year dominance in the sport.Respect The Connect Ep. 158 — Johnny James x Big Money Mike Smith

On Episode 157 of Respect the Connect, we sit down with Frank Willis — the man who turned $150 and a hustle into a chicken & waffle empire. Frank opens up about being broke and living with his sister, delivering chicken & waffles out of that same house at any hour for $100 an order, and the $10,000 seed from his cousin that almost never happened when an arrest nearly derailed everything.We get into what "the hustle" actually means — why it's in you, not on you, and why nobody can motivate you but you. Frank breaks down surviving COVID on nothing but that street-born mentality and a landlord who had his back, the record store he built above the restaurant, and why a million dollars isn't what it used to be.Then we go deep into hip-hop — West Coast vs East Coast, Tupac as the walking contradiction, Nipsey Hussle's impact, and why music used to mean more when you had to work for it.This one's for the hustlers. The ones who thrive when everything goes sideways.Real conversations. Different perspectives. No script.#iamjohnnyjames #respecttheconnect #hustlementality #frankwillis #franksfamous #chickenandwaffles #entrepreneurship #newmexico #rebeloutlaw #nipseyhusslePull up, see The Squad | LIVE SHOWS COMING SOONRTC Community Feed | COMING SOON

On Episode 156 of Respect the Connect, we dive into one of the most controversial stories in recent memory as we discuss Dr. Fauci pleading the Fifth, revisit the COVID-19 vaccine debate, and break down the questions, narratives, and lasting impact that continue to divide people years later. From there, the conversation takes a deeper turn as we explore spiritual awakening, consciousness, and the personal experiences that can completely change the way we see the world. We also head into the unexplained with the mysteries of the Grand Canyon, hidden history, and the legends that have fascinated people for generations. We switch gears to entertainment as we discuss Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey and debate whether Nolan has officially cemented himself as the greatest filmmaker of his generation. Along the way, we somehow end up talking about the new Spider-Man and Superman movies, why Breaking Bad still holds up as one of the greatest television series ever made, and plenty of the usual Respect the Connect shenanigans. Real conversations. Different perspectives. No script.

On Episode 155 of Respect the Connect, we sit down with Vinny Venom for a deep dive into hip-hop history, culture, and everything shaping the game today. We break down JAY-Z’s legendary, record-breaking shows at Yankee Stadium, what they meant for the culture, and why those moments resonate. We also get into the roots of battle rap, the importance of preserving hip-hop traditions, and how the competitive spirit of the culture compares to today’s scene—including the lasting impact of the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar rivalry. The conversation also takes a unique New Mexico turn as we discuss New Mexico Spanish, regional identity, and how local culture influences the way we communicate and create. We wrap it all up with an honest conversation about the current state of hip-hop, where it’s headed, and what’s been lost—and gained—along the way. If you’re passionate about hip-hop history, lyricism, battle culture, New Mexico culture, and real conversations, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Episode 154 of Respect the Connect dives into some of the biggest conversations happening right now. We break down the mystery surrounding Nolan Wells separating the facts from the speculation and discussing why the case has captured so much attention. We also take a deep dive into Jupiter and explore why one of its latest developments could have major consequences for New Mexico. Finally, we unpack the growing feeling of dystopian fatigue—why it seems like every headline feels stranger than the last, how constant chaos is affecting our minds, and whether we’ve become numb to it all. As always, expect unfiltered opinions, laughs, wild tangents, and the conversations you won’t hear anywhere else. Tap in and Respect the Connect.

Episode 153 of Respect the Connect is here! This week, we’re diving into the biggest conversations in comedy, sports, music, and culture. We break down Tony Hinchcliffe’s latest stand-up special, the backlash surrounding it, and whether controversy is becoming the price of pushing boundaries in comedy. We also talk about LeBron James leaving Los Angeles and where he could realistically land next. Could this be the final chapter of his career, or is there one more blockbuster move coming? Then we get into the fascinating world of music frequencies, how sound affects the mind, and why so many people believe there’s more to music than what we hear on the surface. Plus, we discuss Kanye West’s continued blacklisting, what it says about today’s entertainment industry, cancel culture, and whether redemption is still possible in the public eye. As always, we go off the rails with plenty of laughs, hot takes, random tangents, and the kind of conversations you only get on Respect the Connect. Tap in, join the conversation, and Respect the Connect.

Episode 152 – Oatmeal Rap This week on Respect the Connect, we’re bringing it full circle. We revisit the J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake saga to see how everything has aged—and whether the culture views it differently now. We also show love to Anthony A as he returns to Albuquerque to open for Fluffy, and talk about what moments like that mean for comics grinding their way up. From there, we dive into the real work of stand-up comedy: the uncomfortable reps, bombing, learning, and the long road it takes to actually get good. To wrap it up, we discuss reports surrounding the FBI and fentanyl trafficking in Albuquerque, and what it could mean for the city.

This week, we’re breaking down the wild idea of President Trump hosting a UFC event at the White House and what it says about the future of politics, sports, and entertainment. We also dive into Elon Musk’s brain chip technology and the latest developments in the world of Neuralink. Is the future already here, or are we moving too fast? Plus, we react to the NBA Finals and celebrate the New York Knicks finally bringing a championship back to the city after decades of heartbreak. From politics to tech to hoops, we’re connecting the dots and bringing the laughs along the way. Tap in, subscribe, and join the conversation.

In episode 150 of Respect the Connect, we dive into some mind-expanding topics. We explore the subtle power of microdosing, unpack the debate between Michael Jackson and Drake’s legacies, and give you an in-depth look at the new Michael Jackson documentary on Netflix. Don’t miss this milestone episode—it’s a journey through music, culture, and consciousness.

Respect The Connect – Episode 150 Episode 150 is here, and we’re bringing the smoke. This week, we break down the latest chapter in the rap world as Jay-Z appears to embrace tensions with Drake following his headline-grabbing freestyle at the Roots Picnic. Is Hov officially back in diss mode, or are fans reading too much into it? We dive into the bars, the reactions, and what it could mean for hip-hop. We also unpack the star-studded Roast of Kevin Hart, where comedians, athletes, and celebrities lined up to deliver absolute chaos. From the biggest jokes to the wildest moments, we break down everything that had the internet talking. Plus, we discuss the rise in Silver Alerts across New Mexico, what could be contributing to the increase, and why the issue is getting more attention than ever. As always, expect laughs, hot takes, random tangents, and the kind of conversations that only happen when you Respect The Connect. 🎙️ Episode 150 — tap in.

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