Episode 43 - Looking at the Bigger Picture

Nicky Saunders: 0:00

What's poppin'? What's poppin'? What's poppin'? Welcome to Nicky and Moose! I'm Nicky! That's Moose! Whats up

Mostafa Ghonim: 0:06

What up? Salaam aleikum. Cmo ests? I'm usi Moose? g all three languages. Its a new thing. Let's get it.

Nicky Saunders: 0:13

Oh, all right. All right, and we're in Episode 43. Its a celebration, we're going to be celebrating the new NBA champs of 2021. But not in the way that you think. Right? We're going to celebrate the first female rapper on Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. Giving away 60% of your brand. We're going to talk about that. We're going to talk about just a really random dumb thank you. I'm gonna say dumb early. And so much more, so much more. Moose, how are we feeling about this episode?

Mostafa Ghonim: 0:56

Oh, I love it. I love it. This is a it's gonna have some controversy because there's some things that we're like, I don't know if we agree with that. But that's what makes for good conversation. So stay tuned.

Nicky Saunders: 1:07

Let's get into this intro.

Jaymie Jordan: 1:10

Two kids from Queens, cut from a different cloth. Now joining forces helping you to elevate your personal brand. Yeah I'm talking about Nicky and Moose! Bringing you a never before seen perspective into the mindset, the mentality, the behaviors, the driving force, but more importantly, the stories behind the people and brands that you know and love the most.

Nicky Saunders: 1:40

So you already know what time it is is the review of the week! And y'all really like these really long reviews of the week because I got a huge one.

Mostafa Ghonim: 1:54

That's good vibes.

Nicky Saunders: 1:55

Yeah, yeah, this is so I'm going to try. No random voice today we're gonna go straight into this great content. Wow! The gems dropped are amazing! I said I wasn't gonna do it and I still do it by accident. I thank y'all for creating a space for others to share their experience and for sharing such knowledge. I especially love the episode with Karl. I'm a high S and C and definitely catch myself in a supportive role. And just going at a much slower pace than I need to. I also find myself doubting the decisions I may make. He encouraged me to do better for myself. And for those connected to me started with where I'm at and stay consistent at it, stop fearing others and just do the assignment I've been put on earth to do. My judge is God, no others, so I'm definitely about to take action. At the end of the day, I'll have to share what I've done with him. Thanks, Karl, for sharing your story. Thanks, Nicky and Moose for utilizing this platform to help others. Keep the content coming. Let's go. Yikes, that was a whole lot of reading. Low key for those who don't know, I really don't like reading in public. But I want to always be supportive of those who leave us a review. So shout out to everybody who leaves us a review continue to do that on Apple podcast and pod chasers. Yeah, I just feel like I just talked a lot.

Mostafa Ghonim: 3:28

Yeah. Yeah, catch your breath real quick. Let me shout out @goodgroundseed man on Instagram @goodgroundseed. You sent me this comment. I think he might have posted it on your page, but I just thought it was so dope. And I always like to thank you publicly anyway. So here's this corner's public thank you to Nicky. Here we go. @goodgroundseed said, "I'm not sure you're even going to read my comment," but you did. So that's awesome. "But all I can say is joyful tears man, you speak to my pilot", or flight maybe I don't know which that was, "as if you were sent to help people like me. This journey can be a mountain climb at times and to keep with the vision while only having a few see it takes a lot of fortitude, mind body and spirit. I used to think well hey, I only got a couple of plays on podcasts or one follower only 10 subs who likes etc. But like you said you can grow if at least somebody is listening now I have a self published book due to drop next week just because I refuse to give up. I thank you Nicky for all you and Moose do your work as spiritual man cuz you touch my soul. Many blessings and gratitude to you.

Nicky Saunders: 4:36

Yes, we read Instagram comments as well.

Mostafa Ghonim: 4:40

That was dope. That was powerful. Yeah, shout out to y'all man. Thanks for showing love and continue you know continuing to support us we are honestly just grateful that you know what we're doing is is touching you guys are such an intimate level. So that's that's that's literally what it's all about for us. So that's dope.

Nicky Saunders: 4:55

Yeah, I'm I'm speechless after that. I don't know. I read that one and I was like, I make people cry? I don't mean to make people cry. No shout out to everybody who leaves us some comments who leaves us a review. We read all of that. And we totally, totally appreciate it for real. So, um, how are we feeling? How are you? It's super light out when we're recording.

Mostafa Ghonim: 5:26

Yes. Its super light out. We're making some adjustments. We said it on the live show, but we're traveling to Dallas, Texas this week. Shout out to everyone in Dallas. We'll update you on our trip on the live I imagine. But yeah, we're making it work. I feel really good, though. Real quick, I will say just for my fellow air traffic controllers out there. This is this is this is the time to double down on your air traffic control. This is air traffic control season, right. I'm promoting it like it's an event. It's not what you get what I'm saying. Just get back to your routine, man. I will say that Nicks. I think just a quick update, if you care to know, I've gotten away from my routine for a bit. I've been back in it like never before the last two weeks, and I'm like, Wow! Wow! Like this is this is it. So yeah, man. I feel great. How are you feeling?

Nicky Saunders: 6:13

I feel good. I feel good talking about events www.120series.com. Eric Thomas is going back outside in Atlanta September 25.

Mostafa Ghonim: 6:26

And Nicky will be on stage.

Nicky Saunders: 6:28

And Moose too! Don't do that. Don't just put me out here. But September 25 - 26th. Come check us out at 120series.com. We're both going to be on stage. I don't know together. But we're both be on stage and then go see E and everybody else that may be there. But I'm fine. A lot to talk about. But I'm good. I so. Okay, so randomly. So we're traveling, and now I have to start thinking like I carry 17 million pieces of equipment again. And I don't...I'm struggling. I literally wrote a list. Yeah, hold on. Let me see if I could find the list for y'all. I wrote a list. Just so. Am I in view? I don't. I don't like lists. Right. But I wrote a list. I don't know if y'all Oh, because it's light, Okay. There we go. So it says packing up top. Sorry for those who can't read my handwriting. I can't read my handwriting sometimes. Right. But it has like all the things that I have. And I was like, man, do I check in bags do like I don't know if I'm, um, I remember this life too well. I don't I don't know how I did this before. I give props to my old self for doing this.

Mostafa Ghonim: 7:46

Yeah I remember that.

Nicky Saunders: 7:47

I have a whole big camera bag. Shout out to my you know, my media people. I have a whole big camera bag that I don't want to I don't want to do anymore. I don't I'm like I'm not carrying this on my book on my back anymore. This is crazy. I carried three babies on my back. Right? I carry. Oh my god.

Mostafa Ghonim: 8:07

That joint is heavy. I ain't even gonna lie.

Nicky Saunders: 8:08

So I'm like, Ah, I'm gonna I'm gonna bring my Rolly. But here is, for those who don't know I'm semi boujee. Here's where it my boujeeness comes in. Because all I have as an equipment bag is an MCM roll on book bag. Who, who has an MCM camera bag? I don't know. But I do. Um, because I'm not I'm not carrying the... So I'm not carrying that on my, I'm not carrying it on my back. We're gonna roll it. I'm just gonna look fancy with my camera stuff. So if by the time you hear this, we're gone from Dallas. But if you saw us in Dallas, you would have probably seen this boujee MCM roll on bag. And you'll be like, what's in there? Camera stuff. I don't need to work on that.

Mostafa Ghonim: 9:06

Here's a quick update into our lives.

Nicky Saunders: 9:11

It is what it is. Um, so let's get into this episode, because there's a lot to talk about. First and foremost, we started off last week's episode, talking about the space journey. Right? And what you do when you have way too much money. Right? Um, and this week, we are semi still talking about the space journey. But now it's time for Jeff Bezos to go on his journey and come back and tell us how how it was and how grateful he is for this space journey. Right? However, this is where it went wrong. I'll let you guys listen to it. And and you tell me what's wrong. While, we tell you what's wrong as well. So hold on.

Jeff Bezos: 10:12

I also want to thank every Amazon employee and every Amazon customer, because you guys paid for all this. So seriously, for every Amazon customer out there. And every Amazon employee, thank you from the bottom of my heart very much. It's very appreciated.

Nicky Saunders: 10:39

You go ahead Moose.

Mostafa Ghonim: 10:42

Yes. Hey, some things just don't need to be said or some things are better off unsaid. That's one of those things right. Obviously, Captain Captain Obvious. Yeah, we know that we funded your space journey. Don't tell us about it. It's better off not saying that. But I did see some else online too, which I thought was pretty cool. CNN posted it. I don't know if it's at that same press conference. I didn't watch it. But I just saw that that one post, he's donating $200 million to civil rights activists, I believe are some form of or let me not say civil rights, just activist in general. Yes. And so I was like, okay, that's cool. But then you show me this. And I'm like, why would you? You know, you're like you took away from what you what you did with of course, the accomplishment of making it to space in that way. Some things don't need to be said man. Like, I think the best advice for somebody who is

wanting to be funny: 11:38

Don't try. Don't try. Like if you're not naturally funny don't try.

Nicky Saunders: 11:46

But I don't know if he was trying to be funny. I don't I don't think he was trying to be funny. I think he sincerely meant that. They really meant that. I really do. You wouldn't say you know

Mostafa Ghonim: 11:57

Cuz you know how people some people got the dry, humor. Its like, Oh, yeah. So thanks for the obvious.

Nicky Saunders: 12:04

I think that was I think that was for real. I really do. I think that was for real. I think he genuinely meant that. Because it's, it's true. Without without us. You would, you would you wouldn't be as successful. So it's like, how do you? So how do you acknowledge the obvious? Like, I think he wanted to thank us. Yes, I want to say us. And all the listeners.

Mostafa Ghonim: 12:34

I bought a couple of things.

Nicky Saunders: 12:37

All the listeners and viewers to this podcast you've probably received or bought something from Amazon facts. I don't know anybody who does not use Amazon. I don't. But I still think that is a bit. I don't know like putting your face like Nananana booboo, I'm rich because of you. But that's the same kind of way as, like, when we're talking about, like our messaging, we're not supposed to put us and our accomplishments in the forefront. Right? Even if it's a thank you or whatever, like, it's always, like, frowned upon when you're like, look what I did. And because so many people bought this, this is what I got, like, if we frown upon the people who show their cars and houses and, you know, say its because of you that this is even possible, right? And think that's like, Oh my God, thank you. But then it instantly makes it about you and not us. You're not doing the space journey for us, and making it so like how Richard did it was like, yo, dreamers this all because like, anybody could dream and anything is possible. Didn't say thank you for buying Virgin Mobile. And when we had the Virgin Mega Record Store and the, you know, the airlines, yeah, thank you for purchasing all of those things because of you. So, um, when when Jeff Bezos wants to say this, like it's like, yeah, we're not here for you. Like we're, we're really not here for you and you just made it about you. And that's weird. And I did see the I don't know that the $100 or $200 million situation and I just didn't care after that clip of thank you. Thank you to everybody who bought something because of you. I'm able to spend an endless amount of money on random stuff, like building a spacecraft and going there and coming back with no problem. Its because of you. I don't care. IJeff, look at me. Jeff, if you're listening, or looking at me, I don't care.

Mostafa Ghonim: 15:14

I like that you said that though. Yeah. You know why? Because I think it's a good lesson for people out there to know that even with your good accomplishments, it doesn't buy you a pass, you know, to like disrespect others or talk down on people. I think that's, you know, that's a that's a big part of that. So I think, you know, I don't know what he was thinking. But yeah, that's, that's good. I think people needed to hear that from you. Like yo I saw that. But I caught on to this more. Yeah. So yeah.

Nicky Saunders: 15:43

And that's, but that's almost another conversation where, like, you could do so many things that are good. And it could get wiped away or downplayed for that one thing you messed up on. He probably doesn't even think it's a mess up. Right. And you don't have to like, he doesn't he at the end of the day. His family straight. Ah, his bank account state. He probably has enough money for the grandkids to the fifth power. Seventh power. So how we feel he may not necessarily care. He stepped down from Amazon. Right? He's now just on a journey of just being on a journey of being rich. And there's no shade to rich people. But it's just when you clearly show your profits. What is only for you that goes back to last week's where it was like yo, some people are saying you could have put this in I don't know West Africa. Why not?

Mostafa Ghonim: 17:00

Yeah something more respect yeah.

Nicky Saunders: 17:01

Right. Something else but and here I was defending on some No, no, you can't save world hunger off of two people. Oh, but now you're solely pocketing for your Random Space journey. I'm whatever. We get all of this randomness whatever. Um, next next topic. Next topic. Ah, the NBA Finals finally finished. We got a new champion. Its not LeBron and its not Steph. Its none of them. Right? It's ... Wow, why did I say it like that? Milwaukee.

Mostafa Ghonim: 18:18

*Makes fun of Nicky for mispronouncing Milwaukee.

Nicky Saunders: 18:45

For all my audio listeners if you want to see the really cry that I'm doing just go to YouTube. These are real tears. All right, back to the regular scheduled program. The Bucks okay? The Bucks won. The Bucks won right. Alright, I'm back. I'm back. I'm back. I promise you. They won and they won against the Suns. Shout out to CP3 and Booker and all those people, but the what really got to me because y'all gonna be like, since when y'all talk about sports like this. We don't promise you. All right. It was what Giannis said on a post interview is why we want to go over this and you will understand when you listen to it too.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: 19:44

Like it's easy to go somewhere and go win a championship with somebody else. Its easy. I don't want to put anybody on the spot. But I could go to a super team and you know, just do my part and win a championship. Still win. But this is the hard way (*inaudible) and we did it.

Nicky Saunders: 20:06

And we did it. And that he did. He is a beast.

Mostafa Ghonim: 20:10

It was the table slam for me. Dropped the mic.

Nicky Saunders: 20:15

So so here's why I brought this up, right? Um, does it? How do I put this? How do I want to put this? Because I don't want to? Are you considered a great when you stack your team? Right? Does the level of status and I believe you still do but there's a level of status shift a little bit when you do it in a way, like how Jordan used to do it, right? Not stacking your team, and a guaranteed win. Because there's not necessarily a hard journey with that. Right? Or, like, it doesn't matter? Because I think from it would be amazing. From a realistic standpoint, not a word standpoint, you have a dream team, right? And it just makes everything smoother. Everybody plays their role is almost flawless, you get the guaranteed results. No problem at all. Right? But in other environments, just like a stacked team can be frowned upon. Right? So clearly, it depends on what situation we're talking about, but does the status of your greatness or how dope you are, go up and down if you take the hard route, or you go with the superstack Super team?

Mostafa Ghonim: 21:59

I think you got man, I know everyone might disagree with this, or some people I imagine will be on both ends of the spectrum or both ends of the argument. But for me, you've got to give respect to somebody who's like, you know what, I'm going to work with what I got. Yeah, you know that that really takes the approach of let's just do with the old school way. Invest in who we got, let's work together, let's overcome a lot of the personal obstacles that any team would have. And not just create a super team where we're so talented that even on our worst days, we can overcome resistance, right? Or we can beat the competition. When you think about, especially in sports, for anyone who plays sports, the fun part of the sport is the competition. So when you're overly stacked, and it's not even a series, like when we want some of the fights, like for example, when we watched that Floyd fight, we were like, yeah, it wasn't any fun, like there was just kind of like hugging each other back and forth. We want to see the competition, we want to see that, you know, the underdog, kind of get up and come back and there's this back and forth where somebody is about to get kicked off the throne, but they're protecting their I think that makes for a better storyline. And although we're just watching us fans for the entertainment of it, at the end of the day, that's what makes it fun for us. So I think from like a phonetic standpoint, or from as a fan will definitely appreciate that more. And then also even as a former athlete or someone you know, in the come up it's always fun to like, I want to do it, you know, the just the the real way kind of like like he you know, Giannis just said this I always I always will show more respect to that. Me personally, I think that's That's dope.

Nicky Saunders: 23:42

Yeah, and I think so from a person who does love competition but in a different way of my life. Now, I'm you, you have to look at it. So if we look at a LeBron and we look at a like a Giannis and we're kind of comparing not necessarily stats or things like that, but you cannot question how dope Giannis is. You can't. My man is a beast. He clearly has shown what he's done. Did you see the tweet that Kobe did? Like caught saying MVP was next championship and things like that. Um, so he has proven himself. And then with LeBron, it's more like people even though we know LeBron's dope, we're not questioning that. But some people will always add, yo, you stacked your team. The Kevin Durant situation when he stacks his teams when he went to Golden State and now the Nets that's a little bit stacked too. Like I don't want to be in a position where you question what I can do just because of who I put on my team, right? Now, some people will say, I don't care. The point is to get this result. Right. So I don't care what anybody may think. But then it goes, based off sometimes. Are you competitive in that aspect or not? Because if people are questioning if you can get somewhere without people or without that particular stack, that could bother you, like, Yo, I, do you know, all the stuff I did. Right? So I can see from both. Like, I don't care what people think. And then I care what people think, like I can see from both but understand when you do the stacking, when you do grow a super team and whatever situation that you're in, people will say, yo, would that be possible if you didn't have this person, if you didn't have this person? If you had this person, instead of that person? People will question it just I think it depends how much you care about that for, let's say, a LeBron, he may not care. I, I care about my family, I care about how many chips I want, I care about how much money I'm making, things like that, like I care about these things, and what the critics possibly say, I don't necessarily care. And that's great, right? Because the goal is the goal, regardless of how you do that. So I think it just depends on the person. But you can't like give credit where credit's due, my man did it the very hard way. And, of course, we're going to look at that, at least me, not we but at least I will look at that on a standpoint of Yeah, you you got that you a beast. Yeah. You You a beast. You a beast, and I can't. But okay, here's here's now the question of if he does stack his team now, is that a bad thing? Because, once again, then the critics would be like, ah, to guarantee a second one, a third one, whatever. He's now stalking his team, he can't do it by himself again. All right. I think at the end of the day, do not care what people say, if the goal is the same thing, that's going to be my perspective, do not care if the goal is to win this, and you're going to end up still being dope and great. At the same time, who cares what somebody made think, if you have this or that? That's how I look at it. Like, yeah, both of them could possibly, well it's too early for for one, but both of them could possibly be in the Hall of Fame.

Mostafa Ghonim: 28:25

Yeah. Well, let's do this just so that we can apply it even closer to our lanes. You know, what about in a business perspective? You know, I'm saying when we talk about now business, I know everyone's like, hey, collaborate, don't compete, collaborate, don't compete. Okay? There are some times where it's like, actually, no, I'm gonna compete. No, I don't wanna collaborate with you. Or it's not a good move to collaborate, right? Because I think when you talk about super teams, and you apply that example to the business world, that's really what we're talking about, do you compete? Or do you choose to collaborate? Yeah, right. So what was, you know, let's talk about that for a second. What's your take on that? How do you know when to compete? When to say okay, if I can't beat them, I'm going to join them. I know that's a that's another saying they used to say back in the day like, with with sports, right? Like, if you can't beat a team, then join them slightly, same concept, collaborate, you know, or compete, what's your what's your take on that?

Nicky Saunders: 29:25

So I look at it a little different. I think there's nothing wrong in any kind of level of collaboration. Reason being, when we think about it, right? It is, it almost shows like, yo, they could get along. Like you are the bigger person to get on stage with this person, do this particular project with this person, you know, and is more as long as it's more of a equal standpoint. More of a partnership. I see and not partnership as far as equity kind of vibe, but just like doing it together equally Yeah, I think there's nothing wrong with it. Right? Regardless of what you have to prove that's almost like a pride thing at this point. Like, it's like, a like, okay, he or she is doing the same thing I'm doing. Right. Let me do it. Let me do this particular thing by myself show out. And then I'm more on like, there's too much money out in the world, there's too many people to get their attention still. How do you know you can't still compete when you collaborate? Because strategically, if you collaborate with, let's say, your competitor, I don't really find anybody as a competitor, but your competitor. Now you're in a same kind of platform to see who can get the most attention. Who do the people connect with most who do these deal these brand deals, you know, go with the most like, if this person is not involved with it, we can't do this together. Right. So I'm always good with collaborating, because I can compete within.

Mostafa Ghonim: 31:36

That's a good bar. That's a bar right there. I like that. I've never ever heard anybody talk about it that way. Neither have I really seen it that way. But that makes a lot of sense. Because it's like, even if you're someone who likes competition, and you thrive off of that back and forth. That doesn't mean that that has to stop when you join a team or when you collaborate with somebody, it could be a competition to see who brings more value. Yep. Right? Who, who, who's going to bring the most valuable to the equation? Or who like you said, Who's going to bring in whatever those different metrics are? It could be from every standpoint, financial people impact. So I like that that's a good word Nicks, that's a word.

Nicky Saunders: 32:13

But think about it. And maybe because it's on, like, I look at hip hop, right? And when you look at different collaborations, there's always some, like one or two people that are just like Yo, they took that that spot on that on that song, like, he killed it, she killed it, right. And though it may be somebody else's song, prime example, for those hip hop people, Big Sean came out with a song a few years back, Kendrick was on it, and stole the whole song. Like everybody was talking about Kendrick on that particular I think it was called Control. Right? And everybody was talking about Kendrick's verse no one was talking about Big Sean's verse. So I could collaborate with you. My whole thing is to show who I am and steal the show while I'm on your platform. I could do that all day. And that's not necessarily trying to just compete from the outside world, I may leverage your platform and leverage your audience to be able to show Yeah, you had this show. Yeah, you had this event. Yeah, you had this Live podcast, whatever. But I was what people were tuning into. I was what people were locked into, um, I'm good with the competing from inside.

Mostafa Ghonim: 33:45

Yeah, I was gonna say it's a very healthy way to compete too if you think about it, right? It's like, okay, we're not going to maybe throw shade at each other from a distance and say, Hey, don't go with that person. I'm better than that person. And we've talked about this, right? Like, what is that do? That does nothing. But it is impactful to say, you know, what, if we're, if we're especially and of course, we've talked about some of the underlying things that you need to have before you get with someone, right? We talked about similar values to hold that whole nine. I'm sure you've, you know, everyone who's listening has heard it before. So if those things are in place, it gives you an opportunity to to still get better in within within that collaboration. Right? So no, I like it. I really have nothing to add to that. I think that's that's that's powerful.

Nicky Saunders: 34:28

So, for my fashion people and streetwear people. This is kind of a big deal that we're about to talk about. Virgil, I always mess up his last name Abloh? Okay, everybody knows Virgil. But I think it's Abloh, gets a seat at the power table. So the LVMH better known as Louis Vuitton people, um, and a lot of other things, but y'all probably know the more for Louis, right? "A luxury group has bought a majority stake of Off White and has given its founder license to shake up more than just fashion. He's gotten skin in the game." Right? So he literally gave 60% of Off White. And me and Moose were talking a little bit about it. He's like, yo, we got to talk about this ownership thing. And is it smart to give up that much? Um, I'll let Moose go first, because I did som research.

Mostafa Ghonim: 35:53

Yeah, yeah. So I mean, specifics of the deal aside for a moment here, let's just kind of look at face value what was presented, right? Of course, when you look at Virgil's track record, like he's done some incredible things, right? Of course, was one of the first lead designers were Kanye. And they built an incredible relationship. Of course, there was that fallout when he left to take the position that Louis Vuitton and Kanye felt some type of way about it, because he was the one who kind of entered that world early from hip hop culture. And he also felt he should have been there, right. So anyway, that's one side of it. But it also shows you the moves that have been repeated, you know, by Virgil from that standpoint, meaning that he's still willing to take the corporate route, especially whenever given a bigger opportunity. So he did it. At that time, which kind of over time or through history, we see that happened then, of course, it had other big collaborations, you know, Nike, IKEA, a lot of great collaborations that he's done across the board. But it seems to me that every time he's given an opportunity to get deeper into the corporate realm, he's willing to make sacrifices, really relationally where he lets go of somebody like a Kanye, to take a you know, a position at the company, and even financially, which is with his own brand to let up 60% of that, to get deeper into, you know, the corporate space. And I get it, like, I'm not saying that entrepreneurship or ownership in general is for everyone. But man, my The thing I wanted to talk about Nicks is like, if you if you're not successful, I can understand taking the payout or, or, you know, cutting a deal to really put yourself on the map. But if you've already had the success, you've got the track record, you got the sales coming in, I mean, his shoes, I don't even try on Sneakers app anytime, Off White, like, you know, I try from time to time to get some J's but when I see anything Off White, I'm like, what's the point? Like, there's, there's no way like, I'm not even gonna try. So I'm like yo its happening for you. So so I was a little shocked to see him part with majority stock like you give them 60% you pretty much got no say. So usually, you hear people say the 51/49 the extra 2% still gives me leverage. He went straight, clean 60/40. So yeah, I just wanted to talk about that man. Because in my world, I don't know that I would ever be in a position to feel comfortable building something, upscaling it, having it in motion and then say, Okay, I'm gonna dish it out to the big guys, and lose and lose leverage as well as majority ownership in that. So yeah, I just wanted the dialogue around that. Give us your part and of course what you think but sheesh that was that was tough for me to swallow. I'm like, ah, I don't know.

Nicky Saunders: 38:52

So I get what you're saying. I do. I think it was the bigger picture of getting a seat at the table. Right. Who's to say he didn't create Off White just to get noticed? Right. Very successful. Streetwear a lot of influencers, especially in the hip hop culture that we know of wear Off White right. Yeah, I'm so I'm, I look at it from always from strategic standpoint. He's not only in fashion now. Now. He's in wine and...right. Now he's, I think, what was it from the NBA Finals? The case was done by him.

Mostafa Ghonim: 39:53

Oh, wow.

Nicky Saunders: 39:54

Yes. Ah, so with this move, he is almost claimed to be one of the most powerful black executive in fashion at this moment. Right? And when you look at it as far as, okay, I created Off White. I'm the art, like the artist director in Louis Vuitton now, right? Now I'm in the whole scope of a brand that owns Hennessy, Tiffany's, like so many 17 different brands within this just l What is it? LVMH. Right. So many things that are happening with that. Yeah, take six, I'm looking at it take 60% because I can make this again. I could do this again, this was possibly just one of those things to get your attention. But now I have fashion, and and all these other different companies. And I have creative directive in that. And more power in that. That's just going to expand even more, it's up for bigger picture. So I'm want to play a clip of what he said, because it kind of goes alongside with the bigger picture theme. He sat down and had a conversation of, you know, kind of what inspires him.

Virgil Abloh: 41:31

The kid that even to this day, or when I was in my 20s. Like when I walked to the door, the security guard goes like this, like, you can't really come in here, they don't realize that I'm their boss. I'm not offended by the security guard who, ironically, we're the same ethnicity, but he thinks that I don't belong there. But you know, that's too low level to get distracted by the larger goal, I think. I think you know, what's more impressive images me at the end of the runway for Louie Vuitton. And that image coming to a young kid in Atlanta, who wants to be a fashion designer that can tell his parents that he wants to go into fashion design instead of any other degree because he can use me as an example.

Nicky Saunders: 42:25

So I played that, because there's always going to be a bigger picture when we're giving out that much of our brand. Look at when Jay Z gave that much, I think to the same brand. The Ace of Spades. Yeah. Yeah. Right was to LVMH. And for those who don't know what LVMH is, is Moet Hennessy, Louis Vuitton. Right? So those big names, those are like, what are we? Okay,

Mostafa Ghonim: 42:59

I feel you.

Nicky Saunders: 43:00

And so I think we, we look at it and, you know, some people will critique is Yo, we keep giving our brands up to, you know, some of what I've read in one of them, we keep giving it to the man and this that and the third. However, he has a seat. Same thing with Jay Z, he has a seat. We have to get at the table. We can't just prime example of competing within. We have to get in the building. We have to be on the certain platforms, and collaborate with some of these people. So we can have more control, than doing it ourselves. Not saying that we can't, but there is sometimes a quicker way to make change. Change does need to happen. Absolutely. Right. There needs to be more diversity in these companies and what we see from the world period, right, as far as these top luxury brands, absolutely. Is starts with a seat at the table. And I think this is one of those moves where Yes, we need diversity. We need it to look more like us. We need to connect more with the people. Let me sacrifice 60% because I feel confident enough that I can make a change within I've proven so far with Louis. I've proven it so far why they want to take acquire Off White because they see the success they see I do with Nike. They see what I do with all these other brands as well, that I've had collaborations out the wazoo, that they know how valuable I am and the power that I have. I just need a seat.

Mostafa Ghonim: 45:15

Its interesting, though, because I just I don't I don't know that in an environment, like Louis Vuitton, or any corporate environment, for that matter, that one seat is going to turn the tables. I don't you know, I'm saying like, I don't know that I can fully say okay, yeah. Virgil's in. That's it, it's about to be diverse...

Nicky Saunders: 45:36

But we have two, we have Jay and we have... I'm not saying there's going to be a major change now. Yeah. But it's going to be it's, it's a little bit of the needle. It's like it wiggles now. Before it stayed.

Mostafa Ghonim: 45:55

Yeah, no, I feel you and time will tell. Time will tell. It's just like, it's crazy. Because at the end of the day, one of the things we stood on or stood for in this platform is kind of like what Giannis said, yo, do it the right way. Take the hard route. And I get it like, obviously, you want to work smarter, not harder. But if you're already there, yeah, I feel like that's an opportunity to leverage it a little bit more. Right. It's like, okay, now let me let me taste. And again, only time will tell before we see. Okay, how did it work out? Like, what change? Did he bring about? Did he really make the workplace more diverse? You know, is he giving more opportunities that I'm not super well versed on? You know, what Virgil does. And from that standpoint, from a work environment, of course, I'm familiar with his work. But outside of that, I don't know the type of impact that he's creating in the workplace. But it'd be interesting to see, but I just feel like, you know, on this platform, we stand for ownership for a reason. And it's because it's like, we've seen the patterns and what history has shown, when you sell your rights, it's like, kind of like, you know, you're giving your voice or you're giving your power away. And for me, it's like, no, like, I don't mind collaboration, that standpoint, because you're right, you were going to get a seat at the table. But not not for majority stake. It's like that. Yeah, first, I just, I just, I'm cool with the move. I just think it's too too expensive of a price like 60% sheesh, that;s up there. I think Jay gave 30 I mean, I'll look it up. I know, we spoke about it on the show some time back. I want to say

Nicky Saunders: 47:24

It was a good amount. It was a good amount. I Jay... think we were talking about the same theme about how much he gave up. Yeah, oh, man, I can't. Well, he sells he sells, half. And you know what, it's more like, and I look at it, like I said, You can't do that if you don't have confidence that you can create more, you can't do that. I think both Jay and, and Virgil have proven that they could create multiple things. And they'll be successful, and they have influence that whatever they drop, whatever they are part of, there's going to be people that back them. So I think when you have that type of power and influence, that it is you you move a different way you can say, you know, what, if this means that I have more of a say, and, and and I'm in these particular meetings, yeah, you know what? Okay, let me talk about fashion, leather. Let me talk about wine and let's let's talk about these things. I'm a part of it. I'm a part of more things than I was before ju t by being in Off White. It may have boxed me into just that whe I see more in a creative vibe for this as a whole. So I t ink it's, I think it just depen s, like I said, leverage what you can create, because you c n already create more.

Mostafa Ghonim: 49:15

Interesting, interesting. We'll see. Hey, we'll see. I'm just I'm the natural skeptics I already know. Yeah, I already know y'all don't come at me. We'll see. But Nah, man shout out to Virgil I mean, obviously doing incredible work and that hopefully everything works out.

Nicky Saunders: 49:29

Makes me want to makes me want to buy Off White even though I saw those prices, so any representative who is part of Off White or Louis and you clearly hear how I articulated for you guys.

Mostafa Ghonim: 49:46

Yeah, I could understand if y'all don't want to send me anything but let me take care of Nicks on that real quick.

Nicky Saunders: 49:50

I would i would love on the podcast to you know, rock, rock a shirt, a hat, whatever. Like...

Mostafa Ghonim: 50:01

Thanks y'all.

Nicky Saunders: 50:02

Thanks. So let's celebrate something huge on the very first female rapper, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. The cover Meg the Stallion. Who also got the cover was Naomi. But we give you so much pub lady that I didn't even...

Mostafa Ghonim: 50:31

Right. We're going to start sending you invoice an invoice Naomi.

Nicky Saunders: 50:35

We give you so much pub but we love you. Congratulations on on that too. But um I am I so love Meg just because she does things a little bit different. Right? She her confidence is crazy. How she moves is crazy, even though she had so much drama. I think it was last year when she got shot in the foot right. But where some would, that would still be talked about and kind of shadow them in their career. She has only kind of just gone up from there. Right? And clearly she has signed with Roc Nation, I think for management. And just seeing some of the things that she's done is just amazing to see Sports Illustrated Swimsuit as her out of everybody as her right when they're so known for models and athletes. Right. So she did a a interview with Tyra Banks, which I found out is the first black female to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition as well. So it's convenient that both...

Mostafa Ghonim: 51:59

Best of both worlds. Yeah.

Nicky Saunders: 52:03

So just to talk on the confidence because clearly swimsuit and just if y'all know Meg, she is very proud of her body. And it's appreciated.

Mostafa Ghonim: 52:21

You gonna get yourself in trouble lady.

Nicky Saunders: 52:24

So, here's the interview before I get in trouble.

Meg the Stallion: 52:27

I'm the only child right. And my mom was also a very curvy woman, my grandmother was literally six feet tall, curvy, and all of her sisters were tall and curvy. So what I look at every day is other women that look like me. My family always made me feel really good about myself. So it was hard for me to have. It was hard for somebody to project their insecurities on me come in the room like I own it. And I'm (*inaudible)... I feel like when people are scared of something, they don't know how to react to it like so this is your first time probably being around a woman who is not hiding her body and not hiding her height. I feel like I look good.

Nicky Saunders: 53:06

So watch how I spin this y'all. So I don't get in trouble. So there's two lessons that I got out of this. Right.

Mostafa Ghonim: 53:18

Let me let me recover here.

Nicky Saunders: 53:20

Let me Yes, please. So shout out to my mom. Hi, mom. Love you. So two, two lessons that I got out of this right? One? Who are you surrounded by? So though, some people may look at Meg the Stallion, and say she's too much, right? You have way too much to show on social media and just outside of just in the world, you shouldn't be wearing this, this that and the third. Her family who loved her very much was it was normal in the household to look like that to dress like that to be like that. Right? Some of our friends same way. Dress like that, look like that, be like that. So you feel normal and your confidence grows based off who surrounds you. Right? When you continuously hear negative stuff, and you let that consume you, of course you're going to doubt because in that same interview, she said, yo, Mom, why are people talking about how I look and what I do? Why are people and her mom was like, yo, they're their haters. You see, this is who we are, accept who we are, and roll that way. Right? And it was what her family instilled in her as why she has the confidence, right? So I look at it like Who are we surrounding ourselves with that we even have any kind of doubt because our circle and Sometimes not our family, but at least our immediate circle, if that does include family and friends, should be the encouragement and the confidence that you need to have a successful business and successful brand in the way that you created it. And in the different things that you're doing. If not, we may have to check our circle. If not, we may have to look at what we're listening to. And who we surround ourselves with. If there's any kind of doubt that goes into that. The second lesson that I got was, people are going to project their fear onto you. Some people don't understand what you're doing, and they're going to deem you as wrong, because they don't understand you. That doesn't make you wrong. That just means they ain't caught up yet. They wouldn't do that they wouldn't do this. Right. So just because they wouldn't twerk, I'll say that safely. I can say that. Just because they wouldn't twerk just because they wouldn't say those things that Meg did. Maybe they wouldn't do the cover of Sports Illustrated doesn't make her wrong. Right, there are people who look at Meg and be like, wow, I want to be like her. I want to have that confidence. I want to have that kind of vibe, right? And we have to look at it from a standpoint of we can't take people's fears and run with it as if it's true. And as if it is the the law of all laws, just because something used to be that way. And we are doing things different, and they're scared of the change it could possibly be or even, they're scared of what people may say about you. Maybe even on an over protective tip, yo, hold on No, wait. Right? It still goes back to you have, what do you want to do? What are you trying to create? What are you trying to build that at first, they're going to be scared for you. And they should because they've never seen it before. You should have people scared for you and fear for you. Because you're doing something completely different. And that's okay. It's your confidence about it. And you're forward thinking that is needed for what we see in the future. And so what make did was like, Yo, I'm going to make this normal, I'm going to make you feel that it is okay, whatever body you have, you could do whatever you want. And everything is possible. Right? I came from Houston. And you know, I had my mother died. And like, this wasn't supposed to happen. And it did. And I'm signed with one of the best rappers in the world. Yeah, so say what you want about anything. We may not understand everything, but that's just because we wouldn't do it doesn't make it wrong.

Mostafa Ghonim: 58:28

Yeah, I think the the main takeaway for me was kind of what she said at the end, right. And I think that's a good thing for many of us to take note of like, you know, anytime you walk into the room, and the room doesn't respond the way you expected them to hope that we could stop saying, Oh my god, what's wrong with me? Right? But instead of flip the question and say, Man, I wonder what they're going through? Right? I wonder what their experience was like that makes them look at me a little bit different because I am different. Shout out to my boy, Juan man, I call him Juanito. Juanito came to visit from Florida. Earlier this week, we met up and had lunch together, just kind of talking about what's going on with work and business and life in general. And I'm telling him man, like I'm finally at a place where, you know, I can I can do the things that I love, right? Like I can fully be me. And I love his response. You know, he pretty much responded and said, you know, you've always been this person. I met you in 2012 you've always been this person, but now you're in a place where you're accepted and you can fully showcase that. It's not, it's not hidden, right? It's not like oh man, but if they find out this part about me, it's gonna make me less than or are they going to accept that? He's like, no, you're just fully embracing it now. But it was just a cool like really refreshing reminder to hear like, it's the parts of us that we think that are meaningless or not worth that much that if we could just embrace it's those pieces that actually make us more confident. So nothing really to add to that Nicks but yeah, I like what she said at the end there just like, you know, this concept of like, Don't walk into a room like man, what's wrong with me if they don't give you the love or what you expected actually flip the question and be like, man I wonder what's going on with them or what's their world like that has them looking at me this way?

Nicky Saunders: 1:00:14

Yeah, I had to, I had to touch on the confidence thing because she's building something. So some of you are gonna look at it like, Well, okay, this is more on artists and a rapper thing. But she, she's built the brand,

Mostafa Ghonim: 1:00:29

Same characteristics.

Nicky Saunders: 1:00:30

Right. She had confidence enough to be herself. And it worked. And so we have to look at it like, how can we have confidence enough within ourselves to build whatever we're trying to build, and not listen to other people and just continue to go and surround ourselves with people who see our vision? And that's um, that's a big thing. Like, I'm realizing people just don't have those that circle that see their vision. And which brings in that doubt, but y'all got the point. But another thing about Meg is that she is getting a degree right now. Being the top female rapper, right, she is getting a degree in, like health, what health administration, right. And so I put this on Nicky and Moose, that she had tweeted, "My college experience has been a roller coaster, I started at PV went to some community college in between and ended at TSU. Don't get discouraged, you can chase your dreams, and your education at the same time." And I got a clip of her talking about education before I go in.

Meg the Stallion: 1:01:53

My grandmother was a teacher. When my mother was still alive, she definitely was pushing me to finish college. So I'm definitely gonna do it for those two. She always put it in my head, you are beautiful. Yes, gorgeous, you're gonna grow up, you're gonna be a hell of a woman. But you are going to have education. I want to open my own assisted living facilities, I want to create an environment where the elderly can go and stay here, and you still be treated like a family.

Nicky Saunders: 1:02:29

So the main reason why I wanted to bring up the education piece of what she's doing is its clear to see that this day and age, there's options, right. People are fully aware that in certain careers, it is a seasonal thing. So how are we preparing ourselves for after the season is done? Right? She has a dream to build what that that place? What was that place called? What was that place called?

Mostafa Ghonim: 1:03:09

Healthcare facilities.

Nicky Saunders: 1:03:11

Yes. Okay. So if she has that dream, she can't just be on straight rapper mode. She She can't, that's not going to get it. But understanding, I think the Word of the Week for me has been leverage, understanding this rap career is going to give me the money that I need to finish my degree to then even possibly pay for this different facility that I'm about to have and the employees that I need and things. So my dream at this moment, right is going to fund my ultimate dream at the end. And so we we look at that, and how do instead of shaming further education, like this been a thing like, Oh, you don't need college, no more on the job training and this that and the third, and for some situations, absolutely. And then there's some that still needs a degree, right? And there's nothing wrong with that. I think furthering your education, however you want to do that is perfectly fine. Now, I don't believe in getting student loans. They find other means but, you know, get at how you live, there's no right or wrong way for getting more information into your body. I'm, so for that.

Mostafa Ghonim: 1:04:41

Yeah no, I think it's a great message to push to be honest with you, you know, however you define education, whether that's going back to college, weather that's vocational, whether that's self study. I personally was a fan of college because for one, it was my father's dream. Like, I think anytime that You're a first generation and your parents are like, man, we are here for you to accomplish this for us, it puts greater meaning to it. So regardless of whether you use the degree or not, that was a big part of it for me. Number two, I love the freedom that it provided. And it also really instilled some great habits if you allow it, right because it's law you don't got no teacher on your head, like in high school or middle school head, you do your homework, hey, to do this, he did that. Right? It's like you kind of get the freedom to really build some great habits so you can live up to it. So I love the message though, just so I can kind of keep a strict to the agenda. I love the message. She's like, yo, it's okay to chase your dream and your education at the same time. The only thing I'll say is whatever that form was for you just make sure like be a lifelong learner. I think that's something that your value will always increase with, the more you learn. So that's that's a really dope message that she's putting out to the people.

Nicky Saunders: 1:05:52

Big facts. Congratulation, Megan, the Stallion. So, let me talk about what I normally talk about every week, somehow, some way. So you would not be surprised that I'm going to be talking about Kanye. Talking about Kanye, and I'm going to be talking about Lil' Nas X. So the theme rollouts, okay, now by the time you hear this, you probably have new music from Kanye West and Lil Nas X. I sound like a whole commercial. This is great. Um, however, I don't want to concentrate purely on the music, I want to concentrate on how they're rolling out. There's two different ways that they're rolling out and both of them are very unique in its own way. So let's start of course with Kanye West because it makes more sense for me right. So Kanye West is normally the very outspoken let's do some rants, let me tell you when let me appear and let you know that I am dropping something. Sometimes I drop it and sometimes I don't. This one was a little bit different. Right. So the album that is dropping on Friday that already dropped by the time you hear this, he didn't say a single word. He's actually been in this mask appearing here and there. Right. Ah, there has been influencers that has been speaking about his album. There has been private listening parties. For the NBA Finals, he dropped a Dr. Dre beats commercial with the runner that got caught up.

Mostafa Ghonim: 1:07:54

Sha'Carri Richardson

Nicky Saunders: 1:07:55

Yeah, her um, and this rollout is saying everything without saying anything. And it's even from like, the cover of it is just even has a deeper meaning without saying anything. So for my audio listeners, I have the the Kanye West album cover up. And it is done by an artist Don't ask me how to say that name. Moose, do you want to try?

Mostafa Ghonim: 1:08:29

Louise Bourgeois

Nicky Saunders: 1:08:32

Okay. Yes, that person. So made artwork to work through the trauma of losing her mother at a young age. This is why Kanye chose his art to be his album cover of Donda the album for his mother. Right. So for those who don't know, his mom passed from I believe cosmetic surgery, like it just went wrong. And yeah, so ever since then, kinda has never been the same, I'm going to be safe to say that just never been the same. So I'm hoping from a deeper standpoint, that this is kind of the closure or acceptance maybe that he needs and is not saying anything within this rollout of reflection, and just doing the work of what his mother would possibly do. I got deep for some reason, I don't know why. But you see that right? So, so I can understand and Kanye is on that particular level of I don't have to say anything, and I'll let my fans say everything. Right. But I find it very interesting that what was of a Kanye, of how he rolled things out is no more within this and it's strategically being placed. Like is strategically, like, even with the Beats by Dre commercial done in the NBA Finals, that everybody is watching. Right to officially announce. Yo, the album is coming out Friday with an athlete that everybody is talking about. Yeah, right. I think that is amazing.

Mostafa Ghonim: 1:10:26

That's my favorite part of it.

Nicky Saunders: 1:10:28

Right. Yeah. I think also, what's amazing is that he is just laying low. Just even to the mask part, like, why is my man wearing a mask? He has not on Twitter has not tweeted since November of last year, he just post on the 20th. Right? He just posted 20th on Instagram, a picture of his chain, I believe it has the name of his kids, right? And then the commercial. So this is different. This is absolutely different. My question to you, is because I look at it, I don't look at it from a music standpoint, I look at it from just a product and service standpoint of how, when do we get to the point where we launch without saying anything? Like, we see a Beyonce just drop an album. And then boom its there. But this is a whole rollout. This is not just a drop and let you talk about it. I let you talk about it prior to I even tweeted it out like Yo, that's going to be the new goal where I launched something and I don't say a single word. And I let you say everything for me.

Mostafa Ghonim: 1:11:50

Create the hype. Yeah.

Nicky Saunders: 1:11:52

Right. So when we get to that point?

Mostafa Ghonim: 1:11:54

Yeah, I think I think what Kanye has done is he's done a phenomenal job, building his talent alongside his personal life, or people seek an interest in his personal life. So talent, professional mastery, whatever you want to call it. He's done that at such a high level that of course, people want to go for the artistry, it's like, yo, Kanye's droping new music. For the most part, it's always gonna be good. I want to go, I want to go listen to it, right. But then the way he dresses the way he lives, his life, the way he's navigated relationships, just what he's done in general. It's also gotten him to be one of those people that when he talks you want you want to listen to it. You know, what did Kanye tweet this time? What did he do this time, right? So people are now not just invested in his talent or his mastery. They're also interested in him as a person in his personal life. They're equally as invested. Right? That's why we can you know, you have that stat, you're able to track it like Yo, November, November of last year is last time he tweeted, like, yeah, you can trace that down. So I think that helps when you can get yourself in that position where people can have interest, have they deep interest to not just like surface level? Oh, that's cool. Those like deep interest, you know, when Kanye said what? He did this, oh, my God, I can't believe right. When you get to that level, it becomes easy to make those moves where you can drop unannounced, or you can do something and be more of a behind the scenes almost anonymous. But you know that people know that that's you so that that alone is going to move mountains or kind of shake the table with it. My favorite part of this rollout is him including, you know, the runner in this. I think him including Yeah, I hope I'm saying that right Sha'Carri Richardson just after she's kind of been silenced. You know, because of whatever the political, the political nonsense is behind that. Yeah, I think that's so dope, right? The fact that he's able to think of, oh, what's trending right now, oh, this is good. But not only is it going to give me some attention, it's also going to put somebody on a platform that is much needed, so that they like I just love how he's able to be so present and in tune with the moment that he can make maneuvers and different moves at the same time to elevate himself and other people on his platform without overdoing it. Right. Like even with the artists that he collaborated with for the album cover, right? There's some significance or some connection there. And we probably many people may have probably never heard of this, you know, young lady before but they're like, he's, I think that's what makes him so talented. He's so what makes him so special. He's so knowledgeable to so many different things, and at such a deep level that it makes him or allows him to make those kinds of moves. So yeah, for anyone who hasn't also checked out his his interview with Joe Rogan go check that out, too. I mean, I think it kind of lets you into his mind a little bit about how he sees the world. Yeah. And instead of being so judgmental towards him, like it gives you an opportunity to understand Yeah, well I kind of get it like you're unique, you you you act different but it's because you are different like you literally see the world differently than the average person. When you take that into consideration you can't be so harsh or harsh against him for what he does. But yeah, I think those two things really make it unique. But I'm excited to hear that album man. I'm like, this might be a, this might be dope.

Nicky Saunders: 1:15:17

Yeah. So expect the next live or the next episode our real deep dive into it. But, um, let's talk about a Lil' Nas X real quick, fast in a hurry. Because he also has a very unique rollout with a song. Right. So I have on the screen, freelilnasx.com Industry Baby coming soon. Okay. And him in his little orange jumpsuit, as if he's going to prison. So, little backstory. He on Tik Tok. For those who follow Lil' Nas X on Tik Tok, and let's put it this way. I love Lil' Nas X, right. I don't care what anybody says. I love Lil' Nas X. I clearly love all the controversy, people in life. Clearly I clearly see this. Now on Tik Tok and if you follow him on Instagram, too, I think he does it but more on Tik Tok where he is been having snippets of this particular song on all of his videos, which is called Industry Baby, right? Sounds fire. And now, this rollout for this song is very interesting, because he has played into his legal battles that he had earlier this year with those Satan shoes. So for those who don't remember, back in March, he was selling the Satan shoes Nike with like supposably blood in the sole. It was limited sold out all that great stuff. Right. So Nike said, we didn't we didn't approve this. So get this lawsuit real quick. Right. Now with the research, I found out that it got settled in April. But the way Lil' Nas X is rolling out this song, it almost sounded like he was honestly going to court this past Monday. So when Monday hit, I'm expecting in the blogs to see official court stuff. But now we're seeing him doing a skit of being in the court room with the sneakers getting sentenced to five years to only announce Industry Baby with Jack Harlow produced by Kanye West, clearly on the same week that Kanye West is dropping his album, fancy enough. I'm like here is a perfect way to take a negative and make it into a positive. Take what people were talking about you before and put it part of your rollout because you're going to have people's eyes on it. Like, what's going to happen? What are you going to do? How are you making fun of this? How are you putting light to this? And announcing something huge while kind of addressing it but not really addressing it. Right? I found that really amazing and coincidence that Kanye is producing the joint as well. I don't know when what did you think before I get into the example of this little skit?

Mostafa Ghonim: 1:19:00

Yeah, no, I think it's similar to Kanye, in a sense, right? Again, being able to expand messages and use them at the time that they can bring the most attention for what you're trying to roll out, right. So at the time the sneakers came out, and it created that whole battle. Yeah, it was controversial, but like you said, they settled it pretty quickly. Done, okay. But he's hanging on to this concept because he's like, well, that attention does mean nothing. I didn't drop in March and then dropping a April. I'm dropping in July. I need that attention now. So I think he's kind of bringing back that conversation be like, oh, remember this. I'm that same guy. So bring that same energy over here and listen to my music. So even if you're going to, you know, listen to it because you want to critique it or you want to hate on it. I think that's that's some of the moves that the new age musicians or rappers are using because they're like Yo, people, it doesn't cost people nothing to stream my music but I make money off of it like this is not like back in the day where you could be like, Oh, I'm definitely not buying this guy's album, I'm not about to give them my $10 or $20 whatever it costs to buy an album back in the day. Now it's a simple stream, whether it's on YouTube, Vimeo, Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, but the artist is still going to get paid. So I think artists are really starting to recognize that Yo, don't let any moment go unnoticed or unused or not leverage, like you would say. Like bring all of that hype, and utilize it for a drop so you can get you know, more streams, obviously, more revenue and, and get your music out there more. So, you know, I'm not going to comment too much on the messaging and all of that concept, but I will say from from like a business rollout move, I'm thinking this is what's happening.

Nicky Saunders: 1:20:50

Yeah, like the business rollout move now. Warning. I'm playing a clip from this roll out. And it's probably not going to be what you think I'm going to say. Um, but I'm allowed to say this. So let's show you a clip. And have you listened to a clip of this whole in the court with Nike. And then I'll give my perspective,

Lil' Nas X: 1:21:20

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. This is about much more than shoes. Mr. Nas X, are you gay? What does this have to do with the shoes? Answer the question. Let me rephrase the question. Do your mama know you gay? Yes.Yeah, lock them up, throw away the key.

Nicky Saunders: 1:21:55

So, real quick, fast in a hurry. I'm not gonna stay too too long on this. Right. So first off, I'm allowed to talk about this. Because I'm part of the community. So let me state that. Two, creatively, I think that's amazing. He was acting all the different characters. He showed the shoe he showed he was in court. We're all locked in. All that. Here's my question. So and you know what? I'll directly ask right? Hey, Lil' Nas X if you are listening, or any representatives of Lil' Nas X , right. We know you're gay, sir. We know we get it. We understand you came out. It was a big deal back then. It was. It was a deal. You came out with the the little Satan video thing that brought controversy. He came out on several TV show situation, kissing everybody. We have no problem with you, sir. We got no issues with you at all. It now seems as almost you are making fun of it. Instead of more of embracing it. This is where I'm confused. Because why in every single video do you have to acknowledge that? We know this. We get it that doesn't make us want to listen to your music more. We already accepted you for those people who didn't accept you. They're already gone. They're gone. They're not listening to you anymore. We are still locked into it. I'm still locked into it. I'm good for it. But you could have done that whole skit without even making that a main focus. We want to hear Industry Baby the song that came out Friday. We want to hear it. It sounds great. The beat is fire. It's all that right. But I'm not understanding why in almost all of your rollouts, that has to be the main thing. I don't know if maybe because you're still accepting it. I don't know if you see that now as the new gimmick, right? Because even in some of the tweets, you were like, well, if I go to jail, who else is going to make these gay jokes? Why are we making fun of it? I'm not sure I don't get it. It doesn't need for you to sell your music or to sell further tickets merchandise your sneakers sold because of what you represent. You don't have to continue to holler at it, but I can't be mad if it works for you. I'm just I don't understand why that is part of every single thing. That is just me being a personal type thing because I don't I don't get it. I don't I don't get it. I'm here for it. But I don't get it. Like I love how so I once again the confidence the embracing. You can only respect that. I respect it fully. But now you're starting to make a mockery of it. And I'm like, I got it, what are your you're gonna lose some of the supporters because you keep bringing it up like it's a whole. Not everybody cares. We're in 2021. Not everybody cares about it as if we were in 1990s. Not everybody cares about it. We got it. We're cool. You. I don't care how flamboyant you want to be of it. No one cares as much as you think I don't. That's just me. Like I said, the people who don't who do care about it, they're going already. They're not a part of it. They're not watching it. They're not letting their kids watch it. And no one cares. We know you're not the old rodeo same, dude. Alright, I went on my little rant, I'm sorry. I needed to say I need to say it because I just didn't understand that part. I didn't understand why that always has to be the center. When clearly, it could be you're making it more of a gimmick than an acceptance. And that's when that gets a little bit dangerous. That's when I'm like, you may lose people because you're making it into a gimmick and a prop than an embracing of who not we I'm not gonna say we in this one. I am. Hello. I am not gonna say we. Moose is married to a female not putting him in this situation. It's me. It's only me. I don't know. I'm not gonna put Moose in a weird situation of responding back to this. So we're gonna end this.

Mostafa Ghonim: 1:26:55

Hey, hey, I'm here for support. I'm here for support.

Nicky Saunders: 1:26:59

We love the moral support. We love the moral support Moose first and foremost. Appreciate everybody who listened all the way to the end. Appreciate everybody who follows us follows us on all social media platforms. Who's going to go to 120 Series in Atlanta, who shares all our stuff, who leaves us a review, who joins our our lives on YouTube at 8pm Eastern every single Tuesday. Appreciate you. But Moose final words.

Mostafa Ghonim: 1:27:38

Yeah, man. I'm gonna go to final words. But if you don't mind, I'm just going to do something spontaneous real quick. Someone for the next part. If you've listened this far, I'm like, Yeah, we got to start rewarding people. I'm looking at my Roadcaster. I'm like a buck 28. If you've rocked with us this far, like for real that's really appreciate it. So I'll tell you what, if you DM us the word "still here", first person to DM is the words "still here" I'm gonna send you a free flight assessment. How about that? I'm gonna reward you alright? First matter of fact, t o people, two people. You et a flight assessment and you get a flight. Hey, fflighta sessment.com. And if you ha en't already taken it for real. f you're not within those irst two people, this is somet ing transformatio al. And we joke about it. We alk about it a lot. But it's for a reason. Right? I thin this its something that can rea ly be a game changer in y ur life if you allow it, an you spend some time with it So again, if you're rocki g with us, just say know that we appreciate you. If you rock wit us this far into the podcast, you listen to us, DM us the wo d "still here". Or DM us that ph ase "still here". First two people at the DM us that we'll end you a free flight asses ment. But I'm gonna go back o so just what you were sayin here for our final words, numbe one know the difference betwe n leaning into who you are a d then like you said, making fun of it. Because extend d mockery or making fun of som thing too much is actual y a form of a defense mechan sm. Right, so know the d fference between Oh, I'm t ying to I'm trying to walk i to my greatness, I understand I m different, I'm unique. But w en you start to make fun of s mething too much, that's a f rm of a defense mechanism. So t at's actually a moment for you t be like, Hey, I got some work t do. Alright so if you find your elf making fun of something ei her within or in your external w rld because it feel so uncomfortable that your nly natural response is to just ake fun. That's something for yo to work