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Master P Gets Real About No Limit, Birdman, Lil Wayne and the Cash Money Rivalry | Funky Friday Hotney 5 Streams • 10 days ago

Jermaine Dupri on Music’s BIG Problem Hotney 8 Streams • 20 days ago

Jermaine Dupri breaks down music’s biggest problem: too many artists understand the business, but not enough know how to make undeniable hit records.

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In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Jermaine Dupri sits down with Mauricio Ruiz to talk about making hits, finding superstar talent, building So So Def, artist development, independent artists, major labels, A&R instincts, and why the song still matters more than streams, charts, data, or first-week numbers.

JD shares stories behind Kris Kross, Bow Wow, Xscape, Da Brat, Usher’s “Confessions,” Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together,” Muni Long’s “Made For Me,” and the pressure of staying great after decades in the music business.

For artists, managers, music executives, A&Rs, and anyone trying to build a real career in music, this is a masterclass in what separates hype from legacy.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Chapters:
00:00 Hits Over Hype
00:25 Jermaine Dupri Intro
02:17 Spotting Superstars
04:18 Finding Bow Wow
05:36 Discovering Kris Kross
08:38 Writing “Jump”
12:34 Streaming vs Hits
28:34 Independent Artist Delusion
30:44 Bad Bunny’s Superpower
36:43 Timeless Copyright Songs
40:43 Chasing Magic
42:07 The Babyface Challenge
46:00 Writing “Confessions”
51:07 Gatekeepers & DJs
57:03 Xscape’s Breakthrough
01:00:34 Finding Da Brat’s Sound
01:03:51 Mentorship Over Contracts
01:09:07 So So Def Strategy
01:14:07 Producer vs CEO
01:16:24 Passing on Usher
01:17:07 Money Changes Everything
01:18:44 Learning From Teddy Riley
01:21:38 Why So So Def Happened
01:23:03 Finding Scooter Braun
01:27:36 What Makes a Great Exec
01:30:09 No TikTok Metrics
01:31:49 Spotting Real Performers
01:34:16 Mariah Carey Sessions
01:41:47 Writing “We Belong Together”
01:47:16 Fear Fuels Competition
01:51:15 Legacy & Longevity
01:53:49 Closing Thoughts

The opinions shared by our guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or The Manager’s Playbook.

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Host: Mauricio Ruiz
Executive Producer: Mauricio Ruiz
Director of Photography: Austin Bourdages
On Location Sound: Francisco Sabio
Editors: Kuion Martin
Co-Editor: Mauricio Ruiz
Colourists: Austin Bourdages
Sound Engineer: Madeline Currie
Project Manager: Erica Kongvongxay
Marketing Coordinator: Melanie Letra-Frade
Production Company: 8 Til Faint

#jermainedupri #themanagersplaybook #musicbusiness #artistdevelopment #hitmaker

Rod Wave on Kanye West, Jay-Z Comparisons, Grammys, Money, Ownership & New Album: Don't Loo Hotney 10 Streams • 25 days ago

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Rod Wave joins Club Shay Shay, reflecting on turning 28, the lessons he would give his younger self, and why patience, growth, and enjoying the journey matter more than chasing instant success. Rod Wave opens up about his mindset, his evolving dreams, and how his goals have grown alongside his career.

The conversation explores Rod Wave's chart-topping success, loyal fan base, Grammy nominations, and why awards have never been his biggest motivation. He discusses his relationship with fans, the importance of networking, becoming more approachable, working with artists like NBA YoungBoy, his admiration for Prince, and the business lessons he has learned while transitioning from artist to entrepreneur.

Rod Wave explains why ownership has become his biggest priority, breaking down record deals, label partnerships, publishing, and why understanding the business is just as important as making music. He shares why he created Mainstay Touring, how he built one of rap's strongest touring businesses, and the blueprint behind promoting Kanye West's massive stadium concerts. He also reveals how pitching Kanye West and his team became a defining business moment and why he believes artists should own more of their careers.

The interview also dives into friendships with Druski, mentorship, and the people who helped shape Rod Wave's career. He reflects on learning from older artists, discusses Kodak Black's influence on him, responds to the past misunderstanding with Boosie Badazz, and explains why mentorship can completely change a young artist's future.

Rod Wave gets personal about surviving a serious car accident, becoming a father, discovering a greater purpose, and how near-death experiences changed his outlook on life. He also talks about money, investing, trusting people, buying cars, learning financial discipline, and why building businesses creates more long-term wealth than owning luxury items.

Later, Rod Wave shares stories about borrowing Wi-Fi to upload music, performing at strip clubs as a teenager with his father serving as his chaperone, DMing artists before fame, wanting to collaborate with Metro Boomin, and his thoughts on the future of hip-hop and R&B. He explains why younger generations deserve support instead of criticism and why innovation is essential for every industry.

Rod Wave discusses what he has learned about the music business, why artists must educate themselves instead of relying on others, responds to DJ Akademiks calling him "the Jay-Z of this generation," explains how studying Jay-Z, Kanye West, Drake, Kodak Black, and NBA YoungBoy shaped his business mindset, and previews his new album Don't Look Down along with his upcoming North American tour.

#ClubShayShay #rodwave #kanyewest

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Listen to the Club Shay Shay podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/....podcast/club-shay-sh
Listen to the Club Shay Shay podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/060hDdnydsJyMi17TmvyAh?si=iuda1z7oTE-21ZYzwiUdhg&nd=1

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Follow Club Shay Shay on Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clubshayshaypod?_t=8fJ79WZy2fb&_r=1

About Club Shay Shay:
Club Shay Shay is a weekly podcast hosted by Shannon Sharpe – 3x Super Bowl champion, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and co-host of First Take on ESPN. Each week Shannon will sit down with athletes, celebrities and influencers to break down, analyze and discuss the latest headlines in sports, pop culture and everything in-between. Get on the VIP list at Club Shay Shay NOW and never miss an episode!

Rod Wave | EP. 229
https://youtu.be/RQ-55pXzfKw

Club Shay Shay
https://www.youtube.com/c/ClubShayShay

CeeLo Green on Kanye West, Future, André 3000, The Voice, OutKast, Tupac & Atlanta Hotney 8 Streams • 25 days ago

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CeeLo Green joins Club Shay Shay for an unforgettable conversation about his legendary career, growing up in Atlanta, and the life experiences that shaped one of music’s most distinctive voices. The five-time Grammy Award winner reflects on Goodie Mob, Gnarls Barkley, The Voice, NASA selecting his music for the Artemis II mission, working with Kanye West, and why he’s still as motivated as ever.

CeeLo Green opens up about his childhood in Atlanta, the city's transformation, and the lasting impact of the Atlanta Child Murders. He shares emotional stories about his parents, including his father's early passing and his remarkable mother, one of Atlanta's first Black female firefighters, a minister, and an entrepreneur. CeeLo recalls the devastating car accident that left her paralyzed, how her death changed his life forever, and the difficult path that followed.
CeeLo discusses his troubled youth, military school, dropping out of school, getting into crime, and the faith that helped him change direction. He explains how music became his purpose, discovering his singing voice, and why he committed himself to creating music with a message.

CeeLo Green also shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories from the rise of Organized Noise, the Dungeon Family, Goodie Mob, and OutKast. He reveals how he met André 3000, Big Boi, Khujo, T-Mo, and Big Gipp, why "Get Up, Get Out" became a defining record, what it was like living in the Dungeon, and the unforgettable night OutKast's "Player's Ball" hit the radio. He reflects on the iconic Source Awards, the moment André 3000 declared "The South got something to say," Tupac's desire to join the Dungeon Family, Future's early days, and how Atlanta became a global music powerhouse.

Shannon Sharpe and CeeLo Green also discuss L.A. Reid's belief in his talent, writing and producing his own music, the state of R&B, influences like Al Green, Bobby Womack, Sam Cooke, Earth, Wind & Fire, The O'Jays, and Atlantic Starr, and why today's artists should study the legends. The episode wraps with hilarious stories about Chris Brown, Usher, concerts, relationships, and plenty of laughs between two Atlanta icons

#ClubShayShay #ceelogreen #kanyewest

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Listen to the Club Shay Shay podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/....podcast/club-shay-sh
Listen to the Club Shay Shay podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/060hDdnydsJyMi17TmvyAh?si=iuda1z7oTE-21ZYzwiUdhg&nd=1

Like Club Shay Shay on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ClubShayShay/
Follow Club Shay Shay on Twitter: https://x.com/clubshayshay?s=21&t=PF1soCgsTT_NEerDJm9Lfg
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Follow Club Shay Shay on Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clubshayshaypod?_t=8fJ79WZy2fb&_r=1

About Club Shay Shay:
Club Shay Shay is a weekly podcast hosted by Shannon Sharpe – 3x Super Bowl champion, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and co-host of First Take on ESPN. Each week Shannon will sit down with athletes, celebrities and influencers to break down, analyze and discuss the latest headlines in sports, pop culture and everything in-between. Get on the VIP list at Club Shay Shay NOW and never miss an episode!

CeeLo Green | EP. 228
https://youtu.be/fxDbSkw4dcI

Club Shay Shay
https://www.youtube.com/c/ClubShayShay

JR Writer & Hell Rell on Dipset Turmoil, Cam’ron, Jim Jones & Why They Stayed Neutral | Ep. Hotney 9 Streams • 25 days ago

JR Writer and Hell Rell sit down for an honest conversation about the current division within Dipset, their relationships with Cam’ron, Jim Jones and Juelz Santana, and why they refused to choose sides in other grown men’s disagreements.

The two Diplomats also discuss rebuilding their careers without chasing the spotlight, gaining ownership of their music, unreleased diss records, competing against each other in the studio and reuniting for their new collaborative album, Double Trouble.

From Lil Wayne and Michael Vick stories to surviving bad deals and earning respect without becoming the biggest names in the group, JR Writer and Hell Rell prove that staying out of the drama never meant stepping away from the legacy.

Double Trouble arrives August 28.

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#jrwriter #hellrell #dipset #thedanzaproject #doubletrouble 0:00 - Intro

1:34 - The Dipset NY Personality | The Delay with Double Trouble & getting the Business right

5:47 - J.R Writers Business Growth | Learning through Trial & Error

11:14 - Duke Da God’s primary role | What this album represents | Features

13:14 - 38 Spesh vs Jadakiss

16:14 - What success looks like for Double Trouble | A Sample of what’s coming

18:11 - A.I Music | Tyga’s A.I Album | The Porn Studio next door

21:15 - The Dipset Reunion & Album release party Aug 27th hosted by Danza

24:41 - Picking the beats for Double Trouble wasn’t easy | Producers

25:33 - Get with the movement | Dipset loyalty & decoding the music | I Really Rap 3

28:24 - What the fans can expect from The Dipset reunion | Dropping the album vs Release party

31:28 - The Relationship’s with Juelz & Cam’ron | The confusions with the Deals | Legacy artists

37:12 - Shooting Videos and promo for Double Trouble | The Baby Grande Lawsuits | Licensing deals & A.I

41:44 - J.R’s first purchase after a deal was his computer | Marketing your Brand | Gems on social media

43:17 - The Exposure vs “The Right Deal” | Pooh Shiesty & Gucci Mane | Record labels & Tory Lanez

51:43 - Drake vs UMG

55:14 - J.R Writers feeling when he found out about the money from his old deal going other places

56:20 - How life is going for Hell Rell & J.R Writer | Ownership & information | Prison

59:24 - What Zeus represented that J.R Didn’t | What they are working on now | Streaming | Movies

1:02:25 - Streaming at Miami Pro League | J.R’s new App

1:07:23 - Hell Rell’s Recorded conversations | Streaming and it’s lack of privacy

1:14:23 - J.R Declines Danza’s battle | Kick & viral clips

1:18:04 - Unkasa | Hell Rell vs Unkasa?

1:20:20 - J.R Writer & Hell Rell’s top 5 writers currently | The competitiveness is back

1:26:33 - Andre Drummond, Bones & Running into famous fans when they we’re already fans of them | Lebron, Mike Vic & R-Kelly

1:31:53 - Bird Call & Lil Wayne | The Recognition | Celebrity stories

1:36:32 - 50 Cent putting Hell Rell into a headlock | Rick Ross | Debt

1:39:21 - Fred’s $5000 Drake Feature | Chief Keef | Dream Features

1:45:08 - ASAP Rocky on 6ix9ine interviews | Drake’s name

1:48:25 - First reactions to Max B track mentioning J.R & Hell Rell

1:51:55 - French Montana | Hell Rells height

1:54:38 - J.R moving to the Dominican Republic & being isolated

1:59:11 - Do J.R Writer & Hell Rell feel like they have anything else to prove? | Funk Flex

2:00:05 - The Classic Setlist for The Dipset reunion | Unkasa’s performances

2:02:06 - The perfect 10 song set list for Dipset | Who’s more trouble | Who takes longer to finish a verse

2:05:09 - The Scrapped J.R Files | Unreleased Diss tracks | Scrapping records

2:11:41 - Double Trouble 2 end of 2026 | Danza interviewing every single Dipset member

Afroman Beats $4M Lawsuit, Talks America, "Because I Got High," Soulja Boy & Real Esta Hotney 3 Streams • 2 months ago

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Grammy-nominated rapper Afroman joins Club Shay Shay. Afroman reflects on his journey from growing up between Los Angeles and Mississippi to finding success through music, investing in real estate, and building a life in Ohio. He explains why buying land became one of his smartest financial decisions, shares his plans to create an Afro-American community, and discusses his views on identity, free speech, and why he stopped using the N-word in his music.

Afroman also opens up about his childhood in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the artists who inspired him—including KRS-One, Eric B. & Rakim, Whodini, Slick Rick, and Don King—and the story behind writing his first rap lyrics. He reveals how the legendary hit "Because I Got High" came together by accident, how Napster helped make the song a worldwide phenomenon, and what it felt like receiving a Grammy nomination alongside Missy Elliott, DMX, Jay-Z, and Nelly. He also responds to Soulja Boy's claim of being the first viral rapper and explains why he believes his music paved the way for internet success years earlier.

The conversation then turns to the police raid on Afroman's Ohio home, where officers executed a search warrant based on false information. He details what happened during the raid, why he believes the investigation was unjustified, and how the experience inspired viral songs like "Lemon Pound Cake." Afroman breaks down the defamation lawsuit filed against him by law enforcement, explains why he believes the case backfired on the officers, and shares his perspective on freedom of expression, the First Amendment, and turning controversy into renewed success.

Throughout the interview, Shannon Sharpe and Afroman discuss police accountability, social media, streaming revenue, the music business, homeownership, entrepreneurship, and the lessons Afroman has learned over decades in hip-hop.

#ClubShayShay #afroman #becauseigothigh

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SUBSCRIBE to get the latest Club Shay Shay content: https://www.youtube.com/c/Club....ShayShay?sub_confirm
Listen to the Club Shay Shay podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/....podcast/club-shay-sh
Listen to the Club Shay Shay podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/060hDdnydsJyMi17TmvyAh?si=iuda1z7oTE-21ZYzwiUdhg&nd=1

Like Club Shay Shay on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ClubShayShay/
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Follow Club Shay Shay on Instagram: https://instagram.com/clubshay....shay?igshid=MzRlODBi
Follow Shannon Sharpe on Twitter: https://x.com/shannonsharpe?s=21&t=PF1soCgsTT_NEerDJm9Lfg
Follow Club Shay Shay on Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clubshayshaypod?_t=8fJ79WZy2fb&_r=1

About Club Shay Shay:
Club Shay Shay is a weekly podcast hosted by Shannon Sharpe – 3x Super Bowl champion, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and co-host of First Take on ESPN. Each week Shannon will sit down with athletes, celebrities and influencers to break down, analyze and discuss the latest headlines in sports, pop culture and everything in-between. Get on the VIP list at Club Shay Shay NOW and never miss an episode!

Afroman | EP. 226
https://youtu.be/xLrTkjFPpG4

Club Shay Shay
https://www.youtube.com/c/ClubShayShay

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