Bars x Bars delivers financial literacy through hip hop culture so that you can live and leave a positive legacy of financial stewardship. Discover how to handle your money, cultural successes & pitfalls, and what hip hop has to say about finances. The host and co-hosts climbed their way out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of consumer debt, seriously increased their net worth, and are influencing thousands of families to do the same. Troy earned his doctoral degree in Urban Studies and financial literacy (Bars on his graduation robe) and Boog can spit (Bars of rap): hence Bars x Bars. Oh, and DJ Audit is a CPA. They’re all passionate about financial literacy and enjoy hip hop. Bars x Bars is a mix of cultural commentary, music, and interviews all geared towards helping you live a fulfilled life.
Troy Solomon Levy, Boog, DJ Audit
The bar: “I sell ice in the winter, I sell fire in hell, I am a hustler baby, I’ll sell water to a well”
The bar: “Oh well guess you win some and lose some, as long as the outcome is income”
Troy gets news that he’s included in a family member’s will. The bar: “Generational wealth, that's the key; My parents ain't have s***, so that shift started with me; My mom took her money, she bought me bonds; That was the sweetest thing of all time”
The bar: “Take a better stand. Put money in my mom’s hand. Get my daughter this college plan, so she don’t need no man.”
Troy gets news that he’s included in a family member’s will. The bar: “Generational wealth, that's the key; My parents ain't have s***, so that shift started with me; My mom took her money, she bought me bonds; That was the sweetest thing of all time”
The bar: “Took many to war, shook never before; For my mother I applaud Ms. Afeni Shakur; Ice insured, f*** life insurance”
You see them every time you shop online nowadays. One company is endorsed by Snoop. The hosts discuss the ins and outs of these buy-now-pay-later services so that you can make wise decisions. Plus, DJ Audit pulls the Black card.
The hosts discuss finding work in the sweet spot of skill, passion, benefitting the community, and monetization. The bar: “My grind's 'bout family, never been about fame; From days I wasn't ‘Abel/able,’ there was always ‘Cain/caine’”
The bar: "It's time to boss up; Fix ya credit, girl get at it; Get ya bag up; Hit that gym and get back fine; Go get that degree, go girl; Focus on me; Unlock potential that you didn't know you had in you"
The Bars x Bars wives jump on the mic to give their take on gold diggers, money, and relationships just in time for Valentine’s Day. The bar: “Now, I ain't sayin' she a gold digger; But she ain't messin' with no broke n*****”
For Black History Month we give shout-outs and discuss the state of Black-owned business. The bar: “I'm assistin' to push the culture forward; To all my ghost supporters, go support us; Like a local black-owned grocery store; ’Cause in the hood s*** ain't passed down through blood; It’s a dub on that, we get government aid; Spend it at they stores, puttin' they kids through college; We need balance, so we can lease and own deeds in our projects; So I'm askin' Gs to go in their pockets; The racial economic inequality, let's try to solve it”
If you've ever thought about investing in real estate, then this episode is a must-listen. The bar: "While these chump rappers rap about the s*** they cop; Man, I cop my block, and this s*** don't stop; I’m the official, unofficial mayor of my city”
Do cell phone carrier brand names matter? How much are you willing to pay for your plan? How do you feel about prepaid? Do you lease or own your phone? The bar: “Bunch of non-mogul a** n*****; Frontin’ like they got a plan, Boost Mobile a** n****”
How far would you go to save money? The bar: "I wear the same pair of jeans everyday, Free sandwiches, homie, two stamps away; Book flight December but I leave in May, Drugs are generic but still work the same; I get logins for Netflix from my cousin Greg, Thanks Greg!... Save dat money"
Happy New Year!! Do you have a goal of paying off student loans in 2021? The bar: "Let me tell you what I been through when it comes to Sallie, She call me at least twice a day she want her money badly; Calling me from different numbers ooh she think she slick, But I got them all memorized I hit ignore quick; Needed tuition needed room and board, Had to pay for books so I took out loans to feed the boy"
The bar: "Had opportunity went from Hoodshock to Hood-chic, But it ain't what you cop, it's about what you keep."
Merry Christmas from our Bars x Bars family to yours!The bar: "Back to reality we poor, ya bish, Another casualty at war, ya bish, Two bullets in my Uncle Tony head, He said one day I'd be on tour, ya bish, That Louis Burgers never be the same, A Louis belt will never ease that pain"
The co-hosts troubleshoot some of the problems that come with having more money.The bar: “I don't know what they want from me; It’s like the more money we come across, The more problems we see”Plus: DJ Audit gets on Troy's receding hairline
The bar: "My outfit costs 10 bands. Look at my opponent... I ain't got no $10,000 outfit, but I own half of Atlanta."
Does money give you a purpose or do you give money a purpose? The bar: “A man with a dream with plans to make C.R.E.A.M., Which failed I went to jail at the age of 15; A young buck sellin' drugs and such who never had much, Trying to get a clutch at what I could not touch”
The bar: "Your price is way too high, you need to cut it”
The bar: “I didn't grow grow up up po’ po’, but once you get grown and out on your own; Bills upon bills upon bills is what you have, Before you get your check than you already spend half; See I make money, money doesn't make me, I’m a reflection of my section and my section 8”
The bar: "I survived the hood, can't no Shaytan rob me, My accountant’s so good I’m practically livin’ tax free”
Intentionality is a major key to getting better financially. The bar: “With my mind on my money and my money on my mind”
The bar: "Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it, Can't take it when you die, but you can't live without it”
The bar: "Buckwild to all of my n***** who don’t care, Floss like a bunch of young black millionaires, Makin ya run, me and my Dunn, stackin my ones, Floss a lil', invest up in a mutual fund...”
On this 1st episode we comment on a song from one of hip hop's biggest stars. The bar: "Financial freedom my only hope, F*** living rich and dying broke..."