Pistol Pete aka "King of Rikers Island" interviews real life prisoners and celebs that have done hard time and shares his personal experiences along with his guests amazing stories of how they survived and persevered. This should inspire Americas youth to avoid the same trappings and mistakes and understand that nothing is worth doing the time. Take the hard road not the easy one. Prison is full of hardship and pain. Know that.
10 Toes Down spent 21 years behind bars, he started at a young age selling drugs in the Sugar Hill section of Harlem. He's been home for 10 years and sits down with Pete to tell his story.
Talk It Trigga from Harlem did 12 years in Upstate New York. He's been home for 3 years and Pete sits down with Talk It Trigga to hear his story.
Pistol Pete sits down to talk with official TS member Mayor.
Pistol Pete sits down to talk with Kenny about his criminal past.
Pistol Pete sits down to chat with James Anthony Melendez, known professionally as Balistic Man, an American hip hop artist from Buffalo, New York.
Pistole Pete sits down with Roland Collins, better known by the stage name Troy Ave, is an American rapper from the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. His moniker derives from Troy Avenue, a street near his childhood home. In November 2013, his first studio album, New York City: The Album, was released. It debuted at number 47 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. He was named in XXL magazine's 2014 Freshmen Class.
Pistole Pete sits down with Roland Collins, better known by the stage name Troy Ave, is an American rapper from the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. His moniker derives from Troy Avenue, a street near his childhood home. In November 2013, his first studio album, New York City: The Album, was released. It debuted at number 47 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. He was named in XXL magazine's 2014 Freshmen Class.
In this super legendary interview Pete sits down with Farris!
At the age of 21 Steven, began to pursue his career as a CO in Rikers Island. During his period of working temptation kicked in , and that's where this journey begins.
Tru Life Part 2! The wait is over, Jay Z protege' rapper Tru Life finally gets to address all rumors, and most importantly share his incarceration experience in prison, when he was at the peak of his career.
The wait is over, Jay Z protege' rapper Tru Life finally gets to address all rumors, and most importantly share his incarceration experience in prison, when he was at the peak of his career.
Alex was not just a correctional officer, he was a bodyguard for many artists and also was involved in movies. Plus he got to experience being an officer in the upstate big jails while having family also incarcerated.
Ulysses “Monster” Diaz, better known as Uly, born March 14, 1981, is a Cuban American boxer from Miami, Florida.
Today we've got Shaheim from Queens, been home for 10 years. He served 23 years and is a strong advocate for mental health.
Pistol Pete Torres sits down for a incredible interview with Dawn Floria
Omar went to prison with his brother as his codefendant . They went in for drugs and after almost 30 years he was freed but his brother had to stay. He was raised by a single mother, he was into martial arts he became known as the prison block lawyer as he self taught himself. To this day Omar still gets contacted by inmates looking for legal advice. This brother is still giving back.
These two legends finish their walk around the yard and break down some real insights form NORE that he has never shared before. NORE talks about his love for Big Pun and his relationship and admiration for Terror Squad and covers how Drink Champs came about and how it originally failed on Sirius XM and Jay Z calls him up about the podcast.
N.O.R.E. formerly known as Noreaga, has had a major impact on HipHop music and the Latino influence on Rap. He sits down with Pistol Pete and share never heard stories about getting busted doing time, honing his battle rapping skills in the prison yard and how his Puerto Rican roots helped shape his music and his values. NORE covers everything from his days with Capone to Big Pun, Cuban Link and Fat Joe to is current hit show and podcast Drink Champs.
Check out the second and final piece of this epic interview with Steve Lobel as he shares with Pete how he deals in the street world from Crips and Bloods from Compton to Brooklyn and every one in between and the connects into corporate world to make sure every opportunity is explored for his artists and friends while staying true to who he is. And now Steve works just as hard at helping under privileged kids get off the streets and providing adults with drug addiction a way out through the use of music as therapy. Enjoy
If you follow the Hiphop music business you already know Steve Lobel. His name is legendary in the Rap game. He has been a cornerstone since the 80's when he hung out with the Run DMC crew Jam Master J and others. His story is unique. He had his share of challenges with the law like many that he had to overcome. His addiction weren't with drugs or alcohol, but robbing. Once he starts making it in the Rap music game, he thinks his days getting mixed up with the law are over, but his success drew attention from those in law enforcement that had a racial agendas . Eventually, Steve overcame it all and his association with Run DMC lead to Fat Joe, Big Pun, Raul, Flex, Armageddon and Bone Thugs and Harmony sets his career in motion, but being around the streets, brushes with the law continued... This is Part One of an epic interview...
Outlawz Rap member E.D.I. MEAN talks about growing up in New York and then moving to California and getting involved early in the hip hop game through his childhood buddy , Tupac. EDI shares how he had brushes with the law and how people around him were there to get him back on the music path. He breaks down his trips to Clinton penitentiary to visit Tupac and how that experience and the stayed with them and motivated them to do what they needed to not end up there.He talks about how after Tupacs death the group moved ahead and was working with Death Row Records and Suge Knight. After a series of hit albums with the Outlawz, EDI has continued to make his own music and release his own tracks and collaborations through his production company.
From the time he was 9, South Central's Blood gang member Kaybe was getting in trouble with the law. He remembers stealing the neighborhood ice ladies pursue and getting caught and and twelve he was arrested for carrying a gun. Things got serious after that and by 16 he was charged for armed robbery, ski mask and all. His first stint in jail he saw young men his age hanging themselves because they couldn't handle the life behind bars. After he got out and saw the destruction that occurred in his own neighborhood with the killing of Nipsey Hussle, Kaybe make the hardest decision he ever faced. He pulled back from banging and started going down the right side of the street. He now manages some aspiring young rappers from South Central and tries to steer them from banging on the streets as he always says, “ Banging gets you either in jail or dead”. This is a story of a man who has been there and done it all and now is walking the talk.
LIL EAZY E grew up in Compton with a celebrity Dad, EAZY-E, the legendary founder of NWA and Ruthless Records. Then two weeks before his 11th birthday his Dad died suddenly and his world got turned upside down. He jumped off the porch and started gang banging and running in the streets. He has had to face the demons and the legacy of his Dad.For a long time he was full of anger and emotion. The pressure of being a black man being taught to fight with his own kind to keep the suppression going in the hood. His jail experiences taught him how the societal situation is designed to keep the injustice going. Lil Eazy touches on Suge Knight, Snoop, Dre and many of the HipHop elite his Dad was connected with. Five years out of prison, Lil E now takes those learnings and the wisdom of maturing. From acting in Straight outta Compton and being in Growing Up Hiphop to running Rich and Ruthless with Big Arnold and he back to making music. He lets all know learn from my path don't follow my path. Give it up for Lil E........
Crenshaw's Own Smokeone aka "SMOKE", an up and coming artist of Big U's, shares his journey from working the streets to going away for 4 years and having to wake up everyday in jail ready to go to war/ Smoke tells about his first day in the prison yard and seeing the dude next to him stabbed and thinking "man its like this?" Smoke explains how once he got out he made a vow to leave the hustle of the street and be the best rapper he could be. Today he and close friend D5 make up the rap duo OSBS and taking a different path. They were friends of Nipsey Hussle and still see him as their mentor and roll model to this day.
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony is a legendary rap group. Lean back and listen to Flesh-n-Bone lay out how he started writing rap songs at 12 and was beatboxing with, Krayzie Bone, and Layzie Bone in their junior high school math class. Flesh-nBone shares how he and his family were living on government checks but he never stopped dreaming big. He always thought his basketball skills would bring him fame and fortune and make him the next Michale Jordan. He was a college recruit and hoopster, but he didn't realize that what would make him famous was his rapping with his best friends. He and his boys get hooked up with Easy E and they became the biggest rap band in the world. But with his new found fame came problems. Drugs became a way of the life and before he knew it, he was making platinum albums while strung out on PCP. It caught up with him and Flesh-n-Bone couldn't even function. He was arrested and was a drug addict and he had to break off from the group. He was sentenced to 13 years for drugs and gun possession and did nine years of hard time. It rocked his world. He had to watch is boys continue their fame making multiple gold records from behind bars. He went from rapping to rioting and just trying to survive. Fighting and beefing became a way of life. But Flesh-n-Bone never lost faith. That was all it took. he made a promise to himself to kick the addiction and get his act together. This is one story you don't want to miss.
Perhaps no one person in the history of music has had their hand in more hits with more artists than Scott Storch. He is a true legend. Storch had worked with the whose who of music early in his career including The Roots, Beyonce, Drake, Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott, Dr. Dre, Justin Timberlake, Lil Kim, Mariah Carey, Fat Joe, LL Cool J, Remy Ma, Ice Cube, TI, Ludacris, Ricky Martin, 50 Cent, Chris Brown, Game, Toni Braxton, Nas, and scores of others. But as fast as the success came, so came the trouble. He was the real life example of "Mo money , mo problems". Scott was a quiet kid and even with early success stayed away form the limelight until he got hooked up with jet set super models. Before he knew he was partying 24X7 and sniffing right off the brick of cocaine every day with the group he was hangin with. Suddenly he stopped producing and when the money stopped the drug use accelerated and soon the phone stopped ringing and the biggest names in music didn't want to be near him. His friends abandoned him. His manger gave up on him. He went from hanging with super models to hangin with hoochies. After losing everything and becoming virtually homeless , Scott just decided to go cold turkey one day and start the greatest come back music has ever seen. Good fortune started coming his way and his first break came through a chance meeting with music boss and AR legend, Steve Lobel. Scott straight up asked Steve would he manage him and help him get back on his feet. Steve known for his the "drill sergeant" style of managing , thought about and said yes, but Scott would need to start working with lesser known young new artists and once he made them hit artists the big names would be back. The strategy worked like a charm and today Scott is back on top making monster hits with Artists like Bone Thugs and Harmony, Chloe & Halle, Megan the Stallion, Trippie Redd, Ariana Grande, Chris Brown, Russ, Tyga, The Game, French Montana, More importantly, Scott has been sober for over eight years and is now giving back and helping those that are going through addiction issues through his newly created Heavenly Center in LA with his partner Steve Lobel. Scott is living proof that comebacks are always possible and to quote the legend "IT'S GREATER LATER".
Every bid is different. In John's case, he saw plenty of the dark side in prison and was forced to learn the "do's and don'ts quickly and how to be a dog and no dog food. From prison riots to cellmates killing each other and even killing themselves. Surviving and getting out on the other side and a path to freedom was not easy. Take the journey with him and Pistol Pete from a young teenager to a mature adult man. John now is in the music game and partnered with LA street legend Baldacci.Give it up for John
Baldacci was working the streets of South Central at 13 and as. teenage he had one day where he stole stole three different cars and was caught by the police each time! Later he was shot five times with a AK47 semi automatic in a gang fight only to survive after two months in a coma. Afteer years in prison, he eventually turned his life around.
Susie grew up in Long Beach and had a strong family, but the street game was exciting and glamorous and soon she was dealing. She caught a drug charge and her world changed. Prison made her grow up and get tough real fast. She developed a reputation as "Big Sue" the toughest female on the block After getting out, she had four children and but couldn't leave the game and was back in jail again. After her parents told her they didn't want her in their life, it was her first wake up call. The next time she got out she had a 19 year daughter who was pregnant.That was the final wake up call for her and to realize that her family was way too important to sacrifice anymore and she made the commitment to rehabilitate herself. Now she is a happy successful women and grandmother helping others when ever she can.
Being Lebanese and Arminian, Player had to be tough. He was on the streets his whole life. Starting at 14 years old, he was finding trouble. He started running the illegal weed distribution from No Cal to So Cal. It caught up with him and he started doing hard time from county jail to prison in the hole. Being a South Sider he knew the rules and how to represent in jail. He talks about how he and his homies mopped up a child offender that crossed the line. His stories are legend of violence and gang politics and riots in the yard. he shares how racism is reenforced in jail. He went on the run to Lebanon and when he returned he was cuffed at the airport. He was ready to do it the right way. His brothers gave him the chance to get into legal marijuana and partner with legends like Berner and Steve Lobel. Player now has his on line of strains.
Krayzie Bone, member of legendary rap group , Bone Thugs and Harmony, share his story of coming up in Cleveland running his street hustle and trying to make music. He opens up and tells never heard before stories of getting locked up for robbing and how prison life effected him and his music. He tells about seeing guys get thrown off balconies and stabbings right in front of him and how those experiences got him motivated to double down on taking a straighter path and focusing on just making great music. After getting out Bone Thugs were relentless and pushing to get thier music careers off the ground and day landed rap legend Eazy E as their producer and A&R legend Steve Lobel. Bone Thugs went on to be one of the most famous rap groups of all time. The worked with Tupac, Biggie Smalls, and Big Pun makes them the only group to pull off that trifecta in history! Enjoy this episode of Yard Talk.
OG Lepke grew up in the Crenshaw area of Los Angeles. He bounced between his mom and dad's homes as a kid and got into the street game early. He was attracted to the flash and sizzle of the street life. His Mom was a hippy who always had drugs around the house. Whether it was acid, weed, or mushrooms drugs were no different than having a candy dish out on the table. Lepke was so immune to it he once brought a bag of marijuana into his elementary school class for sho wand tell. He ended up like many gang bangers getting in trouble and doing time as a youth in YTS and eventually going to Mens central Jail in LA. Considered the Rikers Island of the west and to spending time up state at the legendary Folsom prison. He shares how the prison system is nothing more than a multi million dollar enterprise set up to keep people incarcerated versus truly helping felons become rehabilitated and a productive members of society. he has decided his life to this cause of helping those that are trying to overcome personal challenges whether its keeping someone from going to prison or helping those getting out of prison or trying to overcome an addiction issue. Lepke believes that we all need to have more positivity and love. Focusing on solutions not problems and having this be driven from within the neighborhoods and communities. Lepke is living proof that its never too late to turn your life around, take accountability and drive positive change.
He grew up in Long Beach and despite being bused to Texas every summer by his mom to get him away from the gangbanger life, Blue was having run ins with the law by age 12. He ended up doing time at each level of California's local and state judicial system. Going from Youth Detention Centers to Juvenile Camps to YTS (aka Gladiator school) and finally Solano State Prison, was like going from elementary, to middle, then high school and eventually ending up in the University. He never forgot his LBC and Crip roots. While locked up Blue dealt with the worst situations whether it was holding down the yard or having to deal with his close friend breaking the Crip code and stabbing him. Blues time in the hole actually helped turn his life around as he had to deal with all gang types and ethnic backgrounds. After getting out he had to deal with his daughter get into gang banging and his niece be murdered. This set him up for when he got out and started giving back and helping those from LBC learning to stay away from gang banging and out of jail. He eventually was hired by prestigious Long Beach Poly high school to help coach football. This built many deep and long term bonds with young men and their families many of which went on to play Division I football and even the NFL. Blue's new reputation landed him a new role where he's helping many organizations like USC, USD to the LAPD on how to help understand how help the youth from the inner cities and help the people in those neighborhoods to use the resources available to help themselves.Blue believes current prison reform initiatives continue to fail because they don't address the problem. These programs are more important than ever and he is dedicated to helping make the changes needed to provide a second chance..
Big U is truly. a man that walks the talk. After growing up in the worst parts of Los Angeles like Compton's Crenshaw area. Big U ran the streets and hooked up with the Crips and was associated with the Rollin 60's and eventually becoming one of the most notorious people in LA gang life. After being convicted of multiple charges and going in and out of jail, he started playing the music game and built a real business and used his success and reputation to go back to the streets and set the youth straight about why doing crime is not with the time. He also began using his stature and influence to get the local authorities to realize that helping make the neighborhoods a safer place and by reducing all the injustice that gets put on minorities you get a people to believe there is a way out without being shot or arrested. He now runs the biggest non profit organization dedicated to black youth. Big U is a true legend of west coast urban culture. He was part of the early days of gang life and all the violence it came with. He eventually became the first person to bring the two most famous gangs the Bloods and Crips together and start working to create a safer and better life in the roughest neighborhoods. Big U raised his game in Hiphop and messed with everyone from Suge Knight and Death Row records and eventually Nipsey Hussle. Big U had a big influence on Nipsey's desire to give back to his hood (Crenshaw) and why it's important to help those young ones. U also helped Ving Rhames and extend his acting career. Through his efforts he has helped thousands kids to get off the streets and finish high school to hundreds of college grads and even through youth football getting 8 boys to the NFL
No one tells a story like Fat Joe, so don't miss out on the conclusion of Joe's crazy story of prison life and holding it down inside and out while doing his bid. He shows his love for the friends and family that helped him get through it as well as his respect and appreciation for those that did bids and came out on the other side as well as those still behind bars. Its a life no one wishes for and is not the place to spend your time on this earth.
Iconic rapper and Hip Hop legend Fat Joe, aka-Don Cartagena, shares his never told before experience behind bars. Joe talks about everything from getting advice from his close friends Pistol Pete and Lil Wayne along with other Terror Squad crew members on how to conduct himself while behind bars to the people that tried to shake him down and how he made sure that everyone in that jail knew he was not playing around. Joe is on fire during this -two part interview as he describes how he held down his cell block and ran things like a Don.
Chris Gotti was part of the Hip Hop revolution. He and his brother built Murder, Inc. into a power house music label. They helped propel the music genre throughout the 90's and 2000's. They worked with some of the biggest names in the biz from JaRule to Black Child to Ashanti. Then in 2003, he his brother along with many famous rappers get targeted by the NYPD's "Hip Hop" police. As a result of their connection with Kenneth "Supreme" Team McGriff the FBI and NYPD raided their office and indicted them on multiple charges related to money laundering. Chris breaks down what happened and how they spent years investigating on their own and spending more than $2M to get the best lawyers and private investigators. He shares stories about relationships and controversy past and present with Fat Joe The Game, and many others. Chris has always helped guys coming back from prison and given them the the opportunity to prove themselves back in society. Today he is focused on how the world of HipHop and more broadly the Black and Brown communities need to work together to fight the systemic racism that is built into every fiber of the US judicial system. As Chris says," We need to stop fighting with each other and focus the effort on the real problem. Unless you got the best most powerful lawyers money can buy, you have a 99% chance of getting screwed when being arrested or going to trial".
Gee spent more than half his life behind bars, but used all those lonely days ot learn how the law worked and how to better himself. He now spends every waking moment helping others. Whether it's helping convicted men fight their legal cases or getting someone reestablished into society or chauffeuring people that have health issues and can't take care of themselves. Gee give way more than he gets. And he likes it that way.
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