About this episodeJoell Ortiz and King Crooked discuss their collaborative EP 'Hard' (Housing Authority Rap District), reflectin…AI summary
Joell Ortiz and King Crooked discuss their collaborative EP 'Hard' (Housing Authority Rap District), reflecting on how music served as therapy for processing trauma, racism, and absent fatherhood. They emphasize the importance of authenticity in hip-hop, the need to break generational cycles of absence, and the value of mental health practices like meditation and journaling.
Key takeaways 5
Music as Therapy: Both artists describe writing lyrics as a primary coping mechanism for trauma and mental health struggles, noting that therapy was taboo in their communities when they were younger.
Breaking the Cycle: King Crooked explicitly discusses breaking the cycle of absent fatherhood by taking responsibility early in life, contrasting his experience with the negative narratives often perpetuated in hip-hop.
Authenticity vs. Social Media: The conversation highlights a contrast between the curated, fake personas often seen on social media and the raw, honest storytelling found in their music, which resonates deeply with listeners facing real-world struggles.
Mental Health Evolution: There is a noted shift from stigmatizing mental health discussions in the past (referencing Death Row Records era) to embracing meditation and visualization as tools for coping and growth.
Community Impact: Listeners, such as a community health worker from DC, use the artists' music as a daily coping mechanism to deal with high-stress environments involving homelessness and addiction.
Notable quotes 5AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“Music was our therapy like we wrote about what we were dealing with we wrote about it and we didn't apologize for it”
▶ 22:16Joell Ortiz explaining why their raw, honest lyrics resonate with fans who lack access to traditional therapy.
“I broke the cycle... it wasn't even a second thought it was just y'all you know even at a teen age as a teenager on him saying and uh you know it was tough in the beginning because we were teenage parents”
▶ 15:54King Crooked discussing his decision to be present for his daughter despite being a young father himself.
“The pen is your therapy... some [ __ ] like nobody knows what it feels like in a real life you got a lie to feel like your real life don't feel like you're not alive”
▶ 9:54King Crooked reflecting on the line 'I'm not alive' from their song 'Lose My Mind' and how writing helps process feelings of dissociation.
“We didn't know the word PTSD we didn't know we were struggling from that... we had to get that out there we had to put it out there”
▶ 23:06Joell Ortiz describing the lack of mental health awareness in their youth and how music became an outlet for unprocessed trauma.
“I'm visualizing long meditate... visualize the things that you want in life and the better version of yourself you want to become”
King Crooked sharing his current coping mechanism of visualization meditation to maintain mental clarity and focus.
Chapters & Sections (28)▼
0:00Fat Joe and King Crooked Discuss Racism and Losschapter2
0:00Fat Joe and King Crooked Discuss Kovac and George Floyd
2:15Social Unrest and Coping with Anxiety
5:10Slaughterhouse Members Reflect on Past Recordschapter2
5:10Reflection on Slaughterhouse Records and Personal Storytelling
7:23Struggling with Parental Addiction and Neglect
9:37Struggling with Mental Health and Identitychapter3
9:37Mental Health Struggles of Young Artists
11:31Parenting in the Age of Social Media
12:53Regretting Negative Portrayal of Black Fathers
15:54Breaking the Cycle of Absent Fatherhoodchapter3
15:54Breaking the Cycle of Absent Fatherhood
17:44Overcoming Adversity as a Teenage Father
19:33Discussing New EP and Upcoming Music
21:01Appreciation for Authentic Music and Honestychapter2
21:01Appreciation for Music Therapy and Honesty
23:29Appreciation for Maturity in Music
25:20Community Connection through Music and Real Talkchapter2
25:20Community Engagement and Music Therapy
27:16Importance of Truth and Compassion in Society
30:06Returning to Handwriting for Mental Healthchapter3
30:06Benefits of Writing for Mental Health
32:13Coping Mechanisms and Mental Health
33:44Death Row Records' Positive Vibe and Change
35:42Meditation and Coping with Tragedy and Injusticechapter3
35:42Racial Injustice and Police Brutality Discussion
37:26Mental Health Coping Mechanisms Discussion
39:29Music Appreciation and Collaboration Discussion
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