Russ Interview: Why Authenticity Outlasts the Algorithm

What happens when Snoop Dogg sends you a SoundCloud message and you don't see it for six months? For DâM-FunK, it eventually led to 7 Days of Funk.

SOB x RBE are back. Slimmy B, Yhung T.O. and DaBoii sit down with Jeff Weiss and Free on The Truth Hurts to discuss blowing up as teenagers, the pressure of sudden success, what eventually pulled them apart, and how they linked back together and recorded nearly 80 new songs. The group also gets into the stories behind "Anti" and "Different," how a DM from Dave Free led to "Paramedic!" landing on the Black Panther soundtrack executive produced by Kendrick Lamar, their Oakland reunion performance, E-40's appearance in the "10 Summers" video, independence in the music industry, and the influence of Vallejo and the Bay Area. Follow SOB x RBE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sobxrbe/

Stones Throw Records founder Peanut Butter Wolf joins Jeff and Vic on The Truth Hurts for a deep dive into 30 years of one of hip-hop’s most influential independent labels.

Haiti Babii joins Jeff Weiss on The Truth Hurts to discuss his viral freestyle, Rihanna’s FaceTime, and XXXTentacion encouraging him to embrace his own sound. He opens up about label pressure, why he considered retiring from music, and building a career on his own terms.Plus: growing up in Stockton, his Haitian and Guyanese roots, fatherhood, mental health, Jamie Foxx’s influence, and his West Coast rap Mount Rushmore.CHAPTERS00:00 Preview00:22 Defining trap art04:33 Family roots, Stockton & the Haiti Babii name07:53 Starting out & finding his sound11:57 Mental health & fatherhood16:47 Signing with EMPIRE & meeting XXXTentacion18:03 The viral freestyle & Rihanna’s support21:23 Jamie Foxx’s influence & handling the reaction24:51 Leaving Stockton29:38 Label meetings, Jeezy & creative pressure34:52 Building his own lane38:50 Why he considered retiring41:28 Ego, criticism & confidence43:54 Nipsey Hussle, trust & Wyclef Jean47:18 Unpopular truths & the lightning round55:39 West Coast Mount Rushmore57:35 The future & life in San Diego 📧 Email [email protected] for sponsorship opportunities. 📧 🎤 The Truth Hurts is hosted by Jeff Weiss, Rosecrans Vic, & Free 🎤 Follow The Truth Hurts on all PlatformsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetruthhurtspodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truthhurtspodcastTwitter: https://x.com/Truth_Hurts_PodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BjMCTIiweZdCyT3DyseJtApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-hurts-w-jeff-weiss-rosecrans-vic-and-free/id1813226752doe

Before signing with Eminem, Yelawolf was making Trunk Muzik in an Alabama house with no heat and working landscaping jobs after his first record deal fell apart. On The Truth Hurts, he tells the story behind “Pop the Trunk,” refusing to perform in L.A. Reid’s office, and returning an old Eminem demo tape to Marshall himself.Yelawolf gets candid about the creative compromises behind Radioactive, finding his direction again with Love Story, and why going independent changed his finances. He also revisits his skateboarding years, his mother defending his first rap, and how he landed on A$AP Rocky’s “1Train” and Big Boi’s “You Ain’t No DJ.”Plus: building Slumerican, reuniting with Malay for his all-singing album 45, learning to perform painful songs without reliving the trauma, and the best advice Eminem ever gave him.00:00 Intro00:22 Yelawolf joins The Truth Hurts / Returning to Warped Tour01:51 From Arena Rap to Trunk Muzik06:15 Making “Pop the Trunk” in a house with no heat08:37 Losing the Columbia deal and going back to landscaping11:13 Turning down L.A. Reid—and returning with a verse15:27 Eminem hears “Pop the Trunk” / Jimmy Iovine’s offer18:08 Making Radioactive and returning Eminem’s demo tape22:08 Creative compromises and finding his way with Love Story25:45 A$AP Rocky’s “1Train” and its surprise lineup27:24 Atlanta’s underground scene and the Dixie Mafia days29:26 Chasing a skateboarding career in California33:33 An Oakland studio opportunity and Eminem’s impact36:09 Seattle, fishing boats and chasing studio money37:06 His first rap—and the mother who defended it42:06 Growing up around music and meeting Run-DMC43:33 His father, family and becoming a parent46:26 Rap across genres / Slim Thug and Juelz Santana49:30 Convincing Big Boi to let him rap50:21 “Looking for Alien Love” and capturing inspiration52:36 Making 45 with Malay: an album with no rap verses54:05 Evolving beyond trauma and performing painful songs56:59 How Slumerican became a clothing brand59:27 Going independent and never charging for features1:00:28 Rolling out 45 and resisting social media pressure1:01:19 Evolving at 45 and staying young1:04:02 Unpopular truths: karaoke and quantity over quality1:06:05 André 3000 and The Love Below1:07:29 Country music Mount Rushmore1:09:24 Eminem’s best advice and life after Shady1:10:49 Meaningful tattoos, life at 75 and closing