As we bid adieu to 2023, our latest podcast episode is a stream of reflections, hearty debates, and personal triumphs. Imagine sinking your teeth into the perfect steak, no condiments needed – that's the kind of juicy content we're serving up! We kick things off with the possibility of Chris Gales jazzing up the show, and Tony gets our taste buds tingling with his crown peach drink concoctions. Meanwhile, Brian's smoked chicken thighs and brisket leave us hungry for more than just food, as we chew over the contentious topic of steak garnishing. Can a well-prepared steak truly stand alone? We weigh in, and let's just say, A1 sauce enthusiasts might want to brace themselves.
Navigating the delicate dance of work and personal life, I reveal my own struggles and the liberation found in setting firm boundaries for a healthier balance. We share a toast to mocktails and their surprising zest for life, while Tony sets his sights on his home and personal life in 2024, embodying the spirit of resilience. Our hearts and minds converge on the importance of advocating for our needs, as we underscore the choices that nourish our well-being and forge the path to our dreams.
Rounding out the year, we traverse the cultural terrains of cinema and beats, giving a shoutout to "Late Night Parents" for their insightful sports and sometimes social commentary. Our debate on Eminem's place in rap royalty is as charged as it is contemplative, stirring the pot on the influence of race and culture in music. We also tip our hats to the female rap pioneers who paved the way, and share our all-time music faves, from Prince to Aretha. So, as the curtains close on 2023, let's toast to the year's narrative tapestry – here's to the laughs, insights, and the unexpected turns that have made it a ride to remember!
*this is an edited version of much longer conversation with some other friends who joined in during the broadcast. Joe-Joe and Kimi also stopped on by. To seee/hear the full unedited fun time, check out the video on Youtube - just click here!
Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page.
Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth
DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.
As we bid adieu to 2023, our latest podcast episode is a stream of reflections, hearty debates, and personal triumphs. Imagine sinking your teeth into the perfect steak, no condiments needed – that's the kind of juicy content we're serving up! We kick things off with the possibility of Chris Gales jazzing up the show, and Tony gets our taste buds tingling with his crown peach drink concoctions. Meanwhile, Brian's smoked chicken thighs and brisket leave us hungry for more than just food, as we chew over the contentious topic of steak garnishing. Can a well-prepared steak truly stand alone? We weigh in, and let's just say, A1 sauce enthusiasts might want to brace themselves.
Navigating the delicate dance of work and personal life, I reveal my own struggles and the liberation found in setting firm boundaries for a healthier balance. We share a toast to mocktails and their surprising zest for life, while Tony sets his sights on his home and personal life in 2024, embodying the spirit of resilience. Our hearts and minds converge on the importance of advocating for our needs, as we underscore the choices that nourish our well-being and forge the path to our dreams.
Rounding out the year, we traverse the cultural terrains of cinema and beats, giving a shoutout to "Late Night Parents" for their insightful sports and sometimes social commentary. Our debate on Eminem's place in rap royalty is as charged as it is contemplative, stirring the pot on the influence of race and culture in music. We also tip our hats to the female rap pioneers who paved the way, and share our all-time music faves, from Prince to Aretha. So, as the curtains close on 2023, let's toast to the year's narrative tapestry – here's to the laughs, insights, and the unexpected turns that have made it a ride to remember!
*this is an edited version of much longer conversation with some other friends who joined in during the broadcast. Joe-Joe and Kimi also stopped on by. To seee/hear the full unedited fun time, check out the video on Youtube - just click here!
Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page.
Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth
DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.
Hi everyone, welcome to All About the Joy. Tony will be here in a second. He just stepped away from the computer for a moment and yeah, so Chris Gales and I had a conversation going back and forth about him wanting to come back on the show. So I knew today that he may or may not be able to make it. So he just texted me and he's stuck on Beale Street, which means he's playing. He's still playing. You know what I mean? I'm like do your thing, my brother. So hey, tony.
Tony D. :Hi, so I don't know how y'all doing. I'm not at home.
Carmen Lezeth:So glad to see you. Oh, I guess I should put the chat on, not that I think anyone want to come and chat with us, but how you guys been. Rick, let's start with Tony, because he's kind of like the one-time guest. How you doing with your peach snobs and everything.
Tony D. :How's that hanging out, that drinking? I have golden apple. Thank you very much.
Carmen Lezeth:Golden apple right, whiskey right Wink wink.
Tony D. :Yes, ok, wink, wink.
Carmen Lezeth:You like the flavored whiskies.
Tony D. :It's so funny what I wanted to do was get what was new and try it at least once. So that was the whole thing when I was doing the thing with the crown peach. It was a new flavor. It's pretty much the newest thing out there that was affordable, oh.
Ted Hicks :Oh my god.
Carmen Lezeth:Hey Brian.
Rick Costa:He's moving on slow motion. When is this, or notches?
Carmen Lezeth:When is this when is notches, Nice to see you. Thanks for coming on. I invited Ted and JoJo, I invited everybody Cynthia, Andrea because I thought we might want to say goodbye to 2023 as the family we've become.
Brian M. :Just kidding. Yeah, I was rushing because eating dinner, but I'm also smoking some chicken thighs for work tomorrow, along with the brisket that I'm taking to work tomorrow.
Carmen Lezeth:Wait, are you guys having a party or something?
Brian M. :It's kind of like a post-Christmas, pre-new Year party, nice, a lunch party.
Carmen Lezeth:That's something you got in your back pocket that I like, the cooking thing, that's a good thing.
Tony D. :Yeah, he does, brian, because, like crazy, he's a little bit ridiculous with it. I ain't mad at him, he's a bit ridiculous man.
Carmen Lezeth:He's mad at him because he ain't bringing it to your house, because you live too far away.
Rick Costa:He's a bit ridiculous.
Tony D. :He's real ridiculous. We can talk about where we can meet at, it ain't even a problem. We just haven't done it yet, oh, ok, ok. I did I was talking about.
Brian M. :I told him, like if we meet up for steaks, if he brings A1 out, we're fine.
Rick Costa:I was just going to say that. I was just going to say that.
Carmen Lezeth:Wait, wait, wait. What happened with Tron with A1? Because he likes to put ketchup on stuff.
Tony D. :He said if you cook a steak properly, you should have the season. So I'm going to bring A1 and Hines 57.
Carmen Lezeth:You cannot put A1 on steak you shouldn't have been A1 on steak. I'll beg your pardon, brian, do you put A1 on steak?
Brian M. :How dare you insult me?
Carmen Lezeth:OK, I just want to make sure we're on the same page. Like I'm not crazy. Dare you insult me I would rather that you put ketchup on a steak than A1.
Tony D. :You know what I mean.
Carmen Lezeth:Because at least you bring it back. That's worse, no no, no, no, no, no, brian, I would never. First of all, I eat the steak the way in which the chef cooks it. I'm not even one of those people who's like medium rare, medium well, I'm like however the chef wants it. That's how I'm going to eat it, right, because I trust the chef. Usually medium rare, but whatever.
Ted Hicks :But I'm just saying if you're going to put A1 on it.
Carmen Lezeth:I'd rather that you just go old school back in the day and grab your ketchup and keep it real. You know what I mean.
Tony D. :Well done.
Carmen Lezeth:A1 is like pretend fancy. It's like that mustard, diesel mustard. You know that.
Tony D. :It's like fancy Wow.
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah, it's like trying too hard, but yeah.
Tony D. :Well, I taste it before I season it, and most places I go to I won't have too anymore. When I was a kid I used to just put it on, no problem.
Carmen Lezeth:If Brian cooked you a steak, you would put A1 on it.
Tony D. :No, I would taste it first. Honestly, I would taste it first. He would taste it first. I would taste it first. Look at his face.
Rick Costa:Look at his face. Brian would slam into the ground if he tried to put A1 on it. I would Look at that. Look at that, try me, you're smelling me If you're going to put A1 on your hands on anything, get a hamburger Exactly.
Tony D. :You're a part of it.
Carmen Lezeth:Exactly, you don't put it on a delicious steak, I will put lourries on your steak, ok, oh.
Brian M. :God.
Carmen Lezeth:Oh God Wow.
Brian M. :The distrust.
Carmen Lezeth:That, yeah, it's terrible. Cynthia said A1, if it's well done because it needs flavor, what? Oh my goodness God we're so showing our ghetto roots tonight.
Tony D. :Oh yeah, you know, we need plenty.
Carmen Lezeth:Wow, that's the way to go.
Tony D. :Salt and pepper and ketchup makes it worse.
Carmen Lezeth:OK, here's the thing. It depends on who's cooking it and what the quality of the steak is. That's what matters. Where's your Brian? Ok, wait Brian. What are you? Am I wrong?
Rick Costa:Brian's a huge foodie. One second, oh God, I need a drink for this.
Tony D. :I'm about to get mine in a second too. Don't worry, I'm going to give it a first drink.
Brian M. :I'm about to get mine. Hold on.
Carmen Lezeth:Why do you guys need a drink over that?
Rick Costa:Brian's a huge foodie.
Carmen Lezeth:I know, but I'm not saying anything that's incorrect.
Tony D. :No, you're fine, we just keep our glasses to act like.
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah, but he's actually like so depressed about the conversation of steak.
Tony D. :The point you can touch up on any steak is blasphemy to him.
Carmen Lezeth:Of course it is I'm just kidding Respectful, oh my God, ok.
Brian M. :Respectful.
Carmen Lezeth:All right, ok, so let's talk about everyone's year. I mean, I don't know what I came into, tony, when you and Rick were talking about his way.
Tony D. :I was just thinking about what I did for the holidays. I saw nothing major, oh yeah.
Rick Costa:Brian, what about you?
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah, what did you do for the holidays? Or was it good? Whatever it was you did.
Brian M. :It was good, got cash, got booze, more booze, more cash.
Tony D. :And then Don't call Steve Austin what.
Carmen Lezeth:More cash, More booze. What More booze cash?
Brian M. :And I got like some hair products, so it's pretty cool.
Carmen Lezeth:So the question was how was your holiday? Not what did you get? It was good, it was good I said it was good.
Rick Costa:So the holidays to him means what the gifts he gets.
Carmen Lezeth:The gifts he gets right. How much did you get Exactly?
Brian M. :Clear skies, sunny, at 55 degrees, awesome.
Tony D. :Being with 60. Yeah, that is chilly. Yeah, it was 60 degrees, she said it's chilly.
Brian M. :I was in shorts and flip flops, with a sleeveless shirt.
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah, I live in California. That's too chilly. I'm cold. Now Look, I have on a sweater and it's like probably 64 out or 65.
Brian M. :I mean it's cold outside. I have both of my bedroom windows open and I have the ceiling fan on.
Carmen Lezeth:There's no prize. You know if you can withstand the cold more or not. There's no like.
Ted Hicks :No.
Carmen Lezeth:It's lovely, the best time of the year. Well, it's Texas, doesn't matter. Do you know what I?
Brian M. :mean it doesn't matter, it's Texas, it doesn't matter.
Carmen Lezeth:OK, let's go into. I'm glad you're here, brian. Thank you, I'm glad you're here. Ok, so I sent some, some quick clips of what I want to talk about. I just wanted to ask people what was the best part or the worst part? Let's start with the worst part of 2023, if you want to share. It could be a movie, music, it could be time at work, whatever a person. Well, you know, let's not be mean on people, but, rick, why don't you go first?
Rick Costa:So I can kind of combine a worse and the best at the same time. But it's Cool, it's awkward. But so the worst was mom was outside. She had taken her night pills, so she's sleepy, and kept saying please come inside, please come inside, please come inside. Then she finally convinced her to come inside. She reached for the railing and was short and went straight down and dislocated her shoulder so she ended up in the nursing home. I think she was there for about three weeks. So that's the bad, but those three weeks I had peace.
Rick Costa:Right, so that was a good and a bad thing, yeah.
Carmen Lezeth:And you felt a little guilty about that and I was like no, it makes sense. You know you needed a little bit of a break. It's not like you made it happen or anything. Yes, exactly Now. Yeah, so go ahead, tony, what you got.
Tony D. :The best part of the year. I did get over being sick from being sick last year, because most of last year I was hurting bad Really. Yes, I had. I had COVID and it was bothering me all the way from last January, but I had it till this past, joe.
Carmen Lezeth:I did not know that. Oh my God. Ok, so that was lingering for a while.
Tony D. :Quite a while. I don't feel as if the last year and Rick was there for both of them he knows, he saw it and everybody who knows me they were like, no, he ain't lying, he ain't faking, because I was. I've had a lot of vaccinations and inoculations in my life. I never felt anything like that.
Carmen Lezeth:So why would anyone think you're faking it?
Tony D. :Oh, you were just saying no, they can't document what's wrong with you. That's what kicked my butt. I went to a doctor afterwards. I had to go to doctors to see what was going on and check for any lingering symptoms, and I told them what I had. They knew about it but they couldn't prove it. I would go do all the tests to see they see everything was wrong. I mean, they see everything that was right, but they couldn't tell me what was going on with me. That's one of my biggest complications. What happened? When people talk about what they're going through a COVID, they can't prove it. I'm the first to be like I can relate and I got co-workers that went through the same thing. I know people with relatives are going through the same thing. I can carry that conversation and people will be like this happened to me too, like I know, and they can't prove it Wait, you were diagnosed with COVID.
Tony D. :Yeah, I literally took the test and had it came back positive.
Carmen Lezeth:Okay, so you were diagnosed with COVID, but then you had underlying issues that they couldn't I do have pre-existing conditions myself.
Tony D. :I'm not going to figure out what's happening and the lingering symptoms afterwards Right.
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah.
Tony D. :I mean literally like the fatigue is insane and I was literally driving to work, sitting on the overpass in line to get into work and fell asleep in a car with the car running. Now I'm going home, I just wouldn't go to work. That was a good thing. I think the worst thing was when I had to move, because that was something that I was fighting. I really was fighting.
Carmen Lezeth:No, COVID was a bad thing.
Tony D. :What do you mean? That was a bad thing. Well, what I said was getting over.
Carmen Lezeth:It was a good thing, oh, getting over it.
Rick Costa:I was like that's it.
Carmen Lezeth:I'm like that move must have been horrible. The move was horrible.
Tony D. :The move was horrible, right, but.
Carmen Lezeth:I was saying I thought you meant worse than COVID, but it was horrible.
Tony D. :But you've gotten to it, the worst thing, I think, for this year, and even though I'm over it now and I'm good and I'm comfortable, it was just something else and I hate losing battles that I'm like hard sit on trying to work on. So that was the biggest thing for me.
Carmen Lezeth:OK, hey, brian.
Brian M. :Hey Carmen.
Carmen Lezeth:What about you? I know you probably didn't get to read what I wrote, but I was just wondering if you wanted to share some good or bad parts of the past year. I know talking to me on a regular basis now is probably joyful and happiness. He's doing good today.
Brian M. :I haven't warmed up yet he's holding back, he's holding back. I haven't warmed up yet.
Carmen Lezeth:OK, go ahead.
Brian M. :I would have to say this is probably one of my better years, just with my job and everything, because I had opportunities to go help other branches in different states, which is kind of cool, and I mean the only downside is just just taking care of my truck one thing at a time.
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah.
Brian M. :I mean because, yeah, so that probably would probably say it'd be the only minor negative thing, but most of all, I think this is one of my better years.
Carmen Lezeth:Really. Oh, that's awesome.
Brian M. :Celebrating my birthday in Vegas and then just yes, yes, and I mean, things are on the up and up.
Carmen Lezeth:So Awesome, that's cool. So for me, I think I cleaned up something that was really bad all year for me. I've been working way too much, I am too tired, I have too many clients. It's just I've taken on more than I could chew. And then I'm trying to do all about the joy. I'm trying to do all this stuff and I think you noticed, rick, this week I didn't post nothing. I'm like you know what I'm done. I'm not editing, I'm not doing nothing, I just need a break, like you know. It's like the holiday or whatever I called.
Carmen Lezeth:I talked to a couple of my clients today because, again, it was this like you don't have to work all week, it's part of your bonus and gift. I'm like OK, cool, and why am I working all week? And so I talked to each one of my clients today. I sent them all an email separately and I'm like I can't do this. There's too much. Working 50, 60 hours a week is not what I signed up for. You know what I mean. So something's got to give. And here are some ideas and this is what I'm willing to do. And they were all like when I say all, I mean three of them. The other two are cool, but the three of them I just it just became like you know how, like people ask you to work and then you do it, and then they keep asking you, and then they keep asking you, and then they just assume, they just assume you're going to keep doing it and for the same thing for the
Carmen Lezeth:same thing. They're not like saying, oh, if you do this, we'll give you another $100 or something. You know what I mean. They're not doing that. So, yeah, that's one of the things I did. I kind of just made that decision to put a stop to it. You know what's so weird? Because I was so stressed about having the conversation and what I didn't realize is, when you tell people what you need, sometimes they come forward and say, ok, we'll figure it out. You know what I mean and I was grateful for that. So, ok, cool, what about and this isn't about resolutions, but any thoughts of what you want to do or look forward to in 2024? And I'll start to give you guys a minute to think about it. One of the things I really love that I did in 2023 is I stopped drinking alcohol, and I haven't done it on purpose. I know Tony's like.
Tony D. :Well, that's one of the two things I honestly would go here.
Carmen Lezeth:Peach knobs I had.
Tony D. :No, I'm going to get on you in the schnapps. I'm going to buy you a bottle.
Carmen Lezeth:You're not going to have had schnapps before. That's why I know it. You know what's so funny. Andrea turned on and she's like you know it's not really peach knobs. I'm like are you kidding?
Tony D. :me. I told her where she's been. I saw it.
Carmen Lezeth:Of course I know it's not, because when I was growing up and in college, my two drinks were Midori shower, just like Kool-Aid with a little bit of alcohol, basically, and peach schnapps. That's why I know what it is. So I was just making fun of you, but I've really gotten into mocktails. Have you guys had mocktails? Never, brian's like OK, we just had the steak conversation, I'm not doing this. Do you guys even know what mocktails are?
Tony D. :Specifically no, I do not.
Carmen Lezeth:Oh my god. Ok, it's really not a big deal. It's non-alcoholic drinks that you get at a bar that are actually fancy and cute. You know what I mean? It's just, instead of saying, can I just have a shimble? The house specials. I'm sorry.
Brian M. :The house, but it's like their house specials.
Carmen Lezeth:No, you can actually ask for I don't know what's a fancy drink that people always get.
Tony D. :Tom Collins.
Carmen Lezeth:Tom Collins or whatever. But you can say can I have a mocktail Tom Collins or something? Well, tom Collins, that's like liquor, right, that's just all liquor.
Tony D. :Yeah, but something that's fancy to most people.
Carmen Lezeth:But like Sex on the Beach for a good example, like something like a Sex on the Beach or one of these, or like Pina Colada, right, one of these kind of drinks you can say I want a mocktail. Look, you guys are hardcore drinkers. I am not, and I'm shen because, ricky, you don't drink either. Right, not at all. And yeah, they're non-alcoholic drinks, but they're not like can I have a Shirley Temple and what?
Tony D. :I've got to say is I forgot about?
Carmen Lezeth:it.
Tony D. :Yeah, you know what I mean it's exactly, so if she does the virgin drinks, I can get it. Yeah, yeah.
Carmen Lezeth:So it's just fun because you can still be with everyone at the bar and the party or whatever. So I love that. I figured that out this year and it was just by accident, because I took some co-workers out to dinner just to say thank you to them and they both were like you don't mind if we just get mocktails. I'm like what's a mocktail? I thought it was a fancy drink. It is, but it's just non-alcoholic drinks. So I'm bringing that into 2024. So I'm excited about that. Ok, why don't you tell us, Tony, what you're looking for in 2024?
Tony D. :I kind of want to get back to where I was in a single step, having a house, oh OK, and I want to say maintaining it. We did get the house together. I tried to keep it myself. I lost out. Sure, I know why. I'm able to make some moves to fix that. So I want to get back to that level.
Carmen Lezeth:How long have you been divorced again? I'm sorry.
Tony D. :I'm sorry.
Carmen Lezeth:How long have you been divorced again?
Tony D. :This month is the year that was finalized.
Carmen Lezeth:Oh yeah, so it's still kind of new for you. That's new, it is.
Tony D. :And then you moved. I'll be honest as I got out, as I got here, as I've been trying to regroup myself, I'm getting more and more over it. I went over there for Christmas. It was cool, family still welcoming and everything and yeah, I just got to get back. I got to get back to me.
Carmen Lezeth:You got to get back to you.
Tony D. :There's a thing about getting to you and that about you and somebody else anymore. I got him, I got my son on my mind and I said I got my oldest on my mind. That's pretty much it. I don't have a spouse on my mind.
Carmen Lezeth:So how do you do that, though? How do you?
Tony D. :Time.
Carmen Lezeth:Time.
Tony D. :I've been very honest about taking my time doing it. I've always told people if you get out of a situation relationship, relationship, marriage take half of the time of the relationship or whatever to recover. And we've been separated about three and a half years. Next month will be three and a half years. I'll somewhat push myself, but I actually got a part of me that's apathetic. I don't care and that's some of the pain personally for me, because I want 100% into it so I can meet people. They can want to do something. I'm like, no, why not? I don't feel like it, but it's been a long time. Yeah for you, but I don't care about you the way I cared about her. I don't care about you the way I cared about her.
Tony D. :I'm at a point where if you push me, you can take your ass on. That's very hard for me because I'm also a very patient dude and I'll deal with stuff and I'll put up with things. But I'm at a point now I got to stop ignoring red flags. That's very hard. That's why I got to stop ignoring red flags, because I'm the kind of dude you got to get people dead anyway. You got to let people be themselves and certain red flags aren't my fault, so I'll deal with it. But some red flags nowadays you can go, I don't know, I'm just laughing.
Carmen Lezeth:I'm not laughing at you.
Rick Costa:I'm laughing because Rick is over.
Tony D. :I'm not going to deal with any more pettiness. I don't need nobody researching me.
Carmen Lezeth:I don't need nobody going through my whatever you know what You're going to, just do the best you can with what you have in front of you.
Tony D. :Well, I got to maintain, and that's all you need to do. You did the best you could in the past too. Maintain myself is a very big goal.
Carmen Lezeth:Yes.
Tony D. :We always have something in want to share. Sharing hasn't necessarily cost me, but me losing focus is what cost me. So I have to maintain myself and I don't blame anybody for what I'm going through anymore, because I'm the kind of dude If I got it, I want to help other people get theirs. I got to get mine and maintain it.
Carmen Lezeth:You got to take care of you. Let me just say Melanie said preach Tony.
Rick Costa:When I posted a little ad for this, I said bye, bye 2023 and hello 2024, looking for more. So kind of the same thing.
Carmen Lezeth:Looking for more. Yeah, brian, what you looking for?
Brian M. :I mean always, like you know, self-improvement. I mean I know I still got a lot of areas to work on, but you know, at the time of mine you've just been taking part in something like that. They'll get handled eventually as time goes on. But mainly to, like Tony's point, just mainly focusing on myself and not being, yeah, I mean good, like like I could relate, to turn like just the little things, the distractions you know, I kind of kind of went. So now I'm like gotta be in the zone because my, my overall end goal is like handle everything.
Brian M. :And then for reward to myself, like later in the year I don't know, I might I'm thinking, oh, I mean I'll see if I can find like $49 a night kind of room, but but yeah, but I think like like to reward myself, you know cuz I'm just gonna just mainly focus and grind. But to reward myself, I'm thinking like I don't know, italy, reykjavik, wyoming, I have no idea. Yeah, reykjavik, iceland, yeah, I mean, it's just I Would I. And also to like what I want to do is like I want to have like one National vacation and then one international vacation.
Ted Hicks :I love that within the year.
Brian M. :Yeah, that's also like what I have set forth as well.
Carmen Lezeth:That's your goal. Yeah, you said that before. I'm gonna make sure I like I'm taking two weeks off and going away and I'm just gonna be on an island and with a whole bunch of my friends and I'm excited about it and I haven't done that in a long time. But, Rick, what about you? What are you looking forward to in 24?
Rick Costa:So back to my mom again. Sorry, it's all consuming. It seems like right. He's got her on it and the doctor's got her on new medicine that's supposed to hopefully help with memory and stuff. It gives us this accumulative effect to go, so might not really kicking good until January, so I'm hoping it helps With stuff like that. But yeah, looking into, maybe see what I could do as far as like maybe a little side hustles, maybe a little extra figuring out little things only fans.
Carmen Lezeth:You guys are so serious.
Rick Costa:You know we keep ideas. If I, if I were doing the fans that show my feet. That's all you can see. You know what.
Carmen Lezeth:There's probably money in that. I would stay off of only fans. I'm just yeah, writing we need to travel somewhere and all hang out. No, this is how this whole boozy thing started.
Tony D. :I don't have boozy money, but I would try.
Carmen Lezeth:Together with LNMP and 8 a tj somewhere.
Tony D. :That would be fun to do a live Interesting broadcast would be bananas. But how?
Carmen Lezeth:would we do that, though, I mean, and then not, not, where would get we? But you can't? We'd have to have mics, it would be. That would be a whole different thing.
Tony D. :So he's got an agenda for you. Karma what it has an agenda for you.
Carmen Lezeth:Ted Hicks, 2024, hosting a Tj during Carmen's two-week vacation. Yes, contrary to our host, this is Okay. First of all, I don't know why. Why does he want to use my brand? That's so badly? I don't need it from sports people.
Tony D. :No offense, but you're we do current events very well, thank you, you, you do current events for half a second.
Carmen Lezeth:Then it's like so the bills played that and I'm like oh my god, can we stay on on topic?
Tony D. :that has been this year. Previously, when I was on with it, I've been broke has to almost three years now. We did current events on.
Carmen Lezeth:I've never seen your show and you only done current events.
Tony D. :Yeah, we did it for about a year or two. Yeah, but I'm concerned about the.
Carmen Lezeth:I need more sports. No, no, I don't want you guys do sports and you do it so well. And here's what I do love about Late night parents is that you guys are all men and you do talk about stuff. But I wish, like, when you're talking about social stuff, that's actually the interesting part, you know what I mean? Like it gets so fascinating. First up Rick for a Marvel centric episode, see, and he's not you're not gonna invite me up. I'm into Marvel. Yeah, you are. Why don't you come visit? Why don't?
Brian M. :you come.
Rick Costa:I'm not a sports person either, but the thing that does amuse me is when you guys talk about the people slapping the crap out of each other.
Tony D. :Yeah.
Brian M. :Jojo, jojo and I yeah, we talked about power slap league.
Carmen Lezeth:I like. Out of all of you, he's my favorite. You're trying to learn him. We don't want you.
Brian M. :He's a Red Sox fan too.
Carmen Lezeth:I know he is cuz he's on the East Coast. Tony, did you know who I like?
Tony D. :I'm not going there with you.
Carmen Lezeth:I watch that whole show. When that man's on, I'm like huh, I'm like hi everyone.
Tony D. :Yeah, yeah you're right, we're gonna call Blaze next time.
Brian M. :Blaze.
Carmen Lezeth:I love Blaze. You know who I'm talking about.
Tony D. :I'm talking about.
Rick Costa:Is this name Tim?
Tony D. :Is that his name? I'm going to watch the news next time, Wait so.
Carmen Lezeth:Rick, I tell Tony, like on a TV show, I'm like that man is fine. He is so pretty, like when I first saw him.
Tony D. :Yeah, this is the episode I said.
Carmen Lezeth:He goes, he's married and I'm like I didn't say I want to sleep with him, I just said that man is fine you know what I mean.
Brian M. :It was like his skin. It was smooth as buttermilk. He's got that jawline, that's what she was drooling.
Carmen Lezeth:Okay, let me just say, tony, I did not say all that.
Brian M. :But clearly somebody else, your body language.
Carmen Lezeth:Somebody else noticed his attitude, because I did not say all that, that's the first thing you'll look at. No, he is pretty Right, because you guys don't, you guys don't look at that first? Sure, okay, how about movies and TV? Do you have a favorite from 2023? Hoaching 101.
Tony D. :Of course, you first.
Rick Costa:So I got to think about Marvel. Was Dr Strange this year, or was it last year?
Carmen Lezeth:I can't believe he didn't just flirt out Loki, loki, wow.
Rick Costa:Well, that's a movie, you said.
Carmen Lezeth:That's a show. That's a show.
Rick Costa:Loki was excellent. Loved it, loved it, loved it. I thought it was great, very well done.
Tony D. :Are you watching? What If you kidding me? Of course, I'm actually behind a couple of episodes.
Brian M. :I'm still on the other, tony Stark. I haven't finished.
Tony D. :Okay, hey, I haven't started season two yet, oh now you know how it feels, mr. Oh well, I was kidding.
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah, now you know how it feels. Yeah, I'm not saying you have to be quick, you have to be careful, but I was glad to see Brian. I'm just saying I'm, I'm defending you, brian, but it's only because I haven't seen it, because if I had seen it, we'd be talking about all of it, regardless of whether or not you say it. So just see how nice I'm being trying to sort it.
Brian M. :You said virtual hug Virtual hug. Yeah, you go.
Rick Costa:Yeah, Loki was very well done.
Carmen Lezeth:I thought, yeah, I would say one of the best of the year. Loki was one of the best of the year. Like I enjoyed watching that back to back. I did not feel like I had to watch it after you told me.
Rick Costa:And one thing that I enjoy is because I'm I have this uncanny ability to predict what's going to happen. But when I watch something and I literally oh, I didn't see that coming a mile away. I love that because I always people hate going to the movies with me because I'm like watch what's going to happen, it's going to be, and then like, did you watch this? No, I'm just good.
Carmen Lezeth:Just because you're talking out loud is not because none of us can predict it.
Brian M. :Some things are very formal, but we don't like talking to Rick's point, I mean like when my ex-girlfriend and I were with to go see the movie Regie, I could automatically, within the first 30 seconds when the movie just started, I could automatically say, oh, she's going to hang herself. And then, like a few minutes later, she hung herself. She's like.
Carmen Lezeth:Did you say it out loud in the movie theater?
Brian M. :No, I just whispered to her ear. I'm like she's going to hang herself.
Carmen Lezeth:I have a feeling Rick is a taco.
Rick Costa:No, I don't say it to everybody, but the one thing I do do that's annoying is, if something's funny, I kind of laugh really loud and that embarrasses people.
Carmen Lezeth:What are the movies I'll?
Carmen Lezeth:tell you, mine, and then I don't think any of you have seen it. So I went and saw Maestro, unbelievably done with Bradley Cooper, the story of Leonard Bernstein. You don't know who he is, that's okay, but if you ever saw the play West Side Story, yes, okay. So the music from West Side Story, that's the Maestro, right, that's the. He's the writer, composer of most of the music there. So it was a beautifully done movie, like piece of art, and it was Bradley Cooper directed it, acted in it and I think he also wrote parts of it too.
Carmen Lezeth:So, watching a genius in motion in my lifetime. I love when that happens. The other person that I loved and this was a while back is Lin-Manuel Miranda. Do you know who he is? Hamilton Hamilton.
Tony D. :And he did sound like.
Brian M. :Hermawanna.
Carmen Lezeth:Yes, of course. But you know like I love these moments when you see geniuses like in their moment of just being amazing. And I feel like Bradley Cooper is having that moment. He's just absolutely brilliant as a director and as an actor and it's just well done. And that was my favorite movie this year. And I haven't seen color purple yet, but I'm going to see it next week. I don't know how that is yet.
Rick Costa:So what about you guys? Movies? I was always sorry to interrupt, not to interrupt the subject, but I've always wondered, like, how difficult is it to direct and be an actor in the same thing that you're doing? Like, what level of?
Brian M. :Watch Clint Eastwood. Does it like, like it's nothing now, yeah, clint Eastwood writer, director and producer.
Carmen Lezeth:But it's hard, it's not an easy thing to do. You have to have that talent. I mean, you said Clint Eastwood. You didn't say like some 20 year old somebody else. You know what I mean. It's a tough thing. So Clint Eastwood's up there. You know what I mean. Like I mean yeah, yeah, yeah.
Brian M. :I mean because everybody, everybody wonders that too, like how does he do it? But I mean Clint, clint just does it. I could probably say like the Marvels was a flop, but Wonka was good. I went to go see Wonka the other night. That was really good.
Carmen Lezeth:Wasn't really Okay.
Brian M. :Yeah, yeah. Basically, wonka is like how he became Wonka, because on the previous movies he was already established. So now it's like what do he do to get established?
Rick Costa:So like an origin story kind of yes, it is yeah.
Brian M. :Yeah, yeah, yeah, good back origin story.
Tony D. :Yeah yeah, timothy. Chalamet right I forgot what his name was, yeah.
Brian M. :Yeah.
Carmen Lezeth:Timothy Chalamet.
Brian M. :The guy that played Wonka. Also, he did Dune, which was really good yeah, that's Timothy Chalamet, yeah.
Rick Costa:That's him. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Tony D. :I heard of him. I heard of him. I told him you got to watch the original one to like this one. And I haven't seen the original at all yet. Oh I don't know if that's true. Okay, I'm going to watch them both on purpose For me. The best movie this year to me was Top Gun Maverick. I loved it.
Carmen Lezeth:That was a good movie, was it?
Tony D. :It was a sequel that was worth the wait. They did it right. Elvis was good too. I didn't watch Elvis, I didn't, but he did, oh, the original story. He didn't either. He did it right. They played everything all the way through. I was like I'm a aircraft dude and I was losing my mind with those new planes that was in there. It was. I just loved everything about that.
Carmen Lezeth:That was a great action movie storyline Val Kilmer coming back as Iceman. I mean I was like crying because I love Val Kilmer.
Tony D. :That was really well done. Val was actually that sick. My understanding he's actually that sick he still came out.
Carmen Lezeth:Oh no, no, he has been for a long time.
Tony D. :Yes, he played it.
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah, no, no, no, he has throat cancer.
Brian M. :Yeah.
Carmen Lezeth:He had to talk to him in around Hulu. Yes, and it was so well done yeah.
Tony D. :They missed the key piece of that movie the plane that Tom Cruise was working on. It's a P-51 Mustang. That's actually the plane of Tuskegee Airmen flew and one of the original graduating classes of Top Gun was a Tuskegee Airmen. They threw that in there as well. Yes, oh, I missed that. They threw that in there and I had to start video one. I was like wait a minute. I had to go back and look and yeah, that was. That was one of the subliminals that was in that movie that I actually appreciate.
Carmen Lezeth:Oh, I love when they do that. Okay, I have to catch that again then.
Tony D. :And I want to tell Brian me we was talking about Walker. Earlier this week I took Jason to see it. I caught a few things in that movie but I thought they did it very well. They did do Walker well. It made disturb a couple of folks who are deep diggers or whatever, but as far as what they were trying to do in the story they were telling, I thought they did a good job.
Carmen Lezeth:What's a deep? What's a deep?
Tony D. :It's kind of Peter Pownish to me. There's a Peter Pownish what. There's a Peter Powne element to that movie. Okay, and he came in and I don't want to give the whole story away because it's only been out for a month, but it was good. They did it right. I want to throw that out there before anything else comes out. I caught a couple things. I'm going to wait a couple months before I talk about it. I caught a couple things when I was watching because I was like, okay, I'll wait, I'll wait, I'll wait, but they did it good, they did it good.
Carmen Lezeth:I'm going to say two things out loud. Ted Hicks, I know you're trying to come up and I've put you up, but there you are.
Ted Hicks :How you?
Carmen Lezeth:doing. Thank you, ted, for stopping by. Hi, how are you?
Ted Hicks :How are you?
Tony D. :What's up bro?
Ted Hicks :Doing good hey what's going on everyone?
Carmen Lezeth:Ted, how you doing Pretty good. How are you Good? How was this past holiday for you?
Ted Hicks :Holiday's been great. Holiday's been great, uneventful, and that's how we like it. Yeah, uneventful, and Tony was talking about what he was talking about, a movie or yeah, we were talking about our favorite movies or TV shows from 2023.
Carmen Lezeth:So he was talking about Top Gun and that he really enjoyed it. And you know, yeah, what was your favorite movie of the year, if you were able to see any?
Ted Hicks :What was my favorite movie? Avatar. That was a lot of work. I did watch it. What was my favorite movie that I watched a couple of?
Rick Costa:times. I can tell you an intriguing movie that just came out Leave the World Behind. The Obamas had a part of that, I guess.
Carmen Lezeth:What is it? Leave the.
Rick Costa:World Behind. Oh, it's a production company. Yeah, it's an intriguing you saw it, mm-hmm. Julia Roberts, kevin Feet.
Carmen Lezeth:Oh yeah, it's about like the cyber stocking something, right yeah?
Rick Costa:Well, it was stocking. It was just like a Apocalyptic. The title says it Leave the World Behind, yeah. Okay, okay okay, all right, all right, all right. Look at him Like don't say anything. Don't say anything, right, all right.
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah.
Ted Hicks :Yes.
Carmen Lezeth:Hmm.
Ted Hicks :Okay, just go on watching and scratch Hercela, I leave in it.
Carmen Lezeth:Yes, and we love him. Did he win?
Ted Hicks :an Oscar or two.
Carmen Lezeth:He was nominated twice and he won once already.
Tony D. :Yeah, carl, I'm going to give a favor from you two, since you were over there in that area, see if he's still going to play Blade or not, because I saw the story when he wasn't. I think he is, I think he is.
Brian M. :I think they scrapped that project, did they? Yeah Blade, yeah, blade yeah.
Tony D. :No, he's supposed to be the new blade. I had an article that came around October, I think it was. They said they're going to bring Wesley Snipes back.
Carmen Lezeth:I was like whoa Tony, he's so cute. Just because I live here doesn't mean I have a different connection.
Tony D. :I mean you know you be in the industry. Every time I see something, you know I'm in the industry.
Carmen Lezeth:Let me just give him a quick ring. Yeah, yeah.
Tony D. :Somebody knows somebody? No, no, no.
Ted Hicks :Toby went to high school with Wesley Snipes.
Tony D. :No, no, no, no, I was in there. Oh, okay, I'm going to call them the new blade.
Brian M. :Yeah, cause apparently, like on on Marvel, there's going to be, if there's like, a couple of projects that got scrapped, but then they're going to do some rewrites.
Carmen Lezeth:Scrapped or pushed because of the writer strike and the actor say aren't they pushed back?
Brian M. :No, well, I think they're. I think they're scrapping and doing rewrites, cause a lot of people are saying, if you're going to do a story, make the story good, because how the last couple of Marvel stuff kind of just flopped big time Got you yeah. So that was the one thing. So they're just like they're going to put all of all the stuff on pause, do some rewrites and go from there. Okay.
Ted Hicks :I'll tell you now Mission impossible. I didn't see you Mission impossible. It wasn't ghost protocol, it was. I think it was fallout. No, I don't think it's fallout, it's like Dave reckoning or something like that.
Carmen Lezeth:Mission impossible. You thought was good at. That's already streaming on HBO or something. Yeah, yeah.
Ted Hicks :I went and sold it in the movies. I saw that and I saw the only two movies I saw this year. Actually, are you guys talking about physically in the movie or watching it Just?
Carmen Lezeth:what you liked in 2023. We're just talking about the year Different topic.
Ted Hicks :I wanted to like. I wanted to like Indiana Jones. I was really all pumped up, really, let me tell yeah.
Tony D. :I was like I don't want to do it.
Carmen Lezeth:I don't want to do it. I don't want to do it. I don't want to do it, I just want to do it yeah. I thought the same way. I forgot I saw that movie.
Ted Hicks :That's how bad it was. We went to the movie theater.
Carmen Lezeth:Me and my God daughter, yeah yeah, and the movie theater to go see it. And I was like all right, and yeah yeah, and looking I was like I was like I'm not going to go see it, I'm not going to go see it, I'm not going to train, and we're jumping off the roof and we're doing this, and I was like we both looked at each other and she was just 15.
Ted Hicks :She was like this is exhausting. I'm like 25 minutes was a let down. When All right, I'm going to say something you have an 80 year old man running and you have a 25 year old face on it and I'm like, okay, this.
Carmen Lezeth:Right, right. Something's not right about this.
Ted Hicks :Yeah, this is the first thing there's a record of this. This is the first thing this was. It was a weird CGI thing, it was.
Carmen Lezeth:It was really weird, and the first act was like I said that first, I mean well, you know this, I'm karma. It was 25 minutes.
Ted Hicks :Yeah, yeah.
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah, because they were trying to build a story around the younger Indiana Jones. Yeah, and they were using him, but they used.
Carmen Lezeth:I don't know if it's CGI and they made Robert Downey Jr really thin in Endgame. You believed it. You know what I mean. Like you really believed it, remember. They made him really thin because he was starving and so they used that all the time, you know. Oh, cynthia said Barbie. I guess Tony reacted and then said Tony, barbie was great, sounds like the old movie Cliffhanger Bullet Train is really good. That was good too. Oh, okay, kimmy Callie said leave the world behind Was really really good. So I'm a go, because Rick and Kimmy Kimmy, kimmy, kimmy Callie said for me to go.
Ted Hicks :But the ending don't be so prepared for, like what are you talking?
Carmen Lezeth:about Leave the world behind. Yeah, okay, no, no, don't tell me nothing.
Rick Costa:There's definitely something that you could watch more than once, because there's a lot like wait, there's a lot happened and it's like did you get it all? So, you almost want to watch it again, and the ends left up to interpretation. You don't really know what happened in the end.
Carmen Lezeth:Wow, awesome Okay.
Rick Costa:Oh, the one with the kid that plays Spider-Man, but he's a schizophrenic. That was a good show. That was a really good show.
Carmen Lezeth:I don't know. I don't know what that's about.
Rick Costa:Something room, crowded room, crowded room. That was good, I did not see that?
Carmen Lezeth:I did not see that. What about? I'm going to give a shout out to Barbie. Barbie was an amazingly phenomenal, interesting, quirky, social moving, thought-provoking, and I'm just so happy it was made also by a woman, because it killed in the box office and we need that. We need more different people at stores. It killed, so you know Bravo for moving forward. Okay, yeah, yeah, no, go ahead, it's all good, it's all good.
Rick Costa:There's no rules. I found it interesting that they also didn't. They do Oppenheimer at the same time.
Carmen Lezeth:Oppenheimer was great but too depressing. Oppenheimer came after Barbie. No, there was around the same time, that's why the Golanian? Barb and Hymer.
Rick Costa:Yeah, it was like a double feature. Yeah, they both did well, but I had to force myself to get through that one. I got to lie it was sad.
Carmen Lezeth:It was sad. Yeah, that was a sad movie. Ok what about music, any great, amazing music or videos, or were you all became Swifties this year? I didn't either. I respect her, I'm happy for her. I think she was pretty amazing and I did see the concert. It's just not my music, but I get it. I get it and I love the whole kind of sister thing with her and Beyonce. You know, because people were trying to pit them against each other and there's not going to be any of that with Beyonce.
Tony D. :Yeah, that was just money. Put the two together and y'all going to make a killing off of it.
Carmen Lezeth:No, but they are together. But people are always trying to pit them against each other, right? Oh, the music nowadays.
Tony D. :It does.
Carmen Lezeth:I can't swear no more In the last week of 2023, I am not swearing, so I cannot use that word. But hey, I'm almost. We got two more minutes.
Rick Costa:I can do it without, so we were we were arguing on my broadcast if that word actually is a swear or not. Get the swear.
Carmen Lezeth:Not the way she used it.
Tony D. :I'm going to say music wise. I just heard this last week. I'm a hip hop fan. Everybody knows it, if you like rap music at all. Paul Wall dropped the album last week, a week before. It was good, it wasn't too bad. It wasn't too bad, it wasn't too out the wall. It was good for those, I want to say those of us who are old school hip hop as, or those of us who know hip hop and miss what we had 10, 20 years ago.
Carmen Lezeth:Oh really.
Tony D. :And almost yeah, that was a good CD. It's called the Great Wall. If you're a hip hop fan, I highly recommend actually posted it. That's how much I like it. If I like your album that much, I will throw it everywhere.
Carmen Lezeth:And I did it everywhere. Ok, I told him, I see you.
Tony D. :That was a good one. It's Texas hip hop.
Carmen Lezeth:But you just ruined it right there, you just no, that's fine, that's fine.
Tony D. :Did I need to know it was?
Carmen Lezeth:Texas hip hop I don't even yes, you did yes. What does that mean?
Tony D. :exactly Like who else would be, so I can make my own UGK, Paul Wall, Camillionaire, all those Houston rappers. That was a good album coming out of that area to me and I got to listen to music so that was a good one. That was. That was a good one, Seriously it was. It was kind of grown hip hop, if you will.
Carmen Lezeth:Is there a song that chimes in for you this past year, like for me and Rick knows almost say this year for me? A song that would not get out of my head, and still does not, is Smile by Kirk Franklin. I don't know why, but that song came to me this year.
Tony D. :The song that came out this year. It's on the ring to my head all year. It'll be my question.
Carmen Lezeth:Anything, just wondering if you. There's a song.
Tony D. :That's a good question. You got to give me a minute on that one. That's a good question. Any one particular song that came out to me this year?
Carmen Lezeth:Oh, there's nothing about this year, but just affected you this year because I know Smile did not come out. I smiled and not come out this year. It's been out forever. What about you, rick?
Rick Costa:That's a good question. There's a shocking a gospel song called Praise by Elevation Worship and that pretty much how you are with Smile. That song is with me and when I hear it, instant good mood, instant want to get up and dance a little bit and yeah, it's a real good question.
Carmen Lezeth:Oh, you think it's too hard.
Tony D. :Thank you for that, but what was also? I'm trying to get past the silk sonic music because they had a real big impact last year. Leave it to go through Bruno Mars and Anderson Pat.
Carmen Lezeth:You know, that was a I thought you said. I thought you said soul sonic like soul sonic for no, silk sonic, silk sonic.
Tony D. :They did a lead the door open and that was a very new song. That was good we did a love stream about Confunction.
Carmen Lezeth:I thought that was a very good, that was really good too, I thought they did a good remake on it.
Tony D. :I'm just trying to get past anything that had that kind of impact. I really can't. I got to go leave the door open. For the most part, I thought they did a damn good job, even if they did, they did outstanding.
Carmen Lezeth:That was great, but you can't mess with a remake and and you have to do it well or it's just really bad. I've been going back and playing all the old Mary Mary albums. We talked about Mary J Blash.
Rick Costa:No, it's a God I was.
Carmen Lezeth:Mary, mary, oh, I don't know, mary.
Rick Costa:Mary, I'll send you one song and you'll like it.
Carmen Lezeth:And I'll like it OK, cool.
Rick Costa:She'll probably go to me. Maybe I'm thinking about the shackles. Take the shackles off my feet. I've heard it.
Carmen Lezeth:I just don't always know all gospel artists. I don't really know them, but I do love gospel music.
Tony D. :So it's on the best remake. Ok, I like that.
Carmen Lezeth:It was really well done. I'm sorry, tony, what did you say?
Tony D. :No, you're fine. I was saying I was trying to pull a rap music because I'm always bringing rapper, trying to get something that people will understand.
Carmen Lezeth:OK, I have a question for you about rap. Melody said she just pulled up smile on YouTube. I like it. Oh, I think you would love it. It's so good and it's it just makes me so happy and every time I go running or walking or whatever I just like, if I need a little energy boost, it's right there. I have a question for you and Rick. I don't know if you go like this question or whatever, but I just want to ask him. I read an article. It was on the roots. The roots, you know the magazine the roots OK, it doesn't matter and they were talking about somebody wrote an article saying that Eminem could never be considered the best rapper.
Rick Costa:I have a feeling about that.
Carmen Lezeth:But they were just talking about it again, and the roots, just so everyone knows, is a fundamentally black written online. It's a great, great magazine or newspaper, whatever it's called the roots. So I just want to throw that up there. And here's the thing. I thought it was an interesting conversation. It is, and I don't know how I feel about it because, as I was coming, my first instinct was is that the world we want to live in? You know what I mean. But as I was reading it, I was like, OK, I see what you saying.
Tony D. :You know, I saw a clip from Dr Omar Johnson a couple of days ago. He spoke on it. They had the clip on there, yes, because he broke it down perfectly.
Carmen Lezeth:OK, that's what the article was about, that's right.
Tony D. :He broke it down perfectly and I have to agree. I'm going to say this, and let me just be me on this one Well, explain what he said, or explain this what he said was he can't be the greatest rapper. I'll go ahead and be controversial. He's now from our culture.
Carmen Lezeth:Okay for people who don't know that might be listening to the podcast or we're watching. It's not like we have pictures of them. Eminem is a white rapper, but he is Brilliant, he is.
Carmen Lezeth:Amazing and the fact that we even have to have this conversation tells you how Amazing he is as a rapper. So the controversy is is he has said in one of his rapping moments right he I don't know one of his lines or rhymes or whatever that he can never be considered the best rapper because of the culture and basically because he's not black.
Tony D. :He acknowledges that that's the greatest thing about him and ever since day one, when you ever got on the ward, he gave credit and respect to everybody who came before him into all the videos. He will go down as a legend. Yes he will go down as a rap. God, let me be clear. Mm-hmm right black, whatever, he is one of the greatest and the best rappers ever. He just cannot be the greatest, but explain why.
Tony D. :Because anybody who came after the originals took his style from the originals and we need to put this out there to everybody. Right now I'll do a rap conversation. You know that, right? Nobody a bunch of these rappers out here cannot rap better in kool moe D or chirbrook or big dedicated or rock n 4k. I was one alone. Fight me, I don't care, okay.
Carmen Lezeth:All right, okay, but no one's gonna fight you because you know your music. But here's the question if I'm in, no, I'm asking you for god, my mixer Let me come on Head on now.
Carmen Lezeth:Don't you have to go? Here's my question, here's my question. And I look at, I told you as we started, I Started agreeing as I was reading. I was like whatever I know. But here's the question Is he only not considered the best rapper Because of the color of his skin? And before you go forward, one last thing. You said he cannot be considered the best because of everyone who came before him. We don't do that with basketball. We don't say michael jordan can't be considered the best because we don't consider larry burrder, whoever, everybody else. Be right, okay, just no, I just just a little, just a little tiny.
Rick Costa:More morsel, more more more does this come under the term cultural appropriation.
Tony D. :It can't Um. This skin color is an issue.
Carmen Lezeth:Look at george michael went through the same thing. But again, george michael, like m&m, always respected the culture and was always very empathetic and understood and he always Acknowledged where the music came from, what he learned, what he loved. You know what I mean. And that's kind of the difference with white artists in in these genres. But go ahead All right, now I'm gonna be quiet.
Tony D. :You can't even be the best white rapper. He has done some of the best work as a white rapper, but mc search was great before m&m Okay and mc search was up there most the originals for the most part.
Carmen Lezeth:Okay, but is but tell me, is the only reason why m&m cannot?
Tony D. :I can't deny it. I can't deny it. It's because it's skin color. Yes, I can't deny it is okay. And and and everybody. Now that everybody. They still call him the white boy, which is disrespectful. I can't lie. It is. Everybody knows who m&m is. Everybody knows how great he is and everybody knows how talented he is. The greatest suspect he has was he was a battle rapper, one of the major elements of being one of the best rappers ever.
Carmen Lezeth:You got to be able to battle.
Tony D. :You got to be able to battle rap and they found him as a battle rapper. He was a white kid, was killing fools as a battle rapper and that Freaking matters.
Carmen Lezeth:Cynthia asked a great question. Isn't this the same as saying tiger woods can't be the best Gullfer because he's black, playing a mostly white game?
Tony D. :It can be seen as that. Yes, and I understand all the controversy. I understand people who have a problem with it. You're not wrong. It cannot be denied, because 90% of your rappers were black. It was our culture. It started amongst the hardcore ghetto, lower income.
Carmen Lezeth:Is this. Why, though, is this what that article said that you read with dr.
Tony D. :I didn't read the article, I just listened to him. I listened to what he said about it. What he said, and this is what people don't know Dr Umar say he can't be one because he didn't start the culture. It's like if we go over to Palestine and try to take Old Palestinian ways, I'll never be a true Palestinian, or what they were doing.
Carmen Lezeth:I don't know why you're throwing that in, but okay.
Tony D. :This is. Those are his words.
Carmen Lezeth:Oh, he brought a palisthenic.
Tony D. :Oh my god, what he did is put himself in a different culture, coming into a different culture. I got in there, so that's the example for m&m and let's be clear, he has hung with some of the greatest rappers out there Any and every rapper Kendrick from more what's the arms, and I'll put what's women's name from McKinsey City Tech nine. I'll give you these until he defeats twister. In my opinion, he can't even go down top five Because really, twister was rapping fast before him, church was rapping fast before him.
Carmen Lezeth:Okay, but wait, but wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. There are people that I mean no one ever brings up all these other names when they talk about m&m, but you're saying it is really just color. You still know, white rapper could be. No, white rapper could be the best.
Tony D. :No, even search wasn't the best and search, I think it's better than m&m, because he came out doing what m&m did 10, 10, 15 years Okay but can you, would you agree and I'm asking because you know this genre better than anyone, I know, right.
Carmen Lezeth:So I respect what you have to say about it, so you do understand that that that is bad.
Tony D. :It can't be bad. But we didn't know when hip-hop started. It started from black artists in the ghetto. Everybody can acknowledge that Just stereotype wasn't necessarily white people in the ghetto right. That's just. That was the origin. Now, anybody who came afterwards emulated, gave honor, respect, did what we did or didn't, and stole it. Let's be honest m&m has been accused of stealing it, but people will like.
Tony D. :No no, my understanding, my understanding specifically, was he rapped. He would get in rap battles. He was winning. They wanted to bring him up. Even d12 will say he didn't want to do, he didn't want to go solo, he wanted to bring the group. The group was like no, go get it. So he had his respect from his people. That's how you get respect in the game when people respect you. You good. You ever notice a rapper doesn't get respect to get slammed, it's destroyed. I hear you and m&m and I gotta go. M&m is dope.
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah.
Tony D. :You have your favorite song that's on the radio. One of my favorite songs from him was rain man. That mess was Hilarious, it's amazing.
Carmen Lezeth:You know what I'll just tell you because I mean I love old school rap, right, and I'm talking about because of, well, I guess we're all kind of the same age, but I'm not talking about today's rappers, I'm always talking about, like you know what I mean, so sonic force, you know? You know what I'm talking about, the old school stuff.
Brian M. :But I just hope we get to a place someday.
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah, I hope we get to a place someday where Music.
Tony D. :Carmen, you're not wrong.
Carmen Lezeth:Why are you so loud? Why are you so hot, ted?
Tony D. :I don't know, your, your mic is way too high, you're not wrong that we need to bring it down, but any and everybody who has come in no.
Carmen Lezeth:I just knocked you down a bit. Go ahead, Tony.
Tony D. :I want to say the people that came into the industry wrong, or the ones who were getting checked and he didn't come in wrong. Yeah, okay, and you, you can take the skin color element out of it. We'll look at you for who you are because, you gotta remember, you had Japanese rappers daylight, so was one of the first groups that was bringing out Jeff.
Tony D. :I loved daylight, so we did that on their baloney, my, I feel baloney my state out. I remember that because I've been watching hip hop since the beginning. For those of you that don't know, I am an old school hip hop honey, I think everybody knows.
Brian M. :I had a crush on Spinderella, Nina cherry and MC light From England yeah, um, all of us who judge hip hop, we judge it from the original old school level.
Tony D. :So we may seem wrong to people nowadays, to those who are, 2030 is younger than us, but those of us who are the originals, who remember vocabulary- oh, I'm just saying because I can see a lot of people. He only we told my Eminem Eminem was not the greatest Eminem, okay.
Carmen Lezeth:Okay, okay.
Tony D. :I'm an M M, m M Couldn't beat your rock of this prompt M&M. Did you start this fight? What's happening?
Carmen Lezeth:here I missed something. Okay, I'll finish, I'll stop.
Tony D. :Yeah, tony you go, I like we we got it.
Carmen Lezeth:We got it Okay. Mc light oh, I loved Queen Latifah. That's when. I I mean, you know, you and I T1. That was a first-rate and third album.
Tony D. :You know what?
Carmen Lezeth:I loved her because we didn't have Anybody to look up to who is a woman? Do a rap? Yes, you did. Yeah, mc light, well, but Queen Latifah?
Tony D. :was easier to take in for me at the time right it was.
Carmen Lezeth:it became commercial, it was easier to take in and you could walk through that you know so. Yeah, um, we feel about Elvis oh no, what are you doing? I'm about to close up shop here Because I've seen a lot of people say like he took hot music and then he took the music and then so.
Brian M. :One song.
Carmen Lezeth:I have nothing to say about Elvis.
Tony D. :That people I did see the movie Um.
Rick Costa:I haven't.
Tony D. :I ain't talking about the movie the artist. Y'all can have it. I mean Not me.
Carmen Lezeth:So, rick, from my point of view, when I was growing up so my mother used to listen to certain music, right, and I remember it in the back of my head and it was like Engelbert Humphreydink, I remember these names Elvis Presley, I remember Neil Diamond, so I remember this stuff and one of the things that was hard about Elvis Presley was, no matter if a song came on his or whatever, the comment would be made well, he stole our music, like. So, even as I was younger and I don't remember much about my mom, but I always remember the undertone, like because you would listen to it on the radio, whatever, and the music you would dance to it or whatever, but you would, you know what I mean. They would you're doing your thing, but there would be that under breath, that. But I hate it because there was something wrong with the stories behind Elvis. But I was a kid.
Rick Costa:Is there any parallels or similarities between the Elvis situation and Eminem? Situation? No, no.
Carmen Lezeth:George Michael Eminem. There was certain artists I'm just gonna say my piece on this, Tony who respect the culture, even if they are in it and using it, and they give due diligence, respect to the culture, and I think that's part of the problem. It's kind of like what's the guy from Hoody and the Blowfish? I forget his real name Darian Shrugger. You know he's doing country music. He's been doing it for a long time but he's not disrespected.
Tony D. :He didn't walk in there and disrespect the culture you know they loved him and they were like come on.
Carmen Lezeth:And he's amazing man. I don't listen to country music, but you know, like I was just saying, Hoody and Blowfish was great.
Brian M. :I mean Darian Shrugger doing his. I mean like I have three albums of his on country.
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah.
Brian M. :I didn't know he had to.
Carmen Lezeth:It's kind of the same thing. You know what I mean. Yeah, wasn't it good that George Michael documentary was good way out?
Tony D. :That's the piece of that dude. Because he was talented, he could sing his butt off and he made the music you talking about. George Michael. Yes, George Michael made great music.
Carmen Lezeth:He did that song. He's been one of my favorites.
Tony D. :I love it Until the day, it was until the day of always, him and Mary J Blythe. We made a Stevie Wonder song.
Carmen Lezeth:Yeah, as yeah it was good. But he also did that song with Whitney Houston. I mean he did a song with Aretha Franklin, I mean.
Tony D. :He didn't say who he worked with Big Upson but more importantly, they allowed him to work with him.
Carmen Lezeth:Stevie Wonder too, you know what I mean, Like Aretha Franklin's, like I'll be like come here, white man. And she did it, you know, and that was how he broke away from Wham Not that he needed to break away, but that was kind of how he was, but they was gonna do something with Wham as well, because they had three songs that were phenomenal off the rip.
Carmen Lezeth:He didn't need nobody Okay but have you ever gone back and watched? Like when they first started Wham, they had their rap song. It's hilarious. They were kids, Never heard it. Oh, it's way before they got famous and it's how they started. It's them rapping and I will have to send you the links because it's so wrong.
Tony D. :But so fun. If I have one in the moments I have, why get mad at you Like I got mad at Rick? I'm gonna find you.
Carmen Lezeth:The way, I'm right. I remember when I was really young and I was always singing George Michael. So you know what I still sing, george. My three favorite artists of all time is Prince George Michael, aretha Franklin and Freddie Mercury Queen, so I guess four.
Tony D. :Three favorite artists of all time. That's a good question. What that's a good question? Three favorite artists of all time.
Carmen Lezeth:Those of mine four.
Tony D. :I'm gonna go Lufa Luther Vandross.
Carmen Lezeth:Yes.
Tony D. :Lufa Stephanie Mills for her voice.
Carmen Lezeth:Oh, that's old school.
Tony D. :Now I'm a really dig, Somebody who had a voice that never got enough credit David Piston.
Carmen Lezeth:I don't know who is this.
Tony D. :A song called.
Carmen Lezeth:Can.
Tony D. :I Sing. I can't no sing, I'm gonna go all over. What's the man's name from Earth, wind, and Fire? He's still singing now. Philip Bailey for their voices.
Carmen Lezeth:Their voices. Ok, that's fair. We take a week, we're in your time.
Ted Hicks :I just didn't close out, because your time is my time. This is.
Carmen Lezeth:Oh yeah, my time. I see what you're doing, my man. This is the last time I'm inviting you, though, baby, I see what you did there. I see what you did there.
Ted Hicks :I just truthfully, I just want to get all the viewers prepped and ready February when you go on vacation and oh it's.
Carmen Lezeth:February now. Ok, I'm going to February. Ok, actually, I've already planned it with Rick, that I'm actually where I am. I'm going to You're still in the pot.
Tony D. :You're still in the pot, don't fall for it.
Carmen Lezeth:OK, sorry, thank you, thank you, tony. Thank you, thank you. Thank you, tony.
Brian M. :Thank you, Tony.
Carmen Lezeth:With that said, I'm going to end the show. Thank you everyone for stopping by. All about the joy. We're so glad 2023 is over and I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed and fabulous 2024. And we'll see you guys next week. Bye everyone. Thanks for stopping by. All about the joy. Be better and stay beautiful folks, have a sweet day.