From “Lonely” to “Locked Up” and beyond, Akon has provided a consistent soundtrack of hit songs throughout his 30+ year career. The Senegalese-American singer (“not a rapper,” in his words, though he writes raps for others) grew up in New Jersey & honed his musical craft through exposure to artists like his percussionist father and the Fugees.Akon explains how the loneliness of jail helped him write his first hit songs and tells the story of Lil’ Zane discovering him and leading to him signing a record deal in 1995. He breaks down his A&R approach, including lessons he learned from Steve Rifkind and why he knew Lady Gaga would be a star from the moment he first worked with her.Akon’s new album, Beautiful Day, is out now.Make sure you hit that like and subscribe button and leave a comment letting us know what you thought about the show!Email thetruthhurts@powmag.net for sponsorship opportunities. The Truth Hurts is hosted by Jeff Weiss, Rosecrans Vic, & FreeFollow 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/id1813226752

Gashi joins Jeff Weiss and Free at Gold Diggers in LA on The Truth Hurts Podcast to talk about his new independent album The Killah Whales of Gotham. Born in Libya & raised in an Albanian-American family in Brooklyn, Gashi was a garbage man before he started making music. He breaks down his story of how he ended up signing with Roc Nation, making a country album before Post Malone, and finding success as an independent artist.

He also touches on nostalgia, loving the 80s, copying Drakeo’s voice tone on a song, blocking people, hating Sea World, going through Hell, being passionate and sensitive, his parents kicking him out when he told them he wanted pursue art, being homeless, meeting Kanye at age 13, trying to sign Chappell Roan, doing a song with Sting, and much more. Plus, he explains why he’s the Albanian Bad Bunny.

Nothing Personal founder Blazzy joins Rosecrans Vic & Jeff Weiss to tell the story of his come-up from Paramount, CA to designing best-selling shirts for Lil Wayne & products for artists like MoneySign Suede. He breaks down the night in 2017 w/ Desto Dubb & 03 Greedo that changed the face of LA hip-hop, how his Perc 30 jersey went viral and why he followed it up with a ‘Fentanyl Kills’ shirt, how Dallas’ creative community inspired him, and why “we don’t need anymore t-shirts.”Blazzy also shares his thoughts on topics impacting design and journalism, like working for free, paying your dues, the value of tunnel vision, using AI, social media’s destructiveness, and working with intent. Shout out to https://www.gold-diggers.com for hosting the show!

00:00 Intro

1:45 How Blazzy & Vic Met

4:15 The Night in 2017 that Changed LA Hip-Hop

8:35 What his life was like in 2016

11:12 When his life changed

15:28 Nothing Personal

16:19 Perc 30 Jersey

18:20 Fentanyl Kills shirt

19:30 Pro Choice shirt

20:40 Intention & Inspiration

25:28 Why we don’t need anymore t-shirts

32:00 MoneySignSuede

43:30 Dallas artists

47:28 Doing things for free

52:30 The value of tunnel vision

54:09 AI graphics

1:05:13 Lightning Round Make sure you hit that like and subscribe button and leave a comment letting us know what you thought about the show!Email thetruthhurts@powmag.net for sponsorship opportunities. The Truth Hurts is hosted by Jeff Weiss, Rosecrans Vic, & FreeFollow 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/id1813226752