Talking Music and College with OldMilk Media

Nate: Yeah, like a different college within Syracuse, but African American Studies was good.

That’s a good class. It was a good, good time. My first um, my first professor in African American Studies was this old white lady. And when you’re walking in to your first African American Studies class, and you see your old white lady, you’re like, Okay, who set me up?

[Music]

Zeke: I’d like to welcome everyone to another episode of the Let’s Gather Podcast. I’m your host Zeke. In this episode, I have my friend Nate to speak about podcasting, college and music. You can listen to his podcast, the Cap Crew, by clicking the link in description below or go to all major podcasting platforms. I like to give a content warning for any strong language used in this episode. I hope you have a nice day and enjoy the show.

Zeke:  So, welcome to the podcast.

Nate:  Oh, thank you. I think it’s all gonna down for a second waffle. kind of new to this new to this interviewing thing.

Zeke:  Be on the other side. 

Nate:  Yeah, I’m used to being on the other side by. Yeah. It’s weird. It’s weird being the interviewer or being the interviewee my fault like, now you kind of realize how all these people be feeling when you’re like trying to ask them questions and stuff. It’s kind of a little nerve wracking. You feel me?

Zeke:  Yeah. So first question I always like to ask is what would your origin story be and how would you like to represent it?

Nate:  My origin story? I think my origin story would probably be I mean, I can only speak for right now. I don’t want to really like talk about what’s in the future, because I don’t really know what’s gonna happen in future. I think right now, I think my origin story would definitely be someone who is managing to find success while still not having everything figured out. I’m I’m only 22. So that’s what I mean by that, like, no one really has like figured out at 22. And if you think you have life figured out at 22, you probably should reconsider that. But overall, I think that, yeah, like I said, just being able to put things together and find success, despite not really having things figured out. Now, how I would want that being told I want to start a movie and I was like, I want to act in it. Like, I want to, like be the actor and I want to be like, Yo, this is where I was at 22 years old. So yeah, it’s gonna be like an autobiography. autobiography. That word movie

Zeke:  Like playing me 

Nate:  Oh yeah, 

Zeke:  Staring me.

Nate:  Yes me. And I’m gonna have all my and I’m have all my friends if they want to add them have all my friends starring as themselves and stuff. But the people on you feel me and we don’t we don’t get a we don’t get an Oscar. We don’t get an Oscar. I mean, we don’t get some. I know that for sure.

Zeke:  If I’m in it, put Idris Elba as me we both have grey hair.

Nate:  Copy. I’ll make that call. I made the call. You want to want to come over here. Please Zeke for me real quick. Yeah, yeah, I could do that. Yeah, fuck things behind I don’t need to do that. Let’s go Just do your movie. Thanks, Idris.

Zeke:  Yes, how you been? like each other how they change?

Nate:  Um, a lot changed since the last time we’ve seen each other. Oh, we got this nigga in the office now um, which is trash, but I’m glad that he’s getting now. A 2016 was terrible. 2017 was aight 2018 was aight 2019 was aight 2020 is trash. I think everyone could agree with that. Um, but for the most part, I just graduated in May from Syracuse University studying communications and rhetorical studies with a minor in African American Studies and another minor in public communication. Um, so yeah, right now I’m just working on my podcasts Old Milk follow that on Instagram Old Milk underscore co also on Twitter. Got a podcast go on with my lovely co host RJ Levy Chin. Shout out DJ Phonic a shout out max as well. And yeah, just work and tryna. Trying to find a way to climb the ladder a little bit, you know? Yeah. Pretty much it.

Zeke:  Yeah. Going for podcasters what got you into podcasting? 

Nate:  Um, I mean, on when I was in college, I was part of two radio stations. And I just saw I just saw podcasting as the next big thing. Because nobody our age unless they’re like driving in the car to work every day really listens to the radio. I think it’s really becoming more podcasts. eccentric, like the podcast market is just booming right now. So I thought I saw this as a way to kind of build upon that, like capitalize on that as well as they’ll do things that I that I love to do, which is talk on the radio and share my thoughts and analyze things. So yeah.

Zeke:  And I talk on the radio. When you find out what did you find out that you like talking?

Nate:  High school. I suppose. Anyone? I’m sure you could probably testify to this as well. Like anyone who knew me. In high school. I was the sports guy like I would always like be downstairs in the cafeteria talking shit. I’m always talking about sports or whatever else. I didn’t really start getting into music until I got to college. But sports that was my shit. I would always be roasting people. You know how to mushroom um, tables are especially in high school, especially in New York. Like if you ain’t Look, I’m roasting at the lunch table. What are you really doing? Um, so yeah, and I’m glad that that really just started. Me being able to put words together and being able to express myself more clearly in any setting, which I feel I pride myself on that being able to express myself wherever I’m at, and being able to kind of cold switch in a way where the people I’m talking to understand me.

Zeke:  

Nice. And so you got your music in college? What kind of drove that? 

Nate:  Uh, that’s a good question. Let’s dig back in the memory banks a little bit, I think. Mmm hmm. I mean, I started liking music in high school. Like, that’s when Kendrick Lamar was coming out. And like, all the conscious rappers are coming out Jay Cole, too. I really got I was really, really, really into Lupe Fiasco in high school as well. But I didn’t really start getting into that more. A hype side for lack of a better word, the trap music until like, college, my first concert, my very first concert, and I’m so lucky to have this experience when my first concert was at Syracuse University, and it was a concert with lozi, low Yachty. And I believe Davies was the third. And Davies really impressed me. Lil Yachty His performance was kind of mid to me. So I was like, Okay, cool. But Lil Uzi got on that stage and he just took it by storm. And from that point forward, I was like, Okay, this this, this do Lucy’s next, like I really want to see what comes out of that. And then through Lil Uzi, I kind of started getting more into the 21 savages the Migos um, even I started getting more of an appreciation for Young Thug. I had always like Future, but I got more of appreciation for Young Thug, Chief Keef, as well, shout out Solomon. Um, so yeah, like I like really concerts. And I think that this is a thing that artists don’t really realize your performance can really impact your career, because that’s your first attempt to really make a connection face to face with fans. I mean, I know we can’t really, um, there’s not really anything we can point to now, because we’re in COVID. And everybody got to stay inside and shit like that. But what when you’re able to really make a connection with everybody in the room as you’re performing. That really increases your chance to grow your fan base and become more successful in artists like lozi Travis Scott is another one have been able to do that. And now you see how hard people go for them. Those two artists, I haven’t been to a Drake concert, but I’m sure Drake is really good as that as well. It’s really being able How do you and this is really just a thing in art in general, how are you able to make a connection with a fan or with someone a potential fan. So art is really just the purpose of art is to make someone feel something so if you whatever emotion it is, if you make someone feel something that’s that’s art, what is photography, seeing something and then you’re reminiscing on that? whether it’s music, like we’re talking about a movie, like you know, like when you sit down through a good movie, you become invested in the characters, and if someone dies, like oh shit that broke my heart, like that, that is an art. So that’s really what it is. And I think the best way to do that, like I already said, is to perform and give your all into good performances, and really connect with your fans. So use that use my story about little Uzi and how he his great performance as Syracuse really connected with me use that and take that as every single time you take the stage you have a chance to get bigger by even Travis Scott when you look at it, I believe it was these videos of him at South by Southwest where he was performing and he was going hard like he was really going into it and like him going into it even though there was like dude like you could see the ground like it was like there like there was more ground than people his performances at that time. And now look at him like playing stadiums and playing arenas and things of that nature and still giving you the same energy like they was really something to being able to connect and really give your own top performance.

Zeke:  Nice a lot of words.

Nate:  Yes. When I when I when I hit when I hit a stride, I actually I tend to write it the whole way. I also go in a lot of tangents so that’s really half the podcast that I put on just lots of tangents about shit. So yeah,

Zeke:  That was my first concert was in high school. Um, what you call it? Nas and um Swizz Beatz.

Nate:  That’s a little classic shit. How was that?

Zeke:  It was like the preseason thing. Oh my god. My first off it was probably back to my childhood with the songs. Remember these?

Nate:  Nas actually put out a good album this year to have you have you heard it on kings disease?

Zeke:  Not yet.

Nate:  Not yet. Oh my god. If you if you if you are not a fan that gets the job done this year really gets the job done this year

Zeke:  Yeah and going back to your point about like your performance like wasn’t official last year chose to own what night concert and I still like the one that most people talk about because yeah like all the NBA he has he had like all the animations and everything with it. It’s like everybody else who’s has like a pre recorded video of them doing the music they have like that. They did they also have that money was the bus the tour bus boss and the boss was back live for the entire like a week.

Nate:  Low low noise actually did something like that like last week on Roblox not Fortnight but Roblox which is, um, that’s his demographic anyway, like kids at that age, you know, Old Town road went off because it decays anyway. But um, yeah, it’s really becoming a thing now that, um, virtual reality, especially now because again, like I already I’m probably going to restate it 10 more times because of COVID niggas can’t performance, and shit like that, but I’m just being able to still get to the fan, how are you gonna get to the fan like, somehow someway because you can’t do it in you can’t do it in person now. So finding new ways, like, like you mentioned, Travis Scott being able to get on fortnight, um, and now you have low NASDAQ’s getting on Roblox to perform with his new single holiday. So I think that that’s really the next thing, being able to make a connection with fans, even though it’s, um, virtual, there’s a lot of things right now that they’re trying to develop that is trying to make that possible. So we’re, honestly it’s kind of scary, though, cuz I don’t know how much I really want to, um, I like I still, like, call me old as a 22 year old, but I still value like being able to be in a space with people and artists and still being able to, like have that connection with them as they’re performing. But I don’t know man, these these these, these kids on the rust, there is something different. They really, really, they really, really like a technology. And I’m just virtual reality. They’re really, really internet. So I’m really excited to see what comes out of the next 5 10 years and what new advances come out of that.

Zeke:  Question How you feel? Me personally, I’m just like, I’d like the interaction, the personal interaction of the concert, everybody mosh pitting together, but I don’t want to lose that.It has it’s advantage.

Nate:  Yeah, I mean, like, it’s, it’s really, I don’t know, I feel like there’s so many things, and COVID is really interesting, because this is really the time, this is really the first time that at least, to my knowledge that I can, um, draw, that people are doing everything at home, you’re working at home, you’re getting your entertainment at home, you’re still spending time with your family, like everything, like you’re not leaving your house. And this is the this is really the first time in modern history, that something like this has happened with all this technology around us. So is this something that is how, like, how much of this reality Are we going to have in our lives going forward? I guess would be the question, is this going to be something that becomes permanent? And it’s going to be normal for people to live in their house? Or is it going to be something where it’s like, Oh, I remember that. Um, but I’m glad that we didn’t really stay there. You know, so, is this going to be something that we’re going to be able to tell our grandkids about? And then this be a foreign concept to them? Or is this going to be something that’s their real lives? I guess, would be the question.

Zeke:  Yeah, you know, so we’re, we have that back and forth. Yeah like the um Amazon supermarkets and a um Hellofresh like people bringing groceries to us is a good thing or a bad thing.

Nate:  I mean, meat for me, I like to I’d like to pick out my stuff I’d like to I value that time where I’m able to like look at feel how soft the mangoes are. And, you know, like, just like being able to make sure you’re putting quality ingredients in your own basket. And really, because I really, I’m not really trusting anyone unless it’s like someone that I really know obama really trust anyone to like, shop from you like that, you know, like, like, I’m very particular about being able to have fresh produce, and that’s something my mom instilled in me as well. So Yeah, but this is this is this is really fucking crazy. This is really the first time in like modern history, like, we’re both from New York City right? Can you ever Can you like, do you if I told you that there would be a time where you could get on a train and every time no matter what time of day you can only train you’re guaranteed a seat and space. You would think I’m crazy, wouldn’t you? Like, like this is this is really insane and don’t get me wrong, I value the space like, I really like people I really like strangers touching me and I’m like that, um, especially now in COVID like there was one time on the train tangent. This is one time on a train where I was sitting down and you know, like those like the three train like how they have a little seats, like different colors and stuff like that. So there’s one scene between me and someone else, and some dude gets on the train. And he literally tries to squeeze in next to us. And in the middle of that he almost sits on my lap. And I’m just like, dude, do you not know what’s going on right now? Like, why would you even attempt this in the first place? But that’s it. That’s it. That’s a different story. I don’t really people want to train a weird man and they do not know personal space. I guess that’s what you should take away from that but and that was something that was going on in New York City but at the same time, it’s like now especially especially now when you got away the masks and everything like that. Why would you try to squeeze into anywhere so honestly, respect people’s personal space? That’s what I got respect people’s personal space.

Zeke:  Get to the same point. never hear could a couple years. Like fire the fire back, but have Japan how like virtual art like virtual artists. Now perform? Sounds like that normal thing? Where there’s no different than travelstart concert? 

Nate:  Yeah, even holograms. It’s up to you have like Michael Jackson holograms to park holograms like this shit is first of all. What do you what do you think about that? What do you think about having holograms and people still being able to see um legends deceased legends still perform? Like what do you like? Would you attend a Michael Jackson hologram concert or Biggie hologram cancer? What would you What would you do in that situation?

Zeke:  I probably attend but it won’t. It won’t be the same as them being alive. Because you won’t get their energy in their version of it. You get somebody else like interpretation of their password is not going to be the same because it does add that as a degree a different degree of difference. And as an attorney so much like watching videos of performing is that it is it moves. They just like a character moves. But it’s not that different than like a video. 

Nate:  Yeah, I agree. Agree or maybe something that I’ve seen for free. And that’s been I be able to find some value in being able to see those types of dough. The seas lay live. I’m using air quotes, obviously, but I don’t know. Tough. It’s a tough decision.

Zeke:  Yeah. No continuous music. How do you feel like you will predomiNate: more rap fan, right? So how do you feel about like the changes that

Nate:  Change a rap? Mmm hmm. Um, what exactly can you can you be more specific with that question? Can you give me so I know exactly what to how to answer your question.

Zeke: Now, most of you will say that, like cosmetic changes don’t the entire history of this lifetime and people saying more so for like, like, the more popular artists are losing everything. Like the most successful Odyssey I can take because, you know, Drake. He had like the legends like that, that divide between the fans in the audience was like the young

Nate: Generation gap. All right. Mmm hmm. The generation gap is so interesting, because I’m sure in the 1980s or 1990s when that type that era of rap was still popping. Um, when when it first came out that people who are older than them at that time we’re like, what are you doing? Like what what is this? What is this new thing with hip hop? What is that? I don’t think we listen to we listen to jazz over here, sir. Listen to soul over here, sir. What’s what’s good with that? So it’s just, it’s just every generation loves what their generation did. And some people and because of how fun we and how strongly they feel about what their generation accomplished, they’re always going to hold on to that, which makes complete sense. Um, but at the same time, you have to you have to recognize that things evolve. life, life evolves TV in 1950s is in TV. Now, same thing with hip hop, like, hip hop, like if you go back to 1990s, and you listen to Biggie, and you listen to Jay Cole. Now, there’s some similarities, but it’s still different in terms of instrumentals, in terms of flows and things that nature like they like the game has just evolved over the 40 plus years that’s been existing. Um, so that being said, I think that when you’re looking at new artists like Travis Scott, um, lozi, like you mentioned, a future even Drake, which I Drake is someone who is really, really good at being able to still, most of his music now is really identifies with this generation than it did like the generation of Kendrick and J. Cole. He’s not really much of a lyricist right now. Um, so it’s really just about understanding that things evolve. Drake is someone who understands that, and I don’t think really I don’t think I don’t think that I think it’s, I think it’s something that goes both ways. I think the younger generation should try to understand where the older generation is coming from, like, go back to listen to 50 cent, go back, listening to Biggie, go back listening to rock him go back listening to a Pete Rock, CL Smoove, um, but at the same time, the older generation should still understand that it that they shouldn’t be mad about the younger generation doing exactly what they’re doing what they did, but just in a different way. So now, it’s a hip hop, becoming more subjugated and having more sub genres, you have hip rock over there, you have hip hop over there. Um, you have people who are still lyricist, you have people who just want to sing. And that is a beautiful thing for hip hop. Because one, we’re one we’re not getting hip hop is not getting to be the number one genre in America. Without that without mixing in these rock elements without mixing these pop elements. Without expanding without growing without accepting what’s different, we’re not getting we’re not getting number one without doing that. And that needs to be under that needs to be recognized. Because that brings in the other crowds like the like hip hop, really, hip hop is really becoming pop music when you listen to new artists like 24 k golden when you listen to the end, or we listen to low tech, a little Uzi to an extent, um, there’s so many artists who have just been able to not really have to rely on their words and their lyricism anymore, you can really just rely on the flow and your ear for good beats, and you can be successful. So I say all that to say that’s all that’s a lot of that’s a lot of hanging points that I’m leaving there. But I say that to say that I think that the generation gap is something that over time, it has started to become bridged. It’s becoming closer together, like hip hop, there isn’t really I haven’t really heard many old heads really talk about this generation of hip hop negatively in the same way that you maybe did in 2015, when Young Thug was coming out, and we were like, What the fuck is this nigga doing? So I’m glad that there is that type of unity in hip hop. But at the same time, I think it’s just appreciate like knowing how to appreciate different areas, you can’t appreciate, you’re probably not going to be able to appreciate Drake in the 1980s, especially now with all the different genre hopping that he’s doing when he’s hopping on r&b songs. And now he’s doing UK drill and all these other things, you’re probably not going to appreciate that. So it’s just it’s just a it’s just really a time of artists being able to do what they want and being free. And I support that.

Zeke: Yeah, and the um on that thought was funny. So I was like, everything like that back in my day, too. So we did it and the young kids like, but this is we like, moved to like what we’re doing right now. But the argument never dies is just that the young guys just get older. And this is in they just say back in my day. This is what we did. Then their children are like this we’ll be doing now is the second cycle. 

Nate: Even even now. I feel like Like, I feel like listening to some of the new artists coming up. There are some times where I have to catch myself and be like, what? Like, what is this? But like, at the same time, it’s like, how do you? How are you able to understand things? Are you going? Are you willing to try and understand things in the first place. So I think that comes with being able to remain remain informed. And also, if you’re a rapper relevant in hip hop, like if you listen to, um, like Kanye is working with all these newer artists, he’s trying to work a little baby now. The baby now both both with those two babies, by the way, little baby, the baby, he’s working closely, he’s worked with Travis Scott, um, even Drake working with a little like, there’s there’s so many The thing about the artists that came out in 2010, and that they realize and they understand is that they have to embrace that new generation. So now you’re seeing, um, Kendrick working with baby King. Um, I mean, they’re cousins, but still, that’s two completely different generations and you’re seeing future working with lozi and really, really trying to come together with these new artists to create unity in hip hop and also give old fans and young fans what they want like prom on trippy reds last album, the one that just came out Pegasus, he has a song with Busta Rhymes on it. Busta Rhymes is Busta Rhymes, his career is older than me. And he has a song with trippy red on it. Well trippy red has a song with him on it. So I like that cross generational. Oh, I can mess with this. I can mess with this on kings disease like I was recommending to you. Um, Nas has a song with Fabio for nine bobbio foreign came out last year. With that with that Brooklyn drill. See five of one came out last year and NAS has a song with Fabio for and doing his thing on it. So I really think that the gap is being bridged. And I think that’s really really good for hip hop. There’s nothing but positivity like I come from that.

Zeke: Nice. There’s room, there’s room for everybody.

Nate: There is room for everybody for sure. And the one thing that we I think the next step is getting the getting the correct like getting award shows to understand that hip hop isn’t one dimensional anymore. So they like when you look at the Grammys, they would nomiNate: people like they nomiNate: like they put Travis Scott and, uh, for just randomly they’d put Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar in the same category. And it’s like, they don’t make anywhere near the same type of music. Like why are you comparing them aside from the fact that they’re hip hop when Travis Scott clearly has a rock element to it. So understanding that there’s sub genres in hip hop as well and being able to account for that too. That’s the next step as well, especially now also, with the women coming up mega stallion flow, Millie, a lot of cardi B already, um, like there’s so many women coming up to and that is going to be a completely different subsection of hip hop as well with completely different fans. So understanding that hip hop is still growing on and just understanding how to respect every single facet of the growth

Zeke: Nice Hip Hop is, just like massive all the black music put together. jazz, blues, rock.

Nate: Yeah, rock to country a little bit. Like there’s a lot of there’s a lot of elements that are being put together now. And there’s like so many different types of personalities and some different like trippy red is wild, trippy, red and Young Thug saying they don’t sing the same way. You know, like, future in Uzi they sing they’re very very similar. They just came out with a take together they’re very very very similar, but they still some things that future does that was he doesn’t do that. Oh z does that future can’t do so it’s like playboy cardi, like the nigga just like gives you two words for per line and he’s still making heat. So even though he hasn’t dropped in a while and I probably triggered a lot of play when cardi fans by mentioning him Sorry, sorry guys won’t do that again.

Zeke: Music is fine. Go back to so you study communication. 

Nate: Yes. 

Zeke: How was that?

Nate: Interesting. If I if I were to put it in Word interesting.

Zeke: All I had was one communication class. 

Nate: Yeah, I had a I had a speech class. I’ve had a small community, a small group communication class. I’ve had a class and this is probably my It was my first class. It was like the first class I was ever in in Syracuse. Um I forget I forget the name of it. It was community CRS 101 I want to say, one on one or 181, one of those. And the professor’s last name was Rodriguez. And he was a Caribbean, he was Caribbean. And his, his whole thing was, he would just talk the whole time. And he was just like, pick on random people to like, caught, like, converse with them. And in the middle of a lecture hall, I’m talking to a bunch of people, 300 people, like a huge lecture hall and for freshmen first coming into college, that task is daunting. But the thing that I really appreciated about his class was the way that he was able to expand communication from something that’s just verbal. So communication can be something. For example, I’m talking right now, right? And then you’re nodding your head, that’s communication that tells me that you’re listening to me and you’re understanding what I’m saying. me just like knowing and knowing, just just being able to read people better, you know, like, even when you’re taking when you take that away, right? Communication isn’t something that’s, um, human driven. When a dog when a dog is barking at you. He’s trying to he’s trying to alert you to something. When the trees when the trees change, change, when a tree’s leaves, change color, seasons about to change that communicates that to you. So there’s so many different ways look at communication now based on what I’ve learned, and I think that that’s something that’s very important because it also allows you to make an A, have an appreciation for everything, that’s not what they want you to like, focus on, like, you could really take a step back and appreciate nature now and see how birds communicate with their environment. See how squirrels communicate with with trees and with Knutsen just like running up and down and stuff like that. You can really see that better. So yeah, community like that’s, that’s really the biggest takeaway. I remember one time I took a, um, also the thing about that class too. We had to write 710 page papers 710 page papers. Now that sounds daunting as fuck, but let me tell you those it was it wasn’t as bad as it seems. Because it wasn’t you know how like you have those research papers where you have to like cite, you have to like look at he wasn’t we wasn’t doing that I could literally just rent for like, 10 like, I can literally just get all the emotions out just ran for 10 pages. As long as it’s somewhat proves my point, I get 100. So it wasn’t even on some Oh, yet to heavily resources and yet to cite your sources and think No, it wasn’t none of that it was really just being able to show that you have an understanding of that. And that really, also from doing that really also made me realize how much I like writing as well. Because when you’re able to just put words on paper and put thoughts on paper that’s completely different from being forced to do things especially like in New York, um, when you’re the regents right, though, do you remember the English regents when they’re like they told us a specific way to write and everyone hated it? Because it’s like, not everybody needs to write the same like that completely, like completely destroyed that concept for me. And now I look at writing as something more free and open. So I learned a lot of things in from that class specifically, as well as so many other classes that I took there. 

Zeke: Yeah. That many pages No. I’m switching.

Nate: Oh, God. No low key if that class wasn’t mandatory, I probably would have switched to, but I was so high and nothing to do but buckle down.

Zeke: Again, the longest feature paper ever written still high school in Ms.Barsh class. 

Nate: How long was it? 

Zeke: 10 pages.

Nate: 10 pages? She may be I don’t think she ever made me write 10 pages. The most I’ve written I most I’ve written was five.

Zeke: Did you take the advance class?

Nate: No, no, I knew I knew better. I was like, No, I like I know. I know what I need to do to get to where I want to be. That’s all I’m gonna do. Nothing. Nothing less. Nothing more. Like, I was cool. Huh?

Zeke: That was the um advanced class. 

Nate: Oh, no. No, no.

Zeke: But I don’t. Yeah. So how do you like figure out how to understand the totality of communication and not like people speaking but to appreciate every little detail in it?

Nate:  Yeah. That’s very important. appreciating the little things. If you get like that, that’s just just that’s just a good rule for life. Now. We’re gonna appreciate a little thing sometimes you get caught up in what you’re trying to do. And sometimes you just need to take a step back and enjoy the fact that you’re a living being right now.

Zeke:  Yeah. The (inaudible) like communications and marketing are pretty similar figure out how, people might as well more business like, hey, buy this? Your’s is more like this is me talking? 

Nate:  Yeah.

Zeke:  So what made you choose Syracuse?

Nate:  Um, I always always knew I wanted to go to Syracuse. Um, when I was in sixth grade, I believe that’s when I knew I wanted to go to Syracuse. Because that was, I don’t know, I was really, really, really a sports head growing up, and the one college that I would always see, and the one cause I would always see on TV with Syracuse, because that’s when their basketball teams were actually up note. Um, so just seeing that, and then realizing that it was a great distance. It was a good enough distance from New York City to keep the family away, but still close enough to where I don’t have to go through like three airports that that really sold me as well. Also, Syracuse is known as one of the best if not the best communication school in the country. There’s a lot of people in media right now who have gone through Syracuse, um, most Joe Biden, who is the president elect went to Syracuse, like so many people have gone to Syracuse. So it’s clear that they know what they’re doing in terms of making people successful for this society. But yeah, just seeing the amount of success that people will have had coming from Syracuse, as well as just the vicinity of it. Um, and the dreams of a sixth grader, um, that that’s all the things that made it really made me want to go to Syracuse.

Zeke:  Nice and seemed like it planed out. 

Nate:  Oh, yeah. Yeah. That’s the longest plan I’ve ever had. That was six years. That was six years if I want to go to Syracuse and I did actually come in and it actually happening I was so I was so happy.

Zeke:  Yeah, I was like, people are paying you money. I get money back nice.

Nate:  Now, Syracuse is expensive. That’s one thing I will say. And they keep raising their fucking tuition which, to be honest, I can get into the I could get into that a little bit. This this might not be the podcast that I but they should, they should stop raising tuition and just say that, that’s that’s fucking crazy. Especially in COVID. Like niggas is just in the houses and stuff. So yeah. It’s weird.

Zeke:  College is fun. 

Nate:  Yeah. If you know if you know how to if you know how to make fun it is. It’s, so once you especially make it, it’s really once you make it. You could be in a dorm 24 seven, just working and then you’ll not have any fun. Like, you got to know how to get out a little bit more experienced things. Just like even if you don’t like going, even if you don’t like partying or anything like that, just like no one had to make connections with people and do other things. Like, go go party and stuff like that, you know, little kickbacks. 

Zeke:  Yeah um my last year in college, like I said, My last show was on the JID. 

Nate:  JID Oh, He’s good. He’s good. We saw him. He’s good. Did you um, did you see him perform his hit song which I call off these?

Zeke:  Nah, bro.

Nate:  He performed that. And the song goes fast. Like it’s really, really fast. And the one thing this is the one thing I really really remember about that connoisseur because it had me weak. People performed it flawlessly. And then he was like, I fucking hate performing that song. That’s it. It’s so fast. Like that. He said that and I was like, okay, like, I get it like, Yeah, but Good job. Good job. Thank you for that. I think he reformed Jay Cole’s verse to incall wasn’t there so? Yeah, JD is also someone who, we’ve had a lot of concerts. There have been a lot of good people. Seeing Travis Scott 21 Savage. Um, lozi like I already mentioned, we had her I didn’t go to that concert, and I hate myself for it every day. But we had her. Um, we were gonna get Meek Mill. But then that was that time when Meek Mill went to jail the first time so then like, literally the weekend. We were gonna get Meek Mill. It was like oh, Meek Mill got locked up and I was like, okay, fuck, we can’t get Meek Mill. Um, we saw gonna push a tee T is a really good performer. So really, really fucking good performer push a tee ASAP. ferg Joey badass is another low key. A performer but you wouldn’t think that they know how to carry the energy of a building because of the type of music that they make. It’s all conscious and kind of it’s really really detail oriented in terms of the lyricism but they know how to put on a show those those are two of the best shows that I went to T Payne is also really really good still really really really good like he there was mad time there will be like Yo I’m tired and his Did you like Oh, you got more his performance like he right my fault and he will just like start performing another one like there was there was nothing t pain was crazy, too. There’s this

Zeke:  Yeah, yeah, college is good discussion. I mean, if you pay me my childhood Oh, yeah.

Nate:  Oh, yeah. We said was Canton is go scopes Canton. Nowhere is what we out

Zeke:  Now, and now he goes Twitch. Does he? Yeah.

Nate:  Oh, that’s crazy. That’s crazy. Is he? Have you seen Have you seen him? Is it is it good? Yeah, it’s good. I saw um, logic another rapper retired this year to do Twitch. I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s good or not. But there’s a lot of people getting on Twitch as well. Twitch is really building gaming in general is is building so that’s that’s very interesting as well.

Zeke:  Remember high school stuff? If so making money competing all that is my time to shine. That Call of Duty. Like go to college.

Nate:  I was never gonna call duty. I can’t do that I need like if I’m playing like shooters, I got to do like auto locks like Grand Theft Auto. How you can just auto lock on that then I could then I could do some damage but Call of Duty with all that. Like, I was never good at joystick gaming. never good at that. That should is kudos to you, man. I don’t know how you do it. But I know that’s not I know. I’m not about that life.

Zeke:  Sent me a couple years ago got a call of duty. It was like last time I saw something in Black Ops two. They had like when we for come back and I was like Yep, now nice.

Nate:  Confidence for you.

Zeke:  Yeah. Going back to college in the African Studies and what’s your the minor

Nate:  Public communication which is literally just different. It’s it’s different. But the same as my major.

Zeke:  Yeah.

Nate:  It’s in a different school though. So yeah, yeah, like a different college but then Syracuse, but African American Studies was good. How’s it good class? It was a good good time. My first um, my first professor in African American Studies was this old white lady. And when you’re walking in to your first African American Studies class and you see your old white lady you’re like, Okay, who set me up but she was so articulate in explaining those the black struggle and showing that she like she really earned my respect. Like this Like this lady was like, in her 80s in her 80s as a white lady so that means she went to see experienced some of Jim Crow she could have grew up to being she kind of grew up and been like racist as fuk if she wanted to, but like, she didn’t like she understood shit. And I’ll never I will never forget we were reading this book, I forgot what the book was called. And in the book, there was the term white devils in it. And she just said it so casually, like she frequently uses the term I was like, Okay okay Miss Simpson you got you got my respect my full professor like she was she was literally the first teacher I had and she was really good recipes to her though but that’s that’s fucking crazy. But that was that was really that’s really one of the most unique experiences I ever had because like just just just seeing a white person be able to properly articulate African American Studies and make me learn shit as African American person that’s respect that respect.

Zeke:  Walk into class. Okay, where the camera at?

Nate:  For sure. I was looking around like Ashton Kutcher around like,

Zeke:  (inaudible)

Nate:  Can I say something around out real quick. Now you can this is mandatory to rely on me to sit down. Now that was that was a good class. So many other classes on we had. The most interesting class, though, that I had was this class politics of Africa where you learn about Africa. And it was really interesting, like I learned so much from that class. I didn’t really do well in it, because the the way that it was taught was kind of like you learn stuff. But then like when it’s time to like you ever, you ever, like learn something, and it’s such a huge concept for you to understand that you need a moment to like, reflect on it and like actually, like, let it develop. That was literally the whole class. And it would just be huge as concept with things that are just so foreign to me because like, I’m, I’m half African American, half Caribbean. I’m not like, I don’t have any I don’t think I have, to my knowledge because this whole thing called slavery happened. I don’t think I have any answers. I don’t think I have any relatives in Africa, I could be wrong at the same time, slavery, so, but just just learning about the different politics of each country. And that really kind of grew my knowledge for Pan africanism. And just understanding how every black person in the world needs to be united on some front end needs to understand that no matter where you go, there’s fucked up shit happening to all of us. And being able to sympathize and empathize with each other. And while still supporting however you can, that’s very important as well, like when you saw Nigeria, recently with the N SARS movement, um, I am sure I can’t speak for them, because I can’t because I’m not Nigerian, I can’t speak for them. But I’m sure in the same way, when we were protesting George Floyd and Brianna Taylor, and Tony McDade, and all these other African American people who were murdered, um, they were standing up for us, I’m sure that they were encouraged like we were when they saw us standing up for them as well, and just lending our voices to them as well. So I think it’s really important that I’m Pan africanism. And understanding, just understanding just understanding that black people everywhere are at risk for certain things, and supporting them however you can, whether it’s lending your voice, or educating yourself and being able to educate others because we all have the power to you, you have more power than you really know. So just understanding that that’s really what that class did to open up my mind to and it’s correct, it’s really crazy. That class kicked off that I had that class in the same year, because that was literally the last African American Studies class I had, um, I had the class in the same year all this other protests broke out. So that’s, that’s really fucking crazy to expect crazy how life works, you know?

Zeke:  That timing. 

Nate:  Yeah, 

Zeke:  Geezes

Nate:  Timing is timing is everything, the universe will put you in situations and you’ll have no idea why you’re there until you know, like, you don’t know what to you know, which is, which is weird to say it sounds stupid. But unless you unless you know, like, unless you can really relate to what I’m saying. You’re probably won’t understand

Zeke:  And will have you felt like you have grown since then? Just from when you started to how you end?

Nate:  I i’d say so. I think I’ve grown in some areas, there’s still areas of improvement. What I mean, one thing, one thing about me that I’m starting to realize about myself is that I’m really someone who is really, um, I like I’m really someone who doesn’t really, I’m really a big victory type of guy. And that sucks. And I’m trying to get out of that. But what I mean by that is someone who, unless it’s actually done, like the job is finished, and the words of the late great Kobe Bryant like, I’m not really celebrating about it, or I’m not really I’m giving myself credit for that. And that’s something that I got to get better at for sure. Because like there’s little things that you got to get better at every day. Like being able to make breakfast is an accomplishment you know, like being able to like have a routine that you’re sticking to working out every day that’s that’s an accomplishment you know, and just like finding a way to be able to minimize like to be able to break down your goals into literal until more into smaller goals, excuse me, being able to do that and still find the accomplishment and accomplishing the small goals as much accomplishment as you would the big goals. I think that’s that’s the next test. I see that right now. That’s my that’s my next test. So I go on that tangent to say like when you ask me Do I think I’ve grown I still think I have a lot of growing left. I do think I’ve grown but I just don’t. I haven’t really there been times obviously but like as a whole I’m thing as Accepting reality, like how I graduated, I accept that as reality now, like I graduated, like, cool, but I haven’t really accepted me my growth as a reality yet, because I still feel like it’s a work in progress and it’s still something that has to remain on top of, you know?

Zeke:  Yeah, you just say, I’m working progress for the rest of my life.

Nate:  Yeah. That’s the thing, just like making the choice to be better every day. That’s really what it is. Life is a bunch of choices, man.

Zeke:  And solving small goals that help you off here in the past. So you’re making progress. And not in the same spot, yes, you moved a couple spaces. 

Nate:  Yeah. Making sure you’re not stagnant too. That’s, that’s huge. But also, at the same time, understanding that stagnation is a part of life too. So like, if you’re, if you’re in a spy for a long time, keep working like don’t really let that discourage you. Just understand that this is where you’re at, and try to figure out how you can get out of that.

Zeke:  Jump back to the podcast. Yeah. So with that what’s enjoyable about the podcast,

Nate:  You repeat that one more time, my fault.

Zeke: What’s enjoyable about doing the podcast?

Nate: I was enjoyable about doing podcasts. I’m just being able to listen to music and talk about it combines my two favorite things, music and talking. You know, I’m like I said, I have a great co host and RJ levy chin and we’re able to try, we’re typically on the same page, we’re able to try and break down the music for people, casual fans, that’s really what I see it being just something that casual fans can listen to, and gain knowledge and information from, that’s what we aim to be. So being able to do that I like informing people. I like talking, I like giving my opinion. It’s all fun, like even just like being able to wake up on Sundays, because that’s the day I listen to music, um, to being able to wake up on Sundays, and just like know that, oh, there’s three albums. Like there’s three hours that I listen to that’s three hours of new music that I could just sit back and enjoy. Just like knowing that that makes Sunday so much better. So yeah, that’s that’s really enjoyable. And also just the the conversation, the banter that we have, between each other, um, the conversations we have behind the scenes, where we’re trying to focus on how do we get this podcast better, as well as just like being friends and just talking about random shit that have nothing to do with the podcast, you know? So? Yeah, that’s, that’s, that’s really what makes the podcast enjoyable.

Zeke: That human connection and music. Doing a podcast> How did you know that you like what kind of made you feel like going to the next big thing?

Nate: Um, as much, as much as it is conceded for me to say, and this is probably gonna be the one conceded moment that I’m going to have. Are you ready for this? Because I was doing it. That’s what made me feel like it would be the next big thing because I was doing I think realistically, I think I’m someone who is able to, I’m I might introverted extrovert. And what I mean by that is, if I don’t know you, I’m probably not going to talk to you. But when you have a conversate, like, when you’re able to have a conversation with me, I think most people come away with come from that thinking yo linic is kind of, it’s kind of cool, you know. So I think that I know, I know, I know, my strengths. And one of my strengths is being able to speak to people and being able to help them understand things. So just being able to take one of my strengths and now creating, taking that and creating a podcast or creating content with that, um, is something very important, I think, with that, also, RJ is a very, very interesting character. Um, you don’t even know if he’s though, like, it’s really fun, because you don’t really know if he’s gonna start singing One moment. Um, if he’s, if he’s gonna get passioNate: the next moment and go on a 10 minute rant that is something that people need to hear, um, just the unknown. Just Just the the fact that it’s a structured Podcast, where there’s still a lot of unknowns to it really excites me as well. There’s there’s nothing that we’re really that we really have to Do during when we record. So just all that I think the main challenge for us now is how do we market that? And how do we grow our reach? Like we were talking about before this podcast started, like, you know how like, um, that’s really that’s really the one big thing now with everybody, how do you grow your reach? How do you get more eyes get more ears to your product, your content can be the best in the world. But if you don’t get enough eyes or ears to it, and nobody really knows it exists, does it really matter how good it is. So that’s, that’s really the next big thing trying to figure out how we’re able to take the next step. And also I just like the challenge of growing and being able, growing creatively and being able to, to make myself do things that I typically wouldn’t do like a year, like a year or two ago, I would not be editing videos. Now I do what twice a week. I wouldn’t be I wouldn’t be making graphics, the way that I do. Like just just learning and learning the different intricacies in every single art, whether it’s graphic design, video editing, audio editing, like audio editing, that’s not something I would have did like a year ago. Like I would not be doing that a year ago. But I’m doing that every week now. So just learning and figuring out what else I can do artistically is very exciting as well.

Zeke:  One thing you detailing, podcasting. So yeah, the thing is, is marketing as a company is like, social media, like we are the new like with a new thing. And now we can show the message now that that gave us a message. Now we do not know how to get around that wonder who’s gonna pick that new innovation? 

Nate:  Yeah, I mean, yeah, I mean, TiK Tok right now definitely has game on lock. To be honest. You know, I don’t have one and I don’t really, I don’t really think I’m gonna get one in the next however long unless I absolutely have to. But Tick Tock is definitely that’s what that’s what’s really poppin off right now. Like, there’s some like a lot of artists now too, especially, like going back to music a little bit like a lot of artists are being able to find success on tik tok. I’m Megan a stallion savage would probably wouldn’t have been as big as it was without Tiktok all town rolling by law nonsense probably wouldn’t have been as big as it was without Tick Tock. So Tick Tock is really starting to be the next gatekeeper in terms of what’s cool and what’s not cool. So that’s, that’s very interesting to look out. There’s another, um, there’s more apps that are coming on. So I’m just excited to see the different avenues in which we can try and get the message out. And when we get to a point where we’re not just limited to just Facebook and Instagram and Twitter.

Zeke:  Yeah. would be something I just can’t do.

Nate:  Yeah, I feel like everything’s been done. To be honest. I think Twitter, I think Twitter thinks that everything’s been done to you saw, um, recently, they have this thing called fleets. Now, this is essentially Instagram stories, which is essentially Snapchat. Like, where’s the innovation? Really? So it has to be something that just comes out of left field at this point?

Zeke:  Yeah, this somebody’s got some information.

Nate:  Hopefully, because if nobody has an imagination, we’re doomed. As we’re just gonna be under Facebook’s thumb for the rest of our lives. And I don’t know about you, but that’s not really a world that I want to live in.

Zeke:  Facebook. Now Facebook just takes the Drake of social media. 

Nate:  Yeah. Yeah, that’s a good comparison. It’s a very good comparison. Yeah. That’s pretty true. Yeah. Yeah, that’s that’s fucking crazy. Trying, shaking my head. That’s just me trying to do a little YouTube component to it, because now you can post videos on it. That was Snapchat component. They have Instagram, like their Facebook is Instagram too. Like there’s just they’re huge, man. That’s fucking crazy.

Zeke:  That’s crazy. It sounds like the future.

Nate:  Instagram would be if Facebook is Drake. If Facebook is Drake, Instagram is singing Drake. Yeah, they’re the same. They’re the same person, but they’re different. They’re the same person. And then Twitter would be Kendrick. Someone who’s not someone who isn’t, um, as appreciated as they should be, even though they’re really appreciated. But low key the best.

Zeke:  Who’s called Snapchat that low key guys lucky but a lot like that,

Nate:  I’d say started off really really strong with everybody then started developing the niche and still having a few nolimit say a few but still having a lot of data dedicated fans however it’s not really appealing to everybody anymore.

Zeke:  Yeah. YouTube

Nate:  YouTube

Zeke:  That’s a good question. What’s a Kanye? No, it’s not Katya. 

Nate:  Oh no, we got to get back to that. Oh, no, that’s that’s a good one that might be that might be the question of the day. That might be the question to today.

Zeke:  Yeah. When we talk about our Yeah. No money ideas.

Nate:  I’m cool. I’m cooling. Honestly, um, we could talk we could talk for however much longer Mmm, this is fun. I’m enjoying this.

Zeke:  Yeah, I like that and we get to have fun. Yeah. Yeah.

Nate:  Good interviewer you know how to you know how to um, you know how to you have good questions. First of all, you know how to get people to tell you more. Um, yeah, you’re good. Interviewer appreciate that.

Zeke:  Oh, you’re welcome. I have no background in this. I said that one time was a magazine a magazine effort rather than that.

Nate:  You did a magazine? a magazine effort or magazine cover?

Zeke:  Like No Other magazine. The growth has your I think it was a junior. Sophomore year. No. Magazine photo so I got through and I got into a magazine.

Nate:  Oh, that’s cool.

Zeke:  You still have a copy of it? Yeah. don’t publish. Interviewer I guess. Yeah. Yeah, but then we’ll end it all right. Already. So last question. Yes. What would you name your origin story?

Nate:  What I name my origin story

Zeke: Yeah. All milk

Nate:  That’s it that’s it all no underscore co on Instagram and Twitter. Check out the Comcast the cat all milk.

Zeke:  Starring me. Featuring, Idris Elba.

Nate:  Yes, of course. Idris Elba we want to everybody I want I want if I if there was one person that I wanted to play me highkey I like lucky Stanfield? I like him a lot. I like how he’s able to. I like how he’s able to make each roll his own. Like it’s still like you still get a little bit of his personality even though he’s still such a really good actor. He’s he’s he’s without a doubt my favorite actor right now. Him in um, what’s what’s what’s that one? Have you seen that one? With the dystopian society and test Thompson’s in it. Sorry to bother you. That one was good. Him in Atlanta is fucking hilarious as there is. Um, he was in knives out which is good. He’s wherever he is on the screen. I’m watching that shit. He’s like, like, how some OPB like, Oh, that is that was on the screen. I’m gonna watch that. For me. The key Stanfield? That’s my Denzel Washington. I’m uh, I must die on this hill. That’s, that’s what’s up.

Zeke:  Yeah. Nice. Thanks for coming on.

Nate:  Thank you for having me.

Zeke:  You later Yes, sir.

Zeke: That brings another episode or the Let’s Gather Podcast to a close. Again, you can go. You can find the Cap Crew on all major platforms, or or click the link in description below. For next week, I have my friend Patrick to speak about his journey in being an art director. I hope you continue to have a nice day and I hope to see you there.

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