6.09 Dripping in The Experience II:  The UCG Takeover

Timestamp are approximations

Shawn Smith (00:05.775)
Dripping in Black, Dripping in Black Productions, and I am here with the UCG Takeover as we talk about the 2026 Dripping in Black Creators Retreat. Along with me, I have Ty the guy, the pod guy with me. I have the...

Dominic Lawson from from our Education and all the good things that's coming through there my guy from the south Mr. Don't forget the mister mister Al Pete from Duval County and of course the tech guy our guy up there representing Columbus my guy

the great big we support great big tonight great big is the sponsor that means absolutely not no money but but we are here to celebrate talk about

Krate (01:07.308)
Nothing at all, because I give no money. I don't have it, I don't give it.

Shawn Smith (01:18.083)
The creators retreat. had this March, March 6th through the 8th in Detroit, Michigan. This is the second. That's why we got the experience to do this.

Before we get into what we all did and what our experience was like, we want to definitely give a shout out to our food. And again, for the second straight year, Kia can cook, handle the food for the most part. And we have some dessert by my cousin, my cousin in love, Auntie Dottie, Dorothy, Dorothy Ledsinger

Krate (01:43.244)
Yeah, yeah.

Ty Hicks (01:44.691)
It's a wonderful, fantastic, beautiful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful,

Krate (01:54.572)
Yeah, them cupcakes was hitting.

Shawn Smith (01:59.296)
So, immaculate.

Krate (02:00.319)
And the packaging was immaculate. got to say before you got to even got into the cupcake, the packaging was immaculate. But carry on.

Ty Hicks (02:02.682)
Immaculate, yes it was.

Shawn Smith (02:06.303)
Okay, that was a mashup. was a mashup. Kia picked that out because she's the vibe creator and we sent it to her and she executed it. So yes, so I'm sure we'll show y'all some pictures of that stuff as you're watching this video.

Ty Hicks (02:06.541)
Absolutely.

So I think that's what we're all about. So be afraid.

Krate (02:30.541)
Whoever watching Dragon Ball Z, I can hear it, but keep going. Like, I don't know what I'm hearing, but I'm hearing somebody. The episode is ramping up, but keep going. So you said it was a collaboration, Kia and Auntie.

Ty Hicks (02:33.929)
I guess.

Shawn Smith (02:46.122)
Yeah, well, you know Kia I don't know how much we talked about

Ty Hicks (02:48.08)
Bye.

Ty Hicks (02:54.277)
seconds.

Shawn Smith (03:16.227)
We may talk about that, we may not. But anyway, overview, who wants to start us off with just a general overview of how they experience the experience?

Ty Hicks (03:34.476)
I'll go. What's going on, everybody? It's your boy Ty. My experience was fantastic for me personally. When I go to these retreats, I feel a sense of

Shawn Smith (03:42.096)
was fantastic for me personally. When I go to these retreats, I feel a sense of rejuvenation, my energy in terms of creating and just getting back into the mold of.

Ty Hicks (03:53.932)
rejuvenation, my energy in terms of creating and just getting back into the mold of podcasting and hosting and everything, you know, what that comes with. I look for this, you know, I look to this retreat as as as a boost and as a learning center.

And that's what I got this year. was a lot of things that I learned, a lot of equipment that I brought, new equipment that I brought and bought, you know, and my brothers helped me out with that. so, you know, learning from them all weekend was pretty dope. So, yeah, that was was my.

Dominic Lawson (04:48.58)
think for me, it's just being around like-minded people and being able to create with like-minded people is always a very...

Ty Hicks (04:54.499)
Thank

Dominic Lawson (05:01.348)
Both humbling, rejuvenating, also learning experience as well to kind of see how my four brothers, not just interact, but also how they go about their craft and learning and see how they do things. Almost kind of like BTS to how they do what they do, which is always something I appreciate.

because this creative space can be very lonely at times, but when you have a collective like we have, it's something that makes this journey a little bit easier. I mean, it's not easy by any shot, but it makes it a little bit easier, a little bit easier to kind of navigate a little bit, kind of bounce off ideas and...

Ty Hicks (05:50.689)
It's likely we're gonna do that.

Dominic Lawson (05:52.056)
On top of all that, far as what we do, just generally appreciate and care for more people on screen. we've developed a friendship, and that friendship has turned into not just lasting relationships, but also dope ass content. And so it was just an amazing experience, and I'm glad that we were all able to.

Shawn Smith (05:53.616)
I just generally appreciate and care for people.

Dominic Lawson (06:20.344)
make it to the retreat. It kind of felt like going to Mecca in a sense. Like going and getting rejuvenated like Ty said and just kind of getting that that mojo, that fire and swag back. So I guess that was my experience.

Ty Hicks (06:26.207)
So thank

Krate (06:36.139)
Yeah, I definitely second that from an emotional standpoint and a personal standpoint, just being around your brothers, having a chance to, you know, just sit back, talk, have conversations in the presence of, in the physical presence of each other and not just on a clubhouse call or a zoom call or what have you, a phone call. like physically being there with your brothers is very important for a lot of different reasons.

But if you take the context once again to the creator space, not just to what Dom said, like seeing how other people operate and how they do what they do and understanding the BTS of it, but also knowing that as we collaborate, we're collaborating with people who already move at a high level, at a high standard on their own. So when the collaboration comes together, I don't want to say it's easier, but you...

Ty Hicks (07:14.544)
Okay. Okay.

Krate (07:30.783)
Individually there's certain things you just don't have to worry about no more like Dom is going to take care of this Krate's gonna take care of that. Al's gonna take care of this. Ty's gonna take care of this Square's gonna take care of this and you just trust and know that They got it Versus many other times we have you know truth. I'll just speak honestly I won't speak for other people, but I just speak openly honestly There's several times that as creators we have collaborations or we have to work with folks and not that they don't know what they're doing but

Shawn Smith (07:56.176)
We have to work with folks, and not that they don't know what they're doing, but sometimes they don't have the best methodology, or they don't have the best way to communicate what they need from you. So sometimes they're expecting you to know certain things about what they're doing without communicating. And all the other things that come with just the, I don't want to say hardships, but just the process of working with people. A lot of those kind of.

Krate (07:59.893)
Sometimes they don't have the best methodology or they don't have the best way to communicate what they need from you. So sometimes they're expecting you to know certain things about what they're doing without communicating. And all the other things that comes with just the, I don't want say hardships, but just the process of working with people. A lot of those kind of...

Concern or trust issues or whatever kind of word whatever is the best applicable? Phrasing for that a lot of that is gone. So we just say hey This is what we're do and we all kind of take a role and each person whatever their role is They still ask questions and say hey, how do you want to look for this or what are your thoughts about this? Or if I come this way, how does that affect? So all of those collaborative ways and methodologies was on display at a high level so any and

Ty Hicks (08:43.229)
So, So, thank you.

Krate (08:52.015)
everything that you see content-wise that came out of that space is kind of just a touch of what we're capable of.

Because once again a lot of it was not like pre-planned it was just like hey, we got an idea Let's try it and then Al was big about rewarding experimentation and that's something he said over and over the whole weekend So in us experimenting we were able to experiment and create things that came out really really dope So for us in a kind of landmine plane on this part it reaffirmed

reinvigorated and added confidence that I already had that when we have a chance to really sit down and put something together in a more deliberate and drawn out structure, like forget about it, it's Voltron. So like just being able to have the personal relationships and to catch up with my brothers but also work and work and do what I do.

Shawn Smith (09:41.571)
So like just being able to have the personal relationships and to catch up with my brothers, also work and work and do what I do with other folks who do what they do at a high level. It allows me to work at a high level and we're still elevating each other. It's just, you can't ask for more than that, especially when you're doing with your people.

Krate (09:51.563)
with other folks who do what they do at a high level. It allows me to work at a high level and we're still elevating each other. It's just, you can't ask for more than that, especially when you're doing with your people.

Ty Hicks (10:02.885)
Thank

Mr. Al Pete (10:09.117)
Excuse me, everybody said everything that I was going to say. So I co-signed every last thing that they stated. It definitely was a rejuvenating type of feeling. I mean, yeah, it set the tone for me for a good, if anything, for the month, for sure.

So I'm thankful to these brothers on the call, man, you know, letting me be inquisitive and try out things and just be there to support.

Mr. Al Pete (11:03.568)
Listen.

I'm trying to think of a quote or the quote that fits this part and I can't think of it. So whenever that comes, whenever that comes in, insert it.

Krate (11:15.657)
I think it goes, I can't remember who said it, but I think the quote is, fuck this shit.

Mr. Al Pete (11:21.841)
Hahaha!

Shawn Smith (11:29.647)
was at that and I'm going home. Yeah, man. But all good things. I'm butchering whatever, for things to be good, sometimes you have to go through a little bit of humps to get to that good. So it was well worth

Mr. Al Pete (11:36.177)
Yeah, man. But all good things, and I'm butchering or whatever, but for things to be good, sometimes you have to go through a little bit of humps to get to that good. So it was well, well, well worth it, man. Well worth it. Definitely looking forward to doing it again for sure.

Shawn Smith (11:53.648)
Definitely looking forward to doing it again for sure. And also we have to remember this was the first time that all the UCG members were in the same place at the same time.

We've had up to four in different places, but we never had all five. And this was the first time, was it Al Pete? Al Pete? No. Was it Al Pete and? And Ty. Ty? Yeah. Yeah. We was in Peg Leg Vultron a couple of times, but it was the first time it's been all of us. Yeah.

Mr. Al Pete (12:18.361)
And, yup.

Krate (12:18.931)
Alan Tai. We was at Peg Leg Voltron a couple of times, but this is first time it's been all of us.

Ty Hicks (12:20.319)
Yeah. Yeah.

Shawn Smith (12:27.483)
So that's the first time that they've met and we've known each other for what three years four years four years years cuz I didn't come to a come to Afros and Audio that time that we were there and Al could make it to the retreat last year, so Let's go into this go into the retreat one of the highlights. I would like to say and we could spend

Mr. Al Pete (12:34.236)
again.

Ty Hicks (12:34.314)
Yeah, three fours, yeah.

Krate (12:35.565)
Four years, yeah.

Ty Hicks (12:41.889)
I did not.

Krate (12:42.781)
Al didn't come last year to the retreat.

Shawn Smith (12:57.517)
some time on it give you of course give you your thoughts is that we took a field trip this year took a field trip to the Motown Museum now

know I live close to Detroit, born in Detroit. I've never been. I have never been. It's usually closed or I just didn't think about it and things like that, but I haven't been. But I got my two DJs, my music people. said, man, we gotta at least go take a picture there. We had to go at least take a picture in front of Motown, because we right down the street from the Airbnb that we stayed in was not that far from it, so we went around the corner and

Dominic Lawson (13:28.453)
Yeah.

Shawn Smith (13:39.25)
and Sean finally saw it because every time I drive past it, I drive past it, I can't find it. I guess that's a good thing, so I'm driving and not paying attention to what's in front of me. But...

Your thoughts on the Motown? That was dope. That was dope for a whole bunch of reasons. We got to see Dom do his newer thing. It's not even the newest thing now. His new earth thing is fly the drones and the weather was kind of shaky, but he got it up and running. we were standing on history.

other things to study out when we was at the museum.

Krate (14:27.405)
Yeah, so as a historian buff, I guess, a student of history and one who does appreciate like being in spaces where I've like either seen on TV or heard about and all those things, it was dope to finally see the museum in person. I've seen pictures of it. I've been in Detroit several times and just never had the opportunity to go. So to have the opportunity to go see it, we didn't get a chance to go inside because it was closed, but just to be out front of it and just kind of see

like this really is just a house. Like they just went in a house and created history and changed the world, influenced the world. And as we reading about it, like they used to come out on the front yard, used to be just this patch of grass in the front of the house and write songs. So some of these crazy songs that I want, let me rephrase, some of these songs that went crazy on the charts and you know, are standing the test of time like.

somebody with a number two pencil in a whatever they was writing on paper or chalkboard, I don't know. But anyway, whatever it was right now in the front yard. Like really, it really was that kind of simple, which kind of on and I'm still processing it, but it takes me back to the context of like as a creator, as a creative person and one who works in different.

creative processes, it really took me back to how simple certain aspects of it could really be. And a lot of times, because we have technology, we get pushed or influenced to maximize the technology aspect of it, which there's nothing wrong with that, but sometimes it doesn't have to be super technical.

as long as it touches the people. And I think a lot of times we get focused on the tech aspect of it and lose sight of connecting with the people. So to physically be there and see the space, once again, it was a dope experience. And one I greatly appreciate the opportunity to, the weather wasn't perfect, but it wasn't snowing, it didn't rain.

Ty Hicks (16:22.354)
Okay.

Krate (16:37.299)
So, so like everything, everything was set up for us to be there proximity schedule like the, the, the, it was meant for us to be there that day is what I can really say.

Dominic Lawson (16:55.546)
thought it was interesting how we went there, you know, just hours before Krate and P did their thing with the Tupido Boys set, which I know we'll talk about later, but I can almost feel like some of that energy was transferred to create something magical later that night. And I think being able to, you know,

stand on hollow ground with this Motown, Hitsville, USA. And to kind of, to create a point, be reminded that like sometimes all you need is a patch of grass, a number two pencil, and a legal pad, or some type of paper to create something that changes the world, you know, and change the world doesn't have to be in famine or...

Shawn Smith (17:46.672)
change the world doesn't have to be in famine or stop wars or something like that. It can be a symbol of creating a two, three minute song that provides an escape for somebody or millions of somebody.

Dominic Lawson (17:52.098)
stop wars or something like that. It can be as simple as creating a two, three minute song that provides an escape for somebody or millions of somebody to love again, to be happy again, to dance for a few minutes, to do whatever. And I think as creatives, it was a cool

little trip to go on, but also like an important one to be on, to stand on those steps, to be in that house, to stand in front of and just look and just be in awe of like greatness was created here. And that lineage is now charged to us. And I think it's a great reminder to be there.

Ty Hicks (18:29.967)
So, we're going to talking about the impact of COVID-19 on world.

Dominic Lawson (18:45.008)
to be like, you know what, just create some shit and see what happens. mean, obviously you do it with intentionality and it's any other, but I mean, don't be scared to do it. And I think that was a big takeaway for me in addition to just experiencing it with y'all. Because there's one thing, because that was my second time being in there.

And it's one thing to experience family, but it's another thing to experience with like minded people who may not do the exact same thing, but have a common creative goal. And to be there is just truly something special.

Ty Hicks (19:37.549)
I think for me, I'm more on Shawn's team because being from Detroit, every time I'm trying to go to the Motown Museum, it's always been closed. It's always up for renovation. So I've never really been inside. But I have seen the renovations.

Mr. Al Pete (19:38.045)
So I wish you got

Shawn Smith (19:49.968)
being from Detroit. Every time I'm trying to go to the Motown Museum, it's always been closed. It's always up for renovation. So I've never really been inside. But I have seen the renovations and knowing that Motown will have now a actual museum being built in 2027. Hopefully, you know, fair.

Ty Hicks (20:06.345)
And knowing that Motown will have now a actual museum being built in 2027, hopefully, you know, is amazing. And so I mean, for me, I rode past that place, stood on that place before it got renovated, after it got renovated. And I always feel the same way that I felt when I when I was there with y'all.

It's always a sense of history. You can feel it. You can you're standing on it, you know. And again, like Krate said, it's a house, right? And that house still stands till this day. And.

To this day, even with it being closed, I still feel like most people have not been in there and there's just this air, this folklore. Like if you go in there, like it's a magic that you gonna take away from coming up out of there. You know what saying? So I just feel like sometimes it's selective too. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I just feel like that house holds so much energy.

passion, history, and the remnants of our culture as a people and in the music that I just feel like if we go in there just one time that that magic will kind of flow into us. And that's what I felt just standing in the presence of all the other greats that have

pave the way for all the musicians here and now so shout to multi

Mr. Al Pete (22:03.005)
Again, everybody said a thing that I would say.

Shawn Smith (22:08.047)
We gonna let you go first next time. Right, right. Did up. He said did up.

Krate (22:10.965)
Yeah, he got a quick copy off my homework.

Ty Hicks (22:12.138)
Right. He always like to go last.

Mr. Al Pete (22:13.529)
Ha ha ha ha ha.

Nah, mean, but real quick on that note, shout out to the Dom on the alley as well. When know, we're John DeCon, we did that improv joint. You know what I'm saying? Like, that spirit, that spirit was crazy. You know what I'm saying? So.

Dominic Lawson (22:37.168)
I felt bad about that. Well, OK, so we made a stop. You was, you had a.

Mr. Al Pete (22:38.547)
Why is that?

Ty Hicks (22:40.98)
them.

Krate (22:44.134)
Because he didn't make you pay. He let you do it for free.

Mr. Al Pete (22:47.133)
You

Ty Hicks (22:48.807)
That's what it was.

Dominic Lawson (22:49.808)
He jumped in the car and he was drinking some and I just shoved the microphone. Hey, man listen, I'm gonna holler at you real quick. I just shoved the microphone as I started talking.

Shawn Smith (22:56.791)
Yeah

Ty Hicks (22:58.973)
Well, you know, every great producer slash director, you know?

Mr. Al Pete (23:05.245)
And a quote that I will not butcher, if you stay ready, you don't have to get ready.

Ty Hicks (23:12.905)
That's it.

Dominic Lawson (23:13.07)
Fair enough. But go ahead, Pete. I'm sorry.

Mr. Al Pete (23:15.419)
Yeah, nah, nah, but that was magic that you did that man. I mean everything in that video that I stated was that was a raw feeling that I was having at that time. And I thought that was cool to catch those raw moments. Because when I was there with y'all, it was a moment that I was having with y'all. I'm like, OK, this the crew. You know what saying? We doing field trips around this joint.

Ty Hicks (23:37.86)
Thanks.

Mr. Al Pete (23:41.797)
You know, it was cool to be in a sacred type of place like that. But when Dom was talking to me in the car, he asked me about my feelings. It was just cool to get those raw feelings. And I remember going back to the Airbnb, man, and just kind of, before we started working again, it just felt like good to kind of just sit there and just kind of take in what had happened.

Shawn Smith (23:47.908)
But when Dom was talking to me in the car, he asked me about my feelings. It was just cool to get those raw feelings. And I remember going back to the Airbnb, man, and just kind of, before we started working again, it just felt like good to just kind of just sit there and just kind of take in what had happened. And just thinking about the grounds that we were on. And it's a...

Mr. Al Pete (24:09.627)
and just thinking about the grounds that we were on. and it just, it's a, I mean, I've had a little bit of time to reflect on it now, but like, I think about us when we was at, there, like we're, we're essentially doing the same thing that they were doing. You know I'm saying? Like a collective getting together and putting the work in, man. And just really just being diligent and being intentional and just having that brotherly spirit to make sure that each brother was.

was, you know, had stuff needed, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. So when you think about all of the greatness that came from that house and all of the music, the movements, the marriages, the babies, all that stuff, all that stuff that came from it, it's just cool that we was able to share that moment together as well as like, you know, directly and directly carry on tradition, to say. And it did add spirit for me.

Ty Hicks (25:03.494)
So,

Mr. Al Pete (25:07.335)
We did the two Dope Boyz joint. Definitely gave me that energy.

Shawn Smith (25:24.803)
Dom and Al with Starchie and Hutch on us put this camera on the car. And some of you have probably already seen it already, but we're gonna definitely put it in this show. That was dope. Just that Dom. Like I said, Dom is the evolutionary. Ain't that an enemy in Marvel? But we're gonna make it good, I think. Well, anyway, I call him Mr. Manhattan.

Ty Hicks (25:39.365)
That's all right.

Dominic Lawson (25:50.66)
might be.

Shawn Smith (25:54.69)
I've been thinking of all types of names for Dom. He said if it is, he's going to buy the franchise. Right. Or, you know, because Dom was, what's this boy's name that does the documentaries?

Krate (25:56.254)
He said if it is, he's going to buy the franchise and change it.

Krate (26:12.321)
Which, yeah, Ken Burns.

Dominic Lawson (26:12.368)
It's a Burns.

Shawn Smith (26:13.997)
Yeah, Ken Burns.

Ty Hicks (26:15.94)
Mmm.

Shawn Smith (26:15.951)
He was Ken Burns, he was Hype Williams, all in one person. He was everybody in one, yeah. He was everybody in one, man, because what we can say about that, Dom is evolving in front of our eyes, you know, and to get us right back into what we get into, Owl Education was the supplier of the education aspect of the retreat.

Krate (26:18.869)
He was Kidrick Burns.

Ty Hicks (26:20.579)
It was everybody in one. Yeah, Kendrick Burns.

Dominic Lawson (26:23.629)
You

Shawn Smith (26:45.905)
One of the presentations that he did was his journey from narrative to...

I'm not say journey from, but he was adding to doing narrative podcasting to doing a more visual, visual, we can't even limit him to podcasting. He already told us he wasn't a podcast, he's not just a podcaster. So going from a content creator from doing narrative to doing visuals, that journey just sitting,

Ty Hicks (27:03.683)
So, thank

Shawn Smith (27:25.009)
sitting back, you know, I'm in awe, I man, this man, done got 100 million cameras now, and he's doing all this different, he's doing all this stuff. Right. Right. you know, from...

Dominic Lawson (27:33.328)
Ha ha ha!

Ty Hicks (27:33.346)
Mm-hmm.

Krate (27:35.241)
and they fly. We got cameras on our tripods, his cameras fly.

Shawn Smith (27:44.112)
dominic lawson presents a new another i p that is out there now and doing some more stuff with that i don't know how you keep up because he did he did a Dom Lawson Presents he did a he did a

Black is america he's just doing this thing so like going back into the educational part Dom did two presentations Narrative to Video and he did the show by so Dom how do you think that went and do you have any

The video release dates, if any. I don't know how much you're to do as far as post with those things, they were solid within themselves. Thanks to you about this, for taking you. You're welcome, sir. You're welcome.

Ty Hicks (28:25.249)
.

Dominic Lawson (28:32.208)
Thanks to you, by the way, sir, I appreciate you.

Shawn Smith (28:38.255)
because you know I usually go say something, but I'm not going to do it. I caught myself, I'm growing. Negros, I'm growing. I'm growing. I'm growing. But how did you feel about how about the content that we created in the education aspect of those presentations that you did?

Ty Hicks (28:39.913)
Mm-hmm.

Dominic Lawson (28:43.344)
For more on Star Wars, go to link.

Dominic Lawson (29:01.584)
I was very pleased with it. when you think about both talks and you think about this evolution season or whatever it is you want to call it, I think the retreat is a great place, not just a great place, but a safe space to try new things. I appreciate U Square for...

not just putting the charge on me to kind of handle the education part of the retreat, but also to create new talks, if you will. And it's not something I thought people would be interested in, but at the very least, interested, not interested, interested is something that should have been out, should be out. No, I thought both talks went great. know, when we talk about this transition from...

narrative podcasting to filmmaking and stuff like that with visuals. It's just, I think it just goes to show that, and I think everybody on this, you know, in this collective has experienced this in one way or another where,

Shawn Smith (29:54.35)
narrative podcasting to filmmaking and stuff like that with visual. I think it just goes to show that. And I think everybody on this, in this collective, has experienced this in one way or another.

Dominic Lawson (30:15.684)
You're evolved from one thing to the next or the very least, you're not just this one thing. We don't just fit into this one box. And I think we have an understanding that when we get together, that it is a safe space, that it is a place where there's encouragement. There's also a place for accountability and also critique. And I'll say, hey, try this or think about that.

and stuff like that, but excuse me. But I thought both talks went great. I'm really proud of them. It's probably something I see myself kind of, I guess, take it on the road per se, but something that can be taken to somebody's conference. I don't know whose conference, because I've gotten kind of picky now.

about where I spend my time and save spaces. But I'm just really honored that.

U Squared trusted me with this, also all of you trusted me to kind of deliver in that spot, to kind of share both of those talks with, especially The Show Bible one. That's something that I was really interested in. didn't think about taking it bringing it to a talk, but like I said, Squared kind of charged me with that. But I'm really honored that you gave me that platform and that charge to kind of do just that. So I think that went great. I mean, like anything else, when you first do something for the first time, you know, there's things you want to

Shawn Smith (31:47.824)
I think they went great. I mean, like anything else, first do something for the first time, know, there's things you want to tighten up and stuff like that. I think the content was there. I think the was most effective there. Because even if the content may be delivered maybe a little shaky, value is definitely

Dominic Lawson (31:54.412)
tighten up and stuff like that. But I think the content was there, the delivery was there. I think it's definitely the value was most certainly there. Because even if the content may be delivered, maybe a little shaky, the value is definitely going to be there. And that's something that I've often pride myself on, is delivering that value. So I appreciate you all.

Dominic Lawson (32:23.824)
appreciate that.

Mr. Al Pete (32:30.941)
Well, the fact that you said you've been picky where you spend your time at, I totally get that. But I do feel like the, I don't know, the academia moves might be the moves as well. you know, some colleges, universities might, you know, be able to get this type of energy.

Dominic Lawson (32:54.862)
Listen, I'll come to Ed Waters. I'll come hear the show Bible Talk or the narrative podcast and talk. Hey, listen.

Krate (33:06.337)
He said, I'll come down and smack a gator. It ain't

Dominic Lawson (33:08.932)
Yeah, I'd do that too.

Mr. Al Pete (33:12.984)
But yeah, think that's a circuit that, you know, that's something that we can explore. I think this is something that probably had that conversation off camera possibly, but I don't know the academia space. And I'm saying that outside of me being in the academia space. I mean, all of us respectfully occupy those spaces, know, me, Krate and Square.

being in it like daily or whatever but I do feel like that could be one of the few circuits that your work could be displayed at for sure.

Dominic Lawson (33:54.466)
Absolutely.

Shawn Smith (33:55.756)
I'm about to say Ty, know, Ty too busy hobnobbing with Jay-Z and stuff, you know, he ain't bothering no academia spot because he elbowing with the big folks. Speaking of which, Ty, Ty. You notice he didn't say you was wrong. you know, that nigga know, he know, he know.

Dominic Lawson (34:02.031)
Right.

Ty Hicks (34:05.882)
lord.

Krate (34:14.721)
You notice he didn't say you was wrong.

Shawn Smith (34:22.799)
Speaking of time...

Ty Hicks (34:23.481)
I plead the fifth, no comment.

Mr. Al Pete (34:24.605)
Do do do do the law what a sound

Krate (34:34.677)
You just want to leave a little bit of reasonable doubt. Ba dum dum.

Shawn Smith (34:35.887)
Well speaking of Ty Ty brought the The R&B and Chill to this this year. We did we did Who's Tyronza last year

Ty Hicks (34:37.514)
That's it, just a little bit.

Mr. Al Pete (34:37.959)
you

Ty Hicks (34:48.097)
Yes.

Ty Hicks (34:53.75)
last year.

Shawn Smith (34:59.971)
Talk about your experience doing RB and Chill with your boys. You got to interview your boys. Man, listen. I've been wanting to interview Mr. Al P and Dee, Krate Digga, for a while now. And what better way, better time, better atmosphere to do it while we was at the retreat?

Ty Hicks (35:06.552)
Man, listen, I've been wanting to interview Mr. Al Pete and The Krate Digga for a while now. And what better way, better time, better atmosphere to do it while we was at the retreat. So we just fit it into the schedule. And I kind of already had these questions made up months ago.

because I already had it in my mind to interview them. They kind of agreed months ago, we really didn't set a date. You know, we will get to that, whatever. But it was the right place, right time. So. We go first, I think it was Krate first and then Al. Both interviews were fantastic. Both interviews are out right now, so you can check those. We hit a lot of buttons, a lot of buttons, but.

Shawn Smith (35:53.168)
Both interviews are fantastic. Both interviews are out right now. So you can check a lot of buttons. We hit a lot of buttons. We hit a lot of buttons. A lot of buttons. I don't have no buttons, but beep, beep, beep. But to learn more about.

Krate (35:57.469)
We hit a lot of buttons. We hit a lot of buttons. We hit a lot of buttons.

Ty Hicks (36:06.487)
But to learn more about Praet Diga and Al P, not just, you know, on the surface level, because that's not what the R &B and Chill podcast really does in terms of the interviews. We want to learn more about the person, the artists on a more deeper level. And that's exactly where we went. And to learn kind of their roots in music and how they have morphed into

the icons that they are respectfully is, it makes me respect them and love them as brothers even more because I get to know and I get to just learn a little bit about how they got to where they are, the struggles, the ups, the downs, the triumphs, the trials, the tribulations, the learning.

the intensive growth and how they respect, and I do mean respect, the art and the craft that they hold so dear. So it was for me, I was a happy camper and I'm always really getting excited in my mind when I get to interview people that I really want to interview. And so for me, I really had to calm my excitement down, but I can't because these are two individuals that

I watch, I listen to, I respect, and it was just dope having them on the couch and just really getting to interview them. So check those interviews out right now. And Al, great, thank you so much for that.

Mr. Al Pete (37:51.901)
I guess I'm biased by saying this, but I definitely enjoy listening to you and Krate's conversation.

Yeah, I thoroughly enjoyed that one.

Krate (38:07.821)
You're welcome. You're welcome. You're welcome. You're welcome. welcome. You're welcome. You're welcome.

Mr. Al Pete (38:12.253)
Are you giving us the Joe Biden hands, Joe?

Ty Hicks (38:17.525)
You definitely did!

Mr. Al Pete (38:20.625)
Just touching the air for no reason.

Ty Hicks (38:24.852)
I think the biggest part for me when it came to you Al Pete was really getting into your band. Like just your band history and like how that morphed you into the musician you were and there were Krate. It was just your ear for sound. Like we really dived into how Krate's ear for sound is just to me.

on another world than a lot of other musicians. And so I just think the interviews, these two just hit different. And you can see it. For me, you can see it, you can feel it. The energy is just different with these two interviews. And they just hitting different on a...

Magna level to me if I could put it like that. So yeah, these interviews have been fantastic.

Mr. Al Pete (39:23.485)
I'm sorry to keep butting in but but it but it I'm appreciative to be to be on your platform to tie because I The intentionality and I'm sure we're probably gonna keep saying this word over and over again this interview which is no problem but the intent that you have when it comes to

Ty Hicks (39:36.669)
Yeah.

Mr. Al Pete (39:41.155)
specifically this podcast and just you as a person regarding the characteristics of you being an interviewer and understanding like the knowledge of it and all of that stuff that complimented as well. So, you know, I want to definitely shout you out for your brand and how you carry yourself.

Shawn Smith (39:56.354)
your brand and how you carry yourself. All the things, I know we joke off about that, that's your identity, you know what saying? If I cut on your show and I didn't hear that, I'd be like, well, what's really going on? So that adds to the characteristics of it. And I listen to the shows so I know the intentionality of how you carry out that show. For me to create the blessing like that, I'm...

Krate (39:58.945)
Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely.

Mr. Al Pete (39:59.393)
All the things I know we joke off about the the by the horns or whatever, but but that's your identity You know i'm saying if I did if I cut on your show and I didn't hear that I'd be like, well, what's really going on? So but that adds to the the characteristics of it and i'm I listen to the shows So I know the intentionality of of how you carry out that show and and for me and crate the blessing like that I'm I know me i'm honored man, and it's always good to hear my brother crate talk about music and and just

Ty Hicks (40:02.268)
Hey.

Yeah.

Ty Hicks (40:10.394)
Right.

Mr. Al Pete (40:29.247)
his intricate thinking on things, man, and the way that he wows me all the time when it comes to shit. I'm always gonna be a big fan of that.

Ty Hicks (40:36.04)
Bye.

Shawn Smith (40:44.961)
One thing I wanted to, although it happened with Dom's show as well, and y'all can chime in on that, is that how we use the retreat, because retreat to me is a big experiment. How we used, let's say, R&B and Chill, how we recorded it, because you didn't have...

When we doing, we talked about being in our silos and doing stuff by ourselves and things like that.

Now that you had a whole crew there, it shows you what can we do to enhance your show. We had the lights, we had the different cameras. And again, we experiment with this because we don't do this for all our shows. to reimagine.

Ty Hicks (41:31.948)
Right.

Normally. Right.

Shawn Smith (41:40.792)
what it can look like. And you can tell us what you thought it looked like.

Like I said, having the different cameras, the lights, we created another studio in the living room, dining area. So when you see Dom's is in a different spot than what Ties was, which is in a different spot to where the next theme 2 Dope Boyz, we'll utilize that house. We'll utilize that house and we went through all of the stuff.

Ty Hicks (41:56.12)
Basically.

Ty Hicks (42:07.726)
Great, right.

Shawn Smith (42:17.329)
And that's the experiment, know, okay now we're doing multi cameras. How are we gonna cut? are we gonna think? wish, you know, even the, we even have bad stuff like the Aerocaster that would not act right. I don't know what still was wrong with it, but wouldn't come on. I don't know if they upgraded, need a new.

Ty Hicks (42:31.245)
Mm-hmm.

Shawn Smith (42:39.023)
whatever, I don't know. But we made it work. We made it work what we did. Now I thought about all that taping that we did. We did not have a DSLR anywhere. We did cameras, we did phones, we did camera, and you know, we did Osmos 3s.

all those things and I was just looking at one today that posted, I'm assuming Dom shot that. And I was saying that was cool to see that background stuff because we had all types of stuff, we had all types of gadgets and gizmos all over the place and to see what that looked like and just to give, like I said, we always talking about we do these things in silos but to have your brother,

not only have a crew that had your brothers there supporting you and putting all that stuff together to see what can you create that is better or is the next step up. And I thought, you know, that's always what the plan of the...

Ty Hicks (43:35.562)
Finally, yeah.

Shawn Smith (43:49.168)
of the retreat is to upgrade, to enhance, to try different stuff. It's the experiment. It's the experiment. That's the biggest thing. Al, was talking about reward that experimentation. My thing is experiment, blow it up. No, it don't work. That don't work. So no harm, no foul. that's the thing. And that was a great thing, because I saw the video today as we recorded this.

said, I love the background stuff. And so when you was interviewing, Krate was in the back doing something. Dom was getting footage all over the place, just that behind the scenes stuff. And you got all this, and folks, there's still tons of material that we were slowly...

Ty Hicks (44:34.443)
Right.

Shawn Smith (44:48.559)
drip out as we finish projects and things like that. Now, the Saturday night, we'll get to Saturday night. Saturday night, yep.

Dominic Lawson (44:57.998)
Hey Square, before you move on, I want to share with people who are watching this, the intentionality of the equipment that was there. And shout out to Crave for this, who started basically an equipment list, basically sharing who's bringing what, what they're bringing, how many of these things. And I think that allowed for us to...

Ty Hicks (45:12.382)
Yeah.

Dominic Lawson (45:24.026)
coordinate not just while we were there and on the ground like shifting furniture there and this and the other but allowed us like Shits, crates bringing that. Okay. I wonder if that allows me to try this thing I've been trying to think about trying now that you know, there's a crew of four or five or whatever the case may be but I think that

type of intentionality prove crucial to the success of the retreat. And in addition to that, one of the things I appreciated about the retreat in that same vein is the fact that like I am always looking to pour into my brothers. My brothers poured into me a lot. so was like, man, when I get to this retreat, I'm going to try to do whatever the fuck I can to make sure I am of value to.

Shawn Smith (45:50.256)
of the retreat. In addition to that, one of the things I appreciate about the retreat in that same vein is the fact that I am always looking to pour into my brothers. My brothers poured into me all

Dominic Lawson (46:12.362)
all four of these individuals in their pursuits. Like, don't know what it looks like. I don't know what it's supposed to be, but I'm just going to do some shit in an effort to support whatever it is that they're doing. And so, you know, if it works great, if it don't, well, it's better if it's needed and the need is not happening. It's more like, whatever it goes, so.

Ty Hicks (46:24.736)
And Dom was definitely doing some shit. You feel what I'm saying?

Ty Hicks (46:31.505)
Listen. Dom had my BTS going crazy. OK, we go and I'm going take some of those things and release them on our Instagram. It's me, Krate or me and Al just sitting on the couch and all you see is Dom just coming in with the with the camera up close, but not too close so the camera don't pick him up.

You know what saying? in my head, I see him, but in my head, I'm like, I hope he don't get caught by the camera, but he's, but he's such a pro. He's a pro at this. So he know where to, he know where to stop. You know what saying? Get the right angles and everything, getting up. And I was like, oh my God. What is this man has been doing over the last like six, seven, he's been a monster. And that's the thing, like everybody in this.

Dominic Lawson (47:01.264)
You

Krate (47:24.737)
He think he slick with the blue and red hat. I know he's Spider-Man, but I'm let him Chill. But he ain't fooling me.

Ty Hicks (47:33.192)
But it was, was, was dope because again, to Shawn's point, everybody just, it was all hands on deck, right? And it wasn't like all hands on deck where you just have to do this. Nah, let's experiment and let's see what works and let's see what doesn't. Does that angle look right? Does that angle look right? Hey, Krate, Al, sit right here. Todd, sit right here. Let me see what this looks like. Boom, boom, boom.

Shawn Smith (47:36.912)
because again, to Sam's point, everybody just, it was all hands on deck, right? And it wasn't like all hands on deck where you just, I have to do this. Nah, let's experiment and let's see what works and let's see what doesn't. Does that angle look right? Does that angle look right? Hey, Krate, sit right here. Sit right here. Let me see what this looks like.

Dominic Lawson (47:43.568)
1000.

Ty Hicks (48:01.924)
And it just flowed, it just worked. We had lights, we had this. to Dom's point, the list that Krate made of equipment that we were bringing just made everything flow, whether it was extra equipment brought or whether we were, somebody was missing something, somebody had something that somebody was missing, right? And it was like that. it just flowed, right? And the second experience, this second retreat just...

felt a lot more learning and embracing the creativeness of everything in terms of the ups and downs and everything that came with it. So I love it. It was great.

Dominic Lawson (48:48.208)
You know, in that same vein, I think the retreat is what other conferences think they're doing. If I'm keeping it, as you would say, keeping it a beam, right? It's like, think they are creating this ecosystem. We go and collaborate and network and this and the other. And for people who are watching this, like, real talk, real talk, we created.

Ty Hicks (48:56.9)
Yes.

Ty Hicks (49:01.774)
Yes.

Dominic Lawson (49:16.986)
for almost 24 hours straight. Like I'm not making this up. Like we woke up around like what, nine o'clock, you know, shower, breakfast and all that stuff. And then we just got to work. the field trip, even created content while on the field trip. And you met, some more content and then wrap up to around like what, four, five o'clock or something like that?

Shawn Smith (49:26.607)
And then we just got to work. a field trip, even created content while on the field trip. Yes. made us more content and then wrapped up to around, what, four, five o'clock? Yeah, we were talking about that crate. Krate had us up till four in the morning. Like everybody on the. You got to sit there, I don't know what to tell you. Listen, everybody, everybody had a camera on them. I'm strong. Yeah, I'm strong.

Ty Hicks (49:30.824)
Yes.

Krate (49:40.909)
You gotta sip your ginseng. I don't know what to tell you. I don't know what to tell you. You gotta, I'm strong. You gotta keep up with me. So I wanna say two things real quick before you move into what you was about to move into Square. I think to add a beam to what Dom kinda just touched on. The power or one of the powers of this retreat is kinda the oxymoron of the terms.

Ty Hicks (49:41.484)
Like everybody on the... Listen, everybody, everybody had a camera on them. Yeah, I'm sure.

Dominic Lawson (49:46.48)
You

Mr. Al Pete (49:47.261)
you

Dominic Lawson (49:50.841)
Right.

Krate (50:09.963)
A lot of times people go to retreats to dial back from, to rest, to recover, not... the antithesis of work. I think for us the retreat and the relaxation, the calm, the re-centering that we feel and find is in being able to dive fully into our creative work without all the extra BS that we got to deal with in that process.

Al kinda spoke on it and referenced it and Don kinda spoke to it. So it's like in terms of Prepping for TIE, we did it for everybody, but Prepping for TIE, it was a five man production team, handing everything from set design, DP, lighting producers, sound techs, show runners, like the whole production crew.

was UCG and we all had different roles but every role inside of that team so at any time like Ty said yo Al sit here let me get this lighting right

or hey fellas I need y'all to make sure that the couch is centered with the island behind it or do we want it all like what are we trying to do so let's be intentional on all these things because once again so many times we're working in a silo it's hard I'm not to say impossible but it's very hard to think about every single thing so oftentimes you're like yo I just want to make sure it looks good and it sounds good

I'm not really worried is the couch perfectly centered or what's on the island behind me, what color schemes like. So all of those things allowed us to be basically a five man production team. And inside of that brainstorming to my second point.

Shawn Smith (51:53.392)
So all of those things allowed us to be basically a five-man production team. And inside of that brainstorming, to my second point, a lot of times we're in spaces where we're brainstorming.

Krate (52:04.171)
A lot of times we're in spaces where we're brainstorming and somebody comes up with an idea and regardless of the intentionality of it or lack thereof, somebody has a different idea. And instead of taking this idea, trying it, taking this idea, trying it, we're now trying to compete ideas to figure out which one we're going to try. We didn't have that. We said, Hey, let's try this.

We tried, we tried it, it worked or it didn't work. Then we tried the next thing. So we weren't like trying to compete for the opportunity to pitch our one option or our one choice or this one try. We tried it all.

And as we were trying different things, people felt free and were encouraged to pitch in and say, hey, that looks good. But how does that affect this? So instead of saying, no, don't do what you're doing because it changes what I got to do, it's no, keep that there. Let me change what I'm doing. Because once again, we're not competing with each other like we're agencies or departments or just a ... Even though I do it, I don't want to speak on it.

incorporate being a negative thing in the context of this because that's not what I'm saying. But I also understand that a lot of times the spaces like that, you're competing at the lower level because you only get one shot when you go up to the upstairs. We didn't kind of have that type of engagement here. So we were able to try everything. What worked, worked. What didn't, didn't.

But it wasn't like we got to do it Square's way or we got to do it Al's way or because this is Ty's podcast, he's making all the decisions. We, once again, going back to what I mentioned earlier, the trust, the respect, the love, the...

Shawn Smith (53:53.508)
the fandom, whatever like all those terms that we have for each other allowed us to all just show up fully like Dom said for each other. Because once again, it's not just about what I'm getting out of it as Creepdigger or what the Sound Champion Crew brand is getting out of it, but it's about I spend a lot of time with my brothers. Most of it is digital, phone, Zoom, Clubhouse, whatever. But.

Krate (53:53.601)
the fandom, whatever like all those terms that we have for each other allowed us to all just show up fully like Dom said for each other because once again it's not just about what I'm getting out of it as Krate Digga or what the Sound Champion Crew brand is getting out of it but it's about I spend a lot of time with my brothers most of it is digital, phone, zoom, clubhouse, whatever but in this physical time together I'm trying to be

Ty Hicks (53:55.451)
Krate (54:22.977)
Reciprocal I'm trying to give back as much as all these brothers give to me on a constant basis So we all brought that energy so it allowed everything we did Basically once again in those 24 hours everything we did it was a perfect it didn't go smoothly all the time But it was all high quality. It was all dope and it was all good feeling work So even though we weren't retreating chilling we were working

Mr. Al Pete (54:27.943)
Yeah.

Krate (54:47.489)
we left out of that space feeling great because everything we did had such high nutritional value for lack of a better way of saying it. So I think that's one thing that's amazing and I'm going to give Square credit for it even though he may not take it and it's alright I'm going to just punch him later and make him take it but he has created the retreat to serve that.

Like he could have put something together where we brand after other types of conferences or retreats or whatever. Or he could have just been like, yo, we just gonna come together and Chill out and hang out.

but he created something very special, very intentionally, while he allowed us to have input and kind of add to it. He created the core and the foundation of what the retreat is and what the retreat allows us to go in feeling, what it allows us to do while we're there, and what it allows for us when we leave out of that space. So...

I want to say once again thank you to Square for that, but I had to mirror those points that my brothers were sharing in terms of kind of the very, to be specific about the when, why, how of the creative process, especially at the retreat, because it is very special.

Shawn Smith (55:50.432)
that my brothers were sharing in terms of kind of the very, to be specific about the when, why, how of the creative process, especially at the retreat, because it is very special. Yeah, I know. I,

Mr. Al Pete (56:04.593)
Yeah, I I,

Mr. Al Pete (56:10.193)
I'm glad it wasn't, you mentioned corporate setting, right? As far as having that one shot to get to the upstairs and all the other stuff and it's like.

Mr. Al Pete (56:24.345)
I don't know, sometimes I just, and this is me being selfishly stating this, but I just wish people could see more of this type of interaction. Hell, I would love to be around this a lot more, but some of the unfortunate counterparts or whatever, it would be cool for them to see something like this so they can kind of understand how things move and how things organically come about. I think it would make a lot of situations a lot easier.

or better or move a little bit more better than it being so damn hectic and restricted when it comes to time and energy and all this other stuff. But yeah, the reciprocity part was definitely present. know what saying? We were all making sure that we were straight for each other. But selfishly stated, wish that sometimes I wish that people could see what

the magic that happened with us, because I think people were kind of dumbed down and be like, you know what, this process needs to be present in other situations.

Mr. Al Pete (57:41.959)
Yeah.

Shawn Smith (57:58.254)
you are seeing some of the fruit of our labor. Like I said, RB and Chill, both episodes are out now. Krate came out as the day we recorded, and Al's came out the week before we recorded. So...

they out there and you can see those things and there's been shorts and one of the things that I've been, I you know, I reposted. I've been reposting them to get them out there, to get them out in front of as many people as possible. Right, so you know, so that is, that has been the goal is even more so now.

Krate (58:34.701)
Matter of fact, I'm about to repost something right now. Keep going.

Shawn Smith (58:45.763)
There's evidence for, there's evidence to what we talk about, in what spirit we operate under. So it's out there.

Dominic Lawson (59:03.63)
I just, like I said, I just really appreciate the opportunity to be in a support role, right? And to be able to lend a hand in whatever, you know, place I can, but also at the same time, and Krate has talked about this, to be treated as an equal and not be put on a pedestal some kind of way, where people are asking about

whatever and stuff like that to be really just create as an equal and be free to create. Definitely something I wanted to point out and highlight that I appreciated about the retreat.

Mr. Al Pete (59:47.037)
I appreciate motherfuckers not using me. That's the part I get all the time down here. People are using me, so it felt good to not be used. And, you know, feel appreciated amongst, you know, my brothers.

Shawn Smith (59:48.464)
I motherfuckers not using me. That's the part I get all the time down here. People are using me, so it feels good to not be used. you know, I feel appreciated.

Shawn Smith (01:00:15.087)
your boys 2 Dope Boyz our Saturday night our college go go old old school the Saturday night special was two dope boy y'all see they got the youngsters they got to go go Google it go Google it Saturday night special we had the 2 Dope Boyz

Dominic Lawson (01:00:23.024)
Yeah!

Dominic Lawson (01:00:39.952)
You

Shawn Smith (01:00:45.071)
Mr. Al Pete and Krate Digga got on the on the wheels of Steels the ones and twos and put together a presentation. I'll let y'all talk about how y'all put that presentation together and how you think it came out.

Krate (01:01:04.429)
Since Al always likes to talk second, I'm gonna talk first. I had this idea, and every time I did something, Al took something from it, so I had to keep changing my idea. He kept stealing the songs I wanted to use and made it hard for me. But nevertheless, I persevered and did allow Al to steal all my songs out of my Serato. And I'm still here to tell the story.

Mr. Al Pete (01:01:23.759)
sneakers

Mr. Al Pete (01:01:28.701)
You need to stay with me.

Dominic Lawson (01:01:29.422)
Hahaha

Mr. Al Pete (01:01:33.563)
Hey, y'all

Mr. Al Pete (01:01:41.182)
I didn't think it was gonna play that loud, but yes.

But no, forever. No, I thought it was dope as all our doors, man. Me and Krate had been talking about doing this for a good, good, minute. And when I say good, good minute, I mean well over a year. But the fact that when we met up in Detroit, and he was just like, I don't know why we weren't thinking about this, but we could just do the 2 Dope Boyz here. And so for us to...

Dominic Lawson (01:01:49.656)
I love you.

Mr. Al Pete (01:02:17.137)
Come together.

I guess it would be kind of like, well, one person might think it was last minute, but it was already manifested in our heads to do. So for us to be like, this what we gonna do, sad? All right, boom, let's do it. And get up the next morning and trade off and say, OK, I'm gonna do these series of songs. You do these series of songs. The way that we put it together was so effortless. And I just think that speaks to the skill level that both of us have. You know what saying? And for us to.

exhibit the skill level together, I'm forever satisfied with that. And I don't even think there's a situation where I would say, well, they could have been different or we could have used this song, that song. Nah, it was what it was to me. And it was outside of just the mix being extremely dope as hell, just the work behind it.

You know, again, we speaks to that energy that we had when we took that field trip and energy that we give each other, you know, on every every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, even outside the Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays when we had those conversations and we build together. So that was just an extremely big testimony and a reminder for me, like, man, you know, we can get busy, but we can get busy, no matter what shape, form or whatever. As long as you got that attention now and you just got that talent.

Shawn Smith (01:03:30.21)
We had those conversations and we build together. So that was just an extremely big testimony and a reminder for me like, man, you know, we can get busy, but we can get busy no matter what shape, form or whatever. As long as you got that attentionality and you just got that talent, you you come together with it. So I'm forever like ecstatic how that rolled out. And for that to be the first piece of work that we, I mean, cause when you look at all of the

Mr. Al Pete (01:03:48.081)
you you come together with it. So I'm forever like ecstatic how that rolled out. And for that to be the first piece of work that we, I mean, cause when you look at all of the things that we've done within the 24 hours when we were together, I feel like the, the 2 Dope Boyz mix had like more of heavier production weight to it.

Would you agree? Like, I mean, outside of like Dom doing his, Ty doing his, it was just kind of a straight set up conversation, check this out, it's in the third. But I felt like we were like manipulating sounds and, you know, it might've been a situation where we might need to practice it. I don't know, but it was, it seemed like it was, what we did was a heavy, heavier lift than everything else around. And correct me if I'm wrong, brothers, but for that to be the first thing that.

come out, you know what saying? Like, I don't even think Krate was back home for four or five hours and he was in front of the computer. Cause I feel like you was sharing clips with us and I was still headed to Duval.

Shawn Smith (01:04:58.115)
Krate was probably editing while he was driving home

Mr. Al Pete (01:05:00.541)
I probably was. Krate did that video so fast, video that was behind us. Like you had to sit there. I remember seeing you sit there and you just got kind of quiet. You know what saying? It was a recording. Then next thing you know, you had that thing popped up on the screen like it wasn't nothing. And that's just that one little small part of the...

Shawn Smith (01:05:25.911)
And that's just that one little small part of the other parts that were added into the equation. So I'm thankful. Picking back in, before Krate's go into it, picking back on what you said, I think that was probably the most creative part.

Mr. Al Pete (01:05:28.687)
other parts that were, you know, that were added into the equation. So, yeah, man, I'm thankful.

Shawn Smith (01:05:49.136)
because it wasn't just a podcast. I don't want to say just a podcast. People rehearse for interviews and stuff like that. It little podcast episode. No. It was a little podcast. It had a lot of moving pieces. It had a lot of moving pieces because you created, like, again, you created the background for it. You were actually creating the mix while we was there. You know, we was looking at that live.

Krate (01:05:56.467)
One just a little podcast episode.

Dominic Lawson (01:06:02.544)
Hahaha

Shawn Smith (01:06:19.302)
Like I you got the background together, you got the logo stuff. Some of that stuff you did a little bit before we got there. But that stuff was there. You were hanging cameras off the ceiling.

and things like that. then you had your part where even the part, I don't know if it's a secret or not, but the secret part that we haven't even shown anything about yet. That is, that's a tag along to the mix. I don't know if it's a tag along to a mix, but just a separate entity within itself. you was doing that at the same time. So.

Mr. Al Pete (01:06:41.564)
That shot was crazy.

Shawn Smith (01:07:08.143)
It was a heavy, probably definitely was a heavy lift for you all, because you all was getting lists together and what you're going put in there. I ain't going say fighting over the songs, but like Krate said, Al was taking Krate's songs off his list. So yeah, I would say, and that's where it should have been, the...

the last piece of what we did. And like said, I thought it came out great. I thought it came out great.

Krate (01:07:49.633)
No, no, I agree. And I'm not going to tell all the backstory. I'm going let that hold so people who really want to hear that can book Al and myself for some interviews. But as Al mentioned, it's something we've been talking about for over two years. And the thought was to try to get it done last year. Didn't happen.

So we were like, all right, we're going to try again this year, we didn't force it. One thing I always say, even if it don't always feel good, I wholeheartedly believe that everything happens when it's supposed to. And like...

It not happening all the times that we wanted to happen before. I'm not going to say it was good, bad, or whatever. it being something that we were able to get done when we got it done was the way it was supposed to happen. So the process of taking it from us just talking about this idea and this concept that we're both down to do and morphing that into, like, all right, we got this idea that we want to do, but how are we going to do it? We can't just have an idea. We have to now figure out how are we going to take this idea that we both have.

merged into one idea that we both have instead of these two ideas or these two perspectives, we got to take our two perspectives and make it one idea. But that one idea was still in both of our heads simultaneously. We now need to figure out how do we bring this simultaneous idea.

life and the process of that was fun and I joke about it but I'm honest in saying like I would say all right I got these three songs it was basically like fantasy football man I had drafted my three songs I'll draft his three and every now and then he draft one that I wanted I'll be like damn so what am I gonna do I can't be mad at him it's all fair and love and war you know

Mr. Al Pete (01:09:36.665)
Ay, but that, ay, but that, that, cutes your f-

Krate (01:09:39.093)
I can't be mad at him because I was mad at Squared, so I spent all my time being mad at Squared, so I didn't have no extra mad for Al. But, so it's like...

Mr. Al Pete (01:09:41.341)
You

Dominic Lawson (01:09:43.438)
Hahaha!

Mr. Al Pete (01:09:45.373)
Hey, that Q-tip flip was fire though. That was a good one. FYI.

Krate (01:09:49.389)
I it. So to that, I appreciate it. But so for every song that I wanted to use that Al pulled or a song that I forgot about, I'm like, damn, I forgot about that joint. So it's like that creative competition to where we're not fighting each other, but we're like, It's not even a one up, but it's like, I love when I can be creative with folks who do dope shit.

because it doesn't touch my ego, doesn't, like that's not about me. They're sitting in their perfection. And when they sit in their perfection, it inspires me, energizes me, and it encourages me to do the same. So that reciprocity of dopeness, that reciprocity of creativity, that reciprocity of genius, quite honestly, encouraged me to be like, all right.

not just what are next three songs I'm gonna pick, but now how am I gonna put them together? How am I gonna take these three or four songs or whatever this section was? How can I maximize how I show up in this section?

which turns into me thinking about flips and edits and taking a sample of something and re-contextualizing it so I can get the BPMs to work properly along with these other two songs I want to put with it. All of that stuff is the stuff that I love as a DJ because for me, like I say all the time, like you could send monkeys to space that don't make them astronauts. So as a DJ just playing music for me, almost 30 years in, like that's not...

fun. That doesn't feel good. That's like walking slowly. There's times where you want to run. And for me, that was an opportunity for me to be alongside my brother, who we're both great, great fans of the group. inside of that, the specific songs from their amazing catalog that really speak to him.

Ty Hicks (01:11:41.15)
Right.

Shawn Smith (01:11:50.755)
So inside of that, the specific songs from their amazing catalog that really speak to him and the songs that speak to me, while there's a lot that overlap for sure, there's still very wide divergence in those selections. So allow me to remember and appreciate and hear songs that I probably hadn't heard in years in a different way because I'm not just hearing the song, but I'm hearing Al Peek and how he reflects.

Krate (01:11:58.909)
the songs that speak to me, while there's a lot that overlap for sure, there's still very wide divergence in those selections. So allow me to remember and appreciate and hear songs that I probably hadn't heard in years in a different way because I'm now not just hearing the song, but I'm hearing Al Peet and how he reflects and presents and restructures like all of the beautiful things I love about DJing to be able to hear and watch and see from development to

Ty Hicks (01:12:05.951)
Okay.

Krate (01:12:28.793)
Performance and then post-production in my brother like so once again all of that It's not like now I got a one-up him, but it's like no I got to be sure that I a Hold my own weight next to him and B. I got to make sure that the final production Elevates to the pope to the place where his presentation is served properly so Kind of taking it back to like the how

Yeah, when you're both in a silo, you have a process that you're used to and standards you're used to. Once again, when you have a whole crew of people, there's certain things you don't got to worry about. not having to worry about BTS for promo productions to be able to just go in and do the work and focus on this thing.

and know that Dom is flashing pictures or Al snapping pictures and Dom is getting video and while I'm Square is working on something else and Dom is in the back trying to steal my drops trying to mimic my drops so he could put them on R &B and Chill Patreon and shit but I know that I got one nigga stealing my song got another dude stealing my drops but so it's like we

Shawn Smith (01:13:33.168)
That's

Ty Hicks (01:13:35.774)
you

Mr. Al Pete (01:13:38.119)
Gang gang gang gang.

Ty Hicks (01:13:47.345)
That's right.

Dominic Lawson (01:13:50.753)
All fair and capital.

Krate (01:13:51.893)
Listen, Listen, I put it out there. It don't belong to me no more, clearly. So I say all that, once again, I say all that to say it was an amazing experience, not just in what we created, but the creation process of it. then so once again, whether it was...

Ty Hicks (01:13:51.901)
I want a fair and level war-

Ha ha ha ha.

Krate (01:14:10.571)
getting home and looking at aspects and already snipping out like, this gotta be a clip. Or having an idea, once again, in my head of what it needs to look like because it's not just an audio mix. It ain't just a mix tape that's gonna be audio. I now have to have a visual component that basically these two things have to be a-a-likes. I can't have great audio in a shitty video.

or I definitely can't have great audio and mean great video and shitty audio. So knowing that I have to now step up to the plate from a post-production standpoint, like, yeah, it's a challenge, but like that's the thing that drives me as a creative, is it just to do the thing I've been doing for almost 30 years, but now add on, as was mentioned about Dom, add on these other tiers of my creativity to create something that's not just dope, but...

Ty Hicks (01:14:39.548)
All right.

Krate (01:15:04.053)
represents adequately the other people who are part of that because this wasn't a crepe digger thing this was a UGC thing it was a done at the DIBK brands

Ty Hicks (01:15:10.053)
So we went into the Matrix.

Dominic Lawson (01:15:13.264)
thought that was me.

Dominic Lawson (01:15:18.288)
What? AT &T Trippin.

Mr. Al Pete (01:15:20.253)
That's how you do it.

Krate (01:15:21.355)
I know if I froze up or not, everything froze. I'm about to fire my internet provider. Please hold.

Dominic Lawson (01:15:22.648)
Green Shining, Green Shining, here we have Green Shining real quick.

Mr. Al Pete (01:15:30.557)
Did you screw it up? you gotta do it again.

Ty Hicks (01:15:37.594)
Ha ha!

Shawn Smith (01:15:40.956)
That boy was sleeping, boy. Look at him. That boy's ass. That boy said, that boy said, that boy said, that elevation of The elevation of the devastation. the devastation for the duration.

Dominic Lawson (01:15:41.399)
or speed more and let go.

Ty Hicks (01:15:43.439)
That was it.

Dominic Lawson (01:15:45.168)
You

Mr. Al Pete (01:15:45.229)
And the boy said, the boy said, it wasn't an elevation of the creation of the devastation of the manifestation for the duration.

Ty Hicks (01:15:47.578)
The elevation

Dominic Lawson (01:15:55.472)
you

Ty Hicks (01:15:55.641)
He's the...

Ty Hicks (01:16:06.99)
Ooh, that was stupid, my gosh.

Mr. Al Pete (01:16:08.989)
I was gonna ask this question. I know we moving a little bit, like, did any one of us feel any type of intimidation with the art that we were doing with, you know, being around each other?

Ty Hicks (01:16:25.593)
Absolutely not. If anything I felt...

Mr. Al Pete (01:16:28.093)
Well, well, let me, let me, don't want to use intimidation. I would say like, uh, more so like on a nerve, nervous, not, not like in a competitive spirit, like, but like a, a nervousness or some type of, okay.

Dominic Lawson (01:16:42.732)
I feel pressure. I feel pressure.

Ty Hicks (01:16:42.969)
Oh, yeah. Oh, pressure. Definitely. Definitely. look at I value y'all the pain, probably a lot more than others within our within our, you know, industry. So it's just like when I'm around y'all. It's 200 maximum output coming out. I'm trying to make sure I'm on my P's and Q's. You know what I'm saying? There's a level of

I gotta make sure I'm here, you know what I'm saying? I got two iconic musician educators in the building. I got a 42,000 time award winning individual in here and I got the producer of the year, of the decade in the back, you know what saying? Making sure everything looks and sounds fantastic and putting this fantastic retreat together. So I just gotta make sure that I'm...

I'm making sure that I'm on my A game, not just for me, but for y'all and making sure that I don't look, to be completely honest, keeping it a being, not looking stupid and dumb. So, yeah.

Mr. Al Pete (01:17:51.697)
I got you.

Dominic Lawson (01:17:54.192)
I'm gonna listen, the level of nervousness, pressure, and all of the things I felt shooting y'all for that tour show.

was a man, I called Kenda like Kenda, like listen, listen, I'm nervous. Like, cause, cause I respect y'all so much, right? You know, I respect y'all so much. was like wanting to make sure that like, you know, whatever I contributed made sense. Wanted to make sure I wasn't overdoing, overstepping, trying to make sure I was in line with the integrity of what you and Quaid had in mind.

Mr. Al Pete (01:18:13.149)
I

Ty Hicks (01:18:19.191)
So,

Dominic Lawson (01:18:37.348)
because I was an add-on, was an add-on like that day. So like, you know, like, what if I just did whatever? So I'm trying to be mindful of that. Same thing with R &B Chill. It's like, listen, I want to get some type of BTS, some type of like 60 minutes, no rig type shots for R &B and Chill.

Ty Hicks (01:19:02.373)
Mm-hmm.

Dominic Lawson (01:19:06.466)
I don't know how it's gonna look.

But at very least I owe it to Ty to at least try to get him something. Something that he may not have normally been able to get, you know, because it's usually just Ty doing this thing. So let me try to do a little bit more. And then also I step on SSquared shoes as he's running, you know, the producer's table and the setup and stuff like that. Like, man, how am I showing it? Hey man, does this make sense? Does this look all right? This whole thing would do it.

definitely was a level of pressure to Ty's point. It's only out of respect for

what you guys do, what you're trying to create and stuff like that. It's like, I, my biggest fear was now am I playing, I'm trying to add to what y'all doing and not by no means subtract from it. And it will feel terrible, absolutely terrible. Like I said, I called Tenda like twice before I shot the tour show and I listened to both of your songs at least 10 times.

Ty Hicks (01:19:58.739)
Right, that part.

Dominic Lawson (01:20:16.076)
each. Like just trying to make sure, okay, you know, I'm listening to the vibes and the others. But yeah, it was definitely some pressure.

Ty Hicks (01:20:22.056)
Thank you.

Shawn Smith (01:20:25.583)
At first when you said that question, I said, hell no, man. And then I thought about it. It came as, man, they coming up to Michigan to do this stuff. Man, I don't want to let them down. I was already messed up because we didn't have the brunch.

Ty Hicks (01:20:51.879)
Right.

Shawn Smith (01:20:52.527)
and not having the participation as I would like to have had. So I was, that's how it came, that's how it hit me.

was, man, you know, don't wanna let your boys down. They coming up here for you, because this is something that you put out in the atmosphere. And that was kind of where, that's where my pressure kinda came from.

Mr. Al Pete (01:21:35.165)
Yeah, I was just I wanted to ask that because I mean obviously not even obviously but you know, I've had I've had those I had those thoughts up there as well, but I Know for me I I practice so much regardless if it's intentional or just I'd be practicing don't even realize I'm practicing but I do it so much and I'm I will I Prepare to be in these types of in these type of spaces

Shawn Smith (01:21:35.888)
Well, yeah, I wanted to ask that because, I mean, obviously, not even obviously, I've had those thoughts up there as well. But I know for me, I practice so much, regardless if it's intentional or just I be practicing, don't even realize I'm practicing. But I do it so much. I will, I...

Mr. Al Pete (01:22:04.797)
And for the most part, I am in those spaces where the production level around me is nowhere near like how y'all produce. And I'm still like always available and ready to be like, okay, well, let me pivot this way or let me show up in the best way that I've learned how to do it. So I just wanna ask that question to see what was up with that.

Dominic Lawson (01:22:52.961)
that squirrel got him.

Dominic Lawson (01:23:16.238)
Yeah, he just left a message. He may not be coming back.

Shawn Smith (01:23:42.191)
Ladies and gentlemen, as we hit third and rounded home.

We had some technical issues, so it's OK. We will end it right here. And same, what was some key takeaways? Or at least one key takeaway? Whoever want to start first, they can. Key takeaways.

Mr. Al Pete (01:24:15.431)
And,

Mr. Al Pete (01:24:19.545)
It just takeaways, I would just say that.

Mr. Al Pete (01:24:28.189)
trying to find a way to say it, but I'm just going to say it. But the way that we work was crazy. And so that gave me a lot of energy and a lot of hope. It definitely put me in an optimistic spirit that there are people out there that believe in the things that they believe in. They want to see good in you.

Um, and ultimately, you know, you not alone in this journey. So, um, I think for me, that's one of my takeaways. Um, and this might sound cliche to say, but you know, finding your tribe, man, like when you find your tribe, boy, make sure that your tribe is, is taken care of and, and understood and respected and that reciprocity is there. We talk about that a lot in our conversations, you know, reciprocity, uh, shout out to you square for.

Saying that I let me tell you something. I I know what reciprocity mean, but it was one particular day was having those conversations and I just told me say Pete go look up the word reciprocity Just go look it up and I read it and and I was just like You know, know how it is y'all y'all You know the definition of a word or you read a book But like when you get when you go back to it and just kind of get that information back in you or just read it

Shawn Smith (01:25:41.584)
don't know how it is, y'all. Y'all, you know the definition of word or you read a book, but like when you get, when you go back to it and just kind of get that information back in you or just read it, it just gives you a whole other type of definition to it. So that like reciprocity was like one of the key words that I will bring up in this as well. But I remember reading it and that was illustrated like crazy during the retreat.

Mr. Al Pete (01:25:51.869)
It just gives you a whole another type of definition to it. So that like reciprocity, was like one of the keywords that I will bring up in this as well. But I remember reading it and that was illustrated like crazy during the retreat. And so I'm just, I'm just ready for the next, the next mission, the next go round. However that look, but that's one of them, but that's just one of my main key takeaways, man. We.

We some bad MF'ers, man. We definitely can work our ass off and the quality speaks for itself. And I'm just appreciative for this brotherhood that we have, for sure.

Mr. Al Pete (01:26:36.591)
I have many more takeaways, but I'll save that for another go around. But I'm just thankful for y'all, man.

Dominic Lawson (01:26:46.416)
I go back to what y'all were talking about, a corporate culture kind of feeling. That's not what this was. But I think that we have built a camaraderie and a rapport and a cohesiveness with one another that made this retreat as successful as it was. And I think...

that comes from years and years of speaking to each other, getting to know one another, and building that rapport. Because I remember when...

Dominic Lawson (01:27:34.416)
when we was at the first Afro's audio. And I think somebody had to go, wanted to go to a store and like buy something. And somebody said, hey, watch my stuff real quick. And it's like, that was the first time we had met in person. And with that being said, wasn't like a second thought. Like, there's an instance of like, I'm leaving my stuff with this stranger, but I'm really not leaving my stuff with this stranger, right? And I think this past retreat,

Shawn Smith (01:27:37.84)
I somebody had to go, wanted to go explore and buy something. then, hey, watch my stuff room. And it's like, that was the first time we had met in person. And with that being said, it wasn't like a second thought. there's an instance of like, I'm my stuff with this stranger, but I'm really not leaving my stuff with this stranger, right? And I think this past ret...

Dominic Lawson (01:28:02.862)
was the first time of us being in community, in person, and working together. And I think it's just the maturation process of our relationship and the maturation process of us working together. And I think that progression and that trajectory is really awesome and cool to see.

Ty Hicks (01:28:23.249)
Okay.

Dominic Lawson (01:28:32.289)
And I think it's.

I think when we talk about community in this industry, and I mean the creative industry, not just podcast, but when we talk about community in this industry, I really do believe what we have created with the Ummah Collective Group is the standard and the standard of just.

mental health check-ins and the standards of talking about ideas and the standard of talking about what we got going on and it is to be faced with adversity but now in the face of we actually have a blueprint for working for one another.

No matter who's IP is at stake. If it's R & B and Chill then we following Ty's lead. Like whatever we can do to enhance Ty. If it's 2 Dope Boyz, then we doing whatever we can to enhance that IP. Dripping in black, we doing everything we can to enhance that IP. And I know I felt that as well when I was doing my thing or whatever, right? Like Pete was like, hey, man, you want the camera here? You want to hear what you're thinking or whatever, right? And so it's like, I think it speaks to a

Krate's point earlier is like.

Dominic Lawson (01:29:48.954)
The egos didn't have to be checked because the egos are already checked over years and years of building this relationship. And I think that I appreciate that, honestly, above all else. And I think that's why I think the retreat was a huge success in that regard.

Mr. Al Pete (01:30:08.827)
Mm-hmm.

Ty Hicks (01:30:13.766)
Some key takeaways from me. One, I will never not not see Al Pete again. This was the first time me and Al Pete met. OK. And I was like, it was like a breath of fresh air seeing Al because I felt like me and Al have always met, but we never met like in real life. You know what Like tangible, like I could touch you. What's going on? Like, you know what saying?

Mr. Al Pete (01:30:35.217)
Yeah.

Ty Hicks (01:30:43.588)
And so that like, for me, just made the whole retreat complete for me. In terms of just the entire weekend of just creating and experimenting and I'm sorry to be that guy, it'd be cliche, but experiencing, right? In terms of the experience.

It's for me, it's what I needed. I took a lot away from the retreat in terms of learning new technology, learning new things, looking up and learning as I'm going, being able to be versatile and not just one dimensional in certain areas.

and being able to just be my authentic creative self in front of people who respect and love that. You understand what I'm saying? And allowing them to do the same. So for me, and I told Sean this last year, this retreat for me will always be something that is needed for creatives

of all to a degree.

It was just dope. It was just dope from the moment that we got there to the time we touched down to the time we got done. It was just something that I continuously look forward to and continuously want to help grow and make succeed. So just a few takeaways from that.

Krate (01:32:37.961)
Yeah, as far as myself, I think one of the things that made or allowed the retreat to be such a success is that I didn't have to rely on this trash ass internet that just dropped out in the middle of me talking. So you ever been somewhere and you just see something happening, you be like, somebody, that's the thing, somebody just got fired and they don't know they fired yet. But that was it.

Ty Hicks (01:32:53.602)
Hey

Mr. Al Pete (01:33:03.527)
Hey.

Krate (01:33:07.445)
That was it. So I'm not gonna mention my ISP, but they have officially spent their last few kilowatts, I don't even know what they measure, but they ain't no more of my AEP money, energy. They ain't getting none of my ethernet access. They ain't getting none of my cat five routing. They just lost their job. But more importantly, yeah.

Mr. Al Pete (01:33:34.62)
that.

Krate (01:33:37.141)
How about that? Add this one for me. Boom, add that one too. So yeah, I think once again takeaways. I'm not sure if it got spoke, if it talked about while I got chopped off, but there was a lot of shifting on what the retreat was planned to be.

Mr. Al Pete (01:33:38.373)
You

Krate (01:33:59.792)
and it ended up being and throughout that process there was a lot of ups and downs and different feelings about how the... just there was a lot around that. With that being said, once again I think as I mentioned earlier even though I may not always like how it feels or even if some of my conclusions

are not accurate based on my gut feeling, I always believe that things happen the way they're supposed to when it's all said and done. And I think all of the different things, ups and downs, ins and outs, I didn't get no biscuits this year. And I'm talk about it for another year until I get some biscuits next year. So Square Kia, like whatever we gotta do, I need some biscuits next year for the, with all that being said, like.

The retreat, the retreat number two was exactly what it needed to be the way it was supposed to be. And like it was perfect as it was perfect in what it was. And for better, for worse.

or you know, no judgment, no score or whatever. It didn't have to compete with the one from last year, nor does it have to compete with next year's. The experience number two was exactly what it was supposed to be. It was perfect in its own identity. And for so many of the reasons that we shared on this episode. But in the end, for me, it was really...

I don't want quite call it a launching board because this wasn't the beginning, but it was a reaffirmation. It was a proof of concept. was a, it was, it was to an extent a dropping them on the table moment for a lot of the folks, quite honestly, who still either don't understand, don't want to understand or are not willing to

Krate (01:36:02.582)
do an accurate evaluation of what the UCG, you're dripping in black and all of our individual entities, when we come together, not just what we do creatively, but the amount of experience, wisdom, expertise, et cetera, et cetera, like all the things that we are, I think quite honestly, and we've talked about this in different spaces, to an extent, there's a, there's some throttling that I feel that's happening.

And I think once again, the experience.

is just an opportunity for like those folks who for whatever reason ain't really paying attention. They either missing out or like it's just proof that like

There's something there's not just there's there's something here, but there's a lot here and it's like to an extent and once again, I don't want to go off on a tangent per se, but like to an extent, like just stop fighting. There's something you got to stop fighting and this is one of those things you got to stop pushing back on. Now you can keep pushing back. can keep pushing and fighting it if you want, but don't because in the end. Coming to the other side of it, there's so much more.

to be gained, aligning with it and respecting it and giving it its proper consideration instead of fighting it and throttling it in ways that I think is happening regardless of the intention or lack thereof in that throttling. And then once again, man, you know.

Ty Hicks (01:37:31.024)
So, I'm to

Krate (01:37:42.315)
Voltron we come together and it's it's it's It is what it is and once again, you know, even though I spoke about it in in the episode and you know I represent to an extent the Ohio State University like the like we'd have fab five like We'd have fab five. We'd have running Rebels of the other early 90s. It's like we we wanted those type of crews where it's just like When you catch lightning in a bottle like you especially when you're

Ty Hicks (01:38:00.699)
Thank

Krate (01:38:12.16)
cognizant enough to recognize it while it's happening and not just in hindsight, man, it's just a blessing to be a part of it. And with that, you know, with understanding and recognize that blessing in the moment, it then charges you, energizes you, inspires you to make sure that whatever position that you find yourself in on that play, you're doing exactly what your assignment calls for. And if we, when we, when we all do that, as we do it, like we can't lose.

And so it makes it that much more fun because at this point it's like what we want to do today. All right, we're just going to go do it. So, you know, once again, I say all that and I'll conclude with my thank yous to each one of you individually. And of course, Squared, even though I'll be hitting you with the crazy uppercuts and you've got to learn to start blocking some of them, at least for something, I got to say thank you, brother, because you are and have been the foundational spearhead of the

other retreats and without you the rest of it wouldn't have happened. We might have linked up or done something or found ways to meet up but what we've done over the two retreats specifically would not be possible without you brother. we, I owe you an immense gratitude and I know we all share that gratitude.

Ty Hicks (01:39:18.563)
That's it.

We're don't like a lot of compliments y'all but he In in in truth He and he he listen I'm trying to tell you better tell them Because I don't think a lot of people

Krate (01:39:40.214)
He better learn to take them like he take these jabs. If he take the jabs, could take the thanks. Because then he got to take his medicine when he go to the doctor, when he wake up in the doctor wondering when he wake up in the hospital wondering why we shooting a podcast in the hospital. He might take his medicine. He might take his love too.

Shawn Smith (01:39:50.415)
I'm just gonna let y'all know I'm cutting all that stuff out.

Shawn Smith (01:40:01.167)
Since this is a dripping in black production, all that stuff you had to say to me cut That's why I don't say nothing. That's why I don't have to say nothing, because I could cut it all out in post.

Ty Hicks (01:40:04.664)
And you are the fantastic visionary.

Ty Hicks (01:40:13.24)
my goodness.

Dominic Lawson (01:40:13.491)
Hahaha!

Ty Hicks (01:40:17.194)
Again, man, shout out to you and your vision and just being the fantastic.

producer, director, that you are. Seriously.

Shawn Smith (01:40:27.535)
Anyway Anyway, man, y'all trippin'. I'm not gonna do it. I'm not gonna say thank you. Not on this one. And I'm gonna cut it out in post anyway. Bye.

Ty Hicks (01:40:34.237)
my gosh, you just came to say thank you, Jesus Christ.

Ty Hicks (01:40:41.11)
You know what? Terrible.

Krate (01:40:42.646)
You're gonna make me throw an orange at you from the terrace.

Shawn Smith (01:40:45.487)
My take my one thing is it's always great to learn good better and indifferent Learn you know Your boys are your boys and they come through you learn that I was looking at R & B and Chill and say

Ty Hicks (01:40:45.752)
And please do, throw two

You

Shawn Smith (01:41:12.867)
That light is different. It's not getting on the second person as it is on the first person. You know, all the little things that you learn as you go along. Yeah, good, bad, and indifferent Because again, it's a big experiment. Now, you want to create dope stuff. And you do. And we did. And we still are.

Ty Hicks (01:41:27.913)
Bye. Yes.

Shawn Smith (01:41:37.775)
But you still learn about the little stuff. What's gonna make it better next time? Oh, yeah

Shawn Smith (01:41:46.477)
You know, it's just that type stuff. But one of the biggest things, I ain't gonna get into too much of this stuff because I don't wanna go into the negativity part of it, is a change in the mindset of it. Like you said, would, Krate used the word perfectly, went the way it's supposed to have gone. I agree with that.

Ty Hicks (01:41:56.663)
Okay.

Shawn Smith (01:42:11.171)
but there's a ramification for that as well. And as those things work out, I can accept that better. That would be a good way of putting it. I can accept that better. We talk about support and things like, support and stuff like that as far as being a creator and things like that. The mindset, I won't use the words,

Al used when we talked about this but it's time for a different mindset and the thing to look forward to is to operate in that new mindset of you know

Ty Hicks (01:42:42.389)
So, thank

So.

Shawn Smith (01:43:30.116)
Just real quick as we as we close this out let people Know where to contact you at We'll give the first one Yes, go ahead you going first anyway you go go first anyway, but and give the UCG one as well

Ty Hicks (01:43:38.356)
Okay.

Krate (01:43:41.59)
I gotta go first in case my internet cut off. I can't rely on these raggedy fools. Thank you.

Krate (01:43:53.591)
All right, first and foremost the Ummah umma h Creative group the Ummah creative group on IG threads on YouTube That's where you find the Voltron headquarters For myself. I love it. I'll keep going for myself. I am the KRA TE DI double GA the Krait Diggle at

Shawn Smith (01:43:55.376)
is the UMA, U-M-M-A-H Creative Group, the UMA Creative Group on IG threads on YouTube.

Krate (01:44:23.073)
Krate Digga.com 24 7 365. We got music, got tutorials, we got videos, we got documentaries. We even get the merch shop. So if you want to come through and grab some gear, grab a soda, mean a coffee mug and more, hit up the merch spot. But of course, at Krate Digga on Instagram, on threads, at DJ Krate Digga on YouTube. But yeah, man, I'm a... Yeah, man, I'm out of here. Peace and love. One.

Ty Hicks (01:44:52.658)
It's your boy, Todd. Follow me on all platforms at who is Tyronza on Instagram, Facebook. You can also follow me on my YouTube page. Who is Tyronza? And for all podcasting, you can go to Epic Echo Productions, go to Epic Echo Pro Dom com and.

Shawn Smith (01:44:55.471)
time.

Dominic Lawson (01:44:56.912)
Thanks.

Ty Hicks (01:45:20.515)
If you would like to become a Patreon member, go over to Patreon.com forward slash epic echo.

Krate (01:45:29.653)
Hit the button, hit the button, you gotta hit the button.

Ty Hicks (01:45:31.717)
The butts. I ain't got the buttons on now.

Shawn Smith (01:45:37.967)
And if you don't know what the HITTEN button stands for, go watch the video. Go watch the video featuring, RB and Chill featuring, that was Mr. Al Pete Dom, let them know where to find you.

Ty Hicks (01:45:43.365)
That's right. Go watch the episode.

Dominic Lawson (01:45:57.765)
You can find it.

Ty Hicks (01:46:00.721)
42,000 of them.

Dominic Lawson (01:46:03.226)
working on it. Working on it. Find me on Instagram, the real Dominic Lawson. That's where you can find pretty much any IP that I do. Black is America, Dominic Lawson presents the B Word black is America. And any other special documentary filmmaking happening that I'm a part of.

Krate (01:46:03.863)
You could find me at top of my awards.

Ty Hicks (01:46:04.453)
you

Ty Hicks (01:46:19.569)
Cough

Ty Hicks (01:46:23.953)
Thank you.

Dominic Lawson (01:46:30.229)
And yeah, that's all I got. The real Dominic Lawson in Instagram.

Shawn Smith (01:46:36.889)
Mr. Al Pete. Yeah, man. Go to the websites, mralpete.com, m-r-a-l-p-e-t-e.com. Go to MPN's website as well, mpn-llc.com.

Mr. Al Pete (01:46:38.717)
Yeah, man. Go to the websites, mrlp.com, m-r-a-l-p-e-t-e.com. Go to MPN's website as well, npn-llc.com. If you're lazy and don't want to go to the websites, go to the socials. It's mrlp, m-r-a-l-p-e-t-e. there, the MPN network, MPN management. Yeah, MPN management, go there. So that's where you can find me at.

Shawn Smith (01:46:52.559)
If you're lazy and don't want to go to the websites, go to the socials. That's Mr. MP, M-R-A-L-P-E-T-E on there. The MPN Network MPN Management. Talk to them, Yeah, MPN Management, there. So, that's where you can find me at. Because y'all know y'all be lazy sometimes. You're right. And Al. I don't know why people be like them. I don't want to go to the website. We're just on the media. Right. This is an Instagram.

Ty Hicks (01:47:01.914)
Talk to them now.

Ty Hicks (01:47:07.181)
Because y'all know y'all be lazy sometimes.

Mr. Al Pete (01:47:09.435)
Yeah, I don't know why people be like them websites is foreign.

Ty Hicks (01:47:13.775)
I don't wanna go through the rest, but I wish I was on the media. I wish I Instagram.

Shawn Smith (01:47:19.663)
Al Pete being the czar of the communication aspect of UCG I might just start giving out the website and say the hell with y'all and finding everything else but for today, Dripping the Black are all formats at DIBK20 on YouTube at Dripping and Black

Ty Hicks (01:47:34.923)
Ha

Shawn Smith (01:47:49.008)
And of course, drippinginblack.com will take you everywhere if you just want to go there and see everything, videos and things like that. And of course, on YouTube, again, I know they said that it's at the Ummah Creative Group, because this will be on there as well. This will be a collab on there as well. Because UCG took over, Dripping Black today, with doing the retreat.

So for all the UCG and our fam, we thank you all for looking or listening to this. We coming back out strong. There's a couple of things coming out. Can I give him a key? Can I give him something? Can I give him Or is this too secret? Is this secret right now?

Krate (01:48:40.138)
Nah, let him know.

Shawn Smith (01:48:42.895)
You should be letting them know. All I'm going to tell you is flow rate. That's all I'm going to say. Now, if Krate want to say some more, he can. Dom said a little bit. we should be.

Ty Hicks (01:48:50.253)
Mm-hmm.

Shawn Smith (01:49:00.367)
Lord willing as my kids will say Lord will we should be in Columbus in June we taking a road trip to put it on the road the first leg of the tour or Experiment with the tour. We'll see how it goes So you got any more information you want to put on that one?

You know what, we're rolling at the end. We're rolling at the end, but if you got something else to add. Yeah. If you leave it up to me, I'm going to just quote Big Boy and say, pay your people bill. Pay your people bill. Yes, sir. Straight up and down on that, though.

Krate (01:49:24.785)
they might get it at the end. If you leave it up to me, I'm gonna just quote Big Boy and say, pay your beeper bill.

Mr. Al Pete (01:49:29.949)
Hey, you're fucking people be a bitch. Yeah. Yes, sir. Straight up and down on that dough.

Ty Hicks (01:49:32.279)
Hey, a paper bill. Mm-hmm.

Krate (01:49:34.251)
So I know if you want me to say anything else.

Shawn Smith (01:49:40.003)
So get your dollars ready and follow us in June, because as of right now, we will be down there doing some stuff as well with Flow-Rate. That's all I'm going to tell you. That's all we're going to tell you. Go follow the socials, and you'll see what we're talking about. That's all right. We give you a tease,

All right. For all my fellas, thank you again for participating. I don't know what that means, but y'all know what it means. For all the fellas participating and all the things that we do, follow us on social media. Check us out on all the places we are. We are getting out of here because they need to go to sleep. I need to go to sleep too.

Ty Hicks (01:50:29.116)
it all.

Shawn Smith (01:50:35.733)
Alright, for all of us, much love, be well, peace.

Mr. Al Pete (01:50:49.999)
It's a...

Ty Hicks (01:50:53.618)
I love y'all man, y'all crazy.