♪ ♪
>> Liz: I NEVER APPRECIATED THE
GAME UNTIL I STARTED WATCHING
BASKETBALL IN SLOW MOTION.
>> Jason: I DON'T, I WATCH
COMEDY WITH THE SOUND OFF.
>> Liz: [LAUGHS]
>> Maverick: REALLY?
>> Jason: FOR REAL.
FOR REAL.
>> Carmelo: I WATCH GAMES
WITHOUT THE SOUND.
IT'S THE SAME THING.
>> Maverick: I WISH I HAD THAT
WITH MY THREE-YEAR-OLD SON,
WHERE I CAN ENJOY HIM WITH THE
SOUND OFF.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Jason: RIGHT.
>> Maverick: I WISH I HAD THAT.
I'M LIKE, "GET THIS NIGGA OUT OF
HERE."
[LAUGHTER]
♪ ALLS MY LIFE I HAS TO FIGHT,
NIGGA ♪
♪ ALLS MY LIFE I ♪
♪ HOMIE, YOU FUCKED UP ♪
♪ BUT IF GOD GOT US THEN WE GON'
BE ALRIGHT ♪
♪ NIGGA, WE GON' BE ALRIGHT ♪
♪ WE GON' BE ALRIGHT ♪
♪ DO YOU HEAR ME, DO YOU FEEL
ME, WE GON' BE ALRIGHT ♪
♪ NIGGA, WE GON' BE ALRIGHT ♪
♪ HUH, WE GON' BE ALRIGHT ♪
♪ NIGGA, WE GON' BE ALRIGHT ♪
♪ DO YOU HEAR ME, DO YOU FEEL
ME, WE GON' BE ALRIGHT ♪
♪ UH, AND WHEN I WAKE UP ♪
♪ I RECOGNIZE YOU'RE LOOKIN' AT
ME FOR THE PAY CUT ♪
>> Paul: JASON, YOU USED TO HOOP
BACK IN THE DAY.
>> Jason: YEAH, WHY?
YOU WANT TO GO, WHAT ARE WE
DOING?
GOT A HOOP?
>> Paul: GIVE US A COMP TO
SOMEONE IN THE NBA TODAY, LIKE
YOUR GAME.
>> Jason: JASON WILLIAMS.
WHEN -- WHEN PEOPLE SAY JASON
WILLIAMS.
>> Paul: LIKE WHITE CHOCOLATE?
>> Jason: YES, OH, MY GOD.
[LAUGHTER]
MY COACHES HATED ME.
"JASON, JUST THROW THE EASY
PASS."
AND I WAS JUST LIKE, "WHY?"
>> Carmelo: OH, YOU DONE -- YOU
DONE LOOK AWAY FOR NO REASON.
>> Jason: OH, NO REASON.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES THEY
ASK ACTORS, YOU KNOW, DID YOU
ALWAYS WANT TO BE AN ACTOR
GROWING UP?
IT'S LIKE, I DON'T THINK SO.
BUT I KNEW I LIKED SHOWMANSHIP.
[LAUGHTER]
SO, LIKE.
>> Paul: J. WILL, I DIDN'T
EXPECT THAT, OKAY.
>> Maverick: THAT'S A GOOD ONE.
>> Jason: WHEN YOU -- WHAT WOULD
YOU HAVE THOUGHT?
"STOCKTON, YOU SON OF A BITCH."
[LAUGHTER]
WHICH IS NOT A BAD THING, BY THE
WAY.
>> Maverick: NO, NOT AT ALL.
>> Jason: NOT A BAD THING.
A LEGEND.
>> Maverick: LET ME ASK THE
QUESTION.
WHEN YOU WANT TO BE AN ACTOR, A
MUSICIAN, DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK,
LIKE, I WANT TO BE FAMOUS?
YOU WANTED TO BE FAMOUS?
>> Jack: IT WAS ALWAYS PART OF
THE PACKAGE.
>> Maverick: IT WAS IN THE --
RIGHT?
>> Jack: BUT I GREW UP IN -- I
GREW UP AN ATTENTION WHORE.
>> Maverick: YEAH.
>> Jack: I'M AN ATTENTION WHORE.
>> Maverick: FAMOUS IS ALWAYS
WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE.
>> Jack: WELL, I LOVE THE CRAFT,
SO IT WAS A SPLIT.
IT WASN'T LIKE I WAS ONLY IN IT
FOR THE FAME BUT, OF COURSE,
LIKE YOU SAID, I KNEW THAT WAS
PART OF WHAT WAS GOING TO COME
WITH IT AND I WAS AT PEACE WITH
THAT.
I WAS LIKE, "LET'S MAKE IT
HAPPEN."
>> Maverick: YOU'RE LIKE, "FUCK
IT, LET'S GO."
>> Jack: YEAH, BECAUSE THERE'S
VALUABLE THINGS YOU COULD DO
WITH INFLUENCE.
>> Maverick: THAT'S TRUE.
>> Jack: I LIKE BEING SOMEBODY
THAT HAS A VOICE AND A PLATFORM.
TO ME, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> Maverick: YEP.
>> Liz: I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE
FAMOUS.
>> Maverick: REALLY?
>> Paul: SHE'S A STAR, MAN,
SHE'S A STAR.
>> Maverick: SHE'S A STAR.
>> Liz: I'M AN ONLY CHILD.
LIKE, MY WHOLE LIFE WAS PUTTING
ON SHOWS IN THE LIVING ROOM,
SINGING, DANCING.
LIKE, I FEED OFF THE CROWD.
I JUST FELL INTO BASKETBALL.
I JUST KNEW WHEREVER I WANTED TO
DO, I WOULD END UP DOING IT IN
FRONT OF A CROWD.
>> Jack: SO REAL.
>> Liz: YEAH.
>> Jason: THAT'S A PETE MARAVICH
THING.
LIKE, HE WAS ALL, YOU KNOW, HE
BELIEVED IN SHOWTIME BEFORE THE,
LIKE, THE LAKERS BECAME
SHOWTIME.
>> Liz: YEAH.
>> Jason: LIKE HE WAS -- HE WAS
THAT DUDE.
IT WAS JUST LIKE, "LET'S GIVE
HIM A SHOW."
>> Liz: THAT'S WHAT WE YELL OUT
IN VEGAS.
LIKE, IT'S VEGAS, BABY.
LIKE.
[LAUGHTER]
WE'RE PUTTING ON A SHOW TONIGHT.
THE HOUSE IS LIT.
YOU CAN'T COME TO VEGAS AND GO
WATCH LIKE A, NO.
>> Maverick: WHAT ABOUT YOU,
MEL?
FAME, YOU?
>> Carmelo: I AIN'T NEVER THINK
ABOUT FAME.
>> Maverick: YOU JUST WANTED TO
HOOP, RIGHT?
>> Carmelo: I JUST WANTED TO
HOOP, PLAY BALL, TAKE CARE OF MY
PEOPLE, THAT WAS IT.
>> Paul: THE FAME FOUND YOU AT
17.
>> Carmelo: I WAS, I WAS.
>> Jason: THAT'S WHAT I WAS
GOING TO SAY.
>> Carmelo: I WAS, I WAS.
>> Jason: YEAH.
>> Carmelo: FAMOUS ON MY BLOCK.
RIGHT.
>> Paul: THAT COUNTS, THOUGH.
>> Carmelo: THAT FAME, TO ME,
WAS BIGGER THAN ANY OTHER FAME.
>> Jack: BUT DID IT VALIDATE
YOU, DID YOU ENJOY THAT?
>> Carmelo: HELL YEAH.
>> Jack: HAVE YOU GROWN TO ENJOY
THE FAME YOU HAVE NOW?
>> Liz: [LAUGHS]
>> Carmelo: COME ON, MAN.
YEAH, OF COURSE.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Jack: WE JUST HAD TO HEAR YOU
SAY IT.
YOU'RE MAKING US SOUND LIKE --
>> Carmelo: YOU GOT TO
UNDERSTAND, LIKE AT FIRST, NBA
WASN'T A DREAM OF MINE.
LIKE, I JUST -- I PLAY BALL
BECAUSE I WAS GOOD.
I WAS HOOD FAMOUS AT THAT.
IF I DID SOMETHING AND WENT BACK
TO THE HOOD AND IT WAS LOVE,
THAT'S ALL I CARED ABOUT.
>> Maverick: WHAT'S THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAME LIKE NOW
YOU GOT, AND HOOD FAME?
BECAUSE WE ALL LOVE HOOD FAME.
I LOVE HOOD FAME.
>> Carmelo: THEY DON'T GO
TOGETHER.
LIKE, IF I WENT BACK TO THE
BLOCK, IT'S LIKE, "YO, YOU
TRYING TO BE."
OH, YOU HOLLYWOOD,
RIGHT?
THERE'S SO MANY OTHER STATES,
WHY YOU GOING TO
SAY, I'M HOLLYWOOD?
>> Maverick: YEAH.
EXACTLY.
>> Carmelo: I'M OUT HERE.
I'M TRAVELING THE WORLD BUT THEN
I COME BACK TO YOU ALL.
HOW YOU GOING TO TELL ME I'M
HOLLYWOOD?
>> Jason: IT'S LIKE SURVIVOR'S
REMORSE.
>> Maverick: IT'S SURVIVOR'S
REMORSE.
>> Carmelo: EXACTLY.
>> Carmelo: BECAUSE YOU GOT TO
GO BACK AND YOU GOT TO MAKE THEM
FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH YOU.
>> Jason: YEP.
>> Carmelo: LIKE, YOU GOT TO
MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY'RE A
PART OF WHAT YOU GOT GOING ON,
BECAUSE WE GOT IT TOGETHER.
>> Paul: IS THERE A WORLD,
'MELO, WHERE YOU'RE TOO FAMOUS
FOR THE HOOD BUT NOT FAMOUS
ENOUGH FOR THE FAME?
>> Carmelo: FOREVER.
MAV KNOW THIS.
>> Maverick: I KNOW.
>> Carmelo: I HATED GOING TO LA.
I HATED IT.
IF IT WASN'T THE HOODS, YOU
KNOW, B-MORE, NEW YORK, CHICAGO,
LIKE WHEREVER THE HOOD WAS AT --
I HATED GOING TO LA.
>> Paul: WHY?
>> Carmelo: THAT WASN'T ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WORLD.
I DIDN'T KNOW THOSE PEOPLE.
>> Maverick: PROBABLY
INTIMIDATED TOO.
>> Carmelo: YEAH.
I ALWAYS LOOKED AT IT LIKE,
"NAH, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE, I'M
OUT OF BOUNDS.
I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE AROUND
THESE PEOPLE."
THERE WAS A MOMENT, '08, RIGHT
BEFORE THE OLYMPICS, I HAD TO
SIT DOWN WITH JERRY.
>> Jason: SEINFELD.
>> Maverick: JERRY COLANGELO.
>> Jason: I'M KIDDING.
[LAUGHTER]
DIFFERENT WORLD, DIFFERENT
JERRYS.
>> Carmelo: ABSOLUTELY.
SO I HAD THIS -- I HAD THIS TALK
WITH HIM AND I WAS LIKE THE LAST
PERSON THAT HE TALKED TO FOR
THAT TEAM.
SO LONG STORY SHORT, I WENT TO
MEET WITH WILL SMITH.
SO I'M AT HIS CRIB AND WILL WAS
THE ONE WHO REALLY CHANGED MY
WHOLE PERSPECTIVE ON JUST BEING
A STAR, BEING WHO YOU WITH,
LOCKING IN, FOCUSING.
AND I REMEMBER I ASKED HIM, I
SAID, "WHAT YOU THINK, I SHOULD
GO?
I SHOULD DO THE OLYMPICS?"
AND HE WAS LIKE, "YOU'LL BE A
FOOL IF YOU DON'T DO THE
OLYMPICS.
FORGET EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED
PRIOR TO THAT OFF THE COURT.
THIS '08 FOR YOU IS YOUR TIME TO
MAKE THE -- TO TAKE THE NEXT
JUMP."
AND THAT'S WHAT CHANGED MY WHOLE
SHIP.
>> Jason: I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT
FAME WAS A BYPRODUCT OF WORK
DONE WELL, WHICH I THINK IS
ECHOING A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU
SAID.
LIKE, YOU CARED ABOUT THE CRAFT
AND KNEW IF YOU DID IT WELL,
THIS IS A BYPRODUCT THAT YOU'RE,
YOU KNOW.
BUT I GREW UP HAVING A VERY
CLOSE CONNECTION TO FAME.
MY UNCLE GEORGE IS GEORGE WENDT,
WHO PLAYED NORM ON "CHEERS."
>> Maverick: OH.
I NEVER KNEW THAT.
>> Jason: YEAH, YEAH, A LOT OF
FOLKS DON'T.
LIKE, I DO, WHICH IS THE
IMPORTANT PART, RIGHT?
>> Carmelo: HE SAID, "I DO."
[LAUGHS]
>> Jason: BUT IT'S LIKE THAT WAS
AN INTERESTING THING TO SEE.
LIKE, I GOT TO SEE HIM MAINTAIN
HIS INTEGRITY AND HUMANITY
WITHIN THIS FAMILY.
BUT I DID ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN
UNCLE GEORGE SHOWED UP, IT WAS A
BIG DEAL.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Maverick: HE GOT TO EAT
FIRST.
>> Jason: FOR ME, THE FIRST TIME
THAT I FELT IT, IT WAS LIKE WHEN
GEORGE TOLD MY MOM, OH, HE COULD
DO THIS.
LIKE AFTER I DROPPED OUT OF
COLLEGE, COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
PLAYING BASKETBALL AND THEN I
STARTED WRITING, LIKE, A
NEWSLETTER.
AND THEN HE WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW,
AND HE SHARED IT WITH ROBERT
SMIGEL WHO, YOU KNOW, WROTE.
THE SUPERFANS, THE
ALL-TIME GREAT COMEDY WRITERS,
INTOXICATING FAME AS ANYTHING
BECAUSE IT'S LIKE...
ROBERT SMIGEL KNOWS WHO I AM.
LIKE, YOU KNOW.
AND THAT WAS A THING.
>> Maverick: WHAT ABOUT FOR YOU?
>> Keegan-Michael: ALL I
REMEMBER IS WHEN I WAS 13, I
JUST -- I WANTED TO BE ROBERT DE
NIRO.
>> Maverick: REALLY?
>> Keegan-Michael: NOT BECAUSE
HE WAS FAMOUS.
ROBERT DE NIRO OR ANIMAL, THE
DRUMMER FROM THE ELECTRIC MAYHEM
ON "THE MUPPET SHOW."
>> Maverick: REALLY?
>> Liz: WOW.
>> Keegan-Michael: THAT'S...
>> Maverick: THAT'S VERY BIG.
>> Paul: RANGE BY THE WAY.
WHY, WHY, WHY?
>> Keegan-Michael: LIKE, THERE'S
A LARGE SPECTRUM.
>> Paul: WHY?
>> Jason: THAT'S WHY WE GO TO
SKETCH COMEDY, SO WE CAN DO
BOTH.
>> Keegan-Michael: SO WE CAN DO
BOTH.
BUT THE MOMENT FOR ME WAS I HAD
BEEN ON "MAD TV" FOR SIX YEARS
AND THIS CAR WENT BY AND THERE
ARE ABOUT FOUR KIDS IN THE CAR
AND SOME KID LEANED OUT THE
WINDOW AS THEY PASSED ME AND
JUST SCREAMED, "COACH HINES,
COACH HINES!"
AND I WAS LIKE, OH.
THE MOMENT I KIND OF THOUGHT, I
SAID, "THIS IS WHAT IT IS."
>> Jason: YOU WERE ALWAYS
WEARING THOSE SHORTS.
>> Keegan-Michael: I HAD THE
SHORTS EVERYWHERE.
[LAUGHTER]
I MEAN, I REALLY -- I WAS
WEARING THE UNIFORM.
[LAUGHTER]
EVERYTHING AND MUSTACHE.
I GUESS IT WASN'T TOO FAR OF A
STRETCH.
>> Maverick: YOU BLEW UP DURING
COVID, WHICH IS A WEIRD TIME TO
GET BIG.
YOU ACTUALLY GOT BIG DURING A
TIME WHEN EVERYBODY WAS IN THE
HOUSE.
>> Jack: I SPENT SO MANY MONTHS
INSIDE NOT DOING SHOWS THAT WHEN
I WOULD GO TO THE STUDIO, SHOWS
WEREN'T ON MY MIND.
SO A LOT OF THE MUSIC I PUT OUT
IN THE LAST YEAR IS CALCULATED,
INTROSPECTIVE STORYTELLING,
WHICH I LOVE AND IT'S TO MY
BENEFIT.
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN
KENTUCKY, EVERY VERSE I EVER DID
I WROTE.
AND THEN I MOVED TO ATLANTA AND
I STARTED GOING TO STUDIOS WITH
OTHER ARTISTS AND IT WAS NOT A
PAD IN SIGHT.
SO I SAID, "ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING
TO HAVE TO LEAN TO PUNCH."
>> Keegan-Michael: OH, OFF THE
DOME.
>> Jack: THAT'S WHAT THEY CALLED
IT, PUNCH RAP.
AND SO I STARTED GOING IN THE
BOOTH AROUND AGE 19 AND I
STARTED FREESTYLING, LIKE JUST
REACTING TO YOURSELF.
YOU KNOW, THE THINGS YOU THINK
OF, YOU'RE REACTING TO THE BEAT.
>> Carmelo: YOU'RE IMPROVING,
YOU IMPROVING.
>> Jack: BUT WHEN YOU GET IN
THAT ZONE.
>> Carmelo: RIGHT.
>> Jack: IT FEELS LIKE DANCING.
>> Keegan-Michael: IT DOES.
>> Jack: IT'S JUST DANCING.
>> Liz: IT'S THE ZONE.
>> Jack: EXACTLY.
BUT IT'S, IT'S ALL A MATTER OF
GETTING LOST IN IT BECAUSE I
REALIZED THE FLOWS I WAS COMING
UP WITH IN THE BOOTH WHEN I WAS
FREESTYLING WERE ACTUALLY
SURPASSING THE STUFF I WAS
COMING UP WITH CALCULATED
BECAUSE --
>> Jason: YOU WEREN'T EDITING?
YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE
ERASER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.
>> Jack: YEAH.
SO IT AFFECTED HOW I WAS
APPROACHING WRITING.
I REALIZED MY BEST WRITING WAS
THE STUFF I WAS WRITING THE
FASTEST.
ATLANTA CHANGED MY LIFE
FOR THAT REASON.
BECAUSE ALMOST ALL THE ARTISTS
IN ATLANTA, EVERY RAPPER, I
DON'T HARDLY --
>> Keegan-Michael: THEY ALL
PUNCH.
>> Jack: I CAN'T MEET A RAPPER
THAT WRITES RIGHT NOW.
>> Keegan-Michael: THEY ALL
PUNCH.
>> Jack: I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO
HAVE THAT CALCULATED SIDE I GREW
UP WITH, BUT EVERYONE PUNCHES
DOWN THERE AND IT TOTALLY
CHANGED HOW I RECORD.
>> Maverick: HOW DO YOU CHOOSE
WHICH ONE TO USE?
>> Jack: IT'S A FEELING.
>> Maverick: IS IT?
>> Jack: IT'S A FEELING.
MY INTENTION.
MY INTENTION, YOU KNOW.
IF I WANT TO GET INTROSPECTIVE
ON A RECORD I'M GOING TO SIT
DOWN AND USE THE ADVANTAGE OF
BEING CALCULATED.
STORYTELLING IS BETTER FOR THAT.
BUT IF IT'S A PARTY RECORD, OR
SOMETHING I WANT TO PERFORM, OR
PLAY IN THE CLUB, IT'S GOT TO BE
BIGGER THAN JUST ME GETTING MY
THOUGHTS OUT.
I GOT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT THIS
10,000 PEOPLE WANT TO YELL WITH
ME.
>> Maverick: THAT'S INTERESTING.
AND YOU, YOU FEEL THE SAME.
LIKE, THAT'S A WEIRD TIME,
THOUGH.
>> Jack: YEAH.
>> Liz: LIKE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
KNOWN GROWING UP IN AUSTRALIA,
LIKE I WAS ALWAYS THE NEXT
LAUREN JACKSON, THE NEXT BIG
THING IN AUSTRALIAN BASKETBALL.
SO I'VE ALWAYS HAD A FOLLOWING
AND PEOPLE KNOWING ME.
BUT I WENT VIRAL A COUPLE OF
TIMES JUST HOOPING WITH MY GUYS,
LIKE JUST ANOTHER DAY OF
TRAINING, PLAYING ONES WITH THE
GUYS.
LIKE, THREE WEEKS BEFORE I HAD,
MY "PLAYBOY" SHOOT HAD COME OUT
AND I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WAS
GOING TO GO VIRAL.
ME HOOPING WITH THE BOYS GOES
VIRAL.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
WORLD WANTS.
>> Carmelo: BUT YOU KNOW WHY?
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE THAT.
>> Liz: YEAH.
>> Carmelo: ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
COMES TO BASKETBALL.
>> Liz: YEAH.
>> Carmelo: SO WHEN YOU SEE THAT
INTEGRATED, WOMEN PLAYING WITH,
WITH MEN IT'S LIKE, OH, SHIT.
LIKE, OKAY.
WE, WE GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO
HER.
>> Keegan-Michael: WE WITNESSING
SOMETHING.
>> Liz: YEAH.
>> Keegan-Michael: YEAH.
>> Carmelo: WE WITNESSING
SOMETHING.
SO, YOU REALLY STARTED
SOMETHING.
>> Liz: I HAVE A FOLLOWING NOW,
LIKE.
>> Maverick: YOU HAVE A
FOLLOWING BECAUSE YOU ARE YOU.
>> Liz: YEAH.
>> Keegan-Michael: YEAH, YEAH,
YEAH.
>> Maverick: THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE
THE FOLLOWING.
>> Carmelo: PERSONALITY.
>> Maverick: LOOK, LOOK, LOOK AT
HER SMILING.
[LAUGHS]
>> Liz: SHIT.
>> Keegan-Michael: [LAUGHS]
>> Liz: I DON'T KNOW WHAT Y'ALL
SEE.
>> Carmelo: WE SEE EVERYTHING
YOU DO.
>> Liz: NO, YOU DON'T SEE
EVERYTHING.
>> Carmelo: WE SEE EVERYTHING.
>> Liz: Y'ALL DON'T SEE
EVERYTHING.
>> Maverick: BUT AS COMEDIANS,
YOU GUYS ACTUALLY GET TO PLAY
CHARACTERS.
IS IT MOST COMFORTABLE WHEN YOU
PLAY A CHARACTER THAT'S VERY
CLOSE TO ACTUALLY WHO YOU ARE,
OR DO YOU FEEL BETTER WHEN IT'S
SOMEONE WHO'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO
WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON?
>> Jason: I WOULD -- I ONLY --
I'M NOT LIKE DANIEL DAY LEWIS OR
SOMEONE.
I HAVE TO PLAY A VERSION OF
MYSELF.
I HAVE AND TO A CERTAIN DEGREE,
YOU KNOW, YOU GET BUSTED AND
PLAY THE SAME CHARACTER EVERY
TIME AND I'M KIND OF LIKE, YEAH,
BECAUSE IT'S ALL ME.
LIKE, THERE WAS NEVER A PART OF
ME THAT WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM
THAT.
EDDIE MURPHY'S A DUDE THAT WAS
SO GOOD AS WHO HE IS.
THAT HE DECIDED, "I'M GOING TO
PLAY THE WHOLE SECOND HALF
LEFT-HANDED."
HE WAS LIKE, "I'M LITERALLY
GOING TO PUT ON ALL THIS MAKEUP
AND IMPROVISE WITH MYSELF TWO
WEEKS AT A TIME."
>> Carmelo: IS THAT HIM GETTING
BORED THOUGH?
>> Jason: I DON'T KNOW.
>> Carmelo: ME, PERSONALLY, I
CAN GET BORED WITH GOING IN THE
GYM DOING THE SAME SHIT OVER AND
OVER.
>> Keegan-Michael: ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY.
>> Carmelo: I GET BORED.
>> Maverick: DO YOU GET BORED IN
A GAME, LIKE, "I WANT TO TRY
SOMETHING NEW?"
>> Carmelo: NO, BECAUSE IT'S TO
THEY POINT.
LIKE, YOU GOT TO STICK WITH YOUR
TRUE ESSENCE OF WHO YOU ARE.
>> Maverick: YES.
>> Paul: BUT 'MELO, WHAT KEEPS
YOU GOING?
WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING BACK TO THE
GYM?
>> Carmelo: SELF-MOTIVATION.
BUT ALSO BEING AROUND MY SON,
AND BEING AROUND HIS TEAMMATES,
AND GOING TO THE TOURNAMENTS,
AND THEM GIVING ME THAT LOVE.
THAT WAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF
LOVE.
LIKE, FORGET THE MEDIA.
WHEN YOU GET THE LOVE FROM KIDS
LIKE THAT IT'S LIKE, OH, I GOT
TO BE, I GOT TO DO WHAT I GOT TO
DO.
THEY TELLING ME THAT YOU AIN'T
DONE, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DOING,
LIKE WHAT TEAM, YOU KNOW?
THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL, IT'S A
BEAUTIFUL FEELING.
IT'S EMBARRASSING.
[LAUGHTER]
YOU UNDERSTAND.
LISTEN.
THE YEAR THAT I WAS AWAY FROM
THE GAME...
>> Maverick: YEAH.
>> Carmelo: THE HARDEST THING
WAS TO GO FROM HERE TO HERE,
RIGHT.
AND NOT KNOWING WHY.
I DIDN'T WATCH BASKETBALL.
>> Maverick: YEAH.
>> Carmelo: LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT?
FUCK THE GAME OF BASKETBALL.
THE GAME DON'T LOVE ME THE WAY
THAT I LOVE THE GAME NO MORE.
SO I WALK IN THE HOUSE AND I'M
TELLING MY SON, WATCHING THE
GAME, AND HE WATCH PLAYERS.
HE DON'T WATCH TEAMS.
SO, WE WATCHING THE GAMES.
HE JUST LIKE, "DAD, YO, HIM.
HE PLAYING."
>> Maverick: YEAH.
>> Carmelo: "DAD, NO, HE TRASH."
>> Maverick: YEAH.
>> Carmelo: LIKE, "HOW IS HE IN
THE LEAGUE AND YOU AIN'T IN THE
LEAGUE?
LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON?"
>> Maverick: WHAT DID YOU SAY
BACK?
>> Carmelo: "EVERYBODY GOT A
DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, MAN."
[LAUGHTER]
>> Carmelo: YOU KNOW WHAT I'M
SAYING?
EVERYBODY CIRCUMSTANCES.
THIS IS THE ONLY THING I COULD
COME BACK WITH.
>> Paul: I WANT TO ASK LIZ REAL
QUICK.
YOU KNOW, WITH FAME COMES
EXPECTATIONS, RIGHT?
IT'S LIKE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
YOU ARE, THE MORE EXPECTATIONS
AND YOU HEADING INTO THE
OLYMPICS, YOU MADE A DECISION
FOR YOURSELF.
>> Liz: YEAH.
IT WASN'T EASY BUT HOW AM I
MEANT TO, TO GO TO THE, THE
HARDEST, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE
PEAK.
IT'S EVEREST.
THE OLYMPICS IS EVEREST FOR
EVERY ATHLETE.
LIKE, IT'S ABOUT TO BE MY THIRD.
IT WAS MEANT TO BE THE ONE.
LIKE, EVERY, EVERY OLYMPICS IS
THE ONE.
AUSTRALIA IS GOING TO GET A GOLD
MEDAL AND I'M LIKE, I'M BROKEN.
GUYS, I'M HALFWAY THROUGH A WNBA
SEASON.
I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH HEALTH
ISSUES.
I'VE BEEN HAVING PANIC ATTACKS
AND VOMITING DURING WNBA GAMES.
>> Maverick: WOW.
>> Liz: MY STRESS HAS BEEN ON A
TOTALLY DIFFERENT LEVEL THIS
YEAR AND I THINK COVID REALLY,
REALLY, I'VE REALLY STRUGGLED
WITH COVID LAST YEAR.
I DID EVERYTHING TO KEEP ME
FUNCTIONING IN A PANDEMIC AND I
JUST HAD TO SAY FUCK IT, CALL MY
AGENT.
I'M LIKE, "YOU NEED TO GET ME TO
LA, LIKE I'M LOSING MY MIND, I'M
SLIPPING BACK INTO MY TOXIC WAYS
TO DEAL WITH ANXIETY."
LIKE, SINCE I'VE 15 I'VE HAD
SHIT IN MY LIFE AND I'VE
BLANKETED IT WITH DRINKING, WITH
PARTYING, WITH EVERYTHING A PRO
ATHLETE SHOULDN'T DO.
AND IT'S TAKEN ME LIKE THE LAST
TWO YEARS TO BREAK THAT CYCLE OF
NUMBING MYSELF WITH STUFF.
I WAS ON PAIN KILLERS.
I'M ON VALIUM.
I'M ON XANAX AGAIN AND IT'S
LIKE, FOR WHAT?
LIKE, I CAN'T BREAK MYSELF.
END OF 2016, I ENDED UP ON
SUICIDE WATCH AFTER THE
RIO OLYMPICS.
>> Maverick: WOW.
>> Carmelo: I SAY ALL ATHLETES
ARE DEPRESSED BECAUSE --
>> Liz: SO HARD.
>> Carmelo: BECAUSE THERE'S SO
MANY EXPECTATIONS, RIGHT, AND
EVERY DAY IS A ROUTINE.
YOU GOT TO DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.
YOU GOT TO BE PERFECT.
IN ORDER TO WIN, YOU GOT TO DO
EVERYTHING RIGHT.
YOU GO HOME AFTER WINS AND,
AFTER LOSSES, YOU CAN'T EVEN
COME DOWN OFF OF THAT.
YOU GOT TO GET READY FOR THE
NEXT NIGHT.
TO GO PLAY.
SO WHEN CAN YOU DECOMPRESS?
IT TOOK ME TEN YEARS TO WATCH MY
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
>> Liz: I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER
CRACKED IN THE MOMENT.
IT'S USUALLY AFTER.
IT'S USUALLY LIKE YOU'VE BEEN
TRAINING YOUR ASS OFF FOR
FUCKING YEARS AND IT'S GONE LIKE
THAT.
AND THEN IT'S LIKE, WHAT THE
FUCK'S MY PURPOSE IN LIFE?
I'M TRASH.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S
EXPECTATIONS BUT IT'S NOT
PROCESSING THINGS RIGHT FOR ME.
I HAVE THE TOOLS NOW AND THE
RIGHT PEOPLE AROUND ME AND IT'S
JUST ME WORKING THROUGH MY SHIT
NOW.
>> Maverick: AND HAVE YOU, YOU
SAW A BIG IMPROVEMENT?
>> Liz: UH.
[LAUGHTER]
I'M GOING TO BE COMPLETELY
HONEST, IF I GO FOR ANOTHER
OLYMPIC GAMES, THERE'S NO WAY I
CAN BE A PART OF THE WNBA.
THERE'S NO WAY I CAN PLAY WITH A
TEAM FOR HALF A SEASON.
>> Paul: DO YOU FEEL YOU'D HAVE
TO MAKE THAT CHOICE?
>> Liz: YEAH.
THEN SPEND A WEEK WITH MY
AUSTRALIAN TEAM AND GO TO THE
OLYMPICS AND I REALLY STRUGGLE
WITH PLAYERS.
I'VE HAD 11 CONCUSSIONS SINCE I
WAS A TEENAGER.
SO MY MEMORY IS SHOT.
AND SO ME LEARNING PLAYS IS THE
HARDEST THING.
AND I GET -- I GOT ONE WEEK TO
LEARN EVERY PLAY.
>> Keegan-Michael: OH, WOW.
>> Liz: AND WHEN THERE'S ONE
PLAY, THERE'S LIKE SIX DIFFERENT
VARIANCES YOU CAN DO WITH IT.
>> Jason: SEE, THAT -- THAT'S A
LEVEL THAT NO ONE THAT'S TALKING
SHIT --
>> Liz: YEAH.
>> Keegan-Michael: THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND THAT AT ALL.
THEY HAVE NO SENSE OF THAT.
>> Jason: OH, MY GOD, NO.
>> Liz: I WAS ON THREE TEAMS IN
ONE WEEK HEADING INTO THE
OLYMPICS.
I HAD TO LEAVE MY VEGAS -- I HAD
TO MISS TWO GAMES WITH MY VEGAS
TEAM.
THAT WAS A SITUATION.
I HAD TO DO THE ALL-STAR GAME
AND THEN I COULDN'T DO THE
ALL-STAR GAME, BECAUSE I HAD
BEEN TRAINING TOO MUCH WITH THE
OLYMPICS.
>> Jason: YOU'RE ALWAYS AN
UNDERSTUDY.
LIKE, YOU'RE NEVER PART OF THE
CAST.
>> Liz: YEAH.
>> Jason: IT'S ABOUT LEARNING TO
IDLE WELL.
>> Liz: YEAH.
>> Jason: I REMEMBER MY HIGH
SCHOOL COACH SAYING THAT, "YOU
DON'T KNOW HOW TO IDLE WELL,
JASON."
YOU CAN DO THAT, YOU CAN DO THAT
AT 18.
AND IT'S HAVING THOSE PEAKS AND
HAVING THOSE VALLEYS, BECAUSE AT
"SNL," WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN
EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, BUT IT
IS AN ATHLETIC, YOU KNOW,
ENDEAVOR.
YOU GIVE 100%, IT GIVES YOU BACK
4%.
[LAUGHTER]
YOU'RE LIKE, WHAT?
>> Keegan-Michael: WHAT THE
FUCK?
>> Jason: AND THEN SOME WEEKS,
IT GIVES YOU BACK 150%, YOU'RE
LIKE KING OF THE WORLD, AND THEN
SUNDAY AFTERNOON HAPPENS AND
YOU'RE LIKE, "I'M SAD."
YOU FEEL THOSE HIGHS, A GAME
WINNER, YOU KNOW, A VICTORY.
AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE IT.
THAT'S WHY PART -- TALKING ABOUT
IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE
ARE, LIKE, IT'S PROVIDING
VOCABULARY FOR PEOPLE.
>> Maverick: SO GOOD.
>> Jason: YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
WHERE THEY'RE LIKE, WAIT, THAT'S
A PANIC ATTACK?
I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BECAUSE I
HAD TOO MUCH CAFFEINE.
IT'S LIKE, NO, THAT'S A PANIC
ATTACK.
[LAUGHS]
♪ ♪
>> Carmelo: YOU LISTEN TO OTHER
RAPPERS' MUSIC?
>> Jack: I TRY TO GET MYSELF TO.
I FIND THAT LIKE A LOT OF TIMES
RIGHT NOW...
>> Carmelo: BUT YOU DON'T.
>> Jack: LIKE, I DON'T HAVE A
HABIT OF DOING IT.
>> Carmelo: RIGHT.
>> Jack: BUT ME, I THINK IT HAS
LESS TO DO WITH OTHER RAPPERS
THAN IT'S MORE, I'VE GOTTEN TO A
POINT WHERE I'M RECORDING SO
MUCH.
>> Carmelo: YOU AIN'T GOT TIME
FOR IT.
>> Jack: IT'S NOT EVEN THE TIME.
WHEN I LEAVE THE STUDIO, I LIKE
TO DRIVE IN SILENCE.
>> Carmelo: RIGHT.
>> Keegan-Michael: UH, SURE.
>> Jack: I'M IN THE CRIB
CLEANING MY HOUSE IN SILENCE.
OTHER PEOPLE AROUND ME LIKE,
"YO, CAN WE LISTEN TO MUSIC?"
I'M LIKE, "MUSIC?
HELL NO."
[LAUGHTER]
>> Paul: WHO INFLUENCED YOU
MUSICALLY, LIKE WHAT, IT'S RAP
OR ANY GENRE, WHO?
>> Jack: IN GENERAL?
>> Paul: YEAH.
IN GENERAL.
>> Jack: MY DAD WAS CLASSIC
COUNTRY.
SO, LIKE JOHNNY CASH,
JOHNNY PAYCHECK.
>> Carmelo: JOHNNY PAYCHECK.
>> Jack: SO, LIKE --
>> Carmelo: YO, BY THE WAY,
THAT'S AN ILL NAME RIGHT THERE.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Jason: JOHNNY PAYCHECK.
>> Jack: CRAZY NAME.
>> Carmelo: THAT IS MY NEW
ALIAS, MAN.
>> Jack: WILLIE, WILLIE NELSON.
[LAUGHTER]
SO I GOT MELODIC
STORYTELLING FROM MY DAD.
BUT MY MOM, SHE WAS -- I
REMEMBER BEING IN THE CAR AND
SHE BOUGHT
"LATE REGISTRATION."
SHE'S LIKE, "YOU'RE GOING TO
HEAR SOME WORDS ON THIS THAT YOU
CAN'T SAY."
>> Paul: YOUR MOM BOUGHT "LATE
REGISTRATION?"
>> Jack: MY MOM WAS RAP AND MY
DAD WAS CLASSIC COUNTRY.
>> Carmelo: THAT'S DOPE, WOW.
WHAT A GREAT MIX.
>> Jack: SO THAT WAS LIKE --
BUT MY MOM PUT ME ONTO RAP FOR
LIKE, SHE WAS PLAYING "THE
MARSHALL MATHERS LP" IN THE
MINIVAN WHEN I WAS TWO, LIKE.
>> Jason: WITH ART, YOU GET TO
SHARE IT WITH ANOTHER
GENERATION.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, I LOVE.
>> Maverick: IT LIVES FOREVER.
>> Jason: IT LIVES FOREVER AND
YOU CHANGE AS YOU SAID IT.
YOU KNOW, THE WAY YOU HEAR THE
SONG YOU KNOW, YOU DANCE TO THAT
SONG AT YOUR WEDDING, YOU CRY
YOUR EYES OUT AT IT AT YOUR
DIVORCE, YOU KNOW, LIKE.
[LAUGHTER]
IT'S LIKE THAT SONG, THAT SONG'S
STILL THE FUCKING SAME.
>> Keegan-Michael: IT'S AWESOME.
>> Jason: OH, YOU HATE THE HELL
OUT OF THAT SONG.
[LAUGHTER]
COME AND TALK TO ME.
NO, NOT, NOT.
BUT LIKE, IT REALLY IS NEAT TO
SHARE THAT WITH KIDS.
>> Paul: 'MELO, IF YOUR SON --
WHAT MOVIE CAN YOU NOT WAIT TO
SHOW YOUR SON?
>> Carmelo: SO HE NEVER -- HE
NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
EXPERIENCE WHAT I EXPERIENCED
AND HOW I HAD TO GO GET IT, HOW
I HAD TO MOTIVATE MYSELF.
SO I'LL BE WANTING HIM TO SEE
"SOUL IN THE HOLE," LIKE
BASKETBALL, YOU KNOW, SOUL, YOU
KNOW.
>> Paul: BOOGER, YEAH.
>> Carmelo: BOOGER.
LIKE, I'LL BE WANTING HIM TO SEE
THAT AND JUST LIKE THE TRUE
ESSENCE OF THAT HOOP DREAMS.
I WANT HIM TO SEE THOSE THINGS.
LIKE THIS IS PEOPLE THAT REALLY
HAD TO GET IT, BECAUSE IF YOU
UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU UNDERSTAND
ME.
AND WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND ME, NOW
YOU GOING TO TRUST ME A LITTLE
BIT MORE.
I TRY TO GET HIM TO WATCH
"HOOSIERS."
TRYING TO GET HIM TO WATCH
"HOOSIERS" NOW AND IT'S LIKE,
"DAD, THAT AIN'T BASKETBALL."
LIKE, YO.
[LAUGHS]
"YO," I SAID, HE SAID, "DAD,
THAT'S NOT BASKETBALL.
WHY THEY JUST KEEP PASSING EIGHT
TIMES?
WHY IS NOBODY DRIBBLING?"
BUT THIS WAS THE ART IN THE
BEGINNING.
IT WASN'T THE BEGINNING BUT THIS
IS THE ART OF THE GAME.
THIS IS HOW WE'RE ABLE TO DO
WHAT WE DO TODAY, BECAUSE THAT'S
THE BASELINE.
>> Keegan-Michael: YOU HAD TO BE
ABLE TO INNOVATE OFF OF
SOMETHING.
>> Carmelo: OF COURSE, YOU HAVE,
YOU HAVE TO.
>> Keegan-Michael: YOU HAD TO
INNOVATE OFF OF SOMETHING.
>> Maverick: WELL, LET ME ASK
YOU, LET ME ASK YOU.
IS THERE ANY EVER A SKIT ON
"KEY AND PEELE" THAT YOU WERE
LIKE, "THIS IS GOING TO WORK"
AND IT DOESN'T WORK, OR ONE
YOU'RE LIKE, "I'M NOT SURE ABOUT
THIS ONE" AND IT WORKS?
THAT MUST BE A CRAZY FEELING
TOO.
>> Keegan-Michael: LISTEN.
I -- I DIDN'T KNOW "SUBSTITUTE
TEACHER" WAS GOING TO DO THAT.
>> Maverick: YOU HAD NO IDEA?
>> Keegan-Michael: I KNEW IT WAS
A SOLID SKETCH.
LIKE, YOU KNOW.
>> Jason: 100%.
>> Keegan-Michael: IT'S GOT
PREMISE.
>> Jason: YEP.
>> Keegan-Michael: ESCALATION.
>> Jason: GREAT CHARACTERS.
>> Keegan-Michael: GOOD BUTTON.
>> Jason: YEP.
>> Keegan-Michael: YOU KNOW WHAT
I MEAN.
IT HAD ALL THE RIGHT
INGREDIENTS.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO
TURN INTO THIS.
I DIDN'T KNOW PEOPLE WERE GOING
TO BE YELLING "A-A-RON" AT ME
DOWN THE STREET.
>> Carmelo: A-A-RON.
>> Keegan-Michael: YOU, YOU
DON'T.
IT'S TOO --
>> Carmelo: [LAUGHS]
>> Keegan-Michael: THERE'S NO
SCIENCE TO IT.
THERE'S A SCIENCE TO THE --
THERE'S A SCIENCE TO THE
ASSEMBLY BUT NOT TO THE INNER.
>> Maverick: THERE'S NO, YEAH,
THERE IS.
>> Keegan-Michael: YOU CAN'T.
>> Jason: IT'S LITERALLY ABOUT
JUST GIVING A DAMN EVERY SECOND.
>> Carmelo: YOU EVER FEEL LIKE
YOU MISSED ON "SNL?"
>> Jason: LIKE MISSED, MISSED A
MOMENT?
>> Carmelo: LIKE FOR ME, LIKE IF
I'M LIKE, GAME 1, I MISSED A
TOUGH SHOT.
>> Jason: YES.
>> Carmelo: RIGHT.
>> Keegan-Michael: THAT'S EVERY
WEEK.
>> Jason: NO.
>> Carmelo: HOW OFTEN?
[LAUGHTER]
>> Jason: IT'S ONLY WHEN YOU'RE
PLAYING, RIGHT?
IF YOU FLUB A LINE OR YOU FLUB A
JOKE, THEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU
MISSED.
AND I FUCKING FEEL ALL THOSE.
>> Carmelo: THAT WAS THE MOST
NERVOUS I'VE EVER BEEN.
>> Jason: WHEN YOU DID, BECAUSE
YOU DID OUR SKETCH?
YOU DID?
YEAH?
>> Carmelo: I WAS THE MOST
NERVOUS I'VE EVER BEEN.
>> Jason: I MEAN, I'VE SAID THIS
IN INTERVIEWS, BUT I BELIEVE
THIS AND AMONGST ATHLETES I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND FELLOW
ARTISTS -- LIKE, THERE IS NO
DEFENSE IN THE ARTS.
IT IS MOSTLY, LIKE, APATHY, OR
CYNICISM, OR EGO.
LIKE, I'M FUCKING "GOD ON
EARTH."
IF YOU LOSE TO ANY OF THOSE, YOU
HAVE A SHORT SHELF LIFE, I
THINK.
>> Maverick: EGO'S WHAT GETS YOU
TO THIS POINT.
>> Jason: YEP.
>> Maverick: BUT THEN YOU TALKED
A BIT ABOUT WHERE IT BECOMES TOO
MUCH.
LIKE, YOU GO TO BACK OFF.
>> Keegan-Michael: YEAH,
EXACTLY.
>> Maverick: HOW DO YOU BALANCE
THAT?
>> Carmelo: COACH K USED TO SAY,
"BRING YOUR EGO, BECAUSE THAT
MAKES YOU WHO YOU ARE."
>> Maverick: THAT'S WHO WE WANT.
>> Jason: THAT'S YOUR ESSENCE.
>> Carmelo: WE WANT YOU AND YOUR
EGO.
NOW, WE GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO MAKE THIS WORK.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT IF YOU DON'T BRING YOUR EGO,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU BRINGING.
SO WHEN HE TOLD ME THAT, I'M
LIKE, DAMN.
>> Maverick: SO HOW DO YOU
BALANCE IT, THOUGH?
>> Jason: WHY DID I GO TO
SYRACUSE?
[LAUGHTER]
>> Carmelo: MY EGO, MY EGO.
>> Jack: SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT
ALL THE TIME IS BALANCING THAT
EGO THING, ESPECIALLY AS A RAP
ARTIST.
AND I GOT INTO IT SO MUCH
BECAUSE OF THE BRAVADO OF THE
GENRE.
AND I WOULD LISTEN TO IT AS A
KID, IT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL
CONFIDENT.
I'D BE ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL AND
I'D FEEL LIKE THE SHIT BECAUSE I
WAS LISTENING TO SOMEONE THAT
FELT LIKE THE SHIT.
I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF MY IDOLS
THAT I WON'T NAME, BUT SOMEBODY
THAT I GREW UP IDOLIZING IN THE
SAME GENRE.
AND I ASKED HIM, YOU KNOW, WHAT
DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS
TO, HOW HAVE YOU STAYED
REFRESHING, WHAT -- WHY YOU
THINK YOU'RE ON THIS RUN?
HE SAID, "YOU KNOW, ONE THING
ABOUT MOST OF THESE RAPPERS,
WHEN THEY'RE HOT, THEY CAN TELL
YOU EVERYTHING ABOUT WHAT'S
GOING ON, THEY'RE TASTE MAKERS,
RIGHT?
BUT THE ONE THING MOST OF THESE
GUYS CAN'T DO IS HEAR
THEMSELVES.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE SELF
AWARENESS TO SAY THAT'S IT OR
THAT ISN'T IT."
SO FOR ME, IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN
SO MUCH ABOUT EVERY SHOT HAS TO
GO IN.
IT'S DISCERNING WHEN I MISSED.
>> Jason: YEAH.
>> Jack: I KNOW WHEN I MAKE A
RECORD, I KNOW WHEN I SOUND
COMPELLING, AND I KNOW WHEN I
DON'T.
THERE'S EGO INVOLVED IN THAT BUT
I CAN LOOK AT MYSELF, I CAN HEAR
THE MUSIC I MAKE.
I'M IN THE STUDIO.
I KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS SPECIAL
AND I KNOW WHEN IT ISN'T.
>> Maverick: I DON'T KNOW IF ALL
YOU SEEN THE "INDUSTRY BABY"
VIDEO WITH LIL NAS X.
DID YOU KNOW THAT SONG WHEN YOU
RECORDED, LIKE, THIS IS ONE OF
THOSE ONES?
>> Jack: YEAH.
THAT WAS A BIG PART OF ME DOING
IT IS, I HEARD IT AND I WAS
LIKE, OH, THIS IS SPECIAL.
I CAN'T LIE, THERE'S PEOPLE IN
MY LIFE THAT ENCOURAGED ME TO
PASS.
>> Jason: THE PEOPLE THAT
ENCOURAGED YOU TO PASS, HAVE
THEY SAID THAT YOU WERE RIGHT?
>> Jack: THEY HAVEN'T SAID THOSE
WORDS AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL
EVER HEAR THOSE WORDS.
>> Paul: WHY DIDN'T YOU PASS?
>> Jack: I FELT LIKE I SAW IT
DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY SAW IT.
>> Jason: YEP.
>> Jack: THERE'S WAS ALSO A BIG
GROUP THAT WAS LIKE, "FUCK YEAH,
DO THAT SHIT."
SO I FELT GOOD ABOUT IT.
BUT I LIKE TO ASK.
>> Carmelo: WHEN YOU HAVE A BAR,
RIGHT, AND THIS IS AS A FAN.
WHEN YOU HAVE A BAR, DO YOU FEEL
LIKE, "I KNOW THIS IS THE BAR?"
>> Jack: I'LL TELL YOU THE LAST
ONE.
THERE'S A LINE IN THE LIL NAS
RECORD WHERE I SAY, "I DIDN'T
PEAK IN HIGH SCHOOL, I'M STILL
OUT HERE GETTING CUTER."
>> Maverick: YEAH, THAT WAS
DOPE, THOUGH.
>> Carmelo: OH.
>> Maverick: THAT WAS BAR,
THOUGH.
>> Jack: I SEE THAT LYRIC
EVERYWHERE NOW.
>> Maverick: I LOVE THAT LYRIC
TOO.
>> Jack: BUT WHEN I WROTE IT, I
WAS LIKE, "WHO DOESN'T WANT TO
SAY THAT?"
WHO DOESN'T WANT TO, EVEN IF
IT'S NOT TRUE, WHO DOESN'T WANT
TO FEEL LIKE THAT?
>> Jason: 100%.
>> Jack: WHO DOESN'T WANT TO
FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT STILL
GETTING BETTER OR GETTING CUTER?
GETTING GIRLS POSTED AS THEIR IG
CAPTION AND GUYS SAY IT, LIKE.
>> Carmelo: THERE SHE IS.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Liz: NEXT PHOTO, LOOK OUT.
>> Carmelo: THERE SHE IS.
>> Jack: BUT WHAT IS BECOMING
MODERN DAY IS, JUST TO SUM IT
UP, YOU'RE CREATING INSTAGRAM
CAPTIONS.
TRYING TO REACH PEOPLE, TRYING
TO MAKE PEOPLE RESONATE WITH THE
MUSIC.
IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD AT ALL
TIMES IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK
EARLY ON I WAS WRITING FOR
MYSELF.
I'M SAYING, "THIS IS ME, THIS IS
HOW I FEEL."
NOW I WRITE AND I SAY, "ARE
OTHER PEOPLE -- IS THIS
UNIVERSAL?"
OKAY, LET'S DO IT.
IT DON'T MATTER HOW CLEVER OR
TECHNICAL OR HOW WITTY I GET
WITH IT, NOTHING COMPARES TO
JUST THE TRUTH.
>> Keegan-Michael: WHAT WE
REALLY WANT TO DO IS TOUCH THAT
UNIVERSAL PIECE THAT JACK WAS
TALKING ABOUT.
WHERE'S THAT LITTLE UNIVERSAL
PIECE?
THE HOLY GRAIL IS WHEN YOU HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE
SOMETHING TABOO AND MAKE
SOMEBODY SEE IT FROM A DIFFERENT
ANGLE.
WHEN WE DID "LUTHER," THE BARACK
OBAMA'S ANGER TRANSLATOR, JORDAN
WOULD PLAY BARACK AND I'D BE,
YOU KNOW, LUTHER, "WHAT THE FUCK
IS THESE," YOU KNOW.
SOMEBODY TOLD ME ONCE, THEY
SAID, "MY CONSERVATIVE UNCLE
ALSO ENJOYS THE SCENE" BECAUSE
WHETHER HE LIKES OBAMA'S
POLITICS OR NOT, HE GOES, "THAT
GUY, HE IS PRETTY RESERVED."
>> Carmelo: COMEDY'S UNIVERSAL.
>> Keegan-Michael: IT'S
UNIVERSAL.
IT CAN BE.
SO HE -- THAT REPUBLICAN GUY
JUST GOES, "WELL, HATE HIS
POLITICS, BUT THAT'S CLEVER."
>> Jason: AND I FEEL LIKE AS
LONG AS IT'S PERSONAL.
IF IT'S COMING FROM YOU, IF IT'S
COMING FROM YOUR WISHBONE, FROM
THAT HUM INSIDE YOU, I THINK
IT'S REALLY NEAT THAT SO MANY
MORE PEOPLE FEEL IT MORE THAN WE
REALIZE.
>> Maverick: I WANT TO BRING
THIS BACK TO THE ATHLETES.
LIKE, THERE'S ALL THESE GREATS
WHO'VE COME BEFORE YOU, DO YOU
THINK ABOUT THE COMPARISON TO
THEM?
>> Liz: FOR ME, LIKE I GOT INTO
BASKETBALL TO MAKE FRIENDS.
I WAS BEING BULLIED IN SCHOOL
AND THAT WAS MY LIFE.
I LOVED THE SOCIAL SIDE OF IT.
I HAD COACHES THAT SAW SOMETHING
IN ME BUT I NEVER REALLY HAD A
MENTOR UNTIL KOBE, YOU KNOW.
I HAD MY FIRST WEEK ON CALL AND
THEN KOBE DIES.
I LOST MY IDOL AND MY MENTOR IN
A WEEK.
I NEVER HAD A BASKETBALL TRAINER
UNTIL LAST YEAR.
AND EVEN WITHIN A YEAR, I'VE
NEVER DRIBBLED THE BALL IN
BETWEEN MY LEGS IN A GAME.
>> Carmelo: [LAUGHS]
>> Jason: WHAT?
>> Liz: DON'T LAUGH AT ME LIKE
THAT!
LIKE, I'M A POST PLAYER.
LIKE, I'M 6'8".
>> Carmelo: YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO.
>> Maverick: YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO.
>> Carmelo: LISTEN, MY CENTER
DRIBBLED IN BETWEEN HIS LEGS.
>> Maverick: AND HE OUT.
>> Carmelo: COACH, COME GET HIM.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Jason: HE HAS LOST HIS MIND.
>> Maverick: HE'S TRIPPING, GET
HIM OUT.
>> Jason: WATCHING THOSE
PETE MARAVICH TAPES.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Liz: BUT I GREW UP.
I GREW UP, EVERYONE BE LIKE,
"YOU SHAQ, YOU BABY MAMA SHAQ."
I WAS LIKE, "NO, I WANT TO BE
KOBE."
LIKE, YOU MAKE ME WATCH SHAQ
VIDEOS.
I'M BUSY WATCHING KOBE AND
THAT'S WHO I WANTED TO BE.
AND I THINK I NEVER REALLY GOT
CAUGHT UP WITH WHO'S MY
COMPETITION OR WHO WAS BEFORE
ME, BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW
THE GAME.
LIKE, I REALLY ONLY STARTED
WATCHING NBA PROBABLY IN
QUARANTINE LAST YEAR.
>> Paul: AND 'MELO, I WANT TO
ASK YOU, YOU PLAYED WITH THE
GREATS.
TOP 10 SCORER ALL-TIME, WHAT'S
THAT MEAN TO YOU WHEN YOU START
THINKING ABOUT LEGACY?
>> Carmelo: IT'S HARD, MAN.
I KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
LIKE, OBVIOUSLY I WAS COGNIZANT
OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.
AND WE PLAYING IN ATLANTA AND IT
WAS A BACK-TO-BACK.
AND I'M LIKE --
>> Liz: [LAUGHS]
>> Carmelo: IT'S ATLANTA.
>> Maverick: [LAUGHS]
>> Carmelo: BACK-TO-BACK.
[LAUGHS]
>> Liz: THEM YOUNG --
>> Carmelo: I NEEDED 10 POINTS.
SO I'M LIKE, "OH, MAN, YOU KNOW
WHAT?
I'M A JUST TRY TO GO GET IT
EARLY."
LET ME JUST GO GET IT.
[LAUGHTER]
LET ME GET THE 10 OUT THE WAY.
>> Maverick: LET ME SAY, LET ME
GET MINE AND GET ON OUT YOUR
WAY.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Carmelo: I FELT MYSELF, I WAS
PLAYING, YOU KNOW, I'M PLAYING
WELL.
I STARTED OFF GREAT.
AND THAT ONE SHOT, IT WAS A AND
ONE THREE AND I'M LIKE, I FELT
IT, THOUGH.
LIKE, I JUST KNEW, OKAY, THIS
IS --
>> Jack: YOU JUST KNOW.
>> Carmelo: I KNEW THAT MOMENT.
>> Jack: YEAH.
>> Carmelo: YOU FELT THE ENERGY
AND THE CROWD KNEW WHAT TIME IT
WAS.
>> Jack: YEAH.
>> Carmelo: I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
THAT THAT WAS THE TOP, THAT WAS
THE TOP 10 BUCKET.
>> Jack: SO RIGHT BEFORE YOU
TOOK IT, YOU FOUND OUT?
>> Carmelo: IT WAS THE TIME I
WAS PROBABLY LIKE, "YOU NEED
THREE."
AND I'M LIKE, YEAH, I'M PULLING
THIS SHIT, I DON'T GIVE A FUCK.
[LAUGHTER]
NOW IF WE WAS IN UTAH SOMEWHERE,
THAT MOMENT PROBABLY WOULDN'T
HAPPEN LIKE THAT.
WE WAS IN ATLANTA.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Maverick: AS A WHITE RAPPER,
DO PEOPLE TRY AND LIKE, "YOU
SUPPOSED TO SAY THIS" OR DO THAT
AT ALL?
>> Jack: I MEAN, IT EXISTS FOR
SURE.
OF COURSE I'M WHITE, SOMETHING
IS NEVER GOING TO CHANGE.
>> Carmelo: BRO, YOU'VE BEEN TO
MAGIC CITY.
>> Liz: [LAUGHS]
>> Carmelo: YEAH, FUCK ALL THAT
WHITE SHIT.
[LAUGHS]
>> Maverick: SECOND CITY'S GREAT
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF IMPROV
GOING ON IN MAGIC CITY.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Carmelo: IMPROV.
♪ SCHEMIN' AND LET ME TELL YOU
'BOUT MY LIFE ♪
♪ PAINKILLERS ONLY PUT ME IN THE
TWILIGHT ♪
♪ WHERE PRETTY PUSSY AND
BENJAMIN IS THE HIGHLIGHT ♪
♪ NOW TELL MY MAMA I LOVE HER
BUT THIS WHAT I LIKE ♪
♪ LORD KNOWS, TWENTY OF 'EM IN
MY CHEVY ♪
♪ TELL 'EM ALL TO COME AND GET
ME, REAPIN' EVERYTHING I SOW ♪
♪ SO MY KARMA COME IN HEAVEN, NO
PRELIMINARY HEARINGS ON MY
RECORD ♪
♪ I'M A MOTHERFUCKING GANGSTER
IN SILENCE FOR THE RECORD, UH ♪
♪ TELL THE WORLD I KNOW IT'S TOO
LATE ♪
♪ BOYS AND GIRLS, I THINK I'VE
GONE CRAY ♪
♪ DROWN INSIDE MY VICES ALL
DAY ♪
♪ WON'T YOU PLEASE BELIEVE WHEN
I SAY ♪
♪ WOULDN'T YOU KNOW ♪
♪ WE BEEN HURT, BEEN DOWN
BEFORE, NIGGA ♪
♪ WHEN OUR PRIDE WAS LOW ♪