Ep. 42: Diet Racism

Kea (00:03):
The podcast where we sip and spill, you are now listening to this episode of Tea With Kea. Thank you so much for my lovely loyal listeners out there. Okay. We are here today with a very special guest, introduce yourself to the people who will be listening,
Kush (00:30):
How y’all doing tonight. Well, this evening, my name is Kush Tha Rapper. You know, um, I love music. I love anime, you know, uh, I’m a irresponsible young soul out here, but you know, I’m trying to change the world. So, uh, this is who I am and I hope you all enjoy this episode in mind.
Kea (00:47):
Hey, I love that intro. I like, I feel that, I feel that I love
Kush (00:52):
That. Yeah, we got to come with it. We got to come with it.
Kea (00:55):
Exactly, exactly. Well, you know how we do on Tea With Kea. Let you know what we are sipping on. So what, what beverage did you say he was grabbing for this episode? All right,
Kush (01:05):
So I’m going to go ahead and let y’all know. I slight drink like a old head, but you know, I got the crown, you know, I wrapped the crown. I started to get the vanilla, but you know, I think I’m going to kind of chase my liquor tonight because you know, it’s St patches there. I ain’t trying to get too, too messed up, you know, so trying to be responsible during responsibly kids real talk,
Kea (01:29):
Oh my goodness gracious. You are so right. It is a holiday and like, okay. I’m not like drinking, drinking, but y’all know how I do. I have my C okay. It’s St. Patty’s day. So I’m drinking guests. Guess what type of tea?
Kush (01:42):
Green tea. Green tea. Okay.
Kea (01:46):
Yes. Um, but I probably will be, um, you know, engaging in shenanigans actually. I don’t know. We’ll see what happens. It’s a holiday, so yeah, like, you know, it’s like a drinking holiday, so that’s yeah. Right,
Kush (02:00):
Right. Yeah.
Kea (02:02):
Cool. We don’t see, we, we don’t. We gonna see, see what happens later on today, you know, so, oh my goodness gracious. Wow. Okay. We are gathered here today. Actually see, this is what I have my format. I always say how we met and this was actually interesting. Cause we haven’t actually like, you know, Matt, Matt, this is like, kind of like our first time.
Kush (02:26):
Right. I’m
Kea (02:27):
Wondering. Okay. So like Druva hit me up on Snapchat and he was like, okay. Yeah. Like my friend, like put him on. Right. And then he was like, okay, reach out on Instagram. Did he tell you that I had a podcast? Or like, what was the conversation like? Y’all had, like, I mean, we’re, we’re here together now. Like, you know,
Kush (02:45):
We’ll see bro had hit me up. He was like, Hey man, you know, um, how comfortable are you with doing a podcast? And it was like, well, what was crazy was, um, a coworker of mine, uh, shout out to her, her name’s mahogany, shout out to her. She actually had, um, asked me to help her with a project for school. She goes to and T she asked me to help her for a project for school, for a podcast. And she did a local artist that she knew and she chose me. And I had told her that, you know, my boy Ru had hit me up about, you know, potentially, you know, having this interview with you. And I said, you know, this would be good practice for me, you know? So it was just, you know, it was great, but yeah, he had hit me up and said, you know, yeah. Um, this will be good for you. You know, this’ll be good for, you know, just getting your face out there and get more comfortable with, you know, speaking with people on a different level than just music. So I’m really, you know, excited regardless about this.
Kea (03:41):
Well, I’m excited to have you, you know, have that, like that reciprocity, like off jump with that energy. So, you know, even though like I hadn’t actually met you, I was like, okay. You know, like this, this feels really good. And then we had that common connection, so
Kush (03:54):
Yeah. Yeah. I appreciate you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,
Kea (04:00):
Shoot. And it’s interesting too, cause like, okay. So normally, um, the, the guests that I have on the show, normally I’m kind of like already familiar with them and we, and I kind of like pick, you know, what we’re going to talk about, but in this case, you know, you’re fresh phase. Like, you know, and so it was like, okay, you know, what are, what do you bring it to the table already? And then the group was like, oh, you know, like he’s into processing. And I was like, yo, what the heck? Like, I need to like, get on T with key. I need to like, know what’s up, you know? And so, um, I get, first of all, like props to you. Okay. It’s like, like more black voices out here. Yeah. I guess my first question for you is, um, how long have you been protesting and like, is it just been like locally or like where I kinda, I kinda wanna like go back to like your like beginning.
Kush (04:50):
Okay. Well, first off, um, last year was probably the biggest year for me and for probably a lot of people, our generation, when it comes to civil rights and just being active with standing up for what’s wrong and what’s right. You know, so, um, I think it was when Eric Garner had gotten killed or no, it may have been when Mike Brown had gotten killed. And, um, I remember Greensboro had a protest that year. This was a few years ago. I was probably like around 18, 19, maybe 20 I’m, 25 now, because this was when I was first going to GTCC James’ house. And, you know, um, I seen it all over social media and on the news. And so I said, I want to be a part of that. And you know, of course, you know, I was young and my mom’s like, no, don’t go out there.
Kush (05:42):
You know, what’s crazy folk out the, you know, some crazy white folk, you know what I’m saying? So, I mean, say it how it is, you know, but my, my mother, she really kind of rejected that at first, but, you know, I still made my way down there. Me and my friend had went down there and, you know, it was a very, very interesting night because it was a lot of people who supported us. And it was also a lot of people who just flat out was like, you know, you guys are just out here for attention and you know, all this other nonsense. And it was just like, you know, you guys are, you know, out here riding when, uh, when a hockey team loses, you know, or, or just, you know, just other, you know, just trivial things like that. You know, it takes, it really takes a lot out of our community for really to just be like, look enough is enough.
Kush (06:32):
You know, like we don’t get, you know, sparked up over little things, you know? So we got to take to the streets and flip over cars instead of set on fire, like buildings and, you know, but so, uh, that was, that was a great time, you know, I met a lot of people then, and it was just, it was just very, very, it tested a lot of it tested a lot of us, you know, because the thing was a lot of people who were out there, I seen them later on again, last year when they came down at Greensboro, uh, downtown as well. And, you know, I also saw a lot of people that I didn’t see, you know, what I’m saying? The thing was, I genuinely feel that only the strong and the know strong-willed and strong voice to can, you know, stand up in that way, because the thing is, it’s just very, very hard to stand up to so many people who are already in this country who don’t like us because of how it looked and to go out in the streets and the open, and just honestly, you’re a target at that point and just still stand up for what’s.
Kush (07:35):
Right. So honestly, um, it was just very, very, it was, it was interesting. It was interesting, especially last year, you know, um, I had got involved with it. I was able to lead two nights. Well, two protests, you know, I went the whole week that downtown Greensboro was happening and it was, it was beautiful seeing so many people, black, white, whatever color you are, you know, it wasn’t just black folk out there. It was the white folk out there. It was, you know, our allies in the LGBTQ community, you know, and that, that was just fair, very loving to me because no matter what you stand for, or, you know, who you choose to love, you know, right. Is right and wrong is wrong. And it was just so beautiful saying to people, no matter what you look like, or whatever you do behind closed doors, just standing up and loving each other. And I feel like that’s really what we need in this world more. And just being a part of that really, you know, made my character, you know, skyrocket, if that makes sense. Yeah.
Kea (08:39):
That makes so much like, oh my goodness. Yeah. Honestly, like there, I mean, there were so many things that you said that like, kind of like, you know, resonated with me in terms of the, you know, definitely being like strong will, because it definitely, it takes so much, courage has so much power to actually like, be out in the open, like literally yelling for like, you know, the rights that we should have already had that we even to this day, we’re not treated as equals. Like, I guess I can definitely see, like why, you know, um, your mother would have been like concerned in terms of that, because of course, you know, we all want to like watch out for our children. Where were you like going out, um, like with family members, with friends, or like, were you going out alone?
Kush (09:25):
Most of the time I would go up there by myself and I would see people that I knew there. And, um, it was a lot of times where there were, uh, there were people that I knew, people that I worked with, people that I went to school with, people that I just, people that I just met that day or met the first day of the protest, you know, I see them down there and like, Hey, how you doing man? Or, Hey, how you doing SIS? You know what I’m saying? Whatever the case is. And, uh, it was just, it was just, it was crazy. But yeah, I usually go by myself. Um, if I had someone with me, you know, I pick them up or pick her up, you know, and then, you know, they’d have someone else take them back home, but yeah, usually I went by myself.
Kush (10:05):
I didn’t live too far from downtown Greensboro. So honestly I could have walked up there if I really wanted to, but me being the censor of, you know, what was going on as well, especially when I was on the front lines and, you know, I got, I got, you know, blonde, blonde tip locks, you know what I’m saying? Like, you can sort me out out of anyone, you know? So I really didn’t want to bring no trouble, you know, back to my house. It was all it had to do with someone to follow me, you know, and, you know, eventually see, oh yeah, we see him parked down there a lot. We see him come down here a lot. Yeah. Let’s, let’s get him, you know, and it was a lot about people running into the police. You know, it was a lot about people staying past the curfew that they were going on and, you know, just getting the rest. It was a whole bunch of nonsense going on. So I went by myself, but I had to make sure to get everyone and everyone I knew out of there before all that nonsense happened at night. So yeah. Communication
Kea (10:58):
Is key. Definitely like when you’re organizing and like mobilizing.
Kush (11:02):
Right, right, right. Shoot
Kea (11:04):
Also, I’m just like so thankful too, that like you are safe. Like, I’m assuming that all of the protests that you’ve participated in, like you were able to like protest safely and that, you know, you weren’t okay. Cause that’s always, you know, like, you know, going back to like the point about, you know, safety. Yes. Like we want to be able to speak freely. Like it is a right that we’re supposed to have, but at the same time, yes. Like we do know that there is that fear of, okay, well, am I, am I going to be able to come home safely? So it’s also just, it’s good to hear that you, you have been fighting and you have been able to like, God willing, be able to say, okay. Yes. Like I’m still here standing on two feet. So that’s something that we can like, cause we don’t want to take any, uh, we don’t, we never want to take our safety for granted.
Kea (11:48):
So that’s just, you know, and you keep being out here too, which is also something that I’m just like, I wish I could like keep snapping for you because it’s just like, w when I think about people that I want to have on T with key, it’s like, I w like when people listen to the episode, I want it to like, spark a change within themselves to, you know, what I’m saying? Or like question like, okay, what things, what things are we all doing to like, be a part of the cause? And, um, definitely mad. Thank you. Oh, of course. Of course are there. Hmm. Okay. So I know you said, like, you usually like go alone, but are there like, like when you actually mobilize, like, are you an organization or is it kind of just like, uh, the people that you’ve met, like at past protests, you kind of just like, all have that communication and then,
Kush (12:33):
Yeah. Well, what happened was when, when everything was going on, um, the height of everything was going on around, like last, was it March? It was, it was, it was hot. So it could have been like, may, June, whenever it was, but basically it was time, but anyway, Mack, when it was going on, you know, it wasn’t that, you know, we were all mobilizing, there were protests leaders already there. And I hadn’t, I didn’t know them at that point in time. It was just that I was out there, you know, just doing my part as someone who wants to be there. And eventually, you know, I would meet the protest leaders and I would meet, you know, the people who were heavily involved with mobilizing everyone, or just saying, Hey, put it, put this on social media, Greensboro where we’re Lincoln up tonight, the protests.
Kush (13:21):
And just, just, just giving us warnings, like, even if, you know, someone is talking about, they’re going to come down there, you know, Twitter, you know, we’ll, we’ll see that. And, you know, a lot of the protests leaders were, were on top of that as well, you know? So, um, I’m very grateful for that, but, um, yeah, most of the time when we down and we went down there, it was just, I linked up with them, you know, I, I did what I had to do and did what I could and, you know, if I saw them, I saw them, if I didn’t, I’m going to pick up the slack. So
Kea (13:52):
Yeah. I was born leader. Cause yeah, I know that you said that there were like two nights where like you were actually the leader. Yeah. And it’s also just, I mean, it just it’s, it speaks volumes because it’s like, like you’re just saying now it takes leadership, obviously. Yes. Like you’re all out there for the common cause, but being able to actually like, you know, pinpoint, okay. Like here’s how we’re going to go about it. And then, you know, taking something that like you have been a part of and then, you know, being in a leadership role, it’s like, I think that also kind of like in a way, like make sure your role.
Kush (14:29):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I like the sound of that
Kea (14:33):
And I’m listening and I’m just like, as you know, like someone who is, you know, listening to your stories, I’m like, I can imagine that other people, I mean, I also I’m from Greensboro too. I don’t even know if I ever said that. Um, yeah, my parents were Aggies, so, and then I was born, but I in Atlanta now. Um, okay. Yeah. But I do come back to the borough a lot. So yeah. I’m imagining like if like being back home, if I were to like, see someone, you know, like leading the pack and I’m like, oh crap. Like I know this guy, that’s, that’s also kind of like when people see you and they know you’re there, like, well, shoot, you know, I want to, I want to step up to the plate too. So yeah.
Kush (15:15):
Yeah. Yeah. And I’m very grateful for the fact that, you know, even while I was out there, a lot of my friends and family on Facebook, they were even saying to me, Hey, um, what can I do? Can I bring you guys water? Can I bring you food? Can I bring you masks? Cause you know, this was when Corona was, you know, first starting to come around too. So it was, uh, it was a big double whammy with, you know, Corona virus and the crazy people out there and being mad about what we’re doing. So, you know, it was just a really tough time, but it did feel good to inspire others because a lot of people who I never would’ve thought would’ve wanted to involve themselves in what I’m involved in myself in, they’re asking how they can help. And, uh, there were a couple of my friends who, you know, I just, I didn’t want them in the crossfire because you know, it’s not that I’m afraid something would happen.
Kush (16:08):
It’s just that, you know, anything is possible and I’m already out there. I don’t want to drag no one out there just because you feel inspired to that, I’m doing it. You know, like, like, like it’s, it was dangerous. And you know, a part of me is that, like that, that big brother persona that I try to give off with most of my friends, you know, and it’s like, I want to protect people. So if I’m already out somewhere and you know, I’m doing it already, yes, you want to do it, you know, come on out, you know, but just know that, you know, like just protect yourself and make sure you watch out for yourself and your brothers and sisters as well. So it was, it was, it was tough, man. It was tough. It was tough. Yeah.
Kea (16:46):
I definitely agree. With the point of, there are many forms of advocacy. So I obviously like protesting is one of them. So for your friends and family, to be able to like, look at you on social media and like ask how they can help or like when you know, people listen and they ask themselves like, how can I help? That’s definitely something that is really important to consider. You have to be very mentally strong. Okay. So I guess my question for you is when you’re actually like in the midst, how do you mentally? Because honestly, like for me, my form of like advocacy, like I volunteer, I donate, um, I do like, you know, like social, I do my podcast as well. Like those are my forms of advocacy. I guess my question is like, when you’re actually out there on the streets, how, how do you, when you know, you’re confronted with the, you know, people who are like, why are you guys out here? And like, you know, for the negative energy that’s coming for the people who are not with us, how do you combat that?
Kush (17:47):
Well, I want, want to give a big shout out to the people who brought Sage because, um, to me, Sage is, you know, I w I’m not really into, you know, stuff like that, but to me, Sage smells good, you know, and they get it. It’s like, you know, they say it repels negative energy and, you know, spirits and such. And so it was like every time someone was burning Sage, you know, it was a good time. And, you know, it was just that, it, it felt like a big family reunion, but it was a bunch of people you didn’t, you didn’t know. And it was just, it was just an experience. It was, it was a different experience I’ve never experienced before, but just, just to prepare for that, it was just like sometimes, you know, I would, I would smoke. I’m smoking weed before I go down there, like each and every day I’m smoking.
Kush (18:38):
And so when, whenever I did that as well, I would use that to write my music because, you know, while I’m, you know, smoking, I’m thinking, and before I go down here, I’ve already seen so many things already. And it’s just like, Hey, I might as well just put it into my music. I might as well put it, see, you know, what I’m already doing full time anyway, you know? And it was just, it was just, it was just a, it was a different experience. It really helped out a lot of, you know, like I said, my development and me personally growing as a, as an adult, because thing was like, like you said, you gotta be strong will to be out there and mentally, it, it really took a toll on me because like you said, with like dealing with the crazy people out there, you know, you’re, you’re bounce or run into someone.
Kush (19:29):
And even there was a night in Greensboro where someone had drove their car into the crowd of protesters. And, you know, I wasn’t there that night. I was there that night, but I had left like 15 minutes earlier, but it was on Facebook that someone had drove their car into the crowd of protesters after curfew. And, you know, they were trying to get the person, but they locked it, they locked their doors and, you know, they were, you know, trying to get their windows. They didn’t get them. And they ended up, they ended up getting gone. I don’t know if the police ended up getting them, probably not. You know how that go pee at all, but, but, you know, but it was, it was just, it was just, how can you have that much hate in your heart that you’re willing to go through you, you willing to, to, to go at a crowd of people with Joe thousand pound, however, so lbs car potentially kill someone.
Kush (20:25):
Well, literally all because tired of, of the police getting away with, you know, just wrongfully executing their job. I’m not no policemen. I’m not nothing like that. But at the end of the day, I’m a human being and we all should know not to push your neck, not put your knee on someone neck. And you’re like 200 pounds and you’ve got body gear on. Oh yeah. Like, come on, let us common sense. And it’s just like, like, how much are we lacking these days in that? So it’s just ridiculous. This is it’s ridiculous. Really is. It’s
Kea (21:02):
Like, it’s such an enigma that like, I mean, it’s, we are people, okay. We are literally human beings, organisms sharing the same planet earth. Like, do we not deserve like an equal opportunity to live? Okay. Do our children not deserve to live as long? Like it’s, it’s it’s so, it’s so upsetting. And it’s like, you would think yes. Like in times like this, where, okay. I’m literally saying, I want to be able to know that I can go home safely or there, like I can go to the store or like, I can, it’s just, it’s just, we’re always just living in a world of fear and it’s just it’s mind boggling when people are literally, it’s like, okay, it’s literally, we’re being oppressed. And they’re mad at us that we’re upset that we’re being oppressed.
Kush (21:52):
What is the, what is the hold up? You know, like, like that’s crazy to me. It’s, it’s just so ridiculous. It’s so ridiculous. It’s so ridiculous. All for what, you know,
Kea (22:05):
It’s crazy. It’s crazy. Like, it’s like, what goes through the mind? The people like who want to inflict harm on innocent people? Like what you say with them driving their car. Like, I don’t understand like what, like there was so much hate. Okay. We, we literally need to share this planet and love each other. Okay. Like, we don’t need all this. Hey.
Kush (22:33):
Yeah. Right, right, right. It’s it’s too much love out here. That’s willing to be given, but we’re, we’re, we’re so stuck on hate. And at this point it’s like, which one is stronger at this point because I’m, I don’t even know these days. I don’t know these days, but all I know is I’m gonna keep loving. I’m gonna keep loving. If people want to hate that’s on them, you know, but I’m gonna keep loving
Kea (22:57):
Shoot. Oh man. It makes me think. Um, okay. So like this kind, like, like goes back to the point about, you know, the different ways that, um, you know, we can advocate for our rights, but do you okay, so you make music. Yeah. Do you ever like use your music as like a form of like verbal protesting?
Kush (23:21):
Um, I actually don’t like the crazy thing about me making music and me, uh, you know, standing up for what I stood up for. It’s just the fact that, you know, I draw a lot of inspiration from MNM and, you know, XXX and J Cole, Drake, Lil Uzi, you know, I draw a lot of inspiration from them and my music reflects that, but I never put my music to the test of speaking up for what’s right. And putting my music to the test of, okay, how can I use my voice to extend where I’m trying to come from when it comes to civil rights, when it comes to standing up for people who look like us, you know? And honestly I’ve been trying to dig deep and try to figure out a way to do that recently because, you know, I just turned 25 and, um, I I’m, I’m trying to be different. I’m trying to be different. I’m tired of making music. That’s just, you know, easy to make. And it sounds good and it thumps. That’s cool and all, but I want something more monumental, something more inspirational, and that’s like, that’s gonna last, you know, I don’t want to just have some, you know, music that just sounds good. You’re not much rather have something that’s going to last for generations. So I’m just trying to figure out how I can do that. And I feel like that was a big step and putting me that way.
Kea (24:47):
Yeah. Yeah. I was curious, you have a voice in that sense. I was like, Hmm, let me, let me, let me go and have asked this, but you’re right. I mean, like, so, cause you know, when you think about like your art and like how you like articulate it and of course the problems that we’re facing, I want to say they’re complex, but they’re not really complex because of like treat us equal. Like that’s not hard. Um, and it’s like, in what way can we articulate it so that we can actually, you know, bring about the change we want to see. We haven’t really completely figured that out yet. You know, if we had figured that out a hundred percent, we wouldn’t have obviously have had a year, like we did in 2020. So I hear you in that, like putting it together in a way that’s going to be the most that says exactly what you want to say, but it’s also like that really, that really gets to people. You know what I’m saying? It looks like
Kush (25:36):
Exactly
Kea (25:37):
Like that. And that’s the thing it’s like, how can, like our words resonate with the people who are against us? Like how, like what, what is the answer? You know, it’s, it’s like, it’s an ongoing thing. I wonder
Kush (25:54):
It’s crazy. It’s ridiculous. You know, but at this point, like we’ve been saying, you know, it, I feel like the, the main thing about all this for us to keep being ourselves as a people and even regardless of, as a people, everyone else who supports us, you know, we just have to keep being us and, you know, keep fighting because at the end of the day, progress is slow and a lot of us are impatient, including myself. And it just doesn’t come with, you know, social change, you know, I’m impatient about a lot of things. But the thing is we have to also learn that fighting for things like this when it puts a, a dent. And I guess you could say a, um, agenda, if that makes sense, it’s going to take some time because you know, there’s a bit of maneuvering and going through that, they kind of, you know, got to make it seem like it’s progress, but it’s just diet racism and it’s diet racism, diet racism, yes. Diet racist
Kea (26:55):
Phrase. And if not, we need to make it one because
Kush (26:58):
I forget who said it, it was either rude who said it or is my boy and I Jane, who said it, I forget who said it, but shout out to both of y’all. Cause I feel like it was one of y’all, but yeah, one of them said one of those seven man, I’m telling you, but yeah, that’s, that’s a real thing. That’s a real thing. So
Kea (27:16):
That is so true. I want, okay. So all right. I actually have like two questions for you. Okay. So, um, so I’m also 25, so, and it’s like, change is slow. My first question is so I w okay, so obviously like no day is promised, but let’s say we get to live to like, you know, 85 years or something. Right. But between the years that you have left on this earth, are there like explicit, like discreet, like changes that you want to see, like while, you know, God willing, we are still here. I’m just
Kush (27:54):
Curious. Yeah. Um, I want to stop seeing, I want to stop seeing like hypocrisy in the justice system. If that makes sense. I, I’m tired of seeing some dude shoot up a church, but a lady, you know, maybe she still some food for her kids. Okay. You know, they’re both crimes, but you know, you’re going to give the lady 15 years and you’re going to get old buddy five months and then he, and then, and then, and then it’s just like, oh, give him how, however, so many years he still might make bail, you know? And it’s, and it’s just like, it’s crazy. But I would like to stop seeing hypocrisy and the justice system, I would really like to stop seeing, you know, just black people or people of color in general, like even, you know, the Latino community, you know, just it’s, it’s, it’s just like, you know, people who have any hint of coloration to them were targeted as like criminals or rapists and, and, and, and all of these negative things.
Kush (29:02):
And it’s like, if, if I’m not, if I’m not, you know, wrong, I’m sure Christopher Columbus and all of them was doing that. You know what I’m saying? That wasn’t nuts. We was minding our, our, our business, if, yeah. If I ain’t, if I am wrong, you know, but I could be, you know, but, you know, but either way, but I I’d like to see a lot of change. And, uh, it’s, it’s just that, you know, I just really wish that it would be more quick, you know, because it’s a lot of things that just should be common sense as to not letting it happen. Or why are you letting this happen to this person? But another person it’s obvious because they’re blank. You hit them with the hardest judgment ever. And it’s just so sad, you know, it’s, it’s cringe, you know?
Kea (29:49):
Yeah. I feel you a thousand percent. Like, it, it, it doesn’t make sense. Okay. And the thing is too, it’s like, even in the justice system, like we can’t like, so, cause you know, a lot of times like the courts will be like, okay, well it’s precedent. Well, okay. First of all, the precedents were Rhonda to begin with. So we can’t just keep like, just because we’re going to before doesn’t mean that we should be doing that moving forward because there was already flaws. Okay. And yeah, I agree. Like the hypocrisy, like absolutely like needs to end. And I feel like with, honestly I feel like one of the things like we should like really focus on, which I kind of talked to my friend Candace about this. Cause she’s in law school right now. She’s a woman of color. Um, and it’s like, we need, we need more people of color and the justice system to begin with, which leads to my other question. I’m curious. Okay. Do you think with the change in presidency that we are, that change is going to be faster over these next four, four, hopefully.
Kush (30:48):
Um, I, I don’t, I don’t even want to cap and say, yeah, because, you know, that’s just me being hopeful, but like I said, with, with Trump gone now we’re back to diet racism where, you know, the racists are still here, but they’re not all out and about, you know, there’s still people out here with Trump signs and Trump flags on their trucks, but you know, they’re not out and about like they used to be. So the thing is, Biden has kind of calmed it down a little bit. We’ll still see because his presidency is very, very young. He just started this year. So we’ll see, we’ll see. I don’t want to be too hopeful because the thing is, you know, like what, what can he really bring? That’s going to change anything for us or even other people of color, you know? Like I just don’t see him doing anything that’s going to help us.
Kush (31:43):
We have to learn to start helping ourselves. And of course start as locally, you know, and just building our way up. But I feel that eventually we’ll be able to do it because you know, the people have had enough and I’m sure that there is being, I’m sure that people are making plans and efforts to make this happen in the future. It’s just that like, like we’re talking about, it’s going to take time, but, uh, I don’t think Biden’s really gonna do much besides, you know, what George Bush did or whoever did, you know, he’s the president, he’s just a figurehead. There’s nothing he’s really going to do besides, you know, sign these stimulus check bills. You know, I don’t think there that he really has any other purpose besides that. And you know, like I said, we’ve got to start sticking up for ourselves and you know, doing for ourselves and I can see the change in our community from however, so long till now, you know, a lot of us are putting our foot down and I’m very happy to see that that definitely
Kea (32:42):
Makes sense because yeah, you’re right. In terms of the levels of quote unquote like leadership that we have. Yes. Even though like my bio is the face you’re right in that it has to start locally. Like those, like the grassroots movements. Um, it, it has to start bottom up. Do you like for other people who are going to be listening to this and like also, you know, like back home or like in their local community, like what advice do you have for people who also want to ignite, like stimulate change immediately within their local community? Like what advice do you have for people?
Kush (33:23):
I would say don’t be afraid because fear really stagnates fear holds people back because when you have fear, you instilled doubt when you instilled doubt you and still, you know, just straight up, oh, I can’t do this. You know, if you want to do something and you feel is right, then it’s only up to you for you to chase that. And it’s only up for you to want to do that because, you know, there’s, there’s a lot of people who do music like I do. And they still showed up to those protests. You know, that’s that, isn’t our lane. We’re not, I would never say that I’m, I’m an activist to a degree, to a degree, but I’m not really out here, out here like that. I, I protest it and I’m going to go out there and do what I need to do and stand up and be there and show my support.
Kush (34:20):
You know, I’m not, I’m not Dr. King, you know, but I’m still going to do, I’m still gonna do his work in my own way, if that makes sense. But my advice would be to, you know, don’t be afraid, you know, just, just do it. You know, there is, there’s no point in holding yourself back because at the end of the day, you know, when you get old, don’t you want to tell your grandkids or tell whoever that you were out there doing that when that was going on and tell them how crazy it was. You know, I, I have that experience now, you know, and even behind me, like I got a, I got a picture made, you know, hard to get up to it. I got a picture made of that night when I was out there. I don’t know if you can see
Speaker 3 (35:03):
It. Yeah. Yeah.
Kush (35:06):
And, um, that was, that was, uh, when they, when they was able to let me come out there and my homeys that I make music with, they got in touch with the artists and Aspro, and she was able to draw the picture. There was a picture of me and they just recreated it by painting it. And they gave that to me. And I’ve just, I’m so proud of it. You know, I said that I’m going to put it down in my Grammy room when I get big. So yeah.
Kea (35:34):
I love that so much.
Kush (35:37):
Yeah. I’ll wake up to it every day. I’m like, you know, working at finish, you know, we still got things to do. We still got things to do. That’s
Kea (35:45):
True. That’s true. We going to keep on keeping on us. We’ve only
Kush (35:48):
Got to the guys who ain’t got no choice.
Kea (35:50):
Oh man. Yeah. It makes you think too, like, you know, when you talk about us, you know, in the future, like when our generation is, you know, talking to our grandchildren, it’s also like, uh, you know, you have the conversation of, well, we’re paving the path for, you know, the little black children that are going to come after us. Like our children, you know, like the, the kids who were us growing up, you know, and being able to, you know, look back and be like, okay, like we’re, we’re actually positively contributing to the future that other people like us are going to be having. So yeah. At least feel you on that. Being able to actually have those conversations about yeah. You know, like we, we did, we did make change happen. And like you said, it’s like, it’s slow. But the point is that we are trying and that we are taking those strides. So, you know, we, we covered a lot of things today. Like honestly, like we could keep, we could keep going and going and going. And like, honestly, like, and I will say sidebar, I’m really excited for, you know, when you find that sweet spot of being able to mix, like, you know, how you’re fighting for our civil rights and also, you know, throwing it into your music. So sidebar
Kush (37:02):
For that, um,
Kea (37:03):
When, when the listeners like, you know, listened to this episode, what do you like really, really hope resonated with everybody?
Kush (37:13):
Well, for the most part, I really hope that people understand that no matter what you want to do in life, there’s other things that you can pursue, whether it is civil rights and social justice, whether it’s, you know, just opening up a business or anything like that, you can do it. You know, there’s, there’s, there’s the, sky’s the limit. And once you get to the sky, you know, break past that suit, you know, like the, the, the universe is bass and it’s large, and it’s just like, it’s infinite. So why not take advantage of that? And just keep going? You know, like the thing is with me protesting and with me, with me making music, that’s not my ceiling. And I know that, you know, ever since I’ve turned 25, even before that, there’s just been this energy in me telling me that something big is happening and something big is just going to make you a better, a better person.
Kush (38:12):
I’ve been saying lately, this is my, uh, character development, art, you know, a shout out to, you know, anime and stuff, you know, uh, which is basically whenever they’re going through a tough time with life or whatever. And it just brings them out a different beast. And I feel like that’s what I’m going through right now. You know, my hair is getting longer. My, my body is, you know, getting my mind’s getting stronger. So, um, I’m done. I’m going to come out of this obese soon, you know, and that each and every day I wake up, I feel stronger. So, but basically, yeah, just do what you want, you know, follow your dreams, stick up for what you choose to believe in, you know, just be you, do you, you know, life is short, don’t live for anybody else, but you could cause cause when you die, you know, you’re going to be in that grave by yourself and people are going to love you regardless. But at the end of the day, do you love you? You know what I’m saying? Do it, do what makes you happy. And at the end of the day, if it’s social change, if it’s whatever, do it, it.
Kea (39:22):
Hi. I love it. Oh my gosh. Literally, what did you say? You said shoot for the sky and then like once you get there, go past it. Bam. Bam. Literally. Oh my gosh. Yes. Like other people to reach their full potential, like it like go past it, like, yes, like this is the air that need right
(39:46):
Here. Real talk, real talk. I’m telling you, I’m telling you. Oh gosh, I love it. I love it.
Kea (39:57):
Thanks for listening to this episode of Tea With Kea.