W.A.D.E. – “Loyalty Over Royalty” Video + Interview | @wadetherapper
W.A.D.E. is a rapper straight out of Harlem who is starting to blaze his own trail in the indie rap scene. His visuals to his new single “Loyalty Over Royalty” dropped last Friday with 3.5K views and climbing. I speak with the rapper about himself and his views on artistry during the pandemic.
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is W.A.D.E. which is an acronym for Wise And Dangerous Era, which is basically just talking about my generation and all the things that we overcome as one because I speak to the voice in my area. Also, I engineer, so I mix down all my records and I also help other artists, and before Corona, I was throwing showcases so the artists can showcase their talent.
Where and when did you get your love for music?
I got my love for music from watching my older brother rap in the back of my house. He’s had all of his friends in the back and they be freestyling that I used to be too young to get in and I used to always want to know what that was about. And that’s what kind of pushed me into really getting into music because I want to be able to prove myself at first, and then I just fell in love with it.
So you’re originally from Harlem. How has the city made you? What was it like growing up in Harlem?
That’s a good question. Growing up in Harlem is just a vibe, and what I mean by that is like, you know, everybody out there is worried about being in that lituation and having a good summer, you know, being fly, but also, there’s a treacherous side, but it’s mostly a flashy vibe. It’s a good vibe. Yeah.
I was listening to your latest single that you have out “Loyalty Over Royalty,” and that’s pretty dope. So tell us a little about the song and its concept.
Yeah. Basically, just talking about some of the things that we’ve got going on in my life currently no problems. That doesn’t have anything to do with money, like things that can’t be changed by money also, certain things are going on around with some of the young brothers dying in my neighborhood. We just lost a young kid named Bugatti to street violence.
So do you feel that artists should be more involved with their community, especially when it comes to the BLM movement?
I most certainly do, and the reason why I feel that way is because when it comes to hip hop culture, don’t get me wrong, I love it, but we feed off of a lot of negativity. You see how on Janelle Monae is talking about protesting on hip hop because it brings females down and stuff like that. It just so much stuff that brings us down. We need to be able to shed more light on the positivity and things that have gone that could further us.
As a culture, I wholeheartedly agree with you 100 percent, but due to the fact of this generation, like the way that like these companies are now, they’re not interested in anything positive. They’re only interested in the negative because the negative is what brings in the money. So with that being said, do you feel that labels should sometimes be held accountable for things that are happening not only in hip hop but with the urban communities?
I wouldn’t give the labels 100 percent to blame for this. It’s also the people’s choice. It’s really about what the people want because it’s so sad how nowadays You can play a Kendrick song and it would be so dead, but you could put on something else, like drill or trap and have everybody turned up. It’s really the people’s choice at the end of the day. It’s all about how you do it, so I can’t really give that all to the labels.
So as an artist, you know, everybody is going through the pandemic. And I want to know, like as an artist, how did the Covid-19 situation affect you and what do you think are some of the ways that artists can work on their craft during the pandemic?
To be honest, all the way, it affected my income for a split second. Some of my friends’ family members that died, I had a family member that died from it. I actually feel like I focused up a little bit more when this happened. I made better of the whole situation, I made around six and seven music videos and stuff like that. So I think I focused on everything that’s been going on.
I think like with the pandemic going on, like with artists, it seems to bring out more of their creativity because, everything is shut down and all you got is time, so I think that it really helps artists get on the get on their creative more. And they probably found out something about themselves that they never thought that they had. I look at it as a good thing. I look at it as, you know, especially go on social media. Everybody got their freestyle videos out. Yes, it is awesome.
It’s awesome. It’s bringing out the hunger in everybody.
And then on top of that, since everybody is indoors. You never know who is watching. You never know who is looking at you and be like, “You know what, I want to rock with this artist right here.” As unfortunate as this pandemic is, it’s a really good thing, for artists. It’s kind of like a catch 22, but it’s leaning towards the positive side because more artists get noticed doing what they do, especially when it’s at a consistency.
Yeah. Consistency is definitely key. dropping musically. Don’t go too crazy on it. I feel like people need to be able to get more of a vibe a lot of new artists, like myself, coming out. You know, they want to hear more music. Like if you got a vibe going on, keep it steady. That’s my advice for any other artist.
What is the agenda for the rest of 2020 for you?
I got this record right now that I’m ready to take to the moon. I’m not even gonna lie to you. So I got a record coming up. Real party banger, real vibe. Of course, more vids. It’s possible if schools open back up and stuff like that, I’m trying to be into shows I’ve been talking about that with my manager. That’s really just it. Heat in the streets, more tunes, and stuff like that.
And last but not least, give all of your social media.
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter at @wadetherapper. I’ve got a fan page on Facebook. Just WADE You know, you go check me out. Check out my latest video, “Spooky Winter”, and I dropped the “Loyalty Over Royalty” video, where it’s coming from the heart. Also, I speak about my brother who is wrongfully incarcerated. I’m able to give you a piece of me on that.
Anything else that you might want to add?
So I want to be able to tell the world that it’s a new movement coming out of Harlem we call L.M.G. (Live Motivate Generate) and that’s all we going to be doing. You know, it’s a few of the artists you gonna be hearing about and just stay tuned.
Follow Shamika Sykes on Twitter & the ‘Gram for all of her interviews and adventures.
Entrepreneur
Award Winning Entrepreneur Mama Sue Taylor Talks Being A Cannabis Pioneer & Resource For The Elderly Community
Sue Taylor “Mama Sue”, is a pioneer in the space of wellness and cannabis. Breaking barriers as the first black woman to open and operate a dispensary in Berkeley, California, she has been featured in Forbes, CNN, ABC7, Black Enterprise, MSN and several other publications sharing her incredible journey through cannabis. As she is one of the most influential women in cannabis she continues to utilize her platform to debunk any negativity surrounding the healing plant. As a mother, grandmother, entrepreneur, and advocate, Sue Taylor has made it her mission to be a resource to the elderly community through her Mama Sue Wellness tinctures and series of educational events.
I had the pleasure and honor of speaking with Sue after she was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award from Grammy Award Winning singer Erykah Badu at the 2024 Women in Cannabis Awards. Check it out below.
Sue Taylor Interview
What does it mean to you being a cannabis advocate and how did you get your start in the cannabis industry?
Sue Taylor: If someone had told me 17 years ago that I would be working in the cannabis industry I would have never believed them. I did not choose this, it chose me. My son lured me into the business by convincing me that this is a way for me to have my spiritual wellness center that I have always wanted and that intrigued me. I saw that it was needed because of how I took care of my body when I began to age and I knew the pharmaceutical approach wasn’t working way back then. As I said yes to work with Cannabis, I was actually scared and frightened by it due to the movie Reefer Madness. People in my generation were always told weed was a drug and it was always black people or hispanics and the weed devil and a lot of craziness.
This deterred my generation from cannabis because we simply do not break rules and it was deemed federally illegal. As an African American woman you know there is a stigma around us. I am already judged for being a black woman and I don’t want to be judged again! Being black I am judged everyday even still to this day, so to be taking on something that is extremely stigmatized was scary. But when my son told me I could have my Sue Taylor Wellness facility, I said okay let’s give it a try. Even though I was scared, I knew it was something I had to do to improve the quality of my life. If your dream doesn’t scare you a little bit your dream is not big enough. I was so scared but I was not willing to give up, which has allowed me to live my dream in real time.
Not only are you a cannabis advocate but you are also a pioneer. Can you share with me your vision for your Farmacy dispensary as you are the first and only black woman to own and operate a dispensary in Berkeley?
ST: The journey to opening Farmacy Berkeley was not an easy one. It took us 17 years to get things going. However, I was granted a permit to open Farmacy Berkeley because I had a special niche. Mine was geared to the needs of seniors. I also did my own lobbying to the city council and the mayor. I did it because we really didn’t have the money to do it and we are not equity people. We used our family’s money to get things accomplished. I had another key component Brittany that I want to share. When I went in, they could see that I genuinely cared for humankind. It wasn’t about me. And it really wasn’t just about cannabis. I just saw cannabis as one tool to help people. My pioneer work has helped with the stigma that surrounds cannabis. Recently I received the Lifetime Achievement at the Women in Cannabis Awards for my advocacy work and have also received an advocacy award from Oaksterdam University.
I have been very successful at helping to eliminate the stigma because I don’t fit the mold. I’m a former Catholic school principal. I am also a commissioner on aging. I was the commissioner on aging for Alameda County, where Farmacy Berkeley is located. On top of that, I am certified by the state of California to teach the cannabis program to nurses and help them obtain credits toward the yearly certifications that they need. I’ve had that certification for five years or more. It’s amazing to do that. It has been quite a journey for me. I have also been successful simply because I genuinely care.
When we opened up Farmacy Berkeley, we were open for one month, then the pandemic stopped everything. They sent all seniors home because people were afraid I was going to get covid. So we went away from it and then came back. But before I really got into business, I was teaching seniors. I had a community room where I would educate seniors free of charge, just come in and talk. I even did meditation classes. I did a lot of things there as well. Then that all stopped because of the pandemic. But I want you to be clear on this, we were opened up after we got the license.
How did Cannabis change your life?
ST: When I saw the way cannabis was positively impacting the lives of everyone around me that I was working with, that’s when I became open to cannabis. When I started off, I would not touch it, I was simply just doing the work. But after time, people kept coming to me saying that they were no longer using canes, wheelchairs or medication anymore. Seeing the progress in those people, I began to change my mind and became open to cannabis to help with pain or to help me sleep.
I started to think “maybe my son was right this whole time”. I thought he was on drugs, but when I found out what he was doing things changed. He was attending Oaksterdam University learning the entrepreneur side of cannabis. 17 years ago, there were only dispensaries for medical patients and only three in the Berkeley area making the rules a lot stricter. Its incredible how much growth there has been in the industry and the opportunities it’s presenting in helping others, especially seniors. I continued to do the work, myself along with the many hardworking individuals in the cannabis industry see the benefits of being in the business.
What is your mission for helping the elderly connect to cannabis as you have your Mama Sue Wellness products that are specifically geared toward seniors?
ST: Those products were made with love for a group of people that most people have forgotten about. This means everything to me to be able to have wellness products that cater to my demographic.
Seniors mostly come to cannabis for two reasons, because they can’t sleep or they’re in pain. Thats what each tincture was crafted to help with, we have a sleep tincture made with high CBN and CBD and an extra strength tincture which is high-CBD to help with aches and pain. And we have more products coming very soon. These were made with seniors in mind, but I think I might have more young people using the Mama Sue products for sleep and anxiety because the relief tincture, you could use that during the day and still function. They won’t get you high.
What has it been like working with Glass House Brands?
ST: I’ve been a part of Glass House, for a little over 4 years. What many people don’t know is that in the process of building Farmacy Berkeley, we ran out of money. That is when Kyle, Graham and the Glass House team came in, we became partners and they put up the remainder of the money to help build out the dispensary to my specifications. Glass House also helped me develop my tincture products that I’ve always wanted, Mama Sue Wellness. They aligned with my values and are doing things right, that’s why I chose them.
I’m grateful to be part of the Glass House team, they really support my mission in helping change the stigma around cannabis. As a Brand Ambassador we work together to put together these educational events, I travel to our different dispensaries where I get to speak and answer questions for local seniors one on one.
You mentioned your Mama Sue products and how they’re kind of more so geared toward the senior community. What do you feel like is the most important thing about wellness when it comes to cannabis and debunking these misconceptions?
ST: To begin, it depends on the group of people you are talking to. For instance, when me and my fellow cannabis advocates needed to get something done as a cannabis group going up against the city and state, they would always suggest sending me to speak on the group’s behalf. They thought it was like some magic or something, but let me tell you what it was, Brittany. I looked at the cannabis industry and I looked at most of the people who were in that industry at that time. They looked like stoners. I did not. And I was not. And I made a conscious decision that every time I was representing cannabis, I would look like a lawyer. And that’s who they met. They said, oh, you are in the wrong place, lady. I said, no, I’m here for cannabis. I didn’t fit the mold. Brittany, when they looked at me, I didn’t fit their perception of what people who used cannabis look like. Does that make sense?
I know that recently you and Dreka Gates got a chance to connect, can you share the synergy and connection you two ladies share?
ST: It was amazing. It was one of my most amazing ‘Plants Over Pills’ interviews because we connected on so many levels, so many levels. I’ve never met a young person like that, that’s spiritually evolved like her, because she’s young, you know she’s young, she’s only 37. And we just talked like we knew each other. Wait till you see the interview, it’s on the Glass House YouTube channel. I’ve never conducted an interview like that before. The camera crew was saying, oh my God, they were amazed at how easily we connected, and we just kept talking and talking. We connected on such a high level, we’re both spiritual people, we’ve been through a lot, we believe in plant medicine for healing, and she’s now even opening her first dispensary in Mississippi. Dreka talks about all the challenges she went through to secure the permit. We had trouble in California and we’re the most progressive state there is, I can’t imagine Mississippi. We bonded over all of that, opening our first dispensary and our vision to expanding that into our wellness facilities.
What has been your experience with pills versus plants for healing?
ST: They tried to give me a pill during the pandemic. I’m a spiritual person, and I had anxiety and was having difficult nights of sleep, had so much fear, all that kind of stuff. So, I went to my doctor and she prescribed me pills. I said, you know, I’m not a pill taker. But for some reason she insisted that I just take it. So I took the pills home, I looked it up and researched them before I popped anything. You know what it said on the bottle, they were to help with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia! I called her immediately and relayed my findings to her. You know what her response to me was? Why are you questioning me? You are not a doctor. She said, I give that to all my patients that have anxiety. You know what my response to her was? “I am not all your patients, and I don’t take a pill for anything. You know that I don’t take a pill to manage my health so why would you give me something for schizophrenics? I am not schizophrenic.” So that was it. I had to start looking out for my own health, and wellbeing.
I always make this disclaimer, pills have their place. Pharmaceuticals are not bad. They are not bad for people who need them. Pharmaceutical drugs were made for temporary use. If you get into a car accident or going into operation for eight hours, yes pills are helpful. But most people are using pharmaceuticals just to manage their day to day lives. Like with high blood pressure, with high cholesterol, with even anxiety.You start taking pills for an operation, then you have high blood pressure, then 10, 15 years later, you’re still on those same pills and more. That’s not okay. We have to stay educated about our health and thankfully, our younger generation are getting better at understanding that. The younger generation just doesn’t take what people tell them. You guys research everything. I have three sons so I’m surrounded by all the young people all the time and they keep me sharp.
I just met another guy, he’s gonna open up a wellness facility because everybody is seeing the light, popping a pill is not going to get you healthy. If anything, it’s gonna deteriorate your body because it’s all about the money. Pharmaceutical approach to healthcare. They give politicians money so they continue to push pills on us. We have to look beyond. We have to think for ourselves and find more natural ways to heal and care for bodies, mind and spirit.
Brittany, as I look at your beautiful face today, with that beautiful skin, that beautiful complexion, you have to go within and do what’s best for Brittany. I don’t care what the doctors try to tell you. Trust yourself first, always.
To learn more about Mama Sue Taylor and her journey through cannabis, follow her on Instagram at @suetaylorwellness.
Not everyone can be a winner. Detroit native and hip-hop sensation 42 Dugg is back with a fiery new single, Win Wit Us. The track, a precursor to his highly anticipated album 4eva Us, Neva Them, showcases Dugg’s signature style and lyrical prowess. In the brand new single, produced by FLEXONTHEBEAT, TyMaz, and Marshak, Dugg calls out those who try to ride his wave without putting in the work, cementing his stance in the rap game. The release is accompanied by an official music video directed by Counter Point, where Dugg and his crew dominate the streets and clubs of Detroit, visually reinforcing his message of loyalty and resilience. Dugg raps in the hard-hitting track:
All of sudden they wanna win wit us / But ain’t spin with us.
Dugg previously teased this new era of his music with a trailer featuring Hill Harper, further building anticipation among his fans. “Win Wit Us” follows a series of recent hits including Wock N Red, SpinDatBac, and Go Again. Earlier this year, Dugg made a triumphant return to the stage with a sold-out “Welcome Home” show at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, featuring appearances by superstars like Meek Mill, Yo Gotti, Lil Baby, and more. Notably, the event saw Dugg unite Detroit’s rival hip-hop factions, Doughboyz Cashout and Team Eastside, in a historic move to end the city’s East-West beef. Fans can expect even more groundbreaking music from Dugg as he gears up for his upcoming album. Don’t miss out on the latest single available for streaming here and watch the music video below. Link up with 42 Dugg on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
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