From Miami Heat Arena to Impact Miami Youth | Michael "DJ M DOT" Hankerson

Feels good to be back with you guys, you know.

Yes.

You know, it doesn't feel like, you know, I'm forced to do another interview with somebody.

Pick up right where we left off.

Pick up where we left off.

How long has it been?

It's been probably at least 6 months.

Too long. Too long.

It's over a year. I Yeah, it has to be over a year.

You guys have residency here, bro. So,

we we've been waiting for that invite.

Well, first of first and foremost, you say we have residency here. I need a parking spot.

You do need a parking spot, bro. You know, we're thinking of tearing down the building and rebuilding up and then seeing how we work it. We're trying to work on

and integrating a garage.

I don't know about the garage.

You know, there's nothing I can do about parking and they're tearing that stuff down there, too.

Oh, okay.

Um but yeah, that's uh that's an issue here. You know, the parking's always been a problem. Kiko the other day gets a ticket out there by the dude and the and he catches the guy and they almost get into a fist fight like in the middle like in the back right there. Kiko goes after him.

That's so Miami. You got so mad.

That is a day in Miami.

Brother, I told Geek all, "Brother, just give me give me give me give me give me give me give me give me give me give me the ticket. I'm going to cover it. Just get back." No. What do you mean? This guy, you know, give me a ticket, bro. You're probably in the middle of the street, bro. Like, what are you wanting to do? You know, but anyways,

for the record, I've gotten a ticket here as well.

Yeah. Yeah. So have I. I've got Listen, I've gotten a ticket.

Yeah. Just don't use pay by phone,

brother. I got a ticket parked in my spot in the beginning

and then I I have a crazy story. You know how I ended up putting a toway so uh sign that I purchased on Amazon and we put up.

They towed my car one day.

That's ridiculous. They towed my car and I had to go find it. I didn't know who towed it. Called the city, called the county, the this mission. Bro, I go, you know how usually those tow truck places are, right? I go and you know have the bulletproof walls thing and they're all I was like, "Bro, you guys tow my car like unlawfully, you know?" No. What do you mean? Back and forth. I was probably there for like two hours until they ended up they didn't even want to say I'm sorry that I brought here they gave my card obviously I didn't pay anything I left

um and I thank God it's because I had a camera we have a camera out there so we were able to show them and then they're like oh but it says toway do sign I'm like yeah but that's my

I put my sign there sign so no one parks there that's what you told me show sign there's no number on it cuz usually a toway do sign will have a number on it you know but

yes it's a mission to park in Coral Gables it's a mission to park in South Miami

the only thing here is that you know um it's nice to walk around I guess you know but there's nothing much

the ambiance

in South Miami it's brutal with the

always always

they're always taking

South Miami is probably even more than the gables

more than the gables you know more than the Gables anyways um gentlemen welcome back this has been a long time coming and obviously everybody knows you from you know your fame within the city

no fame

a lot of people know Joseph we go to the coffee shop and they're like oh I know that guy. I know you're from social media and tell them.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

So, welcome MD dot for those people who don't know you and tell them a little about yourself.

Uh father first and foremost, DJ, host, entrepreneur, uh brand ambassador and uh philanthropist

and a good friend

and a good friend.

Good friend of the show.

Let's let's I want to really go straight to it. Um, you've talked a lot about, you know, how you like to give back to community foundations. I know Joseph, uh, has been a huge supporter of your foundation.

Um, talk to us about the dotted line foundation and how you thought about it, you know, how you rolled it out. I know you rolled it out like middle of last year.

Yep.

Um, and then what it actually and how it affects the community,

man. Yeah, for sure. So, uh, the Dollar Line Foundation, you know, uh, we just focus on we want to inspire and motivate the youth. um the same way I was inspired and motivated when I was a kid. So um we have different initiatives um first and foremost things I've been doing for a while which is like career days and going back to schools and doing pep rallies and just trying to boost overall school morale um self-confidence, self-esteem. So imagine if you're in school and you see someone like myself with Bernie and the Miami Heat dancers and Rory from FIU come and do a pepper rally and you're like what? Best day ever.

Yeah. Yeah. So, we've been doing that for a while with, you know, without the foundation, but um I decided I wanted to do a lot more uh to try to reach more schools. So, uh we run that through the foundation and and it's been well. It's been going well so far. I have a school coming up, two schools this month. Had two schools last month. So, we're

So, you're with your foundation, you're visiting schools and doing activations at schools.

Yeah.

And is there How do you select the schools? How do you work that Luckily, um I have relationships with a lot of educators here being, you know, I grew up here, so I have a lot of um friends that are teachers and stuff and they reach out and I look for schools like that or like just different partnerships that I have like Hope for Miami, which is down south. Um I think it's a title one school.

Okay.

So I, you know, I want to go to those type of schools as well and and try to bring that uh that overall, you know. So if there's any school out there that would like you to visit

and be a part of the daughter Foundation any way, shape, or form,

they can reach out to you.

Yes, we're doing it.

Yeah, we're doing it. That's that's the whole objective, man, is to uh is to bring a kid on the, you know, bring a smile on these kids' faces, especially like now where you're they're about to have testing, you know, like so if we can take their mind off of testing and and and get them, you know, just excited about school, then that's that's all objective, man. So, we've been doing that and it's been cool, man. So,

I feel I feel like you've been doing that even before you open the dollar.

Way before. I've been doing that for probably like 12 years now, man. I've literally been doing that. pretty seamless for you to obviously to transition from what you were already doing.

Absolutely.

Something like that.

Yeah. So, we have that and then we have uh different initiatives where um you know so last year we did the uh we did the back to school drives did three back to school drives just by announcing the foundation and we hit the ground running. Three back to school drives. Yep. We did one in Homestead, one in city of Miami, partner with city of Miami and then we partnered uh for the third one with Bam Manavio. That's right. And his, you know, foundation.

Kids come out to that. I don't think people understand how important

and even before I was I was about to say I think he's he's downplaying a little bit about the impact that that he he provides for the school for those uh communities because I was uh I was small part of the one in Homestead

and there was a lot of kids a lot of kids and and actually being there obviously you know the impact that a lot of people you know contribute to the community but actually being there and seeing it is something completely different and

to see him you know I think that was one of the first events that he did to see him you know in a matter of like months what it seemed like put in the work and and it come to fruition was amazing. I I I think that particular event if you could tell us a little bit about it. Yeah. Uh so you give a little insight because I think you just saying you did that event is not really saying exactly you know how much you you know you impact the community.

First and foremost thank you to AMG for being our title sponsor but uh that that event um I have a partner uh Luly. She's she's very well plugged in down south with Homestead and stuff and she reached out and she had been she did it the year before and then uh she knew about my foundation. We had done a couple events together with Commissioner Rob Gonzalez and stuff and

great commissioner

great dude great commissioner shout out to him

great guy man. So we had that synergy and I told her about my foundation. And I'm like, "Well, let's let's pair up, you know, cuz I I I know what I can bring to the table with my name." And then we quadruple the attendance for the um for that back to school drive. But being down there in Homestead, man, like I'm a Kindle kid, but I'm familiar with that area.

Wait, wait. What part of Kendall did you grow up in?

Oh, man. I grew up in West Kendall.

No, so did I, dude. We're Kendall boys,

man. I'm a West Kindle kid.

Yeah, but what area? What area? Like I went to I went to two different elementary schools, Oliver Hoover and Kendall Lakes.

No way.

And then I went to Hammocks Middle School and then I went to Sunset.

You went to Sunset

for high school and then I went to Miami date South. Like I'm a Kindle through and through.

I went to uh was it Royal Green.

Okay.

Then I went to Dulan.

Okay.

There was a school next to Dulan. I forgot what the name I visited. And then I went to Ferguson. I was the first graduating class in Ferguson. But what area did you live by?

West Kindle. Right there. Right. 88th and 152nd.

Yeah. 15. No way, man. I lived on 152.

Yes.

How crazy, bro?

You guys graduated though.

I graduated. We ain't going to say that, but I graduated before you.

Yeah, bro. But you I feel like you look younger than me.

Yeah, man. Yeah.

I'm a Kindle kid, bro. That's amazing. I had no idea, man.

Yeah. So that So that speaking of Commissioner Rob Gonzalez,

he rebranded that basketball park.

He did with Dism. That's the park that I grew up playing at and I did that event.

It's Olympic Park.

Yes,

brother. I grew up playing there.

So when he when

that's where you see the fights and stuff, you know,

for sure. When he called me to do that event, I'm like, "Oh, of course." Like I grew up, Funny story, I Hurricane Andrew, I played basketball at that park that

Wow, dude.

Literally, cuz you know, like during the day, it's perfect.

And then it, you know, it came like overnight and whatnot 3:00 in the morning. But

that park is nice. They developed that park. They did the library there in the corner. It's been years and stuff now, but they did got good good shout out to the commissioner, man. He's put the the district on his back.

Good dude. He's had my support with the back to school stuff. So, uh yeah, going back to the homestead. Um you know, it's just a community that really is in need. So, uh we were able to to to do something really special. Um I mean, we we it was so busy. We uh the police had to stop us. Like, we we ran out of backpacks.

That's what I was going to say.

And we had so many backpacks. Well, people see the backpacks, but those things are actually filled with a bunch of materials. Like, what is it you guys are giving them?

Yeah. So, we have backpacks, but we also have every every like vendor that we had on, you know, on location, we asked them to bring school supplies. So, you're going from table to table. So, AMG has a table. Cool. AMG has a whole table of school supplies. So, they're going to visit AMG, finding out what AMG does, and then, you know, so they're going to a day in Miami or Heyday Marketing, finding out what you guys do, and you're also giving them supplies.

So, we did that. We had resources. We uh we had um corrections and people like were out there um they were doing fingerprinting,

uh barber, like we had kids getting haircuts. And then the cool thing is I brought that heat aspect to it. Like Bernie, the Miami Heat dancers have never gone that far south. So the kids looked at them like, you know, I'm in the

I'm in the uh police chief's office with Bernie and the dancers and shooting videos and content and stuff like that because they don't go that far down, you know. So,

uh it was a great event. Uh I think this year we're go Oh, and at the very end, and I forgot to tell you this part, we gave our free gas. So, I partnered

You let you You left out the most.

Yeah, I know.

So, I partnered with a gas company and we uh for the parents that stayed there to the very end, we were like, "Hey, you know, thank you guys for bringing your kids out here. We appreciate you. We hope you got the supplies and you know, everything that you needed. Come up to the stage right now. I have a voucher for you and then we're going to meet you over at city hall and we're going to fill up your gas tank."

That's amazing.

We did that and it was crazy. Well, people don't people underestimate how much that that helps, man. But

Oh my god,

the gas is huge. That's huge.

That's huge. You know, just honestly, your presence being there. And I always try to remember when I was a kid.

Yeah.

And my first Heat game, I think I was like 17 years old. You know, I never went to a Heat game cuz, you know, my Hispanic parents the Heat, you know,

and when these kids see you there, they probably many many of them probably haven't had a chance to go to a Heat game, you know, but they see on TV and obviously everyone loves the Miami Heat. But I think I think also with that is the impact that you put for these kids because a lot of these kids are not going to forget that because they haven't experienced moments like that, especially of underserved communities, you know. So I think that's a huge thing that you hope that is going to inspire and motivate them to want to do the same or even more.

No, but 100%. You know, people get inspired by that and as they get older, they remember those little moments and you know,

you remember that. You 100% remember. And that's why looking forward to this year, I'm like, man, we got to double that. like we have to, you know, bring something more to the table like just to just to inspire those kids, you know, to have this.

It's going to be tough. It's going to be tough. But I think No, it won't be tough.

Logistically, is it possible? Logistically, it's possible or

I think we're

like you have like there's space back.

I have I I have some No, space-wise I I love the location.

It's a big It's a big

It's a big park. I'm just thinking I I I got some good relationships that I haven't asked for favors.

Yeah. Now is when you call in the faith because at the end of the day it's all for the kids, man. If we can inspire them to dream big

and and quote unquote, you showed the proof of the concept already with your first one. So now it's easier, I think, for people to jump on board already having seen that first one.

Um I think a big thing uh that you've done obviously is align a lot of brands together. So

as you grow Foundation, what are some of the partnerships that you're looking or that you might want to announce that you're going to be going in with? So, we have a partnership with Overtown Youth Center, which is Alonzo Morning's place, the the great Alonzo Morning, uh, you know, Hall of Fame.

Um, obviously Miami Heat legend.

He's always here at Hillstone.

Yeah. Yeah. He's he loves and, uh, and just a great philanthropist, man. like I I look at how and and the work that he's done in the community and I know I'm not close to that level, but I just see how invested he is and I'm like, if I can just do a small part and and and you know, following his footsteps, then I'm doing something, you know, good. So I I partner with his

You talk to him a lot or

That's my guy. That's my guy.

Gives you advice and everything.

Yeah, that's my guy. Amazing. Literally, that's amazing.

So we have a partnership with that. We have a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami. So, that's cool. Um, I'm excited for that. And a partnership with Hope Hope Miami hope for Miami, I'm sorry. And so, we're we're we're we're moving a little bit, you know, we're doing some things.

Um, I want to give people a little insight on your trajectory. You know, I know you've had a long, you know, career even at this point right now. you've worked with the majority or if not all, you know, South Florida professional team organizations, but can you tell people kind of like what got you into that position? Um, and what kind of, you know, where were the the roadblocks and and how you hit the next level because you continue to just grow and grow and grow and, you know, now it's you're getting to some, you know, I don't want to say, you know, larger than life, but it does kind of feel like that's the route you're taking. Yeah, I think um it started with my mentor DJ Arie. Uh the first DJ in sports period. Um he believed in me and I and just having someone like that believe in you can take you far in life, right? So on top of the fact that I put in the work, man, like I I eat, sleep, this is what I love to do. Like I love to entertain. um knowing my my history like I played high school basketball here. So me being able to play, you know, basketball in the city that I was raised in and yet I'm working for the basketball team in this city in which I was raised in is a dream come true. I tell people all like I've done so many cool things in my career, God willing. Uh, but like to be able to do something like this is literally my dream job because I was a kid that played basketball at Tamiami Optimus and then went to Miami Sunset and played basketball, you know? So,

um, just just and always trying to elevate, man. Just trying to stay true to myself and and do things that align with my brand. So the the sports partnerships obviously you know with the Marlins starting off with the Marlins and then transitioning to the Heat and then been with FIU for

Wait, you get a call from the Marlins? How how does that work? You know, did they bring you in? How was the recruitment process?

Yeah, so that's because of Ireie. Um I was like, "Hey, I think the Marlins are looking to have a DJ in baseball." It sounds weird for the the people that are watching this. It sounds weird, but if you're from the 305,

it's perfect. Like, you know,

it's necessary.

It's necessary because the one thing that unites us all is what? Music.

So, like, it works here. So, he gave me he gave me the call and he was like, "Yeah, man. I think you should do it." So, I I remember I I went and auditioned

um in an empty stadium. This was like Pro Player Stadium back then. And uh I got on the microphone. It's like a eight second delay. I'm sitting there like, "Wait, why is like I I say something And then I say something that long like it's like it was literally like it's throwing you off.

Oh, I was like what is this, you know? But uh it was

you're already before I work here, you guys need to fix the sound system, fix the AV system.

You can't because it's just such a spot like, you know, you just have to just you have to talk and just be confident in what you're saying and don't mess up, you know. So, uh, you know, doing that and then obviously again the transition with the Heat. It was just, you know, these these are things that I I've dreamt about and and I enjoy it because I'm such a sports fanatic, you know. So, it's it's been pretty cool. And then just always just trying to elevate, man. Just, you know, when I when I get these uh these different opportunities with with different corporations and, you know, big companies and stuff, I'm like, "Okay, does this align with my brand? Will it help my brand?" And it's it has to be transactional. Yeah. You know, it can't just be like, "Oh, yeah. Let me just go do this gig and I get x amount of money." No, it's like, is this gig going to elevate my career or my brand while actually, you know, making a good payday as well?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Talking about that, you have a long list of uh moments in the last year or so that have elevated your game. So, tell me a little bit about the New Year's. Man, that was

event that you did with Pit Bull. No, was it? No.

Yes. No. No. New Year's was Well, that was another event we're gonna talk about. But the New Year's one was massive.

New Year's was incredible. Uh that that's that meant a lot to me. And I'll tell you why. Because that was the first event that I got. That that was the biggest event that I got on my own just being DJM dot. Like I've done cool stuff obviously being on tour with Jamie Fox for 18 years. I've done cool stuff, but that's with Jamie being the man and then I'm just a supporting. Yeah.

That was the first like big thing like Yeah. I'm with the Heat, but the Heat's the

the main thing. I'm just the you know. Yeah.

So that was the first gig that I got just being DJ.

So what you got the call or do you have an agent or something or

No, no, no. I got the call. Uh luckily I have been um plugged in with Bayr Management Trust.

Uh I had done a couple events with them last year leading up to New Year's Eve. So we did the July 4th big July 4th event. Then I went back and did a Halloween event. Commissioner Gabello and and Part two two great humans, man. Like two really cool good guys. Um

and then uh and then obviously Emmy

Emmy. Oh yeah. from the warf and everything and pier five.

Yeah, fiveart. And so that they they gave me a call and they were like, "Hey man, I think you'd be perfect for this." Um,

and I'm like, "Yeah, I I want to do it." So it was I mean, you got Hampton Dona, you got don't know the Sario, you know, you got uh

How many people showed up to that?

Oh, it was like tens of thousands. It it had to I'm not exaggerating. At the very minimum, 30K.

Was that the first year they did it there? No, they they've always done it there, but if you remember, Pit Bull used to do it in years past, but it was kind of just like Pit and maybe like someone else. This was the first time they did like four or five headliners, like big acts. Nikki Jam, uh I mentioned, um Marshmallow, Flow Rider.

No way.

Yes.

So, you got five. So, you're covering every single genre of music. So you got the older people that like, you know, that may like Donado or Hona. Then you got like the younger that like the Nikki J. And then you got the raers who like Marshmallow. And then you got the the commercial people that, you know, Flow Rider has hits for days. You got them. So it was like a very well put together event. Look, number one, I'm happy that the city of Miami is doing things for New Year's Eve because you always hear about New York, New York, New York, but now city the only thing I think we should have Yeah.

which I think we had in the past a little orange that like comes down during the countdown. That would be They still have it.

Yeah, they do it on uh in Intercontinental.

Oh, okay. They still have Is it Is it real orange or is digital?

No, no, no. It's the digital.

A real one, man. But anyway, I think we should have add that to the play. Put it here in the gables.

I don't know there's any budget for that in the city, you know, considering the situations they always have there. So, I I could tell you this because you hit it right on the head and I don't know if I I don't think I'll get into they they want to brand it as the same type of New Year's Eve, what goes on in New York. They want to do something like that here in Miami.

Yeah.

And it makes sense because we have the space, we have the people, they want to come out and celebrate. So, if they and by doing an event

the weather so by doing an event like this, it's like Yeah. Like what? It was live on Telmundo.

Yeah. If we can pull the New Year's Eve official party from New York and bring it to Miami,

I think that would be amazing for the city.

And I I I could see it happening, too. Everyone's moving over here.

No, we just give them a run for their money.

Yeah.

So, they have theirs, but we also have ours because, you know,

want the warmer weather. Like

from this year, there was like a they messed up the new year, the New York one. There was a time lapse. If you remember, I don't know if you guys remember, there was a time lapse at like the ball was going down, the countdown was off. It was It was a little bit of a mess. Yeah, we didn't have that problem in downtown

and and and how was the layout? Obviously, I I wasn't here in town, but how was the layout? Like where were the people hanging out or was it the whole street?

So, you had you had the stage and then you just had swarms of people.

But you're talking about the amphitheater inside Bayside.

No, not in Bayfront Park. Okay. That big Okay.

They they built this ginormous stage and then just people just floods of people all around and it went all the way back to like carrying over to like the street.

Yeah. And you know, I'm sure everyone leaves there and they go to all the local businesses, too. So,

great for the economy.

Phenomena for the economy. Imagine you're on the corner setting chos. Oh, you baked. You made your year water.

Yep.

You know,

all right, let's jump to maybe not the best experience you've had, but the national championship.

Oh, man. So, that

I'm sure from a professional perspective, you had a great time.

Yeah. Uh,

but give me that vibe. You were there. You were on the grounds.

Yes. So, we I did the uh the All State tailgate party. Okay.

Have you worked with All State before or first time?

So, uh I got the call for that. Um

brother, if you need an agent, you let me know.

Yeah, I know. I know.

You're getting a lot of calls, bro. You know, like direct direct. You know what's crazy?

Call my agent, you know.

Yeah. You know what's crazy is that I phone all these calls and uh and I guess that's just a testament to who I am as a person and like people that rock with me and and you know so I got the call um and I I'll be honest I was a little hesitant at first. This was before I knew the Canes got in.

Oh.

Yes. Cuz I was like man do I want to Yeah, it's cool to partner with you know All State the National Championship tailgate. That's cool. But I was like man let just let the kids get in. Please let the kids get in. kids get in. I'm like, "Yeah, sign me up." So, it was uh it was an experience. Um yeah, like you mentioned, Pit Bull performed. Yeah.

But uh you know, I uh I kept the vibes early on. It was different in the sense that you had a bunch of Indiana fans because they didn't and and come to the realization like if you look back at it, they didn't have a tailgate. So, this was their tailgate. If you're Can's fans, you know that we tailgate in the parking lot. Like, we got the we got the grill going, we got the music going. So, it wasn't so many Can's fans at the tailgate. They came in a little bit later, but it was a lot of Indiana fans because they didn't know where to go. But, uh, nonetheless, it was a great experience. Pit Bull did his thing and, uh, I'm happy that, you know, I got the call and was able to do it.

That's amazing, man. What we need you to do? We need you to get phone calls for F1.

Yeah,

that'll be a nice little phone call to get and then something for FIFA. Yeah, that'll be good.

They're doing it in downtown.

I know. I know.

So, you guys already know.

Haven't gotten that call yet.

We get those calls, man. You got this one. You call my number, though.

Yeah.

I'm the go-to guy for sports. I mean,

so I have a long list.

Yeah. Yeah. So, uh the I think it was a big thing that I saw um I was looking through your social media the other day and I saw a picture of you and Dwayne Wade. I thought that was a really cool picture. Um it was a 10 year anniversary from big time uh the 2000 and um

2016 yeah 2006 20 year anniversary excuse me from the 2006 uh team. So tell us a little bit about that event that you did and tell us a little bit about how you felt back in 2006 experiencing the first championship here. Uh so I was a fan then I I didn't start working with the team back then but uh I was a fan obviously you know again growing up playing basketball here loving the home team supporting the home team. So it was a great time at that time I was um I was working at a law firm which is crazy was literally working at a law firm. I was about to go on my first tour, but uh I remember watching it, watching the parade and so on and so forth. And then um doing the gala, the Miami Heat gala was just just watching like seeing all the players come back um seeing Dwayne come back. I have I have a relationship with

I would love Wade to come back to Miami, man. Like hang out here with us and stuff.

And he was just uh so gracious as he always is, man. Just a good dude. Um

Shaq's funny, right?

Shaq is the man. I have a relationship with Shaq. Like I, you know, Shaq is my guy. So, uh, seeing him come back,

he What's up with that? I didn't get the I mean, I guess he promised something. The little cars that came out ain't something.

So, he, uh, he promised, uh, Dwayne UD, he would buy them Bentleys. Obviously, Shaq has the money.

He would buy them Bentley's

if they won the championship.

We obviously won the championship. He never bought the Bentleys. So, you know, as a joke at the game the next day after the gala, you know, we we we rolled out the um

the uh the Bentley remote control car.

That was super funny, bro. Super funny.

But, uh it was a it was a cool cool uh a cool two days, you know, celebrating them at the gala, merging both teams. And the gala is always a good thing, man. That's you know, um celebrating the the charitable fund.

Yeah.

Um in honor of that, and uh you know, we had the Jackson 5 perform. So that was that was cool.

Uh and then the very next day just celebrating them at the game, man. It was it was cool. And I think uh Heat Nation was

super happy. Everybody pictures.

Yeah. Like you get a chance to see Dwayne, you get a chance to see Shaq, you get a chance to see D, you know, uh Jason Williams.

Um and so

Rice was there too. No.

Um

no,

no. Um, uh, UD, uh,

Gary Peyton, Gary

Peyton. Gary.

Yeah. I mean, 2012 and 13 were obviously great, but it's not like the first one, you know, right?

Especially that wasn't really expected either.

All I remember all I remember is the Wade getting that ball, launching it to the top

and then them going into the room and then it was like 12 strong, was it? With the 15 strong and the little cards all over the place, you know. They pulled out the cards again.

They pulled out the cards. Yeah. Yeah. That's that was a great brother. People forget that middle of that season Pat Riley took over and he benched or he got fired. He fired a stand back.

Yeah.

And he took over the team, bro. They ended up winning.

Yeah.

That was crazy.

That was a young weed, man. That was a young way. Year what, three or?

Yeah, cuz he came in uh 2003, right?

Yeah. So, year three. That's impressive. It doesn't happen often. And then I've never after that season, we fell off. Fell off for a bit.

Had a few little years after that, but

No. Right. like the next season cuz everyone got shipped away from

Yeah, correct. Yeah, I think Shaq left and everything like

Yeah, but we won the championship so it was all

Yeah. No, no, that was our first

and and and the picture was epic. That picture

that picture was epic and then uh and Wade together.

What does Wade give? Did he tell you anything like you know?

No. So, uh, we were talking, you know, I he came up and said hi earlier, you know, I called him Champ,

you know, when I see him and, uh, I told him later on like cuz, you know, people were getting their pictures and stuff and I don't bother I don't bother athletes like again like Shaq's my guy, but I didn't get a picture with Shaq because, you know, he was doing the thing, you know, so we say what's up and I I keep it real professional, but I told I told De being that um I think last year, was it last year that we

uh statue?

We did the statue, right? So, I got a picture with him last year. So, I'm like, we got to run it back and do it, you know, do a second one. So, that Yeah, he came up and we kind of like leaned against the DJ booth.

But, he's a genuinely nice person.

Just a genuinely cool person, man. You know, he complimented me on my my swag that day cuz I had the scarf going on with the I had like the Jordan ones, you know.

But, uh yeah, it was it was a really cool event, man. I was uh always good times to to see uh legends like that. Let me see. And going on on the events, I mean, I I feel you've been doing a lot of events, man. You also did uh something that we never do here. Um I thought it was a big deal, man. I'm I've become, you know, a big hockey fan lately and did the Winter Classic here. I think that's a huge deal. They never do. Obviously, they never done it with such a warm weather area. So, tell us a little bit about how you got the call to be part of it. And

and besides beyond that, I'm not a hockey fan by any way, shape, or form. I never been to a game.

Oh, you got

What is the Winter Classic?

Oh, yeah. Well, before you even say winter time, to me, live hockey is one of the best sports. I haven't been, man.

Of course. Live it's it's amazing.

It's incredible.

We have to go to game.

Somebody in bank owe me tickets, but it never came through.

And and

throwing that out there. That's it, bro. I'm going to start throwing the

Nobody is safe.

Nobody's safe anymore, bro. We don't get RSVPs at Sunnies. Whatever. That's funny when I tell you if when you go to a game and and you want to see a fan base locked in like there's no like, "Oh, look at that." No, they're

It's hot.

Oh, and they all have church.

We got to go to No, we'll go for You're there for the game. You know what I mean? Like a lot of other sports, you're not there for the game. You're there for everything but the game.

It's like action-packed.

Yeah. Action. They're like they're they're they're

they go hard. They fight.

They're locked in. That's good. Sorry. Go for it.

So, tell us about the winter classic.

So, it was my uh Florida versus New York. Okay.

So, uh it was cool.

Sorry. Is that something they do it every year?

They do it every year. They do the Winter Classic every year, but they don't do it in Florida. That warm state. They usually do it in New York or Boston is where I've seen it uh done before.

Yeah. So, uh I got the call to uh to do a Winter Classic event with Body Armor in Windwood. So, they had this whole activation set up. Body Armor, big sponsor. Um, and it was very cool, man. People came in and did the different activations and stuff. And this was the day of the game. So, this was early on about three hours before the game. There were different activations going on and stuff like this.

What do the Windwood marketplace?

Yes.

Yeah.

Very, very

hobby and these guys from Swarm, they run that.

Yeah. Very cool place, man. A lot of foot traffic and stuff. So, uh, it was pretty cool, man. I was happy I got the call for that. Um, someone that just know of my work, had been watching me. You know, it's ironic, like, you know, I put these things I put these clips on social media and stuff like that just to put them on, but like this person that hired me from this from the company had been watching Heat Games on his television, you know, and seeing every hit I do and stuff like that. And he was like, "Yeah, man. I think he would be great for this." and um and I got the gig and it was pretty cool. It was pretty fun. So,

do you ever get hit up on the DMs?

Uh yeah, sometimes.

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes. I think I think Instagram is the new business card.

Yeah, it is 100%.

It is like it's it's it's not viewed the I mean, obviously people use it for other reasons, but I think when you know

100%. I always tell my people if you like the new business card is Instagram. Someone tells me give me your business card. I just got my number. I don't have one. I say, "Follow me on Instagram."

Why? Because a business card, you get it, you drop it on the table, goes in a drawer, nobody remembers you anymore. Right? When you tell them follow you on Instagram, I'm putting content up all the time,

right there.

So, I'm always going to be in their face to do to them. So, they're always going to remember me and for and then there it's up to you to, you know, what messaging do you want them to remember you by, right?

So, if you're always talking about your work and your stories, and usually it's the stories, it's fine. They're just seeing the stories. Yeah.

Um, but yeah, it's a good point. So, I'm sure you have a lot of messages that come in. No.

Yeah. And and it again because it is your digital business card like I I can say I I I bypass these auditions and things like that because you can see who I

portfolio. Yeah.

You can see what I do. Like

a crazy story that your account almost got hacked and all that picked it up.

No, these people be trying to get me man. It's that that's it's a blessing and a curse for um and it's not like I have crazy followers. It's just I have some very I have influential people that follow me. some high

quality followers.

I got some good names up there. So, like people that Yeah. So, uh we

we don't want to talk about that. Sensitive subject.

Listen. And a little bit off topic, but I'm just curious. You know, you're me and him were talking about the other day. Um I know you're good friends with him, Marcel.

Yeah.

But I've seen that guy every 15 seconds in a commercial now.

Good dude.

He did a Wells Fargo commercial. So he did a T-Mobile commercial. He came out

Miller Light. He does

Miller Light. He came out in the movie with

Netflix. He had Gilmore like a Miami guy. A crazy story. I mean, have you spoken to him? Can you give us some insight? I don't know. Like, you know, just want to get your thoughts on on on him.

Yeah. Um, we uh we had known each known of each other for a little bit. Um, never really had conversation. just followed each other for the most part until um his his and so here's here's the connection. His manager is Jaime's manager.

Wow.

I've been with Jamie for forever in the day. So he hits me up. Hey, Marcelo wants to come to the game tonight. Um you know he's sitting x y and z and that's all you had to tell me. I'm like this was two years ago. I'm like okay cool. I got the rest. got his jersey made with his name on the ball told did this had him in the DJ booth did a real big shout out whatever you know so that's just that's my guy right so then um after that he came back like another time we had talked this is before he signed with Jamie's manager so we had talked and he was telling

this was before Saturday Night Live

this was uh no he was he's already out he's definitely in Saturday Night Live but this he didn't have representation

so uh we had a conversation. Um, I won't go into full detail, but he asked me, you know, which way, which route he should go, cuz he had a couple options. And I'm like, "Hey, man, like I'm not trying to be biased, but you know, I've been with Jamie for X, Y, and Z for a long time. Um, this is this is his manager. Like, great dude, man. Like, and if you want to eventually transition to the to the big screens, what better example do you have than Jamie Fox?"

Was already done. guy started a comedy and then

same same route.

Same route

and uh lo and behold

he's on the big screen

on the big screen.

So you can say you have a little bit to do.

I no that's just how you know

with the strategy the strategy.

I don't know but it's just good people are supposed to do business together.

I think the trajectory's been amazing man. He's honestly I don't I don't think in Miami we've seen someone have that type of trajectory or not many if if any you know so and our age young like he's multi-talent he's just so

you know what it is he's actually really [ __ ] funny like he's just a funny guy

at the end of the day that's what it is he's a funny

skits with bad bunnies that open the door for everything you know what I mean the funniest one that I had that I saw was the one that he did like he was like pretending to be a bouncer or something and they were trying to get into the club and stuff like That That was one of the funniest he did on Saturday Night Live.

Yeah. Like he's he's out of here, man.

The Olympia Theater, too.

And and and the crazy thing is this is just the beginning. He's so young. This is just the beginning.

Yeah. I know. That's amazing for him, man. It's always good, man. I I think Miami people as a whole like to see people from Miami especially succeed. And I think that's exciting to see someone that you've seen start from, you know, the bottom, quote unquote, to develop into, you know, where he's at now.

Yeah. He did something recently with Kevin Hart and Keenan Thompson.

Yeah.

That's funny.

Kevin Hart's a big a big supporter of him.

He's a big supporter of him.

It's very joyful every time you see him on TV. But brother, I was I was watching Lincoln Lawyer and every commercial was the Wells Fargo one. You know, the Wells Fargo one, which was which was actually a good

Super Bowl. That's the one we saw or we saw one on the Super Bowl recently.

We saw that one in the Super Bowl, too. Listen, um this is a personal question for me. I've gone to thousands of heat games, probably spent tens of thousands of dollars there, right? And I've never shown up on the camera.

Oh,

like I like I've always wanted to go on the cam, bro.

I've never I don't care. I don't want the kiss cam with my boys and stuff, but you know, cuz my wife doesn't go to the he is there a strategy to show up on the camera, bro? Like, what are they looking for?

Okay, that's that's this is a two-part question. um they're looking for fan engagement slash interaction. So if you're up having a good time, you have a higher probability of getting on camera. Now if you're just like if you're in a timeout and you're on your phone just texting, we're not looking for that. When you know when you have someone like me screaming in the background, playing something up tempo, a Bad Bunny song possibly, and you're just like oblivious as to what's going on. So just get up. That's the first part. Go.

Yeah. Get up and and and

be entertaining.

Come on, man. Shake.

Don't be on your phone.

Yeah. Don't I'm sorry.

That's that's number one. The second part is you sit in some premium seats.

So I'm a little bit hidden.

You got the AMG corner.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Which used to be my old corner, you know. And then you got the Bicardio oo lounge, you know. So

So they're not looking in there.

Yeah. There just there's no camera in the Bardi oo lounge. Okay.

We're have to get floor seats then. No, you're you're you're in there eating caviar off your fist. You know, there's no there's no se there's no cameras in there. And then the AMG corner again, which is my old corner,

you know, you got to do a little something in that corner as well. You can't just be there just looking cool, even though you are cool.

So, I mean, what I took out of that is you're you're on your phone too much.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

That's the b That's That's business.

Business.

It's business.

Damn.

Damn, bro. I wanted I've always wanted to be on that cam. I

I'll make it happen. Next time you're there, I'll tell

I always thought they target like kids and stuff like that.

At the Martins game is easy. You just come with them out to the Martins and you're on the camera. That'll be the easiest one.

Yeah.

Yeah, bro. You put a picture up of us in Texas the other day at the Martins. That was a good one. Good memories. Good times. That was a good memory.

Good times. Listen, we

World Baseball Classic. Bro,

that was one of the best experience I've ever had at that Martin Park.

It's coming up now.

It's coming up now. Man,

are you guys doing anything? or you

I um I got a call for this about a year, probably about six months ago,

and we're just waiting to see.

They got to get you in

if it makes sense.

They got to get you in there.

They got to get them in.

We got to throw that in there. We got to push that, brother. I mean,

it's an amazing

It's in Miami here and and I think they do the the f the championship here. So, they do a lot of they do obviously do a group stage here in Miami and they have some quarterfinal game at the championship. Who's more Miami DJ than

the only thing I would say you but you could play Spanish music right? Like you

play everything.

Yeah. Like it's not like

Here's a fun fact. I did the World Baseball Classic when I was with the Marlins.

Oh wow.

At the old stadium.

Old stadium.

The original Jabi pro player.

That's right. I used to do it over there. But how many years ago was that?

The Martins played there for a while.

A long time ago. Yeah.

Yeah. I was there from I was with the Marlins 2008 to about 2010 or 2007 2009.

And at that time did that get packed too?

Uh it got packed on like weekend games when you played a big team

stadium football stadium. Yeah. Stadium.

And at that time it was probably I think it was I think at one point it was like 80 or something.

Probably 80 because they had the bigger but I remember when the Morrens like were winning that stadium used to get packed.

Yeah. Yeah.

Like sold out.

So like I I I've I've been a part of the WBC. I've enjoyed watching the different teams play each other and and just like the the fan bases come

the fan base is the best man like baseball is a predominately you know Hispanic sport especially here so you see you know a lot of Dominicans uh you have pots and pans and then

there's nothing like they're very passionate is off the charts man

you don't see anything like every seat all the way to the tippy top every standing space is full

it's similar to like a soccer game cuz at soccer games you have passion and I don't think in any sport you have as much passion as soccer and you kind of see that a little bit in baseball with WBC.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

I know we bounce around back and forth throughout your career, but you do something really nice that is the DJ classes.

Yeah, man.

Okay. That you're working a partnership with.

Yeah. So, that's the partnership with uh Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami, also Overtown Youth Center. So, we teach DJ classes. I was there yesterday, actually. I'm not sure when this is going to air, but uh I was just there. Um they have so big brothers big sisters they have a teen tech center which uh Best Buy was gracious enough to you know sponsor and open up. This is on the top floor. They have video gaming. They have 3D printing. They have uh a recording studio. Um a couple other computers to do like graphics and stuff just to teach kids, you know, like so let's so you want to be able to, you know, print a t-shirt, whatnot. Well, we can make the design so on and so forth. Then you go to the 3D printing and do that. But in that same space, I brought, you know, the data line foundation and taught uh introductory like DJ class to kids and stuff. So,

and how did how the do the kids like how do they react to it? You know,

kids love it.

Yeah,

kids absolutely love it because again, the one thing that unites, you know, all of us is music. So if you can teach them and then and and not and and my thing is with the classes that number one to be consistent, but number two, I'm not trying to make every kid a DJ, but I'm also teaching you life skills. I'm teaching you entrepreneurship because I've been able to do this for this has been my only job. Yeah.

So there's a reason why I've been able to do this for so long at a high level. Yeah. because I'm a business and a brand and I may have some skills as well on top of that.

You're a business and a brand first.

Yeah. So, I'm teaching them that and then also

I don't need to come and do your high school or your middle school pep rally. I want you to do it. So, if I'm teaching you the tools

to DJ, then you should be doing it.

Have any of them have any of them come back to you or anything or

Not yet because we just started. Yeah.

Do you ever look at someone you're like, "Okay, he has it."

I saw I I have a couple kids at at Overtown Youth and I'm like, "This one might be like this one picked up." Yesterday's class where I taught just the introductory class, there were there were two girls that picked up like that. Like to the point where I gave them something that I probably be teaching the sixth week of the course. Wow.

They learned in like 30 minutes. And I'm like, geez. I'm like, but this is but I remember playing drums and growing up playing drum and I picked up things like that as well. So I'm like they have it like

some people are just a natural

some kids are just natural. It's like when you play baseball like there's just something you know you got it like

comes quick to you just comes quick. Never know I could be your successor one day

and you as quarterback you know it's like yeah things that play the things that came quick to you.

Um so yeah there just some kids that but I I'm I'm really looking forward to it. Um I'm not the first person to do this. Um, but I think uh I I've I've done it in a way where number one, I'm I I strive on consistency. I I don't want to just teach this class and then be like, "All right, kids, peace." No, I want to I that's why I partner with the, you know, as opposed to just doing it at a spot one Saturday every two to three months. No, I want to partner with these organizations so they can see my face. They'll know that I'm there and so on and so forth. And I'm committed to it because uh we got to pour into these kids, man. And then something later on down the road.

No, you do a great job of it, man. You make me feel like a dirt bag.

No, man. No,

I wish I could just give I wish I had more time to like and honestly that's where I would see my life going. I used to do it a lot more before when I had more time.

Yeah.

I think we just got to make

and I just kind of like

I don't know.

I think impacting the youth is nothing like it. Especially I think one one of the things I I wanted to ask you was like so you impacting you when you were younger.

One, was there anyone that impacted you in a way that wanted to make you DJ or like wanted to you to follow that career path? And two, how did you learn how to DJ?

Yeah, great question. Um, no personal like there was no personal experience that made me want to DJ. Like I grew up here in Miami, so I would listen to the Miami DJs on the radio. Like this is probably when they had like mixtapz and stuff. I would go and get like mixtapz of the late great uncle and people like that. Um, never thought about doing it literally. And uh, ironically, I was the host of my high school pep rallies. Never thought that that would be something that I'd do in my entire life. And then looking back in hindsight, I'm like, yeah, I'm I host a lot of stuff now. So, um, never thought about it, but just loving music. Um, starting in the clubs with with you, uh, as just a host only and then people like, you know, inspirational like the guy that taught me how to DJ Mikey Sim and and I and Khaled and people like that just always having my back. Um, I was like, "Yeah, this is I think this is what I want to do for a living." So,

and when you start when you started learning how to DJ, did you catch on quick? Was there any challenges? It was quick for me because I had played drums all my life.

Oh, wow. That's amazing.

So, yeah. So, I I played drums from fourth grade up until like my third year in college. You

still know how to or?

Yeah, I was I was actually playing drums yesterday. I like riding a bike forever. Come on. Yeah. Yeah.

I think that's probably the funnest instrument to play.

Oh, for sure.

Like that or the electric guitar?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, those are the ones that get all the girls.

Yeah. Fine. You're not you're not you're not getting the girls playing the clarinet

or the flute, but like if you're beating a drum.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

You know, you give the girls only imagine that energy.

Yeah. Or you're you got some guitar riffs. Oh man, you're getting all the girls and you're good to go.

Kids, lay the guitar, the drums.

Yeah.

It's it's an amazing skill to to know, too.

Yeah. So that transition was was was fairly easy for me being having that background in music. So

all right, pickle ball tournament.

Yeah.

Okay, we're launching it. What are the details, Juice?

So we're launching our second annual pickle ball tournament. It's a day in Miami tournament presented by Accident Medical Group and it's going to benefit the League Against Cancer. So, it's the second year that we do it and both years we've been benefiting and all the proceeds go to League Against Cancer which I think is obviously a great cause and um that I stand, you know, dearly behind. I think a lot of people in the community do as well. It's going to be Saturday, April 25th and we're going to have four divisions um all the way from beginners to advanced and we're going to be giving away some fun prizes there. Last year um on our first one we had M. DJing. Um, we had a really good setup, which I feel that, you know, a lot of the tournaments, you know, don't necessarily have. We had a bunch of food vendors there, free food for everyone. We had beverages for everyone. We even had a liquor sponsor if you want to go that route. Um,

oh, the VIP area, too. Like the little couches.

Yeah, Pierre. We had M. DJ, which was cool. We had John Smith uh showed up.

We had Julie showed up as well. He actually played in the tournament. So, I I think we had a, you know, a fantastic time. The tournament ran great as well and it was really quick and uh we're excited for this update.

We had some nice prizes, man. Like they won a cruise, they won paddles, they won dinners for four. This year we're upping the the prize as well, too. You guys got to stay tuned.

Oh,

m dot, tell them what was what was your point of view? How did you see the tournament?

I and and and will will you graciously

accept our invite to bring you back?

Oh, I'm coming back for sure.

Okay, good.

That's that's first and foremost. I'm coming back. Good. Uh secondly, I think I what what I love about you guys is that you think outside the box because if you look at any other tournaments that may be happening, they're like, "Wait, why is there a DJ?" But like, so you guys think outside the box like, "Yeah, let's have music."

Not why is there the best DJ?

Let's have let's have music. Let's have these food vendors. If you want to get a little drink,

you got,

you know, Flicker. Yeah,

you got Pit Bulls liquor right there. If you want to sit in the VIP with your drink, you can go sit. So that's just that's typical Miami stuff, man. So it's cool. Um and and and it's something for everyone. Like if even if you don't play, you can just come out, support, listen to some good tunes, watch some good matches, and it's competitive, man.

It's super competitive.

It's competitive.

And you know, and just and be a part of something special, which um I'm always down for, man. like you know it's a great cause. So

yeah that that that tournament made me realize that I was not a good pickle ball player.

Well you play

that was tough bro that was tough.

Wait what division did you guys play?

I think we did an intermediate you know but three to four.

Was that really intermediate though? Were they have to sandbagging?

No it was intermediate.

It was intermediate but some honestly some the intermediates from three to four. So that's what I'm saying. If you're closer to four, is that a big jump? That's a big jump. A huge jump. That's what I skill. Big jump. Huge jump. Big jump. Speed, everything.

Yeah, that's what I don't understand. So, so it is intermediate. However, you were playing against competition that were closer to four than three. Correct. They usually divide that three to four to 35, which we're doing this here in 35 to four to four, which makes it a lot more

competitive. They wanted to be competitive, you know, and people to be and honestly for them, you know, you you pay for for for a tournament, you come in, you're playing against some twos, you're kind of like, yeah, it's an easy win, but you don't really want that.

You don't want the easy win. You want someone to challenge you,

right?

Yeah. Also, too, I think being the host of the tournament and then playing in the tournament, you know, your mindset's not 100% there. You know, you're worried about this person coming in. Like us, we're we're we're this year. Um, I'm going to just be a beginner. I'm going to sign up into to the entry entry level so I could have, you know, that bandwidth.

But you can't win.

I won't win. I

I'll just go to

Imagine Eddie Hanning Price himself.

I'm actually recruiting somebody cuz my partner from last year was Juice, but I know he has his people now. Justin is not going to be there. So,

okay.

So, if you want to, you know.

So, so

have a paddle.

So, no. No. Well, I I will be providing the commentary and the tunes.

Yeah, we got to get some little playbyplay.

See, I I want to do that. It's just not But this is not a world that I'm familiar with. How will

the players react to it?

Correct.

They don't like it.

See, that's the thing. That's the correct question.

I would I I would definitely be on a microphone like giving color commentary like doing that all day. But it's just like if they're not going to react well to it's like imagine doing commentary with golf. You know what I mean? No one wants you to be talking to Dax. I don't know. I don't know DJ.

You know what? We should do it. We should do it. And it's fun too. Listen, maybe not the the

championship or

Yeah, the championship or the ones that play on the other side that are really good like those fours and fives or whatever they are. Maybe not them, but like the beginners and stuff. We can have a little fun.

I agree. You rub it in. Oh, he missed that ball. You got a hole in your paddle.

Yeah, we can have a little fun.

Yeah, I think I like those. I like those.

It just brings the energy and the different Yeah,

I think we're all really excited about it, man. I I'm excited for this year, too. I think it's be bigger and better. I mean, last year we had a lot a big turnout and uh you know, we're excited to see what happens.

All right. So, I know that you can't disclose the prizes, but can you just give us like what that what's going to happen?

Yeah. Yeah. So,

look,

just give us give us just give us one.

Look, I'll give you all of them. I'll give you all that.

No, don't give us all.

No, that's fine. It's not It's not

First place for the beginners is a set of um

jewel paddles. Dick Sporting Goods is going to be um I mean helping out with that particular prize and they're going to do the paddles and they usually give like a bag, something like that.

Yeah, gift cards, things like that, you know.

Intermediate.

Intermediate. We're doing the dinner. We're doing a dinner for four cuz remember you're playing doubles.

So, you need two prizes. You need price for each person. So, we do a dinner for four. We haven't selected the restaurant yet. That will be a surprise. But last last year, we sent them to Maave and they had a great time. Okay.

Here in the corner.

Uh advanced, my people, your people,

Brandsmart.

Nice.

They don't know yet, but they're going to give us

two Samsung TVs and some other products.

They don't know yet, but they'll happily do it because they're good partner. They like to be a part of the community. Um, you know, honestly, they're very easy to work with and and they like what we're doing. And the grand prize for the pro division is going to be a weekend stay here in a hotel in Miami. It's going to be a nice hotel.

That's nice.

Okay. So, and remember, it's two rooms cuz it's two people. Yeah. You know, so you go with your wife and go hang out and talk about how you want to pick about uh tournament. Um, I think this year what we need to uh bring out, which we didn't have the time last year, was an actual trophy. I think this year we want to get a little trophy going on or a belt. Did we had a belt last year or No, we had a belt for ours.

Yeah, cuz I think what we could do is get the belt, give it to a picture, and then hold it year-over-year would be nice, you know.

So, we're fine tuning some details, but those are the prizes that we're rounding out. So, registration is going to be open shooting for Oh, sorry. Registration is going to be open March 1st.

Okay.

Okay. Um, and then, you know, we'll have some fun content going out there to to get everybody amped up.

Um, and at the end of the day, you better start practicing because the competition is going to come out. You know, last year, April 25th. Be ready, guys.

Yeah.

Yeah. So, I can't wait to shoot that content.

Yeah,

cuz uh you're part of the last one.

Yeah, that was fun.

That was a fun one. That was a fun one.

But I was literally out there fighting for my life.

You were You were sweating, bro.

Fighting for my life.

Like a 2 p.m. shoot with no shade.

No shade. Oh [ __ ] man.

You should come play with us though in the morning at least. Pick up the pick up the sport a little.

No, I have uh PTSD with this this Achilles. That's

right, bro.

Yeah, with the Achilles.

Listen, and before we lead to our last question that you know, Joseph will ask, it's the hardest question of the interview. Okay, I have one for you. All right. Do you have a Brandmart story? Well, sorry. This segment is presented by Brandsmart. Do you have a Brandmart story? Um,

and if you had a chance to get anything at Brandsmart, you had a little, you know, wish list, what would it be?

I I'm a uh I don't have a I can't narrow it down to one particular Brandsmart story, but I've bought several things at Brandsmart from TVs to to everything you can name for the most part. Um, I remember, you know, watching those commercials on television

with the little ticket guy.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I know what the Brisbar is. USA.

Yeah. Yeah. Cuz I used to uh I used to work out at that that gym right there, LA Fitness right next door.

Um if I can get something at Brandsmore, it would have to be something that that you know I use for DJing, which is some kind of technology.

They got some big big big speakers.

You got speakers, you got a new laptop. The Apple laptop.

Yes, exactly. That's what I use.

My boy Jay's go pick one up over there.

Yes. I'm I'm always upgrading. uh whenever new laptops come out. So,

and you need like the best one, right?

I need something that has a lot of power because I'm running a software. Yes, I'm I'm running the pro. So, I'm running a software that's that's hooked up to something else and it's playing and I have 30,000 songs in it and it's just, you know, so I need the best of the best and uh I think Brandmart definitely has that.

All right, we'll see. We got to talk to Brandmart. See what we can do for you.

Let's go.

Hey, Juice, last question. Hardest question. Give it to So this question is presented by Accident Medical Group along with the dotted line foundation. So MDOT, I know you are a foodie and I know we've gone to a lot of restaurants and we've gone to a lot of lunches and dinners. We had a great time. Now what would you say is your top three restaurants in Miami?

Starting with number three.

Oh,

okay.

Go.

That's that's that's tough.

I know you're going to you're going to let some people down, but but it's okay. You can say they're the ones for right now.

I'm going to go with top two.

Don't do it to me

cuz I I don't want to insult anyone with the third spot.

Give me Okay. Give Give us three spots then. Just give us

I'll give you

three spots.

I I like the way you uh you you you said it can be something from back in the day.

Whatever. Anything.

Um

shout out. Good spot, brother. You always, you know, you always can guarantee a nice experience. Man, I I am uh uh what's the place that's uh on US1? They cook the food in front of you.

Gau.

Oh, Ben.

No, no, no. Gau. There you go.

Guyaku.

Gauaku. Yes.

No way. I never heard of that place. Wait, that's Yeah, that's it's Korean though.

Tag agency.

Yes, it's Korean. Phenomenal.

Korean barbecue.

Korean barbecue spot. Phenomenal. I've been with my wife before. My father loves

that's the one where the flanakans is.

Yeah.

Yep. Yeah. Yep. Yep.

So, what do you like about it?

I I love the experience. Uh the food's great. And then something I can do with my daughter. She loves cooking.

Yeah. Yeah. It's a great And it's good food. The way they bring you out the menu, different phenomenal. You'll enjoy it. You You'll like it.

Small, intimate, real chill.

I passed by it a million times.

Nothing fancy, bro, but like it's a nice experience.

I got to take my dog group. Nothing fancy, but super cool.

Number two. Uh, number two. I recently went to for the first time Carbone.

Oh, I haven't been.

Yeah.

Worth the hype.

Um, or

the original on the beach?

On the beach.

Yes.

Uh, worth the hype. Yes. The food is great. Um, took us a long long time to get seated. Yeah.

So, took forever,

but it was a Friday night. Yeah.

So, that's cool.

They take reservations there or no?

Yes.

Okay. We got a reservation.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And then uh first man, I'm a I'm a little old guy, man.

Wait, wait. What did you like about Carbone? Any particular dish?

Um that that spicy is incredible. It's great. Yeah. Um they have a really good um lasagna as well.

Okay, good.

Super good. Um their steak was, you know, worth.

How How is the vibe?

Vibe is cool.

Uh past 10 o'clock, you get the the old school R&B. Oh, nice vibe.

Oh, so they're playing music.

Yes, they're playing. It's Miami, you know, so it works, you know. Um, so it was cool. Uh, it's cool vibe. I was there with I hate the name drop, but Nori.

Oh, no.

You know, uh, so Nori was there.

Um, and first, man, I'm I'm after

M dot number one.

After after experiencing this with my guys.

Oh, we already know where this is going.

We We can't beat it, man. This was And and I will probably never

I almost died that night, but it's okay. No, you literally almost died. You literally almost died. Uh,

we'll leave that for another story.

No, no. I'm going to edit the the picture of it into

Oh my gosh. Let it be incredible.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We got it. We got it. Don't worry. You guys don't know what happened. Long story short, you know, and we're having it.

Go, go, go. You can spill the beans.

Okay. I was leading up to Yeah. Let me Let me not bury the lead first. Um, what I was saying is that I'll probably never eat at this spot again without it having it be the full experience. No, I love the spot. Don't get me wrong. I'm a humble kid. I'll go there and eat, but just like having that full experience, that chef's table.

Yep.

Changed my life.

Unmatched. It's unmatched.

Literally changed my life. So, our guys over at Shadow

Shadow Guru, Al is amazing what he does. It feels like

team Dave and Al, they're all on their whole staff. They're so friendly. welcoming. I think I think that's an experience like no other here in Miami. Chef Table, there's nothing like the like the chef's table or at least with that high quality and relaxed atmosphere back there. So, I mean,

private, super nice.

And for people that don't know what chef's table is, like you're literally in the kitchen watching them prepare what you're about to eat, which is like super cool. because you have this whole intimate experience, you know, and you're and and they're and they're coming out and they're explaining the different type of meats and they're explaining how how long it's been aged and so on and so forth. That's just a whole I've never experienced anything like that in my life. And that was like life-changing,

bro. You know, I can tell you that I mean everything is phenomenal, but something that really stood out to me was which is might be silly, the ice cream.

Oh yeah,

that ice cream, man. I

They partnered up with uh Sweet Sweet Licks. Sweet licks.

That's the Wagu, right? The wagu fat. But I don't know. I don't know what they do to that thing.

They freeze it.

They I know they free about and they send it over to them.

Phenomenal, man.

It's fantastic.

Phenomenal. Phenomenal. I was really, really, really impressed. I mean, we've gone a couple times, you know, thanks to Juice. He's invited us.

Yes.

Um,

and it's never, you know, it's it's always the experience you expect it to be. Yeah.

And I think the crowd that you take is important. It's very intimate, you know.

So, you need to have guys who are fun and relaxed and just hanging out, you know? So,

and we had a great group and we had it was way too much food for us and we're like we're like grown men.

Yeah. We we we've been there a few times and I don't think there's been one time that we've been able to finish food undefeated.

Yeah. So, no, it's just you can't but that that that's the testament to them because they make sure that everyone's being fed the right and this is high quality food, you know. It's not like anything you know anybody else is getting. You got to go there with Jono.

We will we will he'll I think he'll be able to crush that.

He actually he doesn't need that much clean.

He's very clean, too. No,

I I think that's a good person to have to to try to tackle that down.

Tackle that. And I think we got to add a six person. How many you got six people?

Five is good. Five is good.

Yeah. Five. Five is five is perfect. You got a three, four, five. You know,

five is definitely good.

Damn. So that's your first That's your number one. That's my number one. Solid number one. I think after that experience um and I'm not just saying that because you know we have a relationship with him. I think that was a pretty cool experience man like and and and Juice knows this like leading up to it man I was excited man we kept talking about it I felt like a kid.

No Juice does a good job of making it feel like like an adventure like the leading up putting everything together. He meticulously selects the people and stuff like he said hey I got the date you know

and we're all in the group chat like hey did you eat? Did you eat? No I just had coffee. No, I just had

Yeah. Making sure everyone's fasty.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

No, no. It's phenomenal experience. That phenomenal phenomenal phenomen.

We've done it every year. I mean, we've done it. Yeah, we did it every year.

We'll do it We'll do it again this year.

Yeah. That'll be nice, man. That'll be nice.

We went for for your birthday.

Yeah. We shared our producers birthday Justin double birthday, man.

Yeah. That was a great great great experience, man. And uh there's something about you

and similar to Juice as well, too.

You're always smiling. Yeah.

Always smiling. I never see you down. I never see you. You're a person that you can tell that looks at the cup half full. You don't pout. You don't complain, bro. You're here. You put your head down. You get to work. You're very professional. And all my my interactions with you. Um all your pictures on social media, you're smiling. You have this big, beautiful smile. Thank you. I I think um for me, no matter what I'm going through, I'm not going to show you. for the most part, like I'm human, so I I deal with things uh personally, but um I look at the other side of it and I'm so tremendously blessed that I'm able to do what I'm able to do, um provide for my family, uh inspire others that I'm always happy. Like I I I tell people all the time, I got this from the late Craig Sager, like I have a get to job. Like I get to do this.

Yeah.

Like I don't have to. Most people have a like I have to do this. I have a get to job. So,

uh, me being able to do what I do, I honestly another I love that saying. I've never heard that saying before. That's a amazing thing. Oh, it's incredible.

You're allowed to do this.

Yeah. Like, this is what I get to do. Like, I don't have to do it. Like, there there are people that wake up and they have their nine. Not that there's anything wrong with the 9 to5, but that's what they have to do. Like, we get to do what we're doing.

I get to do seven to seven

and have a good time. Right.

So, and and funny story, um I remember being with uh Jamie and I remember him asking me one time and I said this before. He's like, "Dog, why you always smiling, bro?" And Jamie asking Jamie Fox and I'm like, "B I'm I'm happy." Like, he thought that, you know, something was going on, but why

Miami guys always on drugs or something?

Like, why these guys always smiling? Like, cuz I'm like I'm literally I'm living a dream and and folding around you.

Yeah. And it's just the aura around me and I'm just like I'm happy, man. So every every opportunity I get to to to to inspire or every opportunity I get to talk or or play music or whatever it is, I'm I'm always going to be grateful and I'm always going to smile. So you'll see a lot of pictures like I just took a picture last night at the Heat game that they caught that I didn't even know that I was doing, but you know, I'll show you later. Like I'm just I I just said something. I maybe got the crowd hype and I was just like like smiling like yeah like this is cool.

You have a great smile too. Um do you have the category for you know maybe some type of dentist or something to partner up with you?

I don't but I'm definitely uh will definitely uh be looking for

entertain it.

I think I think that fits you perfectly. You're always smiling. You have great teeth.

Yeah, I I think uh yeah again I'm I'm forever smiling. Um I'm a happy person. So that would be

that's another one that you're

up my alley.

Call my number for that one. Okay.

20%.

N I don't ask for 20%. Just do a good job. Yeah.

No. Come on now. I represent Heyday Marketing, baby. Bro,

you're the man, bro. Pleasure.

Appreciate you guys. All right, guys.