Ishdarr: Early Fame, Touring, Starring with Matthew McConaughey and What’s Next

SPEAKER_01

0:00

Police was just petty that day. It was morning. Everybody get out. What y'all doing? You know, we're gonna search the van, everything. They search it. Yep, we get we gotta take you all in. And I'm like, no, I gotta show. Like in like five hours, I can't go. They like, get in the car, like you're gone.

SPEAKER_02

0:17

Do you have a couple hours stint? Couple hours. Make it to the stage. Make it to the state.

SPEAKER_01

0:21

And then you get a roll with Matthew McConaughey. Get off stage, Matthew McConaughey. I said, bro, you can't make this thing up.

SPEAKER_02

0:28

I just heard you guys did 20 bottles in one knife. How many people were you feeding? The club. Everybody. The club.

SPEAKER_01

0:36

You get one. You get one. Lynn. Brother. Let's have fun.

SPEAKER_02

0:42

Hey guys, welcome back to Milwaukee Uncut. What an amazing episode today. Love Tavin, a Milwaukee legend, entertainer, rapper, actor, Ishtar was on this one and he did not disappoint. We go over growing up on the north side of Milwaukee, the most trouble he got in growing up, his European tour at age 20. Good stories on that one. Really taking off with his hits locals in Too Bad, getting arrested in Dallas, and getting cast in White Boy Rick alongside Matthew McConaughey and what that was like, his favorite spots in Milwaukee, what's next for Ishtar, and more. Before diving in, I want to thank our partners for making Milwaukee Uncut possible. We'll kick it off with Nicola, the Midwest law firm injured. Get Nicolay and Russell, and the team will take great care of you. Also, have some great videos with Russell coming up on our social channel, so stay tuned for those big fans of that guy. Also, Drink Wisconsin Bleed Beverage Company, best vodka brandy and canned cocktails in the game. Ishtar and I were really enjoying one of their canned old fashions on this episode, one of my favorite drinks out there. They've also got some really good vodka canned cocktails that are perfect for summer. That is Drink Wisconsin Bleed Beverage Company. And last but not least, our friends over at Annex Wealth Management. If you are looking to get your finances together and maybe not below it on 20 bottles, that lucid light lounge like Ishtar did about a decade ago. And you have goals that deal with your money, your earnings, and your investments. Go talk to the experts at Annex. They have an amazing team ready to listen and help you with your personal goals. Annex Wealth Management, know the difference. That's annexwealth.com. All right, let's dive in with Ishtar. We've got a Milwaukee legend, Mesmer High School grad played Freaky Steve in the movie, White Boy Rick, which starred Matthew McConaughey. He's had hits including Too Bad in Locals, over 45 million streams. He's performed at South by Southwest. Open for Jason DeRulo on the main stage at Summerfest. Just to name a few. Yes, sir. All right now we got Ishtar in the building.

SPEAKER_01

3:12

All right, guys. What's going on? Thank you for the intro, brother. Yes. What's going on, gang? It's good to meet you in person. Thanks for coming down. Yes, sir, bro. You too, man. I heard a lot of good things. And so, Liam, I was like, man, it's time. Let me go. So, but yes, new project out now. There is no tomorrow. Go get that. Um, it's one of my favorites right now to date. Uh it's only seven songs, but seven of my most personal, I feel like. Um some of my babies. So definitely go get that if y'all get a chance. Good going back, um, you born in Milwaukee? Born and raised in Milwaukee, yes, sir. Um whole life, like I said, uh right here, you know, it's my my baby.

SPEAKER_02

3:59

Yeah, what uh what area was it like growing up in Milwaukee?

SPEAKER_01

4:02

So growing up in Milwaukee, um, it was uh, you know, it was something. Like I said, I from every city, I mean from every side of the city. Um I went to high school, well, let's say my first school, uh, what was that, Claire Mohammed? So that was in um that's in the trenches. I just don't like MLK. So uh started right there, kind of when we moved, you know, got uh over there. Um from there I went to Mesmer, so that's like seventh and capital. That kind of gave me a you know, kind of better sense of the city. Um like I said, it was, you know, so north side, like I said, north side. Um from there, like I said, I'm still just downtown. Like just stay, you know, pretty every side.

SPEAKER_02

4:48

So um growing up it seemed like your dad had uh had a pretty big influence on you just doing my research.

SPEAKER_01

4:55

Yes, so Pops had a big influence racine. Shout out 262 in the building. Um he's a racine native, so I spent a lot of time in racine as well. Um so I always shout out 262. Um that's kind of like my heart as well. Um taught me a lot, you know. Kind of I taught them, you know, where I kind of brought them a lot of my 414 energy down there. And so it was cool. It was cool kind of seeing both sides of uh racine and then Milwaukee as well.

SPEAKER_02

5:30

Um it seemed like you played sports a lot growing up too, and he put he pushed you or not.

SPEAKER_01

5:36

Yes, football was my baby. Um, I was running back. That was my coach. Uh that was kind of just like Your Dad was your coach. Pops was my coach. Was he a hard ass? So what was he like? He was nah, he wasn't a hard ass, but he was. So like was it was he a player's coach except for you? Was he like You feel him? So like it'll be you know subtle stuff. Like I think, okay, we all good, you know, Pops, you know, I forget to do something at home. I get to practice the next day. You know, we doing, we run into the hill, we doing, I'm like, man, Pops, like to the hill, son, to the hill. And I'm just like, all right, and that's you know, the far hill we had to run to, and that was kind of like not punishment, but just kind of like, hey, get to the hill, we see you when you get back. And so um, he wasn't a hard ass. Um, you know, he definitely just kept me, kept me going, kept me motivated.

SPEAKER_02

6:36

Um, do you have any siblings? Was your mom in the picture?

SPEAKER_01

6:39

Yeah, so mom's was in the picture. She was uh, you know, mom's was football coach mom. Shout out to her, making sure I got to practice every day. Um, because we were, I think we were, yeah, we were coming from Milwaukee down to racine probably like every day on some shit.

SPEAKER_02

6:55

Um So you was your dad in Racine and she was in Milwaukee? Yeah. Okay, got it. So you were kind of in a single single mom household on the on the north side growing up.

SPEAKER_01

7:03

There we go. North side, just mom, just us. Um, you know, Pops was you know, Pops was always in the picture, but he was yeah, racing, doing his thing. And so we would just, you know, some summers with shout out to them summers, you know, and racing. We would get to go with him for like the whole summer. And so um give mom a break. Give moms a break. Like moms, we about to go wild out for a little bit. And so, um, but yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

7:32

What was the toughest thing about growing up on the north side of Milwaukee?

SPEAKER_01

7:35

The toughest thing for me, um, not crazy. Like, it was just knowing, I guess, where you at. Um, you know, we would go to a lot of parties, you you know, you can't predict what would happen. And so it's just staying frosty, I would say. You were put you were partying a lot. I was partying a lot. What what age did you start partying on the north side of Milwaukee? I started partying on the north side of Milwaukee. Mom sent me at the crib like you know, 15, 16.

SPEAKER_02

8:06

Okay, so like sophomore if you're a high school. Oh, with with Wave. Did Wave rope you into this?

SPEAKER_01

8:11

Wave with no, no, let me let me tell y'all about that now.

SPEAKER_02

8:15

We don't want to throw the guy under the bus. We don't have to, but I'm happy to do so if he deserves it.

SPEAKER_01

8:19

There we go. Now, no, wave didn't rope me in. Wave, they would actually, because again, they were two years older, so they would go out. I would have to stay at home. Yeah, I was little, bro, so you know, still in. And so they'd be like, look, bro, it's the grown folks night, you know, you stay at home. So I'd be like that. It's the 17-year-old grown folks night with Wave Chappelle. What a time to be alive, bro. Come on, man. So I would just be like, all right, well, I'm gonna see if I got some friends. And so luckily, um, like I said, moms let me out with the homies, and we'd just go ride around, hit about two, three house parties, get some dance stone, like, you know, it was young.

SPEAKER_02

9:01

What was the what was the most trouble you got in growing up? You guys ever get busted or not really? Yeah, like what?

SPEAKER_01

9:09

Um, I don't think we ever got. Now let's see, a couple cops shut down some parties. Um, I always will get away. I don't know how. Like I said, you're right. You were a running back. I was a running back. Come on, man. So it's be fast. I wouldn't, I wouldn't know. I wouldn't know. Bro, we see 12, we're gone. And so we're gone. Like we hear, you know, light shots, anything to where it's, you know, it's time to evacuate. Hey, bro, it's time to go. So nothing too crazy. Like I said, luckily, um, yeah, just a minor stuff.

SPEAKER_02

9:45

So you're at you're at Mesmer, and then uh you're you're into music in high school. Yes. And shit shit pops off relevant pretty early for you.

SPEAKER_01

9:57

Early, early. So um, shout out to Mesmer, because that was actually, you know, the first time I had access to the studio, recording my own music. And so um, that was pretty cool. Just those resources stay open. From then, I feel like that allowed me to just, like you said, kind of start puzzling early, kind of take it early, take it serious. Every day after school, you know, we stand at Mesmer until five, six o'clock, you know, as long as you know, G Flat, shout out G Flat, as long as he let us stay in the studio. We're staying. And so, you know, the repetition just kind of who is it?

SPEAKER_02

10:36

Was it you and Wave and those those guys?

SPEAKER_01

10:38

Yep, so it was me, Wave, my brother in Buddha Dar. Um, we had another one, uh Denzel. It was it was a bunch of us. Safe line, it was a couple of us.

SPEAKER_02

10:51

There was some talent coming out of Mesmer.

SPEAKER_01

10:53

Yes, Mesmer, you know, again, shout out Mesmer, man. It's, you know, I I appreciate it a lot more. You know, back then it's like, you know, you had the uniform school, like it's not public, but kind of now I just kind of see it, you know, it helped me in a bit.

SPEAKER_02

11:10

You had to wear a uniform.

SPEAKER_01

11:11

I had to wear a uniform, bro.

SPEAKER_02

11:12

You could you couldn't dress like this in the mess.

SPEAKER_01

11:14

That wouldn't have cut it. I couldn't get fresh, bro. No, but we would get we was getting fresh with the with the uniform. Yeah. We get the skinny, skinny khakis, you know, with the come on, fresh all white, skinny khakis. I had it depressed. Is that in all boys' school? No, no, no. Okay, okay. Yeah, nah. Thank God. Nah, I can't do that. No, hell no.

SPEAKER_02

11:39

Okay, so what was um what was the first moment or the first thing that you put out? Was it senior year of high school? Was it or was it shortly after that or before that?

SPEAKER_01

11:50

It might have been that senior year, and that was the Better Life EP. Um, I think it was probably yeah, like my senior year. Um, and that was again just six songs I recorded right in the crib, you know, at my mom's house. Um, and that was the first project. Yeah, Better Life EP, my baby.

SPEAKER_02

12:10

And that got a that got a good response, right?

SPEAKER_01

12:12

Yes. Um initially that got a great response. Uh the city loved it. Um we got some cool write-ups right away from it.

SPEAKER_02

12:21

Was it was too bad or locals on that?

SPEAKER_01

12:23

Not on that one. Oh, really? That was pre-that. Okay, that was pre-that. So that was they lost me. Um, so that was kind of one of the standouts there was they lost me. It was kind of like my first, you know, my first anything, I guess, was from that EP. That went on to do his thing, stream excellent for me. Um, and so uh, but no, no too bad or anything on that one.

SPEAKER_02

12:46

That was, you know, I was in that and that got that got a good response. Well, what was that like for you? Were you were you like, oh, this this is easy?

SPEAKER_01

12:54

It was kinda, yeah. Not e yeah, I guess, because it was kind of like eye-opening. Like, um, bam, like we made this in the house, you know, dropped it. You know, the blogs are writing about it. Like, let's keep going. I love let's keep going. Like, easy. And then too bad on locals were the was the next year? That was the next year. So freshman year comes. I'm in college. Where were you at in school? I went to UWM. Okay. Yep. So one semester, I don't even remember what major I was going for at that time either. I just had to go because I graduated. So I'm like, all right. But then uh I think I did like one semester there. I might have dropped it. I might have dropped it. I gotta see. We gotta I gotta check to see how I actually went. But um, I all I remember is I did one semester. Call my mom's and told her, you know, I need to take a break. I failed everything.

SPEAKER_02

13:51

How did that how did that go over with your mom and the football coach?

SPEAKER_01

13:55

So mom's and football coach, dad, right. Uh, you know, at first it was um I kind of I feel like they were hard on me at first because they didn't understand. But at the same time, I was showing them kind of, you know, I missed it. You had some traction. Yeah. Were you making money at that point? I was making money being booked. It was, you know, kind of the start. But were you making a decent amount of money at that point? Or I was making livable money. Enough, you know, not no, I wouldn't say livable, enough to, you know, risk it. I I guess, you know, enough to be like, shit, let's try it. If I could do this, you know, let's try doing, you know, undivided attention, 20, and then my manager, you know, he was like, shit, if I got to go, I think like shit, the next month we was in Europe, every show paid, like, yeah, it was fire. It was fire. I was like, bro, what the f you you were you were booked out in Europe. Booked out in Europe. At age 19. At age 19. Two weeks in Europe, didn't know, you know, again, this was um, bro, like, how?

SPEAKER_02

15:02

And it was, you know, really what was that experience like?

SPEAKER_01

15:06

That was um I'm guessing you'd never been out of the country at that point. I'd never thought of going out of the country.

SPEAKER_02

15:13

You know, like yeah, kid from north side of Milwaukee, all of a sudden you're 19 and getting booked in Europe.

SPEAKER_01

15:19

What is this? Like, I'm looking like, bro, where am I going? Like, and so that was just kind of one of those this is real moments. Like, okay, um, ish, you know, we got some offers from you here, here, here. And I'm like, again, let me see where is this? And so, again, just new cultures, new experiences. Um, I learned a lot, like I said, over there. I got to bring Pops with me, football coach.

SPEAKER_02

15:43

So oh, nice. Was he kind of supervising the situation a little bit?

SPEAKER_01

15:47

Tour manager of the year, like I said, shout out pops, made sure I got to man, we was on trains, we was on all type of shit. We had to wake up for, and he was on my ass. Now, like you said, football coach, chill. Tour manager, son, the I'm damn Pops.

SPEAKER_02

16:04

I'm sleepy. Yeah. Well, he probably he probably realized the opportunity you had. Literally. That's when I yeah.

SPEAKER_01

16:12

Were you partying over there, or was it it was I the last day, missed my flight home.

SPEAKER_02

16:19

Let's just say that. Did Pops make the flight and you weren't on it, or was did you both miss it?

SPEAKER_01

16:23

We all missed it, and I got a three-hour leap. Oh no. And me and uh my man, we out partying, and man, all I remember is Did you remember what city that was in? I remember where I went that night. I just remember we did the show, and it was like, yeah, we got an after spot, boom, boom, come to this club. I'm like, all right, and Pop's like, you know, it's your last night, we gotta be at the airport. Like, I got you, Pops. I'll be right back.

SPEAKER_02

16:52

Those clubs go late there too.

SPEAKER_01

16:54

Again, I don't know. I don't remember getting into the hotel, nothing. I just remember waking up the next morning, Pop's yelling at me, knocking on my door. And I'm like, damn. And we missed the flight, but we got back, you know. At the bottom, I think.

SPEAKER_02

17:12

And then you then you made it back and you you dropped some hits that next year.

SPEAKER_01

17:17

Kept it going, you know, got back. That inspired me. Um again to go, I think Broken Hearts and Bank Rose right after that. But uh again, locals, mucho mango, kind of some of my um, some of my were you were you on a label at any for any of this? For any of that, no, just independent. Independent, uh-huh. Um had some distribution, but no label, no, no, no masters, none of that.

SPEAKER_02

17:48

Were you making good money at that point?

SPEAKER_01

17:50

Yes. Yes, you know, and that's when I knew it was real.

SPEAKER_02

17:55

So you're you're 20.

SPEAKER_01

17:56

20.

SPEAKER_02

17:57

How how how much m money ballpark are you making at that point from that stuff?

SPEAKER_01

18:02

From that stuff, you know, I think once I know it was real, when I seen my first check for like 10. Yeah. 10, like off of um like 10 or 15.

SPEAKER_02

18:14

I'm like, damn, this is where's it is that is that coming from bookings or streaming or was it? Streaming, and that was just from streaming.

SPEAKER_01

18:21

Oh, not bookings. No bookings, no shows. That was one streaming check. And I'm like, goodness.

SPEAKER_02

18:27

SoundCloud money?

SPEAKER_01

18:28

It's Spotify. Spotify. Spotify, Apple Music. Shout out to the, you know, I love them to this day. But yeah, Spotify, Apple Music. SoundCloud, I don't think, was even even they weren't okay. Yeah, not yet. They weren't monetizing. Were you were you were you good with them with your m the money that was coming in? I was good with it. I saved it. My mom made me. Shout out to mom, she made me, you know.

SPEAKER_02

18:53

Did you make did you make at least one stupid purchase?

SPEAKER_01

18:57

Oh, I made a hundred stupid purchases. What topped the list? No, um, but nothing too crazy. No, I can I always live, you know, I've lived living below my means. I get just what I want. Um, but nothing crazy. Like I said, I I can say no stupid purchases. I just used to just buy a lot of just clothes and accessories and everything, and then I would, you know, lose it the next day, and I'm like, damn, like from a good night, because I didn't bought too many bottles. I'm like, yo, this is too big. Like, bro, it didn't stop. And so I just felt like, man, it's just dumb purchases.

SPEAKER_02

19:40

Did they did they kind of get you to make an appearance at the club and give you a couple bottles and then you just kept buying? Was it one of those situations?

SPEAKER_01

19:47

No, see, they were stingy, bro. They didn't get no, bro. A lot of places. I'm just a couple did show love. Shout out, you know, Lucid here in the city. They all show me love. Lucid light lounge? Lucid Light Lounge. R.I.P. Lucid. I miss it. You've been to Lucid. I miss Lucid. That was our favorite.

SPEAKER_02

20:03

Um shout out to Chris Stegman, Lucid Light Lounge Lounge legend right there. And Omar. I think Omar was running the place. Omar was running it.

SPEAKER_01

20:12

Omar was running the place. Yes, sir. So yeah, those was lucid days.

SPEAKER_02

20:17

You a 720 guy?

SPEAKER_01

20:19

Um, nah. No, lucid. I just went to 720. Like I'm just getting back into 720, but um, I really it was lucid. They took the cake.

SPEAKER_02

20:29

Um what was it like having having all the all that come at you at once at that age?

SPEAKER_01

20:37

Man, it was you know, it was I guess it was uh it was a lot. I guess it was you kind of just live in it. So it's kind of like time is fast. It's uh you know, it's a lot going on, but it's fun. So it's like you're having so much freaking fun. Um but at the same time it's work too. So again, that's a lot, you know, some things I learned over the time was you know, as much fun as you having, make sure you're taking the time to treat it as you know your job now because it is.

SPEAKER_02

21:08

Then not white white boy Rick.

SPEAKER_01

21:10

Oh man.

SPEAKER_02

21:11

It it didn't seem like you had any experience acting at all. None. Like you're on you're you're I mean, you're on the cover of the movie with Matthew McConaughey.

SPEAKER_01

21:21

With Matthew, shout out to the guys uh again. You know, that was the man above just working, you know, again, I feel like how did that even happen? So that happened again, I feel like through the music. Um, it was just through our music email. Hey, this is you know what we're doing. We would love to see Ishri for a role. And I was like, Okay, random. I'll try it.

SPEAKER_02

21:44

Do they just like your look?

SPEAKER_01

21:46

Basically, maybe that. And I feel like again, it was buzzing. Like I had the movie was shot in in Cleveland or it was, you know, based. So I don't know if they did like some regional research or something. But I don't know how it, you know, ended up. Shout out to my agent too at that time. Um, and so they didn't think I would be interested in it. They were like, you know, we're just seeing if you might. I was like, oh yeah, let's try it. Next thing I know, no.

SPEAKER_02

22:17

Did you did the part come right after the read, or did it take a little while?

SPEAKER_01

22:21

So the part probably came a year after the read. Like six months. A year. Like six months. So it was a while. Because I remember I did. You probably forgot it, but forgot you did it basically. I didn't forget, but I just thought I didn't get it. Like they moved on, like, you know, it's good. And so um, I was actually on a tour at that time. Um, and I forget which tour we might have been on tour with Thay. And um, we were in Dallas, we were in Texas, horrible day, like I said. That was one of the worst days, but the best days at the end. Got pulled over, went to jail, all type of shit. On tour in Texas. Bogus. What did you go to jail for, ish? Bro, exactly, man. Now let's tell, bro. We were entering in Texas. I got my my driver, my shooter is driving. West. Shout out West. You know, we just driving. I guess he's speeding. Yep. We get pulled over. Everybody get out the van. You know, dickheads. I'm like, bruh, can I curse on here? Yeah. Okay, there you go. So police were just petty that day. It was morning. Everybody get out. What y'all doing? You know, we're gonna search the van, everything. They search it, they find not even enough weed to make a damn paper. Like, it was like some bro, smithereens that I forgot it was even in my pocket. What's the bro? You can't even make a blunt with this. Like, you see what this is. And so I had one. I think Buddha might have had a little bit in his book bag. Mind you, we're passing a lot of legal states, so it's just one of the things. Yeah. Got him. And so, yeah, we get we gotta take you all in. And I'm like, no, I gotta show like in like five hours. I can't go. They like get in the car, like you're gone. I was like, well, damn, let's go. Shit. And so what was that exp? How long were you in there for? So I was only in there in a couple for a couple hours. Uh thank, thank God. Got the bomb.

SPEAKER_02

24:23

Is that the only time you've been behind bars before?

SPEAKER_01

24:26

Nah, man, we ain't gonna get into that. Not the only, but yeah, you know, a couple times with petty stuff like that. Um, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

24:37

So you have a couple hours stint. Couple hours stint. Make it to the stage. Make it to the state.

SPEAKER_01

24:42

And then you get a roll with Matthew McConaughey. Get off stage, Matthew McConaughey. I said, bro, you can't make this day up. I remember this. What a day. Yeah. And so then that was another, like, okay.

SPEAKER_02

24:54

What's what's better, the Dallas jail or the Milwaukee jail? Assuming that was the other place you'd better.

SPEAKER_01

25:01

Milwaukee jail, because that was the other place. And I'm gonna say the Milwaukee one because hey, shout out to the guards. They be showing love to ones who know me if they did. So I got cheating, you know, they be like, hey. Oh man.

SPEAKER_02

25:15

So man, okay. So you so you get the role. I mean, what where was that shot and what was that project like?

SPEAKER_01

25:21

So that was shot in Cleveland. Um, that was in Cleveland, Ohio. Six weeks out there. Um, yeah, I think I was out there for about six or eight weeks, about eight weeks in Cleveland. Um that experience was crazy. Still my my favorite experience, I would say, of my whole career. Like music, and that I was like the cherry on top for me.

SPEAKER_02

25:44

Um what's it what's that? Are you shooting like I hear those shoot days are wild? Like 12, are they 12-hour days? Is it what people say it is?

SPEAKER_01

25:52

Yeah, nah, they they would get wild. Like you would be, you know, some days two hours, some days you would be shooting until three, four in the morning. Everybody's sleepy, and you just, you know, but it was I feel like my set was was cool. I had a lot of friends on there. Um, I got to meet some really cool people there. Uh, shout out RJ Kyler that I'm still cool with today. Um, Jonathan Majors, freaking uh Kwan, uh Swank, like a lot of cool people in in there that I, you know, got to connect with.

SPEAKER_02

26:24

And so did you guys go to Vegas for the Vegas scene?

SPEAKER_01

26:28

Then we went to Vegas, man. Shout out Vegas, the golden nugget. That is where we stayed. Yes, that was the final trip. Um, that was after we shot. I think we shot, rapped. They sent us home. It was like, you know, we got to shoot one more scene in Vegas, be ready. And it was funny because not everybody was going to Vegas, and so we were just shooting the whole time, like, you know, are you going to Vegas? You know. Like, we don't know yet. Were some people pissed they didn't they didn't get? Hell yeah. Like, shit, man. And so we got to go to Vegas for another two weeks, you know, about a week or two, and live it up again.

SPEAKER_02

27:06

What was it like working with Matthew McConaughey? He's he's crazy. It seems. He's a goat, you know. Like, he's a legend. He's wild. Hey guys, just wanted to take a sec to remind you that summer is pretty much here. Time to get outside and enjoy the weather, and maybe take a hard look at your financial life too. Led by our guy, who you've probably seen on some of our videos, the iconic Dave Spano, Annex Wealth Management are the ones to call. Annex is a holistic wealth management firm right here in Milwaukee that helps you with everything from retirement planning, smart investing, estate planning, legacy planning, and tax strategies all under one roof. They'll help you declutter your old accounts, dust off your investment strategy, organize your estate documents, and build a plan focused on your goals. That's our good friends at AnnexWealth Management, annexwealth.com. Annex know the difference. Let's get back with Ishtar.

SPEAKER_01

28:07

A lot of times I feel like I was on set with Matthew, you know, and he would he would like really be in character, but you would think, you know, he's just talking and he's, you know, rehearsing his lines. Um, but he was just really down to earth, but he was, you know, also took his job. Like, you know, I'm on set. And um, but as far as just like us and his castmates goes, open arms, call me his nephew, you know, like that was Unk. Um you know, he was, you know, I get my makeup done in the trailer, he was right next to me, you know. And so what else?

SPEAKER_02

28:40

Any stories with him stand out?

SPEAKER_01

28:42

Stories with Steve, um, or with um Matthew was the again, it was a uh it was a movie scene in there. Uh I remember that we were shooting. It's not a personal experience, but it's just a you know, like a film experience. And you know, again, Matthew was, you know, it's Matthew, so we we would see him, but that was the most time that I feel like we were, you know, we just chilling, like not doing anything. And so Matthew came by us, you know, he gets to talking about, you know, just the environment, kind of the movie store, all this shit. And you know, I'm again thinking he's you know talking to me, and I'm talking back to him and like, yeah. And it's you know, these are his lines in his movie. I'm like, oh my gosh, you are like I'm like, bro, and whole time he's lit, and you know, again, I'm in, you know, I'm thinking we having a conversation. So that just showed.

SPEAKER_02

29:37

So you're thinking you're talking to him as a friend if he's just in character rehearsing his line.

SPEAKER_01

29:42

Like, and then he said, Oh, yeah, no, Steve, I'm and I'm like, how? Like, how, Matthew, how? And he's like, you know, time.

SPEAKER_02

29:49

That's why he's he's at the top of the game. Yeah. He's just in in that mode the entire time. Any any good stories from the the Vegas trip with the crew?

SPEAKER_01

29:58

A lot of fun stories. Um, I'm trying to think, Vegas. So we did uh, like I said, I remember we stayed at the gold nugget. I got to go with my best homies there, RJ and Quan. We caught ourselves just the we were the boys, we was in the the group. Um, we was in Richie's group, so we were like his closest friends. Um just some of the favorite stories was kind of I'm gonna say the casino. Um, now that was fire. And then also like our walk into the casino scene was like we all had on the uh the first, you know, the chains, like we walking into the fight, um YG, what I'm saying. It was it was lit. It was lit. And again, we just partying in Vegas, but we shooting, you know, and so it was again, you know, yeah, it's moving quick.

SPEAKER_02

30:46

Yeah, and then um I guess after after that, did you want to pursue acting more?

SPEAKER_01

30:54

Or did you Yes, that was um for me it was kind of like the the opener, and from there, that was it. Went to get an agent, uh, manager. We got some more things in the works now, so um, I definitely pursued it more. It's just a slower game, um, kind of longer, but definitely want to pursue it more and um people will be seeing me.

SPEAKER_02

31:19

And then the time the time between then and now, you've put out more music. Are you is that is that the main the main focus?

SPEAKER_01

31:28

Yes, so the main focus again, um keep the music dropping, keep the fans they're listening. I have to, you know, and so I feel like I was kind of um ignoring it uh for a while, just living, you know, artists take a time to live, and so I took a couple years off and you know, just didn't drop anything, and the fans did not like that, and so I was like, oh, you know, I didn't know. And so now it's like keep the music dropping, man. And you'll be you'll be touring this summer? We'll be touring this summer. We got the tour dates dropping next month. Storn in Milwaukee. So we got some exclusive.

SPEAKER_02

32:10

Can you tease anything? Any any anything you're most excited about? Are you at you're at are you at Summerfest? Can I tease? Tease uh tease a little bit of the hop, the hop experience and uh we can tease break. The hop experience? So yes. Wait, are you playing on the hop? I'm playing, uh not. Okay, because we did have a hop till you drop idea. Turn the hop into a nightclub so people actually go on it, hop till you drop. Put me first. Yeah, I mean we would love to do something. Okay, so City of Milwaukee, Ishtar is committing to Hoph Till You Drop. Hop till you drop. And that's again, we're just No, we had uh we had uh uh Mayor Tommy on. We did you know six initiatives to get the city popping and hop till you drop.

SPEAKER_01

32:54

There we go. I love that. That's what I'm saying. New shit, bro. We want new vibes, new new experiences.

SPEAKER_02

33:02

Okay, so you won't be playing on on the hop.

SPEAKER_01

33:05

Won't be playing on the hop yet until you make that happen.

SPEAKER_02

33:09

Until we drop.

SPEAKER_01

33:10

We're gonna do the wicked hop, is what the hop we were talking about. And that's right out front of the hop, too.

SPEAKER_02

33:17

So we'll send a message to them. You'll send a message to them, not me. No one wants to hear that.

SPEAKER_01

33:23

There we go. So, yes, um, that's one I guess I could tease. We're about to do a wicked hop takeover, just some intimate again. In the uh Jack Lobe, is it the Jack Lobe Lounge connected to it, I believe. There we go. Yeah, good people over there. They're like, you know, you can do what you want. And so that's it. We're gonna do a nice curated event. That's gonna be probably something more, you know, intimate again, because it's you know, but I'm happy, excited for that. Like I said, it's new experiences, new stages, um, and then some other stuff, like I said. Yeah. People stay tuned.

SPEAKER_02

33:57

Stay tuned for that. Stay tuned for that. Um how how how have you evolved and what what have you learned most over the last decade or so since since you got in really in the game?

SPEAKER_01

34:10

Uh I learned, I feel like as far as evolved, um, I had a time. I had time to just kind of think about everything. Um as far as uh now, I feel like I'm a lot more uh sort of, you know, back then I said I was young, wow, kind of just everywhere, you know, party guy. No, I'm more reserved, chill. Um, I kind of know what I want to do, how I want to do it. And um so I feel like as far as evolving, just a little more calm, I guess. Still, you know, I still get crazy, you know. But I tried to just, you know. Pick your spots. Pick my spots. Pick your spots. Like, you know, you can't you can't do that forever, man. So that's uh that's one thing I would say.

SPEAKER_02

34:58

Before we get into some Milwaukee questions, what um what would you say your favorite moment has been in your career so far? You've you've had some amazing ones.

SPEAKER_01

35:09

Not my favorite. Uh like I said, white boy riks, it's like that was probably my favorite experience of now we're talking everything. Everything. Everything.

SPEAKER_02

35:24

I mean, you could do one white boy rick, one one music. Yeah, one music other than missing your flight in Europe.

SPEAKER_01

35:30

Other than missing my flight in Europe. Um, the cherry on top. Oh, that's a hard one for like music. Um I don't know, man.

SPEAKER_02

35:45

Was there was there a certain moment where you were like, holy shit, I can't believe this is happening to me?

SPEAKER_01

35:51

Yeah, like in a good way. Yes, yes. Um, as far as musically, I guess we can start with the shows, you know, from um say my first time at Summerfest seeing kind of that response. Uh again, like I said, I'm I'm just making music just on the.

SPEAKER_02

36:11

I mean, you had thousands of people like chanting your name, right?

SPEAKER_01

36:15

You know, about 10,000. You know, and at that time it's like, bro, like how? Like, I don't, you know, and so that was probably my topic, you know, as far as music was that Summerfest headline spot. One of the, I know when at that time when the first headline at stage, like 10 p.m. It was crazy. And you know, still I think we should definitely shot a video, Sanity. Uh, we got the clips in there, and so that was, you know, like yo, we can it's no stopping now.

SPEAKER_02

36:49

Like, any any favorite music videos that you've shot or that that you're one that stands out to you that's your favorite?

SPEAKER_01

36:55

One of my favorite is actually the song you said, Locals. Uh-huh. It's one of my favorite videos. Um, and that's just again, just I guess because of the time period. Um you know, I was with the guys, you know, just regular shit, you know, still just trying to see what was to it, you know, what was to the music thing. Uh kind of trying to create you know, opportunities and shit. So that was cool though. Like I said, we shot that at home, at Mom's Crib, um Legendary Garage. I still got a lot of the uh we spray painted my name on there, that's still in there. Like, so that was one.

SPEAKER_02

37:36

Any anything Big E would have done differently looking back?

SPEAKER_01

37:42

I would have dropped more music. That's it.

SPEAKER_02

37:44

Yeah. Yeah, I would have dropped more music. Went a little harder when things were.

SPEAKER_01

37:49

Like instead of stopping, I I should have, you know.

SPEAKER_02

37:52

That's fair. Do you think you just needed time to de to decompress from everything that happened, which was a which was a whirlwind of a few several years for you?

SPEAKER_01

38:00

That that was it. Um, that was exactly it. It was like, you know, all of this happened, bro. I just want, and this happened, you know, in three to five years, you know, I might take three to five years to just think and you know, chill, live, see my sister, see my brother, you know, pops, moms, and you know gang members.

SPEAKER_02

38:21

Yeah. All right. Um, if someone's coming to Milwaukee for 24 hours, where are you taking them?

SPEAKER_01

38:28

Oh man. So if they're coming for 24 hours now, they don't have to be, you know. Uh we would do a little bit. We'll wake up, take them to breakfast. Um I don't know where I would take them, but we would go to the breakfast spot. Maybe uh make sure we edit this out. There you go. You know, the sweet diner. Um get something. Uh from there we go back to the crib. Like I said, I do some work, um, take a couple calls. Um might have a Twitch session, like I said, for a couple hours. I like to be on my Twitch every day. Um do that for a little bit in the daytime. Like I said, it's chill, smoke a little bit. Nighttime, depending on the day. Um, of course we're gonna hit the bars.

SPEAKER_02

39:18

Um What what bars are you going to in Milwaukee on a night on a night out?

SPEAKER_01

39:23

On a night out.

SPEAKER_02

39:24

You're going on a little bit of if you're going on a little bit of a bender in Milwaukee. Where are you going? On a bender, now one spot I love is gonna be the trade. Um now. You're going upstairs, downstairs, second floor, where are you going? Rooftop. Rooftop.

SPEAKER_01

39:38

We're going right to the rooftop at the El Cervo, right? El Cervo. El servo. There we go. I love just the view. You know, we got the the outside patio. When it, you know. So we'll be there all night. And then um, it is some A-Bars, but I don't really do A-Bars too much. I like to take it home at two. Um, but if we had to.

SPEAKER_02

39:59

Okay, what do you like better? El Servo or Lucid Light Lounge? If Lucid was still around.

SPEAKER_01

40:06

We're going to Lucid Light Lounge and we're getting a section and we're buying bottles. Great answer, Ishgar. We Lucy, come on, come back, please. Open the night. Chris Stegman, open it back up. Open it back.

SPEAKER_02

40:19

Open it back up. We're waiting. Any any uh any other favorite spots around the city, favorite businesses? Any any businesses on the north side people should check out?

SPEAKER_01

40:29

Yeah, so I was gonna say, um, well, it's still downtown, but uh elevate, as far as clubs, I was gonna say like Elevate Truth Lounge, those two spots. I like, you know, get good love there. Um the north. Um any any what restaurants do you like going to? Now, 1700 pull-up. Shout out to 1700 pull up. If you want some good soul food, fire eats, catfish, things like that, that's gonna be my favorite over there. Um but I eat every, you know, everything here besides that. Uh is that your favorite restaurant in Milwaukee? Yeah. My favorite in Milwaukee. No, that's I can't even. I don't think I might go Oakland just because, you know, memorabilia. Oakland Euros? Oakland Euros. On Oakland, not the airport one. On Oakland. Gotta differentiate. I like it. So that'll probably be my favorite go-to. You got you got like two more? I do have two more. Um, we're gonna do uh let's see, like some fire wings. I know you said like Stinny's.

SPEAKER_02

41:39

Um Stinny's right over there. Right around.

SPEAKER_01

41:44

They got some fire wings. Uh there was one more. I freak. ODBs. Now, classy dive. That's a slept-on one. ODBs. ODBs is the name of it. It's new. Now it's a new spot in. I don't even know, right? It's near the brewer's and like uh that's the name, ODBs. ODB's Classy Dive. Yeah, ODBs.

SPEAKER_02

42:11

It's a newer You got some gems over there.

SPEAKER_01

42:13

Yeah. They got a beef brisket nacho. It changed your life.

SPEAKER_02

42:18

I was gonna ask you your your favorite thing about Milwaukee and why you live here, but I I just heard you guys did 20 bottles in one night at Lucid Light Lounge.

SPEAKER_01

42:25

Well, can't I come on, man? Like 20 bottles in one night. It's like, bro, it's got to the point, like I said, one night, bro. How many people were you feeding? 20 bottles ish. The club. Everybody clubs. Everybody, you we open you get one, you get one, brother. We let's have fun. Cause, man, it's free. You know, it ain't free.

SPEAKER_02

42:51

I'm guessing the ladies loved it. You know, I I'm cu I'm curious to hear. I'm curious to hear um loved it. The strategy. Did you ever go to Mikey's back in the day? Where was that at? Cathedral Square, not far from Lucia, just on Cathedral Square, right by Elsa's.

SPEAKER_01

43:07

Jefferson Street. Was it what was it after Mikey's? Or was it?

SPEAKER_02

43:11

Oh man, they might have done some like country or barbecue place after Mikey's. But anyway, um, they had bomb night on Wednesdays, and my friend the wolf, he would just go up to the bar and buy like 50 bombs, and he would just walk around the girls hand in hand in the bombs like he was a fucking waiter. But if the wolf was the wolf of Milwaukee was just playing the numbers game, and that's it. You know, you know. He wanted to make sure everyone was having a good time. That's it. We gonna party.

SPEAKER_01

43:41

If we was there, everyone's partying, bro.

SPEAKER_02

43:44

Like I said, loose lucid light lounge and Mikeys need to need to read. Gotta bring that back. Bring them back. Gotta bring them back. Um, are you still partying? You're you're you're 30 now. Are you 30 or 29? 29. Do you do you have hangovers yet or no?

SPEAKER_01

44:02

I don't have hangovers. Thank God.

SPEAKER_02

44:05

Congratulations. Thank God. They might get you someday.

SPEAKER_01

44:10

There soon. You know, I know they're, you know, a month away, it seems like. Keep taking advantage of your youth over there. I'm trying. Like I said, no hangovers. I definitely slowed down a lot more.

SPEAKER_02

44:22

And any anyway, Ish, what um why do you choose to live in Milwaukee? What's your favorite thing about the city?

SPEAKER_01

44:27

Man, um shoot, the love, to be honest. Like shit. Uh, you know, I've lived a couple other places too. Um, moved to Atlanta for a little bit, moved to Canada and shit. You moved to Canada. I moved to freaking Canada, bro. For about six months.

SPEAKER_02

44:47

Really? Yeah. Soul searching or exploring, exploring. Going out in nature, exploring.

SPEAKER_01

44:52

All the above? All the above. What part of Canada? I was in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Far code as shit. Where is where's Winnipeg again? I don't fucking know. You lived there. Exactly. It's in can it's in look at I don't have my phone.

SPEAKER_02

45:09

Is that West Coast or is it central?

SPEAKER_01

45:12

I don't freaking. Somewhere over there.

SPEAKER_02

45:16

Why did you move to Winnipeg? I moved to Winnipeg.

SPEAKER_01

45:18

I've heard Toronto is pretty glamorous. You know, I went to Toronto too, five, you know, a couple years later, but I moved right. Where is that?

SPEAKER_02

45:29

Oh Jesus. Did you drive? Did you just did you just drive north for the night and end up in Winnipeg? No, we're not. Were you chasing a girl to Winnipeg?

SPEAKER_01

45:37

No, bro. No, gang. I promise my producer was out there, Cannon's Major, the one I just dropped the album with. That's where he's from. That was hometown. And so I'm like, what? Like, he's like, you know, yeah, I'm from here. I got a house. Like, you're good. Just come. And so.

SPEAKER_02

45:55

Can you give me your phone? I don't have mine on it.

SPEAKER_01

45:57

Yeah. Next thing I know, six months in Canada. Six months.

SPEAKER_02

46:03

Oh wow. Just north of just north of Minnesota. Did you ever pass through Grand Marae, Minnesota? Probably not. Not that I'm not. That's just fucking gorgeous. Right on. That's on the lake still. What was the what was the loot? Did they have a lucid light lounge equivalent in Winnipeg? Any good no. Any talent there?

SPEAKER_01

46:25

Actually, no. No, let me not know. They had one spot. What was it called? Cain's gonna be mad. They had one spot that we would go to every night. It was like the spot. It wasn't a lucid light lounge. It was good though. It was good though. Well, popping was you know, some shirties. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02

46:43

You're the only black guy in Winnipeg.

SPEAKER_01

46:45

I was the only American black guy I felt. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_02

46:50

Well, you might have been one of the only American guys, period. In Buddha.

SPEAKER_01

46:53

In Buddha. Buddha came with Buddha. Oh, Buddha came with you.

SPEAKER_02

46:57

The whole crew just took over Winnipeg for a year.

SPEAKER_01

46:59

Bro, for six, bro, we were causing havoc. After part of my career. What? It was like that in uh Winnipeg for like six months. I mean, the the shortys in Winnipeg had to love you guys. Well, I don't know why. I wasn't, what? No action. But bro, he was going crazy. Like Buddha every night.

SPEAKER_02

47:22

You were striking out in Winnipeg and Buddha was just wanted there. He was like SimGod out there. I gotta tell you about SimGod sometime. He's one man wrecking crew, but okay. Yes, sir. All right. So you so you stay in Milwaukee because of the love and because it's better than Winnipeg, Canada.

SPEAKER_01

47:40

It's better than Winnipeg, Canada. Like get from everywhere, one side of the city to the other in 20 minutes. I love that. You know, that's it for me.

SPEAKER_02

47:50

Oh man. Well, thank you so much for coming in today. It was great meeting you. That was that was a lot of fun and like um excited, excited for the tour this summer. You getting back out there.

SPEAKER_01

48:01

Absolutely, man. Thank you, Richie, for having me. Like I said, tour dates dropping soon. New music, a lot of fun stuff.

SPEAKER_02

48:08

So absolutely. Stay tuned for those dates and bring back Lucid Light Lounge.

SPEAKER_01

48:14

ASAP.

SPEAKER_02

48:17

Hey everyone, thanks so much for listening. And a big thank you to Ishtar for coming on before signing off. Just want to thank our partners who make Milwaukee Uncle possible. Nikola, Drink Wisconsin Bleed Beverage Company, and Annex Wealth Management, Annex Wealth. Know the difference.