This week on the Truth Hurts podcast, Jeff Weiss & Mz.Free travel to the Bay for an interview with local rap supergroup 1Umbrella.

In lineage to The Click and The Pack, 1Umbrella is an organic combination of five of the Bay’s most original rappers—ALLBLACK, 22nd Jim, Lil Bean, Lil Yee and Zaybang—into a group that exemplifies the unique creative spirit and independent hustle of their homebase. Their genuine friendship and individual rap skills translate into an authentic sound forged from the region’s hyphy history, but unified in a goal to change the Bay’s narrative.

1Umbrella breaks down how the Bay has changed since they grew up, how hyphy was dangerous, why almost everyone who’s anyone got their sauce from the Bay, and how the tech industry took over but gang culture never did. They also talk about their love for LA artists like Drakeo the Ruler and Desto Dubb, get into conspiracy theories about aliens and underwater civilizations, and explain why there is never any need for any gimmicks.

From “Lonely” to “Locked Up” and beyond, Akon has provided a consistent soundtrack of hit songs throughout his 30+ year career. The Senegalese-American singer (“not a rapper,” in his words, though he writes raps for others) grew up in New Jersey & honed his musical craft through exposure to artists like his percussionist father and the Fugees.Akon explains how the loneliness of jail helped him write his first hit songs and tells the story of Lil’ Zane discovering him and leading to him signing a record deal in 1995. He breaks down his A&R approach, including lessons he learned from Steve Rifkind and why he knew Lady Gaga would be a star from the moment he first worked with her.Akon’s new album, Beautiful Day, is out now.Make sure you hit that like and subscribe button and leave a comment letting us know what you thought about the show!Email thetruthhurts@powmag.net for sponsorship opportunities. The Truth Hurts is hosted by Jeff Weiss, Rosecrans Vic, & FreeFollow The Truth Hurts on all PlatformsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetruthhurtspodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truthhurtspodcastTwitter: https://x.com/Truth_Hurts_PodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BjMCTIiweZdCyT3DyseJtApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-hurts-w-jeff-weiss-rosecrans-vic-and-free/id1813226752

Gashi joins Jeff Weiss and Free at Gold Diggers in LA on The Truth Hurts Podcast to talk about his new independent album The Killah Whales of Gotham. Born in Libya & raised in an Albanian-American family in Brooklyn, Gashi was a garbage man before he started making music. He breaks down his story of how he ended up signing with Roc Nation, making a country album before Post Malone, and finding success as an independent artist.

He also touches on nostalgia, loving the 80s, copying Drakeo’s voice tone on a song, blocking people, hating Sea World, going through Hell, being passionate and sensitive, his parents kicking him out when he told them he wanted pursue art, being homeless, meeting Kanye at age 13, trying to sign Chappell Roan, doing a song with Sting, and much more. Plus, he explains why he’s the Albanian Bad Bunny.