- 2 days ago
Joey Bada$$ sits down with U.S. Men’s National Team defender Miles Robinson for Billboard’s World Cup cover to talk about the the intersection of music and sports, handling pressure on the world stage, and what the World Cup means ahead of the tournament in the U.S. The two reflect on their respective journeys to success, discipline in the studio and on the field, staying grounded through success, and using their platforms to inspire the next generation.
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MusicTranscript
00:00We was in the same place 12 years ago and then now we're here and it is even an
00:05incredible testament to his journey because it's like he was just in the
00:09crowd and now he's a World Cup athlete.
00:22Well guys thanks for joining us for Billboard's World Cup cover.
00:26Congratulations Miles for making the national team.
00:28I appreciate it, I appreciate it.
00:30What does that mean for you?
00:32Nah it's obviously massive you know I've been you know waiting my whole life almost
00:35for this moment I've been training hard every day so to be you know here and it's actually
00:40about to happen I'm really excited.
00:42What are some of your earliest memories of music being a part of of your life?
00:46Man I want to say as long as I can remember music has just been part of the rhythm of
00:53my life you
00:54know I remember being like two three years old and getting excited when Biggie came on TV.
01:01Biggie biggie biggie can't you see sometimes your words just hypnotize me.
01:05Certain songs just activated me like as a child I just felt it.
01:09Yeah I mean for me always I was you know an athlete so
01:13um always kind of getting in that mode you put your headphones on you listen to the music that you
01:18like
01:18to listen to that'll really get you focused in that like zone you know because you obviously
01:22want to play at your best especially at this level you want to you know be very you know
01:27intentional with what you're listening to pre-game and so music has always been in my life growing
01:33up it was all throughout my house listening to all different types of music whether it be like
01:37jazz or reggae that was all just ingrained in my life growing up.
01:41And what about some of your earliest memories of sports being important?
01:45Same thing just like music you know like there was a rhythm to sports as well like seeing the way
01:52um like all the people in my family would gravitate to it or just when I got a ball in
01:57my hand for
01:58the first time like how I felt how it how it sounded. I remember when LeBron first came to the
02:05league
02:05and uh getting his buying his sneakers I remember um like I was probably like what seven eight years
02:13old at the time but I remember putting them on in my house and just running through the house through
02:18my small little apartment just feeling like man I could be like LeBron like thinking like the movie
02:23like Mike like I got the LeBrons on that I could get the power and everything so yeah sports always
02:29just been connected to my life in that way a spiritual way.
02:32Yeah yeah definitely same with me I was always like an athletic kid I was always
02:36running around outside um you know being from Boston we had all our teams winning championships
02:41so we were at parades every year you know we were celebrating their success like it was ours you
02:45know what I'm saying we had the Celtics Red Sox you know um Patriots of course so they were winning
02:51yeah so they were winning exactly so I used to love watching those games being a part of the parade
02:57celebrating their success like it was mine and you know recognizing what it took to you know win.
03:01And how do you guys feel that sports and music fit together?
03:04It's a through line it's rhythm sports yeah it's like an art type yeah yeah it's a rhythmic thing
03:12and then there's an artistic thing as well you know I mean but more so there's a rhythm and a
03:18beat to
03:18sports and I think that's where that's why it's always so easy to put music on top of sports montages
03:25because you see that excitement almost like how you feel the excitement in a song you know that's
03:31right yeah it's like fluid it's like natural it's like when you're in that zone you have that rhythm
03:35like you're saying is your peaks and valleys to it like there's tension and yeah exactly exactly you
03:41can kind of almost like feel the the music of the game itself like you can watch a game and
03:45almost like
03:46create like a symphony for that specific game based on like the tensions and the ebbs and flows of the
03:51game
03:56As an artist and an actor and as an athlete I mean what do you guys admire about the other?
04:01He's good in front of a camera for sure you know what I've always admired about athletes is that with
04:08their craft I feel like they can continuously work at it like daily to be better and I think with
04:16Minecraft there's a level of that as well but like I was telling Miles when we were in the studio
04:22I think with creativity there's a part of it that can't be for lack of a better word forced in
04:29the
04:29same way we could wake up at 5am every day and make sure we're on this turf yeah and it's
04:34like
04:34our legs is getting stronger our senses are staying sharp but I think when you write in music there's a
04:41level of it where a part of the process is stepping away from it and going and absorbing life you
04:48know
04:48what I'm saying and like coming back to it and allowing for things to flow I always wish I could
04:53operate
04:54on a music level like an athlete like get a 5am but it just the reality of it is just
05:00you know it
05:01just don't work like that for sure for sure no I mean I think when I look at you guys
05:05like as artists
05:06you guys just kind of you take in the world and you kind of like display it in a different
05:10type of
05:11lens that I wish I had almost you know I think like being an elite artist like yourself it's like
05:16you can take in different situations and create something from it whereas like I can interpret the
05:21situation I know how it makes me feel but it's at this point I can't really create something from
05:26that you know and that's what I admire from the artists because they they kind of see the world
05:32they're living in they see you know it in a specific type of lens or many different types of lenses
05:37and they're able to create something that not only like makes it clear for me like I was like oh
05:42I
05:42listen to it like a Joey track oh I feel the exact same way but I never thought of it
05:46like that you
05:46know and that's the stuff that like excites me because I'm like oh my god that bar was almost
05:51meant for me you know because I feel the exact same way you know what I'm saying
05:56you guys were talking earlier about process and how important the process behind the scenes is for
06:01for what each of you guys do how have you kind of developed your own processes through the years
06:07and how has that kind of made you better at what it is that you do um yeah it's just
06:11that kind of
06:11consistency that dedication it's like every day you know it's like chopped wood carry water every day
06:17you're grinding exactly great book for sure every day you're grinding to get better just like that
06:23one percent you know that like small sliver that might you know be the difference in you know five
06:28years from now you know and it's that type of dedication because every day is not easy that's for
06:33sure you know but it's just that constant like me versus me type of mentality that is something that
06:39I like kind of strive for and like I strive to be better every day you know it's that type
06:43of thought
06:43process I think my process creatively more so revolves around just not forcing it like if it
06:52I feel like if it's not coming naturally then it's just like step away you know I mean and wait
06:58for
06:59the gates to be opened again like I I look at it a lot where sometimes it's like a stream
07:06of
07:06consciousness and it's divine and sometimes it takes you to be in a certain place
07:12at a certain moment or to hear a certain conversation or have been a part of a conversation
07:17or meet a certain person where those gates open up and it's like oh it's like receiving
07:23perception clarity you know so I think for for me my process is just more so like
07:30understanding when that happens when those gates are open and making the time to
07:36allow that flow to come through because it's like if I'm if let's say it opens right now by the
07:43time I get home in an hour it's like damn I'm locked out of Narnia again
07:54you guys both became successful at very young ages um how did you kind of deal with that
08:00I was a little bit older to be fair and I think it's different being an artist versus an athlete
08:06one thing I think I kind of like miss or I wish I was sometimes an artist is because I
08:11think they can
08:11kind of enjoy themselves in the spotlight differently than athletes I think athletes are held on like
08:17such a high pedestal especially considering how the world is you know it seems like sometimes
08:22athletes are put on a higher pedestal than politicians you know based on how we're treated and how we're
08:28viewed you know so it's very interesting for me personally to like kind of manage who I am and who
08:34I want to be to like the public persona you guys have more of like a collective responsibility you
08:40know what I mean you're playing for Cincinnati or now you're playing for USA exactly so it's like
08:46what you say is like a representation of the country yeah you know what I mean it's like if
08:52what you're saying don't align with the people in the country's views they want to attack you exactly
08:56whereas as artists we get to have more of an individual perspective like that's his thoughts
09:03it doesn't align with the country sentiment or whatever that's what he thinks so that makes sense
09:09I feel that and it's like I couldn't even imagine you know how that would feel to feel like constricted
09:17in that type of way because my whole lane is about expressing myself being as authentic as possible
09:25that's why I think like a lot of sports athletes you know they love artists because they're feel like
09:30how they view the world you speak for y'all exactly straight up like straight up I'll be feeling it
09:35like
09:35Joey's bars like so much you know and I've been a fan for a long time so like even just
09:40having this
09:41conversation is pretty dope but like some of the bars itself like hit like I feel that way that same
09:46way and it's like that's why we always like I think fuck with each other sorry how did you first
09:51get
09:51into Joey's music uh I'm not sure I think one of my like homies he put me on like a
09:56music video
09:56is like survival tactics music video like this is a long time ago but it's dope it's really dope for
10:03real
10:07you both have gone around the world doing what you love I mean what is what has that meant for
10:12you
10:12guys to be able to take this thing that you are great at and then bring it all around the
10:18world man
10:19it's a great honor honestly you know is we were we were having a moment um early on the field
10:26where
10:26it's like I imagine for him what I feel being able to hit stages all around the world and hear
10:34those
10:34crowds recite the things that I came up with is like the greatest feeling in the whole thing and we
10:42we compared that to like what it feels for him to like score the game-winning goal you know what
10:47I
10:48mean and have the crowd go crazy you know so like that feeling in itself is just so blissful and
10:54it
10:54just makes the whole journey worth it like I'd imagine that moment makes him feel like every
11:00practice every you know what I'm saying like moment of locking in was just like this is what it's for
11:06and I feel the same thing when um you know I'm on that stage and I hear people or even
11:10have these type
11:11of moments you know what I mean like this is a crazy full circle moment like we was in the
11:15same place
11:1612 years ago yeah and then now we're here and it is even an incredible testament to his journey
11:21because it's like he was just in the crowd and now he's a world cup athlete you know what I
11:27mean
11:28it's crazy that's wow bro that's exactly it like I've been grinding like my whole life honestly for
11:33like these next few weeks so it's pretty like surreal to say the least you know congratulations bro
11:39congratulations and as the stages have gotten bigger for you guys both over your careers I mean how have you
11:45been able to deal with deal with some of the pressure that comes with that or you know still
11:51find ways to enjoy it too um yeah I mean for me personally I just kind of try to stay
11:56focused in
11:56on the moment you know I've been always continuing to try to grow in that aspect whether it be like
12:00meditation or through all different types of ways to really train my mind how to focus you know how to
12:07you know be my best self in this exact moment you know and try to push out outside noise whether
12:11it's
12:12criticism or anything like that um that's kind of what I try to do it's like through meditation it's
12:16through you know being better at focusing in every moment yeah yeah I I agree with that right there you
12:25know finding your center and um staying grounded is definitely important because all of the outside
12:32noise just increases and it could change your perspective and all of those type of things you
12:38know I'm saying so I think it's definitely important to have those methods in which you can return the
12:45center and stay humble and and purposeful you know knowing that you're doing this for a bigger reason
12:52than like any type of individual game
13:03whoa hell yeah bro hell yeah that's what's up bro I see you I see you that's what's up
13:09when you're playing uh soccer earlier there's a big competitive streak for both of you guys it seems like
13:15how do you kind of use that to kind of get better at your own craft uh yeah I mean
13:22I think the
13:23competition that competitive aspect every day is something that you can use to fuel you you know to
13:27like fuel ourselves whether it be you know on the field or in the studio or is that type of
13:32competitive
13:32edge it's like competition you know iron sharpens iron that type of thing you know like you want to be
13:39around great athletes you want to be around probably great musicians you know to try to learn from what
13:44they do you know you always want to continue to grow and learn it reminds me of the quote uh
13:50you
13:51are a sum of the five people you spend your time with the most you know I mean so I
13:56feel like even
13:56when you're stepping in a new arena the person who you're standing next to in that arena ultimately
14:03like kind of informs your idea of how you show up for yourself you know what I mean so it's
14:10like
14:11being here today like I can't tell you the last time I've been on the soccer field for real yeah
14:15you know but being here today with Miles it made me feel like oh shit like I could do this
14:21you know
14:21what I'm saying like it's possible and I feel like he got the same thing when we was in the
14:25studio
14:25like oh shit like it's probably like for real like you know what I mean yeah definitely yeah it was
14:30a
14:31fun time for sure yeah it's like oh okay like yeah there's a thing here I need some more practice
14:35probably same bro same no same get into it you know get a rhythm yeah you start to feel a
14:41little
14:41bit comfortable and I think it's a matter of like possibility but that level or that bar is set by
14:48what
14:48you're exposed to going in to flow and then you'd have to learn the celly what's the celly what would
14:56you do oh the celebration yeah after a goal yeah I don't know I'll probably hit it with it hey
15:03do you remember the first song that you ever wrote the first rap that I ever had was written for
15:08me
15:08by my older cousin when I was like six years old and it's this funny story because I remember when
15:14I
15:14told my mom that I had wanted to rap she was like all right we'll rap go ahead and I
15:19rapped it for
15:20her and I'm saying things like yeah my name is Lil J and I got the nine you know what
15:25I mean and my
15:26mom she listened to me the whole time and when I was done she looked at me she was like
15:30do you know
15:31what a nine is and I was like no and she was like listen if you want to rap you
15:37can rap but just make
15:39sure you rap about things you know yeah and that was like great advice yeah you know what I'm saying
15:44like that was like I was like oh okay it just makes your art form like more real yeah exactly
15:50and then
15:50that's just the path that I started following I was like all right yeah like let me never let somebody
15:55write my shit for me because you got me talking about shit I don't know about you know what I
16:00mean
16:00that's dope so yeah and do you remember your first like competitive match and like did that kind of
16:06open up this store of like this is what I want to do uh I mean I don't remember so
16:11to speak but
16:12like I know my sister was playing before me she was three years older than me so I was kind
16:15of
16:15like watching on the sideline like wanting to get out there for myself you know and like the youngest
16:20team was probably like four years old so then once I was four like old enough I was like so
16:24excited
16:25to play you know say let's go exactly but that's when most people are just playing with the butterflies
16:29you know and I'm dialed in focused on the ball trying to score and stuff but no it was always
16:33a
16:34good time playing when I was young so from those kind of first moments for you guys um what does
16:39it mean to be able to then express yourself to people all around the world and on the world stage
16:45you know I mean it means everything this is our dream for real you know like we're living out
16:51our dream in the highest form it's it's surreal moment after surreal moment sometimes that
16:59eventually it just becomes so real you know it's here right just part of your reality at that point
17:06and but it still means everything like I still get nervous before getting on the stage still to this
17:14day I don't know if you feel like that before every game I still get nervous yeah you know that's
17:18how you
17:18know you care almost and I feel like it's a good nervous yeah it's definitely a good thing yeah more
17:24excitement than nervousness for real yeah it's definitely about like approaching every day with
17:28like gratitude you know like I'm definitely grateful for every experience that I've been in and to and
17:33what's yet to come type of thing even as you guys are you know performing around the world or playing
17:38at the world cup you guys are also involved with charitable stuff at home what does that mean to you
17:44guys to be able to kind of give back to the communities that you came from yeah I mean I
17:49think that's
17:49where it like kind of really drives me at the end of the day because at like some point you'll
17:54recognize
17:54like it's not really about all this money all this is about you know how much change you can make
17:59you
17:59know the difference you make stuff like that but I've kind of grown into recognizing that but it's kind
18:05of also about like putting smiles on other you know kids faces and maybe like putting them on to some
18:10type of like wisdom or knowledge that I have but that I'm continuing to grow you know I want knowledge
18:15just
18:15the same as these kids you know so I'm looking for it at all times but definitely to try to
18:20give back
18:21is something that I'm definitely trying to do more often and you know try to inspire and create you
18:26know positive change I think you know one of the greatest human acts is to inspire like I think all
18:33of
18:33us are probably standing here as a result of someone else who was doing the thing before us who inspired
18:41us
18:42in some type of way so I think that is important to keep that chain of inspiration going you know
18:48for
18:48the next generations and also to understand like like this is not just an individual win you know
18:56like yeah this is my journey this is miles journey but we are affecting the lives and journeys of so
19:02many other people by just being us God is in the neighborhood you know I mean like like like with
19:09everybody's lives that we're in we're almost like the representation that God is close you know
19:13I'm saying God is like nearby like you know stay ready so you ain't got to get ready because you
19:18never know when he gonna pull up on you yeah yeah yeah that's what's up yeah how have you guys
19:22kind of
19:23pushed through challenges or setbacks in your careers too yeah I think it's just about you know staying
19:28present staying in a moment recognizing that you can always look into the future and being like what if
19:33what if but like you know injuries happen you have to continue to bounce back you got to continue to
19:38you
19:38know focusing on the recovery process and aspects like that but I think it's just part of life at
19:43the end of the day and I think that's really when you learn the most about yourself is through those
19:48tough you know moments in your life is how you bounce back is how you approach every negative situation
19:53is how you really empower yourself like authentically what doesn't care you make you stronger you know
20:01what I'm saying like adversity can be a great thing to happen to an individual as long as that
20:08individual doesn't allow it to break them you know but once you build that resilience it's just like
20:15on the other side of that 9.9 times out of 10 like you're even stronger person
20:28world cup coming to the united states mexico and canada what does this world cup mean for you
20:35uh it's definitely like special because it's in the u.s as well you know that kind of adds a
20:40whole
20:40different like element to it as well um but i think it like adds a perspective for like the average
20:45american that maybe doesn't look or watch that soccer games that often you know and it allows
20:52them to become a fan or recognize that like all these fan bases across the world are so passionate
20:57and this is you know the most watched sport out of like all of them in the u.s or
21:01in the in the world
21:03happening in the u.s you know it just adds an opportunity for the world to kind of come together
21:08and for the u.s to come together and recognize like we're all you know more alike than unlike or
21:13like
21:13we all love this sport um so we should you know love each other that type of like mentality i
21:19think
21:19is you know powerful that's why sports are in general are powerful as well what excites you the
21:24most about this world cup coming out to miles's point like the fact that is for me it's like so
21:30close to home yeah like and now that i'm clicked up with miles i'm gonna go i'm gonna be in
21:35there you
21:35know i mean it's gonna be my first world cup i'm about to drop you up on the field hey
21:39come on bro don't gas
21:41me up bro because i'll come down there and race you down there i'll be ready then i'll be juiced
21:48up
21:48i'll definitely be ready backwards and you mentioned about how just like this being in the united states
21:55and you know soccer not necessarily being the biggest of the major sports here but how do you
22:01continue seeing soccer grow in the united states yeah i think it's um it's just one of those sports
22:06that so many different cultures play and it's their favorite sport so it's like
22:10the u.s is a melting pot you know at the end of the day they got so many different
22:14cultures even
22:14here in new york city you got almost every culture here so it's like every culture is you know understands
22:20the beauty of soccer in itself so it's kind of about recognizing that you know we all love this game
22:25let's come together and watch the world cup and be you know unified in this celebration of this game
22:31you know and lastly what do sports and music mean to you now it's it's an art form it's a
22:38it's a it's
22:41it's a form of expression it's the way that we get a lot of our expression out a lot of
22:48our frustration
22:49now you know and um that's the way we show our gifts to the world you know it's a uh
22:55it's a doorway
22:58or it's the conduit of how we get those gifts to the world yeah exactly yeah exactly that all right
23:05guys well i really appreciate you taking the time i know it's been a long day but uh yeah we
23:09made it
23:10you know what i'm saying six hours on the studio you know what i'm saying soccer busted out some
23:15push-ups right bro we made it yeah i'm gonna need a sour though for the world cup for the
23:30world cup
23:30you
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