Tied to the surprise release of MMM, Hip-Hop’s Man of Many Names has also surprise-released a companion, behind-the-scenes piece. The 14-minute gift plays like a celebrity game of I Spy, intercut with making-of vignettes and no dearth of motivation straight from the music mogul’s mouth. (The latter of which might make you feel lazy, but can also be used as a how-to guide for becoming more productive.)
Watch Armani Ortiz’s whole mini-doc above, and revisit some of the rapper’s most classically inspirational moments, time-stamped below, to get a peek into the mindset that led to MMM:
- “Y’all gonna have to have goals, man. I’m trying to be great — you’re moving like average human beings. I didn’t come here to just fucking die. I came here to live, man. Change the world and be great. I need more, more, more, more, more — I need more than anybody […] I want to be the best, you guys don’t want to be the best, man. You’re being average. You think you’re doing something that nobody’s doing? Real talk.†[0:05]
- “I’m not the guy like Kanye West … what you see is what you get. I just like to dance in my living room.†[1:31]
- Quick set of Diddy-ups because you can never forget about fitness. [2:38]
- “I’ve come here. God sent me here to show you that we can get it. I said we.†[4:18]
- Making air piano look easy. [5:24]
- His extended, well-received impression of Lonnie from I Love You, Man. [6:02]
- “You know, you can’t count me out. I. Am. Like. A. Ghost. You know already! You know it was almost time!†[7:55]
- “What’s my saying? Stay close to the money, right? … Where the fucking billionaires at? … If you ain’t inspired by that — that’s what I do. Where are the motherfuckers that got the most money and are doing the most shit to change the world? Put me close to the money. I want it all.†[8:55]
- “Ain’t nobody wanna clap with me? Ain’t nobody got no hands?†[9:51]
- The walk. [11:26]
- Everything in the last two minutes, but especially the discussion of hats and: “Only the song survives, son. Even when I’m gone … my song’s gonna be here. Only the song survives — believe that, Jack. That’s why I only make smashes.†[13:33]
- Also, his shirt at the very end, which is its own work of art. [14:04]
You can listen to the results of the sessions and stream MMM in full, here. Then, once you’ve been thoroughly inspired, go out and conquer like Diddy.