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Episode 7: Breakdown

Published Jun 17, 2021, 4:01 AM

Ruben and Marco are beefing over the Viral Villa trip and Janelle is trying to negotiate a truce, but the biggest surprise in Ruben’s social life comes when his mother finally confronts him about his erratic behavior and lays down some truths of her own.

Featuring Def Jam artist Bino Rideaux & his new song "Got To Know It."  [Stream|Download]

Executive Producer: Asante Blackk

Producer: Daniella Perkins

Starring: Asante Blackk and Daniella Perkins

Co-Starring: Bobby Cius, Rayme Cornell, Christopher V. Edwards and Taylor Bettinson

Written by: Taylor Bettinson and Nakia Hill

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M I snapped away in the morning with my phone alarm going off ship I fell asleep with it in my hand and I was almost side of battery. It's gonna die at school today. That is, if I lived long enough to see school today. I have to go downstairs and face my parents. Have to running away for the weekend. My survival is questionable. Sleep on my meds was like a thick blanket of forgetting about all this. But it's all coming flooding back. When I went to bed, Marco had just started beating with me on social media over my biling on the crew to take the trip. How do I respond? I opened my social apps and noticed something I didn't think about. Another wave of new followers. The weekended viral villa is over, and I've absorbed a lot of the followers I'm gonna get from the kids I met there, but I'm still getting growth from where from Marco the b for bringing me fresh followers too. That's what's weird about the whole viral sensation life. I'm realizing drama turns people into Internet celebrities. The fight breaking out between me and Marco after I'm all over the viral villas feeds all weekend. It's infectious. For a second, I even think that playing this feud out over social media might please Mark Off, help us gain more cloud. We would gain new followers, and we can smooth things over in public. It's great for our brand. So why do I feel so shitty? How quick look at my comments reminds me why Marco's fans had started a petition to cancel me. Some of these clouds are calling me a trader, like they aren't following influencers and wishing they could live that influence of life themselves. It pisces me off because they just don't know the whole story. There were so many questions in the common tasking me how I could do my boy like that. The question this valid. I did come Marka out of the weekend at the villa for my own game. Damn, I am reckless. I shut my phone away just as it dies. I'll deal with this stuff later, still in a half awake blur, I get ready for school and eventually face the moment of truth. I head downstairs to meet my parents in the kitchen. What I walk into isn't what I'm expecting. I come in with a solemn face, which plays right, but I'm still not getting read the Riot Act the way I thought i'd get last night. Instead, Mom and Dad are very quiet. Dad's holding Mom's hand. She's holding the letter I left in my bedroom, explaining to them what I've done. I sit silently and Mom readsed the letter. Dear Mom and Dad, I know you don't understand how crucial this moment is for me, and I don't want to break your trust. But I can't let this window of opportunity unity slipped by me again, gone to viral villa. I'll be back Monday. Sorry in advance, holding the paper she finished, Sorry, and fucking advance. Finally, here it comes to Riot Act. The mood in the room turns on a dot. Is My parents start rightfully while not do you understand what a fundamental breach of trust this is? This is some bullshit. Ruben is so unlike you, Ruben. It is concerned what kind of place is this that would even have you there for the weekend without clearing it with your mother and father or your legal guardians for that not even a consent for him insight. I looked at your posts. Were you drinking and doing drugs? The funk are you trying to tell us, Ruben all right? Isn't your new school? You miss your old friends. You have never behaved like this before. We didn't crazy to be like this enough enough. I'm sorry that I scared you like that and lied to you when I left that morning. But you have to look at it from my side. I had just come clean to you about the podcast project and how great it's going, and still you're punishing me like I'm a little kid. You know, all all of this anxiety ship Maybe some of that comes from your helicopter parenting. I had to take a stand for what I want to do with my life, not just follow your orders on a damn time. And how was your anxiety on that plane when you were sneaking off to Kelly Reuben? How has your anxiety been My mom is furious that was a low blow, but my dad asking how I've been feeling to flate some of the tension in the room. I have to be truthful now. I've been good, great, even when I'm working on the podcast, and that includes while I was away. It's come back strong now that I'm back, and Marcus mad at me. My anxiety is all over the place. Marcus mad at you. Yeah, he wanted to go in my place since you wouldn't let me. Um hm, since I went anyway. He feels screwed over. I know I'm gonna be grounded, but I like to have him over to squash our beef. If you're okay with it, we'll talk about it. But your damn right. You're grounded indefinitely, and I no complaining. Take the punishment like a soldier this time. And don't you even for a minute. I think we are done talking about this. Just because you're being punished, You're getting off easy. This was completely beyond the pale. I understand, and we'll discuss this during dinner tonight. You'll be at this damn table talking to your parents, who love you deeply. We love you despite your dumb decisions. Now go to school and not the airport. Saved by the bell. That was tough, but I feel like I've stood my ground. I may be on lockdown again, but the punishment was inevitable. I know my parents are hurt, but my message came through loud and clear. I can't just be quiet, obedient Reuben anymore. I'm make an adult moves for myself, so I'm feeling myself as I rushed down blocks and through train stations that wondered if my acting out had to do with my new schools, what the irony is? I'm really feeling the pobbit book of t and especially now that things were Marco and at home or in shambles, getting back to school be the biggest slice of normalcy in my life, except surprise when I get there. The story of my runaway Weekends l A is already circling everywhere. I can hear people buzzing about me in the halls. Guys come up to my locker and give me that A bunch of my new follows from the weekend are probably my classmates. Hear a book of tea. And before all this went down, Janelle had been spreading my rapid school, speaking of Hey, Janelle, how are you am? I? You know, maintaining our things at home? She looks at me with noing eyes, but doesn't bring up the breach with Marco right away. Round did indefinitely no surprises there. How many artists do we need to record still to complete the season. We need three more to hit our ten episode goal. We still have been a Rodeaux in the camp. Sounds like it's back to recording on my phone in my closet again. Actually, I had an idea about that. I realized she's let me pass the audio Lab classroom to the Audio Lab studio space. It's a pretty polished set up. I haven't really got to explore it yet. We should record the rest of the interviews and here here comes the break. Is there semester project now? So we can get access to the studio and your parents have to be okay with it. Even if we schedule the studio time after school hours, you know it's homework. Plus, obviously we up our production value this way, more recording interviews in your bedroom. Damn, I'm lucky to have you on my side. Speaking of which, I saw that Marco called you out and sending his followers up to you. Yeah, you know, I'll find somebody to smooth it over with him. We've known each other forever. It lost settle down. I don't know, man, he seems really hurt. You don't think maybe he's playing it up for the extra attention online. I mean my followers are exploded. What No, No, definitely not. I could show you as texting me from this weekend. He's serious. It's just been such a strange few days. I feel like I can't see straight. I'm blowing up on social media. Everyone in school thinks I'm dope, but Marco thinks I'm a dick, and my parents are freaking up. I can't figure out whether to feel bad about what I did proud should not clap back in Marco on social for the hits or that make things worse? Are you really concerned about your followers and not your friendship routing? Come on, be real here, you're letting this viral fan go to your head. Do you really want my opinion? Yes, you should feel bad. Okay, what you did was selfish and it makes my job tentimes harder. You're getting high on your own stepply with all this new attention, and it's making you forget where you came from. Okay. I don't agree with Marco airing out her dirty laundry on the internet, but you need to get him under control and back on board. He's part of the team. He's the reason the podcast even existed in the first place. Meet with him face to face and talk own your ship. Ruby. Her words are like a splash of vice water to the face. She's right, I have been letting all this in and the success go to my head? Was that seriously contemplating and clapping back and Marco online, I need to make peace with him like an adult. I've got to get my parents okay for him to come over so we could talk things over. All, Right, we should get the class. I'm going to play Bo's interview as a progress ship board for the project. We leave the audio lab and head back down the hallway, but my mind can't stop drifting the mark on my parents even as we take our turn at the front of the room. Is and now placed episode seven. If here comes to break for the class, tell our listeners who is being no reducant, being no redose, just your average South stantial kid. Really, I'm really tapped in more into the street side of things. I'm I still move around like ship is normal, and I feel like I can't really shake that. I feel like I gotta kind of watch that. But my testimony is anybody can do this ship if you want it bad enough, it could get done. And the proof is, you know what I'm saying, I'm just like you, So it really ain't much to me. I'm just doing what I love. I'm just a vibe. You know, why is it important for you to be are rooted in your community. It's important to me because that's how my big bro Nipsey was, and so I feel like he's a major part of my foundation. So it would be wrong with me to not try to carry you on the legacy in a way that he would respect you. Can you talk a little on Nipsey hustle and what his legacy means to you. It's everything Nipsey. Nipsey is is like the whole basis. He was the whole voice in my city. He was the voice of reason and he stopt to me. And you know, I would always say, if I had to collaborate artists, it would be Nipsey and make the most sense. But him reaching out and feeling him daily just kind of in the studio, and it was always a really never felt normal, but it always felt again it I don't understand it to this day what he saw me, but I'm happy play role I played for sure. What did you learn from Nipsey about how to navigate the music industry? That's exactly what I learned, how to navigate around them Off GP if you leave from Nipsey you learn something, like you're gonna learn something without him trying to teach you nothing. It's just so much game within him, just the way he carried itself, the way you speaks, the should he say. It's just I don't know, it's hard not to come out of there with with some new knowledge. It's just so natural, come out so easy. So it was lesson to be able to sit there and soak that up. And I call him a cheek code for sure. And it was really about I've lift in the community. What is your thing that you're passionate about? Now that you're gaining your own success, you know, I started to do my little shared charity here there, and it's really a good feeling to know that people can depend on you to come through when they need you in the clutch. And you know, I'm really enjoying that. So really the community is kind of what's keeping me going. I'll do this for you know, not only to crunch your district, but the whole city. It's major for the whole city. So however I could come through, Okay, okay, how is your city influence you musically? You know, I used to tell me, I ain't soundingly comes from l A. You know, I get that a lot. So I don't really put a limit or capital monk music as far as reaching. I think I'm just more off the vote. But I get oh, this new name dog or this new you get that a lot, and it's amazing to me to even get that comparison. For that to even resonate in somebody's mind listening to my music. I happy to carry that. Can you give young artists advice on what to keep in mind with pursuing the major label, I would say, don't focus so much. I don't pursuing the major label. We're all chasing something so above average, so out of the norm. One of the men. We are chasing this one thing. So you gotta understand that you're gonna go through terrible ass ship. You've got me, but you usually to keep steady, keep her level head like she get bad and she it's hell trying to get that. But you gotta keep that in mind and be willing. I feel like willpower is the name of the game. Would come to this ship, so sure, but don't focus so much on major focus on himself. And was there ever a period of life where you just felt like giving up or you were frustrated. Hell yeah. The day before I dropped six tape with Blacks, I told my home and I'm like, man, who was in here? And I'm like this, don't like go if I ain't feeling away after I've dropped this, I don't know, bro, I'm gotta go figure something out. Back to the street and uh yeah, it kind of did what it did. For sure, you're gonna dot this where you quit and all that. But that's when the willpower coming up play for real power is how you deal with those anxieties. And I got terrible to anxiety as something that I for sure battle with. I feel like a lot of artists better with that. What advice would you give to other young people facing anxiety. I'll tell them you're thinking too much. If you want to do it, you have to do it now. Once you understand that, you have to get the job done. Regardless of how you're feeling. People are not a fig they're dealing with anxiety, they still gotta get their job done. What do you want your legacy to be? How do you want people to remember you? For sure, I want to be a legend. I'm trying to be known for all the positive ship, respect respect on the definitely to make whatever the change may be, a big changing something. I want to go down for drastically changing something. And we'll be right back and now back to the show. I come home from school and realized that I am mentally exhausted. The conversation with Janelle and the Audio Lab studio really made me check myself. I see why DMX never returned. That Ian must fixed my life. When I come in the door, my mom's already home, not normal. She's holding a shoe box in her hands gently, like it's something precious proven. I want to show you something. Without another word, she opens the lid and starts taking out polaroid photos. This is super vintage. I've never seen any of them before. They're of her, of course, but before she knew dad, before she had settled down and started family. She's dancing. She passed the couch next to her, and I come over and sit down. I don't think we've ever talked about how badly I wanted to be a dancer when I was younger. I wanted to attend the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Debbie Allen, who was my muse. You couldn't tell me that I wasn't going to choreograph videos for Paula Abduel, Janet Jackson or Mr Elliott. It was all I thought about, and I trained hard for years. My parents loved that I had such a passion for the art. It wasn't something they expected to turn into a career for me, but they were very supportive that I was so focused on it. I suddenly know how shocked my parents felt to find my letter. My mom was a dancer. Why wasn't this something we talked about growing up when I wanted to go to college for dance. I don't know something changed. Your grandfather was very wary of me going into such a hard profession. He wanted me to have a backup plan or better yet, focus on something more practical. As you know, your grandpa is big on academics, and I don't know how it was different. I was the first kid on my side of the family to be able to get into a prestigious school. Now I understood where my parents were coming from, but it was difficult to not pursue my dreams of becoming a dancer. Your grandfather and I couldn't see eye to eye about art and dance for a long long time. I mean it was the same reason we pulled you from the limelight when your video went viral. I didn't want you to lose sight of what's important, which is your education. If you've been through all this, why the same thing with me? Then? I have always put my education first. You and Dad raised me to strive for excellence in school and in life. I took that same attitude and lost our podcast. I need you and Dad to have my back. We're not afraid of you having a career in the arts or digital media or anything like that, but but it is the same media we grew up with. It's a jungle out there, especially for people of color. When you went viral at such a young age, Oh, we panicked and went with what we thought was the safest. Our job is to protect you. I didn't want any trolls or cyber bullies coming after my child. It's surreal to hear my mother be real with me about my early shot of fame. I feel like we're finally talking to each other as adults, not parent two keep I suddenly remember the sympathetic look I caught from her when she and Dad first find out about the pot, And it makes so much more sense now. She did believe in me, but she wanted to protect me, just like the van days, and my baggage about the van days led to me sneaking around and running away. So not even if they want to support me, I've made it that much harder. Then. I want you to really hear me out. When you brought up your vine account, your father and I were really surprised. We haven't thought about that in years. We do want to support your podcast, but you have to open up to us about how you're feeling and what you're doing. If any of our choices and how to raise you led you to believe we are proud of you for what you've accomplished. You know that was never our intent. We love you and we believe in you. I sit with the weight of what you shared for a long moment. It feels like there's nothing for me to say other than light in the mood. Damn, Mom, why don't you tell me you wanted to be a flag girl? Oh? To be honest, honey, it's very painful to talk about. I did try to study dance in college for about a year, but I eventually cave and pursued my parents dreams for me. So you really do understand where I'm coming from. I can relate to a point. This doesn't excuse what you've done. We want to support you in your goals, but you have to let us in. Don't let frustrations like the ones you have around Vine get in the way. At that moment, my father comes home. He comes and joins us in the living room. Did you have the talk in progress? Reuben? Do you understand why we have to hold our ground on this. We get it, We really get it. But you can't pull stunts like you did this past weekend. It's a spit in the face. We're still your parents. I don't even have to say it out loud. They can see it in my eyes, my body language. Finally, I do understand m I don't hold it against them that they're punishing me, and I'm prepared to work around the grounding for podcasts recording. It feels fair. The low down, dirty truth is that even with the extended grounding and Jannael's reality check at school today, the weekended viral Villas still feels like a win. It's brought a bigger audience to my social accounts, to the podcast, and now I finally feel like my parents and I have broken through the emotional wall that was making things so hard. Deep down, I still think I made the right calling going. I can hold my head up high, take my hits like a man. So every day you come home right after school. No going out on weekends. We'll see if you keep your grades up. At the end of the semester, will revisit it. Then you got that yes, sir. Into the semester. It's pretty harsh, look hot to keep this stoic acceptance vibe going, and I need to get permission to have Marco over or I have no hope of burying the hatchet. I've got to ask you for one exception. Marco's pretty pissed at me, and I'd really like to invite them over here to smooth things out. Is that okay with you? We'll consider it based on good behavior. Now is not the time for you to be asking for favors. Maybe we can trade you. What do you mean there's another condition to getting out of your grounding, Reuben. This was very unlike you. You really scared us. I'm wondering if it might have been well, a manic episode. Oh what now, Now, I'm not worried about putting some label on it. Okay, but your father and I agree we want you to go back to seeing a therapist like when you were younger. I'm going to book you an appointment for next week. You start going to therapy, We'll let Marco come over so you two can make up. At the mention of seeing a therapist, a wave of conflicted feelings rides is back up to the surface, and I have to fight hard to suppressing This was going so well. More authorities, new medications, straight jackets and pee bottle stands through my head. It feels like any therapist I see is gonna interrogate me about running away. I don't want to go. I haven't been in years, but I know at this point I don't really have a choice. Okay, Yeah, it's a trade book me an appointment and now an exclusive track from being Overdue Ship got you know he got Tody giving you throw shot the ring, Google back which getting through which get fat out and eat breaking bad happy debt FI trying to me to get you. Man, that man hidn't beat if you don't hit me flying now meet my game as dying ain't good drink. I'm trying that gets trying to see what I'm doing, fucking it because she gonn turning bit y'all she broom. I want that pressure to him what you doom? Ain't she names your bom then got hated a crony white tell scroll eat new vv they scroll bench on the check when he'd be making the way he's your tough on the knee as you were talking my money and drying shouting to talk about sick. Ain't got no little just on that bitch from real. I'm over still all this ship still fear the same. How could they think there? I got name it is that games my mama fail got us then shut up and not playing, got the non throading ding a ball hold ship. He got the no, ain't got the toady giving me jo shot then ring cools kick which getting through. I eat it ain't bad, I can eat breaking pide. I have bet that bitch on try don't mean that kids to man that hidn't even when he laying gaming time and good drink. I'm trying. Marath Here Comes to Break is produced by Double Elvis and partnership with I Heart Radio. Executive produced by Deaf Jam Recordings. Executive produced by and starring Asanti Black Is Ruben, produced by Daniella Perkins who plays Janelle, Bobby Cuss Marco, Christopher V. Edwards as Dad, Raymie Cornell is Mom, and Taylor Bettinson. Written by Taylor Bettenson and the Kia Hill Artist Interviews conducted by Nikia Hill, directed by Christopher V. Edwards, mixed and edited by Matt ta Hainey, Sound recording by Colin Fleming, Music Elements and production by Ryan's Breaker. Additional production support by Jamie Demons. Executive produced by Jake Brennan and Brady Sadler for double Elvis Special Thanks to Rain Rosenbaum, Shelby Shankman, Sarah Kane and Jodan Garrella, the United Talent Agency That Comedian Marketing, Barack Muffett and Universal Music Group, Rich Isaacson, Lind Gonzalez, Charlene Thomas, Merissa Pizarro, Gabriel To Serrierio, Jessica Mandarino and Nya Fleming at Deaf GYM Recordings and Conald Burn, Carrie Lieberman, Will Pearson, Noel Brown and the entire I Heeart Media team to hear bonus content, meet the cast, and go behind the scenes of Here It Comes to Break. Follow with double Elvis on Instagram or visit double elvis dot com.

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