Benny Blanco

Hey, wow, look Hey, at you guys. Hey, by the way, yeah, good what? What they morning.

don't know is the audience doesn't know, is that we had already started a cold open and Rob and Bennett weren't rolling yet. Remember that Oh, good, All right, such remember we were a good about to go, and then time. Rob goes, Uh, oh, rolling, Ooh, rolling,

heck, yeah. So it's a lukewarm, yeah, ooh, lukewarm

no, we're rolling. opening here. Yeah, ooh, No, we're ready for we're

ooh, rolling. rolling. This is

all right.

Rob Marvel. So welcome Welcome to

to Smartless. Smartless. Smart, less, smart, less Hm, smart, less

Somebody just had a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich for breakfast,

And it wasn't me.

and it wasn't you, and it wasn't JB, and it wasn't our surprise guest. Although I don't know what they had. Hi, everybody, it's Will, and we're back with Smartless.

Oh my god, did you? I'm having Coffee my tea. I gotta catch up with you. Oh Sucks boy, coffee.

Will, did you make the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich?

What does make mean?

makes me sleepy. did you go down to

you know what? Can I mention? I ordered it from, Uh, Leora,

oh, that spot? I love that

What's that?

spot so much.

My goodness? I? I feel like they're leaving a little money on the table by staying in such a small spot. I know I mean, they're

I agree. always booked up and They're buried like, it's, it's just in that

this span.

UTA building. And Sean, have you been there? It's unbelievable. no, you The have you had the frozen worry. coffee, JB?

no, but the nothing sucks there. It's a joke. I It's

can't have it right now cause it'll send me to the moon. I'll be, I'll be

but I'll bet you that bacon, egg and cheese sandwich was slathered with, uh, just real tasty creams and well, no. It was gooey sauces

more like the it was

and stuff.

more like the it was more like the bread had been perfectly toasted. So it was like,

where it's just it's got a little edge to it, that's got some chew and some crunch, but the center is so soft.

Yeah, the cheese is so velvety, Hello it was so good. And I don't normally do that, you know, back in the day, Sean JB used to have. Every morning when we were shooting Rust Development, we'd walk through rehearsal and he'd be holding on to Dear with for dear life two hands, to a breakfast burrito two hands. And Mitra would just be like, Yeah, we're doing this, and he'd go, and he'd be like, hammering at breakfast. I mean, every morning, and I couldn't right, JB.

understand why I was holding so much water weight in my face.

But I don't usually have breakfast, but today I felt like I needed I don't ever it. have breakfast. I Why? fast Oh, I was up early cause I'm on East Coast time, so I was up super early and I was like, I gotta eat something.

Uh, and did you walk over to the Leora place? You get like I was, I was, a delivery?

that was a I did an U- Uber Eats type deal.

well. How can it be? How can it arrive hot and fresh if it's delivered?

No, it's not delivery, it's deja vu, guys. Have you not? Do you not know that?

So stupid. I want Oh man,

you guys to know that I I am in a puddle of my own sweat right now. So is oh, I thought

that sweat?

that was, I thought that what you got out of the shower, that's disgusting.

I I know I. I didn't time my workout slash sauna slash shower slash get dressed, Stop slashing slash get,

fuck?

and then I slashed to the podcast. Look, I, I got a I

So is this sauna sweat gotta tell or workout this. sweat?

This is still so this is post-shower, even sweat. Uh, dude,

oh, so it is a shower.

uh, y- yeah, the hair is, yeah, but You got the face,

shower sweats. I mean, ugh,

oh, my body.

Well, thank God you took a shower.

I'm gonna need another one after this,

will you shower after this? you bet Yeah, and did you already? did you already go through your whole process this morning? have I emptied? Yes, Yeah, yeah, okay, did have you did that happen? you have Uh, obviously, you, did that happen? Uh, Sean,

What have I? I haven't taken a shower yet. No, I'll take a shower right after that.

done everything else.

No, nothing, I never do. I don't even eat.

What do you mean you never do? We get what do a sipper

you mean? on that thing. I What do you

no, I don't. I don't what do Who are you, eat breakfast.

my wife?

you? What do you? I've never What's your nickname? Waste management? What's going on? What?

yeah. No, I don't, I don't. I'm never. I don't have to poop in the morning, I don't have You're to do anything. not regular, you're not No, not at all. regular. Okay, I But uh, but mean, we've, I,

we've covered this a number of times over but, uh, the years. I'm sorry, hold Okay, sure,

on, but, uh, just real quick. Is it once a day, at least, though, Sean?

oh well, maybe sometimes not. So I Yeah, feel like that's a problem. I don't. I talked to my doctor about it. He said, Y- is fine. If it's if you go something like four days without it without This is the one sleeping, it's not you've been seeing an issue.

during your, uh, frequent visits to the emergency room.

No, this is somebody else. Yeah, this is a different, You went ahead

this is a whole different and decided you team, this is a different needed to re-staff team.

your team.

no, I went to the ass doctor for all that stuff. Yeah, he's great, but yeah, no, he said. It's normal, you. But anyway, uh, anyway, let's should we get to our guest? I mean, is that a weird That's a great transition? I mean, sure,

great tip. I mean, we've all I love this.

got, I think we're all still, our minds are all still on what's Is this going on with your Sean's you. This is mine's, Sean? Okay, mine's, I was tipping my sandwich in in ketchup, by the way, in case anybody I know was like, I was just you were, doing a a but you were dragging drag, a not it too. Yeah, even dip, drag. I know, It was a full drag.

get him out here, Sean.

all right. He grew up in Reston, Virginia. I'm thinking about dragging ketchup. That sounds so good. As a teenager, he cold called record Why don't you take labels pretending a penny to be

first before you think about putting more in your face? Okay, dump truck,

waste management.

We're just so worried about the backup. Go ahead, I know Sean, sorry,

I don't have it, I don't feel it. As a teenager, guys, he cold called record labels pretending to be Jay Z's attorney. On weekends, he took the five-hour bus trip to New York to DJ parties, hauling a desktop computer from club to club because he didn't own a laptop. He listen, couldn't afford a hotel, so he slept in train stations, parks and the McDonald's in Times Square. Before he turned 25, he had co-written and produced Kesha's TikTok and Rihanna's Diamonds.

You may have heard of his wife, Selena Gomez. It's the singular and super cool Benny Blanco. Benny Blanco, Benny Blanco, Oh, I love here we go. This woo, guy's got answers

for us.

how you doing?

there he is.

Good morning, Benny. I'll tell How's your morning you been? That well, that's a soft a. That's it's a soft question right there. You go ahead, take it wherever you wanna go with that.

first of all, I'm empty That a boy, second, second of all, second of all. Your doctor said you can four days, that's insane. They need to you said lose their license.

four days.

What are you talking about?

yeah, he said. That was okay.

Did you get a deal on this doctor?

no, his, his doctor doesn't hold any actual licenses per se.

yeah, my doctor says four days, too.

Four days, Sean?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, four days. That's it. Crazy that's not, But fine, that's all right, we'll that's not fine,

get off the subject.

fine. All right, maybe I got it wrong, maybe it Wait, hi Benny, is Benny.

how are you? Benny? And I do know each other a little, but we do know each other we a little bit. Yeah, do, but we I'm just did. We

did a commercial together.

we did a commercial together

oh, what commercial?

for for Duncan.

Duncan donuts. hole right on. Wow, Yeah, that's yeah, of course,

where we should go right now.

That's all that's all we got.

that's all we got.

how about the Tim Hortons folks? Would they be upset about that, Willie?

Well, we don't know, eh? We haven't been in touch with him. That's a Canadian outfit. Uh, Benny, Oh, I know, It's a Canadian I know, dunk. Then

Wait, Benny, what's on the wall behind you? W- with all the charts I guys, and the graphs. I just The other side,

I don't guys, I don't fuck No, the other with them.

side, the other side.

what office are you borrowing? Are you in a school? You're in a school, I'm in my doctor's right?

office right now. Hold on,

So you're in a classroom?

it says shitting every four to six days. I don't know, this is a weird doctor's office. Um, no, I'm, I'm I. It is a very strange room. Everywhere I look, there's maps. Uh, I, we are in an Airbnb. Well, I don't even know if it's an Airbnb. I call everything an Airbnb. If you're renting a house like it, it, there, there's no other name. It's like, it's like It's like Q-tip any time. is a cotton Ye- yeah, swab, yeah, I'm in a I'm in a rental home in London, and I've been here for a very long time.

how long have you been there?

About six years. No, I've, uh, I've been, uh, uh, well, ah, it's such a stupid story. All right, please, Basically, I don't fly, so when I c- when by the way, can I

I tell you something? That's my 1st question. I wanna get into it. Okay, well, hey, well, well, he's halfway how is it? He

to the answer. was, he was halfway That's usually the worst

through it, and you're like, indicator. I No, I live no Sean,

at a house.

I don't care. Just that you wanna take it wherever you want, Sean, let's do it. You know, I'd be a little God constipated, you might need to sorry, yeah, get out.

yeah, excuse me. He's a little backed up. Go ahead, Benny, so you don't fly

it's affecting his brain.

Oh yeah, I know it's Jesus, shutting off circulation

you were right.

to his brain. Um, okay, so, so basically, I stopped flying a long time ago. My neuroses took over. I've flown a a handful of times in the last, like ten years. But I'm so insane that I take the boat to Europe. So I take every time I go to Europe, I have to drive from LA. to New York, and then I get my god, on a boat for

love this. seven days I fucking love

to Europe. this.

well, how but but how long is the drive from LA. to New York?

I mean, it's as long as you want it. You can do it in 41 hours if you want, but you can stretch it out to two weeks.

Never the train, never the never the train.

I've done it, I've done every form except walking.

Benny, I love this so much. I Okay, so love this idea.

so can you say the 1st of all, how seven days in a boat? And then you get there? So, of course, you've been there a long time, cause you don't wanna take the trip back. But what about the Ed Sheeran story?

Well, no no. What's the boat like,

Okay, the boat is the actual Titanic, like I'm on the Titanic, I'm on, I'm. It's not like a yacht or something. I'm on the Cunard, right? It's a ship, like, Yeah, I'm on like a B- essentially like a carnival cruise with all British people, but it's kind of right? badass, right? I mean,

you got a nice cabin. imagine this high-end, yeah,

Define high end.

well, like, let's say the Orient Express, but floating, No, no, it's okay, but does like the that exist?

No, no, oh, I think Like it does. My the Titanic doesn't exist

Well, they're build, they're building

anymore, right?

the Titanic two, for real, from from s from scratch, and it's gonna be exactly a replica.

Wow, great idea. Let's keep that going. We're gonna

okay, yeah, no, my mom's no. My mom's Well, screw that, actually on a fancy, my mom's on a fancy cruise right now. So there's so th- I know it exists, it just doesn't exist on my travel trajectory. So I'm sitting, Yeah, basically, Sean, you want the story? I was, I was, I was, I was making an album with Ed Sheeran. We're making an album called Divide. It took us, like two and a half years. We were on tour all over America.

He said. I have to finish it at my house, in my hometown where I grew up in in England. And I said, Okay, that's really cool, but I don't fly. And he said, Well, what if we take a boat? I said, What do you mean, take a boat? We looked it up. It's the Queen Mary. He's like, Yeah, I think it'll be a cool idea. So we're on the boat. In theory, it's a great idea, like it sounds like an amazing idea.

It's it, it. It's cool for a day and a half. Everything else, you're like you. I I usually start to go insane about four days in, and you're just like, you don't even know who you are anymore. It's it's, it's it, it's You've explored all

four corners of this boat and all the people, and you're just you're ready to jump over.

they got the intranet on there.

they got the internet, they got the internet, they got, like Starlink, it's it's that, that's, Really, that's good. The 1st time I went, the internet was so bad and it cost like it cost like $1 million. Like the 1st time I went on, you would, you would be like this. I'd be like, like, just signing on, just trying to, like, figure out everything. Uh-huh,

and then what about any high seas ever?

yeah, I've been on in a hurricane. God, I uh, flying See, that scares is better, me. Yeah,

flying is better.

that scares me. Big, big, big waves,

there's only been one, there's only been one. The boat sunk one time out of, like a million. It's the best

And they made a great movie odds. out of it. yeah, but

I mean, but like, but aren't you worried? I I can't. Every documentary is like about diarrhea on a cruise ship, on any ship, like, how bad Sean, Sean, are

you should, Sean, you should yeah, you be the need to go tomorrow, go. Yeah,

get a ticket tomorrow. let's get the

motor running, huh? Prime the prime, the pump a little bit.

well, I actually make my own food on the boat.

Well, let's get him a flower

you too?

for his bathroom.

Yeah, exactly, I actually make a I make my own food on What the boat. food? What do you

Well, what does that? what does

mean?

that mean? How do you do I like, bring that?

it, and I have like a little refrigerator. I either use like a rice cooker or an air fryer, and I just I, I wanna, I wanna have my own food. I don't like the food on the boat.

can you what what was? Tell me, tell me about the, uh, the inciting incident that, uh, got you out of the sky and into the water. I love the way I phrased so my question. I love so phrasing questions.

basically, I, I'm in. It's the same day. What's that guy's name? Sully, who got the plane in Sully Sullenberger the Yeah, okay, it's the exact same day. Sully landed the plane in the fucking

he's the the Hudson River,

river. So, yeah, so I'm on my way to the airport. All my friends are calling me and they're saying, Are you okay? And I'm, I said, What do you mean? Am I okay? They said that plane, I, I. We thought you were on that plane, cause I guess I was on one similar time. And I said, no. So I hear that and I'm not even afraid. I'm like, man, what a crazy coincidence. I get on a plane to Atlanta and it was it got dicey, you know how I know it got dicey?

I was always all good on a plane because you looked at the stewardess and they were stoked, they were stoked. I looked at the stewardess and she had a fear in her eyes I've never seen on a plane before. So I was cause of the level like, of turbulence there was a level level of turbulence and we weren't weren't allowed to walk the entire flight. You couldn't, couldn't stand up to go to the bathroom. I remember the one traumatic thing is this lady is trying to get the cart down, and the cart goes flying, and she goes flying too.

And the medic gets one of the the ladies, uh, the stewardess, so, uh, it's just th- an awful flight where you think you're gonna everyone's had that one. But I got off and then I had, like, slightly a bad flight, like a few weeks later. And I was just like, over. you know what, maybe I'll drive to New York the next time. That was like, and then it just kinda started like that, and it's just like a neurosis that grew.

And I wish And when I could say

you fall in love with, and you fall in love with long drives, too. I I I love driving

I love it.

long distances. And and, you know, but that boat is super relaxing for you, you know? I mean, like it, it, but truly, I mean, it gives you like, focus time to just like, No, it is do what you wanna do. And like, get bored. And, you know, a lot of relaxation happens in boredom, I find. do you? uh,

w- why? And creativity?

yeah, I will, which is a

We don't. great segue. Will Well, thank you. Well, no, I was just gonna say, I mean, we people have talked. I've, I'm not. It's not an original idea, but you talk, you see people talk about these days about how we used to. B- prior to social media and and smartphones and stuff. I mean, you remember, as as you were a kid, how many hours spent staring out the window as you were driving? And all you did was on a plane, in the car with your folks, whatever, that was just staring

not right.

out the window. Or Sean, like staring out the living room window, wondering, like, is he coming back?

Is he gonna come back?

is he ever coming back? guys. I was talking

It's still there.

about this, I was talking about this the other day with my friend. Back in the day, you'd say, Hey, meet me, meet me to play basketball after school. So you'd go, you'd you'd say, meet me. You'd go there, your friend wouldn't be there. You'd get home after dark, you couldn't call them because it was too late to call someone's house. So you had to wait till the next day to say, Hey, man, where were you? And, like, any excuse they said was valid.

Use. People used to not be accessible. Now, if, like, you don't answer a text, they FaceTime you, then they Facebook you, then they Instagram Checking you, and then

your location? they it's Yeah, like, too, it's too much. I yeah,

wanna go backwards.

yeah, let's go backwards. But speaking When when flying about creative tips, was luxurious, and

I I remember you used to dress Sean, get back to up.

the plan. Sorry, you gotta plan ahead Yes, yeah, talk of your plan. to me, what's You said, get

your plan?

back to the grid.

what's your plan, Sean?

What's on the grid, Sean?

No, well, I mean, I just want 1st of all. I've never met you and I'm like, enamored w- w- with you and all your success. same, For people don't same, my sister might not know, maybe maybe she does, but What's your sister's all the peop-

name?

my sister's name is Tracy, Hey, Tracy, and hey Tracy, Hey, Tracy, how yes, eh? are you? hey Tracy, And but all I she sounds mean, do you ever do you ever just stop and think about all the success you've had? And you're still so young? You've written s massive hit songs for Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Maroon five. I mean, I'm reading these Kesha, Britney Spears, uh, Snoop Dogg, Halsey, K- I mean, Kanye West. I mean, it's just everybody in the music business has a song by you, which is just mind-blowing.

And so when I was doing my research on you and learning, like, Wow, and this all started when your brother took you to a record store. Is that how it started?

is, yeah, essentially, that's true, that's And okay, true.

and what happened? Like, what are the from the some of the 1st albums you got? And like, why did that?

Y- I was I, I was. I got very into music when I was like four or five, I was super into it. And my brother, this was like the era of the CD book and the tape. Like, remember, you used to have the book and you could flip through, and it was like the most coveted item in the house. Yeah, and I, I was blown away. The uh, uh, it was actually a little before that, I was cassettes, and then the CD book came out.

Like, maybe probably when I was like eight or nine,

when you say the CD book, you're talking about st the storage, right? wait, yeah, With all the envelopes.

when you kept the storage. I still have mine, I still have mine. Um, so, yeah, tapes 1st came out, and case I went to the store.

logic, I think, was a big, big one. Yeah, I went to Here we

the store.

go, let's here's a gifting from Case Logic on its way.

No, they're, I think they're, they're, they're, they're, they're resting, right?

First tape I ever bought was by Nas. It was called The World Is Yours, and then the 2nd tape I ever bought was, Uh,

all for one, I swear

yeah, yeah, the I swear by them,

and the moon and the stars yes, and in the sky,

s. So I was buying this shit. And my mom was like, had, eh, such a good, had such good taste in music, you know? My mom was like, really a music head. So we were like, I was listening to, like Prince and like Teddy Pendergrass at home. And like, I had, like, I had, so I had the yin and the yang. And I actually wasn't even like a huge pop music fan until I started making it.

Like, I really didn't, even I, I really didn't, even I, I didn't really know it much. Well, it was,

was, uh, was, uh, like, uh, when you were doing all that, I for my. My friends were really into, like, classic rock, and so it was all about, like, Zeppelin and Stones yeah, of course, and Doors and all that stuff. Was it was, it was there ever, um, a big, uh, rock and roll draw for you?

yeah, 1st. So when I'm about seven is when, like, the whole grunge scene hit. So I'm going crazy with my brother, I'm losing my mind. But um, and then my dad was a huge, you know, there was the big war in my house. My mom, my mom was Beatles, and my dad was Stones, so it was like a big war when I was 1st growing up. So they were big. Yeah, like my mom, my mom, like, grew up like going to, like CBGB's and Studio 54.

Like, she was like, very in that world. So That's so cool, yeah, I was, you know, we had a record player. I was very I. W- I was like an old soul before I got into pop music, so I think it, like, helped me and so music every.

was was a big part of your family life, like everybody. This was a thing that everybody listened to a lot of music.

Yeah, no one did, like, like, nobody had, uh, nobody played mu, nobody No, but did anything. they appreciated Yeah, they appreciated they. music, everyone appreciated music. And even though, like, my mom was like, shut the fuck up, stop banging everything, like all over the house, like, uh, like, I was, I was so annoying, I was did you like, the worst.

have? My mom used to make us turn the music down in the car, she always she hated man,

Really?

music in the car. Yeah, she to this day, she'll be like, turn it, she can't take the noise.

My mom was oblivious to people who were like, like, you remember Culture Club? Uh, uh, um, Boy George. She'd be like, he has such a gl- a beautiful voice, like she wouldn't know he was the big gay guy. Like,

she's pretty oblivious to everyone on her right side.

my mom, my mom. One time I took It's a my mom,

nice way of saying she had a few blind spots.

my mom had one eye. Benny. Okay, go ahead.

oh, your mother had one eye. Yeah, it's a m yeah, she had

she lost it.

two, just one of them was glass, which we brought It wasn't up. Last time. glass, it wasn't What's wood?

it was it gla- oh, oh, no, no, it was glass, it was glass. I know Sorry, One eye

wait, what were you gonna say, Benny? Sorry,

is so so. My mother, I took her to a Maroon five show, okay, and I had been

oh my god.

doing music for them and we're backstage. And she literally walked up to Adam Levine and she said, Hey, do you mind? Like, turning down the bass a little when you guys perform? Like, really? No, my mom is, she's so fucking oblivious, she and I said, I said, Mom, he's not gonna turn down the bass, she said. Why? why? why? why is it such a big deal? it's I'm sure a bunch of

so loud.

people, yeah, she told him to turn down the bass. This is my mother. Also, like, when someone's coming, like, let's say, like, let's say, like, Britney Spears was going to, like, d uh, do Jimmy, uh Fallon or something. She'd be like, she'd be like, Oh, uh, I saw Britney Spears in town. You know, she could stay at my house if she wants to. I'm like, mom, she's not staying at your house. She's like, Well, you know her, why does is she just like she's staying at?

What are you talking about? Like, my mom lives in, like, some alternate reality.

Yeah. What about your dad? What did your dad do growing up?

Both my parents had, like, so my parents divorced when I was when I was pretty young. But like, so, my mom

damn sure.

w- my dad was in the intimate apparel business. He, like, made like old lady nightgowns,

oh, really.

he made, like he made, yeah, so yeah, very sexy, he made like old lady nightgowns. Like, literally, like the ones you like, see in Tarzan,

even more.

yeah, it's like, super old. Oh, oh, yeah,

Well, at least. Sound like you're really choking one off there, damn,

yeah. And he's like, ugh, and then my mother's job was like, couldn't, couldn't be. It's like, even worse. My mom, like, do you know, like, do you know? JC. Penney's, of course, and like Macy's. My mother would fix the jewelry display boxes when you went to JC. Penney's. And I got it. Yeah, then her, like, big break was that she worked, like she quit that, and like, finally got a good job at, like, an old folks home.

And she worked there for like, 15 years.

Oh my god, that is an that is angel work. that is Uh, working in a angel. Yeah, old folks home.

and probably, and a good way to also y- help your dad move some product with the, uh, old old, old way, the intimate apparel for older people. Now, so opening that demo is now a veil.

honestly. If they didn't, if they didn't hate each Cut a deal, other, then

backroom deal.

yeah, if they didn't hate each other, then it probably would've been like a billion dollar franchise.

And we will be right back.

And now back to the show.

So there's there's tons of kids out there right now, probably not listening to this, but might know someone who is, um, that's re. They're really into music and they would love to be like a big-time, you know, record producer You like you.

the wannabe you?

How would they? How do you do that? How do you? I mean, what tell what? How do I I had that work for you?

same question. Well, Sean said Yeah,

that you just went you, you, you sort of fudged your way, you went to New York oh my and kinda god, yeah. like, you just pure

Back in the day, it was, hustle. yeah, it was so different back back in the day. I literally, y- there was no anything. So I would wait outside, like studios, and I'd be like, Hey, do you make music? Like, as a person was walking by, like, you didn't know anything, there was no, there was no point of reference. And and, uh, when I was younger, when I was in high school, um, Myspace 1st came out, so that was like that.

W- like YouTube didn't exist yet, like Myspace 1st came out. And that was how I started making my like 1st connections.

I'm like, what did that look like? Did w- would you like listen to somebody's song? And then, like, you'd you'd email them on this new thing called email? And

Yeah, this was before the music portion was even, uh, the music portion, uh, became, uh. You couldn't used to be able to listen to people's songs, like maybe four years later, three, four years later. But when I 1st started, yeah, I would just like email. I mean, we're all doing the same shit. I'm like doing every I'm like, I made a song with so-and-so's brother's nephew's cousin. And then, like, you're slowly inching towards it. And everything you do is just like one, like baby step, like, just like pushing towards in an inevitable snowball that begins to happen.

so you made, like you would make, like little songs, then you'd push them out through your MySpace page to other people and say, Hey, check this out. I kinda know what I'm doing.

Kinda. I got big locally, like I started getting on the radio when I was young. And I how did that like,

happen? How'd you get on the radio?

I won a contest when I was like nine or ten, and I got to go into a studio like I I, and I used to like rap, and I got to go into a studio. And my guitar teacher, um, like, made a demo tape with me and it was Come on, just like, and then randomly, my brother was in a fraternity with a guy who had a studio. And then, like, I started making music there and it was just like all these things that were such a pipe dream.

Like, even when I was, like, successful, my parents, like, didn't believe me, because it was so much of this, like, it was like, and a and I don't know about you guys, but my parents picked the most arbitrary things to realize that I've made it. Like, I had like number 1 songs, I had like multiple number 1 songs. And I remember I was in the New York Times, like four years later, and my mom was like, I can't believe it, you made it.

And I'm like, Mom, I was like, n- already nominated for a Grammy. She was like, Yeah, but it's the New York Times, you know? And

that's funny.

it's like, Yeah. And I remember I was on SN the 1st time I was on SNL. It was as, like, a backup musician. And my dad was like, I can't believe you made it like, like, and I That's wasn't even

my plan.

like, I, I wasn't even like the the main act. I was nothing, I would had no words. I was wearing a helmet, I wasn't, you didn't even see me. So

A helmet in the back.

like, Yeah, I literally had a helmet on.

So you're saying there were like little tiny little baby bites, um, that, that, that everything just kept leading to the next, leading to the next, that there must the have been yeah, Yeah, and I was, right, JB, like, I was,

there must have been one.

Yeah, there were things here. I I'll give you, like the big ticket hits, real quick, in like, in like, a minute. Okay, We're not pressed I

for time, by the way, unless you are, cause we can.

no no, but I'm, but I'm saying, like, I've told this shit so many times. Um,

I don't know, but I haven't I no, but heard it. we're dumb dums, and It's new we haven't to us,

heard it. Benny, we wanna okay, here, here, know. It's just here it is, us, Benny.

here, it's just us. Hey, Bebe, Um, sit down, let's let's who calls you talk. Bebe My wife sometimes, but only when we write, only only in text messages. She always says, Bebe, and I don't know if she's saying I've never asked her. I. I don't know if she's saying like, baby, or like, Benny Blanco, or like, or like, Be, I don't know.

or baby? Babe, are Yeah,

you listening well? In the future, you'll be listening to this. What do you mean?

what are you doing? Bye, baby, She's also like, Last thing you're now

I, I know, I think she's in the other room, but I'm all hooked up, I can't even walk in there. Um, so okay, so here's what hap, here's what happened. I got into music at a very young age. I started making songs, I With boomboxes, like, yeah, I bet, just like anywhere I could. I didn't have, like, I didn't, I didn't. I wasn't like a bajillionaire when I was younger, so like, we didn't really have. It was kinda just making it with whatever I had, like, I had one of those, uh, Sony Walkman, like like boombox, the yellow one, remember the yellow one?

It was like this big, and you could carry it on the beach. It was like It's kinda a so I waterproof. Yeah, yes, I had like one of those, sport, yes, and I had like, like, um, like a Maxwell one or whatever it is. My brother had one and we had like two. And I used to, like, record into one, and then I would like press play, then I would record into the other one. Then I would record, and I would make like a eight track no way.

Yeah, eventually. But yeah, that's wild, I didn't know, I didn't know I was doing that. It just cause there was no, there was no YouTube, there was no ways to figure it out, so it was all like trial and error. And I, I, I. I started learning how to do stuff like that. And then, really, when I was 13, there was a guy named Sam Trocki, who was my brother's, uh, in my brother's fraternity. He had done like a few things, he knew a few people, uh, at record labels, and he started recording my demos in a real studio, and I was like, in a real, actual studio.

So I started

what state are? learning. This what state are you in? We're like, what, what is in city are you in?

this. I used to travel to, like Atlantic City and like Jersey, and I'm in Virginia most of the time. So it's like, I'm going any way I can. Friends, my brother, my mother, my father, whoever, whoever will get get me, uh, away there, you know, there's buses I would take, so I, I, I'm, you know. And I just need to use equipment because I don't have equipment's expensive, and I had no. Like, there's not like, I'm not asking my parents for like, a thousand dollar thing, and then it just like wasn't, it wasn't an option.

So so I'm like making demos everywhere I go, and and people are starting to notice that I have something going on. There's something that's like a little better than like the guys that are next to me. I still sucked, I was still was terrible.

Well, can I just pause and just say, 1st of all, is it g- just a point of order? Is Benny Blanco your real name? Your your given Benny name? No, it's not.

Levin, How did you go So when from Benny

did you become B?

Levin?

When did you become Benny Blanco? I was thir- thirteen, See, it's a great name. Carlito's And so if I hear a kid who's got some stuff and I'm like, What's his name? Benny Blanco? I'm like, that's an that's, just that's something.

yeah, but in the in the middle, you were Benny Bounce.

I was so many different things, like, it's like, Yeah, by the time I'm 13, I'm Benny Blanco from Carlito's way. And and I,

wait, was that a character's name in Carlito's yeah, it's character Carlito?

is John Leguizamo in Carlito's way.

Oh, no way.

And it's so funny. When I 1st met him in real life, he was just like, Dude, what the f- He's like my whole. He's like, for so long, people have been telling me about you, cause it was like I met him, like, maybe ten years into my career. So

So now you're Benny Blanco and I'm you're making Benny Blanco, music and people are starting to kinda notice. You're traveling, Jerseys and I'm traveling, then

I'm in Philly. I start getting on like mixtapes, okay, so like I would be on, like I would be like. Back in the day, you would go to New York and you'd buy these mixtapes. And it would be like, uh, it would be like the diplomats. It would be like 50 Cent. All these people would do them before they got big and after they got big. And I'm starting to get on, like the like lowest level guys, like mixtape.

Like, it's like, I'm like, I'm again, it's like, I'm like the like 50's cousin's brother's nephew. I'm on, like his thing, and I'm like, No, there's I'm showing my friends at home. I'm like, there's like a picture of, like him with 50 Cent one time. And then

so wait. So these mixtapes, these were things that basically, um, let's, for lack of a better term, these musical influencers would like pick these hits that they like. They'd they'd say, Hey, these are. These are my 20 favorite songs. They put it on a cassette and they'd send it out to a bunch of people that they like,

no, no, so a mixtape would be like this in between, like a rapper's big album. Okay, they would make a set of songs that, like, would just come out for free. Because, like, a, they couldn't get like samples cleared, or like they there was like artists on them that could. It was like it was illegal, illegal, making illegal, uh, music. Usually, like before an album's coming out to lead up to it, or to get and they're not yourself a record sold in stores, they're deal, and they're not passed around, sold in stores.

people in the scene.

They're, yeah, they're passed around and sold in the city, and they're and they're done on burned cassettes or burned CDs. So they're not, like on, like, they're not. Canal Street, Yes, yes, exactly, exactly, exactly, and i it's not such a thing so I'm acting like anymore. I know, Yeah, and that was also, that was also how you used to get, like before streaming. Like, if there was like a hot single, that's like how you would go get it.

Like, I would take a trip. My brother was in college and he would near there, and okay, so okay. So back to the thing. So I'm doing this stuff and I start making some noise and and it starts stretching a little bit beyond. Because now I have like songs and I'm doing songs with other people, I'm still rapping, okay, I'm a rapper. And I get introduced to a man named Jonathan Scheckter, okay, and he owns at the time a thing called The Source magazine, and it's, it's, it was.

It was the biggest rap magazine on planet Earth. This is like New York Times for rap. And he also, at that time, had just put out a rapper's like album before they put out any big stuff. And that rapper was Eminem. And he, he had just, and he had also put out some stuff. And he was very involved with, like, um, 50 Cent, early care like, just like all these little things. And he was like, he was the closest thing I got to, like the as big as it gets, and he and he was influencing rap music in a big way.

And so through that, I started getting more connections. And eventually, I got a record. I got two record deal offers when I was about 15 and my they, they, they flew down, they flew down to Virginia and they watched me perform at my high school homecoming. And yes, yes, and it was like, I don't even I I. I guess there was just like a little bit of hype around me and I was young. And this was right around the time of like, Lil Bow Wow and Lil Romeo.

So they and Shekter ca-

had kind of validated you, yeah,

Shekter validated me. little Benny, Yeah, Sam validated Yeah, exactly, people were validating me. And I got an offer. Somehow, I guess the offer was so bad, I was so young, I barely remember my parents didn't let me do it, and it was the best thing that could have ever happened so they were to me.

your legal counsel, they looked over the offer.

Yeah, I guess so. At that time, I can't even so w- remember.

but. But before that, I read that the 1st money you ever made in music was for a softcore porn series, and you were, That like, 14 is true. Jonathan or 15.

Scheckter owned a thing called Hip Hop Honeys, which was basically where they took all the girls from the music videos and then they would dance naked. And they needed beats behind it. So he paid me 500 for two beats, and I y- mine as well. W- was Brad Pitt at home? Like I, I came home, I showed every friend I had 500, nobody had 500, I had 500. I'm like, I'm losing my mind. And then my mom takes the DVD away from me and won't let me use it because she's like, These people are naked.

I'm like, Mom, I'm in the thing, I just got 500. She's like, I don't care,

it should work.

it's trash. Yeah, yeah, it's trash. We were on the airplane and it was disgusting. Um, so so okay, things are happening. I'm fast forwarding a little bit. In high school, I trick a man. They're one of my favorite producers. Was this guy named Sean said that Yeah, exactly. same, Um, I, uh, I, I. I was on MySpace and I. I reached out to one of my favorite producers. And I saw he was, he was booking studio time at his studio.

His name was Disco D, and I said, Hey man, I love your stuff and I wanna work for you. And he never answered. And then I said, Uh, okay, I want studio time, and then he said, How much? So I go up, I pay him for an hour of studio time, and I'm like, dude, I don't want studio time, I wanna work for you. I'll do anything for you in the world, I'll do whatever you say.

This guy's crazy, I have no idea why he did this, he said. I'm leaving town next weekend, he said. If you can book my studio for three days, fully booked, you have a job, you can be my intern. I said, Of course, I can do that. 1st of all, I had no idea how to do that. I called every person I knew in New York, I had every friend. I literally, I borrowed, I. I remember borrowing 75 from my mom to count, like as part of the thing.

And like,

How much is studio time? Like an hour?

at that, oh my God, I, I, I can't Is it like five remember. I

grand or five?

think I no, no, I think it was like 500 for the day or something, or so, or maybe it was for the weekend, I can't even remember. But I somehow I got the money, and I think I was like, I think I was like 150 short, but I got e- enough of the money. And he saw it, he let me come work for him, I started working for him. I, I move out to New York when I'm, you know, 1718.

I, I tell my mom, you know, my mom doesn't have, we don't like, she can't like afford to, like, l- um, let me live in, like a lavish pla- like, it's like, so

yeah, where are you living?

I I. I signed up for a, uh, a, uh, like audio engineering school. And there was like this thing where you could stay in, like the St. George Hotel in Brooklyn. And and I. It was like a six-month program, and I, like, split it with my mom. I had made some money and then she was like, That's all you got. You gotta figure it out then, cause I can't help you after that. So That's cool, I go out there and I'm interning for this guy, Disco D, and it was just perfect timing of, like, everyone.

This was like the last time Brooklyn had that, like a scene that was growing, so it was like this was the scene, was me, Diplo, MIA, A-Trak. This was like everyone, like, still, the we were all trying to make it, like everyone was trying to do their thing. Justice. And it was like it was such a it was such a cool internet blog scene. And basically, uh, the guy I was working for, who I was interning for, he, you know, suffered a lot of mental illness, and I'm skipping over a lot.

But he, he committed suicide, and he was, like, my best friend. And like, I didn't know what to do. But it brought me together with a few of the guys that he was working with. And I, like, begged, begged, uh, people, I'd be like, please work with me, and somehow nobody would work with me. Nothing, I would try to sell beats, nothing fucking worked, nothing worked. I no bites, nothing. And I remember listening to, like, m a mixtape where this guy took, like, Notorious BIG vocals, and he put them over Frank Sinatra instrumentals.

And I was like, that's so cool. And this was right when Narls Barkley came out. Remember that song? I'm like, Does that make you crazy? And and and

yeah, that's oh my god, totally

so it was right when this came out. And I was like, I gotta become a duo, that's the only way I'm gonna make it. I gotta be in a group duo, and I have to, like, take samples and do stuff like this. So I came up with an idea. And the only rapper I knew personally was this guy named Spank Rock, uh, Naeem Juwan. And he was like, he had like a lot of hype at that time.

He was like a big thing at that time. He was like, had all, he was on, like, you know, the cover of Fader magazine, he was like on Complex magazine. It was like he was a big thing. And I said, you gotta work with me, and he wouldn't do it. Somehow, after Disco D passed away, we were at my, uh, my ex-manager's, um, uh, house. And we were just like reminiscing. And I said, Dude, please, you gotta work with me.

I convinced him to make one song with me, we made one song, nothing happened. A few weeks later, he called me and he said, Hey, I know this is crazy, but we just got a record deal offer. And I said, What do you mean? This is? This was about five months into me being in New York. And I said, I said, What do you mean? He said, Yeah, we got offered a record deal and they want us to do the album you were talking about together.

no way.

Yeah, he said, and it's called Downtown Records. The most ironic thing is Narls Barkley was signed to the same label. So, like, the fate is crazy.

yeah, that is wild. Wow, so

I get offered this opportunity. I'm making my 1st album. I'm it, it's, it's, it's surreal, it's surreal. I'm working with everyone that I wanted to at the time. It's all this cool underground thing. And then eventually, I get a call and they say, this guy named Dr. Luke wants to meet you. And I said, Who's Dr. Luke? I didn't know, I, I didn't know anything. I said, I don't know pop music, I said, Who's Dr. Luke?

So I go to the meeting, um, I don't know anything of what he does, he does, like pop rock music. Basically, I think he hates me. In the meeting, I go, I leave the meeting, I go back to my friends at the studio. I'm like, Dude, I just did this meeting. I'm like, Fuck this dude. And then I get a call, I get a call, and he's like, Hey, man, do you wanna come work on music tomorrow night?

And I was like, What I was like, I thought you hated me, you asked me for a demo and then you didn't even take it. And then he's like, No, I just, like, knew that you had something special. So I was like, Okay, so I go out, I work with him. The next day, he says, You wanna come out to LA. with me and work on, like, work on artists like Britney Spears and stuff like that.

And I'm like, of course, I knew, like I wasn't into pop music, but of course I knew who Britney Spears was. And I was like, What I'm like, what are you talking about? And he's like, Yeah, I work with this guy, Max Martin, and like, I didn't even know who any of these people are. So these are like to to anyone listening, these are like the titans, these are like the godfathers of pop music. Like, like, like Max Martin has, like the most number ones of any.

He has, like more number ones than the Beatles. And um, and and so I'm, I'm sitting there, I know fucking nothing. I get out there, it's my 1st day. I'm like, dude, I'm making songs. I'm literally in the studio with Britney Spears. I walk in, I walk in, and this is like, I had never seen paparazzi, I had no idea. I walk in, I I'm, I go in before Britney gets there. So I'm like, Okay, blah, blah, blah.

Then I'm like, out making a phone call, okay, and I'm in this studio. That's like, kind of in like a jungle. It's called Conway Studios. I don't know if you've ever been there, it's in LA. And it's like a cool, like indoor outdoor studio. So I'm walking around in the parking lot and a man comes down from like a bungee cord and he snaps a picture of my face. And I was like, What the fuck is going on?

And then, like, all of a sudden, like a security guard tackles the man. And I'm like, and and that's like my 1st, and I'm like, whoa, okay, I guess I'm in Hollywood now. And it's like, yeah, like my 1st week, I'm like going to clubs with like Paris Hilton. Like, it's like things are like the it it's all

that's amazing. When did you? moving. When did you pretend to be Jay Z's attorney? Like, what That was when I part of the was like time? Oh, 13, that was when okay, okay, I was, like, I thought that was Larry.

13. Yeah, I'm sk- I'm skipping, I'm skipping around. I'm partying with Paris, man, we gotta talk about yeah, that's so Jay-Z. No, that's funny. Wow, so so I'm 18. I put the music, I put the the rapping behind. I'm now, n- oh, 1st of all, I'm in the studio. I've never written a song for another pop artist ever. I'm in the studio with Dr. Luke and a guy named Claude Kelly, and Claude goes, Well, now we gotta write the song.

And I said, I don't know how to write a song. I said, I know how to rap, and he said, Okay, well, why don't you rap? And we'll, like, put melodies to it at the same time. And the 1st song we ever wrote together was Circus for Britney Spears. And

that's crazy. so it was like Yeah, I mean, for for Trace, well, and you guys too. You might not know Dr. Luke. He produced, like, since you've been, since you've been gone, you know that, everything, you know, and kissed a everything. Him and Max, Girl. I kissed a Girl. It came in like a wrecking ball from Miley Cyrus and Yeah, and like, tons of stuff.

and Max Martin produced every song for Brit, uh, for Hit me, Britney Spears, every baby, one more song, for, yeah, time, and I every song for the past two want it that years. Yeah, way. every cool, it's Sean, NSYNC song. Yeah, like all the new Taylor Swift stuff, he does, he does a lot of the weekend. Like, so okay. So I'm sitting in the room with these guys and it's like the biggest imposter syndrome in the world.

I have no idea what I'm fucking doing. I'm 18 years old, these guys are like 40, like, and I'm and I'm and but. But. But the thing that's cool is the artists all are really young, so they look at me. I'm like, like, and so, like, Max is like, Hey, like, go get the artist to do this, this song. And I'm like the cool guy who, like, goes out to the clubs and like, knows where the cool food well, you've got is.

And like,

the street cred, you know what I mean?

ye- yeah, and I'm yes, and I'm coming from doing like cool underground stuff with like Diplo and Santi Gold and MIA. So so it kinda started this thing. And you know, before I know it, I'm like making all these song. It It's that's what I tell all these people. They're like, Well, I'm not classically trained, I'm not this guy, I'm like, barely a musician. I just like, I'm sure you guys are the same way.

I fudged my way completely into what I'm doing like it, it, I just, uh, faked it and learned on the fucking job. Like,

but you have taste, and you know how, you know what sounds good, you know how to create that, you know how to maintain it. If you do hear it, and you know how to add to it, y- y- right?

yeah. A. A. There's that, if 100, there is that cause you had it in you all. It sounds like it came from it naturally. There's always music we covered, and the the sort of the through line is is none of this was when you said ironically, you ended up at the same place as NARs Barkley. Is. You created your own you, you manifested it by working hard, you it didn't happen by accident, dude. You every step of the way, you hustled and you created those opportunities for yourself by no, I continuing 100.

know what, I know what you're saying, I know what you're saying. Like, I always tell people, the the the harder you work, the more chances you have to be lucky. So, Yeah, like, you didn't but

wanna go and live the like, like going to stay and do that engineering program where you get a room in Brooklyn. That led to a bunch of other of course, shit. And and so people go like, how do you get that? Well, you gotta do the like, as you said before, you gotta do these little step, these little bullshit things build

yeah, I thought I was gonna like, be the biggest rapper in the world. Dude, I landed doing some pretty cool shit. Like, here's what I'll say for you, for you guys, though, seriously, like, okay, all of you guys, I'm sure have the same answer. Uh, like, uh, are you the best actor? Like, is there someone out there who's a better actor than you? Are there people that you feel are more deserving? a million, Yes, yes, but but like, you're talented and you guys have, like to me, it's like you guys have like, great vibe, you have great rap, you have great talk.

And it's like, I think so much of it is like a person's energy, their work ethic, mixed with a little bit of talent. You have to have, like, some yeah, yeah, yeah, that's talent, but I

very true.

think so much of it is this is like like, people skills, and yeah, and and and people, Benny, go yeah,

ahead, you go.

I have nothing to say.

Okay, no, I wanted to get to because we're we're running out of time and I don't want to take all your time. I I say just really

that all the time in the fucking world. also, the yeah, that truth was, that was an is the

hour ago.

truth is for me is also I'm a I'm a really good lay.

Man, yeah, but I could tell you, look, you're hot, you're hot, you guys are all so beautiful. Thanks, man, you are too. Benny,

we'll be right back.

all right, back to the show.

I wanted to because I'm obsessed with your wife, just like you are, just like millions of people are, and I really, really am a such a big fan of Selena's. Uh, t how did you meet?

Benny just by the way, Benny just passed her for me. I mean, I, I, I, but we don't know each other, Benny. This is a 1st for me. I, I, I'd, I'd, I'd like to officially ask you, ask for your friendship. Okay, Wait, you, you don't I'm, I'm have to answer now, but um, I, I, yeah, I, I. I'd like you a part of my life, guys, please.

I I 1st of all, before I say anything about my wife, I do wanna say the amount of what I do, the amount that I've learned from all of you guys, like through what you guys do. Like, and this isn't a joke, like, like, like, I've, I've 1st of all, I've seen every single arrested development, uh, e- episode ever. 2nd of all, I've I've watched, I watched Ozark three different times because I had to show so many different people.

Selena and I, every single night, we go to bed to Will Grace, every single night, no matter what, no mat, it's it's like it's that, uh, 1st of all, I love the show, but that's her doing. I'm not watching Will Grace every single fucking night of my life. I know,

every straight guy says the same thing. Yeah,

yeah, I could say the Sean name

and Shunk. We have a quick visit from Jack. We have a quick visit from your character. We have a quick visit.

but it's so funny, everybody. It's so funny. Straight guys always come to me, like, Um, my wife loves your show. I mean, I don't watch it with her, but I, but then, you know, but then I watched, they quote it.

I watched it with my mother, and then I've re-watched it now 700 times that's very with my wife. So good, Okay, that's very so how did I meet? how did I meet my wife? Here's what happened. Funny part is 1st time we met, neither one of us remember. There's an email that exists, but we can't remember it cause we were both young. Uh, her mother. I was already, like, pretty successful as a as a producer, okay, and she hadn't really made music yet.

She's a few years younger than me, so so she was a star on Disney and she had just started, I think, making, like, Disney songs. But they weren't like no one was taking her seriously as like a pop star. And somehow, her mother, being like the hustler she is, got a meeting with me, and I don't remember that meeting, but we had a meeting, it existed. There's like email, there's emails. And that was, oh, my god, that was, uh, at least 15 years ago, maybe more,

asking you to produce her stuff? something like that. But Yeah,

in 2014, my b- one of my closest friends signed her to a record deal at Interscope Records. His name's John Janick. I also have my own record label there, and that's where I put out my music. And he said, We signed this girl, Selena, and I was like, Oh, yeah, I love her stuff. Like she was, she was getting big, and she was it was it. And I was like, Oh, I love her stuff. I didn't even know about the TV show, didn't know any of that.

Um, and cause I'm too old for it, I like, didn't it? It was over my head. So we get put together and we make a few songs, we have a really big hit song called Same Old Love. Um, and she's that's 2014, and um, over the next few years, we have made a few songs. Like very Lut- like friend is like the loosest term in the world, like, uh, acquaintances that spend extended period of times in the studio together, but nothing more than that.

Then in 2019, we did a song together and I had become an artist. Okay, so I had been putting out songs as an artist. We do a song together. It's called I Can't Get Enough, and it has Tiny on it, and it's has J Balvin on it, and it's a, uh, it's a really cool song. And we're, we're shooting the music video, okay, and she was going through a tough time at at at that time, it was it was a very tough time.

And she. They had all these rules, I thought like, and it was like, you know, when, like, you're getting, like, secondhand information from someone. And they're like, uh, yeah. And like, when she like, don't talk about this thing and don't say too much of that. And like, maybe like, if she looks like, and it's like, you, I'm sure you guys get that with stuff like through the podcast or p- or like even people say that about you.

And then, um, so I'm like, there, and I'm like, Okay, uh, what am I? I'm like, looking at the things, I'm not supposed to say. And I get up there and we just immediately, like we had hung out, but we hit it off in like a level that's so fun. I, I have a girlfriend at the time. Not like this isn't like sexually or romantically, like, we just hit it off. And I'm like, Wow, I'm like, dude, I'm like, she's fucking cool.

I'm like, I'm like Selena. It's like the 1st time where, like, we actually, like, hung out and got deep and like, there's like a picture By the way, she of us, like,

ins by the way, she insulted. You're like, finally, you're like, after years, you're like, Hey, you know what, you're cool? And she's like, Hey, thanks a lot. yeah, finally,

No No, she, she wasn't, because it's like, she's like, you know, I in a studio sometimes, and like, just like someone at her level, you can be a little bit guarded in a situation. And like, I, I really got, What were I. you saying?

I was just saying, I read that when she. She used to show up to your house a little early and and sit outside a and like, fix herself and talk to her friend on the phone Oh my god, before going in, cause she was so nervous. And you knew it because you had cameras outside this? And and you'd see that was after we her.

st- that was after we started dating, okay, so, like, literally,

That is really funny.

okay. So basically, I'm at my photo, I'm at my shoot, I'm at my shoot, and my mother comes up to me. She says, You should really date someone like Selena, I think you should date. I said, Mom, I said, I have a girlfriend right now. What are you talking about? And she goes, No, no, but like, you should really end up with someone like Selena. And I was like, Mom, what do you? And and I'm like the Mo- I'm like, saying, like, you're crazy, okay?

2020. We don't even have to get into it because the whole internet knows. There was like some sort of thing where the internet thought I meant one thing, and I obviously didn't mean it. And they thought I was like taking a dig at Selena, okay, and it's like, you, you don't need to waste the time. It's been, like, talked about so many t. They thought I was taking a a personal dig at Selena on, like, a radio show.

And obviously, I wasn't. I've never taken a dig at any human being in my life. Like, so, so, um, so things maybe seem a little weird. And like, I, I, I like, am gonna text her, and then, like, my friend's like, No, just don't, it's fine. And then I see her over the next few years, a few times at like parties, or I run into her. And then, like, sometimes it's like, Oh my god, hey, and sometimes it's like, Oh, what was that awkward?

or was that in my head? was it so like, I like, don't know what's going on? And then 2023, she's making a song called Single Soon, and some of my guys had written the song. Okay? And and I heard it and I was like, Oh, I'm not a huge fan of this song, but let me help you guys, like, make it better. And and, uh, John calls me up and he said, Okay, he said, But it was there some weird thing with you and Selena, like, that we should straighten out?

And I was like, I don't think so. I we were cool the last time we saw each other. And then I he was like, Maybe you should go to the studio and just, like, show face and, like, just, like, make things all good. And I'm like, Okay, and then he's like, I don't think they're bad, but, like, maybe just make em good. And I'm like, Okay, so I go to the studio, I hang out, we, like, hit it off, so we're, like, laughing.

Eh, whether she hated me before or not, whatever is erased. We're Like we're laughing, but but, like, so not in a romantic way. Like, we're laughing in a way where I'm like, Oh my god, I have dinners all the time with my friends. You should come over, I'll hook you up with a great Right, I Guy. Like

By the way, I read a description of one of your dinners where your mom's in a rhinestone shirt that says bada bing, and people are tripping and people are and people are tripping on Toad. What i what is Toad?

What is Toad?

What is Toad? Wait, let me You're so I'm wait, I Wait, I wanna Wanna hear. hear Okay.

Okay, well, you're so, uh, you're so well read. Well, not Yeah, he's All of this stuff.

Very well read. Uh, Toad is His his A thing where you, assistant is busy, Like, slip Yeah, his assistant Yeah, you read is very It. It's where busy.

You fucking slip into another dimension. Read about it when you're trying to take a shit next time. Okay, here here's the Very good, very Thing. Here Good. Here's here's here's where we're at. We're so I'm in there. We're doing it. I leave the thing. I leave the session. I write her like a message just smoothing everything over saying, like, So glad we got in, Sue, I had, like, the best time ever. And and we start talking back and forth, and it was just like, you know, to me, like, simple artist talk.

And then, like, she starts sending, like, funny selfies back and forth, and I'm still I'm, like, in the middle of doing a bunch of stuff. So I I don't really, like, pay it much mind. I'm just like, Oh, this is just, like, friendly banter. And then she asks me to hang out the next day. She said, Do do you wanna hang out? And I said, Oh, I said, Yo, I'm I'm, uh I got I I got my friend's, like, birthday dinner.

You wanna come with me? And I'm thinking it's friends cause I'm like, Eh, obviously, Selena Gomez doesn't wanna go out on a date with me. And I I had no idea. I had no I I'm I'm obviously, Are we getting to Like, like, We're we're Of course.

We're gonna we're gonna get to the date soon, right? In the Yeah, we're getting Story? Yeah, To the date. We're Okay, great.

Getting to the date right now. Why You gotta go Good. To take a poop or something? Uh, we're we're so so okay. We're we're

It's Friday.

We're we're at we're at the date. We're at the date.

It's Friday.

Um, she thinks it's a date. I have no idea it's a date, okay? And and she makes a comment where I'm like, Is this a date? But I don't know. And then we're cause we're with other people. Like, first, we got a glass of wine, then we're with other people, and and she, like, leaves suddenly early, and I'm like, Oh, okay, I guess it wasn't a date. And she's like, I gotta shoot a music video tomorrow.

And I said, Okay. And then I'm like, Oh, she's just, like, super busy, and that we were just friends. And then she texted me, she's like, That was the best time I've had in a really long Sweet. Time. And and I'm like, Oh, yeah, that was so fun. Then we go out on a a a 2nd date. Then I'm like, Oh, this is a date. And I lay a smooch on her. And we literally since that day have been inseparable.

She's she's the yin to my yang. She's my best friend. She's I know she's been on your guys thing. She's the Yeah. We Easiest person to

Love her. Talk to on planet She's the best. Earth. She's just I I love her.

Love her. So much smarter

Than me, she's so much funnier than me, she's definitely so much prettier than me.

I just love how I just love love how open and honest you both are, and You both seem Me too. So comfortable In your skin and just, like, Look, I'm just human and I'm just me, and, like, uh, you know, I'm just trying to get on with it, you know? I it seems like it's just such a great a great match the two of you.

Yeah, you're you're lucky.

You guys are both such genuine people. So, people

Always say things. They're like, What, um they're like, Okay, but, like, what do you guys do on, like, a normal night? And I'm like, What do you mean? What do we do on Just A normal night? What a normal I'm like I'm like,

Night, right?

What do you do on A normal night? Like, after this, like, what am I gonna do? I'm gonna sit on a couch with her and watch a movie and maybe I'll make her dinner. Yeah, I Like, you know.

Love that. Um, Benny, you know, we gotta let you go because we've taken We definitely Up way too much of your

Do. Yeah.

Time. But I saw on your website you'll sell someone a strand of your hair for $4,995, or your actual phone, passcode, photos, and contacts for $1 million. Has anybody has anybody tried to buy either one?

So, that was a thing from, like, uh, like, 9 years ago when I first became An artist, and it went like Super viral back then. Um, I don't even Has anybody Think you

Called and bought it yet?

I don't even think you can hit the link. You want it for free, you can just have either one for Free. I love Good. I love It. I'll send I'll Send it over To you.

And your new album Hermoso, which is I I listened to some of it, it's really really cool. I love it.

I also have a book, I got a book. Oh, you

Oh, what?

Have the book, yeah.

I have a book.

It's called Fuck Failure, is that what It's called? Yeah.

Yes, I like, Yeah, I have a

I love that.

Book on just, like, how to fail upwards, you know? And Ooh, I like Just, like

That. That's out now?

It, uh, it probably will be when this thing's Out, but, uh, let's Just say, watch watch this. My new book's out right now. Okay? Okay, now watch this. Now watch this. Now watch this. My new book's coming out soon. You should get it soon. Okay, now watch Yeah, yeah, we have This. Okay, Bye. To we have Yeah, yeah, To, uh, you just Yeah, yeah.

Insert her name.

Nice, good.

Benny, but there there's not a lot of people on the planet with your success, so I I'm just so blown away by your story and how you got here and all the contributions you've made to society through music, like, it's just everybody knows your songs. It's gotta be the best Yeah, and Feeling in the world.

How and how earned it is, is really Yeah, yeah, yeah, how Impressive, truly,

Earned it is. Truly, truly, truly, Yeah.

I mean it, it's it's

Really cool.

So well earned and and and deserved because you you worked really, really hard and you're really I don't like Nice. Compliments, say something really I know.

Bad about me. Say something terrible about Me. Hey,

I don't know, I never you know, when Get him, I never When, oh, Get him, so I don't know.

when do you sail back to the States?

I sail back in, uh, in in in September. I'm going back in September cause I gotta go promote my book in New York, and then then I'm really taking some time off. I've I I won't have been home in 4 1/2 months, and Is New I like

York home or Los Angeles?

No, Los Angeles is home, and I just wanna, like, Ciao. Oh my God, there Yeah, I haven't fucking I haven't slept in my bed in almost 5 months. Yeah, I just finished Are you guys that.

Thinking are you guys thinking what I'm thinking? The four of us, New York to LA. road trip?

Oh, shit.

I I like, where do you guys live? Are you all LA? Both. Can I hang out with you guys?

Yeah, right when you get back. Yeah, please Yeah, we're gonna come hang Is this, Do a

with us. Like, is this

I missed the last hangout,

Fake?

but I I want I I I'm I'm gonna be a big part of the next one.

Is is this is this fake?

No, it's real. Like, are are we Wait, huh? Do are is

There actual like, Will I ever actually have your guys' numbers? Or is this a thing we're talking about on here, and then we never speak ever again? Be I'm gonna Honest, I'll be I'll love you either way. I would kill

To hang out with you. We

All kinds of weird things we're gonna forward you, and we're gonna text you. It's g- it's gonna be awkward.

Here, I'm gonna tell you guys something

Your phone number?

Right now. Ju- no, just, yeah, I'm telling you my number right now. I'm about to go on Howard Stern by the time this airs. If you guys haven't texted me by the time I go on Howard Stern, I'm literally airing you out on Howard Stern. So, I'm just letting you I'm just letting you know that because I'm a people's people, and I gotta let the people know if this thing's I tell you what, Really gonna happen.

We're we're gonna cut it, we're gonna cut it. Give us your phone number right now, and we're We're gonna write it down old school style. Go.

Cut it. What is it?

Are you gonna write it down with a pen?

Yeah, I got a pen.

Yeah, me too. Hey guys, don't cut it. Guys, don't cut It. Guys, do not

Don't do that.

Cut it. Whatever you do, do not cut it. We have had I dare This I can't believe Argument. You. I've He fell for Literally leaked

That number by mistake, like 4 times, and I just, like, I just my phone just rings all day, and I just By the way, Don't pick it

You know what? Up. By by the way, you know what the thing is? Anybody can have my number, it doesn't mean I'm gonna respond.

I know, I know, my phone just Holy Rings all day.

Shit. Whoa, dude, that was deep as fuck.

Um, you guys are actually amazing.

Uh, Benny, we love you, thank Hey, listen, You so much.

How about we go to the studio?

Yes, and you gu- and, also, you guys, um, I don't know if you've seen it, but, like, you guys really inspired me and Dave and his wife to have a podca- we have a podcast,

Oh, great.

And, um, and you guys really inspired us to do it because we were like, Oh, podcasts are so stupid. And then once we saw you guys do it, we were like, Okay, now it's cool to have Still A podcast. Stupid. Yeah, but still And and and Stupid. It's been, like, one of our favorite things we get to do together, cause I do it they're my 2 best friends, and I get to do It with my

That's great.

That's fun.

That's great.

Yeah, it's fun. That's what Yeah, that is We do. Yeah. Fun.

Well, it was very nice of you to come on this Night, my friend. dude, so Yeah, Benny, thank good, so, You.

so good.

You guys are rad, man. Yeah, you're the Thank you guys best. So much.

All right, give our love to Selena.

All right, I will, we'll talk soon.

Okay, love you. All right, Bye, Benny.

bye, buddy. See you when you're All right, love Talk to you soon. Back.

you to these guys. Bye.

Bye, buddy. Bye. Text me that number, Willie.

Yeah, I will.

I love that, um, threat. I love that threat. If we don't call him, he's gonna air us out on the

Yeah, on Stern.

Howard Stern.

I just texted him 1st.

That's great, shoot. Okay.

Um, that's a that's a nice fella.

Real nice.

Yeah, I like him a lot. What a story. I mean, like, uh, inspiring, like, you know, we talk about it a lot on here, but it, uh, it is. It's all about baby steps to get to the thing you want, and anybody can get there, you just have to put the work in, right?

Yeah, it seems like he's already lived, like, a long lifetime

I know. Already. He's tight, but he's He's 38.

He, he's got, like, such and he was talking about vibe and stuff, like, he's got great vibe, he's got Great thing with people, and he under like, there's something about him, and and and you Yeah, you're Can, yeah, you combine

Drawing them.

That with the hard work and and and a and a true sort of talent for music and ear and all that sort of stuff, and it's just A winning a winning combo.

I wanna hang out with him. Yeah, well,

I know.

I think, well, wasn't there a hang that I missed that you guys were at I went not with On Sunday Us.

I wasn't there.

or something? Maybe?

I know, I I know Maybe maybe What you're saying.

Might have been while you were both out.

I was out of town for 71 days.

Ah, can you be more specific?

Oh, boy, well, you served Your time, Willie, and now you you've learned your lesson, I think, right?

But it just goes to Sh, I mean, he's, his Book's coming out, is but I was gonna say, Yeah, well, Like, he he

What were you gonna say?

Cheated at all, and but you were saying it's it's It's all it's all just baby steps, right? And Then you do those, and then once you get through those, What happens? It's bye, Bye, baby, Bye, baby,

Bye, bye.

Bye, bye. Bye. You're right. Smart, Less Smart, Less Smartless is 100% organic and artisanally handcrafted by Michael Grant Terry, Rob ArmJarv, and Bennett Barbato.

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