Mendeecees Harris: From Hustling in Harlem to Building a Legacy | CRIME PAYS

In this powerful episode of Crime Pays with Ash Cash & Jay White, we sit down with Mendeecees Harris to uncover his journey from growing up in Harlem’s tough streets to becoming a music mogul, real estate investor, and family man. Mendeecees opens up about losing his father at a young age, navigating the streets as a teenager, surviving incarceration, and shifting his mindset to build legitimate wealth and create generational legacy for his children. Discover the life lessons, mindset shifts, and raw truths behind his transformation. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your past or wondered how to pivot your hustle into something positive, this episode is for you. Join Crime Pays Academy: https://www.skool.com/crimepaysacademy 00:00 - It's a dog-eat-dog world 00:24 - Connecting with a fellow boss 00:46 - Welcome to Crime Pays 01:16 - Why this interview is personal 02:06 - Choosing a different side 02:23 - Meet Mendeecees "D1" Harris 02:40 - Growing up in Harlem 03:12 - Money down south 03:44 - OG protection and early influences 04:14 - Wild dice game story 05:31 - Growing up in the '90s 06:01 - Entry into the street game 06:59 - Life in a broken household 07:50 - Growing up too fast 08:43 - Sibling leadership and survival 10:27 - When the hustle became real 11:03 - In and out of school 12:20 - The $75 transport risk 13:08 - Pivoting for bigger rewards 13:26 - Observing and reading the room 14:06 - Quiet but dangerous 15:06 - The power of silence 16:21 - Staying out of unnecessary drama 17:24 - TV vs. real life 18:33 - Transitioning to a new hustle 19:35 - The blueprint for hustling out of town 20:33 - Risks and rewards in the streets 21:26 - Mental stress of hustling 22:29 - Planning the exit strategy 22:53 - Long run vs. short run 23:59 - Balancing fame and risk 24:09 - Gratitude for new opportunities 25:16 - Facing prison and fear 26:22 - Prison mentality: "I'm that guy" 27:29 - Harlem rules: Loud vs. quiet 28:06 - Wars cost money 29:10 - Lessons from losing friends 30:04 - Dealing with disrespect and patience 31:17 - A generation without a code 32:21 - Social media clowns 32:43 - Music management days 33:09 - One foot in, one foot out 33:44 - A forced reset and divine timing 34:52 - Family first 35:34 - Influence of music and culture 36:49 - Status symbols and social clout 37:55 - Reconnecting to family values 38:42 - Transition from street to business 39:34 - Social media isn't everything 40:17 - Dealing with online hate 41:01 - Coming home with a plan 41:45 - Relocating for a better life 42:24 - Meeting his wife 43:34 - Hustle meets hustle 44:41 - Balancing success and relationships 45:58 - Partnership over ego 47:32 - Fame changes everything 48:05 - Blocking out the noise 49:02 - From music to full-time real estate 50:05 - Why real estate is a safe bet 51:12 - Risk vs. reward lessons 52:36 - Using street smarts in business 53:37 - Lessons from OGs: "Do more telling than asking" 54:42 - Teaching kids independence 55:32 - Raising daughters vs. sons 56:31 - Advice for those coming home 57:53 - Surroundings and environment matter 58:36 - Giving flowers to those who made it out 59:59 - Greatness and legacy 1:01:06 - Teaching kids real estate 1:02:29 - Opportunities for partnerships 1:03:33 - Helping friends level up 1:04:36 - Building new circles in Atlanta 1:05:52 - Smart friends and growth 1:06:16 - As advertised: Real recognizes real 1:07:03 - Inspiration from Malcolm X 1:08:02 - Taking every class for early release 1:08:33 - Federal contracts meet real estate 1:09:35 - Affordable housing and hedge funds 1:10:19 - Cutting out the middleman 1:11:03 - Final thoughts: Authenticity and flowers 1:12:27 - Success is about teamwork 1:13:12 - Encouragement to keep going 1:14:05 - Final wrap-up and lessons 1:16:04 - Genius of the streets 1:16:57 - Elon Musk on street smarts 1:17:30 - Closing remarks and outro 📺 Watch new episodes of Crime Pays every Wednesday at 8 PM EST! #CrimePaysPodcast #MendeeceesHarris #AshCash #JayWhite #FromTheStreetsToSuccess #RealEstate #MusicBusiness #GenerationalWealth