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Third Man in the Ring
My name is Ray Corona. My friends call me Popeye Ray. I am a professional boxing referee with a few MMA bouts under my belt. Listening to this podcast you will hear from a pro ref's perspective on fighting and life. We will be having professional boxing referees, actors, fighters, and others on as guests. If you have questions for refs on certain fights and certain calls, this is the place to ask. Reach out to us at thirdmanintheringpodcast@gmail.com
Third Man in the Ring
I Thought I Was Going to Die in the Streets… Now I Live for God
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He grew up in gang culture…believed he would die in the streets…and was proud of it. Today, his life looks completely different. In this episode of Third Man in the Ring, Popeye Ray sits down with Jay to talk about a life most people will never understand. From violence, jail, and losing friends… to finding purpose, faith, and a new direction. This isn’t just a story about where he came from, it’s about what changed, and why it matters.
Hey, welcome to Third Man in the Ring. I'm your host, Popeye Ring. Today I got another positive testimony. Don't take the look, don't, don't, don't judge a book by its cover. This is a Kamarala J. I met him at 24 Hour Fitness. And you know what, guys? I I heard his testimony, and I just think it's very encouraging. And again, judging a book by its cover, yes, he's been to the joint. Yes, he's had that rough life. But you know what? You'll be surprised where he's at today, what he's doing with his life today. So I want you to give him a warm welcome to my friend, your friend, my homie, your homie, Jay Solano. Thank you, bro. Thank you for having me, bro. Hey, nice feed, my homie. So, Jay, tell the fans where you at today?
SPEAKER_00Where are you at today? What are you doing today? What I'm doing today is I'm an advocate for higher education. I'm an advocate for my king, my my my savior, Jesus. Um I've been uh going to church faithfully for over a year.
SPEAKER_01Well, before we get into that awesome part of you serving God now, tell the fans where you grew up. Where you grew up, how you grew up, family, I mean, was it good, bad? I I mean, again, guys, looking at Jay, very intimidating looking. Let's be honest, man. I seen him at 24 hours, I go, oh my god, I hope this guy isn't an enemy. Because man, he was walking up to me, I'm like, oh my god, I hope you don't stock me up, eh? But Jay, where where'd you grow up at, bro?
SPEAKER_00I grew up in the city of Pique Rivera, uh Nuevo Side, yeah, Nueva Side, um, cross streets where Whittier and Passins, everybody knows that that that block for cruising, for um violence, for um I just remember coming off of Whittier Boulevard going there, and if you stopped too long, you guys would come out here, right? Exactly, exactly. We would stay hidden um behind cars in the liquor store, and as soon as everybody we bumper the bumper, we'd just mob out maybe 20 of us at least. 20 of us. Sometimes we if we were if we were short, at least 10. But you had nowhere to go. That's right. You had nowhere to go, we'd we'd approach your window, flash the burner, be like, what's happening? Okay, you're gonna break it down? Okay, feed me, go ahead and go. Yeah, and um on to the next car, and then we'd we'd resume program. And I remember back in the early 90s, too. I mean, a couple dudes were ready for us when we pulled up, walked up to the car. They started unloading. Um, I lost a lot of friends, my homeboy Richard, uh, rest in peace. Um, my homeboy Casper rest in peace. Uh, they passed away, unfortunately, uh, at the Eminem liquor store on Whittier Boulevard.
SPEAKER_01I know very familiar with that store.
SPEAKER_00Um, so I mean, I had about another half-dozen homeboys shot there, right in front in the parking lot of Eminem liquor store. So that was like our liquor store. That was our our way of approaching cars on Whittier Boulevard when everybody was cruising, everybody was um, you know, because everybody thought as soon as you got off, if you weren't from the area, you just see a bunch of females around, you know, Daisy Dukes, Low Tops.
SPEAKER_01Um I I call the 90s the American Me Days. Yeah. Because that's that era was it was very, very, I mean, the game violence was just at the height. Yeah. But then it got structured behind that other stuff, but it was still super violent, you know?
SPEAKER_00It was yeah, we grew up in a violent time. Um, and shh, thank the Lord, uh uh I'm alive. I've been shot a few times, stabbed over a dozen times, um, still standing here. And um, you know, I was telling what school did you go to? I went to El Rancho. I went to a Rancho High School, I went to Southern Cheeto Elementary, I went to North Park middle school. So always in the, always um in the city, you know, born in East LA, uh, raised in Piquivera, we moved to Piquivera at a young age, maybe two, three. And uh from there, from then on out, um, you know, as I grew older, I believed, you know, I was gonna die there. You know, and I remember telling my aunt, Margaret, one time, I go, you know what? She goes, what are you gonna do with your life? Like, you know, you're starting to get takas now, you're a homeboy. Like, what are you gonna do? And I told her, I'm gonna, I'm gonna die here. But I said it in a positive manner where like I was proud of it.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00I said, you know what, Tia, I'm gonna die here. Because that that was that was the What's the word a martyr? A martyr for your audio? Yeah, I'm just like, I'm gonna go all out, you know? I'm gonna die right here, and you know, my legacy, my so-called legacy that I have is gonna live on. Yeah, you know, because we still have those a lot, we still talk about homeboys that are gone or that should have been here or didn't get the opportunity to to get the opportunities that I have with the Lord. And um and I'm thinking, man, hey, but now I have the vision of of uh believing that I'll see them again one day. Like, you know what, they're gone, but you know what, I'm gonna get to see, I'm gonna get to see my homeboys again, and and that's a beautiful thing. So, Jay, your your upbringing, I mean, you have brothers and sisters. No, no brothers, no sisters, um, a bunch of homeboys that have turned into my brothers, you know, friendships over 35, 40 years. And you know what, Jay, let me let me interrupt you with that.
SPEAKER_01Said a lot of people think that, oh well, gang members, how they don't. Gangs can actually be your brothers. They can actually love you, and you can love them, and you want the best for them, and they want the best for you. So it's not that that stereotype where uh they they don't want you, and you know, unfortunately, it's just the culture in the gang stuff will lead you to drugs or you know, prison. But there's still love.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, there's still a bond, there's still unity, there's still, you know, today um a lot of our conversations are about um, hey, who's hiring, who's who's um, what medication are you on, uh, what doctors are good. Um everything's pretty much beneficial. Our conversations have changed, thank God. Um, you know, before it was hey, who's who needs to get dealt with, what are messing up. I'm just gonna go ahead. And and um, hey, you know what, uh, who needs to get taken out?
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00You know, and and it went from those conversations, many of those conversations, and being okay with those conversations, to now it's like, damn, well. I I just told my my homeboy Angel Reyes the other day, and um I go, hey, you know what? The Lord has been with us this whole time, bro, and we didn't even know it. Yeah. And I've been, you know. Yeah, and I've been, and I'm not like too much pressuring my homeboys, but I'll send them the daily, the daily bread in the morning. That's right. And then I was telling my wife, I go, you know what, when I don't send it, they'll hit me up and be like, hey, you didn't send me the daily bread. Yeah, what's up with you? Yeah, like what's going on here, you know? And then I'll laugh. Slip in or what? Yeah, and because I'll forget because I have, you know, I have things to do. And so I'll forget. So I'll be like, oh man, you know, I'll send it right away and they'll say thank you for it. Put me on your list, Holmes. Yeah, so so um, yeah, just making, starting to make good habits instead of uh bad habits, but not forgetting the bad habits because um, you know, hey, uh the guys I grew up with were a group of individuals that that showed me a gang of love, showed me how to survive, showed me um a different way of life. Um, unfortunately, a lot of that life was was a part of living a lie, but it made me who I am today. Yeah. It made me who I am today, and and I'm grateful for that.
SPEAKER_01And this is where I always said, uh, I used to call them first string, second string, third string homeboys. Yeah, yeah. The first string homeboys, once they get their life together, God willing, they get their life together, you'd be surprised how aggressive they are in the real world. Yeah. You know? Look at you. I mean, I don't want to tell Jay's Jay's testimony, but this man goes to college, this man is educated, this man has a brain. Unfortunately, unfortunately, I wasn't good in school, I was in the yellow little yellow bus. But that's another story. But you know what? Imagine him being your supervisor, imagine him being your boss, and you would think, because we tend to, you know, judge a book by its cover, uh, he's uneducated, he's this. But when I heard your story that you're going to college, I like, wow, that's I'll be transferring to the university.
SPEAKER_00That's a blessing.
SPEAKER_01Some youngster out there that's saying, uh, who's gonna hire me? Or some youngster says, I can't do it. Yeah. Your proof, the proof's in the pudding, yeah. You're you're doing it. Yeah, I'm saying the tone. Um were you always decent in school, good in school?
SPEAKER_00I was you know what? I maintained uh a C average because my dad was like Through all the gangbangs. Yeah, my dad, yeah, my dad, my dad was like, Hey, you know what? He was real lenient with me. And a lot of people blame my pops for like, hey, you should have been harder on him because he wouldn't have turned out the way he is. But my pops was like Pops is pops. Yeah, he's still super supportive, and it's funny because he's like my biggest cheerleader. There you go, you know, because I changed my life, and he's like, Mr. props to you. Yeah, my dad Gil, uh, he's he's excited, you know, because I'll run into people and they'll go, hey man, I ran into your dad, and all he could do is talk about you, you know. That's awesome. Yeah, and um, yeah, so I am a I am uh Mount Sach student. I'll be transferring in a few months uh with a sociology degree, and and um in a couple months I'll be transferring to the university. So that's gonna go great for me. I know I I I've had vision and I have um I have goals, and um I feel like at this point, like if I'm rolling with the Lord, nothing's gonna stop me. Amen. I'm I'm gonna get it done and I'm gonna provide. Um my goal is to be the sole provider for my family, for my wife not to work, for her to just, you know, just chill out and um and me just to play my role as a man and be like go to Holly and take care of business, you know, and and and and provide. You know, I wasn't and let's jump back and forth.
SPEAKER_01So what led you to the to the gang that since you were decent in school, what led you to do gang stuff, bro?
SPEAKER_00Um everybody, you know, fortunately, I w I grew up on on all those blocks where there was tons of kids, and all that all they did was play baseball, football, ride bikes, ride skateboards. And every block we used to uh play each other. It didn't matter, you couldn't switch teams. Like I grew up on Stefan's, we played the kids that were on church, on Passins, on um, you know, on Haney, on different on different uh streets, but everybody knew everybody, you know, and everybody walked to school together. At a certain time, everybody was walking out and everybody would wait, wait for each other, and unfortunately, little by little everybody started getting into the neighborhood. I was like, I would look at it.
SPEAKER_01Is it fair to say it was almost like that's just the way life was gonna be? You know, that's yeah, you know what I mean? That was just you were either in the 90s, you were either a rocker belly or what do they call them, you know, or or I went through I went through I went, yeah.
SPEAKER_00And at the time before that, I went through like in my younger days through the little house party days, but that even the house party days started turning into gangs or st or or started turning into tag bangers, and then tag bangers turned into barrios. And then um by that time, once you were in the barrio, that was it. You know, they had your hooks and yeah in your your back.
SPEAKER_01But um, yeah, it was- did some of these childhood friends turn into enemies?
SPEAKER_00Um or did they all get into your body? No, a couple, a couple did. A couple did, and then uh, and then we were like wondering like, hey, why why are they over there with them? Like, like they lived here all their life. And then it was like an issue where like, okay, now they're a threat because they know where we're at. Yeah you know, they know where we stay at, you know. So um, but yeah, no, I grew up in a in a good environment. Um, but it was just we had that camaraderie at a young age where we had that loyalty. You know, um, you know, my my generation had that loyalty and still has that loyalty today, where um where if I'm able to pick up the phone and and call certain homeboys, anybody from my generation, thank God, and they'll come. Yeah, they'll say, okay, what what's going on? What do you need? What do you want me to do? Let's do it. You know, and and I don't put my homeboys in in um any bad predicaments or I don't try to, but if I need them, I'll call. I mean, uh, yeah, I'll call for their help and vice versa. You know what I mean? They've called me. I have homeboys that call me and said, hey, you know what, it's not going good. I I need to move out of my path right now. I'm not in a good place, say, I need help moving out, and I'll be like, I'll be there tomorrow morning. You know, and um, and you know, and those things worked out for them, thank the Lord that those things worked out and they didn't move out, they're still with their lady, their family, they're still, you know, everybody doesn't have it's not a good ride all the time, you know. Especially being seek and destroy, bro. Especially being married, you know, me being married now um and being uh uh faithful to my wife. It's um, you know, the internet, the internet these days is undefeated, bro. The internet is undefeated, and like when I started five years ago, when I started doing the modeling and I started doing um uh little background. That's right. Jay's a model, bro.
SPEAKER_01We're gonna show some on the split screen here, guys. You're gonna see his modeling picture. Oh boy, how tall are you, Holmes? Six three. This guy's a monster, man. And I mean that in a good way, Holmes. You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, at the time they needed a big guy. Unfortunately, all the homeboys were little, blasted up, and they were like, they were looking for some solid individuals. And one of the homies from Temple hit me up. He's like, hey bro, they're looking for a big guy. Like, and I'm like, hey, bro, I don't know if I have the look. He's like, just come, who cares? Just come. And um, I did my first photo shoot five years ago. That led to other photo shoots, other photographers. If they need any ugly cholos, call me up. I will, I will, yeah, I will.
SPEAKER_01Um You wouldn't have to say that, Jake, but you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I ended up selling uh a couple of my prints to Japan.
SPEAKER_01Um I've seen I've seen it. You you guys will see his Instagram uh on the bottom of the screen, but you could see some of his photos, man.
SPEAKER_00Looks good. I mean, so I ended up doing that. I I signed um I signed my first modeling deal with Lolo Streetwear on Whittier Boulevard in Arizona. Um I remember the first time when he put his billboard up. Um me and my family went to the front of the billboard. He says, hey, he had a he has an electric, electric billboard, you know, it's like digital, digital. So he has a digital, he goes, hey, I'm gonna put you up on the billboard. That's right. And I go, for real? He goes, yeah, we're making improvements here at the shop. The shop's doing great. Um and he offered me my first uh modeling gig was for 600. I think it was about 600 bucks. I'm not too, if I can remember correctly, I think it was it was over 400, but it was like an agreement to take certain pictures and show up to certain um events at the shop every six months. But that was the first legit contract that I got for clothing. And um, I remember me and my family, we went and and I told my uncles and asked, hey, you know what, they're gonna put me on the billboard. They go, Are you in trouble? And I go, most modernists. No, I go, I told them they were like bullshitting, like, you know, all model, oh you're a model now, relax.
SPEAKER_01Well, I think we tend to think model in a feminine way, bro. No, I've seen you, I've seen Jay's pictures.
SPEAKER_00They're cool, bro. They it look solid, man. Yeah, so so we all went, we gathered, we were on Widder Boulevard in Arizona, seven o'clock came, boom, he turned it on, and there I was. There it was, huh? There it was, and and and that was a that was a good day.
SPEAKER_01You went to 6'5?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, bro. Yeah, I went there, chin up, chest out. That's right. And it was a it was a good day, and I I thought, you know what, I'm on my way. I'm on my way. This is this is good. This is good. And I went from um uh taking acting classes, um getting a manager, an agent. Um, I did work with From the Streets to the Seth for a little while, and then I went on my own. Um everything was good there, still is good. Uh did a few short films. I got a few short films coming out this year at the Hollywood Film Festival. I got I think about three films that I'm in. So, I mean, they haven't got actually picked up, but that's where they might get picked up. Let's see, let's keep our fingers crossed. But if not, you know, I had the I had the privilege of being involved and meeting good people. Good people, good networking, and um, you know, uh I'm real close to Emilio Rivera, I am. Okay. Yeah, bro. You know what? I've been wanting to work with Emilio because I worked with Richard Cabral a lot. And and we call each other. Um, you know, I know he's busy, I'm busy, but we still find the time to either text or call. And we have a project coming up together. Um, me and Richard and a couple other people um that that's getting lined up right now for some acting and uh in a film. But but Emilio, I always wanted to work with Emilio.
SPEAKER_01You're good Vatto, eh? From Frogtown, only solid, solid duty.
SPEAKER_00I've seen I've seen a couple of his interviews and uh the story on him and his brother and and just growing up right there by the by the riverbed, you know?
SPEAKER_01So Jay, real quick, not real quick, but so let's let's jump back again. When did the jailing start? When did when did getting arrested start? And you know, you obviously went to prison. I had a couple homeboys that were busted with with Jay as well, and they talked very highly of them. Um GP, regular yard, you know what I mean? Yeah, all day, yeah. For whatever that's worth, you know, I I don't get into politics, but for whatever that's worth, GP. You know what I mean? That's right. And I I like to set that straight because there's some of these haters want to start saying, we're not gonna go there, you know. Yeah. But what led you to that life?
SPEAKER_00And did you think that's where you're gonna be? You know, you know what? At that time, when I became a hompoy, and in about I think it was 93, 94, um, I was 17 in 1995, and you had a prior uh guest on here, Miguel uh Sororio Sororio? Yeah. Um wrongfully convicted. The bop, the the the Huda, the cop that framed him, took me to jail for the first time. Yeah. And um, when he had arrested me, I go, what are you arresting me for? And he goes, I'll think about it on the way. Say that again. He said, I'll think about it on the way. I mean, you know, that and and you know what?
SPEAKER_01I'm a supporter of the cops. My son's LAPD, but you'd be surprised, guys. You'd be surprised, you know. Straight out telling him, you know, what am I getting arrested for? We'll figure it out on the way up there, you know. It's a scary thing, man. It's a scary thing.
SPEAKER_00And that that started the motion. Yeah, that started the motion. Um, 9,500. Um uh you still wore your tennis shoes, you had your you had your money bags tying around your nut sack. Um you know, uh white boys were floor sleepers. Unfortunately, there at that time they had no love. So, but we we we showed them love by letting them sleep underneath our bunk at that time. Yeah, and um, but it was it was a dangerous place. Um Alley County Jail at that time. County jail ain't no joke, bro. Violence was um at an all-time high. Um more you did, the more you had respect. Yeah, I was 17 and I was about to be 18, and they they said, well, we're gonna keep you because you're gonna be here on your birthday. So you're you'll be like your birthday, can I? Yeah. Happy birthday, eh? And I remember um I I stood for two weeks, I came out, and actually I thought I was, I came out with my chest out. You let's be honest, bro. In that game culture, you're like, I've arrived, eh? Yeah, I'm not bones, you know. I just got out right now. You know, I'm hitting all the spots. Homebrews are like, hey, what happened? You got your bustling? Yeah, two weeks. And I two I was wearing that two weeks on my on my shoulder, like, like, like I just did a 10-year stretch, you know? Like I just put in work, but I was up two weeks, eh?
SPEAKER_01And you did because in the game culture homes, you're in there representing, eh? You're in there representing. Yeah, and again, Jay, because you're so big, you're a big man, you you stand out, hom. Yeah. You know what I mean? You stand out, eh? Yeah.
SPEAKER_00What happened after that one? So that that led to uh a couple more county jail trips, and then eventually, maybe two years later, um was my first trip to the penitentiary. Um, even when I went my first trip to the penitentiary, I got a 16-month um term. So I was in the county jail about six or seven months. So I was really disappointed when I got to Delano and I went to reception, and then they go, Hey, you're gonna get out next month. And I go, wait a minute. Why? I'm here for 16 months.
SPEAKER_01Let me get some bones for a minute. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00And they go, they go, oh, all your county time ate up the prison time, the two for one, you know? Yeah, yeah. They did give you the two for one, right? So they go, so you're already, you know, you're doing nine months off 18 months, and your county jail time already ate that up. So we're just waiting for your paperwork to come through. And I'm like, damn, eh? Like, can't even take a home. Yeah, my Sally at that time was a was a lifer who I heard just got out. Um, his name was Martin, little man from Pomona. I don't know if he remembers me or not. This is this is probably the late 90s or early 2000s. And um, I remember going in the cell with him and he was doing some badass artwork, eh? And then he tells me, How long you gonna be here for, homie? And he I go, 18 months. Or, you know, 16 months, 18 months, and then um he he he treated me feed me though. He treated me feed me, he goes, All right, eh? Go ahead, top bunks yours, eh? And of course, you know, so I'm young, he's a little bit older. And um, and I asked him one day, go before I left, I go, hey, how long you gonna be gone for, bro? And he goes, I got life, eh? And um and at that time I didn't know what to say. So I shook his hand, said good luck. Hopefully I see you when you get out. I heard not too long ago that he that he had got out, um, because there's there's a couple of Wattles from Pomona that go to school with me. So I asked about him. They go, hey, you know, he just got out. So I might run into him one day. You know, he might see this podcast and be like, hey, you know what? I remember homeboy, you know, but I was a lot younger then. I was maybe 21.
SPEAKER_01You know, you almost felt embarrassed that you were getting out and you only had two months, you know.
SPEAKER_00Exactly. At that time, if you were coming home and there were homies with stretches, like I was like, Oh man, this you know, yeah, yeah. Because I'm trying to push. Up a certain facade and a certain um you know name to live up to. So I was just like, man, you know, I need to timer I can even speak for you on that.
SPEAKER_01When you're 18, 19 in the joint home, you're the wrecking crew. Yeah. It's automatically. You're the wrecking crew, bro. Yeah. Something needs to get done, you're the wrecking crew. So when you go in there and you're like, I'm the wrecking crew, but I'm going home in two weeks, you're like, man, this ain't right. Oh, almost feel like a guilt trip.
SPEAKER_00Yep. Yeah, and I remember raising my hand a few times and um and then um getting to that point where like, you know, I'm getting sprayed, but I'm getting cuffed, but I'm um thinking in my mind, like, yeah, this ain't expected, right? Like, hell yeah. You know, I remember getting sprayed getting cuffed.
SPEAKER_01I mean, tell tell the fans, Jay, when you're in that lifestyle, you're either gonna be, that's the way I always call it, you're either gonna be a first stringer or a nothing. You know what I mean? And when you go in there for your barrio, you want you want to represent to the highest, to the fullest, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_00I remember being sprayed, full of pepper spray, could barely breathe, uh, being cuffed, but yelling out my barrio. All happy, dude. Yeah, all happy. You know, like, you know, hey, remember me, you know, type type thing. And and but now I look back and I'm thinking, like, damn man, like, bro. Like, like, that's crazy, bro. That's crazy that I was doing. So you get out on that one. I get out of that one, I go back a few more times, I end up going to the joint maybe three, four more times, each time for three or four years at a time. One um, so I ended up accumulating about no no flat time, um, but I've accumulated about 16 years total in the system.
SPEAKER_01Um But by this time, whether it's a year, two years, you're already, you're starting to get known, eh? Yeah. It's just the way it is. You go in there, you like you see the camarada from wherever. Yeah. Yeah. This is where my homeboys spoke well of you.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so I'm I'm recognizing homeboys or homeboys are like, oh, hey, my homeboy said you were here, or hey, I was with the homeboy, I was with so-and-so. Then of course, you know, you're running into your own homeboys, and that's a good feeling all the time to always see your own homeboys, especially if you see a few, then then you guys are deep and you guys are mobbing around and you know, shirts are off. And um, you know, I remember being up north with with um North Daniels and them being real respectful. They were my neighbors, and um, they would always call me sir. And I was young, and they'd be yes, sir, no, sir. You know, I remember they were the last, they were always up. I I'd look out my puerta, they were already up, getting ready. They were telling me when I was dias. Um it was funny because I never accepted nothing from them, but they would offer me comida, they would offer me a bunch of stuff, and then at that time we had that rule. I don't know if it's still implemented in the in the joint, but we were able to have our shirts off, and and they they had to have their shirts on though. Yeah. Like you could stay on the yard with us, but you're gonna have your shirts on. We're you're not gonna be flying no 14, you know, and um I have a big 13 on my back, and um, and so I used to wear that proudly. I'd take off my shirt, walk the yard, and especially when we're making a turn where they hung out at, yeah, and then they'd be all sweaty with the shirts on, and and I thought, man, yeah, that this is it right here. This is it, this is me right here. I've arrived almost, you know.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely, yeah. How did you feel when you ran into enemies in there? Um I I I know we're we're not allowed to gang bang unless it's personal or or we're allowed to, and I'll just leave it there. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00But did you run into a lot of for sure, for sure. I ran into enemies in there. Um nothing ever escalated at that point. I think there was um it was the higher level, you know, the level three or the level four. Um there was that wasn't tolerated. Yeah, it wasn't tolerated. You know, but when I did go to level two and level one, um, when I had smaller charges like maybe a loaded firearm and I went to a level two or level one, you know, homies were getting fades or what they call fades, you know, they're lining, lining up, um, you know, fighting in the back, and I'm like, hey, when's when was this allowed? Well, there's no structure really in the level one and level two. Everybody's uh G there, everybody knows um somebody there. But the ones that I really admired, and I'm not gonna mention no names, but I met some some some pretty crazy dudes, they from from uh the opposition team where where I was, you know, we showed each other respect. Yeah, yeah. And I'm not gonna lie, we broke bread with each other, we spread with each other, you know, we all guys are carrushas, you know?
SPEAKER_01Now at 62 years old, I always say a true gangster will recognize and respect another true gangster. As long as you respect me, I'll respect you. Absolutely. And vice versa, you know what I mean? Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And I remember it being crunch time where we had a disagreement with another race. We had and everything was on the line. I remember um Corcoran, I had two of my worst enemies next to me. And um, we were all walking on the yard, and all the blacks were walking on the yard, and the blacks and the Samoans were together. And it was just all the homies and the whites. And I remember looking down, and the homeboys were like, and no, my enemies were telling me, let's stick together, eh? Like, don't don't break up, eh? Like, like don't don't go disperse. Yeah, don't go your own way, let's stay together, and let's let's move on, these dudes, eh? And and um, I'm like, okay, let's do this, hey, like, like, and but I remember looking down and I remember seeing a couple bottles there, and their hands were shaking. Their hands were shaking because there was so much tension and there was so much like energy on that yard where it was gonna crack. And even I remember looking, I remember seeing the hulas running. The CDC was running for like they were running. Yeah. I remember, you know, I remember just looking and seeing their boots hit the dirt and the dirt was popping up because they were just hauling ass. They were getting out of there. And and fortunately, a couple of times where we ended up talking it out at the last second, like maybe five seconds, like it's about a crack right now. Like, like where these fools are about 10 feet away and they're saying, bring it on. And you know, these big ass Samoans and blacks are saying, bring this shit on, you know? And the homies are like, you know, all busting out fieros, and they're like, damn, where'd where'd you get that one at? You know, like where'd you have that at? Like that that's a big ass machete, bro. Like man, but you know what?
SPEAKER_01That's when the true uh the true man, whatever you want to call it, that's when you see who's solid. Yeah. Because it's no joke, then. You know, you you can be killed, bro. And at that point, not to mention if if you're getting yours, they'll they they'll open up on you, the wudas, you know.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and at that point I knew that that we might be. We might have been, you know, uh opposite, uh uh opposite, you know, we might have been enemies on the streets, but I had a certain bond with them now after that. Where like I knew they had me and I had them. And you know what, let's play this smart and let's stick together because if not, we're not gonna survive this. Exactly, exactly.
SPEAKER_01So you so you're in that one, you finally get out. When did you finally say, you know what? I gotta stop this.
SPEAKER_00I gotta I 2010, 2010. I got out. Um, I went back for a gun. They gave me uh three with 80. So I ended up in level two for uh Jamestown, level two, and um that was cool, you know. I was peacoded because of the violence on my jacket, so I didn't go to camp. So, but I had the the privilege of running into a gang of homeboys there. So I was just chilling, kicking back, had my little program. Um uh at that time, um you know, I was still doing my little thing, you know. Uh, you know, you know how we hustle in there, you know, we get things sent in. Was drugs involved in your life? Yeah, drugs, yeah. I was an addict on and off. Um I uh I struggled with addiction all my life. Um that was uh a big struggle for me. 2021, I got sick from COVID. A lot of people know this already, but that was how I got sober. When I got sick and I was in the in the hospital, I had no way to stand, walk on my own. So I didn't have any access to no drugs. And then by the time I talked about it before, um I ended up saying, man, I got two weeks sober. I got three weeks sober. I was I I was in the ICU for about 40-something days, but that's how I got cleaned up. But I already had told myself, I said, if I ever get over that little hump and that little itch, then I'm gonna stay sober because I really wanted sobriety in my life. I just I just couldn't get it, bro. Did you know the Lord at this time? No. I I knew of him, but I wasn't I wasn't a believer. You know, I was um I still had that mentality of like, you know what, I'm a G and I'm gonna make this happen. However, I can make it happen, I gotta make this happen. You know, I wouldn't, I wouldn't put my faith into the Lord and put things how I do these days. I say, you know what, God, this is out of my hands. Deal with me how you need to deal with me and deal with that other person how you need to deal with them. That's how I do things, that's how I operate these days.
SPEAKER_01We but I wasn't prior to this interview that I was the same way, you know. If you were a Christian in jail, I kind of like, you know, you better stand tall, man. Because I'm looking for you. Any that's to me, that's a sign of weakness. Absolutely. In a sense where you could be a Christian, just keep it to yourself, but I you better not have no smut on you, eh? Because to me, that's just a sign of weakness, you know.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, because I remember at a young age too, when I when my homeboys would turn Christian, I would tell these fools, you better not ever relapse or come back, eh? That's right. That's true.
SPEAKER_01Because you got one coming, you're playing, you're playing, you know.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I was like, I was disappointed with homeboys that would actually serve a little bit. Yeah, and I'd be like, what are you doing, eh? Like, we don't do that. Yeah and I and I'd always be like, like, you know, uh a-ho, and I'd be like, hey, bro, straight up when when you relapse or when you backslid, you come back to the hood, you're gonna get it, eh? And I'd be like, but go ahead and go your way, dog feed me. You know, and and and that's funny because I struggle with that today. I was telling my wife um last night at church, I prosed, I I um I did a little story with worship, right? Yeah and you and if you really listen, you can hear me singing. And when I looked at it, when I got home, hey, I sing a little bit. I sing a little bit, background. Oh, telling it all. Hey, so I was listening to my Instagram. I looked at my Instagram, I go, damn, you can hear me sing. And then on the right, I literally said, Hey, bro, what are you doing? You're you're looking weak right there. You're you're you're what are you doing? It's the enemy posting that. And then I literally had like a supernatural experience where on the left side somebody said, Don't listen to him. You're doing great, you're doing good. This is what you're supposed to do. That's right. And so I have these little um supernatural experiences come on and off where it's kind of like the devil's on this side and the angels on this side. And when I try to do the right thing when nobody's looking, but I could actually cut a corner and get away with it. Am I gonna cut the corner or am I gonna do the right thing and do things the right way? And so I still struggle with that. I'm I'm like, I'm not gonna lie.
SPEAKER_01The apostle Paul says, uh, I find myself doing the things I don't want to do, and the things I do want to do I'm not doing, you know? Yeah. So we're we struggle. The more you serve God, the more you're gonna struggle.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And that doesn't mean that you're there's gonna be days, it's just it's gonna be harder than others, bro. Yeah. You know, it's gonna be harder than others.
SPEAKER_00But I'll I'll end up laughing about it and I'll tell my wife, hey man, you didn't know this. You'll be like, I'll be like, but I was going through it last night in my head. I'll be like, you know what, I was like, I had this guy in my ear, and then I had the Lord over here telling me, hey, you know what? Pay no mind to him, eh? That fool's an idiot. Do what you're doing. And um, because I I last night I looked, I'm like, man, wait a minute, my ego got in the way. And I'm like, wow man, what are the homeboys gonna think when when they see you, hear you on this, on your story singing? And I'm like, you know what, man? Whoever don't like it, you know, it's cool. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01You know what? Get out of my way. I I always say, just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean you're gonna put your hands on me. You gotta speak to me, you know what I mean? Yeah, absolutely. But I'm gonna serve God, eh? So hey Jay, so you you're in the hospital, you get out, you're sober now. Sober now, yeah. Did you keep that sober?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, been sober for going on five years. Um took me a while. Um, a lot of people know that I I I wasn't a walker, using a walker, a wheelchair. So I COVID hit you hard. Yeah, it hit me hard. I'm still on oxygen to this day, um, along with some other issues. I went blind in my right eye. So I'm I'm legally um disabled now. Like, like I started busting up because I told my wife um I had this red handicap plaque, and it's like a temporary one, right? I went to the doctor and I go, I need you to renew my handicap plaque. And he goes, you know what? I'm just gonna update you to a permanent one. And I was like happy. I'm like, hell yeah, because I got used to parking in the front or parking. If there's no parking, as long as you have that plaque up, hey, you can park wherever. That's right. You ain't gonna get no ticket, eh? That's right. And so um, so I was like, she's like, man, look at you look at you, you're all happy because you like your permanent uh plaque now, eh? And I'm like, shh. That's a blessing, though. That's it, man. I don't gotta park far no more. I get to park wherever I want, man. I get uh up front, you know, up front close, man.
SPEAKER_01So so Jay, you when did uh when did God come into your life?
SPEAKER_00Um he's been he's been speaking to me since since I got sick. Um I had an experience, uh, a moment of clarity when when I was in the hospital. Um I had a like a mental breakdown. I was dying. Um the doctor had said, you know, get your affairs in order, you're not gonna make it. At this time, everybody was dying from COVID. Long story short, I ended up calling out the Lord and I said, hey, you know what? If you're the Lord, get me wow, and I'll change. I'll do right, I'll help people, I'll I'll do my best to not go back to what I was doing. And if not, then you're like, you know what? And I said it. I said, if not, you're a you know, I told him the B-word, you know? And I was like, and I remember passing out after that, but waking up feeling good, waking up feeling better. A week later, I went home. The doctor was telling me, I don't know what you did, but keep on doing whatever you're doing or talking to whoever you're talking to because you're supposed to be dead. And I thought, man, like this this is him telling me that he's here. He's here with me because you know, two doctors already had told me, hey, you know what, get on your phone and and call your family. You're not gonna make it. Two doctors.
SPEAKER_01That's that's heavy, homie.
SPEAKER_00So when I called out to the Lord, but what they would if they told me that what I'd do. At that time I was broken because I was disappointed that I didn't get killed in the street. I wanted to go out like a G and get either killed by the Huda or shot by an enemy or shoot out. Yeah, you know, if I'm gonna go out, why we don't want to go to war, you're right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I talk about that, I've talked about it with a few people in the past, and um, so that's when I knew uh the Lord was real. And I was like, you know what, I need to commit my, I need to keep my commitment now. You know, there's times where I wanted to, you know, because I wasn't even seeing my wife at the time, so you know, I thought I, oh, I'm getting better, I'm doing the modeling, I'm coming out on SWAT, I'm coming out on this show, I'm doing this shirt film, I got it going on. Um, but I was still filling that void. This this is all Jay doing this. Yeah, exactly. Like, oh, I'm making these moves happen, it's me. I gotta network, I gotta be on my social media, I gotta use it as a as a positive, not a negative. Um, I'm using it as a business account. Um, I'm making these moves, I'm doing this. But then I had like a slap in the face where I was like, man, wait a minute, I'm not doing this. This is this is this is the Lord with here. He's got it. This is this is so I had like a few, I don't know. I just I just have these really supernatural experiences that come often, yeah, where I just get this feeling inside and I end up checking myself. I'll be like, you know what, man, are you stupid or what? Like, stop that. And and I I'll stop it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And then I'll I'll I'll make amends and I'll tell my wife, hey, you know what? You know, I told you uh whatever I told you, I know you're upset with me right now, but I apologize, that was wrong of me. That takes a lot, man. And and and you know, we're learning how to how to how to I'm learning how to be a husband, I'm learning how to be, she's learning how to be a wife to me. Um we're we're we're you know asking questions, we're um getting still getting to know each other. We've been together for a few years now, but everything's you know one foot in front of the other, but but we're learning.
SPEAKER_01We're learning, and and as we go, I and I always say, Jay, I just my wedding anniversary was yesterday, 29 years ago. And it's you gotta keep God at the center of your your marriage. Uh me and you had spoken about praying with our wives, you know what I mean, in the morning. Sometimes we don't always remember, or sometimes they're in a rush, we're in a rush, but pray with your wife and and you know what? See where God leads you, you know? Yeah, yeah. So, Jay, so so when did school get in there? Because again, I I keep pushing, you know, you can't judge a book by race. You just assume that he's not educated, but he's educated, bro.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Um, school came involved in about about less than two years ago, but I I ended up writing a book that's about to be published uh hopefully in a few weeks, so I'll be promoting that. Um what's the name of the book? The book's called Forgiven. Forgiven. The book's called Forgiven. Um written by Jason. Oh, written by me, everything. Tell her fans there, it's gonna be a book's called Forgiven, um, written by me. It should be out in a couple weeks, and um, I it's a pretty good book.
SPEAKER_01Do you know what platform it's gonna be on?
SPEAKER_00It should be on Amazon, and then I'm I'm actually gonna get a couple physical books, which I'll be selling and sending out. Yeah. Um and I'll push it for you too, won't we? The book, the book it's it's pretty clear-cut. It's a short read, it's 78 pages. Um, I figured uh the addict that's still suffering doesn't have an attention span uh of reading a book that's over 100 pages. Maybe they got, you know, so it's 78 pages with the context, with the index, with the thank yous. So it's actually maybe a 60-page book. Yeah, but it's a good read, it's a good, it's a good um, it's meant to just light a fire up on your fire and say, hey, you know what? If if he could do it, I could do it because and that's what this testimony is all about.
SPEAKER_01You know, uh uh again, you youngsters or even you older guys, uh female, male, you know, Jay could have just kept the routine after he got out of out of the COVID scare. He could have just did, but you know what? He's he's changed his life, he's gone to school, and I think I'm more everybody gets everything a different piece out of somebody's testimony, but mine is your education. You know, I really dig that you're serving God. And and what's your goal in the education program?
SPEAKER_00My goal is to I I I um I'm there work alongside with a program called Rising Scholars. I work alongside with the director and founder of Rising Scholars. His name's Joe Luis Hernandez. He's he has a PhD. He is the founder and um he is the template of the program. Uh it's um advocacy for the former incarcerated. Um everybody in that program's been busted? Everybody's busted, everybody's been on promotes. Yeah, there's females there with with ankle monitors that are fighting Fed cases, indictment cases, um, state cases, females, males. Um there's no uh black, white, Mexico. Yeah, no, yeah, there's no color lines there. Everybody's there in the same boat. Everybody shows mutual respect. Um everybody is real welcoming. Um I met people there. To tell you the truth, what led me to school was I got tired of going to businesses and applying for jobs. I was gonna get to that, yeah. And and not getting the job that I wanted, but them saying, you know what, we you know, because I I try to apply for a couple office jobs before because I'm like, why can't I get an office job?
SPEAKER_01And I was gonna bring that up. The way you pitched it to me, you know, say that the way you pitched, like you.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I said, you know, why can't I get a job in the office like these other guys? And they would only hire, I'm just gonna be honest with you, they would only hire females or maybe somebody that was gay. Yeah. And I'd be there sitting next to them, but they go, but sir, we have this job for you in the back if you want it. Loading forklift or loading. Yeah, loading, unloading, forklift, getting dirty. Um, there was years where I was like, man, why can't I be in there? There's nobody in there that looks like me. Like I have a brain. I'm not the only homeboy that has a brain. Why aren't we in there?
SPEAKER_01And that's what makes me proud of you. Your appearance shows just a stone thug killer, but yet you're an educ, you have education, bro. And you know what? I I I wish you the best. But yeah, wouldn't it be cool to go into an office and Jay comes around the corner? Can I help you? You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Wouldn't that be crazy? I'm able to do that there at Mount Sack in the office. Um I'm there just learning um uh Carlos Lopez, uh Kevin Gonzalez, a couple other people. Um there's a man there that named Javier, I don't know his last name, but um good people, and females as well, but there's good dudes that I rely on for mentorship that that have degrees already. And um and we have this phrase over there, man, uh uh real G's get degrees. You know what I mean? The real Gs get degrees. Real G's get degrees. That's a good thing. That's a cool that's a bumper sticker. Yeah, well, well, we've actually we're actually working on a project with OG Family, and um, we're bringing out our shirt, which is a collaboration with OG Family and Rising Scholars with the Real Gs Get Degrees. Um, and then there we have another phrase there that if you're not doing too good in your class, but hey, C's get degrees, you mean like like it don't matter, like if you're not doing good, you don't gotta be an A student because at first I wasn't an A student, I was a C student. I just kept on getting C's, C's. CCs and all these other students were getting A's. But I had to find my way and actually ask for questions. And it's funny because we have tutors there that look like me and you. Oh, is that right? So, so, like, hey, homie, like, I'm having trouble with this right here. Like, what's up? Lace me up. And the homeboy would be like, you got time right now? We have 24 hour uh tutors there. Oh, that's cute, man. So there's a lot of other other mounts stacked, mountstacked, but they but um there's a lot of other there's a lot of other programs as well that are that are doing good. So my goal is to be an advocate for for um for uh uh former incarcerated students. Um I will be promoting you know education, not incarceration. Um I do feel like like if you can't get a job learning a trade, you know, there's homeboys that do good for themselves. Uh my homeboy's an electrician, my other homeboy's a uh uh drywall, uh, my other homeboy's a plumber. But if you can't get a job in those, there's other routes, there's other, it's not the end of the world. You can go to college, you can't get a degree, my major is sociology and human services. So I will be working in an office pretty soon. I will be, you know, a provider. Uh I will be serving the Lord no matter what. Um I have that vision and I I found it in my heart to to keep on going, bro. No, nothing's gonna stop me. Nothing's gonna stop me. Um, you know, I'm a believer. I'm a believer, and and and he's putting it in my heart to to thrive and to be an example and help others. And I'm gonna continue to help others, bro. And I'm gonna continue to to extend my hand because that's what I promised him. When I when I was in when I was fighting COVID and they told me I was gonna lose my life, I told him, I will help others. Save me. You made that promise, huh? I uh don't don't let me go. I'm not ready to die. And guess what? He saved me. Right. He saved me. So I will help others. I gotta keep my word. Amen, amen.
SPEAKER_01So hey Jay, before we get off, if you were talking to a bunch of teenagers or or even if you were in a went to a YA or even to some guy or girl that's struggling right now, like I can't, I'm just not that smart. I just I can't, you know, I can't. What could what could you tell the fans?
SPEAKER_00I will tell them, um, come in, talk to me. If you want to reach out to me on my Instagram, send me a DM. Um, my Instagram is J Solano99. Um it'll be at the bottom of the screen, guys. I will get back to you. I will have some uh information with you. If I don't have the correct information on hand, I will find it for you. I will I've helped many people, uh, individuals out like that, where it's taken me a week or two, but hey, we'll get you going in the right direction and and get up, get you with the help that you that you absolutely need. Amen. Amen.
SPEAKER_01And before I always get off, I always ask ask my guest, um, if you went out to have a meal, what's your favorite food, bro?
SPEAKER_00Um, my favorite food is uh steak and shrimp. Steak and shrimp? I think they call that the California. It's called Surfing Turf, no? Surfing Turf. Texas Roadhouse, bro. Texas Roadhouse right here up the street. Surfing turf, which is a uh piece of steak with some shrimp on it, and it has some vegetables and uh mashed potatoes.
SPEAKER_01That's right, that's right. And and and what kind of music you listen to, bro?
SPEAKER_00Um Odi's rap, uh, doo-wop, swing, worship, um, everything, a little bit of everything. And your sports, don't tell me you're a raider. Dodger fan, Dodger fan, diehard Raider fan, man. This is our year. You might hate that because you're a Ramp fan, but but this is our year. I'm a I'm a firm. I'm gonna pray for Raiders, believe me, I am almost you know, I've been asking I've been asking the Lord to please bless us with some good players. So let's see what happens in the draft in a couple weeks.
SPEAKER_01Amen, amen. But you're a Dodgers fan, you know. Dodger fan, we're my Dodgers.
SPEAKER_00Sure, absolutely, man. Dodger, Dodgers fan, and this is our year again for the three P. It's exciting, bro. It's exciting. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01With that said, Jay, I just want to thank you for coming on, bro. I appreciate you. Uh, you know, I'll keep you in prayer, and you know what I mean. Uh we'll do this again in a year or so, man. See where Jay's at and if he graduates, you know. And again, he might be your boss one day, man. Yeah. So say say goodbye to the fans. Hey, third man in the ring or ref Irae, get on there, subscribe, share. God bless, guys. God bless you. Bye, brother. Thank you.