Gorilla Nems: Selling Drugs, Rikers Island & Going Viral

Locked In with Ian Bick

Ian Bick

Society & Culture

4.8 • 743 Ratings

🗓️ 1 July 2025

⏱️ 83 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Gorilla Nems grew up in the heart of Coney Island’s projects, surrounded by violence, addiction, and survival. In this raw interview, he opens up about battling drug addiction, selling E across Coney Island, and getting locked up after going on the run. He shares what life was really like inside Rikers Island, how the streets almost killed his dreams, and the moment everything changed. From getting sober and signing a record deal to becoming a viral sensation with “Bing Bong,” this is the unfiltered journey of a true New York legend who turned pain into purpose. #GorillaNems #BingBong #ConeyIsland #RikersIsland #FromTheProjects #AddictionRecovery #ViralSensation #hiphopinterview Thank you to RIDGE for sponsoring today's episode: Upgrade your wallet today! Get 10% Off @Ridge with code LOCKEDIN at https://www.Ridge.com/LOCKEDIN #Ridgepod #sponsored Connect with Gorilla Nems: IG: https://www.instagram.com/nems_fyl/?hl=en YT: https://www.youtube.com/@GorillaNEMS Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Presented by Tyson 2.0 & Wooooo Energy: https://tyson20.com/ https://woooooenergy.com/ Buy Merch: https://convictclothing.net/collections/convict-clothing-x-ian-bick Timestamps: 00:00:00 The Streets of Coney Island: Gorilla Nems' Early Life 00:04:37 Growing Up in Staten Island: A Journey Through High School and Hardships 00:09:39 Wallet Upgrade: The Ridge Experience 00:14:36 Early Rap Career and Dr*gs 00:19:43 Overcoming Struggles in Staten Island 00:24:46 Life After Dropping Out 00:29:45 Rap Battles 00:34:53 The Impact of Addiction on Life Choices 00:40:23 Journey to Sobriety: From Detox to Change 00:45:31 From Rejection to Record Deal with Shady Records 00:50:52 Reflections on Riker's Island Experience 00:55:13 Finding Purpose Through Adversity 01:00:20 Transition from Substance Ab*se to Counselor 01:05:20 Viral Sensation: The Birth of "Bing Bong" 01:11:00 The Origins of Success: From Viral Moments to Cult Following 01:15:35 Making Amends and Taking Responsibility 01:20:54 Celebrating Achievements with Dinner Powered by: Just Media House : https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Creative direction, design, assets, support by FWRD: https://www.fwrd.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	There are some things you should always check, like the hygiene rating on your local takeaway,
0:06.2	the setting on your razor, and whether the party actually is fancy dress.
0:11.1	The other thing you should check is your Experian credit report, especially if you're looking to borrow money.
0:17.2	It lets you understand what lenders see, so you can increase your chances of getting the best deals.
0:22.8	It's dead easy to check it, and completely free.
0:26.6	See it in seconds.
0:27.9	Download the Experian app today.
0:30.0	I used to hop in a dollar cab and tell the cab, go to 35th and Surf Avenue.
0:34.9	Don't pick nobody up, I'll give you $10 when we get over there.
0:37.7	They would get there and I would just, if I had a weapon, I would use it. If I didn't have a weapon,
0:42.0	I would just beat them until they gave me the money. Some people would just give it.
0:46.0	Rapper Gorilla Nems grew up in the heart of Coney Island. Violence, addiction, and survival
0:51.4	were just part of life from selling E across the borough and going on the run
0:55.9	to getting locked up in Rikers Island, NEMS lived it all. In this raw interview, he shares how
1:02.0	the streets nearly killed his dreams until he got sober, signed a record deal, and went viral
1:07.5	with Bing Bong. This is the unfiltered rise of a New York legend
1:11.7	who turned the hustle into a movement.
1:18.4	NEMS, the mayor of Coney Island.
1:20.7	Welcome to Locked in, bro.
1:22.7	Pleasure to be here, man.
1:23.8	Thank you for having me.
1:24.6	Yeah, it's an honor, man.
	...

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