Houston Drug Lord On Being Codeine Kingpin, Making Millions Every Day, Fueling Opioid Epidemic

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In this episode Houston legend Mike D — the man many call the original King of Lean — unpacks the true story behind codeine culture in the American South. Before “lean” was a mainstream rap flex… before double cups and purple memes… there was a street-level hustle that changed Houston forever. Mike D breaks down how promethazine with codeine went from a quiet substitute for heroin to a full-blown cultural phenomenon — influencing DJ Screw, the Screwed Up Click, and icons like Pimp C, Bun B, and Lil Wayne. What started as something passed around on the corner turned into an underground empire moving thousands of dollars a day — long before law enforcement even understood what was happening. In this interview, we cover: * How Mike D became Houston’s go-to supplier * The birth of “drank” culture inside DJ Screw’s house * The economics of the codeine black market * Street wars between Houston neighborhoods * Texas prison brutality and plantation-style incarceration * The real story behind Pimp C’s death * Addiction, droughts, and what happens when supply dries up * How music and drugs fed off each other to build a movement This isn’t just a drug story. It’s a story about culture, capitalism, addiction, loyalty, betrayal — and how one underground market reshaped Southern hip-hop forever. From Astroworld fights to state prison bids… from Mercedes at 16 to moving cases of syrup… Mike D tells it all. Go Support Mike! YouTube: @1on1wMikeDpodcast This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: CashApp! Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Discounts and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. Betterhelp! Sign up and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/connect. Join The Patreo