“I’m Going Broke”: Woody Holds Back Tears After Realizing His Homeboys Turned Their Back On Him

“I Was Just a Check to Them” — The Private Voice Note That Changed Everything

At one point, he was untouchable. His shows were sold out, his music trending, and his social media pages flooded with behind-the-scenes clips of a brotherhood most could only dream of.

But now? Woody, born Malcolm Wren, sits alone in a cold, minimalist studio — eyes glassy, voice trembling. “I’m not just broke financially,” he says, “I’m broke inside. Because I realized… I was just a paycheck to the people I loved most.”

The once-rising star of the Southern rap scene, known for his gritty hooks and larger-than-life crew, has finally broken his silence. And what he reveals isn’t just heartbreaking — it’s downright devastating.

“They never loved me,” Woody confesses. “They loved what I could do for them.”

The Come-Up That Came With a Cost

Woody’s rise was meteoric. Starting out with freestyles on Instagram Live, he quickly built a cult following, then landed a small distribution deal after a clip went viral. By the age of 27, he was performing at major festivals and collaborating with underground legends. But he wasn’t alone. Woody brought the block with him — friends from his childhood, cousins, even neighbors who’d never left the city.

“I didn’t want to win alone,” he said. “So I made sure they won with me.”

What that looked like? Paying rent for five people. Buying cars. Flying twenty-person entourages to shows. Funding side hustles. Covering legal fees. Keeping quiet. And still showing up on time to record, perform, and smile.

But as Woody now reveals, things began to unravel quietly behind the curtains.

The Voice Note That Changed Everything

The breaking point came when he found a leaked voice note — one he wasn’t supposed to hear.

“It was sent to me by accident,” Woody says. “Or maybe on purpose. I don’t know. But it was from someone I trusted.”

In the 42-second audio, two members of his crew can be heard laughing — mocking him for “acting broke” and joking that once he ran out of money, they’d already have backup plans.

“He’s soft. He don’t even know he’s just our bankroll. Wait till that label drops him — we gone anyway.”

Woody says his chest tightened when he heard it. “That was the moment I knew: I was never ‘one of them’ to begin with. I was just the meal ticket.”

Depression, Isolation, and Disappearing Friends

Following the betrayal, Woody says things spiraled fast. He tried cutting off the freeloaders quietly, hoping to salvage relationships. But instead of support, he received silence.

“No one asked if I was okay. They just left.”

As the money dried up — partly due to pandemic cancellations, bad investments, and shady business deals — the very people who once praised him for his loyalty began whispering behind his back.

Some unfollowed him online. Others started dissing him subtly in interviews. One even tried selling unreleased demos to blogs.

“I hit rock bottom,” he admits. “I was sleeping on a couch in a borrowed apartment while people I helped put on were flashing designer fits and saying I fell off.”

Rebuilding From Ruins

Now 31, Woody says he’s finally reclaiming his voice — and his story.

His upcoming independent album, titled “Dead Weight”, promises to be his most revealing yet. It’s described by close insiders as “a lyrical war zone” — calling out names, exposing fake love, and peeling back the toxic dynamics of fame and loyalty.

And Woody says he’s not afraid anymore.

“If they wanted me silent, they should’ve treated me right. But now? I’m speaking. And I’ve got nothing to lose.”

A Warning to the Next Generation

Before wrapping the interview, Woody offered this advice to young artists coming up:

“Don’t confuse people standing next to you with people standing for you. Protect your peace, protect your paper, and don’t buy love. Because when the money runs out, the truth walks in.”

He stares into the camera, voice steadier now.

“I’m not broke. I’m just finally free.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOCXWErtvL4