VladTV

Former federal prosecutor Ed McDonald sits down with VladTV to discuss his legendary career fighting organized crime and the real-life Mafia figures and investigations that helped inspire the classic film Goodfellas.

McDonald traces his career from clerking for federal judge Anthony Travia to joining the Manhattan DA’s office and eventually the Brooklyn Organized Crime Strike Force in 1977. He explains how federal prosecutors coordinated with the FBI, NYPD, and IRS to investigate some of New York’s most powerful Mafia families.

A major portion of the interview focuses on the 1978 Lufthansa robbery at JFK Airport. As coordinating prosecutor, McDonald investigated the multimillion-dollar heist and explains how mob associate Henry Hill eventually became a government informant, providing information that connected Jimmy Burke and others to organized crime. Hill’s cooperation also exposed the Boston College point-shaving scandal, leading investigators into another major prosecution involving Burke and college basketball players.

McDonald also discusses cases involving the Bonanno and Gambino crime families, including prosecuting Joseph Massino before later becoming his defense attorney when Massino decided to cooperate with the government. He recalls overseeing legal work surrounding electronic surveillance of Gambino boss Paul Castellano, whose conversations provided investigators with critical evidence before his assassination by John Gotti’s crew.

The conversation also explores McDonald’s unexpected connection to Hollywood. After meeting director Martin Scorsese, McDonald was cast as himself in Goodfellas, appearing in the famous scene where Henry and Karen Hill enter the Witness Protection Program.

McDonald concludes by reflecting on controversial cooperation deals, admitting that prosecutors may have been too lenient with certain informants. He also discusses threats against prosecutors, the dangers of confronting the Mafia, and the assassination of prosecutor William Aronwald.

Crip Mac returns to VladTV for another unfiltered conversation about his personal life, street politics, prison experiences, streaming, and his plans for the future.

Crip Mac reflects on some of the violence he’s experienced throughout his life, including brutal fights behind bars that resulted in him losing teeth. He also discusses his close relationship with Spider Loc, explaining how Spider supported him during difficult periods after his release from jail and why their bond remains important to him.

The conversation turns to street codes, with Crip Mac explaining his uncompromising stance against cooperating with law enforcement. He discusses why he believes snitching violates the principles he lives by and says his position wouldn’t change even under extreme circumstances involving friends or family. Vlad challenges some of these views as they debate where street loyalty ends and protecting yourself or your loved ones begins.

Crip Mac also discusses his transition into independent streaming on Kick, where he plans to build his audience while maintaining control over his content. He acknowledges the dangers that come with livestreaming, including swatting, setups, and people attempting to create viral moments at his expense. Moving forward, he says his priorities are raising his daughter, stacking money, selling music features, and growing his Program Time Five brand.

Additional topics include Adam22, Chrisean Rock, recent viral incidents, and Crip Mac’s relationship with No Jumper. He also addresses the possibility of stepping into the boxing ring against Adrien Broner, revealing the amount of money it would take for him to accept the fight.

From prison stories and street codes to fatherhood and building financial stability, Crip Mac shares where his life stands today and what he plans to do next.

In this flashback, we revisit Robert Ladd, a former member of the Compton PD Gang Unit, who returned to VladTV to discuss his career as a police officer. He explained how he went from working in construction to joining the force and described the impact of the crack cocaine epidemic on Compton. Ladd also detailed the challenges of patrolling a city with 55 gangs while working with such a small unit.He went on to discuss Hip-Hop's impact on how police officers were viewed and treated by citizens, as well as Compton officers providing security for Death Row Records and his encounters with Orlando Anderson. Ladd also spoke about Snoop Dogg's murder case, the Southside Crips, and the aftermath of 2Pac's death before sharing his thoughts on Keefe D's arrest.To hear more, check out the full interview above.

In this flashback, we revisit Lul Tim in a VladTV exclusive where he opens up about his upbringing in Savannah, Georgia, his friendship with Quando Rondo, and the infamous 2020 Atlanta shooting that resulted in King Von’s death.Lul Tim reflects on growing up on Savannah’s east side, where he was raised by his mother and grandmother alongside his siblings. He discusses maintaining a relationship with his father while growing up with financial struggles, and how those circumstances contributed to him becoming involved in the streets at a young age.Tim also recalls his friendship with Quando Rondo and watching him rise to success as a rapper. He provides his account of the confrontation that led to the fatal shooting, explaining what he says happened as he attempted to defend Quando Rondo during the altercation with King Von, as well as the aftermath of the incident.Later in the interview, Lul Tim shares his thoughts on Lil Durk and several OTF members being charged in connection with the death of Lul Pab.

Tony Yayo returns to VladTV to discuss his expanding media career, the latest hip-hop headlines, and some of the biggest legal cases making news.

Yayo begins by thanking VladTV and Complex for helping him grow beyond music, as he discusses his new shows, including Feed Yayo. He reflects on transitioning from rap to media, the evolution of VladTV from the DVD era to YouTube, and why consistency has been the key to long-term success.

The conversation then turns to the upcoming Keefe D murder trial. Yayo reacts to Keefe D rejecting a reported 10-to-25-year plea deal in favor of going to trial with a public defender, explaining why he believes accepting the plea would have been the smarter decision. He and Vlad also discuss YG’s ongoing legal issues, Charleston White’s recent confrontation in Houston, and several other high-profile criminal cases making headlines.

Later, Yayo shares his thoughts on the current state of hip-hop, including the controversy surrounding Pusha T’s latest album and the lasting influence of legendary producer Rick Rubin, giving him credit for helping launch artists like the Geto Boys and Sir Mix-a-Lot. The two also praise Sir Mix-a-Lot for writing, producing, and performing “Baby Got Back” entirely on his own.

The interview wraps up with a nostalgic look back at G-Unit, as Yayo and Vlad discuss the group’s biggest records, the success of the G-Unit sneaker line, 50 Cent’s growing media empire, Drake’s continued dominance in streaming, and the importance of staying humble in both business and entertainment.