Black People Love Paramore
Episode: TRL VS. 106 & Park
Date: September 18, 2025
Hosts: Sequoia Holmes, Ryann Graham
Brief Overview
In this nostalgic, lively episode, Sequoia and Ryann dive deep into the after-school TV rituals that shaped a generation: MTV’s TRL (Total Request Live) and BET’s 106 & Park. They reflect on the cultural impact of these music video countdown shows, swap funny personal stories, compare how race shaped music TV, and reminisce about iconic moments, performers, and hosts. The show explores generational shifts in music consumption and shines a light on how TRL and 106 & Park created unique, now-lost communal spaces for Black youth and pop culture fans alike.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. White Song of the Week (00:58–07:02)
- Sequoia introduces the return of the “White Song of the Week,” highlighting songs by non-Black artists beloved by Black people.
- Sequoia’s pick: “Midnight Sun” by Zara Larsson – “It has dopamine in that song.” (01:51)
- Ryann notices Zara Larsson’s career longevity—likens her to Rita Ora and comments on their constant bookings.
- Ryann’s pick: An early 2000s pop road-trip song from the movie "Twinless".
- Discussion of nostalgia for artists like The Click Five and 3OH!3.
- Ryann: “If Lizzo is a rapper… then so is Kesha, so is 3OH!3, so is Fergie.” (05:51)
2. Personal TV Lineups & Channel Flipping (07:10–10:43)
- Both reminisce about their channel numbers for MTV, BET, Nickelodeon, and Disney.
- Sequoia admits never really watching TRL, only 106 & Park: "I only 106." (07:14)
- Ryann recalls being able to flip back and forth between MTV and BET, but felt more connected to MTV shows.
3. The Communal Ritual of Music Video Countdown Shows (11:01–16:12)
- Both describe after-school routines of racing home (or gathering with friends) to watch 106 & Park or TRL.
- Ryann’s nostalgia for the shared experience: “Before Twitter… we would be sitting and watching.” (12:09)
- Sequoia as an only child didn’t have after-school friend gatherings, but her mother sometimes joined for music videos.
4. Content & Format of TRL vs. 106 & Park (16:17–24:14)
- TRL = MTV, geared toward pop/rock, mainstream/white audiences, hosted by Carson Daly and others.
- 106 & Park = BET, centered on hip-hop and R&B, legendary hosts like Free & AJ, Rocsi & Terrence, and later Bow Wow.
- Both shows functioned as pre-YouTube “meeting points” for artists and fans (14:14).
- Freestyle Fridays and Rap City: Sequoia and Ryann discuss battle rap segments and their personal disconnects.
5. The Shared Cultural Vocabulary and Community (22:56–24:14)
- Ryann on monoculture: “I think that was a part of the nostalgia… we had community in music in a way that [we don’t today].”
- Sequoia: “That’s why when you think about like summer 2003, you know exactly what it sounds like.”
6. Iconic Moments & Viral Performances
A. Mariah Carey’s TRL Breakdown (25:18–27:52)
- Sequoia explains the infamous ice-cream-serving incident, reflecting on rumors and mental health.
- Ryann: “In context, like when you're watching it live, it doesn't feel that crazy.”
- Mariah’s “manic episode” led to public discussion about exhaustion and the pressures on celebrities.
B. Eminem Takes TRL Hostage (28:03)
- Sequoia: “He refused to play any other music, only played his own.”
C. Destiny’s Child Performances
- TRL: "Lose My Breath" Performance (31:38–33:19)
- With HBCU marching band; “They look like they're having so much fun being in a girl group.” (32:18)
- 106 & Park: "Soldier" & The “Poor Michelle” Fall (41:34–44:50)
- Michelle’s famous stage fall led to years of memes (poorMichelle.com).
- Ryann: “To think about how talented Michelle and Kelly had to be to be next to Beyoncé…”
D. Raven-Symoné Calls Out Her Fans (45:09)
- Raven tells the studio audience: “Y’all don’t buy my music.” (45:09)
E. Genuine’s “Pony” Stunt (46:15–46:59)
- Fake health scare, emerges on a gurney, launches straight into his hit song.
- Sequoia: “That was a good black ass time… Who says straight men couldn’t be camp?”
F. Rocsi & Terrence J On-Air Tension (49:04)
- Terrence makes a disrespectful comment about Rocsi’s body live on air; she storms off set.
7. Changing Landscape & End of an Era (68:01–69:32)
- Carson Daly on TRL’s decline: “The whole tectonic shift of mass media.”
- Ryann: “There’s no… monoculture and there’s no meeting place for a TRL type of thing.”
8. Broader Social & Racial Context (69:00–70:25)
- Sequoia: “Music was more segregated at the time… Black people listened to Black music, which is why BET was a thing.”
- Ryann: “Pop stars would [add] a rapper feature to be played on urban radio—then on Top 40 stations, they would just cut the rap.”
- Mariah Carey credited as a major figure in bridging pop and R&B.
9. Generational Shifts & Nostalgia (70:27–71:20)
- Sequoia laments younger relatives' lack of musical variety and cross-generational knowledge: “We’re really losing recipes for real. Not to sound like an old head, but…”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On shared music experiences:
"Before Twitter… we would be sitting and watching." – Ryann (12:09) -
On Destiny’s Child’s performance stamina:
“Original key, voices was up here… and dancing in heels. And also they're doing this on… a Tuesday afternoon.” – Ryann (33:19) -
On kids today not knowing variety in music:
“We’re really losing recipes for real. Not to sound like an old head, but I’m like, damn. I’m actually feeling like we’re losing recipes.” – Sequoia (70:15) -
On 106 & Park's hosts' cultural impact:
“The hosts of 106 and Park feel way more iconic to me.” – Ryann (19:02) -
On performance demands for artists then vs now:
"People today are not… the pop stars today are just not. They don't pop the way they used to." – Ryann (36:12) -
On celebrity beef & viral moments:
“Rihanna was willing to take it there every time. And still to this day, I fear if you push her…” – Sequoia (55:26) -
On the rise of viral music & the end of monoculture:
“Crank That… that was probably the beginning of the end… He was the first kind of viral song… since then, everyone’s like, I can be famous on my own.” – Ryann (73:16)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:58–07:02 — White Song of the Week
- 07:10–10:43 — Childhood cable lineups and viewing habits
- 11:01–16:12 — After-school rituals and communal viewing
- 16:17–24:14 — TRL vs 106 & Park: format, vibe, hosts
- 25:18–27:52 — Mariah Carey’s infamous TRL appearance
- 31:38–33:19 — Destiny’s Child’s iconic TRL performance
- 41:34–44:50 — The “Poor Michelle” moment on 106 & Park
- 45:09 — Raven-Symoné’s audience callout
- 46:15–46:59 — Genuine’s “Pony” performance stunt
- 49:04 — Rocsi & Terrence J on-air tension
- 56:07–63:01 — Most-played videos and Hall of Fame tracks on 106 & Park; retired classics and pop culture rankings
- 68:01–69:32 — Carson Daly on the end of the TRL era
- 69:00–71:20 — Segregation in pre-streaming music scenes; generational differences
Tone & Style
The hosts blend sharp cultural critique with hilarious, affectionate nostalgia. Their banter is peppered with in-jokes, pop references, iconic song snippets, and authentically Black Gen Y/late-millennial energy. The tone is fun, irreverent, and inclusive—while reinforcing the show’s mission: to investigate and validate the full spectrum of Black pop interests.
Episode Takeaways
- TRL and 106 & Park created communal third spaces for music fandom that today’s fragmented, algorithm-driven era lacks.
- Both race and genre played key roles in who got visibility on each network, but rare crossovers (like Mariah Carey & Destiny’s Child) helped shift boundaries.
- There’s a generational longing for shared pop culture “moments”—the magic of millions seeing the same performance at once.
- The podcast itself is a celebration of Black cultural plurality, nostalgia, and scene-kid inclusivity.