38 Spesh Is Back.. This Time With BARS

Summary

Curtiss King Reacts – Episode: "38 Spesh Is Back... This Time With BARS"

Date: July 29, 2026 | Host: Curtiss King
Focus: Reaction to 38 Spesh’s diss track “Fool’s Mate” aimed at Jadakiss, Jim Jones, Fat Joe, DJ Khaled

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Episode Overview

Curtiss King dives into 38 Spesh's newly released diss track "Fool's Mate", where 38 Spesh fires lyrical shots at heavyweights like Jadakiss, Jim Jones, Fat Joe, and DJ Khaled. Curtiss gives his candid, humorous, and insightful reaction—breaking down the lyrics, video treatment, industry relevance, and the entertainment value of hip hop diss culture. Throughout, Curtiss provides context on the ongoing controversies and feuds referenced in the song and music video.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Anticipation and Context

• Curtiss sets the stage by noting how fans were waiting for 38 Spesh to respond to recent online controversies with actual music, not just podcasts or interviews.
  • [00:04] “All I wanted to hear was some bars… I just wanted to hear some bars stars, because you're talking about two of the best in the game, one obviously a legend that's already solidified in Jada Kiss and 38 Spesh, who obviously has an enormous presence as an independent artist.”
• Points out the irony of 38 Spesh referencing podcast culture in the diss track itself.

2. The Music Video & AI Elements

• Curtiss reacts in real time to the video’s creative choices, including humorous or exaggerated casting and the use of AI-generated likenesses for industry figures:
  • [00:54] “Oh, hell no. We already starting with the shenanigans… Why you got to bring in the little man to be Jadakiss? And why you got Fat Joe over here looking like... Come on, man. What's going on?”
• Appreciates the cleverness of presenting the diss as a ‘podcast within a diss’ for meta effect.

3. Early Disrespect: Jim Jones, Fat Joe, DJ Khaled

• The first 90 seconds are loaded with shots at Jim Jones, including references to joining gangs later in life and past altercations:
  • [02:33] 38 Spesh: “You joined the gang at 30 something. That was too late.”
  • Curtiss: [02:40] “Damn, we only 30 seconds into it. That's two for Jim Jones... Jim is having a hell of a two years. What's going on?”
• Analyzes a video skit referencing Jim Jones’s airport altercation, amused at the rough casting.
  • [03:13] “...Is this supposed to be when Jim Jones was in the airport and he was getting tackled on camera...? I love how the casting for this is not even like 60% accurate. He like, you close enough. You want to be in a video.”

4. Authenticity and Relevant Lyrics

• Curtiss highlights how some of 38 Spesh’s points, delivered in song form, are more digestible than in podcasts:
  • [05:12] “...it just sounds so much better over a beat... I'm expecting to hear the cannon.”
• References Jim Jones’s bravado and street credibility being challenged, especially through humorous skits and mean-spirited jabs about ‘young boys’ and growing older in the game.
  • [07:25] “That man has done taxes before. That's a grown ass man. That ain't no... What you mean your young boy is younger?”
  • [08:26] “How y' all gonna call him never young again? Not, not never young. Not young boy but never young again. Come on, man.”

5. Personal Attacks and Body Shaming

• 38 Spesh’s bars go personal, referencing foreclosure, relationships, and body image:
  • [09:37] 38 Spesh: “Yo, Jim, I got a bone to pick... You lost your crib at 06 and this still home sick.”
  • Curtiss notes the research involved and the sting of public records being weaponized in lyrics.
  • [10:38] 38 Spesh: “You won't be a street so bad that you got alcohol. Old but posted. She don't blow dick.”
  • Curtiss marvels at the meme-infused, internet-savvy approach.
• Playful self-awareness from Curtiss when Spesh's bars touch on body shaming:
  • [12:29] “Don't y' all say one thing about me. Looking like this video. Don't you say a damn thing about me... Shut up. That's you. No, that's you. That's you, stupid.”

6. Jadakiss—A Lighter Touch

• Notably, 38 Spesh takes a much softer approach to Jadakiss, only giving him a couple of bars amid an otherwise Jim Jones-centric diss:
  • [14:10] Curtiss: “That is a gentleman... It is very gentleman like to have just two bars he gave back to him... He does not look like he's clout chasing the way that this could have been.”

7. On Hip Hop Battles and Respect

• Reflects on the performance art and competitiveness of diss tracks, interested in potential lyrical sparring between top-tier lyricists—even though he feels less hype for a Jim Jones response:
  • [18:30] “Who doesn't love to see two lyricists at the top of their game going at it and, you know, sparring specifically and strictly on bars.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AI and Meta Podcast Diss:

  • [01:50] Curtiss: “I can't with this AI... But I do think whoever's idea it was for this treatment to be a podcast, Chef's Kiss. That was good. That's good.”

• On the Reality Check of Diss Tracks:

  • [09:50] Curtiss: “In 2006, your home went into foreclosure... Anybody ever faced an eviction. That. That. That hit a little different. You laugh out loud, but then you'd be like, not too much.”

• On Accurate Insults and Casting:

  • [08:26] Curtiss: “Never young again. Not, not never young. Not young boy but never young again. Come on, man.”

• On Jadakiss’s Smaller Target:

  • [14:10] Curtiss: “...if I'm Jim Jones and I'M watching from the outside. I'm like, why does. Just. Just don't say 30. Just don't say Jim Jones this. That's crazy. That's crazy.”

• On East Coast Hip Hop Politics:

  • [16:23] Curtiss: “Hey, New York, man, your west coast friend want to know what's going on out there. I. I mean, East Coast. I want to know what's going on up there because I've heard rumblings of... the disrespect, I guess, at times that upstate New York gets.”

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Timestamps of Significant Segments

• [00:04] – Curtiss introduces the controversy and his anticipation for real bars
• [01:42] – Early reactions to the video’s casting and AI
• [02:33] – Jim Jones shots: “You joined the gang at 30 something. That was too late.”
• [03:13] – Airport scene & video casting parody
• [07:12] – Reference to Jim Jones’s “young boy” social media videos
• [09:37] – Real estate and foreclosure personal attacks
• [12:29] – Body shaming and Curtiss’s self-aware sidebar
• [14:10] – Minimal bars for Jadakiss; analysis of intent
• [16:23] – Reflecting on regional respect and hip hop culture
• [17:28] – Connection between the diss and 38 Spesh’s Summer Jam freestyle

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Tone & Style

• Curtiss’s tone is playful, irreverent, but analytical—deeply rooted in hip hop culture and always addressing both the humor and underlying seriousness of rap beef.
• Consistently balances respect for artistry with critical commentary on over-the-top antics and disrespect in the diss track.

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Final Thoughts

Curtiss finds 38 Spesh’s "Fool’s Mate" to be a compelling, creative, and at times ruthless entry in the ongoing saga of lyrical warfare among New York’s hip hop elite. He’s entertained by the production, amused by the low-budget but effective casting, and eager to see whether future exchanges will deliver a true lyrical showdown—especially between 38 Spesh and Jadakiss.

Curtiss closes by inviting listeners to share their own, unfiltered thoughts in the comments, emphasizing hip hop’s continued ability to spark conversation and creativity.

Transcript

[A]

Curtis. Hey, I wire

[B]

DIY as we finally got a response from 38 Special, and it's not in the form of a podcast. I've been looking forward to this. All I wanted to hear was some bars. Some people might have got the wrong idea when they saw my reaction to all the podcasts that he was making these statements on, specifically on Bag Fuel. And they were thinking like, man, you ain't even gonna give it a chance when it comes out. I just wanted to hear some bars stars, because you're talking about two of the best in the game. One, obviously a legend that's already solidified in jada kiss and 38 special, who obviously has a. An enormous presence as an independent artist. Well, in the midst of all of the controversies from the podcast, he finally released a song called Fool's Mate, and he goes out a few different people. Jada Kiss, Jim Jones.

[C]

Really?

[B]

Jim Jones, Fat Joe, a little bit of Khaled. It's. It's. It's interesting to say the least. So he released a music video. We about to react to that right now. What's it talking about? Let's hear it. Oh, hell. Oh, hell no. We already starting with the shenanigans. We only 13 seconds in. And don't think I didn't see that AI photo or whatever that was. I don't think. I didn't say that I saw it. I was just trying to hope for the best here. Oh, man. Why you got to bring in the little man to be Jadakiss? And why you got Fat Joe over here looking like. Come on, man. What's going on?

[A]

Hey, y'.

[C]

All.

[A]

Hey, Day I wake. I got new. Hate these ride dicks so much. They got a due date.

[B]

Oh, God. Imagine riding D so much. You got a due date. I see. Okay, two things. Two things that must be acknowledged. First of all, I can't with this AI. I can't with this AI. Oh, geez. Rappers around my age, I can't with this AI. It just. It just takes all the steam off the conversation. But I do think whoever's idea it was for this treatment to be a podcast, Chef's Kiss. That was good. That's good. I think that brings everything. I think that even acknowledges all the people who say things like, oh, man, just get some rapping. Why we do another podcast? He did a podcast in the Disown. That's hilarious.

[A]

Rap is too fake front, and they have to move weight. You joined the gang at 30 something. That was too late.

[B]

Damn, we only 30 seconds into it. That's two for Jim Jones. You you join the gang in your 30s. It's too late. Jim is having a hell of a two years. What's going on Give a what a

[A]

rat dude make they had wagyu on their plates. We had cube steaks only care about views and how they shoes lace. You had a baby by a bum that's a fool's mate. Say Jim, I don't see two white men jumping especially falling down the escalator in the airport is cooking them and he's selling the cops.

[B]

I just picked this up. I just thought this was a random B roll when I first saw this video. Is this supposed to be when Jim Jones was in the airport and he was getting tackled on camera and he was having issues at at the airport. Did they just find like I I love how the casting for this is not even like 60 accurate. He like you close enough. You want to be in a video.

[C]

Come on.

[B]

Oh where you find these random white folks

[A]

especially doing none of that. I don't see special running at the rucker and all that.

[C]

You know, this is respectful.

[A]

I don't see Spence didn't have these kind of issues because he moves.

[B]

I swear to you. Don't you ever. Rap is both disrespectful genre. Don't you ever. That's not even a scene I was looking for. Don't you ever in your life

[A]

didn't have these kind of issues because he moves foreign.

[B]

Don't you ever in your life have a homie of mine holding me like a baby Even if it ain't me. Don't you ever in your life. That's crazy. We still ain't heard nothing for Jada yet in here but that's crazy.

[A]

Hey, y'. All. I came to talk to these kids on some grown follow no man do your own right but please make sure you own don't have a lot of chains with no cribs or some Jim Jones. Golly.

[B]

Okay, before we get to the fact that this before we get to the fact there another Jim Jones line we not even okay. We finally at a minute and 15 into it. Oh my God. There's so many Jim Jones. The crazy part is we didn't even bring up Jim Jones last time. You know why? That was on purpose. I didn't want to see no Jim Jones Battle between 38 special. I wanted to see 38 special. A swordsman, a lyricist, sharp at the pen against the Jada kiss. Jim Jones be doing all kind of wild. He didn't had beef with. With D1 like he got all.

[A]

He.

[B]

He's always involved in some. But the fact that. The fact that we getting these so early. But no, no, no. Here's the thing that I think is interesting. One of my biggest issues with the podcast that he did was he. He podcast gave too much time to be talking about that. Don't matter. I make money like the white man make money. All merc. But when you say it here and don't say like the white man make money. When you say it here like I'm on my ball and you not on your ball and you describe it, it just sounds so much better over a beat that at any point in time I'm expecting to hear the cannon.

[C]

I just told my young buck I'm gonna give him a deal if he's. If he bites you. You ain't got enough money to talk to any type of way like that. I' ma spare you. You already joked me but my young boy ain't gonna spit.

[A]

Don't get confused.

[B]

Local rapper called Tough Piece. Now Lord Lord help them if you don't know this reference right now. So this person right here is supposed to be Jim Jones. You know the crazy part. The real life casting is more disrespected than any of the AI. The real life casting is more disrespectful than any other AI. And you can prompt that. The fact that this beard don't even. It's just sharpied on. It's sharpied on two tone braids. Like I don't know how much of this is just his everyday attire. Whoever this is in for casting. But this is crazy. But for reference, this is what he's talking about. Let me pull this up real quick. So I guess in the midst of their back and forth which up until now I don't think has been many of songs, Jim Jones released a series of videos and one of which I just so happened to catch it. I just didn't know how to incorporate it into the conversation of 38 versus special. 38 versus Jada kiss. Until now. Here's Jim Jones sending a message that sounds very familiar. 238 Special I just want you to see if you notice something.

[C]

I just told my young buck I'm gonna give him a deal if he's. If he bites you. You ain't even got enough money to talk to me. You're not even allowed to be talking to me in any type of way like that. I' ma spare you. You heard. You'll joke me. But my young Boy ain't gonna spare you.

[B]

Walk you down. Yo, young boy. Yo, young boy. No disrespect to this brother, but that don't that when you say your young boy. I'm. I'm really expecting no facial hair. I'm expecting somebody to just look like you feel me. Like I'm ready for. I'm ready for whatever. Like your homeboy. So that reference asap. Don't get it confused, bro. Tonight we gonna walk that man has done taxes before. That's a grown ass man. That ain't though. What you mean your young boy younger.

[C]

Matter of fact tonight we're gonna. I told him give him a deal.

[B]

Will walk you down, bro.

[C]

Asap.

[B]

It's already up.

[C]

Green light is on your mata. We on you, bro. You me.

[B]

So that's what the Internet had to say. And I agree that. That. That surprised me. Whenever you say I'm about man, I ain't even gotta get ass Jim's house and I ain't got time for this in a different tax bracket. Mr. 38 Special, let me let. Let me let my young boy get at you. 38 Special said your young boy, huh?

[C]

A young boy ain't going to speak.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Don't get confused. You got to relax. You got to relax. You got to relax. 38 special. You got to relax. This is A1 casting this right here. I wouldn't. I would forget every lyric you said to me if you casted me as this person. I would be so angry. I'd be so. I'll be so. I would see them grid. I'd be so angry. How y' all gonna call him never young again? Not, not never young. Not young boy but never young again. Come on, man. Okay, time a dozen said Jim is 50. Respectfully so his young boy probably 39. Come on, man. I'm not trying to duck. I'm not trying to be all in y' all east coast business. But this is entertaining and I want to cover it because y' all are some very talented lyricists. Y' all are some of the best of the best to do it. I'm interested. I'm interested. But this. This is crazy. I don't know what he said but I'm offended for Jim Jones's friend.

[A]

Yo, Jim, I got a bone to pick. That's some whole talking about how another when your house on the four clothes list. He lost his crib at 06 and this still home sick.

[B]

How do you get that information? How do you get. How does a 30 see you gotta. I look I always said, no matter what happened, I was disappointed to see 38 special go to a podcast before bars. But no matter what you say, one thing that's been consistent across the board, and I'm not somebody that's heard a whole lot of 38 special, but I've heard enough to know that the skills are top tier. That man said in 2006, your home went into foreclosure. He said you've been homesick ever since. Anybody ever faced an eviction. That. That. That hit a little different. You laugh out loud, but then you'd be like, not too much. Not too much. Are foreclosures public info all right? I mean, I never searched for it, but the fact you did that research. I want to work there. 38 special.

[A]

What I really don't get. You won't be a street so bad that you got alcohol. Old but posted. She don't blow dick. What?

[C]

In love with me, okay?

[A]

She was mad in love with me, but I just could never really get into her like that because I was

[C]

doing other things and she wasn't sucking.

[B]

Somehow, 38 special has combined. Him and his editors, have combined this culture, mean culture, Internet culture. They put all of that stuff together like that. Somehow they've. They've mixed all of that together. This. I mean, in this age, it does take more than bars. So I understand all the extra. But it is. It's. Yeah, it's all he did. He didn't combine AI into this. This is what it means when they say throw everything in there, including the kitchen sink. That's. That's. That's what that means.

[A]

Oh, said she don't blow dick. Man, this. Talking like a ball, but ain't giving out no job. You can't even go home and get a blow job.

[B]

Well, I'll be down. I'll be down. The man said you ain't giving out no jobs. Matter of fact, you can't even go home and get a blow job. That right there. Ah, yikes, Yikes. Well, what do you say in a rebuttal? Hey, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Not too much on my personal business. First of all, we talking about us. I'll be damn. We'll continue.

[A]

Before you made cash off rap, what was your job? Gym story. Faker than the one fact. Joe wrong and your broad face type pallet without that body work that be shaped like C better.

[B]

Don't y' all say one thing about me. Looking like this video. Don't you say a damn thing about me. I have lost a lot of weight. First of all, don't you even think about it. Don't, don't, don't even go there. Don't even go there. I, I have nothing to highlight about the body shaming that he just said. But this is the one thing I do notice. I do recognize. I have enough self awareness to recognize. Shut up. That's you. No, that's you. That's you, stupid. That's you, stupid. Continue.

[A]

Replace some steaks for some late night salads. No matter how much you hate, you can't take my talent. Huh? You're talking to a real man with skilled hands. I took kilograms and build brands.

[B]

I ain't gonna lie to you. When I first heard this, the way that he was rapping, rapping was a little bit like I haven't heard enough from him. I don't know if he raps like this on a regular basis. When I first heard it, I was like it reminded me like of the black and white Chicago gangsters. But then the more that I listened to it, the more it started reminding me of the same things that I appreciated about Cameron in his, in his prime. It's like a real spaced out way of making sure what I'm saying to you was very clear. Every single, single punchline is delivered with clarity. So there's no confusion about what I mean. Do you understand what I just said to you that home on foreclosure. That's the first thing I thought about. Oh my gosh. Continue.

[A]

Got a float out of field stance. Only reason Kiss eating cuz he fat joke little man. Huh? Hold on.

[B]

Fools make we damn near the end. That's all that Jadakiss got. All right. 30 smash. I was not familiar with your game. You're a gentleman. You are a gentleman. You are a gentleman. That is a gentleman. That right? I mean I would. I don't think it's really gentlemen to bring somebody who is 3ft 2 to be representative of Jada Kiss. Even though I'm sure he probably got a kick out of that. I don't think that was very gentleman like of you. First of all, I don't care what we talking about rap. This is nothing very gentleman like are you. But it is very gentleman like to have just two bars he gave back to him. Okay. I respect it. He didn't put too much on it. He don't look like, like he, he, he does not look like he's clout chasing the way that this could have been. But I would be like if I'm Jim Jones and I'M watching from the outside. I'm like, why does. Just. Just don't say 30. Just don't say Jim Jones this. That's crazy. That's crazy. Well, I'll be down. No hugging people in the streets after your. This song is hilarious.

[A]

Fools me.

[B]

Oh, come on, man. Don't call them retired rappers when they just release something. Ain't no retired rappers. That's crazy. That's crazy. They just released something, and it sounds amazing. Crazy fool's me. Well, I'll be down. Man.

[A]

Shut the up, man. Lying ass. You always do that.

[B]

Yep. That's what you call doing too much. What. And why did that. Why did that. Why did he. Why did the person that was casted. Why did his voice. Why did he get that part so correct? He don't look nothing like Jadakiss. He ain't even dressed like Jada Kiss, but he's showing the hell sounded like that. You always do that. That's crazy. Hey, New York, man, your west coast friend want to know what's going on out there. I. I mean East Coast. I want to know what's going on up there because I've heard rumblings of.

[C]

Of.

[B]

Of, you know, the. The disrespect, I guess, at times that upstate New York gets or the lack of respect it gets at times. I don't know about these politics. Some of y' all in the. In the chat have been helping me to understand it. But this is interesting. Well, just like many people predicted, 38 special wasn't done. He released that over the weekend. Also, he had a freestyle because he was a guest at Summer Jam, the legendary Summer Jam, which, I mean, I'm not gonna lie to you. I didn't even know it was still going. But Summer Jam here, he get on stage and he gave him. He gave some bars. He gave an acapella. I just love the fact that we live in an era right now that this is not the air that you would even think this could exist where folk get on stage and do an acapella freestyle, and it has virality around it. I love that. Right? We saw that with Jay Z. We've seen that with a few different folks, but I love the fact that that still exists. One of the core elements of hip hop. It still exists in this special. What you got to say,

[A]

Hold up your gym, I got a bone to pick. That's some whole worry about how another clothes.

[B]

Oh, so he. Okay, so now I'm connecting the dots, because I haven't heard this since I. I put this in my photo. So he just giving an acapella of the very same raps that we got in this. In this fool's mate. Never mind. Well, I'll be damn. Diyers. Oh, my gosh. All right. So I don't think as a hip hop fan, that's quite the direction that I thought things were going to go in. It feels. I mean, it still feels like it's still bubbling. Who doesn't love to see two lyricists at the top of their game going at it and, you know, sparring specifically and strictly on bars. I'm not as excited to see Jim Jones response right now. I ain't gonna hold you. This feels like a very different Jim Jones that we have this day, these days compared to the ball in Jim Jones compared to the mixtape. Jim Jones compared to the. That error. So I. Some of y', all, I don't know. Those are my thoughts on it, though. I still want to hear what this might be with a Jada Kiss. I don't know yet. But that video is some very disrespectful casting. And I still feel like you gotta. You gotta tread very carefully. Maybe that's what he's doing with Jadakiss. Treading very carefully. DIYers. Those are my thoughts. You let me know your unai and unbiased thoughts in the comments below.

[A]

DIY Tear in your eyes don't let it fall. Don't let it fall.