Grits and Eggs Podcast – Episode 94: "Who Did The Body" ft. Monaleo

Host: Deante’ Kyle
Guest: Monaleo
Date: October 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This lively, unfiltered episode sees Deante’ Kyle joined by rising Houston rapper Monaleo, delving deep into themes of Black culture, music, personal growth, grief, legacy, and unity across the African diaspora. Featuring unguarded conversation and genuine chemistry, they explore her recent music, the meaning of “Sexy Solon,” and the Black experience— all through the unique Grits and Eggs lens of humor, honesty, and cultural pride.

Key Points & Discussion Highlights

1. Setting The Scene: Vibes, Gifts, and Community

[00:04–06:18]

• The tone is immediately intimate and celebratory—Monaleo is gifted custom journals, coloring sheets, and a cozy setup that underlines the show’s commitment to mental health and creative expression.
• The importance of community and mutual support is established. Monaleo shares:

  “I wanted to align with who I feel like is in my community or who shares the same sentiments that I share.” – Monaleo [04:01]

• Flowers, snacks, and tokens exchange hands, setting a new “standard” for guest appearances.
• Monaleo emphasizes the podcast felt “mandatory” for her, recognizing its unique place in the culture.

  “This felt mandatory for me.” – Monaleo [06:27]

2. Black Culture, Personal Roots, and the Grits and Eggs Theme

[06:18–13:27]

• They unpack the importance of the podcast’s theme song, written by a close friend/barber, and how it captures “street, churchy” Black culture.
• Both host and guest share their backgrounds—North Carolina, Atlanta, Houston—and family histories, underscoring how regional Black culture shapes identity.
• Monaleo discusses her ongoing pursuit of a mortuary science degree alongside her music:

  “Before I was a rapper, I was going to school for mortuary science. ... I want to continue pursuing that degree ... it’s important to me now.” – Monaleo [12:03]

3. Creative Independence, Label Deals, and "Sexy Solon"

[22:37–26:02, 26:20–27:55]

• Monaleo talks through her journey from independent artist to signing with Columbia—and doing it on her own terms:

  “I still own my masters, even with my major label.” – Monaleo [24:03]

• She laughs about the politics of her song "Sexy Solon"—especially the implication of making “white execs” market a record with unapologetically pro-Black messaging:

  “Imagine being white. ... having to put out a song by this Black artist, young Black girl, bright pink, ‘Sexy Solon’ ... all the non Blacks need to go to the back.” – Monaleo [24:06]

• The importance of building leverage and staying authentic is discussed at length:

  “You have to build if you want to maintain some sort of control ... build your leverage and make people want to buy into what it is you’re selling.” – Monaleo [23:24]

4. Grief, Ancestry, and Honoring the Dead in Black Culture

[29:10–34:01]

• Deante’ notes how rare it is in hip hop (especially among women) to see candid discussion of real-life loss, grief, and naming the deceased.
• Monaleo details her intentional naming of lost friends in her music—highlighting their stories and refusing to let them be forgotten:

  “I wanted to name them and make sure that their name never dies.” – Monaleo [31:41]

• Conversation turns to ancestors and ancestral reverence, examining why the term “ancestor” can be a cultural trigger for Black communities:

  “When you hear the word ancestor, you think African.” – Deante’ Kyle [34:01]
  “Anything you connect to blackness, you see it as an automatic negative.” – Deante’ Kyle [34:21]

• Both agree on the power of veneration and the false stigma around Black ancestral practices.

5. Cultural Authenticity: Being “Pink,” Inner Child, and Branding

[15:00–18:23]

• Monaleo declares her lifelong obsession with the color pink, tying it to inner child healing, artistic authenticity, and refusing industry pressure to rebrand:

  “All I want to wear is pink. ... That’s my life. ... That is my non-negotiable.” – Monaleo [16:47]

• Deante’ draws comparisons to Larry June’s orange branding: “Mona, Leo, Pink, man. ... It’s synonymous.”
• Both stress the power of embracing what comes naturally, not gimmicks.

6. Black Love, Support Structures, and Community Growth

[19:07–22:56, 46:18–47:59]

• Warm, joking conversation about wedding invitations and mutual admiration flows into real talk about the joy of seeing Black love and community succeed.
• Monaleo openly admires the growth of the podcast, noticing the jump in production value and quality over time.
• Deante’ gets candid:

  “Six months ago, I’m driving a truck ... I bring this as a full business for six months.” [22:26]

• Insightful discussion about the importance of real friends, boundaries, accountability, and Black women anchoring the people around them.

7. Diaspora, Unity, and Rejecting Xenophobia

[61:00–70:09]

• Deante’ pushes for nuanced unity within the diaspora:

  “Being xenophobic doesn’t help anybody ... I’m not combating hate with other Black people.” [63:19]

• Monaleo details her intentional inclusion of all diaspora flags in her visual imagery for “Sexy Solon,” stressing shared experience over division.
• Both critique the rise of American-born exclusivity (FBA/ADOS), arguing that it isolates African Americans and ultimately mirrors white supremacist logic.
• They joke about the “only difference” in the Black world being “a boat stop.”
• Monaleo asserts:

  “Promoting black unity, black community, and black love. If you disagree with that, I don’t know what to tell you.” [72:07]

8. Criticism, Vulnerability, and Growth in Public

[80:00–84:10, 104:07–108:22]

• Monaleo, at just 24, discusses handling internet criticism, learning in public, and the emotional toll of being targeted for “doing the work,” especially as a young Black woman:

  “I may not have everything correct ... and I shouldn’t have to at 24.” – Monaleo [80:35]

• Deante’ brings up his own journey from self-destructive to activist, the importance of honesty, and being vulnerable:

  “I’m a 35 year old man ... I got three children.” [60:07]
  “I’m honest about [drug addiction, sexual assault] because I’m so tired of just keeping it to myself.” [104:02]

• Both emphasize that growth only comes with experience and time, and that increased visibility doesn’t grant wisdom overnight.

9. Spirituality, Black Church, and Hoodoo

[89:01–93:03]

• Monaleo shares being “super Baptist,” with family deep in church and youth ministry, but also finds resonance in Hoodoo and traditional Black spirituality—often stigmatized:

  “Anything threatening the idea of white supremacy ... they started thinking about that Haitian Revolution ... slow these down.” – Monaleo [92:01]

• They critique Christian hypocrisy and affirm that Black spirituality is both resistance and healing.

10. Social Commentary: Homelessness and Capitalism

[94:07–98:48]

• Monaleo’s song “Spare Change” is highlighted as a rare hip hop track exploring compassion for the homeless.
• She and Deante’ reflect that most are just “a paycheck or two away” from being unhoused, and how capitalism fosters separation and shame:

  “Do you know how many people was having their way and had a mental break? ... Just one thing.” – Deante’ Kyle [97:46]

11. The Power of Therapy & Black Mental Health

[98:48–101:08]

• Both credit mental health support, therapy, and honest conversation as crucial for Black resilience.
• Deante’ shares personal experiences with therapy, alcoholism, and family trauma, noting:

  “Vulnerability is a superpower.” [96:17]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Unified Diaspora:

  “If we not connected, what is the difference? Besides a boat stop, what is the difference?” – Deante’ Kyle [65:05]

• On Grief and Honoring the Dead:

  “I wanted to name them and make sure that their name never dies ... I truly miss them.” – Monaleo [31:41]

• On Branding & Authenticity:

  “All I want to wear is pink. That’s my life. ... That is my non negotiable.” – Monaleo [16:47]

• On Spirituality & Ancestors:

  “Why do you feel like the word ancestor is such a trigger in a black community?” – Monaleo [34:01]

• On Criticism & Black Creativity:

  “If you disagree with black unity throughout the diaspora ... fuck you.” – Deante’ Kyle [72:28]

• On Black Love & Weddings:

  “You burning some flowers – two hour. ... 30 minute interview if you come empty-handed.” – Deante’ Kyle [05:43]

• On Legacy & Responsibility:

  “I’m never scared of my responsibility and my liability. I am who I am.” – Monaleo [74:45]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:04–06:18] — Opening, gifts, mental health in hip hop, setting the community vibe
• [13:27–14:17] — Mortuary science and artistry
• [22:37–24:03] — From indie to label; owning masters and defining partnership
• [24:06–26:02] — Reactions to "Sexy Solon" and industry politics
• [29:10–34:01] — On grief, loss, and naming ancestors in music
• [61:00–70:09] — Diaspora, FBA/ADOS critique, and authenticity
• [72:07–73:09] — Internet criticism and the price of Black unity activism
• [94:07–98:48] — Homelessness, capitalism, and social commentary in hip hop
• [98:48–101:08] — Therapy, generational trauma, and healing

Podcast Structure & Audience Engagement

• The hosts and guest repeatedly promote the Patreon community, showing deep audience involvement:

  “Patreon, $8. Go support Black.”

• Direct engagement through fan questions, with Monaleo enthusiastically answering even questions from Deante’s daughter—moments that show the down-to-earth, familial atmosphere.
• The show closes with Monaleo and Big Cat gamely performing the “official” podcast sign-off, sharing ways for listeners to support Black creators tangibly (via CashApp and Patreon).

Tone & Language

• The conversation bounces between rowdy humor, piercing honesty, and cultural reverence.
• The language is deeply Southern Black, blending everyday talk with academic insight: “do the knowledge,” “put some cream in the street,” “Locked in,” “Ow!” and other recurring refrains.
• Both participants are unapologetic, using culturally specific language and inside jokes (“if you ain’t black, stay the f**k out the business”) that transform the podcast into a protected, intentionally Black cultural space.

Conclusion

This episode of Grits and Eggs is a freewheeling, loving celebration and interrogation of what it means to be Black in America and across the diaspora—right now. Through laughter, tears, and moments of musical and spiritual affirmation, Deante’ Kyle and Monaleo model honesty, accountability, unity, and joy, making this an essential listen for anyone invested in the next chapter of Black creative life.

Note: For further fan questions, hot takes, and end-of-show banter (including more about feet, family, and R&B dream collaborations), tune in to the full episode or join the Patreon for bonus content!