Podcast Summary: "Hip-Hop's Secret Meeting" with Diallo Riddle

Podcast Information

• Title: My Momma Told Me
• Hosts: Langston Kerman and David Bore
• Network: Big Money Players Network and iHeartPodcasts
• Episode: Hip-Hop's Secret Meeting (with Diallo Riddle)
• Release Date: July 29, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled "Hip-Hop's Secret Meeting," hosts Langston Kerman and David Bore delve into intriguing conspiracy theories surrounding the hip-hop industry. Joining them is Diallo Riddle, a notable figure known for his insightful perspectives on music and culture. The discussion explores the transformative period in hip-hop during the early 1990s, examining potential behind-the-scenes maneuvers that may have shaped the genre's direction.

Discussion Highlights

1. Transition in Hip-Hop: From Political to Gangsta Rap

   The conversation begins with an exploration of the significant shift in hip-hop music from politically charged messages to the rise of gangsta rap. Langston Kerman reflects on the late 80s and early 90s, highlighting how artists like Public Enemy and X Clan were at the forefront of using hip-hop as a medium for political and social commentary.

   • Notable Quote:
     Langston Kerman (04:16): "As a hip hop fan in the late 80s and the earliest 90s, you know, you couldn't miss the fact that hip hop had become, as Chuck D said, the CNN for black people."

2. The 1991 Meeting: Industry Influence or Organic Evolution?

   Diallo Riddle introduces a conspiracy theory about a clandestine meeting of 25 to 30 music industry executives in Los Angeles in 1991. Allegedly documented in an anonymous letter sent to the website Hip Hop is Red on April 24, 2012, this meeting purportedly aimed to steer hip-hop away from its militant roots toward a more commercially viable gangsta rap genre.

   • Notable Quote:
     Diallo Riddle (12:03): "We're going to start with the first one, and then we'll find our way to the second one, I think is the natural segue that I've imagined."

   Kerman connects this theory to significant releases like Dr. Dre's The Chronic and Ice-T's Cop Killer, suggesting that these albums marked pivotal points where the lyrical content shifted to themes that aligned with industry preferences for more marketable, albeit more violent, narratives.

   • Notable Quote:
     Langston Kerman (32:13): "Cop Killer... it was on the nightly news all the time. And they started putting labels on music and that... it's a very important record in terms of censorship."

3. Private Prisons and Content Control

   The hosts discuss the plausible motivations behind the supposed industry meeting, theorizing that record executives had financial interests in private prisons. By promoting gangsta rap, which often glorifies criminal lifestyles, the industry could indirectly support the demand for incarceration.

   • Notable Quote:
     Diallo Riddle (31:38): "They say that this meeting was basically exactly what has always been theorized, that these record executives were buying into public or private prison, that essentially they had gotten some sweet deal on buying private prisons and they needed to fill the private prisons..."

4. Impact of Gangsta Rap on Society

   The episode further examines the societal impact of gangsta rap, addressing claims that the genre has led to increased violence and substance abuse among youth. The hosts challenge these assertions by referencing studies and personal anecdotes, suggesting that external factors within communities play a more significant role than music alone.

   • Notable Quote:
     Langston Kerman (36:06): "But I do think that sometimes you can pour poison on an already weakened plant."

5. Second Conspiracy: Michael Jordan's Famous 'Flu Game'

   Shifting gears, the hosts introduce a lighter yet equally fascinating conspiracy theory about Michael Jordan’s legendary 'Flu Game.' Contrary to popular belief that Jordan played through genuine illness, the theory posits that he was actually hungover from a night of celebration, affecting his performance in the crucial game.

   • Notable Quote:
     Langston Kerman (47:28): "We believe that the famous flu game was not the flu but a hangover. Michael Jordan was celebrating early and got sick from all that wine and whatnot."

   This theory is further embellished with anecdotes about alleged sightings of Jordan out the night before the game and humorous speculations about the circumstances leading to his underperformance.

   • Notable Quote:
     Unknown Speaker 2 (47:43): "The idea that Michael Jordan would be somehow murdered by Charles Oakley... he would have killed him."

Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, hosts reflect on the intricate relationship between the music industry and societal trends, emphasizing that while music can influence behavior, it often mirrors existing community dynamics. The theories discussed highlight the ongoing fascination with uncovering hidden narratives within popular culture.

• Final Notable Quote:
  Langston Kerman (53:24): "I think there was a big pushback on the idea. There was a big pushback on this thing that they were all scared of being the next boogeyman, which was reverse racism."

Closing Thoughts

"Hip-Hop's Secret Meeting" offers listeners a deep dive into the speculative intersections between music, industry influence, and societal changes. Through engaging dialogue and thought-provoking theories, Langston Kerman, David Bore, and Diallo Riddle invite audiences to reconsider the forces shaping one of the most influential musical genres of our time.

Notable Moments and Quotes

• Shift in Hip-Hop Content (04:16):
  "As a hip hop fan in the late 80s and the earliest 90s, you know, you couldn't miss the fact that hip hop had become, as Chuck D said, the CNN for black people."

• Introduction of Conspiracy Theory (12:03):
  "We're going to start with the first one, and then we'll find our way to the second one, I think is the natural segue that I've imagined."

• Public Enemy's Influence (25:16):
  "They start off one of their albums with like, oh, I see these guys. Are they open for the Beastie Boys? I was so offensive. I was so offended."

• Impact of Dr. Dre's Production (36:06):
  "But I do think that sometimes you can pour poison on an already weakened plant."

• Michael Jordan's 'Flu Game' Theory (47:28):
  "We believe that the famous flu game was not the flu but a hangover."

For those intrigued by the interplay of music, culture, and conspiracy, "Hip-Hop's Secret Meeting" offers a compelling narrative that challenges conventional wisdom and encourages deeper exploration into the forces shaping the hip-hop landscape.